The Stuff of Nightmares: “Catholic” Horror Chapel in Manila, Philippines

“I can’t believe it’s not Catholic!”

The Stuff of Nightmares:
“Catholic” Horror Chapel in Manila, Philippines

After focusing on so much news about Traditionis Custodes, we take a brief break today to publish another one of our famous “ugly church” posts — and here we’re using the term “church” rather loosely.

Today’s beauty comes from the Philippines. It is the “Chapel of the La Sallian Martyrs” and is part of De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, Vito Cruz campus, in the Filipino capital of Manila. The “chapel” is located in the School of Design and Arts building, which says a lot about the school’s understanding of both.

We present the following ghastly photographs, taken from Facebook accounts here and here:

In a saner period of human history, people would immediately call up junk removal at the sight of such things, but in our day and age, thanks to the Vatican II Sect, this passes for a Roman Catholic chapel.

All this garbage is now under the care of Mr. Jose Fuerte Advincula, the newly-appointed “cardinal-archbishop” of Manila. His immediate predecessor was Bergoglian favorite Luis Antonio Tagle.

In the following image, we can see a hymn slide projected at the wall, which provides great insight into the Novus Ordo theology on the Mass:

It will be too small for most people to be able to read it, so we will transcribe it here. The slide shows the following lyrics:

TO BE YOUR BREAD

To be your bread now, be your wine now, Lord, come and change us to be a sign of your love.

Blest and broken, poured and flowing, gift that you gave us, to be your body once again.

This hymn accompanying the “presentation of the gifts” (judging by what the presbyter is doing), which is the Novus Ordo equivalent to the Catholic offertory, shows the immense theological depth the “liturgical reform” of 1969 has given to the world: People now go to “Mass” in order to become bread. For that kind of theology, the hideous liturgical surroundings are actually a perfect fit.

According to one Facebook post:

The Mezzanine floor is where the Chapel of the Benilde, School of Design and Arts is. The Chapel is very unique in its interior and said that it was the modern interpretation form of an early catacomb. The furniture is deliberately created and even the cross by Anne Pamintuan whose materials she used is steel which is even evident in chairs and the tabernacle. The symbolic yellow ray on the cross creates a feeling of God’s presence. The ceilings are low and folded, this created an illusion of embrace which depicted love and said to be a good acoustical solution for the space, as mass needs to be solemn. (details from Internet sources)

(Post by Mary Ann Venturina-Bulanadi, Facebook, Aug. 5, 2016)

In case you were wondering why you’re not Novus Ordo anymore, this would be reason number 44,802.

Of course Novus Ordo liturgical ugliness is relative. This college chapel in Manila, for instance, is drop-dead gorgeous when compared to the infernal dungeon that is “Holy Spirit Chapel” at the University of California’s Newmann Hall at Berkeley.

But then that really isn’t saying much.

Image source: facebook.com
License: fair use