Marian basilica in Spain, Our Lady of the Abandoned in Manila link up to promote devotion

The Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados (Royal Basilica of Our Lady of the Homeless) in Spain and the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned in Manila have established a link to strengthen the faithful's Marian devotion.

Valencia Archbishop Monsignor Enrique Benaven and Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula signed the document of the "spiritual communion," according to the basilica’s social media post on Monday.

The link highlights the increased devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the promotion of acts of love towards the marginalized that include the mentally disabled, pregnant women, young children at risk of abandonment, and women who have fallen into social exclusion.

History

In 1713, the English commissioned a replica of the original image of Valencia.

The replica commissioned for Manila was subjected to a ritual of "touch" with the main image in Spain, a process that was intended to establish a direct ontological and sacred link between the two churches.

The replica arrived in the Philippines in 1717.

In 1720, the Governor General and Archbishop Francisco de la Cuesta bestowed the title "The Governor of Manila" on the Marian image, placing her as the spiritual sovereign of the city.

Fr. Virgilio del Mundo, rector of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Abandoned, said the link recognizes the shrine as the “spiritual embassy” or main headquarters of Valencian devotion in Asia.

This preserved the Filipino-Spanish identity of the Marian image and ensured that the mission of serving the "abandoned" remains a global unified effort between the two nations. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News