On this Holy Thursday, let us devote our time to prayer.
“Only prayer, the nod of friendship with God, can sustain life in all situations, especially adverse ones,” say the Discalced Carmelite sisters.
“To pray is to open my heart to God, who can sustain me when I need help; but also when I am well, to pray is to support others who need it … Pray, talk to God, and the hours will pass without your noticing: Tell Him everything, He will not get tired of listening to you. Unload your burdens on Him and let Him unload His burdens on you, too. Exercise your faith and trust. Maybe you don’t believe and you don’t have faith because you’ve never tried to pray. Why not give it a try?”
Alexandra “Xandra” Ramos-Padilla of National Book Store is used to working 24/7. One of the most hardworking people I know, she has adjusted to the pace of the lockdown.
Ramos-Padilla and her family are uplifted by the daily online masses of Jesuit Communications (JesCom) and Xavier School’s Fr. Aristotle Dy.
“Even my mom and dad have shifted to watching mass online,” says Ramos-Padilla.
“When the quarantine started, they thought it was not valid. But they have since adjusted.”
Catch JesCom’s Radyo Katipunan 87.9 FM on facebook.com/radyokatipunan; radionomy.com/radiokatipunan; jescom.ph/radio-katipunan; liveonlineradio.net/Philippines/radio-katipunan; radio.org.ph/Katipunan/.
From today till Easter Sunday, catch the following live streams: Holy Thursday (today) at 4 p.m., Fr. Albert Alejo’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper; Good Friday (tomorrow) at 3 p.m., Fr. Ro Atilano’s Veneration of the Cross; Holy Saturday at 8 p.m., Fr. Jose Villarin’s Easter Vigil Mass; and Easter Sunday at 8 a.m., Fr. Ramon Bautista’s Easter Sunday Mass.
Before Good Friday’s Veneration of the Cross, reflect on our Savior’s Seven Last Words at
1 p.m., together with Fr. Rene Javellana, Fr. Albert Alejo, Fr. James Gascon, Fr. Manuel Francisco, Fr. Jose Villarin, Fr. Francis Alvarez. Joining the Jesuits will be His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, live from the Vatican.
Join Fr. Victor Baltazar for an online retreat “Our Easter Journey amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.” For details, contact Editha G. Sablan at esablan@affliate.ateneo.edu.
“You are not alone,” say the Carmelites. “Talk to the people at home with ease, without rushing, listen to them until they are done speaking, let the dialogue build trust. Say what you’ve never had time to say, tell that story you’ve always wanted to tell, talk about everything and nothing, but with affection. That, in the end, is what reaches the soul.”
Ramos-Padilla and her teenage daughter play board games like Life, chess, gin rummy. She and her friends also catch up through online yoga.
Her grade school son is reading 25 to 50 pages a day from the school’s summer reading list and has already finished two books. The books were ordered from nationalbookstore.com and they arrived the day before the lockdown.
“Expand your horizons,” say the Carmelite sisters. “How many times have we complained about lack of time? Now we have it! That book that you received as a gift but you haven’t read or stopped reading halfway through. If you like music, look for new artists or genres. Travel? Think of a beautiful place that you haven’t been to and learn about its culture, history, gastronomy.
“If you are bored with prayer, try the Liturgy of the Hours. Read the Sacred Scriptures or the life of a saint downloaded to your cell phone. You will find many things to enlighten your soul. Don’t settle for what you already know. Now that there is time, open yourself to new things that bring you wisdom and fill you with joy.”
“Our activities seem ordinary, but we appreciate the joys we took for granted before,” says Ramos-Padilla.
Thank you to Ateneo philosophy professor Eduardo Calasanz for sending the Carmelites’ message, and to modern languages professor Luisa Young for translating it from Spanish. INQ Queena N. Lee-Chua is with the board of directors of Ateneo’s Family Business Center. Get her book “All in the Family Business” at www.lazada.com.ph or call National’s Jennie Garcia at 0915-421-2276. Contact the author at blessbook.chua@gmail.com.