St. Joseph Pilgrimages: Fruit of Europa 2018
The fruit of our family-cation is that it has been placed in our hearts to create or to lead a pilgrimage group in the near future, God willing. With our experiences, we have been enlightened with the many benefits of going in pilgrimages. It has been impressed deeply in our hearts that these benefits are not only touristic, meaning seeing the sights, it also led us to deeper conversion and the appreciation of the awesomeness of the Creator who is Providence himself, making it a very spiritual experience as well. As such we will be coordinating with agencies especially Catholic Travel and my US friends particularly Fr. Augusto Villote, who is a veteran of pilgrimages.
The pilgrimage as it is will only be in Espana and will have the “Camino de Santiago” as the center of the pilgrimage. It will also include a visit to the “Our Lady of Pillar” in Zaragoza, the “Convent of St. Joseph” in Avila (founded by St. Teresa de Avila, Doctor of the Church) and will most probably end in San Anton Parish, Madrid. This would be the endpoint because these 3 persons that are near to the heart of the Lord; Mary, Joseph & St. James will always point to Jesus. It was Jesus who told us that “what we did to the least of my brethren, you did it to me” in the Gospel. Hence at Madrid we will end our pilgrimage with the “coolest church in the western world” where the poor, the homeless are welcome and cared for and experience Jesus not ethereally but in flesh and blood through these the marginalized in society.
We are praying that in the next few months, God willing by my birthday (March), I will be able to go back to Espana (Santiago de Compostella & Madrid) and take to the Camino de Frances, however not the whole length (more than a month) but just 100 km or roughly 7 days of walking. We felt this is important so when the above, “St. Joseph Pilgrimage” be blessed by the Lord to materialize, I can actually lead not by research or the internet but by experience.
DO JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR WISDOM, PROVISION & STRENGTH.
“All for Jesus, through Mary (Hyperdulia), Joseph (Protodulia) & St. James the Great (Apostle)!”
The pilgrimage as it is will only be in Espana and will have the “Camino de Santiago” as the center of the pilgrimage. It will also include a visit to the “Our Lady of Pillar” in Zaragoza, the “Convent of St. Joseph” in Avila (founded by St. Teresa de Avila, Doctor of the Church) and will most probably end in San Anton Parish, Madrid. This would be the endpoint because these 3 persons that are near to the heart of the Lord; Mary, Joseph & St. James will always point to Jesus. It was Jesus who told us that “what we did to the least of my brethren, you did it to me” in the Gospel. Hence at Madrid we will end our pilgrimage with the “coolest church in the western world” where the poor, the homeless are welcome and cared for and experience Jesus not ethereally but in flesh and blood through these the marginalized in society.
We are praying that in the next few months, God willing by my birthday (March), I will be able to go back to Espana (Santiago de Compostella & Madrid) and take to the Camino de Frances, however not the whole length (more than a month) but just 100 km or roughly 7 days of walking. We felt this is important so when the above, “St. Joseph Pilgrimage” be blessed by the Lord to materialize, I can actually lead not by research or the internet but by experience.
DO JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR WISDOM, PROVISION & STRENGTH.
“All for Jesus, through Mary (Hyperdulia), Joseph (Protodulia) & St. James the Great (Apostle)!”
6TH STOP: MADRID, ESPANA
(COOLEST CHURCH IN THE WORLD)
San Anton Parish, Madrid ("COOLEST" Church in the World)
In our last day at Madrid, getting ready to go home to the Philippines, me and my wife Ruby decided to visit a Church to give thanks to God for this blessing He gave us through my brother in law Mr. Red R. Reyes. For truth is we will not be able to do this financially. Actually this is a birthday celebration for Ruby who turned 50 and it is also his birthday, how cool is that. Well for that matter after having breakfast at a grocery of sorts beside the inn we stayed, we decided to visit a Church. On our way, we talked to a brother whom we asked as to the location of the nearest Catholic Church. He pointed us to the direction of the Church of San Anton Abad (St. Anthony the Great, Abbot) whom he said is the Church of Fr. Angel Rodriquez who is accordingly being considered for Nobel Prize for Peace (like Saint Mother Teresa). My broken Spanish & his broken English somehow took a middle ground and comprehension materialized, thanks be to God. However I can deduce that he is so proud of this church and so we decided to check it out.
We entered the Church and the first thing you will notice is the homeless people sleeping or resting in the Church. We were told that these people are fed here, have coffee or soup and provide them shelter from the cold. The church is open 24 hours and is administered by the "Messengers of Peace" the org founded by Fr. Angel. I learned as well that people are calling this Church the "coolest Church in the Western world" for the free WIFI, free food & shelter but I think more so because of the non-judgmental way people are treated here. Actually Fr. Angel and the messengers of peace welcome everyone and do not discriminate even those whom Catholic traditionalist consider as in the margins like LGBT Community, homeless and the like even pets are welcome here. The church is a sanctuary in every sense of the word to those who live in the margins, it is the beating heart in a very cold and prejudicial world we live in and honestly we can see this even from our very own church communities, the coldness I mean. I learned as well that no less than His Holiness Pope Francis visited here and commended the efforts of this unorthodox priest and the messengers of peace. This church was featured as one who epitomizes God's mercy and compassion and as such cited by Pope Francis during the year of mercy.
We were so touched and overwhelmed that we did not have photos taken. We prayed for the poor, the sick, the suffering, the lonely, the confused, the incarcerated and the dying. This I feel is what the world needs right now. A church and people responsive and looking out for those in the margins the call of His Holiness and His Eminence Cardinal Tagle here in the Archdiocese of Manila. Talk about imbibing the odor of the sheep, this I think is what it really means. Sometimes our concept of church or service has been boxed into our Liturgical services, ministries and even our preaching and sharing. Likewise the temptation when we are part of a community of sorts is to just have our vision limited to those we are joined together by activity, belief or purpose. In this church when you actually visit it and open your heart to it, these things above although good is not suppose to be a priority will come to fore. The priority is not the church edifice nor the service, it is the people the real church and preference is suppose to be given to those in the marginalized sector like the poor, the sick, the suffering, the incarcerated, the confused, the lonely and the dying. Jesus said in the gospels, "it is not the well that needs the physician". We are called by the Lord to be as physicians to them and pave the way for their healing by our love, mercy and compassion, things that we have received from the Lord in the first place. If Fr. Angel's work and the Messengers of Peace cannot touch you to reconsider your priorities, I do not know what will. Conventional, they are not but they are the true witnesses of holiness (imitation of Jesus) not our limited concepts of holiness which actually is what I call "piousness" or doing spiritual things thinking it is the end not the means to do the greater thing which is love. St. Paul said, "love is the greatest".
On the way out we decided to give somehow and one of the messenger volunteers told us to put it in the offering and gave us papers to write our petitions. It was placed by the side of the altar with a picture of the patron St. Anthony the great, abbot. How we wish we could have given more because this place is so "cool" indeed that I felt at that moment that I belong and do want to belong with them. Likewise, I felt the love and mercy of God, not in ethereal ways but in concrete flesh and blood and it really is cool. By the way do not think they do not have orthodox and holy liturgical services, they do indeed but the difference I think is that they know it is not the end but the means to holiness. Another cool thing I heard in this church is for us pet lovers because Fr. Angel blesses all pets during the feast day of their patron. If only we are just near, I would ask this holy man to bless our beloved dog Krabby, that's cool. Another btw, the Church is refuted to have the relics of St. Valentine to which we have named the day of love, "Valentine's day", maybe that is why everyone here is filled with so much real love, how cool is that truly?
"In the end, faith, hope and love remains and the greatest of these is love". (1Cor 13:13)
In our last day at Madrid, getting ready to go home to the Philippines, me and my wife Ruby decided to visit a Church to give thanks to God for this blessing He gave us through my brother in law Mr. Red R. Reyes. For truth is we will not be able to do this financially. Actually this is a birthday celebration for Ruby who turned 50 and it is also his birthday, how cool is that. Well for that matter after having breakfast at a grocery of sorts beside the inn we stayed, we decided to visit a Church. On our way, we talked to a brother whom we asked as to the location of the nearest Catholic Church. He pointed us to the direction of the Church of San Anton Abad (St. Anthony the Great, Abbot) whom he said is the Church of Fr. Angel Rodriquez who is accordingly being considered for Nobel Prize for Peace (like Saint Mother Teresa). My broken Spanish & his broken English somehow took a middle ground and comprehension materialized, thanks be to God. However I can deduce that he is so proud of this church and so we decided to check it out.
We entered the Church and the first thing you will notice is the homeless people sleeping or resting in the Church. We were told that these people are fed here, have coffee or soup and provide them shelter from the cold. The church is open 24 hours and is administered by the "Messengers of Peace" the org founded by Fr. Angel. I learned as well that people are calling this Church the "coolest Church in the Western world" for the free WIFI, free food & shelter but I think more so because of the non-judgmental way people are treated here. Actually Fr. Angel and the messengers of peace welcome everyone and do not discriminate even those whom Catholic traditionalist consider as in the margins like LGBT Community, homeless and the like even pets are welcome here. The church is a sanctuary in every sense of the word to those who live in the margins, it is the beating heart in a very cold and prejudicial world we live in and honestly we can see this even from our very own church communities, the coldness I mean. I learned as well that no less than His Holiness Pope Francis visited here and commended the efforts of this unorthodox priest and the messengers of peace. This church was featured as one who epitomizes God's mercy and compassion and as such cited by Pope Francis during the year of mercy.
We were so touched and overwhelmed that we did not have photos taken. We prayed for the poor, the sick, the suffering, the lonely, the confused, the incarcerated and the dying. This I feel is what the world needs right now. A church and people responsive and looking out for those in the margins the call of His Holiness and His Eminence Cardinal Tagle here in the Archdiocese of Manila. Talk about imbibing the odor of the sheep, this I think is what it really means. Sometimes our concept of church or service has been boxed into our Liturgical services, ministries and even our preaching and sharing. Likewise the temptation when we are part of a community of sorts is to just have our vision limited to those we are joined together by activity, belief or purpose. In this church when you actually visit it and open your heart to it, these things above although good is not suppose to be a priority will come to fore. The priority is not the church edifice nor the service, it is the people the real church and preference is suppose to be given to those in the marginalized sector like the poor, the sick, the suffering, the incarcerated, the confused, the lonely and the dying. Jesus said in the gospels, "it is not the well that needs the physician". We are called by the Lord to be as physicians to them and pave the way for their healing by our love, mercy and compassion, things that we have received from the Lord in the first place. If Fr. Angel's work and the Messengers of Peace cannot touch you to reconsider your priorities, I do not know what will. Conventional, they are not but they are the true witnesses of holiness (imitation of Jesus) not our limited concepts of holiness which actually is what I call "piousness" or doing spiritual things thinking it is the end not the means to do the greater thing which is love. St. Paul said, "love is the greatest".
On the way out we decided to give somehow and one of the messenger volunteers told us to put it in the offering and gave us papers to write our petitions. It was placed by the side of the altar with a picture of the patron St. Anthony the great, abbot. How we wish we could have given more because this place is so "cool" indeed that I felt at that moment that I belong and do want to belong with them. Likewise, I felt the love and mercy of God, not in ethereal ways but in concrete flesh and blood and it really is cool. By the way do not think they do not have orthodox and holy liturgical services, they do indeed but the difference I think is that they know it is not the end but the means to holiness. Another cool thing I heard in this church is for us pet lovers because Fr. Angel blesses all pets during the feast day of their patron. If only we are just near, I would ask this holy man to bless our beloved dog Krabby, that's cool. Another btw, the Church is refuted to have the relics of St. Valentine to which we have named the day of love, "Valentine's day", maybe that is why everyone here is filled with so much real love, how cool is that truly?
"In the end, faith, hope and love remains and the greatest of these is love". (1Cor 13:13)
5TH STOP: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA,
GALICIA, ESPANA
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA:(CAMINO DE SANTIAGO)
THE 3RD MOST IMPORTANT PILGRIMAGE SITE FOR CHRISTENDOM WAS AND I THINK STILL IS SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA. THIS WAS MORE SO DURING TIMES WHEN IT WAS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO GO TO THE HOLY LAND OR THE HOLY CITY VATICANO FOR VARIOUS REASONS RANGING FROM POLITICAL TO PERILOUSNESS. THANKS TO MY BROTHER IN LAW MR. REDENTOR REYES WHO IS OUR BENEFACTOR, MY WIFE RUBY AND I WAS ABLE TO VISIT THIS HOLY PLACE. BELOW APPEARS OUR REPORT AND REFLECTION IN THIS HOLY PLACE.
THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO:
THE WALK OF ST. JAMES IS ONE OF THE MOST SACRED BECAUSE THIS WOULD ENTAIL THE ACTUAL WALK OF THE APOSTLE AND MORE THAN THAT MIRRORS THE PILGRIMAGE OF LIFE. LIKE LIFE ITSELF THE WALK IS NOT EASY. THE TERRAIN ESPECIALLY UPON REACHING ESPANA IS BESET WITH HILLS AND VALLEYS AND WALKING IS DEMANDING PHYSICALLY MUCH LIKE LIFE ITSELF. AT THE AIRPLANE ON OUR WAY TO SANTIAGO, PROVIDENTIAL TO BOTH PARTIES, WE SAT WITH A YOUNG MAN OF 29 NAMED MAURICE (DUTCH) WHO BELIEVE IT OR NOT IS GOING FOR THE “CAMINO” AND WILL START HIS PILGRIMAGE JUST OUTSIDE OF MADRID AND HE CALCULATES THAT HE WILL NEED 7 DAYS TO FINISH THE TRAIL. I TOLD HIM THAT I AM SO HAPPY FOR HIM BECAUSE EVEN AT THIS TIME THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE CAMINO. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS NOT AS POPULAR BUT I WAS PROVEN WRONG. AT THE CATHEDRAL WHICH IS THE ENDPOINT OF THE PRACTICE, WE HAD A YOUNG LADY WHO DID THE SAME TAKE OUR PICTURE. HOWEVER, IT WAS A COUPLE MICHAEL & SABINA (GERMANS) AGED 55 AND 50 RESPECTIVELY WHO COINCIDENTALLY OR PROVIDENTIALLY IS THE SAME AGE AS RUBY AND MYSELF WHO INSPIRED US THE MOST BECAUSE THEY TOOK THE PORTUGUESE ROUTE AND IT TOOK THEM 14 DAYS TO FINISH THE TRAIL. MORE THAN THEIR AGES IT WAS IMPRESSED ON US THAT WE SHOULD ONE DAY TAKE THE TRAIL OURSELVES BECAUSE THEY TOLD US THAT WE CAN STILL MAKE IT ENCOURAGINGLY. AT THE CATHEDRAL WHERE WE MET, THEY BOTH TOLD US THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO WALK ANYMORE FOR A FEW DAYS. LIKE THE CAMINO OUR REFLECTION IS THAT THE TRIALS, TRIBULATION, PROBLEMS & EVEN PERSECUTIONS IN LIFE WILL COME TO AN END, WE JUST HAVE TO WEATHER IT AND REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD. THE SITE OF THE CATHEDRAL WHERE THE REMAINS OF THE GREAT SAINT RESTS IS KINDA LIKE HEAVEN, OUR REWARD IF WE PERSIST IN THE PILGRIMAGE. SO WHATEVER PROBLEMS AND TRIALS YOU ARE ENCOUNTERING RIGHT NOW, DO NOT GIVE UP AND STOP. HAVE FAITH THAT LIKE GOD GAVE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO ALL CAMINO TAKERS, HE WILL BE THE PROVIDENTIAL GOD WHO WILL WALK WITH YOU AND IF FOR SOME REASON YOU CANNOT WALK ANYMORE, HE WILL CARRY YOU AND LEAD YOU UNTIL YOU CAN DO SO AGAIN (FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND) BECAUSE IT IS HIS HEART TO ACCOMPANY US TILL WE REACH THE BEATIFIC VISION WHERE YOU AND HIM WILL BE TOGETHER FOR ETERNITY. THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO IS A BEAUTIFUL CATECHISM OF LIFE, THE PILGRIMAGE WE ARE ALL IN RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW.
SANTIAGO MAYOR & OUR LADY OF THE PILAR:
ST.JAMES THE GREAT IS ONE OF THE 12 APOSTLES AND IS ONE ALONG WITH ST. JOHN HIS BROTHER AND ST. PETER IS CONSIDERED BY MANY AS BELONGING TO THE INNER CIRCLE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. THE BROTHER APOSTLES WHO WERE NAMED BY JESUS AS “SONS OF THUNDER” AND JAMES ESPECIALLY HAS A PERSONALITY THAT IS STRONG TO SAY THE LEAST. HE HAS CHOSEN WHEN THE JERUSALEM PERSECUTION BEGAN TO GO WESTWARD AS FAR AS HE CAN AND ENDED UP AT HISPANOLA (MODERN DAY IBERIAN PENINSULA: SPAIN & PORTUGAL). HE TOOK WITH HIM THE MESSAGE OF OUR SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST WHO WAS CLEARLY FOR THE SAINT IS NOW FOR ALL MEN OF COLOR OR RACE. HOWEVER, DIFFICULTIES I IMAGINE WITH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, GARNERED VERY LITTLE RESULT IN CONVERSION TERMS. I TOLD RUBY MY WIFE THAT FURTHER REFLECTION OF THE SITUATION LED ME TO CONCLUDE THAT MAYBE BEING A WITNESS OF THE PENTECOST SERMON IN TONGUES BY ST. PETER, HE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE SAME WILL HAPPEN TO HIM THERE. WHEN IT DID NOT MATERIALIZE, HE BECAME DEPRESSED, TIRED AND FRUSTRATED, HE THOUGHT OF ABANDONING THE MISSION AND RETURN HOME TO PALESTINE. IT WAS ON HIS WAY HOME BY THE RIVER EBRO (MODERN DAY ZARAGOZA) THAT OUR LADY APPEARED TO HIM ATOP A PILLAR HOLDING THE INFANT SAVIOR, OUR LORD JESUS. THERE HE WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE WITH HIS APOSTOLIC WORK AND THAT THIS PILLAR (THE LAND) WILL BE AN INSTRUMENT OF CONVERSION TO MANY PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT TONGUES AND CULTURE. MORE THAN THAT DEVOTION TO OUR LADY WILL FLOURISH AND BY THE WAY THIS WAS THE 1ST RECORDED APPARITION OF OUR MOTHER MARY ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE MORE SO DESCRIBED AS A BILOCATION SINCE SHE IS STILL ALIVE AND MOST PROBABLY LIVING WITH ST. JOHN HIS BROTHER AT EPHESUS. THIS ENCOUNTER WAS VERY PROPHETIC BECAUSE IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA (MODERN DAY SPAIN & PORTUGAL), DURING THE AGE OF EXPLORATION, CHRISTIANITY HAS REACHED THE 4 CORNERS OF THE EARTH. IT WAS ALSO THROUGH HERE THAT THE ROSARY AS WE KNOW IT THROUGH ST. DOMINIC AND THE DOMINICAN ORDER IS PRAYED IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES AND WITH FERVENT DEVOTION TO OUR LADY WHO BRINGS US TO HIS BELOVED SON, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR.
CATHEDRAL OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA:
WHEN YOU GET TO THE CATHEDRAL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE PILGRIMS MASS AT THE MAIN ALTAR WITH THE IMAGE OF ST. JAMES WHICH YOU CAN LITERALLY TOUCH AND BELOW IT YOU WILL FIND THE CRYPT WHERE THE RELIC (BONES) OF THE APOSTLE IS SITUATED AND LEAVE YOUR LETTERS OF PETITION OR REQUEST LIKE WHAT I DID FOR A PERSON WHO WROTE THE SAME. WHEN I WAS THERE AT THE CRYPT ESPECIALLY, I WAS IN TEARS AND I FELT THE GREAT SAINT SPEAKING TO ME. LIKEWISE, YOU WILL BE PRIVY TO MANY IMAGES OF THE APOSTLE JAMES (SANTIAGO) AND OF ONE RIDING A HORSE AND HOLDING A SWORD IN HAND AND IN THE PERIOD CLOTHES OF THOSE DURING THE RECONQUISTA. YOU SEE, THIS LAND BY ABOUT THE 7TH CENTURY FELL UNDER THE SWORD OF THE MUSLIMS WHOSE CALIPHATE HAD GRANADA AS THE CENTER OF LEARNING AND CULTURE. ALL THROUGH SOUTHERN SPAIN THE TRACE OF MUSLIM INFLUENCE CAN BE SEEN IN ARCHITECTURE. THE IMAGE I SPOKE ABOUT HAS THE APOSTLE WITH A PERSON HOLDING A SCIMITAR (MUSLIM OR MORO) UNDER HIM. THEY CALL THIS THE IMAGE OF SANTIAGO: MATAMOROS OR ROUGHLY TRANSLATED ST. JAMES: AGAINST MOROS OR MUSLIMS. THE LEGEND HAS IT THAT DURING THE ARMED STRUGGLE THIS PERSON WILL BE SEEN LEADING THE CHARGE THAT EVENTUALLY REGAINED THE WHOLE OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA BACK TO CHRISTIANITY OR CATHOLICISM. THIS IS THE IMAGE THAT I BOUGHT AND NOW HAVE AT MY OFFICE. THIS IMAGE REMINDED ME THAT THERE ARE MANY WHO HAS LEFT THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH AND AS A MEMBER OF CFD (CATHOLIC FAITH DEFENDERS) AND FOUNDER OF ST. JOSEPH APOLOGETICS, I MUST TRY MY VERY BEST TO PREVENT THIS AND EVEN BRING BACK TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THOSE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR WAY. ST. JAMES INSPIRED ME AND CONFIRMED TO ME THAT INDEED THIS IS A TASK AND A CALLING FOR THIS SIMPLE AND HUMBLE SERVANT OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH. I WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE REVELATION THAT SANTIAGO: MATA MOROS WILL ACCOMPANY ME IN THIS STRUGGLE, HE WILL, LIKE DURING THE RECONQUISTA, LEAD THE CHARGE. THE SONG I SANG IN MY HEART AT THE CATHEDRAL WAS “ONWARD CHRISTIAN (CATHOLIC) SOLDIERS…”
ORGANIZE A SANTIAGO & OUR LADY OF THE PILARS PILGRIMAGE:
AT THE END OF OUR TIME IN THE HOLY PLACE, IT SEEMS THAT WE MADE A RESOLUTION TO COME BACK AND IF GOD WILLING AND THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF THE GREAT SAINT, OUR BELOVED MOTHER MARY AND FATHER JOSEPH BRING AND IF NEED BE, LEAD A PILGRIMAGE TO THIS 2 HOLY PLACES (ZARAGOSA & COMPOSTELA). WE THINK THIS IS AS CONNECTED AS ANY TWO PLACES CAN BE INDEED. ASKING FOR YOUR PRAYERS ABOUT THIS MATTER AND DO PLEASE INFORM ME IF YOU ARE WILLING OR DESIRE TO TAKE THIS PILGRIMAGE AND CITE YOUR REASONS WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE PILGRIMAGE AND THE CAMINO. AS TO THE CAMINO, I WILL MAKE IT FIT FOR THE PARTICULAR STATUS PHYSICALLY OF THE PERSON MEANING IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT CAMINO FOR THE YOUNGER AND FOR THE OLDER LIKE ME OF COURSE. WILL PRAY THAT THE LORD THROUGH INTERCESSION OF THESE 3 PERSONS CLOSE TO JESUS; MOTHER MARY, FATHER JOSEPH AND ST. JAMES THE GREATER, SPEAK TO ALL WHO WILL TAKE THIS PILGRIMAGE AND LEARN THE LESSONS NEEDED TO HELP US ALONG OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE PILGRIMAGES IN LIFE. MAY THE LORD BLESS, GUIDE AND PROTECT US ALL IN OUR PILGRIMAGE OF LIFE WITH STRENGTH, WISDOM & PROVIDENCE. AMEN.
PRAYER:
MOTHER MARY, OUR LADY OF THE PILAR, YOU HAVE SHOWN US THAT YOU DO CARE FOR US ALL REGARDLESS OF OUR COLOR OR CULTURE. BRING US TO JESUS SO WE CAN TRULY BECOME TRUE DISCIPLES IN THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS. PRAY FOR US THAT WE WOULD RECITE THE HOLY ROSARY EVERYDAY AND HAVE A TENDER LOVE FOR THE HOLY FAMILY; JESUS, YOU AND ST JOSEPH. AMEN.
ST. JAMES THE GREAT, YOU DEFENDED THE CHRISTIANS AGAINST THE MOORS; DEFEND THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH AROUND THE WORLD AGAINST PERSECUTION, FALACY AND ERROR. YOU WHO WALKED THE MANY MILES FROM PALESTINE TO HISPANOLA AND STRUGGLED WITH MANY THINGS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL, ACCOMPANY US IN OUR LIFE PILGRIMAGE AND IN THE MOMENTS WHEN WE ARE WEAK, BRING US TO JESUS THROUGH OUR BELOVED MOTHER MARY. LASTLY, PRAY FOR US, THE POOR, THE SICK, THE SUFFERING, THE INCARCERATED, THE CONFUSED, THE LONELY AND THE DYING OF TODAY. AMEN.
THE 3RD MOST IMPORTANT PILGRIMAGE SITE FOR CHRISTENDOM WAS AND I THINK STILL IS SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA. THIS WAS MORE SO DURING TIMES WHEN IT WAS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO GO TO THE HOLY LAND OR THE HOLY CITY VATICANO FOR VARIOUS REASONS RANGING FROM POLITICAL TO PERILOUSNESS. THANKS TO MY BROTHER IN LAW MR. REDENTOR REYES WHO IS OUR BENEFACTOR, MY WIFE RUBY AND I WAS ABLE TO VISIT THIS HOLY PLACE. BELOW APPEARS OUR REPORT AND REFLECTION IN THIS HOLY PLACE.
THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO:
THE WALK OF ST. JAMES IS ONE OF THE MOST SACRED BECAUSE THIS WOULD ENTAIL THE ACTUAL WALK OF THE APOSTLE AND MORE THAN THAT MIRRORS THE PILGRIMAGE OF LIFE. LIKE LIFE ITSELF THE WALK IS NOT EASY. THE TERRAIN ESPECIALLY UPON REACHING ESPANA IS BESET WITH HILLS AND VALLEYS AND WALKING IS DEMANDING PHYSICALLY MUCH LIKE LIFE ITSELF. AT THE AIRPLANE ON OUR WAY TO SANTIAGO, PROVIDENTIAL TO BOTH PARTIES, WE SAT WITH A YOUNG MAN OF 29 NAMED MAURICE (DUTCH) WHO BELIEVE IT OR NOT IS GOING FOR THE “CAMINO” AND WILL START HIS PILGRIMAGE JUST OUTSIDE OF MADRID AND HE CALCULATES THAT HE WILL NEED 7 DAYS TO FINISH THE TRAIL. I TOLD HIM THAT I AM SO HAPPY FOR HIM BECAUSE EVEN AT THIS TIME THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TAKE THE CAMINO. I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS NOT AS POPULAR BUT I WAS PROVEN WRONG. AT THE CATHEDRAL WHICH IS THE ENDPOINT OF THE PRACTICE, WE HAD A YOUNG LADY WHO DID THE SAME TAKE OUR PICTURE. HOWEVER, IT WAS A COUPLE MICHAEL & SABINA (GERMANS) AGED 55 AND 50 RESPECTIVELY WHO COINCIDENTALLY OR PROVIDENTIALLY IS THE SAME AGE AS RUBY AND MYSELF WHO INSPIRED US THE MOST BECAUSE THEY TOOK THE PORTUGUESE ROUTE AND IT TOOK THEM 14 DAYS TO FINISH THE TRAIL. MORE THAN THEIR AGES IT WAS IMPRESSED ON US THAT WE SHOULD ONE DAY TAKE THE TRAIL OURSELVES BECAUSE THEY TOLD US THAT WE CAN STILL MAKE IT ENCOURAGINGLY. AT THE CATHEDRAL WHERE WE MET, THEY BOTH TOLD US THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO WALK ANYMORE FOR A FEW DAYS. LIKE THE CAMINO OUR REFLECTION IS THAT THE TRIALS, TRIBULATION, PROBLEMS & EVEN PERSECUTIONS IN LIFE WILL COME TO AN END, WE JUST HAVE TO WEATHER IT AND REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD. THE SITE OF THE CATHEDRAL WHERE THE REMAINS OF THE GREAT SAINT RESTS IS KINDA LIKE HEAVEN, OUR REWARD IF WE PERSIST IN THE PILGRIMAGE. SO WHATEVER PROBLEMS AND TRIALS YOU ARE ENCOUNTERING RIGHT NOW, DO NOT GIVE UP AND STOP. HAVE FAITH THAT LIKE GOD GAVE STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO ALL CAMINO TAKERS, HE WILL BE THE PROVIDENTIAL GOD WHO WILL WALK WITH YOU AND IF FOR SOME REASON YOU CANNOT WALK ANYMORE, HE WILL CARRY YOU AND LEAD YOU UNTIL YOU CAN DO SO AGAIN (FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND) BECAUSE IT IS HIS HEART TO ACCOMPANY US TILL WE REACH THE BEATIFIC VISION WHERE YOU AND HIM WILL BE TOGETHER FOR ETERNITY. THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO IS A BEAUTIFUL CATECHISM OF LIFE, THE PILGRIMAGE WE ARE ALL IN RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW.
SANTIAGO MAYOR & OUR LADY OF THE PILAR:
ST.JAMES THE GREAT IS ONE OF THE 12 APOSTLES AND IS ONE ALONG WITH ST. JOHN HIS BROTHER AND ST. PETER IS CONSIDERED BY MANY AS BELONGING TO THE INNER CIRCLE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. THE BROTHER APOSTLES WHO WERE NAMED BY JESUS AS “SONS OF THUNDER” AND JAMES ESPECIALLY HAS A PERSONALITY THAT IS STRONG TO SAY THE LEAST. HE HAS CHOSEN WHEN THE JERUSALEM PERSECUTION BEGAN TO GO WESTWARD AS FAR AS HE CAN AND ENDED UP AT HISPANOLA (MODERN DAY IBERIAN PENINSULA: SPAIN & PORTUGAL). HE TOOK WITH HIM THE MESSAGE OF OUR SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST WHO WAS CLEARLY FOR THE SAINT IS NOW FOR ALL MEN OF COLOR OR RACE. HOWEVER, DIFFICULTIES I IMAGINE WITH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, GARNERED VERY LITTLE RESULT IN CONVERSION TERMS. I TOLD RUBY MY WIFE THAT FURTHER REFLECTION OF THE SITUATION LED ME TO CONCLUDE THAT MAYBE BEING A WITNESS OF THE PENTECOST SERMON IN TONGUES BY ST. PETER, HE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE SAME WILL HAPPEN TO HIM THERE. WHEN IT DID NOT MATERIALIZE, HE BECAME DEPRESSED, TIRED AND FRUSTRATED, HE THOUGHT OF ABANDONING THE MISSION AND RETURN HOME TO PALESTINE. IT WAS ON HIS WAY HOME BY THE RIVER EBRO (MODERN DAY ZARAGOZA) THAT OUR LADY APPEARED TO HIM ATOP A PILLAR HOLDING THE INFANT SAVIOR, OUR LORD JESUS. THERE HE WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE WITH HIS APOSTOLIC WORK AND THAT THIS PILLAR (THE LAND) WILL BE AN INSTRUMENT OF CONVERSION TO MANY PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT TONGUES AND CULTURE. MORE THAN THAT DEVOTION TO OUR LADY WILL FLOURISH AND BY THE WAY THIS WAS THE 1ST RECORDED APPARITION OF OUR MOTHER MARY ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE MORE SO DESCRIBED AS A BILOCATION SINCE SHE IS STILL ALIVE AND MOST PROBABLY LIVING WITH ST. JOHN HIS BROTHER AT EPHESUS. THIS ENCOUNTER WAS VERY PROPHETIC BECAUSE IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA (MODERN DAY SPAIN & PORTUGAL), DURING THE AGE OF EXPLORATION, CHRISTIANITY HAS REACHED THE 4 CORNERS OF THE EARTH. IT WAS ALSO THROUGH HERE THAT THE ROSARY AS WE KNOW IT THROUGH ST. DOMINIC AND THE DOMINICAN ORDER IS PRAYED IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES AND WITH FERVENT DEVOTION TO OUR LADY WHO BRINGS US TO HIS BELOVED SON, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR.
CATHEDRAL OF SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA:
WHEN YOU GET TO THE CATHEDRAL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE PILGRIMS MASS AT THE MAIN ALTAR WITH THE IMAGE OF ST. JAMES WHICH YOU CAN LITERALLY TOUCH AND BELOW IT YOU WILL FIND THE CRYPT WHERE THE RELIC (BONES) OF THE APOSTLE IS SITUATED AND LEAVE YOUR LETTERS OF PETITION OR REQUEST LIKE WHAT I DID FOR A PERSON WHO WROTE THE SAME. WHEN I WAS THERE AT THE CRYPT ESPECIALLY, I WAS IN TEARS AND I FELT THE GREAT SAINT SPEAKING TO ME. LIKEWISE, YOU WILL BE PRIVY TO MANY IMAGES OF THE APOSTLE JAMES (SANTIAGO) AND OF ONE RIDING A HORSE AND HOLDING A SWORD IN HAND AND IN THE PERIOD CLOTHES OF THOSE DURING THE RECONQUISTA. YOU SEE, THIS LAND BY ABOUT THE 7TH CENTURY FELL UNDER THE SWORD OF THE MUSLIMS WHOSE CALIPHATE HAD GRANADA AS THE CENTER OF LEARNING AND CULTURE. ALL THROUGH SOUTHERN SPAIN THE TRACE OF MUSLIM INFLUENCE CAN BE SEEN IN ARCHITECTURE. THE IMAGE I SPOKE ABOUT HAS THE APOSTLE WITH A PERSON HOLDING A SCIMITAR (MUSLIM OR MORO) UNDER HIM. THEY CALL THIS THE IMAGE OF SANTIAGO: MATAMOROS OR ROUGHLY TRANSLATED ST. JAMES: AGAINST MOROS OR MUSLIMS. THE LEGEND HAS IT THAT DURING THE ARMED STRUGGLE THIS PERSON WILL BE SEEN LEADING THE CHARGE THAT EVENTUALLY REGAINED THE WHOLE OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA BACK TO CHRISTIANITY OR CATHOLICISM. THIS IS THE IMAGE THAT I BOUGHT AND NOW HAVE AT MY OFFICE. THIS IMAGE REMINDED ME THAT THERE ARE MANY WHO HAS LEFT THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH AND AS A MEMBER OF CFD (CATHOLIC FAITH DEFENDERS) AND FOUNDER OF ST. JOSEPH APOLOGETICS, I MUST TRY MY VERY BEST TO PREVENT THIS AND EVEN BRING BACK TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THOSE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR WAY. ST. JAMES INSPIRED ME AND CONFIRMED TO ME THAT INDEED THIS IS A TASK AND A CALLING FOR THIS SIMPLE AND HUMBLE SERVANT OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH. I WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE REVELATION THAT SANTIAGO: MATA MOROS WILL ACCOMPANY ME IN THIS STRUGGLE, HE WILL, LIKE DURING THE RECONQUISTA, LEAD THE CHARGE. THE SONG I SANG IN MY HEART AT THE CATHEDRAL WAS “ONWARD CHRISTIAN (CATHOLIC) SOLDIERS…”
ORGANIZE A SANTIAGO & OUR LADY OF THE PILARS PILGRIMAGE:
AT THE END OF OUR TIME IN THE HOLY PLACE, IT SEEMS THAT WE MADE A RESOLUTION TO COME BACK AND IF GOD WILLING AND THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF THE GREAT SAINT, OUR BELOVED MOTHER MARY AND FATHER JOSEPH BRING AND IF NEED BE, LEAD A PILGRIMAGE TO THIS 2 HOLY PLACES (ZARAGOSA & COMPOSTELA). WE THINK THIS IS AS CONNECTED AS ANY TWO PLACES CAN BE INDEED. ASKING FOR YOUR PRAYERS ABOUT THIS MATTER AND DO PLEASE INFORM ME IF YOU ARE WILLING OR DESIRE TO TAKE THIS PILGRIMAGE AND CITE YOUR REASONS WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE PILGRIMAGE AND THE CAMINO. AS TO THE CAMINO, I WILL MAKE IT FIT FOR THE PARTICULAR STATUS PHYSICALLY OF THE PERSON MEANING IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT CAMINO FOR THE YOUNGER AND FOR THE OLDER LIKE ME OF COURSE. WILL PRAY THAT THE LORD THROUGH INTERCESSION OF THESE 3 PERSONS CLOSE TO JESUS; MOTHER MARY, FATHER JOSEPH AND ST. JAMES THE GREATER, SPEAK TO ALL WHO WILL TAKE THIS PILGRIMAGE AND LEARN THE LESSONS NEEDED TO HELP US ALONG OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE PILGRIMAGES IN LIFE. MAY THE LORD BLESS, GUIDE AND PROTECT US ALL IN OUR PILGRIMAGE OF LIFE WITH STRENGTH, WISDOM & PROVIDENCE. AMEN.
PRAYER:
MOTHER MARY, OUR LADY OF THE PILAR, YOU HAVE SHOWN US THAT YOU DO CARE FOR US ALL REGARDLESS OF OUR COLOR OR CULTURE. BRING US TO JESUS SO WE CAN TRULY BECOME TRUE DISCIPLES IN THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS. PRAY FOR US THAT WE WOULD RECITE THE HOLY ROSARY EVERYDAY AND HAVE A TENDER LOVE FOR THE HOLY FAMILY; JESUS, YOU AND ST JOSEPH. AMEN.
ST. JAMES THE GREAT, YOU DEFENDED THE CHRISTIANS AGAINST THE MOORS; DEFEND THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH AROUND THE WORLD AGAINST PERSECUTION, FALACY AND ERROR. YOU WHO WALKED THE MANY MILES FROM PALESTINE TO HISPANOLA AND STRUGGLED WITH MANY THINGS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL, ACCOMPANY US IN OUR LIFE PILGRIMAGE AND IN THE MOMENTS WHEN WE ARE WEAK, BRING US TO JESUS THROUGH OUR BELOVED MOTHER MARY. LASTLY, PRAY FOR US, THE POOR, THE SICK, THE SUFFERING, THE INCARCERATED, THE CONFUSED, THE LONELY AND THE DYING OF TODAY. AMEN.
4TH STOP: COLOGNE, GERMANY
COLOGNE CATHEDRAL/CHURCH OF THE MINORITIES
CATHOLIC CHURCH: CHURCH FOR ALL
We have been to Cologne, Germany where we were astounded by the height and grandness of the Cologne Cathedral where you will find the remains of the 3 Magis (who visited the Child Jesus) and the wise Dominican Scholar, St. Albert the Great (teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas) among many. However I insisted that we go to the Franciscan Church of Minorities where the remains of the Champion of the Immaculate Conception rests, the Blessed John Duns Scotus OFM. Actually the 2 places of worship led us to reflect on the contradiction yet universality of the Catholic Church.
The Cathedral: (Hohe Domkirche St. Petrus or Kolner Dom)
In Cologne, Germany you will see the vast gothic structure otherwise known as the Cathedral of Cologne. This architectural marvel was at the time the tallest Church in the world. Now it is just the 2nd to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. However when you see the Cathedral in person, you cannot help but be astounded by the immensity. This Gothic Cathedral was built starting 1248 and was completed 1473. It is formally named the Cathedral of St. Peter at Cologne, Germany. More than the architecture, the structure also boasts of having the relics of the 3 Magis or the kings who visited the Lord Jesus when he was born on Bethlehem to offer their homage to the newborn King of kings. These relics were said to be brought here by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa from Milan in the year 1164. On the side of the main altar you will find this and known as the “Shrine of the 3 kings”. Likewise, this is the Church which has the remains of the great scholar, a doctor of the Church & the teacher of the Angelic Doctor St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Albert the Great. Although his remains is not often visited by pilgrims because maybe of ignorance of who the “Doctor of the Church” is, for many commentators and scholars he, because of his influence on St. Thomas Aquinas (father of scholasticism) can be called the “grandfather of scholasticism”. He is a bishop and has elevated the study of God (theology) into a science because for him and the Angelic doctor, God and His existence can be proven through many ways.
When we were there, so many people are around paying homage and so many photos are being taken of the structure. I spent my time there and prayed at the shrine thanking the Magis for their recognition of the Lord Jesus even in the humble manger as the King of kings born into our world. Then at the main altar I thanked the Lord for people like Sancti Albertus Magnus whose teaching and example has reverberated up until this our very time in history. Awesome is the adjective that I can come up with at this beautiful edifice that God has granted to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church: the Catholic Church. Our God is not a poor God deserving of the highest honour and praise that man can offer since all these things truly came from Him anyway. An awesome Church for an Awesome God.
Church of Minorities: (Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion)
This Franciscan Order (Friar Minors) inspired church just a few blocks away from the Cathedral houses the remains of the “Subtle Doctor”, the Blessed John Duns Scotus, a Franciscan priest who has an extensive volume of scholastic work in both theology and philosophy. He is known as well as the “Champion of the Immaculate Concepcion” because it was his work that in some way gave us a logical and acceptable basis which a few centuries later led to the proclamation of the dogma by His Holiness Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1854. As a matter of fact the Pontiff thanked the simple Franciscan priest and cited him particularly his defence of the dogma, as one of the factors that led to the proclamation. It was St. John Paul the Great who beatified him so many centuries later and I am praying that one day soon, preferably in my time, he will be canonized and declared a Saint. He is known as a holy teacher (University of Paris & Cologne) and when he was declared a “Doctor of the Church”; his humility earned him the title as “Subtle Doctor”. In this church you can see the Franciscan influence of being able to rise above the lure of materialism in the spirit of the founder of the order, St. Francis of Assisi. Instead of having marble walls the stones are just stones. In the main altar you will witness a large image of the Crucifix using transparent materials and has a subtle image of the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. On one side you will see the tomb of the Subtle Doctor with not much fanfare although it has a fence around it. When we were there, there were just maybe 2 or 3 people we met inside the church in contrast to the multitude we witnessed at the Cathedral. It was for one thing a very conducive place to pray and meditate. It was refuted that it was Blessed John Duns who had this constructed and when I saw it, I think this maybe to be true because in the structure all you can see is simplicity and practicality to purpose. Truthfully from the outside, you will never notice that it has very good interiors and a place worthy for the worship of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is materially subtle but the atmosphere can lead one to soar in spirit like wings to the heavens. When I was there at the grave of the Subtle Doctor, tears welled up in my eyes and I heard him in my heart thanking me for the visit. I thanked him for defending our Mother Mary and told him that I will continue to preach, teach and tell all men that we should pray the rosary every day till we finally reach our destination, the beatific vision where we can be with God for all eternity. Subtle, simple and I can even dare say humble, this is the impression of this church for me. In its plainness though, it emits the holiness of God, the saintliness of the Franciscan Order and the spirit of the Subtle Doctor of Church, the Blessed John Duns Scotus.
CATHOLIC CHURCH: A CHURCH FOR ALL (CALL FOR UNITY)
I told my wife Ruby that this is a contradiction although I mean a good one. In the cathedral we were impressed in seemingly loud and concrete ways from the physical and material splendour, the power of the Church. Like it says that it is for the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, the cultured and other superlatives to describe it. In the other church however we were impressed by its simplicity, holiness and subtleness that sort of speak to us that the Church is for the poor socially and poor spiritually. The contradiction of the structures led me to the conclusion that the our Church; the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is truly universal meaning it is for all men regardless of social, racial, intellectual or cultural status. In application, no matter who you are or your status in life, the Catholic Church embraces you. She is the mother much like of our Mother Mary who will always have her arms open as she considers us all her children. Universality means that the Catholic Church is inclusive, we must become true to this calling. We might have our preferences but we must in our way rise above them to include all men, rich and poor, brilliant and not so brilliant, beautiful and not so beautiful, the in your face type to the subtle type. Actually we all have that tendency to be in awe of those that materially are in abundance, the beautiful, the powerful, the articulate and the like. In contrast, we have a natural tendency to disregard, be inconvenienced and even feel repulsed by brothers and sisters that belong to the lower or those we view as lower than us. This I think is the evil of prejudice and this is not what being universal actually means. In the beginning of our history it is not the powerful or rich who embraced this free gift of God in Jesus, it is actually the poor and even those considered subhuman at the time, slaves, who found the good news and embraced it. In the Church of the Minorities I began to think that maybe, just maybe there are more from this sector who are enjoying the fullness of the kingdom of God in heaven the poor materially here on earth. For Jesus said “blessed are you the poor for yours is the kingdom God” in the gospel of Luke 6:20. St. Paul stresses further that the kingdom of God is not about eating or drinking but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). Let us all strive to be less prejudicial or less judgmental of others and if possible to view ourselves as not the betters of others but at the least as equals in virtue and in grace. In God’s eyes we are all equal, we are all His children and He loves each and every one of us. For the Church our Mother, we are all equal, embraced, loved and dignified. Through the centuries the strength of the Church I have always said is the visible unity prevalent with the hierarchy to which we have submitted. Uni means one which is the root word for unity and universal.
May St. Albert the Great, the 3 Magis and the Subtle Doctor Blessed John Duns pray for us that we would grow into becoming truly universal, all embracing in thoughts, words and deeds; rise above materialism, arrogance and hunger for power but rather see Jesus in our marginalized brothers and sisters; the poor, the sick, the suffering, the incarcerated, the lonely, the confused and the dying. Amen.
We have been to Cologne, Germany where we were astounded by the height and grandness of the Cologne Cathedral where you will find the remains of the 3 Magis (who visited the Child Jesus) and the wise Dominican Scholar, St. Albert the Great (teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas) among many. However I insisted that we go to the Franciscan Church of Minorities where the remains of the Champion of the Immaculate Conception rests, the Blessed John Duns Scotus OFM. Actually the 2 places of worship led us to reflect on the contradiction yet universality of the Catholic Church.
The Cathedral: (Hohe Domkirche St. Petrus or Kolner Dom)
In Cologne, Germany you will see the vast gothic structure otherwise known as the Cathedral of Cologne. This architectural marvel was at the time the tallest Church in the world. Now it is just the 2nd to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. However when you see the Cathedral in person, you cannot help but be astounded by the immensity. This Gothic Cathedral was built starting 1248 and was completed 1473. It is formally named the Cathedral of St. Peter at Cologne, Germany. More than the architecture, the structure also boasts of having the relics of the 3 Magis or the kings who visited the Lord Jesus when he was born on Bethlehem to offer their homage to the newborn King of kings. These relics were said to be brought here by the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa from Milan in the year 1164. On the side of the main altar you will find this and known as the “Shrine of the 3 kings”. Likewise, this is the Church which has the remains of the great scholar, a doctor of the Church & the teacher of the Angelic Doctor St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Albert the Great. Although his remains is not often visited by pilgrims because maybe of ignorance of who the “Doctor of the Church” is, for many commentators and scholars he, because of his influence on St. Thomas Aquinas (father of scholasticism) can be called the “grandfather of scholasticism”. He is a bishop and has elevated the study of God (theology) into a science because for him and the Angelic doctor, God and His existence can be proven through many ways.
When we were there, so many people are around paying homage and so many photos are being taken of the structure. I spent my time there and prayed at the shrine thanking the Magis for their recognition of the Lord Jesus even in the humble manger as the King of kings born into our world. Then at the main altar I thanked the Lord for people like Sancti Albertus Magnus whose teaching and example has reverberated up until this our very time in history. Awesome is the adjective that I can come up with at this beautiful edifice that God has granted to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church: the Catholic Church. Our God is not a poor God deserving of the highest honour and praise that man can offer since all these things truly came from Him anyway. An awesome Church for an Awesome God.
Church of Minorities: (Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion)
This Franciscan Order (Friar Minors) inspired church just a few blocks away from the Cathedral houses the remains of the “Subtle Doctor”, the Blessed John Duns Scotus, a Franciscan priest who has an extensive volume of scholastic work in both theology and philosophy. He is known as well as the “Champion of the Immaculate Concepcion” because it was his work that in some way gave us a logical and acceptable basis which a few centuries later led to the proclamation of the dogma by His Holiness Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1854. As a matter of fact the Pontiff thanked the simple Franciscan priest and cited him particularly his defence of the dogma, as one of the factors that led to the proclamation. It was St. John Paul the Great who beatified him so many centuries later and I am praying that one day soon, preferably in my time, he will be canonized and declared a Saint. He is known as a holy teacher (University of Paris & Cologne) and when he was declared a “Doctor of the Church”; his humility earned him the title as “Subtle Doctor”. In this church you can see the Franciscan influence of being able to rise above the lure of materialism in the spirit of the founder of the order, St. Francis of Assisi. Instead of having marble walls the stones are just stones. In the main altar you will witness a large image of the Crucifix using transparent materials and has a subtle image of the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ. On one side you will see the tomb of the Subtle Doctor with not much fanfare although it has a fence around it. When we were there, there were just maybe 2 or 3 people we met inside the church in contrast to the multitude we witnessed at the Cathedral. It was for one thing a very conducive place to pray and meditate. It was refuted that it was Blessed John Duns who had this constructed and when I saw it, I think this maybe to be true because in the structure all you can see is simplicity and practicality to purpose. Truthfully from the outside, you will never notice that it has very good interiors and a place worthy for the worship of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is materially subtle but the atmosphere can lead one to soar in spirit like wings to the heavens. When I was there at the grave of the Subtle Doctor, tears welled up in my eyes and I heard him in my heart thanking me for the visit. I thanked him for defending our Mother Mary and told him that I will continue to preach, teach and tell all men that we should pray the rosary every day till we finally reach our destination, the beatific vision where we can be with God for all eternity. Subtle, simple and I can even dare say humble, this is the impression of this church for me. In its plainness though, it emits the holiness of God, the saintliness of the Franciscan Order and the spirit of the Subtle Doctor of Church, the Blessed John Duns Scotus.
CATHOLIC CHURCH: A CHURCH FOR ALL (CALL FOR UNITY)
I told my wife Ruby that this is a contradiction although I mean a good one. In the cathedral we were impressed in seemingly loud and concrete ways from the physical and material splendour, the power of the Church. Like it says that it is for the rich, the powerful, the beautiful, the cultured and other superlatives to describe it. In the other church however we were impressed by its simplicity, holiness and subtleness that sort of speak to us that the Church is for the poor socially and poor spiritually. The contradiction of the structures led me to the conclusion that the our Church; the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is truly universal meaning it is for all men regardless of social, racial, intellectual or cultural status. In application, no matter who you are or your status in life, the Catholic Church embraces you. She is the mother much like of our Mother Mary who will always have her arms open as she considers us all her children. Universality means that the Catholic Church is inclusive, we must become true to this calling. We might have our preferences but we must in our way rise above them to include all men, rich and poor, brilliant and not so brilliant, beautiful and not so beautiful, the in your face type to the subtle type. Actually we all have that tendency to be in awe of those that materially are in abundance, the beautiful, the powerful, the articulate and the like. In contrast, we have a natural tendency to disregard, be inconvenienced and even feel repulsed by brothers and sisters that belong to the lower or those we view as lower than us. This I think is the evil of prejudice and this is not what being universal actually means. In the beginning of our history it is not the powerful or rich who embraced this free gift of God in Jesus, it is actually the poor and even those considered subhuman at the time, slaves, who found the good news and embraced it. In the Church of the Minorities I began to think that maybe, just maybe there are more from this sector who are enjoying the fullness of the kingdom of God in heaven the poor materially here on earth. For Jesus said “blessed are you the poor for yours is the kingdom God” in the gospel of Luke 6:20. St. Paul stresses further that the kingdom of God is not about eating or drinking but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). Let us all strive to be less prejudicial or less judgmental of others and if possible to view ourselves as not the betters of others but at the least as equals in virtue and in grace. In God’s eyes we are all equal, we are all His children and He loves each and every one of us. For the Church our Mother, we are all equal, embraced, loved and dignified. Through the centuries the strength of the Church I have always said is the visible unity prevalent with the hierarchy to which we have submitted. Uni means one which is the root word for unity and universal.
May St. Albert the Great, the 3 Magis and the Subtle Doctor Blessed John Duns pray for us that we would grow into becoming truly universal, all embracing in thoughts, words and deeds; rise above materialism, arrogance and hunger for power but rather see Jesus in our marginalized brothers and sisters; the poor, the sick, the suffering, the incarcerated, the lonely, the confused and the dying. Amen.
3RD STOP: POLAND
WADOWICE:
(HOMETOWN OF ST. JOHN PAUL THE GREAT)
JOHN PAUL THE GREAT (HISTORY MAKER)
(Reflection on the birthplace of John Paul the Great, Pope)
At Poland we found the birthplace of the Saint whom I consider as the Pope of our generation. He has been instrumental in much conversion and I dare say in much Vocation for the Catholic Church in the Philippines and around the world for that matter and my own as well. He is a combination of strength and compassion that we all need to emulate in the Church today. His wisdom is fully orthodox and yet very modern and addressing timely wisdom that even the young, when I was young back then I mean can relate and accept. In all of Poland, the man who was pope for almost 30 years is felt, revered and loved. He is truly a witness that in these our time of hedonism, materialism and relativism that the Church is filled with Saints and saints who are history makers either in big or small ways and that faith is relevant indeed. It is not the knowing it is the living that matters. We were treated with a very contemporary museum presentation with computer generated images. This visit showed us the roots of this wonderful man for our times.
“DO NOT BE AFRAID, OPEN WIDE THE DOORS TO CHRIST.”
St. John Paul the Great has been for all intent and purposes a man of courage. At the beginning of his pontificate, Poland was under the “Iron Curtain” or the Soviet bloc. The very ideology of this system is the absence or nonexistence of God. In these times, the man who would be a Saint never backed down nor was afraid to speak about the many evils that a regime like this would implement. He is a known supporter of the Solidarity Movement in the nation that eventually ousted the regime of terror. When he was doing these things, threats unto his life is ever present. Like his message above, he lived it out and was not afraid as we open our hearts to God and His divine will. St. Paul in his epistle to the Philippians said, “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me”. This is the basis of his courage, the Lord Jesus in his heart.
“AS THE FAMILY GOES, SO GOES THE NATION AND SO GOES THE WHOLE WORLD WE LIVE IN.”
The man who would be pope was orphaned at a very young age. Tragedy with the loss of both parents before he was to be a priest led him to go through life being independent and could have led him to view family less but, in his case, the reverse happened as his view of the importance of family, in his case, the absence thereof, intensified the value of this institution God himself has ordained for all men. Being very scholastic and brilliant, he chose the life of a professor so he can interact and mingle with people and it is here that he learned the value of relationship over any other thing. It was also here where he first developed a family which consist of those with the university and share outdoor activities. According to the great man, this is his visible family. Even when he was already the Bishop of Krakow, he continued with this relationship and it has grown as the initial people had children and they became a part of his family. He is very committed to this family because the bond of brotherhood and sisterhood he learned here not in the classroom alone but by actually interacting with people. Relationships are more important than success or honor. Relationship is founded in acceptance of each individual as for whom they actually are, not on what we want them to be or our preferences and such. The family indeed is the basic unit of the Church and Society as we know it. From him we learn that if this basic structure deteriorates, the whole world would be in chaos. Family for him is life, life is family for him. If we are not advocating and living this out, we might become those he calls “agents of death”.
“THERE IS NOTHING MORE MAN NEEDS THAN DIVINE MERCY – THAT LOVE WHICH IS BENEVOLENT, WHICH IS COMPASSIONATE, WHICH RAISES MAN ABOVE HIS WEAKNESS TO THE INFINITE HEIGHTS, TO THE HOLINESS OF GOD.”
Mercy is the very character of God. Mercy can only happen if we know how to ask forgiveness and give forgiveness. We are all in need of this because the truth is none of us is perfect, only God is perfect in love and mercy. This great man will always be associated with the devotion to the Divine Mercy which was revealed to Sister Faustina, another Pole. Every Friday he prays the chaplet of the Divine Mercy. When he had an assassination attempt, he went upon recovery by the grace of God and the intercession of our Blessed Mother (when her mother died, his father took him to a church and in front of the image of the Blessed Mother, he told him that from this moment on, she is his mother), he went to the prison and told the gunman that he forgives him. His devotion to the Divine Mercy is not just a prayer; it became a way of life for this great man of the faith. Maybe we can all also pray the Divine Mercy like him every Friday and be transformed to become merciful like God. We might learn to live out the words of the stigmatist and founder of the order St. Francis who said, “Seek first to understand than to be understood”. mercy will lead us to be more generous in our judgment of others and make us more selfless and less selfish. His whole life is selflessness and in giving it all for God; mind, body & soul.
There are so many more we can say about this great man and when I was at his birthplace, I can only respond by saying “Praise to you Lord Jesus for giving us this great man who led us to believe that Saints are still real and in this our very times.” Glory be to the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit for Karol Woytila, St. John Paul the Great! May the intercession of St. John Paul the Great make us more compassionate, relationship focused and courageous as we continue with our pilgrimage here on earth. Amen.
(Reflection on the birthplace of John Paul the Great, Pope)
At Poland we found the birthplace of the Saint whom I consider as the Pope of our generation. He has been instrumental in much conversion and I dare say in much Vocation for the Catholic Church in the Philippines and around the world for that matter and my own as well. He is a combination of strength and compassion that we all need to emulate in the Church today. His wisdom is fully orthodox and yet very modern and addressing timely wisdom that even the young, when I was young back then I mean can relate and accept. In all of Poland, the man who was pope for almost 30 years is felt, revered and loved. He is truly a witness that in these our time of hedonism, materialism and relativism that the Church is filled with Saints and saints who are history makers either in big or small ways and that faith is relevant indeed. It is not the knowing it is the living that matters. We were treated with a very contemporary museum presentation with computer generated images. This visit showed us the roots of this wonderful man for our times.
“DO NOT BE AFRAID, OPEN WIDE THE DOORS TO CHRIST.”
St. John Paul the Great has been for all intent and purposes a man of courage. At the beginning of his pontificate, Poland was under the “Iron Curtain” or the Soviet bloc. The very ideology of this system is the absence or nonexistence of God. In these times, the man who would be a Saint never backed down nor was afraid to speak about the many evils that a regime like this would implement. He is a known supporter of the Solidarity Movement in the nation that eventually ousted the regime of terror. When he was doing these things, threats unto his life is ever present. Like his message above, he lived it out and was not afraid as we open our hearts to God and His divine will. St. Paul in his epistle to the Philippians said, “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me”. This is the basis of his courage, the Lord Jesus in his heart.
“AS THE FAMILY GOES, SO GOES THE NATION AND SO GOES THE WHOLE WORLD WE LIVE IN.”
The man who would be pope was orphaned at a very young age. Tragedy with the loss of both parents before he was to be a priest led him to go through life being independent and could have led him to view family less but, in his case, the reverse happened as his view of the importance of family, in his case, the absence thereof, intensified the value of this institution God himself has ordained for all men. Being very scholastic and brilliant, he chose the life of a professor so he can interact and mingle with people and it is here that he learned the value of relationship over any other thing. It was also here where he first developed a family which consist of those with the university and share outdoor activities. According to the great man, this is his visible family. Even when he was already the Bishop of Krakow, he continued with this relationship and it has grown as the initial people had children and they became a part of his family. He is very committed to this family because the bond of brotherhood and sisterhood he learned here not in the classroom alone but by actually interacting with people. Relationships are more important than success or honor. Relationship is founded in acceptance of each individual as for whom they actually are, not on what we want them to be or our preferences and such. The family indeed is the basic unit of the Church and Society as we know it. From him we learn that if this basic structure deteriorates, the whole world would be in chaos. Family for him is life, life is family for him. If we are not advocating and living this out, we might become those he calls “agents of death”.
“THERE IS NOTHING MORE MAN NEEDS THAN DIVINE MERCY – THAT LOVE WHICH IS BENEVOLENT, WHICH IS COMPASSIONATE, WHICH RAISES MAN ABOVE HIS WEAKNESS TO THE INFINITE HEIGHTS, TO THE HOLINESS OF GOD.”
Mercy is the very character of God. Mercy can only happen if we know how to ask forgiveness and give forgiveness. We are all in need of this because the truth is none of us is perfect, only God is perfect in love and mercy. This great man will always be associated with the devotion to the Divine Mercy which was revealed to Sister Faustina, another Pole. Every Friday he prays the chaplet of the Divine Mercy. When he had an assassination attempt, he went upon recovery by the grace of God and the intercession of our Blessed Mother (when her mother died, his father took him to a church and in front of the image of the Blessed Mother, he told him that from this moment on, she is his mother), he went to the prison and told the gunman that he forgives him. His devotion to the Divine Mercy is not just a prayer; it became a way of life for this great man of the faith. Maybe we can all also pray the Divine Mercy like him every Friday and be transformed to become merciful like God. We might learn to live out the words of the stigmatist and founder of the order St. Francis who said, “Seek first to understand than to be understood”. mercy will lead us to be more generous in our judgment of others and make us more selfless and less selfish. His whole life is selflessness and in giving it all for God; mind, body & soul.
There are so many more we can say about this great man and when I was at his birthplace, I can only respond by saying “Praise to you Lord Jesus for giving us this great man who led us to believe that Saints are still real and in this our very times.” Glory be to the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit for Karol Woytila, St. John Paul the Great! May the intercession of St. John Paul the Great make us more compassionate, relationship focused and courageous as we continue with our pilgrimage here on earth. Amen.
2nd STOP: SANTORINI, GREECE
DOMINICAN MONASTERY: Santorini, Greece
At Santorini, Greece there is a Dominican Monastery and was able to hear Mass there together with the sisters for 2 days. In fact, I was even able to serve as an acolyte in one of the Masses we attended there. Also, I am so happy that on the left and the right were pictures of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor of the Church & my scholastic patron & St. Catherine of Siena, stigmatist & Doctor of the Church (one of my dearest prayer partner). In the middle is a picture of Our Mother Mary w/ the Lord giving the rosary to St. Dominic & St. Catherine.
It was also here where we celebrated the birthday of my wife Ruby and my brother in law Mr. Red Reyes who is the sponsor of this marvelous vacation. The Monsignor even blessed them and included them in the prayers of the faithful. This was October 2, the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. Santorini for the most part is beautiful touristic place. There are so many people viewing the beautiful sunset.
The name of the island is Santorini and it turned out to be a combination of 2 words; Santo meaning holy and Irene meaning wisdom. It is a reference to our Blessed Mother who bore Wisdom Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ in her womb. The traditional title is “seat of wisdom”. Our reflection in this place (Santorin) are 3 things:
It was also here where we celebrated the birthday of my wife Ruby and my brother in law Mr. Red Reyes who is the sponsor of this marvelous vacation. The Monsignor even blessed them and included them in the prayers of the faithful. This was October 2, the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. Santorini for the most part is beautiful touristic place. There are so many people viewing the beautiful sunset.
The name of the island is Santorini and it turned out to be a combination of 2 words; Santo meaning holy and Irene meaning wisdom. It is a reference to our Blessed Mother who bore Wisdom Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ in her womb. The traditional title is “seat of wisdom”. Our reflection in this place (Santorin) are 3 things:
- We are thankful for the gift of life specially for Ruby and Reddy who embody the blessings God gives us in our family. Sometimes we do not appreciate the people around us and in this place, we are led to appreciate the gift of family and one another. Pope Francis said that the workshop of love is the family; here we learn to love, here is where we also learn to forgive and be merciful and compassionate. Lord we thank you for Ruby and Reddy, blessings for us all in this world and our companion in the pilgrimage of life and truly family to us.
- We were reminded of the Hyperdulia our Mother Mary who is truly a mother to us all. She is indeed more than the seat of wisdom, she is mother who throughout the centuries have always led us to Jesus especially in the Holy Eucharist and the sacraments. May we have a tender love for our Mother Mary and despite the unkind words we hear about her from our protestant brethren be her defender. She will be our holy companion in this pilgrimage we call our life here on earth.
- The Dominican Monastery and those Saints we mentioned above reminded us that we must continue to pray the rosary daily not just during the month of October but throughout the year. The rosary as we know it today was handed over to us through the great Saint Dominic, the founder of the Order of Preachers, OP. It was here that I made a vow to continue teaching the Holy Rosary as the means for catechism. This was what the early Dominican Missionaries did since the Holy Scriptures was not available back then like it is these days. In the St. Joseph Sunday School this is what we do to the children as we teach them the mysteries, read the Scriptures where it came from, watch a video regarding the mystery and end by praying the Rosary every Sunday. Our experience therefore became a confirmation that we are on the right track in our Sunday School.
1st STOP: ATHENS, GREECE
MEETING ST. JOSEPH @ ATHENS
(St. Dionysis the Areopagite Church)
At Athens, Greece we found a Catholic Church in which to hear Mass near the University called the St. Dionysis the Areopagite (councilor or lawyer). Inside we found this picture of St. Joseph which has the Tabernacle right below it which for me is posture of guarding, protecting & defending. I called it "St. Joseph: Guardian, Protector & Defender of Jesus" because of very obvious reasons. It was truly beautiful that when I was praying there, I cannot help but shed tears of joy and feel the Lord calling me to be like St. Joseph to guard, protect & defend Jesus, Mary & the Catholic Church of course in the seeming least way I can given my station. Every apostolate that I have in my life when it requires a name, I do not think very hard anymore. They are named after the Protodulia because he will always be my personal patron. To date I have started the St. Joseph Bible Institute, the St. Joseph Apologetics, the St. Joseph Sunday School (for children) and for discernment and I am asking your prayers for this one, the St. Joseph Pilgrimages which will be all in Spain and will have 4 sites: Santiago de Compostela (camino), Our Lady of the Pilar in Zaragosa, St. Joseph Monastery at Avila and Madrid.
St. Dionysis the Areopagite Church, Athens, Greece:
I became privy or knew about this Saint from the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas and was the required text of the Institute that I studied Theology, Apologetics and Church History because he was quoted by the Angelic Doctor of the Church from time to time. This Saint to which the Church is named was traditionally converted by the preaching of none other but St. Paul the Apostle himself. He is an educated man if I am not mistaken studied Astronomy. When he became a Christian he took to being a missionary like St. Paul and was refuted to have even reached as far north as modern day Germany and far west as the Iberian Peninsula (Spain & Portugal). He wrote many theological works (some quoted by St. Thomas Aquinas in the Summa) over the course of his lifetime and is considered by all as a very wise man. His theology is respected because he learned it from the Apostles themselves, the eyewitnesses. His life was a missionary life after his mentor the Apostle Paul and his spirituality became what we might call these days as Marian. Below are the words of the Saint himself regarding his meeting with the Blessed Mother:
“I witness by God, that besides the very God Himself, there is nothing else filled with such divine power and grace. No one can fully comprehend what I saw. I confess before God: when I was with John, who shone among the Apostles like the sun in the sky, when I was brought before the countenance of the Most Holy Virgin, I experienced an inexpressible sensation. Before me gleamed a sort of divine radiance which transfixed my spirit. I perceived the fragrance of indescribable aromas and was filled with such delight that my very body became faint, and my spirit could hardly endure these signs and marks of eternal majesty and heavenly power. The grace from her overwhelmed my heart and shook my very spirit. If I did not have in mind your instruction, I should have mistaken Her for the very God. It is impossible to stand before greater blessedness than this which I beheld.”
He was martyred by beheading either in Gaul or Athens during the great persecution of the Emperor Diocletan about the year 96 or thereabouts. Many giants of the faith stood at the shoulder of this great man foremost of these are Maximus the Confessor and John Damascene both Marian devotees.
May these 2 Saints, close to the Blessed Mother pray for us that we could continue to be true disciples of Jesus in thoughts, words and deeds. May we like them offer our lives to bring Jesus and Mary to all men and women regardless of status, race or culture. St. Joseph & St. Dionysis pray for us, the poor, the sick, the suffering, the incarcerated, the lonely, the confused and the dying of today. Amen.
St. Dionysis the Areopagite Church, Athens, Greece:
I became privy or knew about this Saint from the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas and was the required text of the Institute that I studied Theology, Apologetics and Church History because he was quoted by the Angelic Doctor of the Church from time to time. This Saint to which the Church is named was traditionally converted by the preaching of none other but St. Paul the Apostle himself. He is an educated man if I am not mistaken studied Astronomy. When he became a Christian he took to being a missionary like St. Paul and was refuted to have even reached as far north as modern day Germany and far west as the Iberian Peninsula (Spain & Portugal). He wrote many theological works (some quoted by St. Thomas Aquinas in the Summa) over the course of his lifetime and is considered by all as a very wise man. His theology is respected because he learned it from the Apostles themselves, the eyewitnesses. His life was a missionary life after his mentor the Apostle Paul and his spirituality became what we might call these days as Marian. Below are the words of the Saint himself regarding his meeting with the Blessed Mother:
“I witness by God, that besides the very God Himself, there is nothing else filled with such divine power and grace. No one can fully comprehend what I saw. I confess before God: when I was with John, who shone among the Apostles like the sun in the sky, when I was brought before the countenance of the Most Holy Virgin, I experienced an inexpressible sensation. Before me gleamed a sort of divine radiance which transfixed my spirit. I perceived the fragrance of indescribable aromas and was filled with such delight that my very body became faint, and my spirit could hardly endure these signs and marks of eternal majesty and heavenly power. The grace from her overwhelmed my heart and shook my very spirit. If I did not have in mind your instruction, I should have mistaken Her for the very God. It is impossible to stand before greater blessedness than this which I beheld.”
He was martyred by beheading either in Gaul or Athens during the great persecution of the Emperor Diocletan about the year 96 or thereabouts. Many giants of the faith stood at the shoulder of this great man foremost of these are Maximus the Confessor and John Damascene both Marian devotees.
May these 2 Saints, close to the Blessed Mother pray for us that we could continue to be true disciples of Jesus in thoughts, words and deeds. May we like them offer our lives to bring Jesus and Mary to all men and women regardless of status, race or culture. St. Joseph & St. Dionysis pray for us, the poor, the sick, the suffering, the incarcerated, the lonely, the confused and the dying of today. Amen.