3 O'clock Prayer to the Divine Mercy

" You died Jesus, but the source of life flowed out for souls and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O fountain of life, immeasurable Divine Mercy, cover the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us."


"O Blood and Water which flowed out from the heart of Jesus a s a Fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in you!"

"Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy on us and on the whole world." (3X) Amen.

Jesus King of Mercy, we trust in You!

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Part II Dignity of the Human Person

Human dignity as defined by wikipedia, is an expression that can be used as a moral concept or as a "Legal term". Sometimes it means no more than that; human beings should not be treated as Objects. Beyond this, it is meant to convey an idea of absolute and inherent worth that does not need to be acquired and cannot be lost or sold.

The society that we live in

In a society where most people are always oblivious to progress and be elevated above the rest, there are times, that out of neglect, we tend to over look that out of disregard to possible consequences of our actions, chances are we can step on the toes of others who are far more less privilege than us, without us even noticing and totally not even knowing it.

In a third world capitalist country like ours, there is always this tendency for the rich to become richer and the poor becoming poorer, since most of the time, only the rich and powerful has the capacity to avail of all the good things that this world can give.

Take for example, in terms of education that is considered to be the foundation of every society. A poor man if he has something to spare to afford it, can only go to a government funded institution where most of the time lacks the capacity to provide the needed quality education, compared to a rich man who had studied in a well known institution. When both of them graduates and applies for a job, which to you think would be hired?

So saddening to say, but I guess the old saying " a man's lost can be someone else gain" is true.

Although, there were times that a poor man out of his conviction can really attain a great level of success, if we are to compare their numbers to the people who always manages to get left behind, they number only but few.

With this kind of unbalanced treatment and views between the rich and the poor by the very society in itself, a poor man's chances of uplifting his status in life, tends to become lesser and lesser compared to what a rich man can have. This is the reason why a factory worker can only become a supervisor at the time of his retirement and never have the chance of becoming a manager, not because he does not deserve it, but because he never was given the chance to be one from the very start, to begin with.

Poverty the greatest cause for the total disregard of Human Dignity

 

Given the status that the members of the lower class of society are into, who would not aspire to be lifted up from the state that they are currently in?

Just Imagine a man from the lower class wanting to be accepted into a higher class of society, or maybe a man who is already in the upper class and doesn't want to go down in to a level lower than where he is.

Well in truth, there is nothing wrong when it comes to aspiring and having an ambition, it is the method we choose and the path that we take, that will determine whether it is moral or immoral.

If both man succumbs to lust and greed and uses every possible means to achieve their goal, then there is that great chance of them committing an abuse out of total disregard of human dignity and the true value of life. 

And who among the members of our society would easily fell pray to their ambitions? Who else? But the poorest among the poor, those people who would do anything just to survive.

The two men abusing and taking full advantage of the others condition because of their lust and greed and the others allowing themselves to be abused because they needed to survive.

With the kind of state that most of the lower class of our society is into, most of them, would be far more willing do anything just to get out of the state that they are in, even if would mean giving up their own moral values, thus, their very own dignity.

This is one of those reasons why we could see teenage girls as young as 16 forging their dates of birth so that they could work in a bar populated by men with lusting eyes towards them. This is also one of those reasons why we could see teenage boys working in hazardous environments, quarrying stones, diving for pearls disregarding their own safety so that they could have something to eat for a day instead of studying in school.

Money is not the root of all evil; it is our lust and greed for it that makes it evil.

Lust and greed is the reason behind our high ambitions, it is this evil that forces us to disregard the true value of human life and the dignity that comes with it.

It is this evil that makes us blind that out of our high ambition, we are not only stepping on others people toe, but we are actually robbing them of their greatest gift, the dignity of their human life.

Part III Our role as members of this society

Part 1: A man with robbed dignity, a reason for abuse?

(A series about abuses deeply rooted in mans lost of dignity and value to human life)

Abuses on people (relatives, friends, children, old men and women) to animals, to nature, how many times had we seen and heard of these in the news? 

In a third world country like ours, news about these many forms of abuses being committed daily is no longer unusual. Since to hear and read them in the news is already a part of a reality that most of our people are aware of, but always tends to ignore.

Why? In truth I could not really say, but allow me to recall what had happened in the last 30 years or so…

What we had gone through

Thirty more or less years ago, because of a man’s lust for power and fame, our country has been enslaved not by other nationalities but buy a single man’s ambition.

Thrown into poverty for more than twenty years with human rights being violated from every corner of our land, our natural resources being sold to other countries, our people, especially those who live in the far flung areas of the provinces were merely taken for granted and left with themselves, leaving them with almost nothing that they could claim to own.

The result of this was an armed revolution that even to date is considered to be a major problem by every leader that comes into office. A problem that has divided our people for more than twenty years that even becomes more difficult to address as the years goes by.

February 26, 1986

After the world’s famous Peaceful EDSA revolution, that was started by then Gen. Fidel Ramos and Juan Ponce Enrile, backed by a call from the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, for all our countrymen to unite and end the tyranny of a man who has been in power for more than twenty years, a widow of a slain Former Senator, Cory Aquino came into power.

With full hope and trust from the people that placed her in power, her government started reforms in the way our country is supposed to be run by its leaders. Armed with a New Constitution, slowly our country restarted to shape its new destiny.

At the end of her term a new leader came to power, in the person of a former military man, one of the leader of the peaceful revolution , Gen. Fidel V. Ramos. As President, he made reforms and made known to the world our workforce competitiveness in terms of our skills that made our country more competitive with other nation. At the end of his term, our country was already moving forward, we were even called a tiger cub of Asia.

Alas, his term ended and a new leader was elected, a leader elected by mere popularity by the masses, a leader trusted by the ordinary people because of his promises of “a better life.”

As it turned out, this President that promised heaven to these ordinary people betrayed their trust, with cabinet meetings turning out to a mere drinking and gambling sessions, the country that we had hoped to move forward, halted, all in a sudden. 

Today we had a new leadership, though her mandate is still clouded by doubt, if the news articles were correct and contains the truth, our country is slowly gaining its pace, slowly, but at least moving forward.

Causal effect

Throughout these events in our history, we, as a people without realizing it, had started to loose something within us, that, sad to say, most of us were not even aware of. With most of our population thrown into complete poverty, some of us had already lost the character that has made our nation strong in the past.

After the EDSA revolution, what most people had thought was, that they were able to remove a tyrant, what most of them had failed to realize was how a single man's ambition had change the views of the society that we lived in, not because the society believed nor rejected him, but because of the causal effect of what he has done.

Our diligence, patience, patriotism, faith in God….our dignity…value for life...was slowly taken away. To some of us, we had already started to loose most of it, and for most of us, we had already lost it.

The dignity that makes every man, a person and unique, was attacked and slowly taken away not directly, but indirectly, not only by the man accused of tyranny, but also by the few others who had manage to stay in power, and continuously lust for power, fame and fortune.

“The end does not justify the means”

Slowly robbed of their dignity and thrown into complete poverty, coupled with deficiencies in basic services such as health, education, and basic infrastructures that our government continuously fails to provide to people who lives in the far flung areas of our country, due to whatever reasons that only the people in our government knows off, but mostly caused by corruption within the government. Most of the people, especially the masses and the poorest among the poor, easily fell pray to unscrupulous individuals whose only aim is to take advantage of their grave situation.

How many times had we seen in some documentaries children in hard labor, diving for pearls, quarrying stones, entering dangerous mines, just to earn something for the day and help their own families?

How many times have we seen young women promised with a job in the cities and yet forced into prostitution rescued by people who believes in human dignity and value of human life?

How many times had we seen and heard landslides, soil erosions, fish kills, red tides, occurring in areas abused merely for profit? How many lives have been lost because of these abuses?

How many times had most of these people decided to sell their votes during election periods? how many times had these people voted for electoral candidates due to popularity?

How many of these people had eventually allowed themselves to be manipulated and be used by men in power and authority who wanted to protect their own interest and to prevent others from taking away from them their power, fame and fortune?

Too much to say, but with poverty being given as their greatest reason, can we really blame them?

The reason why most these people were abused, is not only because they were force against their will, but most of the time, they just openly allowed themselves to be abused without even realizing it, mainly due to their hope that what ever they have decided to do now, will help them getaway from their present situation and have a better life.

Not totally realizing that their end, no matter how good will it be, will never be justified by their means...

Not totally realizing that as they do so, they were not only allowing themselves to be used and abused by these people who only care for themselves, but also slowly allowing them to take away their very own dignity.

But again, if we are on their shoes, can we really blame them?

Next topic: Dignity of a human person

God Bless

Prayer for Peace

by: David Haas

Peace before us, peace behind us,
peace under our feet.
Peace within us, peace over us,
let all around us be peace.

Love before us, love behind us,
Love under our feet.
Love within us, love over us,
let all around us be love.

Light before us, light behind us,
light under our feet.
Light within us, light over us,
let all around us be light.

Christ before us, Christ behind us,
Christ under our feet.
Christ within us, Christ over us,
let all around us be Christ.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia

Peace before us, peace behind us,
peace under our feet.
Peace within us, peace over us,
let all around us be peace.


From the Album
Himig - Heswita Your Dwelling Place

Bloggers Unite and Stop Abuse

On Thursday, September 27, 2007, bloggers around the globe, who believes in peace and who would like to voice their concerns regarding abuses made by man, will be united in posting topics whose aim is to stop these abuses.

I, my self will be posting about it and you can join us too, for more information you can visit Blogcatalog.com

P3L4 - Man's Response to God

Part 3 Man's Response to God: Following Jesus Christ
Lesson 4 The Church in God's Plan

Lesson Objectives:

1. To awaken an appreciation of the Church as "the pillar and bulwark of truth" (1 Tim 3:15);

2. To forge an understanding that through the Church, "God has seen to it that what He had revealed for the salvation of all nations would abide perpetually in its full integrity and be handed on to all generations" (Dei Verbum II:7);

3. To Enhance the knowledge that the transmission and interpretation of Divine Revelation was faithfully fulfilled by the Apostles through oral and written preaching; and

4. To introduce the essence of the Church's mission to spread the Kingdom of Christ over all the earth so that all members of the Church share in this mission.

Scriptural Reading:
1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Topics for Discussion:

1. the Church's origin, foundation and mission

a. A plan born in the Father's heart

b. The Church:

- foreshadowed from the world's beginning
- prepared for in the Old Covenant
- instituted by Christ Jesus
- revealed by the Holy Spirit
- perfected in glory

2. Transmitter and interpreter of Divine Revelation

a. the Apostolic Tradition

b. The relation ship between Sacred Tradition and the Sacred Scriptures

c. the interpretation of the heritage of faith

- The Magisterium of the Church

3. One Holy Catholic and Apostolic

References:

Cathechism of the Catholic Church

Points of Reflections:

Jesus Formed a community around Himself , animated it, and then left it His word, His Spirit, and the Eucharist. Church is not about a few like minded persons getting together for mutual support; it is about millions of different kinds of persons transcending their differences so as to become a community beyond temperament, race ideology, gender, language and background. What does it mean to you to be "church"?

P2L3 - Christ Jesus: Mediator

Part 2 The Call to Holiness
Lesson 3 Christ Jesus: Mediator and Fullness of all Revelation
Lesson Objective:

To ascertain that "the deepest truth about God and the salvation of man shines out for our sake n Christ, who is both the mediator and the fullness of all Revelation" (Dei Verbum 1.2).

Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 1:1-4

Topics for Discussion:
1. God has said everything in His Word
- Revelation itself
2. There will be no further Revelation
3. The Good News: JESUS CHRIST

- The Only Son of God

- True God and True Man

References:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum)

Points of Reflection:
Reflect on this passage: "...And from this fullness have we all received, grace upon grace" (Jn :16). Ponder this truth in your personal life. Do you recognize your blessedness in Jesus Christ or do you find it difficult to acknowledge it? Why?

P2L2 - God Comes to Meet Man

Part 2 The Call to Holiness
Lesson 2 God comes to meet man


Objectives:

-To Illustrate the substance of a well-founded acknowledgement that the call to hoiliness is God's initiative; and
- to establish an awareness of God's revelation of himself to make known His hidden purpose and invitation to share in His fellowship.

Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 2:1-10 (From death to life)


Topics for Discussion:

1. God comes to meet man -- the Revelation of God

a. Ways of coming to know God
b. God reveals His plan of loving goodness
c. The Stage of Revelation

- In the beginning God makes Himself known
- Man in the image of God
- The fall
- The covenant with Noah
- God chooses Abraham
- God forms His people Israel

2. The call to holiness

a. Scriptural bases
b. Called to holiness
c. The life of holiness in the world


References

Catechism of the Catholic Church
Apostolic Exhortation on the Vocation and the Mission of the Lay
Faithful in the Church and in the World Christifidelis Laici 17


Points for Reflection
Vatican II categorically affirms: "Neither family concerns nor other secular affairs should be excluded from their (Lay faithful) religious program of life."
Look into your daily activities and conceive them as an occasion to join yourself to God in fulfillment of His will.
How do you reckon yourself being sanctified in your everyday professional and social life?

*****************************************************************************
Journal Second Formation Proper


Scriptural Reflections

Though I am a sinner, and really do not deserve God, out of His love for me, He has given His Son, so that I can receive the grace of salvation and be saved from sins so long that I remain united with Jesus, the Christ.



Knowing God through His Revelation

Out of God's true love for us, He has revealed himself and made a covenant with man, to save us from the sin that causes death, contracted by our first parents by their disobedience to God, which we had inherited from birth.

Through, His covenant with man (Noah and Abraham), He made His preparation to form His people Israel, where from the descendant of David, His only begotten Son, Jesus, will be born to fulfill His plan of Salvation.

Because of this, all of us who were save by Christ with His Blood are called upon to live in holiness, in order to unite with Jesus and receive the grace of salvation, and Me, as a Secular Carmelite, I am called upon to become a living example of how to live in unity with Jesus in the Secular world.

If I Could Touch You

By: M.V. Francisco, SJ


If I Could touch You, I'd heal Your broken palms.
If I could hold You in my arms,
I'd call the soft breeze to caress Your weary arms.
I'd call a moonbeam to dispel this darkness nights.
If I could touch You, I would.


If I could hear You, Your words of anguish.
If You'll just whisper in my ear
The sadness, weighing down Your heart that no man sees.
If You just call me, I would sing of flaming hope.
If I could hear You, I would.


Refrain:


Long have I waited for you to hear My cry.
Long have I waited for you to answer My plea.
What you do to your brethren, you do it for Me,
I am in the brokenness and woundedness of man. (Ref.)


Yes, you can touch Me.
I'm in the least of your brethren;
I'm in the weak and small.
I need your hands to bear My weary arms.
I need your touch to heal My wounded palms.
Yes, you can touch Me.
Yes, you can touch Me.

From the Album
Himig Heswita - Your Dwelling Place

This inspiring music tells us that we can help ease Jesus' sufferings on the cross by learning to ease the sufferings of our brethren. Showing how much we love God by loving our neighbors.

The Blog Author

How I came to Know Carmel of the Holy Spirit

I never believed in coincidence and never will, it is my belief that when things happens there is always a purpose, and what ever that purpose is, it is for me to find out.

Though I had already heard of the Carmelites at Subic, I never went there since we transferred from Quezon City to San Marcelino, Zambales until one day…

It all happened last year, in the month of July 2006, during those times when my mother was still undergoing purification (bed ridden. she passed away two months later ) and I had a heavy heart and was about to go to Olongapo and meet a relative of ours.  Prior to this I decided to drop by at St. Nicholas Parish, Castillejos to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, unluckily for me the Parish Priest was not available.

I was really troubled then as I traveled from Castillejos to Olongapo, so I decided to pray the rosary. Then, as I pass by the Shrine of our Lady of the Miraculous Medal at Subic Hills, something within me made me remember the Carmelites, since I’m not really familiar of its location, though I do know I will pass by it before Subic town proper, I just could not help the feeling to drop by the place for some unknown reasons.

Then there it was, I stopped the bus and hurried down and move towards the entrance, though I’m not really sure if I will be able to enter the place, I just move towards it.  

Upon entry, I could see there were no people around the place, but in a distant I saw two figures talking. I decided to move towards them thou I’m not really sure why I went there in the first place.

I found out later that the figures I saw was a common visitor of the Carmelites and a nun talking. After the visitor had left the nun faced me and asked me If there’s anything that she could do to help me (she thought that I was a seminarian) since it’s the first time she saw me in the place.

I never knew what happened then, I just found my self crying my heart out and telling her my hurt, fears and anguish, she just listened and said some consoling words, then afterwards she asked me if I wanted to pray at the Chapel, I said yes and she pointed me to a make shift chapel, since the Carmelite Chapel is still undergoing renovation at that time (although we are already using the chapel now, the "finishing" part of the structure has not started yet). 

Before I entered the Chapel there I saw the image of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (I never knew until that day that St. Therese whom I pray to from time to time was a Carmelite). I stayed in the chapel for some time then of I go to Olongapo, had my confession and then met my relatives.

After that experience, for some unknown reason I started attending mass every morning…yes… at Carmel of the Holy Spirit, Subic. 

Until one day it was early August of the same year, I was invited by then  OCDS President, Hon. Judge Leonardo Afable (He’s no longer the Community President after serving the Community for how many terms, he eventually died and left to meet our Father in Heaven in 2008 ) to attend one of their monthly meetings. 

I never had any Idea nor even heard the acronym OCDS, until that day, and the rest were history…

Our Identity

Our Identity

We, the members of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS) are faithful members of the Catholic Church, who are called upon to "live in allegiance to Jesus Christ" through "friendship with the One we know loves us" and in service to the Church, under the protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the biblical tradition of the prophet Elijah, inspired by the teachings of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross and who are seeking to deepen our Christian commitment received in baptism.

How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place

(Based from psalm 84)
By: Arnel dC. Aquino

Refrain:
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord, mighty God, Lord of all.

I.

Even the lowly sparrow finds a home for her brood
And the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young;
In your altars my King and my God.
(Ref)

II.

Blessed are they whose dwelling is Your own, Lord of Peace.
Blest are they, refreshed by springs and by rain when dryness daunts and scathes.
Behold my shield, my King and my God.
(Ref)

III.

I would forsake a thousand other days anywhere
If I can spend one day in Your courts, belong to You alone.
My strenght are You alone.
My glory, my King and my God.


From the album
Himig Heswita - Your Dwelling Place

This music focuses on the beauty of God's Dwelling place, that everyone no longer needs to find anywhere, for the true dwelling place of God lies within us.

The Blog Author

Huwag Limutin

By: Arnel dC. Aquino, SJ

I.
H'wag limutin nakaraang araw,
sariwain kahit balik tanaw.
Takipsilim di man mapigilan,
sandali lang ang dilim.

II.
'Yong bilangin and bawa't sandaling
kagalaka'y wari'y walang patid.
Magkasama tayo sa pagsapit
ng 'sang langit sa daigdig.

Koro:

Minamahal kitang tunay
ang tinig Ko sa'yo'y bubuhay.
Sambitin mo ang aking himig
at Ako sa iyo'y aawit

III.
Alaala ng pag kakaibigan,
sa puso itago't ingatan.
Sa pagsilay ng bukas tingnan,
ala-ala't puso'y iisa!

From the album
The Best of Himig Heswita

This music tells us the presence of God in our everyday life, that we tend to forget, that God has been with us, with us and will be with us forever.

The Blog Author

Hesus ng aking Buhay

By: Arnel dC. Aquino, SJ

Sikat ng umaga, buhos ng ulan,simoy ng dapit hapon, sinag ng buwan;
batis na malinaw, dagat na bughaw.
Gayon ang Panginoon kong Hesus ng aking buhay.

Koro:

Saan man ako bumaling, Ika'y naroon,tumalikod man sa 'Yo,
dakilang pag-ibig Mo sa akin tatawag at magpapaalalang
ako'y iyong ginigiliw at siyang itatapat sa puso.

Tinig ng kaibigan, oyayi ng ina pangarap ng ulila,
bisig ng dukha ilaw ng may takot, ginhawa ng aba
Gayon ang Panginoon kong Hesus ng aking buhay

From the album
The Best of Himig Heswita

This music reminds us that God constantly follows and calls us to return and be with Him.
 
The blog author

An experience to Remember - 2nd Monthly Meeting, May

I just remembered posting this in my friendster blog. Thought It might be good to post it here too.

Here it is.

Well, yesterday we 'just had our last monthly community meeting, and guess what?.. just had an experience, that I do believe is worth sharing. (Well, at least for those who would really be interested in reading shared stories. :))

This morning, just after we had our morning break, a Carmelite Brother, who happens to be visiting our community, asked us if he could share to us, to as little as 15 minutes some of his experiences as a Carmelite Brother. Well, privileged as we are,our community President agreed.  Thus, this is where the sharing begins.

His name is Bro. Dominic Escorpizo, OCD (I really do not know how to spell his name, so if anyone reading this thinks I'm wrong, just e-mail me so that I could make the necessary corrections. :)) and he belongs to the (well, he himself said it) the group of endangered species (joking.... he's a Carmelite Brother... now a days for most seminarians, the reason why they entered seminary is because they wanted to be a Priest. Well for him he's a brother, (counter part of nuns, at least in a sense...) and for OCD Philippines, there are only 7 of them remaining.)

To make the story short, Bro. Dominic shared his life for about 15-20 mins, frankly there was really nothing unusual about the things that he shared to us. Well, at least for me... What cached my attention though was the fact that as he shares his experience as a Carmelite Brother, one could easily notice that most of us present and listening to him were teary eyed.  His wonderful experience with God was one reason, but for me, it's because of his simplicity and God's presence in Him that really struck me so hard.

For really, it will not be very hard to see and feel this. For the feeling of a "something that is moving" when ever he speaks was so strong that you'll never be able to deny it.  A feeling that would definitely move a person, not because he was a good speaker nor because of the story that he was telling, but merely because of a presence, a presence so powerful that though one could not really see it, you'll be able to feel it coming at you, a presence so intense that the only thing I could do and think off at that time was how privileged a man he was, for what God has just given him....

Truly God is present in every one... He's always with us, just as He promised.

The question now that comes to my mind though,is if God's presence can also be felt by others when I'm with them?

The answer... I'm not really sure...

What about you?......

Another Inspiring story #3

Again another forwarded story, this story will ask you to choose among two possible options, either you delete or forward this e-mailed story.

Well, as you might had guessed, I made a third option, instead of forwarding or deleting it, I'm posting it on my blog...

What will be your choice?

Read on...


Subject: Two choices
What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child."

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ... The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!"

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world".

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.

If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the "appropriate" ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the "natural order of things." So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward

May your day, be a Shay Day.


or you follow mine...

In Christ.

Note: All highlighted text are mine the rest are from the author...

First Monthly Meeting, September

 

Today after our morning prayers, and after having our breakfast, we were grouped to form a Small Teresian Community (STC). 

The goal of the commnity is to develop bonding between members by meditating on the writings of the Saints of Carmel and or the Holy Scripture.

We also talked about the support that our community needs to provide for a Small Teresian Community at Sta. Cruz, Zambales.

Another concern, that I had brought about was matters about our formation, since for the second time around we had not touched nor even continued our structured formation, and come by October (next month), we're supposed to be clothed to formally enter the novitiate.

Aside from this, the availability of the necessary reading materials that we must read is another problem that needs to be dealt with by the community. Since, I was only able to barrow the book that we used for our formation today, this will be the only time that I'll be able to read it in full.

Anyway, I do hope that we'll be able to overcome this hurdle, before October comes, with God's guidance, nothing is impossible.

In Christ.

Another Inspiring Story

This is another story forwarded to me. I hope you enjoy reading and learn from it as I had...


THE GIFT
By: Bo Sanchez

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months hehad admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him.

He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angrily,he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible? and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him sincethat graduation day.

Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care ofthings.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he openedthe Bible and began to turn the pages.

His father had carefully underlined a verse: Matt 7:11, "And if ye, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly father which is in heaven,give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words... PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

I trust you enjoyed this.

Pass it on to others. Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for...

IF YOUR GIFT IS NOT PACKED THE WAY YOU WANT IT, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS BETTER PACKED THAT WAY!
ALWAYS APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS; THEY USUALLY LEAD YOU TO ATTACHMENTS!

Pls send this to other people so as to let this great lessons flow around.... God Bless you Folks!!

Note: All highlighted text are mine.

An Inspiring Story

When I opened my Gmail account a few moments ago, I found a message forwarded to me by a friend. I was really touched by the story it contains that I've decided to post it here.

Here it is...

Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, there lived a fourth grader boy who would follow this route to school everyday: He has to cross the ruggedplains and cross the dangerous highway where vehicles are recklesslydriving to and from.Once past this highway, the boy would take a short cut, passing by the Church every morning just to say Hi to God, and faithfully say his,"Magandang umaga po" in Bicol dialect.

He was faithfully being watchedby a Priest who was happy to find innocence so uplifting in themorning,"Kamusta, Andoy? Papasok ka na?""Opo padre ... "he would flash his innocent grin, the priest would betouched. He was so concerned that one day he talked to Andoy. "From school...", he advised "Do not cross the highway, you can passthrough the Church and I can accompany you to the other side of theroad...that way I can see that you are home safe...." "Thank you father ... ""Why don't you go home ... why do you stay inthis church right after school?""I just want to say ' Hi' to my friend, God," and the priest would leave the boy to spend time beside the altar,talking to himself, but the priest was hiding behind the altar to listent o what this boy has to say to his heavenly FATHER.

"You know my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did not cheat
although my seatmate is bullying me for notes...
I ate one cracker and drank my water, Itay had a bad season and all I can eat is this cracker.
Thank you for this!
I saw a poor kitten who was hungry and I know how he feels so I gave my last cracker to him ... funny but I am not that hungry.
Look, this is my last pair of slippers ...
I may have to walk barefoot next week, you see this is about to be broken...
but it is okay....at least I am stll going to school....

Some say we will have a hard season this month, some of my classmates have already stopped going to school ....
please help them get to school again, please God?
...Oh, you know, Inay hit me again, it is painful, but I know this pain will pass away, at least I still have a mother....
God, you want to see my bruises? I know you can heal them.... Here... here and .... oh...blood...I guess you knew about this one huh? Please don't be mad at Inay, she is just tired and she worries for the food in our table and my schooling that is why she hits us....

Oh, I think I am in love ... there's this pretty girl in my class, her name is Anita ... do you think she will like me? Anyway, at least I know you will always like me, I don't have to be anybody just to please you, you are my very best friend!
Hey your birthday is two days from now!!! Aren't you excited? I am! Wait till you see, I have a gift for you .....
but it is a surprise! I hope you will like it! Oooops, I have to go ..."

Then he stood up and calls out, "Padre, padre, I am finished talking to my friend....
youcan accompany me to the other side of the road now"

This routine happens everyday. Andoy never fails. Father Agaton shares this every Sunday to the people in his church because he has not seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very positive look at negative situations. One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he could not make it in the Church, he was sent to the hospital.

The Church was left to 4 manangs who would chant the rosary in 1000 miles per hour, would not smile and would always find fault in what you do, they were also very well versed in cursing if you irritate them! They were kneeling, saying their kilometric rosary when Andoy, coming from his Christmas party,playfully dashed in.

"Hello God! I ......" "P----!! (a curse) bata ka!! Alam mo nang may nagdadasal!! Alis!!"
Poor Andoy was so terrified, "Where's Father Agaton? He is supposed to help me cross the street ... and to be able to cross the street I will have to pass by the back door of this church ...not only that, I have to greet Jesus. It is His birthday, I have a gift right here...."
Just as he was about to get the gift out of his in shirt, the manang pulled his shirt and threw him out of the church. "Susmaryosep!!! (does the sign of the cross fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung hindi matatamaan ka!!!

So the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous side of the road in front of the church. He crossed. A fast moving bus came in. There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting his gift inside his shirt, so he was not looking. There was so little time. Andoy died on the spot lot of people crowded the poor boy, the body of a lifeless young boy...

Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in a pure white shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full of tears... He came and carried the boy in His arms. He was crying. Curious bystanders nudged the man in white, and asked,"Excuse me sir, are you related to this child?Do you know this child?" The man in white, His face mourning and\n in agony, looked up and answered, "He was my best friend .... " was all he said. He took the badly wrapped gift in the bloody chest of the lifeless boy, and placed it near His heart.He stood up and carried the boy away and they both disappeared in sight. The crowd was curious ...

On Christmas Eve, Father Agaton learned of the shocking news. He visited the house, and wanted to verify about the man in white. He consulted the parents of Andoy. "How did you know that your son died?" "A man in white brought him here." sobbed the mother. "What did he say?" The father answered, "He did not say anything. He was mourning. We do not know him and yet he was very lonely about our son's death, as if He knew our son very well. But there was something peaceful and unexplainable about him. He gave me my son, and then he smiled peacefully. He brushed my son's hair away from his face and kissed him on his forehead, then he whispered something..."

"What did he say?" "He said to my boy..." the father began, "Thank you for the gift... I will see you soon ... you will be with me..." and the father of the boy continued, "and you know for a while, it felt so wonderful ... I cried, but I do not know why....all I know is I cried tears of joy .... I could not explain it, Father, but when that man left, something peaceful came over me, I felt a deep sense of love inside ... I could not explain the joy in my heart, I knew my boy is in heaven now but...tell me, Father, who is this man that my talks to everyday in your church, you should know because you are always there ... except at the time of his death ......"Father Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling in his eyes, with trembling knees, he murmurred, " ... He was talking to no one ..... but .. GOD...."


I hope the story touches your hearts as it did mine.

In Christ.

Note: All Highlighted text are mine.

Happy Birthday Mother Mary!

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mother of Jesus, our Mother.

I'm suppose to attend mass this morning, unluckily for me, I had a terrible headache this morning and really found it hard to stand up. As an end result, I ended up not attending mass.

Luckily enough it's not a day of obligation for Catholics though I really missed a yearly celbration in the honor of our Blessed Mother.

Anyway, happy birthday our dear Mother!!!

About OCDS Subic

In Brief

Through the efforts of the OCD Sisters, Friars and fellow OCDS members, the St. Teresa of Jesus and John of the Cross Community, Subic community have grown continuously to date.

Starting with only a few members a year after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, the Subic Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS) became stronger as the years passed by thru the efforts of the OCD Nuns, our past community Presidents, and the Spiritual Guidance provided by the OCD Friars and OCD Brothers that continuously visits Subic Carmel of the Holy Spirit.

With a total number of 31 active members under going regular formation held during our regular monthly meeting, the Subic OCD Secular continuously aims to follow the guidance of the three Great Doctors of the Order, Sts. Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Therese of the child Jesus in knowing how to love God and how to befriend God with the help of the Blessed Mother Mary and her beloved Spouse St. Joseph.

On Formation

In order to know more about the Order of Carmel Discalced, and to deepen our faith and love of God and His Church, regular formation class is conducted every second Sunday of the Month.

Using the New Constitution, the new statutes and with the adoption of the official structured formation manual, we are now grouped according to rank during our regular formation class.Each session is conducted with lectures coupled with time allotment for questions and answers, through this, each member can easily express their understanding, possible questions regarding the present topic that not only tends to bond the group but provides a wider understanding of the topic. Done with an encouraging environment and with formators that has already matured in Faith and wisdom, each formation session becomes a cherished moment to all especially for the new ones. Aside from these and the required reading of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, entrance to Carmel, Life and works of St. John of the Cross, The Dark Nights of the Soul, The Interior Castle of St, Teresa of Jesus, and other books the community also attends talks and retreats held in other Community that not only bonds us with other communities but also strengthens our commitments to the order.

Life in the formative years is a little bit hard, especially for the Aspirants, since most of the new members still do not understand the true purpose and importance of formation, couple this with complete adherence to the basics (daily prayers, readings of the required books: Welcome to Carmel, collected works of Sts Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, Story of a soul, Journey to Carith, etc), things can really get awry at first. But once it becomes a habit and the importance and reasons realized, the hardships becomes a joyous moment and even becomes a cherish undertaking for truly the “Lord of Host lives, before whom we stand.”

On Promotion

Studying the Orders’ origin and charism, the works of its Saints and the Church Catechism is just some of the requirements that one must undergo in order to be promoted. Add the self evaluation and the interview conducted by the council and the OCD friars it can really become more challenging than expected. But even so, if this is one way of measuring one’s commitment in becoming a true Secular Carmelite, expect its members to be more willing than ever, for the greater glory of God.

(Note:  This article was used in the OCDS East Asia Conference Souvenir Magazine,  held on November 21-27, 2007, describing OCDS Subic in details)