In Earthen Vessels

Before I go to retire for the day, I'd like to tell you how happy I've been to spend some time with you. And though this message be too short and maybe too simple for your taste, Be rest assured that it comes straight from my heart. Good night, all. Sign in to see full entry.

We went to “Heaven’s Gate” this afternoon to visit Ronald’s grave. It’s been three months since he died, and it was Ophie who reminded us of it. I went there with dad, mom and Iya. We stayed there for a few minutes just to be near Ronald’s mortal remains. I even talked about the possibility of... Sign in to see full entry.

I recently had a conversation with my Dad about priests getting old and going into retirement. "Do you have insurance?" he asked me. I said, "Yes, I am insured." I then explained that the Order of St. Augustine in the Philippines have recently picked up the practice of insuring its friars. That way,... Sign in to see full entry.

There are 80 Million Filipinos in the Philippines. 85% of these are Catholics. So the following would be most probably true statistically: the cellphone snatcher waiting under the bridge for his next victim is a baptized Catholic the policeman who takes a bribe is a baptized Catholic the corrupt... Sign in to see full entry.

And the multitude of believers had but one heart and one soul. Neither did any one say that aught of the things which he possessed was his own: but all things were common unto them. (Acts 4:32) Tomorrow, Saturday, I will be with our sisters from across the street. They have invited me to speak to... Sign in to see full entry.

September 14 is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Catholic liturgy for this day focuses on the saving power of the cross of Christ by combining two passages, one from the Old Testament where Moses builds the image of a bronze serpent for those bitten by snakes in the desert, and the other... Sign in to see full entry.

Tomorrow, I will be giving the talks for the retreat of our Augustinian sisters. This is the second time that I'd be given the opportunity to address a group of nuns, many of whom are older than I. The first time I gave a series of spiritual conferences for nuns were for Dominicans of different... Sign in to see full entry.

We received news this morning about the mother of one of our friars. She was attacked and killed by an unknown assailant while she was manning their store. The sad thing is that she was already quite advanced in years. It is unthinkable that one who was weak and aged should still be a victim of... Sign in to see full entry.

Some people sit in a lotus position and chant "OM." Others go up a mountain top and allow themselves to be absorbed into nature's harmony. Athletes preparing for a game would close their eyes and "visualize" what is going to happen during the game. A housewife who has just finished doing the... Sign in to see full entry.

David was the greatest king Israel ever had. But David was also a sinner. His sin was not only committing adultery with Uriah's wife; he also ordered the death of Uriah himself. And this was the David who had been chosen by God to be Israel's king and the fulfillment of his covenant pact with... Sign in to see full entry.