The Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Cardona, Rizal announced that the Pontifical coronation of the revered image of their patroness, Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Cardona will be held on October 7 to coincide with the feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
The canonical coronation rites will be held during the 9 a.m. holy mass to be presided by His Eminence Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.
Cardona Shrine rector Fr. Bienvenido Guevara is inviting the faithful to prepare spiritually for the canonical crowning of their patroness, also known as “La Virgen de Sapao.” A special devotion is held at the shrine in her honor every seventh day of the month.
The petition for the coronation of Cardona’s patroness was sent in November 2021 and was accepted by the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, the Vatican dicastery granting the pontifical title. The dicastery issued the decree on Jan. 12, 2022 and was sent to Antipolo Bishop Francisco de Leon.
The good news coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Cardona parish, which since 1872 has been dedicated to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
Bishop De Leon elevated the parish into a diocesan shrine on October 1, 2017. The revered Marian image was granted an episcopal coronation on September 27, 2018.
The Marian image is the fifth to be granted a pontifical coronation in the Antipolo diocese. The others include the Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje (Antipolo City), Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Marikina (Marikina City), Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu (San Mateo, Rizal), and Nuestra Señora de la Luz (Cainta, Rizal).
Meanwhile, the original image of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary de Cardona is currently at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila. Devotees are invited to visit and pray before the Marian icon.