Nakakahiya, pero totoo...

Well, I was thinking, would I post this now, or sometime?

Well din, I decided to post it now.

Once, I was reading one of the articles of Word and Life Magazine, when I noticed in the "Heart to Heart" portion, this guy (o girl ba? ewan ko!!!), and his situation. Alam ninyo ba? I was inspired with his problem, that days later, matapos ang matagal na pagdi-discern kung sasagutin ko ba o hindi, I wrote to the guy, as well to the publisher, about my reply to his situation.

Ngayon, I recieved the news that his problem, and my reply to him (or her), was published. Alam ninyo, hanggang ngayon, eh nasa state of shock pa rin ako. I don't know what will be the reaction from the guy, or worse, from my Alma Mater. Well, Bahala na si God.

:)
August 29, 2006

(Guyz, kung gusto ninyong mabasa ang Problema niya, at yung reaction ko, Please get a copy of Word and Life Magazine, August-September 2006 issue, dun sa may portion ng Heart to Heart. If I'm not wrong, the name of the one with the problem is Ayutegamgam. Then, kung may reactions kayo, just let me know by posting a comment.)

Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor

St. Augustine of Hippo is the patron of brewers because of his conversion from a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break.
This famous son of St. Monica was born in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and in false beliefs. Though he was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived and though he had been brought up a Christian, his sins of impurity and his pride darkened his mind so much, that he could not see or understand the Divine Truth anymore. Through the prayers of his holy mother and the marvelous preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion. Yet he did not become a Christian then, because he thought he could never live a pure life. One day, however, he heard about two men who had suddenly been converted on reading the life of St. Antony, and he felt terrible ashamed of himself. "What are we doing?" he cried to his friend Alipius. "Unlearned people are taking Heaven by force, while we, with all our knowledge, are so cowardly that we keep rolling around in the mud of our sins!"
Full of bitter sorrow, Augustine flung himself out into the garden and cried out to God, "How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour put an end to my sins?" Just then he heard a child singing, "Take up and read!" Thinking that God intended him to hear those words, he picked up the book of the Letters of St. Paul, and read the first passage his gaze fell on. It was just what Augustine needed, for in it, St. Paul says to put away all impurity and to live in imitation of Jesus. That did it! From then on, Augustine began a new life.
He was baptized, became a priest, a bishop, a famous Catholic writer, Founder of religious priests, and one of the greatest saints that ever lived. He became very devout and charitable, too. On the wall of his room he had the following sentence written in large letters: "Here we do not speak evil of anyone." St. Augustine overcame strong heresies, practiced great poverty and supported the poor, preached very often and prayed with great fervor right up until his death. "Too late have I loved You!" he once cried to God, but with his holy life he certainly made up for the sins he committed before his conversion. His feast day is August 28th.

(Two of the Many Great Prayers of Saint Augustine is published Below.)

Two of the well-known Prayers of Saint Augustine

Lord Jesus, Let Me Know Myself

Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know You,
And desire nothing save only You.
Let me hate myself and love You.
Let me do everything for the sake of You.
Let me humble myself and exalt You.
Let me think of nothing except You.
Let me die to myself and live in You.
Let me accept whatever happens as from You.
Let me banish self and follow You,
And ever desire to follow You.
Let me fly from myself and take refuge in You,
That I may deserve to be defended by You.
Let me fear for myself, let me fear You,
And let me be among those who are chosen by You.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust in You.
Let me be willing to obey for the sake of You.
Let me cling to nothing save only to You,
And let me be poor because of You.
Look upon me, that I may love You.
Call me that I may see You,And for ever enjoy You. Amen.

-_-

Prayer to Our Lady, Mother of Mercy

Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you with praise and thanks for having rescued a fallen world by your generous consent! Receive our gratitude, and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins. Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven and enable them to make our peace with God.

Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God. May all who venerate you feel now your help and protection. Be ready to help us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it your continual concern to pray for the people of God, foryou were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.

-_-

To love and to be loved was sweet to me, and all the more when I gained the enjoyment of the body of the person I loved. Thus I polluted the spring of friendship with the filth of concupiscence and I dimmed its luster with the slime of lust. Yet, foul and unclean as I was, I still craved, in excessive vanity, to be thought elegant and urbane. And I did fall precipitately into the love I was longing for. My God, my mercy, with how much bitterness didst thou, out of thy infinite goodness, flavor that sweetness for me! For I was not only beloved but also I secretly reached the climax of enjoyment; and yet I was joyfully bound with troublesome tics, so that I could be scourged with the burning iron rods of jealousy, suspicion, fear, anger, and strife.

-Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop, Writer, Doctor
(from the Book, Confessions)

three stories...

Meron akong mga kwento, hindi lang isa, hindi lang dalawa, kundi tatlo. Ito ang mga kwento na naganap during my first week as 16 years old. At sa tingin ko, magiging masaya, kahit na malungkot ang isa dun, kung ikukwento ko ito. NAMAN!!!

-_-

Last wednesday, August 23, 2006, exactly 9:17 am, nanganak yung wife ng kuya ko, and it was a bouncing baby boi, until we found out na ngiwi siya, o pilas ang nguso niya (well, sabi lang yun ng kuya ko, hindi pa confirmed. sana, hindi naman!!!). Gising pa ako nung gabing dalhin siya sa ospital. kasi naman, pinasan niya yung panganay nila na sobrang mabigat. Ayun, sumabog na yung panubigan niya. kaya, dinala na siya sa may malapit na Maternity Clinic sa amin. ngayon, nang dumating sa M.C., bigla siyang bumahing. pagkabahing niya, nagsidaluyan na yung dugo mula sa privates niya. dahil dun, ni-reject siya ng Clinic, at diniretso siya sa ospital (Fabella, to be exact.) and then, dun na siya ipinanganak. Kasingtaba siya ng panganay nila nung iluwal. Well, hindi ko naman siya masisisi, kasi, dapat ang overdue niya ay nung August 20 pa, a day after my birthday. Well, at least, nakaraos na siya. ngayon, ang challenge sa kuya ko, kung paano niya maipapalaki yung tatlong boys niya. at for sure, tutulungan siya ni God.

-_-

A dad that is oh so (sorry for the word) stupid. dun umiikot ang second story ko. well, it was my birthday, mga 5:30 ng umaga. I was on my way to the church, nang biglang ang taas ng tubig. kaya naman, pinagising sa akin ng Mommy ko si daddy ko. ngayon, nang ginising ko, ehparang ang ganda ng bulalas niya sa akin... mura. ang nasabi ko na lang, wag mo na akong batiin. pero nang lumabas ako ng bahay, pinagsarhan ako ng gate. ang sabi ko, parang nakakapanloko itong lalakeng ito, ah!!! pero bigla ko ring naisip na tatay ko siya. kaya, tumawag na lang ako sa mommy ko, at pinagbuksan naman ako ng pinto. Alam ninyo, naisip ko, ang diyablo, laging andiyan sa tabi-tabi, para sirain ang araw mo. pero for me, natalo siya, kasi hindi niya nasirang totally ang araw ko. Still, masaya pa rin ako!!! Ngayon, hindi pa rin kami nagkakausap, pero there is still the hope na sana, eh magkasundo na kami.

-_-

Social Concerns. and all that stuff. Yun ang third Story ko, all about the Diocesan Congress, na ginanap the whole day, of my birthday. Bigatin ang mga speakers ng Congress namin na yun, sina Tita De Villa at Bishop Ted Bacani lang naman. All about Social Concerns ang pinag-usapan namin the whole day. Lalo na, about the Government of today. alam ninyo, if we will all just pray for a change in the hearts of all those na nasa gov. eh di siguro, hindi tayo nagkakaganito. idagdag mo pa dun ang ating Ecological status, at many more. well, para po sa kaalaman nating lahat, 2006 is declared as the Year of Social Concerns by the CBCP.

-_-

Kasama nito, ay binabati ko na rin ang mga kakosa kong may birthday this month, especially my two nephews, Ingat kayo lagi!!!

O, dyan na nagtatapos ang aking tatlong kwento, dun umiikot ang 1st week ng life ko as 16. With that, I end this blog.

August 24, 2006

On the Queenship of Mary

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
__________________________

Matthew 19:23-30

[23] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.[24] And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.[25] When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?[26] But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.[27] Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?[28] And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.[29] And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.[30] But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

_________________________________________

--- Today, we are celebrating the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. Sa araw na ito, ay ipinagdiriwang ng Buong Sambayanang Kristiyano ang pagiging Reyna ng Mahal na Birheng Maria.

Nuong ika-11 ng Oktubre, 1954, ay idineklara ni POPE PIUS XII ang Kapistahan ng Pagkareyna ng Mahal na Birhen.

Sa Ebanghelyo para sa Araw na ito (ayon kay Lukas), ay ipinahayag ni Maria ang kanyang kababaan ng loob, na siya namang naging Basehan ng kanyang Pagiging Reyna. Bagama't sa ibang mga Simbahan ay ipinahayag ang Ebanghelyo galing kay Mateo, ay meron din naman siyang Relavance sa Kapistahan para sa Araw na ito. Sinasabi ni Hesus, na merong mga bagay na mapangyayari sa Diyos, isa na doon ang pagiging Ina ng Anak ng Diyos ni Maria. Si Maria, ay nagpakita ng kanyang kababaan ng Loob, sa pamamagitan ng Pagpapahayag niya ng FIAT sa Anghel.

Karapat-dapat siyang maging Reyna ng Lahat, dahil sa kanyang Mabubuting mga gawa. Sa Mahal Nating Reyna, na siyang nagdadala sa atin sa Kanyang Anak, ay marapat lang na bigyan siya ng titulong Ito. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya, ay wala tayong natatamasang kaligtasan ngayon.

Nawa, ay maging tulad tayo ng ating Mahal na Ina, sa mga mabubuting mga Gawain natin sa ating kapwa. Nawa, ay maging karapat-dapat tayo sa Kaharian ng kanyang Anak, na kung saan ay Siya ang Reyna. Nawa, sa araw na ito, ay tunay tayong lumapit sa Kanya, at tunay namang ilalapit niya tayo sa kanyang Anak, ang ating Panginoong Hesukristo.

Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Pray for Us!!!

August 22, 2006

The saints for August 19...(part 2)

Saint Ezekiel Moreno

Ezekiel (1848-1906) was an Augustinian Recollect known for his simple and open spirit. He was deeply devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He ministered for many years in foreign lands. He stongly defended the rights of the Church.
He was born in Alfaro, Logrono, Spain, April 9, 1848. His family was poor in material goods but committed in faith. Ezekiel professed his vows as an Augustinian Recollect in 1865. He was ordained a priest in Manila, Philippines in 1871.
During the next 15 years, he worked at bringing the Gospel of Jesus to the people of the Philippines. He was called back to Spain in 1885. There he served as Rector of the College and Novitiate of Monteagudo.
He then went to Colombia in 1888, where he devoted himself to missionary activity. He also brought renewal to the Augustinian Recollect communities in the region where he was living and working.
Ezekiel was in 1894 named the first Vicar Apostolic of Casanare, and ordained bishop of Pasto, where he remained until 1906. During this time there was war in Colombia. Ezekiel showed himself a voice of strength for his people.
In 1906 a diagnosis of cancer caused him to reluctantly return to Spain for treatment.
There he died August 19, 1906. He was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1975 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1992

The saints for August 19...(part 1)

Saint John Eudes

John Eudes was born at Ri, Normandy, France, on November 14, 1601, the son of a farmer. He went to the Jesuit college at Caen when he was 14, and despite his parents' wish that he marry, joined the Congregation of the Oratory of France in 1623. He studied at Paris and at Aubervilliers, was ordained in 1625, and worked as a volunteer, caring for the victims of the plagues that struck Normandy in 1625 and 1631, and spent the next decade giving Missions, building a reputation as an outstanding preacher and confessor and for his opposition to Jansenism. He became interested in helping fallen women, and in 1641, with Madeleine Lamy, founded a refuge for them in Caen under the direction of the Visitandines. He resigned from the Oratorians in 1643 and founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (the Eudists) at Caen, composed of secular priests not bound by vows but dedicated to upgrading the clergy by establishing effective seminaries and to preaching missions. His foundation was opposed by the Oratorians and the Jansenists, and he was unable to obtain Papal approval for it, but in 1650, the Bishop of Coutances invited him to establish a seminary in that diocese. The same year the sisters at his refuge in Caen left the Visitandines and were recognized by the Bishop of Bayeux as a new congregation under the name of Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge.
John founded seminaries at Lisieux in 1653 and Rouen in 1659 and was unsuccessful in another attempt to secure Papal approval of his congregation, but in 1666 the Refuge sisters received Pope Alexander III's approval as an institute to reclaim and care for penitent wayward women. John continued giving missions and established new seminaries at Evreux in 1666 and Rennes in 1670. He shared with St. Mary Margaret Alacoque the honor of initiating devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (he composed the Mass for the Sacred Heart in 1668) and the Holy Heart of Mary, popularizing the devotions with his "The Devotion to the Adorable Heart of Jesus" (1670) and "The Admirable Heart of the Most Holy Mother of God", which he finished a month before his death at Caen on August 19th. He was canonized in 1925. His feast day is August 19th.

______________________________

the wishes... (a sequel to the birthday essay)

(I started this as a simple bulletin in friendster, but now, I decided na ilagay na lang ito sa aking blogspot, at sa aking weblog.)

Before anything else, I want to say to all, na kung may mga comments kayo, wag mahiya na sabihin sa mga comments ninyo.

okie, let's start this...

my first wish.

Oo naman, siyempre, I look at things at their positives. Pero there is still that thing, that one thing that I cannot see. MYSELF. kung paano ko minamani-obra ang mga bagay-bagay. kung paano ako makitungo sa iba. kung paano ako magpakita ng mga expressions. alam ninyo naman, lahat ng mga bagay-bagay, nakikita natin, but the only thing that we cannot see is ourselves. At yun ang nilalaman ng first wish ko... ang makita ko ang sarili ko, not as a lunatic kind of person, yung tipong nababaliw, pero bilang lingkod, isang lingkod na handang sumunod sa lahat ng mga panuntunan ng buhay. sabi nga, one is called to serve and not to be served.

my second wish.

People look at me bilang isip-bata. bilang isang taong walang pag-asa sa buhay. bilang isang taong patapon na ang kinabukasan. kahit na may mga taong talagang look at me on the positives, talagang iba ang tingin sa akin ng iba... na parang nakakaloko. haay naku. sabi nga nila, bahagi daw yun ng paglilingkod. at kahit din naman paano, ay naiisip ko rin sila bilang mga paalala. bilang mga payo. at doon ko na ipinapasok ang aking second wish. ang pagkakaroon ng some sort of understanding sa mga tao sa paligid ko. I don't look at this at the negative, rather at the positive, kasi if I look at it the other way, I would rather breakdown, and break out.

my third wish.

I carry the tradition that I always do at friendster. I will keep my third wish as SECRET. Usual ko na itong ginagawa... kasi, alam ko na It's better kung I will keep it in my heart.

ayan. these are my three (oo na, two!!!) wishes na gusto ko sanang mangyari. But in the end, I give it all to God, and I let His Will happen.

August 17, 2006

Nasaan si Hesus? Nasaan na ba siya?!?

oo nga naman,... alam ninyo, nung una kong mabasa yung banner na may nakasulat na "Nasaan Si Hesus?", ay na-realize ko ang pangangailangan ko para sa kanya.

well, tungkol nga ba saan ang pinagsasabi ko? well ulit, it's all about a musical play na Directed ni Nestor U. Torre. it's all about the situations na kinahaharap ng mga tipikal na tao sa ngayon, at ang paghahanap niya kay Hesus (na sa totoo lang, eh nakita na niya, pero hindi niya talaga maramdaman. Hayy naku...).

Maraming mga klaseng tao na ipinakita sa play na ito... meron yung mga Drug Addict, mga Street Children, mga "Manang de Iglesia" o yung mga matatanda sa Simbahan na walang ginawa kundi tsismis, yung Parish Leader na namamangka sa dalawang ilog, yung inosenteng babae na kinasuhan ng krimen na hindi niya ginawa, yung mga batang pinipilit na pagtrabahuin, yung mga indegenous people na dinala sa siyudad, yung kabataan na hindi sinasadyang nakabuo, at hindi alam kung paano ito sasabihin sa kanyang mga mahal sa buhay. Lahat sila ay nagtatanong... "Nasaan na nga ba si Hesus?"

Habang nanood ako, natatawa, naiiyak, at iba pa, ay nare-realize ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko pa nakikita si Hesus, kasi, kung nakita ko na siya, eh meron akong nagagwa para sa mga taong ito, pero sa realidad, wala pa akong nagagawa. Kasi nga, sabi niya, "Kung anong gawin ninyo sa mga pinakamaliliit na mga ito, ay ginawa na rin ninyo sa akin." Alam ko na hindi ko pa siya nakikita, pero malapit na, alam ko, malapit na.

Sana, kung may makapanood pa ng napakagandang play na ito, eh marealize din natin ang mga bagay na ito, sana.

NASAAN SI HESUS?

all for the love of the YOUth...

okay, let us face the truth...

so, wala ako sa Ministry of Altar Servers for a year, hangga't hindi nagkakaroon ng renewal for this year, hanggang November 2006. kung walang renewal this year, ewan ko na lang kung ano ang mangyayari. isa sa mga paa ko ay naputol... at kahit na meron pa namang iba, hindi pa rin makayanan ng kalooban ko na mawala sa Ministring ito.

Isa ito sa mga pinakamasakit na bahagi ng buhay-simbahan ko... noong mga panahong yun.

Ngayon, nakakayanan ko na ring harapin iyon, kasi alam ko na this is just one of the plans of God for me. at dalangin ko na sana, ay muli akong makapaglingkod sa Altar ng Panginoon.

and with the "sort of" end of one thing, comes a brand new package na hindi ko naman pinagsisihan...

Here comes my comeback to the Parish Youth Ministry. within that time na nasa MAS ako, ay inintroduce kami sa PYM. at nagustuhan ko naman, pero hindi ganung kaseryoso. ngayon, sa pagkawala ko sa MAS, ay talagang tinanggap ako ng mga kakosa ko sa PYM, at na-feel ko na at home ako kasama sila. and with that, ay natanggap ko ang misyon ng pagiging isang tunay na Katolikong kabataan. kahit na hindi ko kaya, alam ko na nandiyan ang Panginoon, at gagabayan ako.

mula sa harap ng kompyuter at sa kaibutruran ng puso ko, Agosto 06, 2006.

litra003@yahoo.com