Marian devotees will observe the Solemnity of Nuestra Senora Santissimo Rosario (Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary) La Naval de Manila on Sunday, Oct. 8.
Holy masses will be held at the Santo Domingo Church (National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary) on Quezon Avenue in Quezon City where celebrations began on Sept. 29 with the enthronement of the revered image.
The much awaited grand procession will be held at 4p.m.
The first day of the nine day novena masses was also observed on Sept. 29 as well as celebratory rites in Quezon City to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of La Naval de Manila as the patroness of the city.
A motorcade that brought the icon to the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila was held on Oct. 1.
The solemnity follows the observance of the feast of the Most Holy Rosary on Oct. 7. In the country, the month of October is observed as the Holy Rosary month.
Cubao Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco earlier declared the second Sunday of October every year as the Solemnity of La Naval de Manila.
Feast rites in honor of La Naval will also be observed in Fort San Felipe in Cavite City, as well as in other towns and parishes placed under her patronage.
The first celebration of the Feast of La Naval de Manila was held on Oct. 8, 1646 in Intramuros, Manila to mark the naval victory of the Spanish and Filipino Catholic forces against the invading Dutch fleet.
Reminiscent of the victory of the greatly outnumbered Christian naval forces against the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, which was attributed to the intercession of the Blessed Mother, the joint Spanish and Filipino forces, upon the advice of the Dominican friars, prayed the Holy Rosary before each encounter with the invading forces between March 15 and Oct. 4. Finally, the Dutch fleet gave up and left the country.
In thanksgiving to God and the Holy Mother for the victory, Spanish church leaders initiated the celebration of the first feast of La Naval de Manila, which has since then been annually marked with holy masses and a grand procession of the sacred image.