Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Tag: Hail Mary

  • Listen. Live.

    Listen. Live.

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    May 13, 2020 – Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima

    Click here for the readings (http://cms.usccb.org/bible/readings/0513-memorial-our-lady-fatima.cfm)

    Did Jesus just downplay the role of his Mother, Mary by saying, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it?”

    On this memorial day of Our Lady of Fatima, the Lord has actually reminded us how Mary, his mother, is indeed blessed. Mary is blessed among women not just because she carried Jesus and nursed him. Before Mary conceived Jesus, Mary listened to God. Mary welcomed the word of God proclaimed to her. By listening to the word of God, Mary observed it. Mary lived the word of God. 

    This is how Mary silently lived her life within the life of Jesus. And living in that life, Mary became life-giving for she is at the very source of life and of love.

    Hence, the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary was made possible through her generous participation in the Divine Plan of God. Mary indeed opened her heart and welcomed God’s word. This action of Mary made God’s plan to be fulfilled in our history, through a human participation.

    As a consequence to that, Mary conceived Jesus in her womb. Mary became pregnant with God and brought the Immanuel in our midst.

    Today’s memorial of the first appearance of Mary in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 to the three children, Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta reminds us also of the blessing that we have received from God. Mary’s appearance would tell us of God’s presence in our midst. It is a reminder that God has not forgotten us. God is with us.

    Thus, the call to pray the Holy Rosary daily is a call to constantly listen to God. The Holy Rosary is not a mere memorized prayer that must be done dutifully. Rather, it must be done “prayerfully.” Doing the Rosary “out of duty” is not what Mary wanted because with that attitude, it will only make us tired and disappointed once we have not done it. The invitation is that the Holy Rosary becomes a channel for us to converse with God – in listening to God and listening to ourselves.

    During this month of May, children are being taught to pray particularly the Holy Rosary. Yet, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this annual religious gathering is also suspended. (Photo from Brgy Nabitasan, Iloilo City 2018)

    The repeated prayers in the Rosary and the mysteries attached to each decade are invitations to dwell deeper in the life of Jesus. In every decade, it is an invitation to see our life, and the life of our brothers and sisters within the life of Jesus recalled in every mystery in the Holy Rosary.

    The Holy Rosary then, is a form of making ourselves more aware of God’s presence and more attuned to God’s word, to God’s many invitations for us. 

    This is where we realize how “blessed” we are, because God speaks to us. We are invited to listen to Him and to live by the word of God as Mary, our Mother, did it.

    May Mary, the Lady of Fatima, teach us how to listen prayerfully and lovingly to God’s words revealed in the Holy Bible, in our Sacraments, in our relationships and in our daily affairs with the world. By living God’s words, we may find life then, and become life-giving to every person whose life we are able to touch today. Hinaut pa.

    Jom Baring, CSsR

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  • MOTHER’S DAY

    MOTHER’S DAY

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    The Angel Gabriel greeted Mary, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you! (Luke 1:28)” Reflecting upon it, we find that the greeting is so deep. It is a statement from God that Mary is certainly favored and that God is delighted with Mary. Mary is, indeed, filled with GOD!

    A clip from Redemptorist Community in Davao singing a song for Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

    This is entirely connected to the mission that Mary received at this moment of the annunciation. The mission of Mary was to be part of the story of salvation. Mary has a big role here, and that is, to be the Mother of the Redeemer of the World, who will bring peace and mercy. With Mary’s open heart, pure conscience, deep faith and love in God, she accepted the call from God and prompted her to declare, “Behold, I am God’s servant. Let it be done to me according to your word! (Luke 1:38)” She owned this statement and kept it in her heart despite her confusions and anxieties. However, it was Mary’s leap of faith that made her confident before the Lord.

    As revealed to us in the bible, the role of Mary did not stop at the delivery of the child Jesus into the world. Mary was constantly with Jesus, as Jesus also was always with her. This relationship has allowed us to recognize and venerate Mary that she is without sin from her conception. In this way, Jesus shared Mary to us to be our mother who gives us the perfect example of being human. And in this relationship with Mary, we discover more, as church, our relationship with her. 

    We have experienced in many ways the love of a mother through Mary. And that was how we affirm this grace in Mary’s life. 

    In fact, the words of Jesus on the cross to her, “Woman, here is your son,(John 19:26)” and to the disciple whom he loved, “Here is your mother, (John 19:27)” reveal how we have been gifted through the person of Mary, as OUR MOTHER.

    An image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help carried by two mothers from Hagonoy, Davao del Sur, Philippines.

    Consequently, we desire to offer prayers through our novenas and rosaries, even flowers, candles and material gifts before the image of Mary because we have felt the love of a mother. We kneel before her image to express our pains, struggles, confusions and doubts as well as our joys, dreams and hopes in life. This has become the expression of our affection towards her. And Mary, our mother has also expressed her affection and love towards us in many ways both individually and as a community.

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    Mother Mary’s whole life knew only love. There is no bitterness in the heart of Mary; no scars of fear or hate, only love. That is why, Mary would always choose to love which she always does. This love of Mary makes her affectionately close to us. Thus, we should neither fear nor hesitate to be close to her.

    As we celebrate Mother’s Day today, we express our affection to Mary, our heavenly Mama, our Nanay. We remember too our earthly mother and all those who have become a mother to us in one way or in many ways.

    Let us always welcome her in our life because it also means to receive Jesus in our lives for she will bring us closer to Jesus. Let us express then our deep gratitude to God because of this wonderful gift given to us through the person of Mary, Our Mother of Perpetual Help. 

    On this day, we express our deep gratitude to God for the gift of mothers, for my very own mama, and all the mothers in the world. Certainly, having a mother is one of the most beautiful and wonderful experiences in this world. The world, indeed, is so blessed to have mothers!

    With Mary, our Mother, let us say a prayer for our own mothers.

    Our Loving God, you have not just given us life in this world but you have let us experience the love of a mother.

    Each of us is being carried in the womb for many months. Our mother has to carry us each day as we also grow slowly in her tummy. Through our mother, we first experience the beating of our heart. And the very first heart that we heard is also of our mother’s.

    Through this, You have let us experience how close You are to us and how special our mothers to You. We thank you God for this wonderful gift to us.

    Our Loving God, who is both Mother and Father to us and to the world, we humbly ask now Your blessing for our mothers. Grant safety and protection for them, wisdom and understanding, faith and charity.

    We pray for our pregnant mothers that they may always find joy and consolation in the baby within their wombs. Grant them safe delivery.

    We pray for our sick and aging mothers that they may find strength and confidence in You and in their children and friends around them.

    We pray for the significant women in our lives who became our mothers through their love, kindness and generosity showed to us. Grant them peace and fulfillment of their hearts’ desires.

    We also pray for those mothers who have passed from this life, welcome them all in Your presence that they may experience Your eternal comfort and joy.

    All these prayers we ask through Your Son and our Lord, Jesus and through the intercession of Mary, our Mother. Amen.

    Happy Mother’s Day!

    Jom Baring, CSsR

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