Our Lady of Manaoag to be crowned canonically

MANAOAG, Pangasinan — Hundred of thousands of devotees and pilgrims of the miraculous Our Lady of Manaoag are expected to troop here today to witness the re-enactment of the canonical coronation of Our Blessed Mother of the Holy Rosary of Manaoag during its diamond jubilee celebration.

The affair starts at 8:30 a.m. with a concelebrated Mass with the Most Rev. Antonio Franco, the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, as the principal celebrant and preacher.

This is followed by the reenactment of the coronation ceremonies with the reading of the petition by Rev. Fr. Patricio Apa, Prior, Holy Rosary Convent of Manaoag; reading of the response of Pope Pius XI by Rev. Fr. Ernesto Arceo; and the coronation by the Papal Nuncio assisted by Msgr. Oscar Cruz.

There will be a procession in the afternoon after another concelebrated Holy Mass.

In the early ’20s, some of the images of Our Blessed Mother were canonically crowned, a recognition by the Ecclesiastical Authorities and ratified by the Pope that through it, divine favors have been obtained.

The Rescript from Rome, granting approval for the canonical coronation of Our Lady of Manaoag dated August 25, 1925, was signed by Cardinal Vico, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation of Rites.

The coronation was made on April 21, 1926, third Wednesday after Easter Sunday, believed to be the day of the apparition. – Eva de Leon