Cardinal Ricardo J. Vidal, archbishop emeritus of Cebu, has written to the Philippine bishops that on Oct. 17, 1949, Mary Mediatrix of All Grace Teresia Castillo, “Pray hard for China’s dream is to invade the whole world. The Philippines is one of its favorites. Money is the evil force that will lead the people of the world to destruction.”
Castillo was a young Carmelite nun then in Lipa City. And the incident was known as the Lipa Apparitions.
Before becoming Cebu patriarch, Vidal was Lipa archbishop.
Vidal said the last part of the message “gives us a reason to be hopeful.” It read: “Prayers. Sacrifices, self-denials and the daily recitation of the Holy Rosary will soften the heart of my Son as I said before.”
“It is thus to the Queen of Prophets under her title of Mediatrix of All Grace to whom we will have recourse in order to avert the buildup of tension and to check the territorial ambitions of this Asian superpower. It is by following this path of prayer and penance sounded out in Fatima and reiterated at Lipa that our beloved Philippines will be spared the scourge of war and the domination of a communist giant.
The Philippines cannot by any stretch of the imagination equal or overtake China in economic growth or prevail in a military confrontation. China can bring to bear its huge financial, material and human resources, as well as its advanced military capability in any struggle with a smaller and poorer country like the Philippines with its ill-equipped armed forces. The first and only line of defense the Philippines has is the mantle of protection provided by the Blessed Virgin Mary. Only She can help us! To whom then shall we go?
Prayer
Most Blessed Virgin Mary, amid the crisis brought about by the territorial claims of China, we come to your presence seeking your queenly protection and motherly help. We pray for peace and the safety of the Philippines, as we keep in mind the spiritual welfare of those who advance their territorial claims to the detriment of the security of our country.
May the love of your Maternal Heart attract the Chinese people to your Son, Jesus. May your Immaculate Heart be the center from which the rays of the light and love for the Sacred Heart will radiate forth throughout China, becoming for them the unquenchable fountain from which the living water of the Divine Mercy will flow. Through your intercession, may the Lord grace the Chinese people with faith, hope and love, that by your maternal mediation of grace, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit will be worshipped and glorified in that vast expanse of land. (Adapted from a message of Jesus to Sister Lucy of Fatima as documented in a letter of the Seer to the Bishop of Gurza, May 27, 1943)
Remember O most gracious Virgin that the Philippines is your beloved “Pueblo Amante de Maria” and that we belong to you absolutely, totally, always and forever. We are all yours and all that we have is yours, O most loving Jesus through Mary, Mediatrix of All-Grace. (Imprimatur: Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, June 19)
St. James the Apostle relic
Msgr. Rey Ragudos, diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Alaminos, Pangasinan, will officiate the Concelebrated Mass on July 25 at 7:30 a.m. celebrating the 400th anniversary of St. James the Apostle parish of Bolinao, Pangasinan.
On July 24 at 2 p.m., the Relic of St. James the Apostle will be brought in a procession at 2 p.m. around the town proper followed by Holy Mass at 5 p.m. Vigil venerating the relic will follow afterward.
Fr. Yanix Liguid, parish priest, will lead the Novena Masses July 16 to July 24. There will first be Holy Rosary at 4 p.m., then novena, then Mass at 5 p.m.
Hermana Mayor is Maria Leah Lazo Soriano, wife of former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Wilhelm Soriano, who’s a member of the Kapatiran Party.
St. Joseph House of Spirituality
It was propitious that I met Fr. Jomar Castañeda through Aurora Lazo, president of the Stewards and Friends Foundation based in Ilagan, Isabela. He told me about the Saint Joseph House of Spirituality in Santa Maria town. Fr. Jomar is assigned here where he is a resident reserved priest.
Text Fr. Jomar Castañeda at 0917-8678323.
The retreat house is owned by Larry and Sofia Pagauitan; it was as a “gift of love” to their late daughter Maria Lourdes. The retreat house is under the administration of the Oblates of St. Joseph, a religious congregation of priests and brothers. It is a house of prayer, renewal and spiritual enrichment. It holds retreats, recollections, conferences, prayer meetings, marriage encounters, and religious seminars.
Facilities include two dormitories, two common comfort rooms, Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel (which houses the relics of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Joseph Marello, founder of the Oblates of St. Joseph), and conference room with audio-visual facilities.
Other facilities: Galilee, a four-bedroom kiosk in a small man-made lake, an area to conduct Stations of the Cross, and Casa di San Giuseppe Marello, the house of the religious assigned there.
Mass of Remembrance
The friend of the Prayer Warrior of the Holy Souls (PWHS) this month is St. Thomas More. A Mass of Remembrance will take place tomorrow, 11 a.m., at Chapel of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary below the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Lantana St. in Cubao. A priest will be available for Confession.
St. Mary Magdalene’s fiesta
Imus Bishop Rey Evangelista will officiate the Concelebrated Mass marking the feast of St. Mary Magdalene in Kawit, Cavite, on July 22, 9:30 a.m. But Masses begin as early as 5 a.m. There are also Masses at 6, 7, 8 and 11:30 a.m.
In Amadeo, Cavite, the feast of St. Mary Magdalene will be celebrated with Masses at 6 and 8 a.m., and 4 p.m.
Fr. Oliver Genuino is parish priest. Concelebrated Mass is at 4 p.m.
Rosa Mistica Mass
Devotees of Maria Rosa Mistica will celebrate her feast on July 14 with a Holy Mass at 12 noon at the St. Martha Chapel in Harrison Plaza.
Sister Julie Micosa, MSSH said the Bishop Verzosa musical play will be staged July 17, 2 and 7 p.m. at SM North Skydome.