Convocation

As soon as I reached the registration counter, my eyes caught the first person. It was a classmate of mine whom I did not expect to see and wanted to see. It was a pleasant surprise. Naturally, I felt delightful. Anyway, what I looked forward was the diploma I received this day. I was hoping that I could find a job after this. After the ceremony, I sensed the electricifying joy in the atmosphere in the foyer as we gathered together with the guests. It was an inspiration to see the happy faces. Indeed, I met friends whom I knew all those three years. It brought back the nostalgia feelings. I look forward to bringing a smile to my parents one day when I pursue and achieve the degree or higher studies successfully. Of course, I did not forget my two invisible companions. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Listen to God

"Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the hearts."
Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Morning walk

Praise the Lord forever more! For He made a good day today. I suffered the sleepless night due to the habit of mine for reading and surfing net. But I managed to go to my parish church for a morning mass with a spirit of perseverance. Nothing delights me more than this Eucharistic mass as I had not been going for morning masses for a long time. The nostalgia feeling came back as I was taking a stroll to home. A beautiful morning sky pleased my eyes so enthrallingly. Adding to the pleasure, a scent of lavender danced around my nose as it brought back my childhood memory. It was so vivid that I could remember. Back then, I was a little child hanging out at the playground in the far west city. I always smelt the familiar scent of lavender when I was going to old Catholic junior school where it was up the hill. I was so grateful for today. Praise the Lord! Amen.

Desire to great knowledge

Today, I noticed something new in myself. I have become a bookworm! Perhaps my desire to know God more intimately and deeply is a main suspect as my research consists of 100% religion books. Little wonder, my mind formed an ambition to conquer a whole library and read all the religious books. It is not that I want to become clever and aristocratic. Rather, I desire to deepen my faith. "Faith seeks understanding" - St Ansem, Proslogion proemium. So the more I deepen my faith in God, the more I become wiser and understanding. Importantly, the rising of temperature of my spirituality is encouraged by the inspiration. Wow, I am even stupefied myself as I used to hate the books before when I was little kid. And even I frequently burn the midnight oil, reading with the support of the caffeine drinks.

"To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord." (Proverbs 1:7)

Magnificat

Thank You, Holy Spirit

Faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused by Him. - CCC

Faith is a supernatural gift from God. In order to believe, man needs the interior helps of the Holy Spirit. - CCC

Dear Holy Spirit,

I'm so grateful for Your help. Without Your help, I would never come to know my God intimately. Thank You, Holy Spirit. You also help me to confirm my faith in Catholicism. For You know within my heart, You interceded on my behalf when I was praying. Thank You, Holy Spirit. Once again, thank You. Amen.

Yours sincerely,
Michael

Let God come into my life

I just realized that God wanted me to spend more time with Him instead of giving me the job immediately. During last night's conversation regarding the jobs, a cousin of mine told me it was better than getting a wrong job and suffering more. So I sense that I need more patience as it is excellent virtue especially while practising humility. Actually, I find myself more comfortable submerging myself into the Catholic faith. I should grab a chance to develop it further. Now, Divine Office book has successfully taken up the duty of my morning cup of coffee. Okay, I shall go to the church every morning from next week onwards.

Blessed Sacrament

Taken by my brother, fonzjosemaria.

Nothing except this Blessed Sacrament can delight me to the large extend. I could feel the joy in my heart as I was spending the Holy Hour in the chapel in the night four days ago. Spending Holy Hour has been important part of my daily life. I cannot wait for my baptism time to receive my God in me and I in Him.

My path as the Will of God

What is my path? Only God knows. And He directs it. I have two choices: either to follow it or to go my own way in opposite. My mind formed such a picture above. A signpost is my guide. But what is my signpost? It is none other than a bible, my important guide. Without it, how can I know and follow what God wants me to go? Then, I moved on and approached the plants with the notices describing them. The signpost never mentions about them but the plants are there. Fortunately, the notices help me to understand what kinds of plants they are. Without them, it is possible that my curiosity will accumulate itself and encourage me to touch the plants. Either I pluck it and feels satisfied or my hands will get hurt from its noxious thorns. So those notices are like the church interpreting what is going on beyond the bible. I look up and notice the sensation of heat. Whoa, the weather is so hot. I want to go home, shower and sleep in the comfort zone. This is my own want yet there is greater desire - to seek God. So I continue. But I stop in the track and look ahead of the path; the forest greets my sight. I cannot tell what is ahead and may feel diffident and fearful. But God already makes the path ahead and makes it seems that I must continue. Fortunately, I have the things in my bag I carry. They are able to support me in my journey. What are they? Faith, prayer and confidence in God. I believe I will, and want to meet God after I pass through the forest. Finally, the path looks tough and long. Yes, I have my support. But I need something else. What is it? My energy battery. Without it, how can I move? But where does it come from? Perseverance and enthusiasm.

"Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth: and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth - in a word, to know himself - so that by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves." - Pope John Paul II, Fides at Ratio

"What does it avail to know that there is a God, which you not only believe by Faith, but also know by reason: what does it avail that you know Him if you think little of Him?" - St Thomas More

Approaching this weekend, my schedule introduced a discernment vocation camp into my life. I sensed my heart obviously being enthralled by the accumulating excitement as I was walking towards a seminary with a good friend of mine. My mind made up an anticipation to learn something new. I could not help but felt the joy and ardency as I got to know all the brothers greeting me. I also met a few priests and even Archbishop himself. Nevertheless, I did all my best to pay attention to what this journey offered for me. Indeed, my learning process was very satisfiable and significant. But I looked forward to learning more. When it was over, despite our large degree of fatigue, another friend of mine and I headed for the certain church for the Novena service as usual. This time, it was on my head to lead the prayers and songs in the form of sign language with my friend. It was my very first time yet I could not find any nervousness to head me off as I was making my sign hands in the process. Thankfully I made my little prayer beforehand. With feedback and comments, I was aspired to practise more and do well next time. In my perspective, I really was glad that I made the visit to the seminary. But it was significant that I learnt to obey the will of God. Where He wants me to go and I will go. If He wants to go left, I go left. And if He determines right, I go right. I hope that I will draw ever closer to God through Catholic faith every moment of my life.

"If I were worthy of such a favor from my God, I would ask that He grant me this one miracle: that by His grace He would make of me a good man." - St Ansgar

Ave Maria

Hail Mary, Full of Grace.

The Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women and

blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now

and at the hour of our death. Amen.

"She [Mary] stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from Him. After a long period of waiting the times are fulfilled in her, the exalted Daughter of Sion, and the new plan of salvation is established." - Lumen Gentium

"Let Mary never be far from your lips and heart. And to obtain the fruit of her prayers, do not forget the example of her life. With her support, you will never fall. Beneath her protection, you will never fear. Under her guidance, you will never tire. And with her help, you will reach your heavenly goal." - St Bernard

"Among all the devotions approved by the Church none has been so favored by so many miracles as the devotion of the Most Holy Rosary." - Pope Pius IX

A sweet soul of the destiny

As a new tea bag was allowed to sink and submerge in a cup of hot water, a scent of steaming smoke rose and filled my whole bedroom. It was so sweet and pleasant to my nose. The cup was brought to my mouth and my tongue tasted a bitter sensation of the forest fruit tea for a first time. Nevertheless, my love for tea never faded. Suddenly, a reminder appeared in my mind and brought up a story of Saint Therese, the Little Flower whom I recently read.

"Jesus deigned to teach me this mystery. He set before me the book of nature. I understood how all the flowers He has created are beautiful, how splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not take away the perfume of the little violet or the delightful simplicity of the daisy. I understood that if all the flowers wanted to be roses, nature would lose her springtime beauty, and the fields would no longer be decked out with little wildflowers." - St Therese, the Little Flower

"And so it is in the world of souls, Jesus' garden. He willed to create great souls comparable to lilies and roses, but He has created smaller ones and these must be content to be daisies or violets destined to give joy to God's glances when He looks down at His feet. Perfection consists in doing His Will, in being what He wills us to be." - St Therese, the Little Flower

At this moment, I was inspired and aspired to the large extend to seek God with all my heart, mind, strength and soul as I read some examples of the famous saints. A friend of mine recently wrote a new blog post regarding our destiny to be what God intended us to be. Yes, I agreed with her statement that in the logical sense God could actually manipulate us like the Sims games. But contrary to that, God has a plan but we have a choice. God said, "My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore." (Psalm 139:17-18) And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) I will never stop doing good to you. (Jeremiah 32:40) For you are my treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5) I desire to establish you with all my heart, and all my soul. (Jeremiah 32:41)

I remembered what my friend told me the other times. At first, he described the bamboo and its flower blooming. He had seen the flower and claimed that it was certainly beautiful. It was a rare sight because the bamboo usually stood many years before it bloomed the flower and withered soon after. So he wanted his life to be like that. And he wanted his own flower to give off the sweet scent before his life ended. What a meaningful story. Maybe I can make my life like the forest fruit tea. It might taste bitter without sugar yet it smelt so sweet like perfume. What I meant is that I must deny myself, take up the cross and follow Jesus so as to bear much fruit in Him. Jesus said, "Whoever remains in Me, and I in Him, will bear much fruit for you can do nothing without Me." (John 15:5) "My Father's glory is shown by your bearing much fruit; and in this way you become my disciple." (John 15:8) Saints had suffered a lot during their times on Earth for the sake of Christ. I am sure their souls are most pleasuring sweet to God as they managed to convert thousands of sinners to much joy among the angels in Heaven. So we can do the same in pleasing God if we follow Him. So I guess I have to discern what God wants me to be.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding. Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"How happy is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud or to the followers of lies." (Psalm 40:4)

Comfort Zone

Ever since the last day of my school, my mind sang a hymn, "Finally, the storm is over." My body began to act on the desires according to my mind. I saw my body participate itself in comfortable and moderate activities and it was doing well although I trained it strictly and without mercy. Until a few days ago, I visited my school as I needed to settle some matters. The lecturer and technician remarked that I looked bigger and blessed as if I was enjoying the life. I giggled with a response, "Hallelujah!" Anyway, I thought I really spent too much time on the comfort zone as I realized that I played too much, leaving little room for reading and praying. But it was only temporary since I had not found a proper job yet. Meanwhile, I found a lot of pleasure in the commitments to the church. Well, August already begins. I am so aspired to be much more diligent from now onwards.

"The person with fortitude is the one who perseveres in doing what his conscience tells him ought to do. He does not measure the value of a task exclusively by the benefit he derives from it, but rather by the service he renders to others." - St Josemaria Escriva

"To be perfect in our vocation is nothing else than to fulfill the duties which our state of life obliges us to perform, and to accomplish them well, and only for the honor and love of God." - St Francis de Sales