Marian basilica in Rome and Manaoag church now 'affiliates'

Visitors of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome and the Our Lady of Manaoag Church in Pangasinan in the Philippines will receive the same plenary indulgence as the two churches are now "affiliates." According to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the famous Manaoag shrine in Pangasinan has been honored by the papal basilica of Saint Mary Major, one of the four major basilicas in Rome. “This shrine (of Manaoag), among all other shrines, has been honored by the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome with a special bond of spiritual affinity in perpetuity!" Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said in a homily on July 22, according to an article posted on the CBCP news site on Sunday. Villegas said the Pangasinan shrine is "the first and the only church" thus far in the Philippines to have been given the title “affiliate" of one of the papal basilicas. Villegas said the spiritual bond of affiliation granted to Manaoag shrine by the Vatican is an honor to be celebrated with joy and gratitude. He said Pope Benedict XVI has assured pilgrims who will visit the shrine of his apostolic blessings and spiritual graces of the Church. “In Manaoag, the rosary will be prayed without relent and vigil candles will burn day and night as a tribute of love to the handmaid of the Lord," Villegas said. "In Manaoag, the Supreme Pontiff the Pope can always count on his spiritual warriors praying that the mission of Peter may continue in the church with loving children faithfully obeying him. In Manaoag, we commit to be proud of our Catholic faith, to defend it, to preserve it, to share it, to live it," he added. Saint Mary Major The CBCP said St. Mary Major is the oldest church built in honor of Mary as Mother of God, as defined by the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. It is where the relics of the crib where Jesus had lain when he was born from the Virgin Mary are being kept. Also, the CBCP cited tradition that claims the Virgin Mary had personally chosen the site when snow appeared on the site where the present basilica now stands - during a summer month in Rome. The basilica also served as the temporary dwelling of the popes before the papal residence was later moved to the Vatican Palace. The biggest Marian image in Rome is found in the basilica, the CBCP said. Affiliates of God Villegas said even before the two churches have become affiliates, “we have long been considered affiliates of God himself." He said human beings are destined for eternity, a life without destruction, unlike edifices that may crumble in time despite their grandeur. “No honor can equal that of being called a child of God," he added. Duty rather than privilege Meanwhile, Villegas reminded Catholics that Manaoag’s affiliation to the Marian basilica in Rome “speaks more of duties than privileges." “This affiliation demands from us greater fidelity to the Lord and to the Church. It calls on us for more heroic obedience. It challenges us to be more vigilant against the attacks to our faith, to be more humble and to be more repentant, to be more zealous and to be more loving. Truth to tell, the real indulgence is really when all of us live as faithful disciples of her Son," he said. - VVP, GMA News