The Parish of the Last Supper of Our Lord (PLSOL) held it's regular monthly symposium, Saturday, September 21, 2013. Resource person was Rev. Fr. Yulito Q. Ignacio, STL. He talked about "Mary, Model of Faith". More than eighty parish workers attended and found the topic very interesting and enlightening.
Fondly called Fr. Itoy, who is currently the Head Spiritual Director, Philosophy Department of San Carlos Seminary, says "Our devotion to the Virgin Mary is perfectly grounded in Scripture which portrays Mary as the exemplar of faith..."
Here's some of my notes:
In Gen. 3:15:
"I will put enmity, FIGHT, BATTLE, between you and the woman, between your offspring and her offspring"
But the battle has just began with the first book of the Bible, GENESIS.
The Battle continues....
Battles includes the loss of the many souls...
The worst death is that of a soul who loses faith...
The worst death is that of a soul far from God...
The worst death is that of a soul far from His love...
The worst death is that of a soul far from His commandments...
A soul drowning in a life of sin...
What is the great battle we are waging today?
Blessed John Paul II calls it "culture of death,"
The culture of death includes the Destruction of Human Life.
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The outstanding characteristic of the Church in the Philippines is to be a "pueblo amante de Maria" - a people in love with Mary.
>Even before the coming of the Spanish missionaries, there was a small dark image of the Blessed Virgin, known only as coming "from the sea," venerated on the shores of Manila Bay.
>Thus originated the devotion to
Nuestra Señora de Guia, Our Lady, Guide of the Way, the oldest extant image in the Philippines (PCP II 153)
The typically "Filipino" approach to Christ, therefore, is with and through Mary.
Devotion to Mary has always been intimately intertwined with Christ.
The two central mysteries of our Faith in Christ, INCARNATION and REDEMPTION, are deeply marked by the veneration of Mary.
The mystery of the Incarnation celebrated at Christmas, and of the Redemption celebrated during the
Holy Week, are deeply marked by the veneration of Mary.
INCARNATION:
>The Veneration of Mary is portrayed graphically in the Simbang Gabi (Misa de Gallo or de Aguinaldo) and the panunuluyan at Christmas time. (NCDP 242)
REDEMPTION:
>The Veneration of Mary is portrayed graphically in the Salubong in Easter Sunday morning (NCDP 242).
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Marian devotion and piety seem co-natural to us Filipinos. Our deep devotion to the Mother of God has been the strongest force keeping our faith alive (cf. AMB 67). Mary has been and remains the central inspiring force in bringing about a deeper evangelization of the masses of our people.
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Opening remarks and introduction of speaker by bro. Jojo Pabalan
Opening prayer by bro. Art Maloto
Guest speaker Rev. Fr. Yulito Ignacio, STL. |
Mary is truly a sign of sure hope and comfort for God's people for the triumph of their faith.
If victory of goodness over evil triumph in our country, it will be through the intercession of Mary.
To the glory of the Most Triune God and the greater honour of our Blessed Mother.
