Caritas in Veritate

"Love — caritas — is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace. It is a force that has its origin in God, Eternal Love and Absolute Truth. Each person finds his good by adherence to God's plan for him, in order to realize it fully: in this plan, he finds his truth, and through adherence to this truth he becomes free (cf. Jn 8:22). To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity."

- Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate
released 7 July 2009

Read the complete Encyclical

On Cardinal Newman

Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th' encircling gloom
Lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home --
Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene -- one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that Thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path, but now
Lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on,
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

I first encountered this poem back in high school as part of our lesson in English literature. And it has even become more meaningful over the years as I also encounter not only life's 'encircling gloom' but also the immeasurable power of that 'Kind Light.'

These lines were written in 1833, when as a young priest, John Newman (1801-1890) became sick while in Italy and was unable to travel for almost three weeks. He narrated this story in his own words, saying:

"Before starting from my inn, I sat down on my bed and began to sob bitterly. My servant, who had acted as my nurse, asked what ailed me. I could only answer, "I have a work to do in England." I was aching to get home, yet for want of a vessel I was kept at Palermo for three weeks. I began to visit the churches, and they calmed my impatience, though I did not attend any services. At last I got off in an orange boat, bound for Marseilles. We were becalmed for whole week in the Straits of Bonifacio, and it was there that I wrote the lines, Lead, Kindly Light, which have since become so well known."

Cardinal Newman's beatification has already been approved by Rome. He'll soon be among our new 'blessed.' May his life and examples continue to inspire and encourage us who are still 'far from [our heavenly] home.'

A Billion Hungry People

According to the report published by the United Nations Food Officials last June 2009, world hunger has reached its 1 billion mark this year.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE

I got this e-mail more than two years ago... I don't know how accurate it is (or has it ever been) but it's worth reading/viewing. I am sorry I also don't know who made it and/or where it originally came from. But I thank the author/maker of this article/email just the same.

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11 Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina (Sure hope most American families eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less junk food than this family.)
Food expenditure for one week $341.98 Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09
Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27
Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53
Ecuador : The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

about FIS*

We joined our other confreres in the province for vespers yesterday at Don Bosco Technology Center in Labangon, Cebu City and welcomed the announcement of the new provincial of the FIS Province--Rev. Fr. George Militante, SDB.
In the 'goodnight talk' cum acceptance speech that Fr. George gave right after prayers, he recalled the conversation that transpired between him and the rector major, Fr. Pascual Chavez, sometime last Saturday. Fr. George said that he was not able to say much when asked by Fr. Pascual to become the new FIS Provincial, except--"Yes, yes, yes... I accept in faith. Thank you for your trust. I will do my best."

Thanks Fr. George for your generosity!
Rest assured of our prayers, support and availability.


*FIS stands for Filipinne Sud/Philippine South Province (of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco)

Quiet Time

It's now July... and how quickly the previous month came and went by. I hardly noticed the fleeting days of June. Tempus fugit! And how swiftly it has flown. And now that another lunar cycle is starting, I feel both blest and grateful for having been given the opportunity to "go to a lonely place" even for a short while.

I spent the last weekend of June at the Cenacle Sisters' retreat house here in Cebu. Though my original purpose was simply to have some quiet time in preparation for my departure for the missions, the Lord has surprised and gifted me with a lot of other insights and inspirations I never expected I would discover nor encounter. Thanks to my superiors for the permission and thanks to Sr. Perry for the guidance and warm hospitality throughout these retreat days.

Everything is grace--and even persons who have dedicated themselves to God sometimes forget this reality... I am speaking from experience-- and so the need to pause even for a while, to quiet down is definitely essential, basic if only to remind us of this fundamental truth... if only to bring us back to our senses. Everything is God's grace. He is the Boss and He is in control. And that's enough--more than enough for me.

Patay na nga ba si MJ?

Kahit gaano pa natin maaalala si Michael Jackson naging bahagi pa rin ang kanyang musika ng aking magandang nakaraan. At ngayong wala na siya mananatili pa rin ang kanyang musika at sining sa aking alaala.

I was just starting to learn how to count with my fingers and to sing my ABC when his album 'Thriller' was released. By the time I reached grade 1 most of our presentations in class and items during programs in school were MJ inspired--Billie Jean, Thriller, Beat it, Baby Be Mine (I hope I remember them right). Even when I was already inside the seminary where certain forms and styles of music were classified as 'worldly' and were therefore banned, we were still allowed to listen and sing cuts from MJ's latest collection at that time-'Dangerous.' Our superiors were even happy we could sing Heal the World and Man in the Mirror.

And though lately, Michael Jackson's reputation has been questioned and series of scandals have tarnished his name and taken toll on his career, I will still surely remember him as one of those great artists of my younger years. Life ends no matter how strongly we hold onto it. Everything after all is in the hands of God.

May the King of Kings, in all His goodness and compassion have mercy on the soul of the 'King of Pop.'

Blogger Ako

Si Trina ay isang mag-aaral sa isang malaking kolehiyo sa Maynila. Nagpadala siya sa akin ng isang email kamakailan lamang kalakip ang ilang mga katanungang may kaugnayan sa aking pagba-blog. Bahagi raw ng kanyang maikling pananaliksik sa Sikolohiyang Pilipino ang mga tanung na kanyang ipinadala. Medyo mahaba-haba ang listahan ng mga gusto niyang malaman-- bakit daw ako pumasok sa ganitong gawain, ano raw ang nararamdaman ko 'pag ginagawa ko ito, kailan daw ako nagsimula, sino ang nag-ganyak na magblog ako at marami pang ibang mga bagay na interesado siyang malaman.

Pero may isang tanong na medyo napa-isip ako: Ano daw ang kadalasang nilalaman ng mga ipinapaskil ko? Sa una akala ko ay madali lamang sagutin ang tanong na ito-- e di kahit anong nakakatawag ng atensyon ko. Pero sa aking pagbabalik-tanaw sa halos dalawang taon ko nang ginugol para maitaguyod ang blog na ito, nakita kong may tatlong pangunahing mga bagay pala kung saan maaari kong ikategorya ang aking mga isinulat:
1. Personal na mga kuru-kuro at pagninilay halaw sa aking araw-araw na karanasan;
2. Mga bagay hinggil sa relihiyon, pananampalataya at ispiritwalidad;
3. Mga paksang may kinalaman sa bayan, pamahalaan at pulitika; at
4. Mga bagay na may kaugnayan sa edukasyon, sining at kultura

Maari ko ring sabihin na ito ang mga nakaka-TOUCH o may malakas na epekto at dating sa akin. Kapag mga paksang ito na ang pinag-uusapan, hindi ko maialis na hindi ako maging interesado at magbigay ng opinyon.

Salamat kay Trina dahil kahit papaano, nakatulong siyang masuri ko ang aking blog at ang maikli kong kasaysayan ng pagsusulat dito. Sana rin ay nakatulong ako sa kanya... Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ako magsusulat dito pero sa patuloy kong pagbabahagi ng aking mga maikling sulatin--alam kong ako rin mismo ang unang nakikinabang--nailalabas ko ang aking saloobin, naipapahayag ko ang aking isipan at damdamin.

Kaya sa huli niyang tanong kung nakakatulong ba ito sa akin-- isang malakas at matinding OO ang sagot ko.

New Day

Morning now wipes away the sadness of the night. The dawn drives out all gloom and darkness that for a while silenced the world. The first streaks of light now banish all trace of bitterness and angst. This is a new day--bringing color and life; awaking those still in slumber; warming those frozen by the evening's cold touch; announcing a new start... and a renewed hope to all. This is a new day indeed!

Missing Another Father's Day

I don't remember ever having the chance to celebrate Father's Day with my own father. I guess I was too young to express my gratitude and to make this day special for him when he was still around. He passed away 23 years ago when I was only 8 years old and since then this special day honoring fathers has remained just like any other day for me.

But lately, as I look back, I also realize that though I have lost my biological father at a young age, the Lord has been generous in giving me 'father-figures' at different stages of my life...

My maternal grandfather-Amang (as we fondly called him) came home immediately after my dad passed away giving me enough support and encouragement as I was trying to discover my potentials and getting to know the world around me. Then as I was entering the 'sturm und drang' stage of adolescence, I found mentors, examples and friends in the Salesian fathers and brothers who provided me with ample space, time and guidance to grow and know myself better. I will always be grateful as well to a professor whom I encountered as I was searching for my place in this world and looking for answers to my questions about life, career and commitment.

I thank all of them and pray for them who have nurtured and cared for me in many creative and inspiring ways. I am grateful to God too for giving them to me; for becoming my 'fathers' and for helping me discover how beautifully amazing life could be.

Happy Father's Day!

'Two Words'... a beautiful song

I came across this song while checking on Lea's videos
on youtube... I was captivated by the lyrics and the melody
the first time I heard it. And though it's really intended
as a wedding song, she sang it in her wedding in fact,
I guess the message of love and commitment it expresses
captures the heart of everyone--from parents to lovers...
even to religious brothers like me.

'Two Words' by Ms. Lea Salonga
In a while, in a word,
Every moment now returns.
For a while, seen or heard,
How each memory softly burns.
Facing you who brings me new tomorrows,
I thank God for yesterdays,
How they led me to this very hour,
How they led me to this place...

Every touch, every smile,
You have given me in care.
Keep in heart, always I'll,
Now be treasuring everywhere.
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I hold each moment true?
No trace of sadness,
Always with gladness...
'I DO...'

(instrumental)
Now a song that speaks of now and ever,
Beckons me to someone new,
Unexpected, unexplored, unseen,
Filled with promise coming through.
In a while, in a word,
You and I forever chained,
Love so clear, never blurred,
Has me feeling wondrous, strange,
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I face each moment true?
No trace of sadness, always with gladness,
'I DO...'

Never with sadness...
Always with gladness...
'I...DO....'