A People of Mercy

April 28 this year marks the 67th death anniversary of a great Filipina who was known for her works of mercy: Mrs Aurora Aragon-Quezon.  Even before becoming the nation's first First Lady, she was already engaged in works of mercy. One incident which I find touching happened when she discontinued her studies due to poor health. Returning to her hometown in Baler, she brought the books she purchased while still in Manila and put up a library for the benefit of her town mates, some of which may not have received proper education. 

Later in her life, she became involved in charitable institutions such as the Associacion de Damas de Filipinas and White Cross. Towards the end of her life, she became the first Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross. Apart from these organizations, she was also engaged in religious associations like the Catholic Women's League and the committee in charge of raising funds for the rehabilitation of the Antipolo Church.

In celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy which Pope Francis opened on December 8, 2015, a renowned bishop urged the seminaries in his diocese to become seminaries of mercy. In order to achieve this, he offered the following steps: (1) by becoming in touch with humanity; (2) by being united to divinity; and (3) by cultivating spirituality.

I think the bishop's exhortation applies even to other groups and individuals who wish to be merciful like the Father. I also think these three served as hallmarks of Mrs Quezon rendering mercy to her fellowmen.

She was in touch with humanity. Described as a strict, but understanding mother, she looked after her family well. There was a time when her husband Manuel became a lapsed Catholic. It was said that through her perseverance, her husband returned to his faith. She was also a hands-on landowner, a staunch supporter of women's rights to vote, and according to President Elpidio Quirino, "a mother to her people".

She was united with divinity. She was a woman of prayer who would frequently attend Mass and say the Rosary.  A Marian devotee, she led other lay faithful from the Archdiocese of Manila in making an appeal to the country to pray for peace.

Finally, she cultivated spirituality in her life. It was not enough that she was engaged with broken humanity. It wouldn't suffice too if she just said a hundred and one prayers. Equally important was for her to imitate the Father who is "rich in mercy" (Psalm 103:8). 

Through Mrs Quezon's numerous works of mercy, healing was effected on those whose lives she touched. As Fr Pacifico Ortiz, SJ would put it "(Mrs Quezon) walked through life doing good, who was light unto the blind, protecting unto the weak, the mother of the poor, and in a sense the mother of us all...to keep us together, to heal broken friendships, to bind up political wounds, to pour the oil of compassion upon the social ulcers of our age, to cherish and guard the sanctities of the home."

At times, it is not easy to be merciful; let alone being merciful like the Heavenly Father. Some people would misunderstand us. Some may take us for granted. Some may become envious of us. Worse, some may even say or do evil things to us. Sadly, this was what happened to Mrs Quezon. While on her way to her hometown to inaugurate the Manuel Quezon Memorial Hospital, she and a number of her companions were ambushed and killed by insurgents. A story goes that Mrs Quezon was forewarned of insurgents, but shrugged off the threat because she knew the leader of the insurgents. Be it as it may, Mrs Quezon showed her determination to continue her good works in spite of these threats. If her poor health and subsequent withdrawal from university didn't prevent her from helping her town mates, I believe her death didn't halt her works of mercy - the charitable and religious organisations she was affiliated with are still existing and continuing her legacy!

Becoming merciful like the Father doesn't have any perks. "Get ready to be hurt," says Cardinal Chito Tagle. The only promise that Jesus assures those who are merciful is that they will be shown mercy in the afterlife (Matthew 5:7). Regardless of the difficulties we are encountering or may encounter, let us keep ourselves focused in doing works of mercy. That way we would keep the memory of Mrs Quezon alive. We would become a people of mercy!

 

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In a few days, the Philippines will be having its national (and local) elections.  Elections would naturally polarize people. Some will go for this candidate while others would go for that candidate. Still others would be undecided. The Year of Mercy is an opportune time for us to think and act. Are the candidates merciful like the Father? Do their track record attest to this or not? I know it's so easy to be swept away by candidates' words, but we need to check if their actions would agree with whatever they say. It's not enough for us to hear candidates condemning corruption, poverty, injustice, and other maladies of society. We need to hear what will they do to eliminate these. One problem that the country is still suffering from is that 40% of its annual budget is automatically allocated for debt servicing, thanks to Ferdinand Marcos (who made it a law) and to his successors (who keep on implementing such an immoral law). From what I gather from the presidential candidates, it seems that it will be business as usual. How unmerciful!

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When Mrs Quezon was still alive, she was asked to run for public office. She declined the offer, but instead supported those she believed to be capable of serving the country. She could have grabbed the opportunity since she was the wife of a former president and has earned respect from the people, but she chose not to. Looking at some candidates, I can only shake my head in disgust. There's this movie actress running for the Senate. Ditto this boxing champion-turned congressman. What will they do there? Pose? It's as though becoming a politician would be the only way for them to help the people. It sometimes makes me wonder what their real motive is to run.  It may be too late in the day to appeal to these candidates to withdraw from the race, but it is not yet late for the voters to look for better, much deserving candidates. The power's in your hands, dear voters! Maawa kayo sa ating bayan!



 

 

 

Silence

I woke up last Sunday without my voice. I don't why or how it happened.  I struggled to talk. I couldn't sing during the Mass. During our night prayers, it was only Chiara singing the Salve Regina. When I went to work the following day, our team leader wondered why I was silent.  Someone called and I have to pick up the phone. Luckily, the conversation wasn't that complicated. I didn't go to work for three days.

I slowly gained my voice as the days go although it's still husky (and couldn't sing!) as I write this. In a way, I accepted my 'silence' as a Lenten penance.  As a member of the Apostleship of Prayer, I offered it for the Sacred Heart of Jesus' intentions and those of the Holy Father. On the bright side, silence meant that I could focus on what I am doing be it at home or at work.  It also meant to listen attentively to the one you communicate with, otherwise you'll end up asking (read: talking) for more. Silence also provided a way for me to be careful with the words I say, to speak with tact. 

But there is more than these to silence.  Hidalgo Del Arrabal, one of our contributors in the web, wrote this last year:

Tanging sa katahimikan

Diyos nakikipagtalastasan;

Tanging sa mapagkumbaba

Poon nagbibigay-biyaya.

Purihin ka, O San Jose

Pinakinggan mo ang mensahe

Mag-inang sa Ama nagbuhat

Pinangalagaan mong tapat!

(Only through silence

Does God communicate;

Only to the humble

Does He give grace.

Praise you, O Saint Joseph

You listened to the message

Mary and her Child who came from the Father

You faithfully looked after!)

It's nearly the feast of St Joseph. This humble carpenter from Nazareth was known as a silent worker, someone who would prefer to work in the background.  Both the poor in the Philippines and the religious worldwide (2015 is a special year for both groups of people) can draw inspiration from St Joseph. 

For the poor whose abject condition has silenced them to the whims of the powers-that-be, this great saint comes as an example of complete trust in the Lord and working diligently. St Joseph lived in poverty too, but didn't buy into any shortcuts or 'instants' (instant rich, instant ginhawa, etc.).  

For the religious, St Joseph is a very good example of following the evangelical counsels - poverty, chastity, and obedience. Through their faithful witness to these three vows, they offer the world something different, something of more value, something that isn't just a fad, but has lasting character.

May St Joseph's silence inspire us in our Lenten journey to become more attentive to that message which God is conveying us. May his silence transform us into faithful stewards looking after those who were entrusted to us - family, community, environment, the poor and needy.

Mabuhay si San Jose!

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It's Mother's Day (or Mothering Sunday) here in the UK tomorrow. My fervent prayers and best wishes to all moms, especially to my wife and to my mother, on their special day.  May St Joseph watch over you. May his silence encourage you to keep up the good work and become more open to God's grace. Happy Mother's Day!

A Martyr, Finally!

I am pleased that Pope Francis has confirmed the late Archbishop Oscar Romero as a martyr of the Church, as someone who was killed because of hatred of the faith. With this development, his road to sainthood is unblocked. (I'm sure my fellow writer Fr Shay Cullen is also delighted.)

Romero was archbishop of San Salvador (El Salvador) from 1977 to 1980.  Initially considered as a conservative and was therefore seen as a contravida by progressive priests in the archdiocese, he became outspoken following the murder of his friend Fr Rutilio Grande SJ (Grande's cause for sainthood is under way.).  He said "When I looked at Rutilio lying there dead I thought, 'If they have killed him for doing what he did, then I too have to walk the same path". 

Ignoring his calls for the government to investigate the killings of Fr Grande and companions, Archbishop Romero cancelled all Sunday Masses in his archdiocese a week after their deaths. There was only one Mass celebrated and it was at the cathedral. It was a well attended liturgy where this courageous prelate called for an end to violence.  Romero, though supported by the common tao, was opposed by his brother bishops in El Salvador as well as the Vatican. Almost three months after Grande's death, he was gunned down while saying Mass.

If you haven't yet watched the movie "Romero", a film on the life of the Archbishop produced in 1989, I suggest you watch it!

Living the faith 24/7 , in and out of the church, is a call for all.  Dying for the faith is for a privileged few.  Romero trod that path and by doing so, woke up a Church from its deep slumber of apathy to become once more a community working for justice and peace (Acts 2:44-45), a people who, like their founder, have been anointed to bring the Good News to the poor (Lk 4:18).  Indeed, as Tertulian once said "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church".

Romero's declaration as a martyr is good news not only to our brothers and sisters in South America; it is also a good news to all parts of the world where there is poverty, injustice, and oppression. As our own country celebrates the Year of the Poor, may we all see in Romero a champion, an inspiration, a heavenly intercessor.

Arzobispo Oscar Romero, Martir, ruega por nosotros!

The Cold Won't Bother Me Anyway

"Put on your socks! It's cold." I told Chiara as she was playing in the living room.

"It doesn't matter", she replied.

I am sometimes puzzled that my daughter doesn't easily feel cold when her Mom and I would have wanted to bury ourselves under sheets this winter. One time, I told her again to keep herself warm. And again, she gave the same response. I retorted, "Why? 'The cold won't bother me anyway'? It made her laugh as she realized that I quoted Queen Elsa's last lines in the song "Let it go".

I saw the same behavior in our countrymen who braved the rain and all just to be with Pope Francis during his Pastoral and State Visit to the Philippines last week.  I must admit that I wasn't able to focus that much on the Holy Father's visit, but from what I gather his trip was heart warming.  

For his part, Lolo Kiko, as he was fondly called in the Philippines, reached out to them.   His words "Some of you lost part of your families. All I can do is keep silent. And I walk with you all with my silent heart." cuts through the heart. St Francis of Assisi once said “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words". Papa did preach, but it was a moment when words won't be necessary or would suffice. His mere presence with the people per se was the preaching! 

Moving on, the Philippine Church has asked believers 10 things to do:

Our country,in spite of many catastrophes (man-made or not) it faced and continue to face, has shown its openness and resiliency during those blessed days with the Pope. Let's take to heart his message. Let's proclaim it wherever and whenever. As he once said: "We have a Lord who is capable of crying with us, capable of walking with us in the most difficult moments of life". 

With Jesus by our side, the cold - of sin and evil, of uncaring people, etc.- won't bother us anyway!

PS: There's two things that disconcerted me though about the recent visit. First is that there were three pope mobiles used instead of just one. Second is that children are caged to keep the streets clean during the visit. The first runs counter to His Holiness' simplicity while the second not only opposes the Pope's preference for the poor, but also prevented him from reaching to them!