Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception [FDC-Manila Cathedral Inauguration, 1958]

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is an important feast in the predominantly Catholic Philippines. On 12 September 1942, Pope Pius XII rededicated the Filipino people to La Purisima Inmaculada Concepcion through the Papal Bull Impositi Nobis making Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception the titular Patroness of the Philippines.

[INSULARUM PHILIPPINARUM BEATISSIMA VIRGO MARIA TITULO IMMACULATA

CONCEPTIO PRIMARIA UNIVERSALISQUE PATRONA ET SANCTAE VIRGINES' PUDENTIANA

ACROSA LIMANA PATRONAE SECUNDARIAS DECLARANTUR]

The certification for the Author's enrollment in the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception
of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary

Furthermore, the Titular Church of the Archdiocese of Manila, the primatial diocese (i.e.  the first diocese created within the country or the oldest archdiocese—the Archdiocese of Manila is both, erected a Diocese on 06 February 1579 andelevated to an Archdiocese on 14 August 1595) in the country, is the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

The facade of the Cathedral-Basilica as seen from Plaza Roma (aka Plaza Mayor, Plaza  McKinley)

The facade of the Basilica bear's the Papacy's crossed keys and tiara.

The portal of the Catherdral-Basilica. The inscription at the tympanum reads:
Tibi cordi tuo immaculato concredimus nos ac consecramus
(We consecrate to your immaculate heart and entrust to you for safekeeping)

In its 400-year history, the Manila Cathedral has been destroyed Having been destroyed several times by natural disasters and fires. The first structure was destroyed by fire in 1583. The second was destroyed by an earthquake in 1600. The third was damaged by an earthquake in 1621. The fourth was toppled by another earthquake which shook Manila in 1645. The fifth was damaged by an earthquake in 1749. The sixth was severely damaged on 03 June 1863 by a very strong earthquake. The seventh cathedral was reduced to rubble by the bombing in 1945 during the Battle of Manila.

The eighth and present cathedral was completed in 1958 and solemnly consecrated on 07 December 1958, a day before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a tribute to Our Lady under whose guidance and patronage the Cathedral of Manila was able to reign as queen of the Walled City, refuge of Manila’s residents, and seat of the Catholic Church in Manila.

First Day Cover issued in celebration of the Inauguration of the Manila Cathedral. 08 December 1958.

 The Manila Cathedral is the only church in the country to become a minor basilica through the Holy Father’s own motion—motu propio—a personal decision that came without any prompting from any other source. The Manila Cathedral earned the title of Basilica of the Immaculate Conception by virtue of a Papal bull (decree) issued by Pope John Paul II on April 27, 1981. 

[AEDES MANILENSIS ARCHIDIOECESIS PRINCEPS BEATAE VIRGINIS MARIAE SACRA

SUB TITULO IMMACULATAE CONCEPTIONIS AD HONOREM ATTOLLITUR BASILICAEQUE

DIGNITATEM MINORIS]

A postcard of the Cathedral-Basilica with a stamp and canceller of Pope John Paul II,
the pontiff who elevated the status of the Cathedral to a Basilica