Inspirations at your Fingertips!

This is taken from "Prayers: our Lady of Guadalupe" prayer book. It is a timely prayer for Nanay Gilda as it contains many inspiring phrases for commendation, asking for peace, recalling joyful moments with the dearly departed. May we derive consolation in praying this prayer. Lord, help us to see death for what it really is, the end of poverty and the beginning of riches; the end of frustration and the beginning of fulfillment; the end of fear and the beginning of tranquility; the end of pain and the beginning of joy; the end of weakness and the beginning of strength. Let not grief overwhelm us, or a sense of loss embitter us. But out of our sadness let there arise a new joy for so much given to us. Cast out our fears and let not our hearts be troubled. Let your spirit of peace come alive within our experience and hurt, our sorrow and isolation, our sadness today and loneliness tomorrow. We humbly commend to you Gilda whom you have called out of this mortal life. You love...

This is a short eulogy delivered last June 10, 2007 on the occasion of the interment of my mother, Gilda, at the mass at the our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Project 4. We fondly call her “Nanay”, a colloquial for “mother”. It is not a coincidence that the burial and mass of Nanay was held on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Body and blood of Christ. It was her greatest wish to attend mass at the Church and receive the body of our Lord. And now she has attained her dream to be “home”. We recall seeing her at the back part of the church, quietly hearing mass. When the time came that her body was showing its weakness because of old age, she had to have a companion to take her to the church. Otherwise, we would see both her and Tatay going to church. We recall also the dreadful effects of scoliosis and how it is affecting her posture. But that posture only enhanced the state of her soul – it revealed a posture of bowing down before the Lord and asking for...

This blog merged my inspiring stories and "Dear Father" articles in the website. Later on I will be writing reflections and practical ideas to help us through different aspects of our lives that affect family, work, faith, etc. This shall also serve as my personal journal as i also journey with you. God bless! Photo courtesy of: myphilippinestravel.com