20 January 2013 Feast of the Sto. Niño Third Sunday of January (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Editors], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1887) ‘Opening Prayer’ “Father in heaven, may we recognize your only Son as God even in the lowliness of his nature; and adore him as our mighty Lord even in his frailty as a child. Help us to welcome his kingdom among us with sincere hearts and the eagerness of a child, and to receive the reward promised to the humble.” [Celebrated on the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time in the Philippines.] Ref: Fr James Socias, et al (eds), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, 1887 Philippine Devotion to the “Santo Niño” January is the month of the ‘Santo Niño’ in the Filipino Catholic calendar. Devotion to the Holy Infant is the oldest and probably the most popular in the Philippines. Pigafetta, Ferdinand Magellan’s chronicler, reported that a “Santo Niño” statue was given to Queen Juana, wife of King Humabon of Cebu in 1521 after her baptism. In 1565, when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and his men settled in Cebu, a child’s statue, probably the same one given to Queen Juana, was found in a box among some ruins. On 13 December 1903, the Benedictine Community in Manila organized the Confraternity of the Infant Jesus for students of the “Colegio de San Beda”. On 17 January 1904, the feast of the “Santo Niño” at “San Beda” was celebrated for the first time. Since no statue was available, a framed picture of the Holy Child was used. A wooden image of the “Santo Niño de Praga” (Holy Child of Prague) was installed in the Our Lady of Montserrat chapel in Tanduay, San Miguel district, Manila on 4 November 1904. It is said to be a copy of the image in the church of the Salesian Sisters in Barcelona, Spain. The Archbishop of Manila, Msgr. Jeremias Harty, gave permission for establishment of the “Santo Niño de Praga” Confraternity on 28 December 1904. The first procession of this “Santo Niño” image was held on 20 January 1905. In 1926 the Benedictine Priory and the ‘Colegio de San Beda’ moved to Mendiola Street. Since 1975, the Feast of the “Santo Niño de Praga” has been celebrated by the Benedictine Abbey every third Sunday of January. The districts of Tondo and Pandacan in Manila celebrate this fiesta. But the center of the “Santo Niño” devotion is in Cebu City where the original image has been enshrined in the San Agustin Church now the “Basilica de Santo Niño”. This image got to the Augustinian Fathers presumably because Legazpi’s fleet chaplain, Fray Andres de Urdaneta, was of the Order of St Augustine. Ref: Cf “Panorama”, 14 Jan 2001, “Editorial”, p3; F S Talio, “Devotion to the Santo Niño”, p10 Make Straight the Paths of the Lord Man prepares the way of the Lord and straightens His paths when -- he examines his own conscience; searches his works, words, thoughts; calls good and evil by their names; does not hesitate to confess his sins in the Sacrament of Penance, repenting and resolving not to sin again. ‘Straightening His paths’ also means receiving the good news of salvation. Each of us may ‘see God’s salvation’ in his own heart and conscience when he participates in the mystery of remission of sins, as at the very Advent of God. He thus professes that Christ is ‘the Lamb of God’, He who takes away the sins of the world. Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p17 What price salvation? To pass from this world to a happy eternity, escaping eternal punishment, is what work out your salvation means -- the business of eternity, of our soul and body. All other matters, however important, are but affairs of time. What are 60 or 80 years compared to eternity? What folly then, to risk losing eternal salvation for the fleeting enjoyment of some worldly pleasure! Nevetheless, such is the folly of many people. All other misfortunes have a remedy -- redo bungled work; recover a lost fortune; rebuild a house burnt down. However, salvation once lost is lost. We shall not return to life; nor come forth from hell. St Paul writes, “with fear and trembling work out your salvation”. Don’t ever feel complacent. “I was with you in weakness, in fear, in much trembling. I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps when I have preached ... I myself should become a castaway.” (cf 1 Cor, 9:27) ‘Ah’, cried St Pope Gregory, ‘we ought never to think we have done enough when it is a question of eternity’. Did not the angels fall from heaven into hell? Salvation is a personal affair; no one can do it for you: nor even God. “He who created you without your help cannot save you without it.” (St Augustine, “Confessions”) Woe, then, to the person who does not fervently seek his own sanctification. “Therefore, however it may be with others, neglect not thyself.” (Thomas à Kempis, “Imitation of Christ”) Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp45-7 · “If Mary was made Mother of God on account of sinners, how can I, however great my sins may be, despair of pardon?” -- St Anselm (In Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p30) Friendship -- “‘Through you I have seen God, who has forgotten my follies and my offences, and has welcomed me with the affection of a Father.’ This is what a contrite prodigal son of the twentieth century wrote to his family when he returned to his ‘father’s house’.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 764) Purity -- “You told me, Father, that after my past life it is still possible to become another Saint Augustine. I do not doubt it, and today more than yesterday I want to try to prove it. “But you have to cut out sin courageously from the root, as the holy Bishop of Hippo did.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 838) • Our Lady of the Tables, at Montpellier, [France]. A very ancient and renowned church. The arms of the city are the Blessed Virgin holding her divine Son in her arms ... (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar) • “Notre-Dame des Tables”. Montpellier, France. "Arms of the City of Montpellier". Historic church built in 1230. The "tables" refers to church's role as a center of international commerce. ["A very ancient / renowned church. The arms of the city are the Blessed Virgin holding her divine Son in her arms, upon a bezant, gules. (Triple Couronne, n. 38)."]; (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Tables (in Montpellier). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Tables. Montpellier, France. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Tables, Montpellier, France. "Arms of the city of Montpellier". (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html) • Apparition of Our Lady to Mary Alphonse Ratisbonne (Rome, 1842) (http://mariedenazareth.com.)