ANTIPOLO CATHEDRAL PINAGKALOOBAN NI POPE FRANCIS NG ‘GOLDEN ROSE’

PINAGKALOOBAN ni Pope Francis ang International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage o ang Antipolo Cathederal ng Golden Rose (Rosa d’ Oro), na kinokonsidera na pinakamataas na pagkilala ng santo papa sa isang Marian image o shrine.

“The Golden Rose is considered as the highest honor given personally by the Supreme Pontiff to a Marian image and shrine across the world as it is a commissioned gift from the Pope himself,” ayon sa Antipolo Cathedral sa Facebook post.

Nagpahayag ng pasasalamat si Diocese of Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Santos sa Santo Papa para sa ipinagkaloob na Golden Rose.

“I would like to express my profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to our Holy Father Pope Francis for this special blessing and unique papal tradition of the gifting of the Golden Rose. We are very honored to receive this significant gesture defining a deep spiritual connection between the Pope and the Catholic Church’s strong reverence for the Mother of God,” ayon kay Bishop Santos.

“Our heartfelt thanks to Archbishop Rino Fisichella for visiting our International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage to offer this Golden Rose, a symbol of papal blessing and reverence,” dagdag niya.

“Coming to Antipolo now has a deeper meaning and comes with a new challenge. The blessing of receiving the Golden Rose is implanted in us. As such, we ourselves have become living with those who are called to spread this blessing wherever we go. Whenever we call or respond to the invitation: ‘Tayo na sa Antipolo’ (Let us go to Antipolo), let us spread the fragrance of mercy. Let us share the scent of forgiveness. Let us scatter the aroma of God’s love. Let the seed of the Golden Rose planted here bloom into a garden of endless roses from our diocese to all the parts of the country and the world,” saad pa ng bishop.

Ayon sa Antipolo Cathedral, ito ang kauna-unahang papal award na ipinagkaloob  ng santo papa sa Marian shrine ng Pilipinas at buong Asya. Ito na rin ang ikasiyam na pagkakataong nagkaloob si Pope Francis ng Golden Rose sa Marian Shrines mula nang manilbihang santo papa noong 2013.

Personal na inalay ni Archbishop Salvatore “Rino” Fisichella, Pro-Prefect ng Section on Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World ng Dicastery for Evangelization ang Golden Rose sa paanan ng Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje sa misa pasasalamat na ginanap sa Antipolo Cathedral nitong February 26.

Ang rosas na gawa sa purong ginto ay sinimulan pa noong Middle Ages at binasbasan ng santo papa tuwing Laetare Sunday o ikaapat na Linggo ng Kuwaresma sa pamamagitan ng pag-insenso sa balsam at musk at inilalagak sa gitna ng rosas na susundan ng pagbabasbas ng banal na tubig.

Maaring makatanggap ng mahigit sa isang beses ng Golden Rose ang isang dambana ngunit sa magkakaibang santo papa tulad ng Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore kung saan pinagkalooban ito nu Pope Francis ng Rosa d’ Oro noong December 8, 2023 ang ikatlong beses na paggawad sa dambana sapagkat pinagkalooban din ito ni Pope Julius III noong 1551 at Pope Paul V ng 1613.