Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Christine Watkins and The Warning Book

           I am a follower of Adrian Milag, a Catholic vlogger and a YouTuber. He has interviewed a lot of guests who from lay people to priests mostly exorcists and informs us the reality about the devil and about the spiritual warfare. Recently, he interviewed my favorite Dominican priest, Fr. Winston Cabading, O.P. He is a professor in University of Santo Tomas and an exorcist. He also has videos online, answering questions from the public about our Catholic faith. In my experience, one of the reasons that contributed to me leaving the Catholic church is my weak faith. I am questioning things and I thought God has left me when I experienced a heartbreak. I am familiar with the Catholic bible but I never read it like how the Protestants would do it. We have a rich tradition and even the Church Fathers like St. Augustine, his teachings was studies by Protestants. 


The episode with Ms. Christine Watkins, her life story is also inspiring. She lives a wayward life and then she became sick of ovarian cancer. She was an atheist, her friend's prayer has helped her have faith especially to our Blessed Mother Mary. Her cancer was cured and now she is an active speaker from the Queen of Peace media. I have her book about The Miraculous Medal. You can know about it in one of my blog posts here. My question was also featured in the show. My former handle in Youtube was The Pilgrims Pen but now I changed it to LVictoria. The @ sign is pilgrimspen still. 



In the U.S of A, another very relevant topic was being shown in movie theaters. I hope that this movie will also be shown here in the Philippines. We need this so much now. Nowadays, we have seen wars, famine, our society and the character of youths today has declined, most of them resorting the the New Age or the occult, so addicted to social media and most of their time were consumed by it, most of them also don't give time to their spiritual life. As Christine has mentioned according to Saint John Paul II, we should call things as they are. For example, the occult it is wicked so we should call all these things as wicked! Do now water down things. There is this book also by Christine Watkins, entitled The Warning, this book is about the illumination of souls. In this book were testimonies from people who were shown the state of their souls. In the Bible, we were warned about the end times and now the things that was mentioned there is coming true. Many of us are bound to damnation but the mercies of God and his love for us will not allow that to happen. This book, I believe is one of our wake-up call to repent and change. Because if the second coming of our Lord Jesus would happen now we are all in danger. I am listening to an audiobook of this posted freely in YouTube. I plan to buy this book someday but I need to save up for it. It is quite expensive. It costs a thousand pesos here. To those interested in buying it, it is available online in Lazada and Shopee. We must act now before its not too late!

Friday, October 18, 2024

A Vist to St. Pauls Religious Store

           Yesterday, during lunch I went to SM North Edsa to buy a few things. My husband wants to buy goblets and we needed a cross for the upcoming house blessing. We moved in our new house June of this year. The blessing has long been postponed we haven't put in order the things in our house and we have been very busy, and my mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. So last week my husband accompanied me to the hospital and I had my mammogram done. 


I was able to buy the things that we need. I was able to buy a simple dress that I will wear tomorrow, I also bought the goblets that my husband wanted and lastly I was able to buy a few religious items. All of these of course, was permitted by my husband because he is in charge of our finances. He also handles my money (salary). Our set-up is different from other couples. I think I was able to mention it in one of my previous posts before.

Going to St. Pauls religious store evoked a lot of good memories. I remember my childhood days, when its my birthday I would buy nothing but religious items and books. My favorite aunt, the one I grew up with would give me money as birthday presents and I would go to the religious store to buy books. I remember going home happily. I would go into my room and I browse at the things or books that I bought. Sadly, all of my religious books collection when I was still young, I disposed them when I became a Protestant. Those were really precious books. Because among them were my aunts books. I lost the book, Bernadette and Lourdes by Michael De Saint-Pierre. It was a very good book about St. Bernadette and her life as a religious sister. Also, books given to me by the late Msgr. Severino G. Casas, H.P., former parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Church was also lost..He gave me a St. Therese of Lisiuex book with dedication from him. I really regretted deeply what I did. Those were valuable books. I also have books about Christ passion, the Stigmata and a lot more. If given a chance I would like to study more about the lives of saints, the Catholic faith and everything related to our faith. I pray that my joining the Third Order Carmelite will be an instrument for me to be able to accomplish that. 


I was able to buy a beautiful rosary. Actually, I don't believe now in birthstone rosary. Believe in charms and crystals is part of the occult. But I admire the gemstones and that's it. It is only a precious stone and nothing more. One particular reason why I bought this rosary its because it reminded me of my wedding in the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Manila Cathedral, or simply known as the Manila Cathedral. Our Blessed Mother Mary, the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of that church. So between St. Benedict rosary and the Immaculate Conception rosary, I chose the latter one. It is such a beautiful rosary it has a rose in each bead which is a gemstone zircon. In the middle part of the rosary there's the beautiful image of the Immaculate Conception. I also recently, have a devotion to St. Michael and all the holy angels. Our Blessed Mother Mary is known as the Queen of Angels too! She has supreme dignity as the mother of God, that's why she's superior to them and she reigns over all the angels! Satan is afraid of her! So we should also have a special devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary, that she will protect us and cover us with her blue mantle. The case of the rosary has a month of December marked and title of our Blessed Mother. This rosary if supposed to be for those born in December. It is actually my birth month and also my husband. This rosary is a bit expensive and I told my husband my previous rosary which is the Divine Mercy was destroyed by our daughter who is a toddler when she played with it.

Did you know that the rosary means "crown of roses". Our Lady has revealed to several people that each time they say a Hail Mary they are giving her a beautiful rose and that each complete Rosary makes her a crown of roses. I also bought a stampita, of the holy name of our Lord Jesus to be put inside the house. I thank God for the a beautiful yesterday. I pray our Almighty Father will bless me and my family everyday and keep us safe from evil. Amen!

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Post-Wedding Anniversary

           Yesterday, was our 4th wedding anniversary. I thank God for giving me this family even if its not the perfect family that I have dreamed of. We had a lot of fights and many times I have expressed that I want to give up on this marriage if not for our daughter. Yes, ours is not a smooth- sailing marriage. So I am reminded of the life of Saint Rita. Her married life was a lot worse than mine but she persevered. 

My advice to those who wanted to get married. Do not rush. Pray for your future spouse. Do not marry a non-Roman Catholic guy even if that person is kind. There are things that are negotiable and non-negotiables. One thing that I am thankful for, because of my husband I really became firm in being Catholic. You know I gradually came back to church. I am not the only one who is Catholic and became a Protestant and then returned to the Catholic faith again. Recently I came to know the story of Fr. Winston Cabading, O.P (exorcist priest and a Dominican) who also became a Protestant but returned back to the Catholic faith.

I will post a prayer here for all couples. Do not forget to pray with your spouse everyday. Remember love is more than just a feeling, it is a choice and decision that you make everyday. So no matter how hard the problem is with your marriage, never stop praying, keep the faith!



Sunday, September 08, 2024

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.

Friday, August 23, 2024

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 aspirant in the Order of the Secular Discalced Carmelite 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! 

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

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. 

Saturday, August 17, 2024

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 volumes 1, 2 and 3 - 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. The Catholic Assembly Book

33. Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours

34. Through the Mysteries of Light 

35. Reasons to Believe - Scott Hahn

36. An Exorcist Explains the Demonic - Fr. Gabrielle Amorth

37. Rome Sweet Home - Scott and Kimberly Hahn

38. Mga Tula Ni Sta. Teresa de Jesus (Poems of St. Teresa of Avila)

39. Blesseds and Saints Carmelites

40. The Catholic Church has the Answer

41. Healing Moments - Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD

42. Hark the Herald How the Bible Tells Us When Jesus Was Born - Fr. Gerardo R. Tapiador

43. The Meaning of Akita

44. Moments - Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD

45. The Greatest Treasure (Considerations on the Daily Mass) - Rev. Joseph L. Chiavarino

46. Pieta Prayer Booklet

47. The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics - by: Raphael Brown 

48. Hark the Herald 2 - The Story of the Manger of Jesus Christ - Fr. Gerardo R. Tapiador

49. St. John Mary Vianney the Cure of Ars (A Parish Priest for all the World)

50. Strength in Darkness (wisdom from St. John of the Cross.

51. The Gospel of Love According to Juan/a 

52. Yeshua Son of Man 


(updated list: October 10, 2024)