KAMAY NI HESUS Healing Shrine Lucban Quezon

I have heard many stories and seen countless photos of the place but none excited me to go here, more so in Lucban despite it being the venue of the famous Pahiyas Festival. The one that is left in my memory is about people talking about the long queue of cars during the festival which entails kilometers of walking. Sounds very inconvenient.

But on that day we visited KAMAY NI HESUS Healing Shrine last time, the place felt nice. Serne would be the more appropriate word despite the sea of people who flocked to the place since it was Good Friday then.

KAMAY NI HESUS Healing Shrine

This was one of the sites we visited during our Visita Iglesia of 2014. Read:

Day 1: VISITA IGLESA IN LAGUNA
Day 2:VISITA IGLESIA IN BATANGAS AND QUEZON

and MONTEMARIA Shrine in Batangas City

The place is huge. Other than the main attraction which is the Via Dolorosa Grotto on top of a hill and the healing church below it, there is a Marian Park, Garden of Eden, Noah's Ark House of Prayer .In front of the ark is an animal themed playground which kids will definitely like.

KAMAY NI HESUS Healing Shrine is a classic example of good crowd control. Despite the sheer volume of devotees, and yes curious tourists, who flock the area, everything here is in order. 

Back to the Grotto, you need to hike 305 steps up to get to the top where a giant statue of "The Ascending Christ" is situation. Looks easy because you can see this statue from down the slope but it could prove a bit of a challenge for people of old age. 

Pace yourself, no need to rush up. One good thing about the hike up is that Stations of the Cross are strategically located along the way where you can stop and contemplate on the suffering of Jesus Christ on the Cross just to save us from our sins. Each pause at the stations is an opportunity to catch your breath at the same time. Be sure to bring water with you.

The higher you get, the more you also appreciate the view, not just below but also of the surrounding towns. This was when I realized how lovely the area is. It felt so homey here.

On the tablet of the statue it says....."lovingly dedicate this Ascending Christ to the people of the Philippines and of the whole world who believe in the infinite love of God."

We stayed at the top for a few minutes before descending. Before the exit to the chapel is a station where you can buy candles to light to stand for something. Different color, different meaning. I lighted Lila or Ube which stands for repentance.

It says, Lila or Ube, para sa pagsisisi/ pagbabalik-loob.Ang lila ay kulay ng pakikipagsundo. Taglay ang kababaang-loob, humingi tayo sa Diyos ng awa at patawad sa ating kasalanan at nagawang pagkakamali. Ang pakikipagkasundo sa Panginoon at sa ating kapwa ay tanda ng pagsisisi at pagbabalik loob.

I did pray a lot, for forgiveness and for enlightenment. Human life is a daily struggle to what is right and what is good. I do make a lot of mistakes in life and the summer of 2014 was the summer when I restored my communication with God which I severed many years ago.......

We then proceed to Lucban town proper to witness the religious procession of carrozas, another Holy Week experience I will always remember for the rest of my life.

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