THE Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown will lead this 2021’s reenactment of the canonical coronation of Virgen Delos Remedios and the liturgical celebration on September 8, a post from the Archdiocese of San Fernando’s social media page said.
Further details of the event have yet to be made public, as of press time. This year’s 65th anniversary of the canonical coronation runs with the theme “500 Years of Faith: Towards a Deeper and Witnessing Faith through the Crusade.”
It could be recalled that last year’s event had been lowkey due to the existing threats of the coronavirus.
The coronation rites were usually observed each year with pomp in a grand gathering of the Kapampangan faithful, usually in a designated open area in the City of San Fernando. The coronation rites have been returned in recent years to the Capitol Grounds, the site of the original coronation.
Before flourishing in Pampanga, devotion to Virgen Delos Remedios began in France and was popularized by St. John Matha, who prayed to the Blessed Mother in his efforts to free slaves. Then it became popular in Spain, where she became the patroness of different crusades against Muslims.
Through the galleon trades, the devotion was brought to Manila, where the oldest Marian image of the Nuestra Señora delos Remedios is enshrined at Malate Church. At present, there are 17 churches listed in the Philippines dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios.
The most popular devotion is Pampanga's Crusade of Charity and Penance, which was entrusted under the patronage of Virgen de los Remedios and initiated by Bishop Cesar Maria Guerrero, who incidentally is from Malate.
With the devastation of World War II, Pampanga became a center for communism and the breeding ground of socialism. There was a huge gap between rich and poor, thus peasants and farmers were up in arms against their landowners.
In 1952, Bishop Guerrero sent the image of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios to visit every church and chapel around the diocese that brought together the faithful in prayer with non-stop recitation of the rosary. There were daily Masses and the faithful were encouraged to return to the sacraments.
Likewise, care for the poor was emphasized where aid was solicited by the host parish and brought to the needy of the next parish. In between prayers and devotions, folks were working and sharing for peace.
As recognition of Kapampangan's enthusiastic and deep devotion to Mary, Pope Pius XII bestowed the Canonical Crown on September 8, 1956.