The Holy Infant Jesus (Sto. Nino)

Every Friday, we venerate his name. Why the devotion? Because I too was once a child and now have my own child. I celebrate life, innocence, obedience, dependence, being carefree, youth, faith, hope and love. I believe in the miracles that His image has performed. I believe in the countless lives He has transformed. I believe in the child Jesus who knew at such a young age his fate. Yes, He lived an ordinary and simple life but he performed extraordinary works of kindness and mercy.

May Sto. Nino ever help us.

WFW: Psalm 9:18

Have A Safe Trip!

Members of our new community here in Germany, the Sto. Nino group will be having their pilgrimage from September 21st to 26th. I pray that God will bless our Nanays, Ate's and Kuya's a safe trip.

The group will be visiting Dresden, Poland and Prague to visit the many religious places like the Black Madonna and the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague. At first we were thinking of joining but since hubby can't take a vacation leave anymore due to workload, we opted not to go. It would be difficult to travel with a toddler by myself. I know that God will understand. We will just send with the group our prayers and petitions and candle offerings so that it would feel like we are still with them.

The first pilgrimage that we joined in was the one in Heroldsbach in Nurnberg. It was in a small town where the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to little children. We arrived just in time for the 10:00AM eucharistic celebration. Then we visited the church and the apparitions of the BVM were recounted to us through the beautiful stained glass windows of the church. It was a beautiful and uplifting experience. And I hope that the Vatican will soon recognize the apparition site as a Holy Place.

The main altar of the church.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus.

I hope that in the coming pilgrimages, it wouldn't be that long and far so that we will be able to join. And so that we may also grow stronger in our faith through the spiritual experience and enlightenment that one who embarks on a pilgrimage usually gets.

Simeon's Canticle

Who is Simeon, you might ask? He is the biblical character mentioned in Luke 2 who met the Virgin Mary, Joseph and Jesus as they entered the temple to fulfill the requirement of Moses' Law on the event of the fourtieth day from Jesus' birth. He is a just and devout man of Jerusalem. He took Jesus in his arms when he saw him and said the prayer Nunc dimitis or Canticle of Simeon. This prayer is usually sung during the Advent season, as we await the birth of Jesus.

Simeon's Canticle
Music by: Manoling Francisco, SJ
Arrangement: Paulo K Tirol
Soloist: Celia Uy
Keyboards: Paulo K Tirol

Lord, let Your servant go in peace
For Your Word has been fulfilled.

A Child shall be born to the Virgin,
And His Name shall be called, "Emmanuel."

My own eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared for all men.

A Light shall reveal to the nations
And the glory of Your people, Israel.

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!

God Of Silence

This song, beautiful and simple, reminds me of lots of things. My childhood, my awakening as a Christian, my reflections and retreats, my volunteer years and so much more. God may be silent but He works in mysterious ways. In the recesses of our hearts, He is there, waiting... silently waiting for us to call on Him. And although I cannot see my God, I believe, I trust, I love.



Here are the lyrics of the song:

The God of silence beckons me
To journey to my heart
Where He awaits
O Lord, I hear You calling tenderly
To You I come to gaze
At the beauty of Your face I cannot see

To rest in Your embrace I cannot feel
To dwell in Your love hurting but sweet
To be with You; to glimpse eternity

God of night, fount of all my delight.
Show Your light . . . that my heart, like Yours, burn bright.

Be still the torment of the night
Will not encumber you, if you believe
My child this darkness isn't emptiness
For here I mold your heart
Unto My image painfully you long to see

The self you yearn to be, but fear to know
The world from which you flee in Me find home
All these I give you, if you remain in Me

COUNTERPOINT:
I am ever here
My child, you need not fear
The dark will set you free
And bring your heart to Me

CODA:
The God of silence beckons me
To journey to my heart
Where He awaits me.

Kreativ Award

I just love receiving awards! And this one from Ate Chris of Inspirational Insights is just inspiring! Thank you for this Kreativ Award Ate!

Rules: To accept this award, do the following:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blog letting them know they have been nominated.

I will just be posting 7 things about me but I will have to break rule number 5 again.

7 Things About Me:

1. I am a hopeless romantic.
2. I can easily catch the lyrics of a song and sing along in no time.
3. I love to take photographs of my daughter. I guess any parent would. :D
   
4. I have long since wanted to join a Spiritual Exercises retreat but haven't found the time yet
5. Jesuit music always inspires me.
6. I always try to have a happy outlook in life. I live by my motto: Always choose to be happy. No matter what the circumstances are, there is something that is worth smiling for.
7. I feel that I have so many things in so little a time. I guess I need to reorganize and relearn what Time Management is about and prioritize.
   

WFW: Luke 15:8-9

May all of us who are LOST, find our way back to our LORD and SAVIOR.
A Blessed Wednesday to all!

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.

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.