Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

Today we celebrate the commemoration of St. Paul Miki and his Companions (Martyrs).

Saint Paul was born in Japan between 1564 and 1566. Entering the Society of Jesus, he preached the Gospel to the people with great success. But when persecutions against Catholics became oppressive, he was arrested along with twenty-five others. After enduring torment and derision, they were finally taken to Nagasaki and there suffered crucifixion in 1597 on the vigil of this day.

Prayer

God our Father,
source of strength for all your saints,
you led Paul Miki and his companions
through the suffering of the cross
to the joy of eternal life.
May their prayers give us the courage
to be loyal until death in professing our faith.
Amen!

Credits:
Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of Hours
Welcome to seek his face - Thanks for the Picture

My Personal Evaluation

Staying here inside the seminary for about approximately 1.5 year, I have many changes since the first day I stayed here. Being a rookie in the seminary needs a lot of adjustments and patience especially on dealing with my companions and the seminary schedule. I thought that seminary life would be easy and fun but I was definitely wrong. I need to exert more effort in developing myself especially the skills that will need in my future ministry. Truly, I had the difficulty of improving and learning the skills that I need to know. Sometimes this discourages me in pursing my chosen vocation. Becoming a priest is not so easy especially a Salesian priest. When I was still a first year aspirant, there were many things that bothered me like I was always asking myself that “am I really fit to this kind of life?”, “am I really called by him? Why I am still here?” these were the questions that still don’t have any answers. I fell like a paper on the sea which follows the waves wherever they go.

As I scanned through my “Personal Plan of Life” which I submitted last year. I wrote in my priority objectives that after one year I must know how to play the guitar, read novels and long stories of saints, improve my study habits, practice playing football, improve my singing, prayer life and grammar, leadership, read the Bible, able to read properly, able to speak English accurately. But sad to say, all of these were not accomplished.

I would like to thank you for helping me know myself better. I saw parts of me that changed since I entered here. Allow me to narrate some of them based on the Profile of a Salesian Aspirant. Speaking of work, I changed a lot in this matter since at our home I didn’t work even sweat can’t be seen when I am there. I enjoying working and at the same time I appreciated its beauty and usefulness. While in sports, I also have countless changes in this area at home I didn’t like to play especially outdoor games. I didn’t expect that I will be able to play football and experience the joy when I am in the field with my companions. Each time the bell will rings for games, my body automatically energized for that activity it seems that games is so important in my formation. (Hehehe) Personal hygiene is very important since I don’t want to be tease with my companions I make it a point to be clean and presentable every day. After many months of doing this, I feel uncomfortable when this is not animated.

I had difficulties regarding my family, as what I have shared to Fr. Rector last time when I ask him to talk with him. This problem affects me most especially with my studies and seminary life. I didn’t expect that this problem will come in my life this year. I accepted the unique qualities of man and woman their individual weakness and strengths. Speaking of relationships with opposite sex, I had a hard time on departing myself from this kind of relationship especially when it is already passing over the line of friendship. At first I expect that this kind of scenario will not be a problem for me since during my high school years this was not always in my mind. Maybe this is the effect that I was not able to join in with this kind of relationship. Relationship with my companions was difficult for me and I had a hard time on dealing with it but as the time went by, it just went smoothly and this time I don’t have much problem with it.

Community activities, I actively participate them in the seminary. Sometimes I feel bothered because it is done repeatedly. I care for my personal properties especially to my valuables. In fulfilling my duties as a seminarian, I make it a point that I will be able to finish all of it in time. In good and responsible choices, sometimes I choice things that will not really help me in my formation and I am not aware that it will really distract my formation. I enjoy the nature and environment; by gazing on beautiful places especially on mountains and grassy places. I tried to make use of the seminary’s environment as my training ground for the keeping trash in its right place. And I know that these will really help me in the mere future.

As a seminarian, I tried myself to engage myself with Christ by constant communication through prayer. Each time we will have our reconciliation, I make it a point that I will reflect during this period. Regarding my prayer life, I have noticed that it is slowly weakening than during my first year. Honestly, I lack some motivation and I really would try my best to improve on it this second semester. I always ask help to our blessed mother, Mary Help of Christians because I know that she will really grant my petitions and will help me in time of need. I don’t have much more knowledge about Don Bosco, the first time that I open the” Memoirs of Oratory” was when I need to have some facts about his life for my sermonette.

I accept the formation that our formators has planned for us. I don’t have any choice but to follow what they want for us. And I know that it’s for our own sake and not for them. Since I want to follow Don Bosco’s way I need to obey the formation plan. While I don’t have any backgrounds of the life of a Salesian, I don’t know some traditions and customs that they practice I only knew that they work for the young especially the poor ones. In percentage I am 60 percent open to my formators, I am not so close with them and sometimes I am afraid to talk with them.

In school, I enjoy doing my requirements and also here in the seminary. I really want to plan out things and I want to be busy always. I don’t have much more difficulties in school because much of my subjects dealt with numbers. I love to play with numbers and I really enjoy manipulating them. Regarding my study habits for this semester, I have a smooth sailing semester this time than the previous ones. Talking about reflecting, during meditation, I write my experiences in my journal and also my short prayer for that day. I know that it is not the right time to write during meditation but I don’t have any time and I am in my mood during that time.

Regarding communication skills and reading, I know that these are important because I will be a future priest or an educator someday so I really need to improve my communication skills. Honestly, I still tremble when I talk in front of many people it seems that they will terrorize me when I talk. I won’t let this year to pass without facing and improve this skill. Speaking of skills, I still don’t know how to play the guitar and some skills that will help me in the apostolate someday. These are some of the things that I have mind as I evaluate myself.

Danger on Vampire Trail

Franklin W. Dixon is the pen name used by a variety of different authors (Leslie McFarlane, a Canadian author being the first) who wrote The Hardy Boys novels for the Stratemeyer Syndicate (now owned by Simon & Schuster). Charles Leslie McFarlane was born in Carleton Place, Ontario, he is most famous for ghostwriting many of the early books in the very successful Hardy Boys series using the pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon.

An assignment from their famous detective father, Fenton Hardy to track down a ring of credit-card counterfeiters takes Frank, an eighteen-year-old and dark-haired boy and Joe, a seventeen-year-old and blond boy Hardy his adventurous sons on an exciting camping trip to Rocky Mountains. The cross-country trek with their pal Chet Morton, the Hardy boy’s closest friend who lived on a farm on the outskirts of Bayport and Biff Hooper is unfortunate from the very first day. Trouble with their tent trailer is compounded by cruel harassment all the way to Colorado. Here their enemies strike at Biffs lovable bloodhound in another attempt to scare the teen-age detectives off the case. In Denver a skein of clues confuses the Hardy’s. Many gangs are out to get them. Strange happenings on a nearly impassable mountain lure Frank, Joe, Chet, and Biff to almost certain death before they discover the evil reason for the danger on Vampire Trail.

The lesson of the story was preserving in spite of hardships. Even though many trails and hardships came on their way they still achieve their goal because they didn’t surrender on their way. In relating in our life, we must not easily give up our aim and ambition because we meet hardships and trials along the way but instead we make it as our strength or a helping block towards our ambition.

The novel was good and I like the style of the author on delivering the story. He let the novel speaks and it brings the reader into the story. Even though the story was so complicated because there are so many places that I don’t know but still he helps you describe the place. The story has many characters and some of them disappear at the middle of the tale. The author set the story on an adventure mode and it gives suspense to the reader.

"The Bomb" By: Theodore Taylor

Theodore Taylor (June 23, 1921, Statesville, North Carolina - October 26, 2006, Laguna Beach, California) was the author of more than 50 fiction and non-fiction books for young adult readers, including The Cay, The Weirdo (winner of the 1992 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery), Ice Drift, Timothy of the Cay, The Bomb, Sniper, and Rogue Wave.

In 1931, Taylor's family moved from Statesville to Craddock, a village near Portsmouth, North Carolina. At age 13 he was hired by the local newspaper to write a column on high school sports. Dijana had a passion for reading and she read his book the Cay. Dijana had told him about the book and how fantastic it was and that is how they became friends.
In high school Taylor failed to pass a required course in mathematics, and he dropped out of school at age 17. He joined the merchant marines in World War II and earned a commission as an ensign in the United States Navy. He was recalled to the Navy during the Korean War. He also worked as a Hollywood press agent for many years and a screen writer for a short time. Dijana was his one and only friend until the late 1960. He died at his home in Laguna Beach, California, at the age of 85. It is believed that the cause of death was a heart attack.

Shortly after the first atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, World was 2 came to an end, and the terrible reality of the atomic age began… Sixteen-year-old Sorry Rinamu has lived on the Bikini Atoll in the western Pacific all his life. Now the United States government wants to use his home as a site for atomic weapons tests. The islanders are told that they must leave the island in the interest of world peace but can return when the land is safe again. Sorry doesn’t believe the story. He is sure that radioactive fallout will poison the warm blue waters and beautiful white sand beaches, and Bikini Atoll will be lost its people forever. Sorry knows that he has no choice but to stop this disaster with the help of his uncle Abram before it starts, even if it means standing alone against the U.S military, and risking his own life to save his ancestral land.
The story speaks about more in determination, hardwork and faith. These things made our protagonist accomplished in his goal to save his fellow islanders. As I read this book I also remembered the times that I encountered many hardships and trails in my life, everyday we encounter it and sometimes this makes our way curve through our personal goal in life or should I say our turn point. Faith in our Lord is so very important especially in journeying our everyday life with trails along the way.

I like the style of the author because he gave some facts about the atomic bomb and who it was used during the World War 2. This facts adds on my learning. I appreciated well his work especially on making his novel a reflective and enjoyable one. It will really make the readers to love more the beauty of reading. And this author has done a great job on gathering more readers through his works.

Sun Star Zup

My most preferred food every Christmas is Ube flavored Ice Cream because I feel the Spirit and essence of Christmas through its coldness and its sweetness reminds me of sugar like Christmas memories.

Hardships, a Gadget in Persevering Ones Vocation

After a tiring day at school, I arrived at the seminary one afternoon. I immediately went upstairs to change my attire for the games. I moved in haste and suddenly stopped to look at the new list of daily mass servers at the aspirants’ bulletin board. As I examined the list, I was in great shock when I unexpectedly saw my name on the sermonette column. I didn’t expect that I would be given the chance to present a sermonette this early. I felt a lot of emotions; especially being nervous and uncomfortable; nervous because it is going to be my first time. When I returned to my normal state of thinking, I realized that I shouldn’t be afraid because this is going to be for my own growth and learning, and most especially this is for Don Bosco.

At that moment, as I entered the study hall, I started thinking of a good topic for my sermonette. The first thing that came to my mind was the word “hardship.” Since during that week, I experienced many rigors especially on adjusting myself to the seminary schedule and to my studies particularly in integrating problems in calculus, formulating outlines for speech assignments, making circuit designs for my electronics course and many more. Truly, these days were an agony for me. But what is the true meaning of hardship anyway?

All of us have our individual hardships and obstacles in life. When we hear the word hardship, the first thing that comes into our mind is the discomfort it causes us. Sometimes, we misunderstand that word and not think of its helpfulness. According to the Webster’s dictionary, the word hardship is a noun which means a state of misfortune and affliction. Even the lexicons give a negative meaning to this word.

As an example, I would like to share to you my hardships during the first weeks of my stay here in the seminary. As a normal rookie, I thought that life in the seminary would just be all fun and enjoyable, but I was wrong. I didn’t foresee that there would be hardships and trials along the way. I experienced a lot of hardships like waking up early in the morning because it was not my usual routine at home. Moving myself at the sound of the bell, dealing with my companions with their individual attitudes, feeling homesick, feeling tired from work all day, leaving my usual earthly pleasures like playing online games, texting, and watching anime (like Naruto), and lastly enrolling a course that I least like. I know that becoming a religious priest is not an easy and painless vocation. That’s why I need to overcome those little hardships so that I may be strengthened in achieving my primary goal in life which is to become a priest, and not just an ordinary priest, but a holy Salesian priest.

As I strive to overcome all these trials and obstacles, I look up to Don Bosco as my model in perseverance. Our father St. John Bosco endured many hardships during his lifetime, and yet in spite of all those hardships he persevered in his vocation because of his prayer and extreme devotion to our Lord and to our Blessed Mother, Mary Help of Christians. When he was young, he was taught by his own Mother Mama Margaret to get used to little hardships. In fact, we read in the biographical memoirs that Mama Margaret really loved her sons that she never smothered them with cloying affection. Actually, her idea was to accustom them to a sober, laborious and Spartan way of life so that they would grow strong and robust. Don Bosco was trained by his mother to live a life full of hardships. And so it happened when he as a seminarian would go home for summer vacation, his mother would make up his bed with a plain, hard straw mattress instead of a softer mattress which he was accustomed to use in the seminary. Mama Margaret said “it’s best that he get used to sleeping without too much comfort because conveniences are not hard to get used to. And that he must get used of little hardships”.

Much earlier than that, he had many difficulties as a school boy. Most of it was cause by serious financial problems. For instance because of his family’s poverty, he need to walk 5 to 6 miles going to school. Converting that to kilometers, it would be approximately 8.85 kms. That would be like walking from DBFC – Lawaan to Santo Rosario Church near USC – main campus, can you imagine that? And he did all these without complaining. In fact, he completed his basic education with flying colors. However his greatest difficulty was that of leaving their home in Becchi because his brother Anthony disagreed with his plan of going to school…. In spite of the difficulties, he was able to with stand all of these and attain his dream of becoming a priest and devoting his whole life at the service of the young by the help of his prayer and great devotion to our Lady.

And so I encourage you my fellow aspirants as well as you our holy and prayerful prenovices to imitate Don Bosco and take the challenge of overcoming our own personal hardships and making them our strength in persevering in our chosen vocation. Before I end my sermonette, I want to share an equation that keeps me persevering in the seminary: “Derivation of hardships divided by trails, sufferings and hardships plus Integration of faith in our Lord times love to the power of prayer plus tangent squared of patience divided by temperance, hard work and hope equals to a happy way of living one’s vocation.” I hope that you have learned something from my sermonette and that you will use your hardships and trials as your gadget in persevering in your priestly vocation. And finally, let DBTC’s motto truly be our motto: ARDUA NON TIMEO, fear no hardships.

Educate With Patience and Love

In my early years, when I heard the word “Don Bosco” the first thing that came out of my mind was it was an outstanding school with prominent and high class students. Not knowing that the word Don Bosco is a person’s name. Who really was Don Bosco?

St. John Bosco was a priest and at the same time an outstanding educator. He founded a religious congregation named Salesians of Don Bosco as it is called by now. He educated young people especially the poor ones and taught them good values. He didn’t just educate them but he also played with them and formed them into good Christians and honest citizens of this world. His ideas and theories have found acceptance in our present century as they are being practiced and taught.

It is important to know him and live his values because these are useful in forming ourselves to become good educators. In knowing Don Bosco, the most important values that he had when he educated the young, were the virtues of patience, love, temperance and perseverance. In fact, he practiced an educational methodology known as the Preventive System. A system anchored on the three pillars of reason, religion and loving kindness and implemented through active presence. This is why he is so good in educating young people. He also had good works not only in educating the young to become good Christians but also as responsible citizens in their countries. He lent his helping hand to his needy country men. In fact, when cholera attacked his native country, he sent his boys to help the people who were in dire need. The thing that inspired me most about St. John Bosco was his patience for his boys. As an educator, the virtue of patience is of paramount importance especially in educating and forming the young. You cannot love and persevere without the presence of patience. Teachers like you and I should follow his ways because this is very helpful in dealing and teaching people.

We must always remember that we not only teach our students but also love them just as what Don Bosco showed his boys. Let us make Don Bosco as our model in educating young people. Since we teachers are teaching in a Salesian school or setting, I encourage you to follow his ways by simply having patience and loving your students. I hope that this talk has given you additional knowledge about him and his works in educating the young. I would like to end with a quotation that came from the words of St. Francis the Sales, whom Don Bosco admired so much and took as his model in his ministry among the young. He said, “you can catch more flies with a teaspoon of honey than with a barrel of vinegar”.