The Priest of Notre Dame

What made Notre Dame Basilica so famous? Mainly because of its unique architectural design. It is dubbed as the "Jewel of the Gothic architecture." But i don't want to talk about this very grand tourist attraction of Paris, nor its history, nor its relevance with Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of NotreDame" story.

I want to share my own reflective emotions while i went there(with my husband and Prisco and my two sisters Phoebe and Babylonia) between October to November 2006. At this moment of my life, i was so down. I had seen many, many beautiful things, yet deep inside, i felt so low. But i looked around and found out that the world is still turning around... it never froze even just a second because of my sadness. I just lose a wonderful, beautiful baby and my husband had thought that i might need a time for a break ... a time to reflect... a novel place...and he thought of PARIS.

Okay we climbed the Eiffel Tower, dined at the highest building of Paris called Montparnasse Tower, spent enjoyable time at EuroDisneyland, went for a River Seine Cruise and other many, many things, yet the most unforgettable for me is my conversation with the Parish Priest. I forgot his name and he don't know my name, but i remembered our conversations about life and about death, about rewards and about punishment.

I asked him if i am being punished by God and gave me this pain? He said no and he said i should not think about those things. All the things that happen has its reason. I know that, but isn't it that sometimes life is unfair?....

The best thing that happened was that the Parish Priest gave me great blessings and great prayers(Now, that really made my trip to Paris sooo memorable).
But he also made my eyes so red because i cried and cried and cried... Ah, you can see in my photos how tearful i am(but still i was happy because i had been filled with spiritual happiness and there's just this surge of energy emanating from a powerful source).

And the art of crying which i think i had mastered? Tell me, who hadn't cried? But really, sometimes we just need to cry and cry and cry ... or shout if we must! You will never know what is real happiness without feeling sadness. Life should always be a balance. In Taoism, they call this "Yin" and "Yang".

As for myself, i should say: there is no life in fear. If you are in fear right now, like fear to try again because you got a miscarriage or any other mishaps... don't ever lose hope...

After my trip to Paris, the following month, i was pregnant and each day, i would pray, "oh, please, God, give me a healthy baby...help me with this pregnancy..." God answered my prayers.

To the Parish Priest of Notre Dame Basilica de Paris, i want to thank you for your blessings to my family and for your ardent prayers. I believe that God chooses instruments on Earth whom people can rely and be filled with the Holy Spirit. God chose you as his faithful follower so you can bless the life of other people, especially those people who needs healing, physically and most of all, spiritually and emotionally.

Above all, i thank the Lord for healing my pain and for giving me a wonderful baby and a wonderful family and wonderful friends. God bless us, everyone! Enjoy your weekend!

Be Religiously Inspired...

I would admit that i am not a very religious person, but i am raised with Christian faith and devotion. I value that. But living now in a different country, in a fast-paced lifestyle, i admit i could not go to church every sunday, not even once a month. I am here for 7 weeks now and oh dear, i hadn't been to the church!

Good thing i found this website called PreacherTV.com.. This site was created to unite ministers and preachers with the online community to spread God's word and God's love. In this site you can upload sermons and of course, can watch sermons online, anytime you want. Check this out, my friends!

On The Hill Far-Away

Today is Holy Friday and in the Philippines, as a predominantly Roman Catholic country, we have our own version of Pilgrimage. Today, i woke up early & went with Auntie Lilian & his family to Shrine Hills in Matina,Davao City. I'm not originally from Davao but my companions are pioneers of this city and they're doing this ritual every year,every Good Friday. So, i went with them,contemplated and observed(and they do have different atmosphere here in celebrating Lenten Season).Back in my hometown,General Santos City,it is very quiet and old-fashioned...

Anyway,there are 14 Stations of the Cross,namely:1)Jesus is condemned to death;2)Jesus takes the Cross;3)Jesus falls the first time;4)Jesus meets his Mother Mary;5)Simon help carry the Cross;6)Veronica wipes the face of Jesus;7)Jesus falls for the second time;8)The women of Jerusalem weep;9)Jesus falls the third time;10)Jesus is stripped of his garments;11)Jesus is nailed to the Cross;12)Jesus is raised up on the Cross and dies;13)Jesus is taken down from the Cross;14)Jesus is laid on the tomb. These fourteen Stations represent the Passion of Christ.(To have bigger image,please click the photo).

So,we started our walk of course from the First Station. There are so many people and this will be up to the whole day today.Most of the people are bringing candles and they will light each candle from station to station. It's probably 5 to 8 minutes walk from one station to the other(and it really depends how fast you walk!).

In every station,people will stop and pray.After few minutes they will continue to move on to the next station.

You might observe here that some people are taking advantage of the situation.There are so many business-minded people that are selling everything---toys,fans,food,water and beverages,accessories,clothes,etc..etc...(it's a good chance for these small and medium businessmen because all the malls are close today!).I am just wondering if i can bring my husband here the next time? He is claustrophobic!

I can't believe it's like fiesta in some point here.Some places in Cebu(but not in Bantayan Island where they have food---especially roasted pork called lechon and lots of drinks the whole day!) and other parts of Luzon celebrate Lenten season in a very old-fashioned way!Some people even nailed themselves on the cross!(I should have a pic of that one when i went to Cavite one time!)

And finally,we reach our destination...

Each place has it's unique way of celebrating their faith.I grew up a Roman Catholic and my father is a very conservative Roman Catholic. But i also married a Baptist.We respect each other.

I want to end this entry with what the famous French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal said,"HEART HAS ITS REASONS WHICH REASON DOES NOT KNOW."Faith can only be felt by the heart,never with any reason.That's why science and religion can never get along very well!