Sept. 30 2016, 7:28 p.m. – A DOMINICAN priest on Thursday condemned the debasement of women at the opening of this year’s rosary month, branding as “false” the congressional inquiry into Sen. Leila de Lima’s alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

The Bilibid drug probe on de Lima, being led by allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, is an example of societal discrimination against women, said Fr. Rolando Mactal, O.P. in his homily during the Mass for the enthronement of the centuries-old image of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, also known as La Naval de Manila, at Santo Domingo Church last Sept. 29.

“May [mga] babaeng nasa politika na sinasangkot ng kanilang mga kalaban sa iba’t-ibang kalaswaan at droga … nakakalimutan ng lahat na marami ring babae ang marunong manindigan at magtapat laban sa masama,” said Fr. Mactal, prior of Santo Domingo Convent, the community of Dominican friars in Quezon City.

Mactal urged Marian devotees to imitate the virtues and piety of the Blessed Mother. “Ito [ang] hamon ng ating Mahal na Maria, hindi man natin mababago ang daigdig, maaari nating baguhin ang naituwid na kinaroroonan natin at ang ating mga sarili,” he said.

The Church, he stressed, is a “mother who conceives the faithfulness amongst believers.”

“Kaya ang Simbahan ang Ina ng Bayan. Ang buhay ng Simbahan ay hindi nasusukat sa lakas ng ating mga puso, pero sa tindi ng ating katapatan, pag-ibig, pag-unawa, pananampalataya, pag-asa, at higit sa lahat, pagpapatawad,” he said.

Bro. Agustinus Hermawan, O.P., a Dominican from Indonesia, said the La Naval feast recalls the Blessed Mother’s relationship with humanity. “The purpose of this celebration is to be close with her,” Hermawan told the Varsitarian in an interview.

The enthronement marked the start of the nine-day novena ahead of the La Naval feast celebrated every second Sunday of October.

The feast of La Naval de Manila will reach a climax with a grand procession on Oct. 9 at 4 p.m., around Santo Domingo Church.

The October rosary devotion has a special significance to the Philippines as it also commemorates the miraculous naval victory of Spanish and Filipino troops against Protestant Dutch invaders in 1646.

The sea victories were attributed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

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