EXTERNAL SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Church of Santo Domingo (Saint Dominic) de la Naval is a Dominican church in Quezon City (greater Manila area).  It is a huge and spacious church situated on a main thoroughfare.  But its main attraction is this ivory and wood statue of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval, dating to the 16th century. 

In 1646, the Dutch tried to conquer the Philippines.  The combined Spanish and Filipino troops begged Our Lady's intercession before this image, and the sea battles with the Dutch ended in a clear victory for the Spanish and Filipino forces.  Barefoot, the Filipino soldiers walked back to this statue to render thanks.

Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form is celebrated at this altar of Our Lady at Santo Domingo every second Sunday of the month.  It was a privilege for me to sing Mass here before Our Lady's venerable image.

 

The Mass is usually well-attended.  Many young people make up the congregation.

That Sunday, we observed the External Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, so after Mass, we exposed Our Blessed Lord in preparation for the Eucharistic procession.  The ombrellino I ordered in Manila for our Guam community got its first use at this procession, seen unfolded on the left.

 

The Procession

LAUS DEO!