Extraordinaire Mother

Zian Serranilla Senior D 

Mothers know best.  It may sound cliché, but I consider Mama Mary as if she were my real mother. The notion of Mama Mary’s extraordinaire existence may sound implausible, but to me everything about her is real. Her existence is in no place of an inquiry. Ever since I was a child, I grew accustomed to including Mama Mary in my prayers and petitions. I pray for her to intercede in behalf of my petition. This makes me feel stronger, as if a part of stood firmer. 
I believe in Mama Mary and her being the mother of Jesus Christ that is why I render my utmost reverence unto her. I believe in her blue mantle of protection through which praying to her can save us. By her intercession, our prayers become more powerful. All we have to invest in is our faith. Believing in Mama Mary does not make us less of a person nor does she let us lose anything, In fact we even gain more, we gain strength, courage and hope. 
Mother Mary is very much like a mother to me. Her caress makes me feel secured and safe. I pray to her akin to my biological mother, someone who never fails to listen to my apprehensions. Praying to her is also a way of talking to her as if she is just a phone call away. I tell her sweet nothings in my life resembling the conversation I normally have with my mother.  Even if I don’t get a reply, I still believe that she is all ears on me. There are things on this earth that we don’t see, hear, touch or feel, but what brings these things into reality is our faith in them. My faith in Mama Mary is unconditional.
She is the mother of all, whom we shall all meet when the right time comes.
Her Mother's Hope (Marta's Legacy)
How I Met Your Mother: The Complete Sixth Season
Mother and Child
Are You My Mother?
A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism

Reflections on Justice

by: Zian Serranilla Senior D  
Justice is a complex word teeming with faithful judgment and lawful accusation.  The gospel emphasized justice in the world today. What is praying without faith? What is living without justice? Prejudice is an isolated case. Although, in general, our world is in dire need of truth and equality. One prevalent issue that supports this premise is the unsolved cases of murder and other crimes in our country especially of the poor victims. One of which is the Maguindanao massacre. We all know the culprit, yet what concrete actions have we taken to prosecute him?  Indeed, the culprit was taken into prison, but he took with him his luxurious belongings such as his mobile phone. Now tell me, where is justice in there?
One dilemma that is in the limelight nowadays is the two-faced ego of some of us. The first kind of face is the religious one, by praying and worshipping regularly, but they don’t actually live the values they learn.  And the other one is the people who live out a truly Christian life, yet miss out on Christian obligations. The first face is worse. They are pretentious, deceiving us to fall for what they stand for. These people are the ones behind mass killings, rebellious propaganda, rampant corruption and the like. They seem angelic in the eyes of the people through media, but their inside is rotten. Their actions do nothing but contribute to the widening gap between the rich and the poor.
My call to action for equality, truth and justice to prevail is to be true to one’s self and fellowmen. Let us open a world with accountability and transparency. And most of all let’s live out the values of a true Christian—one who never fails to fulfill his or her Christian obligations and one who lives his life in accordance with Christian dogma and values, exemplifying justice.
Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?
Justice: A Reader
The Limits of Neutrality.(Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?)(Book review): An article from: Commonweal
Public Philosophy: Essays on Morality in Politics
The Idea of Justice
Liberalism and the Limits of Justice

Luck Or Life - When Bad Things Happen to Good People

by: admin
Ernest Hemingway once said: "The world breaks everyone. and afterward,many are strong in the broken places."
When we are going through adversity, it is not always possible to believe that everyone suffers loss and heartache. It feels and acts very personal when bad luck and rotten life experiences happen to good people.
Our first response is " Why Me? " We may question whether we did something to deserve this punishment or trouble. We may feel resentment for others who are not suffering and question why trouble did not choose them. We may even add up all the bad, selfish and dishonest things a certain friend or acquaintance has done and yet still has good health and a big bank account.
It's Not Fair
Life isn't fair. As a mother of six children I tried to hard at Christmas time to make the gifts come out even for everyone. No matter how many times I counted and then made lists and then recounted, on Christmas morning during the bedlam of presents, paper and toys, I would realize it hadn't been fair. Someone had gotten a watch worth twenty dollars and someone had gotten a bracelet worth three dollars. Some one had gotten the exact doll she wanted and someone else got the one that was in style last year.
We finally decided to recognize and joke that no matter what we did, it was never going to come out even. But the joy was that you knew that the chances were good that one day it would be your turn to get exactly what you wanted. We would often recite the battle cry of large families and pre-schools around the world; "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit."
Luck or Life
Life is filled with luck and also filled with change and chance. As Ernest Hemingway said earlier, we all get broken in some way and it is the broken places that make us strong.
Bad Luck is described as unforeseen occurrence, happenstance and yet good luck is described as prosperity, wealth, windfall, success, advantage, profit and triumph, happiness and blessings. It is often from the luck that the opportunities for growth and development come to us. When we take the chance to growth through loss, grief and adversity, we will become stronger and more resilient. I know this is true, because I have experienced in my own life and the lives of countless friends and family.
Questions To Think About

1. Do you consider yourself lucky or unlucky? Why?
2. Have you ever said "That's not fair." Why?
3. What do you think about when bad things happen to you?
4. Can you look back in your life and recognize how a certain situation helped you to grow personally and spiritually?

The Game of Life Twists & Turns
Life in the Undergrowth
Life: The Classic Collection
Life on Mars: The Complete Series

Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People?

by: admin
Calamities Are Built-In Judgments
We live in a time in which we can witness every catastrophe, every calamity, every cataclysm, every disaster, and every tragedy through the media. We recently heard thousands of people dying in Haiti from an earthquake and now in Chile. We are constantly hearing catastrophes from around the world through the media. And through the media we experience the pain and sorrow and suffering and death that those who the calamity actually happened too.
But is there an increase in disasters, wars, calamities and things as such, as we all suppose of the last days? The answer is, No. There have always been natural catastrophes, calamities, disasters, and tragedy that strike. I don't believe there has been an increase of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, etc. I believe through the media it takes on a sort of illusion because we can now feel or experience the world what it experiences at a large scale. One or two hundred years ago we would only hear about tragic events in our local area. Now, we hear about tragic events that happen around the world.
However, there is a built-in judgment through these calamities. In the same way if you want to be an Alcoholic there is a built-in judgment called sclerosis of the liver that will kill you. If you want to live in a life of crime there is a built-in judgment that you could die in shoot out. If you want to live immoral there are built-in judgments in which leads to death such as diseases, etc. Calamities are all built-in judgments from God because of man's sin. Calamities are not God's way to single out evil people.
"No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3, 5) Are the words spoken by Jesus answering Jews from a question of why Pontius Pilate killed Gentiles who at the same time were trying to worship God through offering blood sacrifices?
The Jews theology during this time believed that because a disaster, a calamity or some kind of massacre as such happened. This was a reaction of God's judgment upon a certain group or individual because they must of sinned. They believed that because it didn't happen to them they must have been better or more righteous than the one that suddenly died through the calamity.
But Jesus answered to them saying, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Now, the big question that many people ask is why does God allow these things to happen? And why do bad things happen to good people? These are the questions that echo across the world simply because they do not know how they stand before a Holy and good God.
In the book of Job the Bible tells the story of how Job lost all his children and they were massacred while worshiping God. So the question again arises; why do bad things happen to good people? The Real Question
But the problem is the question that people ask. The real question needs to be asked is, why do good things happen to bad people? What kind of God allows anyone to live? For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) The truth is we all deserve judgment. We all deserve wrath and eternal Hell. All have sinned and are under God's judgment.
Again, Jesus spoke his own words saying, "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Christ is simply telling us, "Look, you need to settle your case with God before you get to judgment. Because when you get before God at the judgment, it is too late. You will be turned over to eternal punishment."
We all know God is Holy and righteous and we know the wages of sin is death, and we all deserve to die. And indeed we all will die (physically). But God lets us live, love, laugh, and enjoy all the blessings of life in the full richness of it. God is patience and leads us to repentance. "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." God desires for us to repent. The kindness of God, the compassion of God, the mercies of God all is God's desire to lead you to repent. God is saying it is time to repent. Now is your opportunity, before judgment strikes on you.
Repent
Repentance is that you need to change your mind about your sinfulness. Most people think they're good people that make mistakes. They think that their good outweighs the bad. This attitude is damning. You need to acknowledge that you are in complete ruins before God. You have no escape of just one sin in your life. Your done, finished, you will go to Hell, if you can't acknowledge who you are before a Holy and good God.
Repentance is simply agreeing with God of your wretchedness and understanding that you can do absolutely nothing about it, you are condemned, and you are lost. And you need to cast yourself on somebody who can do something for you in your helpless worthless condition. And there is only one Savior and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Life (narrated by David Attenborough) [Blu-ray]
Life (narrated by David Attenborough)
Life
Life: Season Two
Life: Season One
Game of Life

Best Friend

by: Paige Lim
Mother Mary falls under a multitude of descriptions: a mother, a sister, a friend, a counselor, and the like. To me, at the moment, she best exemplifies a best friend I depend on. It is so hard to find someone to whom you can disclose all the burdens that rest on your shoulders; it's hard to find someone who wouldn't condemn you for your misdemeanors and judge you for every single thing you do. It's hard to find someone like that, but I'm glad I have Mary who embodies that "best friend".

 Though she may be seemingly impalpable, there is some sort of comfort that I find in her. Impossible that may seem, but it's true. When I feel like the weight of the world rests on my shoulders and feel like exploding and breaking down, I find comfort in just praying the rosary. I can't exactly define the comfort I feel, but it's in praying the rosary and calling out to Mary that I find myself in peace. Praying to her gives me strength. Before exams, before major events, before performances, and the like, reciting even just one decade of the rosary keeps me composed. It is as if she is my fall back, she is my strength, just like that of a best friend. More than that, she also plays a pivotal role in keeping my family strong. Recently, we've gone through some tribulations, but every night, we pray to her as a family, which in turn, i know, helps keep us together and in peace.

 Mother Mary defies orthodox definitions. She in a much different level of personal connection with anyone. She is more than just a mother, more than just a friend. She is part of me--a part of me who empathizes with what I go through.
Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Paperback)
Meetings with Mary: Visions of the Blessed Mother
The Other Faces of Mary: Stories, Devotions, and Pictures of the Holy Virgin from Around the World
Mother of God: A History of the Virgin Mary
Mary and the Fathers of the Church: The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic Thought
The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary (The Catholic Classic!)
Mary: A Flesh-and-Blood Biography of the Virgin Mother

Let Us Pray

by: John Paul Ursua
While I was reading the gospel for last Sunday, I couldn’t help but remember the line that says, “Will God not do justice for his chosen ones who cry to him day and night even if he delays in answering them? I tell you, he will speedily do them justice.” This line struck me the most because it helped me clear out the doubts and anxieties I have in life, and it assured me of the fact that God will always hear my voice despite the huge number of people around the world who also pray to Him.

Last Sunday, I had to take the DLSUCET at 7:30am. That day was really nerve-wracking for me because I really wanted to pass the DLSUCET, and I knew that I had to do well. Have I reviewed enough? What if I don’t pass? What will happen to me then if I don’t? - These are just a few of the questions that always revolved around my head during that time. Thus, I resorted to praying. I can say that praying helped me a lot. Prayers enabled me to release all the worries I had in life because I knew that God will always be there for me, and that He knows what’s best for me. All I had to do is trust Him, and guess what? I felt a lot better and all my nervousness already disappeared once I started answering the test. Prayers really are powerful.

In relation to real life situations, I think this gospel calls for us to have a stronger faith by including prayers in our daily lives. Prayers though do not always have to follow a format, for it is simply a way of talking to God. Thus, we are called to include God in our lives as well. We should not just remember Him only times of trouble, but in times of happiness as well. It is through prayers that we are able to build a stronger personal relationship with Him.
Let Us Pray (Signs Of Life Album Version)
Let Us Pray
Let Us Pray: National Day of Prayer Album
Let Us Pray: A Guide to the Rubrics of Sunday Mass (Pueblo Books)
Let Us Pray (Dig)
Let Us Pray A Sermon (0288) - Rev C. H. Spurgeon
Let Us Pray: 120 Prayers for All Occasions
Let Us Pray ~ Parts 1 and 2: Introducing Young Children To The Basics of Prayer

Keep On Going

by: LJ Sarao

“Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.”

That passage tells us how God will always be open to us as long as we talk to him through prayer. There will never be a time where God won’t listen to us, because he will never get tired of listening to us,  so that’s why we should never get tired of praying to him. Our prayers are never unanswered. God only gives us what he thinks is necessary and God will only help those who help themselves.

Recently, I’ve been struggling with my studies in school. My grades have been dropping, and it just took me by surprise how I’m already failing a few subjects. I tried asking God for help, and with enough effort, I found myself clawing my grades back up to normal. It just goes to show, that God does listen to our prayers, no matter how big or how small it is.

Prayer is how we can connect with God. It's our own way of communicating with him and we should always remember that we don’t just pray when we need something. We could always pray to him for being thankful for the things that he has given us, or maybe just to thank him for giving you another day. It is just sad how people sometimes take prayers for granted. Jesus endured so much for us. He even died for us, and all he asks for is just to keep on praying. Keep on praying, and never get tired of praying.
Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home
Prayers That Avail Much: Three Bestselling Works Complete in One Volume, 25th Anniversary Leather Burgundy (Commemorative Leather Edition)
Becoming a Prayer Warrior
Prayer
Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?

Do Men Really Want a Woman Who Is Hard to Get? Discover What Type of Women Men Really Like

by:admin

You can't paint all the males with the same brush. Not all men like women that are hard to get. Having said this, it is true that a significant percentage of men like women that are hard to get. This is because of the way their brains are wired. When a thing is unavailable it becomes more desirable. Here is why they want a woman who is hard to get.

Its all about them
Right from childhood men are programmed in such a way that they get used to getting what they want. Whether it is toys or candies they will want it all and when they do not get it they want it all the more. When you show indifference to men that are making advances to you, you become the prize they should have and so they begin the chase in right earnest.

Want to have a piece of the action
Men want to join the party and have fun. When you ignore them they feel that you are having a ball and then they desperately want a slice of that action. Men are easy going but at the same time more determined than women and will do everything in their power to get her attention.

Hurts their ego
When a woman does not care about a guy that is showing interest in her, she is merely indicating that he does not come anywhere near the top of her priority list. This hurts his ego a great deal and he will want to climb up the list. It is for this reason that he will want the woman so that he gets to occupy the top half of the list.

Men love Divas
Although men claim to be the hunters they fail to realize that they are being treated as soft targets that can be lured into a trap. When a woman acts like a diva the competitive spirit is suddenly energized and they will want her before the competition gets anywhere close to her.

Growing infatuation
The more you play hard to get the more intriguing you seem to men. Their infatuation grows to such an extent that they can no longer think rationally. They will now move heaven and earth to get your attention

Confident men
Men that are confident and successful do not get attracted to women that play hard to get. Such people are grounded and pay no heed to such a woman. If they do like a woman they will approach her confidently and if the answer is a "No" they move on without batting an eyelid.

Men in love
If a man is in love he will not be swayed by the woman's antics and will ignore her till her mask drops. He will then approach her and explore his chances of a romantic involvement.

Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship

Her Hand in Marriage: Biblical Courtship in the Modern World

Courtship

Dating with Pure Passion: More than Rules, More than Courtship, More than a Formula

Holding Hands, Holding Hearts: Recovering a Biblical View of Christian Dating

Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals

The Albatross Mates for Life, But Only After a Lengthy Courtship That Can Take Up to Four Y

7 Biggest Mistakes Women Make Around Men They Like! Pay Very Close Attention to These Right Now

by: admin

Do you happen to be one of those women who made a couple of blunders that cost you your love? If you really want to know how a woman can lose their dream man, take a look at these tips that will let you know some of the biggest mistakes a woman can make around the guy they like!

They behave in a desperate manner 
They can forget themselves and let themselves go to a point that makes them feel desperate and needy. Men are a little afraid and put off by women who are too desperate. Not only does this sort of behavior make them unattractive in the man's eyes, but the man begins to think of her as a "man trap"!

They can act immature and giddy headed 
Even if you are beautiful and sexy, and he seems terribly attracted to your body, he could get put off if you behave in an immature and frivolous manner. Men are turned on by mature and level headed women. They get frustrated and irritated by a woman that seems to have a pea sized brain!

They reveal everything about themselves 
The secret of keeping him interested is to keep him curious about you. You have heard of the saying "curiosity killed the cat". This happens to be true in most cases. As long as he is curious about you - the interest will be at a high level. Once he knows everything that needs to be known about you - he might lose interest in you.

They are "caught" too easily 
Don't prove to be too easy and take away the excitement of a good and challenging chase! It is important to make him work for it. As long as you are a little hard to get and he has to keep pursuing you, he feels interested, attracted and excited. He does not want to catch a girl who is too available.

They tend to get too possessive and act jealous 
This is one of the biggest mistakes that women make. A man hates it when she becomes too possessive or jealous. It makes him feel that he is not trusted and this is enough to put him off! The more jealous you act the more stubborn he is bound to become.

They sink their claws into him 
If you want to keep your man then stop trying to keep them tied to your apron strings. He needs to know that he can have his space. If you don't give him his freedom when he wants to go out with his friends etc he will feel trapped and will ultimately leave you.

They can't help flirting with other guys 
Most women who are compulsive flirts don't seem to realize how much they hurt their man. If you are one of these women, then even if it is just harmless flirting on your part, then you should know that he will not see it that way and may resent your behavior.

The Professional Bachelor Dating Guide - How to Exploit Her Inner Psycho

The Ten Commandments of Dating: Time-Tested Laws for Building Successful Relationships

Speed Dating (Harlequin Nascar)

Why Mr. Right Can't Find You: The Surprising Answers that will Change your Life...and His

Date Like A Man: What Men Know About Dating and Are Afraid You'll Find Out

The Shy Single: A Bold Guide to Dating for the Less-than-Bold Dater

Every Man Sees You Naked: An Insider's Guide to How Men Think

Blind Dating

Dating from the Inside Out: How to Use the Law of Attraction in Matters of the Heart

What Do Men Love the Most in Women? Here Are 7 Most Vital Things a Woman Should Know

by: admin

Unlike women, who are mysterious and can be quite complex, especially when it comes to love, men on the other hand have very straightforward needs when it comes to women.

Here are some things that men want in a woman that they like. If a woman fulfills most of these conditions then men would be willing to fight with dragons to win her over.

Great looks
Whether women like it or not, the first thing that attracts men towards women are great looks. If a man decides that a woman is pretty then he is sure to get attracted to her. This is one reason as to why a particular girl in a room might have several suitors chasing after her while another girl might simply sit there twiddling her thumbs.

A high waist to hip ratio
The DNA of guys is configured in such a manner that they will simply get floored if they witness a girl that has a high waist to hip ratio, i.e. a thin waist but larger hips. The popularity of Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian is a potent example and a girl with such a ratio only needs to walk in front of a man to get him gasping for breath.

A high level of confidence
Although some men like bimbos, most still love confident women that know what they are talking. A beautiful woman with brains is a huge challenge for a man and he is sure to turn on his charm to win over the woman mentally and physically.

Ability to laugh
Men love women that will laugh at their jokes, even if some of them might be pitifully short of humor. Men anyway love women that smile and exude happiness around them. They will not like a woman that speaks curtly or rudely.

Mentally tough
Although men might project themselves as the tougher breed, they still love it when a woman is mentally tough even though she might look fragile physically. It might even turn some men on to realize that her woman is a beautiful G.I. Jane, i.e. tough inside but beautiful and delicate outside.

Women that take care of their bodies
Men love it when women stick to a healthy diet, exercise and remain well-toned. Even if it is a shallow way of thinking since some men simply love stretching out on the couch at all times, the fact is that these same men want their women to remain fit even after the relationship might have completed a couple of decades.

Good breeding
It is obvious that men will love women who projects good breeding.  meaning to say, these girls can be brought anywhere you go without being worried that such girl will make an embarrassing scene.  Girls with good breeding are those types whom you can be proud of to introduce to your parents and other family members. 

The Women

Women: A Novel

The Women (Keepcase)

The Bionic Woman: Season One

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women

Women Food and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything

Women

Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free

Scent of a Woman