My Earthly Pilgrimage

Something which I believe happens only once in a while is happening today. Yes, December 24, 2017 is a Sunday. Today is an easier day for lay people who are not involved in Liturgical Ministries. On the other hand, Filipino Liturgical Ministers will find this an exhausting day. Like in the case here at our parish, the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians. Aside from the 4:30 AM Christmas Novena Mass, we have the regular Sunday Mass schedule, a dry-run for the Christmas Eve Liturgy at 9 PM, and preparations at our respective homes. You can just imagine how tired my voice and body will be after singing at 3 or more Masses today. Yet despite the exhaustion, I believe that the efforts that we give are not enough against the ULTIMATE GIFT God gave unto us which is Him being with us. For me, bringing the People of God to worship the Divine Infant who was born on a lowly stable or cave more than two thousand years ago through singing is worth the exhaustion. Through my service, I

V. Let us pray for Francis, the Pope. R. May the Lord preserve him from GRAVE ERROR, grant him humility to correct his errors, give him a long life, make him blessed upon the earth, and may the Lord not hand him over to the power of the enemy. V. May your hand be upon your holy servant. R. And upon your son whom you have anointed. Let us pray. O God, the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look down, in your mercy, upon your servant, Francis, whom you have appointed to preside over your Church; and grant, we beseech you, that both by word and example, he may edify all those under his charge; so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may arrive at length unto life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Please share to all Catholics.

Let us accompany our Blessed Mother, the Help of Christians, the patroness of OFW families as she joins the 38th Intramuros Grand Marian Procession this Sunday, December 3, 2017. Assembly is at the Postigo Open Parking Lot beside the Manila Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. The procession starts at 4:00 PM. MHC is Carozza Number 27. TRIVIA: The numbers 2 and 7 are very significant in the History of the Devotion to Mary Help of Christians for it was on May 24, 19 72   that the cornerstone of the Church (future National Shrine) of Our Lady in Better Living, Paranaque was laid. The Statue enthroned by Archbishop Guglielmo Piani, SDB then Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines at the Mary Help of Christians Chapel within Manila Cathedral in 1922. This statue is now enshrined at the National Shrine in Paranaque Maria Auxilium Christianorum, Ora pro nobis!

The busiest month for me has arrived. May God grant me the strength to endure all the activities I will hope to join in such as the 38th Grand Marian Procession in Intramuros and the Holy Masses where I will serve with the choir. The busiest day I guess will be December 24. I'll post why it will be such soon.