In the Marianas on Huebes Sånto (Holy Thursday), the Blessed Sacrament is placed in a tabernacle on a side altar, called the monumento. For as long as the church remains open, altar servers and people adore God before the monumento, making up for the Apostles who slept while Jesus prayed during His agony in the garden this night almost 2,000 years ago. Many people go around the island on Huebes Sånto evening, visiting the different churches and praying before the monumento.
Chamorro Catholics sing this hymn to the Blessed Sacrament :
Umatuna i Sen Såntos Sakramenton i attat;
yan i Bithen na tailåmen mamapotgenñaihon-ña!
It is taken from the original Spanish, which you can hear in the above video, which goes :
Alabado sea el Santísimo Sacramento del altar;
y la Virgen concebida sin pecado original.
In English : Praised be the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar, and the Virgin conceived without original sin.
Very, very interesting. Many people in our Parish travel to different neighboring churches to pray and keep watch. Where do you think this custom originated from?
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting a picture from Chalan Pago Church =)
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