Santacruzan

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We are at the end of May, a month traditionally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Philippines, this is the month of daily offerings of flowers to Mary, which concludes today with special prayers and a grand, faith-filled procession known as ‘santacruzan’. This procession features young women dressed as Mary in her various…

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Hope and Perseverance

In his encyclical ‘Spes Salvi’ (Saved in Hope), Benedict XVI distinguished two words from our first reading today. These are “endurance” and “drawing back,” as our lectionary translation puts it. Endurance is perseverance, patiently enduring trials as to receive what God has promised. The Greek word used by the Letter to Hebrews corresponds to the…

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