EXTENDING CHRIST'S MISSION: SAVING SOULS

THEOTOKOS

May each one be, like Mary, allow Jesus Christ to stay in ones heart.

 

MY JESUS, MY LOVE, STAY ALWAYS IN MY HEART.

 

Let us contemplate on the second Joyful Mystery:

 

THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY TO HER COUSIN ELIZABETH

 

Luke 1: 39-45

 

O Mary, You were so eager to extend Christ's mission even right after Jesus' Incarnation into 

Your Virginal womb.  You braved the long and tiresome journey to visit Your cousin Elizabeth

to help her and at Your greeting, Jesus, in Your womb blessed John in Elizabeths' womb which made him leap for joy and Elizabeth exclaimed, " Most blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb.  And how does this happen to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?  For at the moment the sound of Your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed are You who believed that what was spoken to You by the Lord will be fulfilled."

 

Let us pray the ROSARY OF VIRTUES

NIHIL OBSTAT:  Msgr. Josefino S. Ramirez

Vicar General

Archdiocese of Manila

 

Imprimatur:  Jaime Cardinal Sin, DD

Archbishop of Manila

 

THE VISITATION:  (We use the Magnificat of Mary for the meditation of the Virtues)

 

1.  We pray for the virtue of HUMILITY

O Mary, You said:  "Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid."

HAIL MARY...

 

2.  We pray for the virtue of FAITH

O Mary,You said:  "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

HAIL MARY...

 

3.  We pray for the virtue of OBEDIENCE

O Mary, You said:  "And His mercy is from age to age on those who fear Him."

HAIL MARY... 

 

4.  We pray for CONTINUOUS MENTAL PRAYER

O Mary, You said:  " Because He who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is His name."

O Mary, You  are  constantly aware of the greatness and holiness of God which is found in constant

prayer.

HAIL MARY...

 

5.  We pray for the virtue of MORTIFICATION

O Mary, You said:  "He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich sent empty away.

The more we give up of ourselves to mortifications, the more God fills us.

HAIL MARY...

 

6.  We pray for the virtue of CHARITY

O Mary, You said:  "He has given help to Israel , His servant, mindful of His mercy."

HAIL MARY...

 

7.  We pray for the virtue of PATIENCE

O Mary, You said:  "For behold, henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed."

O Mary, You believe that the Father gave us all things through all time, and You wait for this time.

HAIL MARY...

 

8.  We pray for the virtue of SWEETNESS

O Mary, You said:  "My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior."

HAIL MARY...

 

9.  We pray for the virtue of WISDOM

O Mary, You said:  "He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

HAIL MARY...

 

10.  We pray for the virtue of PURITY

O Mary, You said:  "For behold, all generation shall call me blessed."

HAIL MARY...

GLORY BE...

O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell.  Lead all souls to heaven especially those who most need Your mercy.

O my God, I believe, I adore, I hope, I trust and I love Thee.  I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, do not trust, and do not love Thee.

Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now, and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

 

HAIL HOLY QUEEN...

 

REFLECTION

 

To extend Christ's mission with Mary, it is best to practice Mary's virtues, by so doing, we can save many souls including our own.  We can extend our help to all our family members, officemates, fellow workers, neighbors , friends; and, foes -at home in the church, in our workplace and wherever we are.

 

Most Merciful and Loving Father, thank You for sending us Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us

thank You for Mama Mary who brings Christ to us and we, poor sinners, back to him.  Grant us the grace to hate sin; and, practice the virtues which Mary practiced so that we can save many souls and eventually save our own souls in Jesus' name.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

  

 

RENEWING THE FACE OF THE EARTH

 In the year 2000, I arrived in Camella, Woodhills, San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines.

The baby I was to babysit was only one month and four days old.

One day we went to Holiday Park to visit the land where the couple planned to build their mansion.
It was an untilled land filled with cogon grass.  After three years, the couple decided to make it a leisure farm. The baby I babysit was already three years old.

Banana Trees were the first edible plants there, the horse-radish trees came next with some flowering plants and many more. Everyday we have something new to plant such as herbs, veggies, legumes and crops.

Then the concrete fence was built, the comfort room followed and the shed house which the children loved so much.

The family enjoy working, playing, recreating, and partying in the farm.  Sometimes they spend their weekends there. They also celebrate birthdays, Christmas, and social gatherings with friends in the farm.

The storms and dry seasons destroyed some plants which is why we have to keep replanting and keep improving the place.

Today, the mango trees have grown so tall and the grounds under them is fully shaded as their branches are overlapping.  Thanks God, there are plants which survive in shady areas, like the ferns which just grew there by themselves. Someday their dream of having a forest might come true.

The gotu kola now spreads wildly that's why I need to control it.  I realized it should be planted in a wide container and not on the ground.  The balbas pusa is pretty better in shady places

To keep the place always new, trimming  and digging has to be done wherever and whenever necessary to make more vermicompost; remove weeds, improve plots and many more resolutions to do. 

The stepping stones along the slope have been disarranged by the heavy rainfalls and  need time to fix.  So help me God.

In your place, what possible improvements do you need to do ?




Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful.  Enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.  Send forth Thy spirit and they shall be created and Thou shall renew the face of the earth.  (Ref.  The Pieta Prayer Booklet p. 35).

Gotu Kola (Ind.) , Takip-kohol:  leaves ( eaten raw or made into a decoction or tea for rejuvenation.
Fresh leaves can be used in salads.  It has a high concentration of thiamine, riboflavin and pyridoxin.
Precaution:  Avoid use for more than 6 straight weeks.  Take a 2-week break before taking the herb again.  Not recommended for children under 4 or breast feeding and pregnant mothers.  People taking sedatives or any anxiolytics should not use takip kohol as a supplement.  Nausea haas been reported at very high levels of intake.  (Reference:  Medicinal Fruits and Vegetables by Jaime Z. Galvez Tan, MD, MPH; and, Ma. Rebecca M. Galvez Tan, RN)

I tried eating two raw leaves of gotu kola as advised by my sister in Cebu City.  I felt good.  Some other time later, I tried three leaves.  Still good but I felt sleepy.  For more information about gotu kola please search the internet.

TRUSTING IN GOD'S PROVIDENCE

In honor of St. Francis of Assisi, one of my favorite saints, whose feastday is today, I dedicate this blog because of his decision to marry the woman so rich, so noble and so beautiful that no one like her could be found in the world.  He married  Lady Poverty.  He was enamoured by the beauty of renouncing everything in order to reproduce in himself the perfect image of the poor Jesus. Francis, in dirty rags would go about the city to help the poor and the sick with his father's money.  Seeing this, his father Peter Bernadone got angry, took him to the Bishop and demanded restitution for all the money that Francis had spent for alms. When the Bishop told Francis to return his property, he took off his clothes saying that he was returning all that he had, including his clothes, the only thing he possessed. Then, Francis declared:  "Hear ye all and understand.  Until now I have called Peter Bernadone my father, henceforth, I can boldly say 'Our Father who art in heaven' , in Whom I have placed all my treasures and all my hopes". Bishop Guido gave his cloak to the naked Francis and he wore it.  (Reference:Lives of Saints compiled by Daughters of St Paul pp. 88-89).

A homeless wanderer, Francis spent his life in prayer, penance, meditation and service of the poor.
(Reference:  Lives of Saints complied by daughters of St. Paul).

I might as well invite St. Francis to help me in the farm because he is very kind to animals and even to the stones,  Himself, he called Brother Ass. All the rest of the creatures he'd call Brother or Sister.

He has the charism to make the fiercest wolf to become meek as a lamb and crouched by his feet when the wolf heard him speak:  "Brother Wolf, I command you in the name of the Most High, do not harm me or any other person."

 The animals listened and obeyed him.  Together with St. Francis they sing praises to the Lord, cicada, nightingale, many more, each in his own way. (Reference:Francis and the Animals  by Pino Madero Translated by Sr. Veronica Varona,FSP).

The Song of St. Francis

Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring Your love
Where there is injury, Your pardon, Lord
 And where there's doubt, true faith in You

Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there's despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness, ever joy

O Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we're born to eternal life

Among all the saints, it is St. Francis who inspired me to embrace Lady Poverty, depending only on Divine Providence.  His life, summarized in his song, helps me to carry on with this life I've chosen:
simple living and living life simply for the love of God and neighbor.

Our neighbor includes not only the persons next to us but also the things and animals around us.


The chicken and plants in the farm which I tend need feeds as people need food.  It seemed to me,
St. Francis interceded for us to make Brother Sun to shine brightly today just as long as I finished dressing the chicken and harvest the fruits and veggies.

 To lessen expenses on chicken feed, I chop leafy veggies and patola, ripe guavas and kitchen scraps to mix with a little amount of laying mash.

 I plant veggies and herbs to have an ample supply for both people and animals alike. 

Today, I arrived home safely and contentedly despite of the heavy rainfall which is why I had to
leave the farm earlier as usual.. The dressed chicken can't wait, it has to rest safely in the fridge
or the ants will bring the whole chicken piece by piece to their headquarter.  Hahaha!

I trust in God's Divine Providence, because the more I  trust the more He will provide.  Do you?

Thank You, Eternal and Loving Father, for all the people who helped me with my heavy load on my way back home, thanks for the money for fare, for all the harvests from the farm, for the rain and the sunshine.  Thank You for St. Francis who serves as my model in the practice of poverty and all those
contained in his song.  I say this in Jesus' name.  Amen.

St. Francis, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

OCTOBER 7 FEASTDAY: MARY QUEEN OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

In honor of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, many catholics around the world pray it. Praise the Lord, I do.

I learned how to recite it using my rosary beads when I was in the grades.

In our hometown, San Francisco, Camotes, Cebu, Phillipines, we bring a standard with the image of Virgin Mary (Birhen sa Barangay), from house to house.  In one instance, I learned how to pray it when my father told me to lead, though I hesitated.  He told me to lead following his guidance.  That's it!  I gained self-confidence and felt accepted.  I felt I belong so, I took the opportunity to join the prayer service as much as possible every 6:oo in the afternoon.  Through this Rosary, I also gained more good friends in the neighborhood and soon became a member of the Legion of Mary.
By the fervent recitation of the Holy Rosary with my family every dawn, I learned to love the Blessed Virgin Mary and so inspired to join in any church activities:  choir member especially during Easter, Church decoration and also decorating the images of Jesus, the Nazarene,  the Sepulcher, Our Lady of Sorrows and St. John, during Lent.

 All these childhood experiences brings me closer and closer to God today no matter how many times in my youth did I go my crooked ways.  To this effect, I am encouraging everyone to pray the rosary fervently and frequently.

Our Lady of  the Holy Rosary helps us obtain the conversion of sinners, like me; and, the grace of a peaceful death as in the case of my mother who died a holy death last October 9, 1990. All her life till her death she was with her rosary.  My father, one of her converts became so devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her rosary, to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and to God our Father.  My father, also died a peaceful death on August 23, 1981.

To pray the rosary is to contemplate with Mary the Lord made flesh, His ministry to the public, His passion, death , and resurrection for our salvation. Contemplating on the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the joyful mysteries inspires me to be humble, detachment from places, events, things, and persons I like so much as they were humble to stay in the stable and laid Jesus in a manger; as they fled to Egypt without any provision; as Mary said her "Fiat":  (Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to Thy Word); patience as they were seeking Jesus for three days; obedience
as Jesus obeyed His parents after being found in the Temple.

Being aware of my sinfulness, I need to keep repeating these prayers:  Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary. Glory be.., O my Jesus..., Hail Holy Queen  especially because I want to die a holy death.  Do you?

OMary, Queen of the most Holy Rosary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

 

OCTOBER: MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY

It's October once more,  month we devote to pray our daily Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I like this month because many people most devoted to our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary will pray the Holy Rosary.

The Fifteen Promises of Mary to Christians Who Recite the Rosary:

1.  Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary shall receive signal graces.
2.  I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary.
3.  The rosary shall be a powerful armour against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat
heresies.
4.  It 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 of eternal things.  Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5.  The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the rosary shall not perish.
6.  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.
7.  Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the church.
8.  Those who are faithful to recite the roasry shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9.  I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the rosary.
10. The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.
11.You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.
12.All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13.  I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the enitre celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14.  All who recite the rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
15.  Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination.
(Given to St Dominic and Blessed Alan) Imprimatur:  Patrick J. Hayes, D. D., Archbishop of New York

Why the Daily Rosary?

Our Lady has 117 titles.  She selected this title at Fatima:  " I am the Lady of the Rosary."

St. Francis de Sales said the greatest method of praying is... Pray the Rosary.

St. Thomas Aquinas preached40 straight days in Rome, Italy on just the HAIL MARY.

St. John Mary Vianney, patron of the priests, was seldom seen without the rosary in his hand.

"The rosary is the scourge of the devil." - Pope Adrian VI.

"The rosary is a treasure of graces." - Pope Paul V.

St. Padre Pio, the stigmatic priest said: "The rosary is the Weapon."

Pope LeoXIII wrote 9 encyclicals on the rosary.

Pope John XXIII spoke 38 times about our Lady and the Rosary.  He prayed 15 decades daily.

St. Louie Marie Grignon de Montfort wrote:  "The rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, our Redeemer, who so loves His Mother."

Reference:  Pieta Prayer Booklet.  pages 39-40.

THE MYSTERIES OF THE 'NEW' ROSARY

The Mysteries of Joy
(Mondays and Saturdays)

1.  The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary
2.  Mary's Visitation to Elizabeth
3.  The Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem
4.  The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
5.  The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The Mysteries of Light
(Thursdays)

1.  The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
2.  The First Miracle of Jesus at Cana
3.  The Proclamation of  the Kingdom of God
4.  The Transfiguration of Jesus on Mt. Tabor
5.  The Institution of the Eucharist

The Mysteries of Sorrow
(Tuesdays and Fridays)

1. The Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
2. The Scourging of Jesus at the Pillar
3. The Crowning of Jesus with Thorns
4.  The Carrying of the Cross to Calvary
5.  The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus on the Cross at Calvary

The Mysteries of Glory
(Wednesdays and Sundays)

1.  The Resurrection of our Lord
2.  The Ascension of our Lord into Heaven
3.  The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostles
4.  The Assumption of our Lady into Heaven
5.  The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Heaven as Queen of Heaven and Earth

PRAYERS USED IN THE ROSARY

Sign of the Cross:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

THE APOSTLES' CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.
He was concieved by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was  buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day, He rose again.
He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven
Holy be Your name
Your Kingdom come
Your will be done on earth
As it is in Heaven.

Give us this day
Our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the test  but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

HAIL MARY

Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

HOLY MARY, Mother of God,
Pray for us, sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

GLORY BE

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever.  Amen.

FATIMA PRAYER

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and
lead all souls to heaven, especially those who have most need of Your mercy.

CONCLUDING PRAYER;  HAIL HOLY QUEEN

Hail, Holy Queen,
Mother of Mercy,
Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve
To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us,
And after this, our exile, show unto us the Blessed Fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Pray for us , O Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:  O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection,
has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech you,
that meditating upon the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise
through the same Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

L:  May the divine assistance remain always with us.
A.  Amen.
L:  May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.
A.  Amen.
L:  May the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, descend upon us and remain with us always.
A.  Amen.

REFLECTION

For me, it is very beneficial to pray the Holy Rosary daily because I can meditate
on the life of Jesus and Mary.  I like to keep repeating the HAIL MARY as it keeps reminding
her to pray for us now and at the hour of our death.

I encourage everyone to pray the Rosary.
God bless you.  Mama Mary loves you.










10.

APPRECIATING THE GIFTS OF GOD IN US

Upon rising in the morning:  Thank YOU, LORD, for this new day, this new life.
Help me to do YOUR HOLY WILL today.
Thank You for the strength, I can stand and walk, take me where You want me to be..
Thank YOU for clear vision, help me to see YOU in all YOUR creation: especially in those who need
my help today.
Thank YOU for the opportunity to lessen the burden of someone who's lonely, confused,  brokenhearted, frustrated, desperate, terminally ill, anxious, hungry, hopeless,  the  widow and the poor.
By listening to their complaints and helping them to make their own decisions and plans for
positive possible actions to solve their situation, I am building in them self-confidence and giving
them hope to carry on.  

Yesterday, I met someone in the St. Peregrine Shrine, a 42 year old lady.  My primary purpose of going to the shrine was only to take pictures of the relic of St. Peregrine, Our Lady of Sorrows, and the Adoration Room.  After taking pictures I sat outside to snack on some banana.The lady approached me asking what I was selling. I told her, "None.  I thought you are the one selling something in that yellow bag."  Then she started telling me her problem with her one and only daughter who did not finish her college and got married without her permission while she was abroad as a domestic helper just to help her daughter finish college.  As a single mom, desperate of what her daughter did, herself who can't forgive was left alone., and now with the only friend of 66 year old
woman. At first she was happy to find a house to stay, the house of this old woman who invited her to stay. As days passed by she could no longer bear the careless comments of the old woman on her favorite foods:  veggies and fruits.  Their tastes differs a lot, that is, the old woman always wanted meat which she can't eat because since she was a child her food was always veggies and fruits.  Now she feels sick of eating meat.  Everytime she cooks veggies, the old woman would call her "Baka" 
(Cow, in English), because she likes to always eat grass (veggies). We chatted for so long and in the end she was very thankful to me for my guidance. I saw her good points and appreciated them all.
She went home happily ready to serve the old woman who gave her shelter.

Thank YOU, LORD, for the gift of counsel, which helped me lessen the burden of that young lady who is a single mom and indirectly, her single housemate.  May they both live happily ever after.

REFLECTION:  Appreciating our God-given talents means practicing it; by practicing it we share it to others, the more we share it the more we are enriched.  Practice well and share well and all is well.
She trusted me !  That was our first encounter. Maybe because she just need someone to talk to who could help her find a house where she could possibly stay peacefully.  Or maybe she found me sincere and friendly.  Praise the Lord for all these gifts.


Most Loving Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son , His Cross and our Lady of Sorrows whose
sufferings inspires us to bear our own crosses and sufferings and pains which we daily experience from our need to eat and drink; the need to work for a decent living.  Thank You for the Holy Spirit Who help us love others for the love of You in Jesus name.  Amen.

Horseradish (Malunggay) the leaves are very rich in calcium and iron, and a good source of
potassium and ascorbic acid.  It's good to be a vegetarian.  Be.





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GARDENING IS FUN

It's Tuesday.  I've to be in the farm early.  Taking a public ride twice.  First, take a jeep from Woodhills to the terminal.  Then, take the metro express going to Holiday Park.  Upon arrival, feed the chicken and paid the water bill.  Thanks God, it's only the minimum. 

The weather is fine.  No rain, yet the soil still wet, I can do digging without much effort.  Plant more herbs:  chili (hot pepper), tarragon tea, italian oregano, green tea.  Add compost to the fruit trees, then harvest.  It's good to have happy  leafy vegetables for dinner with lemon grass, pandan and many more.  Guavas, oranges, yam, guyabano and atis made my homebound load pretty heavy.  And for Lola Bella, an ailing aged lady, some flowers of some herb called "Balbas Pusa", and Taheebo.

 It's fun to work in the garden although it's muddy, slippery and hot under the sun.

Reflection:  Love labor and do it well.  Great rewards will come sooner or later.
Share your abundant life to all who need it, like giving some of your harvest to the ailing and the aged.

Abba Father, I thank YOU for the abundant blessings of today.  Bless us more and more so we can share to more people who need.  This I ask through our Lord.  Amen.

King Orange, Mandarin Orange, or Tangerin Orange.  (Rich in Vitamin C).