A Royal Decree promulgated on this day in 1758 declared her as the sworn
“Patroness of the City of Manila”. (Fr Charles Belmonte, “Aba Ginoong Maria”, 1990, p157)
Parables: The pearl of great price and of the net
“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking good pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, sold all that he had and bought it.” (cf Mt 13:45-6)
By ‘pearls’ our Lord meant the virtues which should adorn the soul for the coming of her Spouse. All are precious, more precious than the purest gold and silver. But one excels all others: charity, the queen of virtues; to her belongs the kingdom of heaven. Our glory will be proportioned to the degree of our charity.
We don’t have to seek for this pearl of great price for it was given to us in holy Baptism. But we can lose it; and the devil, who was the first to lose it and with it heaven, has sworn to snatch it from us.
Rage and envy are continually suggesting to him new methods of taking us by surprise. We ought, then, to be very prudent, and distrustful of ourselves. Are we so? We can embellish this pearl, we can increase in charity. We have no lack of means for doing so. We know them, but how do we make use of them?
“The kingdom of heaven is like a net cast into the sea, and gathering together all kinds of fishes, which, when it was filled, they drew out, and sitting by the shore, chose out the good into vessels, but the bad they cast forth. So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire.” (Mt 13:50)
This net means the Church which, being spread over the whole world, receives and contains within her bosom the just and sinners, the elect and condemned.
We may see also under the figure of the ‘net’, the group to which we belong. Many subjects enter it, and form a large body; but are all who belong to it good? Are they what they ought to be by virtue of their commitments and the obligations they have contracted?
Among them can be found the wicked and hypocrites. But the day of manifestation and of separation will come for them as for all impenitent sinners. How terrible, then, will be their shame, and their eternal despair!
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp498-9
Vocation -- a proof of God’s special love
The pearl represents the beauty and splendour of our call; of great value, the most perfect ideal which a person can follow. Discovery of the pearl presupposes great effort, a diligent search. The treasure buried in the field seems to have been discovered by accident. (FM Moschner, “Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven”, Madrid, 1957)
This is how Jesus calls people. Many find their vocation almost without looking. Others are restless in their hearts until they find the pearl of great value. “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?” (Mt 19:20)
After discovering the pearl or finding the treasure, personal response is required. To persevere, generosity and detachment are indispensable.
On discovery of one’s vocation, the disparate pieces of his life seem to fall into place. What had previously been a mystery is now clearly understood. The vocation also casts light upon our future life which we now see to be meaningful. (cf F Suarez, “Mary of Nazareth”, p89)
God plays a part in the life of every person. Jesus passes by and beckons. He calls some “at the first hour” (cf Mt 20:1), in their youth. He asks them for their ambitions, their hopes and dreams, all of which seem so full of promise. Others are called on reaching an age of maturity. Still others are called in their final years.
Our Lord finds the majority in the middle of the world where he prefers them to remain, that they may sanctify it through their professional work. The married must sanctify the family with all its joys and sorrows.
What, then, is the best age at which to give oneself to the Lord? The age when God calls. The most important thing is to be generous with him, without questioning God’s timetable. It is never too late to follow him; never too soon.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 4:255-8
The net is an image of the Church
The Church holds the just and sinners. Yet all belong to the Church, though in different ways. No matter what sins they commit, spiritual goods still subsist in them: the indelible character received in Baptism and Confirmation, the theological virtues of faith and hope along with the charity through all the Christians struggling to be saints.
The Church does not forget for a single day that she is a Mother who continually prays for her children who are ill. She waits with infinite patience; and seeks to help them with abundant charity.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 4:227-8
Only one thing is necessary
We must be deeply convinced that holiness, more than anything else, is what the Lord asks of us; the real thing that matters. It is the pearl of great price that should shine in front of us; the hidden treasure that should bring joy to our heart.
Fr Salvatore Canals helps us examine ourselves: Why think about so many things, if we then forget the only one which counts? What is the point of solving all our problems if we don’t solve the most important one?
What value have our achievements, our successes (our ‘getting to the top’) in life, in society, in our work, if then we get shipwrecked on our way to holiness, to eternal life?
We must firmly resolve to seek holiness above everything else; to struggle with determination to achieve it, whatever it costs. May we learn, with God’s help, to seek holiness with the full force of our conviction and with our whole heart: “as a doe longs for running streams” (Ps 41:2).
Ref: Cf Fr M Guzman, “Encounters with Christ”, 1990, pp59-60
• Our Lady of Egnisa, in Brabant, the birthplace of Mary of Egnies, who visited the holy image once a year, barefoot, during the severe rigors of winter. — James de Vitriaco, on her Life. “Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar (www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Oegnies. Brabant, Netherlands. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• Our Lady of Oegnies (Brabant, France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of the Burning Cloud (Japan, 1945). (http://mariedenazareth.com); (www.Ingplants.com)
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