‘Philippine Rosary Crusade’ Launches to Coincide With Revolution’s 40th Anniversary| National Catholic Register
This month marks the 40th anniversary since the EDSA People Power Revolution — the historic revolution of 1986 in which the Philippines, against overwhelming odds, miraculously triumphed over a 20-year dictatorship.
The revolution was a battle not won with weapons, but with the power of 2 million Filipinos united in praying the Most Holy Rosary under the leadership of Cardinal Jaime Sin.
This month, coinciding with the revolution’s 40th anniversary, a new crusade has launched to combat contemporary threats facing the island nation: political corruption, “woke” ideologies, and growing atheism among the Filipino youth.
Marian Father James Cervantes, the priest who was instrumental in leading the Philippines to make history as the first nation to consecrate itself to Divine Mercy, felt inspired by the Lord to spark the initiative.
“The premise is simple. Pope Pius XII called the Philippines ‘Kingdom of Mary, Kingdom of the Rosary.’ Even though we are a predominantly Christian nation, sad to say, so many children are lost, so many families are broken, so many people have given into vices and resorted to following the ways of the world,” he said.
“We are launching a Holy Rosary Crusade to reclaim the Philippines as the ‘Kingdom of Mary, Kingdom of the Rosary.’ This Holy Rosary Crusade is a vigorous campaign for the spiritual and cultural renewal of our people, families and nation.”
The country has faced various government scandals over the years — like the recent flood-control scandal, which prompted Catholic Churches to encourage wearing white to Sunday Mass in support of the “Trillion Peso March” protests. However, the battle facing the nation is not merely political. It is, at its core, a spiritual one.
The Philippines — one of the only nations in the world that has not legalized divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage — has been relentlessly pressured in recent years to adopt a “woke” brand of sex education, abortion and divorce; the bishops have been outspoken.
Venerable Philippine Archbishop Teofilo Camomot stated, “Our homes will only be holy and pure again if Jesus and Mary will reign. The way that they will reign in our homes … is to always pray the Holy Rosary.”
So how can the faithful join this Rosary Crusade?
“We will gather every evening at 9 p.m. Wherever you may be, stop and pray the Rosary together — as a family, as a nation. If you would like to join us, there is an online platform available. What is important is to simply pray,” explained Father Cervantes.
Since its launch, the nightly Rosary Crusade has consistently gathered an average of 200 to 230 participants each evening.
“Praying the Rosary is no longer optional. It has become a necessity, given what is happening in our country and in the world,” said Father Sandy Lichauco, 56, who attends the nightly crusade. “It doesn’t take much to see that we are facing a spiritual battle — and the Rosary is the greatest weapon we have. We’ve already witnessed its power. Forty years ago, more than 2 million Filipinos prayed the Rosary, and the miracle of EDSA happened.”
Youth are participating, too. Iggy Jiang, 11, stated: “I hope the result of this Rosary Crusade is to convert nonbelievers. The power of the Rosary can defeat evil!”
Harnessing the power of communal prayer, the campaign is an opportunity for every Filipino to pray the Rosary together as one nation every day.
“The plan is simple: to pray the Rosary every day,” stressed Father Cervantes. “We are a Philippine family that needs to pray together in this critical time. Let us make the Rosary our daily family prayer, our daily national prayer! Could you imagine an entire nation praying the Rosary together? Has there ever been a country that has done this?”
The late Venerable Pope Pius XII once referred to the Philippines as “a beacon of Christian life.” With an overall population of more than 117 million, the Philippines stands today as the largest and only Christian nation in Southeast Asia, where 81% of the population is Catholic and more than 90% is Christian.
However, a recent study reportedly revealed a decrease in the number of Catholics in the country who practice their faith.
The battle is a silent, spiritual one —powered by an undercurrent of Rosary warriors — yet it is no less powerful, and perhaps even more so, than any battle fought with weapons.
“The Rosary is our weapon. The Rosary will lead us to victory. We are forming a spiritual army of prayer warriors in order to conquer the evils around us, to win souls, and to reclaim our Philippine nation as the Kingdom of Mary, the Kingdom of the Rosary!” Father Cervantes emphasized.
He recalled the words Pope Pius XII famously told the island-nation in 1954:“Philippines, Kingdom of Mary! Philippines, Kingdom of the Holy Rosary! Run to this throne of grace, to this saving devotion, because the storm is raging not far away from you.”
“We need all hands on deck in this pivotal time,” Father Cervantes stressed. “Invite as many people as you know to join this Holy Crusade. Every person matters. Each one can make a difference. When a war is going on, every person has a choice to either fight or die. Will you sit and watch idly as our children are led astray and allow evil to have its way?”
“To not fight will be certain and utter defeat. We must choose to fight. We must choose to engage in the battle every day because it is a battle for souls and for eternal life.”
Annette Del Rosario, one of the organizers of the crusade, also emphasized the need — and the prayerful impact.
“In these times of uncertainty and darkness, Our Lady has given us something simple yet powerful: the Holy Rosary. This crusade is a call to choose faith and to entrust our nation to the Lord,” she said. “There is power in communal prayer. My hope is simple — that more people will pick up the Rosary and make it a daily 9 p.m. habit. And if even one person begins to pray because of this crusade, then Our Lady is already at work, transforming hearts and renewing our nation from within.”
