Filha Hildegarda
Welcome to My Blog
Here is where I write about the serious and mundane snippets of my life, life lessons, and just striving to keep the faith in the midst of the ordinary—and the constant reminder that it’s okay to make mistakes.
8th Sunday After Pentecost: Sin Breeds Contempt
Introit: Psalm 47:10-11 Lesson: Romans 8:12-17 Gospel: Luke 16:1-9 Communion Antiphon: Psalm 33:9 On this 8th Sunday after Pentecost, we encounter the parable of the dishonest servant which, for some, may be tad confusing to reflect on at first glance. Here, Jesus sets the scene: a servant was said to have acquired such a reputation for his devious ways so much so that his dismissal was imminent. His master had already told him to “make an accounting” of his stewardship, mayhap, as a sort of transition so as this servant in question should then prepare himself for the inevitable. Nonetheless, crafty as he is, he began to save face of sorts: through pretence–summoning his master’s debtors to discuss financial obligations while assuming a demeanour of being seemingly desirous to help–he then strikes agreements about “releasing” these individuals from debt but through fraudulent means. While this move may appear as rather advantageous–a win-win for both the master and his wily…
THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT: Prologue (par. 8-9)
Whence the Lord also says in the Gospel: “He who hears these My words and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon a rock. There came torrents of rain and rushing winds, and they struck upon that house, but it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” As a consequence, our Lord daily looks for it that we should respond by deeds to these His holy warnings. Thus, it is on account of the need of correcting faults that the days of this life are prolonged for us, as by way of truce; and the Apostle says: “Art thou ignorant that the patience of God leads thee towards penitence?” For the Lord in His tenderness says: “I will not the death of a sinner, but that he may be converted and live.” Since therefore, brethren, we asked of the Lord concerning the dweller in His tabernacle, we have heard, as a precept concerning dwelling there, “if we fulfil what is required of a dweller there.” Therefore, must our hearts and bodies be prepared as about to serve like soldiers…
7th Sunday After Pentecost: Not What It Seems
Introit: Psalm 46:2 Lesson: Romans 6:19-23 Gradual: Ps 33:12, 6 Gospel: Matt 7:15-21 Communion: Psalm 30:3 Sometimes our lives is a paradox of what we are and who we project to be–in which case, it has become all too common to see people feasting on others’ faults when they learn of façades crumbling and disintegrating, as if crucifying hypocrites is justice personified. Well, this may be perceived to be entirely reasonable at face value, given that when one dares to portray someone they are not is synonymous to deception, a scheme to redeem oneself from open shame yet not with sincere reparation but of beguilement. What is more remarkable about this phenomenon, though, is the sheer mettle of just about anyone to point their fingers at their neighbour to be the most fraudulent individual they have ever met, sometimes even pathologising them to be mentally unwell through various psychology-related terminologies that abound with even more nuances regarding such a subject…
THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT: Prologue (par. 5-7)
What, most dear brethren, could be more sweet to us than this voice of the Lord inviting us? Behold the Lord points out the way of life to us by His own fatherly affection. Let our loins then be girt with faith and the observance of good works, and let us, gospel led, pursue His paths, that we may be worthy to see Him Who has called us unto His own kingdom. But if our wish be to have a dwelling-place in His kingdom, let us remember it can by no means be attained unless one run thither by good deeds. For, with the prophet, let us ask the Lord, saying to Him: “Lord, who will dwell in Thy tabernacle, and who will rest in Thy holy mount?” After putting this question, brethren, let us listen to our Lord showing us in answer the way to that same tabernacle by saying: “He who lives blamelessly and does justice; he who speaks truth from his heart; he who has kept his tongue from guile; he who has done his neighbour no evil and has accepted no slander against his neighbour”: he who has…
6th Sunday After Pentecost: Our Lord Sustains Us
For the Gospel on this sixth Sunday after Pentecost, Our Lord feeds the hungry multitude who have come to Him to hear the Gospel. Hundreds—even thousands—of people gathered to hearken unto Jesus speak of the Kingdom of Heaven: men, women and their children, and perhaps even those whose curiosities could not keep them from beholding the Christ from afar. Some could even have been doubters who merely take this as an opportunity to filter out supposed contradictions to an otherwise consistent message of salvation and truth. Yet, whatever their states of life may be, they were all there—a massive crowd, with various experiences, problems, concerns, situations. The God-Man, in His human and Divine nature, understood full well that despite He, as the Bread from Heaven, the Nourisher of souls, should also give way to the inclinations and needs of mortal men; thus, He asks whether the crowd may be able to eat, thence satiating their need for sustenance that have been wanting for three days….
The Healing Power of God through Sacramentals
(N.B.: This was originally posted on my Facebook wall; but I decided to repost it here in my blog in order to encourage more of my fellow Catholics to take advantage of the gifts that the Church bequeaths upon the faithful as conduits of grace emanating from God and the sacraments He established.) Recently, I have been sick. My flu symptoms became really evident last week (I think that was a Monday or a Tuesday) where my sore throat was getting worse and I began sneezing so bad. I tried taking turmeric tea twice a day; although it alleviated a burgeoning discomfort in my trachea, still the throat area was aching profusely. I was in the thick of my work and some chores so I never paid things much attention, so when Thursday came, I felt sick to my core. The tea was not working and although I had already been considering preparing a saline solution for my throat, I’ve always never responded perfectly to it ever since before so I usually resorted to cough syrups and other over the…
THE RULE OF ST. BENEDICT: Prologue (par 1-4)
Translated by: Rev. Boniface Verheyen (1844-1923) NOTE: I have thought of posting excerpts every two days at the least of the Rule of St. Benedict as a way of starting 2025 right, as a means to uplift the spiritual life. I shall also be writing some reflections about the Rule every now and then that shall feature my insights about St. Benedict’s teachings. May God bless us all. ///// Listen, O my son, to the precepts of thy master, and incline the ear of thy heart, and cheerfully receive and faithfully execute the admonitions of thy loving Father, that by the toil of obedience thou mayest return to Him from whom by the sloth of disobedience thou hast gone away. To thee, therefore, my speech is now directed, who, giving up thine own will, takest up the strong and most excellent arms of obedience, to do battle for Christ the Lord, the true King. In the first place, beg of Him by most earnest prayer, that He perfect whatever good thou dost begin, in order that He who hath been pleased…