When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.
Morning Offering
Prayer of St. Gertrude
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my home and within my family, Amen.
(a prayer said to release 1,000 souls every time it is prayed)
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Pilo
Pilo never had a dull moment. He was the life of every party. He easily gets along with people and he was somebody who would always reach out to help others. Success had been easy for him. He was married to his calling and never found the chance to put up his own family.
Years passed by, he lived alone although once in a while a relative will drop by. He still goes to Church every Sunday until the time came when he had a stroke. Paralyzed and would hardly talked. His money could not do anything to bring back those happy memories. His friends were gone and probably they do not even remember him. Even those whom he have helped in the past were nowhere to be found.
Only God was by his side. His devotion to Mother Mary had given him the reason to understand what he was going through. He is confident that Our Lord Jesus will carry him at that time when he needs Christ the most.
He left this world at the age of 84 to have eternal life.
My friends, how many Pilo or Pilar does this world have? Do we care for them? Love your parents and tell them you love them while they are still in this world? Care for the elders. Give way to them. Make them happy now for they have done their part, shared themselves to make this world a better place.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
What If ?
It was a day when he felt that the world was against him, and his head was spinning like crazy.
Rey was fresh from college when he applied for work. After 20 years of dedicated service, he was confident that this year, his promotion to an executive level position was already in the bag.
He day dreamed a lot by then and he knew he deserves the promotion. After all, he has wrestled his way up the ladder, bruising and killing other's hopes, and he was a person who doesn't really care as long as he gets what he wants. Everything worked as planned and now he is looking forward to his retirement and a fat paycheck.
That fateful day, he lost his job. There was no promotion, No separation pay. The company was bankrupt and it was gone.
He didn't know what to do. He has nothing except some savings, a new car still being amortized, and his house.
Upon arriving home, he broke the tragic news to his family. Rey was surprised. They embraced him instead and together they prayed. He cried. Never did he realized that he was away from home for quite some time. Yes, he was present with them but not living with them. Before, he was praying along with them but he was not communicating and relating himself to God. All the while, his mind was always wandering back to his work, his career, his perks, himself. He also realized that his ways were a bit temporal and uncaring. He has sinned and was sorry for it. Praying for forgiveness, he went on to thank God, and his family.
God blessed him with a family and showed him what love means and how to be resilient amidst such trials.
Your guess is as good as mine as to what happened to Rey.
Nothing is impossible with God. He is merciful, generous and loving.
Going to Heaven
One Sunday, a child asked his father. "Dad, why do we have to go to Mass?" The father answered, "If you want to go to heaven, you must really go to Mass."
He then went to his mother and asked the same question. His mother answered, "If you you to go to heaven, you must really go to Mass."
And so, they attended the Mass, and in his homily, the priest said, "If you want to go to heaven, you must really go to Mass."
After the Mass, the son then asked his parents, "Dad and Mom, can we all go to heaven now?"
There was silence for awhile. The parents went on to explain what "going to heaven" means. The child was happy to know everything.
Reflections :
The child believed his parents. It was an unconditional and absolute faith which the child has towards his father and mother. Such belief was reinforced and validated by the priest.
Let our faith in God be like that of the child. Unconditional and absolute. A faith nourished by the teachings of the Church and by our good deeds as Catholics.
Of course, it goes without saying that faith should focus on the Holy Eucharist, so that abundant blessings and graces will flow freely to the faithful.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Viva Hesus Nazareno !
Our Lord Jesus Christ is continuously being praised, honored, adored and glorified today on the occasion of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
Millions and millions of devotees have flocked to Manila, participated in the celebration of the Holy Mass and courageously joined the procession to Quiapo Church.
One would wonder and ask - what is it in this devotion that makes people brave the ocean of human beings, all trying and hoping to be blessed, while others are participating in thanksgiving for prayers answered.
Millions can never be wrong when it comes to faith and prayers.
Viva Hesus Nazareno!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Veni Creator (Plenary Indulgence)
Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
And in our souls take up your rest;
Come with your grace and heavenly aid
To fill the hearts which you have made.
O Comforter, to you we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
And sweet anointing from above.
You in your sevenfold gifts are known;
You, finger of God's hand we own;
You, promise of the Father, you
Who do the tongue with power imbue.
Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts o'erflow with love;
With patience firm and virtue high
The weakness of our flesh supply.
Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us your peace instead;
So shall we not, with you for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may your grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know;
And you, through endless times confessed,
Of both the eternal Spirit blest.
Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
With you, O holy Comforter,
Henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.
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A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who devoutly recite the hymn Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest.
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A plenary indulgence is granted, if the hymn is recited publicly on the 1st of January and on the feast of Pentecost.
First Station
JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH
Oh Lord Jesus, you have been a victim of the cruelty of man. Pontius Pilate was not only indecisive, he was also a coward. He allowed himself to be pressured by a mob. He could not take responsibility and would not own what he did on that day when you were condemned to death. He made actually a fun of himself. You were alone. Some would want to stand up for you but there was not much strength in terms of numbers. The majority was not right when you were condemned. They were moved by evil motives and evil designs. As I read and listen to news reports nowadays, the injustices and atrocities have not ceased. Many have been condemned and only to find out later that the person was innocent of the crime charged. Many have experienced death by way of curtailment of their freedom to live as human beings. Poverty, hunger, human trafficking, drug and substance abuse, violence against women and children, among other and similar crimes and offenses. The victims are virtually condemned to death since in the end – how they wished they were dead, how they wished they were not born, how they wished that the world would end. Perhaps. Well, actually my own weaknesses, my own sinfulness have condemned you to death. But there is still time and as I walked through with you and contemplate on the stations of the cross, I am truly thankful to you Lord Jesus for this opportunity, as I pray for those victims, who, like what you have gone through when you were condemned to death, are now suffering and languishing in their present state of life. I lift them up to you and may they be blessed with your generosity and goodness. Amen.
Second Station
JESUS CARRIES THE CROSS
Oh My Lord Jesus Christ, how heavy indeed is the cross which you have been made to carry on your shoulders. That cross is actually this world ! The sins of men ! The transgressions and ungratefulness of humanity ! And to think that all these continue up to this day as you bear them, every moment, on your shoulders. Yet, and yes, yet, many among us would not even want to carry the little crosses that come our way. We always want to be within our respective comfort level. What a shame?! What really is that cross that I have always been to told to carry? Is it the same cross that you carried all the way up to the
Third Station
JESUS FALLS THE FIRST TIME
My Lord and My God, My Savior , My Redeemer, Oh Lord Jesus. Forgive me. I mean it. From the very bottom of my heart. Had it not been for me, you would not have fallen from the sheer weight of that heavy cross that bears my sins. I don’t think I could even last carrying the cross before a first fall, but because you are My Lord, you have made sure that I would be able to carry my own cross. I now know why I was able to – because you were carrying me and my cross. Well, the bottomline is that I must carry on with whatever good things I may have started in my life and with my life. I should not be giving up and I ought to realize that there will always be a first time, and that first time must never discourage me to carry on. There may be obstacles, frustrations, disappointments, discouragement or whatever damn-if-you-do situations, but I must always bear in mind and in my heart that Jesus will always be with me, and I can truly feel His Holy Presence, unworthy as I am, for He loves me, and He wants me to succeed ! Amen.
Watch and Listen : Footprints in the Sand
Fourth Station
JESUS MEETS HIS MOTHER
My Lord Jesus, you were all alone by yourself, as you continue to suffer from the weight of the cross, the thousands of wounds inflicted upon you, and as blood flows down from your body and from your head. For sure, you were already grasping for your breath, dehydrated from lack of water, famished for not having taken anything for the day since you were taken forcibly at the
Watch Jesus Meets His Mother
Fifth Station
JESUS IS HELPED TO CARRY THE CROSS
My Lord Jesus Christ, I know that you do not need any help but amidst the humiliation that you have suffered from the hands of your persecutors, you have been humble enough to allow, a reluctant Simon of Cyrene to carry your cross. You have shown to us Lord that indeed “no man is an island”. That we live, not only for ourselves, but for our family and the people of God. That we have a responsibility to help others and to make sure that those who are in need are provided with what is necessary and which we can give as God has allowed us to. I have pleaded many times for help and you have not abandoned me. In many ways, you have answered my prayers. There were many times that I never realized that you have given me so many blessings and I was not even grateful. I can actually help carry the cross by heeding the call for me to serve God and in everything that I do, I must see to it that He is glorified and praised. Amen.
Watch and Listen: Jesus is Helped to Carry the Cross
Sixth Station
VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS
Oh my Lord Jesus, it was just a piece of cloth wiped on your face of Jesus, with blood and sweat dripping. Through such very small way, you are pleased. Veronica knows it is the only thing that she can do if only to ease up your sufferings and pains.
What about each one of us? Do we give our share to ease up the burden of Christ? Do we offer ourselves for him? Do we work and do things to help others who are in need?
There have been many times that we have thought of giving ourselves a break, or demanding some space for ourselves. We feel that we deserve better, or we need to have some more of what we already have, never contented of anything. We always think of ourselves and forget the fact that we must also think of others. Yet, we still have the gull to ask a lot of things through our prayers. Is this the right attitude? Is this the life that we lead and live? Well, it is time. Time to change. Time to be what you want you to be. Like Veronica, we need to have the humility of meeting you personally and in our own little way, do something that will ease up your agony, sufferings, sacrifices, among others. In doing so, we do not expect any reward but at the same time, we will not refuse the blessings that will come our way, and in everything and in anything, we shall always thanks and praise God for his overflowing generosity. Amen.
Seventh Station
JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME
My Lord, My Jesus and Savior. You are extremely exhausted already. The cross is heavier and more difficult to carry. The pain is just so intense. The soldiers are cruel. The crowd, even more mean and ferocious. The weight of the cross was just too much to bear. You fell for the second time.
But the reasons, no matter how valid they may be, and would justify that your giving up, did not deter you from getting up and continue carrying the cross on your way to calvary.
Teach us Lord to do the same. As we fall, many times actually, help us to stand up once again and move on to our life’s journey. We know that without you, we are nothing. Without you, we cannot do anything. Be our strength. Amen.
Eight Station
JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM
Hearing Jesus reproach the women of Jerusalem who follow him and weep for him ought to make us reflect. How should we understand his words? Are they not directed at a piety which is purely sentimental, one which fails to lead to conversion and living faith? It is no use to lament the sufferings of this world if our life goes on as usual. And so the Lord warns us of the danger in which we find ourselves. He shows us both the seriousness of sin and the seriousness of judgement. Can it be that, despite all our expressions of consternation in the face of evil and innocent suffering, we are all too prepared to trivialize the mystery of evil? Have we accepted only the gentleness and love of God and Jesus, and quietly set aside the word of judgement? "How can God be so concerned with our weaknesses?", we say. "We are only human!" Yet as we contemplate the sufferings of the Son, we see more clearly the seriousness of sin, and how it needs to be fully atoned if it is to be overcome. Before the image of the suffering Lord, evil can no longer be trivialized. To us too, he says: "Do not weep for me, weep for yourselves... if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (catholic news agency)
Ninth Station
JESUS FALLS A THIRD TIME
Oh Lord Jesus Christ, the cross is obviously heavier now than the first time you had to carry it. I can only imagine the world today so much of a burden to you and yet, you continue to bring us to the road of salvation, you keep on carrying the cross, without let up. You have been obedient to the Almighty Father and had pleased Him so much by not giving up. As for us, we are easily discouraged by failures, and we tend to stop trying, or cease from even trying to try. We should not be prevented, by ourselves, from pursuing something which is noble and even Divine. We should not lose hope. We must constantly pray and ask for guidance, in order that - if ever we fall for the third or nth time – we may continue to move and fight for the many battles in our lives. Amen.
Tenth Station
JESUS CLOTHES ARE TAKEN AWAY
My Lord Jesus, have mercy on us! Being stripped of your clothes is certainly deplorable. It is not only humiliating but it has added insult to injury. The soldiers are ruthless. They are gamblers which placed at stake your clothes on a winner take all basis. Terrible indeed. Many people today are stripped of what remains in them by those who have taken advantage of the weaknesses of such people. We pray that those who fall victims to these people would be able to recover and stand up, as always, for what is true and what is necessary. Amen.
Eleventh Station
JESUS IS NAILED ON THE CROSS
Lord Jesus, My Savior, this is the time when you know who are with you and those who are not. Many among us and in our own lives - we do encounter problems, serious enough, as to drive away people from us. During happy times, they are near. During trying times, they are nowhere to be seen or heard. A little prayer may suffice, yet we do not know if they are really praying for us. We are also guilty of the same weakness ourselves. There are those whom we should be helping out but we did not extend our hands to them. Is it our of fear? Just like when you were being nailed on the cross, there may be those who followed you but on account of fear that they too may be nailed on the cross, have chosen to keep silent about they presence and what they feel about what was being done to you. Or is it just because we are indifferent to the plight of others, just like when we continue committing sins unmindful of your goodness, greatness and generosity. Teach us then Lord to be humble and be sincere in our ways so that when the time comes for us to help other people, we would not hesitate to do so, not because of as a mere obligation but more on the fact that we love you so much Lord. Amen.
Twelfth Station
My Lord and My Savior, My Christ and My Redeemer, My Jesus, you have died on the cross because of the many sins and transgressions we have committed against you. With 5,745 wounds which you have sustained, with the cross weighing about 300 pounds on your shoulder alone, with the thousands steps you took on your way up to Calvary, with the crown of thorns, lashes, blows and kicks, falls and the weight of the cross on your body, and finally the nails on your hands and feet, as well as the lance that pierced your body, WHO AMONG US HAS THE COURAGE TO STEP FORWARD AND TAKE YOUR PLACE? We are truly and deeply humbled prostrated on the ground, as we asked for your mercy and forgiveness. All in your Most Holy Name, Amen.
Thirteenth Station
Lord Jesus, as when everyone, except for a few, has expressed fear, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are not afraid to stand up for you. They took you down from the Holy Cross and laid you in the loving arms of your Blessed Mother. But why the Blessed Mother. The cause of the downfall of humanity was Eve, who was responsible for the temptation of Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. When Christ died on the Holy Cross, it was the triumph that has been longed for. And the Blessed Mother, being the new Eve would offer such victory to the Heavenly Father. Amen.
Fourteenth Station
My Lord Jesus Christ you human and divine. Indeed, human as you have willed yourself to be, that in itself is humility in your divinity. And who are we then not to learn humility which is the beginning of humanity. As you are laid in the tomb, it can be said that IT IS ACCOMPLISHED. Yes, God's will has been done. Amen.
The Fifteen Promises of Mary Granted to those who Recite the Rosary
- Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
- I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
- The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
- The Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
- The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
- Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
- Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
- Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenititude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
- I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
- The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
- You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
- All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
- I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
- All who recite the Rosary are my sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters of my only Son Jesus Christ.
- Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.