PAULINES

Mabuting Balita | Enero 10, 2023 – Martes sa Unang Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

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Ebanghelyo: Marcos 1: 21-28

At pumunta sila sa Capernaum. At nagturo siya sa sinagoga sa Araw ng Pahinga. Nagulat ang mga tao sa kanyang pangaral sapagkat nangaral siya nang may kapangyarihan, hindi gaya ng mga guro ng Batas. May isang tao sa sinagoga na inaalihan ng isang maruming espiritu. Sumigaw ito: “Ano ang kailangan mo sa akin, Jesus na taga Nazaret? Para ipahamak kami kaya ka dumating. Alam ko kung sino ka: Ang Banal ng Diyos.” “Tumahimik ka’t lumayas sa kanya.” Matinding niyugyog ng espiritu ang taong iyon at pagkasigaw nang malakas ay saka lumabas. Talagang takang-taka ang lahat at nag-usap-usap sila: “Ano ito? Isang bagong pagtuturo na may kapangyarihan! Inuutusan niya kahit maruruming espiritu at sinusunod nila siya.” At lumaganap ang katanyagan niya saan man sa buong lupain ng Galilea.

Pagninilay:

Sa tuwing nanonood tayo ng mga horror movies, o ‘di kaya mga films na related sa tinatawag nating “exorcism” talaga namang nakakatakot o ‘di kaya ay nakababahala. Kasabay minsan ng pagkagulat ay nagkukrus pa o napapadasal pagkatapos.

Ang Ebanghelyo po natin ngayon ay tungkol sa isang taong inaalihan ng masamang Espiritu at biglang sinugod ang ating Panginoong Hesus. Isa lamang po ang pinakapunto ng ebanghelyo: Ang Panginoong Hesus ay makapangyarihan kaysa sa mga masasamang Espiritu. Kilala ng demonyo ang Panginoong Hesus sinabi pa ngang: “Kilala kita, ikaw ang banal mula sa Diyos!”

Kilala ng Demonyo ang Diyos—at ang pagkilalang ito ang nangangahulugang alam niya na kailanma’y hindi niya mapagtatagumpayan ang Diyos. Ano ang kanyang problema? PRIDE—ang kayabangan at kagustuhan niyang maging makapangyarihan tulad ng Diyos. Kaya nga ang sabi din noon sa amin sa klase sa theology: The daughter of pride is envy…kapag mayabang ka, malamang inggitero ka din! Mga kapanalig, sana po pagnilayan din natin ito sa ating mga sarili: “Mayabang din ba ako? Inggitero/inggitera ba ko? Kaya nga what is the antidote to pride? Humility. And the antidote to envy is admiration. Sana po huwag din tayo palilinlang sa mga mayayabang at inggitero, patuloy tayong dumulog sa Diyos na biyayaan tayo ng kababaang-loob at kapasidad na laging mas tignan at iappreciate kung ano ang mabuti. Amen. – Cl. Vinz Aurellano, SSP | Society of St. Paul

ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON l PATRON SAINT OF ALL CHILDREN NEAR DEATH

Feast Day: January 4

Our saint for today was the first native born American to be canonized as saint of the Catholic Church. She was also the one who established the first religious order for women in the United States. Strange it may be, St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was born into a prominent Episcopalian family on August 28, 1774 in New York City. Her father was a health officer in the city. When she was three years old, her mother, a daughter of a Protestant Episcopalian minister died. As a young girl, Elizabeth she was an avid reader of stories and novels. As she grew older, she became an ardent reader of the Bible. Although she belonged to a family of high social standing, she was simple, humble and quiet. The Bible became her source of instruction, support and consolation, especially due to the fact that she was inclined to contemplation. In 1794, Elizabeth married William Seton, a wealthy businessman. Being a young society matron, she happily served her family and took care of the poor and the needy. The first years of married life was prosperous and happy. But soon, William’s father died leaving them seven half brothers and sisters to care for, and the management of the family business. The impact of what happened took a tool on William’s health. He got sick of tuberculosis and gave up his business. They went on a trip to Italy, hoping to get cured. When they reached Livorno, William’s illness became worse. He died in Italy in December 1803. Before returning to the United States, Elizabeth and her daughter, Anna Maria spent a few months in the house of their former business associates who introduced her to Catholicism. She was deeply impressed especially with the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It was the strong force which attracted her to become a Catholic. She also felt great comfort to know that the Virgin Mary was truly her mother and asked Mary to guide her to the true faith. After a year of searching she finally embraced the Catholic faith. This decision caused her social discrimination since she had many Protestant friends. As a devoted Catholic, her favorite prayer was Psalm 23. She became deeply devoted to the Eucharist, to the Virgin Mary and the reading of Scriptures.  Encouraged by some Catholic priests, in 1808, she moved with her family to Baltimore to open a school for girls. Catholic women came to join her. Soon they decided to establish a religious congregation. They moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland and formally started their religious life on July 31, 1809. They were called Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, with Elizabeth Seton as superior, a duty which she held for 12 years.  They adopted a Rule from the French Daughters of Charity based on the Rule of St. Vincent de Paul and it was approved by Archbishop John Carroll in 1812. The first Sisters made their religious profession on July 19, 1813. In 1814, they founded an orphanage in Philadelphia, then in New York by 1817. While she was at  Emmitsburg, two of her daughters died of tuberculosis, and she herself was also attacked by the disease. She spent the rest of her life directing St. Joseph’s Academy and her growing community. She died on January 4, 1821 at 46 years old, only 16 years after becoming a Catholic. She was beatified by Pope John XXIII on March 17, 1963 and was canonized by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975.

Lord, help us through the intercession of St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton to be faithful to the true faith which is found in the Catholic Church.”

How do I nourish my Catholic faith? Do I pray, follow the Commandments, read the Bible and perform good works?

You are listening to the daily gospel reflections with Sr. Cloth, fsp

This podcast is brought to you by the Paulines Multimedia. It is our mission to Bring the WORD of GOD to all peoples, through sounds and images, voices and music. Come and join us as we share “A THOUGHT A DAY”.

Mabuting Balita | Enero 9, 2023 – Kapistahan ng Pagbibinyag sa Panginoon

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Ebanghelyo: Mateo 3:13-17

Dumating si Jesus mula sa Galilea at lumapit kay Juan sa Ilog Jordan para magpabinyag. Pero tumanggi si Juan at sinabi: “Ako ang dapat na magpabinyag sa iyo, Bakit ikaw ang lumapit sa akin?” Ngunit sumagot sa kanya si Jesus: “Hayaan mo. Ganito natin tutuparin ang makatarungang plano ng Diyos. “Kaya sumang-aayon si Juan. Matapos mabinyagan, umahon si Jesus mula sa tubig. At agad na nabuksan ang Langit at nakita niya ang Espiritu ng Diyos na bumababang parang kalapati at pababa sa kanya. Narinig kasabay nito ang boses mula sa Langit na nagsabi: “Ito ang aking anak, ang Minamahal, siya ang aking Hinirang.”

Pagninilay:

- Fr. Enrico Paglinawan | Archdiocese of Nueva Caceres

You are listening to the daily gospel reflections with Sr. Cloth, fsp

This podcast is brought to you by the Paulines Multimedia. It is our mission to Bring the WORD of GOD to all peoples, through sounds and images, voices and music. Come and join us as we share “A THOUGHT A DAY”.

Mabuting Balita | Enero 8, 2023 – Dakilang Kapistahan ng Pagpapakita ng Panginoon

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Ebanghelyo: Mateo 2:1-12

Pagkapanganak kay Jesus sa Betlehem sa Judea, sa panahon ni Haring Herodes, dumating sa Jerusalem ang ilang pantas mula sa Silangan. Nagtanong sila: “Nasaan ang bagong silang na hari ng mga Judio? Nakita namin ang pagsikat ng kanyang tala sa Silangan at naparito kami para sambahin siya.” Nang marinig ito ni Herodes, naligalig siya at ang buong Jerusalem. Ipinatawag niya kaagad ang buong kaparian at ang mga dalubhasa sa Batas, at itinanong sa kanila kung saan ipanganganak ang Mesiyas. At sinabi nila: “Sa Betlehem ng Juda sapagkat ito ang isinulat ng Propeta: ‘At ikaw, Betlehem, sa lupain ng Juda, hindi ikaw ang pinakaaba sa mga angkan ng Juda, sapagkat sa iyo magmumula ang isang pinuno: siya ang magiging pastol ng aking bayang Israel.’ Kaya lihim na tinawag ni Herodes ang mga pantas at hiningi sa kanila ang mga impormasyon tungkol sa sumikat na tala. At saka niya sila pinapunta sa Betlehem at sinabi: “Pumunta kayo at alamin ang tungkol sa bata. Pagkakita ninyo sa kanya, bumalik kayo sa akin para makapunta rin ako sa kanya at makasamba.” Umalis sila pagkarinig nila sa hari. Nagpauna sa kanila ang tala na nakita nila sa Silangan, at tumigil ito sa itaas ng lugar na kinaroroonan ng sanggol. Labis na natuwa ang mga pantas nang makita nilang muli ang tala! Pumasok sila sa bahay at nakita nila ang sanggol kasama ni Mariang kanyang ina. Lumuhod sila at sumamba, at binuksan ang kanilang mga mamahaling dala at hinandugan siya ng mga regalong ginto, kamanyang at mira. At nag-iba sila ng daan pag-uwi nila sa kanilang lupain dahil binilinan sila sa panaginip na huwag nang bumalik kay Herodes.

Pagninilay:

- Fr. Micha Miguel Competente, SSP | Society of St. Paul

You are listening to the daily gospel reflections with Sr. Cloth, fsp

This podcast is brought to you by the Paulines Multimedia. It is our mission to Bring the WORD of GOD to all peoples, through sounds and images, voices and music. Come and join us as we share “A THOUGHT A DAY”.

Mabuting Balita | Enero 7, 2023 – Sabado bago ang Pagpapakita ng Panginoon

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Sa isang nagmamahal, hindi kailanman naging pabigat ang anumang makabubuti para sa minamahal. Isang mapagpalang araw ng Sabado, ngayong first Saturday of the month. Purihin at pasalamatan natin ang Diyos sa pagkakatiwala sa atin sa Mahal na Ina, Birhen Maria. Hilingin natin, na sa kaniyang tulong-panalangin makamit ang tunay na kapayapaan ng bawat bansa, bawat pamilya at bawat pusong naghahanap ng kapahingahan. Buksan natin ang ating puso at diwa sa Mabuting Balita ngayon

Ebanghelyo: Juan 2:1-11

Nang ikatlong araw ay nagadaos ng isang kasalan sa Cana ng Galilea at naroon ang ina  ni Jesus. Inanyayahan din si Jesus at ang kanyang mga alagad sa kasalan. Ngayon nang maubos ang alak ay sinabi ng ina ni Jesus sa kanya: “Wala na silang alak.” Winika sa kanya ni Jesus: “Babae, ano ito sa akin at sa iyo? Hindi pa dumarating ang aking oras.” Sinabi ng kanyang ina sa mga naglilingkod: “Gawin ninyo ang anumang sabihin niya sa inyo.” Mayroon duong anim na tapayang nakalaan sa kaugaliang paghuhugas ng mga hudyo na ang bawat isa ay naglalaman ng dalawa o tatlong takal. Sinabi ni Jesus sa mga naglilingkod: “Punuin ninyo ng tubig ang mga tapayan.” At pinuno nila hanggang sa labi. “Kumadlo kayo ngayon at dalhin sa namamahala ng pagkain.” At dinala nila. Nang matikman ng mga namamahala ng pagkain ang tubig na naging alak ay di niya nalalaman kung saan nanggaling. Bagaman, nalalaman ng mga naglilingkod na sumalok ng tubig, tinawag niya ang ang lalaking ikinasal at sinabi sa kanya: “Ang unang inahahain ng lahat ay ang mabuting alak, at kung marami ang naiinum ng mga tao ay saka ang matabang. Ngunit, itinago mo ang mabuting alak hanggang ngayon.” Ito ang unang himala na ginawa ni Jesus sa Cana ng Galilea at ipinakita niya ang kanyang kaluwalhatian at sumasampalataya sa kanya ang kanyang mga alagad.

Pagninilay:

Napakaganda at napakasarap pakingan ng miracle event na narinig natin sa Mabuting Balita ni San Juan. Ang milagro ay naganap sa wedding party sa Cana ng Galilea. Maraming guests at friends ang dumalo sa kasalang iyon. Kasama na doon si Jesus at Maria at mga apostoles. Sa kalagitnaan ng masayang salu-salo ay naubusan sila ng alak. Ito'y napansin ni Maria. Kaya sinabihan niya si Jesus: "Anak, wala na silang alak." At dito'y naganap ang kauna-unahang himala na ginawa ni Jesus! Ginawang alak, at sabihin na nating, the best brand of wine ang anim na tapayang - bato, puno ng tubig! Ang tubig ay naging alak!

Tunay na life-saver si Jesus! Naligtas ni Jesus sa kahihiyan ang host at mga panauhin ng kasal. Kaya, tuloy ang ligaya! ‘Di ba, kini-claim din natin na, “Jesus is my Savior?” Totoo, tanging si Jesus lamang ang ating tagapagligtas. Nililigtas niya tayo sa ating kahihiyan, sa ating kawalan, sa ating kahinaan at sa lahat-lahat nang kahirapan na pinagdadaanan natin sa mundong ito. Sa piling ni Jesus at sa tulong niya, malulutas natin ang ating mga problema, ang mga issuessa ating pamilya, sa ating bayan, sa pamahalaan, sa mundong ating ginagalawan. Gawin lang natin ang tama sa lahat ng bagay na ating ginagampanan.

Napakabuti at napakabait ni Jesus sa atin! Indeed, God is good, all the time and all the time God, is good! Let us claim and make Jesus truly our partner in life. We are his own, His possession!

Si Jesus ay salita ng Diyos, ang tinapay ng buhay. Siya ay alak ng kagalakan at kasiyahan, kaalaman at karunungan, ng kapayapaan at pagmamahalan. Amen.

Sr. Justin Vargas, fsp | Daughters of St. Paul

Follow the Stars | Word and Songs with Sr. Amelyne Paglinawan, fsp 

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ST. RAYMUND OF PENYAFORT l PATRON OF CANONISTS AND LAWYERS

Feast day: JANUARY 6

In to lday’s modern world, there is a joke saying that lawyers do not go to heaven. But the truth is, there are several saints who studied law and used their knowledge in working for the Church, helping people know God and give justice to their fellowmen. Our saint for today, St. Raymund of Penyafort, was a canon and civil lawyer from Spain, and a relative of the King of Aragon. He was born in a castle in Penyafort, Barcelona in 1175. Brought up as a devout Catholic, he had a tender love and devotion to the Virgin Mother of God. He was a model of humility, patience and fervor. He studied law and at age 20, was a famous teacher and lawyer. But he gave up his promising career and entered the Dominican Order in 1222 at the age of forty-seven. Even as a religious he was very prayerful, did much penance, was so humble and kind that he won many pagans and sinners to God. Due to Raymund’s reputation in the juridical sciences, Gregory IX called him to Rome in 1230 to help in collecting, codifying and arranging the canon law. This collection called “Decretals of Gregory IX” became the standard for the Church for 700 years until it was finally codified in 1917 as the Code of Canon Law. Raymund continued to write and he produced books on confession and marriage. Because of his knowledge about confesion and penitential discipline, he became the Pope’s confessor. Raymund was appointed as the Bishop of Tarragona, Aragon, but being so detached from worldly honors, he was so overwhelmed by his post that he got sick and resigned his post after two years. Upon returning, he was made the Third General of his Order. Concerned about the situation of the Moors, he founded together with St. Peter Nolasco and the King of Aragon the Institute of Our Lady of Ransom to help the persecuted Moors and convert them to Christianity. He also encouraged St. Thomas Aquinas to write his book entitled “Against the Gentiles.” He instituted the teaching of Arabic and Hebrew to help the Jews and Muslims in their study about Christianity. Raymund was commissioned to preach against the holy war of the Mohammedans by the Cardinal Legate of Pope Gregory IX. With so much prudence, zeal and charity, the Christians were able to overthrow them in Spain. Then, he led the Christians to make penance as they had been enslaved body and soul to follow Mohammedan practices. Raymund accomplished many other works but our limited space cannot afford to mention them all. Once, he went with King James of Aragon to preach in Majorca. The King had a strong passion for women so, women came often to their lodging. Raymund asked the king to send away those women since they were obstacles to their mission. The king promised and promised but did not honor his words. Raymund then decided to leave the island on his own. Angered by this decision, the King warned everyone that any boat or anyone who would bring Raymund back to Barcelona would be punished. But Raymund was so decided that he went to the sea by himself, spread his cloak upon the water, tied up a corner of the cloak to a stick as sail, made the Sign of the Cross and stepped on the cloak and sailed safely for six long hours, the winds bringing him back to Barcelona. The miracle converted the King and he repented of his misbehaviors and became a true follower of Raymund. Raymund died at the age of 100 in Barcelona on January 6, 1275. He was buried in the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia in Barcelona, and was canonized by Pope Clement VIII in 1601. Raymund is widely known for his learning and holiness. He possessed the four characteristic marks of a true Dominican, which are: devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, consummate sanctity, great learning, immense zeal for the salvation of souls. He is the patron of canonists and lawyers.