TOTUS TUUS (Totally Yours)

It was another experience that I will never forget. Jut like the first time that I viewed an exhibit on John Paul II celebrating his feast day almost three years ago, I was given another opportunity to see one, Totus Tuus Tour on the same venue last April 24, 2014.It was held at the activity area of Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City. Totus Tuus  was the apostolic motto of Pope John Paul II.  It is a Latin phrase meaning “totally yours” and expressed his personal consecration to Mary. I am always awed and inspired  every time I have the opportunity to do this. This time, when I saw some of the first class relics displayed there, I cried. The way he touched people, the way he inspired the youth when he was alive  and now, he is a saint. What a lovely journey!

Just like his beatification three years ago, he will be canonized on a Divine Mercy Sunday together with another beloved pope, Pope John XXIII. Unlike the later who is not known much to our generation, Pope John Paul II is so much-loved by the youth of today.  I treasure the only memento I had of his beatification, a rosary given to me by Fr. Louie, a student priest friend in Rome when JP II was beatified. I took some pictures of the exhibit but I am limiting a few here because I have a separate album posted at my FB timeline.

Some of the relics displayed at the exhibit.
©Dreams and Escapes

©Dreams and Escapes

The reliquary where Saint Paul II first class relics are displayed.
©Dreams and Escapes

©Dreams and Escapes

I love this Zucchetto. I could just imagine JP II wearing this on his head.
©Dreams and Escapes

A first class relic – a piece of cloth imbued with JP II’s blood.
©Dreams and Escapes

Another first class relic – strands of hair of JP II.
©Dreams and Escapes

The rosary in the picture reminds me of the gift my priest son gave me several years ago which came from the Vatican. The beads are the same and the crucifix is quite similar too.
©Dreams and Escapes

The Papal chair was the same thing JP II used during his visit to the Philippines in 1981.
©Dreams and Escapes

Totus Tuus Tour

The office of the Vice Postulation for the cause for canonization of Bl. Ivan Merz is blessed to have in their custody various relics of St. John Paul II. From first to second class relics, major to minor kinds, these are offered for the veneration of the faithful. All are authenticated and recognized by the Church Pastors,most especially by the Archbishop of Krakow – the former secretary of Pope John Paul II.

On the occasion of Pope John Paul II’s canonization (April 27, 2014, in the Vatican), the Office of the Vice Postulator of Blessed Ivan Merz has organized the Public Exposition and Veneration of his Relics. From his blood stain and hair strands to his papal zucchetto and part of his cassock (soutane), and other important relics and memorabilia, the faithful will have access in praying before these sacred remains to deepen their love and devotion to our newest Saint.

It was a lovely journey, seeing all these and praying for family and friends.

 

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It’s Divine Mercy Sunday

Three celebrations in one day! Aside from celebrating the Beatification of Blessed Pope John Paul II today, we are also commemorating Divine Mercy Sunday (celebrated every second Sunday of Easter) and the memorial of St. Joseph, the Worker.  This is our profile picture at our site, Apostles Filipino Catholic Community at Facebook.

You can visit my previous blog on last year’s celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday here.

I was watching the documentary on Blessed JP II’s Journey at ANC  prior to his Beatification this afternoon (Manila Time) and one of their guests is the former Ambassador to the Holy See, Amb. Henrietta de Villa. She recounted the times she personally met Blessed JP II.  In one meeting, she said to him that his eyes were so blue then later realized that she must have committed social blunder, a  faux pas. The Pope took it in stride and he took her face and kissed her on the forehead saying, “don’t tell the other ambassadors I kissed you.” She recalled that she was simply awed by the mere presence of the Pope as if she was seeing heaven. What an experience!

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Blessed John Paul II

Here’s a picture of the commemorative rosary on JP II’s beatification. It’ s a gift  from Fr. Louie Coronel, OP, a friend who is based in Rome.  Thank you Father, this means so much.

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April Ends, Here Comes May

“What really matters in life is that we are loved by Christ and that we love Him in return. In comparison to the love of Jesus, everything else is secondary. And, without the love of Jesus, everything is useless.” – Pope John Paul II

How time flies! Not long ago, I’ve welcomed April with a bang and it seems that the start of May is so  significant and worth-remembering. Tomorrow, we’re not only celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday but also the Beatification of our  beloved Pope John Paul II. Don’t you just wish you could sprout wings and be with the crowd in Rome to witness an event which  will go down the history of the Catholic Church? Don’t you just wish you could mingle with the joyous crowd from all over the world to celebrate this event which is another step closer to sainthood? How I wish I were there too, counting the hours and the minutes till the big day. It’s like anticipating your own birthday, only this time  it is even more worth-celebrating. Last week, I received a commemorative rosary of JP II’s beatification courtesy of Fr. Louie, a Dominican priest friend who is based in Rome. What a lovely gift, it would always remind me of  JP II’s beatification.  Thanks to social media, even if we’ll just be in front of our TV set, we won’t miss the event.

It’s been a long and busy day for me . We had visitors at home,  we met  up with my daughter’s fashion designer for her upcoming wedding. I have nearly forgotten the joys and anticipation in preparing for a wedding. It’s been twenty-nine long years since our big day. It’s my daughter’s turn now. Although it is still five months away, I am also excited like her.  There is something nice about reminiscing your own wedding. Last night, we watched the exchange of vows between Prince William  and now Princess Catherine aptly dubbed as the Royal Wedding. It’s a fairy tale wedding complete with a handsome prince  and a lovely princess.  That’s what wedding should be, a happy union of  two people in love.

In ten days, I’ll be celebrating my two years of blogging here at WordPress – 509 posts including this one. How time flies!  May here I come!

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