Roman Catholics will mark Sunday, Jan. 23, the feast day of Saint Ildefonsus (San Ildefonso), one of the most popular and widely venerated saints of the Roman Catholic Church.
Feast masses will be celebrated at the San Ildefonso Parish on Pio del Pilar Street, Makati City. Novena masses were held from January 14 to 22 at 6 p.m.
A procession will be held Saturday, Jan. 22, after the 8 a.m. holy mass. Devotees are invited to join the solemn procession online and to set up an altar in front of their homes.
At the San Ildefonso Parish on Naval Street, Navotas City, novena masses were held from Jan. 14 to 22 in celebration of the 29th parish fiesta.
On Sunday, Jan. 23, fiesta masses will be celebrated at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 4 p.m., and at 6 p.m.
The praying of the Holy Rosary will be held at 5 p.m., followed by the novena.
Special commemorative masses will also be held in San Ildefonso, Bulacan; San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur; and in Tanay, Rizal.
A follower of St. Isidore of Seville, San Ildefonso served as archbishop of Toledo, Spain from the year 657 up to the time of his death in 667.
Known as a scholar and theologian, his theological writings which attracted many followers became widely popular in Spain during the 7th century.
Spanish Catholics consider St. Ildefonsus as their second greatest saint, next to St. Isidore of Seville.
Devotion to the beloved saint became widespread after his canonization. Many churches and towns all over the world, including the Philippines, were named in his honor and memory.