Mary's Artist

Praying the Rosary, especially in October, reminds me of my late maternal grandfather Augusto "Lolo Gusing" Samaniego Sr.  As written in a previous article ages ago, he used to be the Musical Director of a number of religious celebrations in Kawit, Cavite.  

Lolo Gusing was a devotee of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.  When he was still alive, he used to attend the Novena and Mass held at the parish church every Wednesday evenings.  When I was studying at the parochial school, I would usually attend Mass in the morning, just before going to school.  One time, I attended the evening Mass and sat next to him.  

Apart from the Novena, he was also a devotee of the Rosary.  When I lived at his house, I would pray the Rosary with him, Lola Loleng, and other relatives every evening in October.  Being used to say the Rosary in English, I gradually learned to recite it in Tagalog.  Credit goes to my Lolo for teaching me "Aba Po Santa Mariang Hari" (Hail Holy Queen). Even when his health was starting to deteriorate, he would participate in the Block Rosary devotion.

My grandfather wasn't the imposing type of person.  I liked the way he 'walked the talk: leading us not by force, but by persuasion; sowing the seeds of faith gently into our hearts; speaking the truth in love (cf. Eph 4:15).  I have never heard him raise a voice nor utter a curse. When he wants to call your attention, he will just call your name once. 

I consider him as Our Lady's musician because of the many musical services he played and led in honour of Mary. The Panunuluyan, Maytinis' main attraction, depicts Mary and Joseph's search for an inn.  The Coros Villancicos also makes reference to Mary (i.e. "Corred vuestras offrendas, llevad las a Maria"; "Lahat tayo'y mag-alay sa Diyos at kay Maria").  Ditto the Regina Caeli  that's sung during the Salubong in Easter and the Rosario Cantada.

I'm sure the Blessed Mother didn't fail to take notice of this.  Lolo Gusing received the grace to be born to eternal life in October, the month of the Holy Rosary.  Furthermore, he passed away on a Wednesday, Mother of Perpetual Help's day, and the feast of St Luke the Evangelist (Oct 18), a fellow Marian devotee and fellow artist (musicians, writers, painters are classified as artists).

Thank you, Lolo Gusing, for affirming our faith by your gentle guidance, humble witnessing, and sincere love.  May you enjoy the Beatific Vision, playing great music in praise of Heaven and Earth's Queen and our Mother.  We love you!

***

My heart goes out to our kababayans in Cebu, Bohol, and other neighbouring places that were hit by an earthquake yesterday.  Apart from the lives that were lost, I also lament the destruction of several centuries-old churches such as the Basilica Minore de Sto Niño de Cebu.  We entrust to the Lord of Nature all victims of this catastrophe and ask for His mercy and guidance so that from the rubble, people and communities would rise again.  Let us hold on to Mama Mary and her Rosary!

Perpetual Help Novena in Nottingham

The Filipino Rosary Crusade-Nottingham North, which I am leading, has launched the Perpetual Help Novena in our parish on 24 Septemeber 2011. I'd like to share with you the Introduction I delivered during that event. Please remember us your kababayans here in Nottingham, UK as we continue to spread this popular devotion, as we "fight the good fight of faith".

Good afternoon and welcome to the launching of the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help here at the Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Parish.

Seven years ago, when I started worshipping in this church, I had an interesting conversation with John Staniland, our lead altar server in the Mass a while ago. I told him that we Filipinos fondly call the Parish’s Patroness as ‘Mother of Perpetual Help’. John replied that the word “succour” is an old English equivalent for “help”. Regardless of the variation of words, both titles (i.e. “Our Lady of Perpetual Succour” and “Mother of Perpetual Help”) share a common denominator: Mary comes to assist those in need.

If we look back at Holy Scriptures, we can recall how Mary helped her cousin Elizabeth when the latter was pregnant at an old age. She also came to the aid of the newly wedded couple in Cana. She helped the apostles and surely she did the same to St. Joseph, her husband. She also helped Jesus. When Jesus was about to die on the cross, He entrusted Mary to us as though saying “I have been helped by My Mother. I am sure she will also help you!”.

There is a beautiful story behind the picture of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. It was said that the Child Jesus had a vision of two angels : one holding a cross, the other holding a spear, tools that would be used when He would offer His life for our salvation. Being young at that time, the little boy didn’t understand this and became afraid. He ran to His Mother who in turn carried Him in her arms. The fear of Jesus was so great that one of His sandals, as you can see from the picture, was dangling from his foot.

We thank Fr. Gerry Murphy for allowing us to hold this novena in this church, a novena which has been used in the Philippines for the last 65 years. Through this devotion, we aim to provide a way for Filipinos to serve in the parish, to celebrate the church’s 60th dedication anniversary, and to promote the devotion in the parish named after Our Lady.

Going back to the picture of Our Lady and the Child Jesus, let us have that childlike confidence as we present our needs and cares to her.

I would like to turn you over to Joey Mabalot who will be leading us in this month’s Novena.

Thank you.