O Dear Lord,Thank you for my birth!
thank you for my coming death.
As I am living give me conversion, being with you.
None else that I want. Amen.
St.Augusitine writing Confessions
While remembering all his youthful follies, he remembers how God's unfarthomable grace has been a shield for him, how grace leads to discover his faith into Three in One God.
Divine Illumination
St: Augustine receive divine illumination from Jesus the Son of God and Mary, the mother of Jesus, enlightening him while he is writing his discourse.
St.MONICA and St.AUGUSTINE at Ecstacy at Ostia
Two saints, mother and son receive a vision of heaven at Ostia, near Rome. It was the last moment of the two being together, looking heaven ward, and later St.Monica died and was buried there.
Seminarians on the wall.
With co-seminarians, where trying to escape the scourging sunlight, sitting on the fence and keeping ourselves calm with jokes.
Rosary Garden at Tabor Hill, Talamban
A place of prayer and peace, a place of love and charity where being together with the mother of our Divine Lord, and recitation of Holy Rosary knocks the doors of Heaven.
30 April, 2014
Lord, Thank you.
O Dear Lord,Thank you for my birth!
thank you for my coming death.
As I am living give me conversion, being with you.
None else that I want. Amen.
22 April, 2014
Two points...
It has been so long time I haven't write anything for this blog. By the reason of being transferred from one place to another, adjusting to fit oneself in new culture and custom is seemingly difficult one, taking time of unknown measure, one doesn't know when will be the end of these adjustments and familiarizing everything around. Though without divine assistance it could have been impossible to progress in faith and daily experience. People might ask, how could you feel any divine assistance. Yes, they are right to be curious that how one is sensitive to the grace of a God who can't be touched, smelled or there is nothing of tangibleness.
In my opinion, it is plausible that there would be people who have difficulty to imagine the grace of God or whatsoever extraordinary experience. However, the grace of God is nothing extraordinary, nothing supernatural. Because God has promised that he will be with us, then it is very natural to experience God's grace. But how to experience, then? It is a difficult question to handle since it is always personal experience of a belief that divine assistance is encountered. Generally, these personal encounters with divine assistance can be unified in the basis facts they agree upon. The most important one is to reflect and realized events happening in our past expereinces. By scrutinizing them one eventually will come to see, 'Oh, it has been seemingly difficult to handle yet I don't how it was solved.' And so on, these surprises will gradually surface during the process of self-interrogation, serious reflections, and recognizing one's weakness in the course of time. Then, there comes, realization of the presence of divine assistance. This process really takes time and more of humility of the heart. A proud man's heart cannot be open to divine assistance because he will insist that all the success is achieved through his intelligence or capacity, and the failures were because of ill-fate.
A humble person will attribute every success to divine assistance which he say, he is not worthy to have it yet, it was God's special favor for his children.This is not the only attribution and there are more of it, for example, simply praying...'O Lord, your ways are more perfect than the ways i chose for myself' and one would accept failures as God's intervention for a better purpose. It is very beautiful since it is always attributed to God and even in the time of big failure, it helps us to recover immediately after realizing it as God's plan for us. No bitter feelings remain in the heart accusing our neighbor as the cause of our failure and blaming ourselves for incapacity. Human beings are made as human beings with capacities of a human being. It would be hurtful for both parties forcing or expecting someone to be perfect in his/her behavior, attitude etc... Although, i think, no one knows what really is perfection in every aspect of day to day life. We simply guess and impose our thoughts on someone over whom we expect perfection. It was the Jews thought that Jesus lacks perfection to claim as the Son of God the most high. Then with their prejudices they had him killed so that there would be no one among them arises claiming to be the son of God.
Finally, I summarize two points, first realizing God's assistance in our day to day life in which we experience ups and downs. The second is realizing our imperfection in very moment of our life. By these very two facts we will be able to go a little upward in spiritual life, balancing all our expectations, hopes and desires with failures, unwanted results and difficulties.
Wish you a blessings-filled day to you..
fra-gil
In my opinion, it is plausible that there would be people who have difficulty to imagine the grace of God or whatsoever extraordinary experience. However, the grace of God is nothing extraordinary, nothing supernatural. Because God has promised that he will be with us, then it is very natural to experience God's grace. But how to experience, then? It is a difficult question to handle since it is always personal experience of a belief that divine assistance is encountered. Generally, these personal encounters with divine assistance can be unified in the basis facts they agree upon. The most important one is to reflect and realized events happening in our past expereinces. By scrutinizing them one eventually will come to see, 'Oh, it has been seemingly difficult to handle yet I don't how it was solved.' And so on, these surprises will gradually surface during the process of self-interrogation, serious reflections, and recognizing one's weakness in the course of time. Then, there comes, realization of the presence of divine assistance. This process really takes time and more of humility of the heart. A proud man's heart cannot be open to divine assistance because he will insist that all the success is achieved through his intelligence or capacity, and the failures were because of ill-fate.
A humble person will attribute every success to divine assistance which he say, he is not worthy to have it yet, it was God's special favor for his children.This is not the only attribution and there are more of it, for example, simply praying...'O Lord, your ways are more perfect than the ways i chose for myself' and one would accept failures as God's intervention for a better purpose. It is very beautiful since it is always attributed to God and even in the time of big failure, it helps us to recover immediately after realizing it as God's plan for us. No bitter feelings remain in the heart accusing our neighbor as the cause of our failure and blaming ourselves for incapacity. Human beings are made as human beings with capacities of a human being. It would be hurtful for both parties forcing or expecting someone to be perfect in his/her behavior, attitude etc... Although, i think, no one knows what really is perfection in every aspect of day to day life. We simply guess and impose our thoughts on someone over whom we expect perfection. It was the Jews thought that Jesus lacks perfection to claim as the Son of God the most high. Then with their prejudices they had him killed so that there would be no one among them arises claiming to be the son of God.
Finally, I summarize two points, first realizing God's assistance in our day to day life in which we experience ups and downs. The second is realizing our imperfection in very moment of our life. By these very two facts we will be able to go a little upward in spiritual life, balancing all our expectations, hopes and desires with failures, unwanted results and difficulties.
Wish you a blessings-filled day to you..
fra-gil
12 December, 2013
Catholic from Myanmar to be beatified
A leading archbishop in Myanmar has
hailed the upcoming beatification of the south-east Asian nation’s first
native son as a sign of the Pope’ love for the Church in Myanmar,
formerly Burma.
"We are delighted to know that the first Burmese Blessed will be Isidore Ngei Ko Lat. The Holy Father is close to Myanmar and this first Blessed is the sign of Pope Francis and the Holy See's love and attention," said Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon.
His remarks came soon after Pope Francis on Monday authorized a decree recognizing the martyrdom of Italian priest Fr. Mario Vergara of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME ) and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, a lay catechist, martyred in Shadaw (Myanmar) May 24, 1950.
The recognition of their martyrdom was among 12 decrees, including a miracle and 10 heroic virtues, that Pope Francis authorized. The other upcoming beatification is of 19th century Italian nun, Giovannina Franks, through whose intercession a miracle has been recognized.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Archbishop Bo described the "great joy and happiness," of the Catholic community, caught by surprise by the long-awaited announcement. The journey began in May 2008, when the Catholic Bishops' Conference wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI to "humbly ask the Pope to authorize the study of the cause."
The beatification of Fr. Vergara and his catechist, the bishops wrote, will be a source of " encouragement" for the whole community to live" a faith more in line " with the Gospel and to witness to it "in a brave and heroic" way, even at the cost of dying because of hatred for the faith and giving their lives "for the Gospel."
Archbishop Bo said the Church in Myanmar is preparing to celebrate 500 years of history and hopes for a visit by Pope Francis to the country. He said that the beatification is a first step on a long journey and “there are many others", because they have many martyrs in Myanmar, who deserve sainthood.
"We are delighted to know that the first Burmese Blessed will be Isidore Ngei Ko Lat. The Holy Father is close to Myanmar and this first Blessed is the sign of Pope Francis and the Holy See's love and attention," said Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon.
His remarks came soon after Pope Francis on Monday authorized a decree recognizing the martyrdom of Italian priest Fr. Mario Vergara of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME ) and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, a lay catechist, martyred in Shadaw (Myanmar) May 24, 1950.
The recognition of their martyrdom was among 12 decrees, including a miracle and 10 heroic virtues, that Pope Francis authorized. The other upcoming beatification is of 19th century Italian nun, Giovannina Franks, through whose intercession a miracle has been recognized.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Archbishop Bo described the "great joy and happiness," of the Catholic community, caught by surprise by the long-awaited announcement. The journey began in May 2008, when the Catholic Bishops' Conference wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI to "humbly ask the Pope to authorize the study of the cause."
The beatification of Fr. Vergara and his catechist, the bishops wrote, will be a source of " encouragement" for the whole community to live" a faith more in line " with the Gospel and to witness to it "in a brave and heroic" way, even at the cost of dying because of hatred for the faith and giving their lives "for the Gospel."
Archbishop Bo said the Church in Myanmar is preparing to celebrate 500 years of history and hopes for a visit by Pope Francis to the country. He said that the beatification is a first step on a long journey and “there are many others", because they have many martyrs in Myanmar, who deserve sainthood.
01 September, 2013
Sunday, 01 September 2013
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year CSt. Giles of Castaneda, Abbot (640-720)
Commentary of the day
Saint Bruno of Segni : « Behold, I have prepared my banquet…, everything is ready : come to the feast » (Mt 22,4)
Lk 14:1.7-14.
On a
sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and
the people there were observing him carefully.
He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, 'Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, 'My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Then he said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.
When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, 'Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, 'My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Then he said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Commentary of the day :
Saint Bruno of Segni (c.1045-1123), Bishop
Commentary on Saint Luke's Gospel, 2, 14 ; PL 165, 406 (trans. ©Friends of Henry Ashworth)
Invited to a wedding feast, the Lord looked round and noticed how all were
choosing the first and most honorable places, each person wanting to take
precedence of the others and to be raised above them. He then told them this
parable (Lk 14,16f), which even taken literally is most useful and appropriate
for all who like to be honored, and fear being put to shame...
However, since it is called a parable, it must have some other interpretation besides the literal one. Let us see then what this wedding feast is, and who are the people invited to it. This wedding feast takes place in the Church every day. Every day the Lord makes a wedding feast, for every day he unites faithful souls to himself. some coming to be baptized, others leaving this world for the kingdom of heaven. We are all invited to this wedding feast - all of us who have received faith in Christ and the seal of baptism This table set before us is that of which it is said: “You have prepared a table before me in the sight of those who trouble me” (Ps 23[22],5). Here is the showbread, here the fatted calf, here the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world (Ex 25,30; Lk 15,23; Jn 1,29). Here is the living bread come down from heaven; here placed before us is the chalice of the New Covenant (Jn 6,51; 1Co 11,25); here are the gospels and the letters of the apostles, here the books of Moses and the prophets. It is as though a dish containing every delight was brought and set before us.
What more then can we desire? What reason is there for choosing the first seats? There is plenty for all no matter where we sit. There is nothing we shall lack.
However, since it is called a parable, it must have some other interpretation besides the literal one. Let us see then what this wedding feast is, and who are the people invited to it. This wedding feast takes place in the Church every day. Every day the Lord makes a wedding feast, for every day he unites faithful souls to himself. some coming to be baptized, others leaving this world for the kingdom of heaven. We are all invited to this wedding feast - all of us who have received faith in Christ and the seal of baptism This table set before us is that of which it is said: “You have prepared a table before me in the sight of those who trouble me” (Ps 23[22],5). Here is the showbread, here the fatted calf, here the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world (Ex 25,30; Lk 15,23; Jn 1,29). Here is the living bread come down from heaven; here placed before us is the chalice of the New Covenant (Jn 6,51; 1Co 11,25); here are the gospels and the letters of the apostles, here the books of Moses and the prophets. It is as though a dish containing every delight was brought and set before us.
What more then can we desire? What reason is there for choosing the first seats? There is plenty for all no matter where we sit. There is nothing we shall lack.
18 August, 2013
Daily Gospel
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year CSt. Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga, Priest (1901-1952)
Commentary of the day
Vatican Council II: « My peace I give you » (Jn 14,27)
Lk 12:49-53.
Jesus said
to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it
were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Commentary of the day :
Vatican Council II
Constitution on the Church in the modern world, « Gaudium et spes », § 78 (©trans. Libreria Vaticana editrice)
Peace is not merely the absence of war; nor can it be reduced solely to the
maintenance of a balance of power between enemies; nor is it brought about by
dictatorship. Instead, it is rightly and appropriately called a “deed of
justice” (Is 32,17). Peace results from that order structured into human
society by its divine Founder, and actualized by men as they thirst after ever
greater justice... Peace is never attained once and for all, but must be built
up ceaselessly. Moreover, since the human will is unsteady and wounded by sin,
the achievement of peace requires a constant mastering of passions and the
vigilance of lawful authority. But this is not enough... A firm determination
to respect other men and peoples and their dignity, as well as the studied
practice of brotherhood are absolutely necessary for the establishment of
peace. Hence peace is likewise the fruit of love, which goes beyond what
justice can provide.That earthly peace which arises from love of neighbor
symbolizes and results from the peace of Christ which radiates from God the
Father. For by the cross the incarnate Son, the “prince of peace” (Is 9,5)
reconciled all men with God. By thus restoring all men to the unity of one
people and one body, He “slew hatred in His own flesh” (Eph 2,16); and,
after being lifted on high by His resurrection, He poured forth the spirit of
love into the hearts of men. For this reason, all Christians are urgently
summoned to do in love what the truth requires, and to join with all true
peacemakers in pleading for peace and bringing it about...Insofar as men are
sinful, the threat of war hangs over them, and hang over them it will until
the return of Christ. But insofar as men vanquish sin by a union of love, they
will vanquish violence as well and make these words come true: "They shall
turn their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into sickles. Nation
shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more"
(Is 2,4).
11 August, 2013
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year CSt. Clare, Virgin (1194-1253)
Commentary of the day
Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe : "Stewards of the mysteries of God"
Lk 12:32-48.
Jesus said
to his disciples: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your
Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?"
And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute (the) food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."
Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?"
And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute (the) food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant's master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master's will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Commentary of the day :
Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe (467-532), Bishop in North Africa
Homily 1, on the Lord's servants ; CCL 91A, 889 (trans. breviary Common of pastors)
Wishing to emphasize the special office of the servants whom he has placed in
charge of his people, the Lord says, 'Who, do you think, is the faithful and
wise steward whom the Lord sets over his household, to give to them their
measure of wheat at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master
will find so doing when he comes.” Who is that master, brethren? Without a
doubt it is Christ, who says to his disciples: “You call me Teacher and
Lord, and you are right for so I am” (Jn 13,13). What, too, is the master's
household? Doubtless it is the one which the Lord himself ransomed... This
sacred household is the holy, Catholic Church, which is spread through the
whole earth with abundant fertility and glories in the fact that she has been
redeemed by the precious blood of her Master. As he himself says: “The Son
of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for
many” (Mk 10,45). He is, too, the good shepherd who laid down his life for
his sheep” (Jn 10,11)...As to who the steward is who ought to be faithful as
well as wise, the Apostle Paul shows us, when, speaking of himself and his
companions, he says: “This is how one should regard us, as the servants of
Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of
stewards that they should be found trustworthy” (1Cor 4,1-2). Now, lest
anyone of us should think that it is only the apostles who have been made
stewards..., the blessed Apostle Paul shows us that the bishops also are
stewards, when he says: “For a bishop, as God's steward, must be
blameless” (Tt 1,7)...We, therefore, who are the servants of the master of
the household, we are the stewards of the Lord, we have received the measure
of wheat to disburse to you.
