Nasugbu Church

During the 1600's, Our Lady appeared under the title of the Immaculate Conception at a Franciscan convent in Granada, Spain. This estampita printed in 1700 declares that she was seen "en la escalera del convento" or on the staircase of the convent. Hence, from that day forward she was greatly honored as La Inmaculada Concepcion, Nuestra Senora Virgen de la Escalera. The feast of Mary's Immaculate Conception dates to the 1400's. However, it was only in 1661 that the Pope declared it an object of faith. The official dogma was declared in 1854 by Pope Pius IX. This devotion in Spain would soon spread to Mexico across the ocean.

The engraving reads "Milagrosa Imagen  de Maria Santissima Senora Nuestra que se manifesta en LA ESCALERA del Convento del Angel de los Franciscanos descalsados en Granada. 40 anos de indulgencia ano de 1700."

The following are very old museum pieces of engravings depicting the Immaculate Conception as Nuestra Senora de la Escalera. They date from as early as the 1600's and can be seen in Spain.

   notice staircase at right shoulder      notice staircase at lower left corner 

             Nuestra Senora de la Escalera, patron of Granada, Spain    

        La Inmaculada Concepcion            La Inmaculada Concepcion brought by

                                                             Jesuits from Spain to Visayas in 1540's

*incedentally, one of the depictions of the Virgen de la Escalera in Nasugbu portrays her in the exact same pose as the 16th century image brought by the Jesuits from Spain to Baclayon, Visayas. The replica image which was enthroned on the right side of Nasugbu's older church prior to the church renovation also featured the "woman clothed with the sun with 12 stars on her head" as described in the book of Revelations/Apocalypsis. Prior to the church renovation, Our Lady was placed atop a real staircase on the right altar, for she is Our Lady of the Staircase. Today, that image is enthroned in a beautifully carved altar  in the Chapel of the Saints.

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.     Revelations 12: 1

Devotion to La Virgen de la Escalera traveled to Mexico in the castle-fort of San Juan (Bautista) de Uluaa. For hundreds of years she was honored as the patroness of travelers from Spain to Mexico because the voyage was dangerous and long. Upon arriving at her chapel, travelers would pray and pay respects to her image. When Mexicans revolted against Spain, the statue was lost forever when the fort was turned into a military garrison. This altar is dedicated to one of the copies of the Virgen de la Escalera in Mexico. Notice her pose as the Inmaculada Concepcion, La Virgen de la Escalera.

The image of Nuestra Senora Virgen de la Escalera was placed on the top of the tower of fort San Juan de Uluaa so that she can protect Veracruz Bay, which was an important treasury for the Manila-Acapulco-Veracruz-Spain galleon trade. Travelers would face the tower and pray fervently for a safe voyage across the Atlantic Ocean towards Spain. When ships would arrive at Veracruz, Mexico, from Cadiz, Spain, the image would be held in procession down the tower, down the stairs, down to the niche at the bottom of the staircase-church. She was highly honored with the same veneration as our Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje de Antipolo. In a way, she was the precursor of the Antipolo devotion in the Pacific Ocean.

   El Torre de N.S. de la Escalera        La Iglesia de N.S. de la Escalera

*historical note: in 1695, Don Antonio Fernandez de Roxas arrived in Manila from Acapulco, Mexico. He had been a galleon pilot of the San Jose and a cartographer (map-maker). He was also an engineer and was commissioned to work for the construction of Fort Santiago in Intramuros when he settled his family in Manila. As a pious navigator, he would certainly have asked Nuestra Senora de la Escalera's intercession whenever he traveled across his numerous journeys on the Atlantic Ocean from Veracruz to Spain. Don Antonio Fernandez de Roxas is the patriarch of the Roxas family which owns much of Nasugbu, and to whose family Our Lady is said to have appeared on the madrina of their hacienda stairs in Nasugbu. The Roxas family devotion to her dates back many centuries with Don Antonio Roxas' encounters with her at her shrine in Fort San Juan de Uluaa in Mexico.

In 1581, the Jesuits arrived in Balayan. The Inmaculada Concepcion and San Juan Bautista became the patrons of the parish.  Nasugbu belonged to the mother church of Balayan until 1852. Saint Francis Xavier became the patron and Nuestra Senora Virgen de la Escalera became the secondary patroness. The story goes that La Virgen appeared on the staircase of the hacienda of the Roxas family, hence her title as Nuestra Senora Virgen de la Escalera. A more reasonable explanation is that the Jesuits as well as the Roxas family already had a devotion to La Virgen de la Escalera because they gave thanks to her when they crossed the ocean going to Spain. Whatever the origins of the Virgin may be, she is still well loved and highly venerated by the faithful of Nasugbu. It is said that during times of calamity, the miraculous Virgen de la Escalera appears to the people of Nasugbu. Viva Nuestra Senora Virgen de la Escalera!

After Vatican II, only one patron saint per town was allowed. As a result, Saint Francis Xavier was given the status. Our Lady, however, remained honored and venerated by Nasugbuenos. A recent re-interpretation of that Vatican II decree, however, allowed the return of the original patroness. Hence, on September 4, 2005, she was given a beautiful and spectacular coronation ceremony by the beloved Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa. A grand Marian procession followed afterwards. Today, she proudly intercedes  as co-patron with Saint Francis Xavier for the town of Nasugbu. The two patrons lead Christian souls to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

O Loving Mother of God, we humbly ask you, through your grace and intercession, guide us and lead us in our journey towards heaven. Though many temptations and dangers face us daily, grant us strength and courage to always follow the path of your beloved Son, Jesus. Dear Mother, grant that our homes be ever blessed with a nurturing peace. Help us to honorably support our family. Strengthen each one of us that we may build a strong community and nation where your beloved Son reigns. Dear Mother, through your help, may your beloved Son take us under His care and protection. Through your aid, pray for us that in our journey in life you will be our stairway to heaven, leading us to attain the glory of life everlasting in the presence of the Lord our God. Nuestra Senora Virgen de la Escalera, ruega por nosotros. Our Lady of the Staircase, pray for us. Mahal na Birhen ng Hagdanan, ipanalangin mo kami. Amen!

Revelations 8:4 "The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the Saints went up before God."

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on all ages will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.    Luke 1: 46-49