worship at the cathedral 10: chapel of light and the adoration chapel

By the time you read this issue the Chapel of Lights would have been blessed after more than 4 months since the parish started building it, and the Adoration Chapel would have been reopened after two weeks of renovation.  Allow me to explain some new things in these structures. 

First, in the Chapel of Lights.  This time we have a chapel dedicated solely for the lighting of candles.  If you notice the ceiling of the narthex at the entrance of the cathedral is already blackened by soot coming from the candles we light, and for several times already we need to put out fires coming from the votive candle stands in that area due to unattended candles and melted waxes.  The situation is so hazardous we kept a bucket of sand in the vicinity just in case.  I think one can still see traces of a recent fire just beneath the crucifix.

In the past, we also provided for what we conveniently called the "bingkahan" which served for many years as a place where we lighted our candles specifically for Our Lady of Candles whose shrine is on top of the cathedral balcony.  The term was coined originally by an art critic who called it bingkahan because, actually it looks like one (what with all those reused galvanized irons).  Now with the Chapel of Lights, we can finally have a safe and convenient place to light our candles.  Added to that, as a chapel, it is a most conducive place to pray.

We have also installed on the windows of this chapel the stained-glass windows which once graced the cathedral.  Foremost among them are the two Kraut windows portraying the Prophet Simeon and the Prophetess Anna.  Both were present at the temple when the Lord was presented as a first-born Son – the gospel narrative we read during the feast of Our Lady of Candles.  Also enthroned in the chapel is the image of Our Lady of Candles which was once placed inside the sacristy.  Now we are taking it out in order that she can be venerated by all.

In this chapel, we can only accommodate two kinds of candles – the regular perdon and the small perdon.  We all know the regular perdon.  Its color changes yearly.  This year the color is violet and it costs 27 pesos.  The small perdon, just like the regular perdon, has the sticker of the Candelaria in it, however, the color is always blue and is much smaller and cheaper at 5 pesos each.  In the chapel, there are designated places to light the regular as well as the small perdon.  As I said only these two candles can be accommodated since we are recycling the candles and we don't want other colors and other candles to mix with the perdon of Our Lady.  The vendors are informed about this and we have already made arrangements with them regarding the candles that can be used inside the chapel.

The second is the newly renovated Eucharistic Adoration Chapel.  The first thing you notice as you enter the chapel is the new entrance which is now facing the cathedral and separated from the guard house.  When you enter you can already wear your shoes inside.  (So don't leave your shoes outside because nobody is going to watch them for you.)  Then you will notice that the monstrance and the Blessed Sacrament it holds are already encased in an urna.  It is done for security reasons which is the reason why we can already separate it from the guard house.  Then you will notice that the urna has a door.  We installed the doors so that we can close the urna at 12 midnight and open it again at 5 in the morning.  This is still an Eucharistic Adoration Chapel but it is no longer Perpetual (no longer 24/7).  It will close at exactly 12 midnight and open at 5 in the morning.  You see liturgical law requires that every time the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in a monstranc,e someone should be there in front adoring the Blessed Sacrament.  During the time of Msgr. Gamboa he was so strict in following this rule that the cathedral security guards have standing orders to go inside the adoration chapel if there are no adorers present.  And this usually happens during these unholy hours.  That is why when I was first assigned in the cathedral, security guards were holier than priests because they would spend longer hours before the Blessed Sacrament than we priests did! 

Then if you look even more closely, the monstrance (with the urna) now stands on the altar.  Liturgical laws prohibit the placing of the Blessed Sacrament on a pedestal.  It should always stand on the altar. Why? Because the Blessed Sacrament is borne out of the sacrifice of the mass offered on the altar and so the connection between the two – the Body of Christ and the altar of sacrifice, must be clearly manifested and must be clearly seen.  The altar is an important reminder that the Mass is the origin of this Blessed Sacrament we adore, and also its goal.  It reminds us that the Eucharist is not to be celebrated solely by static adoration but above all by dynamic action.  (Hay, too many technical terms.) Simply now, by putting the Blessed Sacrament on the altar Jesus is telling us, "hey don't just adore me, don't just look at me, eat me, I am your food!" Go and celebrate the Mass, listen attentively to God's word as it is read and explained to us in the Mass, then receive him devoutly in Holy Communion.

It is our hope that praying before Our Blessed Mother in whose honor we light our candles in the Chapel of Lights, she would lead us to a more intimate friendship with Jesus whose presence we worship and adore in the Adoration Chapel.  And may this adoration lead us to a livelier and more authentic celebration of the Eucharist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Cathedral.