October Month of the Holy Rosary: How can we Pray for You?

October has begun and it signals the beginning of the month of the Holy Rosary! 

My husband and I decided to pray the Rosary everyday for the next 30 days to celebrate the Rosary month. Call it the #RosaryMonthChallenge.

When we prayed the Rosary on Day 1, we lifted to God our intentions as a couple and the intentions of our friends that we know of.

The next day, I decided to post a Rosary on my instagram and asked friends to send me their prayer intentions if they want us to pray for them. Thankfully, 2 of my friends contacted me so we were able to pray for their intentions on Day 2. Yay!

I believe that prayer is a very powerful ally. I also believe that having more people to pray with you about your intentions is even more powerful. And utilizing the Rosary in praying and seeking the assistance of the Blessed Mother is an even nuclear prayer! 

Let us not be shy in proclaiming our faith nor in asking our Christian peers to pray for us. 

We are very willing to pray for you!

If you have specific petitions that we could help you pray for, please send me a comment or an e-mail at thecatholicchic@gmail.com and I assure you that WE WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU and will keep your intentions confidential too for your own privacy. God bless you!

Let us also encourage each other as we take on this challenge of praying to Mama Mary this October. 

Lots of love,

The Catholic Chic

Three Qualities of a Missionary

"He said to them, 

'Take nothing for the journey, 

neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, 

and let no one take a second tunic.'" 

- Luke 9: 3

Last Wednesday, Fr. Ruper Solis, SVD celebrated the Holy Eucharist at the Couples For Christ Global Mission Center. I memorized the homily he said because it was something very useful to us missionaries. The homily was in line with the Gospel which was taken from Luke 9:1-6.

Being a missionary priest in Argentina for the last 7 years, Fr. Ruper has so much to share about how to really be a missionary.

Fr. Ruper Solis

"Do not take anything with you"

In the homily, he shared with us the Three Qualities of a Missionary.

Number 1: You are a messenger.

Fr. Ruper reminded us that as missionaries, we do not send ourselves but it is the Lord who sends us. Sometimes, when we go to a place, we tend to be arrogant and think "I will save these people." But not really.

He reminded us to remember that it is Christ who sent us. We are merely bearers of the message and servants ready to do His will. We are there not to do what we want but to open ourselves to do exactly what God wants for the people through our presence.

We are but instruments.

Number 2: You should Live Simply.

Before Fr. Ruper went to Argentina, he carried with him 2 large suitcases of personal belongings enough for the 7-year trip. When he got back to the Philippines after 7 years, he also brought back 2 large suitcases with him. That was all he had.

He found it funny that his entire possessions fit in only 2 large suitcases. But that story reminded me of how we are but nomads in this life. Earth is not our final destination but Heaven.

We came here on earth with nothing and we will leave with nothing.

As missionaries, we are to live simply and be ready to surrender much material wealth for the call of the Lord.

Number 3: You must be a Positive thinker.

Being a positive thinker is one of the most necessary 'skills' of a missionary. According to Fr. Ruper, being a missionary is not a walk in the park. There are times when you will face rejection, persecution, disillusionment, and hopelessness in your journey. It is best to think positive and focus on God despite the many oppressions that come your way.

---

Those are my notes from his homily and I hope these will inspire you in your journey as a missionary for Christ.

God bless you!!! 

Love, 

The Catholic Chic

God's Providence: Birthday Edition

For my 29th birthday dinner, I decided to make it intimate and celebrate with my immediate family. I planned to have a simple dinner, just an assorted range of pizzas.

29!!!

I was a little bit anxious because I knew I had little money to spare on my birthday. I only bought something fit for 7 people though I feel like there will be more people visiting me that night. Aside from that, I also did not have a 'Pizza card' which entitles the bearer to a 'Buy 1 Take 1' pizza promo. 

The pizza delivery guy came and handed me 3 family size pizzas. While carrying it to the table, I was staring at it thinking "This is not gonna satisfy 7 hungry people..." It made me a little bit down that I can't afford more but I kept silent about it and focused on the joy of eating with my family.

After a few minutes of enjoying pizza, my mom bit on something hard in her slice. We were shocked to find that it was a screw!!! I immediately reported the incident to the restaurant to prevent accidents in their kitchen. For all I know, there might be a broken oven which may cause a fire in their kitchen. I hung up the call after I filed the report.

A few seconds later, their representative called me up and told me that they would be replacing all the pizzas we ordered with new batches of freshly-baked pizza. We almost emptied all the boxes out but they will be replacing everything!!! Praise God!

Aside from this, my mom made me fruit salad while my husband bought me chocolate cake for dessert!  

Talk about providence! 

Cake surprise!

My cake box. <3

A few minutes later, more of my family members came to celebrate with me and I'm glad we had more to feast on than what I expected. We were satisfied to the brim. We even had a lot of leftovers! All thanks to the Lord's providence.

After this experience, I reflected on how God truly provides for me. When there are times when I feel like there is no hope, He suddenly does a little something to allow me to feel His presence. 

May we always remember God's providence and allow ourselves to surrender and be cared for by the King.

For that may God be praised!

Note: I did not sue the Pizza company as my peers suggested. No one in my family got sick or injured in the event and I just felt like imparting God's mercy and compassion on my birthday. <3

Lots of Love,

The Catholic Chic  

Pre-birthday Road Trip Musings

Last Saturday was the eve of my birthday. My husband initiated we go on a road trip together because he knew I love road trips!

Going up north.

While in the car, I was reminiscing how my husband wasn't with me on my birthday last year. Until today it still brings me much sadness remembering that year.

This year, he came home and chose to stay with me. I praise God that he is here. And as I look at him while he is driving, I think to myself, 'How blessed am I'.

In my country, you will often meet families wherein either the husband or wife would be working abroad to financially support the family. Due to the lack of jobs here, many opt to earn elsewhere. 

It brings me great pain that the Filipino people have to go abroad to earn. Citizens of 'first world' countries don't have to do that. I hope someday our country is run better so we don't have to send husbands, wives, fathers, or mothers, abroad as this situation brings much challenge to marriage, and later on, the family. 

For now, I will just praise and thank God for giving me this moment to appreciate the existence of my husband. It was hard not having him around. I'm glad that year is done. He's back. <3