"Blessed Are They That Mourn"

For us who lost our beloved
Luis D. Quetulio
(1952 - 2010)

There is a day of sunny rest
For every dark and troubled nights;
And grief may abide, an evening quest,
But joy shall come with early light.

And thou, who, o’er thy friend’s low bier
Sheddest the bitter drops like rain,
Hope that a brighter, happier sphere,
Will give him to thy arms again.

Nor let the good man’s trust depart,
Though life it’s common gifts deny,
Though with a pierce and broken heart,
And spurned of men, he goes to die.

For God has marked each sorrowing day
And numbered every secret tear.
And heaven’s long age of bliss shall pay
For all his children suffer here.

- William Cullen Bryant

CHRISTMAS PRAYER

Dearest Jesus,

As we celebrate your birthday, we take this opportunity to ask for your forgiveness for our failings, mistakes, weaknesses and sins we have committed during the year so that we may welcome the New Year fresh with your grace.

We thank you, Lord, for the gift of yourself to redeem us that we may share in the Father’s gift of eternal life. Truly, all the glory, praise and adoration are yours forever.

As we stand by this crèche to admire the depiction of your incarnation, let us not be lost in the splendor of the images represented to us rather to contemplate, with profoundness, the great mystery of our salvation that unfolds continually in our daily lives. We may not fully understand during this lifetime your mystery however let us share in the spirit to which the reason you were born unto us.

May we be inspired by the beauty of your humility as you came to us in poverty to enrich us. Despite our own insufficiency and unworthiness, with the help of your grace may we give you glory in return.

Nourish us, Lord, from your manger and keep us in your secured stable. Be our shepherd and guide us through the pastures of life. Share with us the warm comfort of your swaddling clothes and let us be soothed by the tender humming of the virgin Mary, your mother. Upon the watchful gaze of blessed Joseph, your guardian, may we be protected from all evil harm.

Teach us to adore and worship you in the spirit and in truth as the shepherds who beheld with their own eyes the salvation of all men. Let us see your glory in the midst of the darkness of this world as angels appeared on that dark night and proclaimed your birth.

Just as the wise men were guided by a bright and shining star, you be our light to guide our ways, upheld us in the truth and give meaning to our confused existence.

Give each of us a sense of responsibility to love and care for one another especially to those who are most need of them. Give us the courage to bring your Good News not only in words but most of all in deed and example.

We pray for faith, hope and love to reign in our hearts not only this season but throughout the year. May we be worthy bearers of your justice and mercy so that mutual respect and unity be formed in our society.

Let the message of the holy hosts of angels, on that first Christmas, resound to us today, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill among men!” (Luke 1:14) And may all come to pass as you will and say.

Amen.

“We will always have all we need, to do all that God wants us to do, as long as He wants us to do it.” – Dr. Vance H. Havner

LIFE …… DEATH

The question of the meaning of life
Can only be answered by life….. by living
You are arrived at the answer to life
When God has arrived in your heart
It is when one if threatened by death
That one begins to appreciate the significance of life
The closer Christ was to His glory, the closer He came to His death
His glory was His death – His death was His glory
Life is beautiful because it is life
The beauty of death is that it leads to a fuller life.
In life you cover more directions by going in one direction
Man’s quest for life – is his question about life
Man seeks an answer to his question – because he wants to define life
He does not realize that life cannot be defined without considering
life-here-after. Therefore it cannot be defined merely in terms of this life
because this life is not the whole of life –
the history of man is the history of life – his life
as lived individually and communally.
Even God is bound by this “law”. He can only love – because He is life
His love is everlasting – because He exists for all eternity
He is love because He is life
Christ comes – in the fullness of time – that we may have life more abundantly
He dies – in His chosen time – to give meaning to man’s life
He rises – in His predicted time – to assure us of life everlasting
He has given us the capacity to love forever because we can live forever.

- by Grido Argulles, S.J.

After reading this piece, I offer some points to ponder upon:

What is life for you personally? What is its meaning?
How do you view death? Are you afraid to die?
Do you honestly believe in life-after-death?
Do you have a concept of eternity? Can you somehow comprehend it?

I hope you and I will gain sufficient wisdom in the process of searching for the answers from our hearts.

Let us pray,

Eternal God, our Father,
We are humbled by Your greatness.
You are the Author of life; You are life itself.

We don’t have the answers to the many questions of our life
But our faith in You suffices for everything that are unknown to us.

You have given us life and showed us the way to live this
with meaning through the teachings of the Gospel.

May we be forever be true to our vocation and grant us the grace
to follow Your will until our last moment on this earth.

We pray, in the Name of Jesus Christ, Your Son
and our Redeemer. Amen.

Yours truly,

DJ FLAME

IN MEMORIAM

“I’M FREE!”

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free
I’m following the path God has laid you see
I took His hands when I heard His call
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work, to play
Task left undone must stay that way,
I found peace at the close of day.
If parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joys…
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
Oh yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow
My life’s been full, I savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee…
God waited me now, He set me free.

Let us pray,

Eternal rest grant unto them O, Lord,
And let Your perpetual light shine unto them.

From the gates of the damned
Deliver their souls O, Lord.

And may they rest in peace.
Amen.

A BEAUTIFUL GIFT OF PRAYER

Lyrics by Bill Anderson



I said a prayer for you today
And know God must’ve heard;
I felt the answer in my heart
Although He spoke not a word.

I did not ask for wealth or fame
(I knew you wouldn’t mind);
I asked for priceless treasures rare
Of a more lasting kind.

I prayed that He’d be near to you
At the start of each new day,
To give you health and blessing fair,
And friends to share your way.

I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small,
But that you’d know his loving care
I prayed the most of all.

SUFFERINGS AND SORROWS: LESSONS FROM MARY’S LIFE

A Reflection on the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of Sorrows
15th September A.D. 2010



As we read the Gospel account when Jesus hangs on the Cross while his mother Mary stood by at its foot, we are reminded of the prophetic words of Simeon 33 years prior. He said to Mary, “You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected; And a sword will pierce your own soul too so that the secret thoughts of many may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35)

Jesus as a man had experienced what every mortal has to go through in life. He experienced pain, loneliness, rejection, betrayal, grief. The prophet Isaiah called him “a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.” (Isaiah 53:8) Mary shared in the suffering of Christ. She shared his pain and sorrows. In his earthly life, she has been the only mortal who was ever faithful to him. When his disciples and friends abandoned him, she never left him. Thus, from his birth to his death on the Cross, she was there with him.

Today, as we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary as our lady of sorrows, we pause for a moment as, with the eyes of faith, we look on that scene on Mt. Calvary with Jesus and Mary. We take a while from our hurried lives to reflect on Christ’s suffering and death and how it might have left for Mary.

Suffering and sorrow are indispensable. They are part of the human experience which is inescapable. They may come in varied forms from the mere trivial to the most tragic. They manifest in times of difficult moments and in challenging circumstances in which we may feel hopeless, alone, abandoned, in despair.

In the face of all these however, our faith in the saving power of God will carry us through these most trying times. Even in the face of death and grief we take solace in the life eternal promised to us by God. Hence, we don’t have to live in perpetual misery as we live our lives on this earth. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son Jesus Christ,” (John 3:16) to be “pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins.” (Isaiah 53:5)

When Jesus suffered, “Ours were the suffering he bore, ours the sorrows he carried” (Isaiah 53:4) and “on him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) Because of these, we no longer have to feel too burdened by every suffering and sorrow that comes our way. We have hope that we can withstand each difficult experience and in every encounter we become stronger and wiser. We just have to trust in the Lord, as Mary did, that beyond darkness and death He will turn-on the light and give life eternal.

Amidst every experience of suffering and sorrow, let us rejoice in the promise of Jesus who tells us, “Cast your burden upon me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) He is to take on himself our sufferings if we let him. We just have to learn to give-up everything to him. He is more than willing to share with us our sorrows and comfort us when we are too burdened by the feelings of hopelessness and despair. We are not alone. We have a God who cares and see to it that we live a good and full life on this earth. We don’t have to live miserably for long. We just have to pray and ask for his help.

Jesus, as he hang on the Cross, said to his apostle John and to his mother, “Son, behold thy mother; Woman, behold thy son!” (John 19:26,27) Hence we, the faithful and the Blessed Virgin Mary, were beholden to each other since. We have Mary, the mother who feels and shares our own suffering through her Son Jesus. Thus, in our suffering and sorrow, we turn to her intercession, “To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears… and after this, our exile, show unto us the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” (from Salve Regina)

Let us pray,

Father, as Your Son
was raised on the Cross,
to die as a ransom for our sins,
His mother Mary stood by Him,
sharing His sufferings.

May we in turn be like Mary,
to bear suffering with perseverance
and hope in Your promises.
May each painful experience
make us stronger and wiser
and more faithful to You.

We ask You for the grace to
be more resilient in difficulties
and accepting of challenges
that makes us better persons.

Be with us, Lord, in every sorrow.
May we be comforted by Your
constant presence amidst our pain
and recognize Your Divine design
during troubled moments.

With Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows,
We pray in the Name of Jesus Christ,
Through the power of the Holy Spirit,
That all glory be Yours, One God forever
and ever. Amen.

Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows,
Pray for us!

DON’T HURT YOUR NEIGHBOR EVEN WITH THE TRUTH

From the perspective of Scripture, the most horrifying sin would be to use truth to gain unjust personal advantage at the cost of your neighbor.

We may whittle away the principle of truth until nothing remains and we no longer are capable of telling right from wrong.

Thou shalt not hurt your neighbor— with lies or with the truth. That’s the way it is in God’s Kingdom.

- Allen Thompson
From: July-August 1990 issue of Health and Home Vol. 31 No. 4

HONORING MARY BY LIVING HER EXAMPLES

A Reflection on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8th September, A.D. 2010



Most saints’ feastday in the Roman Liturgy are the day of their death which is considered their “birth in heaven”. However the earthly birthday of our Lord Jesus, John the Baptist and the Blessed Virgin Mary are honored in the Liturgy. The Church has given this distinction because of its significance in salvation history. Christmas is the birth of Christ, the day the Messiah entered into human history. While John the Baptist’s birth was according to God’s precise plan as he comes before the Messiah. Thus, Mary’s birth is marked by the church with a feast because her physical birth is essential for the Messiah to take flesh.

Beyond Mary’s physical motherhood to Christ, we honor her on her birthday for her virtuous life that each of us must emulate. Her life of total submission to the will of the Almighty is an inspiration to Christians throughout the ages. No other mortal exemplified the obedience of Mary. Many saints during their lifetime had been great sinners until they encountered the Lord at some point in their life. But for Mary, she had been obedient from her birth to her death. She was afterall spared from Original Sin as God declared “I will put enmity before thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.” (Genesis 3:15) This great privilege was bestowed upon her not because of her own merit but for the merit of her Son Jesus, the Savior.

As the angelic salutation declared, “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women.” (Luke 1:28) This reiterates her being distinct among mortals. She was “full of grace” meaning God had given her every grace possible; not partly but complete. Because of this she had the capacity to accept God’s will without reservation and with complete trust. Thus, she said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Mary had been responsible to rearing Jesus and throughout his earthly mission she was with him. She was his greatest follower, the disciple who never wavered in her faith in him. She was instrumental for Jesus to make his first miracle turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. There she told the servants, “Do whatever he tell you” (John 2:5) are words that sums up what each of us must do, to follow what God tells us.

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother.” (John 19:25) At the foot of the cross, Mary stood by Christ as he accomplishes his mission to redeem mankind. She felt his pain and shared with him his sorrow. She rejoiced at his resurrection and saw him return in heaven. It was when the apostles “in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus.” (Acts 1:14) that the Holy Spirit came and the church was established. Throughout her remaining life on earth she never stopped working to further God’s Kingdom as part of the church’s mission.

Hence, Mary’s birth and life has to be celebrated. Jesus on the cross addressed St. John and his mother said, “Son, behold thy mother; Woman, behold thy son!” (John 19:26,27) was a mandate to her to care for us, that she may help us through her prayers. While to us (as we were represented by St. John) we should honor her— not as we honor or pay God our devotion rather to live her examples. Yet we honor her liturgically, we best honor her by emulating her life and upholding her legacy of humility and obedience to God.

Let us pray,

Our Father in heaven,
We praise You for Your great mercy.

Thank You for the gift of salvation
through Your Son Jesus Christ.

Thank You, Lord Jesus
for Your great love for us
for saving us by Your
death and resurrection.

Thank You for giving us
Your mother, Mary,
to be our own mother;
to be our model of humility
and obedience; of the virtuous life.

Mama Mary, help us by your prayers.
Intercede for us in our necessities
and inspire us by your examples.
Encourage us to know Jesus better
that we may walk by His teachings.
May we bear in mind always,
“To do whatever you Son tells us to do.”

We pray in the Name of Jesus,
our Lord and Savior.
Amen.

O, Mary, conceived without sin,
Pray for us who have recourse to thee!

THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER

Lord, I believe in You; increase my faith.
I trust in You; strengthen my trust.
I love You; let me love You more and more.
I am sorry for my sins; deepen my sorrow.

I worship You as my first beginning.
I long for You as my last end.
I praise You as my constant helper,
and call You as my loving protector.

Guide me by Your wisdom,
correct me with Your justice,
comfort me with Your mercy,
protect me with Your power.

I offer You, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on You;
My words: to have You for their theme;
My actions: to reflect my love for You;
My sufferings: to be endured for Your greater glory.

I want to do what You ask of me: in the way You ask,
For as long as You ask, because You ask it.

Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will,
purify my heart, and make me holy.

Help me to repent of my past sins and
to resist temptation in the future.
Help me to rise above my human weakness
and to grow stronger as a Christian.

Let me love You, my Lord and my God,
and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world,
a Christian called to respect and love all
whose lives I touch, those in authority over me
or those under my authority, my friends and enemies.

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,
greed by generosity, apathy by fervor.
Help me to forget myself and reach out towards others.

Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks.
Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.

Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer, temperate in food
And drink, diligent in my work, firm in my good intentions.

Let my conscience to be clear, my conduct without fault,
my speech blameless, my life well-ordered.

Put me on guard against my human weaknesses.
Let me cherish You love for me, keep Your law,
and come at last to Your salvation.

Teach me to realize that this world is passing,
that my future is the happiness of heaven, that life
on earth is short, and the life to come eternal.

Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment,
but a greater trust in Your goodness.
Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven.

Grant these through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

- Pope Clement XI

SHARING COMMON HUMANITY IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY

The aftermath of last Monday’s tragic hostage crisis has greatly altered the lives of those who were involved or has taken part in this hapless incident. The innocent victims and their families; the authorities and law enforces; the media people and us who have witnessed in horror whether from the actual site or from our television or radio, we each have been unwilling participants to this incident. Nobody among us wanted such incident to happen and how we wished it was resolved peacefully without anyone, including the hostage-taker, being killed. None of us condones such violent means to demand justice. Yet we may occasionally experience socio-political upheaval or endure geographical, ethnical or cultural divide, it has been shown from our history that we advocate peaceful resolution to every conflict. Moreover, we believe in the rule of law and adhere to the highest ideals of democracy. We never had anything in our culture that espouses intolerance or may indicate prejudice of people from other demography even when we were often the victims of such bigotry.

There is no doubt about the pain being experienced by the families of each victim and the outburst of sympathy being shared by every Hong Kong citizen. We are one in their grief. We mourn the lost of the lives of the people who had visited our island and had become our friends. How we wish they could return and share with us moments of fun and relaxation once again. But their tragic visit shall haunt us. We can only hope that our peoples can look beyond the hurt and move-on. Let us look not to each other as to our race, citizenship, gender or creed rather to our common humanity. We can celebrate life again. Together we can revel as we discover the unfolding of the beauty of our respective lands and cultures. We shall wait for the storm in our relations today to pave way to a brighter tomorrow with greater understanding and mutual trust.

For now, we honor the grieving and the memory of the innocent victims. We offer our sympathies and learn from whatever lesson this tragedy has taught us.

May Almighty God have mercy on us all and in His divine grace may we find consolation, enlightenment and peace of heart.

LIFE'S MOST

We oftentimes hear the word “extreme” nowadays. We hear or experience extreme sports, extreme adventure or living to the extreme. Today’s generation demands so much from life. Nothing can contain us but the best, the biggest, the most. These are the modern reality that clamors for the ultimate quest in life.

The ultimate quest in life is to live it to the fullest. There is an instinctual need for us to be the best or to get the most out of what this world could offer. With all the ‘superlatives’ that are within our reach we wonder why we had to gain everything and in the end lose everything.

You may work to get to the summit of success in your career; prove to be the greatest and biggest among the lot and strive to have the largest of anything or the most expensive. You may reach the pinnacle of fame and fortune yet feel like an empty bottomless-glass waiting to be filled to the brim but never does.

It is commendable to labor for fame and fortune. Afterall, it is what makes our world go round. Whatever good they serve however will not suffice for anyone to claim a full life. These alone shall not give the meaning we seek in the process of achieving and succeeding.

I am sharing the following piece as a reminder to what constitute a full life. I lost the source or who wrote it but its’ not important. Whoever wrote this discovered the most essential ‘superlatives’ in life. I’ve been too redundant for words here but I hope you got the message.

THE GREATEST

The greatest handicapped: FEAR
The best day: TODAY
The best therapy: HUMOR
The easiest thing to do: FIND A FAULT
The most useless asset: PRIDE
The greatest mistake: GIVING UP
The greatest stumbling block: EGOTISM
The greatest comfort: WORK WELL DONE
The most disagreeable person: THE COMPLAINER
The worst bankruptcy: LOSS OF INTHUSIASM
The worst disease: ENVY
The greatest need: COMMON SENSE
The meanest feeling: REGRET AT ANOTHER’S SUCCESS
The best gift: FORGIVENESS
The greatest moment: DEATH
The greatest personal asset: CHOICE
The greatest knowledge: GOD
The greatest thing in the world: LOVE
The answer to everything: FAITH

SAINT DOMINIC DE GUZMAN: DEFENDER OF THE FAITH AND PARAGON OF CHARITY

Today is the 8th of August, the feast day of St. Dominic de Guzman. He is one of my favorite saints because of his close affinity with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Rosary.

Dominic (Domingo in Spanish) was born in Spain, in the town of Caleruega, in 1170, to Juana de Aza and Felix Guzman. At the age of seven, he was trained by a priest, who is also his uncle, in the clerical studies and the service of the altar. At fourteen, he was sent to the University of Palencia, the center of learning for the Kingdom of Leon. Moved with compassion, he sold his precious books for the relief of war refugees who were homeless and without resources. He said, “How can I study from dead skins when living men are starving?”

In 1193, Dominic was ordained priest. Aware of the dangers posed by the Albigensian heresy he founded the Order of Preachers (popularly known as the Dominicans) the purpose of which is preaching for the salvation of souls. He envisioned a group of apostolic men who live in common, profess the evangelical counsels (poverty, obedience and chastity), fervently celebrate the Holy Eucharist, study assiduously, persevere in regular observances, and preach the Good News of Salvation.

Consumed by his ardent love for God and neighbor, Dominic died in Bologna on the 6th of August, in the year of our Lord 1221 at the age of 51. He was elevated to the altars of the church in 1234 when he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX.

Legend has it that the Holy Rosary was given and taught to Dominic by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself in an apparition. This belief may have inspired the Dominicans throughout the ages to propagate the Rosary as the most popular Catholic devotional practice next only to the Holy Mass.

Saint Dominic, Pray for us!

NO TIME TO PRAY

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do…
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills wound soon be due…

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer
And jumped up off my knees…
My Christian duty now was done
My soul could be at ease…

All day long I had no time
To spend a word of cheer…
No time to speak of Christ to friends
They’d laugh at me I feared…

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry.
No time to give to sols in need
But at last it was time,
The time to die…

I went before the Lord,
I came and stood
With downcast eyes…
For in His hands God held a book;
It was the book of life…

God looked into His book
And said, “Your name I cannot find…
I once was going to write it down…
But never found the time.”

- Adapted –

Prayer is the most essential practice of our faith. It is the act foremost to connect with the Almighty God. Anyone professing his belief in God but does not pray betrays the faith.

Prayer is an act of the will. It is not a matter of finding the time to pray but whether do you want to pray. To find ourselves too busy to pray stems from our limited notion that prayer has to take too much time and effort. We may find ourselves in quandary thinking about the seemingly sophisticated ways of praying taught to us by the church. Yet we miss the whole idea that God hears even the simplest prayer, prayed in earnest. Thus, time is not the essence of prayer, it is faith.

We who are consumed in the bonfires of the vanities see time as a tyrant. We constantly watch time ticking-away. We count the minutes, hours, days, months and years as we strive towards an unending quest for what this world can offer. We are deceived by the belief that the wisest investments are those in stocks, bank notes and real estate that grow overtime. Yet because of these ambitions, we are constantly frightened by the fact that we have so little control over our own lives. Lest it too late, we shall find ourselves possessed by those we possess.

For God however time is but a tiny drop of vapor that appears in an instant and then gone. The true and lasting investments are those invested in times of prayer and contemplation. And the real wealth is in our faith. The times of prayer are treasured opportunity to experience the unique and rich relationship that anyone shares with God. Prayer brings in enlightenment in times of confusion and wisdom that carries us through the most difficult moments.

When we do our obligation to pray, we do so out of faith and love for God. It is when we feel uninspired; when we find it too tiring or when we are loosing faith that we should pray even more. These are the perfect time to tell God what’s in our heart. Oftentimes, we don’t even need to voice out our prayers especially when we are lost for words. It is in these time when we let our spirit soar to meet the Divine and express the yearnings of our heart.

There is nothing complicated about prayer only if we acknowledge that it is the most natural thing to do; an act necessary to our temporal existence and essential to our passage to eternal life.

Hence, even in the midst of our busy life, anytime should be prayer time. It has to be integrated in our lifestyle. God gave us time, we should offer it back to Him.

IN GOD WE TRUST

As a new administration assumes office of the Philippine government, new set of promises are made to better the life of every citizen of this land. Yet, these promises sound the same as the previous promises done in the past twenty four years; promises that never realized. Thus, the hopes and dreams of national prosperity remain elusive.

Broken promises made are perhaps one of the hardest to accept. One feels rejected, abandoned or betrayed. The scar left by such experience are deep that oftentimes results to hopelessness and distrust for those who broke their promises.

Despite our distrust of politicians, in God we trust. The Filipinos had remained steadfast hoping and dreaming for true change that someday shall usher in a more just and healthy society. Our faith comforts us that “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)

In God we trust as we hang on to his promises for our beloved country, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

It is unfortunate however that at sudden moments of crisis, we tend to almost lose faith in the Words of God. We oftentimes do not see the hands of the Almighty working in our lives because we base our assumptions of His faithfulness on prevailing circumstances alone. We have delimited His power as if we can use at our own disposal. Yet He said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, said the Lord. For as the heaven is higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not here, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that go forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:8-11)

Furthermore, we tend to expect God to work on our own time. Yet we have to realize that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

“Therefore say unto them, thus said the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged anymore, but the word which I have spoken shall be done.” (Ezekiel 12:28)

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:3).

“To whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.” (Jeremiah 1:2).

“The grass wither, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” (Isaiah 40:8).

“He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.” (Psalm 105:8).

“Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, whish he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.” (I Kings 8:56).

It took 40 years until the Lord’s promise to the Israelites came true when they finally had the land of their own. For most of us, it is a long time. But God has to prepare His people for the life they will lead in the “promise land”. Those who doubted, questioned or became impatient of the Lord weren’t able to enter the land that included Moses to whom God entrusted the leadership of His people.

Thus, despite the broken promises of politicians and government authorities who failed us and betrayed our confidence, there is a God who will never fail us. We keep on trusting Him in the midst of uncertainty, anxiety and seeming hopelessness as we hang on to His Words knowing He is faithful to every promise He makes to us. Therefore, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.” (Hebrews 10:23) If we do, truly in God we trust!

Let us pray,

O God Almighty,
You are the Lord of our land and King of our people.
Reign in the hearts of our leaders that they may be
Your instruments of change for a better country.

Give us the grace to trust You more and more
especially in times of great crisis.
Shield the fragility of our spirits in time of
natural calamities and disasters due to our faults.

Teach us to work together for national unity
and progress; that each citizen may fulfill every
lawful responsibility to bring about a just and
moral society.

And that peace may reign upon our land where in
Your hands we entrust our destiny.

With full trust and confidence, we humbly pray
through the Name of Jesus, Our Lord together with
the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for peace in the Philippines.

San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, Pray for the Filipino people.

Blessed Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, Pray for the Filipino people.

Blessed Pedro Calungsod, Pray for the Filipino people.

THE GREATEST BLESSING LIFE CAN BRING

THE GREATEST BLESSING LIFE CAN BRING
By Amanda Bradley

Father, let me always
have the special kind of faith
that will guide me day by day
and year by year.

Let me know the peace of mind
that comes from trusting You,
that shelters me from doubt
and want and fear.

Let me live a thoughtful life
that’s pleasing in Your sight,
a balanced life of work and play
and rest.

Let me use Your gifts to me
to always do what’s right
and help me grow to be my very best.

Father, let me turn to You
for guidance, strength and love,
and let me see the good in everything.

Please help me to remember
that as long as I have You,
I have the greatest blessing life
can bring.

GUIDE ME, OH LORD

Guide me, Oh Lord
That I may learn to fold
The wings of pride so bold
That I may learn to unfold
The wings of humility, Oh Lord.

Guide me, Oh Lord
That I may be accord
In thought, in deed, in word
All and everything on record
In Thy Kingdom and in Thy Court.

Guide me, Oh Lord
That when my time is ruled
And I am being called
I may enter Thy Court
Holding on to Thy Word.

THE NETHERLANDS VS SPAIN: HISTORIC BATTLE FOR THE FAITH

The Dutch and the Spaniards battle it out for soccer supremacy in the 2010 FIFA World Cup today. Although the Philippines is not a participant, since soccer is not a popular sport here, some Filipino sports enthusiast won’t pass on the chance to take a piece of the action or at least the hype as the world watches the battle from Johannesberg, South Africa.

The Dutch and the Spaniards had fought each other in some other time and circumstances in history. The rivalry was beyond sports or anything to do with ‘friendly competition’. In fact it was a bitter battle for conquest and dominion. It was a war story woven with the tale of faith. And it happened here in the Philippines.

In 1646, when the Philippines was still under the colonial rule of Spain, fifteen Dutch armed-strong fleet battled against two Spanish galleons in five naval encounters, known in history as the “Battles of La Naval.”

The attacks couldn’t have happened in more strategic timing when Manila was devastated by an earthquake in November the previous year. Moreover, it was part of the Spanish-Dutch War (1568-1648) which reached even the colonies in Southeast Asia. While the Philippines was then under Catholic Spain, Formosa (now Taiwan) and Indonesia were under the Dutch Protestants. In fact, preparations for the invasion were done in Indonesia.

The age of glory and faith went in hand with the perils of rivalry and envy. In the wide world, Catholic Spain had rivals and foes to contest her power; even destroy her mission to evangelize and civilize her land discoveries. Such were the Dutch and English privateers who were not only after the richness of the Philippine archipelago but also eager to supplant Catholicism with Dutch Protestant Calvinism. It was the age of galleon trade under the emblem of the cross and of Spain versus the age of the heretics with the banner of the skull and bones.

One such marauder, followers of Drake and Cavendish, sailed into Philippines waters and on March 15, 1646, a Dutch frigate fleet of five threatened Manila. Two Spanish galleons, veterans of the Acapulco trade, were hastily readied and sent out to defend the city. These sallied forth to meet the enemy, “trusting more to win by spiritual weapons than weapons of war.” The Spanish soldiers, religious and Filipinos among the crew, in one galleon named Almiranta (later named Nuestra Señora de la Encarnacion), prayed the holy rosary on their knees, trusting that they shall succeed against the enemy.

The enemy was sighted off the coast of Bolinao, Pangasinan and was engaged in battle from three to seven in the evening. The two galleons, the Almiranta and Capitana (later named Nuestra Señora del Rosario), valiantly fought with four Dutch fleet. It was two Spanish galleons against four of the Dutch. After a fierce artillery fight, the enemy fled with lights in their ship decks put off to avoid pursuit. The Almiranta was damaged but with only two casualties.

On July 29, the second battle was fought between Baton Island and Marinduque. The two bulky galleons in their patrols met seven enemy frigates, well-armed with superior artillery, manned by some 800 men. It was two galleons of the Spaniards versus seven of the Dutch. The chronicles of these events relate that the “battle was one of the fiercest and bloodiest lasting from seven in the evening till four at dawn—at which time, seeing how grievously maltreated their ships were and one on fire, they did retreat and seek shelter, and would not give battle though we called them to it.”

The chroniclers wrote that before the start of this battle, Fr. Juan de Cuenca, O.P., the chaplain of the Capitana, encouraged the soldiers and crew by saying that theirs shall be the victory. The armada’s commanding general, in a loud voice, made a vow that they promised to the blessed Virgin to go barefoot on pilgrimage to her shrine in the Dominican church and celebrate a special feast for her in thanksgiving for the victory they were seeking through her intercession. The same vow was made by the admiral of the other galleon.

Two days later, the enemy reappeared with six well-armed frigates between Mindoro and the island of Maestro de Campo. It was two of the Spaniards against six of the Dutch. The bloody encounter lasted from high noon to the Angelus (six in the evening) of July 31, 1646.

When the smoke of battle cleared up, they saw the Dutch fleet beating a hasty retreat abandoning one crippled ship and losing one. No casualty was reported in the two Spanish galleons. “And our armada,” the chronicles continued, “acclaimed that victory as miraculous and attributed it to our Lady, saying that she herself had fought and not men.” According to testimonies that the soldiers were shouting during the battle crying: “Viva la fe de Cristo! Viva la Virgen del Rosario!”

Hardly had the two galleons been repaired and refurbished when news came that a fresh Dutch fleet was nearing Mariveles. The galleons once again set to grapple with the superior enemy force. For ten hours on September 24, 1646, this fourth battle was bitterly fought between Ambil and Lubang islands near the coast of Batangas. And “seeing themselves hard pressed, the enemy escaped and took flight as our ships pursued and give fire still, though one, our Capitana, had been hit in the side and was feared for and yet it did not sink.” Seven men on the defenders’ side gave their lives for the victory.

On October 3, while one of the galleons was on patrol off Mariveles and the Almiranta undergoing repairs in nearby Cavite, three of the Dutch frigates returned to the scene of their last defeat and engaged the lone galleon. It was one Spanish galleon versus three of the Dutch.

The written testimonies say that the enemy “surrounded and fiercely set on her and fired on so close that there was long a danger of their boarding the ship. But our men, calling on God and our blessed lady, rose to the contest in such a way that they inflicted a woeful destruction among the enemy, and totally destroyed one ship and scattered the others which fleeting were met and severely punished by the ship “Galera” sent to our aid.”

There were only four casualties, Filipinos among them, in that fifth and final naval battle. Only fifteen men, in fact, had been lost by the defenders in all five encounters.

As Filipinos and as devotees of our Lady, we wonder: What would have become of our faith if the Dutch had prevailed? What impact did La Naval have in Philippine history?

Let the late National Artist for Literature and chronicler of La Naval, Nick Joaquin, answer these in his book Manila, My Manila:

“Imagine the Philippines as part of Indonesia! That seems incredible today— but it’s a might-has-been of our history. There was a time in the 17th century when our fate hung in the balance. Had events gone the other way, there might have been no Philippines at all.”

After these historic battles, the Dutch indeed no longer threatened the sovereignty of these islands by annexing it to the Dutch East Indies comprising then the Malayan archipelago. And never again was Catholicism threatened by Calvin’s Protestant followers in this part of the world.

With this answer I am sure you will feel a sense of national pride, also of humility and profound gratitude to God through the intercession of our Lady for keeping us sovereign and free.

VIVA LA VIRGEN DE MANILA!

And yes, the Spaniards was victorious versus the Dutch claiming its first World Cup title shortly before this was posted.

VIVA ESPAÑA!

(simultaneously posted on http://danflame.blogspot.com)

THE POWER OF PRAYER

When things go wrong and the roads are rough;
When you feel like quitting ‘cause you’ve had enough;
When problems seem endless and no hope is in sight;
When all that you do turn out wrong and not right;
When you think no one else is worse off than you are;
When you feel no one’s as pitiful as you by far;
Take a moment to pray, ask for our Father’s advise.
You’ll soon understand better as you realized.
It could be so much worse and then you start to see.
Things aren’t as bad as they appear to be.
You’ve got a roof over your head and shoes on your feet.
While many are homeless, they live in the streets.
You’ve got food you can eat, and clothing you can wear.
While others are starving, their bodies are bare.
You’ve got friends and a loving family with much love to give.
While many alone and wonder why they still have to live.
You can see. You can hear. You can shout. You can talk.
While others are blind, they are mute, they can’t walk.
Just remember those things you’ve forgotten about.
Remember the people you can’t live without.
You may suddenly realize as these thoughts enter your mind.
It gets easier to leave your troubles behind.
So next time something that you should never forget.
Your Father has blessed you in generous ways.
He’s always beside you, you need simply to pray.
He’ll open your eyes when life doesn’t seem fair.
He’ll show you the way. He’ll make you aware.
Just ask for His guidance. Don’t worry He’ll hear.
Your problems will start to disappear.
Just don’t lose your faith. Don’t give up.
Know He’s always there and don’t ever underestimate,
the power of prayer.

- Adapted -

AND GOD SAID, “NO”

Dedicated to Eleanor M. Vargas-Dondero M.D.

I was rummaging over old notebooks the other day for something to write about. Until, I stumbled on the following piece that brought back a bitter-sweet memory of my days as a medical student. It is entitled And God Said “No” by Claudia Minden Weisz. Here it is:

I asked God to take away my pride. And God said, “No.”
He said it was not for Him to take away but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. And God said, “No.”
He said her spirit is whole, her body temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. And God said, “No.”
He said that patience is a by product of tribulation; it isn’t granted. It is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. And God said, “No.”
He said He gives me blessings; happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain. And God said “No.”
He said, “Suffering draws you apart from wordly cares and bring you close to Me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said, “No.”
He said I must grow on my own. But He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God if He loves me. And God said, “Yes.”
He gave me His only Son who died for me and I will be in heaven someday because I believe.

I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me.
And God said, “Ah, finally you have the idea!”

Upon reading this piece of fine writing, I thought about how often we may have misunderstood God. Aside from the acceptance of God’s will, it is most certain that the other great challenge we each face in our prayer life is the determination of what is God’s will. We could endlessly ask God for anything but if it wasn’t His will, it shall never be granted. If it is however allowed by Him (take note: allowed not granted) chances are it will not be good for us, yet he permit that as to reveal to us a specific message or teach us a lesson.

Our prayers oftentimes demands of God to give what we want and not what we need. While we believe that He knows better and provide for our necessities even before we ever ask, we tend to forget that we have an actual role in order for us to receive what we need. Even if we believe that “nothing is impossible to God”- (Luke 1:37), we are aware that our temporal needs just don’t materialize in mystical fashion nowadays, such as the manna (see Exodus 16) from heaven. Miracles, or any acts that defy the laws of nature, are exclusively divine prerogative. Yet God may sometimes work in spectacular ways (such those revealed in scriptures or unscientific healings), His will are mostly carried-out in discreet manner; revealed through ordinary occurrences that can only be seen through the ‘eyes of faith’.

There are times in our life when God seems so distant. It is when He seems deaf to our prayers that we tend to doubt or get frustrated of Him. Only to realize that He had a better option for us than what we ask of Him.

Looking back during my medical studies, it was when I experienced the most difficult time of my young-adult life. It was a time of tremendous family and personal crisis. I could have given up on my studies sooner, primarily because of financial constraints; add to the burden of my father’s terminal illness. Moreover, I struggled through personal indecision to discontinue since I am not inclined to be a doctor, or to keep on pleasing my father who wanted me to be one.

In the midst of the personal chaos and struggles I experienced, I prayed to God for a way out. I had often, in desperation, cried to Him for help. Yet He seems to keep me there forever. But I later realized that He did so because He had a greater purpose for doing so.

To make a long story short, I eventually dropped-out of medical school and my father passed away but not before he came to terms with my decision. At this point, it seems meaningless that after going through the rigors, nothing substantial came out of my experience. You may wonder what had been God’s purpose for keeping me longer in med-school if He didn’t make me finish the course. The answer is written above.

The above writing, And God said “No”, was shared to me by a friend. Simple gestures such as this gave me reassurance and encouragement during those times. You see, it was during these most trying times that I was able to established meaningful friendships. In the midst of the bitter memories are the sweet ones with friends. I shall never forget the camaraderie, the acceptance and mutual understanding that I experienced with each of them. Indeed, according to an old adage, “True friendships are tested not in prosperity but in adversity.” I have no regret over my decision to quit since it was inevitable. I moved on however with greater courage because of the support and concern of those I’ve been with. Because of them I became emotionally stronger. I then came to realize that God never did abandon me. He was there with me all along, in each of the people who cared, shared of themselves and treated me with respect. I now learned that whatever God’s response to our prayers, “yes” or “no”, are for our greater good. And He does so for the love of each of us.

God indeed work in mysterious ways. He does reveal Himself to us constantly. And He does speak to us in the events of daily life. We just have to learn to fully trust Him. His response to our prayers might be always a “No”, but by keeping our heart open to His will, we’ll discover that it was an open-ended statement which is followed by His explanation that can only be understood by faith. Only then can we make sense of our faith in Him and fully appreciate His wonderful and loving kindness to us all.

God our Father,
Thank You for ever replying to my prayers.
Even with a “No”, I have faith that
You know what is better for me.
Teach me to submit always to Your will.
Grant me to wait constantly for You as
I let You work on my prayers in Your own
perfect time.

Bless my friends wherever they may be.
Keep them safe and their families joyful.
Help them be successful in their endeavors.
While we go about our respective lives,
let us continue to keep the fires of friendship burning.
And that we may be blessed by one another’s presence.

I pray for the others who have helped or supported me
in any way they could and may each one of them
continue to bear Your countenance among those
who are earnestly seeking You.

I ask for Your constant protection and grant us
the graces that we need to fulfill our life’s purpose.
I ask these by the Name of Jesus, our Lord, Savior
and King of our lives. Amen.

Mary, Help of Christians,
Pray for us!

THE BEST BIRTHDAY IS WITH GOD

“Lord— I, because of your abundant kindness, will enter your house; I will worship at your holy temple in fear of you, O Lord.” – Psalm 5:8

It is certain that among the birthday traditions that almost every Filipino keep is to go to church. Just ask any birthday celebrant, most likely, going to church shall be among the ways to celebrate one’s natal day. Even among ‘non-practicing’ Catholics, who seldom go to Sunday Mass, will do so during their birthday.

For whatever reason: folk religiosity, superstition or sentimentality, we have one purpose in coming to church on our birthday— and that is to pray. Most pray in gratitude for the life given by God. More pray for particular wishes to come true. Others ask for guidance, direction or necessities. And some simply wonder to God if they had a real purpose for being born in this world.

We may not readily show how special we feel on our birthday but we have to admit that a sense of profoundness pervades, almost a religious experience, on this day. No matter how modest we are in keeping the celebration as simple as possible, we feel this day is extra-ordinary. No other day throughout the year can be personally pertinent as this day. So, it is but fitting to spend it with the One Who caused this day to happen— God.

“Thy hands have made me and fashioned me.” (Psalm 119:73) is a reiteration that God is our Creator. Hence, nothing can be more appropriate to celebrate one’s birthday but to give thanks to Him who is the giver of life and the best provider of our necessities because He knew what we need even before we ask.

God said, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.” (Jeremiah 1:5) Then Jesus said, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7) God is our very beginning. He knew us better than we know ourselves. Thus, we have to continually come back to Him to pay Him homage and to express our ever dependence on Him even in the midst of human achievements.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Whenever we are in doubt or anxious about what lies ahead after each birthday, how comforting it is that He is there to guide our path and steer our direction, if only we will let Him.

We are indeed born into this world with a specific purpose. We had faith that tells us we are not here by accident. Even in the most unexpected circumstances surrounding a person’s birth, such as being born out of wedlock or with handicap, God had a pre-ordained plan to let such things happen. Even in the most tragic moments or when “bad things happen”, God allows them for a purpose greater than what any human perception could ever conceive of.

Kelly Jeppesen said, "What you are is God's gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift back to God." God had given us the best gift on our birthday— life. It is up to us to make something out of this gift. How we live our life shall determine how we value this precious gift. We are responsible for this gift. We are to use it for the glory of the One who gave it. Someday when our earthly journey has finally come to an end, we will be face to face with God, and hopefully after thorough perusal of our life, He shall say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master's happiness!"- (Matthew 25:23)

As I celebrate another birthday today, I come to church in prayer with a heart full of gratitude, a soul yearning for mercy and a spirit filled with hope. And I pray to God to grant whatever wish I have as long as it is according to His will. I acknowledge my own powerless will against Him, even if He believes I can do something great from the life He gave me. Without Him I could do nothing. But with Him I could do everything. Only in these terms could anyone’s best birthday possible and to be able to look ahead with much faith because it is with the Lord.

The following prayer was adapted from ‘Presence: Prayer for Busy People’ (Copyright 1991 by St. Paul Publications, Makati City, Philippines), however, they may as well be my own words since it expresses the same sentiment and aspiration I have as I pray today.

+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for giving me another year of life.
I thank You for all the people who remembered me today;
for all my achievements and all the friends You have given
me during the past year.

I thank You for all the experiences, the successes and
happy memories; for times of failure which reminded me
of my own weaknesses and of my need for you;
for times of joy when the sun was shining;
for times of sorrow which drove me to You.

Forgive me, Lord, for the hours I have wasted; for the
chances I failed to take; for the opportunities I missed in
the past year.

Forgive me that I did not use my talents and abilities to
the fullest because I was lazy and wanted things the easy way,
or I did not completely trust in Your support.

Help me in the days that lies ahead to make this coming year
better than last year and closer to You, my Lord.
Amen.

TODAY IS THE FEAST OF OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP

Mary, the Mother of Jesus is called Our Lady of Perpetual Help because she prays for and helps all the children of God, especially those who ask for her assistance. The icon honoring her under this title was painted between the 14th and 15th century in Crete by an unknown artist. Now it is enshrined in the Church of St. Alphonsus Ligouri in Rome.

Mary is depicted holding her Divine Son, a child of two or three, in her left hand, while he clasps her other hand in his. The archangels Michael and Gabriel appear before them, carrying the instruments of the Passion of Jesus. With anguish the child gazes on the signs of his future suffering and death. To indicate the child startled with fear, the artist painted his sandal falling from his foot. In Greek characters are the abbreviated names of the four figures in the icon, Jesus Christ, Mary, the angels Michael and Gabriel.

The icon is a portrayal of the Passion of Jesus. Mary is His mother who will stand by Him in this mystery.

The title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help signifies Mary’s readiness to stand by all those who suffer. In the holy icon, she is pictured with her face turned not to Jesus, but to all those who gaze on the picture. Even though she is deeply saddened by the vision of Jesus’ eventual Passion, she turns with sympathy to all the children of the earth.

We believe she turns to all of us when we call on her in our troubles and sorrows. Her care never ends; it is a perpetual care.

For centuries, the picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help has inspired Christians everywhere. Today Mary, the Mother of Jesus, still offers us her help and her love by praying with us to her Son.


Let us pray,

+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Come to my aid, O God.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of all good gifts,
I come before You to honor You in Your saints and to ask their help in my needs.
You promised those who ask would receive. Those who seek would find. Those who knock would have doors open to them. Hear the prayers of Your church. Grant my requests (mention your request here) and pardon my sins.
Amen.

Mary, Mother of Jesus, you were no stranger to suffering for you stood at the foot of the cross of Jesus your Son. And in that hour of total darkness, when your heart was pierced by the terrifying sight of your Son dying in agony, you entered into His suffering and made it your own.

Through your union with Jesus, give us new courage and hope before total darkness and despair. I come seeking your help and ask you to obtain my request (mention your request here). Grant us the grace to unite our sufferings with Jesus.

Loving Mother of our Redeemer, assist your people who cry out to you for help in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

(Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be)

L: We sinners call to you,
R: Loving mother help us!

L: Our Mother of Perpetual Help
R: Pray for us!

FATHERHOOD: THE EMBODIMENT OF MASCULINITY AND MORALITY

The major dilemma of us single males in middle age are the pressures we get from society. Not unless any among us is brave enough to ‘come-out’ about his sexual orientation, he will be constantly questioned why he is not yet married or at least have a child of his own.

Not once during family gatherings was I asked about why I remained single. One relative, an evangelical pastor, even insinuated that my taking care of other children not my own such as nieces and nephews or adopt orphans are not good enough; that I have to sire my own from the “fruits of my loin” to please the Creator. Even in this time and age, I never disregard the words of God saying, “Go bear fruit and multiply” (Genesis 1:28), but I never knew God to be so demanding as how he suggested. Moreover, he made it sound as if God is a bigot! It was audacious of him to say what in my life is pleasing to God or not. While we are related, we are not close enough to know each other. So, what does he know about what and who I am? Only God knows and He be my judge.

Our culture indeed dictates that fatherhood is the ultimate expression of masculinity. It is a common notion that not until a man had sired a child, he is not fully a man. A man is regarded macho only when he was able to bring to the world, so to speak, the “fruit of his loins”. The measure of his virility is somehow proportionate to the number of children he has. Furthermore, nothing can be more virile than a man fathering from several womb.

I am not against all those who had children by more than one woman. Probably among us may have by some warranted circumstances. Neither I am against having so much children. Children afterall are blessings of the Lord. It is rather engaging in such, driven only by manly proclivities.

In some instances the masculine allure of fathers exudes. A certain sexiness may attract women to men who are father figure. Oftentimes the attraction is not physical but the profound sense of security and tender notion are what draws women to some fathers. How strange it is for a woman to want a man, married with children, that what attract her to him are the same reasons that keeps them apart.

The males as species are inherently competitive, particularly in their expression of sexuality. Yet we have evolved through the ages, certain traits remain to guarantee the survival of the race. Such are the attitudes toward procreation. Yet there may be some truth to these, it is unfortunate that we stop at this notion and disregard the true reason for fatherhood as it is ordained by the Creator.

Nowadays however we were able to integrate the primitive instinct with the values of character that defines modern fatherhood. We were able to view it in terms beyond biological but also include the moral and ethical aspects of being a man.

Virtue, its root vir is from the word virility; meaning pure; signify strength of character not of machismo. I was surprise to learn about this because I often associate this word as feminine as in the word virgin. This apparently indicates that there is a moral quality to being a man. This is what distinguishes us from the other species. There is more to masculinity than what the male ego has perceived it to be.

Jesus said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and make himself the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) He told these to his disciples as a response to their bickering about whom among them is the greatest. This was a radical teaching during that time since Jewish society was predominantly patriarchal. As it is now, men will try to outdo each other in every endeavor. Whether it is in physical agility, intellectual capacity or spiritual aptitude, a man will long to prove that he is cut above the rest. And prove he is ‘bigger’, ‘larger’ or ‘better’ than other men.

But the greater competition any man will have to face is not against other men but his self. To face the challenges of fatherhood can be overwhelming yet may also be a frightening experience. While he may be socially proud, expectation of him to do his responsibility can be too much particularly among those who weren’t prepared for it.

Most abortions are consummated by the instigation of men who were not prepared or reluctant to take the responsibility of fatherhood. Most women who had an abortion will attest that they were forced to do it because their men demanded they did. Any man who is not man enough to face his responsibility is nothing but a miserable coward. He is willing to extinguish a helpless being, moreover of his own flesh, just to escape the demands of being a father.

Then Jesus took a little child, set him in the midst of them, and putting His arms around him said to them, “Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my Name, welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me, welcomes not Me but he One who sent Me.” (Mark 9:37)

With these words, we must realize that every child that comes in our midst has to be welcomed because they are of God. To terminate the life of the unborn go against the moral fiber of any society. Hence, every father’s refusal to take responsibility is a refusal of life itself.

Fatherhood indeed is a stamp of a man’s masculinity not because of this biological or sexual capacity but his ability to integrate the manly demands of society with his personal values ingrained in his moral core. While he may be proud of his status, he is ever mindful of his parental responsibility.

To be masculine is to be moral. A genuine man is the one who upholds the sanctity of life and is fully committed to it. To be fully a man, one has to be brave enough to face the challenges of fatherhood. And the best father is the one who is dedicated to his role. A man’s virility is measured not by how sexually adept he is but how virtuous and truthful he lives according to God’s tenets.

To those of you fathers who have read this blog:

My prayer is for you be the best father that you can every be. May God, our Father, abide with you in your parental endeavors and aspirations! Keep up the good work!

Yours in Christ,

DJ FLAME

A FATHER’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for sharing with me the blessings of fatherhood.
I offer back to You all the glory from my being a father
for You are the greatest Father of us all.

Inspire me by Your love that I may become a better father.
Teach me how to understand my children, to listen patiently
to what they have to say, and to answer all their questions
kindly.

Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them.
Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me.
Forbid that I should ever laugh at their mistakes or resort

to shame or ridicule when they displease me.

May I never punish them for my own selfish satisfaction or to show my power.
Let me not temp my children to lie or steal and guide me hour by hour that
I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness.

Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me.
And when I am out of sorts, help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue.
May I ever be mindful that my children are children and

I should not expect of them the judgment of adults.

Let me not rob them of the opportunity to make their own decisions.
Bless me with the bigness to grant them all their reasonable requests

and the courage to deny them privileges I know will do them harm.
Make me fair and just and kind, worthy to be loved and respected

and imitated by my children.

Amen.

I MET THE MASTER

I had walked life's way with an easy tread,
Had followed where comfort and pleasures led,
Until one day in a quiet place
I met the Master face to face.

With station and rank and wealth for my goal,
Much thought for my body, but none for my soul,
I had entered to win in life's mad race,
When I met the Master face to face.

I met Him, and knew Him and blushed to see
That His eyes full of sorrow, were fixed on me;
And I faltered and fell at His feet that day,
While my castles melted and vanished away.

Melted and vanished and in their place
Naught else did I see but the Masters face.
And I cried aloud, "Oh, make me meet
To follow the steps of Thy wounded feet."

My thought is now for the souls of men,
I have lost my life to find it again,
E'er since one day in a quite place
I met the Master face to face.

Author: Unknown

source: Speech Manual for Filipino High School Students (Volume I)
by Sr. Maria Reginalda Falca, O.P.

A PRAYER FOR THE PHILIPPINES

We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.

- Preamble of the Philippine Constitution

Let us pray,

God our merciful Father
You are always been good to us
We pray with one voice for our beloved country;
for our leaders and for every citizen.

Lord, this is the Philippines the land of our birth; the land that we love.
You made this land and gave it to us.
Thank You for our freedom and patrimony;
and for the abundant blessings we constantly receive as a nation.

Rule among our people so that we may never misuse these gifts
through selfishness and greed.
Rule through our leaders and guide them in ways of justice and peace.
Counsel them O God, and may fortitude abide with them that they may conduct
the affairs of man in accordance with Your divine will.
Grant them the wisdom to make decisions for the benefit of the population
and not for their personal interest.
May the government seek to reconcile power with the needs of society,
to foster nation building and usher in progress.

Grant O Lord, to every Filipino the gift of respect for lawful authority,
justly exercised, that we may live as a united people,
one nation under God.
Help each citizen to live up to civil obligations with a sense of pride,
patriotism and conviction.
Inspire in each of us a sense of devotion to every duty
and an urgency to serve.
May we each develop a sense of responsibility to care for one another;
Ever ready to share and cooperate for the good of our family,
our community and our country.

Help us to live in peace with one another and
preserve the unity of our nation.
We pray for lasting peace particularly in regions
plagued by insurgency and separatism.
Teach us how to work for harmony and understanding
amidst the ethnic, social, political and religious diversity.

Hold us in Your hands, Lord Jesus.
Light our paths, advise us in our doubts, strengthen us in our difficulties
Help us right our wrongs and mend our ways
Heal our wounds of divisiveness and console us in our afflictions

Be with us, as ever, during calamities and national tragedy.
Teach us to respect and protect the environment and our natural resources.
May we be one in our effort to conserve energy and
keep our respective areas clean and safe;

Come to our aid, Lord
Bless our endeavors that foster nation building.
Grant us the necessary grace to be dedicated in our quest
for progress and development.
And inspire each of us to share the talents and skills You
bestowed on us to be used for the common good.

May our nation strive to form bonds of unity between countries,
to support policies and actions that fosters global peace.
Keep us free from foreign invaders, imperialistic and facist agenda.
Let us live in harmony with the international community;
Upholding always the human rights and dignity of every nationality.

We pray for the safety of every Filipino traveler and
those in foreign lands away from their love ones to work.
Lighten the burden of our countrymen who are oppressed
or experiencing injustice in other lands;
Strengthen those who are away from their native land facing racial or
cultural bias and console those who are longing for home.

Hearken us, Lord, in love for the truth in one another.
Help us to be people who consistently walk with you,
and living life in Your righteousness.
Make us realize that we are called to spread the Good News
not only among our people but also throughout the world.
So let us grow in faith, in hope, in love to become Your
faithful witnesses.
Let Your holy will be done for us. We pray in Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for us!

San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, Pray for us!

Beato Pedro Calungsod, Pray for us!

Beata Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, Pray for us!