Undas 2012

today i join all christians and catholics around the world in celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints, whether known or unknown. here in the philippines, we call it Undas or Todos Los Santos.

saints are men and women who, by God's grace, have attained victory over the powers of sin in their lives. the call to a life of holiness or sainthood is a call for everyone. purity of mind and heart is one of the goals of a saintly life.  (Companion 2012 Q4)

Revelation 7 : 4-12, 14

    " I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked from every tribe of the Israelites. After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb". All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshipped God, and exclaimed, "Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

...... He (the Lord) said, "These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."

Saint Pedro Calungsod

last sunday, seven saints were canonized by Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter's Square in Rome. among them was Pedro Calungsod, a missionary, migrant and sacristan who sacrificed his life suffering religious persecution as a lay catechist in Guam back in 1672.

filipinos join all Christians and Catholics around the world in celebrating the canonisation of its second saint (after San Lorenzo Ruiz) and six other saints who braved all the odds and stood up to their faith as servants of the Lord.

while canonised during world mission sunday, 21 october 2012, the feast of san pedro calungsod will be celebrated every 2nd of april along with his companion blessed diego de san vitores for their martyrdom and death in guam.

san pedro calungsod is now hailed as the saint of filipino OFWs.

everyone is called to a life of holiness. no matter how lowly the state of life, how humble the beginnings, how sinful and wretched, how poor, how simple the mind, God calls on everyone to lead a holy life. this is not a calling solely for the few religious persons in society but a call for everyone willing to live blessed.

may we act and speak and think blessed in the way of the Lord. God bless everyone!

Feast of St. Luke

today is the Feast of St. Luke, the Evangelist. Luke was a companion to Paul and Barnabas, as we can gather from the Acts of the Apostles during their years of spreading the Good News. he was a doctor in Syria (in ancient Antioch) who became a disciple of Paul. he was not present during Jesus's ministry.

Luke was a writer as well (imbibing a clearer grasp of the Gospel during their missionary evangelization). being an educated person, his accounts were very accurate and well-put. some would even say he is a good historian because of the details that can be gleaned from his writings. but still, they were just narrative, a historical account. the Gospel as told by Luke has unique accounts of miracles and parables not in the other books. he depicts Jesus as pro-poor and pro-social justice, who is forgiving and merciful to sinners and who has a special connection and reverence to women (esp. Mary's Magnificat and salutation in Hail Mary).

St. Luke's symbol is an ox, as a symbol of sacrifice. he is the patron saint of physicians and surgeons.

A Time for Contemplation

Today the church celebrates the Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila, known as Virgin and Doctor of the Church. She is known as the Mystic for her contemplative works and writings.

a thought to ponder on:
"We should never take lightly the moral decisions that we make as they shape the person that we become."
                                                                       - lifted from Companion Q4 2012

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

today marks the commemoration of the life 'the little poor man of Assisi', St. Francis, who changed the way the poor have been viewed by the Church.

         Prayer to St. Francis

Lord make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.

O divine master grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive-
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it's in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen