“Everyone has a Particular Vocation”. This is a message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. He said: “Within the universal call to holiness is found the particular vocation to which God summons every individual.” (Quoted from Prayers for Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations – Volume II, compiled by the Serra Club of Singapore)
Pondering on this statement that everyone has a particular vocation I asked myself these three (3) questions.
1. Why is there a particular vocation for everyone?
2. How can one discern his particular vocation?
3. How should one fulfill his particular vocation?
After much prayerful reflection, I came out with these answers.
1. There is a particular vocation for everyone because:
Everyone has been created unique, with unique talents and gifts.
Everyone has his own particular place in this world.
Everyone lives in this world during a certain period of time.
God, in His infinite wisdom, wants everyone to do something at a particular place and time, using the gifts that He bestowed on him. This is the particular vocation of everyone.
2. One’s particular vocation can be discerned by getting in touch with God thru prayer. God speaks to each one in the silence of his heart. Hence, one has to be still, put himself in God’s presence and allow God to make His Will known thru His special ways - an inspiring thought, a particular event, a spark of wisdom, a friend or a situation.
3. One’s particular vocation can be fulfilled by responding in the best way he can and with all the love he can give. Vocation is a Call from God, the Supreme Being, the Creator of the Universe, on whom everybody and everything depend for their existence. Hence, He deserves the best.
With these thoughts in mind I undertook the processing of papers for the sale of a piece of land which we inherited from our parents, Tomas M. Cagurangan and Toribia C. Birung. For a period of about five months I had to go thru a lot of paper work, travel from one Office to another, pay all required fees and spend long hours and days waiting for the accomplishment of the required documents.
Of the six brothers and sisters still living, I am the only one left in our hometown, Tuguegarao. Hence, it fell on me the lot to make all the necessary transactions with the Government regarding the sale of our land. I, therefore, considered this as my particular vocation at this point in time in my life.
I thank God for the inspiration given me in undertaking this particular task, for I was given all the patience and competence to go thru all the difficulties of complying with all the requirements involved for this transaction.
by: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Sept. 26, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Still Imperfect
“STILL IMPERFECT” is the thought that came to me while serving at a Eucharistic Celebration. It dawned on me that all of us who were serving as Ministers in the Mass, including the Presider, can make some mistakes. It could be in the way we talk, mispronounce words, or in the way we act, not bowing or genuflecting in the right way.
Pondering further on the significance of this observation, I realize that, indeed, I should accept the fact that I myself am STILL IMPERFECT. There are still a lot to do to overcome my imperfections. Throughout my whole life I have to struggle towards perfection. This perfection, I believe, can be attained only with the Grace of God and only when one is already fully united with God in a state of being we call HEAVEN.
This reflection made me consider my relationship with my fellowmen. Aware of my own imperfections, should I not see that others too have their own imperfections. Hence, if they do something that may not be right, is that not part of their imperfection. If so, should I not be more tolerant with them and make allowance for their imperfection by being patient and slow to anger?
With this reflection I now see the wisdom of “FORGIVENESS”. In the prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us, He emphasized the act of forgiving others, so we too could be forgiven. This act of forgiveness is based on the fact that all men are born imperfect, except Our Blessed Mother Mary, who was already Perfect from the moment of her conception, for which reason she is called THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. Since all men are imperfect, or sinners as we often hear, there is a need to bear with one another’s imperfection and help one another towards the pursuit of perfection.
With the grace of God I have now come to see even those who have hurt me with a forgiving heart. Actually as I was walking towards my residence this morning, my eyes met the eyes of someone who has badly hurt me and I managed to greet him raising my hand and with a smile on my face. Inwardly I gave allowance for his imperfection and prayed that somehow he will cooperate with the grace of God to overcome his defects and become less and less imperfect.
I am STILL IMPERFECT. To become less and less imperfect, I have formulated this prayer: “Lord God, may everything I do begin with You, continue with You, and end for You.” I trust that with this prayer I shall be given the grace to overcome my imperfections and be more tolerant to the imperfections of others.
Pondering further on the significance of this observation, I realize that, indeed, I should accept the fact that I myself am STILL IMPERFECT. There are still a lot to do to overcome my imperfections. Throughout my whole life I have to struggle towards perfection. This perfection, I believe, can be attained only with the Grace of God and only when one is already fully united with God in a state of being we call HEAVEN.
This reflection made me consider my relationship with my fellowmen. Aware of my own imperfections, should I not see that others too have their own imperfections. Hence, if they do something that may not be right, is that not part of their imperfection. If so, should I not be more tolerant with them and make allowance for their imperfection by being patient and slow to anger?
With this reflection I now see the wisdom of “FORGIVENESS”. In the prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ taught us, He emphasized the act of forgiving others, so we too could be forgiven. This act of forgiveness is based on the fact that all men are born imperfect, except Our Blessed Mother Mary, who was already Perfect from the moment of her conception, for which reason she is called THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. Since all men are imperfect, or sinners as we often hear, there is a need to bear with one another’s imperfection and help one another towards the pursuit of perfection.
With the grace of God I have now come to see even those who have hurt me with a forgiving heart. Actually as I was walking towards my residence this morning, my eyes met the eyes of someone who has badly hurt me and I managed to greet him raising my hand and with a smile on my face. Inwardly I gave allowance for his imperfection and prayed that somehow he will cooperate with the grace of God to overcome his defects and become less and less imperfect.
I am STILL IMPERFECT. To become less and less imperfect, I have formulated this prayer: “Lord God, may everything I do begin with You, continue with You, and end for You.” I trust that with this prayer I shall be given the grace to overcome my imperfections and be more tolerant to the imperfections of others.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
September 19, 2010
September 19, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
MY TOP PRIORITY
My Top Priority in life today is “TO VISIT THE LORD GOD IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT EVERYDAY FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR”.
This is a decision I made after considering the following tenets of my Faith.
1. GOD is No. ONE.
The first commandment says: “I am the Lord, Thy God. Thou shall not have any other gods before me”. (Ex. 20:2-3) The Supreme Being in this world is God. Everybody and everything depend on God’s creative power in order to exist. Hence, ADORATION TO GOD is due from everyone and everything in this world.
2. GOD wants us TO LOVE HIM.
Jesus Christ Himself said that the greatest of all the commandments is: “You shall love the Lord God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37-38)
3. TO LOVE means TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE.
One cannot love someone he does not know. Hence, there is a need to strive to know GOD as much one can.
4. One has to spend SOME TIME with SOMEONE to have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP.
A personal relationship cannot be developed in just one sitting. There is need for much time to be together with the one we love.
5. The BEST PLACE here on earth to SPEND TIME WITH GOD is at the BLESSED SACRAMENT.
I believe that GOD is PRESENT IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT under the appearance of a SACRED HOST.
On the basis of the above stated considerations, I have made a COMMITMENT to VISIT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT EVERYDAY FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR. This commitment entails sacrifice. Day after day, I have to schedule my activities in order to be able to make my commitment. While there are many activities that require my attention everyday, I have prioritized them and to make my VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IS ALWAYS MY TOP PRIORITY.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
September 12, 2010
This is a decision I made after considering the following tenets of my Faith.
1. GOD is No. ONE.
The first commandment says: “I am the Lord, Thy God. Thou shall not have any other gods before me”. (Ex. 20:2-3) The Supreme Being in this world is God. Everybody and everything depend on God’s creative power in order to exist. Hence, ADORATION TO GOD is due from everyone and everything in this world.
2. GOD wants us TO LOVE HIM.
Jesus Christ Himself said that the greatest of all the commandments is: “You shall love the Lord God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37-38)
3. TO LOVE means TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE.
One cannot love someone he does not know. Hence, there is a need to strive to know GOD as much one can.
4. One has to spend SOME TIME with SOMEONE to have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP.
A personal relationship cannot be developed in just one sitting. There is need for much time to be together with the one we love.
5. The BEST PLACE here on earth to SPEND TIME WITH GOD is at the BLESSED SACRAMENT.
I believe that GOD is PRESENT IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT under the appearance of a SACRED HOST.
On the basis of the above stated considerations, I have made a COMMITMENT to VISIT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT EVERYDAY FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR. This commitment entails sacrifice. Day after day, I have to schedule my activities in order to be able to make my commitment. While there are many activities that require my attention everyday, I have prioritized them and to make my VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IS ALWAYS MY TOP PRIORITY.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
September 12, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
AUTHENTIC MINISTRY
“AUTHENTIC MINISTRY” is one of the topics which Most Rev. Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr., D.D., discussed in his book “Christ’s Priests for God’s Priestly People.
According to Bishop Bacani “Authentic Ministry is an antidote to routine ministry” “Authentic Minitry” he said “is not only true but truthful, not only external but internal, not only from the lips but from the heart – Mula sa puso, hindi lang sa nguso”.
While this antidote was meant for priests to help them overcome a sense of routine and loss of enthusiasm for the works of the priestly ministry, I have been considering it as something that could just as well be applied to lay ministers.
Church ministry is administered not only by the priests but also by the lay faithful. Today we see lay persons serving in different ministries, such as, catechists, extraordinary ministers of communion, lectors, commentators, acolytes, gift ministers, usherettes, altar decorators and choir members. Various religious organizations and renewal movements have also been organized by lay persons. Hence, the problem of serving in a routinary way is also a problem of the lay ministers.
In order to have an Authentic Ministry Bishop Bacani offers the following recommendations, namely: that one should be:
1. In love with God and with the people.
2. Know what he is doing.
3. Cultivate a life of prayer.
4. Act wholeheartedly.
Paraphrasing the recommendations of Bishop Bacani, one who
serves must:
1. Serve with love. Love of God and love of one’s fellowmen must be the real motive for serving.
2. Have an adequate working knowledge of the task entrusted to him. He should, therefore, undergo some training or attend seminar workshops in preparation for the responsibilities to be done.
3. Have a “Quiet Time” daily with the Lord. This is of prime importance in order to develop a personal relationship with God, who provides all the graces needed for any ministry to be fruitful.
4. Focus on his ministry with his whole mind, his whole heart, his whole soul, and with all his strength. In other words, he has to give all he has got in serving the Lord.
As a lay minister, these recommendations of Bishop Bacani are
valuable basic guiding principles in order that I may render a truly Authentic Ministry to assist in the Building of the Body of Christ, the Church.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
September 4, 2010
According to Bishop Bacani “Authentic Ministry is an antidote to routine ministry” “Authentic Minitry” he said “is not only true but truthful, not only external but internal, not only from the lips but from the heart – Mula sa puso, hindi lang sa nguso”.
While this antidote was meant for priests to help them overcome a sense of routine and loss of enthusiasm for the works of the priestly ministry, I have been considering it as something that could just as well be applied to lay ministers.
Church ministry is administered not only by the priests but also by the lay faithful. Today we see lay persons serving in different ministries, such as, catechists, extraordinary ministers of communion, lectors, commentators, acolytes, gift ministers, usherettes, altar decorators and choir members. Various religious organizations and renewal movements have also been organized by lay persons. Hence, the problem of serving in a routinary way is also a problem of the lay ministers.
In order to have an Authentic Ministry Bishop Bacani offers the following recommendations, namely: that one should be:
1. In love with God and with the people.
2. Know what he is doing.
3. Cultivate a life of prayer.
4. Act wholeheartedly.
Paraphrasing the recommendations of Bishop Bacani, one who
serves must:
1. Serve with love. Love of God and love of one’s fellowmen must be the real motive for serving.
2. Have an adequate working knowledge of the task entrusted to him. He should, therefore, undergo some training or attend seminar workshops in preparation for the responsibilities to be done.
3. Have a “Quiet Time” daily with the Lord. This is of prime importance in order to develop a personal relationship with God, who provides all the graces needed for any ministry to be fruitful.
4. Focus on his ministry with his whole mind, his whole heart, his whole soul, and with all his strength. In other words, he has to give all he has got in serving the Lord.
As a lay minister, these recommendations of Bishop Bacani are
valuable basic guiding principles in order that I may render a truly Authentic Ministry to assist in the Building of the Body of Christ, the Church.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
September 4, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
TO BE A SAINT
“TO BE A SAINT” is considered the MOST IMPORTANT OBLIGATION OF A CHRISTIAN.
Way back in 1943, when I was a minor seminarian at the San Jacinto Minor Seminary in Tuguegarao, I participated in a Catechetical Quiz Contest that was open to the public. Being in the seminary I thought that at least one of us seminarians will top the contest. To our surprise it was an outsider, Mr. Ricardo Bassig (RIP), who got the highest score. Reviewing the Quiz Contest, we found out that we failed to answer correctly this question: “WHAT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT OBLIGATION AS A CHRISTIAN?” Being a Multiple Choice Type , we were asked to choose the BEST CORRECT ANSWER. Several answers were given such as: Obeying the Commandments, Going to Mass on Sundays and Holidays of Obligation, Receiving the Sacraments, etc. All of us seminarians failed to choose the Best Correct Answer, which is “TO BE A SAINT.”
Filled with wonder why “TO BE A SAINT” is considered the best correct answer, we asked our Father Rector, Rev. Fr. Oscar Deltour, CICM, who was one of those who prepared the Test Questions, for the reason. He replied: “BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE A SAINT YOU PRACTICALLY DO ALL THAT A TRUE CHRISTIAN HAS TO DO”.
Since meaning is in people, I have to ask myself, what do I mean by the word “SAINT”. Usually, this word is given to the name of someone who has been canonized
by the Church, to officially proclaim that he or she is now enjoying the Beatific Vision of God in heaven. So far in the Philippines, there is only one person who has been canonized by the Church – ST. LORENZO RUIZ. Does it mean that St. Lorenzo is the only Filipino who is now in heaven. I do believe that there are already countless of Filipinos who are with God in heaven. I have learned that the essence of being a SAINT is simply TO BE UNITED WITH GOD. Hence, all those in heaven, as well as those in purgatory and here on earth who are united with God are also saints.
TO BE UNITED WITH GOD – This is what every person should pursue. This is attained when a person sincerely strives to know, love and serve God wholeheartedly.
Man, however, is a finite being, while God is an Infinite Being. Therefore, man cannot attain union with God by his own efforts alone. He needs the Grace of God to be able to lift himself up to an Infinite Being. To be united with God man has, therefore, to first acknowledge his complete dependence on God and humbly ask for the grace that will enable him to reach out to God with his whole heart, his whole mind, his whole soul, and with all his strength. This actually is the Greatest of all the Commandments which Jesus Christ Himself has pointed out when a lawyer questioned Him and He replied: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37)
Lately in my readings I came across a statement which reads: “Perfection consists in one thing only: doing the Will of God. To become a saint, all that is necessary is acquiring the habit of wanting to do the Will of God at all times”. (Spiritual Dairy of St. Vincent de Paul – p.13). With this statement of a Saint, I have made it a habit whenever I visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to pray: HERE I AM, LORD, I COME TO DO YOUR WILL”.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
August 29, 2010
Way back in 1943, when I was a minor seminarian at the San Jacinto Minor Seminary in Tuguegarao, I participated in a Catechetical Quiz Contest that was open to the public. Being in the seminary I thought that at least one of us seminarians will top the contest. To our surprise it was an outsider, Mr. Ricardo Bassig (RIP), who got the highest score. Reviewing the Quiz Contest, we found out that we failed to answer correctly this question: “WHAT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT OBLIGATION AS A CHRISTIAN?” Being a Multiple Choice Type , we were asked to choose the BEST CORRECT ANSWER. Several answers were given such as: Obeying the Commandments, Going to Mass on Sundays and Holidays of Obligation, Receiving the Sacraments, etc. All of us seminarians failed to choose the Best Correct Answer, which is “TO BE A SAINT.”
Filled with wonder why “TO BE A SAINT” is considered the best correct answer, we asked our Father Rector, Rev. Fr. Oscar Deltour, CICM, who was one of those who prepared the Test Questions, for the reason. He replied: “BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE A SAINT YOU PRACTICALLY DO ALL THAT A TRUE CHRISTIAN HAS TO DO”.
Since meaning is in people, I have to ask myself, what do I mean by the word “SAINT”. Usually, this word is given to the name of someone who has been canonized
by the Church, to officially proclaim that he or she is now enjoying the Beatific Vision of God in heaven. So far in the Philippines, there is only one person who has been canonized by the Church – ST. LORENZO RUIZ. Does it mean that St. Lorenzo is the only Filipino who is now in heaven. I do believe that there are already countless of Filipinos who are with God in heaven. I have learned that the essence of being a SAINT is simply TO BE UNITED WITH GOD. Hence, all those in heaven, as well as those in purgatory and here on earth who are united with God are also saints.
TO BE UNITED WITH GOD – This is what every person should pursue. This is attained when a person sincerely strives to know, love and serve God wholeheartedly.
Man, however, is a finite being, while God is an Infinite Being. Therefore, man cannot attain union with God by his own efforts alone. He needs the Grace of God to be able to lift himself up to an Infinite Being. To be united with God man has, therefore, to first acknowledge his complete dependence on God and humbly ask for the grace that will enable him to reach out to God with his whole heart, his whole mind, his whole soul, and with all his strength. This actually is the Greatest of all the Commandments which Jesus Christ Himself has pointed out when a lawyer questioned Him and He replied: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37)
Lately in my readings I came across a statement which reads: “Perfection consists in one thing only: doing the Will of God. To become a saint, all that is necessary is acquiring the habit of wanting to do the Will of God at all times”. (Spiritual Dairy of St. Vincent de Paul – p.13). With this statement of a Saint, I have made it a habit whenever I visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to pray: HERE I AM, LORD, I COME TO DO YOUR WILL”.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
“AGE QUOD AGIS”
“AGE QUOD AGIS” – “DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING”. This is a piece of advice from Rev. Fr. Narciso Irala, SJ, in his book “ Achieving Peace of Heart”. The statement before the advice reads as follows: “Do your job or everyday duty with the greatest possible perfection, that is, with concentration, naturalness and pleasure. Avoid all tension, haste and disgust. Find in your work the strength and joy of an ideal. Age quod agis. Do what you are doing.”
I have been reflecting on this piece of advice and I see the wisdom in making it a rule of life.
The questions raised in my mind are:
1. Why am I doing this?
2. How should I do it?
3. To Whom am I responsible for what I do?
To the first question I searched for the answer from the standpoint of my
Christian Faith. Since I believe that I owe my whole existence to GOD, the Supreme Being, and that He created me to serve as His instrument in pursuing His inscrutable plan in the work of creation, the only logical answer is: “This is what God wants me to do – His Divine Will”.
The answer to the second question flows as a consequence from the answer to the first question. Since what I am doing is what God wants me to do, then I should do it in the best way I can.
To the third question, it is obvious that there is no other one to whom I am responsible but to God Himself.
In the biography of St. Aloysius Gonzaga it is narrated that one day while he was playing billiard someone asked him: “Suppose you will be told that death would come to you after a few minutes from now, what will you do?” The reply of St. Aloysius was: “ I will just continue playing billiard”. From this reply of St. Aloysius I can deduce the simplicity of his holiness, namely, CONSIDERING WHATEVER HE IS DOING AS GOD’S WILL. Hence, what matters is giving one’s best in whatever one does, regardless of it’s significance, simply because it is God’s Will.
This, I believe, is the wisdom behind the advice: “AGE QUOD AGIS” – DO WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING. In the past few days I tried to put this into practice. It has, indeed, helped me a lot to concentrate on what I am doing. Being convinced that it is God who is using me as His instrument for whatever may be His incomprehensible design in His work of Creation, I cannot but give my utmost best.
Just focusing on what I am doing brings about a kind of unity in my whole being – body, soul and spirit – participating harmoniously in a concerted effort towards the achievement of some desired objective.
“AGE QUOD AGIS” – makes me enjoy life as it comes day after day, regardless of the circumstances, bearing always in mind that what I am doing is the WILL of GOD.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
August 22, 2010
I have been reflecting on this piece of advice and I see the wisdom in making it a rule of life.
The questions raised in my mind are:
1. Why am I doing this?
2. How should I do it?
3. To Whom am I responsible for what I do?
To the first question I searched for the answer from the standpoint of my
Christian Faith. Since I believe that I owe my whole existence to GOD, the Supreme Being, and that He created me to serve as His instrument in pursuing His inscrutable plan in the work of creation, the only logical answer is: “This is what God wants me to do – His Divine Will”.
The answer to the second question flows as a consequence from the answer to the first question. Since what I am doing is what God wants me to do, then I should do it in the best way I can.
To the third question, it is obvious that there is no other one to whom I am responsible but to God Himself.
In the biography of St. Aloysius Gonzaga it is narrated that one day while he was playing billiard someone asked him: “Suppose you will be told that death would come to you after a few minutes from now, what will you do?” The reply of St. Aloysius was: “ I will just continue playing billiard”. From this reply of St. Aloysius I can deduce the simplicity of his holiness, namely, CONSIDERING WHATEVER HE IS DOING AS GOD’S WILL. Hence, what matters is giving one’s best in whatever one does, regardless of it’s significance, simply because it is God’s Will.
This, I believe, is the wisdom behind the advice: “AGE QUOD AGIS” – DO WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING. In the past few days I tried to put this into practice. It has, indeed, helped me a lot to concentrate on what I am doing. Being convinced that it is God who is using me as His instrument for whatever may be His incomprehensible design in His work of Creation, I cannot but give my utmost best.
Just focusing on what I am doing brings about a kind of unity in my whole being – body, soul and spirit – participating harmoniously in a concerted effort towards the achievement of some desired objective.
“AGE QUOD AGIS” – makes me enjoy life as it comes day after day, regardless of the circumstances, bearing always in mind that what I am doing is the WILL of GOD.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
August 22, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
HEAVEN ON EARTH
In the Prayers For Eucharistic Adoration which were compiled by the Serra Club of Singapore there is this prayer: “Give us the faith of all Your Saints to whom the Blessed Sacrament was Heaven begun on earth”.
For quite some time, I have been pondering on the real depth of the prayer. How could heaven be here on earth? Searching for the answer to my question I eventually realized that MEANING IS IN PEOPLE. The word HEAVEN can have different meanings for people who have different viewpoints. Hence, I asked myself: WHAT IS “HEAVEN” TO ME?
The Catechism for Filipino Catholics states: “Filipinos usually speak of heaven as if it were a “place”, but only because, since we live in time and space, we imagine everything as a place. Actually, heaven means the state of “being with the Lord”.(CFC 2068)
From this teaching, I now conclude that the essence of HEAVEN is TO BE WITH THE LORD. The “LORD” is OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, the only begotten Son of God, the WORD made FLESH thru the mystery of INCARNATION. (John 1:14)
Where is JESUS CHRIST now? The Catechism for Filipino Catholics speaks of Christ’s Multiple Presence in a Eucharistic Celebration. He is present in the ASSEMBLY, in the MINISTER, in the HOLY SCRIPTURES, and under the EUCHARISTIC SPECIES. It states further: “Christ’s presence in the consecrated bread and wine is called “real” not to exclude all other types of presence, but because it is presence in the fullest sense, a substantial presence by which Christ, the God-Man, is wholly and entirely present”. Thus, JESUS CHRIST is PRESENT in a very special way in the BLESSED SACRAMENT.
The Saints, like St. John Vianney, must have taken this truth seriously and so they manifested in their life a love for JESUS in the BLESSED SACRAMENT through regular VISITS and ADORATION. In his biography it said that St. John Vianney as a priest drew from the Eucharist the ardour of his pastoral charity and the dynamism of his apostolic zeal.
The Presence of God, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Blessed Sacrament is, indeed, a great mystery. It is something beyond our comprehension. Rev. Fr. Horacio dela Costa, SJ, puts it in one of his homilies that “God has a habit of giving things too true to be false. That is why our faith is a faith of the unexpected, a religion of surprise.” With this thought and further reflecting on the scripture verse: “So, then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead” (James 2:26), I made a commitment, in order to live what I believe, to visit and adore JESUS CHRIST Who is present in the Blessed Sacrament at the Adoration Chapel. At first my schedule of visitation was for a period of one hour weekly. However, in one of my visits, I perceived a challenging thought, the Lord saying to me: “I am giving you 24 hours everyday. Can you not spend with Me even only one hour everyday in the Blessed Sacrament?” I realized that much of my time everyday is mostly for myself, like eating, drinking, reading, exercising and sleeping. Can I not offer even only one hour everyday to worship the Lord JESUS CHRIST, Who is Present in a very special way in the Blessed Sacrament? Then I remembered that Sister Briege McKenna,OSC, a world renown for divine healing, spends at least three hours everyday before the Blessed Sacrament. I then accepted the challenge and prayed for the grace to persevere in this commitment of VISITING OUR LORD IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT EVERYDAY for a period of least ONE HOUR. While sometimes I experience some problems in carrying out this commitment, there is a thought that keeps me strong in my resolve, despite all difficulties, and that is: ”THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IS A FORETASTE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH”.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
August 15, 2010
For quite some time, I have been pondering on the real depth of the prayer. How could heaven be here on earth? Searching for the answer to my question I eventually realized that MEANING IS IN PEOPLE. The word HEAVEN can have different meanings for people who have different viewpoints. Hence, I asked myself: WHAT IS “HEAVEN” TO ME?
The Catechism for Filipino Catholics states: “Filipinos usually speak of heaven as if it were a “place”, but only because, since we live in time and space, we imagine everything as a place. Actually, heaven means the state of “being with the Lord”.(CFC 2068)
From this teaching, I now conclude that the essence of HEAVEN is TO BE WITH THE LORD. The “LORD” is OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, the only begotten Son of God, the WORD made FLESH thru the mystery of INCARNATION. (John 1:14)
Where is JESUS CHRIST now? The Catechism for Filipino Catholics speaks of Christ’s Multiple Presence in a Eucharistic Celebration. He is present in the ASSEMBLY, in the MINISTER, in the HOLY SCRIPTURES, and under the EUCHARISTIC SPECIES. It states further: “Christ’s presence in the consecrated bread and wine is called “real” not to exclude all other types of presence, but because it is presence in the fullest sense, a substantial presence by which Christ, the God-Man, is wholly and entirely present”. Thus, JESUS CHRIST is PRESENT in a very special way in the BLESSED SACRAMENT.
The Saints, like St. John Vianney, must have taken this truth seriously and so they manifested in their life a love for JESUS in the BLESSED SACRAMENT through regular VISITS and ADORATION. In his biography it said that St. John Vianney as a priest drew from the Eucharist the ardour of his pastoral charity and the dynamism of his apostolic zeal.
The Presence of God, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Blessed Sacrament is, indeed, a great mystery. It is something beyond our comprehension. Rev. Fr. Horacio dela Costa, SJ, puts it in one of his homilies that “God has a habit of giving things too true to be false. That is why our faith is a faith of the unexpected, a religion of surprise.” With this thought and further reflecting on the scripture verse: “So, then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead” (James 2:26), I made a commitment, in order to live what I believe, to visit and adore JESUS CHRIST Who is present in the Blessed Sacrament at the Adoration Chapel. At first my schedule of visitation was for a period of one hour weekly. However, in one of my visits, I perceived a challenging thought, the Lord saying to me: “I am giving you 24 hours everyday. Can you not spend with Me even only one hour everyday in the Blessed Sacrament?” I realized that much of my time everyday is mostly for myself, like eating, drinking, reading, exercising and sleeping. Can I not offer even only one hour everyday to worship the Lord JESUS CHRIST, Who is Present in a very special way in the Blessed Sacrament? Then I remembered that Sister Briege McKenna,OSC, a world renown for divine healing, spends at least three hours everyday before the Blessed Sacrament. I then accepted the challenge and prayed for the grace to persevere in this commitment of VISITING OUR LORD IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT EVERYDAY for a period of least ONE HOUR. While sometimes I experience some problems in carrying out this commitment, there is a thought that keeps me strong in my resolve, despite all difficulties, and that is: ”THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IS A FORETASTE OF HEAVEN ON EARTH”.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
August 15, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
FROM NOTHING TO SOMEBODY
“FROM NOTHING TO SOMEBODY” is the great mystery of my being. Indeed, my very existence in this world is a great mystery to me.
First of all, how have I come into existence? I was NOTHING when God, the Supreme Being, used my parents through the mystery of CONCEPTION to bring me into existence. For nine months the fertilized egg that I was grew into a baby in the womb of my mother. After that gestation, I came out of the womb of my mother and saw the light of day in this world. My parents then took care of me and provided for all my needs. Then, I grew up and gradually became an independent man, having full responsibility of my own life.
How did I continue existing? For more than eighty one (81) years now I have been existing in this world. It has been a life of ups and downs. In general the events of my life could be described as joyful, sorrowful and glorious. On the whole, it was a day to day struggle to meet the challenges of life as they came in different ways under different situations. In the early years of my life my main concern was mostly absorbed in simply doing the daily chores of living – eating, drinking, working, studying, playing, and sleeping. As a family man, I ventured into various ways of providing for the needs of my family. While there were times when my resources were at their lowest ebb, somehow I still managed to provide three full meals everyday for my dependents.
As I grew older, however, my mind started questioning what life was all about. The question that kept lingering in my mind was “What is the meaning of Life?”
One of the books I read entitled “The Phenomenon of Man” by Rev. Fr. Teilhard de Chardin, SJ, presented to me a rather broad perspective of life in this world. However, the challenges of living still made me skeptical on whatever is worth living for. It came to a point when life seemed meaningless for me. The Supreme Being, however, who created me made me experience His loving presence in a very wonderful way during a Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS). This personal experience strengthened my Faith in the Reality of God Who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, of everything in this world.
Now I see the Hand of God bringing me into existence, from Nothing to Somebody. I also realize my complete dependence on His creative power to sustain me in my existence. And I fully trust that God, Who is infinitely Good, infinitely Wise, and infinitely Powerful, created me for a purpose – TO BE UNITED WITH HIM IN LOVE AND LIVE WITH HIM FOREVER.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
August 1, 2010
First of all, how have I come into existence? I was NOTHING when God, the Supreme Being, used my parents through the mystery of CONCEPTION to bring me into existence. For nine months the fertilized egg that I was grew into a baby in the womb of my mother. After that gestation, I came out of the womb of my mother and saw the light of day in this world. My parents then took care of me and provided for all my needs. Then, I grew up and gradually became an independent man, having full responsibility of my own life.
How did I continue existing? For more than eighty one (81) years now I have been existing in this world. It has been a life of ups and downs. In general the events of my life could be described as joyful, sorrowful and glorious. On the whole, it was a day to day struggle to meet the challenges of life as they came in different ways under different situations. In the early years of my life my main concern was mostly absorbed in simply doing the daily chores of living – eating, drinking, working, studying, playing, and sleeping. As a family man, I ventured into various ways of providing for the needs of my family. While there were times when my resources were at their lowest ebb, somehow I still managed to provide three full meals everyday for my dependents.
As I grew older, however, my mind started questioning what life was all about. The question that kept lingering in my mind was “What is the meaning of Life?”
One of the books I read entitled “The Phenomenon of Man” by Rev. Fr. Teilhard de Chardin, SJ, presented to me a rather broad perspective of life in this world. However, the challenges of living still made me skeptical on whatever is worth living for. It came to a point when life seemed meaningless for me. The Supreme Being, however, who created me made me experience His loving presence in a very wonderful way during a Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS). This personal experience strengthened my Faith in the Reality of God Who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, of everything in this world.
Now I see the Hand of God bringing me into existence, from Nothing to Somebody. I also realize my complete dependence on His creative power to sustain me in my existence. And I fully trust that God, Who is infinitely Good, infinitely Wise, and infinitely Powerful, created me for a purpose – TO BE UNITED WITH HIM IN LOVE AND LIVE WITH HIM FOREVER.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
August 1, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY
“TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY”. This thought kept lingering in my mind for the past few days. So I asked myself: “How should I put this thought into practice in my life? The answer came to me as I was praying a Concluding Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours.
The Prayer was: “Father, may everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue with your saving help. Let our work always find its origin in you and through you reach completion. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.” (Psalter, Week I, Monday, Morning Prayer)
This prayer makes God a pervading Presence in every moment of my life. In everything I do I should always begin with a prayer asking God for his enlightenment or inspiration, and his continuous assistance until its final fulfillment.
It seems to be a very simple formula to follow. I realize, however, that it takes a constant effort to live in the Presence of God. As I am now writing this article, I indeed started with a Prayer. But as I was groping for the words to write, my mind was so much focused on what to tell and somehow the consciousness of God’s presence was relegated to the background.
This experience is telling me that to take God seriously and live continuously in His Presence is a GRACE which God bestows on those who earnestly pray for it. It is something that man cannot do by his own human efforts. Man has to realize that he is a limited being with limited capacities. God, on the other hand, is an INFINITE BEING, the SUPREME BEING in this world. So man, with his limited capacities cannot simply reach out to an Infinite Being. It is in God’s infinite Goodness that He bestows this grace of enabling man to reach out to Him. Man, therefore, has to humbly acknowledge his complete dependence on God in order to have a loving personal relationship with Him.
The Mystery of INCARNATION, is, I believe, God’s way of bestowing this Grace to Mankind. He allowed His only begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST, to become Man, so that we, men, could participate in the Divine Life of God and each one may become like Him, a Child of God.
TO TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY is an earnest desire of mine. I have to humbly acknowledge, however, that this is a GRACE which God may bestow on me in His infinite Goodness as He pleases. It is something I do not merit. I can only put myself in God’s hands and trust in His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 25, 2010
The Prayer was: “Father, may everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue with your saving help. Let our work always find its origin in you and through you reach completion. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.” (Psalter, Week I, Monday, Morning Prayer)
This prayer makes God a pervading Presence in every moment of my life. In everything I do I should always begin with a prayer asking God for his enlightenment or inspiration, and his continuous assistance until its final fulfillment.
It seems to be a very simple formula to follow. I realize, however, that it takes a constant effort to live in the Presence of God. As I am now writing this article, I indeed started with a Prayer. But as I was groping for the words to write, my mind was so much focused on what to tell and somehow the consciousness of God’s presence was relegated to the background.
This experience is telling me that to take God seriously and live continuously in His Presence is a GRACE which God bestows on those who earnestly pray for it. It is something that man cannot do by his own human efforts. Man has to realize that he is a limited being with limited capacities. God, on the other hand, is an INFINITE BEING, the SUPREME BEING in this world. So man, with his limited capacities cannot simply reach out to an Infinite Being. It is in God’s infinite Goodness that He bestows this grace of enabling man to reach out to Him. Man, therefore, has to humbly acknowledge his complete dependence on God in order to have a loving personal relationship with Him.
The Mystery of INCARNATION, is, I believe, God’s way of bestowing this Grace to Mankind. He allowed His only begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST, to become Man, so that we, men, could participate in the Divine Life of God and each one may become like Him, a Child of God.
TO TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY is an earnest desire of mine. I have to humbly acknowledge, however, that this is a GRACE which God may bestow on me in His infinite Goodness as He pleases. It is something I do not merit. I can only put myself in God’s hands and trust in His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 25, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
SERVE WITH A SMILE
“SERVE WITH A SMILE”. This thought came to me as I was reading this statement of St. Paul to the Corinthians : “Let each one give what he decided upon personally, and not reluctantly as if obliged, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2Cor.9:7)
Service is something every human being in this world has to render to humanity in one way or another according to his capacity and the situation he is in. How he renders this service would depend much on how he sees its significance and his accountability for its performance.
The significance of a service depends on how one sees its objective or purpose. In this connection, I recall an anecdote of two laborers who were carrying bricks during a construction project. When asked what they were doing, the first one said: “I am just transferring these bricks to another place.” while the second one replied: “I am helping to build a Cathedral.” Evidently the first one saw only the tiresome job of carrying bricks, but the second one saw the Vision of Building a Cathedral, and this filled him with joy in doing his job.
As to one’s accountability in rendering a service, much also depends on how one sees the AUTHORITY to whom he is accountable. If the authority is a human being just like himself, he may perform the service to please a human being. But if he sees GOD Himself as the One to Whom he has to render an accounting, he would surely give his utmost best in doing his job, for GOD, the Supreme Being in this world, deserves the best from all His creatures.
Pondering on the significance and accountability for service, I was further intrigued by the statement: “One can serve without loving, but one cannot love without serving.” To my mind this statement gives me the reason for serving, and that is: LOVE.
Love can be manifested in many ways and SERVICE is one of the best ways. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself modeled this as He put into action what He said: “...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28)
Hence, when one serves out of love, his heart is filled with joy for the opportunity given him to render something good for another. This should make him SERVE WITH A SMILE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 18, 2010
Service is something every human being in this world has to render to humanity in one way or another according to his capacity and the situation he is in. How he renders this service would depend much on how he sees its significance and his accountability for its performance.
The significance of a service depends on how one sees its objective or purpose. In this connection, I recall an anecdote of two laborers who were carrying bricks during a construction project. When asked what they were doing, the first one said: “I am just transferring these bricks to another place.” while the second one replied: “I am helping to build a Cathedral.” Evidently the first one saw only the tiresome job of carrying bricks, but the second one saw the Vision of Building a Cathedral, and this filled him with joy in doing his job.
As to one’s accountability in rendering a service, much also depends on how one sees the AUTHORITY to whom he is accountable. If the authority is a human being just like himself, he may perform the service to please a human being. But if he sees GOD Himself as the One to Whom he has to render an accounting, he would surely give his utmost best in doing his job, for GOD, the Supreme Being in this world, deserves the best from all His creatures.
Pondering on the significance and accountability for service, I was further intrigued by the statement: “One can serve without loving, but one cannot love without serving.” To my mind this statement gives me the reason for serving, and that is: LOVE.
Love can be manifested in many ways and SERVICE is one of the best ways. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself modeled this as He put into action what He said: “...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28)
Hence, when one serves out of love, his heart is filled with joy for the opportunity given him to render something good for another. This should make him SERVE WITH A SMILE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 18, 2010
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