Friday, February 20, 2015

Binondo Church

I was in Binondo yesterday, Thursday, February 19. 2015, to document (Photograph) the celebration of 2015 Chinese New Year, the start of the Year of the Sheep according to Chinese zodiac. It's also an opportunity for me to visit the Binondo Church, also known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish. Here's some of my photos taken during the visit.



The facade of the church.
The faithful during one of the hourly masses.
Statue of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and the retablo on the background.
Light of faith...
Praying for guidance...


Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Ash Wednesday 2015


The act of putting on ashes symbolizes fragility and mortality, and the need to be redeemed by the mercy of God. Far from being a merely external act, the Church has retained the use of ashes to symbolize that attitude of internal penance to which all the baptized are called during Lent. — Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy


Today, Wednesday, February 18, is Ash Wednesday, and the start of the Lent Season. This time, I attended mass in The Redemptorist Church in Baclaran, the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Here's some photos I took.


Baclaran church.
Imposition of the ashes to the forehead.
Prayers and offering of candles...
My Lord... and my God!
Communion.
Faithful singing Mama Mary song after the mass.
Part of the Sanctuary.



Reading 1 JL 2:12-18
Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 5-6AB, 12-13, 14 AND 17
Reading 2 2 COR 5:20—6:2

Verse Before The Gospel PS 95:8
"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts..."

Gospel MT 6:1-6, 16-18
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

(Taken in USSCB)