5th January 2014: Epiphany of the Lord

Saint Claude de la Colombiere (left), Jesuit priest and confessor of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (right)

"God's grace is a seed that we must not snuff out. We must cooperate with it. This is especially true of those inspirations that lead us to make acts of virtue on some occasion. Such cooperation in grace is sometimes the very essence of our happiness." - Saint Claude de la Colombiere

4th January 2014: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

"You are children of eternity. Your immortal crown awaits you, and the best of Fathers waits there to reward your duty and love. You may indeed sow here in tears but you may be sure there to reap in joy." - Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

3rd January 2014: The Most Holy Name of Jesus

Saint Alphonsus Liguori

"The name of Jesus is a name of joy when the memory of our sins weighs us down, this name brings back our joy. This mighty name reminds us that the Son of God became man to be our Savior." - Saint Alphonsus Liguori

2nd January 2014: Saints Basil and Gregory

Saint Gregory (left) and Saint Basil (right)

“Dearly beloved, what do you see in these events? Do you really believe that it was by chance that this chosen disciple was absent, then came and heard, heard and doubted, doubted and touched, touched and believed? It was not by chance but in God’s providence. In a marvelous way God’s mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master’s body, should heal our wounds of disbelief. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith is strengthened. So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ’s wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the resurrection.” - Saint Gregory the Great

"As we were baptized, so we profess our belief. As we profess our belief, so also we offer praise. As then baptism has been given us by the Savior, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, so, in accordance with our baptism, we make the confession of the creed, and our doxology in accordance with our creed." - Saint Basil

1st January 2014: Solemnity of our Mother Mary, Mother of God

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

"Let Mary never be far from your lips or your heart. And to obtain the fruit of Her prayers, do not forget the example of Her life. With Her support, you will never fall. Under Her protection, you will never fear. Under Her guidance, you will never tire. And with Her Help, you will reach your Heavenly goal." - Saint Bernard

God's Full of Mercy. Why? He is Love.

Don't miss this annual opportunity out! :)

"You did not see Him, yet you love Him; and still without seeing Hi, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be descried, because you believe; and you are of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9)

It spoke to me so strongly as I still remember that day when I suddenly cried for no reason after Holy Communion. I was happy, rather overjoyed because I knew that I had received Eternal King into my heart and He enthroned upon my heart. I will hold on to that memory and use it as my strength in my future. I will not be intimidated by those who are not affected by God's love, and do not bother to listen to His Commandments. I will fight on and persevere till the end where I achieve the crown of eternal life, the sainthood! Since God loved me so much that He became crazy about my soul that He was willing to be nailed onto the woods for me, why cannot I surely do the same for Him? 

Read the poster above. What a gracious opportunity! Indeed God is full of Mercy. We ought to come to Him in His Mercy before He comes in judgement. All glory belong to God, the Most High! Praised be Jesus and Mary now and forever! Amen.

If I were to die, I would bring the Rosary with me to the grave.

Oh, what a greatest treasure that God has ever given.

I recently received the long waiting email from Dominican superior. Officially, it announced me as a member of Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary. It made me shrieked with joy like an excited kid opening his Christmas present.

Suddenly I found myself in a contemplative reflection as if God was starting to speak to me. My mind reeled back a memory of one word I stumbled upon. (I gotta not spill it out so I will bring it with me to the grave.) Such the word was really simple but so powerful that it gave me ambivalent feelings. I was positive and happy that it helped me pass through some situations easily. At same time, it gave me a feeling that it was going to be my enormous cross. Sometimes I wielded it without my consciousness and people already pointed it out to me. My instinct is telling me that I have to take everything from the Lord as my responsibility. If I can take good times from God, why should I not take hardships from Him too? For my hardship, I want to thank God for my deafness because through it, I have time to converse with Him and Mother Mary. If I were to become a hearing person, I do not think I will be able to have ultra long conversation with Him. I really love our personal chats. Who never wants wise amazing, cool and funny Dad?

Now I am back to my reflection on death. Something told me, "Do you remember that someone coveted blue roses for her future funeral? Now what do you wish for? What do you want to bring with you to the grave?" Out of blue I responded, "The Most Holy Rosary." For I already saw it as a golden treasure glittering with rainbows. Exactly, it is the greatest treasure that God has ever given. I was so sad when the people gave countless excuses not to pray the Rosary with me. For they have neglected such the treasure that bears full of God's Love and Mercy. 

In God's Love, the Rosary holds the universal faith of all Angels, Saints and our Mother Church through our creed. It portrays the lives of our Lord and Mother Mary as our brief yet meaningful bible. It bears Lord's Prayer in which Our Lord intended to teach us so that we can approach Him in Mercy before He comes in Judgement. It bears Angelic Salutation which corresponds to one of Ten Commandments: honor your father and your mother. We imitate our Lord to honor His Mother who art full of grace and is also our Mother. So through Angelic Salutation, we honor Mother Mary through Archangel Gabriel's and Saint Elizabeth's words, and ask Her to pray for us for She is a powerful intercessor and mediator of God. In love, who never ever listens to one's mother? The Wedding of Cana is the proof of our Lord responding to Mother Mary's pleas. Likewise, She can plead for our intentions as long as they cooperate with the salvation of our souls. Even the Angels also honor Her as their Mother for we who will become the Saints, reign in the same places with them one day. Angels are our eldest brothers for they were created in the first place and we worship the very same one God. In doxology, we all give praise, glory and thanksgiving to Holy One Trinitarian God together with all the Angels and Saints. Next, through Salve Regina in the Rosary, we honor Mother Mary for She is a new gracious living Ark of the Covenant that brought our Lord and Saviour to the world. Finally through Her powerful intercession with Angels and Saints, we approach God for the Divine Graces to penetrate the depths of our souls. Ultimately, it leads to God's Love. Blessed be God forever and ever. Praised be Jesus and Mary now and forever! Amen!

Now, do you understand how powerful the Rosary is? Never underestimate and neglect it but pray it with all your heart, mind and strength everyday!