by Paul Marquis Garcia, OD Staffer, and Mel Christian Verona, OD President
“Sa tuwing pagninilayan natin ang mga misteryo ng Santo Rosaryo, we enter into the mystery of the life of Christ. At sa harap ng kasamaan at demonyo, binibigyan tayong kapangyarihan na matalo natin ito, we become powerful when we hold the rosary because it opens to us the reality that we are in God, that we are in Christ”. [Every time we meditate on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary, we enter into the mystery of the life of Christ. And in the face of evil and the devil, it gives us power to defeat it. We become powerful when we hold the rosary because it opens to us the reality that we are in God, that we are in Christ.]
These were the remarks of Rev. Fr. Dario V. Cabral, Parish Priest and Rector of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Isidro Labrador during the culmination day of SDA’s 28th Family Rosary Crusade, Friday, October 7 as he reminded the Dominicans about the power that the rosary gives to people on their quest to spread the Word of God amidst evilness.
“We need to admit the existence of demons, of evil sa ating panahon. Binibigyan na ito ng iba-ibang pakahulugan na nagmimistulang wala ng evil, meron… ano ang katangian ng evil… una, mas matalino s'ya kaysa sa atin so we cannot argue with the devil, lagi tayong loser… [The] devil is smarter than anyone of us. Ikalawa, the devil is attractive, napakaganda ng devil… luma na yang mga litrato na ang devil ay may sungay, may buntot, may pangil, at pangit, 'di iyon ang larawan ng devil… ang larawan ng devil ay maganda, mabango, makinis, magalang, matalino”, Fr. Cabral emphasized.
[We need to admit the existence of demons, of evil in our time. It has been given different meanings that make it appear that there is no evil. There is… What are the characteristics of evil? First, it is more clever than any of us so we cannot argue with the devil. We are always the loser… The devil is smarter than any one of us. Second, the devil is attractive, the devil is so beautiful. Those photos where the devil has horns, a tail, fangs, and is ugly are outdated. That is not the image of the devil… The illustration of the devil is beautiful, fragrant, smooth-skinned, respectful, and smart.]
Moreover, he added that people cannot battle evil and demons alone, because they [people] would just succumb to their [evil and demons] power, unless people ask for Christ’s assistance which can be attained through praying the Holy Rosary.
“Sabi ni Pope Francis last year, [noong] October 7. Ilagay ninyo sa inyong bulsa ang Santo Rosaryo, hawakan ninyo sa inyong kamay ang Santo Rosaryo. Not necessarily to pray, or display yourself praying, but to feel that God is in you, that God is present with you. At doon sa paghawak natin ng Santo Rosaryo, madama man lang natin ang kapangyarihan ng pananalangin ng Santo Rosaryo.” he said. [Pope Francis said last year, on October 7. Put the Holy Rosary in your pocket, hold the Holy Rosary in your hand. Not necessarily to pray or display yourself praying, but to feel that God is in you, that God is present with you. And when we hold the holy rosary, we can at least feel the power of praying the holy rosary.]
After the Eucharistic Celebration, Grade 12 students with their advisers, SDA Supreme Student Council and Family Council officers, Campus Youth Ministry members, parents and other stakeholders took to the streets their Faith in God and in the Blessed Mother in a procession.
As some faithful were on the streets, inside the campus were people gathered in the quadrangle as they witnessed the entrance of the images. With this, Mr. Louie Gee U. Dapdap and Ms. Lovely T. Lanuza, masters of ceremony, commenced the program sharing their FRC experiences and the history behind the event.
At the procession's arrival at SDA, the image of St. Dominic De Guzman entered the campus first. The statue of St. Catherine of Siena followed shortly after. After that, the Grade 12 students settled and placed the images.
The SDA Knights of the Altar Servers, with select female students as angels, led the entrance of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The altar servers formed a barricade around the path to secure the pathway. The audience watched the image of the Blessed Mother as the altar servers carried and placed the image on the stage.
Shortly after the entrance, devotees offered their petitions through the intercession of the Blessed Mother as the choir sang "Ynvocacion A La Reina Del Santisimo Rosario." The angels then performed an interpretative dance of Jamie Rivera's "Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosario."
Afterwards, Mrs. Josie Espiritu and her Family led the coronation of the Blessed Mother and the consecration. Subsequently, Mrs. Alma Mutuc and her family led the "Prayer for the Family."
In the closing part of the ceremony, Mr. Justine Mark V. Bernabe, the chairperson of the 28th FRC, delivered a word of thanks and expressed his gratitude to all participants. Fr. Cabral then led the singing of "Salve Regina" and blessed the image of the Blessed Mother as the people sang "Despedida a la Virgen" for the last time this school year. The ceremony ended as the people chanted, "Viva a la Virgen!" #
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Paul Marquis Garcia is an OD Staffer while Mel Christian V. Verona is the OD Publication President. Thank you Dominicans for joining us in this ten-day spiritual journey and coverage of the 28th Family Rosary Crusade. See you again next year for the 29th FRC.
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