Our Lady of the Tarlac Market (Philippines)

Marian devotion

Where is he?

Our Lady of the Market of Tarlac is being venerated at Our Lady of Mercy Shrine in Matatalaib, Tarlac City, Philippines. The image was moved to the Cathedral of San Sebastián for the pontifical coronation of 2023. The point of the map represents the town of Matatalaib, because the verified cartographic consultation does not offer an unequivocal geometry of the sanctuary.

Documented history

The source of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines describes the image of Our Lady of the Merced as an advocation venerated in the diocese of Tarlac and linked to the sanctuary of Our Lady of the Merced of Matatalaib. For the coronation ceremony, the image was taken from the sanctuary to the Cathedral of San Sebastián in Tarlac City.

The episcopal coronation had taken place on 24 September 2020. The pontifical coronation was held on 24 February 2023, with the participation of the Apostolic Nuncio in the Philippines, Archbishop Charles Brown, and the bishops and priests of the region. The news presents it as the second Marian image of the diocese of Tarlac that received a coronation granted by the Vatican.

The same source reports that the sanctuary received on December 7, 2022 a special spiritual link with the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria la Mayor. In this context, the local government granted the image the title of cultural treasure of the city and the sanctuary of the tourist place of Tarlac City. They are recognition of devotion and local heritage; they do not in themselves constitute a declaration of supernatural apparitions.

Devotion and celebrations

Devotion is articulated around the Marian image venerated in Matatalaib and the prayer life of the diocese of Tarlac. The pontifical coronation expresses the ecclesial recognition of the importance of this image for the piety of the faithful. The procession of the image to the cathedral for the ceremony is part of the recent documented history of the sanctuary.

The verified sources for this sheet do not contain a complete chronology of the foundation of the sanctuary or an annual holiday date that we can safely record. There is also no local apparition subject to ecclesial judgment. This is why the description is maintained in the context of the image, the sanctuary, coronation and documented public devotion.

Ecclesial State

Veneration allowed. The public veneration of the image, its sanctuary and the episcopal and pontifical coronation are documented by the ecclesial source. This state does not affirm an apparition or make any favor attributed by the devotees a approved miracle. The fact sheet refers to a Catholic advocation and sanctuary, not to a supernatural phenomenon pending approval.

Anecdotes and stories

The coronation of 2023 brought together representatives of the Church of Tarlac and of nearby dioceses in the Cathedral of San Sebastián. The temporary exit of the image from the Matatalaib shrine for the celebration helps to understand the relationship between the local sanctuary and the diocesan cathedral, without confusing both places or making the cathedral the permanent seat of the image.

Prayer

St. Mary of the Merced, pray for the people of Tarlac and for all who seek inner freedom, comfort and hope. Intercede to your Son for the families, for the sick, and for those who work for peace and the common good. Teach us to live with mercy and follow Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sources

• CBCPNews, “Tarlac’s Our Lady of Mercy formally receives pontifical coronation” (HTTP 200 consultation; ecclesial source on the sanctuary and coronation).
• Catholink, Diocese of Tarlac (HTTP 200 consultation; diocesan directory identifying the parish of Our Lady of the Dolores of Capas and the diocesan field).
• OpenStreetMap/Nominatim, Matatalaib, Tarlac City (HTTP 200 consultation; locality, not exact shrine geometry).