The Forgotten Nuestra Senora da La Salud

Nuestra Senora de La Salud

The principal treasure of Museo recoleto is the dark image of the Blessed Virgin, "Nuestra Señora de la Salud" brought by the first Recollect missionaries to the Philippines in 1606. 

The discalced religious of the great father of the Church, St. Augustine, entered Manila in the year 1606. Although they were the last evangelical workers, their apostolic zeal has extended in rivalry to the first ones, and they have attained abundant results from their labors, in the reduction of the most barbarous islanders, and in the exemplary lives of their reformed religious. 

The first convent in which they lived was the one now called San Juan de Bagongbáyan, outside the walls of the city of Manila. It was established with the title of San Nicolas de Tolentino, which is still preserved (without adminis tration), with the veneration merited, not only by their primacy but by the miraculous image of Nuestra Señora de la Salud [i.e., "our Lady of health"] who is venerated there. 

Later, a convent was erected in due form under the ancient advocacy of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, that saint being today the titular of that most strict province. In that convent, which is inside and near the walls of Manila, there are generally maintained thirty or forty religious. 

They have the reputation of being a community as well regulated as the best in Castilla, and one in which have been known a great number of fathers of holiness and learning. From that convent they go out to perform their laborious ministrations in these islands.

During World War II, most of the Churches in Manila were destroyed, this church is not spared but the image was found intact and was transferred to their Monastery and remained there permanently.

Prayer to Nuestra Senora de La Salud

Virgin, most holy, Mother of the Word Incarnate, Treasurer of graces, and Refuge of sinners, I fly top your motherly affection with lively faith, and I beg of you the grace ever to do the will of God. 

Into your most holy hands I commit the keeping of my heart, asking you for health of soul and body, in the certain hope that you, my most loving Mother, will hear my prayer. 

Into the bosom of your tender mercy, this day, every day of my life, and at the hour of my death, I commend my soul and body. 

To you I entrust all my hopes and consolations, all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life, that all my actions may be ordered and disposed according to your will and that of your Divine Son. Amen