For 25 years, the community of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown, has upheld a centuries-old Ecuadorian tradition honoring Mary under her title Nuestra Senora del Cisne, or Our Lady of El Cisne.
PHOTO GALLERY: La Virgen del Cisne
The devotion is particularly popular in Ecuador and to those in exile, similar to “the great Ecuadorian community living in the area of Hightstown,” said Father Arian Wharff, parochial vicar. He said devotion to Our Lady of El Cisne dates to the 16th century, when a Franciscan missionary took a small statue of Mary from Spain to El Cisne, Ecuador.
This year’s celebration in St. Anthony of Padua Parish included evening gatherings Aug. 24-26, culminating Aug. 27, when scores of parishioners — many of whom donned colorful, traditional attire — accompanied a large statue of Our Lady of El Cisne in a mid-morning procession. While singing hymns and reciting prayers, they walked from a nearby school to the church, where Mass was celebrated in Spanish. Father Marcelo Lopez, a visiting priest, was principal celebrant, and Father Wharff concelebrated.
The devotion to Our Lady of El Cisne serves as a way for Catholics to express their love and devotion to Mary, who holds a central place in Catholic theology and spirituality, Father Wharff explained. Through this devotion, the faithful seek the intercession of Mary and ask for her guidance, protection and blessings. He added that the devotion is also significant because of the miracles and graces attributed to the Blessed Mother.
Father Wharff said the feast of Our Lady of El Cisne is observed in the Church calendar on Aug. 15, the same day as the feast of the Mary’s Assumption. In Ecuador, thousands of pilgrims, even from neighboring countries, gather in El Cisne to participate in the festivities. The statue of Our Lady is carried in a procession, allowing the faithful to venerate and offer prayers to Mary.
Participating in a Marian tradition such as El Cisne can serve as teaching moments in that they could help the community learn and appreciate the rich diversity of Catholic devotions and traditions around the world. Such traditions also provide opportunities for members of the Diocese to deepen their devotion to the Blessed Mother and seek her intercession in their lives; and they also serve as an expression of Mary’s role in the evangelization of different peoples, nations and cultures.
“Ultimately, the devotion to Our Lady of El Cisne, like any Marian devotion, is centered on fostering a deeper relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ through her guidance and intercession,” Father Wharff said. “It is a powerful way for Catholics to express their faith and find comfort and strength in their spiritual journey.”