The Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel sits in a quiet part of Lipa City, 83 kilometers from Manila. After the war, the Carmelite nuns relocated to this place from Manila. The church and convent was completed in 1946. Two years after it was built, a Marian Apparition happened in this place. A young novitiate named Teresita Castillo was praying in the convent garden when a vine started to shake. The voice of Our Lady requested her to kiss the earth and return to the same spot for the next 15 days. The apparition was that of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mediatrix of All Grace. Teresita was witness to all 19 apparitions.
 |
| Photolink |
In 1951, the veneration of Our Lady Mediatrix of all Grace was allowed, however, the Philippine Church Heirarchy declared that "there was no supernatural intervention in the extraordinary happenings including the shower of rose petals in Lipa." This decision was affirmed by the Vatican in 2010.
I was born and raised a Catholic. I have experienced a miracle when I was a child. I experienced the power of prayer, if spoken from the heart, is indeed heard and answered. My mother fondly remembers this event in Lipa. She was born and reared in the town.
The picture below shows the original vine where Our Lady appeared to Teresita Castillo. It is still intact and can be viewed once you visit the Church and convent in Lipa.
 |
| Photolink |
 |
| Photolink |
I do not care whether some look at this as a hoax. The message is plain and simple. We should practice humility, penance and offer prayers for the clergy, the Pope, for the world and to pray the Rosary. The world in its current state is in turmoil. Prayers, with childlike confidence is our only hope.
Have a blessed week ahead.
Further readings:
1. http://www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/unapproved_apparitions/lipa/
2. https://ph.news.yahoo.com/miracle-rose-petals-revisited-000512658.html
It's always hard to know what's happened or not. But I agree, absolutely important to practice humility….love this post. It's a good reminder that none all things fall into the category of reasonable or that which can be quantified.
ReplyDeleteMichele
Although I may have some skepticism I found the post to be very joyful and loved your message at the end. The world is certainly in need of some positive guidance and receiving it from anywhere is kind of irrelevant. The result of making people feel good is what is important. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYou are completely right. No matter if you think hoax or no hoax, the lesson taken is that of humility. Still, it's a very compelling story....I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we have faith every miracle isn't a hoax, i remember the story about the lipa church..
ReplyDeleteI don't care if the tale is true or not. What I do believe is.. Miracle happens everyday.
ReplyDeleteOur very good neighbor, has few of these. She said that a filipina friend gave them to her and she asked me if I ever heard of it as she was pretty amazed.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the story, although I admit to some skepticism. But I do believe in miracles.
ReplyDeleteWhat a compelling story.You're spot on. Hoax or not, the lesson in humility is obvious. Thank you for sharing this. :-)
ReplyDeleteReal or not, people should start changing for the better. That's how we can make this world a better place.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The world IS in turmoil. Too many people fighting. Not enough loving.
ReplyDeleteSaying prayers with you, my blogger friend!
Hello; its great to see you not only having such solid faith and sharing it with the world. prayer is the only way for each of us to make it in this crazy world. blessings, max
ReplyDeleteAs someone who'll be visiting the Philippines soon, this play sounds very interesting. There's a Mary statue here in Korea that has a similar bit of controversy. The Church isn't too happy with locals saying that the statue cried actual tears but no punishment has come down as a result. Interesting how stern they were in this place's case. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIf we all lived our lives practicing humility, having faith and praying regularly, the world would be a better place.
ReplyDeleteMy father was stationed in Japan around 1948/1949. He managed to get himself a trip to the Philippines. His commanding officer gave him something to take to the Monastery in Lipa so he did. They fed him and when he left he witnessed the raining of the rose petals -- he said it was the first Friday of the month. He looked around and there was not a rose bush in sight. He picked up the rose petals and saw the imprint of the Madonna and Child. He tried to save them but they dried out and crumbled before he got back to Japan. This miracle affected my dad his whole life and he prayed the "Hail Mary" about 1000 times a day -- he had a goal and a clicker to track his prayers. I'm going to Lipa on a first Friday of the month to see if I too can witness the miracle. However, even if I don't, I know that it happened and I will continue to pray Rosaries. dw
ReplyDeleteMy father was stationed in Japan around 1948/1949. He managed to get himself a trip to the Philippines. His commanding officer gave him something to take to the Monastery in Lipa so he did. They fed him and when he left he witnessed the raining of the rose petals -- he said it was the first Friday of the month. He looked around and there was not a rose bush in sight. He picked up the rose petals and saw the imprint of the Madonna and Child. He tried to save them but they dried out and crumbled before he got back to Japan. This miracle affected my dad his whole life and he prayed the "Hail Mary" about 1000 times a day -- he had a goal and a clicker to track his prayers. I'm going to Lipa on a first Friday of the month to see if I too can witness the miracle. However, even if I don't, I know that it happened and I will continue to pray Rosaries. dw
ReplyDeleteMy father was stationed in Japan around 1948/1949. He managed to get himself a trip to the Philippines. His commanding officer gave him something to take to the Monastery in Lipa so he did. They fed him and when he left he witnessed the raining of the rose petals -- he said it was the first Friday of the month. He looked around and there was not a rose bush in sight. He picked up the rose petals and saw the imprint of the Madonna and Child. He tried to save them but they dried out and crumbled before he got back to Japan. This miracle affected my dad his whole life and he prayed the "Hail Mary" about 1000 times a day -- he had a goal and a clicker to track his prayers. I'm going to Lipa on a first Friday of the month to see if I too can witness the miracle. However, even if I don't, I know that it happened and I will continue to pray Rosaries. dw
ReplyDelete