Honor the Blessed Mother and always be reminded of her fidelity to God.
This was the challenge issued by Fr. Louie Coronel, O.P., pastor of the Santisimo Rosario Parish, to Thomasians in a Eucharistic celebration commemorating the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s birth on Sept. 8.
“Tayo ay [inaanyayahan] sa kaniyang buhay ng kapakumbabaan, pagtitiis, at pananalig sa Diyos. Iyan ang ginawa ng Mahal na Birhen nang sinabihan siya ng anghel na siya ang magiging ina ng Diyos,” he said.
Coronel said the celebration of Mary’s birth is a way of reminding everyone of her fidelity to the will of God.
“Alam natin na may magandang mangyayari sa atin kapag mapananampalataya tayo sa Diyos. Ganito ang pananampalataya ni Maria,” he said.
“Maraming pangit [na mga bagay] na nangyari pero nanalig siya. Hanggang sa dulo ng kanyang buhay, si Maria ay nanalig sa Kaniya,” he added.
In reference to Mary, who received into her Immaculate Heart the last sufferings of her son Jesus Christ, Coronel emphasized the help of sufferings in strengthening one’s faith.
“Ang nagmamahal ay nasasaktan,” he said. “Pero ang sakit na ating dinaranas ay ang magpapatibay sa atin sa buhay at ‘yun ang dinanas na sakit ng Mahal na Birheng Maria—‘yun ang nagdala sa kanyang kaluwalhatian.”
Catholics mark the Blessed Mother’s birth on Sept. 8, a date reckoned from the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception commemorated on Dec. 8.
