Our Lady of La Naval visits Intramuros for the first time since WWII
By Leslie Ann Aquino
After more than 60 years, the original image of Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario La Naval de Manila returned to her original home in Intramuros, Friday for a visit.
(Photo from Letran-Manila Twitter)
The original image of the Our Lady of La Naval arrived at the Manila Cathedral just before 2 p.m. via a motorcade.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle presided over the welcome mass for the homecoming of Our Lady which was in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Colegio San Juan de Letran.
In his homily, the cardinal told everyone present that the image used to be enshrined in the Walled City. "The Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario La Naval de Manila first stayed here in Intramuros in the first Santo Domingo Church.”
Because of the destruction wrought by the Second World War, he said the image was brought to the University of Santo Tomas and was later enshrined at her current home the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.
"Since the Second World War, here she is again visiting. Welcome home, Mama Mary," Tagle said.
His Eminence thanked Colegio San Juan de Letran for their contribution to the history of the country and the Archdiocese of Manila.
He also urged the Letran community to devote the year to prayer. "Where is God calling our community? To what mission is the Lord leading us? May you be a community prayer after the heart and spirit of Mary."
After the mass, the image was brought in a procession around Intramuros. The procession culminated at Letran, where the image will stay until Jan. 25.
The last grand procession of Our Lady of La Naval in Intramuros was in 1941.
(Photo from Letran-Manila Twitter)
The original image of the Our Lady of La Naval arrived at the Manila Cathedral just before 2 p.m. via a motorcade.
Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle presided over the welcome mass for the homecoming of Our Lady which was in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Colegio San Juan de Letran.
In his homily, the cardinal told everyone present that the image used to be enshrined in the Walled City. "The Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario La Naval de Manila first stayed here in Intramuros in the first Santo Domingo Church.”
Because of the destruction wrought by the Second World War, he said the image was brought to the University of Santo Tomas and was later enshrined at her current home the Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.
"Since the Second World War, here she is again visiting. Welcome home, Mama Mary," Tagle said.
His Eminence thanked Colegio San Juan de Letran for their contribution to the history of the country and the Archdiocese of Manila.
He also urged the Letran community to devote the year to prayer. "Where is God calling our community? To what mission is the Lord leading us? May you be a community prayer after the heart and spirit of Mary."
After the mass, the image was brought in a procession around Intramuros. The procession culminated at Letran, where the image will stay until Jan. 25.
The last grand procession of Our Lady of La Naval in Intramuros was in 1941.