+JMJ+ Jiza @ Xanga.Com

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Sunday, August 26, 2007

  • Bike for Life Pilgrimage Re-Cap

    This is quite overdued, but I appreciate you taking the time (& patience) to... well, read how the Bike For Life Pilgrimage went a few weeks ago. Our last day was actually on the Feast of St. Clare of Assisi. Just some of my personal highlights of the pilgrimage:
    1. Got invited to the Holy See Embassy and had some sodas with the Papal Nuncio
    2. Met & spoke with Fr. Benedict Groschel of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
    3. Reunited with some friends that I haven't seen in a while
    4. Finally meeting friends, Fr. John Larson, MIC & Vicki J (Missionaries of the Eucharist), in person. Haha.
    5. Catching up with CFRs who just came back to the US from Honduras
    6. Learning about Virginia's Catholic history
    7. Getting to know the Sisters of Life

    Photos Above: Taken by me
    For professional photos go to: http://www.paultomas.com/photography/bikeforlife

    However, the major highlight of the pilgrimage was the work of God, not exteriorly, but interiorly. This is only me speaking for myself here, mind you ... but this pilgrimage must have been one of the most challenging times I had to endure. Sanctifying, purifying, humbling. And in turn, it must been one of the most spiritually rewarding times as well!

    A lot of exterior challenges were met during the pilgrimage itself (i.e. schedule changes, location changes, route changes, weather changes, geographic changes, maintenance work on bikes, rude drivers, physical exhaustion, I got sick one day & an accident another day, etc.). It was like the further we got through the week, the harder it got! And I will say in all honesty, I absolutely loathed biking up hills! Let me say it again:

    I absolutely loathed biking up hills!

    There was one time I remember clearly that I battled up this one hill to only realize that once I got to the top that there were 2 more hills ahead of me. There was another time that the hill was so steep, I finally had to admit to myself half-way up that I (or rather my pride & depending on my own strength) couldn't do it and had to dismount off the bike and humbly walk the rest up. God knows how many hills were endured!

    Once we finally arrived to Washington D.C. on the 9th & final day of the pilgrimage, there was this one long hill ascending up to the National Basilica. Already in my mind I am entertaining doubts & frustration; however, as we're biking up, I hear the Sisters of Life and the children shouting with joy that we were finally reaching our destination. I finished off the tail-end of this stream of bikes, and my body at this point is in physical pain from the accident I had taken a few hours before and my muscles are thoroughly burning.

    Finally I arrive to the top, and stop at the intersection in front of the Basilica only to be taken back by the amazing scene that was taking place before me. I'm staring at this absolutely beautiful church where Jesus is awaiting inside present in the Most Holy Eucharist... the place where Heaven meets earth... the place where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary... and outside of it is this round beautiful garden which has a round driveway surrounding it. And on this driveway, the children and the religious sisters in their beautiful habits are biking several times around the garden proclaiming praises to God that we had finally made it! The scene made me think of angels flying around the Throne of God.

    We just finished a crucial 9-days of biking which consisted of many physical, mental, emotional & spiritual challenges. There were times of tears and times of laughter. There were times when we failed and there were times when we succeeded. There were times of doubt, anger or confusion... and times of happiness, joy and peace. There were times when we divided and times when we were together. But above all, we persevered in this race to our destination with a firm purpose to offer it up for the sanctity of life and for God to be glorified above all.     That's when it dawned on me that symbolically what was taking place... was Heaven!

    Therefore, I leave you with this:

    "...    Persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith..." - Hebrews 12:1-3

    The pilgrimage ended with a beautiful Mass celebrated by some of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and joining us in the congregation were other pro-life groups: Missionaries of the Eucharist & Crossroads. Thank you for all of your prayers for the fruits of this pilgrimage. Only in Heaven will you know what benefits they reaped...

    LAUDATE DOMINUM...

Friday, August 17, 2007

Saturday, August 04, 2007


  •  
    http://www.bikeforlifepilgrimage.com

        [Happy First Friday of August! Mass & Adoration was *sigh* absolutely wonderful!] Whew, so I've been working on repairing my bike for the Bike for Life Pilgrimage coming up. It's alot more work than I expected, but I'm thoroughly excited for what God will do on this trip. The pilgrimage will finally hit the Virginia Beach area on Monday coming in from NC, and I'm off riding my bike through the state of Virginia for the Culture of Life, surrounded by Catholic families & a few of religious from the Sisters of Life. So please definitely pray for us, especially for our bikes (i.e. accident-free). It will end on Sunday, August 12th, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
        
        A good friend of mine recently introduced me to Our Lady of Confidence, and she has been everywhere for me lately. I only encourage you to learn about this beautiful devotion if you have not already. What graces flow when we just place our confidence on things that are of Heaven! Could you imagine just constantly & wrecklessly abandoning yourself to the Will of God without reserve and with full confidence, especially in midst of trials and suffering, like Mary? What sweet grace! And what better way than to learn how to do so by placing our confidence in her! We are so blessed by God to have the gift of Our Most Blessed Mother!

    Mater Mea, Fiducia Mea
    Currently Listening
    Clean
    By Shane & Shane
    see related

Saturday, July 28, 2007

  • The Holy Name of Mary

    Just several days ago while before the Blessed Sacrament, I was pondering on faith -- a child-like faith. I thought about how when a child is hurt, the child cries. However, just because the child cries does not mean it is necessarily crying just out of complaint, but rather he or she is crying for help. Help that they cannot provide themselves because they don't know how. The child then places all of their faith and trust into their caretaker, who reassures them that it will be alright as long as they cooperate with whatever recommended methods are necessary for healing.

    This is humbling... that in times of trials and suffering, we truly don't know how to help ourselves. But what a grace it is to reach out to Our Savior, admit to our weaknesses and brokenness and surrender to His Saving Power. It is so funny sometimes how we can think we have our faith completely down already, but when in reality God calls for our faith to continually increase. Even St. Alphonsus once said (in regards to spiritual growth) that we have to wounded in the battles sometimes, just so we can remain humble. This is when our faith is tested and stretched!

    Going back to the child-like faith, it's beautiful how when an infant first learns how to say Mama or Daddy it brings so much joy to the parents. When you think about it (vocabulary wise), the words are only two-syllable nouns. How come it isn't the same joy if a child says something like "Carrot" or "Puppy" or even if the child's first word was something like 'Transfiguration"? There is something about the name of mother and father that stirs love and joy in the heart.

    I was reading about the Feast Day of the Holy Name of Mary (On September 12, about a month and a half from now). It's amazing how profound just the names of Jesus and Mary are alone. How when it is said devoutly and with confidence, it can stir up the Heavens and Earth. How it makes the Enemy tremble and flee. You hear it in deliverance prayers and in Scripture all the time in the midst of many other words. Litanies are comprised of names. But what amazement when said alone: the Name of Jesus... the Name of Mary. That's it, and the grace of God abundantly overflows. All it takes is a child of God to cry out.

    O thou, whosoever thou art, that knowest thyself to be here not so much walking upon firm ground, as battered to and fro by the gales and storms of this life's ocean, if thou wouldest not be overwhelmed by the tempest, keep thine eyes fixed upon this star's clear shining. If the hurricanes of temptation rise against thee, or thou art running upon the rocks of trouble, look to the star, call on Mary. If the waves of pride, or ambition, or slander, or envy toss thee, look to the star, call on Mary. If the billows of anger or avarice, or the enticements of the flesh beat against thy soul's bark, look to Mary. If the enormity of thy sins trouble thee, if the foulness of thy conscience confound thee, if the dread of judgement appal thee, if thou begin to slip into the deep of despondency, into the pit of despair, think of Mary.

    In danger, in difficulty, or in doubt, think on Mary, call on Mary. Let her not be away from thy mouth or from thine heart, and that thou mayest not lack the succour of her prayers, turn not aside from the example of her conversation. If thou follow her, thou wilt never go astray. If thou pray to her, thou wilt never have need to despair. If thou keep her in mind, thou wilt never fall. If she lead thee, thou wilt never be weary. If she help thee, thou wilt reach home safe at the last - and so thou wilt prove in thyself how meetly it is said: And the Virgin's name was Mary. -- Excerpts from the Breviary for the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary (Sept. 12)


    Currently Reading
    Introduction to the Devout Life
    By St. Francis de Sales
    see related

Friday, June 22, 2007

  • "Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His Providence." - St. Augustine

    It's kind of funny reading my last entry & then reflecting where He has brought me today. The Lord's mysterious yet beautiful ways have truly revealed to me what He meant by "Blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the kingdom of God" high on the mount before hundreds of people. To be poor is to own nothing obviously. I own nothing... no material goods, no spiritual gifts, no destination or direction, no friendship, no nothing. I don't own virtue, or success, or wealth. I don't own my future, or any sure knowledge, or even my own breath. It is all from God, destined for God and created by God. I lose nothing, but gain everything.

    This is the Truth that He has struck upon my heart, and I desire Him to strike it repeatedly if it means that I draw more in love with Him. My heart inherits the riches of Heaven when it possesses nothing for it's own selfish benefit. After a personal retreat recently, my heart has been renewed by His Grace & for the first time in an extremely long time, I cried tears of joy at the mere realization of God's Infinite Mercy. It is an unshakable peace, rooted in His Eucharistic Heart. Listen to the words of St. Augustine again:

    "Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His Providence."

    If I could be any sort of encouragement to you, reader, in any way... do not be driven by any sort of fear or judgement like I was once consumed by, for if we fear judgement, then God's love is not perfected in us (1 John 4:16). Just like Tobit, the cataracts have been removed from my eyes, and what I once considered to be a form of judgement & punishment was actually sanctification for my soul. And just like Tobit, all there is left to do is to shout praises: "Blessed be God who lives forever, because his kingdom lasts for all ages. For he scourges and then has mercy; he casts down to the depths of the nether world, and he brings up from the great abyss...  Praise the Lord for his goodness..." By His Love & Mercy, my heart has been restored.


    Currently Reading
    Blessed are you
    By Mary Francis
    see related

Tuesday, May 08, 2007


  • ADORE Eucharistic Congress (Hosted by the Alliance of the Two Hearts) is coming to Virginia Beach, VA on June 22-24. Deadline for registration is June 1st! For more details about the conference or for registration forms, please go to: www.geocities.com/ADOREVaBeach


Thursday, April 05, 2007


  • Taken from www.fssp.org. This photo isn't of my parish. But we are FSSP. None of the pictures on their website of our chapel are updated.But the vestments and the altar in this photo are similar to ours.

    [Holy Thursday] Mass tonight reminded me of royalty. Seeing the elaborate vestments of gold & white process into the sanctuary, still possessed a simplicity and humility with the lace surplices and black cassocks underneath. It reminded me of knights in armor. Our new high altar always makes me think of a throne, in which is only suited for Jesus, and I watched this "army", His holy servants, approach His Throne from the choir. They almost seem like they were floating the entire Mass and up through the Eucharistic Procession, assisted by many young altar serving boys which reminded me of angels. Taking witness of this heavenly banquet tonight allowed me to recall back to what I heard Fr. Leo Patalinghug from the Archdiocese of Baltimore share recently. He shared with us a moment from back when his conversion was taking place, and how before Mass one day he watched a priest place on his vestments and listened to him say the prayers as he was putting them on. He then said... that's when he realized that this priest was preparing for battle.

    God bless our priests!

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

  • A video I made from our Eucharistic Procession during our mission in Honduras (Jan 2007)

    Oh dear, how I so so so miss Honduras! So, adjacent to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Comayagua, Honduras, our JPII Formation Center is being built & almost done -- praise Jesus! It will seek to be a lay community of both people from the United States and Honduras engaged in discipleship, evangelization, and discernment. (For more info: http://honduras.missioners.org)

    The Adoration chapel has finally been finished -- praise the Lord! But as of right now, they are in need of a monstrance in order to worship Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament! The price for a monstrance can run fairly high. If you or a community you know may have an extra one & you feel so inclined by the Holy Spirit to donate one, we will graciously accept with grateful hearts!

    Please contact me or feel free to mail one to Honduras, if you so desire:

    Convento San Serafin
    ATTN: Missioners of Christ
    Colonia Francisco Morazan -
    Apartado #331
    Comayagua, Comayagua,
    Honduras C.A.


    I pray that your Lent has been full of graces & blessings, especially now that we are in Holy Week preparing for Triduum & Easter! This Lent has truly been a unique time for my soul. I would like to share with you my reading from St. Faustina's Diary today that [also] speaks to my heart about this Lent for me:

    Once the Lord said to me, Act like a beggar who does not back away when he gets more alms [than he asked for], but offers thanks the more fervently. You too should not back away and say that you are not worthy of receiving greater graces when I give them to you. I know you are unworthy, but rejoice all the more and take as many treasures from My Heart as you can carry, for then you will please Me more. And I will tell you one more thing: Take these graces not only for yourself, but also for others; that is, encourage the souls with whom you come in contact to trust in My infinite mercy. Oh, how I love those souls who have complete confidence in Me. I will do everything for them. 

    + Ad Iesum per Mariam +


Monday, March 26, 2007

  • I find peace when I'm confused / I find hope when I'm let down / Not in me / In You / It's in you / I hope to lose myself for good / I hope to find it in the end / Not in me / In You / It’s all I know / In You – Switchfoot

    As I was driving back from Raleigh, NC last night, I was listening to this song in which I found that the lyrics truly reflected the essence of my weekend retreat, hosted by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. I originally went on the John 6:35 Retreat, otherwise known as YOUTH 2000, to serve, but rather I was to be served.  Originally supposed to be chaperoning some youth & leading their small groups, I actually found myself in a small group for young adults with Sr. John Agnes of the Dominican Sisters in Nashville & Sr. Therese Elizabeth of the Sisters of Life in NY. On Saturday evening, Sr. John Agnes & I had a chance go on a walk.

    The last couple of months or so I have been frustrated, impatient & confused with God about my vocation & what I have viewed as obstacles towards my entrance (i.e. financial issues, family, graduation, etc.) And I came to realize, to much of my embarrassment, that I had been consumed by pride & selfishness in my prayers; that I have been telling God, “MY vocation, MY entrance date, MY community, MY life…” As I was telling Sr. John Agnes, it has been as if I have had a deathly grip on to the vocation because I’ve been feeling a ‘loss of control’. Praise God for these Sisters because what they had to share with me was truly enlightening.

    Who am I to tell God what to do with my vocation? Who am I to demand God of what to do with what is not MY time, but His time? Who am I to try to take control of the life that He has created? Who am I to fail to see that a call to the religious life is a gift from God? Sr. John Agnes spoke to me about the peace of which comes from God alone, & how I must continue to seek that out. My mind had finally re-connected to my heart & my heart finally re-connected to His Heart.

    As I followed Jesus during the Eucharistic Procession later that night, my heart ached to be with Him always. I had been forcing myself to dwell in God; rather than just allowing Him to dwell within me. I had been forcing an answer out of Him, when all He desires is for me, out of my free will that He has given, is to share in His joy of the plan He has for me by growing in more intimate union with Him. Right now all else in life seems like it is failing, but the unshakeable peace to pursue Him despite all of that is still present. My time before Him in Adoration that night can be best summed up by the words of St. Thomas Aquinas:

    “Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you…” 

    Please continue to pray for me, as I for you. Hard to believe that there are only less than 2 weeks of Lent. I will post up a video I have been making from our Eucharistic Procession in Honduras soon, and hopefully some pictures from the retreat.
     

    Currently Listening
    The Legend of Chin
    By Switchfoot
    see related

Lords_Angel

  • Visit Lords_Angel's Xanga Site
    • Name: Jiza (J-eye-zah)
    • Birthday: 3/16/1985
    • Member Since: 2/18/2003

About Me

  • Funny how God works sometimes, you should ask me about it.

Pulse