A VALENTINES’ DAY PRAYER

We pray to God our Father,
As we celebrate Valentines’ Day

May we celebrate in earnest thought
about love beyond romance.
Dispel in us the artificial images of love
spawned by commercialism.

Let us not be blinded by passion
and protect us from lust.
Teach us temperance and
warn us against our excesses.

We pray that our expression of love
for each other grow to a
Greater extent to others specially
to those who needed it most.

As we experience the moments of love
let us express it with sincerity.
May we be ever forgiving and
ready to let go as fate wills it.

Remind us to always keep our relations
within Your tenets, Lord
And deliver us from illicit affairs and
guard us from selfish interests.

As we go through the rituals of valentines’
let us be reminded that You
O, Lord is love itself.

Grant us the wisdom to live in true love
not only today but everyday.

AMEN.

Jesus, Meek and humble of heart
Make our hearts like unto Thine!

FAITH NEEDS CONSTANT RENEWAL

Commitment requires effort, giving of one’s time, sacrifice. What are important are not grandiose words but concrete deeds. It’s a warning against professing our faith and then failing to practice it; against making a good beginning and then not persevering.

Moreover, we must remember that faith is not a once-for-all decision, and then “live happily ever after”. But faith must be constantly renewed and reaffirmed.

- Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD
From his column “Word Alive”
in the Manila Bulletin, 10 July 1997

PRAYER FOR ETERNAL REPOSE

40th Day of the passing of our beloved
Luis D. Quetulio
(September 12, 1952 – December 15, 2010)

“It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosened from sins.” – 2 Machabees 12:46

I. Opening Prayer:

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

Our Lord God, loving Father, do not let hope die in us. But give us a great faith, and trust in You that You have prepared for Luis and for us a place of happiness where every tear will be wiped-away, where there is no more death or mourning or sadness, but only peace and joy with Jesus Christ, Your Son, and with the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

L: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R: And let Your perpetual light shine upon them.
L: May they rest in peace.
R: Amen.

II. Gospel Reading:

At the last supper, Jesus said to His apostles, “Do not let trouble up set your hearts. Continue having faith in God and have faith in Me. There are many rooms in the house of My Father; if it were not so, I should have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you. I shall come back to take you with Me, so that you may be where I am going. Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered him, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. no one can come to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:1-6

L: The Gospel of the Lord.
R: Praise to You, our Lord Jesus Christ.

III. Final Prayer:

Lord, help us to see death for what it really is,
the end of poverty and the beginning of riches;
the end of frustrations and the beginning of fulfillment;
the end of fear and the beginning of tranquility;
the end of weakness and the beginning of strength.

Let not grief overwhelm us, or a sense of loss
embitten us. But out of our sadness, let there arise
a new joy for so much given to us.

Cast out our fears and let not our hearts be troubled.
Let Your Spirit of peace come alive within our
experience and hurt, our sorrow and isolation,
our sadness today and loneliness tomorrow.

We humbly commend to You, Luis,
whom You called out of this mortal life.
You loved him always with a great love.

Now You have freed him from all evils of this earth,
bring him into Your Paradise where there is no more
grief or mourning or sadness. But peace and joy with
Your Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit forever.

We thank You for all the blessings You have given
to Luis in his mortal life. We pray that
he may be able to glorify You with the life that they
lived and the way he made use of his blessings.

Lord God, grant that we will never forget that life is
short and uncertain. Let Your Spirit guide us in holiness,
justice and service to our brothers and sisters.

We pray for the healing of all unhappy feelings Luis’
deaths now leaves in our hearts.

Be with us Lord, during our moments of sorrow and
loneliness. Be our rock, our fortress and our strength.

We trust in You and hope for Your glorious Resurrection.

We lift up to You our grief and sorrow, confident that
You will change our mourning to rejoicing that our beloved
Luis now rest in Your peace.

Amen.

One Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

L: Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R: And let Your perpetual light shine upon him.
L: May he rest in peace.
R: Amen.

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

MEMORIAL PRAYER

1st Year Memorial of the passing of our beloved
Atty. Ledovino L. Donadillo
(April 15, 1935 – January 23, 2010)

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. May the Almighty have mercy on your soul.”

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

Prologue:

We are born into this world and we all have to leave it sooner or later, but the memories will linger on. Yes, the memories of uncle Ledo may become a silhouette in the afterglow of forgetfulness. Let us once more turn to back track the trail from which we started and conjure picture that will constitute a segment of our beautiful past.

May the pain of losing him opens another door for joy. Good-bye, God has you in His keeping but you will always be in our hearts.

Let us pray,

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

L: May the soul of our departed Ledovino, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R: Amen

L: Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R: And let Your perpetual light shine upon him.

L: From the gates of the damn,
R: deliver his soul O, Lord.

L: May he rest in peace.
R: Amen.

THE BEST NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will direct your path."

- Proverbs 3:5,6

"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.