Feast of O.L. of the Abandoned, Saint Pancras

Today is the feast day of the venerated Our Lady of the Abandoned coinciding with the feast of another well-loved saint, Saint Pancratius.

A ‘misa mayor’ (high mass) will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. today at the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish in Santa Ana, Manila, in celebration of the Feast of the Our Lady of the Abandoned (Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados).

A grand procession will be held at 5 p.m. A solemn procession was also held yesterday while novena masses were held from May 3 to 11.

Feast rites will also be held at the Diocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of the Abandoned in Marikina City, where pilgrims line up to venerate the miraculous canonically crowned image of the Blessed Mother. Commemorative rites will also be observed in Muntinlupa City, Mandaluyong City, and in Valencia, Negros Oriental.

Also today, the Church commemorates the Feast of Saint Pancratius or Saint Pancras, venerated in many parts of the world as the patron saint of children. Feast masses will be held in his honor at 9 a.m. and at 5 p.m. at the St. Pancratius Chapel in Paco Park, San Marcelino Street, Paco, Manila. A solemn procession follows the 5 p.m. mass.

Saint Pancras was a Roman citizen who converted to Christianity during the third century at a time of intense Christian persecution. He was martyred at the young age of 14 around the year 304 for refusing to renounce his faith. Over the years, devotion to the young saint grew in popularity in many countries including the Philippines. In Rome, Italy where his major shrine is located, hundreds of devotees and pilgrims visit every year.