St. Expeditus: Patron Saint of Speedy Causes

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St. Expeditus:  Patron Saint of Speedy Causes The venerated image of St. Expeditus in  the Lipa Cathedral In the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian in Lipa City is a venerated image of a young Roman Centurion saint named Expeditus. Every month of April, a nine day novena in his honor is held in the cathedral that culminates in the celebration of his feast day on the 19th of the month. Who is this saint whose intercession was also invoked in the Oratio Imperata  to avert a catastrophic eruption of Taal Volcano prepared by the Archdiocese of Lipa when the volcano exhibited extra-ordinary activity early  in January, 2020?  St. Expeditus could have found affinity with the Lipenos since the martyr shares a lot of commonality with St. Sebastian, the city’s patron. St. Expeditus, like St. Sebastian was also a young Roman soldier who converted to Christianity and was also martyred as a consequence, during the period of Diocletian persecution.  Hence, a devotion to him has developed amo
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Homilies and Reflections: Mayo 05, 2020 Dakilang Kapistahan ng Birhen ng Antipolo (Diocese of Antipolo)

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Mayo 05, 2020, Martes, Dakilang Kapistahan ng Ina ng Kapapayaan at Mabuting Paglalakbay (Dyosesis ng Antipolo)


"Sinabi ng kanyang ina sa mga naglilingkod, “Gawin ninyo ang anumang sabihin niya sa inyo.” -Juan 2: 5

Nuong Linggo, pinagdiwang natin ang Linggo ng Mabuting Pastol.  Ngayon naman Martes sa ika-4 na Linggo sa Panahon ng Muling Pagkabuhay, unang Martes ng buwan ng Mayo,ay itinalaga ang dakilang kapistahan ng Mahal na Ina ng Kapayapaan at Mabuting Paglalakbay, Birhen ng Antipolo dito sa Diyosesis ng Antipolo.    

Magandang pagnilayan, si Maria, bagama't ina ni Hesus ay masasabi nating pinaka-una sa pagsunod sa Mabuting Pastol, ang kanyang Anak. Siya ang nangunguna sa mga kapwa niya tupa sa pakikinig sa Mabuting Pastol at pagsunod sa kalooban ng Ama.

Sa kanyang "Fiat" ibinigay niya ang kanyang pagsang-ayon sa planong pagliligtas ng Diyos at bagam't hindi malinaw sa kanya ang mga bagay-bagay marahil dahil sa kanyang kabataan, nagpapasailalim siya at nagtiwala sa kapangyarihan at kalooban ng Diyos.  

Ang pag-OO niyang iyan ay kanyang pinanindigan ng buong katapatan at dinala siya sa iba't ibang yugto sa buhay ni Hesus - mga misteryo ng tuwa, hapis, kaliwanagan at luwalhati - pinagdaanang lahat iyan ni Maria dala ng kanyang pagsunod.   Mula sa biyaya ng pagiging ina ng Diyos, sinamahan niya si Hesus hanggang sa paanan ng kalbaryo, na labis na dumurog at nagbigay hapis sa kanyang puso pero buong tatag at tapang siyang nanatili - pinangatawanan niya ang kanyang pagiging ina. At sa paanan din ng Krus, mas pinalawig at pinasidhi ng kanyang Anak  ang kanyang pagiging ina nang ihabilin sa kanya ni Hesus ang buong sangkatauhan. Ipinagkatiwala ni Hesus sa maka-inang pagmamamahal at pagkandili ni Maria tayong lahat.  Naroon din si Maria kasama ng mga apostoles sa panahon ng kanilang pagkatakot at pag-aalinlangan dala ng pagkamatay ni Hesus.  Siya ang naging sandigan at lakas ng mga alagad sa panahong ito ng takot at pangungulila.  Ang lahat ng mga kaganapang ito, buong pagmahahal at kababaang loob na binulay-bulay ni Maria sa kanyang puso.  

Kaya naman, sa bawat paglapit natin kay Maria, palagi niya tayong itinuturo sa Anak niya, ang Mabuting Pastol, hindi sa kanyang sarili at laging pinapaalalahanan, bilang mabuting ina natin, "Gawin ninyo ang ano mang sabihin Niya sa inyo."

Hilingin natin ang paggabay at ang pagpatnubay ng Mahal na Ina ng Kapayapaan at Mabuting Paglalakbay na sa ating paglalakbay dito sa daigdig, marating nawa natin ang langit na siyang tunay nating destinasyon.

Mahal na Ina ng Kapayapaan at Mabuting Paglalakbay, Birhen ng Antipolo, ipanalangin mo po kami. Amen.


Photo: CCTO 

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