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!”

San Pedro Bautista sa Laguna

A monument of

San Pedro Bautista sa Laguna

sinuat ni Rev. Fr. Gabriel Ma. Delfino, M.A.Hist.

Ang mga tinatawag na “Renaissance Men” (mga tao ng 1400’s hanggang 1600’s na bihasa sa Kultura, Agham at Sining dahil sa impluwensiya ng mga unibersidad sa Europa) ay hindi lamang matatagpuan sa Paris, Madrid, London, at Roma. Sila din ay hindi lamang natagpuan sa mga lungsod at korte ng mga hari kundi sa mga hangganan ng mga “colony” mula India, Peru at maging sa Imperyo ng Tsina (Matteo Ricci, SJ).

Ang kultura ng mga “Renaissance Men” ay lumiligid sa mga kabundukan at malalayong mga pulo upang ipadama ang bagong pagtingin sa mundo at ang paglaganap ng kaalaman sa isip ng mga tao. Ang pagsulong ng Agham at Sining sa iba’t ibang kultura at lugar ng mundo ay dala ng mga “Renaisance Men” na may kaloobang Kristiyano.

Isa sa mg maituturing na “Renaissance Man” ay ang Misyonerong Pransiskano sa Katagalugan, si San Pedro Bautista.

 Hindi lamang siya naging misyonero na naghahatid ng Pangalan ni Hesus at ng Mabuting Balita sa mga naninirahan sa Luzon. Alagad din siya ng Sining at Agham. Dahil dumating siya sa Pilipinas mula sa Espanya noong 42 taon gulang na siya, naranasan na niyang maging Propesor ng Pilosopiya sa Merida, Predikador sa Katedral ng Toledo at isang magaling sa larangan ng Musika, ang lahat ng kakayahang napagdaanan ay nagamit sa paglilingkod sa tao.

Bukod pa sa pagtatatag ng mga Pamayanan ng Longos at Pakil sa Laguna sa pamamagitan ng pag-uutos ng pag-iipon ng mga tao “bajo las campanas” (sa ilalim ng mga kampana), nagawa pa rin ni San Pedro Bautista na magturo ng musikang pang-simbahan sa mga bata, mga koro at musikero sa Santa Ana, Manila at sa Lumban, Laguna. Nagkaroon ng pagsasanay sa pag-awit at paggamit ng mga instrumento ng musika sa humigit na 400 katao sa Lumbang upang iparating ang mga bagong mga kumposisyon na naging produkto ng musika ng “Renaissance” sa Europa.

Sa tulong pa ng isang kapwa-misyonerong Pransiskano [na si Fray Francisco de Gata] na may alam sa agham ng Medisina at Kimiko, natuklasan niya ang mapang-hilom na katangian ng mainit na tubig sa Los Baños, Laguna. Dahil dito napatatag ang Hospital ng Aguas Santa sa naturang bayan bilang paggamit ng mainit na tubig sa paglunas sa mga karamdaman. Ang pagtuklas ng likas na yaman sa pamamagitan ng Agham ay isa sa mga kinikilalang katangian ng “Renaissance” sa paglaganap ng kaalaman tungkol sa ating daigdig.

Noong siya ay manungkulan bilang Pinuno ng mga Pansiskano sa Pilipinas, hindi lamang siya nag-tayo ng mga gusaling bato para sa mga simbahan, kumbento at lugar ng “retiro”. Sinikap din niyang dalawin ang bawat misyonerong Pransiskano sa bawat lugar – mula Bulacan hahnngang Sorsogon – bilang pagpapakita ng kanyang malasakit at pagdamay. Ang kanyang pagiging “Renaissance Man” ay nakita hindi lamang sa mga pang-labas na gawain kundi sa isang puso at gawi na magkasabay na maka- Diyos at maka-tao.

Bagamat 9 na taon lang ang inilagi niya sa Pilipinas, naging malalim ang iniwan niyang alaala bago pa siya naging martir sa bansang Hapon at Santo ng simbahang Katoliko. Ipinagdiriwangang ang alaala ni San Pedro Bautista sa Liturhiya ng Simbahan tuwing Ika-6 ng Pebrero kasama si San Pedro Miki at iba pang mga Martir ng Hapon.

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!

"Separating" Church and State

December 2, 1956 - President Ramon Magsaysay, with wife Luz, read the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 

 

Recently I found an old picture of the Consecration of the Philippines to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in December 2, 1956. It was President Ramon Magsaysay who read the prayer. Beside him was his first lady, Ms. Luz Magsaysay. In a souvenir publication for the Second National Eucharistic Congress of the Philippines, it recounts how the president strongly and willingly pursued this endeavor "even if it meant his political graveyard... He received thousands of threatening letters and telegrams urging him not to read the act of consecration. The President, with clear and unhalting voice, read the formula of consecration."

Pope Francis greets the Filipino people: Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS

POPE FRANCIS

TO THE PHILIPPINE CONFERENCE ON THE NEW EVANGELIZATION

18 October 2013

University of Sto. Toman

Manila, Philippines

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ,

I greet all of you with the peace and joy of our Lord. The first Philippine Conference on the New Evangelization is our offering to the Year of Faith. For this I thank all of you: brother Bishops, the priests, religious men and women, seminarians, and the lay faithful who organize and are participating in the conference. I am happy to learn that you came to Manila from different parts of the Philippines and Asia. The Holy Spirit is actively at work in you.

The Church of Christ is alive. Through this conference, I hope you would experience again the loving presence of Jesus in your lives, that you would love the Church more and that you would share the Gospel to other people with humility and joy. Don’t get tired of bringing the mercy of the Father to the poor, the sick, the abandoned the young people and the family. Let Jesus speak now in the world of politics, business, arts, science, technology and social media. Let the Holy Spirit renew the creation and bring forth justice and peace in the Philippines and in the great continent of Asia that is close to my heart.

Please pray for me. I need it. I promise to pray for you especially to our Mother, the blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the New Evangelization.

Mabuhay ang Filipinas! Mabuhay ang Asia! Pagpalain kayo ng Diyos.

God bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

-------------------------------------------------

audio file in the Vatican Radio: http://media01.radiovaticana.va/audiomp3/00395512.MP3

When Human Love Reaches Perfection: St. Therese, Model of the New Millenium

WHEN HUMAN LOVE REACHES PERFECTION:

Saint Thérèse, Model of the New Millenium

written by Sem. Carl Angelo Pua for the 3rd Visit of the Pilgrim Relics of St. Therese in the Philippines, Diocese of San Pablo

Therese may have lost her mother during childhood
but still found comfort in the arms of the Blessed
Virgin who led her to Her Son.

            Love is repaid by love alone. It is in love that the youngest Doctor of the Church found her vocation in prayer and holiness. Saint Thérèse, at the age of 15, received a papal dispensation to enter the Carmelite Monastery of Lisieux. The ardent love of this nun for Jesus was so pure that her desire to win souls through prayer moved her to the confines of the discalced order. Her departure to the eternal world left many saddened yet inspired millions. She has been a patron of many pontiffs, religious, and lay people. It is interesting that in the canonization process, Benedict XV exempted the cause from the fifty years delay imposed by law and in 1921 promulgated the decree on the heroic quality of the virtues of Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Pius XI, succeeding the Holy See, made her the ‘star of his pontificate.’ It was said that the relics and picture of the Little Flower never left his working office. By May 17, 1925, in the presence of 33 Cardinals and 250 bishops, Thérèse was proclaimed saint. More than 50,000 people attended the ceremony inside the St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome; not mentioning the overwhelming 500,000 more standing outside. Two years later she was declared one of the patrons of foreign missions together with Saint Francis Xavier. The theology of Saint Thérèse, though not explicitly mentioned, was instrumental in the work of the Second Vatican Council: “the return to the word of God, the priority given to the theological virtues (faith, hope, and charity) in everyday life, the Church seen as the Body of Christ, the universal mission, the call of each baptized person to sanctify, fraternal attention paid to those who have different beliefs or who do not believe.”

            There is nothing new with the words of this young saint. Many theologians would say she devised nothing ingenious. However, her way of serving God through little acts of love inspired and touched many hearts to conversion. This love is the very message of Christ as He commanded to love God and neighbor (cf. Mk. 12:30,31) and the calling of every Christian of which is the end of human existence. But what really sets the love of this Little Flower is how she conceives it in simplicity. Love should not need to be grand for God to notice one – the mere heartfelt prayer is already an expression of deep love. She never forgot to pray. She never ran out of something to pray for. Like what she wrote to her sister Celine, “Let us not stop praying; confidence produces miracles… let us not forget souls, but forget ourselves for them.” This love which Saint Thérèse teaches is the very act that the world needs today; a love that is pure and holy, eternal and perfected in God.

The young Therese, burning with the fire
of love, showed how it meant to be a true
follower of Christ even at an early age.

            Why the need for a millennium saint? During the pontificate of the late Pope John Paul II, he ushered the whole Church in entering the new millennium most significantly with the celebration of the Great Jubilee Year 2000. This called forth for a renewed relationship with one another – mending divisions, healing strife, and breaking the chains and yokes of oppression, hatred, and iniquities. Saint Thérèse’s simple message of love is seen as the solution for all these. This attracted the pontiff’s vision of telling the world about God who is love Himself. Through Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection, love reached its climax with a kenosis (a self-emptying). The Little Flower’s devotion to the Child Jesus and the Holy Face expresses both the joy of nativity and the sorrow of Calvary. She teaches that our service and love for the Lord is not limited to moments of success and comfort but in hardships as well. Saint Thérèse knew and felt God’s presence in the most real and authentic manner and her response is that same love. She reciprocated love which emanated from her Master with the same by spending her life doing good on earth: I do not want to rest as long as there are souls to save. But when the angel says: ‘Time is no more’, then I will take my rest. It is a selfless giving of one’s self for the good of others.

            This forms the challenge of devotion to our Millennium Saint: to be transformed by the Divine love, and animated for the service of others. True devotion to a saint entails living-out and imitation of his or her life. Saint Thérèse is our model of simplicity, a way which seems easy yet tough. Saint Thérèse is our model of love, one that emanates from the hearts of the Creator and the created. Saint Thérèse is our millennium saint escorting us to holiness and prepares ourselves to open the door to Christ.

FILIPINOS, Where is your faith?

Image of San Lorenzo;
photo credits to Oliver Oliveros

"I shall die for God, and for Him I would give many thousands of lives if I had them."
-St. Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, first Filipino Martyr


Would there still be a soul in this world, in this country, burning with the same fervent spirit?

FILIPINOS, LOOK at our protomartyr!
FILIPINOS, RISE up as men of God!
FILIPINOS, DEFEND and LIVE our your faith!

Live like the Little Flower

Browsing a commemorative calendar of the Missionary Catechists of St. Therese which was founded by the late Archbishop of Lipa, Rufino Obviar, I stumbled upon one of his excellency's notes. It wrote:

"Live like the Little Flower, to offer the little things that came to your life,

little displeasures and everything that you could offer to the Lord."

I began meditating and deeply pondered on his words that followed:

"Look at the branches of the mango trees.

They are bent when they are filled with fruits. They are erect when they are empty."

Today starts the novena to St. Therese of the Child Jesus who teaches us the sure way to heaven - a gaze of loving humility. She taught no dogma but lived her life totally out of love. This is why she was declared a Doctor of the Church, the Doctor Amoris (Doctor of Love), and was esteemed as the Millennium Saint. She is a model for our contemporary life where we need love the most. For the next days, we pray to her intercession asking that we too may live as she deed, to follow her example and be truly conformed to the image and likeness of Christ, who gives His total self for love of God and others.

The relics of St. Therese in her 3rd Pilgrim Visit to the Philippines.
My hand, in black cassock and laced surplice, touching her.

NOVENA PRAYER

Dearest Saint Therese of Lisieux, you said that you would spend your time in heaven doing good on earth. Your trust in God was complete. Pray that He may increase my trust in His goodness and mercy as I ask for the following petitions…

(State your intentions)

Pray for me that I, like you, may have great and innocent confidence in the loving promises of our God. Pray that I may live my life in union with God’s plan for me, and one day see the Face of God whom you loved so deeply.

Saint Therese, you were faithful to God up until the moment of your death. Pray for me that I may be faithful to our loving God. May my life bring peace and love to the world through faithful endurance in love for God our savior. Amen.

Panalangin Kay San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila at kasamahang Martir

San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila (in white)
together with other martyrs in Japan.

PANALANGIN KAY SAN LORENZO RUIZ DE MANiLA AT MGA KASAMANG MARTIR
September 19-27

Si San Lorenzo Ruiz ang unang Pilipinong santo at martir. Siya ay isang laykong sakristan at katekista na pumunta sa bansang Hapon. Doon niya sinapit ang kamatayan dala ng pag-uusig sa pananampalataya. Sinasabi na kanyang mga pasakit ay nawika niya, "Sanlibo man aking buhay, bawat isa pa rin ay aking iaalay sa Diyos."


Amang Mapagmahal, ang Iyong Anak na si Hesukristo ay naghandog ng kanyang buhay para sa kaligtasan ng tanan. Kasihan kami ng iyong pag-ibig upang maihandog ang aming buhay para sa iyo at sa aming kapwa tao. Inakay rin ng mapagpala Mong kamay ang iyong mga lingkod na sina San Lorenzo Ruiz at mga kasama sa lupain ng Hapon upang tularan ang sakripisyo ni Kristo at ipamansag ang Mabuting Balita ng Kaligtasan.

Isinasamo namin na sa pamamagitan ng panalangin ng mga banal na martir na kami'y maging matatag sa pananampalataya tulad nila at maging kasangkapan ng pagpapahayag ng mabuting balita sa aming bayan at sa mga bansang nasa paligid namin. Dinggin Mo ang aming kahilingan at ang tanging biyayang aming hinihingi:
(Banggitin ang mga kahilingan)
Kaisa ni San Lorenzo Ruiz at mga kasama, hinihiling namin ito sa pamamagitan ni Hesukristo na aming Panginoon. Amen.