CBCP elevates 3 churches as national shrines

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has designated three churches in Manila, Quezon City, and San Mateo, Rizal as national shrines.

In a statement Sunday, the CBCP said that the bishops on Saturday voted to elevate the following churches as national shrines: 

• the Archdiocesan Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace or Edsa Shrine in Quezon City (Archdiocese of Manila)
• the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto in Manila (Archdiocese of Manila) 
• Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo, Rizal (Diocese of Antipolo)

Built in 1989, the Edsa Shrine commemorates the February 25, 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and also served as the venue for the 2001 demonstration that led to the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada.

The Loreto Shrine was originally built by the Franciscans in 1613 but was destroyed during the Battle of Manila and later restored in 1958. The church in Sampaloc houses the centuries-old image of the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Loreto and is currently the only parish in the Philippines dedicated to this Marian title, according to the CBCP. 

Meanwhile, the Aranzazu Shrine’s history started from 1596 when Augustinian friars set up the first settlements in the area. In 1659, the CBCP said a parish was built in honor of St. Matthew. After the Jesuits took over in 1696, the patronage was shifted to Our Lady of Aranzazu and a devotion started by a Jesuit priest in 1705.

”A national shrine is a sacred site recognized by the Catholic Church for its historical, spiritual, or cultural significance, often linked to popular devotion, significant religious events, miracles, or apparitions,” the CBCP said.

“It is also designated to promote the faith through exemplary liturgical celebrations, pastoral care, and dedicated ministry to the faithful,” it added. —Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News