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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Cardinal Tagle leads declaration of San Mateo church as national shrine

Cardinal Tagle leads declaration of San Mateo church as national shrine

Published Aug 23, 2025 12:05 am  |  Updated Aug 23, 2025 01:31 pm
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle led the solemn declaration of the National Shrine of the Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo, Rizal, on Friday.
Tagle officiated the formal declaration of the San Mateo national shrine, which houses the 17th-century image of Our Lady of Aranzazu, a white-skinned depiction of the Virgin Mary holding the child Jesus in one arm and an apple in the other, while standing on a tree with thorns.
Cardinal Tagle was joined by Antipolo Bishop Most Rev. Ruperto C. Santos and Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Secretary General Rev. Msgr. Bernardo Pantin in a Holy Mass, where the latter read the declaration decree.
In his homily, Tagle reflected on the history of the Blessed Virgin Mary and symbolism of "thorns" in her life, comparing them to the challenges she faced.
The cardinal bishop, who is based in Vatican but currently vacationing in the country to celebrate his parents' wedding anniversary, serves as the Pro-Prefect for the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
Prior to the church ceremony, the municipal government of San Mateo, led by Mayor Bartolome Rivera and other local officials, hosted a civic reception for Cardinal Tagle, who also received a token of appreciation.
Tagle, known for infusing humor into his homilies and eliciting laughter from Mass attendees, spoke about the negative actions of people that become "thorns" to others. He also hinted at environmental destruction caused by human behavior, which contributes to flooding.
The devotion to Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo dates back to 1705, when Fr. Juan Echazabal, SJ, introduced it to the town.
Shrine rector Fr. Rodrigo Eguia thanked Cardinal Tagle for his presence in the historic occasion, which drew several prelates from across the country and hundreds of priests from various parishes in Rizal.
A marker declaring the church as a national shrine was unveiled prior to the Holy Mass.
As Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Cardinal Tagle plays a crucial role in promoting Catholic devotion and evangelization wordwide.
Students dressed in colorful costumes danced outside the national shrine as part of the celebration.
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