Mary, Help of Christians of Pangasinan - Mother of Vocations

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Mary, Help of Christians of Pangasinan
In the peaceful yet prosperous province of Pangasinan, known for its fishing industry, it's beautiful scenery, and most notably a pilgrimage hotspot where the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag is located, the province is also known for the increasing number of vocations in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan.

The notable number of priestly vocations in the said archdiocese is somehow unheard of, especially these modern times.

The increase of the vocations is attributed to thru the intercession and maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her well known litany title as "Help of Christians". She became the maternal comfort and strength of the seminarians of the Archdiocese and a devotion to her became a welcoming development on this story.

In line with recent news of her Canonical Coronation, we will discover how this well known Marian sobriquet linked to the flourishing vocations in Pangasinan.

 The image

Mary, Help of Christians of Pangasinan
The beautiful image of "Maria, Auxiliadora de Los Cristianos" (Mary, Help of Christians in Spanish) is based from the popular iconography of the Virgin under this title as seen by St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesian Order and known as the great promoter of the devotion in modern times.

The Virgin standing on a cloud, holding a scepter and the Child Jesus on the other hand. The Virgin wears the diagnostic (for this Marian title) blue and pink robe while the Child wears a green and brown robe. Both the Madonna and Child are presented as the King and Queen of Heaven and Earth and it is emphasized with the placement of the crowns on their heads and a scepter to the Virgin. The regal Mother and Child looks down to their devotees to emphasis their attentiveness to the supplications of the faithful.

 The Origin

The origin of the devotion to Mary, Help of Christians in the Philippines began thru the efforts of then Papal Nuncio Archbishop William Piani, SDB where during his 27 years of his tenure as the Papl Nuncio, he spread the devotion far and wide throughout the country. He populated the country with numerous images of Mary Help and he established several parishes under her patronage, prior to the arrival of the Salesians in 1951, and the establishment of the Archconfraternity of Mary Help of Christians to further propagate the devotion.

Mary, Help of Christians of Pangasinan
The Mary, Help of Christians Minor Seminary in Binmaley, Pangasinan was established in 1929. The image of Maria Auxiliadora was given by then Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop William Piani to then Bishop Cesar Ma. Guerrero, then Bishop of the Diocese of Lingayen-Dagupan (which was later elevated to an Archdiocese) as a gift to the seminary. Bishop Guerrero was known to be a good friend of Archbishop Piani and he became the first Filipino Bishop to become a member of the Archconfraternity.

Originally, Bishop Guerrero intended to name the Seminary to St. Alphonsus Liguori, Founder of the Redemptorist Order, however this changed to Mary Help of Christians upon receiving the image and it will be more appropriate to the seminary. Since enthronement of the image of Maria Auxiliadora, she helped nurture the seminarians to heed the call for priesthood and helped them persevere to this calling.

 The Honor of Canonical Coronation 

The Canonical Coronation of Mary, Help of Christians of Pangasinan
In recognition of the role of Mary, Help of Christians in nurturing the vocations in the Archdiocese for the past 89 years since the founding of the seminary, Pope Francis has granted the canonical coronation of the image of Mary Help of Christians of the seminary. “This is a clear message of affirmation from the Holy Father that this image of the Mother of God with the Child Jesus has contributed to the growth of the Catholic faith in Pangasinan for the past ninety years,” Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan said in an interview thru CBCP news regarding the upcoming coronation rites.

The Canonical Coronation rites of the venerated image was presided by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Gabriele Caccia at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Dagupan City on August 22, 2018, the Feast of the Queenship of Mary attended by numerous Marian devotees from different parts of the country.

Mary, Help of Christians of Pangasinan
A developing devotion

The image of Mary Help of Christians of the seminary is currently enshrined at the Mary Help of Christians Theology Seminary in Palapad, San Fabian, Pangasinan. A small shrine was constructed behind the Seminary chapel for pilgrims to come for veneration without disrupting the seminary silence and discipline.

A Confraternity will also be established to further propagate the devotion to Mary Help of Christians to the whole Archdiocese. As per the decree issued by the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, the image will be transferred to the St. John the Evangelist Cathedral in Cathedral every August 22, Feast of the Queenship of Mary, to celebrate the Anniversary of her Canonical Coronation which will be known as her second fiesta.

The devotion to Mary, Help of Christians have come a long way over the past centuries, from a succor for the protection of the Catholic faith in the whole Christendom and a Mother who cares for her faithful children to a nurturer of vocations for her Son's vineyard. In these tough times where Our Holy Mother Church is being persecuted here and the rest of the World, the Blessed Mother once again is showing her concern to us by nurturing and strengthening our priests and future priests so they can perform their priestly ministry not only to bring the Gospel to the people and defend it, but also to continue the perpetual sacrifice of Calvary in the offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to atone for all the sins of mankind and appease the Divine Justice.

Mary, Help of Christians of Pangasinan
As we close this blogpost dedicated to Mary, Help of Christians of Pangasinan, here is a prayer that was prepared for the upcoming Canonical Coronation rites that is disseminated throughout the Archdiocese:

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, how sweet it is to come to your feet imploring your perpetual help. If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children, how can you, the most loving of all mothers, forget me? Grant then to me, I implore you, your perpetual help in all my necessities, in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations. I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering. Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners. Grant that through your intercessions many vocations to the priesthood. Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians, that having invoked you on earth, we may love and eternally thank you in heaven. Amen.

References:

"Canonical Coronation Decree". Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
"Circular 2018-9". Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
Lagarde, Roy (May 15, 2018), Pope approves coronation of Mary Help of Christians in Pangasinan, Retrieved on July 3, 2018 from http://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/pope-approves-coronation-of-mary-help-of-christians-in-pangasinan/
Nolasco, Bernard, SDB, (2016), Mary Help of Christians in the Philippines, Don Bosco Press, Makati City.

 Photos that were utilized for this blogpost are courtesy of the official Facebook page of the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. +AM+DG+

Comments

  1. L.A.August 25, 2018 at 9:23 AM

    The Prayer is actually one of the prayers composed by St. John Bosco as stated in the Official Devotional Resource and Guide published with Ecclesiastical Approbation by the National Shrine in Parañaque.

    In regards to the planned Cofradia, there is the already established Association of Mary Help of Christians also known as ADMA. So they should perhaps set up a local chapter.

    It is my hope that the much older (1922) Piani image that is currently enshrined at the National Shrine will also be given the honor of a Canonical Coronation. That statue was the one that was originally enthroned within the Manila Cathedral Basilica before WW2.

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