Let’s go to Mary on New Year’s Day

JANUARY 1 is, of course, New Year’s Day. We will be noisy on that day,

heartily welcoming 2019, a new page in our book of life. But that day

is first of all, in our liturgical calendar, the Solemnity of the

Divine Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It would be nice that with all our human ways of celebrating the New

Year’s Day, we would also be aware that we have to celebrate it

liturgically, that is, going to Christ, now recently born, who will do

everything to teach, sanctify and lead us to heaven, our definitive

home. Let’s not to get distracted by our human way of celebrating the

New Year’s Day.

In the liturgy, especially in the celebration of the Holy Mass, we

join Christ in his continuing work of redemption, carried out now

through the instrumentality of the sacraments of the Church. The

liturgy makes present and effective the saving work of Christ. As is

known, Christ’s work of redemption is not simply a historical event,

buried in the past. It continues up to now ‘in vivo.’

And the Church wants us to start the new year with Mary, the Mother of

God because she is the Mother of Christ, and she is also our Mother,

because Christ gave her to us as our mother too. “Behold your mother,”

(Jn 19,27) Christ told the apostle John who at that moment represented

the whole of humanity.

It is good to be mindful of this truth of our faith because Mary our

Mother is the best companion we can have in going through our earthly

pilgrimage toward God, toward heaven.

Being the mother of Christ, she is the one closest to God, the first

link between God and us, since with her ‘Fiat” (Be it done to me) she

became the instrument of making God become man in Christ through the

Holy Spirit.

In a sense, we can say that for us to get to God in Christ through the

Holy Spirit, we have to go to Mary. She is the bridge we can use to go

to Christ. Thus, we have this famous expression, “Ad Iesum per

Mariam.” (To Jesus through Mary)

Because she is the mother of Christ who is the pattern of our humanity

and the savior of our damaged humanity, we can also consider her as

the mother of the entire humanity.

No wonder then that she has been given all the privileges any human

person can have from God. She was conceived without original sin, she

was sinless all throughout her life, she maintained her virginity, she

was assumed into heaven body and soul upon her death.

She kept all these privileges intact without being spoiled by them,

somehow correcting the example of our first parents who also were

created in a state of original justice but which they lost through

their sin.

She is the perfect human person, of whom no one is greater, according

to one saint, except God himself. She is the perfect model for us,

since of all humanity she is the one who is most identified with

Christ himself. She is even called the Co-Redemptrix, because even if

all of us are expected to be co-redeemers with Christ since we also

have to do our part with Christ in our redemption, Mary co-redeemed

with Christ is the most perfect way.

We really should develop a deep and abiding devotion to Mary. Like St.

John who, after being told by the dying Christ to behold his mother

(Mary), took her to his home and cared for her, (cfr. Jn 19,27) we too

should do the same.

We have to be truly Marian to be truly Christian. That’s part of God’s

will for us. We cannot go to Christ, we cannot understand him properly

and cooperate with him in our redemption, if we do not go to Mary.

Both active and contemplative

WE have to learn to be both active and contemplative in our life.

Active in the sense that we immerse ourselves as deeply as possible in

the dynamic of earthly and temporal affairs, while also contemplative

in the sense that in all these affairs, we see God, we are driven by

love for God and everybody else, we get to know, love and serve him

and everybody else.

It’s an ideal that definitely is not easy to achieve. But we have our

whole life to do it, and we actually are also given all the means to

attain it. It just depends on us as to whether we want to have that

ideal or not.

Contrary to some popular belief or fear, to be both active and

contemplative is not a futile exercise. To be active and to be

contemplative are not two exclusively separate qualities. There is a

distinction between the two, but not division. They can co-exist in a

subject at the same time. Both are meant to build a unity of life

proper to us.

We have to be active in our life because we need to do many things, we

have to work and produce things, we have to apply a certain

forcefulness. We cannot be totally passive, waiting for things to

happen even if they also happen without us doing anything.

We cannot be complacent. Of course, we should not forget that to be

active is also a result of God’s grace. We cannot be truly active

unless we receive the grace of God. There is a certain aspect of

receptiveness in our activeness. But we have to correspond to that

grace as actively and fully as possible.

We have to be contemplative also because we have to do everything with

God as the beginning and end of all our actions. We have to see God in

everything. We have to feel the workings of his providence over us and

all over the world.

We need to see his will and follow it. In fact, to be contemplative

also requires a certain amount of effort, and therefore, it requires

us also to be active in being contemplative. While it is a result of

grace that is gratuitously given to us, it is also a result of our

active correspondence to that grace.

We have to develop a certain lifestyle that can address this necessity

of ours adequately. Given our human condition, we have to realize that

we need certain practices that will foster these active and

contemplative qualities in our life.

We have to have some moments of deep prayer, meditation, reflection,

study. We also have to have moments of intense work and deep

involvement in our earthly affairs. The ideal to reach is that we can

arrive at a point where we can hardly distinguish anymore between

prayer and work, because both are done in an active and contemplative

way.

Thus, we have to feel the need for a certain plan, a certain strategy

to pursue this ideal of ours. We just cannot and should not coast

along and flow with the tide. We need to have direction and dominion

in our life, even if there is also God’s providence that is directing

and dominating it.

Let’s hope that there will come a time when the general culture and

environment will show and reinforce this lifestyle where we would be

both active and contemplative. We have to help one another to achieve

this, but we have to start with our own selves.

It may look quixotic as of now, but everything will look like that

until we act on it. There is always hope. We have all the means. It’s

just our will that needs to assent to this project, and the daily

effort to carry it out, step by little step.

On gift-giving and receiving

-->

CHRISTMAS  being a season of gift-giving and receiving, I believe it

is good to be reminded of its deeply theological basis. Otherwise it

will remain in its purely material aspect, forgetting the more

important spiritual dimension that it eminently has. Thus, the act of

giving and receiving gifts can pose a danger to us. It can even

destroy us, instead of edifying us.

Yes, the giving and receiving of gifts has a deeply moral dimension

that in its turn springs from the fundamental truth that we are human

persons and, therefore, has a spiritual and supernatural character due

to our relation to God, our Creator.

The giving and receiving of gifts is a human act that should reflect

and follow the will of God. That’s what any human act involves. It is

not just our own act, completely subject to our will without any

reference to God’s will.

If we look at things more closely, we will realize that our will

always has to conform to God’s will and designs. Or at least we should

try our best to conform our will to will of God. That’s because we

come from him and we belong to him. We are his image and likeness,

children of his.

Our will therefore cannot absolutely be on its own. Its freedom just

cannot be exercised without reference to God’s will, his laws and

commandments, and his provident designs for each one of us and for the

whole world.

As such, we therefore should realize that whenever we give or receive

gifts, we ought to reflect God’s will and ways of giving and

receiving. God is the original and constant giver of gifts. When we

give gifts to others, we should somehow reflect God’s goodness and

benevolence in giving.

We should give something that will truly do good to the recipient or

beneficiary, just as God gave us the gifts of life, and the many

endowments that go with it, like our intelligence and will, our

talents, and the many other blessings.

We should try to avoid giving something that will do harm to a person.

And in this regard, we have to know well the person to whom we give a

gift to see to it that the gift, while intended to be a good thing,

does not actually harm or spoil him. We should not just be capricious

in giving gifts. We have to think of the good our gifts are supposed

to produce in the recipient and in the world in general.

And when we receive a gift, we, of course, should be thankful to the

giver as well as to God since in the end the ultimate gift-giver is

God. Neglecting to do this can lead us to a number of dangers. We

would fail to realize the immediate and ultimate purpose of the gift.

The gift becomes an instrument of self-indulgence instead of

self-giving to others. It will surely spoil us.

Let’s remember what happened to our first parents who were created

with the tremendous gift of being the image and likeness of God, and

of being in the state of original justice where aside from the

supernatural gift of grace, they enjoyed the so-called preternatural

gifts of immortality, integrity and impassibility (the capacity not to

suffer anything).

When at a given moment the tempter managed to separate them from God,

they fell into sin and lost the original blessings God gave them. And

what a disaster it created for them and for all of us!

We should refer the gifts we receive, no matter how mundane and

insignificant, to God and his will and ways. Everything that we

receive and that we have actually plays a role in the over-all

providence of God. This we always have to discern.

With every gift we receive, there is actually a duty and

responsibility attached to it. We need to be most aware of this truth!

Flowing with the times

HOW should we flow with the times without getting lost

along the way? That’s the question many people, especially the elderly

ones, are asking these days. They know that they always have to make

adjustments in the way they handle the new developments, but they want

to know the parameters so they can safely cruise our increasingly

dynamic world.

            We cannot deny the fact that the different generations

have their distinctive ways of understanding things and of coping with

them. They have their distinctive sensitivities. The young ones these

days, for example, are generally more exposed to the new technologies

that definitely can create a distinctive behaviour, manners, lifestyle

etc. We should not submit them to more or less the same ways of the

previous generations.

            My take in this issue is that first of all, we should try

our best to remain calm and to refrain from making instant reactions

and rash judgments. We have to do a lot of observation, reflection and

study. We may need some consultation. There definitely are fixed

principles to follow, but as to how these principles are understood,

applied and followed, given the changing times, that’s the challenge

to face.

            In other words, for us not to get lost or even confused

with the new, changing and fast-moving developments, I imagine that we

really have to pray, to get in touch as intimately as possible with

God who in the end is the real guide, since he is on top of

everything.

            Without him and simply depending on our own lights, we

certainly could not cope with all the complexity of the things around

us. Our current culture can only do so much. The same with our legal

systems and whatever social, economic or political consensus we may

have regarding what is proper and improper, fair and unfair, etc.

            Obviously, we have to work under some human systems, but

these should always be animated by a vital contact with God, with his

spirit, with his will and ways, his laws and commandments.

            This is a big challenge because many people today are

unaware of the need to have a living relationship with God, let alone,

having the proper attitude, practices and skills in how to get in

contact with God. The usual practice is simply to rely on one’s own

criteria and standards.

            There is definitely a need for some massive catechesis,

but of the kind that would really address the issue properly. It

should not just be a repeat of the rote type of catechesis. It should

not just dwell in the general principles and doctrines but should go

deeper to the finer points and nuances of these principles and

doctrines.

            The problem that we sometimes meet is that many people are

still ignorant of the basic moral principles and doctrines. These

should be taught first before the finer points are brought up.

            To be sure, there will always be a need for updating and

consultation so that our moral and spiritual criteria and standards

are made finer and more relevant to the concrete issues of the times.

            For example, to know how much time we should spend in the

Internet, what guidelines can we have regarding the use of the cell

phones, etc.—these things vary according to the circumstances of the

persons involved. Yet, in spite of the growing variety that can be

expected in this regard, we should come out with some general rules.

            This is not an easy task, and it would be most welcome if

some people can dedicate more fully in studying this issue in a

systematic way. They may just be a group of parents who meet

regularly, compare notes and come up with some guidelines. Or they can

form some kind of think tank dedicated to this task. I believe there

is a great need for this type of work.

The joy of Christmas

THE joy of Christmas springs from the fact that Jesus

Christ, our savior, is born. “Puer natus est nobis,” says the entrance

prayer in the Christmas Mass. A child is born for us, he is Christ the

Lord, our Savior.

            This good news should give us unspeakable joy. Whatever we

may experience in this life, and many of them will not be good, we are

sure of our salvation because Christ, the Son of God, the perfect

image that God has of himself, and the pattern of our humanity, has

come to redeem us, to reclaim us as his own.

            He will bear all our burden, our sins, our miseries, and

conquer them with his passion, death and resurrection. He will give us

everything that will enable us to recover our dignity as children of

God, image and likeness of God, no matter how unworthy we feel we are

of such dignity, no matter how we mess up our life.

            As long as we show some openness to God’s mercy, salvation

is assured, without prejudice to some purifying processes that may be

necessary, and the truth about hell. But God’s mercy, which goes

together with his justice, abounds more than our sins.

            This is the very core of our joy in Christmas. We are

given a tremendous gift—God himself in Jesus Christ made present in

our life through the Holy Spirit. He has made himself visible,

tangible and accessible in the Church, in the sacraments, especially

the Holy Eucharist, in his word recorded in Sacred Scripture, in the

lives of saints, etc.

            We really have no reason to worry. On the contrary, we

have every reason to be happy in spite of whatever. We may not be able

to fathom the depth of his love for us, nor capture the richness of

his mercy, but God is bent to save. He predestines no one to hell. If

we get to hell, it is because of us, not because of him. And sad to

say, we are capable to choosing hell rather than heaven.

            The practical consequence of this truth of our faith is

that we just have to be sport in our life, trying our best to do what

we ought to do, although we know that we often miss the mark. We just

have to help one another to be holy, to try to be worthy of God’s love

by corresponding as fully as we can to his love. We have to be patient

with one another.

            We have to learn to be like Christ who is willing to

suffer for all of us. This is the way we can attain our true joy, and

not be deceived by the many forms of false joy proliferating in the

world today.

            We need to train ourselves to have our sense of joy

properly rooted. In this regard, let us try to be theological about it

and not just sentimental or emotional, though the latter are also

important, but as expressions of the objective foundation of our joy.

            The spiritual and supernatural foundation of our joy has

to be expressed also in a human way, through our emotions and

passions. This is also to be learned, because many people do not know

how to translate their interior joy externally, or to show their

spiritual joy on their faces.

            Let us try to keep our Christmas joy alive all throughout

the year. This is the kind of joy that can be felt even in the midst

of our suffering and difficulties. It is the joy, and the peace that

goes with it, that the world cannot give. It only comes from God!

Don’t be afraid to complicate your life

IF it is for a good cause, we should not be afraid to

complicate our life. This is what Christ in effect told us when he

talked about that shepherd who left behind the ninety-nine sheep of

his flock to look for the one that strayed. (cfr. Mt 18,12-14)

            We have to develop this attitude of looking for a lost

sheep. This should be deeply ingrained in our system. Christ reassured

us that our joy would be greater when we would finally find that lost

brother or sister of ours. “If he finds it,” Christ said, “amen, I say

to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did

not stray.” (Mt 18,13)

            For this, we should have the proper dispositions of real

and abiding concern for everyone. Once we notice, for example, one of

our brothers or sisters, or friends or colleagues, kind of straying in

some way, especially in the spiritual and moral aspects of our life,

that’s when we have to give special attention to that person, unafraid

of the challenge it would pose.

            We have to reassure ourselves that behaving in that way

would please God immensely and that he would give us all the means to

carry out that task successfully. There may be great difficulties

involved, but as long as we persist, we can only expect success that

may come in ways and forms different from our expectations.

            God will always have his own ways, and they can be

mysterious, even to the point that his ways can seem contrary to what

we want. We have to be ready for this eventuality. That is why we need

to be tough and not too delicate or sensitive as we go through the

drama of the task. It would also help if we have a sporting attitude

with a good dose of sense of humor to lighten the burden of the

search.

            We have to be wary of our tendency to be contented with

simply looking after those persons who are more or less okay

spiritually and morally. While we also have to watch over them, we

should be more keenly vigilant over those who are lagging behind or

are already straying from the right path.

            Let’s take comfort in the words of St. James in his

letter. “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way,” he said,

“will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

(5,20) These words should somehow convince us that whatever sacrifice

would be involved in this task would be all worthwhile. “Vale la

pena.”

            Let’s remember that whenever we are generous with God by

following his will more closely, God would even be more generous with

us. We should not be stinting in this regard. We have to give our all

in this task.

            The Book of Proverbs testifies to this truth. “One gives

freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should

give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,

and one who waters will himself be watered.” (11,24-25)

            Of course, this is easier said than done. We should have a

way of developing daily this concern for the lost sheep. Are we

willing to leave our comfort behind whenever someone needs help,

especially spiritual and moral help? Are we training ourselves to be

more and more competent in handling the complex and complicated

spiritual and moral issues of others?

            Can we really say that we have the mind of Christ who

presents himself as the Good Shepherd who always looks for the lost

sheep? Are we convinced that by having that readiness to look for the

lost sheep, we are becoming more and more like Christ?

            Our Christianity would not really be authentic when we

have no or little concern for those who are far from God.

Breaking the ‘as-usual’ mold

WE have to be wary of our strong tendency to fall into

routine that can spawn many other anomalies such as complacency,

spiritual lukewarmness, mediocrity, a self-satisfaction that seeks no

further improvement in oneself, etc.

            It’s true that many times we do the same things day in and

day out. But we should try our best that we avoid falling into simply

doing them mechanically, that is, mindlessly and/or deprived of the

love that is always needed in all our activities.

            Besides, with how things are now, many times we really

have to react to the ways things are done usually because of the many

imperfections such ways have. That is why many people give a negative

connotation of resignation or surrender when they say ‘politics as

usual,’ for example, or ‘business as usual.’

            We have to see to it that whatever we are doing, even if

it is done in a routine way due to its nature, should be done with

love. Where there is love, everything will always appear and feel new

and fresh even if it is done a thousand times in a day and even for a

long period of time. We would never get used to them.

            With love, there will be no boredom at all. Tiredness will

hardly be felt. The dangers of stress are properly handled. There will

always be some kind of drive and zeal, a sensation of excitement,

thrill and suspense.

            Of course, this is easier said than done. Given our human

condition, we cannot deny that we are easily prone to all these

not-so-welcome situations of boredom, tiredness, stress, etc. But we

have a way of dealing with these predicaments.

            And what is this way? It is the way that Christ taught and

showed. It is to actively look for the reason to love, which in the

end is a matter of looking for God. Otherwise, we would just succumb

to our human limitations and weaknesses, and put ourselves prone to

temptations.

            “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you,” Christ said. (Mt 7,7) In

other words, we should not just wait for some special inspiration to

come to us for us to continue loving God through what we are doing. We

have to actively look for love, for God in the routine things we do.

            And neither should we just have that attitude of following

where the things will lead us, a rather popular meme among some young

people today. Given our limited, not to mention, weakened and wounded

condition, if we just follow where things will lead us, then sooner or

later will we find ourselves nowhere, or confused, if not lost.

            We have to actively look for God, by making acts of faith,

hope and love. In that way, even in situations that challenge or go

beyond our comprehension and our human condition, we can still manage

to do things with love.

            And this should be done irrespective of whether our moods,

our physical, emotional, psychological and intellectual condition at a

given moment are favorable or not in making those acts of faith, hope

and love.

            In this way, we would be asserting our spiritual and

supernatural bearing, freeing ourselves from the grip of our purely

material and worldly condition. And we would get to see things

differently.

            Even the negative events—the difficulties, challenges,

even the failures, setbacks, etc.—acquire meaning, shed new lights,

provide new angles of understanding. As St. Paul would put it, “all

things work together for good to them that love God.” (Rom 8,28)

            We have to help one another acquire the skill of breaking

the ‘as-usual’ mentality and lifestyle, so common these days. We have

to help everyone to do things with real love, so that even in their

routine activities, they will see things always new and fresh, and

urged to embark on an adventure of love.

Altruism vs. narcissism

WE have to be aware of this danger. With how things are

now, it is quite easy and tempting for something that is good to be

spoiled because of a rotten intention one has in carrying it out. Yes,

one can give alms, do a lot of social work and many works of mercy,

but the motive is not true love for God and for others, but self-love.

            This is when altruism is used as a mask for narcissism.

How many times do we notice that some prominent people—usually

politicians and even clerics, bishops not excluded—showing off their

good work! It’s truly a pity.

            They simply go against what Christ said. “Be careful not

to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you

do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Mt 6,1)

            They simply go against the example of Christ—the way, the

truth and the life for us—who performed a lot of miracles, but who

always told the beneficiaries not to announce these miracles openly.

            Christ knew how to pass unnoticed even while carrying out

the most important mission for mankind. When he was asked to go to

Jerusalem to show his good works there, he refused. (cfr. Jn 7,1-10)

But when disciples went there for the Jewish Festival of the

Tabernacles, he also went, but not publicly. He did it in secret.

            We have to be wary of our tendency and the strong

temptation to bask in the limelight, flaunting whatever we have or

have done. Such tendency and temptation is our way of glorifying

ourselves because we would then be acting on our own authority and not

on the authority of God.

            Regarding this point, Christ said, “He who speaks on his

own authority seeks his own glory. But he who seeks the glory of the

One who sent him is a man of truth. In him, there is no falsehood.”

(Jn 7,18)

            To be able to distinguish between authentic altruism and a

fake one that can only masks one’s narcissism, we need to defer always

to the authority of God. Our thoughts, words and deeds, our

intentions, desires and plans should only be inspired by God’s will

and ways, by his tremendous love for us that knows how to pass

unnoticed.

            It’s amazing that nowadays we see a lot of prominent

people, including high clerics, falling into the false charms of

narcissism by deftly using the mask of altruism. They do a lot of

selfies, they flaunt their accomplishments, they show unashamedly the

foreign places they gone to, the restaurants and the food they have

eaten, the number of fans they have, etc.

            They talk a lot about themselves. Actually the spotlight

is more on them than on their good deeds. The latter are mere props,

simply used to feed their own egos. We have to be careful with this

kind of leaders. Christ already warned us amply about false prophets,

wolves in sheep’s clothing, etc. We have to be discerning to avoid

being taken for a ride.

            While it’s true that some kind of publicity is needed in

one’s work, extreme care should be made so that we do not hijack for

ourselves the glory that only belongs to God. In everything that we

do, only Christ should be known, loved and served. We should try to

avoid the incidental glory that can fall on us due to our work. And if

it cannot be avoided, we should immediately refer it to God.

            In this regard, constant rectification and purification of

our intentions is needed. We should be able to echo what St. John the

Baptist once said: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (Jn 3,30)

Generosity and total detachment

WE have to learn the precious lesson Christ wants to

impart to us in that episode where he praised the poor widow who gave

two small coins to the temple treasury more than the rich ones who put

a lot of money.

  

            “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in

more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of

their wealth. But she out of her poverty put in all she had to live

on.” (Lk 21,3-4)

  

            The lesson to learn is that generosity is not a matter of

how much we give but rather of total detachment from the things of

this world so that our heart can only be for God. We therefore have to

be wary of our strong, if often subtle, attachment to the things of

this world such that our heart would at best be a divided heart, which

is actually an impossibility.

  

            That’s because in our relation with God, there is no

middle ground. It is either we are with him completely or not at all.

We have to overcome that strong tendency to think that we can be

partly with God and partly with our own selves, even if we can say

that we are giving God 99% of what we have and keep only 1% for us.

  

            We have to give all. In fact, with God we have to give our

very own selves, and not only things, not only some possessions.

Remember Christ telling us that we have to love God with “all your

heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Mt 22,37)

  

            Let’s hope that we can echo these words of an old song: “I

have no use for divided hearts. I give mine whole, and not in parts.”

Let’s strive to reach that goal. It’s not an easy goal, but neither is

it impossible. With God’s grace and our all-out humble efforts, we can

hack it.

  

            But given our human condition which allows us to learn

things in stages, we have to understand that everyday we have to

conquer our tendency to some earthly attachments so that we can say we

are giving ourselves more and more to God until we give ourselves

completely to him.

  

            This will require a constant reminder and self-reassurance

that it is all worthwhile to give and to lose everything for God

because we will in fact gain a lot more than what we give. Let’s

always remember Christ telling us “to seek first the kingdom of God

and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”

(Mt 6,33)

  

            We need to strengthen our faith and trust in Christ’s

words and in his promises to us. Truth is we actually would feel much

better when we manage to give ourselves more and more to him, when we

are unstinting in our self-giving. It’s a mysterious phenomenon that

can only be explained by our faith. It is indeed a spiritual and

supernatural phenomenon.

   

            We have to learn to let go of our possessions, our

preferences, our opinions, etc., until we can say that we are letting

go of our whole selves so as to give everything to God.

  

            This is what generosity is all about. Instead of feeling

emptied, we feel filled with peace and joy. No earthly happening can

add or diminish that peace and joy. It’s a peace and joy that can only

be an effect of having God with us. As St. Teresa once said, “Solo

Dios basta,” with God we have enough.

  

            Everyday, we should be able to say that we are giving up

something, we are conquering more area of self-giving. This giving up

and self-conquest should have the consequence of gaining more peace

and joy, a true sign that we are having God more and more in us.

Avoid tempting God

IT was nice to learn about Blessed Bartolo Longo

(1841-1926) who, as the Wikepedia puts it, “was an Italian lawyer who

has been beatified by the Roman Catholic Church. He was a former

satanist who returned to the Christian faith and became a third order

Dominican, dedicating his life to the Rosary and the Virgin Mary.”

  

            Other sources provided some more information about him: he

was orphaned early in life, he was involved in the nationalist

movement of the time that was anti-Catholic, he became a Satanist in

his 20’s, he went into the occult, attended in séances, experimented

on drugs, participated in orgies... There’s a lot more, but let’s

spare ourselves from more unpleasant things.

  

            But since all these did not give him peace, but rather a

lot of problems including psychological and emotional ones, leading

him to depression, he sought some relief and eventually was led back

to the Catholic faith. Later, he became so deep a devotee of the Holy

Rosary that St. John Paul described him as a man of the Rosary during

his beatification.

  

            His story, for sure, will elicit very reassuring responses

from us who often wonder how we can become a saint as we should when

we are hounded always by our weaknesses, temptations and sin itself.

Sometimes, we think that to become a saint is impossible and that

stories of saints are more fantasy and fiction than real. Or at best,

saints are very special people who never went into really bad things.

  

            Somehow, his story reminds us that God and his grace can

take on anything we can mess ourselves in. There is always hope. As

St. Paul said, “where sin has abounded, the grace of God has abounded

more.” (Rom 5,20) His story calls to mind that as said in the Book of

Ezekiel, God does not take delight in the death of the wicked but in

his salvation. (33,11)

  

            The writer Oscar Wilde also put it so succinctly: “Every

saint has a past, every sinner has a future.” In other words, we

really have no reason to fear and to worry too much over our delicate

condition here in this world.

  

            But for all that, we should also be careful not to fall

into the opposite side, which is presumption, or tempting God. That is

to say, we can fall into the trick of the devil who can suggest to us

that since God is very powerfully merciful and can forgive us our sins

no matter how grave they are, then we can just go on sinning, or exert

no adequate effort to avoid sin and temptation.

  

            We have to be wary of the wiles of the devil who is good

in the rebound if at a certain moment his initial attempts to tempt us

fail. Tempting God by putting him to some test, or by presuming that

he will forgive us anyway no matter what, is a grave sin and

represents a big success for the devil.

  

            Remember the devil tempting Christ himself. “The devil

took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of

the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself

down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will life you up in their hands, so that you will not strike

your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written:

Do not put the Lord you God to the test.’” (Mt 4,5-7)

  

            This is what tempting God is all about. When we are

tempted by the devil, or by the world, or by our own selves, let’s

never put God to the test by rationalizing that since God is all

merciful, he will always forgive me if I fall to this temptation, or

that he will not mind if I sin.