Serious Prattle : My new personal blog

I was so 'sawa' with my old personal ramblings site so decided to shift to a new one using word press. Yup, wordpress is a lot better than blogger so please do visit my new space at:

http://seriousprattle.com

Our Lady of Caysasay, Taal (Philippines)

I first heard of Our Lady of Casaysay from a journalist friend, Monica, who was commissioned to write about the history of the devotion during its jubilee year. I had always wanted to see the place but never had a chance till last Sunday, when a planned Tagaytay trip to bring around a balikbayan guest Ruben, tuned into an unexpected pilgrimage to Taal.

The church is a few minutes away from the main Basilica of Taal, the Basilica of St. Martin de Tours. Not everyone knows the place as there is also an altar dedicated to Our Lady of Casaysay inside the basilica.

Little Souls Convent and the Sacred Crucifix from Belgium (Tagaytay City, Philippines)

I first heard about this convent in Tagaytay from Cynthia Sto. Domingo, a family friend. She says she visits the place every weekend since it is very peaceful and conducive to meditation.

She gave me a small bottle of holy oil from the place and told me it was dipped in a miraculous Cross which came from Belgium. There are only two such crosses and one was given to the Philippines.

When Bebeth and I brought our guest Ruben to Tagaytay yesterday, I suddenly remembered the place of the little souls. I opened my laptop and surfed for the address and tried to call their telephone but no one was answering.

Holy Blood of Jesus (Brugges, Belgium)

When I was doing my european travel itinerary last year, I made sure Brugge (Belgium) will be part of it as I had heard that its a very pretty medieval place. While searching the internet, I suddenly chanced upon the Holy Blood of Jesus Relic said to be found in the city of Brugges.

I then vowed I must see this holy relic. I went on researching till I found out that the feast and the great procession will be held on Ascension day (May 25) which is the day I was arriving in Paris. I even sent an email to the parish priest, who never replied.

Lourdes, France

This shrine and specially Our Lady will always have a special place in my heart. The first time I visited Lourdes was more than 20 yrs ago with my late parents.

I attended all the services from Blessing of the Sick to Torch Procession but I got scared to go with them and actually dip on the Baths.

Later on I regretted it.

I didnt know that when we were in Rome, as we were guests of an Archbishop, dad didnt feel well. He saw some blood in his urine.

Langob Shrine - Guadalupe Cave (Cebu City, Philippines)

A friend of mine kept telling me about the miraculous cave at Guadalupe in Cebu City. I had been only to the Guadalupe Church but never knew about a cave. Even my friends from cebu city have never been there. She also mentioned that its a long walk from the church to the cave.

I guess we were lucky and God has been too kind that on the day we visited, a road has already been built (although muddy and rocky) which takes you straight to where the miraculous cave of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Theotokos Shrine (Carcar, Cebu, Philippines)

Right after our three hour visit at the Marian Monks place in Sibonga, we just took a quick lunch and proceeded to Carcar to find the so called pilgrim place.

Upon inquiry from passers by, we were led to the Theotokos shrine, a wide open space, peaceful and serene.

Mama Mary Sheds Tears, Monastery of the Holy Eucharist (Sibonga, Cebu City Philippines)

Last Feb 2, Tess, Dhang and I flew to Cebu City to visit a dear friend who is suffering from cancer. The following day, a first friday we heard mass at Ayala Center and met another friend, Ditz, a former officemate who mentioned that they were attending a marian pilgrimage going to Carcar and Sibonga where the crying madonna was located. I immediately decided that we must visit those places, besides the miraculous Guadalupe cave which was originally in our plan.

Everything fell into place when another friend in the industry offered his car for our use! I believe this is mama mary's gift to us for our experience that day was truly enriching.

First stop as suggested by Ditz's husband was Sibonga so that if we were early enough we can witness the monks' vespers.

Our Lady of La Salette (France)

We trekked the road which Napoleon took when he marched from Elba to Grenoble to overthrow Louis the 18th, but stopped at Corps, a small quiet village for it was the nearest place the the La Salette Sanctuary with lodging.

La Sallette is located up the mountains 15 km from Corps. Our bus tried going up the steep climb, passing through narrow wooded roads till it reached a basilica of sienna and grey stones.

At an altitude of 1,800 meters, our bus stopped a few meters away from the Blessed Virgin's statue outside the church for the snow was almost waist high as you can see from some of the photos.

The group photo shows my dad, Lolo Dick and wife (Justice Puno) and the Geraldez couple. Another photo below shows my late mom on another trip this time her photo shows the back of the Virgin Mary with the visionaries.

During my visit, the only visible statue was that of Our Lady, all the rest were covered with snow.



Story of The Apparition

At La Salette, France, September 19, 1846, sixteen years after the Marian apparition in Rue du Bac, Paris, and twelve years before the famous appearances of Mary in Lourdes, France the Virgin Mary appeared to two children, Maximin Giraud and Melanie Mathieu, and gave them an explanation of future world events. This was kept secret for a time, then later it was allowed to be revealed to all through publication.

The secrets given to the two children are very different. Some parts of the secrets are given in a veiled manner, so that one cannot understand without faith nor without some time, effort and thought. The arrogant will not be able to understand or to believe, for Holy Scripture says, God “teaches the humble his way.”

"She warned of a coming famine, but that before the food shortage, many of the young children of the area would die of a serious disease. She said, 'If you do not convert, I am unable to hold back the hand of God.' Our Blessed Mother, in one famous version of the so-called "secret of LaSalette," revealed that 'Lucifer was unleashed in 1864. The Church would be severely attacked and the monster [communism] would be unleashed at the end of the Nineteenth or beginning of the Twentieth Century. Rome will lose faith and become the seat of Antichrist, and the Church will be in eclipse. Many chastisements are predicted, the Antichrist will be defeated, fire will purge the earth and consume all the work of men's pride, and all will be renewed.' She called upon 'the children of light, the few who can see, the true disciples of the living God, the true followers of Christ, the faithful of the last days to come out and fill the world with light. For now is the time of all times, the end of all ends.' La Salette was approved by the Church in 1851.
---Thunder of Justice, pgs. 22-23

Significance of the Messages

The warning from La Salette is "seldom mentioned....Its message has been overlooked to the present day, partly because after the apparition several different versions of the secret were circulated and determining the authentic message was difficult. The version from which we quote here, is generally believed to be the most authentic and is awe-inspiring in its prophetic and predictive power.
The message was not only for France but for the Church and the whole world. The message tells of future world events in great detail; it has great relevance for our times. The message is stated in its entirety because of its importance in our day. The apostasy we are now living was all foretold at La Salette. The message at La Salette helps explain why the devil has so much dominion and power in our world today, although Mary says he is now losing power."
---Thunder of Justice, pg. 111

Virgin of the Poor, Apparition of Our Lady at Banneaux (Belgium)

From the 15th of January till the 2nd of March 1933, Our Lady appeared to Mariette BECO eigth times, calling herself the VIRGIN OF THE POOR.

In 1933, The Blessed Mother appeared to an 11 year old child, Mariette Beco in Banneux, Belgium. Mariette comes from a poor family and is the eldest of seven chidlren. She lives with her family in a swampy place just over a mile from the church.

It was raining and freezing cold when I and my parents first visited this place (as you can see from the photos).

The Apparitions

On the evening of Sunday 15 January, 1933, at about seven o'clock Mariette's 10-year-old brother Julien was late coming home for supper. She knelt on a bench by the front window to keep watch for him.



Suddenly, she noticed a lovely lady surrounded in light with a motherly smile. The lady was dressed in a dazzlingly white gown with a blue sash. Covering her head and shoulders, she had a veil as white as the dress. The right foot of the lady was slightly exposed showing a beautiful golden rose. Hung on her right arm was a rosary with a brilliance of diamonds with gold chain.
Mariette thought the oil lamp was reflecting on the window causing the image, yet upon moving the lamp the lady remained. After repeated attempts to call her mother to take a look, Mrs. Beco did see something though not as clearly as did Mariette.


The second apparition took place three days later. Kneeling in the cold frigid night air, Mariette said a rosary. The lady stood on a cloud just a few feet away from Mariette. The lady lead Mariette till Mariette fell on her knees on the side of a ditch, were a previously unknown spring was found.


The lady spoke, "Place your hand in the spring." Mariette did as she was instructed. Speaking aloud Mariette shouted, "This stream is reserved for me." After this the lady disappeared.
Mr. Beco and two sons' had follow Mariette that evening. They witnessed the unusual actions of Mariette and wondered why Mariette kept repeating over and over, "The spring is reserved for me."


The next apparition took place the follow night and Mariette was followed this evening by several observers. During this apparition Mariette ask the beautiful lady, "Who are you?" The lady surrounded in light replied, "I am the Virgin of the Poor."


Mariette asked why the spring was for Her. The Virgin of the Poor told Mariette that the spring was to relieve the sick of all nations. Soon after the Virgin of the Poor disappeared once again.
Other visitations were to occur, 11 in all. On the visitation of Friday January 20th, witnesses heard Mariette say, "What do you wish my beautiful Lady?" The reply received was, "I would like a small Chapel."

The last visitation took place on the evening of March 2, 1933. The Lady exclaimed, "I am the Mother of the Savior, Mother of God. Pray much."

Banneux was investigated from 1935 until 1937 by an Episcopal commission, after which the evidence collected was submitted to Rome. Meanwhile growing numbers of pilgrims came to the shrine.

The Apparitions and the Message were declared authentic by Mgr. KERKHOFS, Bishop of Liège, on the 22nd of August 1949.

Like the children at Beauraing, Mariette married and had a family, being, like them, content to remain in the background.

A small chapel stands where the Virgin of the Poor requested this to be built.

-------

Litany - Our Lady of Banneaux, Virgin of the Poor

Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Lead us to Jesus,
Source of grace. Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Save all nations.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Relieve the sick.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Alleviate suffering.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Pray for each one of us.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, We believe in thee.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Believe in us.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, We will pray hard.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Bless us.
Blessed Virgin of the Poor, Mother of the Saviour,
Mother of God, We thank thee.

Let Us Pray:

Our Lady of Banneux, Mother of Our Saviour, Mother of God, Virgin of the Poor, since thou hast promised to believe in us if we believe in thee, I put all my trust in thee. Deign to listen to the prayers that thou hast asked be addressed to thee; have pity on all our spiritual and temporal miseries. Restore to sinners the treasure of Faith, and give to the poor their daily bread. Deign to relieve suffering, to heal the sick and to pray for us, so that thus through thy intercession, the reign of Christ the King may extend over all nations.

R. Amen.

My New Religious Blog

I decided to create a different blog site for all my religious experiences, trips and ramblings ergo the birth of Maan's Pilgirm site.