Spiritual Preparations
For the spiritual aid of the entire fleet, Governor Fajardo accepted the proposal made by the Father Provincial Diego Gonzales of the Order of St. Dominic, giving the chaplaincies for the two galleons to the Dominicans. On the flagship were Fr. Juan de Cuenca, O.P. and Fr. Placido de Angulo, O.P., while on the almiranta were Fr. Pedro de Mesa, O.P. and Fr. Raymundo del Valle, O.P.
As the result of the excellent preaching and exhortations of the four priests, the soldiers agreed to make confession and receive the Holy communion. In addition, they took as their special patron the Virgin of the Holy Rosary (as advised by the priests), and finally, they made a vow to hold a feast day of thanksgiving, should they emerge victorious in the battles.
On the other hand, Fajardo ordered that the Blessed Sacrament be continuously exposed in the royal military chapel and in all churches and chapels in Manila during the entire period of the campaign.
It was also instructed that all the soldiers should recite the prayers of the Rosary aloud everyday—on their knees and in two choirs—before an image of Our Lady. According to the chronicles, one soldier aboard the Rosario built an altar below deck and placed on it an image of Our Lady of the Rosary.
On March 3, 1646 the small fleet sailed from the port of Cavite to Mariveles. Before the departure, Governor Fajardo bid the soldiers farewell, expressing his regret that he could not join the campaign because of his age and responsibility in Manila, but he promised them the prayers of the populace and reward for their success.
Read more about this topic: Battles Of La Naval De Manila
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