Philippine bishops approve three new national shrines

Jan 27, 2025

MANILA: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has designated three churches as national shrines, says a report.

The Mary Queen of Peace Shrine, popularly known as the EDSA Shrine, the Our Lady of Loreto Shrine, both in the Manila Archdiocese, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu, from the Diocese of Antipolo, were elevated to the status of national shrines.

The bishops' announcement came on the first day of their plenary assembly, CBCP News reported on Jan. 26. Some 70 bishops from across the country are attending Jan. 25-27 meeting.

With the latest approvals, the Philippines has 33 national shrines.

The Catholic Church recognizes national shrines for their historical, spiritual, or cultural significance. Shrines are often linked to popular devotion, significant religious events, miracles, or apparitions.

Before receiving the status of a national shrine, a church must first be designated as a diocesan shrine by the local bishop or archbishop.

This requires the church to be a pilgrimage site for a specific piety, offering superior worship, Christian formation, and social services. Once these conditions are met, the parish can petition for canonical elevation.

Diocesan shrines can petition the national bishops' conference for recognition as national shrines when devotion grows.

The newly elevated shrines have a history, making them a hub of Catholic devotion in their locations.

The Mary Queen of Peace Shrine is located in Quezon City at the crossing of Epifanio de los Santos (EDSA) Avenue and Ortigas Avenue.

Catholics attribute the miraculous intercession of Mother Mary to oust the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos in a peaceful and bloodless uprising known as the People Power Revolution of 1986.

According to its official website, the Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu was elevated to a diocesan shrine in June 2004.

It is the only church named after the Virgin of Aranzazu in the Philippines and one of two shrines dedicated to this Marian title.

The devotion to the Virgin of Aranzazu started more than 550 years ago in Spain and was introduced to the Philippines through San Mateo more than 300 years ago.

The Our Lady of Loreto Shrine in Sampaloc, Manila, was founded by Spanish Franciscan priest Father Blas de la Madre de Dios, while worshipping the Our Lady of Loreto on May 1, 1613, Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) reported.

The church was rebuilt on Nov. 22, 1958, and was dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto. It was made an Archdiocesan Shrine on Dec. 5, 2002.

On March 23, 2023, the City of Manila approved Our Lady of Loreto as the patron saint of Sampaloc District, RVA reported.--ucanews.com