Three Seasons in Our Hearts

Three Seasons in Our Hearts
by Pureza D. Lacuesta

Christianity is not confined to celebrating the three seasons of the year in the months precisely prescribed for them. Christianity is for all time.

Every Christian has to enshrine in his heart the image and virtues of Jesus, and make I his daily practice to implement the cycle of joy (Christmas time), love (Valentine’s Day) and repentance (Lenten season), as long as he lives.

It is not easy to celebrate these three feelings if we only think about them – philosophies and arguments may rise within us, time element and job responsibilities may pause as obstacles, but if we are determined to do it, we really can. “It is will power and determination, firm decision and instant implementation that can move us to be truly Christian.” I enclose this line with quotation marks because this is a borrowed line from the homily of Fr. Andy Esperancilla, two Sundays back.

Look! Isn’t sharing your food with a hungry child, a season of joy? Aren’t you happy if that hungry child smiles at you with gratitude in his eyes? Isn’t that December for you? Or, don’t you feel the joy of December if you cover the bare shoulders of an old, shivering woman and she presses your hand with gratitude? Tell me if that isn’t Christmas.

Then, when you hurry home and your mother is relieved of her kitchen work;
Like washing the clothes, or cleaning of the house, and she smiles at you gratefully, isn’t that love? If you lead an old woman across the street, visit a friend in the hospital, give hope to a desperate person or pray for people who have no time for prayer, isn’t that love, greater than the love shown on Valentine’s Day? Love can be given in many ways. The avenue is open every moment of the day.

It is night time, time to rest. The sky is dark. It marks the end of another day. Wouldn’t it be prudent to evaluate our day, and recall if we have hurt somebody through unkind words or actions or even in our thoughts? Couldn’t we ask forgiveness from the Lord, as we accept our failings? Make it your lent.

We are never sure when our final moment would come. We can never tell when our last footstep would stop. We can never tell when we will face the judgment seat. It is therefore an insurance of salvation if we live the three seasons everyday. It is not difficult if we are determined. It is not difficult if we aredecided.

Try to adjust your timetable to a Christian’s “Three-Season-Day” and you will feel more patient, helpful, sincere and friendly to God and our fellowmen. Make the three seasons your permanent vineyard, your voluntary assignment in the field of Christianity.

Give Time to God

Give Time to God
by Pureza D. Lacuesta

Is the world turning upside down, or is there a tremor shaking all the continents, causing the earth to open and swallow everything that is good; animals, land, crops, and even people?
Accidents and crimes are no longer news. They have become so ordinary that with the coming of every new day, something is expected to happen that can divert us from our usual routine and make us shudder or shrug our shoulders.

We are still alive and we need to use all our energy, both spiritual and physical, in order to live as decent human beings. We need to identify honestly and distinctly which values are right and which are wrong. If there is much to be changed then change there must be with no loss of time. However, change cannot only be realized with brilliance of the intellect and the knowledge of principles and strategies. It can only be achieved if all of us are sincere in our decision to remove all the cobwebs in our lives as Christians, and put God first, even before the preservation of our earthly existence. God must be recognized as a Supreme Being, before Whom, all knees must bend. God must be recognized as our Creator Who owns us and Who has the liberty to give us not what we want, but what He wants. We need to pray to Him, but His decision which rests on His love and mercy, is always supreme.

As I Progress in age through the years, the purpose of God in creating me, grows visible moment by moment. I can see that I received life because I can be made an instrument in making others live too. Little by little, I can feel and understand that my life is not mine alone, but it is an area, which is open for others to see what good they can get from me.

That hungry aeta who needs to eat, must be given a share from my purse. That helpless blind woman can see me through the alms I can place in her hand. That ignorant fellow who looks helpless and lost, can find his way through my friendly attention and can regain his composure through my patient treatment of him.

God is visible if we use the sight of our heart. Christianity is not difficult to practice if we meditate on the seven swords which pierced the Heart of Mary – as soon as we awake to the dawn of a new day.

Give time to God. Give time to Mama Mary and Jesus in His Divine Mercy will also give time to us.

Make Ready – She’s Coming

Make Ready – She’s Coming
by Pureza D. Lacuesta

When I heard over the radio that Mama Mary, the Holy Virgin of Fatima was coming to Iloilo, all the way from Portugal today, I felt something which I couldn’t fully describe. My children and grandchildren excitedly looked for blessed candles which they would light at Aganan since the image was to arrive at the airport at 4:20 in the afternoon, stay for some time at the church of Sta. Barbara, and proceed to Jaro.

I was glad that the people in our place awaited her coming with excitement because it means that our Blessed Mother has many devotees.

As I looked at Our Lady of Fatima on our home altar, I was filled with memories with my own experience in 1949 when she came to Pototan. She had given a miracle there and I want to share it with you now.

There were frenzied preparations when we knew that she was really going to visit our town. All the town officials, led by our Mayor turned out for the procession. Schools and other institutions followed suit. We, at the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, wore our gala uniform and gathered in the school ground, prayed the rosary, sang the Marian hymns, and prepared our banners.

The activity was so holy and so touching that I thought I was somewhere else, among the clouds perhaps, because the Virgin’s face was beautiful and motherly. I wanted to hug her. Our Mayor placed her carefully on an elevated place so that everybody could see. When it was time for the glass case to be removed, our Parish Priest, the late Msgr. Ciceron Martirez, tried to do it, but the glass covering did not move an inch. After some time, our Mayor took over, but he wasn’t able to do so. Some of the men around took turns, but the glass case resisted. They, then, realized that it was not an ordinary case.

The priest called for the people to pray the rosary slowly and fervently, and invoked God and Mama Mary, to please have her image exposed for us to touch and revere. We followed the priest as he led the prayer. Our eyes were on the Virgin inside the glass container.

After the final amen, another attempt was made to remove the case and – miracle of miracles! It was done very easily. Some of us cried openly. Others said the Hail Mary aloud. Hymns were sung. There was general rejoicing.

I don’t know how many hearts were captured by our dear Mama Mary through that miracle.


Since then, my devotion to the Holy Rosary increased and I never stop asking the Lord and the Blessed Virgin to increase the fervor in our prayers, in order to remove the glass case of pretense and presumption.

Timmy, the Small Devotee

Mass was about to begin and Timmy, my daughter Carmeli’s grandson, was with her. He was full of spirit and he started asking about the images of the saints, their names and what they were doing there in church.

I thought he wouldn’t stop talking but when the bell rang for the mass to begin, he put his finger to his lips and said: sssh! lola, mama, “hipos, ara na ang pari.” We looked at each other. What a boy!

Face the Challenges

Face the Challenges
by Pureza D. Lacuesta

Values cannot just be crammed down one’s throat; they have to be taken in carefully like medicine.

Our bloodstream is fragile and delicate. We have to be aware of how it works – the elements that flow along with it, elements that will either give life or destroy it. From childhood to adulthood, extreme care is given to this part of our body, because, it needs only a little carelessness to make it function wrongly.

Why do I speak of the bloodstream when my topic sentence is about values? It is because there is a strong similarity between the two. The inculcation of values is a slow and tedious process. The giver must know the personality of his receiver he must know the right time and the right process to use.

This is one of the obligations of parents to their children and subordinates. Homes must be saturated with positive values in such a way, that the families may be bound together by the chains of understanding, strong enough to overcome the challenges that they may face.

No one is exempted from problems. Nobody can shrink from the various realities we have to face and undergo as we journey with time. It is therefore imperative that we can face the world with confidence and faith, armed with the weapons of knowledge and wisdom, unfazed by any obstacle that dare stands in our way. We may accept our shortcomings but we cannot afford to bow down to failures, to cower before the turbulent winds of contradictions.

We have God above us. Let us do our best to keep Him in our hearts and make Him stay there. We must summon our moral strength and bind our feelings with that unbreakable fiber of spirituality, keeping constant communion with God at all times and in all places. There is always room for transformation. Do you know this line from a song?

“Be not afraid, I go before you always
Come follow me, and I will give you rest.”

Have god in your heart; the Father; the Lord of heaven. Keep Jesus and trust in His Divine Mercy. Look to the Holy Spirit for consolation and guidance. Nestle close to Mary’s loving heart; bathe in her love, close your eyes in prayer, and you will feel the warmth of your real home, the warmth of heaven.

Mama Mary -Through the Years

Mama Mary -Through the Years
by Pureza D. Lacuesta

During my childhood days, I always waited eagerly for those Sundays when my father would take me with him to attend special celebrations for the Blessed Mother, which were usually highlighted with public adoration and a procession.

My first devotion was to our Lady of Lourdes. Since my parents loved our Lady so much, I was influenced by them and tried to imitate them. Every night, my spinster aunt led the rosary and made us kneel throughout the prayer. If we got a little lazy to sustain the kneeling position, or else, yawn, she would pinch our buttocks and we were forced to assume the kneeling position.

Since I was a bit naughty in my young years, I was sent to study at the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, right in our town of Pototan, which is the Mother House of the Hijas de Jesus in the Philippines. It was run by the Spanish nuns who were very strict and emphasized the teaching of religion, plus its practice. Every Thursday, we were taught the doctrine and were made to study and understand the gospel for the coming Sunday. Every part of the Mass was repeatedly explained to us and proper behavior in Church was always emphasized.

Our Lady of the Inmaculada Concepcion was and still is, the Patroness of the school. Every December 8, which is her feast, we have the altar-decorating contests, the singing of the “Mil Albricias” and “poesias”. As I look back through the years, my eyes fill with tears as I remember how the nuns, leaving their home in pain, did their utmost to form us into fervent devotees of Mama Mary. We, in the High School level were trained as catechists.

I grew fervent in my devotion to Mary and when the icon of Our Lady of Fatima from Portugal was brought to Pototan in 1949 through the efforts of our Mayor, we were made to pray to her in groups and my love for her grew to big proportions. I wanted to do something for her. I knew that in God’s own time, I would be able to do it.

In 1950, my dream materialized. My husband, who was a Mary devotee himself, made arrangements with then Msgr. Ciceron Martirez to start a Rosary Crusade in Barangay Igang, Pototan. This launched our family apostolate. Picking up the momentum with the late Msgr. Salvador Esmero and with the support of Archbishop Piamonte, we went to the other towns and even in the city to spread the devotion to the Holy Rosary. Calumpang became our seat in the city with the help of the Parish Priest, and Bro. Bert, Sis. Delia, Sis. Puring, Bro. Edwin, and Bro. Nelson.

Today, I’m too old to go to the mountains for the apostolate. My prayer now is: “Please letme spend therest of my days doing my apostolate through my pen, oh Lord.”

Before I write my oration and declamation pieces, I always invoke the Holy Spirit to give me light and to influence my article, so that through indirect means, I can still be His little instrument through Mary.

Midnight Echoes – Create A New World

Midnight Echoes – Create A New World
by Pureza D. Lacuesta

From a log cabin lighted only by oil lamps, situated in a very humble place, the power of change boomed during a Gettysburg address delivered by the first U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, which was carried through the years and made the United States of America, a very powerful nation.

Here are the first lines:

Fourscore and seven years ago, our forefathers brought forth upon this continent, a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

I was an expression of gratitude from the heart of a man who rose from the ranks of poverty to the powerful position of national leadership. This was a clear manifestation of freedom and an equal treatment of men.

From then on, the line of leadership sprouted from that beautiful concept and became a byword for all forty three Presidents who clung to the theory of freedom, and gave the world the meaning of ideal governance which lighted the path for others to follow.

At midnight on Tuesday, January 20, Philippine time, the same idealism was reiterated by its forty fourth President, Barack Obama, the first Black President of the United States, a Cum Laude graduate from the College of Law, of the famous Harvard University. He echoed the same sentiments. I was able to pick up some phrases which I am reproducing on this page, if only to inspire us to pick up courage and perseverance during this time of our trials and challenges.

Read this and pick up strength: President Obama

This is the time to cast aside our childish spirit. Let us unite for a purpose

All have the chance to pursue the gift of freedom.

Our forefathers suffered much. For us they endured the lash of the whip that we may live better lives.
There many indications of crises. We will harness the sun, the land, and the soil to restore what was lost.

All these we will do; all these we can do.

From Elizabeth Alexander

Our life is like darning a hole in the uniform
Somebody is making music somewhere.
Some live by loving neighbors every day
The mightiest word is love.

From Rev. Joseph Lewery

We pray not only for our nation, but for the community of nations.
We seek forgiveness for sowing the seeds of selfishness and greed.
Let us seek inclusion; not seclusion

Dear Lord, please give back the power to our homes, our schools, our churches.
Let not nations lift up their words against other nations: Let us have the joy of a new beginnings.

The beautiful expressions given by the three leaders, will go down in history as words of awakening, of challenges, of inspiration. It is a host of echoes from people who recognize our capabilities if – and only if – we trust in God – Work with God – live with God.

Zoo

Zoo
by Pureza D. Lacuesta

My mind was blank, no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t think of something to write. Although we have our weekly theme, I couldn’t seem to find the right words, the right expression, and what was worse, the right foundation for my article.

I was lost in the desert of blank ideas when suddenly I was brought back to literary consciousness. I recalled my lecture on being observant, creative, and retentive, so that the power of expression would flow.

Nobody was around. Nobody had inspired me except the animals and fowls in our front yard which attracted my attention.

Snarling and showing its teeth, one of our dogs looked at the chicken pecking at the grains on the ground. While the mother hen and rooster clucked and called for the chicks, the dog started to jump and growl attracting the other dogs (there are 8 in all). Not to be outdone, our cats bared their teeth, jumped at the dogs and get ready to scratch. Each group had its own battle formation, and an idea about values entered my head. Animals and fowls may be exempted in the value-formation, but they can give allegorical aspects to the journalism trade.

There are many of us who pounce upon the poor and the helpless, making them easy victims of misery, while those whose pockets are never empty and power-filled, enjoy life’s pleasure at the expense of the “small people”.

Some of us resort to crime and abuse, showing our merciless treatment to the simple and the unprotected. Intelligent and accomplished people, ridicule the less fortunate in intellect, and stand out with pride and self-adulation in gatherings and public activities.

It is difficult to be simple and humble if we are endowed with many gifts. It is difficult to accept that there are many others who have the same qualifications. We are egoistic and have the tendency to do something unethical and unchristian if challenged.

The world is like a zoo where different personalities and values live together. God has given us the basics of enduring Christianity and consideration for each other, but our human tendencies which are stubborn in nature are difficult to overcome.

It is high time to be honest with ourselves and make amends. Reparations can be done directly and indirectly. In doing this, there is only one prescription – Prayer. The only Physician Who can give this, is God.

Go to Him now. We can never tell when the last page of our life should be read.

They Were There

They Were There
by Pureza D. Lacuesta

My eyes grew misty as I approached our Learning Center on the morning of December 22.

Old women, some of them in crutches, were holding tickets in their hands as they waited patiently at the door. There was a male paralytic sitting on his box built with wheels, one arm lost, his lips quivering, with one eye not functioning well, his ticket was placed in his shirt pocket. Nursing mothers, children dressed in old clothes, brothers and sisters holding hands as they waited for their turn, looked expectant and excited.

When finally I got inside, a lump formed in my throat when I saw some CPUDHS Batch 1991 Alumni, sitting before big boxes of toys, apples, and oranges which they gave to the recipients as they passed out of the gate, carrying bags of rice, canned goods, and used clothing.

These generous ladies; Daisy Posa Layson, Fatima Edemburgo, Jerelyn
Geneva Magbanua, Aida Salazar, and Rhodora Fernandez, were accompanied by Mrs. Posas’s Grade Five son, Shedrick.

The little boy was keeping traffic at the gate as the last bag of candies and cookies were given out. I went farther inside, and I could not stop my tears from falling when I saw hungry children eating hungrily, some with food in both hands. They were helping themselves to fruit salad, lumpia frito, chicken adobo, spaghetti, cake, yakult (this drink donated by Mary Ong), and Calo-calo bihon. My daughter Iris, who is the administrator of the Center had converted the cash donations to food which were served to 167 indigents.

Thanks to our parents, friends, and benefactors, the Center was able to serve some of God’s needy children.

After the group had gone, faculty members helped in cleaning the Center and were about to rest, when some more donations came in. Thus, we called for those who were still outside and gave them out.

What a beautiful day! God had sent many of His needy children to partake of the blessings of hose who have more and to make the meaning of Christmas clearer: the birth of Jesus is the time to make up for our transgressions, repent, and have a change of heart, by sending out a light of hope to those who are suffering from the burdens of life.
Let, therefore, our Christmas be an open gate to a more blessed New Year, filled with love and kindness, and overflowing with Christian brotherhood.