The Woman whom God loved Best

When Mary closed her eyes for the last time, she envisioned Jesus suffering on the Cross. He was in deep agony yet his eyes were full of loving concern. “Woman,” she heard, “here is your son. Son, here is your Mother.” Ever since that day, John took care of her into his home.

When Jesus died on the cross, something in her also died. When this much-loved Son ascended back to heaven, he brought with him her heart. From then on, she lost all appetite for earth. She felt a deep emptiness; a great homesickness. She longed to be with Jesus – in heaven!

And as Mary felt her soul separate from her body, she also felt the ecstasy of excitement. She would now join the love of her life. This extraordinary lady - most pure, most humble, most holy and most self-sacrificing – was, in fact, human nature’s solitary boast. She was God’s unique creation.

It was but natural that God would love her best. Pope Pius XII declared in his Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus on November 1, 1950 "having completed the course of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." But this is just a far cry of what God has in store for her as the “great sign” in the sky. In her assumption Mary has become the “woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” And for all eternity, she will always appear ever more beautiful in the eyes of God.

If Jesus were to have a grand banquet in Mary’s honor, I would imagine He would sing and dedicate this touching song of Joshua Kadison for her Mother:

Beautiful in my Eyes

You're my peace of mind. In this crazy world.
You're everything I've tried to find,
Your love is a pearl. You're my Mona Lisa,
You're my rainbow skies.
And my only prayer is that you realize
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes.

The world will turn,
And the seasons will change,
And all the lesson we will learn
Will be beautiful and strange.
We'll have our fill of tears,
Our share of sighs.
And my only prayer is that you realize
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes.

Chorus:
You will always be beautiful in my eyes.
And the passing years will show
That you will always grow
Ever more beautiful in my eyes.

When there are lines upon my face
From a lifetime of smiles,
When the time comes to embrace
For one long last while,
We can laugh about how time really flies.
We won't say goodbye 'cause true love never dies.
You'll always be beautiful in my eyes.

Chorus:
You will always be beautiful in my eyes.
And the passing years will show
That you will always grow
Ever more beautiful in my eyes.

The passing years will show that you will always grow
Ever more beautiful in my eyes.

Our Lady of Penafrancia - Vienna Style

It was my first time to join the celebration of Our Lady of Penafrancia. It was more memorable because it was in Vienna. I was invited by the Bicol Society of Austria (BSA) especially Christy and the Divine Mercy Devotees to join their festivity. It was a fluvial pilgrimage and procession from Vienna to Bratislava aboard a first class cruise along the Blue Danube river. This was the culmination of a 9-day novena in Our Lady's honor. The fluvial pilgrimage is the 11th year in the history of BSA in Vienna.

It took us 3 hours to get there. After the procession partcipated in by more than 600 of our kababayans, we had mass at the basilica of St. Martin. Our main celebrant was imported from Naga City, Philippines - Msgr. Noe de los Santos. The event marked the 300th anniversary of the devotion which goes back to a young seminarian and son of a spanish government official from Penafrancia, Spain, Miguel Covarrubias who was healed of an illness. When he became a priest, he started the devotion in 1710 which the Bicolanos embraced with ardent devotion.

Many miracles have been attributed to Our Lady. The most recent is the healing of Archbiship Leonardo Legaspi, bishop of Nueva Caceres of stage three lung tumor. The story has been published in the Inquirer on August 31, 2010. The prelate claims that Our Lady of Penafrancia healed him.

I was impressed by the show of love of our people here in a foreign land. Ina as the Bicolanos fondly call her, continues to draw her devotees to remember her and love her. The big church seemed small when it was filled up to capacity by our kababayans. My prayer is that this devotion will challenge our people to unity, selflessness and genuine love for our Inang Bayan under the guidance of Our Blessed Mother. Viva la Virgen!



Our Lady of Penafrancia

The pilgrims





The Procession



Mama Mary's Birthday

Last thursday, sept 4 I was in Don Bosco Technology Center. At the lobby, i found a student's diary on the bench. One boy must have surely forgot or lost his diary, I mused. So I tried to check who this boy could be.. It belonged to a Grade 3 pupil.. one of the entry was written: bring a flowers on sept 8, monday. I smiled.

Before I knew it the boy arrived asking for his diary. As I handed it to him I asked:"what will you bring on monday?" "Flowers.." he answered shyly. "And why will you bring flowers?" I continued in a teasing tone.. "Because it's Mama Mary's birthday!" He blurted confidently with a smile as his eyes sparkled.

September 8 is Mama Mary's birthday! Let us make her happy by offering her flowers. More than roses or lilies that wither and fade, let us give her a more lasting garland -- a spiritual bouquet! I would suggest the following practical things: go to mass in her honor; one could say 3 hail mary's offering it for more vocations or for the conversion of hardened sinners; one could actually memorize the Memorare, St. Bernard's beautiful prayer; or one could do a good turn in secret for her; perhaps offer any inconvenience of the day to her like bearing the heat, putting up with an annoying classmate or paying attention to a boring class; perhaps one could say the rosary anytime this day.. Whatever it is, the aim is to please Mama Mary on her natal day!

Her birth is ordained towards her mission as Mother of God. In her birth we rejoice. One of her many titles is "cause of our joy." Indeed she is the cause of our joy by giving us Jesus, the joy of humanity.