The Sacred Host

               The Sacred Host is the Glorious Risen Body of Christ.  This for me is a new dimension in understanding the mystery of Consecration at a Eucharistic Celebration.

            Blessed John Paul II in his Spiritual Reflection on the Mystery of Faith as published by the ‘ANAWIM WAY’ Booklet writes the following:

            “For in the Eucharist we also receive the pledge of our bodily resurrection at the end of the world: ‘He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day’ (Jn.6:54).  This pledge of the future resurrection comes from the fact that the flesh of the Son of Man, given as food, is his body in its glorious state after the resurrection.  With the Eucharist we digest, as it were, the “secret” of the resurrection.”

            I have actually been wondering why we cannot see Christ in the Sacred Host when it becomes His Real Presence.  I am now enlightened by what Blessed John Paul II has said that “Christ’s Body is now in its glorious state after the resurrection.”  In the Gospels it is narrated how after the resurrection Christ appeared to his disciples, but all of a sudden he disappeared.  This must be one of the characteristics of a glorious body – its capacity to be seen or not to be seen.  In most cases it is invisible, but on certain special occasions it can be made visible.

            In the Eucharistic Celebration Christ is giving us the opportunity to exercise the Gift of Faith, by making Himself invisible although actually present.

            Being aware now of the Presence of Christ in the Sacred Host in His Glorious State, I cannot but be more attentive during the Eucharistic Celebration and as much as possible see Christ with the eyes of Faith and communicate with Him on a “face to face” and “heart to heart” manner.

            Truly aware now of the “Glorious Presence of Christ in the Sacred Host” I am more and more encouraged to make frequent visits to Him in the Blessed Sacrament at the Adoration Chapel.

            The SACRED HOST is, indeed, CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, IN HIS GLORIOUS STATE.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

August 12,  2012

The Power of a Priest

               The “Power of a Priest” is, indeed, unimaginable and yet it is often taken for granted.  This is the thought that overwhelmed me as I reflected on the words of St. John Vianney, whose feastday we celebrate today, August 4.

            In the booklet  ‘The Anawim Way’ I read the words of St. John Vianney on the holiness and dignity of a priest, which run as follows:

“Behold the power of the priest!  The tongue of the priest makes God

from a morsel of bread!  It is more than creating the ‘world’. The ‘Blessed Virgin Mary’  herself  cannot make her Divine Son descend into the host.  The priest can however simple he may be.”

The Eucharistic Celebration is  considered  the   center and summit of

 the Christian Life here on earth.  It is because when the priest pronounces the words of Consecration “This is My Body… This is the cup of My Blood…a very great miracle happens – THE HOST BECOMES CHRIST HIMSELF, THE GOD-MAN, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, although unseen by the naked eyes of men.  In a very mysterious way CHRIST RE-ENACTS HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS by which the GRACE OF REDEMPTION is offered to all mankind.

In God’s infinite wisdom this tremendous power “TO MAKE GOD PRESENT IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY UNDER THE APPEARANCES OF BREAD AND WINE “ is given  to every duly ordained priest whenever he pronounces the Words of Consecration.

Such power, St. John Vianney says, is greater than creating the world.   We acknowledge the greatness of the world whenever we sing the song: “Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the world Thy hands have made.”   The power of God in creating the world is, indeed, a tremendous power which no one can deny.  It really defies my imagination to see how much greater still is the power that God bestows on a priest. 

 Comparing God’s power in creating the world  and His power of Consecrating Bread and Wine through the words of a priest I see that the difference lies in their visibility.  Much of God’s power in creating the world can be seen by our naked eyes.   The power bestowed on a priest to consecrate bread and wine and make Christ present in a very special way is something that can be seen only by the eyes of Faith.  This may be the reason that it is just taken for granted.

The comparison made by St. John Vianney has made me ponder on the great Power of a Priest and has deepened my conviction in giving support, spiritually and materially, to the Priestly Vocation.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

August 4, 2012

The Power of Faith

                  In the Gospel of Matthew (17:20) Jesus said: “I say to you: if only you   had faith the size of a mustard seed, you would tell that mountain to move from here to there, and the mountain will obey.  Nothing will be impossible to you.”

            These words of our Lord Jesus Christ made me ask the question: “What kind of faith is that which may be as small as the size of a mustard seed and yet could work wonders?” 

            Faith is a conviction, not a certainty.  It is a product of the mind.  It should, however, not remain in the mind, but be put into action, for as it is said in the Epistle of St. James: “Faith without works in dead.” (James 2:26)

            To answer my question  I find in the Legionary Prayer a very good description of such Faith, which is as follows:

1.    “A lively faith – animated by charity, which enable us to perform all our actions from the motive of pure love of you, and ever to see you and serve you in our neighbor;”

2.    “A faith, firm and immovable as a rock – through which we shall rest tranquil and steadfast amid the crosses, toils and disappointments of life;”

3.    “A courageous faith – which will inspire us to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for your glory and for the salvation of souls;”

4.    “A faith which will be our Legion’s Pillar of Fire – to lead us forth united, to kindle everywhere the fires of divine love, to enlighten those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death, to inflame those who are lukewarm, to bring back life to those who are dead in sin, and which will guide our own feet in the way of peace.”

These descriptions of Faith as LIVELY, FIRM, COURAGEOUS, and like a PILLAR OF FIRE, are, I believe, the characteristics of a true virtue of Faith that can work wonders. 

While all POWER comes from GOD, it is FAITH that unleashes this Power in accordance with God’s infinite Wisdom and Loving Kindness for His own honor and glory.   Hence , the POWER OF FAITH is ultimately the POWER OF GOD Himself.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

July 29, 2012

Alcoholics Anonymous

               The Vatican II Weekday Missal has in its Meditation For Spiritual Growth the “Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous”.   It is stated therein that these twelve steps have helped millions to put into order a shattered life.   One of the steps has struck me and has deepened my understanding of the significance of prayer.  It reads as follows:

“We sought through prayer and meditation

 to improve our conscious contact with God

 as we understood Him,

 praying only for knowledge of His will for us

 and the power to carry that out.”

The words that struck me most is:

 “CONSCIOUS CONTACT WITH GOD”

Reflecting on how I have been praying in the past, it seemed that most often I had just taken for granted the Presence of God.  Yes, I was indeed talking to God but He seemed to be far beyond my reach.  He seemed to be in a distant place overlooking at what I was doing but without a real, so to say, ‘eye to eye’ contact with Him.

It dawned on me then that through prayer I should strive as much as possible to be conscious of God’s loving presence in me and be in touch with His Spirit dwelling in me.  This requires full concentration that is focused on God’s Almighty Being in the light of my own understanding on Who He is.   To my mind, purely human efforts would be inadequate to achieve this. To have a “conscious contact” with God, I have to humbly acknowledge my need for Divine Assistance.   

This divine assistance, I believe, will be granted by God to me and to anyone who sincerely desires to have this gift of having a conscious contact with Him.  Coupled with this desire should be a habitual practice of keeping still at certain moments of the day, for in Psalm 46:10, God says: “Be still and know that I am God.”

            Now, every time I have my daily “Quiet Time”, I  strive to put a stop to what I am doing  and in silence allow divine grace to imbue me with   the gift of having a “CONSCIOUS CONTACT WITH GOD”.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

July 22, 2012

Rejoice-Praise-Thank

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.

 In everything give thanks,

for this is God’s Will for you in Christ Jesus.”

 (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

            It is my conviction that God created me to do His Will.  Hence, I have been asking God now and then: “Lord God, what is it that You want me to do?”  During my ‘Quiet Time’ I got the answer as I read St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, which I quoted above.

            The answer, I may say, is a THREEFOLD ACTION, namely:

1.To REJOICE ALWAYS,

2.TO PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, and

3.TO GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING.

These three challenges require from me  a “Frame of Mind” that would constantly monitor my daily behavior.  I have to ask myself now and then these three questions:

1.    Am I rejoicing always?

Sometimes I find it hard to rejoice because of something that hurts me, either due to my own human frailties, physical ailments, or  injuries inflicted by others.  To rejoice amidst these sufferings requires a firm faith in the benevolence of God; for it is said that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him”.(Rom. 8:28)

2.    Am I praying without ceasing?

I believe that praying is like having a hotline with God.  As much as  possible I try to have a conscious contact with God by repeating frequently in moments of silence: “My Lord,  MY God, My All!”

3.    Am I giving thanks in everything?

This again requires a firm faith in God’s infinite wisdom and almighty power.  Everything in this world  is in the hands of God and so, no matter what happens, He is in control and He knows what is best for everyone.

            For me, the three abovementioned questions serve as basic guidelines in living a Life in accordance with the Will of God.   Since DOING THE WILL OF GOD is the REASON for my existence, I trust that by sincerely striving to REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING and GIVING THANKS IN EVERYTHING, I shall have lived a life that is PLEASING TO GOD.  I shall then REST IN PEACE for having done what God wants me to do as His creature.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

July 15, 2012 

Fear and Faith

       “FEAR AND FAITH HAVE OPPOSITE EFFECTS ON US.”  This is a statement from “ANAWIM WAY” a booklet for liturgical meditations. The Gospel of Mark (5:21-43),  narrates the story of the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue official.  Jairus was informed that his daughter was already dead.  So there was no more need to bother Jesus.  But Jesus said to Jairus: “Do not be afraid, just have faith.”  Jesus then took the girl’s hand and said: “Talitha, koum”, which means “Little girl, get up”.  The girl immediately stood up and walked.

           The meditation further clarifies: “When we give in to fear, we draw away from God, which leads us to loss of hope.  When we make acts of faith, even if they are as small as a mustard seed, we draw close to God – we touch him, and he gives us new life.”  From these reflections, I recall an experience wherein I have to make a decision with an act of faith.  I had a commitment to go to a parish of Sta. Ana, Cagayan, to give a catechetical training to some public school teachers.  Our Catechetical Director, then Rev. Fr. Ricardo Baccay, told me that I should hire a driver because the distance was quite far and the road was rough.  I, therefore, sought the services of a driver.  But when the time came for us to leave, the driver was not on hand and he did not give any word on whether he would come or not.  Hence, I had to make a decision on whether to proceed or not.  While I was then praying for guidance a song kept ringing in my ears: “Be not afraid, I go before you always, come follow me.”   I considered this as a sign that I should proceed.  So, I decided to drive the vehicle myself.  Praise the Lord, I and two other catechists reached the destination safe and sound.

            From that experience I am convinced  that when we act in faith, focus on God and put our trust in Him Who is almighty and our Father, fear is driven away. On the other hand, fear sets in when we focus on ourselves, in our incapacity or helplessness. 

       In our day to day life  there is wisdom, indeed, in LIVING IN FAITH, focusing on GOD, OUR FATHER, rather than focusing on our incapacities or helplessness.  God knows whatever we are in need of and if we put our trust in him, he will certainly provide in a way that is best for us.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

July 8, 2012

To Fall In Love With God

         “ALL ARE COMMANDED TO LOVE GOD, BUT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH GOD IS SOMETHING ELSE.”  This is a statement from Rev. Fr. Horacio de la Costa, SJ, in one of his homilies that were published by Mr. Roberto M. Paterno.

       For quite some time I have been pondering on the difference between ‘LOVING GOD’ and ‘FALLING IN LOVE WITH GOD’.  Father de la Costa says that to love God is a command, but to fall in love with God is an invitation.  He gave as an example the story of the rich young man whom Christ invited to follow Him as narrated in Luke 18:18-25.  The young man was, indeed, obeying all the commandments.  But when he was asked to leave everything he possessed and follow Christ, he turned and walked away.   Father de la Costa says that Christ wasn’t angry, but He was sorry that one to whom He had given His divine Heart could not find it in his own heart to love Him in return. 

      The homily of Father de la Costa was actually on the subject of VOCATION.  He says that a vocation is an INVITATION not  a COMMAND.  The Lord forces no one to accept His invitation.  But accepting His invitation would mean ‘FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM’. 

       Father de la Costa dealt with the Vocation to the Priesthood.  He elaborated on what one has to forego and the hardships he has to endure to heed the call to the priesthood.  That despite all many sacrifices, a priest is still full of joy because he has fallen in love with Christ.

            We  have been used to consider the Priesthood as the most sublime of all vocations.  This is based on perceptions of the great sacrifices one has to undergo as a priest.  In recent years, however, there is a growing consensus that one vocation is as good as another.  The difference lies on how well one lives his vocation.  In other words, spiritual writers say: “Bloom where you are planted.”  Whatever may be the particular calling or vocation of anyone; be it in the religious life, in priesthood, in married life, or in single blessedness, what matters is ‘with how much love’ one has performed  the duties and responsibilities that have been imposed on him.

 Hence, falling in love with God means surrendering oneself entirely to the Will of God, so that in whatever way God calls, one responds to His call with all the love that he can give.  In other words, it is following Christ’s example when He said: “LORD, NOT MY WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE.”

By: Buddy Cagurangan

July 1, 2012

Our Divine Calling

         “HOW DO WE PEOPLE ANSWER THIS – OUR DIVINE CALLING?”   This is a question posed by Blessed John Paul II in his homily on June 24, 1988.  Today, June 24, 2012, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist, I wish to ponder on the same question.

            First of all, what is our Divine Calling?

 Blessed John Paul II answers this with the following words:  “God called John the Baptist while he was still ‘in his mother’s womb’ to be the “voice that cries in the desert” and thus to prepare the way for his Son.  Similarly, God has “laid his hand” on each one of us.  To each of us goes a special call; to each person a particular task.  In every call, which we can experience in a variety of ways, the same voice of God is present which spoke through John: “Prepare the way of the Lord” (Mt. 3:3).  Every person should ask what he, in his vocation, in his position, can do to help bring about the Lord’s entrance into the world.  Whenever we are open to God’s call, we become, like John, God’s precursor among men.”

            What is man’s being that deserves this Divine Calling?

 Blessed John Paul II again answers this as follows:  “Man is that being which God calls by name.  For God he is the created “you”.  He is, among all creation, that personal “I” who can turn to God and also call him by name.  God wants to have in man that partner who turns to Him, the divine “You”, acknowledging Him as His creator and Father, and saying, “You, my Lord and my God”.

           Further he says: “Man is therefore conscious of himself – what he is, and what he was from the beginning, from conception.  He knows he is a being whom God wants to encounter and with whom God wishes to enter into dialogue.  God wishes to encounter in man the whole of creation.  For God, man is “somebody” unique and unrepeatable.  He is, in the words of the Second Vatican Council, “the only creature on earth which God willed for itself”(GS n.24).

            What  is man’s response to this Divine Calling?

For those who have a living relationship with God,  there grows an awareness of the uniqueness and value of one’s life and personal dignity.  Blessed John Paul II says: “Amid his concrete life situations, man knows he is called, sustained, and spurred on by God.  In spite of prevailing injustices and personal suffering, he realizes that life is a gift.  He is grateful for it and feels responsible to God for it.  Thus God becomes the source of power and trust from which the person is able to shape a life of human dignity and selfless service to others.”

         For those, however, who abuse the Gift of Freedom, instead of heeding the call, they distance themselves from God and become self-centered.  Without  this connection to his root, which is God, man becomes impoverished of inner worth and gradually succumbs  to an attitude of loss of respect for life and to the catastrophe of self-destruction.

        May all respond positively to this Divine Calling.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

June 24, 2012                                                     

Prayer - the Antidote to Worry

“PRAYER IS THE ANTIDOTE TO WORRY.”   This is what a Meditation in the ANAWIM WAY Booklet says reflecting on the words of Jesus Christ: “Do not worry about your livelihood, what you are to eat or drink or use for clothing.  Is life not more than food?  Is not the body more valuable than clothes?  Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow nor reap, they gather nothing into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are not you more important then they?  (Mt 6: 25-26)

To worry about the necessities of life here on earth seems to be a natural human reaction.   It is a fact that one of the main responsibilities of a family man is to provide for the material needs of his family.  Hence, he works for a living.  When he is out of job, he worries on how he could manage to meet his responsibilities.  How then can we reconcile this observation with the words of Jesus Christ?

I now recall a personal experience wherein prayer was the antidote to my worry.  When Martial Law was declared in 1972, the head of the school where I was employed as Dean of the College of Business Administration told us that our contract was now terminated and we were given our last pay check.  That pay check was just enough to provide for a one month existence of a family of ten.  Hence, I was confronted with the problem of how I could provide for our needs in the months thereafter.  It was then that I really prayed and begged for God’s help.  Unexpectedly, the President of Divine Word College of Laoag, Rev. Fr. Ambrosio Manaligod,SVD, came to see me at our residence in San Fernando, La Union and offered the position of Dean of the College of Business Administration in the Divine Word College of Laoag.  Aside from my monthly remuneration, he added some fringe benefits, like free housing facilities and free school fees for my eight children.  God, indeed, answered my prayer.

The ANAWIM WAY Booklet further states that when we pray “ with a firm inner decision to accept the Will of God, we grow in trust that God, Our Father, already knows all that we need and somehow He will take care of us.”

In the abovementioned Gospel of St. Matthew, our Lord Jesus Christ also says: “Seek first his kingship over you, his way of holiness, and all these things will be given you besides.  Enough, then, of worrying about tomorrow.  Let tomorrow take care of itself.  Today has troubles enough of its own.” (Mt. 6:33-34)

For me, these words of our Lord Jesus Christ affirm my strong conviction that God is Our Father. If, in all sincerity, we put ourselves  at His disposal,  do whatever He wants us to do wholeheartedly,  then,  we have nothing to worry about. God will surely provide.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

June 17, 2012

How To Be Perfect

“YOU MUST BE PERFECT AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT.” (Mt.5:48).  This is the challenge of our Lord Jesus Christ when He spoke to the multitudes in His Sermon on the Mount – The Beatitudes.

        For quite a time I have been asking myself: “How can I be perfect as God Himself? “  It seems it is an impossibility.   To my mind, a man, like myself,  cannot become like God.              However, in my reflections on the Meditations of the ANAWIM WAY Booklet it dawned on me that the challenge to be perfect is synonymous to the challenge to forgive.  Jesus Christ gave that challenge after saying that one should love everyone, even our enemies.  And the first step to love our enemies is to forgive them.

        

        The ANAWIM WAY says that “Forgiveness is an Act of the Will”.  It is a decision that has to be made.  Hence, even if we feel unable to forgive, we can still decide to forgive  and  beg the Lord for the grace to be able to forgive.

     

      God is Love.  His love is perfect, because He loves everyone unconditionally, even those who sin against Him.  He offers to everyone the grace of repentance to enable one to respond to His love by using the gift of freedom.      Hence, to be perfect like God means to love everyone unconditionally, even those who hurt us.

To love is an Act of the Will.  It is a decision, regardless of how we feel.  This is the challenge.  Most often we act according to how we feel.  It takes a lot of courage to disregard our feelings and make decisions according to what we believe is in accordance with God’s Will.   This is where the power of prayer comes in, because when we pray we open ourselves to the Will of God,  so that His Kingdom will come and He may reign in us. 

          The challenge to be perfect, therefore, can be achieved through the power of prayer.  When one humbly prays and begs God for all the graces he needs in order to become like His Son, Jesus Christ,  I do believe that his prayer shall be granted.

By: Buddy Cagurangan

June 10, 2012