beyond toxicity

I grew up knowing most side streets in Metro Manila. Why?
Because every Holy Week since my gradeschool, my siblings (3 brothers) &
I used to accompany my parents to thirty (read it again : 30) different churches within the metropolis to nearby provinces.

I was literally exposed to the entirety of Manila at an early age.
And this is all because of Visita Iglesia.
I became familiar not only with the streets of the metro but of these churches we visit prior to Holy Week.
From churches like the Shrine of St. Martin de Porres in Leon Guinto in Pasay City,
to Manila churches such as that of Our Lady of the Remedies in Malate,
to Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Bulacan,
historical church of Malolos,
to shrines in Cavite, Taytay, Cainta, Marikina, Pasig, Antipolo,
to as far as Tagaytay, I have been to more than 30 churches since my growing years.

I’m also familiar with most saints enthralled in carozas adorned with flowers
(one time with balloons!) in long processions
every Holy Wednesday, Good Friday & Easter Sunday.
This Holy Week procession of saints in Marikina City
somehow made the passion of Christ comprehensible even without reading the bible.

I do have my favorite “houses” of God.
Favorite in the sense that I always find solace & peace with these churches…
I also frequent these churches most especially in times of problems – huge or otherwise.

This morning I went to some churches in Manila & did my own-style of Visita Iglesia (V.I.)
I just sneaked in to these shrines and pray & heard 30-minute masses at few churches,
but did not do the stations of the cross which is the correct way of doing the V.I.
Armed with the newly sent digicam from my dad-in-law in MO,
here are my snap shots of my V.I….

Quiapo Church a.k.a Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

I am not a strict religious devotee of the miraculous Black Nazarene
but I usually go to Quiapo Church whenever possible just to say my thank yous
& ask for forgiveness for my shortcomings.

Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, beside Malacañang Palace…

For us Catholics, St. Jude Thaddeus is the patron saint of HOPELESS CASES.
I always go to this shrine & pray to God through St. Jude whenever I feel helpless.

Few more steps from Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus
is the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat a.k.a. as San Beda Church
where the Holy Child or the Sto. Niño is venerated at its altar.
I heard mass this morning at this church & was lucky to see the Benedictine priests
wearing crimson robes for the first time.
But I was not that lucky to get a crisp picture of its sublime interiors…

Then walking towards the exit of Mendiola Street will lead you to another remarkable shrine :
Basilica Minore de San Sebastian a.k.a San Sebastian Church…
This beautiful church has twin steel spires as its towers.

FYI, Gustave Eiffel no less, of Eiffel Tower in Paris
was involved in the design & construction of this one & only steel church in Asia.
Most of the steel that built the shrine came from Belgium.
The San Sebastian Church seats also as the shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel…

This is only one of the stained glass windows of the basilica that came from Germany
adding spirituality to the gothic design of the shrine…

Built during the Spanish Colonial period, this door is the entrance to the altar of one of the Baroques Churches of the Philippines, also noted by UNESCO as World Heritage Site….

This intricately carved wooden door is guarded by saints with granite lions which are gifts to the church by Chinese people who were converted into Catholicism…

These were all part of the facade of San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila…
Mass was on-going when I dropped by, so I failed to flash my cam for a shot of the altar.

One can walk through the cobble-stoned streets of Intramuros
to the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception more popularly known as Manila Cathedral…

The Manila Cathedral was closed when I dropped by so I just made a sign of the cross,
utter a brief prayer & I headed back home…

I also love Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City
where Tina & I got married 5 years ago but I’ll go there some other time..

Whatever Holy Week tradition we practice or uphold, the most important thing is maintaining a constant personal communication with our Lord.
I am far from being a saint but I know my God is so forgiving.
All of us should try our best to walk in His path.
Amen?

Amen!