Sunday, December 10, 2023

Second Sunday of Advent


 Strive to become credible voices who testify to the coming of Jesus

Pope Francis
Taking inspiration from the Gospel reading on this second Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis, drew attention to the figure of John the Baptist and described him as “the voice of one crying in the desert.”
He reflected on the seemingly contradictory images of “the voice, a means to speak” and “the desert, an empty place where you do not communicate.”
This, Pope Francis said, “is an always relevant reminder: to proceed on the journey of life, we need to be stripped of the more because to live well does not mean being filled with useless things, but being freed from the superfluous, to dig deeply within ourselves so as to hold on to what is truly important before God.”

Angelus
Excerpt
10 December 2023

Sunday, December 3, 2023

First Sunday of Advent


The Lord close to us!
The Pope pointed out that the Lord always visits us in our lives, “makes Himself close, and will return at the end of time to welcome us in His embrace.” But we naturally ask ourselves, how will the Lord come to visit us and how will we recognize and welcome Him?
God’s presence in our daily lives
The Pope underscored that “God conceals Himself in the most common and ordinary situations in our life,” and we need to be constantly aware of this reality, not awaiting extraordinary events. This can be when we face someone in need, a chance encounter, or even in what might seem quiet or dull moments of daily life. “It is right there that we find the Lord, who calls to us, speaks to us, and inspires our actions.”
Pope Francis
Excerpt
Angelus
3 December 2023


 

Friday, October 29, 2021

Prayer for healing through the intercession of Fr. Francisco Palau

 


Lord God, you chose Blessed Francisco Palau to proclaim to the whole world the mystery of the Church. 

He spent his life in spreading the Gospel among his brothers and sisters and in fostering among them a vivid awareness of their membership in the mystical body of Christ. 

Grant O Lord, that the honor, which your Church confers on him, may help to make all men and women one in God´s people and through his intercession, give us the special grace which we now ask. Amen!





Sunday, November 22, 2020

From Zenit: Pope´s message on the Feast of Christ the King


 





Dear brothers and sisters, good afternoon!

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The great parable with which the liturgical year closes is that which unfolds the mystery of Christ, the entire liturgical year. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of history; and today’s liturgy focuses on the “Omega”, that is, on the final goal. The meaning of history is understood by keeping its culmination before our eyes: the goal is also the end. And it is precisely this that Matthew accomplishes in this Sunday’s Gospel (25:31-46), placing Jesus’s discourse on the universal judgment at the end of His earthly life: He, the one whom men are about to condemn is, in reality, the supreme judge. In His death and resurrection, Jesus will manifest Himself as the Lord of History, the King of the Universe, the Judge of all. But the Christian paradox is that the Judge is not vested in the fearful trappings of royalty, but is the shepherd filled with meekness and mercy.

Jesus, in fact, in this parable of the final judgment, uses the image of a shepherd, He picks up these images from the prophet Ezekiel who had spoken of God’s intervention in favor of His people against the evil pastors of Israel (see 34:1-10). They had been cruel exploiters, preferring to feed themselves rather than the flock; therefore, God Himself promises to personally take care of His flock, defending it from injustice and abuse. This promise God made on behalf of His people is fully accomplished in Jesus Christ, the shepherd: He Himself is the good shepherd. He Himself even said of Himself: “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11, 14).

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

"CM, In solidarity with the typhoon victims"

Distribution of relief goods and food packs
at San Mateo, Rizal


Packing of Goods


Christians, in fact, go to meet the poor and the weak, 
not to obey an ideological program
but because the word and the example of the Lord 
tells us that we are all brothers and sisters.
This is the principle of God´s love and justice among men.
Pope Francis 
(365 Daily meditation with Pope Francis)

One sister recounted her experience regarding the place. ....The water was very high in the place. Imagine the 2nd floor in the Provincial house, it reached up to the window level. It is good that their neighbor's house has the third floor, so people flocked to that house. It was a bodega of their small business. According to the residents, no one died, but the flood went up so high. Thanks be to God the water subsided the next day. As you can see in the pictures, these are our brothers and sisters who were affected. And you will still find it in other areas. 
 

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Feast of all Carmelite Saints.

Today we celebrate the feast of all Carmelite Saints. 
Let us glorify God for the gift of so many who followed Jesus´ path.
Let us ask their intercession that we, too maybe faithful up to the end.
Amen!