Thankful

           I am simply thankful now to our Lord God. He has given me a lot of things to be thankful for. I know I am contented in this state of life I am now but a lot of things still troubles me. My marital life is not that blissful but I know the downs that I am experiencing, my husband tribulations in his job and family life, everything has a reason.

         As I am writing this down, I realize God's goodness toward me. He led me to the married life because He knows if I become single, I will be burdened even more with my family problems. My older brother and I, we are not really okay. He has been discouraging me in having a boyfriend, getting married and even having a child (during the pandemic season, saying it is difficult). I don't and will not ever regret getting married. I also thank God for giving me a cute and lovely daughter even if she's very naughty. When I see my husband and child and our beautiful and simple house in the province, I am thankful to Him. I am thankful that He gave me a religious family through my husband, his parents are church servers and religious. They are also church goers. 

        Before I dreamed of having my own laptop. My late aunt whom I call Mama Nitz gave me one. But that one was already broken a long  time ago. Now, I bought my own tablet, reasonably price and it works well. I can do this simple typing and watch from YouTube. My guardian angel is a witness to this. I also will  try to be faithful to Him as a Carmelite. In the end, My Lord Jesus is the only One, the One who can fill the empty void in my heart. Always, I will be thankful to Him, even if I don't say it often, He knows my heart more than I do.

Carmel is Where My Heart Is

            A blessed day today! I thank our Lord God for letting me return to my religious and spiritual family, the Carmelites. I also thank Bro. Ioannes Laurentius, OCarm, for referring me to this Carmelite community that I am fit to be. I was a former Order of the Discalced Aspirant wayback, and if you have read my blog, I desire to study the Carmelite life and works of great saints and doctors of the church. I am accepted as an aspirant now in the Carmelite Order of the Ancient Observance, O'Carm. The OCDS is the community that was reformed by St. Teresa of Avila. This may be two different communities but they all belong to the Carmelite family.

My devotion to our Blessed mother and the saints that I look up to from Carmel and their way of life is the reason why Carmel is close to my heart. My community's patron saint is St. Telesphorus. This is our coat of arms. 

I was also able to get a beautiful 3rd class relic with all of our Carmelite family there. It is framed and I put in it my religious books cabinet in our master's bedroom at home. I could not ask for more. Even if it took a long time, I found the place where I should be. My heart is joyful and contented now. May my footsteps always follow our Lord Jesus.As our coat of arms motto, "To Live in Obedience to Christ Jesus!" To Jesus, through Mary! 

A Visit to the Franciscan Secular Order

            Last Sunday, I was able to attend the Secular Franciscan monthly meeting. It is every 3rd Sunday of the month. Sr. Precy Cruz, SFO invited and welcomed me. I am not fully 100% made up that I will join their order. It is hard to forget my Carmelite family. I was an Order of the Discalced Carmelites aspirant before. I was accepted in the Carmelites convent in Gilmore, Quezon City. Every month I attended our meeting at Carmel House of Prayer in New Manila, Quezon City. Many years ago has passed and even if I did not become a religious nun, there is still an empty space in my heart, that I know only God can fill. Maybe, this is God put me. To be a mother and a wife. Still my desire to be closer with God and learn more of him did not die. 

I sat with the Secular Franciscans. The meeting was held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of St. Francis Parish Church in Meycauayan, Bulacan. It is considered one of the oldest church if I'm not mistaken. After praying the Franciscan rosary (this is different with the regular rosary that we are familiar with), bible readings, they also shared personal stories, a lot of the members were flooded, most of the members houses and things were submerged in floodwaters. They were all teary eyed and a few cried recounting their stories. 

Most of the members were in their senior already. Only three of us were the young ones in the group. I don't want to join this order half-heartedly. I just felt that I don't belong in their community. 

There are many Franciscans well-loved saints by everyone, I like St. Anthony of Padua who is a Franciscan is one of my favorite saint, I have a 3rd class relic of his, piece of cloth that touched his tongue. As an observer in this community I thank the Lord for the opportunity to experience being with another spiritual family. Still, I pray that I might go back to Carmel. 

Rebuilding My Collection of Books

           I was thinking of what should I post next here in my blog. Two weeks ago I was able to put my collection of Catholic books in my cabinet. We moved here in Bulacan about 2 months ago. Little by little we are able to organize and put our things in their proper place.

During the pandemic I was able to buy a few Catholic books that are hard to find in a local bookstore. I am rebuilding my collection again. I am regretting that I disposed my collection of Roman Catholic books when I joined a Protestant (independent Baptist) group in 2011. I started collecting those books when I was still a young girl. I got interested in religious books when my aunt gave me a Lives of Saints book from St. Paul's Bookstore. I also love the magazines of my aunt, The Life of St. Agnes, St. Thomas Moore and St. Rita of Cascia. They were all bought from St. Paul bookstore by the Daughters of St. Paul and Society of St. Paul (priests). 

Here are some of the titles that I have collected again since the pandemic. I also included my journals which I wrote when I was still a teenager. 

List of My Collections:

1. Imitation of Christ

2. Understanding the Scriptures - Scott Hahn

3. The Way, The Furrow, The Forge - Saint JoseMaria Escriva 

4. Divine Mercy in My Soul - Diary St. Faustina

5. 33 Days to Morning Glory

6. 33 Days to Merciful Love

7. Concsecration to St. Joseph

8. Saint Stanislaus Papcynzski

9. The Bible from a Scratch

10. Relationships: a Mess Worth Making (A protestant self help book)

11. See How She Loves Us

(50 Approved Apparitions of Mary)

12. The Family of God - Scott Hahn

13. Understanding the Divine Mercy - Fr. Chris Alar

14. The Blue Scapular (Scapular of the Immaculate Concepcion)

15. Deliverance Prayers - Fr. Chad Ripperger

16.Lives of Saints

17. 10 Wonders of the Rosary 18. The Secret of the Rosary

19.Miraculous Medal - Pendant of Power

20.Exorcist volume 2 - Fr. Jocis Syquia

21.Catechism of the Catholic Church

22. God's Great Miracle and Worker St. Anthony of Padua

23.The Student's Catholic Doctrine

24. More Precious Than Gold (Book about relics)

25. The Exorcist Files

26. Story of a Soul - Diary of St. Therese of Lisieux

27. Old Catholic Digest (1 copy)

28. 30 Favorite Novenas

29. The New American Bible

31. The Parables of Jesus

32. St. Francis of Assisi model for our conversion

33. The Catholic Assembly book

St. Michael and his Relic Rock

         Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel at Mt. Gargano in Italy. 

 In the year 492 a man named Gargan was pasturing his large herds in the countryside. One day a bull fled to the mountain, where at first it could not be found. When its refuge in a cave was discovered, an arrow was shot into the cave, but the arrow returned to wound the one who had sent it. Faced with so mysterious an occurrence, the persons concerned decided to consult the bishop of the region. He ordered three days of fasting and prayers. After three days, the Archangel Saint Michael appeared to the bishop and declared that the cavern where the bull had taken refuge was under his protection, and that God wanted it to be consecrated under his name and in honor of all the Holy Angels.

Accompanied by his clergy and people, the pontiff went to that cavern, which he found already disposed in the form of a church. The divine mysteries were celebrated there, and there arose in this same place a magnificent temple where the divine Power has wrought great miracles. To thank God's adorable goodness for the protection of the holy Archangel, the effect of His merciful Providence, this feast day was instituted by the Church in his honor.

It is said of this special guardian and protector of the Church that, during the final persecution of Antichrist, he will powerfully defend it: At that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince who protects the children of thy people. (Dan. 12:1) Compare this text with Chapter 10 of the Apocalypse of Saint John.

St. Michael is depicted as a warrior angel with breastplate and sword, vanquishing the evil one. He is also depicted as an angel holding the scales. It is said that he weighs souls on his perfectly balanced scales.

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I was blessed to finally have this rock from Mt. Gargano in Italy. I thank the Lord for letting me be connected with people that I don't even know who has been instrumental with me obtaining this rock. I am not that rich to be able to travel to Italy but I hope that I will be able to visit these holy sites in Europe and the Holy Land while I'm here on earth.  I just started having a devotion to St. Michael and the archangels. I just feel the need to ask for their intercession. I also bought a fancy bracelet with St. Michael engraved on it. Just had it blessed by a priest before. 

During these dark times. We must have the friendly companions of our angelic friends. For they help us get close to God and they also offer their protection. 

Catholic Saints Relics

            I have known about relics when I attended the feast day of St. Rita de Cascia's feast day and St. Anthony de Padua after attending the holy mass. We were allowed to kiss the relic. 

What are relics. They are the mortal remains of a saint or someone you considered to be a holy person. For us Roman Catholics, they are a source of inspiration especially to our faith. They have been a source of miracles and an advancement of faith. 

It is forbidden to buy 1st and 2nd class relics as states in the Canon law. If you mistakenly bought one without the knowledge that it is it is forbidden. You should immediately talk to your parish priest. I read that you can give these relics to the church for safekeeping, for it really belongs to them, not for individuals like us. We are allowed to have 3rd class relics (items that has been placed and has touched a first or a second class relic) and mementos from the place of saints or the place that the Holy Family has trod upon. For example it is not wrong to have a piece of soil rock. I also have a St. Michael rock from Mount Gargano in Italy which I obtained from a seller who was referred to me by a brother tied to a religious store in the U.S.A who brings relics to the faithful. The relic is free according to him. Only the case of the relic and the material of it is the one that you need to pay.

I thank God for these tangible things that has been left by his holy and faithful men and women. These things brings us more closer to Him and has helped us experience his love and miracle.

The Miraculous Medal

            I enrolled my family in the Miraculous Medal Association (Perpetual membership). The Vincentian priests also known as the order of Congregation of the Mission will pray for my family always. I already mentioned that I studied in an all girls school run by the Daughters of Charity. I am proud of it because it is a good private school and those who go there are mostly from a well to do family. I thank my aunts for they helped me study in a good school since my father who is an OFW, his earnings are not enough for my older brother and I. My mother's side family are all comfortably living. My mom's siblings, one is a pediatrician, a pharmacist and all are working in for the government. Same with 

my husband and I who are also working in the government. I thank God for it. 

So much so for telling you my family background. As a former Carmelite aspirant. I have a devotion to our Blessed Mother eversince I was a young girl. I told her before that she be my mother. I really don't remember what made me say that to her even if my biological mother is living with us. Maybe, I just don't feel my mother is always there for me. I just don't feel her motherly support. 

I recommend Christine Watkins book The Miraculous Medal: Pendant of Power. It is a great wealth of information about the Miraculous Medal, how it came to be and those people whose lives were touched by it. 

I bought a medal recently, I disposed the previous medal that I bought because the stars are not designed like this. I read that the stars should not be on top of the cross. I was really anxious because the medal that I bought before was fake. There were rumors that masons give out and distributes fake medal, same with the rosary. What I suggest is that just scrutinized any religious items design. Make sure its not a counterfeit. You might notice that in the back of my recently purchased miraculous medal there is a CF mark. I inquired from where I purchased it and the seller told me its Italy's manufacturing stamp. Of course, I am skeptical thinking the medal might be one of the fake ones distributed by the masons. (I bought the medal from Saints and Sacramentals store in Lazada online).

I already gave a few of my officemates this medal before. I want them to know our Blessed Mother and all the graces that they will receive through her intercession. Knowing our Blessed Mother, their prayer life will improve. To those who are not familiar with the medal I included a brief explanation about it here. Please see the posted images.

The Miraculous Medal: Pendant of Power

           This month I was able to purchase Christine Watkins book, The Miraculous Medal: Pendant of Power. I really wanted to buy this book before when I first saw it being featured in YouTube. It seems a very good book to read. I am familiar with the Miraculous Medal testimonies because when I was still a kid we get the MMA newsletter mailed at home. My aunt was enrolled and was a member of the Miraculous Medal if I am not mistaken. I also got my family and my in-laws enrolled in the association perpetually. I know the Miraculous Medal because I went to an exclusive all girls private school during my high-school days which was run by the Daughters of Charity. 

I am also familiar with the miraculous medal because my late aunt was a Marian devotee. My mother's side family are devout Catholics. I was able to buy this book online from Lazada, the name of the store is Saints and Sacramentals. They sell a lot of religious items and religious book that is hard to find.

I was able to buy a blue enamel miraculous medal. In some of the medals the image is not as clear as the one that I saw in the pendant that I bought which is also from the same store. I used to have a miraculous medal but I threw it away because I saw a YouTube video that talks about fake miraculous medals. (example: the star should not be in the middle). Today, my family heard mass in our parish. I had my religious items blessed. I bought a St. Michael gold plated bracelet, miraculous medal pendant and my St. Michael chaplet rosary. I pray that these religious items will lead me closer to Him. "To Jesus, Through Mary!"