Friday, December 25, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Magnificat
The Magnificat (also known as the Song of Mary) is a canticle frequently sung (or spoken) liturgically in Christian church services. The text of the canticle is taken directly from the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:46-55) where it is spoken by the Virgin Mary upon the occasion of her Visitation to her cousin Elizabeth. In the narrative, after Mary greets Elizabeth, who is pregnant with the future John the Baptist, the child moves within Elizabeth's womb. When Elizabeth praises Mary for her faith, Mary sings the Magnificat in response.
The canticle echoes several Old Testament biblical passages, but the most pronounced allusions are to the Song of Hannah, from the Books of Samuel (1Samuel 2:1-10). Along with the Benedictus, as well as several Old Testament canticles, the Magnificat is included in the Book of Odes, an ancient liturgical collection found in some manuscripts of the Septuagint.
Within Christianity, the Magnificat is most frequently recited within the Liturgy of the Hours. In Western Christianity, the Magnificat is most often sung or recited during the main evening prayer service: Vespers within Roman Catholicism and Evening Prayer (or Evensong) within Anglicanism. In Eastern Christianity, the Magnificat is usually sung at Sunday Matins. Within protestant groups, the Magnificat may be sung during worship services.
Photo taken by Jas in France
Mary's Song
Luke 1:46-56
46And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Source: Wikipedia
The canticle echoes several Old Testament biblical passages, but the most pronounced allusions are to the Song of Hannah, from the Books of Samuel (1Samuel 2:1-10). Along with the Benedictus, as well as several Old Testament canticles, the Magnificat is included in the Book of Odes, an ancient liturgical collection found in some manuscripts of the Septuagint.
Within Christianity, the Magnificat is most frequently recited within the Liturgy of the Hours. In Western Christianity, the Magnificat is most often sung or recited during the main evening prayer service: Vespers within Roman Catholicism and Evening Prayer (or Evensong) within Anglicanism. In Eastern Christianity, the Magnificat is usually sung at Sunday Matins. Within protestant groups, the Magnificat may be sung during worship services.
Photo taken by Jas in France
Mary's SongLuke 1:46-56
46And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
Source: Wikipedia
Friday, December 11, 2009
Just Being Grateful
Pink Ribbon
Today I viewed the news on TV and saw the injured passengers of a car that hit a truck. Suddenly, I was so thankful that I am still alive and healthy and very able. I had a car accident two months ago where I was hit by a bus that left my vehicle in a total wreck.
Just last month, I underwent an operation to remove a breast mass. I have a family history of breast cancer. I am ever so grateful that the biopsy result was negative for malignancy.
Life has been a roller coaster for the last months for me. As they say, when it rains, it pours. However, in all of life's challenges, I claim that I am not alone.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Today I viewed the news on TV and saw the injured passengers of a car that hit a truck. Suddenly, I was so thankful that I am still alive and healthy and very able. I had a car accident two months ago where I was hit by a bus that left my vehicle in a total wreck.Just last month, I underwent an operation to remove a breast mass. I have a family history of breast cancer. I am ever so grateful that the biopsy result was negative for malignancy.
Life has been a roller coaster for the last months for me. As they say, when it rains, it pours. However, in all of life's challenges, I claim that I am not alone.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The Immaculate Conception
Today, we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Source:mllevaleur
Source:bncmal
Source:mllevaleur
Source:bncmal
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Miraculous Medal
The Miraculous Medal, also known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, is a medal created by Saint Catherine Labouré following a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Many Catholic Christians around the world (and some non-Catholics) wear the Miraculous Medal, which they believe will bring them special graces through the intercession of Mary if worn with faith and devotion. It is often worn together with the Brown Scapular.
Saint Catherine Labouré stated that on the night of July 18, 1830, she awoke upon hearing a voice of a child calling her to the sisters' chapel (located in the Rue du Bac, Paris), where she heard the Blessed Virgin Mary say to her, "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world."
On November 27, 1830, Catherine reported that the Blessed Mother returned during evening meditations. She displayed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe, wearing many rings of different colors, most of which shone rays of light over the globe. Around the margin of the frame appeared the words Ô Marie, conçue sans péché, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous (in English, O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee). As Catherine watched, the frame seemed to rotate, showing a circle of twelve stars, a large letter M surmounted by a cross, and the stylized Sacred Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns and Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced with a sword. Asked why some of her rings did not shed light, Mary reportedly replied, "Those are the graces for which people forget to ask." Catherine then heard Mary ask her to take these images to her father confessor, telling him that they should be put on medallions, and saying "All who wear them will receive great graces."
Catherine did so, and after two years of investigation and observation of Catherine's normal daily behavior, the priest took the information to his archbishop without revealing Catherine's identity. The request was approved and medallions began to be produced. Those who wore the medal felt that they had received great blessings, and the medal came to be referred to as the "Miraculous Medal". They proved to be popular, and the medals spread worldwide.
One of the most remarkable facts recorded in connection with the Miraculous Medal is the conversion of a Jew, Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne of Strasburg, who had resisted the appeals of a friend to enter the Church. Alphonse Ratisbonne consented, somewhat reluctantly, to wear the medal, and being in Rome, he entered, by chance, the church of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte and beheld in a vision the Blessed Virgin Mary exactly as she is represented on the medal; his conversion speedily followed.
The chapel in which Saint Catherine experienced her visions is located at the mother house of the Daughters of Charity in Paris. The incorrupt bodies of Saint Catherine Labouré and Saint Louise de Marillac, a co-founder of the Daughters of Charity, are preserved in the chapel, which continues to receive daily visits from Catholic pilgrims today.
Pope John Paul II used a slight variation of the reverse image as his coat of arms, the Marian Cross, a plain cross with an M underneath the right-hand bar (which signified the Blessed Virgin at the foot of the Cross when Jesus was being crucified).
Source: Wikipedia
Saint Catherine Labouré stated that on the night of July 18, 1830, she awoke upon hearing a voice of a child calling her to the sisters' chapel (located in the Rue du Bac, Paris), where she heard the Blessed Virgin Mary say to her, "God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world."
On November 27, 1830, Catherine reported that the Blessed Mother returned during evening meditations. She displayed herself inside an oval frame, standing upon a globe, wearing many rings of different colors, most of which shone rays of light over the globe. Around the margin of the frame appeared the words Ô Marie, conçue sans péché, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous (in English, O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee). As Catherine watched, the frame seemed to rotate, showing a circle of twelve stars, a large letter M surmounted by a cross, and the stylized Sacred Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns and Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced with a sword. Asked why some of her rings did not shed light, Mary reportedly replied, "Those are the graces for which people forget to ask." Catherine then heard Mary ask her to take these images to her father confessor, telling him that they should be put on medallions, and saying "All who wear them will receive great graces."Catherine did so, and after two years of investigation and observation of Catherine's normal daily behavior, the priest took the information to his archbishop without revealing Catherine's identity. The request was approved and medallions began to be produced. Those who wore the medal felt that they had received great blessings, and the medal came to be referred to as the "Miraculous Medal". They proved to be popular, and the medals spread worldwide.
One of the most remarkable facts recorded in connection with the Miraculous Medal is the conversion of a Jew, Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne of Strasburg, who had resisted the appeals of a friend to enter the Church. Alphonse Ratisbonne consented, somewhat reluctantly, to wear the medal, and being in Rome, he entered, by chance, the church of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte and beheld in a vision the Blessed Virgin Mary exactly as she is represented on the medal; his conversion speedily followed.
The chapel in which Saint Catherine experienced her visions is located at the mother house of the Daughters of Charity in Paris. The incorrupt bodies of Saint Catherine Labouré and Saint Louise de Marillac, a co-founder of the Daughters of Charity, are preserved in the chapel, which continues to receive daily visits from Catholic pilgrims today.Pope John Paul II used a slight variation of the reverse image as his coat of arms, the Marian Cross, a plain cross with an M underneath the right-hand bar (which signified the Blessed Virgin at the foot of the Cross when Jesus was being crucified).
Source: Wikipedia
Sunday, November 22, 2009
A Song I Want to Learn
Traveling to Europe never really crossed my mind seriously.
Thus, being able to go to Portugal and actually be there at the place where our Lady appeared to the three children is unbelievable. Even knowing that Lucia, one of the youngsters, had lived long and left this world just recently, in 2005, is a wake-up call that everything indeed happened.
In Fatima, at the Chapel of Apparitions, the people of different nationalities sang this song, Salve Regina, with much reverence. That is after reciting the Holy Rosary together wherein the decades were said in various languages every night (including Tagalog).
Above is the chapel of apparitions (the small one inside), semi-enclosed in a glass structure. The reflection of an old olive tree is seen on the glass. The original tree, little by little disappeared when the people got a portion at a time as souvenir.
Source:hojarce
My aim is to learn the song by the end of the year.
Thus, being able to go to Portugal and actually be there at the place where our Lady appeared to the three children is unbelievable. Even knowing that Lucia, one of the youngsters, had lived long and left this world just recently, in 2005, is a wake-up call that everything indeed happened.
In Fatima, at the Chapel of Apparitions, the people of different nationalities sang this song, Salve Regina, with much reverence. That is after reciting the Holy Rosary together wherein the decades were said in various languages every night (including Tagalog).
Above is the chapel of apparitions (the small one inside), semi-enclosed in a glass structure. The reflection of an old olive tree is seen on the glass. The original tree, little by little disappeared when the people got a portion at a time as souvenir.Source:hojarce
My aim is to learn the song by the end of the year.
Christ the King
As we come to the end of the Liturgical year, today, we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King.
Christ the King is a title of Jesus based on several passages of Scripture and, in general, used by all Christians. Many denominations, including Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Methodists, celebrate, in honour of Christ under this title, the Feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, before a new year begins with the First Sunday of Advent (the earliest date of which is 27 November). The Feast of Christ the King is thus on the Sunday that falls between 20 and 26 November, inclusive. (Originally, the Catholic calendar of pre-Vatican II had this feast on the last Sunday of October prior to All Saints Day.) The title "Christ the King" is also frequently used as a name for churches, schools, seminaries and hospitals.
Source: Wikipedia
Christ the King is a title of Jesus based on several passages of Scripture and, in general, used by all Christians. Many denominations, including Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Methodists, celebrate, in honour of Christ under this title, the Feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, before a new year begins with the First Sunday of Advent (the earliest date of which is 27 November). The Feast of Christ the King is thus on the Sunday that falls between 20 and 26 November, inclusive. (Originally, the Catholic calendar of pre-Vatican II had this feast on the last Sunday of October prior to All Saints Day.) The title "Christ the King" is also frequently used as a name for churches, schools, seminaries and hospitals.
Source: Wikipedia
Our Lady of Fatima
Peace and tranquility, that is Fatima in Portugal.
My first day there was wet, drizzles of rain poured continuously and the air was chilly. The atmosphere was solemn while you are being showered by holy water for cleansing before visiting the shrine. Fatima has a tremendous effect on one's soul and being, what with a world that needs peace.
My memory of the story of Fatima is not that vivid until I came to this place. Francesco, Jacinta and Lucia. The three innocent children to whom the "Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion" appeared. Francesco died at 8 years old, followed by Jacinta and later, both of them were canonized. Lucia, on the other hand, whom we see with the Pope, died just recently, in 2005. It was her whom the Lady shared the secrets of Fatima, including the conversion of Russia and the attempt in the life of the Pope. Because of this, the bullet that hit the Pope was given as a gift to our Lady and was incorporated at the center of Her Crown.
At the place of the apparitions, our Lady requested Lucia to have a church there, thus a small chapel was built, later on a very large open church enveloped the tiny chapel (it looks like a very tiny house at the altar, see photo below and compare it to the one above with an olive tree at the right side). It was here that we said the rosary in Italian, Spanish, English, Korean and Filipino.
The Lady appeared near an olive tree, which eventually disappeared as people got a portion of it little by little. A similar tree nearby was then preserved in memory of the original tree.
We have a dear Mother who loves us and brings us to Her Son. Mother Mary asks that we pray the rosary daily for the conversion of sinners.
Dear Lady of Fatima, we come on bended knees
To beg your intercession for peace and unity.
Dear Lady, won't you show us the right and shining way
We pledge our love and offer you a rosary each day.
You promised at Fatima, each time that you appeared
To help us if we pray to you to banish war and fear.
Dear Lady, on first Saturdays we ask your guiding hands
For grace and guidance here on earth and protection for our land.
My first day there was wet, drizzles of rain poured continuously and the air was chilly. The atmosphere was solemn while you are being showered by holy water for cleansing before visiting the shrine. Fatima has a tremendous effect on one's soul and being, what with a world that needs peace.
My memory of the story of Fatima is not that vivid until I came to this place. Francesco, Jacinta and Lucia. The three innocent children to whom the "Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion" appeared. Francesco died at 8 years old, followed by Jacinta and later, both of them were canonized. Lucia, on the other hand, whom we see with the Pope, died just recently, in 2005. It was her whom the Lady shared the secrets of Fatima, including the conversion of Russia and the attempt in the life of the Pope. Because of this, the bullet that hit the Pope was given as a gift to our Lady and was incorporated at the center of Her Crown.
At the place of the apparitions, our Lady requested Lucia to have a church there, thus a small chapel was built, later on a very large open church enveloped the tiny chapel (it looks like a very tiny house at the altar, see photo below and compare it to the one above with an olive tree at the right side). It was here that we said the rosary in Italian, Spanish, English, Korean and Filipino.
The Lady appeared near an olive tree, which eventually disappeared as people got a portion of it little by little. A similar tree nearby was then preserved in memory of the original tree.
We have a dear Mother who loves us and brings us to Her Son. Mother Mary asks that we pray the rosary daily for the conversion of sinners.Dear Lady of Fatima, we come on bended knees
To beg your intercession for peace and unity.
Dear Lady, won't you show us the right and shining way
We pledge our love and offer you a rosary each day.
You promised at Fatima, each time that you appeared
To help us if we pray to you to banish war and fear.
Dear Lady, on first Saturdays we ask your guiding hands
For grace and guidance here on earth and protection for our land.
Friday, November 20, 2009
I Choose to be Happy
Choose to be happy today . . .
Today, I choose to be happy. I won't wait for things to be perfect to be happy. My wounds will heal and things will work out good for me for I put my trust in Him.
One of my happiest moments, it was appreciating the very first fountain I saw in Europe. My friend took this clip at the commercial square in Portugal.
“Life is a choice. We can choose to be miserable, or we can choose to be happy in the midst of miserable circumstances.
Today, I choose to be happy. I won't wait for things to be perfect to be happy. My wounds will heal and things will work out good for me for I put my trust in Him.
One of my happiest moments, it was appreciating the very first fountain I saw in Europe. My friend took this clip at the commercial square in Portugal.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
We Have a Big God
I recently underwent an operation. I have been preparing for the moment. For some, it would have been an ordinary procedure but for me, with a family history of breast cancer, it was of great significance.
The doctor took out a solid lump from my right breast. It is for biopsy, so I still have to wait for a while for the result. However, finally it has been taken out. To my advantage, the doctor even decided not to open the other one which was suppose to have two lumps that we can no longer detect when I was at the operating room.
I have a lot to be thankful for. I am so grateful for having a nurse sister to take care of everything. I am also so relieved that we need to take out only one lump from one breast. It was a painful endeavor and there's the stage of recovery that hopefully will turn out speedy and okay.
I just want to thank the Lord. We do have a big God that takes care of our problems just as Brother Bo used to say.
The doctor took out a solid lump from my right breast. It is for biopsy, so I still have to wait for a while for the result. However, finally it has been taken out. To my advantage, the doctor even decided not to open the other one which was suppose to have two lumps that we can no longer detect when I was at the operating room.
I have a lot to be thankful for. I am so grateful for having a nurse sister to take care of everything. I am also so relieved that we need to take out only one lump from one breast. It was a painful endeavor and there's the stage of recovery that hopefully will turn out speedy and okay.
I just want to thank the Lord. We do have a big God that takes care of our problems just as Brother Bo used to say.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Definition of Happiness
Suddenly happiness have been redefined for me. True happiness is when you experience overflowing joy because of inexplicable love matched with inner peace. This is kinda heavy and confusing, but that is how I find happiness is, right now. I feel God's love, His embrace.
It is such that your serenity is kept in tact, even if you are undergoing pain (both physical and emotional), even in the midst of problems, issues and betrayal. I just have to thank our Maker for pouring out graces to us, unworthy as we are, to accept everything that comes our way. It is by His grace that I am able to continue with life, still full of happiness.
It is such that your serenity is kept in tact, even if you are undergoing pain (both physical and emotional), even in the midst of problems, issues and betrayal. I just have to thank our Maker for pouring out graces to us, unworthy as we are, to accept everything that comes our way. It is by His grace that I am able to continue with life, still full of happiness.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Morning Has Broken
Together with 17 other pilgrims, we said our daily morning prayers and offerings, prayed (not only recited) the rosary and sung this most beautiful song ever.
As Sung by Cat Stevens
Lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day
As Sung by Cat Stevens
Lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Spiritual Experiences
Just got back from a pilgrimage where I traveled with a group of cool dudes. It was a spectacular trip with Bo Sanchez as pilgrimage head, Adrian Panganiban as our tour guide and Father Alex as our priest companion.
It was a refreshing endeavor for the body, mind and spirit. Together, we get to say our morning prayers, the rosary and hear mass on the daily basis. As a bonus we get to listen to a special talk from Bro. Bo.
It was a refreshing endeavor for the body, mind and spirit. Together, we get to say our morning prayers, the rosary and hear mass on the daily basis. As a bonus we get to listen to a special talk from Bro. Bo.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Saint Anthony of Padua
Went to visit the basilicas in Italy and Portugal.
The Portuguese propagated the Catholic faith and Portugal has beautiful and historical churches like the St. Anthony de Padua church. St. Anthony is the patron saint of Padua, of Italy and of many other cities in Portugal and in the countries of the former Portuguese Empire. He is especially invoked for the recovery of lost things.
St. Anthony was baptized at the Lisbon Cathedral. In 2006 Pope Benedict XVI granted St. Anthony Cathedral the designation of minor basilica. St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica celebrated its 100th anniversary on January 28, 2007.
Anthony was born in Lisbon to Martim Vicente de Bulhões and wife Teresa Pais Taveira (a descendant of Alfonso VI of Castile, and thus a half-third cousin once removed of King Afonso II of Portugal, and brother of Pedro Martins de Bulhões (ancestor of the de Bulhão or de Bulhões family), in a very rich family of the nobility who wanted him to become educated; however, these were not his wishes. His family arranged sound education for him at the local cathedral school. Against the wishes of his family, Anthony entered the Augustinian Abbey of St. Vincent on the outskirts of Lisbon. The Canons Regular of St. Augustine, of which he was a member, were famous for their dedication to scholarly pursuits. Anthony studied Scripture and the Latin classics.
After his ordination, Anthony was placed in charge of hospitality in his abbey. In this role, in 1219, he came in contact with five Franciscans who were on their way to Morocco to preach to the Muslims there. Anthony was strongly attracted to the simple Gospel lifestyle of the Franciscan friars. In February 1220, news arrived that the five Franciscans had been martyred in Morocco. Anthony meditated on the heroism of these Franciscans. He wanted to obey God's call to leave everything and follow Him. Anthony obtained permission from his superiors to join the Franciscan order.
On the return trip to Portugal, his ship was driven by storm upon the coast of Sicily and he landed at Messina. From Sicily he made his way to Assisi and sought admission into a monastery in Italy, but met with difficulty on account of his sickly appearance. He was finally assigned, out of pure compassion, to the rural hospice of San Paolo near Forlì, Romagna, Italy, a choice made after considering his poor health. There he appears to have lived as a hermit and was put to work in the kitchen.
One day, on the occasion of an ordination, when a great many visiting Dominican monks were present, there was some misunderstanding over who should preach. The Franciscans naturally expected that one of the Dominicans would occupy the pulpit, for they were renowned for their preaching; the Dominicans, on the other hand, had come unprepared, thinking that a Franciscan would be the homilist.
In this quandary, the head of the hermitage, who had no one among his own humble friars suitable for the occasion, called upon Anthony, who he suspected was most qualified, and engineered him to speak whatever the Holy Spirit should put into his mouth. Anthony objected but was overruled, and his sermon created a deep impression. Not only his rich voice and arresting manner, but the entire theme and substance of his discourse and his moving eloquence, held the attention of his hearers.
At that point, Anthony was commissioned by Brother Gratian, the minister provincial, to preach the Gospel throughout Lombardy, a region in northern Italy. From then on his skills were used to the utmost by the Church. Occasionally he took another post, as a teacher, for instance, at the universities of Montpellier and Toulouse—both in southern France—but it was as a preacher that Anthony revealed his supreme gift.
In 1226, after attending the Franciscan chapter at Arles, France, and preaching in the French region of Provence, Anthony returned to Italy and served as envoy from the general chapter to Pope Gregory IX. At the Papal court, his preaching was hailed as a "jewel case of the Bible" and he was commissioned to produce "Sermons for Feast Days."
Anthony became ill with dropsy and, in 1231, went to the woodland retreat at Camposampiero with two other friars for a respite. There Anthony lived in a cell built for him under the branches of a walnut tree. Saint Anthony died on 13 June 1231 at the Poor Clare convent at Arcella on the way back to Padua at age of 36.
When he died, it is said that the children cried in the streets and that all the bells of the churches rang of their own accord, rung by angels come to earth to honour the death of the saint. He is buried in a chapel.
Anthony of Lisbon (or Padua) is known to have become the "quickest" saint in the history of the Catholic Church because he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX less than one year after his death on the 30th of May of 1232.
His fame spread as much as the Portuguese envangelization and he has been known as the most celebrated of the followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. He is the patron saint of Padua, of Italy and of many other cities in Portugal and in the countries of the former Portuguese Empire. He is especially invoked for the recovery of lost things.
Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on January 16, 1946, he is sometimes called "Evangelical Doctor".
Each year on the weekend of the last Sunday in August, Boston's North End holds a feast in honor of St. Anthony. Referred to as the "Feast of all Feasts", St. Anthony's Feast in Boston's North End was begun in 1919 by Italian immigrants from Montefalcione, a small town near Naples, where the tradition of honoring St. Anthony goes back to 1688. The feast has become the largest Italian religious festival in the United States.
On January 27, 1907 in Beaumont, Texas, a church was dedicated and named in honor of St. Anthony of Padua. The church was later designated a cathedral in 1966 with the formation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont, but was not formally consecrated. On April 28, 1974, St Anthony Cathedral was dedicated and consecrated by Bishop Warren Boudreaux. In 2006 Pope Benedict XVI granted St. Anthony Cathedral the designation of minor basilica. St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica celebrated its 100th anniversary on January 28, 2007.
Seventeenth century Spanish missionaries came across a small Native American community along what was then known as the Yanaguana River on the feast day of Saint Anthony and renamed the river and eventually a mission built nearby in his honor. This mission became the focal point of a small community that eventually grew in size and scope to become the city of San Antonio, Texas.
St. Anthony is known in Brazil and Portugal as a marriage saint, because legend has him as one who conciliated couples. His feast day, June 13, is Lisbon's municipal holiday, celebrated with parades and marriages of humble couples, and he is one of the saints celebrated in the Brazilian Festa Junina (along with John the Baptist and Saint Peter). The previous day, June 12, is the Brazilian Valentine's Day.
In Uvari, in Tamil Nadu, India, the church of St. Anthony is home to an ancient wooden statue that is said to have cured the entire crew of a Portuguese ship suffering from cholera. St Anthony is said to perform many miracles daily, and Uvari is visited by pilgrims of different religions from all over South India.
The Portuguese propagated the Catholic faith and Portugal has beautiful and historical churches like the St. Anthony de Padua church. St. Anthony is the patron saint of Padua, of Italy and of many other cities in Portugal and in the countries of the former Portuguese Empire. He is especially invoked for the recovery of lost things.
St. Anthony was baptized at the Lisbon Cathedral. In 2006 Pope Benedict XVI granted St. Anthony Cathedral the designation of minor basilica. St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica celebrated its 100th anniversary on January 28, 2007.
Anthony was born in Lisbon to Martim Vicente de Bulhões and wife Teresa Pais Taveira (a descendant of Alfonso VI of Castile, and thus a half-third cousin once removed of King Afonso II of Portugal, and brother of Pedro Martins de Bulhões (ancestor of the de Bulhão or de Bulhões family), in a very rich family of the nobility who wanted him to become educated; however, these were not his wishes. His family arranged sound education for him at the local cathedral school. Against the wishes of his family, Anthony entered the Augustinian Abbey of St. Vincent on the outskirts of Lisbon. The Canons Regular of St. Augustine, of which he was a member, were famous for their dedication to scholarly pursuits. Anthony studied Scripture and the Latin classics.After his ordination, Anthony was placed in charge of hospitality in his abbey. In this role, in 1219, he came in contact with five Franciscans who were on their way to Morocco to preach to the Muslims there. Anthony was strongly attracted to the simple Gospel lifestyle of the Franciscan friars. In February 1220, news arrived that the five Franciscans had been martyred in Morocco. Anthony meditated on the heroism of these Franciscans. He wanted to obey God's call to leave everything and follow Him. Anthony obtained permission from his superiors to join the Franciscan order.
On the return trip to Portugal, his ship was driven by storm upon the coast of Sicily and he landed at Messina. From Sicily he made his way to Assisi and sought admission into a monastery in Italy, but met with difficulty on account of his sickly appearance. He was finally assigned, out of pure compassion, to the rural hospice of San Paolo near Forlì, Romagna, Italy, a choice made after considering his poor health. There he appears to have lived as a hermit and was put to work in the kitchen.
One day, on the occasion of an ordination, when a great many visiting Dominican monks were present, there was some misunderstanding over who should preach. The Franciscans naturally expected that one of the Dominicans would occupy the pulpit, for they were renowned for their preaching; the Dominicans, on the other hand, had come unprepared, thinking that a Franciscan would be the homilist.
In this quandary, the head of the hermitage, who had no one among his own humble friars suitable for the occasion, called upon Anthony, who he suspected was most qualified, and engineered him to speak whatever the Holy Spirit should put into his mouth. Anthony objected but was overruled, and his sermon created a deep impression. Not only his rich voice and arresting manner, but the entire theme and substance of his discourse and his moving eloquence, held the attention of his hearers.
At that point, Anthony was commissioned by Brother Gratian, the minister provincial, to preach the Gospel throughout Lombardy, a region in northern Italy. From then on his skills were used to the utmost by the Church. Occasionally he took another post, as a teacher, for instance, at the universities of Montpellier and Toulouse—both in southern France—but it was as a preacher that Anthony revealed his supreme gift.
In 1226, after attending the Franciscan chapter at Arles, France, and preaching in the French region of Provence, Anthony returned to Italy and served as envoy from the general chapter to Pope Gregory IX. At the Papal court, his preaching was hailed as a "jewel case of the Bible" and he was commissioned to produce "Sermons for Feast Days."
Anthony became ill with dropsy and, in 1231, went to the woodland retreat at Camposampiero with two other friars for a respite. There Anthony lived in a cell built for him under the branches of a walnut tree. Saint Anthony died on 13 June 1231 at the Poor Clare convent at Arcella on the way back to Padua at age of 36.
When he died, it is said that the children cried in the streets and that all the bells of the churches rang of their own accord, rung by angels come to earth to honour the death of the saint. He is buried in a chapel.
Anthony of Lisbon (or Padua) is known to have become the "quickest" saint in the history of the Catholic Church because he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX less than one year after his death on the 30th of May of 1232.
His fame spread as much as the Portuguese envangelization and he has been known as the most celebrated of the followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. He is the patron saint of Padua, of Italy and of many other cities in Portugal and in the countries of the former Portuguese Empire. He is especially invoked for the recovery of lost things.
Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on January 16, 1946, he is sometimes called "Evangelical Doctor".
Each year on the weekend of the last Sunday in August, Boston's North End holds a feast in honor of St. Anthony. Referred to as the "Feast of all Feasts", St. Anthony's Feast in Boston's North End was begun in 1919 by Italian immigrants from Montefalcione, a small town near Naples, where the tradition of honoring St. Anthony goes back to 1688. The feast has become the largest Italian religious festival in the United States.
On January 27, 1907 in Beaumont, Texas, a church was dedicated and named in honor of St. Anthony of Padua. The church was later designated a cathedral in 1966 with the formation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Beaumont, but was not formally consecrated. On April 28, 1974, St Anthony Cathedral was dedicated and consecrated by Bishop Warren Boudreaux. In 2006 Pope Benedict XVI granted St. Anthony Cathedral the designation of minor basilica. St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica celebrated its 100th anniversary on January 28, 2007.
Seventeenth century Spanish missionaries came across a small Native American community along what was then known as the Yanaguana River on the feast day of Saint Anthony and renamed the river and eventually a mission built nearby in his honor. This mission became the focal point of a small community that eventually grew in size and scope to become the city of San Antonio, Texas.
St. Anthony is known in Brazil and Portugal as a marriage saint, because legend has him as one who conciliated couples. His feast day, June 13, is Lisbon's municipal holiday, celebrated with parades and marriages of humble couples, and he is one of the saints celebrated in the Brazilian Festa Junina (along with John the Baptist and Saint Peter). The previous day, June 12, is the Brazilian Valentine's Day.
In Uvari, in Tamil Nadu, India, the church of St. Anthony is home to an ancient wooden statue that is said to have cured the entire crew of a Portuguese ship suffering from cholera. St Anthony is said to perform many miracles daily, and Uvari is visited by pilgrims of different religions from all over South India.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Valuing Suffering
From the writings of the Servant of God, Luisa Piccarreta
Sister Luisa wrote:
Continuing in my usual state, I found myself outside of myself, and I seemed to see a soul from Purgatory whom I knew, and I said to her, "Tell me what is my state to God? I am also afraid, especially for the state in which I find myself."
She said to me:
"You need to know very little to know if you are in a good or in a bad state. If you value suffering, you are in a good state; if you do not value it, you are in a bad state. Because he who loves suffering values God; and valuing Him, he can never make Him unhappy. For the things that are valued are esteemed and guarded with care, more than oneself. And can it be possible that one would wish himself evil? So then by valuing God, it is impossible for you to make Him unhappy."
Sister Luisa wrote:
Continuing in my usual state, I found myself outside of myself, and I seemed to see a soul from Purgatory whom I knew, and I said to her, "Tell me what is my state to God? I am also afraid, especially for the state in which I find myself."
She said to me:
"You need to know very little to know if you are in a good or in a bad state. If you value suffering, you are in a good state; if you do not value it, you are in a bad state. Because he who loves suffering values God; and valuing Him, he can never make Him unhappy. For the things that are valued are esteemed and guarded with care, more than oneself. And can it be possible that one would wish himself evil? So then by valuing God, it is impossible for you to make Him unhappy."
Thursday, October 8, 2009
When You Ask Why
From the writings of the Servant of God, Luisa Piccarreta
Sister Luisa wrote:
After this Blessed Jesus came and said to me,
"Daughter, in almost all the events that happen, creatures repeat and and always say: And why? And why? And why? Why sickness? Why this state of soul? Why this punishment? And so many other why's The explanation of the why is not written on earth but in Heaven, and there all, shall read it. Do you know what the why is? It is egoism which gives continual food to self-love. Do you know where the why was created? In Hell. Who was there first to pronounce it? A devil. The effects that the first why produced were the loss of innocence in Eden itself, the war of the implacable passions, the ruin of many souls and all the evils of life. The history of the why is very long. It is sufficient to tell you that there is no evil in the world that does not bear the mark of the why. The why is the destruction of Divine wisdom in souls. Do you know where the why will be buried? In Hell, to make all the lost souls restless forever, without ever giving them peace. The artful ingenuity and deceptiveness of the why is to wage war against souls, without ever giving them rest."
Sister Luisa wrote:
After this Blessed Jesus came and said to me,
"Daughter, in almost all the events that happen, creatures repeat and and always say: And why? And why? And why? Why sickness? Why this state of soul? Why this punishment? And so many other why's The explanation of the why is not written on earth but in Heaven, and there all, shall read it. Do you know what the why is? It is egoism which gives continual food to self-love. Do you know where the why was created? In Hell. Who was there first to pronounce it? A devil. The effects that the first why produced were the loss of innocence in Eden itself, the war of the implacable passions, the ruin of many souls and all the evils of life. The history of the why is very long. It is sufficient to tell you that there is no evil in the world that does not bear the mark of the why. The why is the destruction of Divine wisdom in souls. Do you know where the why will be buried? In Hell, to make all the lost souls restless forever, without ever giving them peace. The artful ingenuity and deceptiveness of the why is to wage war against souls, without ever giving them rest."
Keep Going
From the writings of the Servant of God, Luisa Piccarreta
Sister Luisa wrote:
I was thinking about how I have been very bad, and nevertheless the Lord does not correct me or rebuke me. While I thought about this I felt Him move in my interior,
and He said to me:
"My daughter, keep going, keep going . . . If I am Goodness, Mercy and Gentleness, I am also Justice, Strength and Power. Then, if I should see you relapse or commit voluntary defects, in view of so many Graces that I have granted you, you would deserve to be struck down, and indeed, I would do so. And if I don't, you yourself understand why. If I do not talk to you all the time, it is so that you sow in your mind the truths I have taught you. Then enter into you interior and unite yourself with Me, and I shall always be close to you to act interiorly with you."
Sister Luisa wrote:
I was thinking about how I have been very bad, and nevertheless the Lord does not correct me or rebuke me. While I thought about this I felt Him move in my interior,
and He said to me:
"My daughter, keep going, keep going . . . If I am Goodness, Mercy and Gentleness, I am also Justice, Strength and Power. Then, if I should see you relapse or commit voluntary defects, in view of so many Graces that I have granted you, you would deserve to be struck down, and indeed, I would do so. And if I don't, you yourself understand why. If I do not talk to you all the time, it is so that you sow in your mind the truths I have taught you. Then enter into you interior and unite yourself with Me, and I shall always be close to you to act interiorly with you."
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Seven Days of Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory
From the Liturgy of the Hours
Prayers for Each Day
Preparatory Prayer
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(FROM THE RACCOLTA)
(Say the prayer for the day here.)
Our Father
Our Father who art in Heaven, holy be Your name, Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women; and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Eternal Rest
Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, Whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
SUNDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Your Divine Son Jesus shed in the Garden, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and espe¬cially that one which is the most forsaken of all, and bring him into Your glory, where he may praise and bless You forever. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Eternal rest, etc.
MONDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Your Divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, especially that soul who is nearest to his entrance into Your glory, that he may soon begin to praise You and bless You forever.
Amen.
TUESDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus that was shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, particularly that soul who is in greatest need of our prayers, in order that he may no longer be delayed in praising You in Your glory and blessing You forever.
Amen.
WEDNESDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus that was shed on the streets of Jerusalem, while He carried on His sacred shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and especially the one who is richest in merits in Your sight, so that, having soon attained the high place in glory to which he is destined, he may praise You triumphantly and bless You forever.
Amen.
THURSDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Body and Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus, which He Himself, on the night before His Passion, gave as meat and drink to His Beloved Apostles and bequeathed to His Holy Church to be the Perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of His faithful people, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, most of all, that soul who was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love, in order that he may praise You therefore, together with Your Divine Son and the Holy Spirit in Your glory forever.
Amen.
FRIDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Jesus Your Divine Son did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from His sacred hands and feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders You from admitting him quickly to the possession of Your glory, where he may praise You and bless You forevermore.
Amen.
SATURDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which gushed forth from the sacred side of Your Divine Son Jesus in the presence and to the great sorrow of His Most Holy Mother, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, especially that soul who has been the most devout to this noble Lady, that he may come quickly into Your glory, there to praise You in her, and her in You, through all the ages.
Amen.
Prayers for Each Day
Preparatory Prayer
My Jesus, by the sorrows You suffered in Your agony in the Garden, in Your scourging and crowning with thorns, in Your journey to Calvary, and in Your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; deliver them from the torments they endure; call them and admit them to Your most sweet embrace in Paradise, where You live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(FROM THE RACCOLTA)
(Say the prayer for the day here.)
Our Father
Our Father who art in Heaven, holy be Your name, Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women; and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Eternal Rest
Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Merciful Father, hear our prayers and console us. As we renew our faith in Your Son, Whom You raised from the dead, strengthen our hope that all our departed brothers and sisters will share in His resurrection, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
SUNDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Your Divine Son Jesus shed in the Garden, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and espe¬cially that one which is the most forsaken of all, and bring him into Your glory, where he may praise and bless You forever. Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Eternal rest, etc.
MONDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Your Divine Son Jesus shed in His cruel scourging, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, especially that soul who is nearest to his entrance into Your glory, that he may soon begin to praise You and bless You forever.
Amen.
TUESDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus that was shed in His bitter crowning with thorns, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, particularly that soul who is in greatest need of our prayers, in order that he may no longer be delayed in praising You in Your glory and blessing You forever.
Amen.
WEDNESDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus that was shed on the streets of Jerusalem, while He carried on His sacred shoulders the heavy burden of the Cross, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and especially the one who is richest in merits in Your sight, so that, having soon attained the high place in glory to which he is destined, he may praise You triumphantly and bless You forever.
Amen.
THURSDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Body and Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus, which He Himself, on the night before His Passion, gave as meat and drink to His Beloved Apostles and bequeathed to His Holy Church to be the Perpetual Sacrifice and life-giving nourishment of His faithful people, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, most of all, that soul who was most devoted to this Mystery of infinite love, in order that he may praise You therefore, together with Your Divine Son and the Holy Spirit in Your glory forever.
Amen.
FRIDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which Jesus Your Divine Son did shed this day upon the tree of the Cross, especially from His sacred hands and feet, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and particularly that soul for whom I am most bound to pray, in order that I may not be the cause which hinders You from admitting him quickly to the possession of Your glory, where he may praise You and bless You forevermore.
Amen.
SATURDAY
O Lord God Almighty, I beseech You, by the Precious Blood which gushed forth from the sacred side of Your Divine Son Jesus in the presence and to the great sorrow of His Most Holy Mother, deliver the souls in Purgatory, and, among them all, especially that soul who has been the most devout to this noble Lady, that he may come quickly into Your glory, there to praise You in her, and her in You, through all the ages.
Amen.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Beatify
Prayer to Obtain the Beatification of the Servant of God,
Luisa Piccarreta
Oh Most Holy trinity, Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us that as we pray we should ask that our Father’s Name be always glorified, that His Will be done on Earth and that His Kingdom should come to reign among us.
In out great desire to make known this Kingdom of love, justice and peace, we humbly ask that you glorify your servant Luisa, the little daughter of the Divine Will, who, with her constant prayer and suffering, deeply yearned for the salvation of souls and the coming of God’s Kingdom in the world.
Following her example, we pray to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to help us joyously embrace the crosses of this world so that we may also glorify Your Name and enter into the Kingdom of Your Will. Amen.
Archbishop Carmelo Cassati
Luisa Piccarreta
Oh Most Holy trinity, Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us that as we pray we should ask that our Father’s Name be always glorified, that His Will be done on Earth and that His Kingdom should come to reign among us.
In out great desire to make known this Kingdom of love, justice and peace, we humbly ask that you glorify your servant Luisa, the little daughter of the Divine Will, who, with her constant prayer and suffering, deeply yearned for the salvation of souls and the coming of God’s Kingdom in the world.
Following her example, we pray to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to help us joyously embrace the crosses of this world so that we may also glorify Your Name and enter into the Kingdom of Your Will. Amen.
Archbishop Carmelo Cassati
Friday, October 2, 2009
Invocation to The Divine Will In All Our Actions
I am nothing, God is All, Father I love you;
Come Divine Will,
- To think in my mind.
- To circulate in my blood.
- To look with my eyes.
- To listen in my ears.
- To speak in my voice.
- To breathe in my breathing.
- To beat in my heart.
- To move in my motion.
- To suffer in my suffering; and may my soul consumed and fused with your will be the living crucifix immolated for the Glory of the Father.
- To pray in me, and then offer this prayer to yourself as mine to satisfy for the prayers of all and to give to the Father the Glory that all creatures should give Him
- To infuse in me the faith of Mary most Holy in order to possess You as she possessed You to infuse in me the Hope of Mary most Holy in order to desire You as she desired You.
- To infuse in me the charity of Mary most Holy in order to love You as she loved You.
- To adore in me. And since Your Will multiplies acts to the infinite, thus I intend to give You the satisfaction as if all had assisted at Holy Mass, and give to all the fruit of the sacrifice and impetrate salvation for all.
O Supreme Will, come to reign upon the earth. Invest all generations win and conquer all! And do not delay any longer. Amen.
Come Divine Will,
- To think in my mind.
- To circulate in my blood.
- To look with my eyes.
- To listen in my ears.
- To speak in my voice.
- To breathe in my breathing.
- To beat in my heart.
- To move in my motion.
- To suffer in my suffering; and may my soul consumed and fused with your will be the living crucifix immolated for the Glory of the Father.
- To pray in me, and then offer this prayer to yourself as mine to satisfy for the prayers of all and to give to the Father the Glory that all creatures should give Him
- To infuse in me the faith of Mary most Holy in order to possess You as she possessed You to infuse in me the Hope of Mary most Holy in order to desire You as she desired You.
- To infuse in me the charity of Mary most Holy in order to love You as she loved You.
- To adore in me. And since Your Will multiplies acts to the infinite, thus I intend to give You the satisfaction as if all had assisted at Holy Mass, and give to all the fruit of the sacrifice and impetrate salvation for all.
O Supreme Will, come to reign upon the earth. Invest all generations win and conquer all! And do not delay any longer. Amen.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Psalm 91 - Abiding Under the Shadow of the Almighty
Whoever goes to the LORD for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty,
can say to him, "You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust."
He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases.
He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you.
You need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight.
A thousand may fall dead beside you, ten thousand all around you, but you will not be harmed.
You will look and see how the wicked are punished.
You have made the LORD your defender, the Most High your protector, and so no disaster will strike you, no violence will come near your home.
God will put his angels in charge of you to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands to keep you from hurting your feet on the stones.
You will trample down lions and snakes, fierce lions and poisonous snakes.
God says, "I will save those who love me and will protect those who acknowledge me as LORD.
When they call to me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them.
I will reward them with long life; I will save them."
can say to him, "You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust."
He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases.
He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you.
You need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight.
A thousand may fall dead beside you, ten thousand all around you, but you will not be harmed.
You will look and see how the wicked are punished.
You have made the LORD your defender, the Most High your protector, and so no disaster will strike you, no violence will come near your home.
God will put his angels in charge of you to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands to keep you from hurting your feet on the stones.
You will trample down lions and snakes, fierce lions and poisonous snakes.
God says, "I will save those who love me and will protect those who acknowledge me as LORD.
When they call to me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them.
I will reward them with long life; I will save them."
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The Miraculous Medal of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I heard mass today and before I left the church I proceeded to the adoration chapel. I have completed my daily prayers this morning so I have nothing to recite or read for now. I have nothing in mind to share to Lord too. Not sure why this is so.
Then, I saw this pamphlet about the Miraculous Medal of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Another thing I am surprised is the fact that, for the past weeks and days, my mind and eyes have been opened wider to the Our Lord's Mother. I keep seeing her photos, keep hearing things about her and a certain curiosity has aroused inside me.
My sister gave me a medal a month age and I kind of misplaced it. I racked my mind trying to remember where I could have left it but to no success. Then, last week, it just popped out from my things and I decided to wear it on my chest. I am asking for healing for the lumps detected in my left breast.
I am scheduled for surgery but I requested that it be re-scheduled after my visit to Lourdes and Fatima.
Mama Mary please pray for me.
“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.”The Miraculous Medal Prayer
O Virgin Mother of God,
Mary Immaculate,
we dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you
under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
May this Medal be for each of us
a sure sign of your affection for us
and a constant reminder of our duties toward you.
Ever while wearing it,
may we be blessed by your loving protection
and preserved in the grace of your Son.
O most powerful Virgin,
Mother of our Savior,
keep us close to you
Every moment of our lives.
Obtain for us, your children,
the grace of a happy death;
so that, in union with you,
we may enjoy the bliss of heaven forever.
Miraculous Medal of the Virgin Mary and St. Catherine Laboure
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Divine Will Prayer
Consecration to the Divine Will
O adorable and Divine Will, here I am, before the immensity of Your Light, that Your eternal Goodness may open to me the doors, and make me enter into It, to form my life all in You, Divine Will.
Therefore, prostrate before Your Light, I, the littlest among all creatures, come, O adorable Will, into the little group of the first children of Your Supreme Fiat. Prostrate in my nothingness, I beseech and implore Your endless Light, that It may want to invest me and eclipse everything that does not belong to You, in such a way that I may do nothing other than look, comprehend and live in You, Divine Will.
It will be my life, the center of my intelligence, the enrapturer of my heart and of my whole being. In this heart the human will will no longer have life; I will banish it forever, and will form the new Eden of peace, of happiness and of love. With It I shall always be happy, I shall have a unique strength, and a sanctity that sanctifies everything and brings everything to God.
Here prostrate, I invoke the help of the Sacrosanct Trinity, that They admit me to live in the cloister of the Divine Will, so as to restore in me the original order of Creation, just as the creature was created.
Celestial Mother, Sovereign Queen of the Divine Fiat, take me by the hand and enclose me in the Light of the Divine Will. You will be my guide, my tender Mother; You will guard your child, and will teach me to live and to maintain myself in the order and in the bounds of the Divine Will. Celestial Sovereign, to your Heart I entrust my whole being; I will be the tiny little child of the Divine Will. You will teach me the Divine Will, and I will be attentive in listening to You. You will lay your blue mantle over me, so that the infernal serpent may not dare to penetrate into this Sacred Eden to entice me and make me fall into the maze of the human will.
Heart of my highest Good, Jesus, You will give me Your flames, that they may burn me, consume me and nourish me, to form in me the life of the Supreme Will.
Saint Joseph, You will be my Protector, the Custodian of my heart, and will keep the keys of my will in Your hands. You will keep my heart jealously, and will never give it to me again, that I may be sure never to go out of the Will of God.
Guardian Angel, guard me, defend me, help me in everything, so that my Eden may grow flourishing, and be the call of the whole world into the Will of God.
Celestial Court, come to my help, and I promise You to live always in the Divine Will. Amen.
O adorable and Divine Will, here I am, before the immensity of Your Light, that Your eternal Goodness may open to me the doors, and make me enter into It, to form my life all in You, Divine Will.
Therefore, prostrate before Your Light, I, the littlest among all creatures, come, O adorable Will, into the little group of the first children of Your Supreme Fiat. Prostrate in my nothingness, I beseech and implore Your endless Light, that It may want to invest me and eclipse everything that does not belong to You, in such a way that I may do nothing other than look, comprehend and live in You, Divine Will.
It will be my life, the center of my intelligence, the enrapturer of my heart and of my whole being. In this heart the human will will no longer have life; I will banish it forever, and will form the new Eden of peace, of happiness and of love. With It I shall always be happy, I shall have a unique strength, and a sanctity that sanctifies everything and brings everything to God.
Here prostrate, I invoke the help of the Sacrosanct Trinity, that They admit me to live in the cloister of the Divine Will, so as to restore in me the original order of Creation, just as the creature was created.
Celestial Mother, Sovereign Queen of the Divine Fiat, take me by the hand and enclose me in the Light of the Divine Will. You will be my guide, my tender Mother; You will guard your child, and will teach me to live and to maintain myself in the order and in the bounds of the Divine Will. Celestial Sovereign, to your Heart I entrust my whole being; I will be the tiny little child of the Divine Will. You will teach me the Divine Will, and I will be attentive in listening to You. You will lay your blue mantle over me, so that the infernal serpent may not dare to penetrate into this Sacred Eden to entice me and make me fall into the maze of the human will.
Heart of my highest Good, Jesus, You will give me Your flames, that they may burn me, consume me and nourish me, to form in me the life of the Supreme Will.
Saint Joseph, You will be my Protector, the Custodian of my heart, and will keep the keys of my will in Your hands. You will keep my heart jealously, and will never give it to me again, that I may be sure never to go out of the Will of God.
Guardian Angel, guard me, defend me, help me in everything, so that my Eden may grow flourishing, and be the call of the whole world into the Will of God.
Celestial Court, come to my help, and I promise You to live always in the Divine Will. Amen.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Prayer
>Source:jlhet
I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go
And help us to be wise, in times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way
Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.
I pray we'll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Need to find a place,
guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go
And help us to be wise, in times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way
Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.
I pray we'll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Need to find a place,
guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Monday, September 21, 2009
How Do You Do It
The pre-eminence of Jesus, this was what I learned 18 days ago. Everything was created from and for Jesus.We came from Him and must learn to return everything to Him . . . through Him, with Him and in Him.
He makes Himself known to us with the different acts of His Will, with as many things He has created for us, placing His Will in all these created things. He did this so we can relate all created things to His Will, be reminded of His Will at all times as we see all of these, the very purpose of which is for us to preserve His Will in us. He is helping us in keeping His Will in us. The final act remains with us, to offer our own Will in exchange for His and in the process fusing the human will and the Divine Will so that we do everything for Him, through Him, with Him and in Him.
But how in the world do we do this? Just be open. Ephphata! Mark 7:31-37
He makes Himself known to us with the different acts of His Will, with as many things He has created for us, placing His Will in all these created things. He did this so we can relate all created things to His Will, be reminded of His Will at all times as we see all of these, the very purpose of which is for us to preserve His Will in us. He is helping us in keeping His Will in us. The final act remains with us, to offer our own Will in exchange for His and in the process fusing the human will and the Divine Will so that we do everything for Him, through Him, with Him and in Him.
But how in the world do we do this? Just be open. Ephphata! Mark 7:31-37
Colossians 1:15-20
Brothers and sisters, Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
Brothers and sisters, Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Inspiring Quote
Inspiring Quote
"Meditate on His words.
Believe what you read.
Teach what you believe.
Practice what you teach."
The above was what the priest shared during his sermon. He said this is the advise given to newly ordained deacons but is also highly recommended to lay people like us. So inspiring.
The Lord understands about our worries and our fears. He let us have them but He says we must not linger so much on such worries. He says to Sister Luisa Piccarreta, the servant of God, " I run, I fly to take you in my arms, and I expand your boundaries within My Will. Therefore, I allow everything for your good, and also to accomplish My highest designs upon you. However, I do not want you to waste time thinking it over; when I take you in My arms, immediately put everything aside, and follow my Will." (From the writings of Luisa Piccarreta, the little daughter of the Divine Will)
At this point, I would like to personally thank the Lord for being with me and my husband as we undergo a major difficulty in our life. It is more for my husband who is feeling the heavy burden with our current problem. He is frozen to inactivity for a while with both his meals and his sleep left so disturbed. It pains me to watch him like this for I know how his health will be affected.
For now, life seems to be just be throwing us one curved ball after another. I have just completed my check-up and I will have to undergo surgery but I hope and pray that God will heal me and free me from any such surgical procedure. I shall repeat myself by saying this: I have never felt so troubled, yet so peaceful and so joyful, all at the same time. May God, in His Mercy accept my deep gratitude.
We continue to pray to Him, and peace has come to both our hearts as we seek wisdom, guidance, strength and hope. I claim that our help shall come from Him who forgives us all our sins and heals all our diseases. He shall provide rivers to flow in the desert. He will make a way. Amen.
You block your dream when you allow fear to grow bigger than your faith.
Mary Manin Morrissey
Feed your faith, not your fear.
Bo Sanchez
"Meditate on His words.
Believe what you read.
Teach what you believe.
Practice what you teach."
The above was what the priest shared during his sermon. He said this is the advise given to newly ordained deacons but is also highly recommended to lay people like us. So inspiring.
The Lord understands about our worries and our fears. He let us have them but He says we must not linger so much on such worries. He says to Sister Luisa Piccarreta, the servant of God, " I run, I fly to take you in my arms, and I expand your boundaries within My Will. Therefore, I allow everything for your good, and also to accomplish My highest designs upon you. However, I do not want you to waste time thinking it over; when I take you in My arms, immediately put everything aside, and follow my Will." (From the writings of Luisa Piccarreta, the little daughter of the Divine Will)
At this point, I would like to personally thank the Lord for being with me and my husband as we undergo a major difficulty in our life. It is more for my husband who is feeling the heavy burden with our current problem. He is frozen to inactivity for a while with both his meals and his sleep left so disturbed. It pains me to watch him like this for I know how his health will be affected.
For now, life seems to be just be throwing us one curved ball after another. I have just completed my check-up and I will have to undergo surgery but I hope and pray that God will heal me and free me from any such surgical procedure. I shall repeat myself by saying this: I have never felt so troubled, yet so peaceful and so joyful, all at the same time. May God, in His Mercy accept my deep gratitude.
We continue to pray to Him, and peace has come to both our hearts as we seek wisdom, guidance, strength and hope. I claim that our help shall come from Him who forgives us all our sins and heals all our diseases. He shall provide rivers to flow in the desert. He will make a way. Amen.
You block your dream when you allow fear to grow bigger than your faith.
Mary Manin Morrissey
Feed your faith, not your fear.
Bo Sanchez
Friday, September 11, 2009
Evening Prayers
Prayers Before Sleeping
My Jesus, I sleep with You to give the glory to the Father
that You gave for those that do not rest in You;
and while I sleep together with You, I call all souls to rest in Your heart.
I intend, in my sleep, to make my round for all the hearts of creatures, to put sin to flight and give Your true rest to everyone.
And You, Oh my Jesus, do not permit that my soul may find rest, if not in Your Heart, and in Your Will.
Amen.
I enter into your Will, Lord Jesus, to sleep with your sleep to give You then contentment of seeing another Jesus sleeping and to repair for those who do not want to rest in You.
I desire to enter your adorable Heart, there to sleep with Your sleep. I take the key, your profound humility and make it mine. I open Your Heart and as I enter in I ask You t sal all openings so that I will not be tempted to make my little escapes.
My Jesus, I sleep with You to give the glory to the Father
that You gave for those that do not rest in You;
and while I sleep together with You, I call all souls to rest in Your heart.
I intend, in my sleep, to make my round for all the hearts of creatures, to put sin to flight and give Your true rest to everyone.
And You, Oh my Jesus, do not permit that my soul may find rest, if not in Your Heart, and in Your Will.
Amen.
I enter into your Will, Lord Jesus, to sleep with your sleep to give You then contentment of seeing another Jesus sleeping and to repair for those who do not want to rest in You.
I desire to enter your adorable Heart, there to sleep with Your sleep. I take the key, your profound humility and make it mine. I open Your Heart and as I enter in I ask You t sal all openings so that I will not be tempted to make my little escapes.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Detachment
Today, I learned we should start the process of detaching ourselves to the things of this world.
An additional message that came to me was that , "the pure in heart shall see God". The more we focus lesser on other things, the more we are able to get a deeper understanding of God's ways ad wisdom.
From Didache:
An additional message that came to me was that , "the pure in heart shall see God". The more we focus lesser on other things, the more we are able to get a deeper understanding of God's ways ad wisdom.
From Didache:
G O S P E L
There comes a time when traditions change, the man-made ones that is. We cannot allow ourselves to get so attached to ways of doing things or living our faith that we are unable to embrace the changes the Holy Spirit brings to our lives. Jesus was not afraid to leave behind incorrect or archaic interpretations of His faith in order to embrace the new revelation of God. Nor should we be afraid of any change truly inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Luke 5:33-39
33 The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” 36 And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. 37 Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. 38 Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ”
Reflections:
How open am I to the changes that the Holy Spirit wants to bring into my life?
How open am I to the changes that the Holy Spirit wants to bring into my life?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Ultimate Nourishment
Ultimate Nourishment
That's right, bread and multiplication. But if you ask me what the connection is, I will honestly say, I did not know until now. Last week, I have been receiving messages about “bread” and “multiplication”.
With much effort, whether to go or not to go, I got myself to once more attend our Thursday “Divine Will” study. Good for me I showed up again. The leader talked about the Eucharist.
She started with describing how holy, Consecration is, when, through the intercession of the priest, the Lord comes down from Heaven to humble Himself and be one with the piece of small, white, host.
I have always considered Consecration as the most sacred part of the Eucharistic celebration. It is during this time that I really talk to the Lord because I respect His Presence. This moment is very special for me. It is my belief that at this specific time, my prayers are so powerful that anything I ask for shall be granted to me, of course, still, according to His Will. I claim that I am His child, so I can ask Him to provide me with all my needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus and lift up to Him all the favors that I want (kinda selfish huh).
Especially now, after absorbing more and more knowledge about the Eucharist, this portion of the mass, Consecration, has even greater impact on me. Do you know the deeper meaning of the pouring of the water into the wine? It amazes me as I recall how the leader carefully explained this to us. She relayed that it was the representation of our will, the water, being infused with the Divine Will, the wine. When they are combined, they become one, wherein you can no longer distinguish one with the other. You can only see the wine, though the water is still there in the chalice. The same thing happens when we let our will be fused with the Divine Will.
My level of awareness has been heightened on the mystery of the transubstantiation, the miraculous changing of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. The consecrated host being truly the body, and the consecrated wine being truly the blood, of our Lord.
The words of the Divine Mercy Chaplet reverberate . . . the body and the blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, everything I have come to learn these past few days, somehow gets connected in my mind and heart - the Divine Mercy, the Divine Will, now the bread, the wine and the multiplication of His graces.
Further discussions revealed, that when we pray the Our Father and we ask for our daily bread, we ask for three kinds of bread. Our leader went on saying that these three kind of bread are: the Divine Will, the Holy Eucharist and the bread as food for the body, the pandesal she said lightly. We ask from God for nourishment for both our body and our soul.
This was even strengthened by a message sent to me by a friend, an El Shaddai member, emphasizing the same truth that the body and the soul are one, thus, we should take care of both, not neglecting any of the two. Nourish the body and the soul.
Multiplication has not yet come to me as clearly, but what is happening is that, as I continue with my study with the Divine Will, everything gets multiplied: knowledge, people, messages, experiences, even challenges, and other factors that kept on helping me grow in the Spirit.
Today, I have been given the grace to attend mass twice and receive Holy Communion twice. Currently, I have been faced with a particular difficulty. But you know what? I have never felt so troubled, yet so peaceful and so joyful, all at the same time. May God, in His Mercy accept my deep gratitude.
I pray that you, who are reading this now, be blessed, that our generous God shower you too with grace and spiritual gifts. Do not tire of doing good.
Believe and claim His words. He says to us “Do not be afraid, I am with you,” and “If I am with you, who can be against you.”
Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.Mathew 4:4
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Email Sharing
Email SharingPag-ibig Ko (My Love)
Hindi ka kailangang magbago
Kahit ito'y mas ibig Ko.
Hindi ka kailangang magsikap nang husto
Upang ika'y ibigin Ko. (You do not have to change, even if this is what I would have wanted. You do not have to persevere, for Me to love you.)
Iniibig kita, manalig ka sana
Ako'y kapiling mo
Kahit ikaw pa ma'y mapalayo.(I love you, trust in Me. I am with you, even if you distance yourself to Me).
Kailan magwawakas ang 'yong pagtatago?
Ako'y maghihintay sa 'yo.
Lumapit ka lamang ang puso Ko'y hagkan;
Pag-ibig ko'y walang hanggan.(When will you stop hiding from Me. I will wait for you. Come to me and kiss My heart. My love for you is everlasting.)
He wrote me the following: "When it comes to faith, I think there is no room for doubt. However, having some doubts gives us space to be gracious and not to be judgmental. So yes, I do believe doubt can be a good thing."
Last month, my sister began email sharing with me. I was so excited just getting updates from her. She has been living in the States for years now.
We had a different topic. She was telling me this " For me, every time I am so at peace, I know it is His presence that I am experiencing. That, and whenever I feel so much contentment in my life." Then she threw me this question, "How about you, how have you experienced God?"
Wow, that was tough. I wrote back: " Now, you got me thinking with that big question."
I continued by sharing a short story: The other day, on my way to the bank, there was a public vehicle that made a sudden cut in front of my car. We were in near collision. I was surprised my car was not hit. Even the bank guard was saying, I was lucky my car has no damage, not even a scratch, though the distance between the vehicles was a fraction of an inch, no exaggeration. I know I was not alone. I know that God kept me safe. How did I know it was God? It was so unusual. I did not get angry with the driver of the other vehicle. In spite of the near danger, I was not anxious or afraid. I am the nervous type, but this time I have that inner peace. What immediately crossed my mind was God sending His angels to protect me. I immediately had the grace to thank Him.
I realized God is really with us, everywhere and in others. That was the teaching way back in kindergarten. The only difference now is my level of awareness.
If you keep on having conversations with somebody, is it not you get to know more and more about that somebody? You can immediately recognize his voice? You will be able to know with certainty that he is the one responsible for the surprise you got because you know his unique personal style?
This is the same with God, as I see it. We have to know him more and more each day by conversing with Him regularly through prayers or just talking to Him in our own personal way. It is my belief that if I make an effort, He Himself will teach me how to get closer to Him. I just have to pray unceasingly like breathing. Actually, I use the Divine Will prayer which goes "breathe in my breathing, beat in my heart, circulate in my blood." If I offer these things as a prayer, then I get to pray unceasingly.
It was last Sunday that I was touched by an old church song. It is only now that I got aware of the lyrics and what it meant in my life. It is the song above, Pag-ibig ko (My Love). I translated it as I understood it. It was saying that I need not change, that He loves me as I am. Could this be true?
It was so different from what I had in my mind. As I perceived it, I must be saintly good, ever so prayerful, self-sacrificing, a person with no complaints. This is what I should be for Him to accept me. But as the song goes, he is not demanding anything from me, as long as I do not hide from Him. I should come to Him and be with Him to experience His love.
It is like how we are with our children. They can be ugly, bad, hard-headed and hurting us at times, but we continue to love them, giving them what they need to be happy and to be successful. What more with a God who is rightfully our father, Abba Father.
This is the reason that with confidence, I claim "I am a child of God", a powerful line, a powerful prayer.
Let us offer everything to Him, both our joys and sufferings, as a sign of our complete surrender. Acknowledge that we are His.
I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
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