PRAYER MOMENTS

MGA KATUTUBONG MANGYAN AT ANG PAGMAMAHAL SA KALIKASAN

2009-10-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

Tuwing ikadalawang Linggo ng Oktubre, kinagawian nang ating ipinagdiwang ang Linggo ng Mga Katutubong Pilipino. Sa pagkakataong ito, napapanahon na ating mapagnilayan ang kahalagahan at ang pagiging sagrado ng lupa at kalikasan, na ating masasalamin sa katutubong kamalayan at pangangasiwa ng ating mga kapatid na katutubo, ang mga Mangyan sa lalawigan ng Mindoro.

Ang pagpapahalaga sa kalikasan ay higit na kinakailangang bigyan ng higit na diin lalo ngayong ang buong bansa, kasama na ang ating lalawigan ay nahaharap sa banta ng pagkasira ng ating kapaligiran at mga likas na yaman – ang ating mga kabundukan, dagat, ilog, at kapatagan – dahil sa walang ingat na pag-gamit at walang pakundangang pagpapasasa sa nanganganib nang Inang Kalikasan.

Ang nakalulunos na karanasan ng pagbaha sa Maynila na nagdulot ng kamatayan at ibayong kahirapan sa maraming mga mamayan ay pinsalang dulot ng ating kapabayaan at di pangangalaga sa kalikasan, na dulot ng pandaigdigang pagbabago ng panahon o climate change.

Sa pangangasiwa ng kalikasan, mahalagang magkaroon ng pananaw na ang sangnilikha ay sagradong biyaya na handog ng Lumikha. Ang buong sangnilikha ay mabuti (Gen 1:31) at ipinagkatiwala ng Diyos sa tao ang pananagutan upang ito ay pangalagaan, ingatan at paunlarin ayon sa kalooban ng Lumikha (Gen. 1: 26-30). Kaya naman patuloy na binibigyang diin ng Simbahan na ang pangangalaga sa kalikasan at kapaligiran ay hindi lamang maituturing na hamon para sa lahat, kundi isang pangkalahatang pananagutan upang maitaguyod ang kagalingang panlahat sa pagtatamasa ng yaman ng lupa (Centesimus Annus, No. 40).

Sa larangang gawaing ito ng wastong pangangasiwa ng ating kapaligiran, nararapat na kilalanin natin ang natatanging kamalayan at kultura ng mga katutubo, ang mga Mangyan, sa kanilang pagpapahalaga at pangangasiwa ng Inang Kalikasan.

Una, para sa mga katutubo, buhay na buhay sa kanilang kaisipan na ang lahat ng yaman ng lupa, at lahat ng nilikha ay nagmula sa isang dakilang kapangyarihan, sa Diyos na lumalang. Kaya nga ang biyayang bigay ay sagrado at hindi dapat lapastanganin dahil ang bawat nilalang ay may taglay na diwa ng maykapal. Kaya nga kinakailangan ang pahintulot ng Lumikha kung magpuputol ng puno, laging may ritwal at panalangin sa panahon ng pagtatanim at pag-aani sa kaingin. Maging ang buong kalikasan – ilog, bundok, dagat, parang – ay may bahaging-buhay ng Dakilang Lumalang.

Pangalawa, dahil sa ang buong nilikha ay biyaya, walang sinuman ang maaring lubos na magmay-ari ng mga bagay sa lupa. Ang lupa ay pag-aari ng Lumikha, kaya ang tao ay gumaganap lang ng tungkulin bilang tagapamahala. Kaugnay nito, anumang pwedeng pakinabangan sa bunga ng lupa ay para sa lahat, dahil ang biyaya ay inilalaan ng Diyos para sa lahat, hindi lang sa iilan. Para sa mga Mangyan, bahagi ng kanilang gawi ang pagbibigayan at isang napakalaking kasalanan ang maging makasarili.

Pangatlo, sa biyayang kalikasan nagmumula ang pangangailangan ng mga katutubo at ginagamit nila ang yaman ng lupa sapat lang sa kanilang pangangailangan. Hindi kinakailangang magkaroon ng higit kaysa sa pangangailangan dahil ang kalabisan ng isa ay maaring mangahulugan ng kakulangan ng iba. Ang ikinabubuhay ay patuloy na di ipinagkakait ng lupa, laging sapat, bakit pa maghahangad ng labis?

Pangapat., Ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaka-ugnay. Kung kung masisira ang kalikasan masisira din ang buhay. Bawat nilalang ay may kanikaniyang papel na ginagampanan sa daigdig na ito. Maaring ang mga halaman at mga hayop ay may papel na kanyang ginampanan para magkaroon ng buhay ang tao rin ay may gampanin dapat gampanan. Ito ay malinaw sa mga katutubo. Ito ba ay malinaw din sa atin.

Marami pang aral ang maaring pagnilayan at halawin sa katutubong kaisipan na higit na tumutugma sa Kristiyanong panawagan sa larangan ng pangangasiwa ng kalikasan. Ang katanungan marahil ay: handa ba tayong matuto mula sa mga katutubo? Kaya ba nating makita na ang binhi ng pananampalataya ay masasalamin natin sa kanilang katutubong pagpapahalaga?

Ayon sa pananalita nng yumaong Papa Juan Pablo II: “Ang batayang kaugnayan ng mga katutubo sa lupa at kalikasan ay dapat laging isaalang-alang, dahil ito ang tanging pagpapahayag ng kanilang pagkatao...Ang mga katutubo ang siyang nagbibigay ng mabuting halimbawa kung paano mamuhay nang may maayos na kaugnayan sa kalikasan na natutunan nilang unawain at pangalagaan.”

PANALANGIN PARA SA PAGTATANGGOL SA INANG KALIKASAN

2009-08-10T05:19:00.000-07:00

Mapagmahal naming Diyos, pinupuri ka namin sa Iyong mga kahanga-hangang nilikha – ang kagandahan ng kalikasan ay nagbibigay ng bagong lakas sa amin, ang sariwang hangin ay nagdudulot ng kalusugan, ang mga halama’y nagbibigay ng pagkain upang patuloy kaming mabuhay, at ang matiwasay na kapaligiran ay ipinagkakaloob mo upang mapayapa kaming mamuhay ayon sa iyong kalooban.

Alam po naming na ang lahat ng Iyong nilikha ay ginawa Mo ayon sa Iyong dakilang pagmamahal, maraming salamat po sa tanang kabutihan!

Mapagmahal naming Diyos, kami po ay dumudulog sa Iyong butihing puso upang pagkalooban Mo po kami ng liwanag ng pasya at isipan – kami nawa ay matutong mangalaga, at huwag sirain ang Iyong likhang-kalikasan. Huwag nawa kaming malinlang ng munting halaga o pansamantalang hanap-buhay kung ang magiging kapalit nito ay magdudulot ng malaking pinsala, sakit na walang lunas at higit sa lahat ay kamatayan sa mga taong maliliit, na magiging biktima ng mga naging gahaman sa kikitaing yaman at sa mapandayang alok ng tinatawag na kaunlaran.

Hipuin Mo po ang bawat isa sa amin upang kami ay magkaroon ng malasakit at pusong nangangalaga para sa kalikasan at buhay. Nawa ang lahat ng aming kakayahan na Iyong ipinagkaloob ay gamitin namin para sa ikauunlad ng aming bayan na walang magiging kapalit na pinsala.

Bigyan Mo po kami ng lakas, tapang at tibay ng kalooban upang ganap naming mapangalagaan ang kalikasan at kapaligiran na siyang salalayan ng aming buhay. Nawa’y ito’y aming maipagtanggol sa mga mapagsamantala at mga mapanlinlang at patuloy kaming magka-isa para itaguyod ang kapakanang panlahat at ang kaganapan ng buhay.

Ang kalikasan – bundok, dagat, bukid, kaparangan, ilog at buong kapaligiran ay pinagmumulan ng aming buhay. Huwag nawa itong masira dahil sa aming kapabayaan at paglapastangan sa biyayang banal.

At sa Iyo Mahal na Ina, aming Inang Maria, patuloy po Ninyong tanglawan ang aming bayan at ilayo sa kapahamakan at tuwirang pagkasira.

Ang lahat ng ito ay aming idinadalangin sa Iyo Ama, sa pamamagitan ni Jesus at ng Espiritu Santo. AMEN

(Ang panalanging ito ay sinulat ni LOIDA PIGON, at sinambit bilang panalangin sa okasyon ng ALAY-LAKAD PARA SA KAPALIGIRAN, na dinaluhan ng mga mamayan ng Tacligan at iba pang Barangay ng San Teodoro, noong Agosto 8, 2009)

Bless Our Earth, O Lord

2009-07-23T05:10:00.000-07:00

O God,
you love our earth;
from sunrise to sunset
you fill land and sea with riches;
the hills rejoice at your touch;
the valleys shout for joy,
yes, they sing.

Open our eyes
to your resplendent world,
that we may care for the earth
as our companion in creation.

May the pure song
of air, water, and trees
broaden our minds,
lift up our hearts,
and guide us to you.

Our resplendent world in its form and functioning
is what enables us to have such a splendid sense of God.

Any degradation of the earth in its primary functioning
inevitably affects our sense of the divine,
just as we lose the full range of our thinking
when we lose our experience of the great birds in flight,
our experience of the animal or vegetative world,
our experience of the rivers and the sea,
or our experience of atmospheric phenomena.

Thomas Berry, CP

LESSONS FROM NOAH'S ARK

2009-07-08T03:04:00.000-07:00

Everything I need to know, I learn from Noah’s Ark..

ONE: Don’t miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat.
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark
FOUR: Stay fit. When you’re 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
FIVE: Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
NINE: When you’re stressed, float a while
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs the Titanic by Professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

Panalangin Para sa Taon ng Mga Pari

2009-07-08T02:41:00.000-07:00

(Salin ng Panalangin ng Kanyang Kabanalan Papa Benito XVI sa harapan ng Relikya ng Puso ni San Juan Maria Vianney sa okasyon ng pagpapasinaya ng Taon ng Mga Pari, Hunyo 19, 2009)

Panginoong Hesus,
minarapat mong ipagkaloob sa iyong Simbahan
sa katauhan ni San Juan Maria Vianney
ang isang malinaw na larawan
ng iyong pagkalinga sa amin bilang pastol;
itulot mo na kapiling niya at sang-ayon sa kanyang halimbawa,
maipagdiwang namin nang ganap
ang Taong ito ng mga Pari.

Itulot mo nawa,
na tulad niyang humuhugot ng lakas sa Eukaristiya,
maibahagi namin nang payak sa bawat araw
ang iyong salitang nagtuturo sa amin;
at taglayin ang pag-ibig niyang
umagapay sa mga makasalanang nagbabalik-loob;
puno ng lakas ng loob na mula sa aming lubos na pagtitiwala
sa iyong kalinis-linisang Ina.

Itulot mo, Panginoon,
na sa tulong ng Banal na Kura ng Ars,
ang mga Kristiyanong pamilya ay maging tunay na "munting Simbahan"
na handang tumanggap at nagpapahalaga
sa tawag ng bokasyon at mga kaloob
na nagmumula sa iyong Espiritu.

Itulot mo Poong Hesus,
na mabigkas naming kasing-rubdob ng pag-ibig ng Banal na Kura,
ang panalangin iniukol niya sa iyo:

"Iniibig kita, O aking Diyos,
at ang tangi kong hangad ay ang ibigin ka
hanggang sa aking huling hininga.
Iniibig kita, o pinakakaibig- ibig na Diyos,
at mas iibigin ko pang mamatay sa pag-ibig sa Iyo
kaysa mabuhay nang kahit isang sandaling
hindi ka iniibig.

Iniibig kita, Panginoon,
at ang tanging biyayang hiling ko sa'yo
ay ang ibigin ka magpakailanman.
O Diyos ko,
kundiman kaya ng dila kong bigkasin
sa bawat sandali
na iniibig kita,
hayaan mong ulit-ulitin ng aking puso sa'yo
sa aking bawat hininga:
'Iniibig kita'.

Iniibig kita,
O aking Poong Tagapagligtas,
sapagkat para sa akin ay nabayubay ka,
at tangan mo ako ngayong
nakapako sa piling mo.

O Diyos ko,
itulot mo sa akin ang biyayang mamatay
nang umiibig at
umiibig nang lubos sa iyo."

Amen.

OPEN LETTER TO THE FILIPINO CATHOLICS

2009-03-11T03:12:00.000-07:00

Here's something very positive written by a foreigner named Steve Ray, about Filipinos. Steve Ray authored many best-selling books, among which are, Crossing The Tiber (his conversion story), Upon This Rock (on the papacy), and just recently John's Gospel (a comprehensive bible study guide and commentary).

We stepped into the church and it was old and a bit dark. Mass had just begun and we sat toward the front. We didn't know what to expect here in Istanbul , Turkey . I guess we expected it to be a sombre Mass but quiet and sombre it was not - I thought I heard angels joyously singing behind me.

The voices were rich, melodic and beautiful. What I discovered as I spun around to look did not surprise me because I had seen and heard the same thing in other churches around the world. It was not a choir of angels with feathered wings and halos but a group of delightful Filipino Catholics with smiles of delight and joy on their faces as they worshiped God and sang His praises. I had seen this many times before in Rome , in Israel ,in the United States and other countries.

Filipinos have special traits and they are beautifully expressed as I gazed at the happy throng giving thanks to God. What are the special traits which characterize these happy people? I will share a few that I have noticed- personal observations- as I have travelled around the world, including visits to the Philippines
FIRST, there is a sense of community, of family. These Filipino Christians did not sit apart from each other in different isles. They sat together, closely. They didn't just sing quietly, mumbling, or simply mouthing the words. No, they raised their voices in harmony together as though they enjoyed the sense of unity and communion among them. They are family even if they are not related.

SECOND, they have an inner peace and joy which is rare in the world today. When most of the world's citizens are worried and fretful, I have found Filipinos to have joy and peace - a deep sense of God's love that over shadows them. They have problems too, and many in the Philippines have less material goods than others in the world, yet there is still a sense of happy trust in God and love of neighbour.

THIRD, there is a love for God and for his Son Jesus that is almost synonymous with the word Filipino. There is also something that Filipinos are famous for around the world - their love for the Blessed Mother. Among the many Filipinos I have met, the affectionate title for Mary I always hear from their lips is "Mama Mary." For these gentle folks Mary is not just a theological idea, a historical person, or a statue in a church - Mary is the mother of their Lord and their mother as well, their "mama."

The Philippines is a Catholic nation-the only such nation in Asia -and this wonderful country exports missionaries around the world. They are not hired to be missionaries, not official workers of the church. No, they are workers and educators, doctors, nurses and housekeepers that go to other lands and travel to the far reaches of the earth, and everywhere they go they take the joyous gospel of Jesus with them. They make a sombre Mass joyful when they burst into song. They convict the pagan of sin as they always keep the love of Jesus and the Eucharist central in their lives.

My hope and prayer, while I am here in the Philippines sharing my conversion story from Baptist Protestant to Roman Catholic, is that the Filipino people will continue to keep these precious qualities. I pray that they will continue loving their families, loving the Catholic Church, reading the Bible, loving Jesus, His Mother and the Eucharist.

As many other religions and sects try to persuade them to leave the Church, may God give the wisdom to defend the Catholic faith. As the world tempts them to sin and seek only money and fame and power, may God grant them the serenity to always remember that obedience to Christ and love for God is far more important than all the riches the world can offer.

May the wonderful Filipino people continue to be a light of the Gospel to the whole world!

Be a proud Filipino and forward this to friends!

PRAYER BEFORE STARTING WORK

2007-09-05T23:37:00.000-07:00

Our loving God, as we begin our work,
We bring Your presence with us.
We speak Your compassion, Your grace, Your mercy,
and we ask you to share Your gift of peace.
We acknowledge Your power over all that will be spoken,
thought, decided, and done throughout this day.
Anoint our projects, ideas, and struggles,
so that even our smallest accomplishment may bring You glory.

Lord, when we are confused, guide us.
When we are discouraged and losing hope, energize us.
When we are burned out, infuse us with the light of the Holy Spirit.

May the work that we do and the way we do it bring faith, joy,
and a smile to all that we come in contact with today.
Bless our family, our home, our nation.
May truly care for the earth and the community of life
as we try to promote your dream for justice and liberation.

In the Name of Jesus we pray,
with much love and Thanksgiving.....
Amen.

TIPS ON TRULY LOVING

2007-08-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

SENSIBLE AND PRACTICAL TIPS
FOR PEOPLE WANTING TO REMAIN IN LOVE!

(Excerpts from Loving Each Other, by Leo Buscaglia)

1. Don't think in terms of forever. Think of now, and forever will take care of itself. Resolve issues right away.

2. Grow up together, constantly.

3. Expect to invest a great deal of time and energy in your relationship. Lasting relationships don't just happen, it takes some effort.

4. But don't feel as if you are required to spend every waking hour with those you love. Move aside from time to time and allow them a separate space too.

5. Respect the other person's relationships apart from you. If they are
important to the one you care about, they should be important to you.

6. Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations.

7. Take your time. Patience is a virtue and people we love are worth waiting for. There is no sense in hurrying anything in relationships.

8. Remove price tags from people. Everyone has worth; the excitement lies in the discovery of their value. Remember that we are all created in God's image.

9. Don't be afraid of giving. You can never give too much, if you're giving willingly. Don't be afraid to give until it hurts!

10. Never force anyone to do anything for you in the name of love. Love is not to be bargained for.

11. Don't overanalyze your relationships. There are things that logic cannot reason with. Some things are understood only by the heart.

12. Realize that you always have choices. No one is responsible for your happiness. It's up to you.

13. Remember that a relationship is a pooling of resources. It means that with each relationship you are not only giving, but you also get something.

14. Don't allow relationships to burden your heart; rather use it to become more aware and sensitive.

15. Don't lose in touch with the romance inside you. This, with a large dose of caring, will assure that your relationship will never be boring.

16. Don't brood. Get on with living and loving. You don't have forever to live your life.

17. Don't hold on to anger. It steals your energy and keeps you from love.

18. There are times when you want to give up on a relationship but never give up on relating. Communication is the key.

19. Learn to listen. You don't learn anything from hearing yourself talk.

20. Learn to forgive hurts and misunderstandings. Give people nth chances.

21. After an argument is over, forget it.

22. Expect what is reasonable, not what is perfect. And don't expect so much for we are all unique individuals.

23. Write down all the reasons why you love each person you relate with. Then, when the going gets tough, take the list out and reread it. It resolves problems quickly.

24. Don't become involved in pettiness, ego and childish hurts. Those will only serve to degrade your relationship and prevent closeness.

25. Learn to bend. Be flexible. It's better than breaking.

26. Since love is an action and can be created, there is no reason to be loveless.

27. Even though you are only half of a relationship, you must remain a whole person, apart from the relationship.

28. Remember that moral and spiritual values don't restrict, they protect.

29. Don't fall in love with love, you'll die with its complexities.

30. Don't allow your relationships to die of neglect.

31. Know 1 Corinthians 13 by heart and put it into action. Love is a powerful feeling, it will allow you to do even the impossible.

32. Best of all, put God at the center of your relationship and allow Him to stay in its midst.

2007-08-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

DAILY ACCEPTANCE PRACTICE

Take a deep breath, each breath, feel the life force flowing through you,
Let yourself relax gently into the present moment,
say these words to yourself silently,
allow your heart to open to their full meaning:

I accept myself completely.
I accept my strength and weaknesses,
My gifts and my shortcomings,
My good points and my faults.
I accept myself completely as a human being.

I accept that I am here to learn and grow,
And I accept that I am learning and growing.
I accept the personality I've developed,
And I accept my power to heal and change.

I accept myself without condition or reservation.
I accept that the core of my being is goodness
And that my essence is love.
And I accept that sometimes I forget that.

I accept myself completely, and in this acceptance
I find an ever deepening strength.
From this place of strength, I accept my life fully
And I open to the lessons it offers me today.

I accept that within my mind are both fear and love,
And I accept my power to choose which I will experience as real
I recognize that I experience only the results on my own choices.

I accept the time that I choose fear
As part of my learning and healing process,
And I accept that I have the potential and power
In any moment to choose love instead.

I accept mistakes as part of growth,
So I am always willing to forgive myself
And give myself another chance.

I accept that my life is the expression of my thought,
And I commit myself to aligning my thoughts
More and more each day with the thought of Love.

I accept that I am an expression of God’s love,
Love's hands and voice and heart.

I accept my own life as a blessing and a gift
My heart is open to receive, and I am deeply grateful.

May I always share the gift I receive fully, freely, and with joy.
Amen.

PRAYER OF ST. THERESA

2007-08-03T06:02:00.001-07:00

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY by MOTHER TERESA

2007-07-26T06:01:00.000-07:00

Heavenly Father,
you have given us the model of life
in the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Help us, O Loving Father, to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign.

May it be deeply contemplative,
intensely eucharistic, revived with joy.

Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow in family prayer.

Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise.

May the eucharistic heart of Jesus make our hearts humble like his and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way.

May we love one another as God loves each one of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other's faults as you forgive our sins.

Help us, O Loving Father, to take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us,
guide and protect us.

Amen.

THE EVERYDAY FAMILY PRAYER

2007-07-26T05:54:00.001-07:00

(Shared by Raoul and his wife Thelma who are members of the Couples for Christ Worldwide Movement)

Father, we Adore You. We praise You for Your Goodness. Blessed be Your Holy Name. Your Will be done in everything.

We ask You to bless our family, our friends, relatives, me and especially those who need your blessing and protection right now. Show all of us, O Lord, a new revelation of Your Power and Glory.

Direct our minds today, so that what we think, say or do would only be to affirm Your Love for us, and the love we need to give You back by being men and women for others. And whether or not we are aware of it, lead us to fulfill the purposes for which You have created us and placed us precisely where we are.

Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to us at this very moment --

· Where we have pain, help us find meaning in it and give us Your Peace.

· Where we are sick, heal us.

· Where we have destructive addictions or dependencies, wean us away from them.

· Where we are aggrieved, give us the will to forgive.

· Where we are torn by guilt or regret, help us forgive ourselves and give us

Your Mercy.

· Where some people want to do us harm, protect us.

· Where we do things that are really bad for us, move us to the right path and let Your Angels be our guides.

· Where we are immobilized by self-doubt, renew our self-confidence.

· Where we labor under fear, give us courage.

· Where we face uncertainty, give us trust in Your Providence.

· Where we have needs, fulfill them.

On the other hand, O Lord, if there is any noble stirring within us, nurture it and enable us in time to realize it, so that our fellowmen may benefit from its good fruits.

And always bless our homes, finances, investments, our health, our work and those who give us livelihood. Bless the institutions we work for, and the men and women who help us do our job or help us in our business. Bless the people with whom we associate, so that we may lead one another toward becoming the persons we were meant to be. Bless our comings and goings the whole day through, and at night when we sleep.

And we ask all these in the precious name of Jesus through whose passion, death and resurrection we have been restored as Your Children and call You Father. Amen

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