A Holy Life

Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

Patron of Civil Defense Volunteers and Catholic adolescents

Feast day – September 23

“I will stand at the gates of Heaven and I will not enter until all of my spiritual children are with me.”

Padre Pio

Saint Padre Pio was born on May 25, 1887, in a village of Pietrelcina in Italy. He was the fourth among the seven sons of peasant farmers, Maria Giuseppa de Nunzio and Grazio Forgione. He was baptized Francesco in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

At the age of sixteen on January 6, 1903, he entered the novitiate of the Capuchin Friars at Morcone and took the Franciscan habit and the name Pio on January 22, 1903. He was ordained priest on August 10, 1910, at Benevento but because of poor health, he was sent home until 1916 when he entered the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo.

On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio experienced a mystical occurrence. While praying before the cross, a red spot appeared in the middle of his hands accompanied by a sharp pain that went through the soles of his feet. The wounds were similar to the wounds of Jesus when he was crucified on the cross – stigmata. Word spread about Padre Pio and pilgrims came to see him.

Padre Pio spent the whole day hearing confessions. He was instrumental in the conversion of many. It is said that he had a gift to bi-locate, levitate, and heal sickness by just his touch. He founded the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (House of the Relief of Suffering) on May 5, 1956, to alleviate the sufferings and difficulties of many families.

Padre Pio’s health deteriorated in the middle of the 1960’s but he continued his daily masses and hearing confessions. The day before he died, he said Mass with a very low voice that he could hardly be heard by the people. In the early morning hours of September 23, 1968, he made confession and renewed his vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience. He passed away at 2:30 in the morning of the same day at the age of 81

Sources for this article were taken from:  Editorial - Manila Bulletin Feast of St. Padre Pio, September 22, 2011, 11:58pm,

Prayer

Gracious God, you generously blessed your servant, Padre Pio, with the gifts of the Spirit. You marked his body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness to the saving Passion and Death of your Son, and as a stirring inspiration to many people of your infinite mercy, forgiveness and love.

In the confessional, Padre Pio labored endlessly for the salvation of souls. Through his powerful intercession, many who suffered were healed of sickness and disease. Endowed with the gift of discernment, he could read people’s hearts. From the blood of his wounds came a perfumed fragrance, a special sign of your Holy Presence. With dignity and intense devotion, he celebrated daily Mass, inviting countless men and women to a greater union with Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Through the intercession of Saint Pio, I confidently beseech you to to grant me the grace of (state your petition here). Help me to imitate his example of prayerful holiness and compassion, so that I, too, may faithfully follow the Risen Lord, and one day rejoice in the Kingdom, where you live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

St. Padre Pio – Pray for us

St. Padre Pio’s prayer for Jesus’ presence

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have
     You present so that I do not forget You.
     You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak
     and I need Your strength, 
     that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, 
     and without You, I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light,
     and without You, I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice
     and follow You.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You
     very much, and always be in Your company.

   Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.

   Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, 
        I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love.

   Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes;
        death, judgment, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength,
        so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You.
        It is getting late and death approaches,
        I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. 
        O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

   Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers. I need You.

   Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread,
        so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness,
        the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

   Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You,
        if not by communion, at least by grace and love.

   Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it,
        but the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!

   Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart,
        Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

   With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth 
         and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity.    Amen

Gospel Reflection

September 22, 2012

Saturday

Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

by Rev. Fr. Carmelo P. Arada, Jr. (Minister)

(Ministry on Lectors and Commentators, Commission on Liturgy, Archdiocese of Manila)

Mass at the Layforce Chapel, San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe, Makati

Reading 1 1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-49

Brothers and sisters:

Someone may say, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come back?"

You fool! What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be but a bare kernel of wheat, perhaps, or of some other kind.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible. It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious. It is sown weak; it is raised powerful. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one.

So, too, it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living being," the last Adam a life-giving spirit. But the spiritual was not first; rather the natural and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 56:10c-12, 13-14

R. (14) I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

Gospel Lk 8:4-15

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold." After saying this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, "Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.

"This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance."

HOMILY

Meron po bang mga teacher dito? Ang sabi, sa mga teacher daw, bawal ang may favoritism. Pero minsan, di talaga maiwasan ang magkaroon ng favoritism - kasi minsan, mayroon talagang isang estudiyante na magaling, matalino, mabango, malinis, masipag. Hindi maiiwasang kagiliwan mo sila. Pero sabi nila, kung bawal ang favoritism, bawal lalo ang may pag-iinitan kang mag-aaral. 

Pero sa guro na ikukuwento ko sa inyo ngayon na si Ms. Reyes, hindi niya maiwasang pag-initan si Teddy. Si Teddy ay estudiyante sa Grade 4. Di pa uso ang mahaba ang buhok, ay long hair na si Teddy. Meron daw kakaibang amoy si Teddy. Hindi kasi siya mahilig maligo. (laughs) At pag nakita mo ang report card niya, punong puno ito ng red marks. Kaya ang sabi ni Ms. Reyes kay Teddy, "Bobo itong si Teddy, hindi ito papasa sa Grade 4. At sigurado akong hindi ito ga-graduate nang elementary." Kaya naman kapag chine-checkan ni Ms. Reyes ang test paper ni Teddy, at may maling sagot, hindi lang red ballpen ang ginagamit niya kundi red pentel pen. (laughs) 

Tapos, nagkaroon sila ng Christmas party at nagbunutan sila para sa kanilang exchange gift. At ang nabunot ni Teddy na bibigyan ng regalo ay si Ms. Reyes. (laughs) At noong dumating ang araw ng Christmas party, talagang ingat na ingat si Teddy sa kanyang regalo para kay Ms. Reyes. Napakaganda ng regalo niya kay Ms. Reyes, kaya napakaganda din ng kanyang pambalot sa gift niya kay Ms. Reyes. Inilagay niya ito sa isang supot ng balot (laughs). At kaparis ng isang Christmas wrapper, nilagyan niya ng Christmas lights, Christmas balls, at Christmas trees na makulay ang kanyang supot para kay Ms. Reyes.

Noong iaabot na nila sa mga ka-exchange gift ang kanilang mga regalo, pag-abot ni Teddy kay Ms. Reyes ng kanyang regalo, dahil hindi inaasahan ni Ms. Reyes na si Teddy ang makakabunot sa kanya, nabitawan ni Ms. Reyes ang Christmas gift ni Teddy sa kanya. At mula sa supot, dalawang regalo ang bumagsak - isang bracelet na luma na at bungi-bungi na, nawawala na 'yong ibang mga bato, at isang maliit na bote ng pabango na kakaunti na ang laman. Kaya nagtatawanan ang mga kaklase ni Teddy dahil kahit na si Ms. Reyes naman ang nabunot niya, parang mga luma at mumurahin pa ang mga regalong binigay niya kay Ms. Reyes.

Sinabi ni Teddy, "Subukan nyo po Ms. Reyes ang bracelet at pabangong ibinigay ko sa inyo." Namumula si Ms. Reyes sa kahihiyan, kaya hinayaan niya munang makauwi ang lahat, dahil tinutukso na siya ng mga estudiyante niya. At noong wala nang tao, isinuot ni Ms. Reyes 'yong bracelet at sabi ni Teddy, "Ang ganda ganda naman po ng bracelet ng Nanay ko sa inyo." Kinuha ni Ms. Reyes ang pabango at iniligay niya ito sa kanyang pisngi, inilapit ni Teddy ang kanyang mukha sa pisngi ni Ms. Reyes at sinabing "Ang bango bango nyo po. Kasing bango nyo po ang Nanay ko."

Naalala ni Ms. Reyes na wala pang isang taon nang pumanaw ang Nanay ni Teddy. At magmula noon ay itinuring na ni Teddy na nanay si Ms. Reyes. Kaya ipinangako ni Ms. Reyes magmula no'ng araw na 'yon, "Tutulungan ko si Teddy. Makakapasa siya ng Grade 4. Makaka-graduate siya sa elementary". Araw araw ay tyinaga ni Ms. Reyes si Teddy na dating inisip niyang patapon na at wala nang pag-asa. Nakapasa siya ng Grade 4, tumungtong nang Grade 5, naka-graduate ng Grade 6. Kaya nga proud na proud si Ms. Reyes, na kanyang pinagtiyagaan si Teddy.

After ng Graduation ng Grade 6, hindi na nagkita at nagkausap si Teddy at si Ms. Reyes. After 4 years, nagbukas si Ms. Reyes ng kanyang mailbox, at isang maikling sulat ang kanyang natanggap. At pagbukas niya, sabi ng sulat, "Dear Ms. Reyes, I just wanted you to be the first one to know, I will be graduating second in my class in highschool. Very truly yours, Teddy". Tuwang tuwa si Ms. Reyes, bumili siya ng key chain at ng greeting card, at 'yon ay ipinadala niya kay Teddy.

Pagkatapos ng mahabang panahon na hindi nakakapag-usap at walang communication si Teddy at si Ms. Reyes, isa na namang greeting card, isang sulat ang natanggap ni Ms. Reyes, at pagbukas niya, sabi sa sulat, "Dear Ms. Reyes, I just wanted you to be the first one to know, I will be graduating first in my class in pre-med. The University of the Philippines has not been easy, but I liked it. Very truly yours, Teddy". Valedictorian si Teddy, tuwang tuwa si Ms. Reyes, bumili siya ulit ng greeting card at saka ipinadala kay Teddy.

Pagkatapos ng ilang taon na hindi sila nagkikita at nagkakausap ni Teddy, isang sulat na naman ang tinanggap ni Ms. Reyes, at sabi sa sulat, "Dear Ms. Reyes, I just want you to be the first one to know, as of today, I am Teodoro M. Garcia, MD. How about that? I am getting married on the 27th of July, and I want you to come, to sit where my Mom would sit if she were here. My Dad died last year, and I want you to be my family on that day. Very truly yours, Teddy".

Wala na sanang pag-asa si Teddy. Pero dahil kay Ms. Reyes na nagtiyaga at nakakita ng kahit na butil ng pag-asa kay Teddy, nagtagumpay si Teddy. Yan ang sinasabi ng Ebanghelyo sa araw na ito. Para sa isang magaling na maghahasik, hindi niya hahayaang sa mabato at matinik mapunta ang binhi dahil masasayang lang iyon. Ang isang magaling na maghahasik, masinop at hinahanap kung ano 'yong mataba at maayos na lupa para sigurado siya na tutubo nang maayos ang kanyang binhi.

Pero kung titignan po natin ang parabula ng paghahasik, iba ang paraan ng paghahasik ni Hesus sa ating Ebanghelyo. Kaya pwede natin itong tawaging the 'parable of the prodigal sower' - 'the parable of the patient sower'. Sapagkat hindi Niya muna tinignan at siniguro kung ang binhi na itatanim niya ay tutubo, hindi Niya muna siniguro kung ang matabang lupa ba ang paghahasikan ng binhi. Nagtiyaga si Hesus kung saan man napunta ang kanyang binhi. Sabi nga ni Pope Benedict the 16th, "It is love, and not power, that will redeem us." The world is saved by the patience of God. It is destroyed by the impatience of man". 

Minsan po sa aming "Pan De Sal", isang umaga, si Archbishop Tagle po ang nagbigay ng pagninilay. At sabi niya po, "Tularan natin ang maunawaing Diyos. Sa susunod na mainis o magalit ka dahil sa maling ginawa ng iba, huminto ka muna at magnilay. Alalahanin mong walang tao na alam ang lahat, at kaya ang lahat, naaala ang lahat, at walang nakakalimutan. Walang taong laging malakas at masigla. Walang taong laging tama, kasama ka na. Tayo ay unang dapat umunawa sa ating kapwa mahina, dahil mahina rin tayo. Mabuti pa ang Diyos, kahit walang kapintasan at limitasyon, Siya pa ang nakakaunawa sa mga mahihina na nilalang Niya. God is the ever-patient Sower, who sees hope in each one of us".

Marami po sa mga nakakalat na Escribo at Pariseo na patapon na, na wala nang pag-asa, na hindi na magiging mabuting binhi, ang naging mabuting lupa at naging tagapagpahayag ng Mabuting Balita - si Pedro, si Mateo, si Pablo, ang babaeng nahuling nakiki-apid. They are the works saved by the patience of God, but destroyed by the patience of man.

Kapag tiningnan po natin ang ating mga puso, anong klaseng mga tagapaghasik po ba tayo? Mabuting lupa po ba ang nasa puso natin, o puro cholesterol ng chicharon, lechon, galit at inggit. Hindi lang sila naging mga mabuting lupa. Naging mabuting tagapaghasik din sila ng Mabuting Balita. Let us ask the Lord for the grace to be patient sowers, that together with God, we may reap the world with our patience, Amen.

  

Joy of Quotes

‘Tis not knowing much, but what is useful, that makes a wise person.

Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Proverbs 27:1

Gospel Reflection

September 21, 2012

Friday

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

by Rev. Fr. Erwin dela Cruz

Lunch Mass at Sto. Niño de Paz Greenbelt Chapel

Reading 1 Eph 4:1-7, 11-13

Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.

Gospel Mt 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

HOMILY

Good afternoon brothers and sisters. Today is the feast of St. Matthew, the Apostle and Evangelist. Who is St. Matthew? We all know that he was a tax collector, a Jew who collected taxes for their Roman conquerors. Therefore, he also collected scorn, hatred and enemies.

 

One day, Jesus called Matthew to follow Him. And he followed Jesus. He quit collecting taxes and started collecting brothers in spirit – the other Apostles. Then he collected facts on Jesus’ early life – His teachings, His thoughts and miracles. And then he wrote them all down into the first book of the New Testament, which is what we have – the Gospel of Matthew.

 

Then after Jesus left, Matthew preached among his fellow Jews, now collecting their hearts and souls for Jesus.

 

I’d like to ask you. What’s your collection? Personally? Maybe some of us are collecting grudges, hurts, fears, addictions. Jesus in this mass calls on each of us to quit collecting spiritual garbage and start following the Lord.

 

Let us all resolve to read the whole Gospel of Matthew and start collecting forgiveness, start collecting healing, freedoms and commitment to the Lord, and experience true joy and freedom in serving Jesus. Amen.

 

St. Matthew – Pray for us 

You may also want to see: A Holy Life - St. Matthew the Apostle

A Holy Life

Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist

Patron of Accountants & Bankers

Feast day – September 21

Among the early followers and apostles of Jesus, Matthew is mentioned in Mt 9:9 and Mt 10:3 as a former tax collector from Capernaum who was called into the circle of the Twelve by Jesus. He is also named among the number of the Twelve, but without identification of his background, in Mk 3:18, Lk 6:15 and Acts 1:13. He is called Levi, son of Alpheus, in Mk 2:14 and Lk 5:27. He may have collected taxes from the Hebrew people for Herod Antipas. Matthew was "called" by Jesus of Nazareth to be one of the Twelve Disciples. According to the New Testament he was one of the witnesses of the Resurrection and the Ascension.

Matthew was a first century Galilean (presumably born in Galilee, which was not part of Judea or the Roman Iudaea province) and the son of Alpheus. During the Roman occupation (which began in 63 BC with the conquest of Pompey), Matthew collected taxes from the Hebrew people for Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. His tax office was located in Capernaum. Jews who became rich in such a fashion were despised and considered outcasts. However, as a tax collector he would have been literate in Aramaic and Greek.

It was in this setting, near what is today Almagor, that Jesus called Matthew to be one of the Twelve Disciples. After his call, Matthew invited Jesus home for a feast. On seeing this, the Scribes and the Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners. This prompted Jesus to answer, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17)

When Matthew is mentioned in the New Testament, he is sometimes found paired with Thomas. The New Testament records that as a disciple; he followed Jesus, and was one of the witnesses of the Resurrection and the Ascension. Afterwards, the disciples withdrew to an upper room (Acts 1:10-14) (traditionally the Cenacle) in Jerusalem. The disciples remained in and about Jerusalem and proclaimed that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

Matthew may also be mentioned in the Talmud.

Later Church fathers such as Ireneaus and Clement of Alexandria claim that Matthew, for 15 years, preached the Gospel in Hebrew to the Jewish community in Judea, before going to other countries. Ancient writers are not agreed as to what these other countries are. The Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church each hold the tradition that Matthew died as a martyr.

Sources for this article were taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Matthew.

Prayer

God, You chose St. Matthew the Publican to become an Apostle. By following his example and benefiting by his prayers, may we always follow and abide by Your will.

Amen.

God of mercy, You chose a tax collector, St. Matthew, to share the dignity of the apostles. By his example and prayers, help us to follow Christ and remain faithful in Your service. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

St. Matthew – Pray for us