CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Thousands of devotees from all over Pampanga province gathered on Friday, September 8, for the 61st anniversary of the Canonical Coronation of Virgen Delos Remedios at the Capitol grounds here.
An estimated 10,000 people, including students, workers and government officials, trooped to the Arnedo Park of the Provincial Capitol starting midnight of Thursday for the vigil and to participate in the annual celebration dedicated to Pampanga’s patron saint.
The celebration was highlighted by the thanksgiving mass presided by local Church leaders led by Archbishop Florentino Lavarias.
Dubbed as “Patroness of Kapampangans,” the image of the Virgen Delos Remedios is brought around the province all year-round to visit the faithful in each city and municipality.
The devotion of Kapampangans to the Patroness is believed to be one of the reasons behind the many blessings that Pampanga has been receiving throughout the years, Lavarias said.
“The image of Virgen Delos Remedios that is being roamed around the province gives hope and healing to every Kapampangan and every Kapampangan’s faith to Her make our devotion to Mama Mary stronger throughout the years,” Lavarias said in the vernacular.
Meanwhile, Governor Lilia Pineda said that the celebration is one of Kapampangans' ways of giving gratitude to the Virgen Delos Remedios for continuously guiding and blessing the province of Pampanga.
She also lauded the faith of Kapampangans to Mama Mary which was evident on their presence which filled the venue, despite the very early schedule of the coronation.
Former President now second district Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who also graced the holy celebration, expressed her gratitude to Kapampangans for keeping their faith to Virgen Delos Remedios strong.
She recognized such faith as the reason why the Kapampangan province continues to be resilient over the struggles it faced over the years.
The celebration of the Canonical Coronation of Virgen Delos Remedios started some 61 years ago when Bishop Guerrero submitted a petition to Cardinal Federico Tedeschini, who at the time was the Apostolic Dataria to Pope Pius XII requesting to grant a canonical coronation.
On 15 July 1956, Pope Pius XII issued the pontifical decree on the Canonical Coronation of the image, which occurred on September 8 1956, the same day of its current feast, as recognition of the Kapampangan's enthusiastic and deep devotion to Mary.