FAITH IN ACTION: MARIAN DEVOTION AND THE FORMATION OF MORAL COURAGE

I have been tasked with responding to the three lectures delivered by our distinguished theologians and professors from the St. Alphonsus Theological Mission Institute (SATMI) in Davao City during today’s Theological Forum. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the wisdom and insights they so generously shared with us.

         Reflection and Sharing: Courage as Defiant Hope in Context

After listening to the profound insights shared by our esteemed speakers, my reflection seeks to offer a tangible and lived context to the three theological lectures. Rather than a linear summary, I present five short movements—each a facet of my journey as a woman, a Marian devotee, a counselor, and a believer shaped by illness and grace.

1. Theological Grounding: Courage as Defiant Hope I begin with the lens of feminist theology, drawing from Rosemary Radford Ruether’s reflections on courage—not as mere resilience, but as defiant hope rooted in justice and compassion. As a woman navigating both ecclesial and academic spaces, I find her voice a necessary companion in interpreting courage beyond sentimentality.
2. Personal Devotion and Formation: A Marian Journey My spiritual formation is inseparable from my devotion to Iloy sa Gihapon nga Panabang. This Marian path has been my compass, especially in moments of uncertainty. Her quiet strength and maternal presence have shaped my understanding of courage as surrender, not passivity.
3. Faith in Action: Continuing the Mission Inspired by Fr. Victorino Cueto’s concept of debo(mis)yon, and deepened by Sir Neil John Capidos’ sharing, I reflect on how mission must transcend ritual. In my work as a guidance counselor and volunteer, I strive to embody a devotion that heals, accompanies, and liberates.
4. A Test of Faith: Courage in Illness Illness has been both a crucible and a classroom. In my own journey through physical suffering, I have encountered courage not as triumph, but as trust. It is here that theology meets flesh—where hope becomes incarnate in weakness.
5. Conclusion: A Courage That Accompanies Ultimately, courage is not a solitary virtue. It is communal, Marian, and missional. It walks with others, listens deeply, and dares to hope even when the path is unclear. This reflection is my humble offering—a testimony to the grace that sustains and the courage that defies despair.

I. Theological Grounding:

The reflections on courage by American feminist theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether offer a profound and timely meditation on the nature of moral strength in the face of adversity. Her characterization of courage as “the capacity and power of the will that makes a person strive for what is good” invites us to reconsider courage not as a mere act of boldness, but as a deeply ethical commitment—one sustained by hope and anchored in faith.

Ruether’s framing of courage as a “defiant hope” resonates powerfully in contexts where individuals or communities face systemic injustice, marginalization, or spiritual trials. This hope is neither passive nor naïve; it is active, persevering, and relentless. It refuses to be extinguished by opposition, precisely because it is rooted in a vision of truth and justice that transcends immediate circumstances.

What is particularly compelling is the paradox she presents: Christian courage as a form of power that emerges from the powerless. In a world that often equates power with control, status, or aggression, Ruether’s theology reminds us that true courage may arise from surrender—specifically, a surrendering trust in God. This trust does not diminish agency; rather, it transforms it. It empowers individuals to act not out of fear or pride, but out of a deep conviction that their actions are aligned with divine purpose.

Moreover, the distinction between courage and rashness is crucial. Courage, as a virtue, is not impulsive or self-serving. It is tempered by discernment and guided by a moral compass. In this sense, courage becomes a spiritual discipline—one that requires humility, patience, and unwavering faith.

As a licensed educator with specialization in guidance and counseling, and values education, and a registered guidance counselor, I find this understanding of courage especially meaningful. It affirms the quiet yet resolute strength of those who choose to stand for what is right, even when doing so is unpopular or difficult. It honors the courage of students who speak truth, of communities who resist oppression, and of individuals who remain faithful in the face of uncertainty.

Ultimately, Ruether’s insights call us to embody a courage that is both prophetic and pastoral—a courage that speaks truth to power and nurtures hope in others. It is a courage that does not seek recognition, but seeks righteousness. And in doing so, it becomes a living testament to the transformative power of faith.

II. Personal Devotion and Formation: A Marian Journey

I would like to provide tangible context to the lectures of Rev. Fr. Edilberto Cepe, CSsR, Sir Neil John Capidos and Sir Danilo Agustin by highlighting my devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help—our (my personal) Iloy sa Gihapon nga Panabang—and how she has played a significant role in my personal and professional life.

My late mother, a Grade 1 teacher and alumna of Iloilo Normal School (now West Visayas State University), introduced our family to the novena of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in the 1950s. From grade school, I memorized the novena and learned to pray the rosary. Every Wednesday, we recited the novena and sang its hymns—a tradition that continues to this day.

It was providential that our UP High School graduation Mass was held at St. Clement’s Church, with Fr. Patrick Sugrue, CSsR, as presider. Mama Mary, ang aton Iloy sang Gihapon nga Panabang, became my refuge, my companion, my shock absorber, my mother who assures me that “this too shall pass” and “kaya ko ni”, just like my biological mother who loves me unconditionally, during difficult times at UP.

After earning my BA Psychology degree at UP Visayas in Miag-ao in 1992, I was invited by a Redemptorist priest, Fr. Claro Conde, C.Ss.R. to join the Vocation Team. I served for 15 years—seven at St. Clement’s and eight at the Regional Vocation Office and St. Alphonsus Seminary in Cebu City. These experiences deepened my devotion to Mama Mary and allowed me to live simply and joyfully in mission areas like Kulaman, South Cotabato.

These formative years shaped my character and values—what Sir Neil John refers to as the “ethics of being.” I agree with his assertion that a virtuous character grows from formation received from parents, mentors, and community, shaped by historical and cultural events, and most profoundly, permeated by divine grace.

My journey with the Redemptorists exemplifies this. I owe much to my pious mother and conscientious father, whose example laid the foundation for a life of virtue. Remaining open to God’s grace has allowed me to experience His favor through Mama Mary’s intercession.

III. Faith in Action: Continuing the Mission

Even after resigning from the Redemptorists, I continued to serve. I worked at the University of San Agustin and at both the Pototan and Main Campuses of West Visayas State University, while remaining actively involved with the Redemptorists through various commissions and as co-founder of the St. Clement’s Pastoral Care and Counseling Ministry with Fr. Bong Puzon, C.Ss.R as our Spiritual Director.

Why do I do this? In silent reflection, I realized that God was allowing me to continue serving the poor and emotionally burdened—without charge. This is my way of concretizing my faith in action, as Sir Danilo Agustin puts it. Despite my academic responsibilities, I travel from Guimbal to St. Clement’s every Sunday to volunteer as a counselor. I find joy in serving freely.

In counseling, I witness how faith and spirituality help clients cope with life’s challenges. One woman shared how Mama Mary became an instrument of her healing. Many others attribute their recovery to divine intervention. I see myself simply as an instrument of God’s healing. The courage to be healed and the courage to embrace freedom—these, too, are gifts that faith teaches us.

IV. A Test of Faith: Courage in Illness

My faith was tested when I was diagnosed with multiple gynecological conditions: including Gravida Zero Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Endometrial Polyp, Leiomyoma, Ovarian New Growth (Right), and a probable Serous Cystadenoma in November last year, leading to two surgeries. I underwent an ultrasound and CA 125 test for ovarian cancer. My colleagues called me courageous and strong, noting my peace despite the challenge. Though I sometimes feared for my life, I remained calm and hopeful.

My solid foundation in faith never wavered. I saw the experience as sharing in God’s paschal mystery. Like Mary, I surrendered everything to a loving God, trusting without full understanding. I hoped for healing so I could continue serving—and true enough, I am recovering well.

Two days after my discharge from St. Paul’s Hospital, I found myself reviewing the manuscript of six graduate students—each one a candidate for graduation. It felt miraculous, almost surreal, that I was not only able to complete the reviews but also attend their hooding and commencement ceremonies. My body was still healing, yet grace carried me.

Two months after undergoing a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (TAHBSO), I was reinstated at work. Almost immediately, I was called to accompany a student diagnosed with major depression. Her journey was steeped in prayer and faith—an echo of my own. In our session last Tuesday, she spoke of renewed hope for recovery. Her words were not just therapeutic milestones; they were sacred affirmations of God’s intervention and the quiet power of accompaniment.

In her courage, I saw my own. In her healing, I glimpsed the mercy that had sustained me. Illness, I’ve come to believe, is not only a test of faith—it is also a revelation of God’s fidelity.

V. CONCLUSION

My reactions and reflections are grounded in my devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, in my faith and courage to trust in the goodness of God, and in my desire to be available and life-giving—in many ways—as an educator, a guidance counselor, and simply as a fellow human being with a heart and compassion for those who are burdened.

I pray that in our desire to draw closer to Jesus, Mama Mary’s Son, we may be inspired by her example. Personally, I wish that she continues to shower me with her maternal protection, care, and love, so that I may remain a living witness to God’s faithfulness, manifested to us in the very person of Jesus, as Fr. Bert puts it.

In the words of Fr. Bert Cepe, C.Ss.R: “Let us then entrust ourselves to Mary, the Mother of Hope and Witness of Faith, so that in our own lives we too may say with her: ‘The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.’”

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Fr. Julius Martin Malacas, C.Ss.R., for the opportunity to share my journey—my story. Truthfully, I felt hesitant at first (nahuya ako tani), but I have come to believe that faith must be loud when it speaks of grace. It must be shared, especially when it reveals how deeply blessed we are by God through the intercession of Iloy sang sa Gihapon nga Panabang. I owe it to the Redemptorists and to my parents—both educators—for sowing the seed of faith in me and nurturing it throughout my life.

Thank you very much to each and everyone who has listened, accompanied, and prayed with me. May our courage continue to be defiant hope—for ourselves, for others, and for the mission entrusted to us.