The last of the nine-day novena masses that began last Sept. 29 will be held on Saturday. Oct. 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 were held on Sept. 28 as a prelude to the much awaited Feast of the La Naval de Manila on Oct. 8, Sunday.
At the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Lower Bicutan, Taguig, the feast coincides with the 60th parish fiesta.
At the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Sto. Rosario, Pau, Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, this year’s feast coincides with the 32nd parochial fiesta.
San Fernando Bishop Florentino G. Lavarias will preside over a high mass at 5 p.m. It will be followed by a Dominican procession at 6 p.m.
The coronation of Nuestra Señora del Santissimo Rosario de Pau will be held at 5 p.m. Other fiesta activities include a Marian exhibit, a mass wedding, a serenade, feeding program and gift giving, a living rosary and street dancing.
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.