Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula has approved a petition for the episcopal coronation of the venerated image of the Our Lady of Candelaria de Tondo, it was announced by the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño de Tondo in Manila.
The decree signed by His Eminence stated that Tondo’s traditions establish a link between the two patrons of the shrine with the annual celebration of the feast of the Santo Niño concluding with the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Candelaria.
Cardinal Advincula noted that the episcopal coronation is “a most fitting honor to the Mother of God as this Christian community celebrates with gratitude this unique devotion aimed to deepen and renew their faith in the Triune God.”
The episcopal coronation will be announced at a later date.
Known as “Nuestra Señora de Candelaria y Purificación de Tondo,” historical records show that the veneration of the Marian title in Tondo dates back to the Spanish period during the pastoral administration of the Augustinian friars, said a Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines News post.
The parish’s Marian confraternity known as the “Cofradia de la Purificación” was established in Tondo in 1789 and was approved by King Charles IV of Spain.
Don Marian Lopez composed the oldest extant copy of the novena in honor of Our Lady of Candelaria in 1835.
Although the original image was destroyed during World War II, a new image was commissioned by then curate Monsignor Jose Jovellanos that was blessed and formally enshrined on January 18, 1946.
The image of Our Lady of Candelaria is the second image in the archdiocese to be granted an episcopal coronation after the image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Manila, which was crowned in 2017 at the Nuestra Señora de Soledad Parish Church in Binondo, Manila.
The Archdiocese of Manila is home to seven Pontifically crowned Marian images, namely Nuestra Señora de Guia (Ermita, Manila), Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia (Paco, Manila), Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados (Santa Ana, Manila), Nuestra Señora del Carmen (Quiapo, Manila), Nuestra Señora de Consolación y Correa (Intramuros, Manila), Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Santa Cruz, Manila), and Virgen de la Rosa (Makati City).