Movie Review: Vision (From the Life of Hildegard Von Bingen)

      Yesterday, I was able to finish the movie Vision, which is about the life of St. Hildegard. The movie, I think is not faithful to the real life story of this saint. Just like the movie that I saw before about the life of St. Faustina, they added a sort of romantic theme on it even if its not true. There's Clara, a nun who was impregnated and Richardis who idolizes and looks up so much to Hildegard. There is nothing special about the movie. The only good thing about is, is that I got to know the life of St  Hildegard. She is such an accomplished woman during her time. You can try watching it. 

The Benedictine Way

 It has been a few days since I submitted my application to join the Oblates of St. Benedict. Earlier, I was accepted as a postulant among the Lay Cistercians as a lay contemplative. However, even after being accepted, I continued communicating with the vocation director of the Oblates, a Benedictine monk and priest.

He explained to me that the Cistercians are primarily contemplative, while the Benedictines also have an active apostolate, such as teaching and running schools and universities. This reminded me of San Beda University in Manila, which is run by the Benedictines, and within the university is the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat. That is where I had my medals blessed by a Benedictine priest. It is important to me that a Benedictine priest bless them, as they have a special blessing that includes the exorcism of the medals, which is unique to the Benedictine tradition.

I feel that I truly belong here because my acceptance will eventually be completed in my own parish. The investiture kit will be sent from the United States, and I will be formally affiliated with a Benedictine monastery there.

I am now waiting for the right time to inform the vocation director of the Lay Cistercians that I will be withdrawing my application with them, as I cannot serve two masters. I am drawn to the Benedictine way of life because it offers a balance between work and prayer. I feel joyful knowing that a priest will personally guide me and check on me along the way

Who is St. Benedict? 

St. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–547) is known as the Father of Western Monasticism. He was born in Nursia (now Norcia, Italy) during the decline of the Roman Empire. As a young man, he was sent to Rome to study, but he became deeply disturbed by the moral corruption he witnessed there. Seeking God above all else (quaerere Deum), he left Rome to live a life of prayer and solitude.

Benedict spent several years as a hermit in a cave at Subiaco, where he devoted himself to prayer, fasting, and spiritual discipline. Over time, others were drawn to his holiness and wisdom, and he began to guide disciples. Though he faced opposition and even attempts on his life, Benedict remained steadfast, emphasizing humility, obedience, and discernment.

Eventually, he founded Monte Cassino, the monastery that became the model for Benedictine life. There, he wrote the Rule of St. Benedict, a balanced guide for monastic living centered on prayer (ora), work (labora), community life, and moderation. The Rule’s wisdom and humanity allowed it to endure for centuries and shape Christian life across Europe.

St. Benedict died peacefully at Monte Cassino, standing in prayer, supported by his monks. He was proclaimed Patron Saint of Europe and is remembered for teaching a way of life rooted in stability, humility, and the loving search for God—principles that continue to inspire monks, nuns, and oblates around the world.

.

Recommended Books for Monastic Life and Practice

           I have discovered three essential books for Benedictine and Trappist/Cistercian spirituality. The first book is to recommended to me by our vocation director, "No Moment Too Small," by Norvene Vest. It is a good book for those who want to know more about Benedictine spirituality and practices like silence, reading the lectio divina, prayer and work. A Benedictine priest told me about the differences of Benedictine, Trappist and Cistercians. They are different orders and with different offices in Rome and each with different initials. (O.S.B, O. Cist., O.C.S.O). Cistercians are stricter than Benedictines. Compared with the Benedictines, the Trappists or Cistercians as they are preferred to be called are very contemplative and without active ministries like the Benedictines who manages schools, parishes and chaplaincies. The Cistercians are reformed movement of Benedictine monasticism.

The other book that I purchased is the Rule of St. Benedict which is very important because its the core of spiritual and communal foundation of the spiritual life. 

The last book is the life story penned by the author himself. A famous Cistercian monk, Thomas Merton. This book is a classic and well by almost everyone. "The Seven Storey Mountain," recounts his life conversion to Catholicism and how he became a Trappist monk at The Abbey of Gethsemani.

How Great is Our God

           God has been good and faithful to me for He has answered my prayers. Sometimes what we think is meant for us and when we don't get it means God has prepared something good for us and what He really meant for us. 

I was accepted jn the Lay Contemplative Associates of the Cisterians in Georgia, USA. Praise God!

I thought at first that my application was not going well but after a few days (3 days of silence), the vocation director emailed me saying, everything is going well. Then yesterday night a I have received a beautiful news! I will start my formation this February. 

I thank God, our Blessed Mother and our Lord Jesus! Quaerere Deum!

Rejection and Redirection

      It will become almost a year now after I withdrew from my Third Order Carmelite formation. You may have read my previous post that I found a Dominican spiritual director but it has been just the same. There has been no follow-up that has happened and I still feel the lacking. 

I have been searching for a lay religious community that will accept me and my formation online. That was when the life of this contemplative monastic group caught my attention. They are the Trappists and also known as Cistercians. I know St.Benedict because I wear his medal and it was blessed by a Benedictine monk. It needs to be blessed by a Benedictine monk because there is a special rite, powerful prayers of exorcism and blessing, making it a spiritual weapon against evil.

If you have not read the life of St. Benedict you should. He has a twin sister named St. Scholastica. I have found a lay community in the US that has accepted me as an isolate and overseas member of the Cistercian. I have already sent my application letter together with my support letter from missionary priests (Missionary of God's Love) from Australia. Fr. Vincent from Indonesia and Fr. Steven Tynan, my former parish priest and he has known me for a long-time he even baptized my baby before he flew back to Australia. He is now a rector there. 

I thank God for leading me to the Cistercians, for an understanding vocation director, Sandy and for Fr. Cassian OCSO for accepting application. I pray that Our Lady and our Lord Jesus will bless this new path of mine. Our Lord is indeed the great healer for he healed my broken heart of my past experience with  the former secular order that I joined before. 

What attracted me to the life of Cistercian is their love for Mary, silence and a life of simplicity and austerity. As a sign of following this practice of life and being one with them my Facebook cover was changed and I made us of AI generating St. Benedict of Nursia, St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Gertrude the Great. Two Benedictine saints and one Cisterian to remind me and help me in living their life in the secular world. 

I will never tire seeking God like the song of St.Anselm.

Spiritual Warfare and Our Lady of Sorrows Chaplet

           I recently wrote something about exorcism and spiritual warfare. This topic isn’t new to me since I’ve already read and collected many books about it—mostly by Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia, the Director of the Archdiocese of Manila Office on Exorcism; the late Fr. Gabriele Amorth, former exorcist of the Diocese of Rome; and Fr. Carlos Martins, an American exorcist.

Now, I’d like to talk about the works of Fr. Chad Ripperger, a traditionalist American Catholic priest and exorcist. By “traditionalist,” I mean he is a conservative Roman Catholic who was once ordained under the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. He later founded the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother, also known as the Doloran Fathers. Through them, I was encouraged and inspired to have a devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows.

I also shared with them my desire to join their auxiliary group—prayer warriors who offer prayers for priests and all those involved in spiritual warfare, under the special protection of our Blessed Mother. This ministry truly touched my heart because, during my younger and more chaotic years, I was once involved in witchcraft and the occult. But in His mercy, God did not allow me to remain in darkness—He pulled me out of the pit. I am forever grateful to Him and to our Blessed Mother. I have also informed my spiritual director, Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, O.P., about my intention to join the auxiliary.

 

Aside from being a member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, I will do my best to also pray the Chaplet of Our Lady of Sorrows. This chaplet has its own special rosary, much like the Chaplet of St. Michael.

As shown in the photo, these are the chaplet and rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows, along with books by Fr. Chad Ripperger. His book Dominion discusses everything about spiritual warfare, but before reading it, it’s best to start with Introduction to the Science of Mental Health, also written by him and based on the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas.

I pray that, in my own small way, through prayer, I can help support the ministry of priests and all those engaged in spiritual warfare.

May our Blessed Mother cover me with her mantle, and may our Lord Jesus protect me with His Precious Blood. Amen.

My Favorite Dominican Saints

           I was able to get beautiful miniature images of my favorite Dominican saints. Their sizes are around 1x1x3 inches. They are beautifully crafted, I ordered them from TangingArt Studio from Shopee online, they are priced around at Php329.00, almost $6. Quite pricey for a miniature image but they are beautifully designed and crafted, 3d images. 

For now, I ordered 3 Dominican miniature statues, St. Dominic de Guzman, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Martin de Porres. I am familiar with the Dominican saints because I used to watch the canozzas that were lined up at the church in Sto. Domingo also known sa Our Lady of Holy Rosary La Naval de Manila, during their fiesta month which is in October. 

A bit of information about these saints. St. Dominic de Guzman is of Spanish nobility. I read that he is a good-looking fine gentleman. His mother is Blessed Joan of Aza. He is the father/founder of the Order of Preachers. He is known for battling the Albigensian heresy and it was he whom  Our Lady gave and taught how to pray the Holy Rosary. As a Marian devotee, the Holy Rosary is really important for me. That is why the Dominican order is very close to my heart. Their habit is composed of a white tunic with a black cappa or cloak. They wear this cloak over their white habit, and they have a rosary hanging on their belt. The Dominicans are also called as "Hounds of the Lord," in Latin Dominicans is rendered as Dominicanus, which is quite similar to Domini Canis or Hounds of the Lord. Also, this refers to the mother of St. Dominic in her dream she was shown a dog carrying a torch in its mouth. Thus, St. Dominic was indeed God's torch bearer, giving light to this world by preaching God'a truth and battling heresy. St. Dominic de Guzman is often depicted holding a lily and a bible and/or rules of their order, also with a dog and torch by his side.

Next is St. Catherine of Siena. I am familiar with her because I read her life once in the Lives of Saints when I was a young girl. She is an Italian virgin and saint and a lay Dominican and is considered as a Doctor of the church.  She also received the Stigmata. She is often depicted holding a lily, a symbol of purity and a heart. I read that Jesus gave her His heart in one of her visions. Her writing can be found in the Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena.

She also urged the Pope Gregory XI  to return the papacy to Rome. She is a a defender of faith and of the papacy.

Last but not the least is a lay Dominican brother St. Martin de Porres. He is a popular Dominican saint also and in easily recognizable because his color. He is often depicted holding a bread and holding a wooden stick, sometimes with a stray dog by his side. He is known for his kindness and his charity especially to the needed. His birth date is same as mine, 9th of December. I am also familiar with him because I also read his story in The Lives of Saints book. He is also known for his many miracles. He can bilocate or be seen in two places at the same time, levitate and he can communicate with animals. He is the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a black, indigenous freed slave. He is the patron saint of mixed race people, barbers, innkeepers, 

public health workers and those seeking social justice.

We as Roman Catholics are very blessed to have saints whom we can follow and look up to and better yet to idolize especially during these times where vanity and riches are given importance to. Only few young people now look up to God's holy servants. Let us pray for priestly and religious vocations all around the world! 

All Dominican Saints and Blessed! pray for us! 🌹

Spiritual Direction

          I have long wanted to have someone guide me spiritually. I have heard of priests as spiritual directors. I know that priests play a very vital role in the spiritual growth of a religious or a lay person. I am reminded of St. Faustina and her spiritual director, Blessed Michael Sopocko. 

I have had a few spiritual directors. Actually, I am the one who asked these priests to help me. As a lay Carmelite, I wanted to have a Carmelite spiritual director/guide so that he could understand me. I do not know what happened, but the priest who agreed to help me lacks enthusiasm; I am the only one who is proactive. The same goes for the other priests. I even asked a priest from the Discalced Carmelites, but they were all unsuccessful. My experience in the Third Order Carmelite is not very favorable. 

Fast forward to now. I want to wear the Dominican cross that I bought at Sto. Domingo Church. It was by chance that came across Bishop Napoleon "Jun" Sipalay, Jr. online. I am asking for his blessing and permission to wear a Dominican cross, even though I am not a member of any Dominican Laity family. He told me I can wear the Dominican cross. Actually, one Dominican priest told me that only the members of bonafide Dominican institutes can wear it. To be honest I cannot accept it so I looked for another opinion of a Dominican priest. Fr. Edmund Nantes. He said I can wear it and be faithful to what it symbolizes. 

 It also crossed my mind that I need a Dominican spiritual director even if I am not a member of the Dominican family. I know God sent Fr. Quirico to me through Bishop Jun. I know there's a reason why its Fr. Quirico. I read a lot of good comments about Fr. Quirico and I have seen his academic achievements that was posted online. We've had few conversations online and I really learned a lot from him.

One take away that I got from our conversation yesterday is that everything takes time. He even mentioned my favorite saint, St. Therese of Lisieux, we all know her story wherein she asked the Pope to let her enter the convent despite her age. 

I thank God for finally sending me a good spiritual director. Even if I am still not part officially of any Dominican associations. I will wait with great hope. May God's will be done.