PRAYER
IN OPPOSITION TO
THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL OF 2008 (HB 5043)
Loving
Father, through the intercession of San Lorenzo
Ruiz, we beg You not to allow us to be deceived
by the wrong directives of laws that do not give
value to family and to life. May we see the hidden
truth behind the seemingly good but deceptive
arguments that will bring about widespread destruction
of the morality of the Filipino family as well
endanger the innocent life of the unborn child.
Touch and
guide the hearts of our law makers. Assist them
in the path of renewal that they may bring about
the dream of society towards honorable and peaceful
way of living in accordance with the culture for
life and love.
Help us
Father, we who are burdened by the struggles of
these modern times. Grant us the courage to fight
those forces that threaten the peace of the family.
Help us to offer our individual crosses for the
good of the Church. Through the power of the cross
of Jesus, may all our decisions and works be in
accordance with Your will so that we may be worthy
of your blessings.
We ask
this in the name of Your Son together with the
prayers of our Mother Mary.
Amen.
(An
English translation from the Pilipino text courtesy
of the Diocese of Pasig)
PRO-LIFE THE
SIGNS
OF THE
TIMES SERIES >
CLICK HERE<
After
a month long travel delay due to four devastating
typhoons and the worst flooding in 40 years, PFL's
International Director, Bob Lalonde arrived in
Manila on the first Sunday of Advent and began
our prolife work by attending Mass at St Francis
of Assisi Parish. Fr Pavone wanted Bob to help
the Philippines by taking along the latest pro-life
weapons with him including his new prayer book
'Pro-Life Reflections for Every Day' and new video
'The Biology of Prenatal Development'. By using
embryoscopy, a rare technique involving a tiny
camera the size of a pen tip, scientists were
able to get breathtaking, real footage of the
unborn, which shows how preborn babies have a
heartbeat at three weeks, make spontaneous movements
at six weeks, and have 90% of the anatomical structures
found in adults at eight weeks. What a powerful
demonstration of the life of a preborn child.
READ
MORE...
ORATIO
IMPERATA FOR THE RESPECT OF ALL HUMAN LIFE
God,
our loving Father, Creator and lover of all
life, You fashioned in your own image and likeness
every human person. We thank you for this gift
and the freedom to appreciate it
Grant
us intense eagerness to recognize your image
in every person so that respect for all human
life becomes our way of life. Give us also the
strength and courage to defend and protect the
right of all to live as you ordained, from conception
to natural death.
We pray
for your divine healing, comfort and peace for
all affected by past abortions. Grant them strength
and the consolation of your presence. Help us
serve actively in alleviating the sufferings
and troubles of all women with pregnancy problems.
Let your Spirit enlighten the minds and open
the hearts of those who do not yet fully respect
all human life according to your will.
We pray
for all our leaders and legislators who must
deliberate assiduously on this critical present
issue. May they be guided by the grace of the
Holy Spirit to act responsibly for the good
and well-being of all. May their competence
be always steered by humility and fear of the
Lord.
Mary,
our loving Mother, to you we entrust the cause
of life. Grant that all who believe in your
Son may proclaim the Gospel of Life with honesty
and love to the people of our time.
We make
our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your
Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Our
Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Saint Rosa of Lima, pray for us.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.
Almighty Father,
we raise our hearts to You in gratitude for the wonders
of creation of which we are part, for Your Providence
in sustaining us in our needs, and for Your wisdom that
guides the course of the universe.
We acknowledge
our sins against You and the rest of creation. We have
not been good stewards of nature. We have confused Your
command to subdue the earth. The environment is made
to suffer our wrongdoing, and now we reap the harvest
of our abuse and indifference. Global warming is upon
us, typhoons, floods, volcanic eruption, and other natural
calamities occur in increasing number and intensity.
We turn to You,
our loving Father, and beg forgiveness for our sins.
We ask that we, our loved ones and our hard earned possessions
be spared from the threat of calamities, natural and
man-made. We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into
responsible stewards of Your creation, and generous
neighbors to those in need.
Amen.
Courtesy of
the Diocese of Pasig
Theme
for 2013:
BE.LI.EV.E!
“Faith
Works Wonders”
“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever
believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these, because
I am going to the Father.”
CFC
Legal Case Update - A Wound in the Church
July
05, 2012
On
June 28, 2012, the International Council
(“IC”) of Couples for Christ
Global Mission Foundation Inc. (“CFC
Global”) issued a public statement
on the status of the legal case between
CFC Global and our community. The statement
unfortunately misinforms and distorts
the facts, even as it prematurely proclaims
CFC Global’s “victory”
in said case. In defense of truth and
fairness, we must correct the misinformation
and distortion. Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 50) - Help My Unbelief
May 20, 2013
Faith works wonders.
Do we doubt Jesus who said that those
who believe in him will do even greater
works than he did, or that faith the
size of a mustard seed can move mountains?
Do we not realize that if we do works
in faith, it is God working in and through
us as His instruments? Do we question
the awesome power of God, for whom nothing
is impossible? Instead of stepping forth
boldly as we have already been commissioned
and equipped, do we keep hesitating
and asking Jesus, “if you can
do anything, have compassion on us and
help us” (Mk 9:22b)? Read
more . . .
On
Evangelization and Mission (Part 43) -
They Will Listen
May 18, 2013
Just as the synoptic
gospels end with Jesus commissioning
his disciples to evangelize, so too
does the book of Acts end, with Paul
living out the Great Commission. Read
more . . .
The
New Evangelization (Part 37) - As Jesus
Related to the Father
May 16, 2013
The New Evangelization
is all about going back to the way God
designed evangelization to be. This
was manifested on Pentecost, with the
descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ’s
disciples, and in how the early Church
carried out her mission. But it was
Jesus who showed the way, in his final
prayer before his arrest and passion.
Jesus pointed to his relationship with
the Father, and thus showed us the way
we are to go. Just as Jesus related
to the Father, so are we to relate to
Jesus. Jesus knew the Father, lived
the Father, shared the Father. We in
turn are to meet and know Christ, to
live Christ, and to share Christ. Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 49) - Consecrated
to God
May 15, 2013
Jesus said that
those who believe in him will go greater
works than he did, because he is going
to the Father (Jn 14:12). Jesus goes
back to heaven but his work on earth
continues. We are to be his instruments
for this continuing divine work. “As
you sent me into the world, so I sent
them into the world.” (Jn 17:18).
Since the work is much larger, territorially
(the whole world) and with regard to
the number of people to be reached (all
peoples), then Jesus’ disciples
are tasked to do greater works. Read
more . . .
The
New Evangelization (Part 36) - Chosen
and Appointed
May 14, 2013
We made our decision
for Christ when we repented and turned
to faith in him as Savior and Lord.
We chose to follow him. But Jesus says,
“It was not you who chose me,
but I who chose you and appointed you
to go and bear fruit that will remain”
(Jn 15:16a). Just like the Twelve, Jesus
was the one who chose us, and what we
did was to respond. This is a staggering
reality. Jesus chose us from all eternity.
Read
more . . .
The
New Evangelization (Part 35) - Have Your
Received the Holy Spirit?
May 13, 2013
All Catholics
have been sacramentally baptized, by
which they receive the Holy Spirit.
The problem with many Catholics today
is that they are unaware of the importance
and action of the Holy Spirit in their
lives. For all practical purposes, Catholics
might as well say, “We have never
even heard that there is a holy Spirit.”
(Acts 19:2b). Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 48) - Empowered for
Mission
May 12, 2013
Jesus told his
disciples, “I am going to the
Father.” (Jn 14:12b). Now Jesus
does so, as “he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven” (Lk
24:51), as “he was lifted up,
and a cloud took him from their sight.”
(Acts 1:9b). Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 47) - Ask in Jesus'
Name
May 10, 2013
Once again, Jesus
says, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name
he will give you.” (Jn 16:23b).
Jesus says this same thing a number
of times. “And whatever you ask
in my name, I will do, so that the Father
may be glorified in the Son. If you
ask anything of me in my name, I will
do it.” (Jn 14:13-14). Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 46) - Believe and
Be Saved!
May 07, 2013
Paul and Silas
were attacked, stripped, beaten with
rods, and thrown in prison (Acts 16:22-23).
They were put in the innermost cell
and their feet secured to a stake (Acts
16:24). They were in an impossible situation.
Did they lose heart? Did they rue the
day they decided to proclaim Christ?
No. They turned even more intently to
God. They prayed and sang hymns to God
while the other prisoners listened (Acts
16:25). Angelic voices rising in a hell
hole! It surely would have touched some
hearts of the most hardened prisoners.
Read more . . .
The
New Evangelization (Part 34) - Spiritual
War
May 06, 2013
There is not
that much appreciation in the Church
about spiritual warfare. There are those
Catholics who do not even believe there
is a real evil being named Satan. Many
well-meaning Catholics try to tackle
the ills of society, without being aware
that behind them all is Satan. Thus
they are ineffective in reversing the
wrongs, since they are not addressing
the real problem. Even in the work of
evangelization, Catholics proclaim Christ,
but are not aware that when they do,
they automatically engage in spiritual
battle. They face the diabolical forces
of darkness, which are powerful and
can inflict suffering and pain on them.
When the enemy assaults and bloodies
them, they become confused and discouraged,
and may even retreat. Read
more . . .
On
Evangelization and Mission (Part 42) -
A Vision For Mission
May 04, 2013
Paul was given
a vision for mission (Acts 16:9a). And
he acted immediately and decisively.
“When he had seen the vision,
we sought passage to Macedonia at once”
(Acts 16:10a). Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 45) - Faith Works
Wonders
May 01, 2013
Jesus is all-powerful
God for whom nothing is impossible.
However, we see that in Nazareth, his
native place, “he did not work
many mighty deeds there because of their
lack of faith.” (Mt 13:58). It
is not that Jesus could not work the
wonders, whether people had faith or
not. It is just that Jesus would want
to base his doing wonders on the faith
of people. Read
more . . .
The
New Evangelization (Part 33) - Hardships
in the Work
April 28, 2013
The call to the
New Evangelization can be euphoric.
God’s people can become all excited
(I hope so) and be gung-ho about moving
ahead. After all, we fight for a victorious
God. But we really need to be aware
that as we plunge into spiritual warfare,
we will be bloodied. The enemy opposes
those who assault his dominion in the
world, and especially when our intent
is to help bring people into the kingdom
of God. Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 44) - Greater Works
April 27, 2013
The Lord today
reiterates our theme verse. “Amen,
amen, I say to you, whoever believes
in me will do the works that I do, and
will do greater ones than these, because
I am going to the Father.” (Jn
14:12). The call to the New Evangelization
is about faith, faith that works, faith
that works wonders. It is about meeting
and knowing Christ, living Christ, and
sharing Christ. Read
more . . .
The
New Evangelization (Part 32) - Into Spiritual
Warfare
April 25, 2013
Jesus commissioned
the apostles, and by extension all of
us who are his disciples: “Go
into the whole world and proclaim the
gospel to every creature.” (Mk
16:15). Read
more . . .
The
New Evangelization (Part 31) - Called
to Mission
April 24, 2013
The first missionary
journey began in Cyprus, when Barnabas
and Saul, “sent forth by the holy
Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from
there sailed to Cyprus.” (Acts
13:4). Here we see two very crucial
aspects of the work of evangelization,
which many in the Church have already
lost sight of. The call to the New Evangelization
is actually a call to the old way of
doing mission, according to God’s
original design. Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 43) - Destined for
Eternal Life
April 21, 2013
Those who believe
will be saved and enter into eternal
life. If we BE.LI.EV.,
then we will E (enter
into eternal life). There is a converse
way of looking at this connection between
faith and eternal life. “All who
were destined for eternal life came
to believe.” (Acts 13:48b). It
is not only that faith results in eternal
life, but one destined for eternal life
will come to faith. Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 42) - Wonders Worked
by Faith
April 20, 2013
Jesus calls
all to BE.LI.EV.E,
so that we might all experience the
salvation he won for us on the cross.
When we BE.LI.EV.E,
we will necessarily evangelize. This
is so that many others will hear the
good news of salvation in Jesus. So
we have faith, and with faith we do
works, and as we are instruments of
an all-powerful God, our faith
works wonders. The wonders
are a necessary ingredient for attracting
others to the faith. Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 41) - Enter Into
Eternal Life
April 18, 2013
Jesus says solemnly,
“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever
believes has eternal life.” (Jn
6:47). BE+LI+EV=E.
Read
more . . .
Our
Theme for 2013 (Part 40) - Scattered To
Gather
April 17, 2013
Philip went to
the city of Samaria to evangelize. There
were many possessed people and many
paralyzed and crippled people (Acts
8:7). What we have is a picture of a
city infested by evil, with the attendant
effects of demon possession and crippling
illnesses. No wonder that when Stephen
expelled the unclean spirits and cured
the crippled people, “there was
great joy in that city.” (Acts
8:8). Read
more . . .
Honoring
Toto De La Cruz
December 20, 2011
I take this privilege
to honor Toto, my brother, co-worker
and friend.
As has been his practice, he has gone
on ahead of us. He has always been a
trailblazer. He was among the first
full-time pastoral workers, and there
has been no stopping him ever since.
Even death has not done that, as he
has now moved on up there, where he
can intercede mightily for our life
and mission. Read
more . . .
Yes,
Archbishop Charles Chaput speaks clearly
and with authority. He is not wishy-washy
like other clerics and even bishops,
who are loath to defend the fullness
of the Catholic faith. This is the
reality: IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT
THE CHURCH TEACHES, YOU ARE NOT REALLY
CATHOLIC. Read
more . . .
Sex
Education in Schools Useless and Harmful
September
02, 2011
The anti-life
legislators in the Philippines continue
to insist on mandatory sex education
for young children. There is abundant
evidence from the experience of many
countries that such valueless sex education
increases promiscuity and incidences
of unwanted pregnancies, STDs and HIV/AIDS.
Such a seemingly harmless thing as sex
education in schools will actually destroy
the family, life and faith. Read
more . . .
U
S Bishop on Unrepentant Pro-abort Pols:
Expel him
August
12, 2011
It
is about time that a US bishop spoke
out this clearly and forcefully. Now
let us see if the Catholic bishops in
the USA actually follow through. "Purge
the evil person from your midst."
(1 Cor 5:13b). Read
more . . .
One
Hundred Fifty Reasons I'm Catholic And
You Should be Too! by Dave Armstrong
1.
Best One-Sentence Summary: I am convinced
that the Catholic Church conforms much more
closely to all of the biblical data, offers
the only coherent view of the history of Christianity
(i.e., Christian, apostolic Tradition), and
possesses the most profound and sublime Christian
morality, spirituality, social ethic, and
. . . Read
more. . .
2013
CFC-FFL Community Faith Rally
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Ynares Sports Center, Pasig City
Popes
John Paul II and Benedict XVI have sounded
the call to the New Evangelization.
It is a very urgent call. It is a call
that recognizes the massive assaults
on the faith during these times, and
the onslaught of the tsunami of evil
that is overwhelming the whole world.
Now
evangelization is not new. It is 2000
years old. The Holy Spirit came down
on Pentecost and the disciples of Jesus
went on to evangelize the world. But
after 2000 years, the world is once
again in darkeness. What happened?
Many
Christian and Christian nations have
succumbed to the deadly isms of the
times - modernism, relativism, secular
hedonism, materialism, consumerism,
cultural Marxism. They are no longer
witnesses to Christ in the power of
the Spirit.
The
situation in the world has become critical.
Faith has grown cold. The whole Church
has to rediscover the true meaning of
evangelization, according to God's principles.
The way forward is the way of Penetcost,
the missionary spirit we see in the
history of the early Church. Unless
we put on the mind and the heart of
God, we will end up doing more of the
same, and continue to lose territory
to the enemy,
We
are in the end times, and how we respond
will be crucial to preparing the bride
of Christ for the coming of the Bridegroom.
So now we go on an exciting journey,
discovering the riches of the Spirit's
prophetic call to the New Evangelization.
Let us be on our way.
Published
in the Philippines, May 2012
There
is a raging brutal war in the world
today, inflicting hundreds of millions
of casualties. It is a war against
the unborn. It is a continuing holocaust
against the most innocent and defenseless
of persons, the child in the womb.
But
it is not only the unborn that are
targeted by the dark forces waging
this war. It actually is a war against
faith, family and life. It is an assault
against societies and the whole world.
It is an attack against the churches,
especially against the holy Roman
Catholic Church. It is a direct confrontation
against God and every good that God
stands for.
Who
are the dark forces? They are among
the most powerful forces on earth.
They are the developed Western nations,
with their great political, economic
and military might, led by the most
nation on earth, the United States
of America. They are the world institutions
of power - The United Nations, The
European Union, international media,
multinational corporations, billionaire
philantrophists, powerful anti-life
and homosexual lobbies, and secret
elite societies. Even the Christian
churches have been infiltrated, with
many dissidents including priests,
nuns and bishops. Behind them all
is Satan himself.
We
are in the end times. The culture
of death blankets the whole world.
Judeo-Christian civilization as we
know it is rapidly dissolving. Lives,
marriages, familes, religions, societies,
freedom - all are under severe threat.
Time is running out.
All
true Christians are called to engage
in this war. We are to fight for the
culture of life. Get to know what
this war is all about and be equipped.
Go off now to a 40-day boot camp.
Maiden
Edition Published in the Philippines,
1997
Revisited Edition, January 2012
The
Christian family is struggling for
survival, beset by powerful forces
all around it. There is the secular
and materialistic world, seeking to
impose its increasingly pagan values
and lifestyles. There is the fallen
and sinful flesh in humanity, seeking
to be free of all moral restraints.
And there is Satan, seeking to twarth
God's plan and dominion.
Amidst
all these, Christians are confused,
discouraged, badly bruised. The future
looks bleak.
But
there is hope! God is committed to
defending and strengthening the family.
For the family is His very own creation.
And the family is at the very center
of His plan for humanity.
God
has a plan and design for marriage
and family life that is unchanging
and eternal. And His plan is the key
not just to the survival of the family,
but to God's ultimate triumph in the
world.
Third
Printing December 2011
The
most extraordinary woman in the
whole world is Mary.
*
She
was conceived without original
sin.
*
She
is full of grace.
*
She
gave birth to a son but
is ever virgin.
*
She
is the mother of God.
*
She
is the mother of the one
who is the Savior of the
world.
*
She
was assumed body and soul
into heaven.
*
She
is the Queen of heaven and
earth.
God
has done great things for Mary,
and all ages will call her blessed.
Get
to know this extraordinary woman.
And know she is your mother too.
Maiden
Edition Published in the Philippines
1996
Revisited October 2011
Jesus
has said, “The harvest is abundant
but the laborers are few; so ask the
master of the harvest to send out
laborers for his harvest.” (Lk
10:2).
Today
the fields are ripe for harvest. God
has prepared a massive harvest that
can compare with the heady missionary
days after Pentecost.
God
today is sounding a call to all his
people to participate in bringing
in this harvest. It is a call of the
utmost importance and urgency.
And
God looks to you to respond.
Now
available at the CFC-FFL Shoppe
A
CALL TO ARMS
(Defending
the Culture of Life)
Homily
of Fr. Melvin Castro
Executive
Secretary of the Episcopal Commission
on Family and Life
CFC-FFL
"Strong in God" Conference
Baguio
City, January 22-23, 2011
HUMAN
LIFE INTERNATIONAL
17th ASIA-PACIFIC CONGRESS
November 06-08, 2010
OPENING
REMARKS
by
FRANK PADILLA
Servant General - CFC-FFL
Faith,
family, life. These are the crucial
issues in the life and mission of the
Church in this third millennium. At
every turn we see the threats to and
the attacks on faith, family and life.
Read
more . . .
His
Eminence,
Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales,
Archbishop of Manila,
appoints
Rev. Fr. Francis Gustilo, SDB
Spiritual Director
of
Couples for Christ
Foundation for Family and Life
"The
Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP), through its Episcopal Commission
on the Laity (ECLA), has given formal
and official recognition to Couples for
Christ Foundation for Family and Life
(CFC-FFL) as a national private association
of the lay faithful, effective October
15, 2009.
"His
Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has re-appointed
our Servant General Frank Padilla and
his wife Gerry as members of the Pontifical
Council for the Family, effective September
10, 2009, for another term of five years."
Solemnity
of the Lord's Ascension Seventh Sunday of Easter May 12, 2013
Luke 24:46-53
Jesus said to
his disciples: “Thus it is written that
the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead
on the third day and that repentance, for the
forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his
name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things. And behold
I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city until you are clothed with
power from on high.”
Then he led
them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands,
and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted
from them and was taken up to heaven. They did
him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with
great joy, and they were continually in the
temple praising God.
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
Our
Lady of Fatima
Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 13,
2013
John 16:29-33
The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you
are talking plainly, and not in any figure of
speech. Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question
you. mBecause of this we believe that you came
from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do
you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming
and has arrived when each of you will be scattered
to his own home and you will leave me alone.
But I am not alone, because the Father is with
me. I have told you this so that you might have
peace in me. In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
Feast
of St. Matthias, apostle
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 14, 2013
John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father
loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain
in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s
commandments and remain in his love.
“I have
told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment:
love one another as I love you. No one has greater
love than this, to lay down one’s life
for one’s friends. You are my friends
if you do what I command you. I no longer call
you slaves, because a slave does not know what
his master is doing. I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard
from my Father. It was not you who chose me,
but I who chose you and appointed you to go
and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever
you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Isidore, farmer Wednesday of the Seventh Week
of Easter May 15, 2013
John 17:11b-19
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed,
saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your
name that you have given me, so that they may
be one just as we are one. When I was with them
I protected them in your name that you gave
me, and I guarded them, and none of them was
lost except the son of destruction, in order
that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now
I am coming to you. I speak this in the world
so that they may share my joy completely. I
gave them your word, and the world hated them,
because they do not belong to the world any
more than I belong to the world. I do not ask
that you take them out of the world but that
you keep them from the Evil One. They do not
belong to the world any more than I belong to
the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your
word is truth. As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate
myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated
in truth.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
John Nepomucene
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
May 16, 2013
John 17:20-26
Lifting
up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
“I pray not only for these, but also for
those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one, as you, Father,
are in me and I in you, that they also may be
in us, that the world may believe that you sent
me. And I have given them the glory you gave
me, so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me, that they may be brought
to perfection as one, that the world may know
that you sent me, and that you loved them even
as you loved me. Father, they are your gift
to me. I wish that where I am they also may
be with me, that they may see my glory that
you gave me, because you loved me before the
foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the
world also does not know you, but I know you,
and they know that you sent me. I made known
to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me may be
in them and I in them.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Pascual Baylon Friday of the Seventh Week of
Easter
May 17, 2013
John 21:15-19
After
Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples
and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon
Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love
me more than these?” Simon Peter answered
him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love
you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my
lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a
second time, “Simon, son of John, do you
love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes,
Lord, you know that I love you.” He said
to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said
to him the third time, “Simon, son of
John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed
that he had said to him a third time, “Do
you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord,
you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen,
amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you
used to dress yourself and go where you wanted;
but when you grow old, you will stretch out
your hands, and someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do not want to go.”
He said this signifying by what kind of death
he would glorify God. And when he had said this,
he said to him, “Follow me.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
John I, pope and martyr
Saturday of the Seventh Week
of Easter May 18, 2013
John 21:20-25
Peter turned and saw the disciple following
whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined
upon his chest during the supper and had said,
“Master, who is the one who will betray
you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus,
“Lord, what about him?” Jesus said
to him, “What if I want him to remain
until I come? What concern is it of yours? You
follow me.” So the word spread among the
brothers that that disciple would not die. But
Jesus had not told him that he would not die,
just “What if I want him to remain until
I come? What concern is it of yours?”
It is this disciple
who testifies to these things and has written
them, and we know that his testimony is true.
There are also many other things that Jesus
did, but if these were to be described individually,
I do not think the whole world would contain
the books that would be written.
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
Solemnity of Pentecost May 19, 2013
John 20:19-13
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples
were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood
in their midst and said to them, “Peace
be with you.” When he had said this, he
showed them his hands and his side. The disciples
rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said
to them again, “Peace be with you. As
the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them
and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and
whose sins you retain are retained.”
-
or -
John 14:15-16,
23b-26
Jesus said
to his disciples: “If you love me, you
will keep my commandments. And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Advocate
to be with you always.
“Whoever
loves me will keep my word, and my Father will
love him, and we will come to him and make our
dwelling with him. Those who do not love me
do not keep my words; yet the word you hear
is not mine but that of the Father who sent
me. “I
have told you this while I am with you. The
Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will
send in my name, will teach you everything and
remind you of all that I told you.”
"Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Bernardine of Siena, priest
Monday
of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
May 20, 2013
Mark 9:14-29
As
Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter,
James, John and approached the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and scribes
arguing with them. Immediately on seeing him,
the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran
up to him and greeted him. He asked them, “What
are you arguing about with them?” Someone
from the crowd answered him, “Teacher,
I have brought to you my son possessed by a
mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws
him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his
teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples
to drive it out, but they were unable to do
so.” He said to them in reply, “O
faithless generation, how long will I be with
you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to
me.” They brought the boy to him. And
when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw
the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the
ground, he began to roll around and foam at
the mouth. Then he questioned his father, “How
long has this been happening to him?”
He replied, “Since childhood. It has often
thrown him into fire and into water to kill
him. But if you can do anything, have compassion
on us and help us.” Jesus said to him,
“‘If you can!’ Everything
is possible to one who has faith.” Then
the boy’s father cried out, “I do
believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on
seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the
unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and
deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him
and never enter him again!” Shouting and
throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.
He became like a corpse, which caused many to
say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took
him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
When he entered the house, his disciples asked
him in private, “Why could we not drive
the spirit out?” He said to them, “This
kind can only come out through prayer.”
Bible
passages courtesy of New American Bible
St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions,
martyrs
Tuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
May 21, 2013
Mark 9:30-37
Jesus
and his disciples left from there and began
a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish
anyone to know about it. He was teaching his
disciples and telling them, “The Son of
Man is to be handed over to men and they will
kill him, and three days after his death the
Son of Man will rise.” But they did not
understand the saying, and they were afraid
to question him.
They came to
Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began
to ask them, “What were you arguing about
on the way?” But they remained silent.
For they had been discussing among themselves
on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat
down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If
anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last
of all and the servant of all.” Taking
a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting
his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever
receives one child such as this in my name,
receives me; and whoever receives me, receives
not me but the One who sent me.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Rita of Cascia, religious
Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
May 22, 2013
Mark 9:38-40
John
said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone
driving out demons in your name, and we tried
to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There
is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me. For
whoever is not against us is for us.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Desiderius Thursday
of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
May 23, 2013
Mark 9:41-50
Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who
gives you a cup of water to drink because you
belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely
not lose his reward.
“Whoever
causes one of these little ones who believe
in me to sin, it would be better for him if
a great millstone were put around his neck and
he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes
you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you
to enter into life maimed than with two hands
to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it
out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom
of God with one eye than with two eyes to be
thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not
die, and the fire is not quenched.
“Everyone
will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but
if salt becomes insipid, with what will you
restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves
and you will have peace with one another.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Joanna
Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
May 24, 2013
Mark 10:1-12
Jesus came into the district of Judea and across
the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him
and, as was his custom, he again taught them.
The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is
it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?”
They were testing him. He said to them in reply,
“What did Moses command you?” They
replied, “Moses permitted a husband to
write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.”
But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness
of your hearts he wrote you this commandment.
But from the beginning of creation, God made
them male and female. For this reason a man
shall leave his father and mother and be joined
to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore
what God has joined together, no human being
must separate.” In the house the disciples
again questioned Jesus about this. He said to
them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries
another commits adultery against her; and if
she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Bede the Venerable, priest and doctor St. Gregory VII, pope St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, virgin
Saturday
of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
May 25, 2013
Mark 10:13-16
People
were bringing children to Jesus that he might
touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and
said to them, “Let the children come to
me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of
God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to
you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of
God like a child will not enter it.” Then
he embraced the children and blessed them, placing
his hands on them.
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
The
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
May 26, 2013
John 16:12-15
Jesus
said to his disciples: "I have much more
to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But
when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will
guide you to all truth. He will not speak on
his own, but he will speak what he hears, and
will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me, because he will take from
what is mine and declare it to you. Everything
that the Father has is mine; for this reason
I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you."
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St. Augustine of Canterbury, bishop
Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
May 27, 2013
Mark 10:28-31
As
Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran
up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good
teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me
good? No one is good but God alone. You know
the commandments: You shall not kill; you shall
not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you
shall not bear false witness; you shall not
defraud; honor your father and your mother.”
He replied and said to him, “Teacher,
all of these I have observed from my youth.”
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to
him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go,
sell what you have, and give to the poor and
you will have treasure in heaven; then come,
follow me.” At that statement, his face
fell, and he went away sad, for he had many
possessions.
Jesus looked
around and said to his disciples, “How
hard it is for those who have wealth to enter
the Kingdom of God!” The disciples were
amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to
them in reply, “Children, how hard it
is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier
for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom
of God.” They were exceedingly astonished
and said among themselves, “Then who can
be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men it is impossible, but not for
God. All things are possible for God.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Ceraunus
Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
May 28, 2013
Mark 10:28-31
Peter
began to say to Jesus, ‘We have given
up everything and followed you.” Jesus
said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no
one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands for
my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will
not receive a hundred times more now in this
present age: houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions,
and eternal life in the age to come. But many
that are first will be last, and the last will
be first.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Restitutus Wednesday of the Eighth Week in
Ordinary Time
May 29, 2013
Mark 10:32-45
The
disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem,
and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed,
and those who followed were afraid. Taking the
Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what
was going to happen to him. “Behold, we
are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man
will be handed over to the chief priests and
the scribes, and they will condemn him to death
and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock
him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him
to death, but after three days he will rise.”
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came
to Jesus and said to him, ‘Teacher, we
want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
He replied, ‘What do you wish me to do
for you?” They answered him, “Grant
that in your glory we may sit one at your right
and the other at your left.” Jesus said
to them, “You do not know what you are
asking. Can you drink the chalice that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I
am baptized?” They said to him, ‘We
can.” Jesus said to them, “The chalice
that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism
with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not
mine to give but is for those for whom it has
been prepared.” When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at James and John. Jesus
summoned them and said to them, “You know
that those who are recognized as rulers over
the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great
ones make their authority over them felt. But
it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever
wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be
the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not
come to be served but to serve and to give his
life as a ransom for many.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Joan of Arc
Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
May 30, 2013
Mark 10:46-52
As
Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples
and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man,
the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he
began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son
of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked
him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling
out all the more, “Son of David, have
pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call
him.” So they called the blind man, saying
to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is
calling you.” He threw aside his cloak,
sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to
him in reply, “What do you want me to
do for you?” The blind man replied to
him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus
told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has
saved you.” Immediately he received his
sight and followed him on the way.
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Mechtildis
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary
Time
May 31, 2013
Luke 1:39-56
Mary
set out and traveled to the hill country in
haste to a town of Judah, where she entered
the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth,
filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a
loud voice and said, “Most blessed are
you among women, and blessed is the fruit of
your womb. And how does this happen to me, that
the mother of my Lord should come to me? For
at the moment the sound of your greeting reached
my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken
to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the
Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for
he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me, and
holy is his Name. He
has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, he has
scattered the proud in their conceit. He has
cast down the mighty from their thrones, and
has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry
with good things, and the rich he has sent away
empty. He has come to the help of his servant
Israel for he has remembered his promise of
mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to
Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained
with her about three months and then returned
to her home.
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
St.
Odilo of Cluny
Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
May 11, 2013
John 16:23b-28
Jesus
said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I
say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my
name he will give you. Until now you have not
asked anything in my name; ask and you will
receive, so that your joy may be complete.
“I have
told you this in figures of speech. The hour
is coming when I will no longer speak to you
in figures but I will tell you clearly about
the Father. On that day you will ask in my name,
and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father
for you. For the Father himself loves you, because
you have loved me and have come to believe that
I came from God. I came from the Father and
have come into the world. Now I am leaving the
world and going back to the Father.”
Bible
passage courtesy of New American Bible
Sorry,
no passage today.
"Lead
us back, O Lord, that we may be restored;
give
us anew such days as we had of old."
Lam
5:21
Updated: 04-30-2013
The
highest courage is to dare to be yourself
in the face of adversity, choosing right
over wrong, ethics over convenience, and
truth over popularity.
Travel the path of integrity without looking
back, for THERE IS NEVER A WRONG TIME TO
DO THE RIGHT THING.
Frank
and Gerry Padilla present the books "Servant
Leadership" and "Stories from Prison" to
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, on February
09, 2010, at the Vatican
Almighty
Father in heaven, awesome and glorious are
you in your majesty. From all eternity you
have had the greatest plan for us all, for
a future filled with hope. May your name
be always exalted through all the earth.
Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, you have
loved us with an everlasting love, and have
established your friendship with us. We
desire to live as you live, following you
as your disciple along the path of holiness.
Help us to share the good news of your love
and your salvation to many others. Increase
our faith, so that we might do even greater
works.
Holy Spirit, touch the hearts of the faithful,
so that they may meet Christ, live Christ
and share Christ. Help us to mainstream
Catholic lay evangelization in this Year
of Faith, in response to the call to the
New Evangelization. Open our eyes and hearts
to experience the faith that truly works
wonders.
Triune God, continue to work in our lives
so that we remain faithful and steadfast
in faith, as we proclaim that faith throughout
the world. Then may all peoples and nations
bow down before you in worship.
Mama Mary, you are our model of faith. Please
always guide us and keep us covered in your
mantle of grace and blessing.
May the faith of all God’s people
move mountains.
Amen.
CFC-FFL
CONSECRATION TO MARY, MEDIATRIX OF
ALL GRACE
We
kneel before you, as you yourself
sit at the throne room of God, beside
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
your Son. You more than anyone else
embody the pure love for our Lord
Jesus that we all desire to have,
as you bore him in your womb, gave
birth to him, raised him, suffered
with him through the cross, and finally
witnessed his resurrection. You are
the one whose soul perfectly proclaims
the greatness of the Lord, whose spirit
perfectly rejoices in God our Savior.
You are the one we and all ages will
call blessed.
You are the highly favored one, and
the Lord is truly with you. We thus
look to you to be our mediatrix, as
we continue on our journey in the
world, proclaiming your Son Jesus
and bringing his good news of salvation
to all. We recognize our weakness
and sinfulness, and that apart from
the power of God’s Spirit we
can do nothing.
Dear Mother Mary, you are our inspiration
for the strengthening of families
and the promotion of the culture of
life. Pray and intercede for us always,
that we may remain faithful to our
covenant, steadfast in our work, persevering
despite trials and crosses, and always
mindful of the call to holiness and
discipleship. You who are holy and
you who are the most faithful disciple
of our Lord Jesus Christ, keep us
in your loving embrace always.
We consecrate ourselves, our families
and our work to you. Bless us, dear
Mother, and journey with us, as we
continue to journey with your beloved
Son Jesus. You are our mother, and
we are your children, now and forever.
Amen.
Honoring
Toto De La Cruz
Published
in the Philippines, October 2012
Published
in the Philippines, May 2012
Maiden
Edition Published in the Philippines,
1997
Maiden
Edition Published in the Philippines
1996
