THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) joined the whole nation in celebrating the victory of Hidilyn Diaz at the Tokyo Games on July 26.
“We admire her devotion to the Blessed Mother as she carried in her victory her great faith in God,” CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo G. Valles said.
Valles said in a statement Diaz brought honor to the Philippines with her “determined spirit and undying passion for what she does.”
“Hidilyn is a true weightlifter who draws her strength from her love for the country and her deep Catholic faith,” he added.
Diaz made history after becoming the Philippines’s first Olympic gold medalist since the country first participated in the international sporting event in 1924, or 97 years ago.
Crediting her historic win to God and the intercession of the Blessed Mother, the 30-year-old topped the women’s 55-kilogram weightlifting competition after an overall lift of 224 kilograms—an Olympic record.
After winning, the four-time Olympian praised God and lifted up Our Lady’s Miraculous Medal she wore around her neck while repeatedly shouting “Thank You, Lord.”
That gesture by Diaz has since gone viral.
In an online news conference the next day, the weightlifter from Zamboanga shared the story behind the Miraculous Medal and what it meant to her.
“This was given to me by my friend. They prayed the novena for nine days before my competition. I also prayed the novena,” Diaz said.
“It is a sign of their faith and my faith to Mama Mary and Jesus Christ,” she said.
She added that it was only during the Olympics when she was able to lift a 127 kg weight. She tried it but failed during her trainings she said.
“Hindi ko in-expect na mabuhat ko yun kahapon [yesterday, July 26]. Siguro si God ‘yon and the prayers [I did not expect that I could lift that (127 kg weight) yesterday. Maybe it was God and the prayers (who made it possible)],” she said.
In another interview, she said that before her event she “surrendered” herself to God.
Diaz posted an Instagram story with the text that reads, “Thank you for praying!”
First known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, the Miraculous Medal is a sacramental inspired by the apparition of the Virgin Mary beginning in July 1830 to St. Catherine Laboure, considered the patroness of seniors for her lifetime work as a Daughter of Charity.
The US-based Association of Miraculous Medal said in its web site the medal is not a good-luck charm, but “a great testimony to faith and the power of trusting prayer” to obtain extraordinary graces for those who wear it and pray for Mary’s intercession and help. CBCP News