THE STORY OF THE MARY MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACE STATUE

From the Booklet “I am Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace”

by Teresing Castillo (2008)

September 16, 1948

On the following day, for the first time, I saw Mama Mary descending so gracefully from above accompanied by little angels. I saw her white dress moving gracefully too as though being blown by a gentle breeze. She looked transparent to me and her hands were clasped together. The little angels had their hands clasped together too, but I could not tell whether they had wings. As Mama Mary descended, the little angels disappeared one by one. It was such a beautiful sight that one could have desired so much to die for. This was one experience I kept to myself. Then I asked her: “What do you want me to do, my dearest Mama Mary?” She spoke and said “I want a statue of myself to be made so that my little ones can see me. Describe me to your Chaplain. I wish my statue to look as you see me and as big as that of Our Lady of Lourdes which stands inside the cloister. Tell your Mother Prioress that I ask the whole community to please pray here every afternoon during the remaining days. I bless you all.” Then she disappeared.

From the Wonders of Lipa Book by Dr. Francisco Villanueva (1948)

On Friday, November 26, 1948, my brother Major Jose C. Villanueva and I went to visit the shop of Visayan sculptor, Irineo Cristobal, a native of Banga, Capiz. Located at No. 431 Evangelista Street, Quiapo, Manila, who made the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, now worshipped by the faithful in the chapel of the Monastery of the Carmelite Sisters in Lipa, Batangas.

“How did you happen to make the statue?” I inquired from Irineo Cristobal.

Cristobal replied: “Monsignor Alfredo Obviar, Auxiliary Bishop of Lipa, accompanied by the outside Carmelite Sisters came once during the month of September, 1948, to my workshop in Manila, and ordered me to make the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, in accordance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, in accordance with the description contained in a piece of written in pencil by Sister Teresita Castillo. “Then Cristobal demonstrated to me a piece of paper which reads as follows:

“Face : Not too round, not perfect oval, smiling with gay eyes looking forward. Fair complexion, dark eyes, small mouth, beautiful nose, black hair, coming out of her white veil on the forehead. Hands extend in an attitude of waiting, rosary beads in her right hand hanging. Feet bare stepping on clouds. Body not thin, not stout. Dress all white reaching to the feet; round neck, double sleeves, one tight (under) the other wider, narrow white belt, white long veil reaching the feet. It falls graciously on her shoulders, more open than the veil of Our Lady of Fatima.”

Immediately the sculptor Cristobal started to do the work which lasted several days. After the work was finished, Cristobal took the statue to the Carmelite Convent and delivered it to the Mother Prioress, Mother Mary Cecilia Zialcita.

After a few days the statue was returned to Cristobal together with a letter of the Mother Prioress, asking for some corrections to be made on it. Copy of the letter of the Mother Prioress, originally written on longhand and in ink, reads thus:

“Carmelite Monastery

City of Lipa

Oct. 18, 1948

“Pax Christ!

Dear Mr. Cristobal;,

May Carmel’s Queen and Mother ever bless and protect you!

We are returning the statue of our Blessed Mother, begging you to make the following corrections:

1. The mouth – the corners are too curved upward. The upper lip is too swollen; the _lower lip too thin (we used water color to improve it!) Please make it a little more smiling.

2. The left hand: to raise a little as high as the right hand. The middle fingers is broken.

3. The belt: - reduce to one half inch width. More gatherings in the dress on the breast.

4. The eyes darker, blackish. The dress whiter. Please remark the cracks on the clouds and the right side of the mantle near the hair.

All the rest is well. We shall pray much, Mr. Cristobal, that you may make her beautiful. Many thanks in advance.

With prayers and gratitude in Cor de Jesus.

                                                Sr. Mary Cecilia de Jesus, O.C.D.

                                                Prioress

The retouching of the statue lasted two days. So according to the sculptor the whole work lasted 22 days. “As it stands now,” explained the sculptor, “the statue represents the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces, as described by Sister Teresita Castillo when She appeared before her. The most important changes were about the length of the ribbons and other minor details. The sculptor made the statue without the Rosary, which was later provided by the Mother Prioress, when the image reached the Monastery in Lipa.