Station of the Cross for Children

So it is Holy Week. I wanted to do something spiritual for a change but I let the opportunity to attend a recollection pass. It was scheduled yesterday and I opted to just stay home and do housework instead. There will be a Pabasa on Thursday and Friday though and I know that we will be there to attend it. It really is different how they observe Holy Week in a foreign land. It is very much different than in the Philippines and although there are some areas that really do observe the Holy Week and perform Passion plays, the atmosphere is just different from what I have been used to as a child.

Looking back at the Catholic traditions that I have grown up to, I feel so blessed and lucky. I also want my daughter to grow up with such kind of experience because it is an important part of our being Catholics and Christians. I guess now that she is a bit bigger, I can slowly teach her about the bible and about who Jesus Christ is. And this Holy Week, I want to do the Stations of the Cross with her. I found this series of videos on YouTube that will just be the perfect material. Then we can all pray together as a family come Good Friday.

Here's the second part of the video. For some reasons, the uploader disabled the embedding of the first and third parts.

Here is wishing everyone a blessed Holy Week and a beautiful Easter celebration.

Tweet

Read more...

Nada Te Turbe

I learned about this song from an aunt friend here in Germany. I haven't heard of this one before so I looked it up on YouTube as she suggested. The song is in the form of a chant, that is why it is famous among the younger generation.

Song:

Nada te turbe, nada t’espante

Quien a Dios tiene, nada le falta

Nada te turbe, nada t’espante

Solo Dios basta.

Translation:

Let nothing disturb you, Nothing dismay you

All things pass, but God never changes

Whoever has God lacks nothing

If you have only God, you have more than enough.

-Teresa of Avila 1515 – 1582-

The choir is composed of monks of the Taizé Community, an ecumenical Christian monastic order in Taizé, Saône-et-Loire, Burgundy, France. It is composed of about 100 brothers who come from Protestant and Catholic traditions. The brothers come from about 30 countries across the world.[1] The monastic order has a strong devotion to peace and justice through prayer and meditation. It was founded in 1940 by Brother Roger Schutz.

The community has become one of the world's most important sites of Christian pilgrimage. Over 100,000 young people from around the world make pilgrimages to Taizé each year for prayer, Bible study, sharing, and communal work. Through the community's ecumenical outlook, they are encouraged to live in the spirit of kindness, simplicity and reconciliation.

Perhaps hubby and I can visit one of these days. Have a good weekend everyone!

Source: en.wikipedia.org

Tweet

Read more...

God Knows Your Needs

Here's a story that is really touching and inspiring. I received this in my Inbox and thought it worth sharing. We may not believe it, but God knows our needs. Take this story for example:

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store.

She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store at once.

Visualizing the family needs, she said: 'Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can.'

John told her he could not give her credit, since she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, 'Do you have a grocery list?'

Louise replied, 'Yes sir.' 'O.K' he said, 'put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.'

Louise hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.

The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.

The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, 'I can't believe it.'

The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more.

The grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement.

It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said:

'Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands.'

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence.

Louise thanked him and left the store. The other customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said; 'It was worth every penny of it. Only God knows how much a prayer weighs.'

Tweet

Read more...

A Parent's Prayer for Children

Here's a prayer for children which I adapted from Catholic Online, for use by the Sto. Nino group. This is a prayer of parents for their children. As parents, it is essential that we teach our children how to pray so that they may grow to have a deep faith in God.

You can also adapt this according to your preference and use your own words. Allow the Holy Spirit to move you and you have a very beautiful and powerful prayer that is coming from the heart.

Prayer for The Children

O Senor Sto. Nino, we commend our children unto thee,
those who are present here before you namely (state name of children)
and those who are in the comfort of their homes.
Grant Senor Sto. Nino, that they may grow
to serve you, love you and know you.
Protect them always from harm, evil and sickness
and watch over them as they grow.
Strengthen them to overcome the corruptions of the world,
to resist all solicitations to evil,
whether from within or without;
and deliver them from the secret snares of the enemy.
Pour Thy grace into their hearts,
and confirm and multiply in them
the gifts of Your Holy Spirit,
that they may daily grow in grace
and in the knowledge of You;
and so, faithfully serve You here,
and may they come to rejoice in Your presence hereafter.

O Senor Sto. Nino, who has given unto us these children,
and committed them to our charge to bring them up for Thee,
and to prepare them for eternal life:
help us with Thy heavenly grace, that we, as parents,
may be able to fulfill this most sacred duty and stewardship.
Teach us what to give and what to withhold;
when to reprove and when to forbear;
make us to be gentle, yet firm;
considerate and watchful;
and deliver us equally from the weakness of indulgence,
and the excess of severity;
and grant that, both by word and example,
we may be careful to lead them in the ways of wisdom
and true piety, so that at last we may, with them,
be admitted to the unspeakable joys of our true home in heaven,
in the company of the blessed Angels and Saints.

Amen.

Source: http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=71

Tweet

Read more...

Thanksgiving and Inspirations

I would like start the week with thanksgiving for all the blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon me and my family.

I thank God for the good health that we enjoy.
I thank God for giving us a home to keep us safe and warm.
I thank God for blessing us with food on our table,
and clothes on our backs.
I thank God for keeping our family together always, despite challenges.
I thank God for protecting us always from harm and evil.
I thank God for the love that He never ceases to give.
I thank God for the many things, wonderful or difficult,
that He sent our way.
I thank God for always hearing our prayers.
I thank God for our lives, for this day, for yesterdays
and for tomorrows.
Thank you Lord for EVERYTHING!

And thanks also to Ate Chris for thinking me Inspirational!
God bless you and your family more!

Tweet

Read more...

Mary Did Not Complain

The Pieta at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican, Rome depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus Christ.

She said YES to the call of God despite her fears and gave birth in a manger.
Yet she never complained.
She worried over Jesus and had to give him up for the sake of others who needed him most.
Yet she never complained.
She witnessed the suffering and death of her son during His passion.
Yet she never complained.

I had dishes to do, a baby to attend to, a house to keep, laundry to wash and press, bed to make, blogs to write, budget to manage and all other mundane things that a wife and a mother has to do in this world and I (most of the time) COMPLAIN. And I should be ashamed. Because compared to Mary, all my cares and troubles are miniscule.

Meditating on the life of Mary through the Holy Rosary made me realize how selfless, how loving, how giving she was. She didn't care much for herself and served God with all her heart and with all her soul. May I be able to do all these things and more with love and happiness knowing that I serve my family and the Lord for His greater glory. I admit I am no superhero, but for the sake of my family, may I be the Supermom and Superwife that they deserve.

Tweet

Read more...

God's Word Is Forever

This bible verse from Isaiah 40:8 tells us that even if all things fade from this world, His word remains. It reminds us that all the material things in this world are temporary so that when all else is gone, our loving God remains for us and with us.

Lord, may I never be too occupied of the things of this world that it takes up all of my time. Grant me the grace to seek you in the things that I do and to find the time to pray and read your Holy Bible. Grant me the understanding as I read each word so that I may share your Light to others. Amen.

Tweet

Read more...

Love Thy Neighbor

It was a Saturday evening. Hubby went out to go karting, as what he usually does on Saturdays. We didn't go with him though and decided to just stay at home because Sam just recovered from her ear infection.

I looked out our window and noticed that our balcony is wet... and water is trickling down from above. I thought it was raining hard again and so I went out. The odd thing was that only our side of the balcony is wet and the adjacent ones are dry. Hmmm... I thought, "So the neighbors on the floor above decided to clean their balcony, wash off the dirt with water and just allowed the water to trickle... Tsk! Tsk!" Good thing I had no laundry to dry that day, otherwise, they would get soiled and wet.

Then my door bell rang. I looked out the peephole to see who it was. It couldn't be hubby. It is too soon for him to be home. And I wasn't expecting any visitors. Then I saw a woman who looked quite furious and impatient. I nervously opened the door and asked what it was she needed or was looking for. Furiously, she ranted in German about something gone "kaput" and "wasser im balkon!" and "Jetzt!". She must have said a lot of things but I only understood those few words. And I told that I didn't water my plants just now and raised my hand up to indicate that the people from the 5th floor did it. I kept shaking my head saying "Nein, nein..." and when she gave up, figuring out that I couldn't understand her, she gave. Then I said "Enschuldigung..." which meant "I'm sorry..."

I was terrified when I closed the door. The Germans are really a brave lot, at least the person who came to my door was. I know I had every right to be indignant of her accusations but I cannot defend myself using their language. But then again, she was furious too because something was ruined because of the water. I prayed for an understanding heart as I remembered what Jesus said, "Love thy neighbor."

Tweet

Read more...

Forgetful

I don't know if this is the proper venue to write my thoughts... but lately, I have been forgetful. At first, it was just small things like forgetting to bring my keys, or forgetting to cook rice for dinner or forgetting to bring enough milk and wipes for my baby during a vacation. Then, it became bigger and more serious like forgetting to bring my alien registration card with me each time I go out, forgetting to check out of the hotel and worse, forgetting my wedding and engagement bands at the hotel! Oh yes, I just did the UNFORGIVABLE. It is not the material things that were forgotten that has made it so but the manner with which I seem to take things too easily and matter-of-factly.

I have never been myself lately and I know I have caused too many disappointments and too many heartaches to the people surrounding me. I have been stressed out, too busy to even pray seriously, too proud to bend and give way to the other, too angry and too exhausted to the point that I can no longer do something worthwhile. My mind is a pool of hate-words, doubts and dark thoughts, it became painful to think at all. This just isn't me. And I wish to become the person I was before all the bitterness and remorse - patient, understanding, soft-spoke, humble, submissive, thoughtful, careful, sweet and gentle.

Lord, please help me. I love my family, my husband, my baby and I know that I have hurt them very badly. Please grant me O Lord, a patient heart and a wise mind... that I may never be too quick with words but patient and trusting with your will. Bless me Lord, with your patience and understanding so that I may never be too quick to lash out in anger. Please forgive me and help me to forgive myself so that I may forgive others too.

This is NOT me, Lord. Please , lead me back to the Light so that I may never forget anymore nor take things forgranted.

This is my prayer... and I hope you hear and answer me.

Tweet

Read more...

Patient Trust

Above all, trust in the slow work of God
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through
some stages of instability -
and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you.
your ideas mature gradually - let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.

- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ

This is such a very profound prayer by Fr. Pierre. Reflecting on his words, it beckons me to continue to be patient with God and to completely trust that all things will just fall into place in His Time.

Like all living things, we must allow our plans, our experiences, our dreams, our hopes and aspirations to gradually mature and grow within us and lift them up to God. Because in life, there are no shortcuts nor quick detours. Quick fix solutions do not really improve or solve things... they only numb and give temporary relief. Only in God's leading and able hands are we able to feel contentment and satisfaction and the relief that no other worldly thing can ever give.

So trust in Him. And be patient. And in this Christmas season, may the joy and glory and excitement of the advent season remind us how patient Our Father had been with us. All these years, he had been patient with us.

Isn't it about time we put our trust in Him for a change?

God bless you.

Tweet

Read more...

God of My Life

Only in love can I find you, my God.
In love the gates of my soul spring open,
allowing me to breathe a new air of freedom
and forget my own petty self.In love my whole being streams forth
out of the rigid confines of narrowness and anxious self-assertion,
which makes me a prisoner of my own poverty and emptiness.
In love all the powers of my soul flow outward to you,
wanting never more to return, but to lose themselves completely in you,
since by your love you are the inmost center of my heart,
closer to me than I am to myself.

But when I love you,when I manage to break out of the narrow cirle of self
and leave behind the restless agony of unanswered questions,
when my blinded eyes no longer look merely from afar
and from the outside upon your unapproachable brightness,
and much more when you yourself, O Incomprehensible One,
have become through love the inmost center of my life,
then I can bury myself entirely in you, O mysterious God,
and with myself all my questions.
- Karl Rahner SJ

This is a Jesuit prayer so profound and full of faith and love in God that simply explains that only in love can man find God. I really love the words in this prayer as they are very powerful and can really be felt. I hope I had Fr. Rahner's eloquent words to express my love for God yet words seem to abandon me. Perhaps it is because I have not really and totally surrendered myself to Him who is Mysterious and All-Knowing. As a Christian, I still consider myself as lacking or inadequate in faith. I admit I still have a lot to learn and the journey is still long until I can finally say that I have buried myself entirely in God. I am still seeking for answers to the many questions in life. It is said that if you entrust everything to God, then you need not ask questions but instead, completely give Him control of your life. But human as I am, I still have the tendency to reason and choose my will over God's. I know I still have a lot to learn. And I know that I have to one day break out of my narrow-mindedness and allow God to rule in my life so that I may totally feel His Most Sacred Love for me.

May God bless us always.

Tweet

Read more...

The Sacred Gateway

In our busy lives, we sometimes fail to stop and pause for a while to pray. I have found this perfect site, SacredGateway, where one can pray in front of the computer. It explains that one need not pray only in the premises of a church or in the privacy of your room because God is everywhere and He is present among us. Do not be ashamed. Even when in the office, you can create your own sacred space for just 10 minutes online. A prayer is just what you need to kickstart your day. With God present in your life, what could go wrong?

Tweet

Read more...

Praying with Jesuits: the Anima Christi

Soul of Christ

Jesus, may all that is you flow into me.
May your body and blood be my food and drink.
May your passion and death be my strength and life.
Jesus, with you by my side enough has been given.
May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross.
Let me not run from the love which you offer,
But hold me safe from the forces of evil.
On each of my dyings shed your light and your love.
Keep calling to me until that day comes,
When, with your saints, I may praise you forever. Amen.

- David L. Fleming SJ

Note: Every Saturday, beginning today, I will be posting Jesuit prayers that have touched me deeply and helped me in my journey as a Christian and Catholic. It is my hope and prayer that through this Praying with Jesuits prayers, your lives may be touched as well. May your days be blessed! AMDG.

Tweet

Read more...