“Regina caeli laetare, alleluia: Quia portare, alleluia: Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia: Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.“
Regina Caeli showcased pontifically crowned Marian images including the (top left) Nuestra Señora de la Consolacion y Correa (from Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Our Lady of Consolation and Cincture and with canonical coronation on September 4, 2000) and (top bottom) Nuestra Señora de la Luz (from Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light, Cainta Rizal and with canonical coronation on December 1, 2018)
San Agustin Museum together with the different Marian shrines and parishes in the Philippines have brought up a Marian exhibit called “Regina Caeli“. These latin words are the title of a musical antiphon used by the Catholic church liturgy to address the Blessed Virgin Mary during the Easter season.
From top left clockwise: Nuestra Señora de la Visitacion de Piat (from Basilica Minore of Our Lady of the Piat, Piat, Cagayan with canonical coronation on June 20, 1954), Nuestra Señora de la Regla de Opon (from the National Shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Regla, Lapu-Lapu City, Ceby with canonical coronation on November 27, 1954) and Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje (from the Cathedral of Antipolo, Antipolo, Rizal with canonical coronation on November 28, 1926)
Canonical coronation is a custom by the Catholic church of crowning holy images with a specific devotional title prominently venerated in a particular diocese or locality. These public declaration of crowning are given with Papal approbation.
From top left clockwise: Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario-La Naval de Manila (from the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval de Manila, Sto. Domingo Church, Quezon City with canonical coronation on October 5, 1907), Nuestra Señora del Santo Rosario de Manaoag (from Basilica Minore of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, Manaoag, Pangasinan with canonical coronation on April 21, 1926 and Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Naga (from Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Naga City with canonical coronation on September 20, 1924)
The first Marian image that was pontifically crowned was the painting of La Madonna della Febbre at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Here in the Philippines, there are 42 Marian images that have been granted pontifical coronations and enshrined in shrines and churches across the country.
From top left clockwise: Nuestra Señora de la Immaculada Concepcion de Casaysay (from the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Casaysay, Labac, Taal, Batangas with canonical coronation on December 8, 1954), Nuestra Señora de Guia (from the Nuestra Señora de Guia Parish, Ermita, Manila with canonical coronation on December 30, 1955) and Virgen de los Remedios de Pampanga (from the churches and chapels she visits during Cruzada dela Caridad y Buena Voluntad with canonical coronation on September 8, 1956)
Thirty seven of these Marian images are in Luzon, four in the Visayas, and one in Mindanao.
From top left clockwise: Nuestra Señora de la Immaculada Concepcion de Pasig (from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Pasig City with canonical coronation on December 7, 2008), La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc (from the Basilica Minore of St. John the Baptist, Diocesan Shrine of La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc, Badoc, Ilocos Norte with canonical coronation on May 31, 2018 and Mary Help of Christians (from the Mary Help of Christians Theological Seminary, Dagupan, Pangasinan subject for canonical coronation)
And according to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, 3 more will be crowned in 2020 including La Purisima Concepcion de Santa Maria in Bulacan, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in Quezon and Nuestra Señora de Lourdes of Quezon City.
From left to right: Mahal na Birhen ng Biglang Awa (Pronto Socorro) (from Boac Cathedral, Boac Marinduque with canonical coronation on May 10, 1958) and Nuestra Señora de Caridad de Bantay (from St. Augustine Parish, Bantay, Ilocos Sur with canonical coronation on January 12, 1956)
The exhibit showcased 30 of these pontifically crowned Marian images in the Philippines, aiming to show that the country is “Pueblo Amante de Maria” or a people in love with Mary.
From top left clockwise: Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Marikina (from the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned, Marikina City with canonical coronation on October 23, 2005), Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados de Manila (from Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish, Sta. Ana, Manila with canonical coronation on May 12, 1991) and Nuestra Señora del Carmen (from Basilica Minore de San Sebastian, Quiapo, Manila with canonical coronation on August 18, 1991)
Having known that the exhibit will just run from October 10 to 31, I immediately asked 2 of my colleagues at the university to go to San Agustin Museum.
From top left clockwise: Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia de Manila (from the Parish of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Paco, Manila with canonical coronation on November 10, 1985), Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario de Orani (from the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval de Manila with canonical coronation on April 18, 1959) and La Virgen Divina Pastora (from the Three Kings Parish, Gapan, Nueva Ecija with canonical coronation on April 26, 1964)
It was a breathe of fresh air to see those majestic Marian images after a day of stressful work at the university. And it was interesting to know the different titles given to the Blessed Mother based on the geographical location.
From top left clockwise: La Immaculada Concepcion de Malabon (from Immaculate Conception Parish Churh, Malabon City with canonical coronation on December 7, 1986), Nuestra Señora del Buen Suceso (from Parañaque Cathedral, St. Andrew Parish, Parañaque City with canonical coronation on September 8, 2000) and Nuestra Señora de la Caridad de Agoo (from the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Charity, Agoo, La Union with canonical coronation on May 1, 1971)
When I was a child, I was wondering why the Virgin Mary has so many names. But now I know that the titles of the Marian images are given based on her life events (i.e. Our Lady of Assumption), geographical location (i.e. Our Lady of Lourdes), her life experiences (i.e. Our Lady of Sorrows) and virtues (i.e. Immaculate Heart of Mary).
From top left clockwise: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Cebu (from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Cebu City, Cebu with canonical coronation on June 16, 2006), Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Sta. Cruz de Manila (from the Archdiocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, Sta. Cruz, Manila with canonical coronation on December 7, 2017) and Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Imus (from the Cathedral Parish of Our Lady of Pillar, Imus, Cavite with canonical coronation on December 3, 2012)
We ended up our Marian tour at San Agustin Museum by attending the 5:30pm mass at the adjacent San Agustin Church.
From top left clockwise: Virgen de la Rosa (from the Parish of Sts. Peter and Paul, Makati City with canonical coronation on March 16, 2019), Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Morong (from Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church, Morong, Bataan with canonical coronation on October 10, 2018) and La Virgen Soledad de Porta Vaga (from the Diocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora dela Soledad, Parish of San Roque, Cavite City with canonical coronation on November 18, 2018)
Amoj In Wanderland 