Holy place – mypanoplies

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Posted on June 4, 2016June 4, 2016 by M Artisans

Month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. June 3 and June 4 mark the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. One of the greatest feasts in the Catholic Church. The feast celebrates and emphasizes God’s passionate love for His people.

The word heart, is a vital organ which is connected to a person’s physical, emotional and moral facets. And the Sacred Heart is a symbolic object of devotion to the Love of Jesus Christ.

As Pope Benedict XVI said, “In the heart of the Redeemer, we adore God’s love for humanity, His will for universal salvation, His infinite mercy. Practicing devotion to the Sacred Heart of Christ, therefore, means adoring that Heart which, after having loved us to the end, was pierced by a spear and from high on the Cross poured out blood and water, an inexhaustible source of new life.”

I have grown my devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus not because of the many things I ask from Him, in my prayers I ask for His mercy and guidance, among others, which I know He would wholeheartedly give. I have found consolation from this devotion, with life’s day to day struggles and adversities there’s the Heart of Jesus where we can find comfort and peace.

Let me share to you all the prayer of Padre Pio to the Sacred Heart.

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Sacred Heart of Jesus,

filled with infinite love,

broken by my ingratitude,

pierced by my sins,

yet lovingly me still;

accept the consecration that I make to you

of all that I am

and all that I have.

Take every faculty of my soul and body

and draw me, day by day,

nearer and nearer to your Sacred Heart,

and there,

as I can understand the lesson,

teach me your blessed ways.

Amen

faith, pilgrims, travel

Our Lady of Lourdes, France (2)

Posted on March 8, 2015February 11, 2023 by M Artisans

You’ll see this cross as you enter the sanctuary. It’s considered to be the holiest site in Lourdes, France.

Before, we thought of owning an apartment here. Though one helpful and local tour guide told us not to, because of taxes and high maintenance fees.

Lourdes has become a favorite place of mine, last year we stayed for 4 days and I went to the chapel daily. Prayed and drank in the sacred spring that welled up for the first time during the apparition of Mama Mary to St. Bernadette. The water was cold but it didn’t feel uncomfortably cold and chilly. Going back to the church, it was designed by Myroslav Nimciv, while its Byzantine interior polychrome decorations were executed by artist Jerzy Nowosielski. A beautiful statue of Mama Mary is standing right in the middle & facing the main basilica.

Her blue sash seemed to be swaying gracefully with the wind. And an intricate crown of gold-embroidered her head and perpetual face. The sanctuary is about 50 hectares with 22 places of worships, includes the sacred grotto, two main basilicas (photo of entrance seen below), and an assortment of chapels for the sick and pilgrim goers like me.

Roman Catholic faith is flourishing in Lourdes, I remember hearing Holy Masses in different languages like English, Spanish and Italian. One morning when I went alone to pray, I was mistaken to be an Italian and asked me to take photos of her group with the church as their background. Delighted and out of courtesy, I agreed and then went on to pray in the grotto.

The rest of the places in Lourdes will be featured on my next posts, and hopefully I’ll have time to post more pictures as well. Much said about this quaint town, I heard it is second to Paris in terms of tourism and number of hotels. Most of my happy memories were also from this place, I was solely raised by my grandmother with strict values and traditions and visiting Lourdes is very sacred to me. I’m planning to bring her here someday, if she is able to travel, God willing.

Year 2011 when I was diagnosed with severe endometriosis and ovarian cysts, a condition that made it crucial for me to conceive again. I had Laparoscopic procedures both for diagnosis and removal, but endometriosis in my uterus remain intact upto this day, this is one of the many difficult struggles we have to face. But it has made my faith deeper, so when we went to visit Lourdes last May I was more emotional than our previous pilgrims. I looked at the other hopefuls, some were more ill than I am, and in their stretchers and/or wheelchairs. I know we’re all present to experience the miracle, that one day we will be healed with our faith.

Tearful yet happy, the joy this place brings, never fails to remind me of God’s wonderful grace and love.

❤

faith, pilgrims, travel

Our Lady of Lourdes, France

Posted on February 27, 2015February 27, 2015 by M Artisans

I have been to Europe a couple of times. Mainly as pilgrims particularly to this holy place in Lourdes, France. It is a small town in Pyrenees in southwest France. And the biggest pilgrimage destination in France and one of the most popular sanctuaries in the world. Pilgrims come here and drink or bath in the miraculous water that sprung during the apparition of the Virgin Mary to Saint Bernadette. Photo above shows the grotto and the exact location where Mama Mary was seen by the young visionary St. Bernadette. The last time I visited which was just last year, I was able to bathed in the healing waters, priorities are given to the sick and elderly. Courteous and helpful nuns are there to assist you. I wish i have more photos to show but at that moment I was filled with joy. Besides, cameras are not allowed inside the cubicles. Everything is very organized, surpisingly the line wasn’t long. Then I entered one of the cubicles while draped in blankets provided by the assisting nuns. I wept as I was overwhelmed with gladness, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. And Mama Mary’s sacred image was there in the foot of the pool and kissed her after plunging in the water. I knew right then I was healed instantly…