A VISIT TO OUR LADY OF MANAOAG CHURCH
Scarborough-Ontario-Canada
January 28, 2020
Why this is so? You may ask.
Because of its significance, as these two shrines are known for the miracles that happened there according to History.
Our Lady of Manaoag Church in Manaoag, Pangasinan, which I had visited a few times, is also, according to history, a place where a miracle happened more than four hundred years ago.
Here is, according to an article in the Internet happened in 1610, which led to the present Our Lady of Manaoag Church now.
And I quote:
“A middle aged farmer who was walking home heard a Lady's mysterious voice. He looked around and with great awe, he saw the radiant Lady with a Rosary on her right hand and a Child on her left as she stood on a cloud veiling a treetop. The man fell on his knees. He told the people of the apparition. And soon right on the spot where the Lady appeared a chapel was built. A town quickly flourished around it and was called Manaoag.”
The church had been damaged a few times, both by nature and mankind; but the faithful, true to their devotion as well as the generosity of some, kept on rebuilding it, thus, every time it was damaged, a new and better one would emerged. Along the way, renovation and improvements would also be done that resulted to what it is now – a minor basilica.
The Church was declared a minor basilica on February 17, 2015, and was henceforth called the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag.
The Patroness Saint, to which the church was dedicated, is made from ivory and silver, was brought from Spain by a priest named Juan de San Jacinto via the Manila Galleon, the ships that sailed the Pacific Ocean from Manila to Acapulco and vice versa. She is enshrined in the highest portion of the altar and is protected by bullet proof glasses to shield Her from thieves, as her precious jewels had been looted before.
She is known as the Patroness of the Sick, the Helpless and the Needy, and was officially named as Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario de Manaoag, literal translation: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag.
Looking at her in close up, one could not help but stare in disbelief at the magnificent statue. Her beauteous crown and symbolic wand decorated with shimmering gold and diamonds, is surrounded by the countless flickering electric candles that add beauty to a holy and majestic scene.
Inside the church, there is the breathtaking scenery of antique architecture, reminding devotees of the grand, beautiful Catholic churches built by Spaniards during the Spanish times. Benches are lined up from all sides and at the elevated center is the imposing altar, where the Patroness Saint is housed.
The church is a religious shrine known for its countless healing powers and miraculous tales .
Here are, according to the Internet, some of the miracles including the original apparition attributed to the Patroness.
And I quote:
“In the early days of the Spanish era, animist mountain tribes burnt down newly-Christianized villages. The town of Manaoag was among the settlements that were burnt by the raiders, sending the locals fleeing to the thatch-roofed church. The pillagers's leader climbed over the church compound's crude fence and shot flaming arrows at all parts of the church, but the building miraculously did not catch fire.
During the Second World War, enemy Japanese forces dropped several bombs within the church's vicinity. The structure was only moderately damaged. Four bombs were released above the church, with three landing on the plaza and the facade, destroying both. The last bomb fell into the sanctuary, but miraculously did not explode. The supposed presence of chrysanthemum flowers in the church prevented the Japanese soldiers from doing acts of desecration, due to the flower being revered in their culture.
Other miracles recounted and attributed to the Lady of Manaoag includes rainfalls during droughts, reviving an already-dead boy through holy intercession and holy water, stopping a fire that originated from the church, and resisting various attempts at relocating the shrine.
Miracles attributed to the Lady of Manaoag in modern times is widespread, attested by believers and widely promoted by word of mouth, publications and legends. As such, pilgrims often invoke Her intercession in times of dire need, with some of the petitioners travelling all the way from far places to do so.”
With all the miracles attributed to the Patroness, all kinds of people from all over the country, and from other countries as well, visits the shrine during Sundays and religious festivities such as the Virgin Mary’s birthday, Holy Week, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. To them, visiting the shrine is an opportunity to honor and worship her as well as to experience a blessed religious celebration dedicated to a revered Patroness.
Unquestioned faith is the main reason why devotees flock to the shrine - for faith can do miracles, and as has been said “Faith can move mountains”. To the sick, faith is their last hope to get cured; while to others, faith is what will get them out of a desperate situation – and in their Pilgrimage to the shrine, they seek the help of an esteemed Patroness.
THE compound where the church is located is very impressive as it is surrounded by trees, which give beauty and a cooler environment as well as a shelter to the pilgrims and visitors.
Also at the compound, to serve the public, other groundworks/infrastructure/offices of great significance can be found: The Parish Office, The Museum of Our Lady of The Rosary of Manaoag, The Candle Gallery, The Pilgrims’ Center and Rosary Garden, The Information Center at the Priory, The Souvenir Shops at the front office of the .church and The Veneration Room at the second floor behind the main sanctuary. Likewise, tourists, visitors, and pilgrims have nothing to worry about their safety as well as peace and order, as inside the compound, there is a police outpost.
OUTSIDE the church compound, it was business as usual, as in both sides of the road around the church, dozens of makeshift stores selling religious artifacts like rosaries, images of Christs and Virgin Mary, candles...etc. are available for sale. Their price depends on how good you are in the art of bargaining. People like me, who doesn’t know how to bargain or ashamed to bargain, will always pay a high price; while for those who are good in the art of negotiation, a good saving is always a reality.
I have visited many churches in the Philippines, the latest of which I visited only last February, like those beautiful and historical churches in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, two of which are declared as Heritage Sites, hence, are protected by UNESCO; but when compared with Our Lady of Manaoag in terms of attendance, the latter will be the overwhelming winner.
“Why this is so?” Again, you may ask.
Because of their significance. While those heritage churches are UNESCO protected mainly because of their architecture, Our Lady of Manaoag Church is famous for Her miracles.
However, when compared in terms of attendance, popularity and write-ups to other shrines we visited during our other pilgrimages to other countries like Israel, France and Portugal, Our Lady of Manaoag is nowhere close.
But for me, the size, the popularity, the attendance are not factors when I visited these places, as for me, they are equal in significance.
It was faith that brought me to all these religious places. And faith doesn’t discriminate, faith has no boundaries, faith is infinite, and faith comes from the heart.
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