The Philippines is known as the bastion of Christianity in Asia, with 84 million Catholics nationwide, and the third country with the most number of Catholics in the world. However, only 13 million, or 15 percent, are actively participating in this faith experience.
We, as a Church, are challenged by secularism, materialism and relativism leading to the abandonment of faith. In the Apostolic Exhortion Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis said there are deficiencies in the popular cultures of Catholic people which need to be healed by the Gospel: machismo, alcoholism, domestic violence, low Mass attendance, fatalistic or superstitious notions that lead to sorcery and the like. He also said popular piety itself can be the starting point for healing and liberation from these deficiencies.
“An evangelized popular culture contains values of faith and solidarity capable of encouraging the development of a more just and believing society, and possesses a particular wisdom which ought to be gratefully acknowledged,” Pope Francis said.
In the Philippines the spate of extrajudicial executions of suspected drug pushers and other people allegedly connected to illegal-drugs trafficking is alarming. In response to this situation, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, issued a prayer for healing, entitled “Lord, Heal Our Land,” in August. He said that the prayer would heal “wounds and divisions,” promote unity, seek resolution of crimes, including corruption, and extend compassion to victims of killings.
We need to believe in the power of prayer. We should pray for our brethren that they may find in the Church a spirituality that can offer healing, and fill them with life and peace and maintain a personal and committed relationship with God.
Devotees seeking healing and other petitions are invited to take part in Mary and the Saints: An Experience of Miracles and Healing Grace, an exhibit of Radio Veritas from November 14 to 30 to be held at SM Mall of Asia.
The exhibit will feature canonically crowned and popular venerated images of Mary from various parts of the country, as well as images of the saints associated with miracles and healing, such as Saint Padre Pio and the life-size statue of sleeping Saint Joseph, among others.
The opening and blessing of the exhibit will be held on November 14, 2 p.m., with Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Mercy Tuazon as special guest. The first 1,000 pilgrims will be given a rosary blessed by His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.
The exhibit is free and open to the public during mall hours, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. For inquiries, call Renee Jose or Rey Isabela, (02) 925-7932 to 39, local 129.
Let us pray for our brothers and sisters who need healing, especially the fast and successful recovery and rehabilitation of the drug surrenderees. Let us ask for the intersession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints to our prayers of healing from the grace of God.
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To know more about Caritas Manila, visit www.caritasmanila.org.ph. For your donations, call our DonorCare lines 563-9311, 564-0205, 0999-7943455, 0905-4285001 and 0929-8343857. Make it a habit to listen to Radio Veritas 846 in the AM band, or through live streaming at www.veritas846.ph. For comments, e-mail veritas846pr@gmail.com.