Visita Iglesia II

This would be my last day of Visita Iglesia. I would be leaving for Antipolo, Rizal this morning to help out in the overnight recollection of Ateneo's GABAY students. Well, I have chosen the Benedictine Monastery, the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat in San Beda College. The Benedictine Monastery has always been special to our Founder St. Ignatius of Loyola. In fact, during his conversion, he visited the Benedictine Monastery at Montserrat, and there, he spent a night of vigil before the statue of Our lady and believed to have left his dagger (or sword) in that monastery as an act completing his oblation.

The Facade of the Monastery Church

St. Ignatius was believed to have said his general confessions to a Benedictine priest. He even recieved the illumination about the wonderful mystery of the Blessed Trinity, hearing three notes so harmoniously played together, in the Benedictine Monastery Church steps while saying his Office to the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Ignatius has received a lot of graces from the Lord in this hallowed place, made holy by the penance and prayers of countless Benedictine Monks.

The interior of the Monastery Church

St. Ignatius usually would go to these hallowed grounds and join the monks in praying, especially the Lauds and Vespers. That's the very reason why St. Ignatius lauded the participation in the prayers and other forms of devotions, as expressed in the Thinking with The Church section of the Spiritual Exercises.

It is my joy to have come to this holy site. As I have participated in the Lauds with the Monks and have celebrated the Eucharist with them, I have in one way a Link to St. Ignatius, an experience of God's love being part of the Roman Catholic Church. And I believed that ignited his great zeal and love for Christ and for His Church.

+ + + Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam + + +