Mary Help of Christians

Praised be Jesus Christ!!! Now and forever!!!
Mary Help of Christian. Mas-maganda rin sigurong Maria ina ng mga Kristiyano, Mary Mother of all Christians. In that title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is very pleasing to know na meron talagang patotoo sa sinabi ng Panginoong Hesus habang siya ay nabayubay sa Krus, "Ecce Mater Tua." Ito ang iyong Ina. And Jesus entrusting us to the care of his mother. And at the same Jesus entrusting his Mother to us. Entrusting Mary to us that we will love her, we will take care of the Mother of God. But what is More pleasing is this: Entrusting us to the care of Mary, especially us Christians. To be a Christian, especially a a Catholic is not an easy persona to live. To be a follower of Christ is a hard thing to do.Walang sinumang tao ang makakapag-sabi; "Madaling maging Kristyano!" "Madaling sundan ang mga yapak ni Kristo!" Pag may isang taong maglalakas loob sabihin yun, baka mabato ko lang. Bakit? Madali na palang buhatin ang Krus ngayon. Madali pa lang humarap sa mga taong pilit na sumisira sa ating pananampalataya. Madali pa lang mabuhay sa mundo ngayon na halos pro-death na ang pinaiiral na kaisipan. Madali pa lang gumalawa sa mundong puno ng Sekularismo ngayon. Well to be honest with you honey, hindi madaling mabuhay bilang isang mabuti at tapat na Kristiyano. What I'm trying to say is this: Makakayanan lang ng isang tao na mabuhay bilang isang tapat at mabuting Kristyano kung sila ay nasa patnubay ng grasya ng Diyos. And where and who is the greatest intercessor to the grace of God? It is non-other than the Blessed Virgin Mary? The title Mary Help of Christians calls us to ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to live a true Christian life especially in our times today, a time that is full of secularism, na para bagang wala ng Diyos dahil sa sobrang pagkakasala ng tao. And besides Mary is a perfect example of true Christian life. For she herself became obedient to the will of God, though hard, even if it means living a very hard life that almost cost her life through stoning.

A true Christian, a true follower of Christ, a true disciple of Christ, an exemplar for all the followers of Christ, Mary. And Mary through her powerful intercession can really help us in making ourselves live a true Christian life. One event of the presence of Mary under her title Help of Christians is during the RH laws discussion at senate. Nuns brought picture of Blessed Virgin Mary at the senate hall. Even though the RH/RP law was passed here in our country, it only proves that in harsh times, in dark moments we still cling to the maternal protection, maternal patronage of Mary. Mary Help of Christians, Ina ng mga Kristyano is a title na talagang magpapatunay na lahat ng Kristyano lalu na ang mga binyagan na mayroon tayong nanay, isang nanay na hindi tayo pababayaan bagkus lalu at palagi tayong dadalhin sa kanyang anak na si Hesus. Kahit anu mang mangyari nandyan lang siya, kahit tayo ang lumalayo siya itong palaging nananalangin sa kanyang anak na sana makabalik na tayo. Yan ang nanay. Masasabi natin, na dahil sa sobrang paglalapastangan ng mundong ito sa kanya at sa kanyang anak, masasabi natin na si Maria ay isa ngang ulirang ina, nangungulila rin sa atin. Siguro kagaya ng lahat ng ina si Maria rin, sumasakit ang ulo namomoroblema pag lumalayo tayo sa kanya at sa kanyang anak. Pero kahit anung mangyari, anu mang gawin natin nadyan lang siya, handang tumulong lalu na sa lahat ng Kristyano. Kasi obvious naman ehh.. Nanay siya at ganyan magmahal ang Ina. There are only two reasons why I am a proud Catholic. Una alam kong may Diyos ako na mahal ako at ang lahat ng tao. May Diyos ako na dama ko ang presensya lalu na sa mga Sakramento at lahat ng instances ng aking buhay. Pangalawa may Nanay Maria ako na palagi akong aakayin pabalik at papunta sa kanyang anak na si Hesus.
Mary Help of Christians, Pray for us!!!
Jesus I trust in thee!!!
Oh Mary conceived without sin, Pray for us who have recourse to thee!!!

Friday of the 7th week in ordinary time MK10:1-12 (Reflection)

Praised be Jesus Christ!!! Now and forever!!!
In today's Gospel, Jesus talks about the Sanctity of Marriage, the Holiness or the Sacredness of Marriage. "What God has created let no man separate." Jesus said in today's Gospel. Through that word of Jesus, son of God, God himself, only proves that marriage, indeed is sacred, and marriage is only for MAN and WOMAN who has this intimate love within  themselves for each other. Marriage first of all is a vocation, a vocation between two persons and God, which God binds in order to let his graces and the grace of creating new life flow. In our world today, the world we are living is trying to change the meaning of marriage, the sanctity of marriage they are trying to change, by putting in divorce, artificial family planning and same-sex marriage. Through those things marriage is deteriorated, the real meaning of marriage is lost. One of the most beautiful thing God has given us is marriage. For marriage indeed is a plan of God not of man. Marriage is created by God not by man. And it is created in order to let many graces flow through a marriage. Marriage in God's plan is a very hard thing to do. Napakahirap ng kasal sa plano ng Diyos. Bakit? Kasi ang kasal sa loob ng plano ng Diyos, sa loob ng alituntunin ng kanyang simbahan ay nangangahulugang, pang-habang-buhay, life-time, forever. On the first place palagi nating tatandaan na sa Sakramento ng Kasal, Diyos sa pamamagitan ng kanyang pari ang nagbabasbas sa dalawang tao upang sila ay makasal. At sa pamamagitan ng basbas na iyon sila (ang ikinakasal) ay hindi na dalawa ngunit iisa na. They are made one by the grace of God. Ang nakakapangilabot at nakakapanindig balahibo ay ito, ang mga tao ay  patuloy na gumagawa ng bagay na pilit sumisra sa kasagraduhan ng kasal. Mga halimbawa nito ay ang mga nabanggit sa naunang pahayag. Pero why people now a days does not take marriage seriouly? Minsan nga nag kasal ay nagiging usapang pa-bonggahan na lang ehh.. Nawawala na ang kasagraduhan ng kasal. The rest is just flowers, real marriage is about The husban, wife and God. Not about the wedding coordinator na pati ang Liturhiya gusto na atang baguhin. Anyways to return to the main topic, Sacredness of Marriage: As Christ said in today's Gospel: Marriage is

Sacred at dapat sa mulat-mula pa lang ito ay pinaghahandaan na. The Marriage planning starts when one couple meets each other. One's na magkakilala na yan diyan na magsisimula ang mga pagsisiyasat. Kung sa simula palang ng pagiging mag-boyfriend at mag-girlfriend ay puros kapalpakan na, puros pandaraya na sa isat-isa ay aber magdalawang isip na kayo kung nais niyo pang ituloy yang relationship na yan. Kung magkasintahan palang kayo at hinayaan niyo na ang Diyos na mamagitan sa inyo, it only proves that you have the right to move to the next level. Ang kasal, dahil ito ay isang bokasyon ay dapat pinagiisipan ng masinsinan hindi basta-basta dahil mahirap na, na ito pa ang maging sanhi ng mga sakit ng ulo ninyo. Ang kasal, pag ito'y ginalang, pinaghandaan at sineryoso ay magiging tulay kung saan ang mga grasya, ang mga biyaya ng Diyos ay dadaloy. Sagrado ang kasal, stick to the real meaning of marriage, a covenant between a MAN a WOMAN and GOD, in which God makes the MAN and WOMAN one. Plano ng Diyos ang kasal, ginawa niya ito para maipadama niya sa tao, na ang tao ay gusto niyang maging masaya at di mag-isa.

Napakaganda ng plano ng Diyos sa mga mag-asawa. To be specific may mga grasya na para lang talaga sa mga mag-asawa,  exclusive for husbands and wives. Diba napakaswerte natin to have a God who gives a chance to be happy, by giving us this wonderful Sacrament of Marriage. And thanks to marriage human life is formed, human life is created. Wag na wag magpapakasal dahil nabuntis lang ang babae or whatsoever, nawawala ang value ng kasal, bagkus nagkakasala pa ng malala pag ginawa iyon. Magpakasal dahil nandun ang pag-ibig. Magpakasal dahil alam mo yun ang misyon mo. Magpakasal dahil alam mong sa sarili kaya mong dalhin ang mga responsibilidad na kaakibat nito. Wag basta-basta, sa mga usaping bokasyon "LET GOD" dahil yang mga yan plano niya at dahil plano niya, walang sinuman ang makakasira at makakapigil nito. Marriage has love. And where there is LOVE there is GOD. And what good example of that is the love that binds husbands and wives.

Jesus I trust in thee!!!

Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!!! 

Thursday of the 7th week in Ordinary time: Mk 9:41-50 (Reflection)

Praised be Jesus Christ!!!

 Sa mundong ating ginagalawan, marami tayong mga tao at mga bagay, maging ang ating sarili ay ating nakakasalamuha, nakakasama sa mga bagay-bagay. At dahil sa mga pangyayaring iyon, minsan ito ay nagdudulot sa atin na gumawa ng mga bagay mabuti man o masama. Sabihin na natin sa mga taong ating nakakasalamuha, magbigay tayo ng isang halimbawa, gamitin na din siguro natin ang bagay na patok na patok sa mga kabataan, ang barkada. Sabihin na natin na may kabarkada ang isang bata. At siyempre bilang parte ng isang barkada, ang nangyayari, kung anung gagawin ng isa yun na din ang gagawin o gugustuhin ng lahat. Sabihin natin nagyaya ang isa sa kanila na mag-simba, mabuting gawain iyon. Pero kung ang isa ay magyaya na pumunta sa mga lugar na parang wala ng Diyos dahil sa sobrang pangit at masama nito. Iyan ang masasabi nating isang masamang impluwensya na nagdudulot ng kasalanan. Sabihin na din natin, isa pang halimbawa, ang internet at mga computers, yan ay dapat ginagamit para sa kabutihan, for research purposes and as a Christian to bring Christ to the world by the usage of the internet. But one of the most obvious problems in the internet is the many abuses many people do in using the internet. Imbis na ginagamit ang social media para palaganapin ang pag-ibig ng Diyos and to bring good to others, ito ay nagagamit to send scandals, to send evil messages that will make other people more down, more deprived and more desperate in finding hope. Maging ang ating sarili na rin siguro, indeed we are given the freedom by God to choose what ever path of life we like. But the harsh thing is often we choose to forget God, we choose to remove God by our non-stop committing of sins. What is the use of things, if the things we use, we create are used to spread evil and not good? Anu nga ba namang saysay ng mga bagay na ito kung puro pambababa ng iba ang idinudulot nito? Why create things and use things that are senseless,

non-sense?  What is the use? Why do things, why use yourself, why tire yourself in doing things that are not human but barbaric? I could not understand. Bakit nga ba? And people now a days will say; "I'm so tired, I need to rest." If the things one is doing is senseless, why do that? Ngayon magre-rekla-reklamo ka. Ehhh.. ginusto mo yan ehhh... You choose to do senseless things and now you complain. What the gospel today is trying to say is simply this; Do not let anything become  a hindrance in your relationship with God. Better remove those hindrance, better burn and erase those hindrance that keep us away from God. Example of those hindrance are the following:  lust, indifference, secularism, pro-death things and thoughts, barbaric and non-human actions. For short sin. If one is leading you to commit sin (person, things and even one's self) better remove that, better make your way in order to change that. Sin is the greatest hindrance that divides, that separate, that remove us from the love of God. Sin should be remove in our thinking. On the first place, sin is not natural for human beings, especially those who say they believe in God, they are Catholic, they are CHRISTians. For those kinds of people sin is not usual, sin is a virus. Better remove the things, better change the things, (through God's grace) that keep us away from God. As the motto of Jesuits "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" For the greater glory of God, that should be the main goal of every person, every human being, everything in the world, For the greater glory of God, that should be the main purpose of our lives. Things, others and one's self should be use to add to the glory of God. Better leave the things that keep us away from God. To end I would like to quote St. Dominic Savio "Death but not sin." I rather die, I rather perish than to be out of the sight of God, for a person full of sin and no sign of repentance is in him or her is already lost in God's sight. Use things and one's life for the glory of God. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!!!

Jesus I trust thee!!!

Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!!!

A reflection on St. Rita of Cascia

Praised be Jesus Christ!!!
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Rita of Cascia. Just like St. Jude Thadeus and St. Expeditus, St. Rita is also known as the saint of the impossible, saint of desperate cases. But that's not the main focus on the life of this said saint. Si Sta. Rita de Cascia ay isang babaeng maraming pinagdaanan and mostly, lalu na nung panahon ng kanyang kabataan. She was forced to get married. She was married and her husband was murdered. When her children grew-up as a tradition, they want to take revenge on the death of their father. Pero dahil sa sobrang pananalig at pananamapalataya ni Rita sa Diyos. At dahil na rin sa pagnanais niya para sa kanyang sarili at para sa kanyang mga anak na mamuhay ng banal, to live a holy life, she prayed that God will take her children the way they are before the devil may get them. That part it is very touching. Yan ang nanay!!! Kahit masakit ninanais niya na lang na mamatay, na kunin ng Diyos ang kanyang mga anak kaysa ang mga ito ay maging mamatay na tao. kitang-kita sa buhay ni Sta. Rita that she chose the better way for her children. Kahit masakit, she learned to let go. Yun naman talaga ang tunay na umiibig, handang bumitaw at ipasa-Diyos na lang ang mga bagay-bagay. Dahil alam naman nating lahat na sa Diyos ay mapapabuti ang lahat.  When these things happened, she decided to enter the convent, in the Order of St. Augustine, for it was her life-long dream to become a nun before she was forced by her parents to get married. At first hindi siya pinayagan, kasi one of the main requirement in order to become a nun is that all sisters should have a single status and a virgin. But as time pass-by through the intercession of her Patron Saints (St. Augustine, St. Nicolas de Tolentino and St. John the Baptis) she made it and successfully entered the convent. This only proves na bago ang isang tao could reach the fullness of one's vocation, kailangan marami muna itong pagdaanan. Rita's vocation wasn't an easy one, naging asawa siya, naging magulang at sa bandang huli siya ay naging madre. Kitang-kita naman sa buhay ng santang ito ang pagnanais niyang mamuhay para sa lumalang sa kanya. At kung ang isang tao ay may ganung pagnanais na kagaya kay Rita, there will always be a way to reach the fulfillment of the vocation one is holding. St. Rita's life like of all saints is a life of love, love for God, love for his Church and love for the people of God. And like Sta. Rita our calling is to have also love burning within us. What I like the most on St. Rita is her deep love for the Passion of Christ her deep love for the suffering and crucified Jesus. Dun naman talaga makikita ang kabuuan ng pag-ibig, tunay na pag-ibig. Na ang Diyos  napako sa Krus para sa ting kaligtasan. St. Rita has this great love for the God crucified on the Cross. Our calling, just like of Rita is to share on the sufferings of Jesus, is to share on the Passion of Jesus. And the normal question to that calling is, "Paano?" "How?" Obviously in our time today the only way we can have a share in the passion of Jesus is through the Mass and living the Mass by going to the Christ's of the streets, the poor, the marginalized, the outcast and the persons, the Christ's this world is forgetting through acts of great indifference. The best way to share in the suffering of Jesus is humbling our selves in order to help those poor Christ's. The poor are the living stigmatas of Christ. They are the perfect reflections of the suffering Christ

here on earth. And our calling in seeing that image of the suffering Christ here on earth is to help them "Kalingain sila." Like Rita she received the stigmata from our Lord and she lived that stigmata, she lived the life of the suffering Christ a life of love. And we have the same calling of Rita to live the life of the  suffering Christ a life of love and self offering.  And at the end of our lives, when we die, when we face the Triune God we will have the chance to say "Lord to the best of my abilities I've tried to live for you, through you and in you."   I hope we may end our lives just like of Rita, full of joy, full of Christ. Our love should be like of a rose, which Rita asked before she died. a rose, though thorny but it brings good fragrance. Our live though thorny, though hard but should bring fragrance to God and neighbor by living a life of holiness.
St. Rita of Cascia, Pray for us!!!
Jesus I trust in thee!!!
Oh Mary conceived without sin!!!
Pray for us who have recourse to thee!!!                                                                

St. Rita of Cascia

Augustiniannun, also called Margarita. She was born in Roccaporena, near Spoleto, Italy, in 1381, and expressed from an early age the desire to become a nun. Her elderly parents insisted that she be married at the age of twelve to a man described in accounts of her life as cruel and harsh (But after her coffin was cleaned and the smoke clotting was removed from the eulogy text in her coffin, there was no such thing as a “cruel husband” in Rita’s life.) She spent eighteen extremely unhappy years, had two sons, and was finally widowed when her husband was killed in a brawl. Both sons also died due to the prayers of St. Rita, that the Lord may take her children before the devil can get to them by becoming murderers. And Rita, still anxious to become a nun, tried unsuccessfully to enter the Augustinians in their convent at Cascia. She was refused because she was a widow and because of the requirement that all sisters should be virgins. Finally, in 1413, the order gave her entry, and she earned fame for her austerity, devotion to prayer, and charity. In the midst of chronic illnesses, she received visions and the Stigmata on her forehead which resembled the crown of thorns. She died on May 22, 1457 at Cascia, and many miracles were reported instantly. Canonized in 1900, she is honored in Spain as La Santa de los Impossibles and elsewhere as a patron saint of hopeless causes.

PRAYER TO ST. RITA OF CASCIA

Holy Patroness of those in need, Saint Rita, you were humble, pure and patient. Your pleadings with your divine Spouse are irresistible, so please obtain for me from our risen Jesus the request I make of you: (mention your petition). Be kind ot me for the greater glory of God, and I shall honor you and sing your praises forever. Glorious Saint Rita, you miraculously participated in the sorrowful passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for me now the grace to suffer with resignation the troubles of this life, and protect me in all my needs. Amen.

St. Rita of Cascia, Pray for us!!!

Love without ceasing a Testimony

Purihin ang Panginoon!!! Ngayon at magpakailanman!!!
Sa mundong ating ginagalawan, napakahirap makahanap ng mga patunay na mayroon pa ngang tunay na pag-ibig. In our world today, a world full of secularism the so called "TRUE LOVE" is very hard to see and very hard to find.  Sometimes for Catholics we only see true love by means of  looking at the Crucified Christ, where God's love was expressed to us in a bloody yet loving way. But here is a proof (I've got this from St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi facebook page) A mother (97 years old), still feeding and taking care of her paralyzed son (60 years old) everyday for more than 19 years. This picture was taken from China. Love without ceasing. The only way to see the fulfillment of love, the only way to know if one's love is bearing fruit if it know's how to die, if it know's how to forget one's self. Love is a sacrifice! Ang pag-ibig at ang umiibig ay handa dapat na mamatay. Mamatay sa sarili, kalimutan ang sarili para sa iba. Yun ang ginagawa ng Panginoon. Just like this mother shown in the picture, walang sawang umibig. Pero let us try looking at this picture:
Ito yung Diyos na hinubad ang kanyang pagka-diyos para lang sabihin sa tao na "O ito ang aking sarili para sa iyo. Ang aking katawan at dugo para sayo. Ang aking buhay para sayo" Ito yung Pag-ibig na ibibigay ang lahat-lahat kahit na ang ibig sabihin nito ay kamatayan. Ang dinanas niya pa ngang kamatayan ay kamatayan sa krus. Yun ang pinakamalalang paraan ng pagpatay na iginagawad ng mga Romano. Pero napagtagumpayan niya yun dahil sa pag-ibig. Ngayon ang panawagan sa atin: Ibigin natin siya. Hanggang ngayon hindi siya nagsasawang iparamdam ang kanyang pag-ibig sa atin. Nandyan ang mga Sakramento, ang mga Sakramento na kanyang iniwan sa atin ay tanda ng kanyang pag-ibig sa atin, ay tanda ng kanyang patuloy na paggabay sa atin. Sa mga Sakramento? Oo sa Binyag, pinapatuloy niya tayo sa kanyang kawan, sa kanyang pamilya kahit di tayo karapat-dapat. Sa Eyukaristiya, patuloy niyang ibinigay ang kanyang katawan at dugo sa anyo ng tinapay at alak para tayo ay palakasin. Sa Sakramento ng pagbabalik-loob, nandun siya sa kumpisalan, sa kanyang pari, naghihintay at handang magpatawad. Sa Sakramento ng Kasal, patunay lamang na sa bawat relasyon ng mag-asawa nandun siya, handang gumabay at akayin ang mga magka-relasyon. Sa Banal na Orden, patuloy siyang nagpapadala ng mga pastol para pangalagaan ang kanyang mga tupa dito sa mundo. Sa Kumpil, patunay lamang, na patuloy niyang ipinapadala ang kanyang Espiritu para palakasin tayo at ilayo sa kasalanan at kapahamakan. At sa Viaticum, patunay lamang na hanggang sa oras ng kamatayan nandun siya upang magbigay lakas at pabaon sa ating biyahe pabalik sa kanya. At isa pa nasa mga Tabernakulo siya nasa mga Adoration Chapels siya naghihintay sa'yo. kailangan mo nang kausap andun siya, lumapit ka lang. Diba yan ang tunay na pag-ibig. Kagaya nung nanay sa unang larawan at nung Diyos na nakapako sa Krus, yan ang pag-ibig, TUNAY NA PAG-IBIG "TRUE LOVE" Ang panawagan: Handa mo ba din siyang ibigin kagaya ng pag-ibig niya sa'yo? Are you ready to love Him just like the way he has loved you? Pag-ispan natin, pagnilay-nilayan natin, dahil tayo alng ang makakasagot niyan sa ting mga sarili. Kung saan merong pagmamahal nandun ang Diyos. Where there is love there is God.

Jesus I trust in thee!!!
O Mary conceived without sin! Pray for us who have recourse to thee!

To Jesus through Mary a Catholic thought

                                                                 

Praised be Jesus Christ

Many of you might ask, "Why did you choose the name, To Jesus through Mary a Catholic thought?" The answer to that query is very simple: Where does the Catholic Faith gain her strength, gain her courage to call her children (faithful or not) and where does Holy Mother Church gets her initiative to continue loving and taking care of the Children of God? And also where does Christians gain their strength to live a life pleasing to God?  Well obviously it is from Jesus and Mary the great exemplars of love and obedience to the Father. Jesus and Mary, "Mag-ina", "Mag-nanay" in the Filipino language, "Mother and So" and the bonds between this two (Jesus and Mary) is very deep, for through this two persons salvation was given to us. Through the “Yes” of Mary and through the obedience of Jesus, the plan of salvation was fulfilled. In our Faith our deep calling is to love, "Magmahal" to love without ceasing, to love without tiring. And where can we get a very good and very precise basis of our calling to love? No one else except:  Jesus and Mary, from the Sacred Heart Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the two hearts that surrendered to the will of the Father because of love . One of the reasons why I started this blog is obviously, little by little, posts after posts, as a Catholic, in a little way I can touch the hearts of the Faithful of God, by giving at least thoughts, reflections and messages. Though week, I know through this blog I'm starting I can answer to the call to the "New Evangelization." This is a proof and a testimony that we should use the social media, the internet properly in order to bring Christ to the world, and leading others to Christ. Maybe it's now time to return to the giver love, JESUS. Little by little, though hard let us strive to return to Him, and as we strive, let us also help others to return to Him by means of our actions and words of encouragement. Let us ask Mary's intercession that in our way of living we may lead others to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. May God who has begun the good work in us, bring it to fulfillment.

Jesus I trust in you!!!

O Mary conceived without sin! Pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Regular posts: Already in progress

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