Church of St Mary of the Angels

Time for #PastSquares

I look forward to Becky’s Squares every quarter – Becky at Life of B hosts this challenge where your lead photo must be in the shape of a square following a theme she sets. For October 2021, it is Past Squares.

It has taken me a while to sort out what I want to do with my squares this month. We embarked on our version of the Camino, Singapore-style in January this year. With 32 Catholic parishes to run to/around, I couldn’t keep up posting about each one we visited. After a conversation with BlogFriend, Carol Ann Siciliano at Fashioned for Joy about prayer, reflection and past posts, I have decided to feature my backlog of parishes visited using Past Squares.

Today’s feature parish is St Mary of the Angels. We visited on 18 July 2021.

Roundabout at the entrance to the carpark.

St Mary of the Angels began as a small, nameless, hilltop chapel for the friars … in 1958.

… In those days, the hill was surrounded by orchards, plantations and isolated villages, and neighbours would make their way up the hill to join the friars for mass. 

… In 1970 … the chapel … became a parish church. A year later, the parish was formally given the name, the Church of St Mary of the Angels. It was named after St Mary of the Angels in Assisi, St Francis’ favourite chapel and the place where God’s graces and mercies were made known to many. 

History of the Catholic Church in Singapore

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  Front of the Main Church

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  Prayer grotto

In honour of the Franciscan friars, we consider a prayer that St Francis penned: not the famous Peace Prayer, but the Canticle of Brother Sun & Sister Moon.

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor
and all blessings.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to
pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robus
and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and
bear sickness and trial.

Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be
crowned

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin

Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm. Praise and bless my Lord and give Him
thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.

Amen.

Canticle of Brother Sun & Sister Moon, St Francis of Assisi

This post is my contribution to Past Squares hosted by Becky at Life Of B