Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mother of the Civilization of Love)

I remember watching a documentary about Our Lady of Guadalupe before. I was amazed by its story; there is more to the image. I was wondering why the image of Our Blessed Mother Mary was different in every apparition and in every place she appeared. Now, I understand that Our Blessed Mother wants the seer to feel close and be moved, that she is one with them, regardless of their nationality or the place where she appears. 

The second most visited Catholic site in the world is in Mexico: the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego on the 9th of December. This day is special to me; aside from being the feast day of St. Juan Diego, it is also the day of my birth! She requested that a church be erected at the site in her honor. Our Blessed Mother cured Juan Diego's sick uncle, and the miracle of the roses in winter, along with the image of Our Blessed Mother on Juan Diego's "tilma," or the cape worn by Juan Diego, was the proof of the apparition. A lot of miracles has happened attributed to Our Lady of Guadalupe's image.

I am very thankful that I was able to get the  lone copy from Fully Booked. I have a book before, about the many apparitions of our Blessed Mother (the ones that were approved by the Catholic church). This book about Our Lady of Guadalupe is comprehensive and a must-buy for all her devotees! 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us! 🌹

A Blessed Birthday Indeed

          Last Monday, the 9th of December, I was able to celebrate my birthday simply. We went to SM Marilao and ate at David's Tea House. We were able to hear mass that evening but we were late because of the traffic. I am very happy because our Blessed Mother's feast day was moved on the day of my birthday! Before I wished that my birthday is on the 8th of December! The celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception was moved to December 9, because the Feast coincided with the Sunday mass and we are in the Season of Advent. Our parish priest said that the Advent more important compared to the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 

After the mass we were serenaded by the seminarians from Immaculate Conception Major Seminary in Guiguinto, Bulacan. They sang a beautiful rendition of "Aba Ginoong Maria." They were the ones who produced the melody. This day was really a blessing! I thank our Almighty Father for everything and for letting me feel how to be truly a spiritual daughter of our Blessed Mother Mary! Like the motto of saint Pope John Paul II, I am totally yours, our Blessed Mother Mary!

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!

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!

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!

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 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! 

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:

I. CATHOLIC DOCTRINE, CATECHISM & THEOLOGY

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church

2. The Student's Catholic Doctrine

3. The Catholic Church Has the Answer

4. The Seven Sacraments

5. Practical Theology: Spiritual Direction from St. Thomas Aquinas — Peter Kreeft

II. SCRIPTURE & BIBLICAL STUDIES

6. Understanding the Scriptures — Scott Hahn

7. The Bible from a Scratch

8. The Family of God — Scott Hahn

9. The New American Bible

10. The Parables of Jesus

11. Hark the Herald: How the Bible Tells Us When Jesus Was Born — Fr. Gerardo R. Tapiador

12. Hark the Herald 2: The Story of the Manger of Jesus Christ — Fr. Gerardo R. Tapiador

13. Bible Diary 2026

III. CATHOLIC APOLOGETICS & DEFENSE OF THE FAITH

14. Reasons to Believe — Scott Hahn

15. Rome Sweet Home — Scott and Kimberly Hahn

16. The Catholic Guide to Miracles: Separating the Authentic from the Counterfeit — Adam Blai

17. The True Icon: From the Shroud of Turin to the Veil of Manoppello

IV. CHRISTIAN & CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY

18. The Imitation of Christ

19. The Way, The Furrow, The Forge — St. Josemaría Escrivá

20. Healing Moments — Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD

21. Moments — Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD

22. Strength in Darkness: Wisdom from St. John of the Cross

23. The Gospel of Love According to Juan/a

24. No Moment Too Small — Norvene Vest

25. Thoughts Matter — Mary Margaret Funk, OSB

26. The Steps of Humility and Pride — St. Bernard of Clairvaux

V. MARIAN SPIRITUALITY & MARIOLOGY

27. 33 Days to Morning Glory

28. See How She Loves Us: 50 Approved Apparitions of Mary

29. The Blue Scapular: Scapular of the Immaculate Conception

30. 10 Wonders of the Rosary

31. The Secret of the Rosary

32. Miraculous Medal: Pendant of Power

33. The Meaning of Akita

34  The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics — Raphael Brown

35. True Devotion to Mary — St. Louis de Montfort

36. Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love

37. The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary: From the Visions of Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich

VI. ST. JOSEPH SPIRITUALITY

38. Consecration to St. Joseph

VII. DIVINE MERCY

39. Divine Mercy in My Soul: Diary of St. Faustina

40. 33 Days to Merciful Love

41. Understanding the Divine Mercy — Fr. Chris Alar

VIII. SPIRITUAL WARFARE, EXORCISM & DELIVERANCE

42. Deliverance Prayers — Fr. Chad Ripperger

43. Exorcist, Volumes 1, 2 & 3 — Fr. Jose Francisco Syquia

44. The Exorcist Files — Joy Cuadrante

45. An Exorcist Explains the Demonic — Fr. Gabriele Amorth

46. The Exorcist Files II — Joy Cuadrante

47. Catholic Handbook of Deliverance Prayer — Fr. Jose Francisco C. Syquia

48. Father Amorth: My Battle Against Satan — Fr. Gabriele Amorth

49. The Exorcist Files — Fr. Carlos Martins

50. Dominion — Fr. Chad Ripperger

51. The Diary of an American Exorcist — Msgr. Stephen Rossetti

IX. SAINTS' LIVES & HAGIOGRAPHY

52. Saint Stanislaus Papczyński

53. Lives of Saints

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

55. Blesseds and Saints Carmelites

56. St. John Mary Vianney, the Curé of Ars: A Parish Priest for All the World

57. Catherine of Siena: A Life of Passion and Purpose

58. 101 Questions and Answers on Saints

59. Bernadette

60. St. Carlo Acutis: The Cyber Apostle of the Eucharist

X. SAINTS' DIARIES, AUTOBIOGRAPHIES & SPIRITUAL MEMOIRS

61. Story of a Soul — St. Thérèse of Lisieux

62. The Diary of St. Gemma Galgani

63. Hope: The Autobiography — Pope Francis

64. The Seven Storey Mountain — Thomas Merton

XI. MYSTICISM, VISIONS & PRIVATE REVELATION

65. Mga Tula ni Sta. Teresa de Jesús — Poems of St. Teresa of Ávila

66. Hildegard of Bingen: Mystical Writings

67. The Visions of Saint Frances of Rome: Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven Revealed

XII. BENEDICTINE & OBLATE SPIRITUALITY

68. The Rule of St. Benedict

69. Nun Sense — Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB

70. Thoughts Matter — Mary Margaret Funk, OSB

71. The Cross and Medal of St. Benedict: A Mystical Sign of Divine Power

72. Oblate Formation Booklet and Other Oblate Resources from St. Vincent Archabbey

XIII. DOMINICAN HISTORY, SPIRITUALITY & PREACHING

73. Beginnings of the Filipino Dominicans — Fr. Rolando dela Rosa, OP

74. Talambuhay ni Sto. Domingo de Guzman — Fray Jigs Villaflores

75. St. Dominic: A Saint for Impossible Causes — Fray Jigs Villaflores

76. A Preacher's Calling — Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, OP

77. For the Sake of Preaching the Gospel — Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, OP

XIV. CHRISTOLOGY, THE PASSION & THE EUCHARIST

78. Through the Mysteries of Light

79. The Greatest Treasure: Considerations on the Daily Mass

80. Yeshua, Son of Man

81. 100 Eucharistic Miracles

82. The Wisdom of the Saints on the Eucharist

83. A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions About the Passion of Christ

XV. LITURGY & PRAYER

84. 30 Favorite Novenas

85. The Catholic Assembly Book

86. Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours

87. Pieta Prayer Booklet

XVI. CHURCH HISTORY & CATHOLIC HISTORY

88. My First History of the Church

89. Church Fathers — Pope Benedict XVI

90. A Vatican Journey: Fifty Milestones

Francis

XVII. RELICS & CATHOLIC SACRED OBJECTS

91. More Precious Than Gold — Book about Relics

XVIII. FAMILY & CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS

92. Relationships: A Mess Worth Making

93. Christian relationship/self-help book; Protestant.

XIX. CATHOLIC PERIODICALS

94. Old Catholic Digest

XX. CHRISTIAN PARENTING & FAMILY LIFE

95. Children and Parents: Wisdom and Guidance for Parents — Venerable Fulton J. Sheen

(updated list: April 22, 2026)

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!"