19 May 2012 ‘Nuestra Señora de Guia’ (Our Lady of Guidance) Oldest of Philippine Marian devotions. This brown-faced image, of unknown origin, was found on this day in 1571 by a soldier of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi atop a pandan bush in a fishing village outside the Intramuros. She was enshrined at the Manila Cathedral until an appropriate chapel was built on the spot where she was found. This shrine became popularly known as ‘La [h]ermita’ (The Hermitage). A Royal Decree of 9 August 1758 declared her ‘Patroness of the City of Manila’. (cf Fr Charles Belmonte, “Aba Ginoong Maria”, 1990, p157) ‘Nuestra Señora de Salambao’ (Our Lady of ‘Salambao’) The image (retrieved from Manila Bay in a [fishing] net called ‘salambao’ [“A Marian Pilgrimage”, vii]), with San Pascual Bailon and Sta Clara, is the object of pilgrimages by childless couples (Obando, Bulacan). The name Maria Clara is here derived. (Nicanor G Tiongson, in “Filipino Heritage”, 1977, VII:1734) The Gift of Understanding By this gift, which is essential for living a fully Christian life, we acquire a deeper knowledge of the mysteries of faith. Jesus promises us the Spirit of truth whose mission is to illumine the whole Church. (cf Jn 16:13) Jesus “completed and perfected Revelation, and confirmed it with divine guarantees. ... the total fact of his presence and self-manifestation, by words and works, signs and miracles and by sending the Spirit of truth.” (Second Vatican Council, “Dei Verbum”, 4) The Apostles only understood later the full meaning of Jesus’ words. As Pope Paul VI said: “The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church. ... who explains to the faithful the deep meaning of the teaching of Jesus and of his mystery” (“Evangelii nuntiandi”, 75). The Holy Spirit brings us to an initial understanding of the truths of faith and then “constantly perfects faith by his gifts, so that Revelation may be more and more profoundly understood”. (Second Vatican Council, “Dei Verbum”, 5) The Holy Spirit illumines the mind with a most powerful light and enables us to see more clearly what until then was only dimly seen. Usually, “we know some mystery for quite a while; we have heard something and thought about it; but all of a sudden we see it in a new light. It is as if we had not understood it at all until then.” (A Riaud, “The Action of the Holy Spirit in souls”, Madrid) Under the influence of the Holy Spirit supernatural truths give an indescribable joy, a foretaste of heaven. Thanks to this gift, “God is glimpsed here below”. (St Thomas, “Summa Theologiae”, I-II, 69, 2) This happens to whoever are pure and docile to the Paraclete’s inspirations. Nevertheless, the mysteries of faith remain enveloped in a certain obscurity. To reach this knowledge the ordinary light of faith is insufficient. We will need a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in the measure in which we respond to grace, our purity of heart and desire of becoming holy. We see all things supernaturally. It brings us to reverence the greatness of God, to pay him filial affection, and to judge created things rightly. “Little by little, in the measure in which love grows in the soul, a person’s mind reflects more and more the splendour of God”, (M M Philipon, “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit”, Madrid) and becomes more familiar with His hidden mysteries. “It is like one who, without having learned anything, or having taken the slightest trouble in order to learn to read, finds himself in possession of all existing knowledge; he has no idea how or whence it has come, since he has never done any work, even so much as was necessary for the learning of the alphabet.” (St Theresa, “Life”, 27, 8-9) The gift of understanding enables us to grasp the deeper meaning of the Scriptures, the life of grace, the presence of Christ in each sacrament and in a real substantial way in the Blessed Eucharist. It gives us an instinct for what is supernatural in the world. For the eyes of one of Christ’s faithful, illumined by the Holy Spirit, there is a whole new universe to be discovered. The mysteries of the Most Blessed Trinity, the Incarnation, the Redemption, and the Church become living realities affecting the day-to-day life of the Christian. Prayer becomes deeper and easier. This gift allows us to contemplate God amidst ordinary events, pleasant or sorrowful. It is not something extraordinary given only to exceptional persons, but to whoever want to be faithful to God wherever they may be, sanctifying their joys and sorrows, toils and rest. Let us turn to Mary, who had the fulness of grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and ask her to teach us to get close to, and love, the Paraclete always. We ask her to help us move on to the holiness we are called to. Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:536-42 ` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` ` Mary’s Faith “If our faith is weak, we should turn to Mary. St John tells us it was because of the miracle at the marriage feast at Cana, which Christ performed at his Mother’s request, that ‘his disciples learned to believe in him’. Our Mother is always interceding with her Son so he may attend to our needs and show himself to us in a way that we can cry out, “You are the Son of God”. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 285) Let us offer our Mother: “‘The Memorare’ for whoever in our family most needs the help of Our Lady.” Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p310 The ‘Memorare’ “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions; but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.” (Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias [Eds], “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p299) · “Place your confidence in the Holy Rosary. Use this most powerful form of prayer with the utmost possible zeal, and let it become more and more esteemed.” -- Pius XII · “Mary urged us to pray the Rosary, not just say it. The lip service of mumbled prayers does not please her. Mere recitation cannot bring about the changes in our lives we so much need. Only devout meditation on the events in the lives of Christ and his Mother can do that.” -- RL Rooney, SJ Ref: In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, pp55, 57 • Dedication of Our Lady of Flines, near Douay by Peter, Archbishop of Rheims in the year 1279. This abbey of nuns, of the order of Citeaux, was given to St Bernard by Margaret de Dampierre in the year 1234. — Chronicon Fliniense.) (CatholicGems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Flines (France). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Flines, Douay (1279). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • “Notre-Dame de Flines”. Douay, France. 1279. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)