The Mt. Carmel Shrine in New Manila, Quezon City near the old Broadway Centrum, has been declared as a pilgrimage place starting last month until November 2013.
Catholics may gain plenary indulgence by visiting sacred places or pilgrimage sites. But one must be in a state of grace, meditate for a few minutes, recite the Our Father…, Apostle’s Creed.
State of grace means you should be completely sinless (at least currently!!!). If not, one must go to confession and communion within twenty days after you’ve visited the pilgrim site.
I went two weeks ago but all the photos taken with my new camera using a MicroSD card disappeared.
Those were the photos that I tried to retrieve, albeit unsuccessfully.
I went back to the Shrine tonight. And perfect timing, the novena was about to start when I arrived, and a mass followed.
The façade is undergoing facelift.
The isle is all ready for tomorrow’s wedding.
Our Lady of Sorrow
Mother of Perpetual Help
Big statue of Jesus on the Cross at the main altar.
The church’s website emphasized that it’s a nice wedding venue.
I think my visit today doesn’t count. I was distracted during the mass. It was getting dark and I wanted to leave right away. I remembered kasi an acquaintance who was robbed at gunpoint at their parking area. She lives in New Manila and decided to drop by the church before going home. That was around 7 pm. When she was about to get on her car, a man came up from behind and took her bag and her car. Her passport and some jewelries were in her bag. This happened a long time ago but I couldn’t help but think about it still.
I prayed a little, but I was far from meditative state which is a requirement to gain plenary indulgence.
Plenary indulgence is defined in Catholic religion as a remission of temporal punishments for one’s sins which could either be here on earth or in purgatory.
You are not forgiven of the guilt of sin. It is not a pardon for your mortal sins or a guarantee of salvation. It doesn’t mean you will go straight to heaven.
