Monasterio De Santa Clara

Monasterio De Santa Clara, Saint Clare Monastery or Monasteryo ni Santa Clara in Katipunan is one of my favorite places of worship. I have been attending Sunday mass here religiously for almost two years but I haven’t blog about this beautiful place yet.

I love hearing mass here because the place is peaceful and solemn, Father Andres Ranoa who regularly celebrates the mass give thought provoking homilies and because every week I get to hear the  nuns in brown habit sing beautiful old Tagalog songs that are no longer sang in other churches during the mass. 

A lot of people flock to Saint Clare Monastery to offer eggs and prayers. Many came to her to ask her intercession for good weather, to be able to conceive, to pass board exams and other various petitions.

But why are eggs offered to Saint Clare? Clare means "clear'' so it only fitting that we asked for her intercession for clear skies, clear mind and clear conscience.Others add that “clara” in Spanish refers to egg white while in Castillian it means having a short interval of a fair weather in a rainy day so an egg is offered for a good weather. Eggs are associated with fertility and the egg whites are clear hence it symbolizes a clear mind.

Saint Clare (also spelled as Clair or Claire) of Assisi is a good friend and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. They both came from noble and well-off families but both turn their backs from wealth and lead a life of prayer and sacrifice. She founded a religious order known as the Order of the Poor Ladies. Saint Clare’s mother, Ortolina, also entered this religious order as well as her sisters Beatrix and Agnes (who is also declared as saint). Her feast day is every August 11.

The Order of the Poor Ladies led by Sor Jerónima de la Asunción and other nuns

came to the Philippines in 1621 and established the Real Monasterio de la Inmaculada Concepción de la Madre de Dios de las Monjas de Sta. Clara (Royal Monastery of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God of the Nuns of Sta. Clara) in Intramuros, Manila. The monastery in Intramuros was destroyed in World War II when American soldier heavily bombed Manila to liberate it from the Japanese invaders. Because no structure was left standing in Intramuros except for the San Agustin Church after 300 years in Intramuros, the monastery transferred to Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City. In the 1990s the monastery transferred again to the lot opposite the Aurora Boulevard site which is Katipunan Avenue because the monastery has to give way for the construction of C5.

Schedule of Masses

Masses are said at the Monastery everyday at 6:00 a.m. except for Sunday which is at 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Special blessings are said for birthday celebrants of that particular month every first Sunday of the month and special blessings of healings for the sick are prayed by the priest every second Sunday of the month before the mass ends. The intention for the successful board examination of a particular profession for that particular week is also prayed for during the Prayers of the Faithful part of the mass. During the feast day of Saint Clare masses are said every hour throughout the day.

The monastery is open every day from 5:30 am to 7:00 pm.

After the mass you can proceed to the area adjacent to the church to drop off your petitions and eggs, have your religious materials and board examination paraphernalia like pencils, calculators, etc. bless and kiss the relic of Saint Clare.

The area where people write down their petitions for Saint Clare

It is here where the eggs, prayer petitions are offered, where materials are blessed and where you can find the relic of Saint Clare

Picture taking of the relic is not allowed.

How to go to Monasterio de Santa Clara

1. Hop on LRT line 2 and alight on Katipunan Station South Wing. From there walk  towards Katipunan Avenue and turn right once you see the C5 fly over then you can see the monastery from there.

2. Ride a jeep in Cubao and look for those with Katipunan or Parang, SSS signboard and tell the driver that you want to get off at Santa Clara.

3. If you have your own car, drive along Aurora boulevard towards Marikina when you reach the Katipunan intersection turn right. The convent is at the left so turn left towards the first U-turn slot.

Other facts about Monasterio de Santa Clara and Saint Clare

In Jose Rizal's novel "El Filibusterismo" it was the Monasterio de Santa Clara that Maria Clara entered to become a nun.

Saint Clare of Assisi is the same patroness of Obando, Bulacan  that people go to to perform fertility rites.

Saint Ursula Parish and Kalbaryo at Binangonan Rizal

Last April 19, 2014, my brother, his wife and another brother’s girlfriend and I went to Binangonan, Rizal.

How to Travel to Binangonan?
From Aurora Boulevard, we took a jeepney ride to Sta. Lucia Mall and from Sta. Lucia Mall we hailed a jeep with a Binangonan signboard. Aurora to Sta. Lucia Mall fare was P10.00 and then from Sta. Lucia to Binangonan was P35.00. Judging from the fare we paid going to Binangonan we knew it was a long ride.

We passed by the towns of Taytay and Angono. I wonder why the main road, Manila East Road, that the jeepney took became narrower and narrower as we approached the town of Binangonan? 

The image of Saint Ursula by the belfry tower, she is the Patron saint of orphans and students and her feast day is celebrated  every October 21

Our first stop was the Saint Ursula Parish Church. This 200-year-old church is one of the oldest churches in Rizal. Construction of the church started in 1792 and was completed in 1800.

St. Ursula Parish is located at Paterno Extension, Barangay Libid, Binangonan, Rizal and the parish office number is 625-3413.

How to reach Saint Ursula Parish
The narrow streets of Barangay Libid can be confusing so asked the jeepney driver to drop you off at Paterno Street and the church is just a short walking distance.

It was sad that the church was closed during our time of visit. We were not able to see the church’s interior. 

How to go to Kalbaryo
From Saint Ursula Parish we took a short tricycle ride to Kalbaryo or Calvary Hill. Kalbaryo is a popular religious place for locals to visit especially during Holy Week. There are Stations of the Cross along the hill where you can stop and recite a prayer. There is also a ruin of an old chapel half way through the top of the hill.

entrance to Kalbaryo

the chapel ruins

more steps to conquer

just a few more steps to take 

On top of the hill are the 15 feet big white cross, the statue of the Virgin Mary and the breathtaking view of the town of Binangonan and of the Laguna Bay. There were about 275 steps to climb to reach the top.

light a candle and say a prayer by the image of Our Lady

the scenic view of Laguna de Bay and of the town of Binangonan

TIERRA DE MARIA – HAVEN OF MEDITATION AND ENRICHMENT (HOME) IN TAGAYTAY

Haven of Meditation and Enrichment at Tierra De Maria in Tagaytay City is just beside the Picnic Grove. 

The 50 foot image of the Blessed Mary welcomes you as you enter the compound.  It’s not really a huge place but if you want to escape the party atmosphere of Picnic Grove then this is the place to be.

Even if the place has many visitors, everyone observes silence in respect for those people who are reverently praying.

Entrance Fee:  Free, but there are donation boxes where you can place your love offering for the maintenance of the place. 

They charge P5.00 for the use of comfort room, but I can’t say how clean the comfort room is because I didn’t get to use it.

WHAT TO SEE:
1. The 50 foot image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

2.  Garden vine murals depicting the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary and of the Stations of the Cross.

3.  The symbolic Wedding of Cana wishing well, beside it is the stand for your lighted candles.

4.  The different images of Our Lady inside the chapel – like the Our Lady of Guadalupe and the replica of the Our Lady of Manaoag.

5.   The huge tile calendars of saints.  On each day of the month there’s a picture and a brief description of the saint who celebrates their feast day on that date.

6.  The fish spa.  I forgot to take the picture of the foot spa.

7.  The viewing deck on the third floor where you can see the Taal volcano and a platform from where you can hold the hand of the 50 foot image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

8.  The birds around the place specially the talkative Myna at the entrance.

WHAT TO DO:

1.  Pray and meditate.

2.  Attend the healing mass every first Saturday of the month.

3.  Write your prayer requests and drop it at the petition box so that other people can pray for you as well.

4.  Take pictures.

5.  Buy pasalubong.  There are some vendors selling yummy goodies inside and outside the compound.

So if ever you are in the vicinity of Tagaytay City, don't forget to drop by this place and pray.   It's a good place to quiet down, and meditate on the love of God.