THE VIRGIN OF THE HOLY ROSARY OF LA NAVAL
October is the month of the Holy Rosary for the Catholics, each day the rosary is recited at homes, schools, business establishments and other institutions to call for Mary's succor and assistance.
Filipinos are proud to be called 'un pueblo amante de Maria'-- that is, a nation loving of Mary, and in no way is this devotion better represented than in Our Lady of La Naval. As the story goes, when the Dutch navy attacked the countrt, the soldiers went to the church of Sto. Domingo where, they vowed to Our Lady to attend Mass as often as possible if she would grant them this victory. Our Lady answered their prayers, and like Lepanto, the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary crushed the invading fleet, thus saving the country from the protestant Dutch.
At the turn of the century, Sto. Domingo was, without doubt, the most beautiful of all the great churches in the country. On great feasts, its chandeliers, made of the highest quality materials, would be lit, flooding the church with the light of nearly two thousand candles. An American tourist described Mass in Sto. Domingo as being transcendent; its boys' choir was the pride of the nation, and their voices reverberated throughout the Neo-Gothic church like the 'crashing of waves on the sea shore'. Also, when the image of La Naval was processed, it was a sight to behold;
Santa Rosa de Lima
Unfortunately, Sto. Domingo is one of the casualties of the Second World War, when the Japanese imperial forces bombed Intramuros. It also did not help that the city was carpet bombed by the Americans. The only consolation is that the image of Our Lady survives to this very day, watching over her people as she always had.
Santa Catalina de Rici
Though not as lavish as before, this 400 year old tradition is still continued by the Catholic faithful. The Procession delas Processiones is annually held at its Santo Domingo Church in Quezon, City. The images of the “Festejad”, San Vicente Ferer, Santo Domingo, Santa Catalina De Sena, Santa Catalina de Rici, Santa Rosa de Lima and Santa Ines de Montepulciano are said to belong to the original entourage of the Queen of the Holy Rosary.
Santo Domingo de Guzman
Santa Catalina de Sena
I started my devotion to the La Naval when I was a freshman in UST. Since then, I have been visiting the Shrine praising and glorifying God’s endless graces I and my family received through the intercession of our Dear Mother of the Holy Rosary
