A Prayer for Abortion Victims

Holy Mother of God and of the Church, our Lady of Guadalupe, you were chosen by the Father for the Son through the Holy Spirit. You are the Woman clothed with the sun who labors to give birth to Christ while Satan, the Red Dragon, waits to voraciously devour your child.

So too did Herod seek to destroy your Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and massacred many innocent children in the process. So today does abortion killing many innocent unborn children and exploiting many mothers in its attack upon human life and upon the Church, the Body of Christ.

Mother of the Innocents, we praise God in you for His gifts to you of your Immaculate Conception, your freedom from actual sin; your fullness of grace, your Motherhood of God and the Church, your Perpetual Virginity and your Assumption in body and soul into heaven.

O Help of Christians, we beg you to protect all mothers of the unborn and the children within their wombs. We plead with you for your help to end the holocaust of abortion. Melt hearts so that life may be revered!

Holy Mother, we pray to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart for all mothers and all unborn children that they may have life here on earth and by the most Precious Blood shed by your Son that they may have eternal life with Him in heaven. We also pray to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart for all abortionists and all abortion supporters that they may be converted and accept your Son, Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Savior. Defend all of your children in the battle against Satan and all of the evil spirits in this present darkness.

We desire that the innocent unborn children who die without Baptism should be baptized and saved. We ask that you obtain this grace for them and repentance, reconciliation and pardon from God for their parents and their killers.

Let there be revealed, once more, in the history of the world the infinite power of merciful love. May it put an end to evil. May it transform consciences. May your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope. May Christ the King reign over us, our families, cities, states, nations and the whole of humanity.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary, hear our pleas and accept this cry from our hearts!
 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Protectress of the Unborn, Pray for us!

Sources:

Prayers from The Two Hearts Network dot org
Image from Our lady of Guadalupe web site

The 6 Ms of Teresian Carmelite - Mental Prayer

Inspired by the teaching of St. Teresa of Avila that the purpose of prayer is "the birth of Good Works", as Carmelite Seculars we are called upon to contemplative prayer.

One way of doing this is through mental prayer which is included in our "6 Ms".

Mental Prayer - to fulfill our commitment of living in allegiance to Jesus Christ, we dedicate at least 30 minutes to an hour of our time everyday to God by quieting our selves and listening to Gods voice in silence. [1]

St. Teresa in her "Way of Perfection" explains the meaning and importance of mental prayer.  In her writing, she ask this question, 

" How can you address a King unless you are clearly conscious of the nature of his position and your own?"[2]

Why does she say this,?  St. Teresa states that when we pray, it is very important for us

"... to  think of Who it is that you are addressing, and what you yourself are, if only you speak to Him with proper respect."[3]

St. Teresa always believe that prayer is our way of communicating with Jesus, the King of Kings, our King, thus whenever we pray it is necessary that we address our King properly, for this King who is Supreme power and Goodness, 

"before Whom even the angels tremble."[4]

With vocal prayer alone there is this problem of often times forgetting Whom He is that we are addressing, that often leads our mind astray, aside from the possibility of simply uttering words that we have already memorized in the past that simply makes our prayer more mechanical rather than doing our best to attain contemplation, which is according to our founder, should be the aim of all Discalced Carmelites whenever they pray.

Contemplation, which is

 "Divine union, in which the Lord takes His delight in the soul, and the soul takes its delight in Him."[5]

For whenever

" the Lord gives His favours and we ourselves leave nothing undone, I think it is certain that He never ceases from giving until He has brought us to a very high degree of prayer."[6]

Thus mental prayer is important for what vocal prayer finds very hard to attain, by combining it with mental prayer, it allows us to attain contemplation.  Which is what "contemplative" prayer is all about.

In the words of our founder St. Teresa of Avila,

"... for mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends;  it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us."[7]

To Jesus through Mary,

Jov of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, OCDS

[1] OCDS-Philippines Provincial Statutes page 1

[2] Way of Perfection Chapter 22:1

[3] ibid

[4] Way of Perfection Chapter 22:3 
[5] Way of Perfection Chapter 16:2
[6] ibid
[7] Life 8:5

On RH Bill

For the very first time in my life I have to beg for your indulgence for the words that I will be writing afterwards, and also for the very first time I also need to rate one of my post and start with a WARNING!

"Be warned that the following text that you will be reading is rated PG"

Now for the brass tack.

I grew up without my father besides me, and the only one that gave me advise during my teenage years was my mother.

During my time of puberty, I remember my mother always telling me, not to be too obsessive on my impulse and to do my best to make sure that before I decide to do delve on them, I'm already in the right state of mind to support and raise a family. 

Because only in that way could I ever repay her of debts in raising me, is when I have raised a family of my own that I could support.

(Might as well repeat my warning before I continue)

WARNING! RATED PG!

Thus, during my teenage time to make my words more precise on my topic, the tag line is this.

"Think twice before you engage in sex!"

With the advancement of technology and the promotion of contraceptives in the present time, the tag line has eventually changed.

"Think twice before you engage in sex! At least protect yourself and buy a "condom".

When the RH Bill is passed and approved by congress, again the tag line will definitely change, this time...

"you no longer have to think twice, you not even need buy a condom. 

Just go to the nearest health center, for the government has already bought some for you. 

If they refuse, report them to the nearest office of the proponent of the RH Bill and file the necessary charges, and then you can have your condom and have sex anytime you want!"

I will no longer ask why, if most teenagers would say that it is right to pass the RH Bill.

So saddening that when most rich countries are now having problems in regards to their age population gap, some congressman would still want to pursue a course that most probably,  most rich countries are now regretting to have even entered with.

Just imagine creating a law that would force the Government to buy contraceptives that is to be given for free even to minors without the necessary parental consent, so long that they asked for it, and worst of all including within the same law a resulting punishment of jail time to any health workers who refuses to do so.

What kind of people are we electing in government positions now a days?

And yet we ask and blame our Government, why our country is in this kind of situation?

Why not start first at home, and start looking in front of a mirror? And this time be honest and start asking and blaming yourself instead...

Chapter XVI : The Difference between Perfection in the Lives of Contemplatives and those who practice Mental Prayer

1 So far, in describing the virtues, I have only been 'placing the board'; you have asked me to tell you the way to attain to contemplation, and in this matter, the King does not allow Himself to be taken except by one who surrenders wholly to Him.  If you think it is unimportant to place such stress on the virtues, you can continue to practice mental prayer all your life; but unless you strive after the virtues, you will never arrive at contemplation.  The King of glory will not come and be united with our souls unless we strive to gain the greatest virtues.

2 Contemplation is Divine Union, in which the Lord takes His delight in the soul, and the soul takes its delight in Him.  So, although a person in mortal sin may experience a genuine vision, that person could not arrived at contemplation while in this state of sin.  The Lord gives such consolations to prepare them and test them; but few really prepare themselves to enjoy this favour of contemplation.

3 When the Lord gives His favours and we ourselves leave nothing undone, I think it is certain that He never ceases from giving until He has brought us to a very high degree of prayer.  If we do not give ourselves resolutely, as He gives Himself to us, He will leave us in mental prayer, just visiting us from time to time.  These others, whom He draws to contemplation, are His beloved children, whom He would never want to banish from His side.  He sits them at His table, feeds them with His own food, almost taking the food from His mouth to give it to them.

4 How happy we shall be, if by leaving these few, petty things we can arrive at so high an estate!  If the world should blame you, and eaten you with its cries, what matter so long as you are in the arms of God?  What a wonderful exchange, if we give Him our love, and receive His!  We do hardly anything at all - just make some poor weak resolution.

5 All our trouble comes from not having our eyes fixed on the Lord; we do not set our eyes on the true Way.  Do not be afraid that He will fail to do His part if we do not fail to do ours.  Since we come here for no other reason than to arrive at contemplation, let us put our hands to plough.  We must be venturesome to take in hand whatever wouldbe a service to the Lord.  We must have a holy boldness, for God helps the strong, being no respecter of persons, and He will give courage to you and to me.

Sources:

The Way of perfection

St. Teresa of Jesus

Image of St. Teresa of Avila
Wikipedia.com - St. Teresa of Jesus
under Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0 (Unported). and the GNU Free Documentation License

Note: 

Paragraph numbering was made by the blog owner for easy reference in some of his reflections and writings.

Chapter XXI: Importance of Setting out on the Road to Prayer with Firm Resolution

We must not be dismayed at the number of things we have to consider before setting out on this Divine Journey which is the royal road to Heaven.  By taking this road we gain such precious treasures that it is no wonder if the cost seems to us as high as one.  The time will come when we realize that all we have paid is as nothing at all by comparison to the greatness of our prize.

For those whose goal is to drunk the water of life, which is contemplation, it is all important that they begin well and most determined resolve not to halt until they reach their goal, whatever may come, whatever may happen to them, however hard  they may have to labor, whoever may complain of them, whether they reach their goal or die on the road, or have no heart to confront the trials they meet, or whether the world dissolves around them.

We must take notice of those who try to discourage us by saying such thing as, "it may lead to delusion"; "We should stick to our spinning"; "It is quite enough to say the Pater Noster (Our Father) and the Ave Maria (Hail Mary)."

Of course it is not enough!  Were it not for our great weakness and the lukewarmness of our devotion, there would be no need for any other systems of prayer or for any books at all.  But I am speaking to those who are unable to recollect themselves by meditating upon other mysteries, and who think they need special methods of prayer.  So I think I shall start to lay down some rules for each part of our prayer, beginning, middle, and end; though I shall not spend long on the other higher stages for I have already written about them.

I have always been found of the words of the Gospels and have found more recollection in them than in the most carefully planned books;  specially books who's authors were not fully approved.

If I keep close to the master of Wisdom, He will help me to explain.  Consulting a great many books may well kill our devotion, when we are most anxious to nurture it.

Pay no heed, then, to those who try to frighten you by depicting the perils of the way.  If this royal road, the safe road trodden by our King and by His elect and His saints - is so full of danger, what of the danger those who are not even on the road?  How incomparably greater the risk they run!

Prayer is the duty of religious;  God forbid that it should be dangerous.  There is one great blessing -- you will always find a few people who will help and encourage you;  and if one or two are fearlessly following the better path, the Lord regains what is lost.

Cease troubling about these fears;  This is not the time for believing everyone; believe only on those whom you see modeling their lives on the life of Christ.  Endeavor always to have a good conscience;  practice humility;  despise all worldly things,  believe firmly in the teachings of our Holy Mother the Church.  If anyone should try to discourage you, tell him that you have a Rule which commands you to pray without ceasing, to practice mental prayer, and even contemplation, if God should grant it to you.

Sources:

The Way of perfection

St. Teresa of Jesus

Image of St. Teresa of Avila
Wikipedia.com - St. Teresa of Jesus
under Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0 (Unported). and the GNU Free Documentation License

Our Commitment to live the Evangilical Counsels in the Spirit of the Beatitudes

Our commitment to live the Evangelical Counsels in the spirit of the Beatitudes reflects our calling to live in perfection in the full spirit of the Gospel, imitating  Christ in his human nature as we traverse this world in fulfillment of our individual missions as laid down to us by Jesus, when He called us to enter Carmel and live the Carmelite way of life.

The Evangelical Counsel of Chastity

Our promise of chastity reinforces our commitment to love God above all else, and to love others.

With this promise, we seek the freedom to love God and neighbor, allowing us to witness the divine intimacy promised by the beatitude "blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God" (Mt 5:8).

Our promise of chastity is our commitment to Christian love in its personal and social dimension that allows us to create an authentic community.

With this promise we expresses our conscious desire to respect each person as required by God's law and ones' state of life.

The Evangelical Counsel of Poverty

Our promise of living the evangelical counsel of poverty expresses our desire to live in accordance with the Gospel and its values. It allows us to recognize our personal limitations and surrenders it to God in full confidence of His goodness and fidelity, giving us the opportunity to gain  a wealth of generosity, self denial, interior liberty and full dependence to our Father.

With this promise, we seek an evangelical use of the goods of this world and of personal talents, confidently placing them in the hands of God as we exercise our personal responsibilities: in the society that we live-in; in our own family; and at work. It also implies our commitment to justice, for the world to respond in accordance to His plan.

The Evangelical Counsel of Obedience

The promise of obedience is our pledge to live openly in accordance to the will of God. Imitating Christ who accepted the Father's will who was obedient unto death.

With this promise, we exercise our faith that leads us in-search of God's will in all the events and challenges in the society that we lived in and in our own personal life, enabling us to freely cooperate with those who were given the responsibility to guide our community and the Order.

The Spirit of the Beatitudes

The Beatitudes becomes our plan of action in entering into a relationship with the world, our neighbors, co-workers, family and friends.

By promising to live the beatitudes in our daily lives, we seek to live as living witnesses of God's presence, as members of the Church and the Order, inviting the world to follow Christ, "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (Jn 14:6)

The Beatitudes (Mat. 5:3-10)

1. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
2. "Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
3. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
4. "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
5. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
6. "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God."
7. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."
8. "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Resource:

• OCDS Constitution

Congressional Debate on RH-Bill

Videos below were taken during the Congressional Hearing of  the Reproductive Health Bill (RH-Bill) at the House of Representatives, uploaded by veritasdipolog on youtube.

On the floor were Hon. Rep. Roilo Golez representing the anti RH-Bill and Hon. Rep.  Edcel Lagman for the pro RH-Bill.

Eventually, Representative Edcel Lagman was surprise when Congressman Roilo Golez ask the following question " ... who among them should not have been born..." while presenting a picture of happy young children possing in front of a still camera.

Congressman Lagman, surprised with the question simply said, "... I will not give an answer..." ( Filipino and English Languages were used during the debate)

I have already mentioned this words in the anti RH-Bill Group of ours in facebook.  Might as well repeat it here.

"... That's precisely the problem with numbers, for it can only represent facts, but never the intention of the person/s who uses them.

But even if it is represented as facts, it can can also be manipulated, for they are numbers.

This is the problem when using numbers to represent reality. For it can be true in one of its side but false on the other.

In my point of view, there is nothing wrong when the intension is to manage population. But the moment management ask for a complete control that requires manipulation and misrepresentation its a different matter.

I'm opposing the RH-Bill not because I don't believe in population management. But I oppose it because within its provision are hidden agenda[s] that not only points to population management."

Hon. Congresman Roilo Golez was right, it is indeed easier to represent people using numbers but very hard to justify when reality seeks in.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Jov of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, OCDS

As witnesses to the Experience of God

St. Teresa of Jesus placed prayer as the foundation and basic exercises of her religious family. To fulfill then our calling as members of the Teresian Carmel, we need to strive to make our prayers penetrate our whole existence, in order to walk in the presence of the living God. This we do through our constant exercise of the cardinal virtues, faith, hope and love.

We are called upon to make our life a prayer in itself. Integrating our life's experiences with our experiences of God, that allows us to become contemplatives in prayer as we fulfill our mission in life.

In our prayers, we are nourished by His Word, making our dialogue in such manner that "we speak to Him as we pray" and "hear His voice when we read His Divine Word."

Besides our personal contemplation, listening to the Word should also encourage us a form of contemplation that leads us to share our own personal experience with God in our own Community. And together we seek to discern God's way, maintaining a  permanent energy of conversion and renewed hope. Allowing us to see through events and Discover God's presence in everything.

Our daily practice of mental prayer is our way of being with God and strengthening our relationship with Him.

With our promise of living a life of evangelical self denial, we accept from the viewpoint of of the Cardinal Virtues, the work and suffering of each day, our family worries, the limitations and uncertainty of our human life, our sicknesses, our lack of understanding and all that makes up the fabric of our earthly existence.

With this acceptance, we strive hard to make these material as we dialogue with God, allowing us to grow in an attitude of praise and gratitude, which strengthens our conviction of living truly, simply, freely, humbly and in complete confidence to the Lord.

Resource:

• OCDS Constitution

Following Jesus as a Secular Teresian Carmelite - Our Apostolate

As Teresian Secular Carmelites, we are called upon to live the demands of following Christ in union with Him, by accepting His teachings and devoting ourselves to Him.

Following Him requires that we partake in His saving mission of proclaiming the Good News and the establishment of God's Kingdom here on Earth. Making Him the law of our lives and predisposed to fulfill three fundamental demands:

1. To place family ties beneath the interest of the Kingdom and Jesus Himself;
2. To live in detachment from wealth;
3. To carry the cross of accepting God's will revealed in the mission that He has confided to each person.

By the promise to strive for evangelical perfection in the spirit of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience and through the beatitudes that strengthens our baptismal commitment in the service of God's plan in the world, we express ourselves as followers of Jesus.

This promise is a pledge to pursue personal holiness that carries with it our commitment to serve the Church in faithfulness to our Teresian Carmelite Charism.

Resource:

• OCDS Constitution

On Eagle's Wings

It is so saddening that while there are married couples who wishes to have a child and could not, and there are some who was given this privilege and yet they simply trow this opportunity by killing the child in the mother's womb.

Often times I simply cry and pray for these victims, hopeful that someday they shall rise again, this time on eagle's wings...

Our Identity, Values and Commitment

Our Identity

Carmelite Seculars shares the same charism with the religious Friars and Nuns, we are all sons and daughters of the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and St. Teresa of Jesus, our founder.

We are one family with the same spiritual possession; calling to holiness; and apostolic mission contributing  to the Order the benefits proper to our secular state of life.

With the Catholic Church's new theology of the laity, Christifideles Laici we live our membership to the Order with clear and secular identity.

Our Values

The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites are called upon to live in allegiance to Jesus Christ through "friendship with the One we know loves us", under the protection of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in the biblical tradition of the prophet Elijah.

With inspirations from the teachings of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross, it is our intention to seek and deepen  our Christian commitment received in our baptism.

Our Commitment

Taking into account the origins of Carmel and the Teresian charism, the fundamental elements of  the vocation of Teresian  Secular Carmelites are:

1. To live in allegiance to Jesus Christ;
2. To seek a mysterious union with God by contemplation and apostolic activity;
3. To give particular importance to prayer, by listening to the word of God and by the liturgy;
4. To live evangelical self-denial;
5. To give importance to our commitment of evangelization  in the ministry of spirituality, faithful to its Teresian Carmelite identity.

Resource:

• OCDS Constitutions