Visita Iglesia 2010

Lenten Season is a time to repent for all our sins and at the same time take one moment to appreciate the power of God in your life. He said in Matthew 10:32 & 33 "Everyone therefore who acknowledge me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in Heaven; but whosoever denies me before the others, I will also deny before my Father in Heaven".

If some of the people spending the holy week by beach or out of town; Ian and I practice the so-called "Visita Iglesia" since 2007. Every Holy Thursday, I went to their house around 4pm and started the rituals. We visit 14 churches by on foot or brisk walking. We cannot feel the pain while we are walking. There are lots of people who accompanied and joined us while walking. We need to sacrifice just for once. This is nothing compare to the sacrifice that Jesus does for us. We do this because we love God. He is our source of life and our savior. He keeps us alive day and night. Jesus condemned to a death by crucifixion which is the "worst" death during that time. Jesus was nailed to cross by his hands and feet. Jesus uses his back muscles to support himself so that he could breathe. He was forced to support himself on the single nail that impaled to his feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with his legs because of the pain added by a crown of thorns on his head and a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into his chest. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage he does for us!

Can you imagine this kind of sufferings? Jesus had to endure this experience, so that we can have free access to God; so that our sins could be "washed" away. All of them with no exceptions! JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR US!

So just for once, let's appreciate it and be sorry for all the sins we done. Here are the complete lists of 14 churches that we visited and pray:

Station1: Jesus eats the last supper with his apostles.
Church: Holy Trinity

Station 2: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Church: San Roque Church

Station 3: Jesus is brought before the Sanhedrin
Church: Sto. Tomas Church

Station 4: Jesus is brought before Pilate
Church: Our Lady of Loreto


Station 5: Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns
Church: St. Francis of Asisi


Station 6: Jesus accepts his cross
Church: San Beda


Station 7: Jesus helped by Simon
Church: St. Jude


Station 8: Jesus speaks to the women
Church: San Miguel

Station 9: Jesus is stripped and nailed to the cross
Church: San Sebastian Church

Station 10: Jesus speaks to the thief
Church: Holy Face of Jesus

Station 11: Jesus entrust his mother to John
Church: Quiapo Church

Station 12: Jesus dies on the cross
Church: Sta. Cruz Church

Station 13: Jesus buried in the tomb
Church: San Agustin Church

Station 14: Jesus rises from dead
Church: Manila Cathedral Church

So just for 60 seconds, let's set aside whatever we are doing right now and all together let's pray the God's prayer. "Our Father, who art in heaven, Hollowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us nothing to temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever, AMEN"