The
distance is around 45 kilometers from Yogyakarta, or it will take you one
hour to get to the place by motorcycle.
An entrance with stone wall on both sides will lead you
to the vast pilgrimage complex where you will find small chapels, the
path of Jesus Sacrification, the Cave of Maria, shelters, and kiosks
selling praying goods. Cool weather will greet you upon entering the
complex thanks to many growing trees there.
Sendang Sono was named by its location. Sendang means
water spring and Sono means the sono or sonokeling tree, denoting that
the spring is located under the sono tree. If you will see the spring
and the sono tree, please turn right upon entering the gate.
Unfortunately, you will not be able to see the spring clearly because it
is closed with glass box.
Before 1904, this spring was wellknown as Sendang
Semagung, which functioned as the resting place of the bhikku who left
for Boro area, the area to the south of Sendang Sono. Since 20 May 1904,
however, by the arrival of Father Van Lith and baptism of 173 people of
Kalibawang by using the spring water, this place changed its function
to the pilgrimage place for Catholic people.
Entering the main chapel in this pilgrimage complex,
you can commemorate the baptism event happening 102 years ago, since
there is relief describing the baptism procession. Entering the Mother
Mary chapel and the Desciples Chapel, you will remember the struggle of
Mother Mary and the twelve disciples with Jesus Christ.
If you are interested in remembering the struggle of
one of the Catholic community activists, you can pay a visit to the tomb
close to Mother Mary chapel. There, you will find the tomb of Mr.
Barnabas Sarikromo, a good friend of Father Van Lith who also one of the
people baptized in 1904 and was determined to be the first teacher of
Catholic religion in the area.
Sarikromo who was born on 1874 was a person full of
blessing because his persistent effort to be close to God. When he was
young, he suffered from skin disease that was difficult to cure. In his
prayer and promise to serve his life to God if he was cured, he met
Father Van Lith who brought him to a brother for medication.
The short-distance path of Jesus Sacrification can be
an alternative celebration to commemorate Jesus' misery to shoulder the
Cross. At every stop of the sacrification path, you can light a candle
and say your prayer while remembering important events of Jesus' to
Golgotha hill, such as the events of his three falling while shouldering
the wooden cross, when Veronica wiped His face with her handkerchief
and the last minutes of the death of Jesus Christ.
Praying in front of the Cave of Mary that is located
close to the sono tree is another way of seeking tranquility. Many
people say their prayer by kneeling down and lighting candles in front
of this cave. You can even write your hopes or wishes on a piece of
paper and then put it into a firing pot in order for God to receive it.
For your information, the statue in this complex was directly shipped
from Spain.
In addition to pacifying yourself and praying, you can
also enjoy the enchantment of the complex architecture designed by
Father Y.B Mangunwijaya Pr and it won AGA Khan Awards. You can also sit
relax in the shelter while enjoying the surrounding buildings dominated
by stone as the material, or stand on the small bridge to enjoy the
beauty of the flowing river underneath.
When you are going to leave, do not forget to take some
spring water flowing from the taps at the side of the river. The water
is believed to give blessings to anyone who drink it or use it for many
other purposes. It will complete your contemplation and wishes that you
say in your prayer.
No comments:
Post a Comment