Militia of the Immaculata National Center - Philippines

27/08/2026

𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥'𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥𝗦

The Gospel for the Memorial of St. Monica tells of the Raising of a Widow's Son. (Luke 7:11-17)

The son had died prior to Jesus' arrival; but when Our Lord saw the widow, 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 "𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗽."

He then proceeded to touch the coffin and say, "𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘐 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦!"

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙖𝙩 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙅𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙨 𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧.

Today, we celebrate St. Monica's Memorial. Her son Augustine, dead in the sin of a life of vice, caused her much weeping and distress.

Years of unceasing prayer seemed unheeded. Was God even listening?

Then, a bishop said to her:

"𝘎𝘰 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩." (Confessions, Book 3, Chapter XII)

And just like in the Gospel, Jesus prevailed.

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙃𝙚 "𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚" 𝘼𝙪𝙜𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧.

Augustine did not just become a Christian.

He became a great saint.


𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄?

Like the widow and St. Monica for their sons, allow Mary our Mother, to carry you to Jesus.

𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗨𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬
O Immaculata, pray to your Son Jesus, so that what is dead in me, He will bring back to life.

May He deliver me from sin, and tell me to "Arise!"

And as He gives me to you saying "𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳," help me rise to the level of sanctity He wants for me; so that I may please Him in this life, and be with Him in the next.

O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee,
and for those who do not have recourse to thee,
especially the enemies of the Church
and those recommended to thee,
Amen.

25/08/2026

21/08/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆


𝘏𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵; 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦.
- Psalm 113:7-9

In the meantime the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise she shines forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of God.

By pronouncing her "fiat" at the Annunciation and giving her consent to the Incarnation, Mary was already collaborating with the whole work her Son was to accomplish. She is mother wherever he is Savior and head of the Mystical Body.

CCC 972, LG 68; cf 2 Pet 3:10
CCC 973

20/08/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁. 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘂𝘅!

“There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; that is Curiosity.

There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is Vanity.

There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is Love.”

15/08/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆!
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𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘥’𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴; 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥.
- Luke 1:48
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"Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death."
- CCC 966

14/08/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝘁. 𝗠𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗼𝗹𝗯𝗲!

𝘕𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴. (John 15:13 NABRE)

LET US PRAY TOGETHER:

𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝘼𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨

𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯, 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘻, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 “𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴.”

𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩, 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 “𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴.” 𝘛𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘯.

13/08/2026

𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗟 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗦𝗧. 𝗠𝗔𝗫𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗞𝗢𝗟𝗕𝗘

In today's Gospel, Our Lord tells the parable of the unforgiving servant.

The servant owed his master a huge amount, and the latter, moved with compassion, pardoned him at his pleading.

Now, his fellow servant owed him a much smaller amount. The same debtor pleaded with him, but he refused forgiveness and had his fellow imprisoned until the debt was paid.

Witnesses reported him.

When the word reached his master, he was called a "wicked servant," for refusing to show the same mercy he once received.

"𝘚𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.”
(Matthew 18:35, NABRE)

𝙆𝙤𝙡𝙗𝙚'𝙨 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨

St. Maximilian Kolbe preached and lived this radical compassion.

Let's read this account from World War II [1]:

Once the German spies appeared in Niepokalanow "reporting everything." Sister Felicitas says:

"𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘴."

About two weeks before his arrest, he also confided to me with great sorrow that someone looking for revenge had denounced the Order [Franciscan Conventual] to the Germans. He said this could have very serious consequences.

Then he exhorted us to pray for the soul of the betrayer and not for the friary [Niepokalanow],

"𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘺," 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥, "𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥."
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Let us pray for Pope Leo XIV:

- 1 Our Father
- 1 Hail Mary
- 1 Glory Be

𝘖 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦. 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘯.

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Posted August 13, 2026

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘
[1] Sayings and Examples of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Item 12, pp. 8–9. Order of Friars Minor Conventual, Immaculata Formation House, Marytown, Greenfields I, Novaliches, Metro Manila 3006, Undated.

𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢
Commemoration to Maximilian Kolbe at Maximilian Kolbe Rectoral Chapel in Sanok (2021). Wikimedia Commons, Undated,https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Commemoration_to_Maximilian_Kolbe_at_Maximilian_Kolbe_rectoral_chapel_in_Sanok_%282021%29da.jpg . Accessed 13 Aug 2026.

31/07/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝘁. 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗼𝗹𝗮!

𝘗𝘙𝘈𝘠𝘌𝘙 𝘍𝘖𝘙 𝘎𝘌𝘕𝘌𝘙𝘖𝘚𝘐𝘛𝘠
by St. Ignatius of Loyola

𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴;
𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦,
𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵,
𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴,
𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘰𝘪𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵,
𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥,
𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭.

23/07/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀. 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗷𝗶𝗯𝗲!

Thank you for your commitment and dedicated service. May the mission of the Militia of the Immaculata keep thriving under your leadership. And may God bless you and continue to use you in leading more souls to Jesus, through Mary!

16/07/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗢𝗗, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗗 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗

𝙒𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙨

"𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴."

This is today's responsorial for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Carmel is a Hebrew word that translates as "𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥." [1] Notably, it was at Mount Carmel that God put Baal to shame.

At Mount Carmel, two altars were set. One for Baal, and one for the Lord God. Elijah said, "𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘥𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥." [2]

The cry of Baal's prophets fell on deaf ears. So they called out the louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears as was their custom, until blood gushed over them. [3] Still, no fire. NOTHING.

Elijah on the other hand instructed that four jars be filled with water and poured over the holocaust and the wood. The altar was soaked and the trench was filled with water. [4] Then Elijah called on God, and the Lord's fire came down and consumed the holocaust, wood, stones and dust, and it lapped up the water in the trench. [5]

At this, the people fell prostrate and said "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥! 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥!" [6]

In the face of persecution, Elijah remained firm in his faith in the Lord. With this, the people at Mount Carmel ended up praising God.

But it first took ONE person, one Elijah whose firm faith paved the way for God to manifest himself.

𝙒𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙮 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧

Now, it's our turn to declare, "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥!"

For after the example of Our Lady's faith, we have an example in following Our Lord.

It is she who most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith, believing that "𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦". [7]

Jesus says in today's gospel, "𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳." [8]

And it was Mary's faith that enabled her to do God's will until her last ordeal when Jesus died on the cross. She never ceased to believe in the fulfillment of God's word. And so the Church venerates in Mary, the purest realization of faith. [9]

On this Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, may we sing and walk the responsorial today:

"𝘋𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴."

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We humbly request that you offer the following prayers for Pope Leo XIV:

- 1 Our Father
- 3 Hail Marys
- 1 Glory Be

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, and for those who do not have recourse to thee, especially the enemies of Holy Church and those recommended to thee. Amen.

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REFERENCES

[1] Center for Carmelite Studies. (n.d.). God's Garden. The Catholic University of America. https://carmelitestudies.catholic.edu/gods-garden/

[2] 1 Kings 18:24

[3] 1 Kings 18:28-29

[4] 1 Kings 18:34-35

[5] 1 Kings 18:36-39

[6] 1 Kings 18:39

[7] CCC 148

[8] Matthew 12:50

[9] CCC 149

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PHOTO

Veparsan. (2010, June 5). Virgen del Carmen [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Virgen_del_Carmen.jpg