Life of St. Scholastica & St. Benedict

Life of St. Scholastica and St. Benedict's last encounter

• Saint Scholastica and Saint Benedict spent time together discussing spiritual matters
• As evening approached, St. Benedict decided to return to his monastery, but St. Scholastica wanted him to stay longer for conversation and prayer
• St. Benedict insisted on leaving due to his monastic order's rules
• St. Scholastica, filled with faith, knelt and prayed
• A great storm with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain arose
• St. Benedict realized the storm was a sign from God
• They spent the entire night talking about God and spiritual life
• St. Scholastica's prayer moved God's heart
• The storm became a sign of God's presence and blessing
• The next morning, they parted ways, knowing it would be their last encounter on Earth
• Three days later, St. Benedict had a vision of St. Scholastica's soul ascending to heaven
• He realized she had passed away
• The story teaches the power of prayer: pray with faith, offer oneself in service, and approach God faithfully

Ash Wednesday and Season of Lent

• Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lenten Season, about 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays)
• Sundays are considered mini-Easters, days of resurrection
• Ashes come from burned palms of the previous year's Palm Sunday
• Christians wear ashes as a sign of repentance, humility, and renouncing pride
• When distributing ashes, the proclamation is: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return!" or "Turn away from sin and believe (or be faithful) to the Gospel!"
• The liturgical color of Lent is purple, symbolizing penance and repentance
• The 40 days of Lent represent Jesus' temptation in the desert
• It also represents the 40 years the Israelites spent in exile after the Exodus
• The number 40 in the Bible is symbolic
• Practices during Lent include prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and abstinence
• Religious devotions include Pabasa or Pasyon, Cenaculo, Penance, Visita Iglesia, Stations of the Cross, and Procession
• Holy Week is the final week before Easter, reflecting on Jesus' last days, death, and resurrection

Holy Week Events

• Palm Sunday begins Holy Week, celebrating Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem and honoring Christ as King
• Maundy Thursday, properly called "Thursday of the Lord's Supper," commemorates the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper
• Good Friday, formally known as the "Friday of the Passion and Death of the Lord," marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and is a day of sorrow and mourning
• Christians observe Good Friday with services and Stations of the Cross, Catholics may veil the cross in purple
• Holy Saturday is a quiet and reflective day, remembering the time Jesus was in the tomb, it's a day of waiting and hope
• Easter Sunday is a joyous day celebrating Jesus' resurrection from the dead, symbolizing hope, love, and the triumph of life over death

Easter Season

• Easter Season is a special time to celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection
• It is a season of joy and hope
• Jesus' Resurrection is the core of Easter
• Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday after dying on the cross to save us, giving us a powerful reason to celebrate
• The Easter Season reminds us that Jesus' resurrection gives us new life, thus we can have hope and assurance
• Celebrations occur in church and at home with joyful songs, special prayers, Easter egg hunts, or parades
• The Easter Season lasts for fifty days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, a time to continue celebrating Jesus' victory over death
• Easter is a time for acts of kindness
• This shows love as Jesus did, spread joy, and share God's love for family, friends, and strangers
• In the Philippines, "Salubong" is a special Easter Sunday tradition
• It reenacts the joyful meeting between the risen Jesus and His mother, Mary
• Statues of Jesus and Mary are carried in separate processions by men and women, respectively
• They meet at a designated place where a girl dressed as an angel removes the black veil from Mary's statue
• This represents the love between Jesus and Mary, and celebrates the joy of the Resurrection

Saints, Sanctus, and All Souls Day

• Faith Vocabulary:
• Beatification is the Church's recognition of a person as very close to God, giving them the title "Blessed," a step toward sainthood
• Canonization is the official declaration by the Church that a person is a saint, saints are holy figures who lived virtuously are now in heaven with God
• Intercession is asking a saint to pray for us, believed to help bring our prayers to God
• Saints are holy people who lived faithful and virtuous lives and are now in heaven with God
• They serve as role models and spiritual friends
• Martyrs are individuals who choose to suffer or die for their faith rather than renounce it

Life of St. Lorenzo Ruiz

• St. Lorenzo Ruiz was the first Filipino saint and martyr with feast day September 28
• He was a kind, faithful man who loved God and did what was right
• Falsely accused of a crime, he went to Japan to spread the Gospel, where they tried to make him deny his faith
• Refusing to renounce his love for God, he was imprisoned and treated cruelly
• He prayed for strength and forgiveness
• Offered a chance to escape, he stayed and faced punishment to protect others
• He was sentenced to death and martyred for his belief
• His love for God and courage inspire us to stay true to our beliefs in the face of challenges

Life of St. Pedro Calungsod

• St. Pedro Calungsod, feastday April 2, was a young Filipino boy
• He was kind-hearted, loved helping others, and shared God's love
• He joined a mission to Guam as a teenager to spread the good news of Jesus Christ
• Despite hostility and danger, Pedro remained strong and continued to share God's love
• Pedro and a companion were martyred
• It teaches the importance of standing up for what we believe, is kind and loving to others, show courage, and share God's love

Remembering the Saints

• Saints encourage us to follow their example of obedience to God's commandments
• During All Saints' Day (November 1), saints in heaven are remembered and honored
• The Church celebrates so many Saints, each day recognizing the feast day of a particular Saint
• We remember the saints often during the Holy Mass

Angels are God's heavenly servants

• Guardian Angels are special angels assigned by God to protect and guide individuals
• They are personal helpers from heaven, always watching over us and keeping us safe
• Guardian Angels are invisible but always present, and help them make good choices and comfort
• They can be talked to for help, guidance, or protection
• Also, they love and care for us
• Guardian angels are a gift from God and a sign of His love and desire to keep us safe
• We should be grateful for their presence and trust in their guidance
• Specific jobs of the angels are:
  • Cherubim - Heavenly creatures mentioned in the Bible as guardians and protectors
  • Seraphim - The highest order of angels
  • They are the attendants or guardians before God's throne

Three Archangels

• St. Gabriel is known as the messenger angel who brought to good news to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus
• We can ask for his help when we need guidance or when we want to share good news with others
• St. Michael the Archangel is known as the leader of all the angels
• He fights against evil, he is often depicted with a sword and shield, ready to defend and protect us from harm
• We can ask help when we feel scared or need courage
• Raphael brings God's healing power to those who are sick
• Raphael also finds travelers their way, also comfort
• These are also in need of comfort

Prayer to the guardian angel

• "Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom God's love commits me here, Ever this day be at my side, To light, to guard, to rule, to guide. Amen."

Eternal Life

• Eternal life is a gift from God that lasts forever
• After death, our souls will live with God in heaven if we follow His teachings and love Him and others
• Heaven will be filled with joy, peace, and love, and we will be united with loved ones who have passed away
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church: "Those who die in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever with Christ"
• We prepare ourselves for our place in heaven by living in accordance with God's commandments and to love and serve others
• Purgatory and Heaven are two different places or states after death, according to Catholic teachings

Purgatory

• Purgatory is a temporary state where people who have died in God's grace but still have some sins or imperfections are purified
• God helps become completely pure and ready to be with Him
• People can pray for those in Purgatory to help them on their journey

Heaven

• Heaven is the perfect place of eternal happiness and union with God
• It is a place of joy, peace, and love, where we will be with God forever
• In Heaven, there is no more fights and conflicts-only harmony, no more temptations and selfishness-only perfect peace
• In Heaven, happiness is everlasting and will be completely satisfied
• In Heaven, we will see and talk to God face to face
• We must remain faithful to Him