Our Lady of the Rule also known as the Nuestra Señora Virgen De Regla was the title given to our Blessed Virgen Mary by the natives of Cebu who believe that the prosperity they enjoy is a blessing achieved through the strength of her maternal intercession. 

The front view of Virgen of the Rule's Parish

Origin of the Devotion to Our Lady of the Rule

The devotion to Our Lady of the Rule was started by St. Augustine, the bishop of Hippo In Northern Africa. He has carved an image of Our Lady by using his own hands which was one of the relics that has survived the destruction of the city of Hippo. Upon Augustine's death, the monks fled to Spain, taking the image with them. In Spain, the image has done miracles and survived the destruction and pillage of the Moors, because of this, the devotion to Our Lady rapidly spread.

1330, the Virgin appeared to an Augustinian monk and instructed him to go to the city of Cadiz and look for a cave where the image had been hidden away. He was instructed to dig up and found a hidden underground altar. There, the statue of Our Lady of the Rule has been permanently enshrined.

The devotion was transported to the Philippines in the 18th century, when the Augustinian Order was given control over the parish of Opon,(now,Lapu-Lapu City,Cebu]. The people of Cebu first saw the picture of the Virgen de la Regla in 1735, when the parish priest , Francisco Avalle, showed it to them. The people of Opon instantly developed a liking for the new patroness.

Inner  part of the Parish

The Virgen de Regla of Cebu was canonically crowned on November 27, 1954 during the First Marian Congress of the Archdiocese of Cebu . The Our Lady of the Rule image carved from the trunk of dark Philippine hardwood, was installed at the main altar of Our Lady of the Rule Church in Lapu-Lapu City. The church was under the administration of the Agustinians from 1730 to 1929. The Dutch congregation took over the church from 1929 onwards. 

"The FAITH"

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines – “Viva Señora Birhen sa Regla!” This was the resounding acclamation of the tens of thousands of devotees and pilgrims who attended the novena (Nov 12-20) and fiesta Masses (Nov 21) in honor of Lapu-lapu City’s beloved patroness Nuestra Señora de Regla (Our Lady of the Rule).

Our Inahan, Our Hope

The Virgen de la Regla has touched many people’s lives. I have read and heard numerous personal testimonies from the faithful describing how the Virgen de la Regla made a difference in their lives. Aside from those who pray in front of her image in the hagkanan, many send her letters of petition and thanksgiving. Some of these letters are kept in the parish archives. They write: “unta tangtangan nimo ang akong amahan sa iyang balatian”, “please help me with my financial difficulty”, “salamat nga imong gidungog ang akong mga pag-ampo kanimo”, “you know what I long for and I am sure you will help me.” The letters all speak of their unwavering trust in the Virgen de la Regla. There is this certainty that the Virgin will never ever fail them.

I am convinced that this certainty that the Virgen de la Regla will never forsake those who ask for her intercession springs from the devotee’s personal image of the Virgin. She is invariably seen as atong Inahan (our Mother) who is always compassionate and ever ready to help anyone in his/her need. This certainty of response from a compassionate Inahan is empowering to those who pray to her, especially to those are burdened with emotional problems and those suffering from physical afflictions. Many swear that when they pray to the Virgin she seems to be so close, so concerned, so personal. And this is very empowering indeed. This makes the faithful feel that s/he is never alone, that somebody understands him/her, that there is an Inahan who really cares for him/her.

I am led to believe that the Virgen de la Regla, our Inahan and the Inahan of Jesus, symbolizes God’s intimate presence in our lives. That through her we experience God’s closeness in our personal life. And this experience of closeness is what, I believe, makes the Virgen de la Regla so popular and the reason why people keep on coming. The Virgen de la Regla is the mother of the spiritual family to which we all belong. And this should make us reflect that we are a blessed people. For while she is with us there is always hope.

Nuestra Señora Birhen de Regla!!