National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Shrine of Devotion, Shrine of Mission
Redemptorist
Baclaran, Philippines
Architecture | About
The Shrine that Prays with You
The Church's architecture is Modern Romanesque. The main architect was Cesar Concio and his associate Jesse Bontoc. They had planned to build a higher church with a bell tower. But because of its proximity to the airport, civil aeronautic regulations prevented them from carrying out their plan.
The architecture of the shrine was designed to contribute to an ambiance of prayer and devotion. Thus, it can be said that the shrine prays with the people. Discover the meaning of each of the part of the architecture of the shrine.
The Icon
The main object of veneration in the shrine is the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. The original icon enshrined above the main altar came from Germany. It passed through Ireland and Australia before the Redemptorists brought it to the Philippine in 1906. It bears the Papal arms in the back paneling.Baldachin
The baldachin is the shrine’s centrepiece. Its columns and capitals are made of giallo oro and Bottecino marbles. The gracefully curving altar rails under the baldachin are made of white Carrara marble. The shrine’s columns are made of Black Belgium marble, Moroccan onyx and Venetian mosaics.The Retable
The retable or altarpiece immediately behind and above the altar depicts an elaborate design and structure. It is a beautiful symmetrical work of art. It incorporates the tabernacle and serves as a pillar for the icon. The retable contains beautiful bronze sculptures of eight pairs of wheat stalks intertwining with each other. Their point of intersection is the tabernacle and crucifix. Four doves representing the Holy Spirit surround the crucifix. A bronze sculpture of vine and fruit grapes floats above it. The wheat and grapes symbolize the bread, and wine of the Eucharist.Nave
The nave is the main body of the shrine. It is the biggest part of the shrine. It is the zone of the shrine for the devotees and lay. This is where they stand, sit ,gather and pray. The shrine has a seating capacity of 2000 persons. More people, however are standing during masses and novena, estimated at more or less 9000 people. Along the long aisle of the nave, it is common to see people praying while walking on their knees towards the sanctuary.Rose Window
At the entrance of the shrine above the main door, devotees are greeted by a beautiful Rose Window. Rose Windows in shrines are dedicated to Mary as the Mother of Jesus. At the center of the Rose Window is a star which recalls Mary as Star of the Sea, our guide in the midst of darkness.Ceiling
Golden Color
Gold is the overriding color of the shrine which comes close to the golden background of the Icon. Gold in the icon evokes the life of joy and peace in eternity with God which we are all destined to be. The color between soil/ground and gold—immanent and transcendentCandle Chapel
The second most popular place in the shrine is the candle chapel where people light candles and pray silently and solemnly. Many stay still lengthily transfixed at the candles as if trying to imagine their lives when they have come into the light from the darkness of their lives.Carillon Bell Tower
The original plan included a bell tower, but this was cancelled due to the church’s proximity to the airport. After 60 years, this plan was realized. In 2015, a Carillon belfry was built near the Western entrance of the Shrine on Roxas Blvd. On September 8 of the same year, Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle blessed the newly-built belfry. There are 24 bells in this tower, all imported from Austria. There are also four mosaic panels of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on each side of the belfry. The carillon bells are automatically programmed to ring 15 minutes before every Mass or Novena service. It also hosts the Sinirangan coffee shop at its base.
Do you have any comments about the architecture and design of the shrine? We love to hear your thoughts. Please post your comments below.
National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Redemptorist Road,
Baclaran, Parañaque City 1700
Redemptorist Baclaran, 2017
C
Tel: +63 2 8321150
Fax: +63 2 551175
Email: baclaranrector@yahoo.com