This is due to the name's significance to the founders of the new town, or in recognition of the patronage and financial contribution of some members of the nobility to the missionary work of the frailes in the new area, or simply as an expression of nostalgia by the colonial masters.

[3][4][5] The victory was attributed to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a rosary procession had been offered on that day in St. Peter's Square in Rome for the success of the mission of the Holy League to hold back Ottoman forces from overrunning Western Europe.

[7] On April 18, 1959, Nuestra Señora del Rosario was canonically crowned in a solemn ceremony headed by the Archbishop of San Fernando and the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines.

This was due to the refusal of the Dominicans in Bataan to submit their parishes to the inspection and visit of the Archdiocese, then headed by Archbishop Basilio Sancho de Santa Justa y Rufina.

In Orani, it was Bernardo de Aragón who turned over the parish to the secular priest Faustino Bautista, who had to sign an inventory of items belonging to the church and the Virgin.

[10] From 1868 to 1891, Bartolomé Alvarez del Manzano built and improved the church buildings, which were finished by Fermín Pérez de San Julián.

During the revolution against Spain, Fermín Pérez de San Julián, was spared from the ire of the Katipuneros by the townspeople, particularly by the people of Tapulao, who kept their spiritual leader from harm.

Pérez de San Julián together with other priests from Central Luzon, were eventually arrested by the rebels upon the orders of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo.

Early in the American colonial period, the priests at Orani organized catechetical instructions for first communicants, youth and adults in order to reinforce the faith of adherents to counter the rise of Protestantism.

The partially damaged image of the Virgen Milagrosa was saved and brought to the Salaverría bahay na bato located beside the church.

The ceiling was heightened, the tile flooring changed to marble and the upper side windows demolished to give way to modern stained glass artwork despite the church's original Baroque and Neoclassic theme.

Displayed in front of the church, the bell is another historical and religious artifact that symbolizes the birth and lasting legacy of Christianity in the province.

In September 2019, the church was declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis[14] and was solemnly declared as such on December 12 in a Mass presided by Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga Florentino Lavarias as main celebrant, with other celebrants are bishops Ruperto Santos (the then Bishop of Balanga, Bataan), Victor Ocampo (Gumaca, Quezon), Enrique Macaraeg (Tarlac), Dennis Villarojo (Bulacan and Valenzuela, Metro Manila) and Fidelis Layug (Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Pangasinan), first counselor at the Apostolic Nunciature to the Philippines Monsignor Julian Kabore, rector and parish priest Fr.

[15] The Nuestra Señora del Santo Rosario de Orani Church was declared a "Dambana ng Paglalakbay" (Pilgrim Shrine) on August 22, 2004, by then Bishop of Balanga and now Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan Socrates Villegas.

This means that the faithful, after fulfilling the standard conditions, can avail themselves of a plenary indulgences when they pray at the Church as if they had visited the Basilica in Rome.