Monasterio of the Risen Christ of Tarlac

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis-dona nobis pacem!

With these words, the Baptizer-the voice crying in the wilderness–made ready the way of the Messiah more than 2,000 years ago, in fulfilment of the Father’s plan of salvation. With these same words sung in Gregorian chant filling the air, we ascended the mountain village of Lubigan, Tarlac towards the Monasterio de Tarlac to pay homage to a relic of the Cross of Christ Himself.

With rosary in our hands, reminiscent of the vital role of Mary who stood beneath her Son as He hanged from the Cross, we entered the sacrosanct enclave, borrowing the very words of John the Baptist; Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us-grant us peace!

The golden reliquary is found in the chapel of the Risen Christ. Frater Ronald Thomas Cortez S.R.C., founder of the 8-year old Servants of the Risen Christ, explains that the relic hails from the Diocese of Essen, Germany. The then Apostolic Nuncio, His Grace, the Most Rev. Archbishop Fernando Filoni, D.D. led the blessing of the chapel and enshrined the relic last 30th of January 2007.

Though small in size, the chapel remains the heart and soul of the 43-hectare Monasterio because here, the Most Holy Sacrifice of Mass–the sacrifice of Golgotha made present here and now–is offered daily for "both for the living and the dead, in the name of the Lord."

Surrounding the chapel are sceneries beyond compare. The mountains and ridges, the rivers and plains are all shadowed by a mammoth image of Jesus looking over them.

One cannot help but exclaim the words of Venantius Fortunatus, one of the seventy apostles of Christ: O crux ave spes unica! O cross, our only hope! In this world torn by strife and discord, we cling to you with faith! We cling to you with hope! Lead us to the glory of Christ’s Ressurection.