Why do the faithful come to Manaoag to have their cars blessed?

MANAOAG, Pangasinan — The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Marian image’s canonical coronation, with thousands of devotees attending to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and offer prayers and thanksgiving.

READ:  Manaoag Basilica marks 100th anniversary of Marian image canonical coronation

Pilgrims visit the Marian image to pray for healing and seek blessings. Some ask to pass the board examinations, others seek recovery from medical conditions—and some have their cars blessed, a practice that has become a tradition as people transitioned from horse- or carabao-drawn carts and carriages to motor vehicles.

Speaking to GMA News Online, Church historian Fr. Wilhelm Boñon, OP, said the pilgrimage to the Manaoag Minor Basilica started in the 1800s, as accounts of the miracles of Our Lady of Manaoag spread.

“They would go here from different parts of the north. From Pangasinan, from Ilocos, from Nueva Ecija, even from Cagayan, they would come here on pilgrimages. They would bring their caravans along with their families,” Boñon said.

“Then, the opening of the highways, expressways, napadali yung pagpunta sa Manaoag [going to Manaoag became more convenient],” he added.

Commitment of priests

Fr. Felix Legaspi III, O.P., Manaoag Minor Basilica rector, said the increased accessibility of the church resulted in many parishioners asking to also have their vehicles blessed.

“Nag-adjust din siguro yung mga pare when it comes to their commitment to the apostolate,” Legaspi said. “That's really part of our priority, yung car blessing. Kaya nga sa schedule namin, after ka mag-Misa, kailangan nandun ka.”

(The priest also adjusted when it comes to their commitment to the apostolate. The car blessing has also become part of our priority. So, in our schedule, we need to be there after the Mass.)

He said the clergy’s commitment ushered devotees closer to Our Lady of Manaoag.

“Bago naniwala yung mga tao, yung mga pari napaniwala nila. And we believe na ganun po yung intercession ng ating mahali na ina, Our Lady of Manaoag,” Legaspi said.

(Before the people believed, the priests did first. And we believe in the intercession of our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Manaoag.)

The blessing of vehicles also enriched the faithful’s religious experience, alongside attending Eucharistic celebrations, doing confessions, and praying at the candle gallery.

“Yun ang tinatawag na parang sensus fidelium, yung sense ng faithful. Ay, pupunta ako doon because I feel spiritually nourished,” Legaspi said.

(We call that sensus fidelium or a faithful’s sense. I will go there because I feel spiritually nourished.)

Religious experience

The image of Our Lady of Manaoag comes from the Pangasinense word meaning “to call,” a term linked to its origin story that has been passed down through generations.

The story recounts the time the Blessed Mother appeared to a local farmer on top of a hill and instructed him to build a church at the site so the faithful could come to her and seek her intercession.

READ: 5 must-know facts about Our Lady of Manaoag

On April 22, the Manaoag Minor Basilica marked the centennial anniversary of the Marian image’s canonical coronation, with thousands of devotees braving the heat just to get a closer encounter with the Blessed Mother.

READ: Devotees brave heat for Manaoag Shrine centennial

For those in Metro Manila, making a stop at the Manaoag Minor Basilica makes the long journey worth it, according to Boñon.

“Naging tradition na ang pagpapabreak-in ng sasakyan. So, if you buy from Manila, you would go to Pangasinan immediately after you buy your vehicle and have it blessed here. So, parang yung long journey na yun, parang sulit kasi pupunta ka na sa Manaoag,” the Church historian said.

(It has become a tradition to break in a vehicle by bringing it here. If you buy one in Manila, you go straight to Pangasinan to have it blessed. The long journey feels worthwhile because you also get to visit Manaoag.)

Blessings for vehicles have been postponed to make way for the centennial anniversary celebrations. — BM, GMA News