Manila Cathedral

For the cathedral-basilica in Bulacan, see Malolos Cathedral.
Manila Cathedral
Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica
Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Kalakhang Katedral-Basílika ng Kalinís-linisang Paglilihî ni María
Catedral-Basílica Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción de María

Façade of The Cathedral
Manila Cathedral
Location in Metro Manila
14°35′29″N 120°58′25″E / 14.59147°N 120.97356°E / 14.59147; 120.97356Coordinates: 14°35′29″N 120°58′25″E / 14.59147°N 120.97356°E / 14.59147; 120.97356
Location Manila
Country Philippines
Denomination Catholic Church
Website Manila Cathedral official website
History
Former name(s) Church of Manila
Authorising papal bull February 6, 1579
Pope Gregory XIII
Founded 1571
Founder(s) Padre Juan de Vivero
Dedication Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Consecrated 1581
Events April 9, 2014 (formal reopening following restoration)
January 16, 2015 (Pope Francis' Papal Mass)
Past bishop(s) List of Archbishops of Manila
Rufino J. Card. Santos (1953–1974)
Jaime Card. Sin (1974–2003)
Gaudencio Card. Rosales (2003–2011)
Architecture
Status Minor Basilica
Functional status Active
Architect(s) Fernando H. Ocampo
Architectural type Cathedral Basilica
Style Neo-Romanesque
Groundbreaking 1954
Completed 1958 (present structure)
2014 (earthquake retrofitting)
Construction cost ₱70 million (2012–2014 restoration)
Closed February 7, 2012 – March 25, 2014
Demolished 1945 (Battle of Manila)
Specifications
Number of floors 2
Number of domes 1
Number of spires 1
Materials Adobe and cement
Administration
Archdiocese Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila
Province Ecclesiastical Province of Manila
Clergy
Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle
Rector Reginald R. Malicdem
Laity
Director of music Ferdinand Bautista
Music group(s) Manila Cathedral Boys' Choir (males, 9-16)
Manila Cathedral-Basilica Choir (adult)
Servers' guild Cofradia de la Inmaculada Concepcion

The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Filipino: Kalakhang Katedral Basílika ng Maynilà; Spanish: Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Manila), informally known as Manila Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic basilica located in Manila, Philippines, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Principal Patroness of the Philippines. The cathedral serves as the see of the Archbishop of Manila.

Located at Plaza de Roma in the Intramuros district of the City of Manila, the cathedral was originally a parish church owned and governed by the Archdiocese of Mexico in 1571, until it became a separate diocese on 6 February 1579 upon the issuance of the papal bull, Illius Fulti Praesido by Pope Gregory XIII.[1] The cathedral was damaged and destroyed several times since the original structure was built in 1581 while the eighth and current instance of the cathedral was finally completed in 1958.[2]

The basilica has merited a papal endorsement from Pope Gregory XIII and three apostolic visits from Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis. On 27 April 1981, Pope John Paul II issued papal bull Quod Ipsum designating the cathedral as a minor basilica by his own Motu Proprio.[3]

History

Portrait of the Manila Cathedral before the 1880 earthquake. Note the octagonal, pagoda-like belfry, showing the influence of Chinese artisans on Filipino ecclesiastical architecture of the time.[4]

The cathedral was originally the "church of Manila" officially established in 1571 by a secular priest, Juan de Vivero, who arrived in Manila Bay in 1566.[5] De Vivero, the chaplain on the galleon of San Gerónimo, was sent by the Archbishop of Mexico, Alonso de Montúfar, to establish Christianity as the spiritual and religious administration in newly colonized Philippines. De Vivero later became the vicar-general and the first ecclesiastical judge of the city of Manila.

Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi chose the location of the church and placed it under the patronage of Santa Potenciana. The first parish priest of the church was Juan de Villanueva.[6]

When the church was raised to a cathedral in 1579, a new structure made from nipa, wood, and bamboo was constructed in 1581 by Domingo de Salazar, the first bishop of Manila. The new structure was consecrated on December 21, 1581, formally becoming a cathedral. The structure was destroyed by fire in 1583, which started during the funeral Mass for Governor-General Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peñalosa in San Agustin Church that razed much of the city.[1]

The second cathedral, which was made of stone, was built in 1592. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 1600. Construction of the third cathedral began in 1614. The new structure, consisting of three naves and seven chapels, was blessed in 1614. It was toppled by another earthquake which shook Manila in 1645. The fourth cathedral was constructed from 1654 to 1671. In 1750, a media naranja ("half orange") dome was added to the crossing by the Florentine friar Juan de Uguccioni, who also introduced a transept to the structure.[7]

It was severely damaged in 1863 by a very strong earthquake that also damaged the palace of the Governor General of the Philippines. In 1880, another earthquake toppled its bell tower, rendering the cathedral towerless until 1958. The seventh cathedral was constructed from 1870 to 1879. It was solemnly blessed in December 1879. The cross atop the central dome is a reference point of astronomical longitudes of the archipelago.

In 1937, the International Eucharistic Congress was held in the Philippines in which the cathedral played an integral part in promoting eucharistic beliefs. Both a cathedral stamp and medal was struck in commemoration of the event and was made by the official manufacturer of medals for the Congress of the Philippines at the time, the sculptor Críspulo Zamora.[8]

Manila Cathedral before the 1945 Allied Bombing of Manila
Manila Cathedral before the 1945 Allied Bombing of Manila
The ruins of Manila Cathedral after the bombing
The ruins of Manila Cathedral after the bombing

This incarnation of the cathedral was reduced to rubble by Allied bombardment in 1945 during the Battle of Manila, as the Second World War neared its conclusion.

The present cathedral was constructed from 1954 to 1958 under Cardinal Rufino Jiao Santos and under the supervision of the notable Filipino architect Fernando H. Ocampo.

Pope Paul VI made an apostolic visit and celebrated Mass in the cathedral in 1970. Pope John Paul II issued a papal bull Quod Ipsum on April 27, 1981, elevating the shrine to a minor basilica through his own Motu Proprio.[3] In the same papal bull, He reiterated that the Pope Paul VI's papal decree of June 6, 1968 be eternally preserved and enforced to the merits and titles of the cathedral as its own basilica.[9][10]

The cathedral's 50th restoration anniversary was celebrated in 2008, highlighted by the second Manila Cathedral Pipe Organ Festival from December 2 to 10, organized by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.[11]

In February 2011, the Archdiocese of Manila relocated the bells of the cathedral to the ground level to prevent tower collapse as exhibited in the past earthquakes. In January 2012, the cathedral replaced the bells, personally cast by blacksmith Friedrich Wilhelm Schilling of Heidelberg Germany in 1958. According to the new marker installed by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, the newly installed bells are the largest bells actively used in the Philippines. A total of seven Carillon bells were permanently installed in the ground level of the belfry weighing at 17 metric tons.[12]

2012 renovation and 2014 reopening

The cathedral underwent repairs for earthquake retrofitting and subsidence prevention in 2012.[13][14][15] During such period, the San Fernando de Dilao Church has been designated as the temporary official church (Pro-Cathedral) of the Archdiocese of Manila.[16] However, Msgr. Nestor Cerbo stated that the Cathedral will finish its renovations last March 25, 2014. Some added features and changes include installation of CCTV cameras, large flat screen television screens (similar to the Baclaran Church), improved audio-video systems, and improved interior and exterior LED lightings.[17] The cathedral completed its restoration on the said date and was reopened to the general public last April 9, 2014 after two years of renovation. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle led a holy mass after the reopening of the Cathedral attended by President Benigno Aquino III.[18][19]

2015 Papal Visit

On January 16, 2015, Pope Francis celebrated his first Papal Mass at the Cathedral as part of his Papal visit in the Philippines. However, the Mass was exclusive for the bishops, priests and the clergy.

The Mass was celebrated in three languages, English, Filipino, and Latin

Patron saint

A bronze life-sized polychrome statue of the Immaculate Conception by the Italian Enzo Assenza, located above the high altar. Consecrated by Pope Pius XII's Papal Bull Impositi Nobis in 1942, the Virgin Mary under this title is honoured as the Principal Patroness of the country.

In 1581 Pope Gregory XIII issued a papal bull consecrating the cathedral building to La Purísima Inmaculada Concepción de María,[1] while Miguel López de Legazpi consecrated the city of Manila to Saint Potenciana.

On 12 September 1942, Pope Pius XII rededicated the Filipino people to La Purísima Inmaculada Concepción through a Papal Bull called Impositi Nobis, while Saint Rose of Lima and Saint Potenciana remained as the secondary patronesses of the Filipino people.

The Latin declaration came in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis from January 20, 1942.[20]

Shrine rectors

Burials and funerals

The cathedral crypt is the resting place for former Archbishops of Manila and a few other prelates:

Two former Presidents were permitted to lie in state under the Cathedral dome:

President García was the first layman to lie-in-state and have his Requiem Mass said at the cathedral; President Aquino was only the second layperson and the first woman given this honour during her funeral. This broke with centuries of tradition that reserved the right of lying-in-state beneath the dome to Archbishops of Manila.[21]

Details of the shrine

Inscription on the tympanum of the main door of the basilica.

The main façade is a replica of the façade of the previous cathedral, along with statues of famous saints sculpted in Roman travertine stone. Several of the artworks inside the basilica were made by Italian artists. In the previous cathedral, they were originally made of molave wood. The statues of Saint Rose of Lima was sculpted by Angelo Fattinanzi while Saint Jacob, Saint Andrew, St. Anthony the Abbott was done by sculptress Livia Papini; St. Francis Xavier St. Polycarp by Alcide Tico.[22]

The façade (tympanum) of the cathedral bears a Latin inscription: Tibi cordi tuo immaculato concredimus nos ac consecramus (English: We consecrate to your immaculate heart and entrust to you (Mary) for safekeeping).

Emblem of the Papal insignia with permission of the Pope added in 1981

Since Pope John Paul II's apostolic visit to the basilica in 1981, a grand logo of the Papal Keys and Papal Tiara have been prominently featured on the top-front facade of the cathedral. The red galero hat of Cardinal Rufino Santos is also hoisted on the ceiling of the dome of the cathedral. In addition, a Roman copy of Saint Peter's seated statue from Saint Peter's Basilica is enshrined inside, along with a life-sized statue of the Immaculate Conception. Prior to 1988, the statue of the Immaculate Conception in the main altar was painted in gold.[23][24] An antiphon inscription on the baldachin above the statue of the Immaculate Conception reads: "Tota Pulchra es Maria et Macula Originalis Non est in Te" (English: Mary is all-beautiful and the stain of original sin is not in Thee).

The Immaculate Conception life-size solid bronze statue inside the shrine was made by renowned Italian sculptor, Maestro Enzo Assenza, was painted gold until 1988 (though the twelve star halo-aureola is solid gold). In addition, the baptismal font and angelic holy water fonts are also made of solid bronze by Publio Morbiducci; while the prominent mosaic of Saint Jude Thaddeus was made by Marcello Mazzoli. The 134 modern stained glass windows were made in 1964 by Filipino artist, Galo Ocampo, focusing on Marian themes and was commissioned and funded by Cardinal Rufino Jiao Santos.

The artistic designs of the stained glass windows of the Manila Cathedral are mostly products of the creative genius of Galo Ocampo, one of the most versatile contemporary Filipino artists during his time and a recipient of the 1964 Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award from the city government of Manila.[25]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The First Cathedral:1581 - 1583". Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. Retrieved on 2011-11-24.
  2. ↑ "The Eight Cathedral: 1958 - Present". Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. Retrieved on 2011-11-24.
  3. 1 2 (1981-04-27). "Quod Ipsum". Litterae Apostolicae. Ioannem Paulum Secundum, Papam. Manillensis Archidiocesis.
  4. ↑ http://www.aenet.org/manila-expo/page16.htm
  5. ↑ "History of the City". City of Manila Official Website. Retrieve on 2011-11-24.
  6. ↑ "The Church before it became a Cathedral : 1571". Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. Retrieved on 2011-11-24.
  7. ↑ "Dome". Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  8. ↑ (2012-04-28)."The Resilient Cathedral of Manila". The Philippines And Then Some.
  9. ↑ (1968). "Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Oficiale", pp. 536-539. The Vatican Archives. Retrieved on 2012-02-03.
  10. ↑ (1990). "Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Oficiale - Ioannem Paulum Secundum, Papam. Decretum de Titulo Basilicae Minoris". pp. 436-440. The Vatican Archives. Retrieved on 2012-02-03.
  11. ↑ (2008-04-29). "Activities lined up for Manila Cathedral's 50th restoration anniversary". GMA News Online.
  12. ↑ Official Stone Marker at the Manila Cathedral. Publicly installed by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, former Archbishop of Manila (2011). Located on the left side of the front door of the Basilica
  13. ↑ "Manila Cathedral closes for a year". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Manila Cathedral to be closed for one year". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Manila Cathedral not safe, to be shut for repairs". Business World Online. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Manila Cathedral still remains under repair". Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  17. ↑ http://www.interaksyon.com/article/79041/manila-cathedral-to-open-in-march
  18. ↑ http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/03/24/14/facelift-over-manila-cathedral-gets-brighter -Manila Cathedral renovations completed
  19. ↑ Rie Takumi (April 9, 2014). "Manila Cathedral reopens after two years of reconstruction work". GMA News. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  20. ↑ Pius XII, Papam (1942-09-12). "Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Impositi Nobis: Insularum Philippinarum Beatissima Virgo Maria Titulo Immaculata Conceptio Primaria Universalisque Patrona et Sanctae Virgines Pudentiana ac Rosa Limana Patronae Secundarias Declarantur.". pp. 336-337. The Vatican Archives. Retrieved on 2012-02-03.
  21. ↑ Quezon, Manolo (2009-08-13). "Notes on the Aquino funeral". The Philippine Daily Inquirer. INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
  22. ↑ "Statues". Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica. Retrieved on 2011-11-24.
  23. ↑ "Baldacchino Altar (1980s)". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-03.
  24. ↑ "Manila Cathedral Ordination". Flickr.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-03.
  25. ↑ Ortiguero, Romsanne. "With more resilient foundation, Manila Cathedral is all set for Holy Week and Easter Masses". Interaksyon.com. Retrieved May 3, 2014.

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