The Virgin of Antipolo Filipino Mass - July 2008
Christian poets have over the centuries sung the praises of Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother. One poet described her as our fallen human nature’s “solitary boast” for Mary was sinless from the first moment of her conception. Today, here at this beautiful national shrine dedicated to Mary, Queen of the Universe, the Filipino communities of Florida make Mary, the Virgin of Antipolo, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage their own boast. Today here in Orlando we also bring to conclusion the Marian celebrations that began at the beginning of May in Antipolo. Today, at this Mass we celebrate our own “katapusang prosisyon”.
For almost 400 years, this image of Mary beautifully represented here before us has been part of the Filipino’s religious and cultural heritage. Even when for one hundred years this image of the “brown Virgin” traveled the seas between Manila and Acalpuco protecting the Spanish sailors, she always came home to Antipolo and was warmly welcomed by the people. The love and devotion Filipinos hold for Mary, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, is a real treasure – a precious treasure more valuable than pearls. If the Filipino Catholics were ever to lose this treasure, they would lose their own identity as Filipinos.
And could this not explain why, when in 1944, theJapanese Imperial Army made Antipolo town their garrison, and the church became their arsenal, the church’s sacristan, Procopio Angeles took it upon himself to look after the Brown Virgin. He wrapped the image in a thick woolen blanket and placed it in an empty gasoline drum, and then he buried the image in its container under the convent kitchen. Later, when the liberation of the Philippines was underway, the Japanese began burning whole blocks of the town and mercilessly killing civilians. As the people of the town fled, they took the image of Antipolo with them, carrying their patroness over rough and steep trails until they had safely evacuated her to the mountains. These brave people protected Mary; and Mary protected them.
And so it is today: the Marian devotion of the Filipino people, deeply rooted in its past history, helps to shape and to protect the identity and culture of Filipinos today and tomorrow, at home in the Philippines or wherever Divine Providence leads you. Mary continues to look after you assuring you of peace and a good voyage. Today, as we celebrate this feast day, you remember your homeland and those of your family and friends who live there. But, let us also remember the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos scattered throughout the world. Last week, I was in Haiti and met Filipinos living and working there soon to be joined by the new papal nuncio, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, also a Filipino from Bohol. Today, Filipinos live and work in every corner of the world – in Europe and the Middle East, in Japan, Hong Kong and other Asian countries; thousands works on ships throughout the world. May the Virgin of Antipolo give them all peace and good voyage. Always, keep Mary close to you and Mary will keep you close to her son, Jesus.
In the gospel today, Jesus tells his disciples the parable of the precious pearl. The man, who finds the pearl, sells everything to possess it. Whoever understands what Jesus has to offer will not hesitate to get rid of everything of his own, to become poor in spirit and pure in heart in order to obtain what has been offered. As Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God”.
In Mary, we find one who is truly poor in Spirit, one who is completely pure of heart.
In her “yes”, spoken to the Archangel Gabriel, she surrendered all that she was, all that she had to God. Her words, “Be it done unto me according to your word”, were her way of “purchasing that pearl of great price”. She understood – with a wisdom far surpassing that of Solomon – that the path to true peace, the path to the Kingdom of God is traveled only in obedience to the will of God in all things.
In today’s second reading, St. Paul reminds us: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” These words are more than fulfilled in the life of the Virgin Mary who became the Mother of the Word Incarnate, “the first born among many brothers and sisters”.. Indeed, Paul’s words have a unique application to Mary: for in her Immaculate Conception, she was “predestined”; in the Mystery of the Annunciation, she was “called”; in her Assumption body and soul into heaven, she was “justified”; and, in her Coronation as Queen of heaven and earth, she was “glorified”.
And so we turn confidently to her seeking her prayers that these words will be fulfilled in our own lives. “Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.” We are all poor sinners but through Mary, we have found a great treasure. May she always be our one solitary boast! Virgin of Antipolo, pray for us. |
