National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Dolores, Quezon

“Pray for us, O Virgin most sorrowful, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.“

The Lenten season is a call to reflection.

During this time Roman Catholics commemorate the Lord’s passion by visiting seven churches in a tradition called “Visita Iglesia,” by walking the Stations of the Cross, or joining in the singing of the Pasyon or Pabasa.

In Dolores, Quezon, the faithful are also urged to contemplate The Seven Sorrows of Mary.

Located behind the National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows is a garden where pilgrims can take a solemn walk along a tree-lined path that has life-sized statues that tell of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.

This prayer walk starts with the first Sorrow, which is the Prophecy of Simeon. Simeon was the one who was told that he would not die until he had seen the Christ of God. Simeon’s prophecy, as Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple, was that “A sword will pierce your soul too.”

The second is when the Holy Family had to flee to Egypt to escape Herod the King who wanted to kill the child.

The third is the loss of the child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem. This happened when Jesus was twelve. After being presented at the temple, he stayed behind in Jerusalem. This went unnoticed by his parents and other relatives. They journeyed for a day and then returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

The next four stations tell of the Lord’s passion. These are Mary’s meeting Jesus on the Via Dolorosa, also the fourth Station of the Cross; the crucifixion of Jesus on Mount Calvary; Jesus being taken down from the cross; and the burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea.

At the end of the path, there is a gazebo where pilgrims can meditate further on the life of Mary.

Devotion to the Seven Sorrows

The Seven Sorrows of Mary is a devotion that started around the 14th Century. It was revealed by Mother Mary to St. Bridget of Sweden. It comes with seven promises to those who pray over these sorrows.

This devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, also known as Our Lady of Dolours, the Sorrowful Mother, Mother of Sorrows (Latin: Mater Dolorosa), Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, and Our Lady of the Seven Dolours, is especially remembered during September, the month of Our Lady of Sorrows and during the season of Lent.

National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows

The parish was established in 1840 and was declared the National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows on June 15, 2017. Many miracles are attributed to its patroness, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de Quezon. It has become a major pilgrimage site in Quezon.

There are two images of Our Lady venerated in this Shrine – one enthroned at the main altar and the processional and pilgrim image. These images depict a sorrowful Mary with teary eyes, hands held together, and a heart with seven daggers, representing the seven sorrows.

In 2019, the image was granted the honor of an Episcopal coronation, during Viernes de Dolores, or the Friday of Sorrows, a commemoration of the sorrowful Blessed Virgin Mary on a Friday before Palm Sunday.

The following year, this hundred-year-old image was canonically crowned, making it the 44th canonically crowned Marian image in the country. A canonical coronation is an act wherein the Pope designates that a crown be added to a Marian image.

Marian Museum

A staircase at the back of the church leads to a mini-museum dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores de Quezon.

Here, pilgrims can find the elaborate dresses made for the patroness; the crowns donated to Our Lady, including the crowns bestowed during the Episcopal and canonical coronation; and the perfumes our Lady wore. The museum also displays a replica of the image gifted to Pope Francis who is also a devotee of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Porta Sancta

The entrance to the shrine is also one of around 500 churches designated by Pope Francis as a Holy Door, Jubilee Door, or Porta Sancta. This is in celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines.

Catholics who visit any of the 500 churches, including the National Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, are granted a plenary indulgence, remission of punishment for sins. This can be obtained after fulfilling three usual conditions, which are going to confession, receiving communion, and praying for the Pope.

#UNLADDolores

Dolores was the first stop in the recently organized #discoverCALABARZON tour of the Tourism Promotions Board and the Department of Tourism-CALABARZON.

UNLAD Dolores, according to Mayor Orlan A. Calayag who welcomed the group, represents the municipality’s conscious choice to prioritize agriculture and tourism over development. UNLAD stands for Unahin Lagi and Diyos or God first. It is an embodiment of this mystical town’s deep respect for God’s creations and blessings.

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