Three Marian coronations were held in the country on October 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
In the Diocese of Antipolo, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in Cardona town celebrated the canonical coronation of the image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Cardona, also known as “La Virgen de Sapao.”
The Mass and coronation rites were led by Cardinal Jose Advincula of Manila together with Bishop Francisco De Leon of Antipolo, and his auxiliary bishop, Nolly Buco.
In his homily, Cardinal Advincula said that “the coronation of an image of Our Lady is to recognize her as our Queen, and that by doing so, we recognize Christ her Son as our King.”
He also emphasized the three aspects of Mary’s queenship which could be seen through the readings of the Mass in honor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary – “giving life, bringing unity among the people, and care for those in need.”
La Virgen de Sapao is the fifth Marian image to be granted a pontifical coronation after Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo City), Our Lady of the Abandoned (Marikina City), Our Lady of Aranzazu (San Mateo, Rizal), and Our Lady of Light (Cainta, Rizal).
Meanwhile, two Marian images in Mindanao received episcopal coronations, the first of its kind in the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and the Diocese of Digos.
In Cagayan de Oro, the coronation of the centuries-old image of Our Lady of the Rosary called Birhen sa Kota or Our Lady of the Fort was held at St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral.
Archbishop Jose Cabantan of Cagayan de Oro led the coronation rites together with his predecessor, Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma, and the clergy.
The devotion to the Marian title was revived by the archdiocese in 2012 and the rites were held on the occasion of the 10th revival anniversary of the archdiocesan Marian devotion.
In Digos diocese in Davao del Sur province, Bishop Guillermo Afable led the rites for the episcopal coronation of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Malita town.
The image was also crowned on the occasion of the parish’s diamond jubilee and is considered as the first Marian coronation held in the region.
The two episcopal coronations in Mindanao were preceded with the pontifical coronation of Our Lady of the Pillar of Zamboanga in 1960 and the episcopal coronation of the image of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Dipolog Cathedral in 2016.
