Trust and Responsibility

by: José Antonio Pagola
May 17, 2015

Mark 16:15-20

At some point an appendix was added to the original gospel of Mark in which this final mandate of Jesus is recorded: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature." The gospel must not remain within his small group of disciples. They are to go out and travel to reach the "whole world" and bring the Good News to all the peoples, to "all of creation."

Undoubtedly, these words were heard with enthusiasm when Christians were fully expanding and their communities were multiplying throughout the Empire, but how do we hear them today when we see ourselves as powerless to retain those who abandon our churches because they no longer feel a need for our religion?

The first thing is to live based on absolute trust in God's actions. Jesus taught us so. God continues to work on the hearts and minds of all His sons and daughters with infinite love, even though we consider them to be "lost sheep." God isn't blocked by any crisis.

He isn't waiting for us to put our plans for restoration or our innovation projects into action in the Church. He is still acting in the Church and outside of the Church. No one is abandoned by God, even though they might have never heard about the Gospel of Jesus.

But all this does not dispense us from our responsibility. We must begin to ask ourselves new questions: Through what paths does God go looking for men and women of the modern culture? How does He want to make present the Good News of Jesus to the men and women of our time?

We are to ask ourselves something more yet: How is God calling us to transform our traditional ways of thinking, expressing, celebrating, and incarnating the Christian faith such that we propitiate the actions of God within modern culture? With our inertia and inaction, don't we run the risk of becoming a deterrent and cultural obstacle to the incarnation of the Gospel in contemporary society?

Nobody knows how the Christian faith will be in the new world that is emerging, but it will hardly be a "cloning" of the past. The Gospel has the power to inaugurate a new Christianity.

Bishop Antonino Nepomuceno, OMI, DD: A Man for the Poor and the Oppressed

Bishop Antonino Nepomuceno, OMI, DD

By: Fr. Eliseo ‘Jun’ Mercado, OMI

Bishop Nepomuceno or simply Tony to his friends was born on June 13, 1925 in Bustos, Bulacan. He entered San Jose Seminary at an early age. At the seminary, he met Fr. Joseph Boyd, OMI and through him got to know about the mission of the Oblates in Cotabato and Sulu. He was attracted to the Oblate Missionary life and later joined the Oblates.

Tony was sent to Texas for his novitiate and scholasticate. He made his first vows in 1948, and his perpetual vows in 1951. in his fourth year of Theology, he was ordained priest (July 10, 1953), and came home to the Philippines on July 10, 1954 to begin his missionary life in Mindanao.

His early ministry was in the parishes of Cotabato and Grace Park. His outstanding characteristics were noted during his stint in parish priest of Kidapawan. He was, indeed, an exemplary pastor that when the OMI Province and the Prelature of Cotabato was looking for a Filipino Auxillary Bishop, his name was immediately submitted to the Holy See for appointment. Thus, he became the first Filipino Oblate Bishop on August 31, 1969.

After his appointment as auxillary Bishop of Cotabato, he was given the task to organize the Notre Dame Social Action. This was the period when the Catholic Church was beginning to get involved in development. His dynamic leadership and his firm commitment to the poor transformed the Notre Dame Social Action ministry into one of the most active in the whole Philippines.

With religious and lay co-workers, the Social Action ministry reached practically every nook and corner of the Prelature. His pioneering and innovative approach to Social Action put him in the limelight not only in the Prelature nut also in the whole Mindanao and entire Philippines.

His work among the poor and the oppressed went into difficult times during the Martial Law period. He was a lone voice in the whole Prelature in denouncing the abuses of the Marcos regime. While many church leaders adopted a critical collaboration stance (which actually was more collaborator than critical), Bishop Tony was firm in his struggle for justice and freedom of our people.
His commitment to the poor and the oppressed cost him a great deal. People who were for the status quo labeled him “leftist”, or at times “communist”.

It was a difficult time. He chose the unpopular and painful struggle, the cause of the poor and the oppressed. While many church authorities were collaborating with Marcos, and receiving all praises from all sides, Bishop Tony was being subjected to all kinds of black propaganda. Sad to say, some of his confreres both in episcopate and the priesthood had lent themselves as tools in assailing Bishop Tony’s commitment to poor and the oppressed. Ecclesiastical pressures (from the “balimbinmg sectors) were put on him. When he could no longer stomach the insidious intrigues, he announced his retirement on November 11, 1979 as Auxiliary Bishop of Cotabato.

After his retirement he worked as Director for the Communications Foundation of Asia under Fr. Lagerway, MSC. In this position, he was able to continue his commitment to the development of the poor and his struggle for freedom and democracy.

Another outstanding labor of Bishop Tony was his commitment to Muslim-Christian understanding. Together with Ustadz Omar Bajunaid, he organized the Christian Clergy (Catholic and Protestants) and the Muslim religious leaders. This organization was effective not only in paving the way for reconciliation and understanding, but also in giving protection for the people who were harassed, imprisoned, and salvaged during the Martial Law years.

The other strong passion of Bishop Tony was the ouster of the US Bases in the Philippines and his commitment to Nuclear Free Philippines. He would be present in major rallies against US Bases and his presence would, in many ways, ‘provide’ the ‘semblance’ that the Church, was present there in the struggle of the Filipino people against colonial vestiges like the military bases.

Bishop Tony lived in the OMI Community at the OMI Regional house in Manila. For his pastoral work, he was always available to help at Bagong Barrio, the OMI squatter parish, in Greater Manila area. He was very active in his struggle fro a Nuclear-free Philippines. His commitment to the poor and oppressed remains his ardent passion as Oblate, a veritable missionary of the poor and the most abandoned.

With his brother OMI’s from Manila, they went to Jolo for the funeral of the martyred Bishop Benjamin de Jesus, OMI. After the funeral on the 14th February 1997, instead of taking his flight the day after as scheduled, he managed to get a flight in a small place on the afternoon of the same day. That plane took off but failed to gain steam and crashed landed against coconut tress few kilometers from the end of the runaway in Jolo Airport.

Bishop Benjamin de Jesus, OMI

Bishop Benjamin de Jesus, OMI

In Sulu, Tawi-Tawi missions, Bishop Ben got used to riding on boats to visit the different islands to administer the sacraments or visits the school. He was exposed in dealing with top government officials of the province/municipality and military officials.

This was particularly true in Sulu. Bishop Ben spoke in several occasions when his life was endangered and trembling with fear he carried on the work. He would share ‘the times of difficulties in trying to be faithful to the vows’. During the 50th Jubilee of OMI presence in Jolo, he shared ‘Thanks be to God I preserved in His service! If God gave me the grace to be faithful for the past 27 years as a religious and 21 years as a priest, I hope and pray that by the grace of our OMI Golden Jubilee celebration, I will be able to persevere unto the end, singing praises to God for the good things He has done in me and through me to the people that I serve. Oblate vocation is truly a gratuitous gift of God to me. I am an ordinary human being, weak, vulnerable, but God used me to proclaim his love and compassion to others.’

Bishop Ben was kindness and friendship personified. When he was shot in front of the Jolo Cathedral in the morning of February 4th, 1997, shock waves reverberated to the entire Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and to the Philippine Church. He was the first Bishop brutally killed few months after the Final Peace Agreement between the Philippine Government and the Moro National Liberation Front was signed on September 2, 1996.

Bishop Benjamin de Jesus, OMI

Two weeks before the bishop was martyred, a devoted woman came to tell an Oblate of her vision. She said, “Father, I have seen a vision. I’ve seen throngs of people in the clouds and they were carrying lighted candles. They surrounded someone who was dressed in white robe.” Then, the lady asked innocently, “What does that vision mean, Father?” The priest did not know what it meant but he wanted to be polite with her and so he explained that perhaps what she saw in her vision was the Last Day of Judgment as told in the book of Revelations and depicted by artists in some of those medieval paintings. When she left, he forgot everything about that encounter. But during the wake Bishop Ben, that same woman approached him again and said, “Father, do you remember the vision I told you about”? He was temporarily suspended. He looked at her and said, “Yes, I remember.”

If indeed it was God’s will that Bishop Ben would die, then, we believe it was not without purpose. Bishop Ben’s death has moved many peace advocates throughout the country to work even more for peace to reign in the Philippines. His dream of a harmonious relationship among Muslims and Christians has inspired the hearts of a new wave of dialoguers. Bishop Ben’s martyrdom became a symbol of dialogue and peace.

Fr. Benjamin Inocencio, OMI

He was born January 17, 1958 in Ugong, Pasig City, Metro Manila. Having obtained a college degree in accounting and he worked in a bank prior to novitiate. He made his first vows at Tamontaka in 1986 and was ordained a priest in 1992 at the age of 34. After ordination he was parish priest at Timanan, South Upi, Maguindanao for a year before being assigned to Cagayan de Mapun, Tawi-Tawi one of the remote island stations of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo. He spent eight years the reserving the Badjaos the poorest among the poor in the southernmost part of the Philippines before being appointed Chancellor of the Vicariate in June this year.

Bishop Angelito LAMPON Vicar Apostolic of Jolo who has known Fr Inocencio for many years describes him as a very kind and open person easy to get along with.“He would regularly meet the staff and pray with them in inter-religious worship – because we have Muslims on our staff. They prayed together.He was very kind to people and they did not hesitate to approach him to talk. He was very transparent the kind of person of whom you can say ‘what you see is what you get’” said the bishop.

Others who knew Fr. Inocencio say he was “a very quiet meditative person… a very kind and gentle person… quiet and simple.”

According to Bishop Lampon Fr. Inocencio was on his way to the market to buy items needed for the Jolo Vicariate’s combined Christmas and Hari-Raya celebration to be held the next day. A day before the incident Jolo celebrated Eid’l Fitr marking the end of fasting in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the end of a Vicariate sponsored seminar on the culture of peace.

Fr. Inocencio, 42, was martyred on Thursday, December 28, 2009. He was ordained to the priesthood at Grace Park, Caloocan City, Metro Manila on April 25, 1992. He was first assigned to Timanan in June 1992. Three months later he was assigned to Cagayan de Mapun in Tawi-Tawi, where he became the Parochial Vicar of Mapun Parish and at the same time the Director of Notre Dame of Mapun. He spent more than eight years of humble and faithful service to the people of island.

In June 2000, he was assigned Chancellor of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo with Bishop Angelito R. Lampon, OMI, DD. At the same time, he served as Chaplain of the Notre Dame of Jolo College.

Beside the Cathedral of Jolo, Fr. Inocencio was shot on the head that caused his sudden death on the feast of the Holy Innocents, December 28, 2000.

The Martyrdom of Fr. Benjamin Inocencio, OMI fondly called as Fr. Benjie, is a second brutal murder of the servant of the Catholic Church which took place in Jolo. The first was the senseless killing of Bishop Benjamin de Jesus, OMI, DD on February 4, 1997.

Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda, OMI: “If you want me, then just kill me here in God’s chapel!”

Fr. Nelson Javellana, OMI

Fr. Nelson Javellana, OMI was born in November 11, 1941 in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. In 1957, he joined the Oblate Juniorate in Baesa, Quezon City. As was the set-up then, he took up his classical studies in the nearby Jesuit-run San Jose Seminary. After he made his novitiate in Tamontaka, in Dinaig (now Datu Odin Sinsuat), Maguindanao, he returned to San Jose Seminary for his philosophical studies and later, his theological studies at the Loyola House of Studies, also Jesuit-run, at the Ateneo de Manila University campus. He made his perpetual vows in 1964.
Nelson, as close friends (he was one of my best friends) were wont to call him, was well liked by his fellow seminarians. He was a very generous person - with himself, his time and his talents. He was "always available" for anything. Those who wanted a quick hair cut got it from him during recreation time. Being highly intelligent, he helped those who were not as well gifted - to explain patiently a difficult philosophical or theological concept or to type and correct at the same time their term papers or reports, sometimes even up to midnight.

While doing his theological studies, Nelson took a leave of absence for personal reasons. He forthwith taught in the high school department of De La Salle College in Bacolod City. After a year, he transferred to the Oblate-run Notre Dame University in Cotabato City and taught mostly philosophy subjects. Two years later, he returned to the Oblate scholasticate in Quezon City and continued his theological studies. He was ordained to the priesthood in Bacolod City in April 11, 1971.

Thereafter, he worked in the Archdiocese of Cotabato as assistant parish priest of Esperanza then a part of the Municipality of Ampatuan. He was also the director of the high schools of Notre Dame of Esperanza and Notre Dame of Dukay.

Fr. Nelson Javellana, OMI

As a young priest, Nelson had shown the zeal not only of a missionary but also of an educator and community worker. He had a great future ahead of him with the Oblates. But that was not to be.

In November 3, 1971, Nelson and a group of about 70 people from Esperanza went to Cotabato City in a convoy of several vehicles. This was for protection as the conflict between the Muslims and Christians was raging. Many of the men were also armed though not Nelson. They were to present a petition at a hearing to be presided by the national government's chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Previously, in a peace conference with the provincial governor, the Christian leaders of Esperanza drew up a petition for the transfer of the counting of ballots from the barrios to the town and to suspend voting in seven towns in the national and local elections which were about to be held. Nelson was a signatory of the petition.

When they arrived in Cotabato City, they were told that the Comelec chairman would be in the 5:00 PM plane. They waited for the plane and had a plane side conference with the Comelec chairman. They then proceeded to return to Esperanza.

While their baby bus was negotiating a bad, muddy and uphill portion of the highway in Tambunan, Dinaig, they were ambushed by an unidentified armed band. From both sides of the road they were sprayed with bullets from automatic weapons including 50 caliber machine guns. They were completely taken by surprise. Those who did not die from bullets were hacked to death. Nelson was one of the twelve men who died instantly. He sustained bullet wounds all over his body. All were divested of their personal valuables. The soldier who served as their security detail was stripped of his uniform, boots, garand rifle and ammunition.

The authorities said the ambush was politically motivated. The murderers were never identified.

Nelson was a priest for only seven months when he was killed. Then Father Provincial John Murphy OMI wrote in the Provincial Missive dated November 25, 1971 thus: "He was just beginning his priestly ministry with the promise of many long years of dedicated service ahead of him.... We can certainly say that he died because of his generosity to his friends. He felt justified in taking these risks...."

Fr. Nelson Javellana, OMI was the first member of the Philippine Province to die a violent death. Others were to follow some years later. In February 4, 1997, his classmate, Bishop Benjamin "Ben" de Jesus, was assasinated and in December 28, 2000, another Benjamin, Fr. "Benjie" Inocencio was killed in the same way. Both were shot in Jolo, Sulu in broad daylight. And like Nelson's case, theirs remain unsolved to this day.

These three Oblates had one thing in common: they all died in the service of the people and community they were sent to shepherd.

Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda, OMI: “If you want me, then just kill me here in God’s chapel!”

“If you want me, then just kill me here in God’s chapel!” Those were the words heard from Fr. Rey as he was being forcedly taken out by his killers from the chapel where he was praying. There were shouts for help. Outside the chapel, near the flag pole in the quadrangle of Notre Dame of Tabawan High School, a piercing shot was heard loud in the dark. After this, except for the silhouettes of the killers dragging their victim, nothing more was seen by those peeping through the jalousies from the second floor of the school building.

Later, Fr. Rey’s body was found just outside the school premises, left on a road near the shoreline from where the murderers sped away in a motorized boat. His body bore several wounds from gunshots, stabs and lacerations in the head, face, neck, abdomen and on the back. From the wounds it is quite clear that he was meant to be killed and not to be kidnapped. As regards who killed him or who had ordered the assassins to kill him, up to this writing, we are still waiting for a satisfactory investigation result from the authorities.

Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda, OMI., was mercilessly killed at about 8:30 in that bleak and starless evening of January 15, 2008 in the remote island of Tabawan, South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. Not so distant southward is already Indonesian territory. He had been Director of Notre Dame of Tabawan High School and head of the OMI Mission Station there under the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo for ten years.

Fr. Rey was born to Bonifacio Roda and Benigna Albores on February 5, 1954 at Cotabato City. He had one brother and 3 sisters. He entered the Oblate Juniorate in 1970 after graduating from Notre Dame of Cotabato High School, took his perpetual vows as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate in 1979 and was ordained priest at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral on May 10, 1980.

After his ordination he had been assigned as Parish Vicar in Grace Park, Caloocan City in 1980 and in Midsayap, North Cotabato in 1981, as Parish Priest and Notre Dame high school Director in 1982 at Lebak, Cotabato, as Parish Priest in Magpet, Cotabato in 1984, as Chancellor of Kidapawan diocese in 1988 and as Parish Priest of Pres. Roxas, Cotabato in 1991. He did a stint in the foreign mission. He was sent to Thailand in 1992 and became the Rector of the Oblate Juniorate in Bankok. He came back to the Philippines in 1997 to be in Batu-Batu Mission in Tawi-Tawi and in June 1998 he took over as Director of Notre Dame of Tabawan High School and head of the Mission Station there up to his death just about 2 weeks before his 54rth birthday.

Fr. Rey had been ministering to the people of Tabawan and neighboring islands through education, infra-structure and developmental projects to alleviate poverty. The people are more than 99% Muslims, mostly Samals with a sprinkling of Tausug. The Christians are less than 1% and not all Catholics. The other Christians have their own Pastor, a good friend of Fr. Rey.

Every year, Fr. Rey used to write a Christmas letter expressing his greetings and summarizing the big events of that year in Tabawan. He sent this to friends who were helping him somehow in his mission. I have copies of his letters sent to our common friend who works and live in Rome, Italy. She was on vacation and intending to visit Rey in Tabawan but unfortunately and sadly she attended Fr. Rey’s funeral instead in Cotabato City.

In his December 20, 2000 letter, Fr. Rey said: “ A holy Christmas greetings from Tabawan, "probably, the most peaceful island’ in the world!” Although near the end of that letter, he also mentioned that Southern Philippines is besieged, among others, by “Abu Sayaff’s terrorism and the rise of Muslim fundamentalism.” In 2005, he also wrote: “We are losing hope in the corrupt-ridden government bureaucracy. We expect little from our power-hungry elected officials.”

He wrote:”As we end this year 2006, we thank the merciful and compassionate God for His countless blessings to me and to the peace-loving Sama people of Tabawan.” Then, he mentioned his development projects achieved through the assistance of Tabang Mindanao and Pagtabangan Basulta, a coalition of NGOs: the feeding program of 6 months for 120 Grade One pupils; the sending of public school teachers to the capability-building seminars in Bongao and Davao city. The latter because of distance would entail tremendous expense even just the transportation alone; the rehabilitation of 7 units of Grade One classroom and the construction of 2 water tanks for the public school. Most of all he was thankful that God spared him from the evil intent of kidnappers who barged into the rectory in November. He was in bongao then.

In that letter, he added this: “As I, together with my trusted aides Jularino and Sayatul engage in doing more development projects with the people, I know I will be somehow concerned for my safety and security. I will be less mobile than before. … Hopefully, the community will assist the police in monitoring and warding off violent men. I need such peaceful atmosphere in order to live, to work and to pray. Tabawan has been my place for 9 years now.”

Fr. Rey wrote his 2007 Christmas letter without knowing it would be his last. He was so happy to report that at the beginning of the year 2007, ND Tabawan’s Community Extention Services, which he had organized years before, facilitated the coming of GMA Kapuso Foundation all the way from Manila to distribute Christmas gifts to 2,500 children of Tabawan and Bintawlan, the neighboring island. He had also mentioned in the letter that the 7 units of Grade 1 classroom and 2 cement water tanks had been completed for the public schools and 150 children including those from the neighboring island are still in the feeding program.

Aside from all these, out of some 357 high school students enrolled at Notre Dame of Tabawan, more than 30 are under scholarship. There are also 8 college students at Notre dame of Jolo College, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Notre dame University, Cotabato City and Mindanao State University at Marawi City. Their being at school is dependent so much on what fr. Rey was able to receive from donors personally contacted or through his solicitation letters.

At his death, the people of Tabawan, particularly the scholars, were all asking: What will happen to us now? “Other Oblates will come to serve you,” the Oblates responded.

I have been with Fr. Rey for 5 years in Magpet parish, North Cotabato, and that created in us a special bonding. Fr. Rey, where you are now in that Great Beyond where there are no more tears nor sweat nor fears, know that I am writing this as my best tribute to you. We honor you as our choice mission offering and we say to God, paraphrasing the Episcopal Motto of our present bishop, Angelito Lampon: Accipe Oblationem Nostram (Receive our oblation).

Meditations when Hearing Mass in Union with the Sacred Passion of Jesus Christ as Prescribed by St. Frances de Sales

When the priest goes to the foot of the Altar
Jesus enters the garden

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Who was pleased voluntarily to endure mortal terror and anguish at the view of Your approaching passion, give me grace henceforth to consecrate all my sorrows to You. O God of my heart! Assist me to support my trials in union with Your agony, that through the merits of Your Passion they may become profitable to my soul.

At the Beginning of Mass
Prayer of Jesus in the garden
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, Who was pleased to be comforted by an angel in Your dreadful agony, grant through the merits of Your prayer in the garden that Your consoling angel may ever assist me in mine.

At the Confiteor
Jesus prostrated in the garden

Lord Jesus Christ, Who in the excess of Your anguish, was bathed in a sweat of blood while praying to Your Father in the Garden of Olives, grant that I may participate in Your sorrows by sympathy, and unite bitter tears of repentance with Your tears of blood.

The Priest kisses the Altar
Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss

Lord Jesus Christ, who submitted to the embrace of Judas, preserve me by Your grace, from misfortune of ever betraying You, and assist me to repay calumny and injustice with cordial charity and active kindness.

The priest goes to the Epistle side.
Jesus is dragged to prison

Lord Jesus Christ, Who submitted to be bound with ropes by the hands of wicked men, break, I beg You, the chains of my sins and attach the powers of my soul and body closely to You by bonds of charity, that they may never escape from the salutary restraint of perfect submission to Your Divine Will.

At the Introit
Jesus receives a blow

Lord Jesus Christ, Who was conducted as a criminal to the house of Annas, grant that I may never suffer myself to be led into sin by temptations of the evil spirit, or the evil suggestions of my fellow creatures, but that I may be securely guided by the Divine Spirit in the perfect accomplishment of Your holy ordinances.

At the Kyrie Eleison
Jesus is thrice denied by Peter

Lord Jesus Christ, Who submitted to be thrice denied in the house of Caiphas, by the head and prince of the apostles preserve me from the danger of evil company, that I may not be exposed to the misfortune of separation from You.

At the Dominus Vobiscum
Jesus looks at Peter and touches his heart

Lord Jesus Christ, who by one glance of love did melt the heart of St. Peter into a fountain of penitential tears, grant by Your mercy that I may weep for my sins and never by word or deed deny You, who art my lord and my God.

At the Epistle
Jesus is conducted to the house of Pilate

Lord Jesus Christ, Who was pleased to be led before Pilate, and there falsely accused, teach me to avoid the deceits of the wicked, and to profess my faith by the constant practice of good works.

At the Munda Cor Mum
Jesus is led to Herod

Lord Jesus Christ, who silently endured to be again falsely accused before Herod, grant me patience under calumny, and silence under outrages.

At the Gospel
Jesus is mocked as a fool and sent back to Pilate

Lord Jesus Christ, Who submitted to be sent as a fool by Herod to Pilate, who though enemies before, then became friends, strengthen me so powerfully by Your grace, that instead of apprehending the machinations of the wicked, I may learn to bear their malice as You did and thus render their injustice profitable to my soul.

The Priest uncovers the Chalice
Jesus is stripped of His garments

Lord Jesus Christ, Who was pleased to be despoiled of Your garments and most inhumanly scourged for love of me, grant me grace to lay aside the burden of my sins by a good confession, and never to appear before You despoiled of the virtues of a Christian.

At the Offertory
Jesus is scourged

Lord Jesus Christ, Who was pleased to be fastened to the pillar and torn with stripes, grant me grace to patiently endure the scourges of Your paternal correction and never more to grieve Your Heart with my sins.

The Priest offers the Chalice
Jesus is crowned with thorns

Lord Jesus Christ, Who submitted, through love for me, to be crowned with thorns, grant that my heart may be so penetrated with the thorns of repentance in this world, that I may deserve to be hereafter crowned with You in glory.

The priest washes his fingers
Pilate washes his hands

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who, although declared innocent by Pilate was subjected to the insults and outrages of the Jews, grant me the grace to lead an irreproachable life and at the same time to maintain a holy indifference to the opinions of men.

At the Preface
Jesus is condemned to death

Lord Jesus Christ, Who, though the God of all sanctity, submitted through love for me to a most ignominious condemnation, grant me grace to avoid rash judgments and strengthen me to bear with patience, the injustice of men.

At the Momento for the living
Jesus carries His Cross
Lord Jesus Christ, Who carried your heavy Cross for my salvation, grant that I may voluntarily embrace the cross of mortification and carry it daily for Your love.

At the Communicantes
Veronica wipes with a linen cloth the Face of Jesus
Lord Jesus Christ, Who on Your way to Calvary, said to the holy women that wept for the love of You: "Weep not for me but for yourselves;” give me the grace to weep for my sins with tears of holy contrition and love that will render me agreeable to Your divine Majesty.

Blessing of the Bread and Wine
Jesus is nailed to the Cross

Lord Jesus Christ, Who was nailed to the Cross for my redemption, attaching to it through Your Sacred Flesh, my sins, and the eternal punishment due to them, grant me Your saving fear, that resolutely observing Your Holy precepts, I may ever be attached to the Cross with You.

At the Elevation of the Host
The Cross of Jesus is elevated between Heaven and earth.

Lord Jesus Christ, Who was pleased to be elevated on the Cross and exalted above the earth for the love of me, detach my heart, I beg You, from all terrestrial affections and elevate my understanding to the consideration of Heavenly things.

At the elevation of the Chalice
The Blood of Jesus flows from His wounds.

Lord Jesus Christ, Your sacred wounds are the inexhaustible source of all grace; grant then, that Your Precious Blood may purify my soul from all evil thoughts and prove a salutary remedy for all my spiritual miseries.

At the Momento for the dead
Jesus prays for all men
Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed on the Cross for all men, even for Your executioners, grant me the spirit of meekness and patience, that according to Your precepts and example I may love my enemies and cordially return good for evil.

At the Momento for the dead
Jesus prays for all men

Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed on the Cross for all men, even for Your executioners, grant me the spirit of meekness and patience, that according to Your precepts and example I may love my enemies and cordially return good for evil.

At the Pater Noster
The seven words of Christ

Lord Jesus Christ, Who from the cross recommended Your Blessed Mother to the beloved disciple, and the disciple to Your Mother, receive me, I beg You, under Your protection, and grant that amidst the snares and perils of this world I may never lose the treasure of thy friendship.

At the division of the Host
Jesus expires of the Cross
Lord Jesus Christ, Who before expiring on the Cross commended Your Soul to Your Father, grant that I may die spiritually with You now, and so confide my eternal destiny with confidence to Your hands at the hour of my death.

At the division of the Host
Jesus expires of the Cross

Lord Jesus Christ, Who before expiring on the Cross commended Your Soul to Your Father, grant that I may die spiritually with You now, and so confide my eternal destiny with confidence to Your hands at the hour of my death.

At the Agnus Dei
The conversion of sinners

Lord Jesus Christ, the contemplation of Your torments has excited repentance in many hearts; grant me, through the efficacy of Your painful sufferings and ignominious death, perfect contrition for my past offenses, and the grace to avoid all willful sin.

At the Communion
Jesus is buried

Lord Jesus Christ, Who was pleased to be buried in a new monument, give me a new heart, so that being buried with You, I may attain to the glory of Your resurrection.

At the Ablution
Jesus is embalmed

Lord Jesus Christ, who was pleased to be embalmed and wrapped in a clean linen cloth by Joseph and Nicodemus, give me the grace to receive most worthily, Your Precious Body and Blood in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, with a heart embalmed with the precious ointment of Your virtues.

After the Communion
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Lord Jesus Christ, Who triumphantly issued from the fast sealed monument, grant that, rising from the tomb of my sins, I may walk in newness of life so that when You shall appear in glory I may merit also to appear with You.

At the Dominus Vobiscum
Jesus appears to His disciples

Lord Jesus Christ, who gladdened the hearts of Your Blessed Mother and Your apostles by manifesting Yourself to them after Your Resurrection, grant that, since I cannot be so happy as to behold You in this mortal life, I may hereafter enjoy the unclouded vision of Your glory.

At the Post-Communion
Jesus converses for forty days with His disciples

Lord Jesus Christ, Who after Your Resurrection deign to converse for forty days with Your disciples, instructing them in the mysteries of our faith, increase, I beg You, my knowledge of those Divine Truths, and confirm my belief in them.

At the Post-Communion
Jesus converses for forty days with His disciples

Lord Jesus Christ, Who after Your Resurrection deign to converse for forty days with Your disciples, instructing them in the mysteries of our faith, increase, I beg You, my knowledge of those Divine Truths, and confirm my belief in them.

At the Priest’s blessing
The descent of the Holy Ghost

Lord Jesus Christ, Who sent the Holy Spirit on Your apostles, while engaged in unanimous and persevering prayer, purify my soul, I beg You, that the Paraclete, finding therein a dwelling well pleasing to Him, may adorn it with His gifts and replenish it with His consolations

Thanksgiving after Mass

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Redeemer of men, I humbly thank You for having permitted me to assist today at the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I beg You, through the efficacy of that adorable Sacrifice, to strengthen me against all temptations, and to grant that, having served You faithfully in this life, I may hereafter attain to the possession of Your glory.

AMEN

Blessed Martin Martinez Pascual

Martin was born on the 11th November 1910 in Valdealgorfa in Aragon, Spain. He discerned a vocation to the priesthood at an early age and entered the seminary in Belchite. In 1934 he joined the Diocesan Worker Priests of the Sacred Heart, and was ordained on the 15th June 1935. He was appointed Prefect of St Joseph's College, Murcia and professor at the seminary in San Fulgencio.

The following summer, he went to his home for his vacation when the persecution of Catholics began in July 1936. He hid out in a friend's house, and later moved to a cave for safety. In August he heard that his father had been arrested, so he left his place of refuge to try to save him. On the 18th August Martin went before the committee that was examining Senor Martinez and there they discovered that the son was a priest. He was immediately arrested, and that same day brought out and shot with other priests who had also been captured. Just before he was executed, a moment after those photographs were taken, he was asked if he wanted to turn away so he would not see the guns. He refused, saying he wanted to ask God's forgiveness for those who were killing him and to give them his blessing. His only crime was to be a priest of the Most High. So they asked him if he wanted to say something. Martin replied: “I only give you my blessing that God does not take into account the madness that you commit.” And then he cried: “Viva Cristo Rey” (Long live Christ the King)

A few moments before this young priest was martyred for his Catholic faith this photograph was taken. The photographer was Hans Gutmann, a supporter of the Republican cause and he wanted to capture the priest's last moments. Fr Martin was fully aware that he was about to die, and yet he stood calmly beside one who was about to shoot him and smile for the camera. Blessed Martin was beatified on the 1st October 1995. His feast day is the 18th August.

The Trappist Martyrs of Tibhirine, Algeria, 1996

On the night of March 26-27, 1996, seven monks from the monastery Notre-Dame de l'Atlas of Tibhirine in Algeria, belonging to the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.), or Trappists, were kidnapped and later killed during the Algerian Civil War.

At about 1:15 AM on March 27, 1996, some twenty armed men arrived at the monastery of Tibhirine and took seven monks into custody. Two others, Fr. Jean-Pierre and Fr. Amédée, who died in 2008, escaped the kidnappers' notice, hidden in separate rooms. After the kidnappers left, the remaining monks tried to contact the police, but the telephone lines had been cut. Because of the curfew in force, they could only wait until morning before driving to the police station in Médéa.

On April 18, the Armed Islamic Group (GIA - Groupe Islamique Armé) issued communique #43, demanding the release of GIA leader, Abdelhak Layada, as the price for the monks' lives. On April 30, a tape with the voices of the kidnapped monks, recorded ten days earlier, was delivered to the French Embassy. On May 23, the Armed Islamic Group's communique #44 reported that the Armed Islamic Group had killed the monks on May 21. The Algerian government announced that the monks' heads had been discovered on May 31; their bodies were never found. A funeral Mass was celebrated in the Catholic Cathedral of Notre Dame d'Afrique (Our Lady of Africa), Algiers, on June 2, 1996, and their remains were buried in the cemetery of the monastery at Tibhirine on June 4. The surviving two monks of Tibhirine left Algeria, to live in the Trappist annex near Midelt in Morocco, where the late Father Bruno had been superior.

The circumstances of the Tibhirine monks' kidnapping and deaths remain controversial. In 2008, the Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that an anonymous high-ranking Western government official, then based in Algeria and in Finland, had told them that the kidnapping had been orchestrated by a GIA group which the DRS (Département du Renseignement et de la Sécurité, the Algerian state intelligence service) had infiltrated , and that the monks had then been killed accidentally by an Algerian military helicopter attacking the camp where they were being held captive. In 2009, the retired French general, François Buchwalter, who was military attaché in Algeria at the time, testified to a judge that the monks had accidentally been killed by a helicopter from the Algerian government during an attack on a guerrilla position, then beheaded after their death to make it appear as though the GIA had killed them. Ex-GIA leader Abdelhak Layada, who was in prison when the monks were killed, but was later freed under a national amnesty, responded by claiming that the Armed Islamic Group had indeed beheaded them after negotiations with the French secret services broke down.

Brother Christian, prior of the Tibhirine monastery, left behind a letter which he had written on New Year's Eve, 1993, to be opened by his community and family in the event of his death. He and the other monks were well aware of the growing tensions in Algeria, and that he, and they, might well become "a victim of terrorism which now seems ready to engulf all the foreigners living in Algeria". In the letter he assures those left behind that, while he doesn't desire such a death, indeed doesn't feel worthy of such an offering, he could never rejoice:

Brother Christian de Chrege

"if the people I love were to be accused indiscriminately of my murder. To owe it to an Algerian, whoever he may be, would be too high a price to pay for what will, perhaps, be called, the 'grace of martyrdom', especially if he says he is acting in fidelity to what he believes to be Islam. I am aware of the scorn which can be heaped on Algerians indiscriminately. I am also aware of the caricatures of Islam which a certain Islamism encourages. It is too easy to salve one's conscience by identifying this religious way with the fundamentalist ideologies of its extremists. For me, Algeria and Islam are something different: they are a body and a soul. I have proclaimed this often enough, I believe, in the sure knowledge of what I received from it, finding there so often that true strand of the Gospel, learnt at my mother's knees, my very first Church, in Algeria itself, and already inspired with respect for Muslim believers..."