(Devotees swarm the anniversary of the coronation of their “Indu ning Capaldanan”. Photo Courtesy of Pampanga PIO)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Despite a light to moderate drizzle, thousands of Kapampangan devotees once again gathered before dawn on Saturday at the Capitol grounds here for the 62nd anniversary of the canonical coronation of Virgen De Los Remedios (VDLR), the patroness of Pampanga.
The 4 a.m. coronation and Thanksgiving Mass led by main celebrant, Archbishop Florentino G. Lavarias, was preceded by a procession from the Metropolitan Cathedral to the Arnedo Park at the Capitol grounds here.
The 62nd anniversary was dubbed the Crusade of Penance and Charity of the Santo Cristo Del Perdon and Virgen de los Remedios.
This the third straight year that the canonical coronation was held at the Capitol grounds here.
The devotion of Kapampangans to the VDLR is believed to be one of the reasons behind the numerous blessings that Pampanga has been receiving throughout the years, Lavarias said. The Archbishop also stressed in his homily the need to be steadfast in following God’s word and never forget that the Church should and must always be a Church of the Poor.
VDLR or “Indu Ning Capaldanan” is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated by the Kapampangans.
Under this particular title, Mary is officially designated as the Patroness of Pampanga and was granted its official title and given a canonical coronation by Pope Pius XI through a papal bull on July 15, 1956, while its official feast is celebrated on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary on September 8.
The paired devotion alongside with a crucifix called Santo Cristo Del Perdon is highlighted in a prayer apostolate known as Crusaders for Penance and Charity, a prayer group started by women which focused on Catholic social justice for the poor and the destitute and was once instituted to combat communism.
