All Saints Day

It is sad to know that the Feast of All Saints is understood differently be so many people especially by Catholics. I really don't know what they think about this feast but for clarification, I give this short background about this feast.


All Saints' Day (also called All Hallows or Hallowmas), often shortened to All Saints, is a feast celebrated on November 1 in Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity in honour of all the saints, known and unknown. In terms of Roman Catholic theology, the feast commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in heaven, while the next day, All Souls' Day, commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven.

In the early Church, Christians would celebrate the anniversary of a martyr's death for Christ (known as the saint's "birth day") by serving an All-Night Vigil, and then celebrating the Eucharist over their tomb or the shrine at their place of martyrdom. In the fourth century, neighbouring dioceses began to transfer relics, and to celebrate the feast days of specific martyrs in common. Frequently, a number of Christians would suffer martyrdom on the same day, which naturally led to a joint commemoration. In the persecution of Diocletian the number of martyrs became so great that a separate day could not be assigned to each. But the Church, feeling that every martyr should be venerated, appointed a common day for all.

A commemoration of "All Martyrs" began to be celebrated as early as the year 270, although no specific month or date is mentioned in existing records. The first trace of a general celebration on a specific day is attested in Antioch on the Sunday after Pentecost There is mention of a common day in a sermon of St. Ephrem the Syrian (373), and the custom is also referred to in the 74th Homily of St. John Chrysostom (†407), who speaks of a "feast of martyrs of the whole world." As early as 411, there is found among the Chaldean Christians a general commemoration of all Confessors (Commemoratio Confessorum), celebrated on the Friday after Easter.

St Padre Pio - feast day September 23

St Padre Pio, is one of the most highly venerated saint today. He is very well known for his visible stigmata appeared on both hands. This saint who lived in the modern era is also one of the saint that we ask intercession for this saint had a great effect in the spiritual growth of our members.

St Padre Pio whose real name, Francisco Forgione, was born at 5:00 p.m. in Pietrelcina, Italy to Grazio and Maria Giuseppa Forgione. At age 15, he entered the Capuchin Novitiate in Morcone, Italy. Investiture into the Capuchin Order taking the Franciscan habit and the name, "Brother Pio"

At twenty-three years old, he was ordained a priest in the Cathedral in Benevento, Italy. On August 14, 1910, he said his first Mass at 'Our Lady of the Angels' parish in Pietrelcina.

In September 1910, he received the temporary or invisible stigmata at the family farm in Piana Romana. The painful wounds would appear and disappear

Eight years later on August 5, 1918, there occured transverberation of his heart, causing a visible wound on his side. And on September 20 of the same year, he received the visible stigmata while praying before a crucifix in the monastery church of 'Our Lady of Grace.' He became the first priest in the history of the Catholic Church to bear the stigmata. His Superiors call for first medical examination of stigmata by Dr. Romanelli. On July 26, 1919, he is examined by Dr. Bignami and on October 9, 1919, by Dr. Festa.

On September 23, 1968, Padre Pio died at 2:30 a.m. His last words were, 'Jesus, Mary.' The Father Guardian of the monastery stated that ten minutes after Padre Pio's death, all traces of the stigmata on his hands, feet and side, had disappeared. His last Mass was the day before he died.
In May 2, 1999, Padre Pio was beatified by Pope John Paul II and on June 16, 2002, he was canonized saint by the same pope.

St Padre Pio's last Mass

Feast of Saint Augustine August 2008

Today, August 28 is the feast of our Patron Saint in the Archdioces of Cagayan de Oro. Today also has a significant event for us because on this day we are remembering the first year of the erection of our Praesidium. Maria Regina Apostolurom Preasedium. Last August 28, 2007 the Curia President Dra. Viray through the approval of Fr Ghela, National Spiritual Director of Legion of Mary, and Fr Purdy, the Spiritual Father and regular Mass Offerer in Cagayan de Oro City, visits Cagayan de Oro for the establishment of the Maria Regina Apostolurom Praesedium. On that day, There were several persons who attended the meeting led by the appointed (by the Curia President) Praesidium President Bro John Solangon and the few members. Guided by our Blessed Mother, the meeting was succesful and thanks to the Curia President, Dra. Viray who managed to teach them the basic things to be learned as Legion of Mary active members. Fr Ghela, although he was not present during the first Praesidium meeting for he have something more important things to attend, he still was able to give them Spiritual advises before he left. Mass was held on that day with Fr Ghela.

Ave Maria!