prayer for the year of faith

8/22/2019 Prayer for the Year of Faith

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Prayer for the Year of Faith

Lord Jesus Christ, you have given your Churchthe mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.May our efforts to fulfil this mission be guided by the Holy Spiritso that we might be a leaven of new life, salt of the earth,and a light of the world worthy missionaries and faithful to you.Make us valiant witnesses to the Faith of the Church,and inspire us to speak the truth with love.

Help us to communicate to others the joy that we have received

Allow us to be united but not closed; humble, but not fearful;simple but not nave; thoughtful but not overbearing;contemporary but not superficial,respectful of others, but boldly your disciples.

May we bear into the world the hope of God,which is Christ the Lord, who rose from the deadand lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit,one God forever and ever. Amen


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Ignacia del Espritu Santo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Venerable Ignacia del Espritu Santo, also known

as Mother Ignacia (1 February 166310September 1748) was aFilipinoReligious Sisterof

theRoman Catholic Church. Known for her acts

ofpietyand religious poverty, founded

theCongregation of the Sisters of the Religious of

the Virgin Mary, the first native Filipino female

congregation with approved pontifical status in

theRepublic of the Philippines.[1]

Mother Ignacia

del Espiritu Santo was declaredVenerablebyPope

Benedict XVIin 2007.

Early life

The birthdate of Mother Ignacia del Espritu Santo

is piously attributed on February 1, 1663, basing on

the cultural customs of the Spanish era. Only her

baptismal record is preserved, which occured on

March 4, 1663, Thebaptismalrite occured in

the Church of the Holy Kings in the fifth Parian deChinos

and was officiated by Fray Padre Alberto

Collares,O.P.Ignacia was the eldest and sole

surviving child of Mara Jernima, a Filipina and

Jusepe Iuco, a Christian Chinese migrant

fromXiamen,China. Expected by her parents to

marry at 21 years old, Ignacia sought religious

counsel from Father Paul Klein, aJesuitpriest

fromBohemia. The priest gave her theSpiritual

ExercisesofSt. Ignatius of Loyolafrom which

Ignacia drew her religious devotion and piety. After

this period of solitude and prayer, Ignacia finally

decided to pursue her religious calling, to "remain

in the service of the Divine Majesty and live by

the sweat of her brow. According to Father

Founder,Religious of the Virgin Mary

Born February 1, 1663 (postulated)

Recorded date of known baptism: (March 4,

1663).

Binondo, Manila,Philippines

Died September 10, 1748 (aged 85)

Intramuros, Manila,Philippines

Honored in Roman Catholic Church

Majorshrine Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz, RVM Motherho

Feast September 10, March 4

Attributes Clutched arms, needles, scissors, alms-baske

dove

Patronage Advocate of women's rights, Women's retre

movement

Controversy Religious poverty, Racism, Intolerance of

religious works
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Catholic_Churchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_people


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Murillo Velarde, her eyewitness biographer, Ignacia left her parents' home with only a needle

and a pair of scissors.

Religious seclusion

Ignacia felt strongly against the Spanish prohibition that native Filipinos could not become

religious nuns or priests at the time. MotherJernima de la Asuncinwas the first

Spanishreligious sister who came to the Philippines to establish a convent but due to the Spanish

prohibition at the time, native Filipinos were prohibited from joining theHoly Ordersand

religious congregations. In hopes of changing this ecclesiastical limitation, Ignacia began to live

alone in a vacant house at the back of the Colegio Jesuita de Manila, the headquarters of Jesuits

in Manila. She devoted a life of public prayer and labour which attracted other Filipino lay

women to monasticism at a time when Filipinos were barred from pursuing the religious life.

Ignacia accepted these women into her company, and though they were not officially recognised

as a religious institute at the time, together they became known as theBeatas de la Compaa de

Jess (English: "Blesseds of the Friends of Jesus"). They frequently received the sacraments at

the old church of St. Ignatius, performed many acts of public devotion there and went to the

Jesuit priests for spiritual direction and confession.

Popular folk tale ascribed the penitential form of spirituality andmortification of the fleshwhich

sustained the other women in hardship, especially during times of extreme poverty, when they

had to beg for rice and salt as a form ofalmsgivingand scour the streets for firewood. The lay

women continued to support themselves through manual labour and requesting alms from other

laypeople. Eventually, the growing number of laywomen called for a more stable lifestyle and a

set of rules calledReligious Constitution which governed their daily schedule . The association

only admitted young girls and boarders who were taught catechism and given manual work.

Constitution of her Order

In 1726, Ignacia wrote the history of her religious order and finalised constitutions of theCongregation and submitted to the Archdiocesan Chancery Office of Manila for the

ecclesiastical approbation which was formally granted in 1732 by the Fiscal Provisor of Manila.

Ignacia decided to resign asMother Superiorand lived as an ordinary member until her death on

September 10, 1748.
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After her death in 1748, the Archbishop of Manila, Reverend Pedro de la Santisima Trinidad

Martinez de Arizala,O.F.M., paid homage to the growing religious group his archdiocese in his

writings. He wrote:

"....They live in community with great edification to the whole city and contributing to the

common good. They are clothed in blackcotton tunic and mantle. They attend daily mass at the

Jesuit church where they also frequent the sacraments...As they do not observe cloister, as they

support themselves partly through the work of their hands and partly by charity of pious

people...."

In May 1768, the Royal Decree of Spanish KingCharles III of Spainon theSuppression of the

Jesuitsreached Manila. It was later cemented with the approval ofPope Clement XIVwhich

caused emotional and religious suffering for Ignacia's order as theJesuitpriests were expelled

from the Philippines and deported back toSpainandItaly.

Death and Pontifical approval

In 1732, theArchbishop of Manilaapproved the Rules then in use among the other religious

women. Ignacia had the consolation of seeing the steady growth of her small band of members.

Mother Ignacia del Espritu Santo died on September 10, 1748 at the age of eighty-five. She died

on her knees after receivingHoly Communionat the communion rail of the old Jesuit church of

St. Ignatius inIntramuros.

On July 31, 1906, the Archbishop of ManilaJeremiah James Hartyassisted the religious sisters

in the canonical erection of Mother Ignacia's order, which was previously postponed in filing of

1732 due to incorrect process of petitioning toRome. On 17 March 1907,Pope Pius

Xpromulgated theDecretum Laudis (English: Decree of Praise) in favour of the congregation's

Rules and Constitutions. The Decree of Approbation was granted byPope Pius XIon 24 March

1931 which elevated the Congregation to Pontifical status.

On 12 January 1948, the 200th anniversary of the death of Mother del Espritu Santo,Pope Pius

XIIissued the Decree of Definitive Papal Approbation of the Constitutions.

As venerable

In a papal decree dated 6 July 2007,Pope Benedict XVIaccepted the findings of the prefect of

theCongregation for the Causes of Saintsand declared that

...the Servant of God, Ignacia, foundress of the Religious of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is

found to possess to a heroic degree the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity

toward God and neighbor, as well as the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice,
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Temperance and Fortitude.

Mother Ignacia Memorial Circle[1][2],(RVM Motherhouse[3]& Generalate, 214 N. Domingo,

1111 Quezon City)

On February 1, 2008, Manila Archbishop CardinalGaudencio Rosalespresided over the

promulgation which officially accorded to Ignacia the title "Venerable" at the Minor Basilica of

San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo, Manila

A well-known street inManilacalledMother Ignacia Avenue is named after Mother Ignacia del

Espiritu Santo due to being centralized within the commercial grounds ofABS-CBNnetwork

communications.

The municipal city ofSanta IgnaciainTarlac,Philippinesis also named in honor of Mother

Ignacia del Espiritu Santo.

References

1. ^Mother Ignacia del Espritu Santo, History of the Religious of the Virgin Mary,

UIC.edu.ph

2. ^The baptismal church refers to the church of the Three Kings inBinondo, Manila,

located in the "5th section of the area, which is perhaps long gone now. The

word Parian most likely refers to the Filipino-Chinese market district, where Ignacia was

perhaps baptised due to the racial segregation among foreigners at the time.

3. ^On the meaning of Parian: The Inculturation of Filipino: Chinese Culture Mentality pp.

228-229. by Jose Vidamor B. Yu

4. ^Decretum Super Virtutibus, 6 July 2007, Romae - PP. Benedictus XVI
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St. Valentine, The Real StoryBy David Kithcart

The 700 Club

Flowers, candy, red hearts and romance. That's what Valentine's day is all about, right?

Well, maybe not.

The origin of this holiday for the expression of love really isn't romantic at all -- at leastnot in the traditional sense. Father Frank O'Gara of Whitefriars Street Church in Dublin,

Ireland, tells the real story of the man behind the holiday -- St. Valentine.

"He was a Roman Priest at a time when there was an emperor called Claudias who

persecuted the church at that particular time," Father O'Gara explains. " He also had an


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edict that prohibited the marriage of young people. This was based on the hypothesis

that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because married soldiers

might be afraid of what might happen to them or their wives or families if they died."

"I think we must bear in mind that it was a very permissive society in which Valentine

lived," says Father O'Gara. "Polygamy would have been much more popular than just

one woman and one man living together. And yet some of them seemed to be attracted

to Christian faith. But obviously the church thought that marriage was very sacred

between one man and one woman for their life and that it was to be encouraged. And

so it immediately presented the problem to the Christian church of what to do about

this."

"The idea of encouraging them to marry within the Christian church was what Valentinewas about. And he secretly married them because of the edict."

Valentine was eventually caught, imprisoned and tortured for performing marriage

ceremonies against command of Emperor Claudius the second. There are legends

surrounding Valentine's actions while in prison.

"One of the men who was to judge him in line with the Roman law at the time was a

man called Asterius, who's daughter was blind. He was supposed to have prayed with

and healed the young girl with such astonishing effect that Asterius himself became

Christian as a result."

In the year 269 AD, Valentine was sentenced to a three part execution of a beating,

stoning, and finally decapitation all because of his stand for Christian marriage. The

story goes that the last words he wrote were in a note to Asterius' daughter. He inspired

today's romantic missives by signing it, "from your Valentine."

"What Valentine means to me as a priest," explains Father O'Gara, "is that there comesa time where you have to lay your life upon the line for what you believe. And with the

power of the Holy Spirit we can do that -- even to the point of death."

Valentine's martyrdom has not gone unnoticed by the general public. In fact, Whitefriars

Street Church is one of three churches that claim to house the remains of Valentine.


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Today, many people make the pilgrimage to the church to honor the courage and

memory of this Christian saint.

"Valentine has come to be known as the patron saint of lovers. Before you enter into a

Christian marriage you want some sense of God in your life -- some great need of God

in your life. And we know, particularly in the modern world, many people are meeting

God through his Son, Jesus Christ."

"If Valentine were here today, he would say to married couples that there comes a time

where you're going to have to suffer. It's not going to be easy to maintain your

commitment and your vows in marriage. Don't be surprised if the 'gushing' love that you

have for someone changes to something less "gushing" but maybe much more mature.

And the question is, is that young person ready for that?"

"So on the day of the marriage they have to take that into context," Father O'Gara says.

"Love -- human love and sexuality is wonderful, and blessed by God -- but also the

shadow of the cross. That's what Valentine means to me."

Learn more about God's gift of love to you.
https://www.cbn.com/SpiritualLife/BibleStudyAndTheology/Discipleship/Steps_to_Peace_With_God.aspxhttps://www.cbn.com/SpiritualLife/BibleStudyAndTheology/Discipleship/Steps_to_Peace_With_God.aspxhttps://www.cbn.com/SpiritualLife/BibleStudyAndTheology/Discipleship/Steps_to_Peace_With_God.aspx

prayer for the year of faith

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