On the 100th birthday of Sanctus Joannes Pavlvs PP II, aka St. John Paul II’s letter #31: “In this holy place, the Church gives thanks to the Most Holy Trinity for the mystery of woman, and for every woman, for her eternal dignity and for the wonders God has worked in and through her in the history of humanity.”
Pope Francis paid tribute to St. John Paul II, illustrating the 3 pillars of his life: prayers, nearness to people and love of justice. He was a model bishop who prayed a lot. He sought people out, travelled around the world to be near his people. He wanted social justice to drive out the war, because he was a man of mercy. Mercy and Justice go together, one does not exist without the other, said the Pope.
Vatican reopens to the public today.
At Fordham university’s baccalaureate mass, 5/17/2020, Fr. James Martin received an honorary doctorate degree and gave the homily, in “chapels in your own homes.” He traced the journey of dejected disciples in the Road to Emmaus, and in their sadness and confusion, Jesus appears to them. Much like these graduates experiencing confusion, sadness, and panic in this pandemic, there’s calm, peace and hope in God’s voice.
To be woman and man for others is to love foreever.
Congratulations to Carina Oriel, who made her mark in Fordham.
Photo posted by Cora Oriel: Carina Oriel with fellow college students at Fordham
Haley Williams, one of the commencement speakers, spoke of doing for the sake of giving, rather than receiving, and being present to the suffering of others, to being bothered by the needs of the world, as lessons she learned.
Carina did just that as she organized well- attended conferences on fintech and attracted Venmo to collaborate with Fordham’s Business School. She continues to give back to her high school alma mater, as well. She is one of Archer’s speakers today.
Hubby gives me freshly harvested strawberry, avocado, to go with our natas, a Portugese traditional pastry. He bought us fresh tuna for sashimi dinner and paired with steamed broccoli, green beans and fresh mangoes for dessert.Our angel/earth friend, Ana Burog, who surprised us with a very essential gift, champagne mangoes!
Context:
Total Confirmed Coronavirus Cases 4,758,937 Total Deaths 316,277 188 countries/regions
Source: John Hopkins’ dashboard, since Jan. 22, 2020.
1,491,547 US (89,666)
290,678 Russia (2,722)
247,706 United Kingdom (34,876)
244,135 Brazil (16,203)
230,698 Spain (27,563)
225,886 Italy (32,007)
179,693 France (28,111)
176,551 Germany (7,988)
149,435 Turkey (4,140)
Commencement speakers addressed graduates, virtually: Barack Obama and Oprah.
“In her virtual #Graduation2020 commencement speech, Oprah told the class of 2020: “Even though there may not be pomp because of our circumstances, never has a graduating class been called to step into the future with more purpose…and hope.” https://t.co/uZT2mM8Oui
More than anything, this pandemic has fully torn back the curtain on the idea that the folks in charge know what they’re doing. A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge.
Hubby took me to Kaiser to get my asthma meds. It was quite a wait. Waiting creates angst. So, I prayed. Praying calms me. It renews me. Last night, a Vatican mass, live before sleeping gave me my best sleep. Pope Francis soothing homily was about remaining in mutuality with the Lord, I remain in Him and the Lord remains in me. If we are the light, let’s be witnesses so the Church may grow, mutually remaining in each other, he said.
Pope Francis designated today as an international day of prayer, where all faiths, groups, cultures and traditions are praying together as One. This Coronavirus pandemic came like a flood, he said, but for the first 4 months, a pandemic of hunger led to 4,000,000 dying of hunger. Thanks to the High Commission, we are invited to pray that God stop this tragedy, this pandemic plus two others, pandemic of hunger and pandemic of wars.
From John Hopkins Dashboard:
4,405,688 confirmed new Coronavirus cases 300,074 deaths in 188 countries/regions out of 195 countries
US has 1, 400, 500 cases 84, 985 deaths
NY has 340, 661 (27, 567 deaths) NJ has 142, 389 (9, 946 deaths) Illinois has 84, 694 (3, 792 deaths) Mass has 80, 497 ( 5, 315 deaths) California has 73, 144 ( 2, 974 deaths) Hawaii has 638 ( 17 deaths)
States that have quarantine in home orders have decreased their death rates.
“We quarantine because we love our families and we want them to live in virus-free states.”
Top 10 cases, with most deaths, are from: US, UK, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Brazil, Iran, Germany and Netherlands.
Yesterday, thousands died:
1, 763 died in United States 779 died in Brazil 495 died in UK 195 died in Italy 184 died in Spain 123 died in Germany 83 died in France 52 died in Netherlands
Least amounts of deaths: Iceland – 10; New Zealand – 21; South Korea – 260; Israel – 264; Japan – 678; Ph – 790; Portugal – 1, 184
So proud that I was invited by then President Barack Obama to cover Pope Francis’ visit to the White House, attended by 300+ media folks. I felt so fortunate to be there. I stood in line starting at 4am, got my security clearance, saw Bishop Barron, Maria Shriver and went inside the South Lawn. This was Sept. 2015Flowering anthuriums, almost year roundNew blooms on the cactusThree favorites: champagne Manila mangoes, ube biko and kokedama cactus, a gift from my favorite handsome sonThe multicolored vegetable miso soup I made inspired by Janet Susan Rodriguez Nepales’s udon vegetable dishWe were pleasantly surprised by my beautiful favorite daughter C bringing us De Vito’s pizza. My #princess2015la was so hungry, she ate her slice. After, we had this exchange.
Princess: Grandma, I dreamt of you and Grandpa. I miss playing with you.
Me: Oh, Princess I miss you, too.
Princess: Grandma, I miss hugging you.
I almost lost it here. I steered myself out of it by telling her that her grandpa has been taking photos of her tea kettles, all three in conversation. She liked that story
My prayers: May these souls rest in peace as those who perished in 188 countries/regions. Lord, may the scourge of this pandemic, as the pandemics of hunger and war be stopped in their tracks. Thank you Lord for your everlasting Grace!
I dreamt to see Pope Francis and prayed hard to see His Holiness in the White House under 44th US President, whom I highly respect. I was invited to cover Pope Francis’ visit in the White House, as 300+ media folks. I felt fortunate to be there. I stood in line starting at 4am, got my security clearance, saw Bishop Barron, Maria Shriver, and went inside the South Lawn. That was Sept. 2015.
For my #princess2015la, barely 3 years old when she touched and looked at the letters inscribed, Believe, she said, “B. E. Love, that’s what it is, Grandma.”
Be Love to others so we can move forward. “We quarantine because we care that others live.”
Another dream of mine was to eat at Purple Yam with my husband and we were joined by a good colleague Momar G. Visaya in 2018. This eggplant salad stood out for me, I ordered another one.
Elsa B. Azote, a classmate, had a dream of meeting National Artist of the Philippines’Ryan Cayabyab, as she sent her then young kids to Ryan’s summer camp. To help realize her dream, I drove to San Diego, a round trip of 5 hours, so she can meet Maestro Ryan.
During this pandemic 2020, Maestro worked hard to curate artists to raise funds for the support workers in the entertainment industry affected by the pandemic and he and they succeeded.
“What have you become?” Have you been making grievances’ inventory believing you are a victim, or are you contributing to others’ well-being? Are you looking for gaps and hurling criticisms? Or are you cooking, baking and sharing them with family and neighbors?
Are you like this cactus, with sustained growth of flowers? Would you, for one and half years, now? Or perhaps, this new fruit, the first lime in this tree?
Have you been changed by this pandemic?
We now seem to require our political leaders to give us truth, facts, governance with accountability, decisions based on science, caring for all people. The rhetoric, the divisiveness, the incompetence, the shrill loud noises are no longer acceptable from politicians. They must act righteously for the American people. No more sideshows. We need the masks and personal protective equipment for our #frontlineworkers.
“I believe in God. And I believe in science. God has given us minds to use. If we choose to ignore science, and refuse to take all the necessary precautions against the Coronavirus, for as long as we need to, then our prayers will be ineffective. A little humility is in order here.” -Fr. James Martin, S.J.
“Allow the Holy Spirit to help you go forward,” Pope Francis said, “help you remember and grow.”
Happy Mother’s Day to you all. We are under quarantine because we love all these folks and we want them to stay healthy and well. There will always be time for the next get together.
Yesterday, my love tank was empty, like most weary and fatigued folks under quarantine.
In walks my granddaughter, Princess. #princess2015la. She stays at a distance by the washer while I was in the dining room.
Me: Oh how I have missed you. I am missing preparing your snacks and talking to you about your school.
P: Grandma, how about this – if my mom says yes, you can prepare my snacks everyday, okay?
Me: Okay. Sounds good. What are your plans today?
P: I am going to ride my bike around your street, without training wheels and help.
Me: How about a helmet?
P: Grandma, I always wear a helmet so I stay safe. Grandma, I have 3 ube ice creams now.
Me: Oh, who gave you those?
P: You gave me one, remember? Uncle C gave me one too and I have one at home. I like them all.
Me: Oh, apo, you are so loved by all. How do you feel about that?
P: I love everyone in my family, Grandma. I got to hug my abuelita, yesterday, for real. My dad said to do it.
Me: Oh, how about me? She proceeds to give me the tightest air hugs, still maintaining the distance as dad has not said so.
Have you seen Uncle C? I miss him. It has been weeks since I last saw him.
P: Grandma, how about this? I will ask him when I see him next time to walk with me to your place, okay?
Me: Oh, Princess that is such a beautiful statement of hope and love.
I love you so much! As she leaves, her grandpa says loudly, “Love You.”
My love tank was filled yesterday to the brim. I feel like today that I am leaving the earth better than I found it with my gracious, amiable, smart, empathetic, kind and loving granddaughter!!
I am not ready yet, as I still want to travel to see more places and attend her college graduation and have more get togethers with family and friends.
Ring, ring, the doorbell sounds off this morning while the mass started. My granddaughter, her mom and her dad, all in masks, personally brought their love-filled gifts: a bouquet of flowers, handmade challah muffin with ube halaya and coconut flavor, and chocolate dipped long stemmed strawberries. I cried at seeing my beautiful family, and their efforts to make me feel loved.
Fr. John Cordero of Holy Family Catholic Church, Artesia’s homily: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Instead, have daily conversations with God, like a friend. Allow that relationship to bloom and grow.”
To me, that conversation is much like my dialogues with my daughter when she was not quite a teenager yet, and my granddaughter now who is at that wise, discerning age, yet whose hearts are so full of love.
Vien Sancte Spiritus Reple Tvorum Corda Fideliva, Come Holy Spirit Fill Hearts and Minds of Thy Faithful Servants, the words inscribed on the triangular part of the interior ceiling of Casa Santa Martha Chapel where at 655am, Pope Francis holds his daily mass.
Pope Francis’s homily today is distinguishing moments of history, an upward building of the flock with harmony, peace and growth then, a battle, where the church will be pulled by evil spirits that destroy.
Do you know what tools the evil spirits use, he asked? Tools of jealousy, envy, bitterness, anger of temporal power, recall how the high priests spoke against Jesus, by going to the upper classes of noble women and men, too? It is the power of the world, money behind power against the Power of God.
My prayer: Lord, by your sacrifice, You saved us that we may join you in eternity. May Your Grace and Mercies help the world’s scientists develop billion doses of safe and efficacious vaccines to protect us vs. Coronavirus. May we renew our ways to protect the lands, the seas, the mountains, the trees, and living creatures You made. May we show reverence towards Your hard work. We, the humanity, have abused your creations, yet, You show us love by healing the ozone layer in the northern hemisphere so the planet Earth is not destroyed by the Sun’s rays.
We want all cultures, not one, not the other, but for all to prosper with excellence.
Kumu Keala Ching.
If we put culture and economics on the same playground, we get to play with these concepts together, we can change the world.
These are simply moments in our human history. Moments where each day, worldwide, the numbers increase. Source: John Hopkins Dashboard on #coronavirus.
4,018, 342 confirmed new cases 278, 756 deaths
US has 23.59 deaths per 100,000 UK has 47.10 deaths per 100,000 Italy has 49.98 deaths per 100,000 Spain has 56.29 deaths per 100,000 France has 39.16 deaths from 100,000 Belgium has 74.60 deaths per 100,000
Top 10 countries with highest number of deaths: Belgium, France, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Brazil, Iran, United States and Germany. It is like a shaving off of populations in each country showing double digits of fatalities.
How then do we console one another? Pope Francis mentioned three movements of how the Lord consoles: Lord’s presence (to hear Him, be still), as the Lord does it with silence, Truth and Hope.
3 months of seeing family at a distance, 5 to 6 ft.away, 2 to 3 times a week, just to say Hi, how are you, here’s your dinner, and we exchange from what we bake, cook, juice, one pantry to another. On my 3 times to accompany hubby to the groceries and to the bank.
We console with each other’s presence, even at a distance. We console with facetime and meaningful conversations. We listen. We pay attention.
Like this morning, my granddaughter shared her plans – to ride her bike without training wheels and help from a parent. What about a helmet? “Always with a helmet, Grandma, to be safe.”
I had an impromptu visit from her. It filled up my love tank. I asked her if she had seen my youngest son. She noticed I was sad. She promptly consoled me, “Grandma, next time I see my Uncle C, I will ask him if we can walk to your place to see you, okay?”
I smiled and said, “Princess, that is a lovely statement of hope and love.” Thank you! That was my Mother’s Day present from my granddaughter – her physical presence at a distance of six feet, but with much soulful, loving connections. Our conversations are always marked by love and her wisdom. I allow her the space to teach me while I pretend to be her student, she the teacher. It is about humbling myself so she can surface her wisdom. I am #grateful.
Two hours later, my youngest son shows up with his partner. They both just rode their bikes, with masks. He looks at all the plants he gave me, making sure they are okay. We laughed at how meticulously he inspected for new growth. He said I pass his test of nurturing the plants that he gave me. My day would be complete, waiting to hear from the eldest.
Art wall populated by photos taken by my husband, Enrique de la Cruz and my feature piece on Pope Francis’ visit to the US, Sept. 26-29, 2015, published in Asian Journal.
“You are in charge of your health, not your doctor’s, nor your spouse’s,” I told hubby, to which, he said, “you are asserting what’s scientifically accurate and morally responsible.”
Bishop Marc Trudeau shared the story of Paternoster Square in London, once the center of publishing before it was bombed in the Blitz of WW II. The buildings were burned, including where books were printed. “In war, the first casualty is truth.” Yet, after the fire, what survived was stone etchings: “The word of God remains in eternity.”
I pray for truth to emerge, that ABS-CBN’s franchise be renewed w/o political barriers, simply for the greater good, of the Filipinos and citizens abroad, watching, before the NTC arbitrarily shut them down, an agency who sat on their duties, allowing the franchise license to lapse, and argued that the fact of lapsing means no franchise, after they publicly declared a provisional extension till 2022, after both Congress n Senate resolutions supported renewals.
Courtesy of Stefano De Medici’s post on Facebook
Vatican’s Holy Father prayed for the artists who create beauty that make us understand the beauty of the Gospel.
Francisco Barbiari of St. John the Baptist, Vatican Museum, Art GalleryRebuilt St. Paul’s Cathedral in Paternoster Square Courtesy of Google photosEssay on Mgt.of War against Spain, published in Paternoster Square in London. Source: Google Photos
Pope Francis spoke that we all belong as a people who knows the covenant of God. Without such awareness of belonging, we become partial Christians, ideological, elitists, affirming small parts of the doctrine, partial beliefs, and movements. Instead, know that you are Holy people of God, he said, coming from a history of forefathers, of getting to the land where you find fruits from trees you did not plant, in houses that you did not build, a history and a story of being God’s people.
Light, Hope and Truth (Facts Only) Today’s mass was dedicated to journalists who work so hard and write about truth. My altar with Santo Nino, gift from my classmate, Beatriz de CastroPeople suffocate when truth is suppressedNove Deypalan: “Amidst stormy seas, there’s light above the horizon.” He has completed 9 paintings during this pandemic.
