PORTA MARIAE, a commemorative arch of the tercentenary or 300th celebration of the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in front of Naga City’s Metropolitan Cathedral, is set for inauguration today.
The grand portal, 18 meters wide, 4 meters deep and 11 meters high, is almost complete and undergoing finishing touches. The 10-foot-tall brass image of the Lady of Peñafrancia and two angels have been hoisted on top of the monumental gate.
The main portal at the center can accommodate at least eight persons while the two small gates can accommodate three persons in the two supporting columns in the left and right sides.
In olden times, monumental gates with grand arches, like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to honor those who fought for France during the Napoleonic Wars, were erected to mark historic events and to celebrate victories. The Peñafrancia Devotees of Metro Manila Foundation Inc. (PDMMFI) is headed by Lt. Gen. Salvador M. Mison (Ret.).
“The rite of opening doors marks a time of elation and thanksgiving,” Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, OP, DD, said of the incoming inauguration.
The Archdiocese of Caceres conceived the Porta Mariae. It was brought into reality by the PDMMFI which launched a fundraising campaign around the globe to finance the project.
Archbishop Legaspi, who led the groundbreaking ceremony for Porta Mariae on Sept. 19 last year that was highlighted by the lowering of a time capsule, said the gate is “a permanent symbol of Mother Mary’s abiding presence here in Bicol and in all her devotees all over the world,”
Mison said the gate marks the triumph of Christianity “over the hearts and minds of Filipinos, particularly Bicolanos” and “a landmark legacy where devotees and tourists will pay homage to for years to come.”
“It is our lasting gift to Ina [Mother],” said Naga City parish priest Msgr. Zosimo Ma. Sanado, HP. “It is our welcome gift to the coming generations.”
In the inauguration of Porta Mariae, Legaspi said, “we are called to open our own doors and share our stories, our faith experiences, our generosity, our hospitality and our filial devotion to Ina.”
The devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia, fondly called Ina, has grown worldwide. It started in 1710 and is celebrated every third Saturday of September, wherever the devotee is.
