Cardinal Sin: Rosary Exhibit Teaches Mary’s Love

Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, Archbishop of Manila, opened the Interactive Rosary Exhibit of the Archdiocese of Manila on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption, pointing to the distinctive role of Mary in salvation history.

"This exhibit, like today’s feast, hopefully will teach us that the passage to life is the encounter with love. Eternal happiness is in store for those who toil for truth and justice and do their utmost to follow Christ. In Mary the promise is fulfilled: the Mother is blessed and we her children will be blessed if, like her, we listen to and put into practice the Lord’s words," the Cardinal said.

He said Mary is our consoling sign of hope. "Used to looking at earthly realities, we are invited in this exhibit to lift our gaze: to heaven, which is our definitive homeland, where the Blessed Virgin awaits us. This message consoles us who are constantly tempted by material interests and concerns," he said.

The Interactive Rosary Exhibit is being presented by the Archdiocese of Manila and the Family Rosary Crusade at the PNB Finance Center along Pres. Diosado Macapagal Avenue in Parañaque from August 15 to September 8, daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Rosary Exhibit is one of the many activities in the Archdiocese of Manila that marks the Year of the Rosary as declared by the Holy Father Pope John Paul II to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his Pontificate. The opening of the exhibit also signals the start of the festivities to celebrate the 75th birth anniversary of Cardinal Sin on August 31, 2003.

Fr. Gennie Diwa, Minister of the Ministry for Liturgical Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila, in his welcome remarks said that the exhibit "is also our tribute to His Eminence as begin to celebrate his 75th birth anniversary."

"His (Cardinal Sin’s) pastoral guidance of the Archdiocese of Manila has been clearly Marian in character…. This Rosary exhibit has been inspired by his passion for the Mother of the Lord, seen in all the great moments in the history of the Philippine Church in the recent years. This exhibit is our expression of gratitude to Our Lady for the gift of her beloved and faithful Son, in the great Pastor of the Archdiocese of Manila."

Fr. Diwa described the exhibit: "The exhibit is designed to help expecially our young people rediscover the beauty, the power and the meaning of the Rosary. The exhibit is divided into three sections: the panoramic view of salvation history, which is the context of the whole mystery of Christ, our salvation; second, the history of the Rosary in the light of the living tradition of the Church and the third, is the virtual pilgrimage that will help the guests of the exhibit become pilgrims, discovering the different faces of the Blessed Mother as she unfolds to us the message of the Gospel in contemporary events."

Ambassador Howard Dee, chairman of the Family Rosary Crusade, delivered the closing remarks. He likewise pointed to the deep Marian spirituality of Cardinal Sin. Jaime Rivera rendered the theme song of the Year of the Rosary, "Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosaryo" which was composed by Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo. Children of the Children of Joy school sang and presented visuals to accompany the song.

Officials of the Philippine National Bank, which provides the venue, led by president Lorenzo Tan and chairman Francisco Dizon assisted Cardinal Sin in the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon.

Among those assisting in the organization and presentation of the exhibit are Ligaya ng Panginoon, Campus Ministry and the Arzobispado of the Archdiocese of Manila.

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