Santa Marian Kamalen, also known as Our Lady of Camarin and informally known as Dulce Nombre is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary associated with a carved molave wood and ivory image venerated by the Roman Catholic faithful of Guam as their patron saint on December 8.
Santa Marian Kamalen, Dulce Number of Guam
Of the legends claim that the image was brought by the Spanish through the galleon ship Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza y Santiago which was shipwrecked on June 2, 1690 on the island of Cocos in Guam. The image was allegedly engraved on the ship by its sailors.
One account of its discovery holds that a fisherman found the statue along the shore of Merizo. He saw the image accompanied by crabs with votive candles, later interpreted as miraculous by the natives of the area. The image later gained the title of Kamalen, literally barracks due to the image being stored in a nearby infantry compound after being found by the fisherman.
The image measures approximately 28 inches and weighs 48 books. The image is composed of polychromed Molave wood and ivory head and hands and wears a wig of human hair. The guardians of the image saved the statue on December 8, 1941 at the beginning of World War II, when the image was hidden for safekeeping. The image was rededicated in the cathedral on December 8, 1945, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
In 1948, the image was brought to the Philippines for professional restoration by renowned Filipino artist Santero Máximo Vicente, who also restored the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.
Popular legends also tell of the image surviving the 1902 Guam earthquake, which destroyed the shrine and many statues in the church but left the image intact.
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Today, Christians in Guam celebrate Santa Marian Kamalen, a figurine of the Virgin Mary that has survived many disasters and wars. #mythology #myth #legend #calendar #8December #guam #santamariankamalen #virginmary
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