For the secret to happiness . . . . . . . call Colossians 3:12-17

In danger . . . . . . . call Psalm 91

In discouragement  about work . . . . . . . call Psalm 126

He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house,  for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’

- Luke 16:27-31

Boat of Sweets

A peddler’s boat passed by this morning , calling the attention of prospective customers with a honking sound that she has something to sell. I was not quite sure what the sweet old lady was peddling. When I took a look at the murky water of the canal, I saw an old boat where these tiny , cute bowls containing Pandan flavored jelly, topped with coconut cream being peddled with another kind of sweet. I flagged the boat down and  told the kind old lady to pack me two boxes. I know that my husband likes this kind of sweets , but I don’t particularly like coconut cream. After she handed over the boxes , a smile flashed across her face as she paddled away and said, I’ll pass by regularly , when  you have learned  to like my coconut sweets.

Off she goes , the boat of sweets.

According to the Delaney Dictionary of Saints, from the sixth century to 1970, September 29 was observed as Michaelmas Day and honored only St. Michael. Since 1970, September 29 has been celebrated as the Feast of all three Archangels. Michael is known as the great protector; Gabriel as the bearer of good news; and Raphael as the divine healer.

A Prayer to Saint Michael

Saint Michael , Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,
by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

-- Pope Leo XIII

A Prayer to Saint Gabriel

Blessed Saint Gabriel, Archangel
We beseech thee to intercede for us at the throne of divine mercy:
As thou didst announce to Mary the mystery of the Incarnation,
so through thy prayers may we receive strength of faith and
courage of spirit, and thus find favor with God and redemption through Christ Our Lord.
May we sing the praise of God our Savior with the angels and saints in heaven
forever and ever. Amen.

A Prayer to Saint Raphael

Happy Feast Day JM !

Namesake of  St. John the Apostle and St. Michael the Archangel

When these dry weather plants start bearing flowers, it signals the onset of drier and warmer months ahead.  Our pink Crown of Thorns potted plants in the terrace had buds three days ago and this morning , it has lots of pretty pink flowers in every stem.

This crimson red adenium plant in the garden has fewer flowers , and lots of buds , but when the rains has totally stopped ,  it will continually bear lots of flowers , day to day until the next rainy season.

After last nights downpour , we had a really beautiful day today. Blue skies , hot (not warm) and very calm weather gave us a break from the gloomy and damp weather we”ve been experiencing for the past several months.

Blue skies with traces of white clouds . . . .  a sign of another heavy downpour tonight ?

Crocodile

by JM, 9 yrs.

I’m a Catholic and happy to die for God.  If I have a thousand lives to offer, I will offer them to Him.

- Saint Lorenzo Ruiz

 First Canonized Filipino Martyr

Chinese father, Filipino mother, both Christians. He learned Chinese and Tagalog from them, Spanish from the Dominicans whom he served as altar boy and sacristan. Professional calligrapher and documents transcriptionist. Member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. Married layman , and the father of two sons and a daughter. For unknown reasons, Lorenzo was accused of murder. He sought asylum on board ship with three Dominican priests , a layman  and a leper. Only when they were at sea did he learn that they were going to Japan during a time of intense Christian persecution. Lorenzo could have gone to Formosa (modern Taiwan), but feared the Spaniards there would hang him, and so stayed with the missionaries as they landed at Okinawa. The group was soon exposed as Christian, arrested, and taken to Nagasaki. He underwent inhuman tortures and valiantly confessed his Christian Faith. Refusing to renounce his Faith, he told his executioner that he was ready to die for God and give himself for many thousands of lives if he had them. On September 27, 1637, he was hung from a gallows by his feet, his body falling into a pit. After two days of agony, he died of bleeding and suffocation. His body was cremated and the ashes thrown into the sea. He and fifteen companions, martyred in the same persecution, were beatified by Pope John Paul II in Manila on February 18, 1981 and elevated to full honors of the altar by canonization on October 18, 1987 in Rome.

1580?–1660, French priest renowned for charitable work. He was ordained in 1600. There are conflicting stories about his capture by pirates and enslavement in Tunis and his subsequent escape. In Rome he came to the attention of Pope Paul V, who sent him on a mission to the French court of Henry IV, where Vincent remained as chaplain to the queen. His activism, and the holiness of his life brought about the revival of French Catholicism. He inspired many of the court to an interest in the poor of Paris and was the founder of organized charity in France. In 1625 he founded an order of secular priests to work in rural areas; it became the Congregation of the Mission, called Lazarists or Vincentians. With these priests, St. Vincent conducted retreats, founded seminaries, and achieved widespread reform among the French clergy. For city work he founded the Sisters of Charity. St. Vincent’s influence, through his spirit and through his institutions, is incalculable. He was canonized in 1737. Feast: Sept. 27 

Prayer to Saint Vincent de Paul

Dear Saint, the mere mention of your name suggests a litany of your virtues: humility, zeal, mercy, self-sacrifice. It also recalls your many foundations: Works of Mercy, Congregations, Societies. And the Church gratefully remembers your promotion of the priesthood. Inspire all Charitable Workers, especially those who minister to the poor - both the spiritually and the materially poor. Amen