APRIL 23rd - FEAST OF ST. ADALBERT of Poland

Today is the Feast of St. Adalbert, Patron Saint of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Prussia.

St. Adalbert was born into a noble family in Prague in the year 939. He was a well-educated man who became a priest and later the Bishop of Prague. Although wealthy, he lived poorly. He strongly opposed the slave trade, polygamy and idolatry. He did tremendous religious work in the countries who gave him the honor of Patron Saint. His work in Christianizing the pagans in Prussia who worshipped the spirit in oak trees which he chopped down, cost him his life. So the Duke of Poland had to buy his dead body in its weight in gold to enshrine St. Adalbert in the Cathedral in Gniezno, Poland. The cathedral is the only Romanesque church in Europe with a bronze door with 18 reliefs of scenes from the life of the saint.

The late Pope John Paul II officiated the ceremonial mass at the Cathedral of Gneizno in April 1977 on the occasion of the thousandth anniversary of
St. Adalbert's martyrdom. Heads of seven European States and about a million believers took part in the mass. (Remember, Poland is 98% Catholic)

To commemorate the canonization of St. Faustina to whom Jesus of Divine Mercy appeared, I went on a pilgrimage to Eastern Europe in the year 2000. We visited Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Austria.

It was in Krakow, Poland where I visited the small Church of St. Adalbert which the saint consecrated in 997 and where he preached before going in his mission to bring Christianity to Prussia. He was later martyred in Prussia. Throughout the history of Krakow, the Church of St. Adalbert was a place of worship and visited by merchants and tourists across Europe. It is located in the eastern corner of an enormously wide 10-acre market square called Grand Square in the Old Town of Krakow. The Grand Square is the largest plaza of medieval Europe demarcated in 1257. The Church of St. Adalbert had already stood there for centuries before.

In Krakow's Grand Square is the huge magnificent Gothic building called Cloth Hall. It is the oldest shopping mall of the world having been around for 700 years. The building itself is almost a city- block long. i managed to go to some stores and admire the many conceivable manufactured and hand-made merchandise. My eyes feasted on the numerous amber jewelry on display. Like any woman, I could not resist a pair of amber earrings.

Almost opposite the Cloth Hall across the square is the huge Gothic Basilica of the Virgin Mary built in the 13th Century. It is Krakow's showcase temple and is the best known and the most liked church in Poland. There are two towers- the taller one with a fantastic Gothic spire and a lower one which accommodates five bells. Inside the church is breathtakingly fantastic! It boasts of excellent Renaissance art especially a giant Gothic altarpiece reputedly carved by one of Europe's best in that century. The altarpiece is, based on the encyclopedia, the world's greatest Gothic structure. Ornate woodwork, stained glass windows and beautiful wall paintings adorn the church and its 12 chapels.We were informed that the treasure house of the Basilica of the Virgin Mary is rich in priceless objects of art including 300 masterly embroidered ancient vestments. We did not have time to see the vestments but I remembered having seen some of the exquisite medieval vestments in Avignon, France where for 75 years the Popes stayed there. To my mind, those works of art can never be duplicated by "modern" hands!

The visit to Czeckoslovakia was particularly exciting to me. I was so moved to visit the Shrine of the Miraculous Infant Jesus in Prague at the Church of Our Lady of Victorious because of my family's special devotion to Sto. Nino. The pleasant surprise was finding Father Anastacio as Pastor whom I met in Arenzzano, Italy in 1998 at the Church of the Miraculous Infant Jesus. Father Anastacio so graciously offered to say mass for our group right at the very beautiful chapel of the original image of Santo Nino who spoke to Fr. F. Cyril who later propagated the devotion.

The concert in the ballroom of a palace in Vienna, Austria was a thrilling experience I can never forget. Yes, the admission ticket was so prohibitive such that only three (all Filipinos) of the forty-two pilgrims signed up for the concert. But the experience was well worth it!

Hungary and its provinces and cities especially Budapest all presented a phenomenon so foreign to my very little knowledge of the country. I was humbled by the numerous Renaissance architecture and a culture rich in enviable tradition. The Parliament rivals that in London!

Travel is indeed a source of information and appreciation of a heritage inherent to a particular nation and people. We become better citizens of this world!

April 18, 2010 Gospel - G A L I L E E

The Gospel today recounts the appearance of Jesus after His resurrection to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee. The all-night fishing adventure of Peter and his friends was not rewarded by a single catch. But when Jesus told them to lower the net on the right side of the boat, they caught 153 fish.Some theologians claim that the number of the fish was significant since there are 153 species of fish in the world. Hence, since Jesus said they are to be "fishers" of men, then their "catch" should be universal encompassing the world.

During their breakfast, Jesus asked Peter, "Simon, do you love me?" three times. Note that Jesus used Peter's old name which represented, "weakness." Because Peter's denial of Jesus- his declaration that he did not know Jesus was a manifestation of his weakness. Peter's proof of his "agape" love for Jesus restored him to his position among the disciples and more importantly the trust and love they had for each other.

In my visits to the Holy Land, the Sea of Galilee (actually a lake) has an especial appeal, an undefined hold on me. The gentle ripples of turquoise water shimmering under the noonday sun against the greenery of the Golan Heights present a picture-perfect setting! A boat ride in a replica of the ones that ply between its shores during the first century makes the Galilee experience all the more unforgettable. And a fitting climax is the sumptuous lunch in the shoreline resturant of its best cuisine - St. Peter's fish, the "tilapia."

May I share with you my poem :

Galilee

How beautiful you are, Oh, Galilee
The serene waters that abound in Thee
St. Peter's fish swim with their young in tow
Amidst the swaying plants so green below.

How I love to be in charming Galilee
In the place where our Lord Jesus walked with glee
Teaching his apostles Peter, James and John
To love everyone with the love He has sown.

The trees and boulders that line your rugged shores
Heard the tales Jesus told with such awesome force
That He will lay down His life to save the world
From sins of the flesh, corruption and the sword.

That to know Him means to study His Word
Reflect on Jesus' parables we won't get bored
Instill in our minds and hearts the way of life
Willing to serve others always without strife.

Eager to help those who knock at our door
For food, for shelter, for counsel and much more
We can never fathom the power of prayer
Each time we seek God for someone else's welfare.

Oh, Galilee, how you marvelously display
Mother Nature in kaleidoscopic array
The changing colors as the seasons roll by
Complement the fragrance of the breeze coming nigh.

A chosen place you are, Oh, Galilee
From time immemorial to eternity
Oh, Lord, in your mercy and love let me be
In the bosom of your heart your own Galilee!

April 2 - Pope John Paul II Death Anniversary

April 2, 2010 is the fifth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II. We remember him as a great "man of God" who saw everything through the eyes of faith. Millions of people of various creeds, sex and color consider him as a perfect example of a great spiritual life. To Catholics, his entire life was a prayer.

When he was elected as the Vicar of Christ on Earth, he sounded a call for peace. His long pontificate was for peace! He started and continued relentless efforts towards the reconciliation of differences with the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran Church and other denominational sects including Judaism. The late Pope John Paul II was the first Pope to have ever visited Israel and the synagogue in Rome.

KEY Considerations For Lent

The Season of Lent has been observed through the centuries to strengthen and deepen the faith of those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. It is a time when those whose hearts have been hardened by the frivolities of the world are given the opportunity for reconciliation and acceptance of God's role in their lives. Also, it makes possible the realization that " no man is an island " but a part of the whole humanity that makes up the world.

The key considerations that highlight the Lenten Season are:

1. Prayer 2. Fasting 3. Almsgiving

Prayer - What is prayer? The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that it is raising one's mind and heart to God. We pray out of the depths of a humble and contrite heart. Humility, therefore, is the foundation of prayer. It does not matter whether you pray with shut eyes or bended knees or with arms outstretched. These pysical forms may help in the sincerity and focus necessary for some people. It does not mean that while you are driving, you cannot pray. It also means that you can be in a noisy casino but can still be engaged in prayer. While walking for exercise, you can be in communion with God in prayer.

In prayer, God initiates the contact. God wants to have a relationship with us and therefore, He seeks for us. He asked the question to Adam in the Garden of Eden, " Where are you?" Ever since that time, God has been seeking for us. When God called him, Abraham went forth. Moses was called through the "burning bush." David was called from the fields as he tended his sheep. Elijah and the other prophets were all called by God and they responded in prayer their "encounter" with God from whom they drew light and strength for their mission. Thus, we respond to God's call in the silence of our hearts, in prayer, too.

St. Paul said, " Pray without ceasing." It does not mean that we have to be on our knees 24 hours a day. It simply means being aware of the presence of God every moment of our lives - in the car while driving, in the office at work, at home, doing the dishes or any household chore, in the park while watching the children at play, etc.

Prayer of all kinds come in various ways and forms. Looking at the beauty of nature and saying, " Thank you." is a prayer. Lifting up a burden off someone's shoulder through our listening ear or a gentle counsel is a prayer. Assisting the fallen to their feet in terms of the sharing of food, time and treasure is a prayer. The ultimate test of a Christian is how prayer becomes so ingrained in our being that it is manifested in the spoken word or such action we do for ourselves but most especially for others. We have to pray for others. We must be supplicating for one another. We seek God's glory in prayer but also share each other's care in prayer. Therefore, through prayer, we establish a relationship with God and with our fellowmen!

Christian prayer is a living relationship between God and His people.
So the life of prayer is the habit of being in the presence of God, in communion with Him. So, how much of the 24 hours a day, do you allot to your prayer - your time with your Creator, your Source of life and blessings? Are you aware that in a split second He can shift conditions in your life in a manner He sees fit for that moment be it the unexpected fading to eternal life as in a freak accident or the sudden outburst of a natural calamity, or the miraculous cure of a lingering illness or a downpour of blessings to solve a financial crisis. Hence, in life, expect the unexpected ! Let prayer be an integral part of your daily life!