Villegas: Our Lady of Manaoag centennial calls for tenderness amid global conflicts

MANAOAG, Pangasinan — As conflicts continue to erupt in different parts of the world, the centennial of the canonical coronation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag serves as a timely reminder for devotees to embrace tenderness, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said Tuesday.

Villegas made the remark during a press conference here, ahead of the Marian celebration.

“If we are tired of war, conflict, killing, and violence, it is the tenderness, compassion, and mercy of the Mother that we need,” he said.

“In this age of terror and war, the message of a mother’s tenderness is our cure,” the prelate added.

Villegas issued the call amid ongoing global tensions, including recent hostilities in the Middle East.

Mercy as strength

The archbishop also urged devotees to practice mercy, describing it as a hallmark of strength.

“We should not be afraid to be merciful. We should not be afraid to forgive or to be compassionate, because mercy, compassion, and tenderness are qualities of strong people,” he said.

Amid the spread of disinformation, Villegas said devotion to Our Lady of Manaoag can serve as an “antidote to the culture of fake news.”

“Manaoag and devotion to Our Lady are among our antidotes to the culture of fake news, to the manipulation of public beliefs and perception,” he said.

“Manaoag—the voice of veritas, the truth—is our spiritual and faith-based response to the many competing voices seeking our belief and confidence,” he added.

Centennial celebration

The canonical coronation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag will mark its 100th anniversary on April 22.

The Marian image was originally crowned on April 21, 1926, by Msgr. Guillermo Piani, then apostolic delegate to the Philippines, on behalf of Pope Pius XI.—MCG, GMA News