ST. BRIDGET OF SWEDEN | PATRON SAINT OF EUROPE

Feast day: JULY 23

St. Bridget of Sweden, is our saint for today, was a woman of extraordinary character. She exemplified the virtues of charity and generosity, and devoted her time in caring for the poor, the sick and the unwed mothers. She was a mother, a visionary, and a founder of monasteries. Through her mother, she was related to the kings of Sweden in her times. Today, she is also venerated as one among the six patron saints of Europe, together with St. Benedict of Nursia, Sts. Cyril and Methodius, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Edith Stein.

Having been brought up by devout parents, St. Bridget loved to pray. When she was ten years old, she saw in a vision Jesus Christ hanging on the Cross. She asked Him who treated Him that way and Jesus answered: "Those who spurned my love for them." She was impressed and the Passion of Christ became the center of her prayer. At 14, she was married to a respectable man. Although a mother, she took care of the poor and the sick and helped the unwed mothers and their children. The couple had 8 children, four boys and four girls. Their second daughter would later become a saint - St.Catherine of Sweden.

Seeking a holy life for themselves, the couple agreed to separate. He joined the Cistercian Monks and she worked for the establishment of the Order of St. Savior in Wadstena. This Order which she founded was a monastery for men and women, in one community, but with different cloisters. Aware of the ecclesiastical abuses of her time, she endeavored to make reforms but she was met with many oppositions and controversies. Her visions of the Nativity, the Holy Family, the Virgin Mary, Purgatory and others became subjects of many works of arts.

St. Bridget was privileged to receive from Jesus a devotion to honor His wounds and the blows He received during His passion. This devotion is known as “The 15 Prayers of St. Bridget.” Attached to this, are promises of great blessings on earth and eternal life. Together with St. Bridget, let us recite the concluding prayer of this devotion:

‘O Sweet Jesus! Pierce my heart so that my tears of penitence and love will be my bread day and night; may I be converted entirely to Thee, may my heart be Thy perpetual habitation, may my conversation be pleasing to Thee, and may the end of my life be so praiseworthy that I may merit Heaven and there with Thy saints, praise Thee forever. Amen.’

In this time of pandemic, let us ask ourselves; How willing am I to share something I own; money, food, or clothing to the needy?

MABUTING BALITA | HULYO 23, 2021

Biyernes sa Ika -16 na Linggo ng Taon

EBANGHELYO: MATEO 13:18-23

“Kaya pakinggan ninyo ang talinhaga tungkol sa manghahasik. Ang mga nakikinig sa salita ukol sa Kaharian ng Diyos ngunit hindi nakakaunawa ay tulad ng mga binhing nahasik sa tabing daan, dumating ang masama at inagaw ang nahasik sa kanyang puso. Ang binhing nahulog sa batuhan ay yaong nakikinig at masayang tumatanggap ng salita ngunit sa kawalan ng ugat ay hindi nagtagal at pagdating ng sakuna o pag-uusig ay nanghihina ang loob. Ang nahasik sa mga dawagan ay yaong nakikinig ng salita ngunit ito ay inilihis ng kabalisahan sa daigdig at ng hipo ng kayamanan kaya’t hindi nagbubunga. Ang nahasik sa mabuting lupa ay ang nakikinig ng salita at nauunawaan ito; dahil d’yan ay may nagbubunga ng tig-iisang daan, ng tig-aanimnapu, ng tig-tatatlumpu.”

PAGNINILAY:

Narinig natin ang Talinghaga tungkol sa Manghahasik. Ang manghahasik ay ang Panginoon, ang binhi ay ang Salita ng Diyos at ang lupa ay ang mga tao tayo na nakikinig sa Salita ng Diyos.  Mababasa din natin sa Mga Sulat sa Hebreo kabanata apat, talata labindalawa (4:12) na Buhay ang Salita ng Diyos… tumatagos maging sa kaibuturan ng kaluluwa at espiritu… at nakakaalam ng mga iniisip at binabalak ng tao.  Sa Ikalawang Timoteo kabanata tatlo, talata labing-anim (2 Tim 3:16), ganito ang sinasabi: “Ang Kasulatan ay kapaki-pakinabang sa pagtuturo, pagkumbinsi, pagtutuwid at pagpapakabanal.” Mga kapanalig, kung ganito kabisa ang Banal na Salita ng Diyos bakit kaya hindi natin bigyang panahong basahin, pakinggan at unawain ito? Bakit mas pinag-uukulan natin ng panahon ang magbabad sa social media, panonood ng sine, teleserye, mag video games, atbp? Bakit marami sa atin ang pumupunta at naghahanap ng kasiyahan kung saan-saan, na pawang panandalian lamang? Mga kapanalig, naghihintay sa bawat isa sa atin ang Buhay na Salita ng Diyos… subukan mo at masasambit mo ang nasusulat sa Salmo 119:103 “kay tamis namnamin ang mga pangako mo, higit pa kaysa pulot sa bibig ko. Harinawang matulad tayo sa “matabang lupa” kung saan pwedeng mamunga nang masagana ang Salita ng ating Diyos.

- Sr. Lucia Olalia, sjbp | Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd/Pastorelle

Manalangin tayo: Panginoon, nawa’y maging tanglaw sa aking landas ang Iyong Salita at nang hindi ako maligaw at mapalayo sa Iyo.  Amen.

GOSPEL POWER | JULY 22, 2021 | THURSDAY | St. Mary Magdalene

 Gospel: Jn 20: 1 – 2, 11 - 18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” . . . But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Reflection

As Mary Magdalene mourns the tragic loss of her Teacher,  Jesus’ corpse has become, for her, a source of security  she cannot let go of. This attachment has kept her hope  shallow and immature — nothing more than to get back the corpse  from whoever carried it away. Jesus destroys Mary’s false security as  he comes to her alive again with the indestructible life of the new  creation that he inaugurated by rising from the dead. This new creation bursts forth with inconceivable possibilities and transforms into new  creatures those it touches. Mary Magdalene is the first to experience  this as Jesus draws her forth from her virtual entombment in grief  and designates her to be the “apostle of the apostles.” Generations of  believers thus honor Mary Magdalene as the one who announced to  Jesus’ apostles the good news of their new dignity as brothers to the  risen Lord and sharers in his divine sonship.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, let the power of your resurrection unmask our false securities  and open to us the limitless possibilities of the new creation. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | HULYO 22, 2021

Huwebes sa Ika -16 na Linggo ng Taon | Kapistahan ni Santa Maria Magdalena

EBANGHELYO: JUAN 20:11-18

Sa unang araw ng san Linggo maagang nagpunta sa libingan si Maria Magdalena habang madilim pa. Nang makita niya ang tinanggal na bato mula sa libingan, patakbong pumunta si Maria Magdalena kay Simon Pedro at sa isa pang alagad na mahal ni Jesus. Sinabi niya sa kanila “May kumuha sa Panginoon mula sa libingan, at hindi namin alam kung saan nila siya inilagay. Nanatili sa labas ng libingan si Maria na tumatangis. Habang tumatangis siya, yumukod siyang nakatanaw sa libingan. At may nakita siyang dalawang anghel na nakaputi na nakaupo, nasa may ulunan ang isa at ang ikalawa nama'y nasa may paanan ng kinalagakan ng bangkay ni Jesus. Sinabi sa kanya ng mga iyon: “Ale, bakit ka tumatangis?” “May kumuha sa Panginoon ko, at hindi ko alam kung saan siya inilagak.” Pagkasabi niya ng mga ito, tumalikod siya at nakita niya si Jesus na nakatayo. Ngunit hindi niya nakilalang si Jesus iyon. Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Ale, bakit ka tumatangis? Sinong hinahanap mo” Sa pag-aakala niyang iyon ang hardinero, sinabi niya sa kanya: “Ginoo, kung kayo ang nagdala sa kanya, sabihin n'yo sa akin kung saan n'yo siya inilagay, at kukunin ko siya.” Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, “Maria!” Pagkaharap niya ay winika niya sa kanya sa Aramaiko: “Rabbouni” (na ang ibig sabihin ay Guro). Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus: “Huwag mo na akong pigilin sapagkat hindi pa ako nakaaakyat sa aking Ama. Puntahan mo ang mga kapatid ko at sabihin sa kanila na: 'Paakyat ako sa Ama ko at Ama n'yo, sa Diyos ko at Diyos n'yo.'” Pumunta si Maria Magdalena, na nagbalita sa mga alagad: “Nakita ko ang Panginoon. At ito ang sinabi niya sa akin.”

PAGNINILAY:

Ang libingan ay nagpapahiwatig din ng kadiliman, lungkot, at pag-aalinlangan sa tunay na buhay na nasusumpungan ko din tulad ni Maria Magdalena. Ang pagluha at pagkabahala dahil ang isang minamahal ay pumanaw na, pero si Hesus ang nagpapahiwatig ng pag-asa. Sa aking pagbisita, pagdasal at pagmumuni-muni sa mga libingan ng mga yumao, nagpapahiwatig ito sa akin na ang buhay ay totoo at ang kamatayan ay sigurado. Kaya ang pagdarasal, at pakikinig sa Diyos at sa Kanyang salita ay nagsisilbing gabay upang makapamuhay nang naaayon sa Kanyang kalooban, at magpatotoo kay Hesus na ating dakilang GURO. Bilang tatay, na unang guro sa pamilya – ang pagturo sa mga bata habang maaga ay napakahalaga. Kailangang mahubog sila sa tamang Pormasyon, Impormasyon, at transpormasyon sa tulong ng Diyos. Tatapusin ko ang aking pagninilay sa isang AKRONIM:

G – Galing lahat ng grasya at karunungan sa Panginoon

U – Unahin palagi ang Diyos, dasal at mabuting gawa

R – Responsibilidad ay dapat gawin para sa Diyos, tao at sarili

O – Oportunidad ay naririto na

Robert Lauigan, Association of Pauline Cooperators – Tuguegarao

ST. TERESA OF ANDES l PATRON AGAINST ILLNESS

Feast Day: APRIL 12

St. Teresa of Andes is another excellent model for the young. She became a religious at a tender age and died at the age of 20. St. Teresa was born in Chile to a well-off family on July 13, 1900. She was baptized Enriqueta Josefina and was fondly called Juanita. She was surrounded by blessings and was educated by the French nuns of the Sacred Heart. She was extraordinarily intelligent, and had an enormous capacity to love and willingness to be loved.

But she was proud, self-centered, stubborn and with many other defects inherent to a child brought up amidst comforts and pleasures. She was six years old when the great earthquake in 1906 happened and she began to be aware of the love of Jesus for her. When she was preparing for her First Communion, she also started to wage war against her natural inclinations for she learned that it was God Himself who will dwell in her and she must be a pure and pleasing temple of God. And God rewarded her with interior locution. Jesus Himself appeared talked to her and told her she would become a Carmelite nun.

Teresa's love for Jesus increased and she tried to please Him in every way she could. She Improved and increased her prayers and the practice of virtues. As a young girl, she associated with her peers, participated in school activities even in sports, but she was different from them. Thus, she became a model for them to imitate. When she was fourteen, she expressed her desire to become a Carmelite, yet this desire was only realized on May 7, 1919, when she was allowed to enter the community of Carmelites in Los Andes. Six months later, she received the habit and was given the name Teresa.

She was happy and active as a novice and the Community of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel satisfied all her desires for holiness, but her religious life was cut short when she got sick of typhus which claimed her life. She died  on April 1, 1920, three months before her 20th birthday. To fulfill her desire, she was allowed to make her religious profession. Teresa was so confident and happy to die. She revealed to her Confessor that Jesus Himself told her of her upcoming death.

Teresa loved the Virgin Mary very much and said that the Virgin Mother of God assisted her in all her life. She was beatified by Pope John Paull ll on April 3, 1987, and was canonized by the same pope on March 1, 1993. Her feast day is April 12. She is the fourth St. Teresa of Carmel, together with St. Teresa of Avila, St. Teresa of Florence and St. Therese of Lisieux.

St. Teresa of Andes, please pray that we may respond to God's grace and learn patience, humility, and how to please Him in every way. May we grow to love Him as much as you did and that we may persevere in our faith until the end. Amen. Teresa of the Los Andes, pray for us!

Am I willing to fight against my predominant defect, strive to practice virtues in order to please Jesus?

ST. NUNZIO SULPRIZIO| PATRON OF THE BLACKSMITH, ABUSED CHILDREN AND OF WORKERS

Feast Day: MAY 5

We are featuring today, an awe-inspiring adolescent saint, who from the age of three until he died, had suffered physically, psychologically and emotionally. How he lived a simple, humble, gentle, and prayerful life leading to sanctity was a unique gift from God. St. Nunzio Zulprizio was born in Pescara, Italy on April 13, 1817. He was a happy and lively child.

His father died when he was three years old and his mother remarried for the sake of financial support. Thus, began his suffering. His step-father paid no attention to him and considered him a burden. When his mother died a few years later, he was sent to live with his maternal grandmother. Unfortunately, she also died when Nunzio was just about ten years old. He was taken by his uncle, who was cruel to him and treated him with contempt.

This uncle was a blacksmith and made Nunzio work the hard work not appropriate for children. He also sent the young boy to errands in far and secluded places, sometimes in the midst of rains and snowstorms. When Nunzio's work in the shop was not satisfactory, he would beat him. He also deprived the boy of little rest and comforts and gave him very little food which was needed by growing children. In all these, Nunzio remained calm and gentle, offering everything to God. His consolation in the midst of his trials was his daily prayers. He loved to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to recite the Holy Rosary.

While working in the blacksmith shop Nunzio got injured and the wound on his left leg was not properly treated. He tried to endure the pain it caused him until one time in winter, he had a burning fever and was not any more able to stand. He was brought to the doctor and was diagnosed to have gangrene. His uncle was indifferent, but he sent him to a hospital in Aquila, then in Naples. While in the hospital, he tried to console other patients. Meanwhile, his wound was not getting healed. Searching for someone who could help, another uncle introduced him to a fellow soldier, a colonel, who immediately treated Nunzio like a son. He brought Nunzio to the Hospital for the Incurables and paid for all the expenses incurred. Nunzio got  better. He stood up, abandoned his crutches, and began to walk with a stick. Yet the wound would not heal.

In 1835, when Nunzio was 18 years old, the doctors decided to amputate his leg, but Nunzio knew he was dying because he felt so weak. He asked to make the First Communion and was allowed. A few months later, on May 5, 1836, he lay dying. He asked to receive the last sacraments. After saying his prayers holding a Crucifix, his soul flew to the loving embrace of God. Miracles followed after his death. He was beatified on December 1, 1963 and was canonized on October 14, 2018. He is the patron of blacksmith, abused children, and of workers.

“Lord Jesus Christ, help us to trust always in you even when life is difficult, as St. Nunzio did. Although he endured so much suffering, he remained a person of faith. May we reach out to other people who need a caring word or gesture. Help us to love you as St. Nunzio did and know that you are with us in all times and places of our lives. Amen."

Can I endure my little difficulties calmly, without making tantrums and giving problems to other people? Do I give time for prayer every day?

GOSPEL POWER | JULY 21, 2021 | WEDNESDAY | Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church 16th Week in Ordinary Time 

Gospel: Mt 13: 1 - 9

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

Reflection

If the seed is the Word of God, as the evangelist will  clarify later, then it means that God speaks to anyone  and everyone in their different states of preparedness or  unpreparedness, eagerness or reluctance to listen. No one is deprived  of God’s Word, for the farmer who sows does not ration the seed but  scatters it liberally in all directions. Despite the inhospitable state of  the soil of the human heart, contact with God’s Word will not leave  it unmoved. For God’s Word, according to the prophet Isaiah, does not  return to its sender without achieving its purpose (cf. 55:10-11). We  continue to witness dramatic conversions today, because the Word of  God dialogues unceasingly with atheists, agnostics, hardened sinners  and those who have hopelessly given up on themselves; just as it does  with believers and saints and mystics

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the Word with which God continues to dialogue with  the world. Increase our faith in the transforming power of that divinehuman dialogue. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA | HULYO 21, 2021

Miyerkules sa Ika -16 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

EBANGHELYO: MATEO 13:1–9

Umalis sa bahay si Jesus at naupo sa may dalampasigan. Ngunit maraming tao ang natipon sa paligid niya kaya sumakay siya at naupo sa bangka samantalang nakatayo naman sa pampang ang mga tao. At marami siyang ipinahayag sa kanila sa tulong ng mga talinhaga. At sinabi ni Jesus: "Lumabas na ang maghahasik para maghasik. Sa kanyang paghahasik, may ilang butong nahulog sa tabi ng daan. Dumating ang mga ibon at kinain ang mga iyon. Nahulog naman ang ibang buto sa batuhan at mababaw ang lupa roon. Madaling tumubo ang mga buto dahil hindi malalim ang lupa. Ngunit pagsikat ng araw, nasunog ito sa init at sapagkat walang ugat, natuyot ito. Nahulog ang iba pang buto sa mga tinikan. At nang lumago ang mga tinik, sinikil ng mga ito ang halaman. Nahulog naman ang iba sa matabang lupa at namunga: nagbunga ng sandaan ang iba, animnapu naman ang sa iba, at tatlumpu ang iba pa. Makinig ang may tainga!"

PAGNINILAY:

Minsan mo na rin bang sinisi ang Diyos sa mga kamalasang nangyayari sa iyong buhay? Teka muna, baka naman hindi mo man lang tinanong ang iyong sarili kung ikaw din ay may pagkukulang sa kanya.  Hindi nagkulang ang Diyos sa atin sa mga pangangailangan natin sa buhay. Ang totoo nga’y nag-uumapaw sa biyaya ang ibinibigay sa atin ng Diyos, kung hindi man sa materyal, pinauulanan naman niya tayo ng kanyang pagkalinga sa iba-ibang paraan.  Kadalasan ang mga hindi kaaya-ayang pangyayari sa ating buhay ay resulta ng ating mga maling desisyon. Madalas kasi hindi natin isinasama ang Diyos sa ating pagdedesisyon, sapat na para sa atin ang pakinggan ang ating sariling interes at sariling pangangailangan. Sarado ang ating puso upang pakinggan ang sinasabi sa atin ng Diyos.  Mga kapanalig, hindi madamot ang Diyos, tayo ang madalas na nagdaramot sa kanya sa tuwing hindi tayo nakikinig sa kanyang mga utos. Sa dami ng ating alalahanin sa buhay: problema sa bahay, sa trabaho, sa mga kaibigan, nasubukan na ba nating idaan sa panalangin ang mga ito at pakinggan kung ano ang sinasabi sa atin ng Diyos? Kung mahirap man gawin ang mga ito, bakit hindi natin subukan. Wala namang mawawala sa atin kung susubukan natin. Basta kasama natin ang Diyos, hindi niya tayo pababayaan. – Fr. Oliver Par, SSP | Society of St. Paul

Manalangin tayo. Panginoon, buksan mo ang aming puso nang aming matanto ang iyong kalooban para sa amin. Amen.

GOSPEL POWER | JULY 20, 2021 | TUESDAY | 16th Week in Ordinary Time | Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr

 Gospel: Mt 12: 46 - 50

While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Reflection

Jesus is not only a teacher of wisdom but Wisdom-inperson, and he often provokes his listeners to think  beyond conventional, ordinary and natural order, and  thus discover divine wisdom. Today’s Gospel is one such instance  of provocation, and the visit of members of his family simply  provides him with the appropriate context. Jesus does not minimize  the importance of natural blood-ties, for the institution of family  is God-willed. He himself entered into a human family to become  the firstborn of God’s universal family. To belong to God’s universal  family — which is another expression that refers to the Kingdom of  heaven — is the vocation of every person. But unlike being born into  a natural family, without one’s willing it, belonging to God’s family  must be an active personal decision that is concretized by choosing  to obey God’s will. For obedience, not blood, is the bond that holds  together the members of God’s universal and trans-worldly family

Prayer

Lord Jesus, grant us wisdom and steadfastness whenever we are drawn  by blood-ties to slacken our pursuit of the Father’s will. Amen

MABUTING BALITA | HULYO 20, 2021

Martes sa Ika -16 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

EBANGHELYO: MATEO 12:46-50

Nagsasalita pa si Jesus sa mga tao nang dumating ang kanyang ina at mga kapatid para makipag-usap sa kanya, at naghihintay sila sa labas. Kaya may nagsabi sa kanya: “Nasa labas ang iyong ina at mga kapatid; gusto ka nilang makusap.” Sumagot si Jesus: “Sino ang aking ina? Sino ang aking mga kapatid?” At itinuro niya ang kanyang mga alagad at sinabi: “Narito ang aking ina at mga kapatid. Ang nagsasagawa ng kalooban ng aking Ama sa Langit ang aking kapatid na lalaki at kapatid na babae at ina.”

PAGNINILAY:

Sino ang aking ina? Sino-sino ang aking mga kapatid? Ang bigat ng pahayag na ito ni Hesus kasi nandudoon si Maria. Ano ang pakahulugan ng sinabi ni Hesus, “kung sino ang sumusunod sa kalooban ng aking Amang nasa langit ay aking kapatid at Ina”? Mga kapanalig, magalak tayo! Kung ikaw at ako ay sumusunod sa kalooban ng Ama, dahil kabilang tayo sa tinutukoy ni Hesus dito. Paano nga ba tayo makakasunod sa kalooban ng Ama sa langit at mapabilang sa kaharian ng Diyos? Manalangin tayo at humingi ng biyaya na makasunod kung ano ang kanyang kalooban. Ang isang pamilya ay pinagbubuklod ng pagmamahalan, pagmamalasakitan, pagtutulungan at pag-uunawaan ng bawat isa. Pinaaalahanan tayo na kung mahal nating tunay ang Diyos dapat din mahal natin ang ating kapwa.  Noong Pebrero 15, 2021, ang Istituto Santa Famiglia, ay nagkaroon ng 33 Days Prayer in preparation to our Consecration to St. Joseph at Patronal Saint ng ISF.  Napansin ko na mas nakilala namin ang bawat isa. Nasundan pa ito ng Virtual Flores de Mayo.    Isang pamilya na umunlad sa pananampalataya sa Diyos, nagdadamayan sa tuwa at lungkot lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya. Si Maria ay tunay na ina at pamilya ni Hesus, kaya lubhang siyang nag-aalala  kay Hesus dahil sa dami ng tao at gawain para sa kanyang Ama sa langit. Ginampanan ni Maria nang buong husay at katapatan ang kanyang pagiging ina, ang pinakadakilang bokasyon sa lahat. Kung tayo ay tapat sa anumang bokasyon na ipinagkatiwala sa atin ng Diyos, nagampanan na natin ang ating misyon. Ang pagtalima sa kalooban ng ating Ama sa langit ay pang habang buhay na tungkulin ng bawat kristyano. Anuman ang ating gawain na taos pusong inaalay sa Diyos, ang magdadala sa atin sa kabanalan at hindi na lalayo sa’yo ang kaharian ng Diyos.

- Siony Japzon Ramos | Institute of the Holy Family

Manalangin tayo:  Mapagmahal naming Diyos dalangin po namin na pagpalain ang bawat pamilya na ibinigay mo sa amin, kaibigan at kongregasyon. Punuin ang bawat puso ng pagmamahalan at unawaan. Tulungan n’yo po kaming sumunod sa iyong kalooban para sa amin. Amen.