Parish Marian Recollection: Blessed With A Burden

The following reflection was delivered in the Parish Church of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, UPLB, on May 21, 2014 in coordination with the recollection talk of Rev. Fr. Luis Tolentino on John Paul II's Redemptoris Mater. The Parish Marian Recollection.

Servers carrying banners of Mary's titles stand before the image of Our Lady of Smiles
as people sing the Salve Regina after the Marian Procession on May 31, 2014
at the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, UP Los Banos.

BLESSED WITH A BURDEN

When Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council in 1962, there was a debate whether the council should have a separate document on Mary. There were discussion until two groups were to present their position papers: the group that is approve of having a document and the other which is opposed. The cardinals chose Cardinal Rufino Santos of the Philippines to defend the side of those having a separate document. A Filipino. Because there is no one who loves the Blessed Mother more than Filipinos, kaya nga tayo nabansagang Pueblo amante de Maria- Bayang Sumisinta kay Maria.

One time I was watching a movie and then here comes the father saying to her daughter, “YOU ARE BLESSED WITH A BURDEN.” That time I was so struck by what was said that I wasn’t able to focus on the rest of the movie anymore but started pondering what the line meant- YOU ARE BLESSED WITH A BURDEN.

Jesus said, “Come to me and I will give you rest. Take my yoke for my burden is easy and light.”

When we speak of burdens, hindi ito bastang mga pasanin natin na mahirap, pasakit, etc. These can be any loads in our lives: our work, our job, our commitments, our family, ang mga asawa ninyo, anak, etc. Those are your DAILY BURDENS. When Jesus said ‘Come follow me’ He didn’t say “Oh this life will be easy.” There is still a burden however it is only easier and lighter. How? Because you know that in all things that you will be doing, He is with you!

Being a student is a blessing. Studying is a burden. Being a mother is a blessing. Weaning a child and waking up in the middle of the night is a burden. But following the Lord isn’t always easy. Sabi nga, “Following the Lord is not easy, but worth it.” Man’s cooperation is needed to sustain this relationship. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

It’s like this dear brothers and sisters, Pagnilayan natin ito sa mata ng ating debosyon sa Mahal na Birheng Maria. Take for example the wearing of the brown scapular. It has promises and one of those is salvation from hell. But it doesn't mean if you just wear it you're good. No. It entails a responsibility of doing good, and praying the rosary daily! The scapular is a blessing, yet it gives you a burden to do something. See? My dear brothers and sisters that is precisely a Blessing to you which is a burden. The fact that you are wearing a scapular means you are enrolled to the school of the Blessed Virgin Mary that expects you to pray the rosary daily.

 

The First Parish Marian Exhibit opened in STCJP for the whole month of May.
The image of the Immaculada Concepcion under the title Nuestra Senora de las Agua Santa
of Los Banos welcomes visitors. At the back stands the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Mary was blessed with the burden of being the Mother of the Redeemer. She was blessed among women. Her role shines in the history of salvation. Ung mismong pag-OO niya sa Diyos ay pag-OO sa isang mabigat na gawain at tungkulin. Hindi ito ung bastang pagiging ina, ngunit pagiging Ina ng Diyos, Ina ni Hesus at sa paanan ng krus makikita natin palalawakin pa ito sa pagiging Ina ng Sanlibutan, Ina ng mga Mananampalataya.

Maaring makita natin ang Mahal na Birhen na pinararangalan, inaalayan ng bulaklak, sinusuotan ng magagandang damit, pinuputungan ng korona. Mary is raised in the pedestals of our altars because of her role in the life of Jesus. Ngunit itong pag-tataas sa kanyang dignidad ay hindi dapat maging hadlang para sabihin natin na hindi natin mapapantayan o hindi natin maaabot ang kanyang kinahantungan. Sabi nga ni Sta. Teresita, “SHE IS MORE MOTHER THAN QUEEN.” Binibigyang papuri ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, ginagampanan niya ang pagiging reyna sa pagiging ina.

 

The Reyna de las Flores on the pedestal prepared to be processed.
She extends her arms as if saying, "Am I not your mother?"

In all the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the most touching for me is the apparition to Blessed Juan Diego. Mary declared, “AM I NOT HERE WHO AM YOUR MOTHER?” It is very touching that she comes to our aid when we are afraid, who brings forth healing when we are broken, who cheers us in our sorrow. She knew all these things because she went through them all. She can feel for all of us.

How can we be like the Blessed Mother? It is by becoming human. Human to one another; human to those in need of humanity. She saw the need at the wedding at Cana so she pleaded to her Son. She knew how it feels to lose someone dear to her yet all she did was ponder them in her heart. She saw the suffering world yet she stood firmly by the weight of the cross. She saw the new day of hope and rejoice in the resurrection. AM I NOT HERE WHO AM YOUR MOTHER? The Motherhood of Mary is God’s blessing to her yet it is her spiritual burden. She did well. Can you?

There are four great Marian hymns which traditionally are sung every change in liturgical season. These songs express the life of Mary in the life of Jesus.

During the Advent and Christmas seasons we have the Alma Redemptoris Mater.

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quæ pervia cæli

Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,

Surgere qui curat, populo: tu quæ genuisti,

Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem

Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore

Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

She sets her role as the Mother of the Redeemer, the Gate from which heaven is opened. Through her yes to the Divine Will during the greeting of Gabriel, it brought forth the dawning of the forgiveness of sins.

In the Lenten observance, Mary’s grief and sorrow also manifests.

Stabat mater dolorosa

juxta Crucem lacrimosa,

dum pendebat Filius.

Cuius animam gementem,

contristatam et dolentem

pertransivit gladius.

The piercings of the nails in the hands and feet of our Lord are like swords that lash through the Virgin’s heart. She too feels sad when we, her earthly children, continue to crucify her Son with our sins.

By the Easter Season she rejoices exultantly with a ringing

Regina cæli, lætare, alleluia:

Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia,

Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia,

Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

And in the course of our meditation on our pilgrim life on earth, there we sing to her the Salve Regina.

An image of Our Lady of Piat (popularly in the Northern Philippines) lent for the exhibit.

WE ARE BLESSED WITH A BURDEN. This challenges us today to be a community with the Blessed Virgin as our Mother. We are BLESSED TO HAVE A MOTHER, and it is our burden to listen to her and DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU. Ang pagdedebosyon natin sa Mahal na Birhen ay hindi lamang sa panlabas na mga ritwal, ito din ay naghihikawat sa atin at nagsusumamo na gayahin at pakinggan siya.

As you hold your flowers to offer to Mama Mary, think of it as your burdens which God gives you as a blessing.

“Ah Lord, this is my job in the office, a flower, a blessing you send me from heaven. Although I get tired and stressed here, I offer them to your mother, to my mother who will caress me in wearisome moments.”

“Ah Lord, these are my subjects. Ito din po ang aking mga professors, they are your blessings to me as they impart knowledge kahit minsan they do become burdens to my academic life. I offer them to your mother, to my mother who is the Seat of Wisdom.”

“Ah Lord, this is my family- my husband, my wife, my parents, my children, mga kapatid ko. They are my life-time burdens, yet they are blessings. I offer them to your mother, to my mother who is the Queen of the Family.”

“Ah Lord, this is my friend, my bestfriend, my closest friend. This is also the one who have hurt me most. They are burdens as much as they are blessings. I offer the to your mother, to my mother who is our company in this life’s journey.”

“Ah Lord, these are my thanksgivings, the graces I have received. By this flower I am to bring before you, may it be a sign of praise. Thank you for the good health, my financial provisions, my talents and skills, everything that you have given me are blessings. Yet I know that these blessings entail a great burden- the responsibility to use them for your greater glory and the building of your kingdom. I offer them to your mother, to my mother, who sang her heart out: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”

Journey with Mary of the Rosary

October 31 marks the end of the month of the holy rosary. To culminate it, let me share these wonderful sacramentals that have been journeying with me in my spiritual life. Much of them were given of which I am very much appreciative of (f.y.i. If someone would give me a rosary either as a birthday, thank you, christmas, etc. gift, I am very much delighted. It is a sign of Mary's call to pray harder and I remember the giver in my prayers).

This one was a surprise gift to me by Niño Rickson Acero, my co-seminarian and one close to my heart. He made it especially and in time for my birthday. It bore in it the 4 major basilicas of Rome as it's major beads with the salve bead that of Jesus the Eternal and High Priest. I had this held by the Blessed Virgin in the shrine at the seminary on her birthday. I keep this near me whenever I am in bed at night. I keeps evil forces away.

Grateful for helping her on her thesis (on the Trinity), Sr.Ma.Joy of the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary had this personally made for me. She said thank you coupled with her prayers. It is a wooden benedictine rosary. I remember all the religious and pious men and women when I pray with this rosary.

When he entered the Benedictine Monastery, Kuya Debaron Tivi learned how to make a rosary. This is a benedictine rosary from cat's eye beads. This is another of my favorites especially when I pray for vocations and the priesthood. My special intentions go to the maker of this rosary as well as Fr. Jerry Gaela, then rector, who gave the piece of Jerusalem Cross that I attached on its salve bead.

This rosary was made by members of the SSpSA. It was a graduation gift from my godmother, Lina Ilag, in 2010. I remember the intentions of the Society who made this as well as my godmothers in prayer through this.

This is my very first rosary given to me by my godfather, Leopold Ilag. He gave it to me after his trip from the Holy Land. A piece of stone from the Jordan River accompanies it but I seemed to have lost it way way back (I dropped it among the gravel near Lola Nana's house and I couldn't find it anymore, sorry). This is my favorite as I still keep it in my pocket. Maybe this has been with me for almost 20 years already and one of my most sentimental mementos.

When I had my first retreat in the seminary, I forgot to bring my rosary (which was unusual). I left it in my other pants. This came from the Capuchin Retreat Ceneter in Lipa and I was able to use this as a rosary just 3 times. All the rest, I use it to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy every Fridays.

This is a Christmas present from Fr.Nino then our Formation Director.

Get something from your room which has special meaning for you and give it to your batchmate- that was the instruction. This "summarized" rosary is especially themed with Our Lady of Guadalupe. The cross bears a magnifying glass where you can see the image of Our Lady. This was given by Jefferson Carmona, now our Liturgy chairman. Using this I remember his intentions, that of the batch, and for the defense of the culture of life.

This wooden rosary was a souvenir in the opening of our small religious store in the seminary. It was our formation batch that initiated in opening one to sustain a fund-raiser for the Institute.

This wooden rosary came from Rome. It is simple indeed and has an oak casing (the image of the Immaculate Heart and Sacred Heart interchange). This I keep in the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady MMediatrix of All Grace, in my room atop my bookshelf. I had this when I was mid-college already.

Praying for the Carmelites

Carmelites have a special place in my heart. I grew in a parish where the patron is a discalced carmelite, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. Since then I was devoted to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Through the years, I learned more about them and their spirituality and I grew in love too with Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint John of the Cross.

As we has the Mass in honor of Saint Teresa de Avila yesterday, October 15, I prayed for my prayer partner, Sr. Bernina of the Holy Family, O.C.D., who in faith never abandoned me and constantly prays for my intentions. I also remembered my professor, Ms. Cleofe O. Ciar, M.A., who never failed to exhort me in prayer. This evening as I knelt in from of the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Fatima in the cathedral, I asked the Blessed Mother to enlighten me more in my vocation. Carmel has been my first love and feel I am still called to ascent to the spiritual mountain.

May the Lord show me the true way. Saint Teresa of Avila, pray for us!

Our Lady of the Holy Rosary with... who are they?

The Blessed Virgin Mary handling the rosary to Saint Dominic
and Saint Catherine of Siena.

Beginning the month of October, I had an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary carrying the Child Jesus on her lap while handling the rosary to two saintly figures in kneeling posture enthroned in the chapel. The intention was catechetical, that is, in order for people to get curious (if they do not know) who are the two characters depicted and so have a glimpse of Church history.

Almost a week past and no one reacts. I thought maybe they already know. I tried to ask several people if they know who the two saints are and surprisingly, out of 10, only 2 know! Sadly disappointed for their lack of initiative to know who these figures are, let me share.

So, who are the two saintly figures?

The first is Saint Dominic de Guzman who established the mendicant Order of Preachers. It was said that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him and gave him the rosary as a powerful prayer to attack the Albigensian heresy. True enough, the Dominicans won over such enemies of the Church.

The second is Saint Catherine of Siena. She was not a contemporary of Saint Dominic but came later. She is not a nun but a lay woman who entered the Dominican Tertiary. She was heavily instrumental for the return of the papacy in Rome which ended the great schism. Through her prayers and the rosary, unity was restored in the Church.