The Canonization of St. Josemaria Escriva: Another October 6 Celebration

Today is the anniversary of St. Josemaria Escriva's canonization. Every time there's a big feast day, we always turn to prayer as our Founder taught us. Prayers of thanksgiving for the many undeserved favors and graces granted to us. Prayers of petition for what we need materially and spiritually. Prayers of contrition for what we have committed which hurt Our Lord and the ones around us. Prayers for our own conversion and transformation, because we want to merit to stay with God forever in heaven.

With the deep spiritual life of St. Josemaria, he managed to transmit to us the love of God in more ways than one. I highlight here the kind of fraternity and family spirit he wants everyone to live --- full of warmth, affection, service and attention to what others need. We may have come from different families and backgrounds, but as we all share one baptism in Christ, we belong to one big supernatural family, the Church.

Our Father was a happy man --- always cheerful --- according to his successor, Blessed Alvaro del Portillo. He was always happy because he lived like a child before God always. While it is true that we are plagued with our own wretchedness, imperfections and sins, St. Josemaria taught us to have confidence! Because for a Christian, a son or daughter of God, we can always rise from our miseries provided we are contrite and humble --- that we struggle to rid ourselves of pride which is the main obstacle we must battle against if we want to grow closer to God. Pride is our enemy because it is the devil's nature to be proud. And the enemy of our soul wants us to be proud so as not to let the light and strength of grace from God enter our soul. Each time we fall into sin, after a good examination of conscience, we are taught to go running to confession and show our wounds. For the Lord comes to heal us --- always, if we allow Him.

Today, as we celebrate the canonization of this holy man, may we resolve to live as true children of God, always happy and optimistic because, even with our miseries, we are assured of true joy and peace as long as we are contrite and humble of heart. What is more, along with this, we enjoy the freedom that the children of God possess --- free to love all mankind and free to direct ourselves on the path of righteousness.

For more information about Opus Dei and St. Josemaria Escriva, please visit: www.opusdei.org and http://josemariaescriva.info/   

Braving the Heat and the Cold in West and Central Java, Indonesia

Arriving at Villa Deogratias, Lembang, Bandung, Indonesia

As early as July this year, eight ladies who frequent our study center here in Cebu have already booked themselves to fly from here to Manila to Jakarta and to Lembang, Bandung in the province of West Java, Indonesia, to attend a yearly activity. I never expected  that I'd be joining them since I only received word that I'd be making this trip, too, in early August!

We were delighted to travel together, but not without any hitches, that is. I could well chronicle here the difficulties we all went through together. But more than that, what stands out are the positive events that unfolded during our trip. 

I was with the following participants from the Philippines: Beth L., Joy B., Nenette M., Jenny C., Rorie S., Evita L., Girlie R., Chi-Chi R., Iris B., Maricar L., Angelyn L., Gold V., Tina E., Miho P. . From Jakarta: Bea Z., Nancy T., Ivy T., Maricel P., Marivic T.,  Riza J., Lucia H., Lusyanti H., Geline B., Septiana, Suyi, Katiana, Tina, Erna, and Colette. I am so grateful to Christine for facilitating our trip via regular coordination through email and Viber. Thanks to Pak Udin, Pak Imam, Pak Deni who helped us with the transportation and hotel stay.

It was such a good experience to travel and meet and talk to the locals. Plus eat their kind of food, too! What's more, I never thought I'd be learning Bahasa quite fast. Maybe I was just so receptive so as not to get lost and for me to be able to know my way around. During our visit to Plaza Indonesia in Central Jakarta, I made sure to buy a post card for my parents. And thanks to Nenette, we found the post office (Filateli) where I happily sent the post card bound for Canada! I thought it was a good and creative way to remember the trip and share it with my loved ones.

The Gereja Katedral in Central Jakarta

If given another chance next year, I think I will be glad to go back to Indonesia and learn Bahasa more and better. We all look like Indonesians anyway, and can live as one more person among the locals --- be it in Surabaya, where we now have a center, or in Jakarta, where we hope to soon have one. 

Even with the delayed flight schedules, this trip is still worth it! I can only look back and be grateful. As they say in Bahasa, "Terima kasih!"