Visita Iglesia: Greenbelt Chapel

My days when I was an employee at a company at Makati Business Distirct is full of stress and anxiety. That's why I felt blessed when I discovered a refuge somewhere on the grounds of Greenbelt Mall. My refuge when I was still a Makati-boy is the Greenbelt Chapel.

I always make sure to drop by this church before I go home. I went to Greenbelt Chapel to talk to God my woes during the day. During especially stressful days, I just sat down and let the presence of God blow the negative emotions away.
.

Greenbelt Chapel is a memorable place to me because this is where I did my first (and failed) attempt to avail the Sacrament of Confession. This is also the place where I got acquainted with Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who is now included to the list of saints I ask for intercessions.

Greenbelt Chapel is located in the garden of Greenbelt Mall. The location of this chapel is very accessible for employees who are using the MRT. The architectural design of the church is similar to that of UP Chapel, which is circular and the altar is in the center.
.

(Source: Greenbelt Chapel Facebook page)

The interior of Greenbelt Chapel is simple. The only notable artwork is the stained-glass image of God on the ceiling above the altar.
.

(Source: Greenbelt Chapel Facebook page)

If you are somewhere in Makati Business District, I suggest that you visit Greenbelt Chapel and let your soul relax. Feel the presence of Jesus Christ in the middle of hustle and bustle of the business district.

---

Visita Iglesia is a Catholic tradition of visiting seven churches during Maundy Thursday. For each day, this Holy Week, I will feature one church as a sort of virtual Visita Iglesia.

May the Lord deepen our faith in Him this Holy Week! Amen.

---

Visit Ahab Reviews and Tips and know what to do in Picnic Grove, Tagaytay City.

Follow me in Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr and YouSayToo.

Visita Iglesia: Santo Domingo Church

There is one image that always catch my attention whenever I pass by in front of the Santo Domingo Church, which is located along Quezon Avenue. That image is the bas-relief of Mama Mary flanked by Spanish soldiers on the facade of the church.
.

The relief gives homage to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval Manila, whose intercession was sought during the war against the Dutch on Philippine waters in 1646. Santo Domingo Church serves as the Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval Manila.
.

This church is being run by the Dominicans. As the name implies, Santo Domingo Church is named after Saint Dominic, who is the founder of the Dominican Order. The cornerstone of the church was laid in 1952. The image of La Naval was enshrined here in 1954.
.

I got the chance to visit this beautiful church one early morning. The reason of my visit is to avail of the Sacrament of Confession. Unfortunately, the schedule of confessions was in the early evening. Failing to fulfill my mission, I just prayed and then had my eyes feast on the beauty of the Santo Domingo Church.

I didn't have my digital camera that time and the photos taken using the camera of my mobile phone didn't give justice to the beauty of Santo Domingo Church's stained-glass windows and other works of art. I just grabbed some photos from Fr. Abe Arganiosa's blog.
.

Altar of Santo Domingo Church showing the mosaic of Saint Dominic.

.

Devotees praying to La Naval de Manila.

.

Left: battle of La Naval de Manila. Center: Saint Dominic and Saint Siena kneeling
before Mama Mary. Right: battle of Lepanto.

.

The descent of the Holy Spirit, the ascension of Mama Mary and her crowning.

.

The Crucifixion.

See more of these beautiful stained-glass of Santo Domingo Church in Father Abe's blog.

Santo Domingo Church is one of the most beautiful church that I had visited. The presence of artworks that give homage to Mother Mary truly shows how much the Filipinos love her. La Naval is not only revered because of her help in the war against the Dutch. Filipino Catholics greatly believed that it is through her intercession that the People Power Revolution of 1986 became victorious without any bloodshed.

Prayer to La Naval de Manila

Holy Mary, at the sound of your voice, Elizabeth, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the baby in her womb leapt for joy. Visit us as you visited the home of Elizabeth. During our earthly pilgrimage towards God's kingdom, may we magnify the Lord whose greatness endures from age to age, who lifts up the lowly, fills the starving with good things, and comes to the help of His servants.

Our Lady of the Rosary of La Naval, Our Mother, first disciple of your Son Jesus, intercede for us in our most earnest request (pause for a moment and offer your petition).

May we, in turn heed your unceasing call to do whatever your Son tells us to do. With your powerful intercession, we believe that what is most difficult can be done, what we have overlooked, you cannot miss, what is meaningless, bitter or painful can be transformed into fulfillment, gratitude and joy. Amen.

---

Visita Iglesia is a Catholic tradition of visiting seven churches during Maundy Thursday. For each day, this Holy Week, I will feature one church as a sort of virtual Visita Iglesia.

May the Lord deepen our faith in Him this Holy Week! Amen.

---

Visit Ahab Reviews and Tips and read my favorite items on Jollibee menu.

For more prayers to La Naval de Manila please visit the La Naval de Manila website.

Follow me in Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr and YouSayToo.

Let us be Closer to Our GOD this Holy Week

Yesterday is Palm Sunday, the day when we celebrate Jesus Christ's triumphant entry to Jerusalem, which is also the beginning of Jesus Christ's passion. Yes, we are now in Holy Week, the week when we must do our very best to improve our relationship with our God.

.

In contemplating the passion of Jesus Christ, St. Pope Leo the Great has this to say:

True reverence for the Lord's passion means fixing the eyes of our heart on Jesus crucified and recognizing in him our true humanity,

The earth - our earthly nature - should tremble at the suffering of the Redeemer. The rocks - the hearts of unbelievers - should burst asunder. The dead, imprisoned in the tombs of their mortality, should come forth, the massive stones now ripped apart. Foreshadowings of the future resurrection should appear in the holy city, the Church of God: what is to happen to our bodies should now take place in our hearts.

No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit to the multitude that raged against him. How much more does it bring to those who turn to him in repentance.

Ignorance has been destroyed, obstinacy has been overcome. The sacred blood of Christ has quenched the flaming sword that barred access to the tree of life. The age-old night of sin has given place to the true light.

That was lifted from Sermo 15, De passione Domini, 3-4: PL 54, 366-367

---

Yes, our focus for this day and, I hope, for the rest of the year, should be on our God crucified on the cross. Jesus Christ died for us. Even though He is God, He love as so much that He took our death and destroyed it through His death on the Cross and He gave us new life in His ressurection, three days after His death.

My brothers and sister, let us not remove our focus on Him. Let us not, even in a moment, to let our sinfulness overcome our love to Him that is sprouting in our hearts. May this Holy Week be the week of transformation for all of us.

Let us deepen our faith in Him. Let us offer this whole week for Him. It is time for us to have a deeper and meaningful relationship with our God, Jesus Christ.

---

Have a blessed Holy Week everyone!

The words from St. Pope Leo the Great was lifted from Father Jojo Zerrudo's blog, Sense of the Sacred.

Image obtained from I Oppose the RH Bill Facebook page.