The fifth of the nine-day novena masses that began last October 2 will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Santo Domingo Church) on Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, in solemn commemoration of the Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
Enthronement rites and a motorcade were held last October 1 as a prelude to the Feast of the La Naval de Manila on October 11. From October 2 to 10, daily masses will be held at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 noon, and at 4 p.m. The praying of the novena to Our Lady is held at 7:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and at 5:30 p.m., which is preceded by the praying of the holy rosary. Due to the limited capacity of the church, all holy masses may be viewed live from the Facebook page of the shrine.
The Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was established by Pope Pius V in 1571 in commemoration of the naval Battle of Lepanto. The victory of the Christian fleet over the Turks was attributed to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Mother whose help was invoked by praying the holy rosary. Also called Our Lady of Victory, the feast was extended to the Universal Church by Pope Clement XI in 1716.
Widely-venerated all over the country, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is venerated as the Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan, Our Lady of Piat in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City, and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary La Naval de Manila.
According to accounts, the Holy Rosary was revealed to St. Dominic of Spain in 1208 by the Virgin Mary as a loving meditation on the principal events in the life of Jesus and Mary.