THE SIETE-DIA DEVOTION

The Parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary acknowledges that being elevated to a
Diocesan Shrine comes with responsibility. This recognition gives the parish an impetus to
deepen its devotion in a level worthy of such honor and blessing.

Under the inspired stewardship of its Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Vicentico C. Flores, Jr., the
seed of a special devotion was planted. It is called the Siete-dia Devotion where the Spanish
phrase Siete-dia means seventh day.

Why the seventh? The seventh day takes its significance from the feast day of Our Lady
of the Holy Rosary which falls on the seventh of October. A higher significance, biblically
speaking, came from the passage “on the seventh day after creation, the Lord rested.” (Genesis
2:2-3 2By the seventh day the work God had done was completed and He rested on the seventh
day from all the work He had done. 3And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because
on that day He rested from all the work He had done in His creation.) Thus the seventh day
becomes the Lord’s Day. And with Mary, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, we dedicate the
seventh day in thanksgiving, prayer, and devotion for the greater glory of God.

The Siete-dia Devotion, as a monthly ritual continually reassures the faithful that the
Blessed Mother is ever close at hand; at the same time, it becomes a build-up in the grand
celebration of her feast day. There are two facets to this observance: the Holy Mass and the
procession. During the mass the following prayer is recited:

Prayer to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Mother of all mankind, we humbly beseech you, hear our
supplications. May our fervent prayer, through intercession, reach Jesus, your Son and our
Savior. For every prayer we invoke on each bead of the rosary, may we feel your motherly love
and care. Merciful mother to all sinners, behold us, your children, our problems, sickness and
sorrows. We hope and trust that you will present all these to your Son, Jesus. May you grant us
peace, justice and prosperity.

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Star of the Sea, we entrust to you our undertakings,
especially our lake, source of God’s grace and mercy. May you spare us from danger and
disaster in the sea, as you guided the warships at the battle between Christians and Muslims at
Lepanto in 1571. Loving Mother, shield and protect us and our families so that unity and
harmony will always prevail. Please bring us closer to your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who
lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

It should be noted that on the second half of the prayer another title of the Blessed
Mother, Star of the Sea is invoked. This is one title that strongly resonates with the parishioners
and all the residents of Cardona. Living in a community right on the edge of Laguna Lake, their
life has been intricately intertwined with the lake and its bounty, evident in the town’s lucrative
fishing industry and the great number of fisher folks among them. Indeed, throughout the history
of the parish, they have always venerated their Patroness as the lake’s guardian and their
protector from water disasters.

In the procession itself, that affinity to the title Star of the Sea is further reflected in a
special carriage in the shape of a boat where the image of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary is
installed. To the faithful, the Blessed Mother on a boat-shaped carriage depicts her travelling
through the rough seas of life, inviting all to get on her boat and join her where she is headed – to
her Son Jesus.

Eighteen Siete-dia Devotions later, interest has not waned, and attendance has remained
high, its enthusiastic parishioners of all ages troop to the church every month on the seventh day.
The depth of their involvement is such that teenage girls and young women have taken to the
poles and willingly carried the procession image of the Blessed Mother on their shoulders.

In 2017, the parish celebrated the 145 th Anniversary of its founding, and a special logo
was designed for the occasion. In the logo, there is a green outer ring which the artist described
as symbolizing “the status of the parish at present – alive and well, a fertile ground where faith
continues to grow.” If parishioner participation is any indication, then it leaves little doubt that
the seed of Siete-dia Devotion has, by the grace of God, fallen on a fertile ground.

Whereas the National Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baclaran has its novena
every Wednesday; whereas the National Shrine of St. Jude Thadeus in San Miguel has its novena
every Thursday; and whereas the Minor Basilica in Quiapo has its novena every Friday; the
Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary has its Siete-dia Devoton on the seventh day of
each month.

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