Marian Solidarity

From a letter by St. John Bosco

First of all, if we wish to appear concerned about the true happiness of our foster children and if we would move them to fulfil their duties, you must never forget that you are taking the place of the parents of these beloved young people. I have always laboured lovingly for them, and carried out my priestly duties with zeal. And the whole Salesian society has done this with me.

My sons, in my long experience very often I had to be convinced of this great truth. It is easier to become angry than to restrain oneself, and to threaten a boy than to persuade him. Yes, indeed, it is more fitting to be persistent in punishing our own impatience and pride than to correct the boys. We must be firm but kind, and be patient with them. I give you as a model the charity of Paul which he showed to his new converts. They often reduced him to tears and entreaties when he found them lacking docility and even opposing his loving efforts.

See that no one finds you motivated by impetuosity or willfulness. It is difficult to keep calm when administering punishment, but this must be done if we are to keep ourselves from showing off our authority or spilling out our anger. Let us regard those boys over whom we have some authority as our own sons. Let us place ourselves in their service. Let us be ashamed to assume an attitude of superiority. Let us not rule over them except for the purpose of serving them better.

This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalised, and still others to hope for God’s mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart. They are our sons, and so in correcting their mistakes we must lay aside all anger and restrain it so firmly that it is extinguished entirely.

There must be no hostility in our minds, no contempt in our eyes, no insult on our lips. We must use mercy for the present and have hope for the future, as is fitting for true fathers who are eager for real correction and improvement.In serious matters it is better to beg God humbly than to send forth a flood of words that will only offend the listeners and have no effect on those who are guilty.

by St. Thomas Aquinas

Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly, as an example of how to act.

It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives.

Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue.

If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.

If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ’s patience on the cross was great. In patience let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, bore his cross and despised the shame.

If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.

If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.

If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.

Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because they divided my garments among themselves. Nor to honours, for he experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head. Nor to anything delightful, for in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’”

The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 9, verses 1-6, ESV

“Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of the Priest”

When?    25-29 January 2010

Where?  World Trade Center (WTC), Pasay City, Metro Manila

Who?      5,000 diocesan and religious priests from all over the Philippines

“This Year is meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world.”

The Catholic Church sets the Holy Child as “an example of humility and as a celebration of the Incarnation of Christ.” The Holy See has approved special liturgical texts for the Feast of the Child Jesus.

The image of the Holy Child was brought to the Philippines by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan on April 14, 1521, as a gift to Queen Juana of Cebu who was reportedly moved to tears after she saw the 15-inch tall wooden statue of the Sto. Niño. She allowed herself to be baptized as a Christian, along with her husband Rajah Humabon and more than 800 natives.

After Magellan was killed by Lapu-Lapu in the Battle of Mactan, not much was heard about the image, except that the Cebuanos worshipped the Santo Niño as a rain god.

Forty years later, in 1565, when Spanish “conquistador” (conqueror) Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in Cebu, a Spanish soldier, Juan Camus, found the image inside the house of a native. His house was razed by fire that miraculously spared the holy image.

The image now known as Sto. Niño de Cebu is considered the oldest Christian relic in the country. It is enshrined and venerated at the oldest church in the country, the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City.

Legazpi named Cebu as the City of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

Eucharistic celebrations, streetdancing festivals, colorful parades, fluvial processions, and other festive commemorative rites will be held in many parts of the Philippines today in celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Niño, traditionally observed every third Sunday of January, the month of the Holy Child.

In Metro Manila, crowds of devotees traditionally attend the hourly masses – held for 26 hours – at the Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish in Tondo, Manila, starting at 10 o’clock Saturday night until 11 p.m. Sunday.

With the theme, “Sto. Niño, Maningning na Tala sa Landas ng Paring Pilipino,” solemn processions bearing the image of the Child Jesus, followed by devotees carrying Sto. Niño images will be held at 4:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Baptismal rites will also be held by the hour from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Festivities in Tondo started as early as Jan. 6 with the opening of the “Lakbayaw” Festival when the image began its “visit” to various barangays in Tondo.

In Pandacan, Manila, hourly masses will be held at the Sto. Niño Parish from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. and at 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. A procession will be held at 6 p.m.

In Pasig City, the Bambino Festival in honor of the Child Jesus will be celebrated.

In Cebu City, at least two million people from all walks of life are expected to witness Sunday’s 30th Grand Sinulog Mardi Gras, a festival of all festivals that celebrates the Feast of the Sto. Niño de Cebu, which will kick off with streets dancing passing through the major streets of the city.

On Saturday, church and police officials said more than two million devotees attended the fluvial procession and the solemn street procession that lasted for more than six hours and spanned six kilometers around the city despite the continuous drizzle.

The fluvial procession features a galleon that carried the image of the Sto. Niño de Cebu and the Our Lady of Guadalupe from the St. Joseph Parish in Mandaue City to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño in Cebu City via the Mactan Channel.

Many Cebuanos do not consider the Christmas season over until the Feast of the Santo Niño. Other festivities in honor of the Holy Child include Kalibo, Aklan’s “Ati-Atihan” Festival; “Romblon’s, “Biniray” Festival; Cagayan de Oro City’s, “Pachada Senor;” Butuan City’s, “Kahimunan” Festival; Antique’s “Binirayan” and “Handugan” Festivals; Iloilo City’s, “Dinagyang” Festival; and Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur’s, “Zambulawan” Festival.

Commemorative rites will also be held in Malolos, Bulacan; Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; Binalonan, Pangasinan, and in other parts of the country where every Filipino home keeps an image of the Sto. Niño in their altars.

from mb.com.ph

General Intention:
That young people may learn to use modern means of social communications for their personal growth and to better prepare themselves to serve society

Mission Intention:
That every believer in Christ may be conscious that unity among all Christians is a condition for more effective proclamation of the Gospel