‘Canonical coronation’ of Our Lady of Lourdes image set next year

National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (Diocese of Cubao/Website)

MANILA — The canonical coronation of the more than a century-old image of Our Lady of Lourdes enshrined at National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Quezon City, will be held next year.

According to the Facebook post of the National Shrine, the religious event is set on May 2, 2020.

“The Capuchin Province of the Philippines during their Council meeting held on 22nd October 2019, has decided that the canonical coronation will be on May 2, 2020 at 9:30 a.

m. Save the date,” it said.

Last September, Pope Francis granted the canonical coronation the Our Lady of Lourdes image.

The approval was released several months after Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco requested for a canonical coronation of the 126-year-old image enthroned at the altar of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.

A canonical coronation is a pious institutional act, wherein the Pope designates a crown or stellar halo to be added to a Marian image under a specific devotional title in a particular diocese.

Likewise, it is the highest distinction the Church grants to an image.

It was reported that image of Our Lady of Lourdes has been venerated by generations of devotees in the parish and around the country.