By Christina Hermoso
The grandest and largest gathering of Marian images, the 39th Grand Marian Procession, in celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, will be held in Intramuros, Manila Saturday, coinciding with the Roman Catholic Church’s observance of the First Sunday of Advent.
Organized by the Confradia de la Inmaculada Conception Foundation in cooperation with the Intramuros Administration and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the three-kilometer procession of an estimated 100 beautifully and elaborately-adorned carriages bearing the images of the Blessed Virgin Mary with her different titles from different parts of the country will start at 4 in the afternoon from Plaza Roma in front of the Manila Cathedral and will slowly wind its way through the streets of the Walled City.
The well venerated images include among others the Our Lady of the Visitation of Piat from Cagayan Valley; Our Lady of Guibang in Gamu, Isabela; Our Lady of the Holy Spirit in Guimaras, Iloilo; Nuestra Señora de Salvacion; Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion; Our Lady of Lourdes; Our Lady of Fatima; Our Lady of Buen Suceso; Our Lady of Pillar; Our Lady of the Abandoned; Our Lady of Victories; Our Lady of La Salette from Silang, Cavite; Our Lady of Namacpacan from Luna, La Union; Our Lady of Manaoag from Pangasinan;
Our Lady of Divine Shepherdess from Gapan, Nueva Ecija; Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu; Our Lady of Soledad of Porta Vaga, patroness of Cavite; Our Lady of Peñafrancia, patroness of Bicol; Nuestra Señora de Dolores de Turumba from Pakil, Laguna; 0ur Lady of La Naval; Our Lady of Guadalupe; Our Lady of the Rosary from Rosario, Cavite; Virgen Milagrosa del Santissimo Rosario from Orani, Bataan; Virgen La Divina Pastora from Gapan, Nueva, Ecija; and several other highly revered Marian images accompanied by a contingent of Marian devotees from each town.
Last year, a replica of the image of Mary, Help of Christians was included in the procession symbolic of the original image which was destroyed during the Battle of Marawi. The image was later donated to the St Mary's Cathedral in Marawi.
Held every first Sunday of December, hundreds of Marian devotees holding lighted candles and holy rosaries are expected to join the festive event, which is traditionally preceded by triduum masses and a First Holy Communion mass.