“The Dominicans of Manaoag: Responding to Our Lady’s Call to Praise, Bless and Preach,” edited by Greg F. Gregory, OP

It is interesting to note that “church” as a word refers to both the physical structure as a site of worship, and of the community of people gathered in prayer, faith and love for God. (In the case of the Catholic religion, the meaning is extended beyond the Sunday Mass assembly to encompass the faithful of the world joined in belief in Jesus Christ and participation in the Sacramental rites sourced from tradition, with tenets taught by a recognized, organized authority).

Pope Francis with Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP (left), the only Philippine member of the International Theological Commission, and Fr. Gaspar Sigaya, OP, archivist of the Dominican curia in Santa Sabina basilica (right), with young Philippine Dominicans taking up higher studies in pontifical institutions in Rome

The Minor Basilica and Priory of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag—known to many simply as the Manaoag Shrine —would certainly be the epitome of this definition. But it would not have become what it is today if not for the efforts of the Dominicans, who in the 17th century erected a small chapel on a hill which was in the “Dominican mission territory.”

The Dominicans have been the steady hands working hard to fulfill the evangelizing mandate put forth by their founder, St. Dominic de Guzman, and indeed—if one were to take the case of the Manaoag shrine— their efforts have been met with much success.

Dominicans friars leading the annual grand procession of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag every October—PHOTOS BY LESTER G. BABIERA

Merged history

This short, merged history of both the Church and the Order is told in words and photographs in “The Dominicans of Manaoag: Responding to Our Lady’s Call to Praise, Bless and Preach” (published by the Philippine Dominican Province [PDP]; 2016, 130 pp., hardcover), edited by Greg F. Gregory, OP, with photographs by Lester G. Babiera and chapter-articles by Regalado Trota Jose, Levine Andro H. Lao, and coeditor Joselito B. Zulueta (Inquirer Arts and Books editor).

Dominican jubilee

Called a “modest contribution” to the 800th founding anniversary of the Order of Preachers (1216-2016), the book is a “capsule history of the [Dominican] missionary efforts” in Manaoag, and also a visual compendium of images of festivities and rites every devotee would be familiar with.

The write-ups are succinct, but are not any less comprehensive. There are three parts coinciding with the Jubilee theme, which is nothing less than the three-fold charism of the Dominican Order—“Laudare, Benedicere, Praedicare (to Praise, to Bless and to Preach).”

Thousands of candles lit up daily by Marian pilgrims in Manaoag Shrine.

The first section provides a brief background of the town, a description of the church structure, and a report of the many miraculous favors granted by the Blessed Mother that led to the historic spread of the devotion—all of which depict why exactly Manaoag can be seen as “a microcosm of the Philippine nation and Church.”

Second part centers on the proclamation of Manaoag as Minor Basilica, which is the “highest recognition granted by the Pope for Catholic churches outside of Rome,” on Feb 17, 2015.

‘Preacher of Grace’

Concluding section is about the many-faceted application of the Dominican charism of “preaching.”

St. Dominic has been acclaimed as “Preacher of Grace” and “Light of the Church.” Recalling how he preached against the Albigensian heresy whose adherents believed matter is evil (and thus earthly life has no meaning), chapter author Zulueta writes how “(h)is sons and daughters and all those who have been infected by his charism continue to impart his message to the modern world where people are often unhappy and lapse into depression because they fail to see the many blessings that surround them.”

‘Mother who calls’

Clearly, at the heart of the Dominican mission is Marian devotion. Devotees fondly address the Lady of Manoag as Apo Baket—literally, “my mother who calls.” This theme of calling resounds in the town name that draws its essence from the call of Mary, and as this book makes clear, the community that responded to it has sustained a life of religious fervor.

Readers would certainly concur with the book’s closing insight: “Dominican preaching in Manaoag continues to bear much fruit spiritually, socially, morally, and across all areas of life. The torch of St. Dominic continues to set the world on fire. Definitely in Manaoag it continues to burn and give the faithful light and guidance.” —CONTRIBUTED

Copies of “The Dominicans of Manaoag: Responding to Our Lady’s Call to Praise, Bless and Preach” with messages by FrNapoleon Sipalay, OP, PDP prior provincial, and Fr.Anthony A. Eudela, OP, Manaoaog prior, will be presented to Pope Francis and Master of the Order Fr. Bruno Cadore, OP, during the solemn closing ceremonies of the Dominican Jubilee, Jan. 21, at Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.

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