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MERITXELL is a quaint sanctuary town in landlocked Principality of
Andorra, nestled in the Eastern Pyrenees Mountains straddling the
borders of Spain and France. Andorra is a duumvirate principality,
which is headed by two princes because of the competing claims of
royal officials from Spain and France with whose countries Andorra
shares a common history, demography and economy. The two princes are
the Bishop-Prince of the Diocesan City of Urgell in Catalonia
Province of Spain (presently His Eminence, Bishop Joan Enric Vives),
and the French Count of Foix, whose title was ultimately transferred
to the President of the French Republic. The principal language
spoken by the Andorrans is Catalan, a peculiar combination of
Spanish and French but with its own unique grammatical syntax,
expressions and vocabulary not found in any of those languages.
Andorra’s patron saint is Our Lady of
Meritxell, the Blessed Mother carrying and clutching the Infant
Jesus close to her heart, in whose honor the whole hamlet town of
Meritxell has established a chapel sanctuary. The religious event of
the miraculous image of Our Lady of Meritxell happened in the late
twelfth century, more specifically on January 6, 1278. It appears
that Catholic villagers of Meritxell were on pilgrimage visits to a
major Andorran parish, Canillo. During this period, there are
several days that homage is paid to the Infant Jesus through
pilgrimages. It was on the twelfth night that Meritxell villagers
surprisingly found a wild rose in full bloom untouched by winter
snows. Under the bush was the statue of Our Lady of Meritxell. The
Meritxell villagers brought the statue to Canillo church. But the
statue was subsequently found back under the same blossoming flower
in the Meritxell hamlet. Thereafter, Meritxell villagers brought the
statue to another Andorran church in Encamp. Again, it was found
back under the wild rose blossoming out of season. Meritxell
villagers took this as a sign that the Mother and Child had already
found their home in the Meritxell hamlet where found. In the same
place, the Andorran people built the sanctuary chapel of Meritxell
paying homage to their patron saint. Sometime on September 8, 1972,
which is now its feast day and the Andorran national holiday, the
statue was destroyed when the chapel was gutted by fire. The
Meritxell Chapel was rebuilt and redesigned with stone, glass, and
copper by Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill with a replica of the
Mother and Child.
In the Philippines, another blossom is
flourishing somewhere in Marikina City in a street named Peach. In
Peach Street, the Andorrans have generously contributed to the
Meritxell Children’s World Foundation in the establishment of the
Andorra Home for Children. Presently, Meritxell Foundation has taken
custody over twelve children transferred by the Manila Social
Welfare Department. The Quezon City Social Services Division is
already selecting the children they can refer to Andorra Home
because the shelter can still accommodate sixteen more children,
whose ages range from two to twelve years. Runaway, rescued,
abandoned, neglected, orphaned, and trafficked young children have
found their future with Meritxell Foundation. It is the only
child-caring agency in the Philippines today that sends all its
children to a top private school, specifically Infant Jesus Academy.
The Department of Education recognizes Infant Jesus Academy in
Marikina City within the top two best schools out of eighty seven
private schools, and the Infant Jesus Academy in Antipolo City as
also within the top two best schools out of two hundred private
schools, offering pre-school to high school education. In Kalibo,
Aklan Province, Infant Jesus Academy has been considered the top
private school.
Meritxell Foundation trustees envision a
permanent family placement for each child, if family reintegration
is not possible. Already, discussions are going on with
International Christian Adoptions for the participation of Meritxell
children in the summer and winter camp programs in California for
older children. Filipino children, who are usually seven years old
and above, are difficult to place because most prospective Filipino
adopters opt for infants and toddlers. But with programs of
International Christian Adoptions, which selects nurturing families
to host orphaned and abandoned older children; opportunities for
permanent placements have been expanded.
The Principality of Andorra has no commercial or
trade relations whatsoever with the Philippines. Neither does it
have a consulate or diplomatic mission here. But what Andorra has,
in distinction from other countries, is a Children’s Home, a
shelter and sanctuary for children in especially difficult
circumstances. Certainly, the patron saint of Andorra, Our Lady of
Meritxell, has finally found another sanctuary outside Andorra, this
time in a quiet village where Infant Jesus Academy is located. The
Blessed Mother and the Holy Infant are now permanent residents here,
spreading their image of Christian compassion under the generous
auspices of the truly Christ-like Andorran people.
ericfmallonga@yahoo.com
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