ThOuGhTs, iDeAs, oPiNiOnS, cHaTtEr

Easter Pilgrimage: Tarlac

Would be joining Green Faith Travels' Easter Pilgrimage to Tarlac.  The Way of Light (Via Lucis) is a complement to the Way of the Cross.  Although, I have joined before, wanted to visit again the Monasterio de Tarlac.  Besides, as a gift by Green Faith Travels for those who joined their pilgrimages a lot of times, this pilgrimage would be free.  Thanks!

Meet-up is near McDonald's Greenbelt, ETD 4AM.

On the way, we prayed the Pilgrim's Prayer and the rosary.

Heavenly Father, we thank you as we come together in your name to be with this community of pilgrims and share your reconciliation, peace and love with others in this Easter Pilgrimage.

Prepare our hearts and minds that we may be worthy to receive God's gifts and favors today.
Remind us always that this is a spiritual journey for a much deeper purpose and not a sightseeing trip.

Help us to practice the virtue of patience for whatever discomfort and difficulty that may arise.
Grant us the spirit of obedience to be one with others and participate fervently in all the activities.

May our visit to the churches foster personal spiritual growth with a joyful hope to return in our respective parishes and homes inspired, enlightened, transformed, rejuvenated and healed.

May God protect us and keep us in His loving care.
May Jesus of Calvary and of Emmaus walk with us.
May the Spirit give us clarity of mind, strength of heart and a sure foot as we all make this Easter journey with the Risen Christ today.

All these we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

We also said a prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

After each church we visit, we'll draw from a bag containing Easter messages for my Easter message.

First stop is the Saint Therese of the Child Jesus at Ramos, Tarlac.  We were supposed to attend the Mass but due to traffic, we were not able to be there at the start.  We also prayed here Stations 1 to 3 of the Way of Light.

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus at Ramos, Tarlac

Panalangin kay Santa Teresita ng Batang si Hesus ang Munting Bulaklak

Bumabati kamit at nagpupugay sa iyo, o Santa Teresita ng Batang si Hesus, bulaklak ng kalinisan, hiyas at luwalhati ng sangkakristyanuhan!  Ipinagdarangal ka namin, dakilang Santa at anghel ng pag-ibig na makalangit.  Kami'y nagagalak sa lahat ng mga biyayang tinanggap mo sa ating Panginoong Hesukristo na ipinagkaloob sa iyo ng buong kasaganaan.  Hinihiling namin sa iyo ng buong kapakumbabaan at pananalig na kami'y tulungan mo, sapagkat nababatid naming binigyan ka ng Diyos ng diwa ng pag-ibig at pagkaawa at gayon din ng kapangyarihang mamagitan sa amin.  Masdan mo ngayon ang aming mga pagdurusa, kahirapan at pangamba.

O Santa Teresita, sabihin mo sa kanya ang aming mga pangangailangan, at isang hibik mo lamang ay magtatagumpay ang aming hangarin at matitigib kami ng kagalakan, alalahanin mo ang iyong pangakong maghasik ng kabutihan dito sa lupa.  Ipagkamit mo mula sa Panginoong Diyos ang biyayang hinihiling namin sa pagkakataong ito.  (Banggiting ang kahilingan)

Sta. Teresita ng Batang si Hesus, ipanalangan mo kami.  (3x)

My Easter message:  "Jesus shows us the real face of God, for whom power does not mean destruction but love, and for whom justice is not vengeance but mercy."

We, then, proceeded, to YMES Grills at Junction, Paniqui, Tarlac for our buffet breakfast.  The food tastes good!


Then, we went to the Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus in Asia at Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija.  The message of the parish priest which stuck is that we should see the face of Jesus on others who are in need, and we should see the face of Jesus in us.  Also, the church was supposed to become the Immaculate Conception Shrine but the Holy Face of Jesus came--Mama Mary gave way to her Son for it is He who must be known.  We prayed here Stations 4 to 6 of the Way of Light.

Holy Face of Jesus

Sanctuary of the Holy Face of Jesus at Nampicuan, Nueva Ecija

Panalangin sa Banal na Mukha ni Hesus

Panginoong Hesukristo, sa iyong pagpapakasakit para sa amin ay ankintal sa iyong mukha ang matinding kalungkutan na tanda ng iyong mukha ang hanggang pagmamalasakit sa sangkatauhan lalo na sa mga mahihirap at pinabayaan.  Pinararangalan namin ang iyong Banal na Mukha na siya ring nagpamalas ng kagandahan, pagmamahal at kaamuan ng Diyos Ama.  Sa kabila ng Iyong sirang kaanyuan namamalas namin ang Iyong walang hanggang pag-ibig na siya namang nag-uudyok sa amin na Ika'y amin ring mahalin at himukin ang iba na Ikaw rin ay mahalin sa mga sirang kaanyuan ng aming kapwa na ipinagkakatiwala mo sa amin.  Ang luha ng masaganang bumukal sa Iyong mga mata at pisngi ay parang mga perlas na nais naming tipunin upang tubusin ang mga kaawa-awang kaluluwa ng mga makasalanan sa pamamagitan ng Iyong hindi matatawarang halaga.  O Hesus ang Iyong kabanal-banalang mukya ay nagbibigay galak sa aming kalooban, hinihiling namin na manatili ang pagkakakintal ng Iyong Banal na Mukha sa aming pagiging mabuting katiwala ng mga kaloob mo sa amin.  Maisabuhay nawa namin sa bawat araw ang tunay na diwa ng pagdadamayan bilang mga Kristiyano.  Pag-alabin mo kami ng Iyong pag-ibig upang sa pamamagitan nito, kami nawa'y maging karapat-dapat na makibahagi sa pagsamba at pagdakila ng Iyong Banal na Mukha sa kalangitan.  Amen.

My Easter message:  "To live Easter means to enter into the mystery of Jesus who died and rose for us."

After which, we proceeded to the Diocesan Shrine of Saint Josemaria Escriva at Gerona, Tarlac.  It has drive-thru.  Hehe!  What stuck is the animals in relation to the Opus Dei:  donkey as workers--work without complaining; duck as being independent.  We prayed Stations 7 to 9 of the Way of Life.

Diocesan Shrine of Saint Josemaria Escriva at Gerona, Tarlac

Panalangin para sa pamamagitan ni San Josemaria Escriva

O Diyos, sa pamamagitan ng Mahal na Birheng Maria, ipinagkaloob mo sa iyong pari, si San Josemaria Escriva, ang napakraming biyaya, at hinirang mo siya bilang isang napakatapat ng kasangkapan upang itatag ang Opus Dei, isang landas patungo sa kabanalang nababatay sa pagganap ng gawaing propesyonal at pagtupad ng mga karaniwang tungkulin ng isang Kristiyano.  Ipagkaloob mo sana na ang lahat ng mga sandali at pangyayari sa aking buhay ay maiukol ko rin sa pagmamahal sa iyo at sa malugod at walang-parangyang paglilingkod sa Santa Iglesya, sa Santo Papa, at sa lahat ng mga kaluluwa, upang ang lahat ng daan sa lupa ay mailawan ko ng liwanag ng pananampalataya at pag-ibig.  Sa pamamagitan ni San Josemaria, ipagkaloob mo sa akin itong biyayang hinihiling ko sa iyo (banggitin ang kahilingan).  Amen.

Ama namin, Aba Ginoong Maria, Luwalhati.

My Easter message:  "If we open ourselves up to welcome God's mercy for ourselves, in turn we become capable of forgiveness."

Since we are running late, we went to the next church instead of having lunch.

Our next church is the San Sebastian Cathedral (Tarlac Cathedral) at Tarlac City.  We prayed Station 10 of the Way of Light.

San Sebastian Cathedral at Tarlac City

Prayer for Inner Healing

Speak clearly, Lord, into my heart.  In the past, I had been busy with life and I forgot what it meant to really live.  In the midst of my pains and difficulties, allow me to know you so that I may understand what living for you is all about.  I am weak, Lord, and helpless without you.  I surrender to you, Lord, all my fears, all my burdens.  I will focus on your truth that you will be with me always.  I will never understand your ways but I know that you have a purpose for me.

Lord, as I continue this prayer, gently touch me with your healing hands.  You are the Divine Healer and the greatest Physician of all.  I believe in my heart that nothing is impossible to you.  Heal my innermost being, my spirit and my soul.  I know, Lord, that there is an end to my loneliness and sickness because you died on the cross and rose from the dead.  From now on, I just want to live with a loving heart and not with a grumbling heart; from now on, Lord, I just want to live with a faithful heart and not with a fearful heart.  In the might name of Jesus.  Amen.

St. Sebastian, pray for us.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

My Easter message:  "Lord, help us to live the virtue of generosity, to love without limits."

We, then, proceeded to Tessie's Grills & Roasters at Tarlac City for our late lunch.  Bad experience.

And finally, we went to Monasterio de Tarlac at San Jose, Tarlac.  It was raining hard.  We were not able to attend the 3PM mass; thus, we prayed Stations 11 to 14 of the Way of Light and veneration of the Holy Relic.  Then, the rain came to a drizzle.

Monasterio de Tarlac at San Jose, Tarlac

Dalit sa Poong Santa Krus

Maluwalhating Krus, Dakilang Sagisag,
marangal na Tronong Tagapagligtas.
Ginawa man ikaw sa kahoy na hamak
sa halaga'y walang katumbas.
Wala kang katumbas dahil mahiwaga ang dunong ng Diyos ng s'yang nagtadhana.
Ikaw nga O Krus na matalinhaga ay simbolo at banal na tanda.

Banal na tanda ng kaligtasan sa pag-ibig
Bathala'y namatay, sa sakripisyong ganap luwalhati'y nakamtan,
Luwalhating kinamtan nagdaan sa dilim,
kamatayang dati'y nag-aalipin,
nagapi sanhi ng paggiliw upang tao'y tubusin.

Nang kami'y tubusin sa pagkakasala, hari ng langit ang syang nagdusa,
nagpakasakit kahit maharlika hamak sa kanyang pagsinta.
Ipinamalas nga't sa krus nalarawan halaga ng Taong mahal.
Pighati sa Krus ang simula Tagumpay sa pagkabuhay.
Ang muling pagkabuhay nangyaring totoo upang wakasan na sa mundo
Pang-aalipin ng imbing demonyo ng makalaya ang tao.

Kanyang ibinuhos ang iwi ngang buhay.
Sa Krus winika ang patawad
tanda ng tao'y kanyang minamahal
tawag nya'y magbagong-buhay.
Yan 'yung pagmamahal ang mensahe ng Krus.
Nasa atin ngayo'y nagbabantig tinatawag sa pagbabalik-loob tahakin landas ni Kristo.  Amen.

The last Easter message I drew is the same as the first--I wonder why.

Oddly, on the way to the churches for our pilgrimage, we were lost several times that our pilgrimage bus has to turn around to be on track.

posted by ~GFA~ @ 4/29/2017 09:58:00 PM