VOTERS’ PRAYER

God of our lives and of history,
we humbly beseech You to once again enlighten us voters
in this national and local elections,
to see through the political shroud of personality,
patronage and pay-offs.

Guide us in our responsible and critical choice of candidates
as we transcend the traditional politics of money, violence
and bribery.

Inspire and allow us to elect worthy men and women
who embody the spirit of true public service
in their moral consciousness.

Bless and inspire the candidates to enable them to ascertain
the value of government service as an instrument of social
transformation, development and maturity.
Instill in them the ideals of democracy whose cornerstone
is a government made for the people; of the people and
by the people.

Our dear mother Mary, embrace us with your maternal
Protection and care.
We pray that you would present to your dearly beloved
Son, Jesus, our supplication for honest, orderly, peaceful
and meaningful elections.
And may the Spirit of truth always reign in the hearts of
the Filipino electorate.

This we ask and implore through our Lord Jesus Christ,
in union with God the Father and the Holy Spirit,
One God for ever and ever. Amen.

NOVENA PRAYER FOR THE NINE DAYS PRECEEDING THE ELECTIONS

THE YEAR OF THE TWO HEARTS: THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AND THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

(Preliminary reflection, to prepare our minds and hearts for prayer.)

For several months now, we have been joining much earnest prayer to our efforts as Filipinos, citizens – Christian citizens – to help bring about a moral and spiritual renewal in our individual-, family-, and community- lives; in our social and political orders, toward true and profound reform in our society, as we prepare for the coming May 2010 local and national elections.

As the elections draw near, more intensely we pray to the Lord, to help us do our best to ensure that they be realized in good order, in full compliance of law; in conditions of genuine peace, in true freedom, and with ever growing political discipline and maturity on the part of our fellow citizens. Let us earnestly pray for this, knowing in faith how much we need God’s help and grace, that all this may come true.

To our prayer we must also join competent, persevering and hard work, unceasing watchfulness, that the electoral processes be carried out with total integrity from beginning to end, and that evil designs and purposes of those who may wish to disrupt, sabotage, break-up, or even nullify these processes may be prevented by the vigilance and courage of all Filipinos who cherish and defend truth, law, honesty, our true freedom and our cherished democracy. May the Lord Himself thwart the efforts of those with evil intentions.

May God be with us! May He lead us forward to a new and truly hope-filled chapter in our history as a people and a nation. May God lead us forward in hope.

NOVENA PRAYER

+ In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen. +

Father in heaven/ You wish us as Christians and citizens in our country/ to strive to participate with our people,/ fully and faithfully,/ toward building up a society and a nation/ whose social and political order is “founded on truth,/ guided by justice,/ realized in freedom,/ flowering in peace.” (Blessed John XXIII, Pacem in Terris)

You remind us in Scriptures,/ that “Unless the Lord build the city,/ they labor in vain who wish to raise it”;/ that not in personal lives alone,/ but in social and political strivings also,/ “Without Me, you can do nothing.”/ Without You, Lord,/ we can not/ deeply and lastingly/ bring to realization/ a true moral and spiritual renewal/ in our land.

We turn to You then, Lord,/ at this crucial time/ when our local and national elections are about to take place,/ and we beg You,/ for our people and our nation, and for ourselves:

that You may enlighten our minds/ and guide our consciences,/ ever to place the common good/ of our nation and our people,/ especially the good of those/ who are poor and have less in life,/ above all other lesser interests; that those we vote for/ will be those who will strive/ to serve our people’s interests,/ and not their own,/ above everything else;/ that they be those/ who will seek to make Your Will and Your Purposes/ truly present and operative/ in the governance of our society/ and in the working out/ of true solidarity and peace among our people;/ that they will be firmly dedicated/ to the true Christian “culture of life”;/ that they will never sacrifice truth and justice/ to the pursuit of gain and their narrow self-interest/ through lying, corruption and greed;

that You may purify the spirit/ in all those charged/ with the due realization of these elections,/ so that they will fulfill their tasks and duties/ in total obedience to the laws of our land,/ with complete integrity, honesty and transparency,/ seeking only that the will of our people/ and their free and rightful voice/ may truly express Your voice for us.

That the efforts of those/ who for their own interests/ seek to frustrate the full and honest exercise/ of our people’s right and duty/ in the electoral processes,/ be thoroughly thwarted/ by the vigilance, steadfastness and courage/ of those who will uphold,/ defend and guard our democracy/ and our democratic freedoms/ with conscience, integrity and all their rightful might.

Heart of Jesus, pierced for our sakes,/ at this crucial time in our history,/ lead all our people/ to the ways of truth and wisdom,/ love, selflessness and self-sacrifice/ which You gave us/ as the law of our own living./ Be with us now,/ Heart of our Savior, and have mercy on our people and our land./

Immaculate Heart of Mary,/ beloved mother of our people,/ intercede for us with Your Son,/ that we may fulfill our rights and duties/ during these elections/ with true purity of mind,/ with conscience and courage./ Be with us, our Mother,/ and pray for our people and our land.

Let us then pray: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be (3x)

The following prayer, addressed to St. Michael the Archangel, to thwart the designs of people of bad will, is the prayer prescribed by Pope Leo XIII against the work of the evil spirits in the world.

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, defend us in battle; be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And to thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. AMEN. (Pope Leo XIII)

Imprimatur:

+Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, D.D.
Archbishop of Manila
Chair of Committee of the Year of the Two Hearts

40th EARTH DAY: 1970 – 2010

CARING FOR THE EARTH

The story of creation is a story of love and trust. Out of His great love for man, God have him the gift of life and created for him an entire universe of beauty and bounty, rich with all the resources man would need to sustain and to enhance his life. And because trust is born of love, the Creator made him lord of all creation, to have “dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all creatures that crawl on the ground.” (Genesis 1:26)

God saw that it was good. And He intended it for good willing that man, who His greatest handiwork--- made in His own image and likeness--- would make use of all creation of good. He made man the steward of creation, trusting him to care for and to cherish all the earth.

Everything would have been fine for mankind and for the earth if only men had behaved according to God’s plan. However, through the years, some had been remiss in their responsibility, forgetting the mandate that had been entrusted to them to care for the earth. Perhaps because knew no better or were misled in the understanding of them obligation, or because they had been distracted by the lure of other pursuits like material profits or gain.

Either from the ignorance or greed of some men, the earth has suffered. And only quite recently has mankind become aware of the results of this folly--- the environment has been damaged, precious resources has been depleted or totally lost, and even the quality of man’s life is being seriously threatened.

Fortunately, for us, it is not yet too late. All over the world there has been growing awareness of the need to reverse the cycle of death and destruction of the earth and the living things on the planet. There is a rising consciousness of what we reap when we violate the trust of the Creator, the source and giver of all life. There is remorse for neglect of the duty to care for nature and haste to make retribution through a renewal of lifestyles and priorities.

Our prayer now is for the continued blessings that more men and women will come to this realization and that they may continuously increase in number, in their commitment and in their cause; that more men and women may be affirmed in the conviction that economic development need not and should not be contrary to human and ecological development.

Our hope remains with the youth. It is to them that this generation will bequeath the earth and the covenant with the Creator to be stewards of it. May they be formed to appreciate and treasure the beauty of nature and committed to preserve the dignity and integrity of creation. And may they find the example and inspiration for this mission in responsible elders who sincerely aspire to be worthy of the trust of the Lord.

- Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz D.D.

Let us pray,

God, the Creator and Author of life,
We glorify You in all of creation.
We thank You for the blessings of nature.

Forgive us Lord, for neglecting our duty
as stewards of the earth.
Forgive us for destroying and abusing
the treasures You have given us.

Lord, inspire each of us to care for
the environment and respect nature;
Guide us in keeping the beauty and
wonders of the earth;
Teach us to fairly share nature’s bounty
with one another;

These we pray through Jesus Christ,
that we may glorify and constantly see
Your presence in one another and in
all creation.

Amen.

PRAYER TO THE RISEN CHRIST

Lord Jesus Christ,
You have taken the sting from death
and robbed the grave of its victory.
In holy baptism, You have given us
a share also in Your risen life.

We thank You for all the good things
we have received from Your bountiful love.

We bless You for the courage
to carry our daily burdens.
We praise You for the salvation
You have won for us.

When we shall have finished
the work our Father gave us to do here,
be to us a gentle Savior.

May we seek You eagerly,
find You surely, and share in
Your unfading triumph
for all ages of ages.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Amen.

- From: “Treasures from Heaven”

PICKING UP ONE’S CROSS

The death of my father twelve years ago was perhaps the most painful experience I had, so far. I left robbed of every opportunity that should have been mine. I felt betrayed by the very man who should have looked after my welfare, gave me security and protected my rights. I was depressed and felt so powerless. I don’t want to go on anymore. I wanted to give-up. I wanted to die. I had restless nights. Awake late the following day. Lock-up myself and sulk. I almost shut myself off to the world. Looking back, I was like a ‘dead-man’ walking. I was without future only a past filled with bitter memories. The emotional turmoil happening within me was too much for me to bear. Or so I thought.

How did I survive? – Inspiration.

In the midst of my misery, I never gave-up praying even if most of the time all I could manage to ask God was “Why?” At certain times, the “why?” is followed by “Are you there?” I never did doubt the existence of God. Yet I admit I felt He let me down. Yes, I told Him that.

I struggled to get-up, figuratively and literally. I would go to church as often as I could. It was a blessing that any where I live a church is always nearby. It was better to be here than wallow in self-pity at home. Besides, the sacred ambiance gave me a sense of solace. Here, I would hear Mass, say my prayers or just let time pass away. In these moments do I wonder what the other people doing here? What do each keep within their heart or what do they pray for? I feel a certain oneness with them. God showed me that I’m not alone in my suffering. We all need God. That’s why we are here.

Outside the church, vendors and beggars are common sight. These people are the epitome of poverty in this country. Among them is Lito.

Actually, I just gave him that name. We never really met each other. I have never known him personally but I often spotted him on a sidewalk by the church peddling garlands of sampaguita, the Philippine’s national flower used as an offering in church altars because of its fragrance. He would try to sell to everyone passing by especially those going to the church.

A stocky, sun-darkened complexion in his late twenties, Lito has never left his place regardless of the weather. I have seen him sweat under the heat of the afternoon sun and soaked to the skin during heavy rains. Yet, the smile (with some teeth missing) that he generously shares with others seems to conceal whatever pain he was experiencing. I have heard his hearty laugher while kidding with the other vendors. Once, I bought sampaguita from him and courteously thanked me for it.

It’s an ordinary story you may say, but not quite.

You see, Lito is an amputee. He doesn’t have limbs.

Yes, no arms, no legs. Only stumps of flesh were left where the missing parts are supposed to be. He moves from place to place by paddling a wheeled plank (like a skateboard, only broader to accommodate his whole body) with what remained of his upper arms.

At the sight of it, I could guess it was congenital. However, I don’t have the guts to ask him how he really lost his limbs. I think it would be impertinent of me to do so. It doesn’t matter since Lito doesn’t seem to mind.

I can’t help but admire the guy for being so strong and courageous. Can you imagine how a physically-handicapped (or ‘differently-abled’ to be politically correct) man fight the odds just to make something good out of his life? To be productive, even!

Then I asked myself, what am I doing with myself? Will I waste my life like this? If Lito can do it, why can’t I? Upon this realization, I was ashamed for demanding too much from God. Afterall, He gave me a complete body to go through life’s trials. I have been blessed with intelligence and the opportunity to get an education. What more should I ask? God equipped me with the necessary blessings that I can use to go through the difficulties of living. Lito took up his cross. I should too.

The cross faces us constantly. It is the symbol of the trials we always encounter in life. And Jesus challenges us as he said, “Take up your cross daily and follow me!” (Luke 9:23) But that word ‘daily’ is what gets to us. The daily chores become so routine and boring. The pressures and stresses of each day are like a grinding wheel. Yet, we must rise above these feelings, of fear and uncertainty. We must learn to be happy with each day as it is a gift from God. We must accept its special challenges and to inspire others by living our sense of purpose.

It’s been years since I last saw Lito. I no longer see him in his usual place. Maybe he had gone to face greater challenges somewhere. I never had the chance to get to know him. Or even talk to him briefly about how he had changed my perception in life. I could have thanked him for allowing himself to be used as God’s instrument for me to see things differently. In a way, he had taught me (and I thought I was so learned) a lesson that can never be acquired in any institution of learning. God’s ways are mysterious. Indeed, He uses the lowly of this world to manifest His glory to the proud and conceited at heart. And nothing can be so humbling than that.

Let us pray,

Heavenly Father,
I humbly ask for Your forgiveness if I took for granted Your gifts; for misusing them for worthless purposes or for serving my own selfish interest.

Thank you very much for Your blessings most especially for the gift of salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ. Teach me to carry my daily cross as He did to Calvary and give me the strength to follow His examples.

Let me be Your courageous instrument of goodness and kindness to others. Likewise, may I always recognize You in others. May we learn to bear with one another as we carry our respective crosses; always patient and persevering in every trial.

And lastly, Lord, I respectfully submit to Your divine will. May I fulfill my life’s purpose accordingly, so that I may serve to Your greater glory. Amen.

THE CALL OF WOMAN: A Lenten Reflection on the 6th Station of the Via Crucis, Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

In celebration of International Women’s Month
March 2010

The spontaneity of Veronica gives us an indication of the role of woman in the redeeming Church. She has a natural sense of faith and devotion, a deep intuitive grasp of the values of your message.

Woman is more of earth, more in touch with the here and now. She feels deeply with this sick child, with the neighbor who lost her husband, with a tragedy which takes place in the vicinity. Her emotions of love and tenderness and compassion are keenly sensitized. She moves first with the heart, then with the mind. She thinks in terms of hospitals and schools and playgrounds.

A mature and strong woman can do great things for the people of God. One who is selfish and possessive, an occasion of sin for others, can do great harm. Every great man has been cherished and inspired by sincere women. The downfall of every great man has been hastened by women who lost their sense of vocation.

Woman has always been the cradle of society. Now, you and the Church are asking her to become evermore the heart of the world. She is the guardian of decency and modesty. Only when she wakes to the harm being done by evil-minded men will the morals of society be changed. Her basic tenderness will reach out to the poor and oppressed. Her intuition and sensitivity will prompt her to expose the evils of injustice everywhere.

Let us pray,

Dear Lord,
Send us Monicas, and Teresas, and Brigits and Clares.
Give woman her true sense of dignity and vocation,
a true sense of equality as an image of God.
Make her realize the unique role she has among Your people.
Only when both men and women put their hearts and minds
wholly to the task will the work of Your redemption
of the world be accomplished.
Amen.

- From: The Shrine’s Everyday Prayer Book
Copyright 1978, The Reverend Oblate Fathers, Rome

THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST

The controversial movie “The Last Temptation of Christ” depicted a hypothetical scenario if Jesus gave-up his task as the Messiah. In the movie, his supposed ‘last temptation’ was to abandon his messianic mission in favor of becoming a man for the love of a mortal woman, insinuation was Mary Magdalene. Fiction as it is, the filmmakers categorically disclaimed any historical proof and theological truth in the story. Further, it was unintentional to malign Christianity as an institution of faith. Despite the disclaimers, the movie nevertheless created controversy. I saw that movie myself and despite of the controversy it did not change my faith in Christ or doubted the traditional teachings of the Church. I just hoped and prayed that those who saw that movie may not be ‘tempted’ to doubt or loose faith. Afterall, it was just another work of fiction.

If we take the movie’s premise that Jesus would have chosen to stay as a mere mortal for the love of a mortal woman was totally absurd. As the Son of God, Jesus is one with the Father who is love himself. No other love is greater than God’s. Any form of love that Jesus may have felt as humanly possible such as camaraderie, intimacy or sensuality are nothing compared to the divine love that he possessed as a God. Thus, it was impossible for him to favor any human being as distinct from any other. We all are equal in the sight of God. Besides, to choose any mortal before God is an unforgivable sin!

If Jesus did marry, he would have done so for the same reason of any man-- that is to gain status, fulfill the need for physical intimacy and establish emotional security. However, he was not any man. He neither needed to gain status to bolster his ego (e.g. pride) nor create physical bonds to be emotionally secured. Yet he was truly a man, he does not need all these. Unlike the pagan gods of ancient times, such as those in Greek mythology, Jesus was not narcissistic. His strength of character is unlike any mortal. He had God’s full grace since he was born for a very specific purpose unique in human history. And that is to save mankind.

The true account of Jesus’ temptation is in the Bible when he fasted and prayed for 40 days before he embarked in his public ministry. His intended solitary experience in the dessert was regularly interrupted by Satan’s visit to keep him company. But some company was the evil one. The devil was not there to give him comfort or keep him at ease but to make it harder for him to focus on his preparation to become the Savior and thus destroy God’s plan for salvation.

Jesus was thrice visited by Satan to temp him. Although the devil might have visited him more than that within the 40 days he stayed at the dessert, only these three were revealed to us by God as a summary of the lesson we have to learn from this particular event in Jesus’ life.

Yes, these three temptations are representations of the torments that any human suffers in all levels of his being: the body, soul and spirit.

The first temptation of Satan was for Jesus to turn the stones into bread to satisfy his hunger. It was tempting to do so. This temptation represents every bodily torment we experience that may harm us in any way or contradict values and morals. This is not to deny the physical needs that are inherent. However, it is the indulgence that goes beyond answering to the call of nature or may go against the natural processes of life. Yet Jesus as a man did experience hunger, thirst and other bodily urges, he lived a well-balanced life fulfilling these needs as required and within God’s natural law. For us, there is a tendency to live excessively to our own detriment. Gluttony, sloth, fornication and other forms of urges may destroy not only physically but morally as well. Just like Jesus, we should learn how to tame our urges; to live only as required and keep always his word that says, “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God.”

In the second temptation, Jesus was brought by Satan to the steep wall of the temple and told him to throw himself to test if God will truly send angels to save him from harm. This was in effect a clever strategy of the devil to test Jesus’ faith. Satan even quoted the Scriptures saying, “God has given orders to the angels about you. Their hands will hold you lest you hurt your foot against a stone.” With this temptation, Jesus was assailed in his spirit. He may have been tempted to prove the promise of God about him yet his faith never failed. He doesn’t have to prove it because he had faith. How many of us had doubted God? There were times when we are assailed by contradictions and uncertainty. We feel God has abandoned us. Oftentimes, we pray to Him yet we ask him for signs and reassurance shows only our lack of faith. Sometimes, we even set conditions or bargain with God without fully trusting His will for us. Let us not be tempted to doubt God just because we didn’t get what we ask of Him. Surely, He has a good reason to do so for our sake. We should not try to ‘bribe’ or coerce God even in prayer, it will never work. For it is written, “You shall not put to the test the Lord your God.”

The third and final temptation, Satan brought Jesus to the farthest perspective to view the lavish and ostentatious sight of the world’s vanity. On display are wealth, power, prestige and every temporal wish of any man. All these shall be given to Jesus if he shall worship Satan. This temptation was an attack on his soul. Jesus, the man, may have been tempted to possess all these yet he knew too well how these are temporal and fleeting. He cannot exchange eternal life for the temporal life. Unfortunately for us, we easily fall prey to materialism and to the hedonistic lifestyle. Among us are those who will “give up their soul to the devil” to possess wealth, status and fame. And there are those who ‘worship money’ and are idolatrous towards their self; their relationships or to ideologies. We may have unconsciously and unintentionally neglected the worship of the one true God for these worldly possessions. But the price for our neglect is not worth all the possessions of this world. Hence, we listen to Jesus’ reply to Satan on this ultimate temptation, “Be off, Satan! It is written: worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone.”

Eventually, Jesus triumphed over himself by proving his strength in body, soul and spirit. He defeated Satan and conquered the world by his sheer might against every temptation and won for us our salvation.

Lets us pray,

Praise to You, O Lord!
You never abandoned us.
For our sake You send Your Son Jesus to save us.
May we live like Him full of faith in You most especially in times of temptation.
Grant us a strength of character to bear the trials of this life.
Let us not be blinded by the vanity of the world.
Make us remember always that the most essential are not the worldly possessions
But rest in our mercy for us.
We ask You to grant us the grace to live as You please:
Worshipping You, caring for our selves and serving others.
Make our Lenten meaningful and full of genuine intentions.
That when we celebrate Easter we will rejoice with a pure heart.
We pray through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.