A Prayer For Work & Love

Dear Spirit, please help me to remember
Who I AM and to see my "real job" today.
Help me to live my life for the highest good
By loving myself unconditionally
As you love me.

And when I truly heal and love myself -
Then, and only then, am I able to love another.

Help me to see the "Light" in others
When they have forgotten it, themselves.
And to help them, as guided,
To empower themselves.

I humbly give thanks for your help
In all aspects of my life.
And I know that everything is in Divine Order.
And so it is... Amen

by Eeta Sachon

Catholic Charismatic History

THE FEAST OF SANTO NIÑO

In the 15 th/ 16th centurt a great devotion to the Child Jesus developed in Europe. From the many statues, especially three became known worldwide and were-and -still are the object of great veneration. The oldest one is the so-called "BAMBINO" of the Church of Araceli in Rome. It dates back to the 15th century and is carved of wood from olive trees of Gethsemane in Jerusalem. A Franciscan friar brought it to Rome where it became very much venerated. It is richly decorated with gold and jewerly donated by devotees. At Christmas time the Church with the "Bambino" becomes the center of popular piety. Well known are the "Sermonds of the Children" given from a small pulpit close to the statue of the "Bambino". But also throughout the year the devotion is going on; people are praying before the statue and every year an average of two thousand letters from all over the world are addressed to the "Bambino of Rome". these letters remain unopened and thier content is not known; they are probably petitions, thanksgiving or just expressions of love and admiration.
Another famous image of the Child Jesus is the "INFANT OF PRAGUE". It is found in the Church of the Carmelites Maria de Victoria in the city of Prague, but it originates from Spain and was brought to Bohemia in 1556. In 1628 the statue was handed over to the Carmelites who exposed it in the church entrusted to them. Thousands of people from all over the world flocked to this miraculuos image- emperors, kings, and simple faithful and made donations to "the small king and secret emperor". Copies of the Infant of Prague can be found everywhere in the world from Brazil to India.
In the Philippines it is the statue of the SANTO NIÑO de CEBU which conquered the hearts not only of the population of that city but also of all the Filipinos. On April 7, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan entered the port of Cebu. One week later a mass baptism was held. Several hundred natives, some say eight hundred, others five hundred; led by the chieftain Humabon were baptized. Queen Juana was given as a baptismal gift a statue of the Child Jesus. In 1565 another expedition arrived in the Philippines under the leadership of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and Fray Andres de Urdaneta. They found a lot of resistance and hostility among the natives who fled the village and set it on fire. While searching among the ruins for things spared by the fire, the statue of the Santo Niño was found on April 28, 1565. It was entrusted to the Augustinian fathers who erected a church in 1571, dedicated to the Holy Child Jesus, where the statue was brought and venerated. In 1740 a new church was erected, dedicated to St. Augustine, and on January 16 the SANTO NIÑO of Cebu was enthroned in that church. From Cebu the devotion to the "SEÑOR SANTO NIÑO" spread to the other parts of the Philippines. In 1971 the feast of the Santo Niño was intorduced in the National Calendar to be celebrated in the Third Sunday of January. Rome confirmed this decision in 1975 and in 1978 the texts for the Mass and the Divine Office were approved.

The Excellence of Love

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Feast of the Black Nazarene (January 9)

The feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9 is considered one of the most spectacular religious events that take place in the Philippine history.

Every year thousands of devotees from all walks of life come to the district of Quiapo to take part in the procession as a way of strengthening their faith or fulfilling their “panata” (vow) to Lord.

The Black Nazarene is the patron saint of Quiapo, a small but well-known part of Manila, a hub of trade and commerce because of the Quiapo market and the many stores located there.

The life size image of the Black Nazarene shows a “black” Jesus Christ carrying a cross. The statue has been housed at the Saint John de Baptist Church in Quiapo, Manila also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene since 1787. The image of the Black Nazarene is brought out in procession on its feast day and Good Friday.

The statue was brought to Manila by a Spanish priest in 1607 aboard a ship. The ship caught fire, burning the image and thus came to be known as the Black Nazarene. Though the image was burnt, the people decided to preserve and honor it. Since then, miraculous things have been reported to those who touch the image.

The celebration starts as the huge door of Quiapo Church opens and the image of the Black Nazarene is within sight. The ocean of devotees start to yell “Viva Señor” while some wave white towel high in the air along with the scripture of the Black Nazarene.

The statue is placed in a gilded carriage for the procession. As the procession starts, procession participants garbed in maroon tops grab two long ropes and pull it to make the carriage move. Many will attempt to touch the image while some throw their handkerchiefs and towels in the air. People who join in the procession walk barefooted as a sign of humility.

The devotion to the Black Nazarene is long time practice of the Filipino Catholics and they believe that through their faith with Jesus Christ, there will be peace and harmony among families, long life and good health among people, deliverance from all calamities and disasters, and prosperity, joy and love among nations.

Prayer: In God's Presence...

In the midst of our greatest needs, you, O Lord, you are with us.

Your love sustains us,
Your peace heals us,
Your mercy covers us,
Your energy empowers us,
Your power protects us,
Your vision guides us,
Your mission challenges us,
Your future invites us.

May we never miss the wonder of your presence by being too wrapped up in ourselves.

Brief History of our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran

The Redemptorists brought the picture of the Mother of Perpetual Help to the Philippines in 1906. Forty years later, the Redemptorists introduced the Perpetual Novena to the nation. The honor of conducting the first Perpetual Novena in the Philippines goes, not to Baclaran, but to the Iloilo community, in May, 1946 in the Redemptorist Church of St. Clement.

That same year, the Redemptorist Rector of Lipa City in Batangas happened to be visiting Iloilo. He was present at the Novena devotion and determined to introduce it in Lipa. There it was started the following year. When the Rector of Lipa, Fr. Gerard O’Donnell, became Rector of Baclaran, his first thought was of the Novena which he began at 6.00 pm on June 23, 1948.

That same year, the Redemptorist Rector of Lipa City in Batangas happened to be visiting Iloilo. He was present at the Novena devotion and determined to introduce it in Lipa. There it was started the following year. When the Rector of Lipa, Fr. Gerard O’Donnell, became Rector of Baclaran, his first thought was of the Novena which he began at 6.00 pm on June 23, 1948.

Fr. Leo English conducted the first Novena in Baclaran. There were only 70 people present. The capacity of the church at that time was only 300. Within the next year, a second session had to be provided, and some extensions were made to the small wooden church. Before the end of 1949, there were eight crowded sessions of the Novena. The Wednesday of each week became a day of prayer to the Virgin of Perpetual Help throughout the entire nation.

The increasing attendance of the devotees forced the Redemptorists to consider a more spacious church. Fr. Lewis O’Leary, Superior at the time, assumed management of the massive construction. The bulk of the money that financed the building came from the small offerings of ordinary people. An appeal made from the pulpit was for ten centavos per person per week. This is why it took six years to complete the construction of the church. When the money ran out, the construction was suspended; when more money came in, the work began again. The old church continued in use as the new rose over it; the Novena continued as usual.

The foundation stone had been laid by Cardinal Gilroy of Sydney on January 11, 1953. On January 1958, the Philippine hierarchy officially declared the Baclaran Church to be the National Shrine of the Mother of Perpetual Help. And on December 1st, 1958, the completed church was solemnly consecrated by Archbishop Santos of Manila, assisted by Bishops Antiporda and Shanahan.

The official opening ceremony was held on December 5, 1958. Archbishop Santos celebrated the Mass, assisted by Cardinal Agagianian and several other bishops. Since the day when the Shrine was opened, it has never been closed, day or night.

The Church’s architecture is described as Modern Romanesque. Cesar Concio, its architect, and Jesse Bontoc, his associate, had planned a higher church with a bell tower. But because of its proximity to the airport, civil aeronautic regulations prevented them from carrying out their plan in full.

The church has a seating capacity of 2000 persons, with another 9000 standing. On each Wednesday, seven sessions of the Novena with benediction along with three novena Masses and two sung Masses are held. About 120,000 devotees visit Baclaran each Wednesday to pray the Novena. Far larger crowds attend on the first Wednesday of the month. Devotees arrive from 4.00 am and are still entering the church past midnight.

Confessions are heard daily in the Shrine at almost every hour of the day. On Wednesdays, the Confessional boxes are occupied all day long. The celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation makes the Shrine an important centre of spiritual renewal.

Every week, hundreds of Petition and Thanksgiving letters are received at the Shrine. Many are from foreign lands wherever Filipinos happen to be. The more significant Thanksgiving letters are kept on file.

The Feast day of the Mother of Perpetual Help is celebrated on June 27. A Novena of nine consecutive days precedes the annual celebration of the feast.

More here: http://www.baclaranovena.org/history01.html

Panalangin at Mga Larawaan ng ating Mahal na Birheng Maria

Alalahanin mo, O pinagpalang Birheng Maria, na di kailanman nangyari sa sinumang dumulog sa iyong pagkalinga at nagsumamo ng iyong tulong, mga dumanas ng kabiguan. Pinasigla ng ganitong pagtitiwala, dumudulog ako sa iyp. O Birhen ng mga birhen, aking Ina, sa iyo ako lumalapit; sa harapan mo, nakatayo akong makasalanan at puno ng kapighatian. O Ina ng Salitang nagkatawang-tao, huwag siphayuin ang aking mga pagsamo, at sa iyong habag ay dinggin at tugunin mo ako. Siya nawa. [Dasalin ang tatlong Aba Ginoong Maria at tatlong Luwalhati.] V. Ipanalangin mo kami, aming makapangyarihan na tagapamagitan. R. Nang kami'y maging dapat makinabang sa mga pangako ni Hesukristong aming Panginoon.

O Panginoon Hesukristo, Tagapamagitan namin sa harapan ng aming Ama, na humirang sa kabanal-banalang Birhen, na Iyong Ina na maging amin ding Ina at aming tagapamagitan sa harapan Mo, ipagkaloob Mo na sinumang lumapit sa Iyo upang humingi ng anumang biyaya, ay magkamit nito sa tulong niya at magkaroon ng kagalakan. Ikaw na nabubuhay at naghahari kasama ng Ama at ng Espiritu Santo magpasawalang hanggan. Siya nawa.

2009: In the Year of the Lord

Let me start the year in the grace of our Lord, let's pray the Lord's Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.]

May God guide us in the new year. May we always be filled with love, joy and fulfillment in His glory and blessing...