A Prayer for Souls

In observance of All Soul's Day, we turn to Saint Gertrude's prayer, which has been said to have the power to release a thousand souls from purgatory each time it is said.

Saint Gertrude is a Benedictine monastery nun, who showed "tender sympathy towards the souls in purgatory", and continually prays for their redemption.  She often encouraged others to pray for the souls in purgatory, and left this prayer as a legacy:

"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus Christ, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, for those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

Sa Diyos Lamang Mapapanatag

- Psalm 62-63
- Lyrics written by Fr. Nemy Que SJ
- Sung by Himig Heswita

Sa Diyos lamang mapapanatag
Ang aking kaluluwa
Sa Kanya nagmumula
Ang aking pag-asa at kaligtasan

O Diyos, Ikaw ang aking kaligtasan
Nasa 'Yo aking kalwalhatian
Ikaw lamang aking inaasahan
Ang aking moog at tanggulan

Paniniil di ko pananaligan
Puso'y 'di ihihilig sa yaman
Kundi sa Diyos na makapangyarihan
Na aking lakas at takbuhan

Poon, Ika'y puno ng kabutihan
Pastol Kang nagmamahal sa kawan
Inaakay sa luntiang pastulan
Tupa'y hanap Mo kung mawaglit man
  

Your God Will be My God

Celebrations of weddings and wedding anniversaries always bring to mind the Song of Ruth.  Some couples even make it part of their wedding vows.  Ruth's song is a poem about love, loyalty, and commitment.  It is a beautiful avowal of unity between two persons with God.

What makes the Song of Ruth very powerful is that it is part of a very amazing love story, as told in the Book of Ruth.  Ruth was a Moabite, a race apart from God's Chosen People, the Israelites.  She was an outsider that went on to become the great-grandmother of King David, from whose line will eventually come forth the Messiah.

This came about because of Ruth's unhesitating acceptance of her mother-in-law Naomi's culture, people, and God.  Her words about this acceptance went down in history as one of the most famous and beautiful vows that anyone can say to a loved one.

"Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me." 

- Ruth 1:16–17