Ateneo de Manila High School

Meet the Jesuits (MTJ)

2010-11-17T12:40:00.005+08:00

Last Saturday, 13 November 2010, 24 Juniors and Seniors of the Ateneo de Manila High School attended the Meet the Jesuits (MTJ) session. For one full day, it was all about knowing the Jesuits, and their stages of religious formation.

The AHS students listened to many Jesuit vocation stories and visited the following Jesuit formation houses: the Jesuit Residence , where a hearty lunch was served, the Loyola House of Studies where they went up to "Titanic", and the Arrupe International Residence, where the AHS students had recreation and met young scholastics from Myanmar and East Timor. The day ended at the Arvisu Pre-Novitiate House at Varsity Hills, where the Sunday anticipated Mass was celebrated.

Many thanks to the Jesuit Vocation Promotion Team, Bro. Jody Magtoto, S.J, Fr. Manny Perez, S.J., Fr. Bill Kreutz, S.J., Fr. Jun Viray, S.J., Fr. Lester Maramara, S.J., Fr. Xavier Olin, S.J., Fr. Eli Lumbo, S.J. and the Jesuit Pre-novices at the Arvisu House.

The MTJ was a sneak peek into the life of the Jesuits. We hope that some day, many AHS students choose the priestly vocation, and serve the Lord by becoming a Jesuit.

San Estanislao Kostka: Santo at Binata

2010-11-08T12:46:00.004+08:00

ni Ronan B. Capinding

Naaalala ko nu’ng magkasalubong kami ni Fr. Eli Lumbo, ang ating APFor.
Sabi niya sa ‘kin, “Ron, sa Nobyembre, buwan ni Saint Stanislaus Kostka. Bagay yata na Office of Student Activities ang manguna sa Monday reflections.“ Ang sagot ko naman agad, “Sure, Father.” At mabilis lang, naghiwalay na kami at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Saka ko naisip, “Student Activities at St. Stanislaus Kostka?”. Hmm, hindi naman mahirap hagilapinang kaugnayan ng dalawa. Una, si San Estanislao ay estudyante at teenager, ang pinakabatang santo sa Kapisanan ni Hesus. Sa loob lamang ng labingwalong taon, naabot niya ang kabanalang hindi basta naaabot ng mga nakatatanda noong panahon niya, o kahit ng matatanda ngayon sa panahon natin. Kaya naman si St. Stanislaus Kostka mismo ang pintakasi (o patron saint) ng Mataas na Paaralang Ateneo. Isa kasi siyang huwarang binata. Isang tinitingalang halimbawa. Kamangha-mangha.

Isa pa, sa kaniya rin kinuha ang pangalan ng ating parangal para sa kabutihang asal at kaginoohandito sa Mataas na paaralang Ateneo. Napakadisiplinadong binata rin kasi ni San Estanislao; mabait
na kasapi ng pamilya, mabait na kaibigan at seminarista, madasalin, at palaiwas sa gulo at tukso.
Kagiliw-giliw. Kagiliw-giliw. Batang Santo. Pintakasi. Kamangha-mangha. Banal. Huwaran ng Kabutihang-asal.

Ano pa ba ang mga astig na bagay ang masasabi tungkol kay San Estanislao? Nariyan pang
nagpakita sa kaniya ang Mahal na Birhen noong maysakit siya dahil taimtim siyang nagdasal na
makatanggap ng sakramento kahit ayaw pumayag noon ng kumukupkop sa kaniya. Nariyan ding
hindi nagbagong-anyo ang kanyang mga labi kahit tatlong taon na siyang sumakabilang-buhay.
Kakaiba talaga. Katangi-tangi.

Aba, makikitang lampas na lampas pa siya sa pagiging basta estudyante lang. Kahit hindi larangan ng Student Activities, mayroon at mayroong makikitang kaugnayan kay San Estanislao. Kaya naman minsan tuloy, mas naididiin kung paano siyang naiiba sa karaniwang binatilyo. Kaya tuloy minsan, hindi natin siya magamit na halimbawa ng estudyanteng karaniwan. Nasasabi tuloy natin kung minsan, “Iba naman kasi si Kostka. Santo siya, e.”

Kaya para naman maiba, subukin natin siyang pag-usapan ngayon bilang karaniwang teenager.
Imbes na banggitin kung ano ang mga nagtatangi sa kanya sa iba pang bata, pansinin natin ngayon kung anu-ano ang naghahawig sa kanya sa mga kaedad niyang tulad ninyo.

Tulad ng marami sa inyo, mahirap dinsiyang awatin. Ayaw niyang paawat. Gustung-gusto niyang
pumasok sa Kapisanan ni Hesus sa napakabatang gulang. Ayaw ng tatay niya. Ayaw rin ng Direktor ng seminaryo sa lugar nila. Pero ayaw niyang paawat, naglakad siya ng napakahabang distansiya, nagbalatkayong pulubi habang naglalakbay, dahil determinado siyang mag-Heswita, kahit sa ibang
seminaryo pa sa labas ng kaniyang bayan. Parang kayo rin, ilang beses nang sinabing huwag
sumali sa ganyang komite, huwag kang mag-volunteer sa ganyang proyekto, huwag maging aktibo sa ganyang samahang pangmag-aaral, huwag nang ituloy’yan dahil naman required. Pero ayaw paawat. Kahit may tiis at dusa, ayaw niyong papigil kung buung-buo na ang loob niyong tumugon sa isang tawag. Batang-bata. Kostkang-Kostka.

Tulad din ninyo, may mga nagpapamiserable rin sa buhay niya. Alam ba ninyong binu-bully parati si Kostka noon? Hindi ng mga kamag-aral o kaibigan niya, kundi ng Kuya niya. Kaya naman mas mahirap dahil hindi talaga niya matatakasan. Lagi siyang inaalaska, inuutusan, binubuntal. Pero hindi siya pinanghinaan ng loob, tulad ng marami sa inyo. Hindi kayo pumapatol sa mga bully. Lalo na kung alam ninyo ang inyong halaga, ang inyong mga pagpapahalaga, ang inyong mga pangarap. Alam kasi ninyo kung sino kayo. At dahil doon, hindi kayang sirain ng kanyang Kuya ang diskarte ni Kostka. Parang siya na nga ang naging mas matanda at parang hinihintay na lang niyang tumanda rin ang kuya niya. Hindi siya pumatol, hindi siya nasira dahil dito. Kaya tuloy, nu’ng mamatay si Kostka, ang kuya niya ang pinakahumagulgol. At dahil sa masidhing pag-ibig sa nakababata niyang kapatid, hinangad din niyang mag-Heswita gaya ng kanyang kapatid.

At tulad uli ninyo, wala naman espesyal o kakaibang pagkakataon si San Estanislao na maging mabuti. Payak at karaniwan din lang ang mga pagkakataong mayro’n siya. Hindi siya bayani ng
digmaan; hindi rin nagpakamartir para sa pananampalataya; hindi naman umakda ng aklat; hindi rin siya naghimala. Wala lang. Karaniwan. Nang makapasok nga siya sa seminaryo, tuwang- tuwa siya dahil mithiin talaga niya ‘yon. Pero ang naging trabaho niya sa seminary kalaunan ay tagawalis ng sahig. Biruin n’yo ‘yon. Liban sa pagdarasal, ang umuubos sa panahon niya ay pagwawalis ng sahig. Parang mas kapana-panabik pa yata ang magbura ng pisara, o mag-class beadle, o mag-prayer leader, o mag-treasurer, o mag-Logistics Committee ng SophComm, o mag- Programs Committee ng Fair o mag-Org Head, o mag-Varsity, kaysa maging tagawalis ng sahig. Pero huwag ka, isa sa mga pinakasikat na hirit ni Kostka ay, "I find a heaven in the midst of saucepans and brooms." (2x). “May nasusumpungan akong langit sa mga dustpan at walis.” Pilyo man at parang walang galang, puwede ring masabing, “Aba, aba, aba! Dinaan ni Kostka sa pagwawalis ang paghantong sa langit.”

O sige nga. Ikaw. Buuin mo nga ngayon sa isip mo ang sarili mong bersiyon ng hirit ni Kostka. “
Dadaanin ko sa (blank) ang paghantong sa langit.” Hindi kailangang humanap ng bago o espesyal na gawain. Kahit ‘yung mga natitipuhan at kayang-kaya mo na ngayon, puwede na ‘yon. Halimbawa:
Dadaanin ko sa “pag-aaral sa pagsusulit” ang paghantong sa langit. Dadaanin ko sa “pagtulong
sa Palig” ang paghantong sa langit. Dadaanin ko sa “pagsisinop ng basura” ang paghantong sa
langit. Dadaanin ko sa “pagbati sa mga nakakasalubong ko” ang paghantong sa langit. Dadaanin ko sa “pagsisimba tuwing alas-siyete ng umaga” ang paghantong sa langit. At iba pa.

Basta dapat sana, mayroon kang Layunin o yayakaping Gawain o Paglilingkod, gaano man kaliit.
Layunin o Gawain o Paglilingkod. Na siyang magtutulak sa iyong higit pang kumayod at higit pang magdasal. Dahil kasi sa mga mithiin, lumalakas tuloy ang iyong pagkayod, lumalakas tuloy ang iyong pagdarasal, at hindi ka kayang tumbahin ng mga pumipigil sa iyo, ng mga nambu-bully at umaalaska sa ‘yo, ng kasimplehan at kahinaan ng papel na naitakda sa ‘yo. ‘Yun siguro ang kitang-kita kay Kostka. Minamalaki niya ang mga pagkakataong naibibigay sa kaniya. “Anuman ‘to, magiging daan ko ito patungong langit. Yayakapin at mamahalin ko ito, ipagdarasal ko ito, at ako ang magiging pinakamahusay at magiting na tagawalis ng sahig.” Ganyan na ganyan din ang tinatawag nating Magis dito sa Ateneo. Hindi nadaraan sa dami o laki ng nagawa, kundi sa pag-ibig na ibinuhos sa
ginawa. Love lang talaga ang Magis. Sabi nga: Lab talaga, at hindi Labis, ang Magis.

Sa halimbawa ni San Estanislao, nakikita nating tila mas masahol pa ang tumunganga kaysa
magkamali. Marami yatang mga santo ang nadapa rin at nagkamali. Pero walang santong
tumunganga. Lahat ng mga santo, nabuhay nang buhay na buhay. At huwag ka sanang tutunganga dahil kayo mo ring mabuhay nang buhay na buhay. Kung 1st year ka, namnamin mo ang mga iniaalok ng buhay- 1st year. Kung 2nd year, 3rd year o 4th year ka, sairin mo ang bulalo ng buhay-2nd year,3rd year o 4th year. Magising ka sana. Magsigla ka. Mabuhay. Ikagat mo nang malalim ang iyong mga ngipin sa anumang gawaing maaari mong pagbuhusan ng sarili at maaaring magtulak sa ‘yo sa taimtim na pagdarasal. Tingnan mo ang kinatawan ng klase mo sa Palig, ang IndAK, ang SophComm, ang Serye-Kabataan, ang mga sumali sa KLIK, at maraming iba pa. Buhay na buhay sila ngayon. Kayod nang kayod at dasal nang dasal sila ngayon dahil may pinili silang yakaping munting paglilingkod. “I find a heaven in the midst of saucepans and brooms.” Lahat ng nakapaligid sa iyong pagkakataon ngayon, malaki man o maliit, nag-aanyaya tungo sa kabanalan. Hindi na hinintay ni San Estanislao ang mga hamong malalaki at pangmatanda; naging santo siya sa pag-atupag sa mga simpleng gawain niya bilang isang binata.

Sa huli, San Estanislao Kostka AT mga Gawaing Pangmag-aaral: magkaugnay na magkaugnay nga. Pagiging Banal AT Pagiging Bata: hindi pala sila malayo o magkasalungat. Santo AT Binatilyo: dahil kay San Estanislao Kostka, alam na nating puwedeng-puwedeng magsabay ang dalawa.

Manalangin tayo. (sign of the cross)

Panginoon, Itulot po Ninyo, Na ang mga larangang aming sinusulit, gaano man sila kasikip, gaanoman sila kapuno ng pasakit, gaano man sila kayaman sa balakid, gaano man sila kapayak at kaliit,nang dahil sa aming pag-ibig at pananalig, ay maghatid nawa sa amin sa langit. Amen

San Estanislao Kostka, Ipanalangin mo kami. (sign of the cross). Magandang umaga, mga binata!

Pagninilay Matapos ang Nakabibiting Sembreak

2010-11-04T13:04:00.005+08:00

Magandang umaga, mga Atenista. Ako si Chot, mula sa klaseng 4B, ang inyong Sanggu Chairman. At nagpapasalamat ako sa APFor sa pagkakataong itong manguna sa pagninilay, sa umagang ito ng pangalawang araw matapos ang ating sembreak. At malamang kaisa ko kayo sa pagsabing,

“Bitin!”, “Nakakatamad pa.”, “Ang ikli naman.”, “SEMBREAK BA ‘YON?”. Kahapon, kinukwenta ko kung gaano nga ba talaga kahaba (o kaikli) yung “bakasyong” kalilipas lamang. Pitong araw lang. Kaso, isa doon sa pito, nagamit sa kakatrabaho para sa mga nakatambak na proyekto at gawaing bahay sa iba’t ibang asignatura at, para naman sa mga guro, sa pagwawasto ng mga proyekto’t pagsusulit ng mga mag-aaral.

Isa pang araw naman para sa pagpunta sa probinsya para bisitahin ang puntod ng mga sumakabilang-buhay na kamag-anak at mahal-sa-buhay. At ang dalawa roon, ang Sabado at Linggo, ay talaga namang wala dapat pasok. At para sa mga guro naman, maaari pa sigurong mabawasan ng isa pa, gawa ng pamamahinga nang isang buong araw matapos ang pagod at saya sa mga pangyayari noong Delaney-Duffy Day rito sa Ateneo at sa Trinoma.

Pitong araw nga ba? Mukhang hihirit ang karamihang mga tatlo o dalawang araw lang siguro. Mukhang bitin nga.

Ngunit, bago niyo pa ako tulugan sa limang minutong nakalaan para sa pagninilay na ito, sa pagnanais ninyong pahabain pa ang sembreak na bitin, hinihiling ko sa inyo na gumising! Gising na tayo, mga kapatid kong Atenista! Kalahati pa ng taon ang hinaharap nating lahat! At kung sa limang minutong ito, ay hindi mo pa makuhang buhayin ang sarili, baka maiwanan ka ng mabilis na paglipas ng panahon. Kalahati NA LANG ng taon ang natitira. Halos kulang na nga sa kalahati ng taon. Ngayon, kung ang buong taong ito ang titingnan natin at hindi ang sembreak lang, malamang masasabi natin nang mas seryoso na mukhang bitin nga ‘ata.

Bitin. Sa pagkakataong ito, mabuti sigurong lumingon at tingnan ang mahabang landas na tinahak natin sa nakaraang mga buwan ng taong-aralang ito. Mahalaga rin sigurong timbangin natin ang ating mga sarili sa puntong ito: Ginawa ko na ba ang lahat ng makakaya ko bilang mag-aaral ng paaralang ito?

Maya-maya ri’y sasagutan na natin ang mga ebalwasyon para sa mga guro natin. Dahil sa ebalwasyong ito, natatauhan tayong pati pala ang ating mga guro, nagsisikap ding pagbutihin parati ang kanilang pagtuturo sa atin. Tayo mismong mga tinuturuan nila ang tinatanong nila ngayong nangangalahati na ang taon ng, “Kumusta ba? Ano ba ang palagay mo sa pagsisikap kong hubugin ka?” Tulungan sana natin silang makalap at mabasa ang mga kailangan nilang malaman, ang mga hinihingi nilang malaman mula sa atin.

Naaalala ko tuloy ang huling sesyon natin bago mag-sembreak, ang Delaney-Duffy Day. Sa sesyon nating iyon, ipinaramdam natin sa mga guro ang ating pagpupugay at pasasalamat sa kanila. Ipinadama natin sa kanila kung gaano natin sila pinahahalagahan. Sinikap natin silang pasayahin; sinikap nating patabain ang kanilang mga puso. Marahil, napasaya natin sila, kahit paano. Pero hindi nila iyon hinihingi. Pagkukusa natin ‘yon. Sana, natuwa sila.

Ngayon, itong evaluation ang talagang hinihingi nila mula sa atin. Gawin sana natin ito nang makatwiran at makatotohanan. Ibigay natin ngayon ang matitinong sagot natin sa mga tanong nilang, “Kumusta ba? Ano ba ang palagay mo sa pagtuturo ko?”

Ang hantungan ng mga evaluation forms na ito ay ang mismong mga guro natin. Hindi ang Punong-Guro o ang Pangulo ng Pamantasan. Hindi uubra ngayon ang ating mga walang-basehang pambobola o paninira sa kanila. Sila mismo ang babasa nito. At matatalino ang mga guro natin. Naitatangi nila ang mga sagot na may katuturan mula sa wala. Kaya huwag sana nating sayangin ang pagkakataon itong makatulong sa kanila sa pagsisikap nilang maunawaan tayo at paghusayin pa ang paglilingkod nila sa atin.

Isa lamang ito sa mga pamamaraan upang maabot ng mga guro natin ang mithiing nais din nating abutin – ang gawing mas mayaman, masaya at makabuluhan ang bawat minutong pamamalagi natin sa loob ng silid aralan. Gamitin nating lahat ang pagkakataong ito para pasalamatan at pahalagahan ang lahat ng natanggap natin sa mga nakaraang buwan dito sa Ateneo, at magbigay-pugay sa pamamagitan ng paglalahad ng mga mungkahi para sa ikabubuti pa ng ating samahan bilang guro at estudyante.

Nangangalahati na tayo, at sa mga pagkakataong ganito, karaniwang ginagamit ang kasabihan tungkol sa basong may laman: “Is the glass half full or half empty?” Ikaw ba ‘yung taong nakatingin lang parati sa bahaging walang laman, o sa bahaging may laman?

Isa pang pagmumuni: “Is the glass half full or half empty?” Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi na lang inumin ng kung sino mang nag-imbento ng kasabihang ito ang laman ng basong minamasdan niya. Nauuhaw ba siya? Naglalasing ba siya? Nagmi-meryenda ba siya? Mahalaga yatang pansinin, anuman ang kalagayan niya, na tumigil siya at nagtanong muna ukol sa iniinom niya. Minsan, iyon naman talaga ang mahalaga. Bago mo inumin ang kung ano pa man ang laman ng baso mo, tingnan mo muna. Nangangalahati pa lang ba, o paubos na? Pahalagahan ang sarap at sustansyang ibibigay sa uhaw mong nararamdaman. Tiyak na sasarap lang ang pag-inom.

Habang sinasagutan nang makatotohanan an evaluation, pagmunihan mo rin kung ano pa ang mga maaari mong gawin upang sulitin at simutin ang mga nalalabing araw sa silid-aralan. Malayo ang mararating ng pagsagot nang maayos sa ebalwasyon. Ito rin ang maipapamana natin sa mga mag-aaral ng mga susunod pang taon, ma mag-aaral sa AHS sa hinaharap. Maaaring dahil sa ating mga sagot, makikita rin ng mga guro ang babaguhin at pananatilihin nila sa mga susunod na taon para sa mga susunod nilang estudyante.

Kaya imbes na isipin lang natin ang ating mga sarili sa pagsagot ng ebalwasyong ito, isipin sana natin ang mas malawak pang larawan: ang nalalabing mga sesyon ng taong-aralang ito, ang pagsisikap ng mga gurong maunawaan tayo, ang mga mag-aaral ng mga susunod na taon, ang buong mithiin ng paaralan nating maging huwarang Mataas na Paaralan ng lahat.

Malay natin, baka dahil sa ebalwasyong ito, baka makuha pa nating mapunan o mapaapaw pa ang nangangalahati o paubos nang baso ng inumin.

Uulitin ko:

Nasa kalahati pa lang tayo ng taon, NGUNIT, kalahati NA LANG ng taon ang nalalabi; magdadapit-hapon na, ngunit magdadapit-hapon pa lang. Magising at mabuhay na, Atenista, ang dami mo pang magagawa, ang dami mo pang masisilayan!

Gawin sana nating mabuti ang ebalwasyon para sa ating mga guro.

Magtapos tayo sa pagdarasal ng Panalanin sa Pagiging Bukas-Palad. Sa ngalan ng Ama…

Panginoon, turuan Mo ako maging bukas-palad.
Turuan Mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo,
Na magbigay nang ayon sa nararapat nang walang hinihintay mula sa 'Yo.

Na makibakang di inaalintana ang mga hirap na dinaranas;
Na sa tuwina ay magsumikap nang hindi humahanap ng kapalit na kaginhawaan;
Na walang inaashan at hinihintay kundi ang aking mabatid na ang loob Mo ang siyang sinusundan. Amen.

Sa ngalan ng Ama…

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST OFFERING?

2010-10-18T15:56:00.004+08:00

The great Mahatma Ghandi once gave this challenge: to “be the change that you want to see in the world.” Therefore, instead of ranting about unjust social structures and pointing a finger at leaders for poor governance, I raised my hand and volunteered. A year after graduating from college, eager to prove myself to the world, I joined the 10-month volunteer program of Jesuit Volunteers Philippines or JVP. I followed the path that many others took before me, and in a sense, I continued the mission of those who also answered the call to serve and make a difference.

On my first assignment, I was sent to be a teacher to the tribal students in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. I know that most people associate South Cotabato with kidnapping, Muslim extremism or violence. Fortunately, that was not how I experienced South Cotabato. Lake Sebu is a tourist destination with 7 breath-taking waterfalls and 3 wide lakes which are full with life and enriched by cultural tales.

However, I was not in Lake Sebu to be a tourist. I was there to make my small difference: to teach T’boli students in the mountains. I was quite surprised that when I met my first class of students, many were nearly twice my age, and no strangers to farmwork and hard labor. The sun darkened male students after days of planting or harvesting in the field. Many of my female students were already mothers who need to go home immediately after schoolhours to take care of children, and cook dinner for their families. Even with this age difference, the re-learning how to read and write, regaining the patience of study habits – all my students believed in the rewards of getting a good education.

You can say that I was hooked with making a difference. I did not put my hand down yet and re-volunteered. JVP then sent me to teach for another school year. This time, they gave me a rather difficult assignment: to teach yet again, but high up in the mountains of Miarayon, Bukidnon to teach Talaandig tribal students. The place didn’t have electricity at that time, save for the 4-hour evening electricity from a generator set. It was cold as Miarayon rests hundreds of feet above sea level. My students were sons and daughters of farmers who during weekends help in the field. They brave strong winds, long walks and cold mornings just to attend school. Their perseverance inspired me, and made me more patient with making lesson plans using a small lamplight.

My two years worth of volunteering were unforgettable. Being in South Cotabato and Bukidnon gave me the privilege of serving the marginalized. I went up to the mountains to make a difference. By rendering faith-driven service, I was changed.

Now, I know that that road that I chose might not be for everyone. Volunteering was the road I chose, the road I took to answer a challenge. Not all can pack their bags, go up to the mountains, and teach. Yet, one thing is for sure, we all can make a difference – wherever we are, with whatever we have to offer. And you can start making that difference now.

Today’s popular culture is teeming with hungry vampires, extra powerful werewolves, people who can change their appearance, levitate, apparate or move objects by merely looking at them. They are in this constant battle with other creatures, their strength and their special abilities are their great offering to win a certain war or challenge. We are fascinated by extra ordinary powers, maybe because we can identify with these characters, because we believe that there is power within, and a power to make a difference.

We are engrossed with magical and virtual characters, yet the truth is – we have our limits, we have mortal bodies, which we should listen to and take care of. And so let us look closer at how we are nourishing ourselves: are we exercising and eating a healthy balanced diet? Are we taking enough sleep and rest? And we ask ourselves further, how are we in our relationships? How am I as a person? As a friend? Am I kind? Am I forgiving? Am I loving? I suggest we answer these questions every now and then: because this mortal, blessed gift of life is all we have – and we have to make it our greatest offering.

We have God to thank for what is given us: our talents, skills and abilities, let us sharpen them. Let us share them.

We might not have washboard abs, and bursting muscles, we might not possess supernatural powers, but certainly, in our current state, we can do extraordinary things with great love, and hope.

And so let us thank and pray to God for this privilege to make our simple contribution of positive change, in our school, in our home and eventually in our society.

And so we pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for this gift of life.

We offer you this day, we offer You our joys, our challenges and pains.

Strengthen us in times of trials, renew us always in your love.

Bless our talents and abilities; bless our lives, as it is our greatest offering.

All these we pray through Christ our Lord,

Amen.

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

Paano ba sinasalamin ang buhay natin ng mga librong binabasa natin?

2010-10-18T15:20:00.001+08:00

Pagninilay ni JESUS FRANCISCO SERAPIO L. GERONIMO

Habang nag-aayos ako ng mga libro sa silid-aklatan, tumambad sa aking harapan ang librong “O.C.W. A Young Boy’s Search for his Mother” na siyang pumukaw sa aking alaala. Ang ugat ng istorya ay tungkol sa isang batang naghanap sa kanyang ina na kung saan sa kanyang sa murang edad nakaranas siya ng mga pagsubok at hirap sa kanyang paglalakbay. Hiwalay ang mga magulang niya, kaya nagpasya siya na hanapin ang katotohanan.
Parang ako! Naalala ko noong mga limang taong gulang pa lang ako nang iwan kami ng nanay ko. Tatlo kaming magkakapatid; ako ang bunso. Ang tatay ko ang nag-aruga at nagpa-aral sa amin. Narding ang pangalan niya; nagtrabaho siya sa paaralan. Bilib ako sa kanya dahil wala kaming narinig na kahit anong masamang salita tungkol sa aming ina. Bukod sa lahat maka-Diyos at makatao ang tatay ko. Hindi niya pinalitan ang nanay ko, bagkus nagsilbi siya sa simbahan na siyang nagpapalakas at nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa kanya.

Noong mga panahon na iyon, ako naman ay walang magawa dahil bata pa ako. Nang naging "teenager" ako, sumagi sa isipan ko kung nasaan na kaya ang nanay ko at kung ano ang kalagayan niya, masaya ba siya o mahirap ang pinagdadaanan niya? Natanong ko din na bakit wala kaming "family picture," kailan kaya kami magkakaroon ng “family picture?” Tuwing pupunta ako kasi sa bahay ng mga kaibigan at kaklase ko ay nakikita ko ang mga naglalakihang litrato ng pamilya nila. Hindi ako naiingit subalit nagdarasal ako na sana magkaroon din kami ng “family picture.”

Lumaki ako na gaya ni Tonyo sa nabasa kong libro na pinamagatang "O.C.W. A Young boy’s Search for his Mother." Sa kuwentong ito nasasalamin halos ang mga pinagdaanan ko sa buhay. Nabarkada din kasi ako sa mga batang kalye sa Maynila at sa mga mapupusok na kaibigan ko sa lalawigan. Kung anu-anong bisyo ang aking natutunan. Nalampasan ko ang lahat ng iyon.
Kapag sumapit ang alas nuwebe ng gabi at wala pa ako sa bahay ay pinagsasarhan na ako ng pinto. Tulog man sila o gising hindi ako pinagbuksan ng pinto para maging parusa sa akin. Ang ginagawa ko ay tumambay ng magdamag sa katayan ng baboy, baka o kalabaw. Sa madaling salita sa matadero ay naging helper ako, boy o utusan. Naisip ko siguro kung nandito lang ang nanay ko hindi ako ganito. Iyan ang lagi kong sambit pag naiisip ko ang kalagayan ko. Hindi naglaon nakatapos ako ng pag-aaral sa "high school.”

Pagtuntong ko ng kolehiyo natanong ko kung mabuo pa kaya ang pamilya namin at magkaroon din kaya kami ng "family picture"? Nang makatapos ako ng pag-aaral ay may isang anak na kami ng nobya ko na di naglaon ay siya rin ang asawa ko ngayon at sa paaralan din siya nagtatrabaho. Magtatatlo na aming anak nang biglang dumating at bumalik sa amin ang nanay ko. Mahina siya kasi naistrok siya at pinabayaan ng kinasama niya. Nang malaman ng aking ama ang kalagayan ng aking ina ay nagpasya siyang tanggapin muli at alagaan ang aking ina. Pagkaraan ng sampung buwan, nakarekober ang nanay ko. Nakakakwentuhan namin siya. M insan bigla na lang papatak ang luha niya at sabay sabing “patawad mga anak ko,” dahil inaalagaan namin siya pero siya hindi niya kami naalagaan. Naalala ko rin "yung mga nag alaga sa akin nung panahon na wala siya, marami akong nanay pero wala akong ina. Ito ang aking sinasabi sa mga kaibigan ko noon.

Hindi nagtagal nagkaroon din kami ng "family picture." Iyon nga lang nakatayo kaming lahat at si nanay ay nasa kabaong. Samantala, si Tatay ay patuloy pa rin sa pagbibigay ng kanyang sarili ng pagiging kaibigan at ama. Naroroon pa rin sa paglilingkod sa simbahan. Sa edad na pitumpu’t apat naroroon patuloy pa rin siya sa kanyang pagiging gabay sa amin. Sa ngayon nagiging paraan kong makapiling ang tatay ko sa pamamagitan ng pagbubukas ko ng isang libro kung saan masusumpungan ko ang larawan ng tatay ko.
Ikaw, nasasalamin ba ng binabasa mo ang buhay mo?
Sabay nating dasalin ang Ama namin.
Ama namin, sumasalangit ka, sambahin ang ngalan mo, mapasa amin ang kaharian mo, sundin ang loob dito sa lupa para ng sa langit, bigyan mo po kami ngayon ng aming kakanin sa araw-araw. At patawarin mo kami sa aming mga sala, para nang pagpapatawad namin sa mga nagkakasala sa amin. At huwag mo po kaming ipahintulot sa tukso at iadya mo po kami sa lahat ng masama.
Sapagkat sa iyo nagmumula ang kaharian, kapangyarihan at kaluwalhatian, ngayon at magpakailanman , amen.

Padre Pio on Anxiety

2010-09-23T09:03:00.001+08:00

www.apostleshipofprayer.org

Maging Daan ng Pagpapalaya

2010-09-20T09:00:00.003+08:00

Ngayon ang bisperas ng paggunita ng Pagdedeklara ng Batas Militar noong 1972. Tatlumpu’t walong (38) taon ang nakaraan nang maranasan ng sambayanan ang bangungot na ito at marami ang nais na lumimot dahil sa mga masasamang naging dulot nito. Kaya bihira na itong binabanggit. Marahil kakaunti na lang ang nakakaalam sa inyo nito dahil malayo ito sa inyong karanasan. O kaya, talagang wala nang nakaaalala dahil madali raw makalimot ang mga Pilipino.

Samantala, may manaka-naka pa ring nagtatanong –“E, bakit nga bang dapat itong maalala?

Maraming historyador, manunulat, makata at iba pang mga pantas ang nagsasabing ang panahong ito ang maituturing na Panahon ng Kadiliman o Dark Ages ng Pilipinas, dahil nawala ang kalayaang tinatamasa nito sa matagal nang panahon. Sa isang bagsak ng batas na madaliang itinalaga, namatay ang ilaw ng kalayaang tinatamasa ng mga Pilipino. Ang mga pahayagan, radyo, sine at ano mang uri ng media ay hawak at kontrolado ng mga kinauukulan. Bawal na ang magsalita ng masama laban sa pamahalaan. Bawal ang magpahayag ng sarili, bawal ang magpagabi, bawal ang magsulat sa mga pader. Bawal dito, bawal doon. Kung anu-anong bawal ang lumaganap noon. Sa pagkawala ng KALAYAAN, doon nadama kung gaano ito kahalaga.

Ano nga ba ang kalayaan? Ang akala ng iba, ang pagiging malaya ay ang kakayahang gawin ang lahat ng nais mo, kahit saan at kailan mo gusto. Subali’t kung hihimayin ang salitang ito, naroon ang KA na ang ibig sabihin ay may kasama, maaaring tayo o ibang indibiduwal, at ang salitang LAYA o freedom o pagkawala o pagkahulagpos. Sa gayon, ang kalayaan ay hindi pansarili lamang, kaakibat nito ang kapwa. Ang pagiging malaya ay hindi lang para sa sarili kundi pagkilala rin sa kalayaan ng iba. Ang pagpapalaya ng sarili ay pagpapalaya rin ng iba.

Paano nga ba natin isinasabuhay ito? Paano natin ginagamit ang kalayaan? Ginagamit ba natin ito para sa kapwa lampas sa sarili? Ginagamit ba natin ito upang magawa ang nararapat at tama? Ginagamit ba natin ito upang ipahayag ang katotohanan o para ipagkalat ang kasinungalingan? Ginagamit ba natin ito upang bumuo o gumiba ng pagkatao ng iba ? Ginagamit ba natin ito upang huwag gawin ang kaya dahil hawak naman natin ang buhay at sarili ? O ginagamit ito upang maipahayag at maipakita ang ating “pinaka” – galing at lakas?

Sa iba’t ibang pagkakataon, tayo’y hinahamong maging mabuti at karapatdapat na behikulo ng kalayaan. Handa ba tayo sa tawag na ito ? Kaya ba nating panindigan ang kaakibat nitong pagpapakasakit? Winika nga ni Mohandas K. Gandhi ,ang dakilang bayani ng India, “In order to be independent and free, we must prove ourselves worthy of it.” Kung minsan,nasasayang ang kalayaan dahil nabubusabos, naaabuso o kaya’y napapabayaan ito. Kaya’t makararanas at makararanas tayo ng kawalang kalayaan, hangga’t hindi natin ito pinagyayabong at pinangangalagaan. Ang kalayaan ay hindi ibinibigay, ito ay ipinaglalaban. Ang kalayaan ay para lamang sa mga matatapang na kayang yakapin ang kakambal nitong pananagutan. Ang ayaw ng pananagutan ay nanatiling may piring ang mata at nakagapos ang kamay at paa.

Manalangin tayo:
Panginoon, alam naming pumapasok Ka sa daloy ng kasaysayan. Ikaw, na nag-alay ng buhay upang kami’y lumaya sa kasalanan. Nawa’y maging karapatdapat kami sa pagpapalaya Mong ito. Nawa’y kami’y Iyong maging mata upang makita namin ang katotohanan; Iyong tenga upang marinig namin ang daing ng aming kapwa; Iyong bibig upang maipahayag ang katotohanan; Iyong kamay at paa upang kumilos tungo sa ikabubuti ng lipunan. Nawa’y magamit namin ang kalayaang Iyong alay tungo sa pagpapalaya rin ng aming kapwa. Amen.

Estela Banasihan
Guro, Araling Panlipunan II at III

A RESPONSE TO A CALL

2010-09-13T09:43:00.002+08:00

For four months now, I have been living at Arvisu House as a Jesuit candidate and doing my own discernment; a discernment governed by structures and, more importantly, filled with silence and prayer; a discernment done as a way to know what God is calling me to be---a call that might have been ignored for so long; a possible invitation to embrace the religious life as a Jesuit priest.

For almost four months now, I have never had a chance to sleep at night for more than six hours straight. I usually have to wake up at 5:00 AM and go to bed at around 11:30 PM. I have only been to the movies thrice. I have only been to the mall 5 to 6 times. I have only had five dinner parties with friends which used to be almost a weekly activity. I have never had a chance to come home later than the curfew time at 6:00 PM except on Fridays and Saturdays. I have never had a chance to go out on my own or with friends during weeknights. I have never seen any television shows. And I have only watched one UAAP basketball game this year.

I have been feeding Georgy and Daki, our two beautiful dogs as well as the fish in the aquarium every single day. I have been washing heavy pots and pans which, ironically, has become my favorite workout activity. I have been helping out in cleaning the house and the bathrooms every Saturday. Sometimes, on Saturdays, too, I have to wake up at 3:30 AM and head to Marikina Wet Market to do the weekly marketing.

The list never seems to end.

It wasn’t an easy decision to finally acknowledge this call. To respond to this call means having great courage to go out of my way and leave my comfort zone and to conquer the fear of giving up and losing a lot of things that matter most to me---family, friends, relationships, time, etc. To have this courage means to learn to let go of these things despite many uncertainties that await and just trust in the Lord that he will take care of everything.

Secondly, to respond to this call means knowing God and establishing a rather personal relationship with Him. I am very much aware that this entails knowing myself first as well as opening myself to Him by acknowledging my gifts, strengths and abilities. On the other hand, it also means humbly accepting my own inadequacies and incapacities and unworthiness. But though it is good to acknowledge these things, I have long since realized that God does not measure my worth based on the things that I do not have but on what I have instead. It doesn’t matter if I am weak because it is God that will give me the strength. It doesn’t matter if I’m imperfect but what matters is to use my imperfections to challenge myself to do more. Having these inadequacies, incapacities, or imperfections does not make me less deserving of God’s love than others. Acknowledging these things is true self-knowledge—regarding myself as God sees me.
Lastly, to respond to this call means acknowledging that desire to follow Him, serve Him and love Him. In Arvisu, we have different family backgrounds and social status, different skills and talents, different political views, different attitudes and values. We get pissed off with each other. But despite these, we learn to allow God to speak to us through each other, through our indifferences and peculiarities. We also question a lot of things and, sometimes, we complain. We overly get tired because of the never-ending demands. We argue a lot. We struggle with so many things. We commit mistakes. But, nevertheless, we willingly and obediently follow the formation process and find meaning even in the smallest of things. It is basically our desire to seek and respond to God’s love that keeps us aflame.

At this point, it is so premature to assume that I will, indeed, embrace a religious life by becoming a Jesuit priest. One certain thing is that there will be a lot of consolations and desolations. There will be a lot of challenges. There will be a lot of issues to deal with. But it is the courage, the openness, and the desire to love Him that will keep me going.

I can also say that I still do not completely understand the full meaning of “calling.” And I don’t think I will be able to do so. What I know is that I am very much inspired to respond to God’s invitation to follow Him, serve Him, and love Him. I am here because I have chosen to love Him back despite the fact that I can only give love Him as much.

I may be responding to a call that is very much different from yours----my dear students. As students, you may be called by God to be diligent in your studies; to prioritize your academics more than anything else; to always find meaning in the tons of requirements that you are asked to submit; to never cease to learn new things and apply them to real life experiences; to be a genuinely good friend; to be a compassionate classmate; to be a loving and obedient son; to be a good role model to the younger students; to be a responsible class or org officer; to comply with the rules set by the school; or to simply show respect for others.

What is God calling you to be? Have you stopped lately to listen to this call? How have you responded to this call?

“Lord, give us the courage to accept the things that you desire for us. Give us the openness to accept our incapacities, inadequacies, and imperfections. Help us not to dwell on these things but instead, use these things to serve You and love You. Grant us the humility to accept that it is only You who is perfect. Finally, keep the desire in our hearts burning so that we are able to love You and follow You no matter where You will lead us. Amen.”

Lloyd V. Sabio

ANG KAARAWAN NG INANG MARIA

2010-09-06T08:49:00.002+08:00

Setyembre. May kung anong hatid ang buwan na ito.Para bang nagbibigay-hudyat sa atin para magsaya at mapuno ng pag-asa.Kapag tumapak na kasi ang kalendaryo sa buwang ito, umpisa na ng countdown.Bawat pisara sa mga silid-aralan ay siguradong may nakasaad na “____ days before Christmas!” Ang mga morning shows sa telebisyon ay may iba’t-ibang choir na umaawit ng Christmas carols, ang mga department stores ay nagdi-display na ng mga naka-eengganyong mga palamuti para sa Pasko,at ang sikat na Policarpio Street sa Mandaluyong ay naghahanda na para i-showcase ang kanilang mistulang Christmas village.Pero teka,bago ang Pasko, kaarawan muna ng ating Mahal na Ina. Setyembre bago Disyembre. Bago isinilang si Kristo, isinilang muna ang kanyang Mahal na Ina. Bakit nga ba natin ipinagdiriwang ang kaarawan ng tinatawag nating lahat na “Mariang Ina Ko”? Gaano ba siya kahalaga sa atin bilang mga Kristyano?

Para sa ating mga Pilipino at maging sa mga tao sa ibang panig ng mundo, ang pagdiriwang ng kaarawan ay isang mahalaga at masayang okasyon. Para bang sa bawat selebrasyon – ke pansit lang at ice cream ang meron, ito ay nagsasabi sa may kaarawan na “ikaw ay espesyal, ikaw ay minamahal, ikaw ay natatangi, masaya kami na nandyan ka.” Ganito rin ba ang ating damdamin o saloobin para sa Mahal na Birheng Maria?

Sa lahat ng masasakit at mahihirap na dinaraanan natin sa buhay, ang Birheng Maria, pareho ng ating mga ina, ang siya nating takbuhan. Sa bingit ng hukay, gusto nating tangan niya ang ating mga kamay sabi nga sa isang awiting pandasal. Ilang beses na ba tayong dumulog sa kanya sa oras ng kalungkutan, kapighatian at matinding pangangailangan? Bakit mayroon siyang shrine sa Edsa? Bakit kaya sa loob ng 300 na taon ay nagawa ng ating mga kababayan sa Bikol na mahalin at magkaroon ng debosyon kay Ina o ang Our Lady of Penafrancia – na isa lamang sa napakaraming imahe ng Mahal nating Ina?
Bakit tayo nagrorosaryo?

Ang kaarawan ng Birheng Maria ay siya lang namang nagbigay-daan sa pagluwal sa Tagapag-ligtas. Si Maria ay ipinagdalang-tao ng kanyang ina na si Anna. Siya na ipinagdalang-tao ay siya ring nagdadala ng mga tao palapit sa Diyos, palapit sa kaligtasan. At ang kaganapan ng lahat ng ating minimithi at pinapangarap ay nanggaling sa kanyang sinapupunan. Paano ba siyang hindi magiging espesyal? Paanong hindi natin mamahalin? Paanong hindi itatangi? At paanong hindi maghahatid ng saya at pag-asa sa atin? Hindi ba’t tulad ng ating mga ina, nilalapitan natin siya bilang ating taga-pamagitan? Kapag may kailangan kay itay at nahihiya o natatakot tayong magsabi, di ba kay inay tayo lumalapit? Kapag tayo’y may sakit, hindi ba’t ang mga nanay natin ang ating tinatawag at gusto laging andyan sa bawat ingit?

Kung kaya’t tulad ng isang anak na mapagmahal sa kanyang Inang natatangi, gusto nating ipagdiwang ang kanyang espesyal na araw. Ano’ng handa ba ang magpapaligaya at makapagpapataba ng kanyang puso? Ano ba ang maaari nating gawin? Sa aking tingin, kaya tayo naglulunsad ng KFD. Ito ang ating regalo sa Mahal nating Ina. Ito ang ating pagpapakita na mahal natin siya dahil mag-aalay tayo ng ating mga sarili upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng iba pa niyang mga anak na naghihirap. Hindi ba’t ganyan ang nakakapagpasaya sa isang ina? Ang makita ang kanyang mga anak na nagmamahalan at nagtutulungan?

Sa iyo, mahal naming Ina, maligayang kaarawan! “ikaw ay espesyal, ikaw ay minamahal, ikaw ay natatangi, masaya kami na nandyan ka.”

Tayo’y manalangin:

Panginoon,

Kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagkakaloob sa amin ng isang Inang Mariang mapagmahal, matiisin, matatag at malalim ang pananamplataya. Ang kanyang kaarawan ay nagbigay-daan sa aming kaligtasan. Harinawa ay kasihan mo kami ng Iyong mahal na grasya upang higit pa naming siyang mahalin at gayahin. Patuloy pa sana niya kaming gabayan ay akayin sa aming paglalakbay tungo sa Iyo, Panginoon ng Kaliwanagan. Amen.

Inihanda ni: Meng N. de Guia

Source of picture: http://campus.udayton.edu/mary//meditations/birthday.html

SI NINOY: AMA, PILIPINO, BAYANI

2010-08-23T13:19:00.002+08:00

Ngayong umaga, hayaan ninyo akong ibahagi sa inyo ang ilang sipi ng liham ni Ninoy Aquino sa kaniyang anak na si Noynoy noong Agosto 25, 1973 habang nakakulong sa Fort Bonifacio.

?I have decided not to participate in the proceedings of the Military Commission assigned to try the charges filed against me by the army prosecution staff. As you know, I?ve been charged with illegal possession of firearms, violation of RA 1700 otherwise known as the ?Anti-Subversion Act? and murder?.
By not participating in the proceedings, I will not be represented by counsel, the prosecution will present its witnesses without any cross examinations, I will not put up any defense, I will remain passive and quiet through the entire trial and I will merely await the verdict. Inasmuch as it will be a completely one-sided affair, I suppose it is reasonable to expect the maximum penalty will be given to me. I expect to be sentenced to imprisonment the rest of my natural life, or possibly be sent to stand before a firing squad. By adopting the course of action I decided upon this afternoon, I have literally decided to walk into the very jaws of death.

You may ask: why did you do it?

Son, my decision is an act of conscience. It is an act of protest against the structures of injustice that have been imposed upon our hapless countrymen. Futile and puny, as it will surely appear to many, it is my last act of defiance against tyranny and dictatorship?

Forgive me for passing unto your young shoulders the great responsibility for our family. I trust you will love your mother and your sisters and lavish them with the care and protection I would have given them??
Labintatlong taong gulang lamang si Noynoy nang matanggap niya ang liham na ito. Para sa isang ama, nais niyang iwan ang isang mensahe sa kaniyang anak - ang huwag matinag sa pinaniniwalaang prinsipyo. Sa kaso ni Ninoy, nangahulugan ito ng pagkakawalay sa kaniyang pamilya, pagkakakulong at posibleng kamatayan. May pagkakataon sana si Ninoy na ipagtanggol ang kaniyang sarili sa mga ipinaratang sa kaniya sa tulong ng kaniyang mga abugadong sina Jovito R. Salonga at Lorenzo M. Tañada. Ito na marahil ang pinaklohikal na desisyong maaaring gawin. Sa harap ng mga ganitong sitwasyon, masusukat ang pagkatao ninuman. Ang pinili ni Ninoy, ang landas na hindi karaniwang pinipili ng nakararami ? ang lumaban sa diktadurya. Pinili niyang iprotesta ang sa tingin niya?y maling istrukturang lumilitis sa kaniya. Nais niyang iparating sa diktador na hindi-hindi siya magpapagamit sa pamamaraang kumikitil sa demokrasya.

Alam ni Ninoy ang kahihinatnan ng ganitong desisyon. Pero tumakbo marahil sa isip niya, anong mukha ang ihaharap ko sa aking asawa, mga anak at kapwa Pilipino kung basta na lamang ako magmakaawa kay Marcos upang palayain at mamuhay ako nang tahimik? Sabi nga ni Ninoy sa kaniyang binasang pahayag sa Military Commission noong Agosto 27, 1973, ?Some people suggest that I beg for mercy. But this I cannot in conscience do. I would rather die on my feet with honor, than live on bended knees in shame.? Sa panahon ngayon, ilan ang pipiliing panatilihin ang kaniyang dangal kaysa mas madaling pamamaraan?
Panandaliang nanirahan sa Estados Unidos si Ninoy upang magpaopera sa puso subalit hindi niya kayang talikuran ang kaniyang konsensiya. Nagdesisyon siyang bumalik sa Pilipinas. Nilalayon niyang kumbinsihin si Marcos na ipanumbalik ang demokrasya sa Pilipinas. Bumalik siya gamit ang pangalang Marcial Bonifacio noong Agosto 21, 1983.

Marahil natakot rin si Ninoy. Ibinunyag niyang magsusuot siya ng bullet-proof vest para sa kaniyang katawan subalit wala na raw siyang magagawa para protektahan ang kaniyang ulo. Habang kinakapanayam ng mga mamamahayag sa loob ng China Airlines Flight 811, parang nakini-kinita na niya ang kaniyang kapalaran. Wika ni Ninoy, ?You have to be ready with your hand camera because this action can become very fast. In a matter of 3 or 4 minutes it could be all over, and I may not be able to talk to you again after this.? At ganoon nga ang nangyari. Sa tarmac ng Manila International Airport, tumambang ang katawan ni Ninoy ilang sandal matapos lumapag ang sinasakyan niyang eroplano. Ibinurol siyang hindi hinuhugasan ang marka ng tama ng baril sa kaniyang ulo, mga tanda ng kaniyang kahandaang mamatay para sa bayan.

Naantig ang puso ng mga Pilipino. Humaba ang pila ng mga nakikiramay. Milyon ang bilang ng mga nakipaglibing. Sa ika-27 taon ng paggunita natin sa pagkamatay ni Ninoy, tingnan natin ang ginagawa natin para sa ating bayan.
Manalangin tayo.

Gambalain Mo Kami, Panginoon kung
Sa karangyaan ng mga bagay na aming pag-aari
Nawaglit ang aming uhaw
Sa tubig ng buhay;
Na nang kami'y humilig sa buhay,
Nahinto rin ang aming pag-aasam sa Walang Hanggan
At sa aming pagsisikap na magtayo ng panibagong daigdig
Hinayaan naming ang aming pananaw
Sa bagong Langit na magdilim.

Gambalain Mo Kami, Panginoon na mangahas ng buong tapang,
Na maglakbay sa higit na malalalim na karagatan
Na kung saan ang mga unos ay maghahayag ng iyong pagka-Panginoon;
Kung saan, mawala man sa aming balin-tataw ang mga lupa,
Matatagpuan naman namin ang mga bituin.

Hinihiling namin, Sa Iyo, na itulak patungo
sa mga hangganan ng abot-tanaw ang aming mga pag-asa;
At ihatid kami sa hinaharap
Na may lakas, tapang, pag-asa at pag-ibig.

--panalangin sinasabing katha ni Sir Francis Drake, 1577

THE SWORD, THE STAR, AND THE SEAL OF ST. IGNATIUS

2010-07-29T09:04:00.003+08:00

Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ

Ignatius High School July 2010

Today, as we celebrate the feast of our founder, our patron saint, the father of Jesuits and thus the father of all Ateneans, St. Ignatius of Loyola, let us focus on three things that I think defined who he was, and that could define who he can be for us today. Three things: the sword of Ignatius, the star of Ignatius, and the seal of Ignatius.

First the sword of St. Ignatius. One of the most popular images of Ignatius, as we know, is his offering of his sword to the Virgin of Montserrat. The sword meant a lot to him. It defined who he was: a soldier missioned to protect his king, a soldier who will fight battles for the Crown, a soldier who will give his life for the Spanish kingdom of his time. The sword represented the life he has been living as a young man, filled with vanity and ambition, consumed with pride and personal glory, prestige and power. Yet as we know from the story of Ignatius, after his conversion in Loyola he decided to leave this life behind and follow God wherever God may be calling him. This meant saying goodbye to his being a soldier. It meant giving away his expensive clothes, and in its place, wearing a poor man’s robe. It meant surrendering his sword, during a whole night vigil or prayer, kneeling in front of the Black Madonna in the Chapel of Montserrat in Spain. In doing so he gave his life – single-heartedly – to God, and to God alone. And almost like saying, I am yours, it is up to you, take me, and lead me where you want me to go. He knew, he was certain, that he was being called to something greater.

When we see the sword of Ignatius, when we think about it, perhaps we can also think about our own swords, the swords of our own personal lives. What are the things that we have that define who we are, our passions, things that we can, yes, give up, offer to God, in place for something greater, something better, something more. Could our swords be our material things, the stuff that we tend to accumulate and are in excess of, like perhaps cellphones and computers, games and gadgets, clothes and clutter. Such that if we let go of them, we simplify our lives, and when we simplify our lives, we become closer to God. Or perhaps, could our swords be those that are great about our selves, like talents and gifts, like things we are good at, academics, sports, music, making friends, being good leaders, and being good followers too, and how about our precious time and energy – things valuable to us, which we can offer to God, so that God can use them toward something greater. Something greater like using our talents and gifts for others, for service of the poor. Remember that God still used the soldier in Ignatius, and called him to fight not anymore for the human king, but for Christ the King, for God’s kingdom, over the forces of evil in the world. In your lives, dear students, what do you think is your sword? What is your passion? What can you offer to God? What can you sacrifice to God so He can transform it, use it, for something greater, something for the betterment of others, for the betterment of the world. What is the sword that you can offer and surrender?

Second, the star of Ignatius. Ignatius was a busy man. His typical day was devoted to so many things: listening and talking to people, helping the poor and the hungry, raising funds, getting the support of the rich and powerful men and women, writing letters to the first Jesuits, to Popes, bishops, kings, and queens. He must have been very tired at the end of each day. At nighttime, Ignatius would stop, go out to the veranda of his room, and look up to the heavens, and gaze at the stars. Ignatius was a star-gazer. Star-gazing kept him quiet. It kept quiet his mind, his heart, his soul, after a tiring, noisy and busy day. More than this, star-gazing gave Ignatius some insight and perspective. It made him see that he is part of something infinitely bigger and greater. When he gazes at the stars, the infinite horizon, he realizes how small we are in the vast expanse of the universe. And this renders him silent. He is awed. He is humbled. It made him see that there is a greater power to all the things of the world. It made him see God, the greater power, loving and caring for us, small creatures of this planet. It made him feel grateful that he is still alive, kept alive and happy by God.

When we see the star of Ignatius, when we think of it, can we also think of our own stars. What are the things in our lives that keep us quiet, reflective, silent, prayerful? Perhaps, our teachers, the Jesuits, the required prayer periods, the required masses like this one? I hope not only these. I hope other things like a time we set aside for ourselves, not being forced to do so, alone, silent, perhaps in our rooms, or in any quiet places, nothing and no one to disturb us, where we can reflect, where we can pray. Jesuits call this contemplation. It focuses our mind, our heart, our soul. It connects us to our God, and like Ignatius, it gives us light, perspective, happiness, in the middle of our very busy schedules, in the middle of the so many things we do in our lives.

Can our friends be our stars? Like the friends in Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings movies. Remember Toy Story? How Andy realized toward the end of the movie that his old toys, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jesse, Rex, Slinky Dog, Mr and Mrs Potato Head, are really his friends, friends who have taught him the value of love, loyalty, even sacrifice. In the same way, our dear parents, our family, our teachers, our classmates, our administrators – they can be our stars, giving us light amid darkness and confusion, joy amid our sadness, helping us pray. They are stars who make us choose life, as we have heard in the second reading a while ago. Do we feel grateful for these stars in our lives? Have we thanked them in one way or the other?

And now, the third, the seal of St. Ignatius. In the time of Ignatius, seals were very important. All noble families, like Ignatius’ own, the Loyolas, have their own emblems or seals. The Loyolas have the famous seal of two wolves feeding on a pot of food, which showed abundance, sharing, and generosity, there was enough food to share, even to the wolves. When Ignatius became the head, or the General of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, he had to write thousands of letters – more than 7000 letters actually – to Jesuits and other people. He used a symbol to seal and stamp with wax the letters he sent all over the world. His seal bears the first three letters of the name of Jesus, IHS. It became the seal of the Society of Jesus.

When we look at the seal of Ignatius and the Jesuits, think about and reflect on your own seal. If you were to draw, or create a seal for yourself, how will it look like. What images will it contain? Will it have animals like wolves? Or initials and symbols? I am sure that many of you have made such visual representations of yourselves. In our modern-day pop technological jargon, we call them Avatars, like those we use for yahoo emails. In Facebook we can choose any type of profile picture, and represent ourselves with cartoons, photos, notes, links, and others. In the dazzling world of computer games like the amazingly phenomenal DOTA or Defense of the Ancients, we can choose our favorite heroes – Zeus, Naix, or Lina Inverse from all of 97 heroes, sentinels or scourge, level-up in experience, strength, agility, intelligence, craft our game plan, strategies and tactics, or in Guitar Hero, select and synchronize our favorite rhythms, songs and artists. We can construct our own personal websites, webspaces, chatrooms, games, rules, and others. The possibilities – creative and exciting – are endless in terms of defining ourselves today, introducing, presenting ourselves to the big world. And yet, the question remains: who are we, who shall we be, who do we want to be. In the Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples: who do people say that I am? The question of identity confronts us. Are we real or virtual? Actual or imagined? Are we portraying our selves as we are now, or as we wish to be in the future? Who do you say you are? Who do people say you are?

In the case of Ignatius, he chose his identity to be simple, uncomplicated, yet deep and profound. He chose his identity, his avatar, his hero, to be near, to be close, to the identity of Jesus. Jesus, simply, profoundly Jesus. The first Jesuits named their group in honor of Jesus, the Compaña de Jesus. They wanted themselves, their identities to be near that of Jesus, so that they will not wander far and forget who they are. Perhaps whenever we see the seal of Ignatius and the Jesuits, we can reflect on our own personal seals, symbols, images, our heroes, our profiles, and our avatars. Do we identify with Jesus as Ignatius did? Or do we identify with someone else, with something else?

And so, dear students, dear faculty and staff, in this feast of our founder, St. Ignatius, let us reflect on his legacy and his spirit, a legacy and spirit that remains alive today, almost five centuries after. His sword, his star, his seal. Our own swords, stars, and seals. His spirit and tradition. Alive and burning in our community here in Ateneo. Alive and burning in our hearts.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.

ATENEO HIGH SCHOOL

ST. IGNATIUS FEAST DAY MASS

29 July 2010

Novena Mass Reflection Day 6 :Ignatius at Paris

2010-07-28T10:02:00.005+08:00

Hello! We continue this morning with our novena sharing, reflecting this time on Ignatius’ experience in Paris. As many of us may already know, Ignatius went to Paris to study at the not-so-young-age of 37. For the students, if you think studying and learning is hard now, imagine when you are 37 years old memorizing facts, names and dates, staying up late to learn new concepts, taking quizzes and long tests, struggling while all your other classmates are in the prime of their lives with clear minds, good memories and youthful energy. Some of your teachers can probably attest to the fact that studying is much harder when one is much older. It is a humbling experience to say the least.

Now, despite this “disadvantage,” Ignatius saw the importance of a good education to be able to serve God well. How could he teach or preach if he did not know the material in the first place? So he went for studies even at his advanced age. Of course, he had to go to the #1 university in Europe at that time, the University of Paris. At 37, attending the best university – he definitely had a hard time. But to be fair, his roommates, Peter Faber and Francis Xavier, probably studied hard as well – the whole class did. Though, perhaps some, like Ignatius, studied more than the others. But all of them went through the same Parisian educational system where the students would be given a subject to master; there would be a lot of exercises and exams, over and over again until they mastered it; only then would they move to the next topic, and to the next, and so on and so forth. For seven years they toiled together. And as you can probably guess, Ignatius, Faber and Xavier and all their other classmates emerged from such a demanding and challenging experience with more than just a doctorate degree – they emerged as close friends, companions.

I think many of you can relate to this. May it be a difficult subject, a demanding teacher or one of the many class projects – it’s hard, it pushes every one of you, but in the end, when all has been said and done, you’ve not only learned a new skill or concept, you’ve also learned more about those who struggled with you: you classmates. After three or four years in the same class, you cannot but know each other well.

If I may be bluntly honest this morning, I must say that I am going through such an experience right now. As some of you might know, I’m a Jesuit candidate living in Arvisu House. I and my fellow candidates are being given a taste of what it means, what it entails to be a Jesuit. It’s not easy. It’s not easy for me to be poor when I’ve had a car, got a well-paying job, a very comfortable life and sizable inheritance. It’s not easy to be chaste when I’ve had a girlfriend, when I’ve known how it is to love someone deeply and be loved as deeply in return; not to mention the raging hormones (well okay, libido, mostly). It’s hard to be obedient when I’m educated, skilled and confident, used to being independent and proactive. It’s hard. But it becomes a little easier when I know I’m not journeying alone. I know my Arvisu brothers are going through the same thing in their own way. And these past two months, I’ve gained some really good friends who give more than just advice, but who provide the strength to carry on. Through our shared struggle, friendships are born.

In today’s Gospel, the same can be said of Jesus’ disciples. We have Jesus speaking in parables that no one at that time could understand. Even his disciples couldn’t understand. So, in the Gospel, we find them going to Jesus asking for an explanation. It must have been hard to be Jesus’ disciple then. Imagine leaving your family, your possessions to go from town to town listening to a teacher you cannot understand and constantly being threatened by the authorities and elders. It must have been a real struggle. But it is a struggle that forged deep friendships among disciples that later helped lay the foundation for the early Church.

And so, in any hardship or tragedy we are currently going through, perhaps is good to ask who else is struggling beside us and perhaps we can lend a helping hand or give kind word or even just an affirming smile because for all we know: that person may need a friend.

Novena Mass Reflection Day 5 :Ignatius at Jerusalem

2010-07-23T13:13:00.000+08:00

Unang Bahagi.
Kapag nagleleybor ang buntis, hindi ‘yan makatitiis…

Nagpunta si Ignacio sa Jerusalem. Ang dahilan… gusto niyang mapuntahan ang pinagmulan ng pananampalatayang Kristyano, ang lugar kung saan mismo isinilang ang panginoong Hesus. Marahil, bukod sa gala lang talaga si Ignacio, e romantiko rin siyang dito niya gustong ipanganak, isilang ang pagyabong ng kanyang bokasyon. Gaano karomantiko si Ignacio sa bahaging ito? Bukod sa gusto niyang puntahan kung saan isinilang si Kristo, gusto rin lang naman niyang makita pati ang lugar ng asensyon ni Kristo at pati na kung saan nakaturo ang kanyang mga paa nito nang umakyat siya sa langit. Pati kung saan nakaturo ang paa ni Kristo nang umakyat siya sa langit ha. Hardcore. OC.

Pero siyempre, hindi ito naging madali sa ating bida. Bakit? Nandyan ang mga Turko na sumakop sa Jerusalem nung panahong iyon kaya hindi basta-basta makapangaral hinggil sa Kristyanismo. Bukod pa rito, e nariyan ang mga Franciscano na kumausap kay Ignacio na kung gusto niyang lumalim pa nang husto ang kanyang ispiritwalidad, e pumunta siya sa Roma, at huwag maging labis na mapangahas na mangaral hinggil sa Kristyanismo sa Jerusalem dahil baka magalit ang mga Morong Turko at ‘di na nila payagan pang makapunta ang mga Kristyano sa banal na bayan. Sa madaling sabi, itinaboy nila si Ignacio.

Sa isang banda, mukhang bigo si Ignacio sa kanyang layunin sa Jerusalem. Bigo sapagkat hindi niya naisilang ang paglago ng kanyang ispiritwalidad sa lugar kung saan niya ito nais isilang.

Kabiguan o di-mapipigilang pagsilang? Kapag nagleleybor ang buntis, hindi ‘yan makatitiis… magsisilang at magsisilang ‘yan. Sa taxi, sa dyip, sa bahay, sa ospital, sa traysikel, sa kariton, sa traysikad, sa arinola… kahit saan, kung nagleleybor ang buntis, hindi ‘yan makatitiis… magsisilang ‘yan. Ganyan marahil ang nagyari sa ispiritwalidad ni Ignacio. Hindi man sa pinakaninanais niyang lugar ito isilang, hindi niya ito mapipigilang ipanganak. Tulad ng isang inang nagdadalantao, kahit hindi sa pinakamahusay na ospital ipanganak ang kanyang supling, ayos lang. Ang mahalaga, buhay ito, masigla at malusog. Hindi man sa Jerusalem, ang mahalaga, isinilang ang bokasyon ni Ignacio, buhay ito, at patuloy na lumago.

Ikalawang Bahagi.
Ano ang higit na mahalaga? Jerusalem o ang layuning paglagong pang-ispiritwal ni Ignacio? Ospital? O ang panganganak nang ligtas, buhay, at malusog?

Kung iuugnay ito sa sariling pagninilay, maaaring maihambing ang Jerusalem sa mga panagarap ko. Samantalang ang dahilan naman ng pagpunta ni Ignacio sa lugar na ito ay maihahambing ko naman sa mga sariling dahilan kung bakit ako nangangarap.

Ano ang aking Jerusalem?

Maging presidente ng Pilipinas! ‘Yan talaga ang pangarap ko. ‘Yan ang Jerusalem ko. Ang dami kong pinagdaanan para marating sana ang pangarap na ‘yan.
Sumali ako sa mga organisasyon sa paaralan ko nung ako ay nasa elementarya at sekundarya. Naging pangulo ako ng student government ng aming paaralan. Namuno ako sa maraming mga gawaing pampaaralan na magbibigay ng higit na kaginhawahan at kaayusan ng katayuan ng mga kapwa ko mag-aaral noon.

Bukod dito, galing din ako sa pamilya ng mga politiko. Naging kapitan ng Baranggay ang lolo ko (sumalangit nawa) at baranggay tanod naman ang isa kong tiyuhin. Mabibigat talaga ang pusisyon ng mga kamag-anak ko sa pulitika!

Naisip ko, kung talagang gusto kong maging pangulo, mabuting kumuha ako ng law sa kolehiyo upang maihanda ako nang maigi. Pero may mga turko at Franciscano rin sa buhay ko. Ang pinakamalaking hadlang, kahirapan. Ni hindi ako sigurado kung mapag-aaral ako ng magulang ko sa kolehiyo. Kung gaano kahirap, mahabang kwentuhan ‘yan. Basta ganito ang kalagayan ko dati, sa iskwaters area kami nakatira, na noong una’y wala kuryente (sa loob ng isang taon) at wala kaming kubeta (sa loob ng isa’t kalahating taon at kailangan mong tiisin ang sakit ng tiyan at maglakbay ng kalahating kilometro para makadumi nang matiwasay sa bahay ng tiyahin ko). Sa madaling-sabi, kailangan kong bitawan ang aking Jerusalem.

Pero katulad ni Ignacio, hindi puwedeng hindi ko ito maisilang. Binalikan ko ang dahilan ng aking Jerusalem, ang dahilan ng aking pangrap, ang dahilan kung bakit ko gustong maging pangulo. At ito ay ang aking sariling krusada sa paglaban sa kahirapan. Sawa na akong maging mahirap at alam kong ito rin ang nararamdaman ng karamihan sa bayang ito. Ito ‘yung pinagbubuntis ko, ito ‘yung gusto ko sanang maipanganak sa sarili kong Jerusalem. Pero hindi ko nalasap, ni bahagyang narating ang aking Jerusalem.

Hindi man ako naging pangulo, nagguro ako (sa paaralang humuhubog sa magiging pinuno ng bayan). Upang hindi mamatay o masayang ang mga adhikaing naging dahilan ng aking Jerusalem.

At katulad ng nagleleybor na buntis… hindi rin ako makatitiis na hindi ito maisilang. Kung hindi man sa mahusay na ospital, kahit sa dyip o sa traysikel o sa kariton ko ito isilang. Ayos lang. Basta buhay at masigla. …Kahit hindi sa Jerusalem.

Bok Pioquid
CSIP

Novena Mass Reflection Day 4 :Ignatius at Manresa

2010-07-22T11:10:00.003+08:00

Naglalakbay noon si Ignacio patungong Barcelona nang siya’y napadaan sa isang ilog na pangala’y Cardoner sa bayan ng Manresa. Mayroon doong kuweba. Sumilong siya roon ng ilang araw ngunit di niya akalaing lalagi pa siya ng sampung buwan. Sa kuwebang iyon, ibinigay ni Ignacio ang kanyang sarili sa matinding pagdarasal at pagsakripisyo. Doon niya isinulat ang kanyang Spiritual Exercises. Sa tabi ng Cardoner, nagkaroon ng pangitain si Ignacio. Ang pangitaing iyon ay tuwirang nakapagbago ng kanyang pananaw sa buhay at sa ugnayan nito sa ibang nilalang. Mula noon, mas nakita niya ang lahat ng bagay, pangyayari at tao sa kasaysayan ng mundo na may hayagang ugnayan sa Diyos na may likha ng lahat. Bagama’t habambuhay itinago ni Ignacio ang patungkol sa yaong pangitain, maraming naniniwala na ang Diyos mismo ang kanyang nakita’t nakatagpo sa panahong iyon.

Maganda ang karanasan ni Ignacio sa Manresa. Mas nakilala niya ang Diyos at ang kanyang sarili. Ngunit hindi niya piniling manatili doon habambuhay. Ang manlalakbay na Ignacio ay umalis ng Manresa at ipinagpatuloy ang kanyang paglalakbay. Oo, mas nakilala niya ang Diyos at ang kanyang sarili sa Manresa ngunit nakilala rin niya ang plano ng Diyos sa kanyang buhay.

Naalaala ko, noong papatapos na ang aking 30-day retreat sa Sacred Heart Novitiate, nakaramdam ako ng munting kalungkutan nang mawari kong magtatapos na itong katahimikan. Ngunit naranasan ko rin ang matinding pananabik na bumalik sa mundo upang subukang gawin ang kanyang kalooban. Gaya ng Manresa, at tulad ni Ignacio, inihanda ako ng Diyos sa loob ng tatlumpung araw sa Sacred Heart Novitiate.

Kasagsagan noon ng pagputok ng mga balita tungkol sa napakaraming iskandalo ng simbahan at ng mga pari nito. Hindi ko makakalimutan noong tinanong ako ng aking superior, Madz, hindi maganda ang itsura ng Simbahan ngayon, maraming iskandalo itong hinaharap, may mga lumalabas sa pagpapari at halos wala na, sa mga kabataan, ang may nais na maging tulad natin.

Kaya ako narito, sagot ko, kung parang isang napakalaking barko na lumulubog ang Simbahan ngayon, kalooban ng Diyos na ako’y manatili anuman ang mangyari. Kahit hindi ito madali, dahil naniniwala ako sa kanya, ako’y tatalima.

Mahalaga ang mga Manresa ng ating buhay. Para itong mga ”stop-overs” kung saan naririnig natin ng malinaw ang ating Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pakikinig sa ating sarili. Dito natin naalaala ang mga kwento ng Diyos sa ating buhay, kung paano niya tayo minamahal. At dito natin nalalaman ang kanyang kalooban.

Bro. Madz Tumbali, SJ
CMO/ Araling Panlipunan

Novena Mass Reflection Day 3 :Ignatius at Monserrat

2010-07-21T10:37:00.003+08:00

Months before I said “Yes” when I was asked to become the next APSA, I remember a conversation I had with my predecessor, Mr. Jun Balmaceda. He said something along these lines (which I have roughly translated): “The challenges of the APSA Office at times seem insurmountable, and it takes a little craziness to maintain sanity in dealing with them.”

I knew what I was getting into. I will need to look after over two thousand students. I will need to listen to the complaints of parents. I will immerse myself in their problems. I will need to take care of over two hundred faculty members. I will deal with issues spanning about three generations. There will be problems that I can anticipate and prepare for, and those that I won’t even see coming.

Then I figured that each and every one of us is faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges from time to time. And they do not have to be problems associated with work. They can come in the form of losing a loved one in a tragic event. Maybe you found out that your husband or your wife is having an affair and your family is falling apart. Maybe you made a wrong investment, and now you can’t pay for your children’s tuition fees. In any case, maybe Mr. Balmaceda’s advice has a lot of wisdom: taking these problems too seriously would make us go insane. People who really know me would say I have no problem with going a little crazy. There are times when it’s hard to distinguish if I am serious or not. But what I would like to share in this Mass is a weapon I have found more effective in facing these challenges than just a little craziness. That weapon, is a way of prayer.

Since last a retreat I attended last May, prayer for me has no longer been a monologue that I hope God would hear. I have discovered that it can be a dialogue where I can hear what God is telling me. But it is something that is not automatic for me, especially when I have a lot of things on my mind. So I began to study the conditions that allow this to happen. Here are the steps that I follow:

1. Pray for God’s grace. Use a formula prayer or read a Bible passage for the day. Pray that God will speak to you and that you will hear it.

2. Clear your mind from all your thoughts and worries. In this process you may be reminded that everything in this world is only temporary. Just be aware of your present environment. You can close your eyes and rely on your other senses. Be conscious of your breathing, and with each breath thank the Holy Spirit for giving you this life.

3. A reflection guide will always helpful. Write your thoughts and feelings in a notebook. It can be about the passage that you read. It can be about your answers to some guide questions. It can be about anything. You can even draw if you like.

4. Just wait for the grace to come. But when it happens, how do you know if it is God or something you just conjured from your unconscious? You will know when you hear something that did not come from you. You will be moved to tears. For some you will be moved through uncontrollable laughter, or maybe even music. There will be a surge of emotion that will creep in and take over. And then things will become clear. The seemingly insurmountable challenges before you will become the blueprint of God’s plan. You will feel energized, like a battery that could run forever. At that point, try to write everything as fast as you could. Not that you’re going to forget God’s word, but so you can go back to the experience from time to time.

5. Close the experience with a prayer. It can be a formula prayer. Or it can be something you just made up, like this:

Lord, I remember a homily given by our former chaplain, Fr. Rudy Fernandez. He said that when Mary responded with the magic word ‘Yes,’ God was set loose into the world. And the blind began to see, the deaf began to hear, the mute began to speak. When I said ‘Yes’ to this tremendous responsibility of becoming the APSA, I knew this wasn’t about me anymore. I am going to let you loose into this community. Use me as Your instrument, and let’s make some beautiful music.

Mr. Jon Bilog
APSA

Novena Mass Reflection Day 2 :Ignatius at Pamplona and Loyola

2010-07-20T11:09:00.006+08:00

We all know that Inigo de Loyola was born into a noble family and that he trained to become a highly esteemed soldier. We know that he met his misfortune in a battle against France in Pamplona when a cannon ball struck him, wounding one leg and breaking the other. Because the French soldiers admired his courage, they carried him back to recuperate at his home, the Castle of Loyola, rather than to prison.

His leg was set but did not heal, so it was necessary to break it again and reset it, all without anesthesia. But then, a bone protruded below the knee, and one leg was shorter than the other. It was an ugly sight and was unacceptable to this vain soldier, who considered it a fate worse than death not to be able to wear a knight’s long, tight-fitting boots.

Ignatius ordered the doctors to saw off the offending knob of bone and lengthen the leg, again, without anesthesia. He bore that terrible pain for the sake of his appearance and his future.

Ignatius had to rest and let his wound heal for 7 months. Extremely bored, he checked out the library and found only a copy of the life of Christ and a book on the saints. The more he read, the more he was inspired by the exploits of the saints, which he found worth imitating.

At the same time, he continued to have daydreams of fame and glory, of street duels, of boasting and daring and the image of a perfect knight.

But something happened. Ignatius noticed that after reading and thinking of Christ and the saints, he was filled with peace and tranquility. And when he finished his long worldly daydreams of military service and exploits, he would feel unsatisfied and restless.

Ignatius found himself torn between two loves.

He weighed his two conflicting desires and through hours and hours of meditation. He realized that in his pursuit of honor and esteem by the world, he was hiding from God, fleeing from Him. Jesus touched him and set his heart on fire, inspiring him to turn to God and become a “pilgrim” to find his life.

This is where and how St. Ignatius’ conversion began – in pain and in silence.

Have we similarly experienced pain – the loss of a job, a loved one, physical injury or sickness, betrayal by a loved one, loneliness and desperation?

When we are stripped of things that we have become attached to, and seemingly alone, we are brought to an opportunity to be silent and hear the voice of God inside of us.

On September 26, last year, rains that poured continuously for hours caused floodwaters to rise close to the ceiling of our home. It took two days before the floodwaters of Ondoy receded and we were able to go to our house. I was not prepared for the damage that met my eyes. Everything – the house, the garden, furniture, clothes, appliances – everything was coated in foul-smelling mud. Three of our cars had been completely submerged in floodwaters. We felt we were stripped of our material things. It caused us all a lot of pain. But in silence and in prayer, we turned to God as the true and only source of security. The biggest lesson we learned was that material things come and go, but what matter most are family, our love for one another and the Sprit of God that gives us the strength to endure difficulties and continue to hope.

We have learned that the gifts that God has given to us are not to be kept but shared with others. Nothing is really ever ours.

Like St Ignatius, we learn to accept all that happen to us, to be humble, and to be obedient to God’s will.

St. Ignatius de Loyola, pray for us.

Mrs. Aida Santiago

Parent

Novena Mass Reflection Day 1 :Ignatius at Azpetitia

2010-07-19T10:58:00.000+08:00

Ang buhay ni San Ignacio sa Azpeitia, Guipozcoa, Hilagang Espanya ay masasabing marangya at napupuno ng kasiyahan. Lumaki siya na may patutunguhan at may pangarap para sa sarili. Pero tumigil ito nang tamaan siya sa paa ng canon ball. Ang canon ball na siyang nagdala sa kanya sa daan na ginawa para sa kanya. Ang canon ball– minsan ito’y nagsisilbing pampagising. Minsan inaakala mo na ito’y isang trahedya, pero malaki ang kabuluhan sa ating buhay. Masakit pero hindi natatapos doon ang lahat, maaring ‘yun lamang ang umpisa. Tulad ni San Ignacio ay may sarili rin akong patutunguhan at pangarap. Sabi ko sa sarili ko ngayong taong ito, magiging pokus ako sa aking mga plano. Makabili ng sariling bahay, makabili ng laptop, ang mag-aral muli at kumuha ng Masters, pati ang pagkakaron ng kasintahan ay naplano na. Pero may nangyari sa buhay ko na nakapagpagising sa akin.

Tulad ni San Ignacio may “canon ball” na tumama saken. Nagkasakit ang aking ina. Nakitaan siya ng bukol sa kanyang rectum. Ayon sa doktor kailangan daw siya maoperhan para hindi ito maging sanhi ng mas malala pang sakit, ang colon cancer. Naging sanhi ito ng maraming pagbabago sa akin at sa aking pamilya, nadagdagan ang gawaing bahay, nagkaproblema sa pera, nagkaalitan ang magkakapatid, nagkatampuhan kaming mga magkakamaganak. At higit sa lahat hindi na natuloy ang pagkakaroon ko ng kasintahan. Samakatuwid, nasira na ang aking mga plano. Napakabigat sa pakiramdam. Ngunit ang sitwasyong ito ay nakapagpamulat sa akin sa maraming bagay, marami pang bagay pala na mas mahalaga. Sa sitwasyong ito natagpuan ko ang aking sarili na nagdarasal. Kailangan ko magdasal yun ang sabi ko sa sarili ko, kailangan ko ng Kanyang gabay, dahil malapit na ko bumigay. Sa bawat oras na nasa ospital kami nakita ko ang presensiya ng Diyos. Sa bawat araw na naghahanap kami ng pinansiyal na suporta, nakita ko ang Diyos sa aking kapwa. Nakita ko rin ang kahalagahan ng pagkakaisa at pagmamahalan naming magkakapatid, kahalagahan ng pamilya, kahalagahan ng pagpapasensiya at pang unawa, at ang pinaka importante ang kahalagahan ng oras at ng buhay. Hindi nga naisakatuparan ang aking mga plano, pero may mas mahalagang di nawala, ang buhay ng aking Nanay. Minsan may nangyayari sa buhay mo na hindi mo gusto, na hindi mo inakala. Huwag mo itong ituring na kamalasan o masama, o dahil pinaparusahan ka. Kasi ito’y maaring isang daan upang akayin ka Niya sa direksyon na kung saan dapat ka tumungo, na tumigil ka at magbalik loob sa Kanya. Ang magpatuloy sa buhay, na huwag bumitaw sa pananampalataya.

Marami pang “canon ball” na darating. Marami pang pampagising ang Diyos na ating mararanasan, habang patuloy tayo sa paglalakbay at pag diskubre ng nakalaang misyon ng Diyos para satin.

Chona A. Glodo

Testing and Research Office Staff

Rich Young Men

2010-07-12T09:57:00.007+08:00

by Joseph Patrick Echevarria

Good morning. In line with our theme for the week – “St. Ignatius the Pilgrim who sought the Glory of God” – it is perhaps apt to relate or juxtapose “St. Ignatius the Pilgrim” to a certain “rich young man” we find in the Gospel.

In Matthew’s Gospel, the “rich young man” desires to have a more meaningful life, and seeks out and approaches Jesus and inquires about what more he can do to live a better life – after all, he has already observed the ten commandments, which are difficult enough by themselves. Jesus sees his sincere desire and responds with an invitation to go further, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. We can probably imagine that Jesus, in his humanity, felt sad for the rich young man as well. He was a good young man, but he just couldn’t take that next step. Maybe he had something he couldn’t let go of, or he had responsibilities at home and his family expected much from him, it could be that he is to take over the family business, or perhaps he just wasn’t ready to surrender everything, to surrender himself. In any case, he turned away with his head bowed down.

In many ways, Ignatius too was a “rich young man”. He lived in a castle, he was brave, and an exemplary fighter and swordsman, admired by his peers and the ladies of the court, even his enemies greatly respected him. You could say he had it all. But he too was interested in a better life, not just of comfort and wealth and women and power, but a life of greater meaning and purpose. Like the “rich young man” in the Gospel, he went far and wide in search of meaning; he became a “pilgrim”. And in his travels, like the “rich young man”, he met Jesus, and the Lord, saw his sincerity, invited him to come and follow. But unlike the “rich young man”, Ignatius said “yes”. If we try to imagine that moment in Ignatius’ life, his “yes” might have been said with a little fear for he did not know where Jesus will take him and a little nostalgia at the once grand life he was abandoning. But surely, it was a “yes” filled with much trust and much faith and much love. And as we know, his “yes” to Jesus has made all the difference in his life and in the many lives he has touched then and even now, in the many Jesuits over the years and across nations, and, of course, his “yes” has made a big difference in the many people these Jesuits know, like the students, the teachers, the staff and professionals in the Ateneo High School.

And if we think and look carefully, we will see Ignatius’ “yes” repeated by many in our community, some more obvious than others, some also rich and also young and talented and accomplished and handsome – but have sought a better life, have sought a life of deeper meaning, have sought to follow the God who knows only to love and to give without measure.

To be sure, the world and its values will see these “rich young men” as crazy. But perhaps it will also make them ask, make us ask: “Who is this Jesus who can inspire these men to give up everything to come and follow him?”

As we ask, we pray: In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Father, You know us, You know our desires, You know our deepest desires. Grant us the wisdom that we may recognize it ourselves. And grant us the strength, the perseverance and the patience to pursue it with all that we have and all that we are. Amen. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

July 2: Feast of St. Bernardino Realino

2010-07-01T16:01:00.003+08:00

St. Bernardino Realino (1530-1616), the Apostle of Leece, was of the Italian nobility. Before entering the Society of Jesus, he was an accomplished lawyer. He was also a chief tax collector, a mayor, and a judge. He also became a superintendent of the fiefs of the marquis of Naples. Yet, despite his success, St. Realino found himself unfulfilled with worldly honors.

When he heard God’s call, he gave up everything to be a religious, a priest, a Jesuit. He became a model confessor, a sincere preacher, and a diligent teacher of the faith to the young. He was a dedicated shepherd of souls and a pastor to the poor, the slaves, the sick, and the prisoners. When he was 32, he wrote to his brother, “I have no desire for the honors of this world, but solely for the glory of God and the salvation of my soul.”

In our world today, we often equate success with worldly things. How rich we are is defined in terms of money, property, and recognition. Many of the youth today labor just to climb the ladder of success. They go to school and work hard day in and day out.

The culture of today is a culture of productivity. The more a person produces, the more successful a person is. The more one accumulates, the better one is. But the life of St. Bernardino Realino reminds us that giving glory to God and the salvation of our souls are far more important than worldly honors. And in the eyes of God, this is success.

S. Bernardino Realino is an example of a rich young man who made the right choice, a young man who gave up everything to follow Jesus and who found his success in heaven rather than in the world.

Which is better: Success only in the eyes of the world or success in the eyes of God? Choose. To be an apostle of God is to be detached from worldly things and to hold on to God, to surrender and follow.

What are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of God’s glory and the salvation of your soul?

Lord, we pray that we may be able to follow St. Bernardino Realino and respond to Your call, for Your glory and the salvation of our souls. St. Bernardino Realino, pray for us.

- Bryan O. Arevalo, SJ

Reposted from phjesuits.org

Reflection on the Feast of St. John the Baptist

2010-06-24T08:09:00.001+08:00

Reflection on the Feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga

2010-06-21T09:54:00.011+08:00

GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may go marry:
For having lost but once your prime
You may for ever tarry.

So wrote an English romantic poet and lover of life, Robert Herrick,
as he dedicates these verses To The Virgins, To Make Much of Time.
His poem emphasizes the shortness of life,
the beauty of the world,
the glory of love
and our inescapable human need of finding our one, true, lasting commitment
that we will keep for the rest of our lives.

***

Last Friday, we honored the Most Holy Spirit,
with a Celebration of the Eucharist.

Before one another,
in front of our parents, teachers and friends,
we made a commitment to form ourselves
according to the vision of the school
described by the 5 C’s.

We asked the Spirit of God to strengthen our resolve
to put Christ, our Lord, at the center of our lives
and thus, from there, influence
the quality of our learning,
the practice our conscience,
the way we relate to one another,
and the effort we put into fulfilling our different promises.
Life is short.
Non habemus tempus.
We have no time.

***

What if, one day, God sends one of his angels
to tell you that you have only one more year to live?

Will you still go to school or just stay home?
Will you start asking people to pray for you
and take care of you while life slowly drifts away?
Will you begin to list every human experience
that you would have wanted to feel and enjoy
and make sure to fulfill them one after another?

An angel saying: “Here comes your last year on earth”
-- was how Aloysius Gonzaga
exactly received the vision of Archangel Gabriel.

The Gonzagas were a rich clan from Northern Italy.

Aloysius, humble of his origins,
avoiding often the attention caused by his surname,
would often sign his name simply as “Louie” or “Luigi.”

Aloysius’ father, who was a famous military person,
exacted from him the same kind of discipline
yet provided him with the best education.
It was through his studies
that he learned about saints and priests.
Thus, at an early age,
Aloysius expressed a desire
that he will be a priest and a saint one day.

His father having learned about this,
sent Aloysius to a military camp at age 5
to ensure that only a military life
will take root firmly in his heart.

So much was expected from this young man,
that initially his father
and his relatives discouraged him
from pursuing his dreams to become a priest.

After a fierce battle of wills,
and only after several years, Aloysius won his father’s approval.
He entered the Society of Jesus with a strong resolve of finishing his priestly studies.

Non habemus tempus.
We have no time.

Archangel Gabriel told him: “Here comes your last year on earth.”

Even before finishing the course,
St. Aloysius faced the inevitable
yet beautiful design of God’s plan.

A serious plague broke out in Rome.
Aloysius volunteered at once to help in the hospital.
During his time, hospitals were not clean, orderly places
that we are familiar with today.
It was very easy to catch an illness.
That is what happened: Aloysius became very ill.
No medicine could help him.
He died when he was only 23 years old.
He was not afraid to die.
During his life, he had focused himself
on doing what Christ wanted:
serving and loving God, our Father, and His big family.

What if, one day, God sends one of his angels
to tell you that you have only one more year to live?
What will you do?

We now have one new school year.
What will we do?

Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum.
While we have the time, let us do the good.

***
GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer…

***

Let us pray, +
Good Father in Heaven,
thank You for Your gift of life.
Help us, while our youth and blood are warmer,
to gather the many graces
You give us each day and everyday.

That even when your lamp, the sun,
has neared its setting or finished its race,
we have rendered you greater glory
by using our time well. Amen.

All you, Jesuit Saints and Beati, pray for us.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us.

+

Sources:
Saints and Feast Days (Loyola University Press, 1985), pp. 133-4.
www.wikipedia.org on St. Aloysius Gonzaga and Robert Herrick

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloysius_Gonzaga
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Herrick
Images seached through www.google.com

Our Faith Journey: A Reflection at the Beginning of a New School Year

2010-06-07T08:04:00.000+08:00

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1)

Let me begin this reflection by sharing the story of a family mansion that caught fire one night. The parents rushed out into the garden, holding their two smaller children in their arms, and shouting to their eldest, a boy of five, to follow them. However, frightened by the flames, he rushed up the stairs to the attic, and from its balcony began to shout, “Daddy, Daddy, save me!

The man shouted back, “It’s alright, Johnny, jump down from there and I’ll catch hold of you!” Standing just 20 feet below, his father could see him clearly, but because the smoke billowing up, the boy couldn’t see anything below! Anxiously, the boy sobbed, “But Daddy, I can’t see you!” His father replied persuasively, “

Johnny, it is more important that I can see you. Please jump!” And taking courage, the boy jumped into the safe, strong arms of his father.

The story you just heard is a story about faith. As we formally begin another school year, it is most fitting that we start the school year by reflecting over our own faith journey as a school community.

Last year, we started the school year with challenges we have never expected. The AH1N1 scare during the first week, the devastation of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng and many other political and economic turmoil we faced as a community and as a nation, but we remained steadfast, because we have kept the faith. Like the boy in the story, we dared to jump though we grapple with uncertainty, into the loving arms of God.

After a challenging year of jumping into the unknown we have all the reason to remain hopeful and keep the faith alive. This is because we know that God is with us and will always be with us, He is most trustworthy. We only need to have faith and dare to jump to his loving embrace.

Today, as we begin another school year, we carry within us our desires and hopes for the coming year. The opening of classes marks the beginning of new projects, new discoveries and learning. To put it more concretely, we desire better grades, more involvement in school activities and better relationship with our peers and many other things. We present to God all of these desires and let us continue to ask for the gift of faith, to jump not only to the unknown that we fear most but to all His possibilities and blessing He desires to give us. Let us keep in mind that the future always brings hope, promises and possibilities of abundance and blessings.

Fueled by our faith that the Lord is with us in all that we do, let us pray too that He may grant us the courage to rise from our mistakes, the strength to carry our many duties and responsibilities. May He give us the courage to face what is ahead of us with renewed hope and inspiration.

Let us also not forget how St. James reminds us that “faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:17). At the beginning of this school year, it is also good that we go back to the roots of our identity as a Jesuit school: that we are trained not only to be men of faith, but to be men who put their prayers and faith into action. By this, we become truly what we desire most – to become Lux in Domino, Light of the World.

And so we begin the year with grateful hearts, keeping in mind all the blessings and graces the Lord has given us the past years and look forward to another blessed year. Let us beg for the grace of faith to ‘jump’ to whatever is ahead of us, knowing very well that we have Someone trustworthy and loving to catch us in His loving arms. Amen.

Reflection for Ateneo High School Faculty

2010-05-20T14:52:00.001+08:00

Mula kina Tyron Casumpang at Aileen Ani ng Kagawaran ng Filipino

Reflection AHS

Reflection for Ateneo High School Faculty

2010-05-20T10:40:00.002+08:00

Math Subject Area Reflection
Jeremias A. Endrina, Jr.
May 17, 2010

Good morning!

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to give a reflection in behalf of the Math Subject Area. This brought me less sleep hours at night thinking of what the reflection would be and how would I communicate it. I was pressured by the reflections given last week. I’m neither sensibly funny like Sir Enzo, part of the main cast of Igkas like Maam Jovy (I was with the cut and paste committee) nor did I cast my vote last elections (I was registered in Bukidnon and nobody was willing to sponsor my fare.) Not until I had my shower last friday that I remembered some thoughts shared to us by Dr. Jaguthsing Dindyal, our Ateneo-Singapore Workhop Speaker. I reflected on those points that same day, which made me think of so many things during the last day of the seminar-workshop. I am sorry for that. Nevertheless, the workshop was all worth it. I was able to reflect and prepare for this morning’s reflection.

I will share what I have reflected about three “don’ts” on assessing student learning. I would like to emphasize that I got these from the words of Dr. Jaguthsing Dindyal. After my reflection, I will show a video for synthesis and post questions for individual reflection. We will then end with a prayer.

The following are the points that struck me during the workshop:
1. don’t rely in assessing student learning on one source of information;
2. don’t conduct a test to penalize weak students rather conduct a test to assess students' learning;
3. don’t give credit to correct answer with incorrect solution for obviously you cannot have an accurate answer if your method is wrong.

First, don’t rely in assessing student learning on one source of information. You might ask, what makes it striking? Let me tell you some of my teaching experiences in my first year here in the Ateneo. For reasons I do not know, I was blessed with challenges last school year. I had the “makukulit, nakaka-inis at nakaka-asar,” students. Sorry for the descriptions. It was my first time, in my three years of teaching, that I felt some pains in the neck whenever I get mad at my students - I hope it won’t lead to hypertension later on. Most of the time, for lack of a better term, I call them “basura” at the back of my mind. Which would trigger my conscience saying, “je, hindi yan magandang gawain.” It is but right for a teacher to reprimand students who often sleep in class, fail most of the long tests and worse, feel tired about their life. One day a student, not one of those unruly ones, a Math achiever in fact, approached me and shared something about a problem his family went through these past few months. He shared that he might not be able to perform well in class because he is bothered and disturbed about it. I didn’t expect something like this from a student like him. My impression of him is that he is a happy-go-lucky person. Now, I learned that not all of what my students show and do are true. They could be facades of what they experience at home. And that I should not judge them for who they are because of what I see in them. This experience echoes what Mr. Bilog said: students who often have sanctions are the same students who experience difficulty at home, and who we are right now is a product of what we have experienced in the past (Sean Covey; 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens).

I would like to add that although my experiences shaped me to become who I am today, I believe that I still have the freedom to reshape it the way I want it to be. I can choose not to be controlled by my life experiences rather I learn from them and soar to greater heights. My students might not understand this by now. But as a teacher, I can start making them feel that they are more than what they say and do in school. I will not rely on one-sided information to know them better. To understand them is to be convinced with the idea that they are more than what they show in class.

Second, don’t conduct a test to penalize weak students but to assess students' learning. I confess that I sometimes violate this sacred principle of assessment. Looking back, I would sometimes wish that the unruly students would fail in all assessments I conduct, so that the agony of always reprimanding them will come to an end. I would at times find pleasure in the low scores of my unwanted students. And worst, I would box them as the “no wonder why” students. Sad to say, even though they do not do homework regularly, these same students have more than enough ability to pass the subject.

Last Thursday after the workshop, around 4:30pm, Senator Jinggoy Estrada entered the MST workroom with Sir Jerry Pavia. We were all star struck by his presence that when I passed by him my only thoughts were, “ah, si Jinggoy.” Maam Jo, who was then talking to Patrick, did not stop uttering words as a reaction to what she saw even though Patrick did not anymore understand what Maam Jo was saying. The day after that, I learned that Jinggoy’s son will be studying in our school and could possibly be one of my students. Since I don’t really like Jinggoy, my reaction was “sana hindi ako” and “kung ako magiging guro ng anak hiya, humanda siya sa akin.” How bad those thoughts were. I’m afraid that if I won’t put a stop to it, neither will I be happy with my second year of teaching here in the Ateneo nor he, the son of Senator Jinggoy, will have a meaningful experience of . “Thoughts become things,” a famous line from the documentary entitled The Secret. Because I have a negative impression programmed in my mind about some of my students and Senator Jinggoy, I begin to translate it in not so good ways. I start to notice more of the negative in them. I set out to be very critical on what they do. I embark on thinking about punishing them as a form of revenge. For sure, I will be the one who will have less in this game because I will fail to enjoy their company as my students.

Third, don’t give credit to a correct answer with an incorrect solution for obviously you cannot have an accurate answer if your method is wrong. This made me think of the correct way of learning about life. Is it through the school? Is it through other people? Or is it through experiences? Either way, I am sure that my students taught me a lot about life. My first year teaching experience here in the Ateneo is something that I should be thankful for. Although it was a roller coaster ride, I believe it has molded me to become a better teacher. I strongly believe that my being here is part of the correct method that constantly makes me learn things. And in faith, I believe it was Him who planned all these. He is indeed the greatest teacher - He who deserves all the credit. To Him be the glory! My students, Senator Jinggoy, Dr. Dindyal, my colleagues in the Math Subject Area were instrumental to who I am today – better teacher, better worker and better person. Plus ten to them! I would like to say the words shared to us by Fr. Rudy Fernandez, “For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.”

Now, I would like to show a video clip as a synthesis of my reflection. The video clip was created from a fictional story written by Elizabeth Silance Ballard published in 1974 by Home Life Magazine entitled "Three Letters from Teddy."

(Show video clip.)

Before the closing prayer, I would like us to spend few minutes reflecting on the following questions:
a. What has been my greatest lesson this past school year?
b. How did God manifest His teachings to me?
c. What do I hope for this coming school year?

Prayer:

Loving God, you believed in me that’s why you entrusted me with a great responsibility of molding not just the mind but the whole person of my students. Give me the grace to open my heart to every student under my care. Bestow me with your wisdom to transcend with the realities of life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit to sustain the strength in me. I thank you for the daily opportunity of becoming a better person for my students. May I be faithful to Your plan here on earth as I try to follow the example of Your Son Jesus Christ, the greatest Teacher. Amen.

In You I find my Home

2010-05-17T13:02:00.001+08:00

Amelia Camile Solmerin

Never thought this is possible Lord
that as tears are streaming down
my heart is smiling
for now I finally celebrate
with conviction
I am your beloved

The events in my life maybe hurtful
even scary Lord
My heart maybe reasonable frustrated

Left on my own
I would have long
fallen apart, torn to pieces
ending up worthless

Yet as I lay crying in my bed
You gently lull me to sleep
Each morning you nudge me back
to my senses

I have all the reasons
to stay in bed
wallowing in pain
file my complaints

Yet each new day
You send me persons
so much more wounded
than I am
reminding me it is for
love that You meant that life to be

In my weaknesses, You strengthen me
In my brokenness, You mend me
In my emptiness, You fill me
with tremendous love
beyond human measure

The nagging pain inside is grace
for my bruised heart
my wounded spirit
lead me to stretch out my hand
and receive your embrace

I will stumble and fall
but You who formed in
my mother's womb
enfused my veins
with love

My broken heart
throbs for you
My Eternal home
Amen

Reflection: AHS Faculty Retreat 2010

2010-05-17T12:53:00.001+08:00

It’s been some years since I’ve had a good retreat; I think 2005 was the last one that I truly encountered God’s presence and this was in the Betania Retreat House in Baguio. Prior to this last retreat, I went to the Pink Sisters in Hemady to ask for prayers that I may again experience God just like the way I saw Him in 2005. I was not disappointed.

I was angry about some things when I boarded the bus going to Tagaytay. I thought that I will not have a good one again because I was distracted and it was difficult to concentrate on God’s love when I was thinking about people who irritate me and who I irritate in return. I’m sure that my Spiritual Director was not happy with our first session because I had nothing but angst and he must either had been very disappointed or very challenged. I told him about my difficulty in focusing in my prayers, that my mind would wonder off about so many things. My Spiritual Director advised me to focus my eyes on the crucifix or on a lighted candle to keep my mind off from any other thoughts. The crucifix or the lighted candle would help me go back to Jesus image. I was also told that if my prayers keep on talking about myself, then it is not a good prayer. I had doubts that I’ll have a good one.

In my first prayer in the chapel, just when I started to talk about my problems there was a compelling voice more forceful than mine telling me to forget about my concerns because these are already known by Jesus. Instead, I was told to listen to Him, focus on my relationship with Him, and use it as a bonding time for the two of us. He told me that my problems were not important, that there were things more important to settle and that was for me to build on a strong relationship with Him. I asked, okay then, what ought I to do. My eyes were fixed on the crucifix thinking about the Man whose outstretch arms are reaching out for the entire humanity. Suddenly, my issues no longer mattered, there was only Jesus and myself. I was given an assurance that he takes care of me and that He is constantly on my side and will never leave me. I finished my prayer with a feeling of lightheartedness all personal issues about some people forgotten.

During the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament that night, as I gazed at the crucifix and was wondering how God can listen to so many of us, how he can be mindful of all of us. The silence was deafening and the dimmed lights created an atmosphere of a Holy ground. In a few minutes I can feel His presence all over the place, not just on the Cross and I knew that He is so vast and we are tiny dots compared to His greatness. Later, I came to a realization that if the Jesus hanging on the Cross is chopped to the smallest pieces possible, there is enough for everyone to share just like in the multiplication of the bread. If we squeezed His blood, it will continue oozing until each one of us has drunk it just like what He offered during the Last Supper. Then suddenly, I got the surprise of my life as I saw Jesus with so much brilliance in all His splendor approaching me from the back. It was fast because in so short a second, I saw Him from the back of the upper part of my shoulders and entering my body lowering Himself at the back of my chest moving forward and suddenly settled not in my heart but in my gut. I always thought that Jesus’ place is in the heart, I did not understand this location at all. My tears were falling but I can vividly see Jesus looking up at me from my gut with a very tender eyes. At that moment, there was only Jesus and myself again. In the silence of the night, Jesus has entered my body and I asked Him to stay and I was wondering how to lock Him up inside. I went to sleep very serenely that night.

On Day 2, I was in the chapel at 2:30pm. Fifteen minutes later, the sun dimmed and there was a great silence and a feeling of contentment, peace and security in Jesus. I started to read Isaiah 43, thus, says the Lord… Fear not for I have redeemed you, when you passed through the water I will be with you, in the rivers you shall not drown. Then I noticed that I was no longer directing the reading but there was a male voice reading the passage and I was following His very slow phase. The voice was very masculine and very clear. I continued to follow the reading and I felt very contented, consoled and secured in the love of Jesus. At that moment, I still did not think that it was Jesus voice and continued to contemplate on the psalm. Then the voice disappeared and I was in awe at that time when I realized that the voice must have been Jesus’ voice. I wanted to hold on to that moment but the feeling disappeared. A little while later, I smelled something sweet but not very intense. In the Baguio retreat I mentioned earlier, I encountered God through the sense of smell. So, I said, “No, this is too much.” I continued to fix my eyes on the Cross, there was a sweet smell again, still not very intense. After a few seconds, the sweet smell became very intense I became so excited and I said, “Oh my God, you’re here, you’re here. This is too much.” My tears started to roll and time stood still. There was so much peace, joy and contentment and it was as if nothing and no one existed in the world except myself and Jesus. Then, suddenly, the sweet, fragrant smell disappeared. Later that night as I went to sleep, I remembered about the two apostles at Emmaus. Jesus disappeared when they realized that it was Jesus to whom they were talking too.

I was already in high spirits with the encounters I’ve had. So that when there was again the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament the second night I thought that my prayers will already be dry. But I was mistaken. As I looked at the Cross again, the picture of Jesus in my gut came back. I saw Him becoming bigger and slowly moving out of my body and this time I became smaller and He enveloped me, we had exchanged places, I was in His gut. The picture stayed on for a while then it disappeared. Later on I came to a realization that since Jesus envelopes me, I am very much protected that when someone hurts me, He is the first line of defense. In the same manner the same thing is true for the rest of us, if I try to hurt someone then it must be Jesus I hurt first. We inflict wounds on one another not realizing that we are all hurting Jesus Himself. I came to realize that Jesus envelops me at all times but He is inside when my worldly concerns become my priority. He looks up from my gut with pity knowing that issues, fears, pain, and sometimes even joy cover His presence and remains lock up inside. But when I am focus with His presence, His real place is outside as He envelops me, protecting me from anything and anyone that may harm me. He envelops me whenever He is my priority

Truly this God that I encountered in this retreat was a God of surprises. He came to me when I was not expecting Him and His image is forever imprinted in my mind. He appeared as a King in all splendor and glory, His beauty is beyond words and His face was full of compassion and mercy.

My encounters with Jesus are a challenge for me. Knowing that He is inside my body, I have become aware that I ought to do as He does and follow what He says is the greatest commandment and that is to love one another as He has loved us.

Will I live to the challenge? It remains to be seen as I continue with the many human struggles…

Anonymous

Novena of Grace

2010-03-04T10:14:00.001+08:00

Eighty-one years after he passed away in the island of Sancian, St. Francis Xavier appeared to Fr. Marcello Mastrilli, a Jesuit at the point of death. Several days earlier, Fr. Mastrilli was supervising the removal of a temporary structure put up in celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. A hammer slipped from the hands of a worker perched near the top of the structure and hit Fr. Mastrilli on the head, injuring him gravely.

Nobody expected Fr. Mastrilli to survive. As he himself waited for death, Fr. Mastrilli was visited by St. Francis Xavier who told him:

"All those who implore my help daily for nine consecutive days, from the fourth to the twelfth of March, and worthily receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion on one of the nine days will experience my protection and may hope with entire assurance to obtain from God any Grace they ask that is for the good of their souls and the glory of God."

St. Francis also bade Fr. Mastrilli to renew a vow he had made in his youth--to go to Japan and help spread Christianity there. As the vision left him, Fr. Mastrilli stood up fully healed and more resolved than ever to witness to the Kingdom of God in Japan. At that time, missionaries were being tortured and martyred in Japan in the most gruesome ways imaginable. But still Fr. Mastrilli ventured to the Land of the Rising Sun. Before he left, he made sure to publicize his miraculous cure and the promise St. Francis Xavier had made.

Fr. Mastrilli led a courageous band of thirty-three Jesuits to Japan. They had hardly landed there when they were seized, tortured, and hung upside down over a volcanic pit. Fr. Mastrilli faced death again. For certain, St. Francis Xavier was with him, strengthening his faith until the very end.

When can you say a miracle has happened? Not only when there is an unexplained cure, but more so when there is an increase of faith, hope, and love in a person. Truly, a miracle happened to Fr. Mastrilli!

Are you also seeking a miracle? Are you also seeking greater faith, hope, and love? Perhaps, the Novena of Grace can help you...

What is the Novena of Grace?

A novena is a traditional expression of our faith in the communion of saints, one of the beliefs we profess whenever we say the Apostle's Creed. As Catholics, we hold that the faithful here on earth, the souls in purgatory, and our glorified brothers and sisters in heaven have a spiritual solidarity. We are united because we are all part of the Mystical Body of Christ ("saints" in the phrase "communion of saints" does not refer only to those who have been canonized but to all the members of the Body of Christ). Our prayers for the souls in purgatory have value and meaning just as we here on earth (and also those in purgatory) can depend on the effectiveness of the prayers of our glorified brothers and sisters in heaven.

Following the promise of St. Francis Xavier to Fr. Mastrilli, a novena is said beginning on March 4 and ending on March 12, when we celebrate the canonization of St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis. Because of the innumerable graces and favors received through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier, this devotion came to be known as the Novena of Grace.

How do you say the Novena of Grace?

The short form consists of either the traditional or the more contemporary wording below:

Saint Francis Xavier Novena Prayer

Traditional

O most kind and loving saint,
in union with you, I adore the Divine Majesty.
The remembrance of the favors
with which God blessed you during life,
and of your glory after death,
fills me with joy; and I unite with you
in offering to God my humble tribute
of thanksgiving and of praise.
I implore of you to secure for me
through your powerful intercession
the all important blessing of living
and dying in the state of grace.
I also beseech you to obtain the favor
I ask in this Novena:

(-state your intention here-)

But if what I ask
is not for the glory of God
or for the good of my soul,
obtain for me what is most conducive to both.

Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Concluding Prayer:
O God,
who was pleased to gather
unto your Church
the people of the East
by the preaching and miracles
of blessed Francis,
mercifully grant that we
who honor his glorious merits,
may also imitate
the example of his virtues,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Contemporary Wording

I join with you, Saint Francis,
in bowing before the God of all Creation.
When I look at the great things
you did during life,
I see what marvels can be achieved
by a person blessed by God.
I join with you in praising God
and giving thanks for all the good things
I have been given.
Dear Saint Francis,
please pray to God for me
and ask that I may live and die
in God’s favor.
Please ask God for me for

(-state your intention here-)

provided, of course,
that this would be good for me.
In the end, my only wish is
for whatever gives glory to God
and is good for my health in body,
mind and spirit.

Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be...)

Concluding Prayer:
O God, you used Francis Xavier
to take the Christian message to the East.
You inspired his teaching,
supported him in his work
for the poor, sick and oppressed,
and strengthened him
in times of loneliness and trial.
May we who are inspired
by the life of Saint Francis Xavier
imitate his virtues,
and come to our eternal joy with you,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

There is also a longer form that includes nine meditations on the life of St. Francis Xavier, one for every day of the novena. To be guided through these meditations, visit Sacred Space, the prayer site run by the Irish Jesuits, by clicking here.

Spread the word about the Novena of Grace. Tell your friends about it by using our referral form below, or by clicking on the mail icon near the top of this page. You can also print this page or save it as a PDF file by clicking on the corresponding icons beside the title of this article.

Repost from www.phjesuits.org

“Top Seven Nevers To Bring with You to College and Beyond.”

2010-03-03T08:26:00.003+08:00

By Esperenza Chee-kee

# 7. Never take yourself so seriously . In fact, be the first to laugh at yourself. How do you think I survived 40 years in this school?

# 6. Never stop learning. Remember knowledge doubles every two years. The info you googled last year may be obsolete by now and where would that leave you?

# 5. Never lose sight of who you are and whose you are and you’ll journey through life with the best Companion – He Who will direct your life according to His Grand Design.

# 4. Never neglect your parents and never doubt your family’s love. Let me repeat the advice about parents and siblings above and you’ll know what I mean. “Get to know your parents. You never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they’re the best link to your past and the people mostly to stick with you in the future.”

# 3. Never take your friends for granted. I’ve stayed in the Ateneo High School long enough to know that the friends you make in high school become your support system for life. If you must know, Noynoy Aquino’s batchmates in the class of 1977 spearheaded on Noynoy’s last birthday a merienda to generate funds which Noynoy could use to host a simple birthday party for the residents in Payatas and the old folks in Golden Acres.
Yes, all the alaskahan and shared secrets and class night urban legends made in high school may emerge during reunions but it’s all in the spirit of fun and anyway, why worry – you are among friends.

# 2. Never ever think that words or phrases like magis, ad majorem dei gloriam, men and women for and with others, preferential option for the poor, dignity of labor are merely buzz words whose usefulness is limited to classrooms, academic convocations a or sesquicentennial celebrations. Neither are they slogans or mantras the students can intone in the hope of boosting their scores in an exam, a termpaper or an oral defense. These terms are meant to be lived.

# 1. And the Top One “Never” is Never forget that AMDG is BEST written in our hearts, not only at the top of our size ones.

Reflection for Graduating Students 2010

FAQs about Fasting and Abstinence

2010-02-24T15:54:00.002+08:00

1.) According to canon law, what is required of Catholics this Lent?

The days of Lent are precisely from Ash Wednesday to midday of Holy Saturday. The Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on Lent is expressedly mentioned in Canon 1250 of the 1983 Code. And the context of this is the simple directive that the season of Lent contains the days and times of penance for the universal Church.

Penance is an act of mortification, that is, any human pain observed or experienced as a sign that one remembers and wishes to participate in the sufferings that our Lord Jesus Christ went through for the forgiveness of our sins and our salvation.

The canonical forms of penance during Lent are precisely: fasting and abstinence.

2.) What exactly does fasting mean? Who are required to fast? What are we allowed and not allowed to do?

Fasting is one of those two means of Lenten penances which canon law obliges (the other being abstinence). In canon 1251, fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In canon 1252, fasting binds those who have attained their majority. What does this mean? It means that this law applies to you from midnight of your eighteenth birthday until the beginning of your sixtieth year, that is, until midnight of your fifty-ninth birthday.

The law of fasting prescribes that only one full meal a day is taken. Two lighter meals are permitted to maintain strength according to each one’s needs. Eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids, including milk and fruit juices, are allowed.

3.) What if I can't fast? What reasons can exempt me from fasting?

It is basic in any human law that one cannot oblige anyone to observe something which is not possible or even inhuman to follow. The two forms of penances, fasting and abstinence, are more realistically applied to the moneyed, able, powerful, and privileged. Consequently, the materially poor like our fellow Filipinos living in shanties or under the bridges, the very sick like those who are bedridden and immobile, the maids and houseboys and other laborers who have to work more than nine hours a day, employees whose jobs require them to be attentive like policemen and security guards, doctors and nurses on duty, and the like, must be exempted. Jesus is not certainly a sadist to require these kind of persons to be mortified more than what they already undergo in most of their every day lives.

4.) What can I do instead of fasting?

Offer your pains (and the work that you do that makes it unwise for you to fast) in exchange for the canonical Church requirement to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

5.) What exactly does abstinence mean? Who are required to abstain? What are we allowed and not allowed to eat?

Abstinence is the other form of penance which canon law requires during Lent (canons 1251 and 1252). Aside from observing it on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, abstinence is to be observed on all Fridays – unless a Solemnity should fall on a Friday.

The law of abstinence forbids the eating of meat, but eggs, milk products, and condiments made from meat may be eaten. Fish and all cold blooded animals may be eaten, for example, frogs, clams, turtles, etc. The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year and older. One is not bound on the fourteenth birthday, but begins to abstain at midnight at the close of the birthday.

6.) What if I can't abstain? What reasons can exempt me from abstinence? What can I do instead?

The same principles for exemptions apply as in numbers 3 and 4 above. Nevertheless, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines teaches the following: Except on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday, abstinence may be substituted with exercises of piety, such as reading the Bible, going to Mass, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, praying the Holy Rosary, or with acts of charity, such as visiting the sick and prisoners, giving alms to the poor, or teaching catechism.

7.) Is this it? This is all I'm required to do as a Catholic this Lent?

Yes. But in the end, life and love are not just about "what you are required to do." Jesuits always try to live out the ideal of the magis, the more. This is not just about "bigger and better," or greater in number or size. The more here pertains to what will help us to come closer to God. So what magis can you do this Lent? What is the more that you can do to be able to come closer to God? And this question cannot be answered by canon law.

- Fr. Reginaldo M. Mananzan, SJ and PhJesuits.org

Do you have a canon law question? Use the contact form at the bottom of this page to send us an e-mail. We'll try our best to answer it.

A question from the web:

I'm a nursing mother. I don't think I should fast. What can I do instead?

PhJesuits:

Yes, it would be unwise for nursing mothers - and pregnant women to fast. Maybe you can offer up your lost sleep--something we are sure is quite a burden for you these days--to God in exchange? Try to "suffer" through it with more patience, and even joy. Or maybe you can fast from the types of food you love, the type we usually refer to as "junk food." Eating healthier will also help your baby!

http://phjesuits.org/features/134-faqs-about-fasting-and-abstinence

Daan ng Krus: Ating Buhay Paglalakbay

2010-02-23T08:40:00.013+08:00

University Stations of the Cross, Ateneo de Manila University 2010
Hosted by the Ateneo High School

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Photos courtesy of Mr. Tristan Jeffrey Sunga and Mr. Mamert Manus

ASH WEDNESDAY 2010

2010-02-12T09:41:00.006+08:00

ASH WEDNESDAY
17 February 2010

The cross of ashes on my forehead…

A simple reminder to me about who I am.

It tells me that I am dust; I am nothing on my own

and into dust I will return.

This cross reminds me that I deserve to be labeled as such

– worn to dust and dirt.

If only for a day or until the ashes fade,

I carry this label on my forehead,

Remembering WHO I AM –

that I am weak, fragile and capable of being lost in sin,

even great sin, and I need to be saved.

The cross of ashes on my forehead…

A simple reminder to me about whose I am.

It reminds me that I am precious,

Marked by a God so good, no one could touch me.

I may be nothing on my own by I can be everything with God.

I carry this mark which tells me that

I have the mark of God.

I was made by Him, I came from Him

And To Him I shall return.

A Prayer After the Earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-26T13:58:00.004+08:00

Lord, at times such as this,
when we realize that the ground beneath our feet
is not as solid as we had imagined,
we plead for your mercy.

As the things we have built crumble about us,
we know too well how small we truly are
on this ever-changing, ever-moving,
fragile planet we call home.
Yet you have promised never to forget us.

Do not forget us now.

Today, so many people are afraid.
They wait in fear of the next tremor.
They hear the cries of the injured amid the rubble.
They roam the streets in shock at what they see.
And they fill the dusty air with wails of grief
and the names of missing dead.

Comfort them, Lord, in this disaster.
Be their rock when the earth refuses to stand still,
and shelter them under your wings when homes no longer exist.

Embrace in your arms those who died so suddenly this day.
Console the hearts of those who mourn,
and ease the pain of bodies on the brink of death.

Pierce, too, our hearts with compassion,
we who watch from afar,
as the poorest on this side of the earth
find only misery upon misery.
Move us to act swiftly this day,
to give generously every day,
to work for justice always,
and to pray unceasingly for those without hope.

And once the shaking has ceased,
the images of destruction have stopped filling the news,
and our thoughts return to life’s daily rumblings,
let us not forget that we are all your children
and they, our brothers and sisters.
We are all the work of your hands.

For though the mountains leave their place
and the hills be tossed to the ground,
your love shall never leave us,
and your promise of peace will never be shaken.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
now and forever.

Amen.

Why does God allow natural disasters?

At the heart of Haiti's humanitarian crisis is an age old question for many religious people - how can God allow such terrible things to happen? Philosopher David Bain examines the arguments. Read the article by clicking here.

http://www.dsj.org/being-catholic/worship/a-prayer-after-the-earthquake-in-haiti

On the Feast of Sto. Niño

2010-01-17T14:21:00.000+08:00

Last Sunday, January 18, we celebrated the feast of the Sto. Niño. The image of the Holy Child in Cebu was, according to a widely accepted belief, the gift of Ferdinand Magellan to the Queen of Cebu during her baptism in 1521. The image was recovered in April 1565 by the conquering troops of Legazpi inside a burning house, the image well preserved inside a chest. Soldiers who were veterans of numerous campaigns in Europe and who were familiar with the devotion to the Holy Child recognized the image as Flemish in origin. The image was entrusted to the Augustinian friars who were with Legazpi in the Cebu expedition. It was enthroned in a hastily-made chapel built on the spot where the image was found. And from then on, the devotion to the Sto. Niño flourished to the form it has taken on today. The Sto. Niño of Cebu has an even older history than the Holy Infant of Prague whose own history began in 1628.

On the feast of the Sto. Niño, all Cebuanos take to the streets and dance the Sinulog, waving to the image of the Sto. Niño as if it were a superstar, and praying Pit Senyor, Pit Senyor with an amazing variety of Sto. Niño images. Perhaps, it is only in the Philippines where the Sto. Niño can be a policeman, a baker, a nurse, doctor, fisherman — there is even a Sto. Niño na dyumi-jingle!

For some, this form of devotion has gone to excesses. And of course, there is more than a grain of truth to this observation. That is why some too quickly judge the Filipino’s piety or Christianity, as superficial, mababaw. For instance, the Sto. Niño is vested so lavishly while, ironically, in one’s surroundings roam street children dressed despicably. And there are so many abused children not only in Cebu but in practically every place in this supposedly Christian country.

Yet in spite of the seeming superficiality that others may see in this uniquely Filipino devotion, there is a hidden and distinct depth to it which mirrors a plain and simple faith: the faith that God is with us, and it is our deepest desire that he abide in us, in our lives and undertakings, and in our many aspirations. That is why the Sto. Niño in the Philippines can be a policeman--because the world of the policeman is part of the realm and sovereignty of God notwithstanding the existence of corrupt and kotong cops. Because the world of the policeman can be employed, and should be employed for the good of the people to bring about security of property and of persons. That is why the Sto. Niño can also be a fisherman--because the sea is also God’s domain where many make their living as they labor to gather the produce of the sea, even as we also know that it is not God’s will that the sea be ravaged of its resources. That is why the Sto. Niño can be a doctor or a nurse--because God continues his work of healing through the skill and knowledge of people like doctors and nurses. Their profession is a noble one, placed at the service of people and not for simply enriching themselves. In summary, God is in all aspects of the human situation and every human situation can be an opportunity for glorifying God and reflecting the face and the goodness of God.

- Fr. Vidal Gornez, SJ

Reposted from jesuits.ph

A NEW YEAR’S REFLECTION

2010-01-04T14:46:00.002+08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome back everyone!

Allow me to share excerpts of Fr. Joe Galdon’s article entitled, “January Has Two Faces.”

“Nick Joaquin has a very interesting story about the feast of St. Sylvester, which falls on December 31, the last day of the year. Joaquin writes ‘to open the doors of the New Year, the Romans invoked the god Janus, patron of doors and beginnings. (That is why the first month of the year was called January!) Janus’ two faces (one staring forward, the other backward) are a symbol of man’s ability to dwell on the past while speeding into the future.’ ‘In Christianity, the role of Janus has been taken over by another Roman – St. Sylvester, Pope and confessor, whose feast falls on the last day of the year. At midnight on that day, according to traditions, St. Sylvester appears on earth, and with the keys of his office, opens all the gates of the principal archepiscopal cities, and celebrates the first Mass of the year in each cathedral.’

“As we start this new year, this year 2010, let us then look back to the year that was: accomplishments and failures, good weather and the typhoons we had to whether through, good health and illness (A H1N1, Dengue), life and death. “It’s good for us to figure out what went wrong last year, open the doors to the new year, and try to be a little bit better in the days that lie ahead. Ayn Rand says that if we want to be truly happy people, we have to look back and say ‘I’m sorry’ and look forward and say ‘I will!’… I guess that is why the month of January has two faces, too! To remind us to look back and to look forward and to change.

The beginning of the new year… has always been the traditional time for changing our lives and for making resolutions. One of the most consoling realizations as we grow older is that we CAN change our lives! We can open the door to a new life. We are not prisoners of the past!” WE learn from our past. We dream of our future and work on it. The turning of a year is always a good time to take stock of where we are and to look for lessons of the past that may guide us into the future.

Allow me to share with you a story which was part of the homily I gave yesterday at the Mass at the Gesu for the Feast of the Epiphany. Henry van Dyke wrote the story called “The Other Wise Man.” It is about the 4^th person who is supposed to accompany the other three wise men on their journey to search for the newborn King. The name of this other wise man is Artaban. It is said that as Artaban prepares for the journey, he takes with him a bag of precious stones as his present to the baby King. On his way to join the other three wise men, Artaban stops to help a poor person. In so doing, he misses his rendezvous with the others. He is left behind. Artaban tries to catch up but every time he constantly runs into people who need help. And he always stops to help them. In so doing he gives away all the precious stones he planned to give to the newborn king. As the story ends, Artaban is old and poor. He never realized his dream to meet the King of Kings and to place at his feet his gift of precious stones.

The story of “The Other Wise Man” could end here but if it did it would be a story of a man who never realized his one big dream. But the story does not end here. It continues that one day Artaban is in Jerusalem. The city is buzzing with excitement. Authorities are about to execute a criminal. When Artaban sees the criminal, his heart skips a beat. Something tells him this is the King of Kings for whom he has been searching for all his life. Artaban is heartbroken at what he sees. He is even more heartbroken when he sees he can do nothing to help the King. Then something remarkable occurs. Artaban hears the King’s voice say to him: “Don’t be heartbroken, Artaban. You have been helping me all your life. When I was hungry, you gave me food. When I was thirsty, you gave me drink. When I was naked, you clothed me. When I was a stranger, you took me in.”

I tell this story of “The Other Wise Man” to stress the reality that sometimes we are not able to succeed in the pursuit of our dreams. When we look back to our past there are failures. The story of Artaban is the story of many of us. We start our journeys with a fervent desire to pursue our dreams. But somehow, somewhere, something happens which makes us “lose” our direction towards our dreams. We do not have to look beyond our shores to search for examples. We know of the many lives and properties lost with the typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng the past year. Many of the people who were affected had worked hard to have a comfortable home and a good life but the floods made the fulfillment of their dreams a thing of the past. But the wrath of nature and the greed of people destroyed not just the dreams of people but lives and homes as well.

My dear friends in the Lord, let us not stop dreaming or pursuing our dreams. If we had failures in the past year, let us learn from them. Our God has promised us that He will never abandon us. Have faith in Him. If we come to think of it, God’s dream for us is for us to be happy. God the Son embraced our human nature to be one with us. He is one with us in our joy as well as our sadness. When we were not yet content with that love, He embraced pain and suffering and even death on the cross to show us His love, to make us happy. At the end of our lives, I believe one question God will ask of us is, “Were you happy?”… really, truly and genuinely happy? If we are happy, God is happy. But let us not end with that. Let us end with making God to be happy, to have as our dream the happiness of God.

Artaban was happy not only because he found Jesus but more so because he realized that what he has been doing all along was making Jesus happy. We will be happy this year not so much because we have found God but because we have made God happy: with our words, our deeds, our lives. May we find God in everything and may everyone find God in us.

Let us end with the prayer of Dag Hammarsjold, “For all that has been, thank you; and for all that will be, Yes.”

- Fr. Eli Rowdy Y. Lumbo, SJ

Pope Benedict's Prayer Intetntion for January 2010

2010-01-04T08:49:00.003+08:00

Young People and Media.
That young people may learn to use social communication media for their personal growth and in preparation to serve society.

Last May Pope Benedict said that we should not be surprised by the popularity of the new communication technologies. Our human desire to extend our friendships by any and all means reflects our participation in the "unifying love of God, who desires to make of all humanity one family" (Message for World Day of Communications, 2009).

This month the Holy Father asks us to pray especially for the young people who use the new communication media, like mobile phones and computers connected to the Internet. The Pope's approach toward these technologies is overwhelmingly hopeful, not fearful.

What an opportunity for young people all over the world to grow in holy love for one another! What an opportunity to promote a worldwide "culture of respect, dialogue, and friendship." What an opportunity to engage in a "genuine and mutual searching for truth... to promote understanding and tolerance." And what an opportunity to proclaim the "Good News of a God who became man, who suffered, died, and rose again to save all people."

For "life is not just a succession of events," the Pope continues, "it is a search for the true, the good, and the beautiful." Only in them do we find happiness. "We must not allow ourselves to be deceived by those who see us merely as consumers in a market of undifferentiated possibilities, where choice itself becomes the good, novelty usurps beauty, and subjective experience displaces truth."

So, while we pray for the good the new media can do, let us also pray against evil. We ask that our young people will not use these media to lie, abuse, or exploit others. We ask too that they will be protected from the lies and abuse of peers and predators.

May the new media enable young people to grow in wisdom and grace as they prepare to serve society in this challenging new century.

Reflection:
How do you and will you use social communication media to reflect God's unifying love?

Reading:
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.

Christian Unity.

That every believer in Christ may understand that unity among all Christians is necessary for effective proclamation of the gospel.

During the month of January the Pope often asks us to pray for Christian unity. When we do so, we Catholics are joining with other Christians in celebrating an annual octave from January 18 to 25 for unity among Christians. The tradition is more than 100 years old.

This year the theme is "You are Witnesses of These Things." The phrase comes from the words Jesus spoke to his disciples just before he ascended into heaven: "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things" (Luke 24: 45-48).

This month the Pope emphasizes that Christian unity is essential for the proclamation of the gospel. Disunity among Christians undermines the credibility of our witness to the world. How can we preach reconciliation through Christ if we who are baptized oppose one another? Our message of one Lord, one faith, and one baptism cannot abide the scandal of our divisions.

Our divisions generally originated in doctrinal differences, but they are often perpetuated by prejudice, ignorance, fear, and other attitudes which should have no part in a Christian's life. These are things we can change, but we cannot abandon true doctrine.

Urging Christians to unite, Pope Benedict reminds us of St. Paul's admonition to "hold fast to the traditions you were taught" (2 Thessalonians 3:15). We should strive to agree on "normative apostolic teaching." All Christians should seek communion with the Church in every age. We should embrace objective truth that relies neither on subjective experience nor empirical science, but is founded on the "teaching which indeed underlies the inspired word of God and sustains the sacramental life of Christians today" (Homily at an ecumenical prayer service, New York City, April 18, 2008).

Let us join the Holy Father in praying that we will all obey the Spirit which calls us to be one in the Lord.

Reflection:
How might you join with a non-Catholic Christian to witness to the truth of Jesus Christ?

Reading:
1 Corinthians 2: 12-13 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.

Source: Apostleship of Prayer.org

http://apostleshipofprayer.org/reflectionsMonthly.html

St. John of the Cross

2009-12-14T09:26:00.006+08:00

Today we remember the life and works of St. John of the Cross, founder of the Discalced Carmelites.

St. John of the Cross was born as John de Yepes on June 24, 1542, at Fontiveros, Spain. He was the youngest child of Gonzalo de Yepes and Catherine Alvarez. His father was a descendant of a rich family in France but was disowned for marrying a weaver’s daughter.

John received his early education from a school in Medina del Campo. As a student, he was found to be attentive and diligent in his studies. At 14, his services were taken by the governor of the hospital of Medina to care for the hospital patients who were suffering from incurable illnesses. For seven years, John divided his time between waiting on the poorest of the poor and pursuing his education.

In 1563, at the age of 21, he entered the Carmelites at Medina, taking the name of John of the Cross, and was ordained priest at the age of 25. At his first Mass, he received the assurance that he would preserve his baptismal innocence. After his ordination, he was given permission to follow the original rule of Albert of Vercelli which imposed strict discipline and solitude.

1568, John together with St. Teresa of Avila opened the first monastery of the newly reformed Discalced Carmelites.

He became master of novices and the spiritual and confessor of the convent. He implemented reforms, including his belief that the order should return to its life of prayer. His reforms did not sit well with many Carmelites who accused him of rebellion.

He was put in prison and beaten three times a week by the monks. The cell was six feet by ten feet with only one tiny window up near the ceiling. While suffering in prison, he found happiness in God and in prayer. He started writing mystical poetry which he brought with him when he escaped from prison after 9 months.

St. John of the Cross joined his Creator on December 14, 1591, at Ubeda in Andalucia in Spain. He was beatified by Pope Clement X on January 25, 1675, and was declared saint by Pope Benedict XIII on December 27, 1726. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI on August 24, 1926.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/233922/st-john-cross

A Celebration of Simplicity

2009-12-09T10:01:00.004+08:00

by Fr. Jboy Gonzales SJ8 December 2009 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is indeed an extraordinary event. It tells us that God has ordained that Mary, who would be the Mother of Jesus, would be free from the stain of sin. Thus, Mary was given the grace of being conceived without sin because of her future role as the Mother of God. This grace is purely an unmerited gift of God.

The feast of the Immaculate Conception was established as a universal feast in 1476 by Pope Sixus IV, but it was defined as a dogma by Pope Pius IX on December 8, 1854 in the document, Ineffabilis Deus. This dogma is supported by Scripture --- the Gospel today --- when the Angel Gabriel addressed her as “full of grace” as well as the writings of Church Fathers such as Ireneaus of Lyons and Ambrose of Milan. The devotion of Our Lady of Lourdes made the dogma ever more significant. In the apparition to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes, she identified herself as “the Immaculate Conception”.

In addition, what made this event extraordinary is the realization that God has chosen an ordinary woman -- not a beauty queen or a rich girl --- to be the Mother of God. But this one great event of her birth acquired more ‘flesh’ in her daily life. She has lived this holiness every single day. So that what was once extraordinary became part and parcel of ordinary life. She carried out this holiness, which reached its peak when she said yes to the will of God, despite the threat to her life (Women caught to be pregnant without a husband were stoned to death). Furthermore, she followed through her promise to remain holy forever.

I believe that celebrating the Immaculate Conception is a celebration of a possibility: that ordinary people like us can live holy lives. There is a growing cultural pessimism about human nature. There is a belief that we cannot be holy thus we just have to be resigned to this view of human nature. No matter how hard we try, we will eventually sin. To me, having to be holy begins with a trust that our nature is good; that we can live holy lives. Often we become what we believe: if we believe we are forever sinful, then we become indeed sinful. Eventually, we become pessimistic of human nature. Many of those who do not believe in the goodness of persons have made a generalization. Because of their traumas and hurts, they think all of us are the same as their oppressors. For example, we know of those who have become bitter. Because they have been hurt by their boyfriends, they think all men are the same. Or because they have witnessed graft and corruption in government, they think all those who work in government are all dishonest and unprincipled.

But many saints precisely offered their lives in full service of humanity because they believe that every single human being is basically good. They believe that what God said in Genesis was true: everything He created is good. And thus, we are all worthy of His grace. Catholic theology teaches us that when Jesus rose from the dead, everything became new. Christ’s redemption freed us from original sin. We became God’s children, not merely God’s creatures. Do we not carry the Spirit of God with us? We are God’s temple and therefore we are holy. And if we respond to the Spirit of God in us, we, ordinary human beings, can live holy lives. John Brown defined holiness as “thinking as God thinks, willing as God wills”.

To think as God thinks and will as God wills can be applied to ordinary lives. There is a holy studying; a holy taking a bath; a holy talking to a friend. When we love someone as God loves, then we put forth who we really are.

re-posted from:
www.faithofacenturion.blogspot.com

photo courtesy of Mr. Vincent Galileo L. Loiz
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14116086@N04/4087957851/

St. Francis Xavier, Missionary to the Far East

2009-12-03T08:27:00.004+08:00

Francis Xavier (Francisco de Jassu y Javier, 1506-1552), was the first Jesuit missionary and the prototype who inspired many men to enter the Society of Jesus and evangelize far off nations. One of the original group of seven men who founded the Jesuits, he was sent to India before the new religious order received formal approval from the Church.

Xavier was born in his family's small castle in Navarre, in the north of Spain, and there received his early education. In September 1525 he went to Paris to begin university studies at the College of Sainte-Barbe where his roommate was Peter Faber (Pierre Favre) from the Savoy region of France. Four years later everything changed when an older student moved in, Ignatius Loyola (Iñigo Lopez de Loyola), a failed Basque courtier given to prayer. Loyola soon won Faber over to wanting to become a priest and work for the salvation of souls, but Xavier aspired to a worldly career and was not at all interested in being a priest. He earned his licentiate degree in the spring of 1530 and began teaching Aristotle at the College of Dormans-Beauvais; he remained living in the room with Favre and Loyola. When Faber went to visit his family in 1533, Ignatius finally broke through to Xavier who yielded to the grace God was offering him. Four other students also became close friends through their conversations with Ignatius who was became a spiritual guide and inspired the whole group with his desire to go to the Holy Land. Xavier joined his friends Aug. 15, 1534 in the chapel of Saint-Denis in Montmartre as they all pronounced private vows of poverty, chastity and going to the Holy Land to convert infidels.

Xavier and Loyola began studying theology in 1534. Two years later Xavier set out for Venice with the rest of the group except for Loyola who had returned to Spain earlier. Venice was the point of departure for ships going to the Holy Land. The companions spent two months waiting for a ship and working in hospitals, then went to Rome to ask papal permission for their pilgrimage and ordination of the non-priests among them. Xavier, Loyola and four others were ordained by the papal delegate in his private chapel on June 24, 1537. And they continued to wait for a ship, but because of Venice's impending war with the Turks none sailed for a whole year, something quite extraordinary. The companions then decided that Ignatius should go to Rome and place the group at the disposal of the pope. Meanwhile, they would go to various university centers and start preaching. Xavier and Nicholas Bobadilla went to Bologna.

Xavier went to Rome in April 1538 and began preaching in the French church of St. Louis. He also took part in the famous deliberations during Lent 1539 in which the companions agreed to form a new religious order. Before Pope Paul III granted his approval of the plan, he asked Ignatius to accede to King John III of Portugal's request to send two of the companions to the new colony in India. Ignatius chose Simon Rodrigues and Nicholas Bobadilla, but the latter got sick and could not go. Francis Xavier was the only one of the companions not already committed to a work so Ignatius asked him to go, even though they were the closest friends and the departure meant that they would never see each other again.

Xavier and Rodrigues left Rome March 15, 1540 and arrived in Lisbon by the end of June. The fleet had already left so the two priests had to remain in Lisbon until the following spring. They devoted themselves to preaching and caring for prisoners. The king was so taken by their work that he asked one of them to stay and start a school; Rodrigues was chosen, leaving Xavier to head off alone as the first Jesuit missionary. As Xavier boarded the ship Santiagio, the king's messenger gave him a letter in which the pope named him apostolic nuncio, which meant that he had authority over all Portuguese clergy in Goa. The ship set sail April 7, 1541, on Xavier's thirty-fifth birthday.

It took 13 months for Xavier to arrive in Goa, including a long wait in Mozambique for favorable winds. As soon as he arrived, the energetic Spaniard set about preaching to the Portuguese, visiting prisons and ministering to lepers. He also tried to learn Tamil, but had to rely on interpreters for his first mission to the Paravas, pearl fishers who lived on India's southeastern shore above Cape Comorin. They had converted to Christianity but been without a pastor, so Xavier reinstructed them in the faith, baptized those who were ready and prepared catechists to remain with them as he moved on from one village to the next. By the end of 1544 he reached the western shore of India at Travancore; in November and December of that year he is reported to have baptized 10,000 persons. He moved northward to Cochin, and then sailed to the Portuguese city of Malacca in Malaya; from there he headed for his goal, the Moluccas, or the Spice Islands where he landed on Feb. 14, 1546. He visited the Christian villages and baptized over 1,000 persons at nearby Seran. Then he did a reconnaissance trip to the islands Ternate and Moro, known for its headhunters. He returned to Malacca in July 1547 and arranged for two Jesuits to take his place.

When Xavier returned to Malacca, he learned about Japan from a Japanese nobleman named Anjiro who was interested in becoming a Christian. This revelation of a culturally advanced nation that had not yet heard of Christ captured the Spanish Jesuit's imagination. Before he could do anything about Japan, Xavier had to return to Goa to fulfill his responsibilities as mission superior and assign newly arrived Jesuits to their posts. He was not able to set sail for Japan with Anjiro and several Jesuits until April 1549. The party got back to Malacca easily enough but could find no ship's captain willing to take the risk of sailing into unknown waters. So Xavier hired a pirate to take them. They left June 24, 1549 and landed on August 15 at Kagoshima in southern Japan, Anjiro's home city.

At first the mission went very smoothly. The local prince gave permission to the foreigners to preach Christianity, but he himself would not convert. Xavier decided that the way to convert Japan was to begin with the emperor, but no one would tell him how to get to the Imperial City, Miyako (today's Tokyo). They spent a year in Kagoshima but only made 100 converts, so the Jesuits left for Hirado, a port used by the Portuguese on the upper coast of Kyushu. Another 100 Japanese became Christians but Xavier remained eager to see the emperor, so he moved to the country's second largest city, Yamaguchi. He preached in the streets but suffered a very unsuccessful meeting with the daimyo, so he left that city in December 1550 for Sakai.

Their fortune turned and they finally found a prince willing to take them to the Imperial City. Xavier and Brother John Fernandez were hired as domestic servants and arrived in January 1551, the first Catholic missionaries to see Asia's largest and most beautiful city. For 11 days they tried without success to secure an audience with the emperor, so they returned to Hirado. They went back, though, with the knowledge that the most powerful lord in Japan was not the emperor, but the daimyo of Yamaguchi, whom they had failed to convince in their first meeting. Xavier resolved to try again, appearing not as a poorly-clad European but as an individual worthy of the daimyo's attention.

The two Jesuits rented horses and a litter and dressed themselves in colorful silken robes. When they ceremoniously arrived in Yamaguchi, they were received at the daimyo's palace without any suspicion that they were the same barbarians who had been brushed away only months earlier. Xavier presented the daimyo with expensive gifts of clocks, music boxes, mirrors, crystals, cloth and wine as signs of friendship; and he presented impressive credentials: letters from King John III of Portugal and Pope Paul III. The daimyo granted the Jesuit's request to preach the Christian religion in the empire, and gave people the freedom to become Christians if they wanted to. He also gave the Jesuits a residence in the city, where many people visited. Within six months they had gained 500 converts.

Xavier thought it was time for him to move on so he brought Father Cosmas de Torres to replace him in Yamaguchi so he could return to India. Xavier set out in September 1551, and found a ship for Malacca. He hoped to return to Japan the following year, but the ship got caught in a typhoon that drove it 1,000 miles off course. On December 17, the vessel entered the Bay of Canton and anchored off Sancian Island. As Xavier looked towards nearby China, he felt that country calling him. The two Jesuits were able to board a ship that happened to be bound for Singapore, which they reached at the end of the month. There Xavier found a letter from Ignatius appointing him provincial of the "Indies and the countries beyond."

He was back in India in January 1552 and found another letter telling him to return to Rome to report on the mission; he decided that visit could wait until he had first gone to China. In April 1552 Xavier set out from India and entered the Bay of Canton in September. He landed on Sancian Island which was both a hideout for Chinese smugglers and a base for Portuguese traders. None of the smugglers was willing to risk taking the Jesuit missionary over to China; one who said he was, took Xavier's money and then disappeared. On November 21 he came down with a fever and could not leave his leafy hut on the island's shore. Seven days later he fell into a coma, but on December 1 regained consciousness and devoted himself to prayer during his waking hours. He died on the morning of December 3 and was buried on the island, but his remains were later taken to Malacca and then to Goa where they were interred in the church Bom Jesus.

He was canonized in 1622 and made patron of the Propagation of the Faith in 1910 and in 1927 was named patron of the missions.

St. Edmund Campion, Martyr of England

2009-12-01T08:11:00.009+08:00

The most famous of the English martyrs, Edmund Campion (1540-1581) gave up a promising career at Oxford and an invitation to enter Queen Elizabeth's service in order to become a Catholic priest and minister to the abandoned Catholics who greatly desired the sacraments.

Campion was born in London of Catholic parents who later became Protestant. He attended St. John's College, Oxford, where he gained renown as a lecturer and a following of students who called themselves "Campionites." When he was 26 years old, he gave a speech of welcome in Latin to Queen Elizabeth on her visit to Oxford; he made such an impression on the queen that she and Lords Cecil and Leicester tried to recruit him for her service. He probably took the Oath of Supremacy, and was ordained a deacon for the Established Church. The more he studied to be a priest, the more convinced he became that the Catholic Church had the true faith. He moved to Dublin in 1569 in an effort to find a place to live as a Catholic, but the Irish capital showed an anti-Catholic feeling that drove him back to London. In June 1571 he left England for Douai, Belgium where the recently founded English College trained seminarians for England.

Campion finished his degree in 1573 and set out soon after for Rome with the intention of becoming a Jesuit. Within a month of his arrival in Rome, he was accepted into the Society. At that time there was neither an English province nor an English mission, so he was assigned to the Austrian province and went to Prague and Brno to make his novitiate. He remained in Prague after he took vows and was ordained there, expecting to spend the rest of his life teaching in that city. He wrote and directed plays for his students and won renown as an orator.

The English Jesuit's life changed course suddenly when the Superior General in Rome decided to open a mission in England. Father Campion was one of the first to be assigned to it. He stopped in Rome on his way back to England and joined Father Rober Persons and Brother Ralph Emerson. They turned north and joined other recruits for the new mission at Saint Omer in Flanders. English spies in Flanders learned of their impending departure and informed the English ports of entry, who awaited their arrival. Campion and Emerson left the Continent on the evening of June 24. Campion disguised himself as a "Mr. Edmonds," a jewelry merchant. Port authorities were suspicious, but Campion answered their questions adequately and they let the merchant enoint was that the mission was religious, not political; so well-written and powerful was it, that copies were made and widely distributed to confirm Catholics in their faith. Campion himself moved on to Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. He would stay at a Catholic house for one or two nights or visit households where Catholics were employed. His pattern was to arrive during the day, preach and hear confessions during the evening, and then celebrate Mass in ter.

It had been eight years since Campion had left England. He briefly remained in London where he wrote a manifesto of the mission which has become known as "Campion's Brag." Its pthe morning before moving on to the next location. He continued to write and composed a book addressed to the academic world; entitled Rationes decem ("Ten Reasons"), the book gave arguments to prove the truth of Catholicism and the falsity of Protestantism. It was printed by the end of June 1581. Many of the 400 copies printed were left on the benches of Oxford's University Church of St. Mary. Campion was still well-enough known that the book was eagerly read.

Campion's freedom to minister to Catholics soon ended. In July he left London and stopped at the Yate family in Berkshire. The family's Catholic neighbors learned that the Jesuit priest had been there and pressed the Yates to invite him back. Mrs. Yate sent word to Campion who returned, unfortunately at a time when a professional priest-hunter was in the congregation pretending to be Catholic. After Mass the hunter slipped away to notify the authorities who quickly returned to the house but could not find any priests. The guards remained on the grounds, listening for sounds of unusual activity. They alertly heard a group of people leaving a meeting that Campion had addressed. The guards searched the house again, this time finding Campion and two other priests.

The three were taken to the Tower of London on July 22, where Campion was put in a cell so small he could neither stand upright nor lie down. After three days there he was brought to Leicester house, where he met Queen Elizabeth for a second time. She offered him the opportunity to renounce his Catholic faith and become a Protestant minister, with the offer of great advancement. He refused and was returned to his cell; five days later he was tortured on the rack. He had four conferences with Anglican divines, something he himself had requested in the book rationes decem, but the disputations were inconclusive, partly because the first one was held shortly after he had been tortured. The government determined that he should be executed, but they needed a stronger charge than the fact that he was a Catholic priest. On Nov. 14, the priests were led to Westminster Hall where charges were raised against them that they had formed a conspiracy against the life of the queen, had exhorted foreigners to invade the country and had entered England with the intent of fomenting rebellion to support the invaders. At his trial six days later, Campion was asked to raise his right hand and take an oath; he was unable to do so because of recent torture, so another one of the priests had to lift his arm for him. Campion attempted to defend all the priests by pointing out their motives were religious, not political; but they were found guilty of high treason and condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered. The priests joined in singing the Te Deum when they heard the verdict.

Campion remained in chains for another 11 days, and then was dragged through the muddy streets of London to Tyburn. With him were Briant, and Father Ralph Sherwin, a diocesan priest. As Campion forgave those who had condemned him, the cart he was standing on was driven from under him and he was left hanging. The executioner then cut him down and tore out his heart and intestines before cutting his body into pieces. Briant had been tried a day after Campion, but was executed soon after the other Jesuit. He was cut down while still alive after being hung so that he could be disemboweled and his body cut into quarters.

source: http://www.sjweb.info/Jesuits/saintShow.cfm?SaintID=50

ST. JOHN BERCHMANS

2009-11-26T09:38:00.007+08:00

FEAST DAY: NOVEMBER 26
Jesuit, Patron Saint of Altar Servers

St. John Berchmans was born the eldest son of a shoemaker in 1599 at Diest, Belgium. At a very young age he wanted to be a priest, and when thirteen he became a servant in the household of one of the cathedral canons at Malines. After his mother's death, his father and two brothers followed suit and entered religious life. In 1615 he entered the Jesuit college there, becoming a novice a year later. In 1618 he was sent to Rome for more study and was known for his diligence and piety, and his stress on perfection even in small things. That year his father was ordained and died six months later. John was so poor and humble that he walked from Antwerp to Rome. He died at the age of 22 on August 13. Many miracles were attributed to him after his death; he was canonized in 1888 and is the patron saint of altar boys.

Although he longed to work in the mission fields of China, he did not live long enough to permit it. After completing his course work, he was asked to defend the "entire field of philosophy" in a public disputation in July, just after his exit examinations. The following month he was asked to represent the Roman College in a debate with the Greek College. Although he distinguished himself in this disputation, he had studied so assiduously that he caught a cold in mid-summer, became very ill with with an undetermined illness accompanied by a fever, although some think it now to have been dysentery, and died a week later. He was buried in the church of Saint Ignatius at Rome, but his heart was later translated to the Jesuit church at Louvain.

Jon Abel's Story

2009-11-23T13:21:00.003+08:00

An Inspiring story of a man who amidst the trials kept the faith in God and allowed Him to take charge.

Of Success and Magis

2009-11-16T09:53:00.008+08:00

by Sch. Ambrosio F. Flores, SJ

In honor of St. Satnislaus Kostka, the Ateneo de Manila High School Community gathered at the HS Covered Courts last 13 November 2009. Scholastic Ambrosio Flores, SJ, Jesuit Regent, delivered this shared Homily.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I am certain that all of us here right now have been asked this question when we were kids. And I surmise that you would have rattled off standard answers like becoming a doctor, lawyer, engineer or even the president of the Philippines! What was intriguing for me then was that it was not enough for us to say, I want to be a doctor. We would often append the adjective successful like: I want to be a successful doctor, a successful lawyer, a successful engineer. Now that I am an adult, I ask myself why it was necessary to append the word successful. What does it mean to be successful? Today’s mass media dictate that to be successful means to have not just more but MOST: having the most expensive car, having the most extravagant house, having the most beautiful girlfriend, having the most number of awards, having the most stable and financially rewarding career, having the most trendy gadgets.

Today, let me propose an alternative definition. I learned this definition from a friend that became my personal definition of success. It eventually led me to become a companion of Jesus, a Jesuit. He said, success is becoming what you are designed to be.

Let me illustrate it. Success is becoming what you are designed to be. This microphone is only successful when it can amplify my voice across the covered courts. The Monobloc chair you are sitting on is only successful as a chair if it is used for sitting. That Clavinova piano is only successful when it can produce music as pianos should. Things are successful when they are used according to their designer’s intended plan.

Pushing it even further, we are successful when we become who we are designed to be. No, it is not just becoming what we said we wanted to be when we were kids. Well, it is a possibility but more primordial than achieving our childhood dream is becoming who we are called to be. This is also the theme of our first reading today. Be zealous, brethren to confirm your call and election. We can only be successful when we follow our inherent call as unique human beings, when we become who God designed us to be.

Since this call of being successful in life is not something that happens overnight but is a result of the many little decisions we make daily, let us narrow it down to our day to day activities. Here in the Ateneo, we are always pushed to succeed, to excel, to exhibit magis, to do more and be more! This is evidently translated as class banners, honor cards, Kostka awards and Eagle and staff awards for excellence. In some respect, this is not really different from the world’s demand of having the most, of being the most. Yet, there is something much deeper to magis than this. This is what I want to focus on.

We always aspire for the much coveted banners. There is nothing wrong with that. However, if we aspire for the banner even at the expense of the relationships in class, I believe something is amiss. If in the process of getting the banner, we become scheming tacticians and deceivers then something is wrong. What happens to you in the process of getting banners is much more important than the banners themselves. Success is becoming who our Creator designed you to be.

There is nothing wrong with making it to the honors list. In fact it is very commendable and edifying. However, if we got it through cheating, then something is really, really wrong. If we made it to the top of our class because we never helped a classmate since he is a potential competition, then you never deserved the academic honors from the Ateneo after all. What is more important is what happens to you as you proverbially burn the midnight candle, as you struggle to comprehend logarithmic functions, decipher quantum numbers or help your classmates understand the history of western Asia. Success is becoming who our Creator designed you to be.

There is nothing wrong with being a Kostka awardee. You should be really proud of it. However, if you got it by behaving and cooperating merely because the teachers are around, then the award is meaningless. If you bully your classmates, commit all possible violations that the prefects could ever imagine when no one is looking and then boast that you have outwitted the prefects, then you just cheapened the Kostka award. What is more important is what happens to you when you try to discipline yourself in class in order to be attentive, when you follow rules even when no teacher is looking, when you actively participate in class. Success is becoming who your Creator designed you to be.

There is nothing wrong with being given the Eagle and staff excellence awards. Ateneo expects excellence from us. However, if in the process of becoming excellent formators, we pull down our colleagues, damage our healthy working relationship or smear our co-workers reputation just to put ourselves in good light, then something is really, really wrong. Our work output, no matter how excellent it is, becomes futile if in the process we have become monsters out to destroy each other’s integrity and credibility. Success is becoming who our Creator designed us to be.

Now, you might ask me: how do we know our call? How do we know who we are designed to be? We have to go back to our roots, to our fundamental identity in order to know our call. This reminds me of a scene in the movie, The Lion King. After the tragic death of Simba’s father, Scar drove the young Simba away. He grew up to become a carefree lion in the jungle, away from his kingdom. One night, he was visited by the spirit of his father. Let us watch this brief video clip:

Simba: Father?
Mufasa’s spirit: Simba, you have forgotten me.
Simba: No. How could I?
Mufasa’s spirit: You have forgotten who you are and so have forgotten me. Look inside yourself,
Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the
Circle of Life.
Simba: How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be.
Mufasa: Remember who you are. You are my
son, and the one true king.

Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life. Remember who you are. You are my son... Remember…remember….

The gospel today echoes that same line when Mary and Joseph, after finding Jesus with the elders, confronted him. And Jesus replied: “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be in my Father’s house?” Jesus knew who he was and to whom he rightfully belonged. No, not even tradition and filial love could deter him. He had to be where his Father wanted him to be.

And so, I pose that same question to you my friends: Who are you? Whose are you? When we know deep inside ourselves who we are and are deeply rooted in it, no amount of mass media enticements of having the most can ever enslave us or stop us from pursuing what really matters.

This was the experience of St. Stanislaus when he decided to leave family and country and walked miles just to join the Society of Jesus. No amount of anger from his father or threat from his brother or the unpredictability of the weather or the risk of crossing countries by foot could stop him from what he believed was his call, from becoming who God designed him to be.

It is in the same spirit that we, the AHS Jesuits will once more renovate our vows before God, with you as witnesses. It is our hope that in spite of our individual weaknesses and limitations and the many challenges we face and may continue to face, we may hold firm to God’s plan for us. We may always be reminded that our call is irrevocable. In spite of the lures of the world as we struggle for magis, we may be reminded of the perpetual vows we made years ago, and be strengthened in our commitment and zeal to confirm our call as companions of Christ, as men on mission, as Jesuits.

And it is in the same spirit that we, the AHS community are invited to ponder today: That in our pursuit for magis, may we not be carried away by the lures of the world to simply be the best, the brightest and the strongest. In our effort to aspire for more class banners, to make it to the honors’ list, to receive the Kostka award and the Eagle and staff excellence awards, may we always be rooted in our identity in God and in the process, be transformed into men and women that God has designed us to be. Whether or not we get the banners or the awards after the struggle, it will no longer matter as long as we know that in our struggle for magis we have gradually become the persons God, our Father and Creator designed us to be.

And so let me leave you with this question for reflection: In your search for the magis as student, teacher, staff, parent or administrator, what has become of thee, the person that God wanted you to be?

St. Stanislaus Kotska

2009-11-04T10:15:00.011+08:00

Stanislaw Kostka, S.J. (28 October 1550 – 15 August 1568),
was a Polish novice of the Society of Jesus. In the Catholic Church, he is venerated as Saint Stanislaus Kostka.
He was born at Rostkowo, near Przasnysz, Poland, on 28 October 1550; died at Rome during the night of 14-15 August, 1568. He entered the Society of Jesus in Rome on his 17th birthday (28 October 1567), and is said to have foretold his death a few days before it occurred. St. Stanislaus Kostka is the patron of the Ateneo de Manila High School.

Novena Prayer to St. Stanislaus Kostka

St. Stanislaus, my most loving and tender patron,
I rejoice with you
at the extraordinary gift of your purity and charity
which kept your heart pure and innocent,
always at peace and united with God.

I humbly pray to you, please obtain for me
the strength to overcome all impure temptations
and inspire me with constant watchfulness
to guard my purity, for virtues so glorious in itself,
and acceptable to God.

At a very young age,
you have desired much to love
and serve the Lord with all your heart.
Help us dearest Saint, to be steadfast,
and to persevere in our love and service
to our Lord in everything that we do.
Help us too, to obtain the same love
you have for Mary, our mother.
I give thanks to her, because she granted your wish to be with her in heaven at the hour of your death.
Intercede with Mary for me, that my death,
if not as happy as yours, may be calm and peaceful,
under the protection of Mary, our advocate,
and of you, my special patron.

I humbly pray that you obtain for me such ardor of divine love
that it may consume every other earthly affliction,
and kindle in me the fire of His love alone.
Let us now pause to silently present our own petitions to God through the intercession of St. Kostka.

Our Father | Hail Mary | Glory be…

LET US PRAY

O God, among the wonders of Your wisdom, You have given the grace of mature holiness even to those of tender age, like St. Stanislaus Kostka. We ask You to grant that, after the example of St. Stanislaus, we may be able to persevere and love you with childlike faith, purity and charity. Amen.

v. Pray for us, St. Stanislaus

r. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Thank You God!

2009-10-23T13:03:00.000+08:00

A Prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude!

Rise, Renew and Rebuild

2009-10-06T15:59:00.006+08:00

In this time when our brothers and sisters are in need after being affected by the typhoon Ondoy, we offer this prayer of consolation.

Lord,

Make me an instrument of your wellness:

where there is distress, calm;

where there is grief, support;

where there is ignorance,

knowledge and understanding;

where there is alienation,

optimism and peace.

Grant I may not seek to be elevated as to facilitate;

to be followed as to serve;

to be in control,

as to love...

for it is in giving of ourselves

that we facilitate healing.

It is in active listening

that we comfort,

and in dying

that we may find eternal life.

Prayer if St. Francis of Assisi

(Paraphrased by Dr. Bennett Kilpack)

4L 2010 Retreat Reflections

2009-09-16T13:58:00.007+08:00

retreat

my brain was like a dirty whiteboard, dull and gray
cluttered with stresses and attentions, i needed to pray.
that is why it is cool to come here for the '3 day'
but it was hard to keep quiet because there was so much to say.
to my class mates who are all going away
but we had our sharing so it was ok.
we brought up old memories and demons we have to slay
together as a unit, we did pray
God help us appreciate and love one another everyday.

Sa bawat pagsubok
at mga pangamba
'Wag kang mag-alala
Nandiyan namn sila.

Robert Steven Villanueva, L2010

Ingay
Panginoon, sa katahimikan, ika'y napakinggan
Bagamat ito ay isang malaking kabalintunan
Naipakitang totoo at napatunayan
At doon sa katahimikan
Sigaw ng aming puso, sana iyong maramdam
at kung kami ay nag-iingayan,
Sa sigaw mo naman
Sana 'di namin makalimutan
At sa iyong tinig, kami ay mabuhayan

ni Miguel Nabar, L2010

Greater and Happier Things Will Come Soon

2009-09-14T09:28:00.004+08:00

Yesterday, I got so surprised

To have seen and heard

a TV program present Christmas Carols

sung so early in September.

My sister said, it’s because we’re in the first ‘ber’ month.

And in the Philippines,

we know that Christmas starts early.

September ushers hope,

Hope that greater, happier things will come soon

Especially in December

When we all gather again as families

And spend together the most festive season of all.

This month our school carries the theme,

“Building the nation through compassionate

and humble service to those in need

in imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

As Ateneans,

We look up to Mary as our perfect model.

She is the source of our hope.

Hope that happier things are about to happen in our lives.

Now that’s a thought that should console us

Actually, If we look around us,

We can see that God’s goodness abound

And that happier things will certainly take place.

A pile of newspapers for the ACIL Dyaryo Drive,

Stuff for our KFD booth.

Projects returned with a matching high grade.

A cleaner classroom.

A teacher listening with us.

Classmates praying for us.

Look around.

Look deeper.

Goodness abound.

***

Even as we look beyond our classroom walls

There are hopeful signs that God is at work.

God comes to meet us like the morning rising,

Slowly, though definitely;

Quiet yet clearly.

In our world.

Changes are taking place

In different nations throughout the world.

New leaders are being elected or raised

To replace old but formerly popular governments.

Clamors for environmental action,

Political unity and economic cooperation

Among different peoples

Are getting stronger and more urgent.

In our country:

Amidst the scrambling for seats of power in government,

There are still people who choose to relinquish opportunities

Or to let go of invested wealth and vested interests for the sake of common good.

The hearts of our people are moved by

the remembrance of individuals

Who have used prayer and faith,

Instead of sheer power and manipulation

To effectively improve the quality of our lives.

In our school:

There are programs and systems

that have been in place and have reached

12 and 35 years of service.

This school year, we celebrate the 12^th year

of the CSIP and the 35^th year Anniversary of

the Tulong Dunong Program.

Quietly, we hope to have a whole generation of Ateneans who have learned from our classroom lessons and their outreach experiences to care for the least in our society; Clearly, through a big family of TD scholars whom we have raised and are striving to live successful lives, we hopefully help them help their own families.

Changes in our liturgical practices

Like the added installation of women lay ministers

Who will assist the community

With the sacred duty of giving Holy Communion,

Allow us to see that life in the Ateneo is always,

new, unfolding and moved by God’s spirit

of justice and love.

Through our men and women lay ministers,

We remember that the call of Christ

to serve his Church is not meant only for

priests but for all.

Let us now pause to pray:

Dearest Mary, help us see that your Son, our Savior,

is at work in our midst.

Help us become like you, a living sign of hope,

That happier things are soon to come,

Hail Mary…

Full of grace the Lord is with you,

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of you womb Jesus!

Holy Mary…

Mother of God,

Pray for us sinners now,

and the hour of our death.

Amen.

Homily for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2009-09-11T09:09:00.008+08:00

By Fr. James Gascon, SJ
Delivered
A story is told that in heaven, it was decided that every newly arrived soul should sing a song outside the gate. One’s song would determine whether he or she was worthy to enter the gate or not. Archangel Raphael posted this instruction at the entrance of Paradise.
It happened that the soul of a great patriot, who died fighting against a corrupt government, arrived in heaven. He stood outside its gates and read the instruction. The patriot took a deep breath and begun to sing…
“To dream the impossible dream;
To fight the unbeatable foe;
To bear with unbearable sorrow…”

After the song, the gate of heaven opened and the patriot entered Paradise. Then the gate was locked.

Then came a woman philanthropist. After reading the instructions, she began to sing…

“Climb every mountain, ford every stream,
follow every rainbow, ‘til you find your dream.
A dream that would need all the love you can give…

Again, after her song, the gate of heaven opened. Joyfully, the woman philanthropist entered Paradise and the gate was locked again.

Two souls, who were both hardened criminals on earth, arrived and read the instruction posted at the entrance. After reading it, both of them shook their heads in disappointment. “How are we to enter heaven?” the first criminal asked his companion. “While on earth, the only songs we sang were vulgar and obscene ones. Our songs would reflect our earthly life, heaven’s gate will surely not open for us!” And both of them went away heartbroken.

Then, a lady came. She was a simple mother. She read the instruction, not without much difficulty. She knew not many songs. There was only one she knew. And then she began singing…

“Ang puso ko’y nagpupuri, nagpupuri sa Panginoon.
Nagalak ang aking espiritu, sa ‘king taga-pagligtas.”

Sapagkat nilingap niya, kababaan ng kanyang alipin.
Mapalad ang pangalan ko sa lahat ng mga bansa.”

Once more, after her song, the gate of heaven opened. Gratefully, the Lady entered Paradise. But from then on the gate of heaven was never locked again. And since then, every soul was assured entrance into paradise in her stead. Thus, countless got the chance to enter the gate of Paradise despite their unworthiness. The Lady’s name was Mary.

Can you be an Atenean without a special devotion to Mary? Can you call yourself an Atenean without a rosary in your pocket? Can the days of October pass by without you proudly wearing the medal and blue ribbon on your chest? Can you end a game at the UAAP without singing a hymn to our Lady, win or lose? Here in the Ateneo our special devotion to Mary defines who we are. She is our model, our inspiration, and our mother.

In Mary we find a model. Holy Mother Church teaches us that Mary was the first Christian, the first follower of our Lord. She listened to him because she knew him. She followed him because she loved him. She served him because she believed in him. Mary showed us the way to know, to love and to serve Jesus, and thus she is our model. We only look up to her and we find Jesus her son.
Mary is also our inspiration. Despite her lowliness, she was able to do the will of God. By recognizing the power and compassion of the almighty, she was able to say her Fiat: Let it be done according to your will. From her lowliness she was exulted by God and prepared to be the mother of the Lord. We too can say yes to God if we take our inspiration in Mary. And our experience has shown us that like Mary, we can say yes to God if we recognize his compassion and care for us.
Finally, she is our mother. In the same way that she took care of her son, she takes care of us by interceding for us. How many times have we run to her when we were engulfed in fear and uncertainty? We have the boldness to approach her because we know that she is our mother. And as our mother, she will never refuse us. We are confident children of our Lady.
And today, our Lady’s birthday, we celebrate this Eucharist to honor her. We gather as a community to sing hymns for her, to pray together with her, to honor her as our patron and most of all to thank God for giving us Mary to be our mother. These are the reasons why on her birthday, we give thanks. Gratitude is our response. It is also our gift to her. We thank Mary for her life. We thank her for her openness and for her yes. We thank her for how she raised Jesus to be so full of compassion and a friend to sinners and the poor. We are grateful to her for after she entered the gate of heaven, it remained open welcoming everyone despite all unworthiness.
So today, Mother Mary, our inspiration and model, on your birthday, as sons and daughters of Ignatius, we pray his prayer: Dear Mary, place me with your Son. Let me know him, love him, follow him and serve him more closely. Stand guard over my heart and let the gift of peace remain there especially when the challenges of life confront me and uncertainty haunt me. And when my final hour comes, pray for me and be with me—now and forever. Amen. Hail Holy Mary, my Queen. Pray for us your children.

“Ang puso ko’y nagpupuri, nagpupuri sa Panginoon!

2009-09-11T09:09:00.007+08:00

By Fr. James Gascon, SJ
President/CEO
Center for Family Ministries (CeFaM)

Delivered at the Ateneo de Manila High School Covered Courts
Septmeber 08, 2009

A story is told that in heaven, it was decided that every newly arrived soul should sing a song outside the gate. One’s song would determine whether he or she was worthy to enter the gate or not. Archangel Raphael posted this instruction at the entrance of Paradise.
It happened that the soul of a great patriot, who died fighting against a corrupt government, arrived in heaven. He stood outside its gates and read the instruction.

The patriot took a deep breath and begun to sing…

“To dream the impossible dream;
To fight the unbeatable foe;
To bear with unbearable sorrow…”

After the song, the gate of heaven opened and the patriot entered Paradise. Then the gate was locked.

Then came a woman philanthropist. After reading the instructions, she began to sing…

“Climb every mountain, ford every stream,
follow every rainbow, ‘til you find your dream.
A dream that would need all the love you can give…

Again, after her song, the gate of heaven opened. Joyfully, the woman philanthropist entered Paradise and the gate was locked again.

Two souls, who were both hardened criminals on earth, arrived and read the instruction posted at the entrance. After reading it, both of them shook their heads in disappointment. “How are we to enter heaven?” the first criminal asked his companion. “While on earth, the only songs we sang were vulgar and obscene ones. Our songs would reflect our earthly life, heaven’s gate will surely not open for us!” And both of them went away heartbroken.

Then, a lady came. She was a simple mother. She read the instruction, not without much difficulty. She knew not many songs. There was only one she knew. And then she began singing…

“Ang puso ko’y nagpupuri, nagpupuri sa Panginoon.
Nagalak ang aking espiritu, sa ‘king taga-pagligtas.”

Sapagkat nilingap niya, kababaan ng kanyang alipin.
Mapalad ang pangalan ko sa lahat ng mga bansa.”

Once more, after her song, the gate of heaven opened. Gratefully, the Lady entered Paradise. But from then on the gate of heaven was never locked again. And since then, every soul was assured entrance into paradise in her stead. Thus, countless got the chance to enter the gate of Paradise despite their unworthiness. The Lady’s name was Mary.

Can you be an Atenean without a special devotion to Mary? Can you call yourself an Atenean without a rosary in your pocket? Can the days of October pass by without you proudly wearing the medal and blue ribbon on your chest? Can you end a game at the UAAP without singing a hymn to our Lady, win or lose? Here in the Ateneo our special devotion to Mary defines who we are. She is our model, our inspiration, and our mother.

In Mary we find a model. Holy Mother Church teaches us that Mary was the first Christian, the first follower of our Lord. She listened to him because she knew him. She followed him because she loved him. She served him because she believed in him. Mary showed us the way to know, to love and to serve Jesus, and thus she is our model. We only look up to her and we find Jesus her son.
Mary is also our inspiration. Despite her lowliness, she was able to do the will of God. By recognizing the power and compassion of the almighty, she was able to say her Fiat: Let it be done according to your will. From her lowliness she was exulted by God and prepared to be the mother of the Lord. We too can say yes to God if we take our inspiration in Mary. And our experience has shown us that like Mary, we can say yes to God if we recognize his compassion and care for us.
Finally, she is our mother. In the same way that she took care of her son, she takes care of us by interceding for us. How many times have we run to her when we were engulfed in fear and uncertainty? We have the boldness to approach her because we know that she is our mother. And as our mother, she will never refuse us. We are confident children of our Lady.
And today, our Lady’s birthday, we celebrate this Eucharist to honor her. We gather as a community to sing hymns for her, to pray together with her, to honor her as our patron and most of all to thank God for giving us Mary to be our mother. These are the reasons why on her birthday, we give thanks. Gratitude is our response. It is also our gift to her. We thank Mary for her life. We thank her for her openness and for her yes. We thank her for how she raised Jesus to be so full of compassion and a friend to sinners and the poor. We are grateful to her for after she entered the gate of heaven, it remained open welcoming everyone despite all unworthiness.
So today, Mother Mary, our inspiration and model, on your birthday, as sons and daughters of Ignatius, we pray his prayer: Dear Mary, place me with your Son. Let me know him, love him, follow him and serve him more closely. Stand guard over my heart and let the gift of peace remain there especially when the challenges of life confront me and uncertainty haunt me. And when my final hour comes, pray for me and be with me—now and forever. Amen. Hail Holy Mary, my Queen. Pray for us your children.

Faith in God's Plan

2009-09-03T09:09:00.004+08:00

The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 8

“We know that all things work for the good for those who love God,
who are called according to His purpose.” –Romans 8:28

Today, we celebrate the birth of a child, who, nine months ago (December 8), was immaculately conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, by her father, St. Joachim.

When this child was born, her parents probably did not know the great miracles that their little girl was destined for. All they saw was the miracle of life before them. And like all loving parents, they must have struggled to give this child a good home and tried their very best to form her to become a good person and to live a life of faith, without knowing the kind of future that awaits her. They simply trusted that God has a good plan for their child.

For who would have known the wonders that awaited this child?

A child, who from the very beginning, was chosen by God to be “full of grace”, whose enmity toward Satan was spoken of as far back as Genesis, and described in a vision of a woman crowned with stars with the moon under her feet in the Book of Revelation. A child, who would eventually be known as “blessed among all women”, the one whom God has chosen to bear His only Son, to bring life to the world.

This child is, of course, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is her nativity that we are honoring today.

As the mother of our Lord, Mary has always been greatly revered and given a special place in the life of the Church. In fact, the feast of her birth has been celebrated in the Church since the 7th or 8th century. And this feast is one among the only three birthdays honored in the Liturgical Year, the other two being Christ’s Himself (December 25) and his precursor, John the Baptist’s (June 24).

However, as always, this feast is not an end in itself, but rather, points to and anticipates the coming of our true end and destiny, in Mary’s Divine son, Jesus Christ. As the song goes, “Mariang Ina ko…kay Kristong kuya ko, akayin mo ako”.

As we celebrate the feast of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we also celebrate important events in our school: the installation of our Women Eucharistic ministers, the launch of the Katipunan Fund Drive (KFD) and the 35th year anniversary of the Tulong Dunong (TD) Program (1975-2010).

Who would have known the important roles that women would play in the life of the Church? Or how far the simple acts and generosity of our students would reach? Or how a scholarship program, which began 35 years ago through the efforts of the late Fr. James O’ Brien, SJ, would continue to flourish and bear much fruit even after so many years?

In the end, only God does—He who has called us His children, who has written our names in the palm of His hand. As cliché as it sounds, God knows what is truly best for us. The real challenge then is for us to have faith in God’s plan, that just like the life of Mary, “all things [do] work for the good for those who love God, and who are called for His purpose.”

Let us pray: God, Our Father, we ask for the grace of faithfulness, that we may truly fulfill Your plans for us and accomplish the purpose for which You have made us. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Mary, Our Mother, Pray for us.

Sources:
“Doing Our Best Each Day” in Inviting God In by Joyce Rupp,
http://www.wf-f.org/BirthofMary.html, http://www.fisheaters.com

Within the Mass, the following female faculty, professionals and staff will be commissioned as Special Ministers of Holy Communion.

1. Ms. Ester M. Abito (Science)
2. Ms. Eloisa B. Albert (Science)
3. Ms. Suzanne Darlene U. Alvarez (Campus Ministry)
4. Ms. Zenaida V. Badillo (School Nurse)
5. Ms. Estela E. Banasihan (Aralin Panlipunan)
6. Ms. Mercy N. de Guia (Head Moderator)
7. Ms. Dolly G. Ducepec (CLE Subject Area)
8. Ms. Marilyn M. Lee (Office of the SAC)
9. Ms. Josie A. Loveranes (Testing and Research Office)
10. Ms. Karen Patricia N. Ong (English)
11. Ms. Ma. Margarita M. Pavia (Math)
12. Ms. Genalyn S. Sanvictores (CLE)
13. Ms. Amelia C. Solmerin (CLE)

2009-09-03T08:14:00.008+08:00

The tree is weird.
I don't know how it can be physically formed like that.
I'ts like God.
He reaches out in ways that I can't understand.
And I'm like the swing,
hanging on for understanding and hoping
I don't fall to the ground
-The Class of 4N

All You need is one reason...

One reason to believe...
One reason to doubt...
One reason to pray...
One reason to play...
One reason to talk...

One reason to walk [away]...
One reason to act...
One reason to laugh...
One reason to smile...
One reason to frown...

But one reason isn't enough

It isn't enough, it isn't enough...
That's why we LOVE.

-Joseph Barcelon, 4N

Sa Hangin

Sa paligid hinahanap;
Sa mundong nakakalat,
Pero siya'y nasa harap:
Ang sagot sumiwalat.

-Juan Batalla

A skeptic of the grandest scale
A believer filled with self- doubt

In a respite form the daily grind
I've come to realize both mundane and supernatural

That indeed, in darkness do we really see the light of God
In presence and openness do we really feel loved
In silence do we find the wisdom we desire
And only in prayer do we realize the true meaning of our lives.

-Aldo Atienza

Naka-usap ang dilang
Apoy ang pinagmulan
'Di masunog ng salitang
Nanggaling sa kawalan
-Riv Bustamante

Pulos suliranin tnagan ng isipan,
Sa isang bakasyong ngayo'y napagbigyan.

Dangan nakita ko handang kagandahan,
Disi'y 'di natanto Febong kabanalan.
-Jus Tongson

Sa gitna ng digmann,
Sundalo'y natigilan.

Tawag ay pinakinggan,
Muli sa Diyos manahan.
-Raphael Gabriel Syjuco

Homilya Para sa Kapistahan ng Pag-aakyat Kay Maria Sa Langit

2009-08-18T08:35:00.003+08:00

ni Padre Pat Falguera, SJ

Aba Ginoong Maria, napupuno ka ng grasya.
Ang Panginoong Diyos ay sumasaiyo.
Bukod kang pinagpala sa babaeng lahat
at pinagpala rin naman ang iyong Anak na si Hesus.
Santa Maria, Ina ng Diyos.
Ipanalangin mo kaming makasalanan.
Ngayon at kung kami’y mamamatay.
Amen.

Sa aking palagay, malamang ito ang isa sa mga unang panalangin itunuro sa atin ng ating mga magulang. Isang panalangin ipinasa sa ating mga lolo at lola, ng kanilang mga lola at lolo. Ilang beses ko na rin kasing nasaksihan ito sa parokya. Kung paano itinuturo ng isang ina o isang ama, ang panalanging ito sa kanyang anak. Bago umalis ng bahay at pumasok sa paaralan. Bago kumain ng hapunan matapos maglaro. Bago matulog matapos gawin ang assignment.

Malamang, unang nagisnan din natin ang panalanging ito mula sa mga madre at mga katekista. Sa unang pagtanggap natin ng mga sakramento ng simbahan. Sa binyag. Sa unang kumpisal. Sa ating first communion. At tila nga nakagisnan na rin natin ang panalanging ito sa iba’t ibang panahon ng ating simbahan. Tuwing Oktubre. Tuwing Pasko at Bagong Taon. Tuwing Biyernes Santo at Linggo ng Muling Pagkabuhay.

Madalas nga, hindi tayo malay na isinasambit na pala natin ang panalanging ito sa samu’t saring ritwal nating mga Pinoy. Bilang panghele sa anak. Habang nagbabantay sa ospital. Habang nakasakay sa FX papuntang opisina. Madalas, nananalangin tayo sa ating Mahal na Ina, kung may hinihiling tayo. Bago tayo mag abroad para magtrabaho ay dinadalaw natin siya sa Antipolo. Bago tayo mag job interview ay nagno-nobena tayo sa Baclaran. Bago tayo mag board exam ay dumadayo pa tayo sa Manaoag.

Napapansin ko nga, madalas may mga rosaryong nakatago sa ating mga bulsa. Lalo nga itong patagong nakalihim sa bulsa ng mga kalalakihan o lantaran na ring nakasabit sa mga motorbike. Ginagamit man natin itong agimat o panlaban sa masama. Ito ang ating dala dala, construction worker man tayo sa site o sales lady sa isang department store. At inilalabas mula sa taguan at idinadasal habang nakatirik ang dyip sa trapik. O di naman kaya’y kung tayo ay pauwi na, sakay ang MRT.

At madalas kung tayo nagkaka-krisis bilang pamilya o sambayanan, ito ang panalanging paulit ulit nating binabanggit. Nakakailang Aba Ginoong Maria kaya ang isang ina habang hinihintay ang results ng kanyang biopsy test? Nakakailang Aba Ginoong Maria kaya ang isang tatay habang isinusugod ang anak na naaksidente at duguan? At nakakailang Aba Ginong Maria kaya ang isang binata habang hinihintay nya ang sagot ng kasintahang nililgawan?

At kung titingnan natin ang kasaysayan ng ating bansa, ilang daang Aba Ginoong Maria kaya ang isinamo ng mga katipunero para makamit ang kalayaan? Ilang daang Aba Ginoong Maria kaya ang ipinalangin ng mga gerilya sa gitna ng digmaan? At ilang libong Aba Ginoong Maria kaya ang isinamo sa EDSA noong 1986 at 2001 sa gitna ng di katiyakan at pag-aalinlangan.

Kung ito ang panalanging ating unang natutunan, tila ito rin ang huling panalangin ating isinasambit sa bingit ng kamatayan. Magdadalawang linggo na noong ating nabalitaan kung paano yumao si Pangulong Cory Aquino. Sa ikalimang misterio ng hapis, huling huminga raw ang ating mahal na Pangulo. At sa mga sumunod na araw, ating nasaksihan kung paano inihatid ng panalanging ito si Tita Cory mula simbahan hanggang sa kanyang huling hantungan.

Bakit kaya malapit sa ating mga puso ang panalanging ito? Sa aking palagay, may tatlong dahilan kung bakit nakagisnan at nakaukit na sa ating mga puso ang panalangin ni Maria. Unang dahilan: dahil sa biyaya at pangako. Ikalawang dahilan: dahil sa galak at pasasalamat. At ikatlong dahilan: dahil sa pagsamo at pagapapaubaya.

Ang unang dahilan, dahil sa biyaya at pangako.

Sa unang pagbasa, narinig natin ang tila isang pangako: Isang babaeng malapit nang manganak ng isang sanggol na itinakdang maghahari sa lahat ng bansa. At sa ebanghelyong ating narinig, ipinamalas naman ang biyaya ng pagdalaw ni Maria sa kanyang pinsang si Isabel. At tila itong biyaya at pangako ay napaloob din sa panalangin para sa ating Mahal na Ina:

Aba Ginoong Maria, napupuno ka ng grasya.
Ang Panginoong Diyos ay sumasaiyo.

Madalas, kapag nagbitiw tayo ng salita na gagawin natin ang isang bagay, ito ay nagiging pangako. Ngunit madalas, mahirap isakatupuran ang isang pangakong binitiwan. Hindi na tayo lalayo pa para mamulat na napakadaling biguin ang mga pangako. Napakadaling ipangako ng kamara ang Comprehensive Agrarian Reform ngunit bakit hanggang ngayon napakahirap pa rin ipamigay ang lupa sa mga magsasaka ng Sumilao? Napakadaling ipangako ng isang pangulo na maganda ang larangan ng ekonomiya ngunit bakit hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin maayos ang mga tirahan ng mga maralita sa Payatas?

Ngunit sa kabila ng mga kabiguan na dulot ng mga pangakong hindi naisakatuparan, nariyan ang biyaya. Dito nag-iiba ang pangako ng Diyos at pangako ng tao. Kung sa tao, may hidwaan ang salita at gawa; sa Diyos, iisa lamang ang salita at ang gawa. Kung ganito nga ang pangako ng Diyos, bakit tila, walang nagiging epekto ang salita ng Diyos? Sa aking palagay, dito papasok ang biyaya. Ito ang biyayang madalaas ipinagkakaloob sa mga mahihirap. Kaya’t sa gitna ng kahirapan at pag-aalinlangan, hindi nating maiwasan manalangin sa ating Mahal na Ina. Na sa pangako ng sanggol sa kanyang sinapupunan, makamit din sana natin ang biyaya na dalawin nya tayo para magkaroon ng malalim na kahulugan ang ating mga buhay.

Ang pangalawang dahilan naman kung bakit malapit sa ating mga puso ang panalanging ito: dahil sa galak at pasasalamat.

Sa ikalawang pagbasa naman, narinig natin ang galak ni San Pablo sa pagpapahayag ng salita ng Diyos na may muling pagkabuhay sa bingit ng kamatayan. At sa ebanghelyong narinig natin, nasaksihan natin ang pasasalamat ni Maria pagkatapos mapuspos si Isabel ng Espiritu Santo. Itong galak at pasasalamat ay mababanaagan din natin sa ikalawang bahagi ng panalangin alay kay Maria:

Bukod kang pinagpala sa babaeng lahat
at pinagpala rin naman ang iyong Anak na si Hesus.

May iba’t ibang larangan ng galak. May galak na katuwaan lamang ng barkada habang nag-iinuman. May galak na dulot ng pag-awit ng alma mater song pagkatapos ipanalo ang isang laro sa UAAP. At may galak na dama ng isang ina pagkaluwal ng kanyang sanggol. Ngunit sa aking palagay, ang pinakamalalim na galak ay yaong galak na may kalakip na kapayapaan. Isang galak na nakabalot sa katahimikan. At sa kabila ng galak na ito ay ang malalim na pasasalamat.

Naisip ko tuloy, ito ata ang dahilan kung bakit tayong mga Pinoy ay patuloy na nakakaraos sa gitna ng kahirapan at paghihikaos. Marami kasi tayong pwedeng pasalamatan. Sa gitna ng gulo sa larangan ng pultiko, nakakalimutan natin na napakaganda ng ating bayan. Masaksihan man natin ang paglubog ng araw sa Caramoan o Camiguin o di kaya’y ang bukang liwayway sa Sagada o Malaybalay. Sa di pagkakasundo ng muslim at kristiyano, nakakalimutan natin ang napakagandang kultura ng Penafrancia sa Bicol at ng Ramadan sa Zamboanga. Sa tingin ko, kung patuloy tayong makapagpasalamat matikman ang tamis ng mangga at malanghap ang amoy ng kabihasnan sa Bulacan, makakamit natin ang tahimik at malalim na kagalakan. Hindi ito naiiiba sa pagtuklas katulad ni San Pablo sa salita ng Diyos at ang pagpuspos ng Espiritu kay Isabel.

At ang huling dahilan kung bakit malapit sa ating mga puso ang panalanging ito, dahil sa pagsamo at pagpapaubaya.

Sa ebanghelyo narinig natin ang pagsamo ni Maria sa kanyang Panginoon: “Dinadakila ng aking kaluluwa ang Panginoon, at nagagalak ang aking tagapagligtas..” Ngunit kalakip nitong pagsamo ni Maria ang kanyang pagpapaubaya na maganap nawa sa kanya ang kalooban ng Diyos. Itong pagsamo at pagpapaubaya ang bumubuo ng huling bahagi ng pagsamo natin sa ating Mahal na Ina:

Santa Maria, Ina ng Diyos.
Ipanalangin mo kaming makasalanan.
Ngayon at kung kami’y mamamatay.
Amen.

Ayon kay San Ignacio, ang mainam na pananaw sa biyaya ay ang pananaw ng isang pulubing nanlilimos ng biyaya. Tila ganito rin ang pagsamo. Pagsamo dahil hindi tayo karapat dapat. Pagsamo kahit tayo ay makasalanan. May iba’t ibang larangan din ng pagsamo. May pagsamo na galing sa isang bata na gustong makipaglaro sa kapitbahay. May pagsamo mula sa kasintahan na hwag muna ibaba ang telepono at ituloy ang kwentuhan. May pagsamo ng isang magulang gustong makapag aral sa Ateneo ang anak. Ngunit kung ang pagsamo ay walang kapalit na kawalan, tila sumasablay ito.

Kaya naman kalakip ng pagsamo ay ang pagpapaubaya na hindi nagiging pabaya. Katulad ng pagsamo ng isang inang nagdadalang tao at ipinapaubaya ang kalusugan ng magiging anak. Katulad ng pagsamo ng isang bilanggong wala namang kasalanan at ipinapaubaya ang kanyang kalayaan. Katulad ng pagsamo natin na ang darating na halalan ay magiging daan ng tunay na pagbabago. Ngunit kailangan nga tayong magpaubaya na kailangangan nating magkaisa at sama sama tayong lahat para buoin at hilumin an gating bayan. Kaya naman tila mahirap talaga magpaubaya. Ngunit may malalim na karunungan na dulot ng pagpapaubaya. At ito nga ang naging karanasan ng Ating Mahal na Ina. Dinakila siya dahil siya ay nagpaubaya. Sa kabila ng kanyang pagsamo na matupad ang pangarap ng Diyos sa tao, nagawa ni Mariang magpaubaya.

Sa tatlong dahilang ito ng biyaya at pangako, ng galak at pasasalamat, at ng pagsamo at pagpapaubaya, nawa’y unti unti tayong namumulat na ang panalangin ng Aba Ginoong Maria ay daan para makamit ang langit at makatawid sa buhay na walang hanggan.

Sa dakilang kapistahan ng Pag-akyat sa Langit sa Mahal na Birheng Maria, tila nababanaagan natin kung paano nakamit ni Maria ang kalangitan. Isang kalangitan na hindi lang natin maaakyat kapag tayo ay sumakabilang buhay na. Ngunit isang kalangitan na matutuklasan natin dito at matutuklasan natin ngayon. Isang mithiin ng kalagitan na ipinamamana sa atin ngayon ng ating Panginoon. At ang landas patungo dito ay nasa halimbawa ni Maria. Sapagkat ang pangako pala ay hahantong sa pasasalamat; at ang pasasalamat naman ay hahantong sa pagpapaubaya. Kalakip ng pagpapaubaya ay ang biyaya; Kalakip ng biyaya ang galak; at kalakakip ng galak ay ang pagsamo na may taglay na pangako.

At habang patuloy nating dinarasal ang Aba Ginoong Maria, mamumulat tayo na lalalim ang ating pananampalataya, pag-asa at pagmamahal. Sa gitna ng biyaya at pangako, namamayani pala ang pananampalataya. Sa gitna ng galak at pasasalamat, matatagpuan pala ang pag-asa. At sa gitna ng pagsamo at pagpapaubaya, magwawagi pala ang pagmamahal. Kaya naman, hanggang may isang batang nagdadasal ng Aba Ginoong Maria nang buong pananampalataya, malalampasan natin ang disyerto at makakamit natin ang lupang pangako. Naniniwala akong hanggang may isang binatang nakaluhod at nagdarasal ng Aba Ginoong Maria, may pag-asa pa rin ang ating bayan. At hanggang may isang lolo na nagdarasal ng Aba Ginoong Maria sa tabi ng kanyang irog, limampung taon na ang nakararaan, mamamayani pa rin ang pagmamahal natin sa kapuwa at sa bayan.

Kaya marahil sa kasaysayan ng ating mga pamilya at sa kasaysayan ng bayan, tugmang tugma ang panalanging ito. Sa panahon man ng kagipitan at di katiyakan, nariyan ang ating Mahal na Ina. Akmang akma ang panalanging ito, maging isa man tayong sundalo isinabak sa Mindanao, o isang pulis na gustong manatiling tapat kahit corrupt na ang hepe ng kanyang himpilan. Tugmang tugma ang panalanging ito, maging estudyante man tayo ng Ateneo, taas noong inaawit pa rin ito sa gitna ng pagkatalo o di kaya’y isang sastre sa Sapang Palay, tuwang tuwa na nakapasa ang kanyang anak sa UP. At masasamahan tayo ng panalanging ito sa gitna ng kadiliman at kahirapan. Sa simbahan na matatagpuan sa tagpi tagping barung barong sa Navotas na malapit nang ma-demolish. O di kaya’y sa mga nagsisilakihang mga simbahan sa Rome at Milan, punung puno ng ating mga kababayang sabik umuwi dahil malayo sa mga pinanggalingan. Mapapasaatin ang panalanging ito sa gitna ng paghahanap natin ng kasagutan sa napakasalimuot na suliranin ng ating bayan. Sa gitna ng mga tanong na tila walang kasagutan.

Batid kong lahat tayo dito ngayon ay mga ipinapanalanging mga biyaya at pangako. Batid kong lahat tayo dito ngayon ay may nais ipaabot na galak at pasasalamat. At batid kong lahat tayo dito ngayon ay may itinatagong mga pagsamo at pagpapapaubaya. Kaya’t sa gitna ng katahimikan at sa gabay ng ating mahal na Ina, taglay ang pananampalataya, pag-asa at pagmamahal, manalangin tayo ngayon:

Aba Ginoong Maria, napupuno ka ng grasya.
Ang Panginoong Diyos ay sumasaiyo.
Bukod kang pinagpala sa babaeng lahat
at pinagpala rin naman ang iyong Anak na si Hesus.
Santa Maria, Ina ng Diyos.
Ipanalangin mo kaming makasalanan.
Ngayon at kung kami’y mamamatay.
Amen.

A Man of Desire

2009-08-17T10:44:00.005+08:00

When Ignatius was badly wounded from the battle of Pamplona, he hardly recovered. His health deteriorated. Worse, there were signs that death was near. His physician informed him that his days were already numbered, so he begged the Lord for him to recover the soonest. He desired for his life. Lord’s work, his recuperation was very fast that in five days he was already declared safe.

During his convalescence, he got to read the books: The Life of Christ and a book on the lives of the saints. While reading the books meditatively, he began to desire to follow the steps of the saints like Sts. Dominic and Francis. He used to say to himself, “Saint Dominic did this, so I have to do it too. Saint Francis did this, so I have to do it too.” This desire to imitate the saints lasted and brought him much consolation.

Having recovered from his infirmity, he wanted to go to Jerusalem. Every time his imagination brought him to Jerusalem, to the very places where Christ stayed and lived, his heart became restlessly yearning to fulfill this greatest desire. On February 1522, so determined, Ignatius commenced his pilgrimage and on August 31, 1523, he first set foot in the Holy land. His visits to the holy places gave birth to another desire; a desire to remain in Jerusalem and save souls. Sadly, he was not given permission to stay. Nevertheless, he was bringing with him his desire to save souls when he left Jerusalem.

His active pursuit to save souls brought him to more yearnings. He desired to preach. When faced with tribulations and inquisitions, he desired to study. He started studying Languages, earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy, worked and passed his Licentiate, then took a Theological Course. While studying, he met Peter Faber, Francis Xavier and some other friends. Together they desired for partnership in saving souls and vowing to live in poverty and chastity, and go to Jerusalem to serve Christ there. When their quest to go to Jerusalem failed, Ignatius and the other companions desired to form an Order. The Society of Jesus was born.

Desire was evident in Ignatius’ love story with Jesus. He just desired for life then this desire progressed to a desire to imitate the saints to visit the holy land to save souls in the service for Jesus. Ignatius’ mastered the art of eliciting desires which got him to his authentic self and found Christ’s fundamental desire for him.

Let us pray…

Grace to Pray for:

Lord Jesus, I beg for a heart that recognizes my earnest desires so that I may be at home with them, realizing that these are wonderful reflections of Your own desires for me.

Suggested Scriptures:

a) Isaiah 65:17-25 (The World Renewed)
b) Roman’s 8:28-39 (God’s Indomitable Love in Christ)
c) Luke 19: 1-10 (Zacchaeus’ Desire to See Jesus)
d) 1 John 1: 1-4 (The Word of Life)

Points for Prayer and Reflection:

-Make a list of your desires in life. What will make me happy? Which desire/s give/s me lasting happiness?

-Pray over your desires. Dialogue with the Lord on each of them.

-Like St. Ignatius, Zacchaeus ardently desire to see Jesus. Pray over Luke 19:1-10. Feel what Zacchaeus feels when Jesus passes by and the people are like high walls blocking his view of Jesus.

- Jun-G Bargayo, SJ -
Visit jun-g.com for more reflections.

Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pag-aakyat sa Langit sa Mahal na Birheng Maria

2009-08-11T14:17:00.006+08:00

Noong nakaraang linggo, nagluksa ang buong sambayanang Pilipino sa pagpanaw ng dating Pangulong Corazon C. Aquino. Sa huling pagkakataon muling nagbuklod ang buong sambayanan upang ipakita ang ating pagmamahal at suporta kay Pangulong Cory, na siyang naging instrumento ubang maibalik ang demokrasya sa ating bansa. Patunay dito ang libo-libong mga taong nagpakita ng suporta at pagmamahal kay Cory sa araw ng kanyang libing sa kabila nang malakas na buhos ng ulan. Maging sa kamatayan, patuloy pa rin tayong pinag-kakaisa ni Pangulong Cory. Tunay mang masakit para sa ating mga Pilipino ang paglisan niya, nakita pa rin natin ang pagkilos ng Diyos sa ganitong pagkakataon. Naipakita natin na kaya nating muling magkaisa para sa isang adhikain. Sa pamamagitan nito, nabuhay at nag-init muli sa bawat isa ang pag-asa para sa ating bayan.

Ngayong buwan ng Agosto ipagdiriwang natin ang Kapistahan ng Pag-aakyat sa Langit sa Mahal na Birheng Maria. Ito’y isang mahalangang katuruan ng Simbahang Katolika na nagsasaad na si Maria, sa pagtatapos ng kanyang pag-iral sa lupa ay iniakyat ng Panginoon sa langit, “kaluluwa’t katawan”. Mas makatutulong marahil na unawain natin ang pagdiriwang na ito hindi batay sa pisikal na pag-akyat ni Maria sa langit kundi ang mas malalim na kahulugan nito sa ating buhay pananampalataya.

Ang pag-aakyat sa langit kay Maria ay bunga ng kanyang pagtugon sa tawag ng Panginoon na maging Ina ng Diyos. Ipinakita ni Maria ang kanyang buong pusong pagtugon sa tawag ng Diyos kahit hindi niya lubusang batid at nauunawaan ito. “Narito ang lingkod ng Panginoon. Maganap nawa sa akin ang ayon sa wika mo.” (Lucas 1:38) Para sa ilan sa atin, mahirap sumuong sa isang sitwasyon na hindi natin lubos na nalalaman ang kahihinatnan. Sa kabila ng maaring nadamang takot o pagdududa, ipinagkatiwala niya pa rin ang kanyang sarili sa Diyos. Pikit matang nagpaubaya si Maria sa naisin ng Diyos. Nagpamalas siya ng pagtataya ng sarili sa ninanais ng Panginoon hindi lamang para sa kanyang kapakanan ngunit para sa kaligtasan ng lahat. Dahil sa buong pusong pagtanggap ni Maria, biniyayaan siya ng natatanging lugar sa langit kapiling ng Panginoong Hesus.

Gaya ni Maria, si Pangulong Cory ay naharap din sa katulad na situwasyon. Bago niya tinanggap ang ‘tawag’ sa kanya upang maging Pangulo ng Pilipinas, siya ay isang pangkaraniwang maybahay at ina. Ngunit sa kabila ng kawalan ng katiyakan, buong pananampalataya at tiwala niyang inialay ang kanyang buhay at pagsisilbi para sa kapakanan nating mga Pilipino. May malalim na pananalig si Pangulong Cory, hindi lamang sa Diyos, kundi sa sambayanang Pilipino.

Si Maria ay tunay ngang pinagpala ng Panginoon. Isinabuhay niya ang langit sa sangkalupaan hanggang matamo ang kaganapan nito sa piling ng Panginoon nang maiakyat siya sa langit. Ang misyong ginampanan ni Maria ay hindi nangangahulugang iba siya sa atin. Ang niloob ng Panginoon para kay Maria ay siya ring niloloob ng Panginoon para sa ating lahat. Nais ng Panginoon na tayo ay Kanyang makapiling habambuhay. Ang karanasan ni Maria na makapiling ang Panginoon sa panibagong buhay ay nagbibigay sa atin ng pag-asa at pag-asam na balang araw ay makakapiling din natin ang Panginoon na siyang lumikha sa atin. Dahil sa espesyal na grasyang natamo ni Maria, tayo rin ay nakikinabang sa biyayang ito dahil naipapaabot natin ang ating mga panalangin kay Hesus sa pamamagitan ng kanyang inang si Maria.

Manalangin tayo…

Panginoong Hesus,
Gaya ng halimbawang ipinakita ng pumanaw na Pangulong Cory Aquino, dumulog din sana kami sa iyong Ina, nang maipaabot niya ang mga panalangin namin sa Iyo. Sa paraang ito, mabuo nawa ang aming bayan sa mga gawain ng pagkakaisa at sa pagdarasal namin para sa isa’t isa. Pahintulutan niyo nawang maranasan ng bawat isa sa amin ang langit sa sangkalupaan hanggang bigyan mo ito ng kaganapan sa pagdating ng araw na iyong itinakda. Amen.

Homily for the Funeral of Former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino

2009-08-07T09:45:00.003+08:00

By Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ

If I may first ask pardon for what might be an unseemly introduction. In the last days of President Cory’s illness, when it seemed inevitable that the end would come, the assignment to give this homily was given to me. By Ms Kris Aquino, in fact. She reminded me that many times and publicly, her mother had said she was asking me to preach at her funeral Mass. Always I told her I was years older, and would go ahead of her, but she would just smile at this. Those who knew Tita Cory knew that when she had made up her mind, she had made up her mind.

What then is my task this morning? I know for certain that if liturgical rules were not what they are, she would have asked Congressman Ted Locsin to be here in my place. No one has it in him to speak as fittingly of Cory Aquino in the manner and measure of tribute she uniquely deserves, no one else as he. Asked in an interview she said that the address before the two Houses of Congress at Washington she considered perhaps the supreme shining moment of her life. We know who helped her with those words with which she conquered America. These last few days, too, every gifted writer in the press and other media has written on her person and political history, analyzed almost every side of her life and achievement as our own “icon of democracy”. More powerfully even, images of her and of EDSA UNO have filled hour after hour of TV time. Really, what else is left to be said?

CORY AQUINO FUNERAL HOMILY (this follows the INTRODUCTION)

So, Tita Cory, you’ll forgive me if I don’t even try to give a shadow of the great oration that should be given here this morning. Let me instead try to say some things the people who persevered for hours on end in the serried lines at Ortigas or here in Intramuros can (I hope) more easily follow. This is a lowly tribute at one with “the old sneakers and clothes made tighter by age, soaked by water and much worse for wear” of the men, women and children who braved the rain and the sun because they wanted to tell you, even for a brief and hurried moment, how much they love you. You truly ”now belong among the immortals”. But these words are for those mortals who with bruised hearts have lost “the mother of a people”. Maybe less elegantly than the seminarian said to me Monday, they would like to say also: “She was the only true queen our people have ever had, and she was queen because we knew she truly held our hearts in the greatness and the gentleness of her own.”

One of my teachers used to tell us that if we really wanted to know and understand a position held, we would have to learn it from someone fully committed to it. Just as only one who genuinely loves a person, really knows him or her also. So to begin with, I turned to three real “experts on Cory”; to ask them where for them the true greatness of Cory Aquino lay. My first source thought it was in her selflessness, seen above all in her love of country - surely above self; yes, even above family. Her self-giving, then, for us; what she had received, all became gift for us. The second, thought it was in her faith her greatness lay, in her total trust in God which was also her greatest strength. And the third said it was in her courage and the unshakable loyalty that went with it. It was a strength others could lean on; it never wavered; it never broke. . . . . . Cory’s selflessness and self-giving; her faith (the Holy Father just called it “unwavering”); her courage, her strength. -- May I use this short list to frame what I will say? O, let me name my experts now, if I may. They were three, all of them women close to her: Maria Elena Aquino Cruz, whom we know as Ballsy, Maria Aurora Aquino Abellada, Pinky to her friends; and Victoria Elisa Aquino Dee, Viel to the family. Kris and Noynoy are the public figures; they can speak for themselves. I hope they will forgive me that I did not ask.

First, then, her generous selflessness. For us this morning what is surely most to the point is her love of country. When her final illness was upon her already, she said, -- most recently at the Greenmeadows chapel (her last public words, I think) --that she was offering her suffering, first to God, then for our people. I heard that grandson Jiggy asked her why first for country and people, and she said that always the priority line-up was God, our country and our people, and then family. On radio, the other night, the commentator asked an old woman in line why she stood hours in the rain to get into La Salle. “Ito lang ang maibibigay ko po sa kanya, bilang pasasalamat.” “Bakit, ano ba ang ibinigay ni Cory sa inyo?” “Di po ba ang buhay nya? Ang buong sarila nya? At di po ba ang pagasa? Kaya mahal na mahal po namin siya.” Early on, on TV, they ran many times the clip from a last interview. She says, “I thank God, and then all of you, for making me a Filipino, for making me one of you. I cherish this as one of the truly great gifts I have received.” A few weeks from her death, she could say that; without put-on or the least insincerity. “I thank you, for making me one of you..”
Her selflessness, her self-gift. Pope Benedict likes to say that the God whom Jesus Christ revealed to us, is Father. A Father who is wholly self-gift; the God “whose nature is to give Himself” – to give Himself to us, in His Son. And, the Pope says, that is what is the meaning of Jesus and the life of Jesus, and, by discipleship, what the Christian’s life is meant to be. We Christians too, we must give ourselves away in the self-giving of love. “Ang buhay po nya at sarili. Kaya po mahal na mahal namin sya.” In the last days, when finally and reluctantly still she admitted she had much pain, I kept thinking that only a couple of weeks before, for the first time publicly, she said that she was offering it up first of all for us.”

Secondly, her faith. Pinky says, it was her mother’s greatest strength; it was what was deepest in her. Her faith was her bedrock, and it was, bedrock . Frederick Buechner the ordained minister and novelist likes to say that through his lifetime, he’s had many doubts, even deep doubt, daily doubts. “But I have never really looked down into the deep abyss and seen only nothing. Somehow I have known, that underneath all the shadows and the darkness, there are the everlasting arms.” I think Cory’s faith was like that, not in the multiplicity of doubts (even if. in a life so filled with trial, there surely were doubts too), but in the certainty of the everlasting arms. More than once she told me, “Every time life painted me into a corner, with seemingly no escape, I always turned to Him in trust. I knew He would never abandon us if we trusted in Him. And you know, somehow, He found a way out for us.” And so Pinky says, “Mom was always calm even in the most trying times. She trusted God would always be there for us, She was our source of strength. She made this world seem so much safer and less cruel for us. And now that our source of strength is gone, we have to make our faith something more like hers. But we know in our hearts that in every storm she will watch over us from heaven.”

Within this faith was her devotion to Mary, the place Our Lady of Fatima and the rosary held in her life. All we can say on this, this morning is that Our Lady truly had a special, living presence in her life: Mary was, for Cory, true mother and incomparable friend; as we say in the hymn, - vita, dulcedo et spes, - life, sweetness and hope. No, Mary was not the center of her faith, but its air, its atmosphere; and the rosary, her lifeline through every trial and crisis. In the long harsh months of her illness, Sister Lucia’s beads almost never left her hands. She was holding them, as last Saturday was dawning and her years of exile were at last done, when we know her Lady “showed unto her, the blessed fruit of her womb.”

Lastly. Her courage, her strength. Her children tell us that their father was only able to do what he wanted to do, because her loyalty and her support for his purposes was total, so she practically raised them up as a single parent. Ninoy himself wrote, again and again, that he endured imprisonment and persecution, leaning so much on her courage and love. And after his death, when she could have withdrawn in a way “safely”, to her own life with her children at last, she stayed on her feet and fought on in the years that followed, through the snap elections and what went before and after them, through her presidency and the seven coup attempts which tried to bring her down. Even after she had given up her rule, could she not have said “enough”, and we would all have understood? But with not the least desire for position or power again, whenever she thought the spaces of freedom and the true good of our land were threatened, she went back to the streets of struggle again. Once again she led us out of the apathy we so readily fall into; once again she called us out of our comfort zones to the roads of sacrifice.

Here, even hesitantly, may I add one trait, one virtue, -- to those her daughters have named? One day Cardinal Stephen Kim of South Korea asked if he might visit her. Through Ballsy, she said Yes. It was a day Malacanang was ‘closed’; they were making up the roster of members of the forthcoming Constitutional Convention. Someone from the palace staff ordered us turned away when we came; it was Ballsy who rescued us. Stephen Kim, hero and saint to his own people,--perhaps, along with Cardinal Sin, one the two greatest Asian Catholic prelates of our time,- = spent some 45 minutes talking with her. When we were on our way back, he said, “I know why the Lord has entrusted her with power, at this most difficult time. … It is because she is pure of heart. She has no desire for power; even now it is with reluctance she takes it on. And she has done this only because she wants to do whatever she can for your people.” He said, “she truly moves me by the purity of her spirit. God has given a great gift to your people.”

With this purity of heart, in the scheme of the Christian Gospel, there is joined another reality which really, only the saints understand. It is suffering. How often (it is really often; over and over through the years) she spoke of suffering as part of her life. Much contemporary spirituality speaks of suffering almost as the epitome of all evil. But in fact for all the saints, it is a mystery they themselves do not really understand nor really explain, Yet they accept it quietly, simply as part of their lives in Christ. There is only one painting she ever gave me. Kris said then, when her mom gave it to me, that it was her mom’s favorite. The painting carries 1998 as its date; Cory named it “Crosses and roses” There are seven crosses for the seven months and seven weeks of her beloved Ninoy’s imprisonment, and for the seven attempted coups during her presidency, and many roses, multi-colored roses all around them. At the back of the painting, in her own hand, she wrote a haiku of her own: “Crosses and roses/ make my life more meaningful./ I cannot complain.” Often she spoke of her “quota of suffering.” When she spoke of her last illness, she said: “I thought I had filled up my quota of suffering, but it seems there is no quota. I look at Jesus, who was wholly sinless: how much suffering he had to bear for our sakes.” And in her last public talk (it was at Greenmeadows chapel), the first time she spoke of her own pain: “I have not asked for it, but if it is meant to be part of my life still, so be it. I will not complain.” “I try to join it with Jesus’ pain and offering. For what it’s worth, I am offering it up for our people.” Friends here present, I tell you honestly I hesitated before going into this, this morning. But without it, part of the real Cory Aquino would be kept from view. Quite simply, this was integral to the love she bore for her people.

At this point, may I, following the lead Mr Rapa Lopa has given, just speak a word of thanks to President Cory’s children, who shared so much of her service and her sacrifice. They have almost never had their father and mother for themselves. For so many years, they have been asked to share Ninoy and Cory with all of us. And because of the blood and the spirit their parents have passed on to them, they too gave with generosity and grace the sacrifices we demanded of them. – Ballsy and Pinky, Viel and Kris, your husbands and your children, and Senator Noynoy, may we thank you this morning from all our hearts, and may we offer also the gratitude of the hearts of a people now forever in your debt.

In have used up all my time, some of you will say, and I have not even approached the essential: her political life, that she was our nation’s unique icon of democracy, that Cory Aquino who, throughout the world. was TIME magazine’s 1986’s woman of the year, she who led the ending of the dictatorship that had ruined our nation, the bearer of liberation, of freedom, and of hope for a prostrate people. So, by your leave, may I add one item, along this line at last. In October 1995, Milano’s Catholic University, conferred on her the doctorate honoris causa in the political sciences (incidentally, only her twenty-third honorary degree). This was only the fifth time this particular one had been given since the university’s inception: the first time to an Asian, the first ever to a woman. She wanted, at the end of her lectio magistralis, to spell out, perhaps for the first time with some explicitness and completeness, her personal political creed. She listed seven basic beliefs which, regarding political life , she said she tried to live by. Then she spoke of one more, “one more I may not omit.” Perhaps the paragraph which followed is worth citing here, even without comment, because it has something to say to our present hour.

(We cite her words now.) I believe that the vocation of politics must be accepted by those who take up the service of leadership as a vocation in its noblest meaning: it demands all of life. For the life of one would lead his or her people, -- in our time as never before, -- such a life must strive for coherence with the vision aspired to, or else that vision itself and its realization are already betrayed. That vision must itself be present, in some authentic way, in those who seek to realize it: present, in the witness of their example; present, in a purity of heart vis-à-vis the exercise and usages of power; present, in an ultimate fidelity to principle, in a dedication that is ready to count the cost in terms of “nothing less than everything.” It is Cardinal Newman, I believe, who said that in this world, we do good only in the measure that we pay for it in the currency of our own lives. For us Christians, there is always the image of Jesus, and the price his service demanded of him. And for me there has been, as a constant reminder, the sacrifice my husband offered, and the word that it has spoken, to me and my people.” (Cory Aquino, end of citation)

Conclusion

With all this said, I am done. Ma’am, tapos na po ang assignment ko. It has been so hard to do what you asked. But I comfort myself that these so many words really do not matter. What counts in the end is really – what all this week has been; these past few days’ outpouring of our people’s gratitude and love; what will come after all this today; what we will do, in the times ahead, in fidelity to your gift. I received a text last night from a man of some age and with some history behind him. “She made me proud again, to be Filipino.” Maybe that says it all., Cardinal Sin used to put it somewhat differently. “What a gift God has given our people, in giving Cory Aquino to us.” The nobility and courage of your spirit, the generosity of your heart, the grace and graciousness that accompanied you always. They called it “Cory magic” – but it was the truth, and the purity and beauty, clear and radiant within you, that we saw. And the hope that arose from that. And when the crosses came to you and you did not refuse to bear them, more to be one with your Christ and one with your people and their pain. “Blessed are the pure of heart; for they shall see God.”

Thank you Father in heaven, for your gift to us of Cory Aquino. Thank you that she passed once this way through our lives with the grace you gave her to share with us. If we give her back to you, we do it with hearts of thanksgiving, but now, oh, with breaking hearts also, because of the greatness and beauty of the gift which she was for us, the likes of which, perhaps, we shall not know again. Salamat po, Tita Cory, mahal na mahal po namin kayo.

Photo Credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rog3rs/3784297625/

Dare We Ask the Question?

2009-07-30T14:58:00.005+08:00

By Fr. Arnel Aquino, SJ
Homily shared to the Ateneo High School Community
July 30, 2009 Ateneo High School Covered Courts
Solemnity of St. Ignatius of Loyola

When I was in grade four, there was one time when my dad thought it a brilliant idea to cut my hair instead of bringing me to the barber. Back then, I already thought it was bad news. But what could I do? So dad cut my hair, bangs-style, as we called it back then. It was horrible. He combed all my hair down towards my forehead, and ran his scissors on a straight line from right to left. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I looked like I was a wearing an inverted black bowl on my head. I hated it. I went dreadfully to school and as soon as my best friends saw my hair, one of them named Raul who didn’t have front teeth walked up to me and said, “Bakit parang bunot ang buhok mo?” And all I could say was, “Gagu. Bungal.”

A month ago in Boston, when I passed a group of well-dressed high school students on my way to church, I overheard one of them say, “Dude, I don’t wanna be seen with you. You look like a tree, man.” It was obvious that they were going somewhere special, and this guy was dressed in a green top-coat and brown corduroy pants. He looked like a tree. And I felt like saying, “Your friend’s right…dude.” But they were very big boys so I just shut up and minded my own business.

Two weeks ago, when fellow Jesuits and I were walking up to the high school covered courts for the Ignatius Mass, I spotted three students seated on a bench near the ATM. And I overheard one guy sincerely tell his sad-looking friend, “Alam mo problema mo, pare, kapal ng mukha mo eh. Abusado ka eh.” I didn’t hear the rest of the conversation. But the guy who was being told off by his friend certainly looked like he agreed with him anyhow.

I remember these stories and something at the back of my head says: “Arnel, remember those times when people were actually able to tell each other what they thought about one another? Especially the lowdown’s. Remember those times when your friends could actually tell you that your attitude sucked? Those times when you and your friends could actually tell a friend ‘Alam mo, style mo, bulok’?”

For some reason, when we grow older, we lose a lot of that. We lose that spontaneity. We lose that kind of friendliness that’s able to tell each other what annoys us about one another. All grown up, you get more and more scared of being honestly told who people think you really are. If we dared ask a friend: “Who do people say that I am?” the question will most likely fetch the lowdown about ourselves. And who would want to hear that? Let me hear praise. Let me hear compliments. Let me hear what a terrific guy I am. But a lowdown? When we grow older, we begin to live with an implicit rule: “I won’t tell you your lowdown’s, so that you won’t tell me mine.” That way, we live peacefully. “Peacefully”.

Or do we? Do we really?

Many a time in the parishes and seminaries all over the world, nobody stood up to a fellow priest who was playing favorites with seminarians or spent too much time with altar boys or young girls. Suddenly, sexual scandals rocked Christendom and led to the ruin not only of priests, not only of their victims, but also of innocent faithful people scandalized out of their wits, and walked out of the Catholic faith shaking their heads. Why? No one wanted to hear the lowdown about themselves, so they weren’t confronting anyone else’s.

Recently, in a well-known school in Manila, nobody had ever gone up to the parent of a kid who bullied his way around. The kid obviously believed he could do anything he wanted because of the power of family money and the force of his dad’s rage. One fine day, out of a sudden urge to show off his stupid wrestling skills, he put a smaller classmate in a headlock and never let go. Blood stopped flowing to the little guy’s brain. The guy wilted, and fainted, and his heart stopped beating, and he died. All because despite the alarm bells that rang around the bully and his family, nobody ever had the gumption to tell him or his parents who people said the kid was, and the kind of monster the kid was turning out to be.

God knows how many more years it will take us to tell people like the Arroyos and some stupid congressmen and senators, “God love you but you’ve made a fool of us enough. So get the hell out our lives.” Because nobody would tell them who they really are for us, we, as a country, are waist-deep in c-r-a-p.

Fellow Ateneans, brothers and sisters, we have to be able to ask the very same questions that our Lord asked Peter. “Who do you say that I am? Who do people say that I am?” In the experience of Ignatius of Loyola, in every moment, God works very hard at each of us so that we may have an ever-deepening self-knowledge. You know why? Because that is where God works His miracles—from within the deepest part of ourselves. Because that is where God works His healing—in the darkest parts of ourselves. Because that is where God dwells—within the deepest part of ourselves. One of the best ways to approach that deepest part is to dare ask the question: “Pare, who do you say that I am, really?” “Bespren, who do people say that I am? Yung totoo.” “Anak, magtapat ka nga sa akin, hindi ako magagalit, promise, kumusta ba ako sa iyo?”

Matanong ko nga kayo: among the hundreds and hundreds of friends you have on your Facebook “community”, is there at least one—one soul in there who knows you so well that you can dare ask, “Anong palagay mo sa akin? Ano ba talaga ang palagay ng ibang tao sa akin?” If no such person exists on your Facebook or in your life who can answer that question with brutal honesty, then I guess you’re just a face in a book. Because regardless of the wealth of friends we have on Facebook in terms of figures, we are actually only the poorer if none of them may tell us who we really are to them. And what you have is really only a virtual personality; a Facebook personality. Little do those friends know, suplado ka pala sa personal.

Knowing the self deeply is knowing how we affect one other—both in good ways and in bad. Oh it will hurt to be told the lowdown’s about ourselves, of course it will. And it will be bad news to many of us, of course it will. And it will even take some of us by surprise, sure it will. But realize this, if we are so perfect as we often take for granted that we are, then maybe we don’t need God. Maybe we don’t need healing. If you are so good that you don’t have any lowdown’s, then you must be the Messiah the world is waiting for! And Peter must have been wrong, because we have a Messiah back here, there are hundreds of us, Messiahs, in fact.

But thankfully there already is a God. There already is a Messiah, who himself was nailed to a cross despite his utter goodness. And if this Messiah-God dared ask who people think he was, how dare us say we are his followers when we never dare enough ask that question ourselves.

Ad majorem + Dei gloriam!

Photo courtesy of Sch. Weng Bava, SJ

SOLEMNITY OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA Soldier for Christ, Founder of the Society of Jesus

2009-07-29T09:57:00.003+08:00

Military Mass
Ateneo de Manila High School
Covered Courts
30 July 2009

The first Jesuits actually arrived in the country almost 500 years ago, in 1541. While they were primarily missionaries, even then, as now, they were already deeply involved in the education of Filipinos.

It was the early Spanish Jesuits that set up Colegio Seminario de San Ignacio in 1581, the first university not only in the Philippines but in all of Asia.

However, in the eighteenth century, the Society of Jesus fell out of favor with colonial powers and Catholic royalties. They were expelled from their areas, including the Philippines, until finally, in 1773, the congregation was dissolved.

After decades of persecution and suppression, the Jesuit congregation was reinstated. On April 14, 1859, almost a hundred years after they were expelled from the country, ten Jesuits of the Aragon Province sailed to the frontier in the ship Luisita to Manila. They were supposed to do missionary work in Mindanao. Before proceeding to Mindanao, the Jesuits were petitioned by residents of Manila to set up a Jesuit school which eventually became Ateneo de Manila University.

This year, we celebrate the return of the Jesuits in the Philippines. We honor the legacy of the 150th long years Jesuit education, marked with excellence, commitment and leadership: strong characteristics of all Jesuit apostolates in the Philippines. Thus, in this new frontier of technology, post-modernism and globalization we are continuously called to engage the world through the great blessing that is our Jesuit education.

Reflecting on the words of Fr. Superior General Adolfo Nicolas, SJ, the 29th successor of Ignatius, we are challenged to sail towards the new frontiers in our modern times. We are all called to conquer the Frontier of Depth, which is best translated as the Ignatian Magis. We have been reminded that St. Ignatius has always been concerned with depth as expressed in non multa sed multum, not many but much. For St. Ignatius, it was not about the number of achievements, awards, and recognition, but the quality of learning, reflections and deeper understanding of the essentials in life.

Fr. Nicolas, SJ invites furthermore to move towards the Frontier of Universality. We have been reminded that St. Ignatius spoke of what is for the universal good. St. Ignatius has instructed his men to go where there is a greater need. Universality is recognizing that we are part of something bigger, of a greater vineyard where the Lord wants us to work in. And clearly, this It goes beyond the four walls of Ateneo. It is to synergize with other schools across the country even within Asia.

Let us then keep the frontiers of depth and universality in our minds and hearts as we build this nation through authentic piety, discipline and generosity.

+ad majorem Dei gloriam+

WhEre is Salu-Salo? – Hanggang MomENtum Ca Lang E…

2009-07-17T14:27:00.001+08:00

The Mass of Holy Spirit is one of the most auspicious events for me in the Ateneo H.S It is the event that unites me with the entire Ateneo Community. It is when I have salu-salos, know more about my classmates, teachers and co-parents. But is that an accurate understanding of what the Mass of the Holy Spirit is all about?

The Mass of the Holy Spirit is the celebration where we receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit invites us as unredeemed persons to follow Christ. We are brought to Christ when we receive the Holy Spirit. We are “Born Again” with the Spirit.

Jesus Himself was also gifted with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist (Mt. 3: 13-17), a dove descended upon Jesus Christ. The dove symbolized the Holy Spirit who anointed him with extraordinary power and the gifts he needed for his public ministry. The Holy Spirit is truly a gift to us to help others.

As Christians, the Mass of the Holy Spirit should remind me that yes, I am a sinful being; however, I could be redeemed by following God’s Ways. As an Atenean, the Mass gives me light by reminding me to share my gifts with other people as how the Holy Spirit has sent me His gifts. I can clearly share my gifts especially to those who are in need like the TD Kids. I am invited to share my knowledge that I have acquired from our school to the TD Kids so that they will be able use these gifts for the greater glory of God.

I know almost everyone would criticize that this year’s Mass of the Holy Spirit was not as memorable as before. It was not THE BEST mainly because there was no salu-salo and honestly, I do have to agree with them. I know that the school is hurrying up with its busy schedule due to the large amount of suspension of classes but the event lost not it’s essence but it’s momentum – the family gathering, salu-salo, games/events and even the attendance of our own principal. How sad it is that the event was not as vivacious as it was before!

Despite the lack of momentum, it is very important that I remember the essence of this event – to simply hear and follow God. This is the last Mass of the Holy Spirit I will have in the High School and this might serve as a lesson not only to me but to everyone that the celebration is not about me and you, him nor her, they nor us, but rather it is more about Him whom which we sometimes forget.

Shared by Barry Union R. Kayanan, 4G

Photos courtesy of Justin Santos of the class of 4I

ATENEO DE MANILA HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS MINISTRY VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT

2009-07-13T23:40:00.000+08:00

The Ateneo de Manila High School Campus Ministry, as an extension of the basic ministries of the Church, seeks to uphold and promote the Jesuit and Ignatian ideal of Christ-centeredness in all the members of the community as a way of harnessing and nurturing in them a well-formed conscience, compassion, competence, and commitment to Christ’s mission of love and service.

The Ateneo de Manila High School Campus Ministry envisions a community of students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni, who pray and work together towards being “well-honed instruments in the hands of God” in the service of faith and justice.

Vision:

The AHS-CMO provides spiritual formation programs based on Ignatian Spirituality

that cater to the spiritual needs of the AHS community (students, faculty and staff)

Mission:

Rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, our mission is to foster faith, hope and love in the AHS community through acts of prayer, worship, and transcendence in the world.

March of the Unqualified

2009-01-23T12:52:00.001+08:00

We all have imperfections, weaknesses and limitations, but all of us are being called by God in a special way!