God's Word and Daily Life

By Rems Noquiao

On October 24, we celebrate the feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret, founder of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, also known as the Claretians. St. Anthony was a committed evangelist whose zeal for sharing the Gospel continues to inspire the faithful to this day.

Born in Spain in 1807, Anthony Claret was a man of many talents. Following in the footsteps of his father, he worked as a weaver for a time, and also mastered the skill of printing. In addition to his practical skills, Anthony also was driven by a keen intellectual curiosity, becoming fluent in Latin. A deeply spiritual man, Anthony next pursued the priesthood and was ordained in 1835.

Anthony Mary Claret to follow and imitate Jesus Christ always in prayer, work and suffering, and to open himself to the action of the Holy Spirit, who inspired his mission of evangelizing the poor.” As archbishop, he accompanied many people when he was sent into exile during the Spanish Revolution of 1868. Little did he know that he would never return, passing away at a Cistercian monastery in France in 1870.

Like St. Claret, how willing are we to be missionaries to the poor and the marginalized? Let us pray:

St. Anthony Mary Claret, you established your religious order the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in order to bring others into the good works you had already begun. Please continue to bring my prayers before God!

By Rems Noquiao 

October 18th is the Feast of Saint Luke, the Evangelist.

Saint Luke is one of the Four Evangelists, the four traditionally ascribed authors of the canonical gospels. The Early Church Fathers ascribed to him authorship of both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He has been identified with St. Paul's "Luke, the beloved physician”. We know few other facts about Luke's life from Scripture and from early Church historians.

It is believed that Luke was born a Greek and a Gentile. In Colossians 10-14 speaks of those friends who are with him. He first mentions all those "of the circumcision" -- in other words, Jews -- and he does not include Luke in this group. Luke's gospel shows special sensitivity to evangelizing Gentiles.

It is only in his gospel that we hear the parable of the Good Samaritan, that we hear Jesus praising the faith of Gentiles such as the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian (Luke 4:25-27), and that we hear the story of the one grateful leper who is a Samaritan (Luke 17:11-19).  According to the early Church historian Eusebius Luke was born at Antioch in Syria.

The focus of Saint Luke makes him an important figure in including the outcasts in Jesus’ time and today. How do we treat the outcasts today? They may not be Samaritans or lepers. But who are our outcasts? Let us pray the prayer for inclusion:

Lord, give us new strength so that we can build places of belonging: To create a community for all to share their gifts, to know that each of us is loved, to help us to see the light of Christ in all that we serve. Let us remember that each of us is loved, each of us is willed and each of us is necessary. Amen.

By Jen Avisado

On September 28, the entire Philippine nation will rejoice for the Feast of the first Filipino saint- Saint Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila!

St. Lorenzo’s sainthood tells that anyone can be a saint. Saint Lorenzo Ruiz or more known to Filipinos as San Lorenzo Ruiz is an ordinary man.  Just like us, he simply wants to have a happy, peaceful, harmonious life.  However, his circumstances changed and he was thrust into a situation so complicated.   Yet, even if he didn’t want what was happening in his life, Saint Lorenzo Ruiz faced it with unwavering courage and unyielding faith and trust in God.  In the end, he willingly gave his life to a God who is truly deserving of all Saint Lorenzo Ruiz can offer.

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz encourages us to never lose faith and to always trust in God no matter what.  Surely, God was with him during those terrible last days and though his body was suffering, his soul found happiness, peace and assurance that his suffering was not in vain.

Let us pray to San Lorenzo:

O most merciful and almighty God, You bestowed as a gift to Lorenzo Ruiz the strength to withstand the overpowering forces of death for the sake of his faith in You. Through his prayers, help us to follow his example by overcoming all life's trials and eventually, increase our hope and love in You. Amen.

By Rems Noquiao

On Sept. 24, the Catholic Church celebrates the National Seafarers’ Day, an annual celebration organized by the Apostleship of the Sea. The day lets Filipino Catholics remember Filipino seafarers who on account of employment at sea are often deprived of the grace and comfort of the Holy Mass.

The role of seafarers often goes under-appreciated within the maritime industry and by the general public. Seafarers are an essential component in world trade, keeping the economy moving and delivering the goods and fuels we use every day.

Thus, on Sunday, we pray for seafarers’ safety and grace so that their bonds of love and loyalty to their families may remain strong in spite of their physical separation.

Let us pray:

Watch over all who go down to the sea in ships – on business, for leisure, or to rescue those in peril or difficulty. Keep them from danger, befriend them in loneliness, and bring them safely home to those they love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From September 1 to 4, Pope Francis visited Mongolia to encourage the country's small Catholic community- less than 1,400 faithful and only one Bishop for 3.3 million inhabitants- a Church in the peripheries of the world.

For us who live in the Philippines, a Catholic country, his message allows us to go deeper in our mission beyond the difficulties we may encounter that can sometimes discourage us.

"Smallness is not a problem, but an asset, Pope Francis said. Yes, God loves smallness and loves to accomplish great things through smallness,” he added.

In this Church founded on charity, the first missionaries cared for orphans, the sick and opened homes for the disabled. Catholicism develops there by adopting "the style of service that Jesus taught us," Pope Francis said.

And he encouraged this little flock, as he also encourages us: "Stay in touch with the face of Christ, scrutinizing him in the Scriptures and contemplating him in a silence of adoration before the tabernacle, you will recognize him in the faces of those you serve."

May we ask for this grace.

By Rems Noquiao

On Sept. 1, the Philippines will celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The most basic, powerful, and counter-cultural thing we can do for God's creation is pray. The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation kicks off the Season of Creation, a time of sustained prayer and action which lasts a month and four days.

We live in a culture that values busy-ness and accomplishments. Following our Creator's call to "Be still and know what I am God" (Psalm 46:10) humbles us. With prayer, we become open to God's guidance, inspiration, and calls to action. With prayer, God knits us closer together in community. Only by the grace and inspiration of God can hearts and minds transform.

The Creation Justice community is diverse. We have many different ways of praying. Whether you will be taking time on September 1 to go on a meditative nature walk, celebrate liturgy in community, engage with scripture, speak sacred words aloud, or sing your prayers, it matters. Thanks for joining us in prayer! 

Let us pray: God our Father, you created the world and sent your own Son to live among us, made of the same stuff, breathing the same air, marveling at sunrise and sunset just as we do. Help us to participate in the life around and within us as your life, as you living in us and we living in you and in each other.

By Rems Noquiao

On August 23, Wednesday, the entire Philippines commemorates its secondary patroness, St. Rose of Lima.

Historians remember St. Rose of Lima for her piety and chastity. Born in 1586 in Lima, Peru to Spanish colonists, and named Isabel Flores de Olivia, she was exceptionally beautiful.

Her beauty was so great that she was nicknamed "Rose," a name that remains with her to this day. According to legend, a servant had a vision where her face turned into a rose. At her confirmation in 1597, she officially took the name of Rose.

From an early age, Rose wanted to become a nun. She often prayed and fasted in secret. She performed secret penances, some of which were painful and severe. She performed daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and took daily communion.

As a young woman, her beauty began to attract suitors. To deter these men, St. Rose marred her face, rubbing it with pepper to make it blister. She cropped her hair short.

Her parents opposed her plan to take a vow of chastity. This resulted in a clash of wills, because her parents wanted her to marry. Her father eventually relented and gave her a room to herself.

St. Rose kept herself cloistered in her room, spending long periods in prayer. It was said she slept only two hours per night so as to have more time for prayer.

During difficult times, have we bent our knees for prayer just like St. Rose?  Let us pray:

Help me to remember what is really important: that I am Your child You are my Father You love me for who I am and how I live not what I look like or what I own. Let me praise You Who sees into my heart, Who is always with me and Who eases my suffering. St. Rose of Lima, pray for us! Amen.