Devotion teaching mercy

Are you familiar with this scapular?

Yes I know what you are thinking. My grandmother and a bunch of old ladies in church wear these.

I remember when I was young I used to play around my aunt's house and there I saw these red ribbons with unusual markings at the end. Back then I didn't know that they were scapulars and so I played with it trying to figure out what were those. After some time they got entangled. When my aunt and grandmother saw their scapulars were entangled, they reprimanded me for my actions. Of course I felt bad and that marked my heart so bad that I said when I have money I will buy them replacements. They said the scapulars they wear during Mass were expensive. But growing up I learned they just cost P40.00.

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of that infinite love of our Lord for all humanity. His heart is surrounded by the crown of thorns that continues to pierce it so badly that it bleeds. Even at the climax of salvation at the top of Calvary as Jesus laid breathless on the cross, as He shed His precious blood for the remission of sin, still today people continue to persecute His heart because of sin.

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!”

Viva Pit Senor!

A porcelain image of the Holy Child from Prague

On this feast of the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino), we Filipinos are reminded of how an image of a small child once conquered the hearts of our natives to convert to Christianity. The image of the Child Jesus so famous in every Filipino home is a reminder of the roots of our faith, one that stands the test of time and continues to prevail even in the midst of any calamity that try to destroy the church. God's way of captivating our hearts is no match to any sword. His is not by force but of love and compassion.

This feast proper to Filipinos specifically recalls to mind the devotion of two carmelite saints, Sts. Terese of Avila and Therese of Lisieux. St. Teresa of Avila was known of carrying a small statue of the Child Jesus around her when she was founding monasteries. One day she saw a child by the stairs. The child asked who she was and in reply said "I am Teresa of Jesus." Returning the question as to who the child was, she received a reply, "I am Jesus of Teresa." Similarly, St. Therese took to her special devotion that of the Infant Jesus. She is very much known of her spiritual way of childhood.

How much have we been inspired as children of God to imitate His meekness? Let us not be afraid to approach the Father who knows perfectly well what we need. May the Holy Child Jesus bless us and our country.

I remember a reflection made by a good friend, Bro.Marwil Llasos, O.P., in which he once commented on my Facebook page; it is worth quoting here:

Filipino Catholics are among the most ardent devotees of the Christ Child. Historically, the Christianization of the Philippines started with the giving of the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu to Reyna Juana by the Spanish Agustinian friars. Thus, the Sto. Niño has been the enduring symbol of our Catholicism in these Islands. Many places all over the country celebrate the feast of the Christ Child will unparalleled revelry. These festivities showcase Filipino culture – a masterful blend of indigenous and Hispanic culture. Always colorful, creative and yes, extravagant. 

I have often reflected on why Filipino Catholics are so attached to the Sto. Niño. I think our devotion reflects our natural affection for the child – makabata. Here we see that the RH Bill has no place in authentic Filipino culture, psyche and spirituality. We love children. 

Also, our devotion to the Sto. Niño shows our inner selves. If you want to peer deeper into the Filipino soul, you will always find a child. This childlikeness is truly the hallmark of the Filipino spirit. A child is one who is trusting – perhaps this explains our “bahala na” mentality. This trait is not fatalism, but a sense of childlike confidence to God our Father. “Bahala na” literally means “let God.” In the face of almost insuperable difficulties, we still have attitude to “offer it up” to God. 

A child is one who is contented with simple joys. Filipinos are among the happiest people. This is a paradox – for how can a suffering people manage to smile and to laugh. Only the child in us explains this. 

I used to find the various images of the Sto. Niño distasteful – Sto. Niñong Palaboy, Pulis, Basketbolista, Abogado, Magsasaka, Bumbero, name it! There are just so many depictions of the Infant Jesus. He is black as in Cebu, He is white as in Tondo. How can we make sense out this surfeit of Sto. Niños? 

Upon deeper reflection, I realize that our folk piety in naming the Sto. Niño different names and dressing Him up in multifarious costumes and attire reflect a profound yet very basic theology. The theology of the Incarnation. 

The depictions of the Sto. Niño is our way of expressing the Incarnation – that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14). Our God is Emmanuel – God with us. If that is so, Jesus Christ belongs to every race. He is black, white, yellow, red and brown. Depicting Him with the same color of our skin is our way of claiming Him as our own. He is one of us. 

No culture, no race and no profession or vocation can exclusively appropriate Christ. That’s why we see the Sto. Niño as the Bumbero, Abogado, Pulis, Basketbolista – yes, even Palaboy. He belongs to us all – and we do have a claim on Him, on His love, on His attention, and most especially the salvation that He alone can give. The Sto. Niño shows the universality of our redemption. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). We are all on the same level, all of us are saved in the same way – by the blood of Christ; and we all are entitled to the same privileges as sons and daughters of the Father. 

But of course the image, statue or icon of the Christ Child is there to help us raise our minds to higher realities. That the same Sto. Niño is also the Nazareno (Mt. 2:23), the Savior who suffered, died and was risen for us. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). As we now contemplate the Christ Child, let us be like Him who “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Lk. 2:51).

Viva Pit Senor Sto. Nino! Viva! Viva! Viva Sto. Nino!

In omnibus amare et servire Domino!

Finally, Rome Sweet Home!

I'm done reading ROME SWEET HOME: Our Journey to Catholicism by Dr. Scott and Kimberly Hahn. Finally I had that drive to read the book.

It was in high school way back 2002 when I was first introduced to Dr. Hahn's theological works. I was given a book entitled Hail, Holy Queen which was one of his best works on the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was left untouched on my desk for some years until I read it. I thought it was very good and since then got fond of reading more of his works. The last one I read was Consuming the Word in 2013, the 15th book authored by him which I have.

My godfather, together with many friends in the Catholic apologetics, recommended I read Rome Sweet Home. The only copy I found was a newsprint from a local bookstore. I was not enticed to read it. I scanned a few pages, took a glimpse at the pictures, then placed it back on shelf. I felt it was boring. After reading many of his works defending the Catholic teaching, it seemed that his conversion story were mere reiterations of the more detailed experiences Dr. Scott Hahn recounts on his other books.

Why just now? My grandmother gave me a copy as a New Year's present. Upon receiving it, I said to myself, "Wow, thanks but I have a copy already." But this one is a new print and it looks cool. I started reading it and in three days, voila! I'm done. Congratulations to me.

Well I hope I'm back to my regular reading habit of finishing at least a book a week. What struck me most in their conversion story is not the process but the realization that many Catholics take for granted the faith they have, the faith we have. How many of us Catholics really know the core of our beliefs? It is not only a matter of believing and dogmatizing the Church and God as if they are mere theological characters but real, real, existing beings that should be known by heart. It is not just knowing Jesus but really getting to His very person and encountering Him. It is not only lining for communion or receiving the sacraments as if ordinary rituals but seeing the meanings behind these symbols and acts of faith. Maybe that is my it is called, the "core", it is the heart (from the Latin cor).

Many of us know the bible, what it is, but not what it contains. We know the books of the bible but we do not know what they really want to tell us. We just often read them as a literary work or as an ordinary book of texts but not opening it in order to open our hearts and minds to a divine reality. Does it really need to be a foreigner to explain things to natives? This question struck me in the reading of their conversion story. Sometimes, if not too often, it needs someone from the outside to show us what our culture is (sociologically speaking). The Catholic faith is so rich in doctrine, in tradition, in scripture, in God's ways, but we do not usually see these because we've grown too lax or too comfortable with what we have. "Oh we're Catholic and we know that the Church holds the truth." but when faced with the question, "Then what truths does you Church teach?" We don't have an answer.

A good way to jumpstart the year 2014. Pope Francis calls for a Church that is active. The Year of Faith that challenged every Catholic to restudy and relearn the core of faith has been fruitful. Now the pontiff is challenging us to go further more, evangelize today. After this, next reading in line is his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium.

5 star for Dr. Scott and Kimberly Hahn's ROME SWEET HOME.