Today, I have had the opportunity to experience the dalaw-bahay (house visit) tradition of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Malabon. I arrived just in time for the activity. In this practice, the image of the Holy Mother stopped from house to house, where each house owner and their family pay homage.
After a few more stops, the scene became ‘routinely’ to me. However, there was one house, somewhere near a Sto. Rosraio Parish, broke the routine.
Sitting on a collapsible wheelchair outside the tall house gates was a fragile lady, maybe in her late 70’s. She was waiting patiently, and finally the Holy Mother arrived. With a tight grip, she forced herself up. She took her time, stared solemnly at the Holy Mother, and began to utter those sweet words.
Everyone became silent and listened to her prayer. Just before she was about to end her prayer, tears started flowing down her cheeks. I, myself was also touched with the lady’s prayer.
Fascinated, I asked around about the lady’s prayer, but no one seemed to know. To be honest, I was a little bothered. And so, at the mid of the procession, I went back to the old lady’s house. I pressed the doorbell and the old lady opened the door. I told the lady of my intentions, but she was skeptic. After a few more convincing tactics, she finally gave in and talked to me. She told me that she used to be part of Legion of Mary and the prayer was Catena Legionis.
I opted to share this beautiful prayer in this post. Pls. see below:
Catena Legionis -“Sino siyang dumarating, marilag na tulad sa bukang-liwayway, magandang tulad sa buwan, maningning na parang araw at kakila-kilabot na tulad sa dumadaluhong na hukbo”?
Ang puso ko’y nagpupuri sa Panginoon, At nagagalak ang aking espiritu sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas. Sapagka’t nilingap niya ang Kanyang alipin! At mula ngayon, ako’y tatawaging mapalad ng lahat ng salinlahi.
Dahil sa mga dakilang bagay na ginawa sa akin ng Makapangyarihan – Banal ang kanyang pangalan!
Kinahahabagan niya ang mga may takot sa kanya, sa lahat ng sali’t saling lahi. Ipinakita Niya ang lakas ng Kanyang bisig. Pinangalat niya ang mga palalo ang isipan. Ibinagsak niya ang mga hari mula sa kanilang trono. At itinaas ang mga nasa abang kalagayan. Binusog niya ng mabubuting bagay ang mga nagugutom at pinalayas niyang wala ni anuman ang mayayaman.
Tinulungan niya ang kanyang bayang Israel bilang pagtupad sa pangako niya sa ating mga magulang. Kay Abraham at sa kanyang lahi magpakailanman. Luwalhati sa Ama, at sa Anak, at sa Espiritu Santo. Para noong una, ngayon at magpakailan man at magpasawalang hanggan. Siya Nawa.
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“Sino siyang dumarating, marilag na tulad sa bukang-liwayway, magandang tulad sa buwan, maningning na parang araw at kakila-kilabot na tulad sa dumadaluhong na hukbo”?
O Maria, ipinaglihing walang sala. Ipanalangin Mo kaming dumudulog sa iyo.
Tayo’y Manalangin - O Panginoong Hesukristo, aming Tagapamagitan sa Ama na nagpaging dapat italaga ang pinagpalang Birheng Mariang Iyong Ina na amin ding maging Ina at tagapamagitan sa Iyo, buong awa Mong ipagkaloob sa sinumang lumalapit at sa Iyo’y napaaampon na tamuhin ang Iyong tulong alang-alang sa Iyong Ina.
After a few more stops, the scene became ‘routinely’ to me. However, there was one house, somewhere near a Sto. Rosraio Parish, broke the routine.
Sitting on a collapsible wheelchair outside the tall house gates was a fragile lady, maybe in her late 70’s. She was waiting patiently, and finally the Holy Mother arrived. With a tight grip, she forced herself up. She took her time, stared solemnly at the Holy Mother, and began to utter those sweet words.
Everyone became silent and listened to her prayer. Just before she was about to end her prayer, tears started flowing down her cheeks. I, myself was also touched with the lady’s prayer.
Fascinated, I asked around about the lady’s prayer, but no one seemed to know. To be honest, I was a little bothered. And so, at the mid of the procession, I went back to the old lady’s house. I pressed the doorbell and the old lady opened the door. I told the lady of my intentions, but she was skeptic. After a few more convincing tactics, she finally gave in and talked to me. She told me that she used to be part of Legion of Mary and the prayer was Catena Legionis.
I opted to share this beautiful prayer in this post. Pls. see below:
Catena Legionis -“Sino siyang dumarating, marilag na tulad sa bukang-liwayway, magandang tulad sa buwan, maningning na parang araw at kakila-kilabot na tulad sa dumadaluhong na hukbo”?
Ang puso ko’y nagpupuri sa Panginoon, At nagagalak ang aking espiritu sa Diyos na aking Tagapagligtas. Sapagka’t nilingap niya ang Kanyang alipin! At mula ngayon, ako’y tatawaging mapalad ng lahat ng salinlahi.
Dahil sa mga dakilang bagay na ginawa sa akin ng Makapangyarihan – Banal ang kanyang pangalan!
Kinahahabagan niya ang mga may takot sa kanya, sa lahat ng sali’t saling lahi. Ipinakita Niya ang lakas ng Kanyang bisig. Pinangalat niya ang mga palalo ang isipan. Ibinagsak niya ang mga hari mula sa kanilang trono. At itinaas ang mga nasa abang kalagayan. Binusog niya ng mabubuting bagay ang mga nagugutom at pinalayas niyang wala ni anuman ang mayayaman.
Tinulungan niya ang kanyang bayang Israel bilang pagtupad sa pangako niya sa ating mga magulang. Kay Abraham at sa kanyang lahi magpakailanman. Luwalhati sa Ama, at sa Anak, at sa Espiritu Santo. Para noong una, ngayon at magpakailan man at magpasawalang hanggan. Siya Nawa.
-
“Sino siyang dumarating, marilag na tulad sa bukang-liwayway, magandang tulad sa buwan, maningning na parang araw at kakila-kilabot na tulad sa dumadaluhong na hukbo”?
O Maria, ipinaglihing walang sala. Ipanalangin Mo kaming dumudulog sa iyo.
Tayo’y Manalangin - O Panginoong Hesukristo, aming Tagapamagitan sa Ama na nagpaging dapat italaga ang pinagpalang Birheng Mariang Iyong Ina na amin ding maging Ina at tagapamagitan sa Iyo, buong awa Mong ipagkaloob sa sinumang lumalapit at sa Iyo’y napaaampon na tamuhin ang Iyong tulong alang-alang sa Iyong Ina.