The Immaculate Conception: GMP 2012 Part 1

First Sunday of December, with GPS activated in my handset, I drove to Intramuros to watch the grandest and most talked about procession of the country, the Intramuros Grand Marian Procession. The weather was fair, not too hot and sunny, a bit cloudy but does not show any signs that it would rain (unlike last year, it was totally wet, wet, wet). I arrived in Plaza Roma, fronting Manila Cathedral around 4 pm (I had to ride a pedicab since most of the entrance were already closed), by this time the procession had already started, and the first image, of St. Pedro Calungsod, was making its way towards the make-shift stage in front of the cathedral. The procession route was changed this year, the images were now coming from Cabildo St. to the church compared to previous years wherein it passes through Postigo St. to the church (so if you were seated in front of the Cathedral, in previous years the images were coming from the left, now from the right). 


The walled city closes its gates once again for the Grand Marian Procession. Since I arrived just in time for the procession-start, most of the best areas to photograph the procession have been occupied so I decided to do a walking-tour instead, from the cathedral I have to get to Fort Santiago.


The Manila Cathedral and the Grand Marian Procession, only the best and the grandest for the seat of Christianity in the country; in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.


New route: red stands for the new route; blue stands for the old one


The 2nd Filipino Saint, St. Pedro Calungsod was honored in this year's procession. He was a young Roman Catholic Filipino sacristan and missionary catechist, who along with Spanish Jesuit missionary Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, suffered religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam for their missionary work in 1672. 

Prayer to St. Pedro Calungsod

St. Pedro Calungsod student, catechist, young migrant, missionary, faithful friend, martyr, you inspire us by your fidelity in time of adversity; by your courage in teaching the Faith in the midst of hostility; and by your love in shedding your blood for the sake of the Gospel. Make our prayers your own and intercede for us before the throne of Mercy and Grace so that, as we experience the help of Heaven, we may be encouraged to live and proclaim the Gospel here on earth. Amen.  


San Andres, proclaimed patron saint of Manila


San Jose, can't get more "Christmasy" than this...


Details of the carroza of San Jose. Although it was really beautiful to the eyes, once again the question of what is appropriate for processions versus what is not, and what is too much arises...


The formation years of Mama Mary


The Annunciation. This depicts the angel Gabriel's appearance to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38), his announcement that the Blessed Virgin had been chosen to be the Mother of Our Lord, and Mary's fiat, her willing acceptance of God's holy plan.

Prayer to Our Lady of the Annunciation

Holy Spirit, You spoke to Mary through an angel to invite her to participate in the plan of salvation. Though she questioned how it was possible for her to become the mother of the Messiah, and she knew she faced rejection from Joseph and others, she gave You her yes. With the help of her prayers, I want to become fully willing to say yes to my part in giving Christ to the world. Encourage me when I don't understand what You're asking. Bless me with the grace of hearing the call and the courage to trust in Your plan. Let it be done unto me according to Your will. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.
Amen.


The Wedding of Mary and Joseph and Mary visits Elizabeth


Dela O, a depiction of a very pregnant Mary


Mary's two major roles in the Bible, as the Mother of Christ and as the sorrowful Mother during the events of her son's passion; bottom-right, capiz decorating the garlands adorning the carroza of the Mayor Dolor


The Dormition of Mary


Details of the carroza


The Resurrection and the Assumption


A virgin and Queen of man and of angels


Mary, "un-tier" of knots


A title taken from the Litany, Vessel of Honor


Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaog and the Alegria

The Patroness of San Agustin, Our Lady of Consolation

Beneath the shelter of your tender compassion

we fly for refuge, Mother of God.

Do not overlook our supplications in adversity

but deliver us out of danger.

The image looked radiant after the much deserved make-over

The Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the Philippines

Father, You prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy Mother of Your Son. You made it possible for her to share beforehand in the salvation Your Son, Jesus Christ, would bring by His death, and kept her without sin from the first moment of her conception. Give us the grace by her prayers ever to live in Your presence without sin. We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.



Mary, Mother of God, your greatness began at the first instant of your existence with the privilege of your Immaculate Conception. After Almighty God and the Sacred Humanity of Jesus, there is no being so great as you. It is true, you are a creature, and, therefore, far beneath the Supreme Being. But you are a creature so holy and so perfect that you are superior to all other creatures. God alone could make you so holy and so beautiful, and He did so to make you worthy of the dignity of being the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God, the Divine Word.



It was fitting that you, a virgin Mother, should conceive the Man who was also the Son of God. It was fitting that you should be adorned with the greatest purity ever possible to a creature. You are the Virgin to whom God the Father decreed to give His only Son – the Divine Word, equal to Himself in all things – that entering the natural order He might become your Son as well as His. You are the immaculate Virgin whom the Son Himself chose to make His mother. You are the immaculate Virgin whom the Holy Spirit willed to make his bride and in whom He would work the tremendous miracle of the Incarnation. The privilege of the Immaculate Conception was suitable to your dignity.



Mary, my immaculate Mother, help me to imitate your sinlessness by keeping my soul free from every willful sin by the faithful observance of God’s commandments. Help me to imitate your fullness of grace by receiving Holy Communion frequently, where I shall obtain the sanctifying grace that will make my soul holy and pleasing to God, and the actual graces I need to practice virtue. Through prayer may grace fill my soul with the life of God and transform me into a living image of Jesus, just as you were.



Moving Forward to Fort Santiago


Devotion to Mary, beyond race


Pieta and Mary, Health of the Sick

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, didst prepare a worthy dwelling place for thy Son, we beseech thee that, as by the foreseen death of this, thy Son, thou didst preserve her from all stain, so too thou wouldst permit us, purified through her intercession, to come unto thee. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who livest and reignest with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.

Rosary and Victory


Just like the old days...

Immaculate Virgin Mary, you were pleasing in the sight of God from the first moment of your conception in the womb of your mother, St Anne. You were chosen to be the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I believe the teaching of Holy Mother the Church, that in the first instant of your conception, by the singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race and your beloved Son, you were preserved from all stain of original sin. I thank God for this wonderful privilege and grace He bestowed upon you as I honour your Immaculate Conception

Our Lady of Sorrows of Cabuyao



Virgin Immaculate, Mother of God and my Mother, from your throne in heaven, turn your eyes of pity upon me. Filled with confidence in your goodness and power, I beg you to help me in this journey of life, which is so full of dangers of my soul. I entrust myself entirely to you, that I may never be the slave of the devil through sin, but may always live a humble and pure life. I consecrate myself to you forever, for my only desire is to love your Divine Son Jesus. Mary, since none of your devout servants has ever perished, may I, too, be saved.


Mary, Queen of Martyrs


Our Lady of the Stars...with stars adorning her carroza allover...this metallic material was a favorite add-on this year 


From Aransazu to Jesus' Heart


Our Lady of the Baranggay


Gold...gold...gold

Our Lady of Piat

Oh Virgin Mary our Lady of the

Visitation of Piat, I have recourse to

you today. I do offer this day in

praise and thanksgiving for past

benefits and in the hope of receiving

new blessings which you know I need

in life. Deigh oh dearest Mother to

shower upon us all the blessings

which we need most for body and

soul particularly (mention your

intentions) and the special grace to

die in God's love, through Christ our

Lord. Amen.

Our Lady of Piat, Pray for us.

This carroza used to be for Our Lady of La Naval...what's happening rigodon of carroza's...anyway see details of this humongous carroza


Images off the four evangelists adorn the sides of the carroza, St. Mark and St
Luke...I guess...no clues


St. John, because he looks young and St. Matthew because of the angel at his side...see other details of the carroza...

Our Lady of Montserrat

Another Christmas inspired carroza, Green and glittery...


Carroza details...


Our Lady of Salvation


The Marian image of the "hour"...soon to be canonically crowned, Our Lady of the Pillar of Imus, Cavite.


Carroza details


From Antipolo to Cagayan


From Antipolo to the Stars


Our Lady of Caysasay and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

The Filipinos' Spanish Dolorosa

Our mother of sorrows,

with strength from above you stood by the cross,

sharing in the sufferings of Jesus,

and with tender care

you bore Him in your arms, mourning and weeping.

We praise you for your faith,

which accepted the life God planned for you.

We praise you for your hope,

which trusted that God would do great things in you.

We praise you for your love

in bearing with Jesus the sorrows of His passion.

Holy Mary,

may we follow your example,

and stand by all your children

who need comfort and love.

Mother of God,

stand by us in our trials

and care for us in our many needs.

Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.

Continue to Part 2