The Archdiocese of San Fernando will commemorate the feast of its titular patron, Saint Ferdinand III on Sunday, May 30.
The spanish saint is known for uniting the kingdoms of Castille and Leon and as the Conqueror of Andalusia. During his reign, he has built hospitals, bishoprics and monasteries. He converted mosques to cathedrals, and dedicated them to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Before his death, he requested to receive the Holy Viaticum, and to be buried wearing his habit of the Third Order of St. Francis. To date, his incorrupt body remains in a gold and crystal casket in the Cathedral of Seville.
Saint Ferdinand was canonized by Clement X and his feast day is celebrated every 30th of May. He is the patron saint of the Spanish Monarchy and of engineers.
In the Philippines, a pueblo was requested to be carved out from the towns of Bacolor and Mexico in the 1750s. The governor-general that time, Pedro Manuel de Arandia, promulgated its creation based on the plans drawn up by two parish priests.
He ordered that the pueblo will be named in honor of San Fernando, and the current king at that time, King Ferdinand VI.
By 1948, the Diocese of San Fernando was created with the Most Rev. Cesar Ma. Guerrero as its first bishop. By 1975, it was elevated into an Archdiocese.
The feast of St. Ferdinand this 2021 will be celebrated at the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando with the following mass schedule:
• 6:00 AM (in Capampangan)
• 7:30 AM (in Capampangan), to be offered by His Excellency Florentino G. Lavarias, D.D., Archbishop of San Fernando
• 9:00 AM (in English)
• 11:00 AM (in English)
• 3:00 PM (in Capampangan)
• 5:00 PM (in Capampangan), to be offered by His Excellency Paciano B. Aniceto, D.D., Archbishop-Emeritus of San Fernando
• 6:30 PM (in English)
The masses of Archbishops Lavarias and Aniceto will be live streamed on the Facebook pages of the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando, the Archdiocese of San Fernando and the Archdiocesan Radio Station.
An image of Saint Ferdinand dressed in his regalia attire is enshrined at the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando. A first-class relic is also enshrined for public veneration.
