The Vatican has authorized the canonical coronation of the image of the Immaculate Conception enshrined at her minor basilica in the city of Batangas, located south of Manila.
The basilica announced that it recently received the decree from the Congregation of Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments granting the image a pontifical crowning.
The announcement was made during Mass for the enthronement of the image of Sto. Niño de Batangan led by Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa.
In the attached letter, the Congregation’s secretary Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola expressed hope that the coronation would further strengthen the devotion of the faithful to the Blessed Mother.
“The Congregation is confident that the canonical coronation will contribute to deepening the devotion to the Mother of God, which will in turn assist the faithful in their spiritual growth,” Viola said.
The Immaculate Conception, known commonly as “La Batangueña,” is the titular patroness of the parish of Batangas City, founded in 1578 and declared an independent community in 1614 under the Augustinians.
The image was granted episcopal coronation by Archbishop Garcera on December 8, 2018 during the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
The current parish church that was completed in 1857 is historically significant as it is the second church in the Philippines after Manila’s San Sebastian Basilica to be granted the title of a minor basilica upon the request of the late Archbishop and Servant of God, Alfredo Versoza.
Just last January 16, the parish was also granted by Archbishop Garcera the status of an archdiocesan shrine in honor of the Holy Child as “Santo Niño de Batangan”, another vibrant devotion in Batangas province.
The archdiocese is also home to the canonically crowned image of Nuestra Señora de Caysasay, known as the “Queen and Patroness of the Archdiocese of Lipa” and enshrined in her archdiocesan shrine in Taal town.
The image is also currently the 52nd Marian image to be granted a pontifical coronation in the Philippines and the 22nd Marian image to be granted such a privilege during the pontificate of Pope Francis.
