Sunday, August 16, 22026. Saint Roch was born in Montpellier, the only son of a wealthy governor, with an unusual red mark on his chest in the shape of a cross, a sign that the Blessed Virgin Mary answered his mother’s prayers for her barrenness. He was deeply religious. His parents died when he was 20, after which he gave his inheritance to the poor and began a life as a poor mendicant pilgrim. He joined the Third Order of Franciscans. He came upon a town that was badly struck by the black plague. He took time to care for the sick in private homes and in the hospitals—at great risk to himself. Roch cured many people simply by making the Sign of the Cross over them. His miraculous healing power evidenced itself in every plague-infested town that he passed through. He also contracted the disease in his leg and awaited his death in a remote abandoned forest hut. Providentially, a hunting dog found and befriended him, bringing him food daily and licking his wounds. Roch followed his dog into the woods. Slowly his health was restored; he received divine inspiration that he return to his native Montpellier, and found the city at war. He was accused of being a spy but did not defend himself against these charges, and entrusted himself completely to God’s will. He was cast into prison by his own uncle, who failed to recognize his nephew’s altered appearance. According to legend, when he felt that his end was drawing near, Roch asked that a priest come and administer the last sacraments. The priest, on entering the prison, beheld it supernaturally lighted up; Roch was surrounded with special radiance. A tablet appeared on the wall on which an angelic hand wrote in golden letters the name of Roch, and the prediction that all who would invoke his intercession would be delivered from the plague. Informed of all that took place, his uncle came to the prison together with his grandmother. She identified the dead man as her grandson by the birthmark of the red cross on his breast. He was accordingly given a public funeral, and numerous miracles attested his sanctity. Venerated as the protector against the plague, local devotion to San Roque started when many were miraculously cured of malaria after holding a procession in honor of the healing saint. (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
EWTN Online Mass Presider Father Matthew Mary, MFVA
O Blessed St Roch, Patron of the sick, pity those who lie upon a bed of suffering . Your power was so great when you were in this world, that by the sign of the Cross, many were healed of their diseases. Now that you are in heaven, your power is no less. Offer to God our sighs and tears and obtain for us the physical and spiritual health we seek: This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Seek this, our favor. “Ester, and I thank you for your blessings and grace for our children to support the MONTINOLA-CUMAGUN CARE FOUNDATION’S FOUR LEGS of PURPOSE: (1.) Special Children SPED; a child’s mind is the most precious thing to waste. (The motto of the American Negro College), and the Handicapped Senior Citizens – Physical Therapy. (2.) Financial Support for Diocesan priests and Grade School Teachers for the rural areas. (3.) Computer Start-up Education Tools for selected public schools. “… expose and acclimate the youth to Information Technology—the age of computers. The children of Negros Occidental must be computer literate to better their lives for the future and help our country progress to a global economy. Estonia and Finland, two countries smaller than ours, have put into their laws that Access to the Internet is a right of all citizens, similar to access to water and electricity.” [Negros Economic Development Foundation 40th Charter Foundation Day, Antonio G. Cumagun, Guest Speaker, Bacolod City, July 24, 2010] and (4.) Selected Start-up Management and Financial Support for Small Businesses as multipliers. ” … From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48. The sin of the rich man was not that he did wrong things, but that he did nothing. (Antonio G. Cumagun Autobiography Song of Myself Memoirs, Looking Back at Serendipity, 2002).
Santuario de San Antonio Mass Presider Fr. Albert Marfil, OFM
WORD Today. Matthew 15:21-28.At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
Reflection. The words of the Popes. The apparent aloofness of Jesus who said: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (v. 24), did not discourage the Canaanite woman who persisted: “Lord, help me” (v. 25). And she did not even desist when she received an answer that would seem to have extinguished any hope: “it is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (v. 26). She had no wish to take anything from anyone; in her simplicity and humility a little was enough for her, crumbs sufficed, no more than a look, a kind word from the Son of God. And Jesus was struck with admiration for an answer of such great faith and said to her: “Be it done for you as you desire” (v. 28). Dear friends, we too are called to grow in faith, to open ourselves to welcome God’s gift freely, to have trust and also to cry to Jesus, “Give us faith, help us to find the way!” This Jesus made his disciples take, as well as the Canaanite woman and men and women of every epoch and nation and each one of us. Faith opens us to knowing and welcoming the real identity of Jesus, his newness and oneness, his word, as a source of life, to live a personal relationship with him. Knowledge of the faith grows; it grows with the desire to find the way, and in the end it is a gift of God who does not reveal himself to us as an abstract thing without a face or a name, because faith responds to a Person who wants to enter into a relationship of deep love with us and to involve our whole life. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 14 August 2011)
Radyo Katipunan Online Mass Presider Fr. Arnel Aquino, SJ
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.“ (Shakespeare). Business Enterprises are not Legacy: the wake you leave, WHO you leave it to, WHAT you leave, and WHY? Let the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation’s Good Work speak, not our name.
Our Lady of the Impossible, grace those late in life but had more in life who tried to be their brothers’ keepers for those who have less in life – Grace for our children, and their children’s children to wholeheartedly support the MONTINOLA-CUMAGUN CARE FOUNDATION OBJECTIVES: (1.) Special Children SPED, a child’s mind is the most precious thing to waste. (The motto of the American Negro College), and the Handicapped Senior Citizens – Physical Therapy. (2.) Financial Support for Diocesan priests and Grade School Teachers for the rural areas. (3.) Computer Start-up Education Tools for selected public schools and (4.) Selected Start-up Management and Financial Support for Small Businesses. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48. “The sin of the rich man was not that he did wrong things, but that he did nothing. (William Barclay, in Antonio G. Cumagun Autobiography Song of Myself Memoirs, Looking Back at Serendipity, 2002) Our Lady of the Impossible – “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled was left unaided. . .”
Ester and my state of health – vital stats are recorded by Ester’s everyday, 2 PDNs/24 hrs.
This morning, Ester’s BP was 110/70. HR 78. O2sat 97%. Temp 36.3
Last Night’s BP 120/70. HR 74. O2sat. 98%.Temp.36.3
Tony’s morning BP was 110/70. HR 71. O2sat 98%. Temp 36.5
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 65. O2sat 99%. Temp.36.7
Beata John Paul 1, watch over Cristina C, Justice Jun’s state of health, and Ester’s health recovery of more than 5 years of stomah adhesion recovery, our autistic son John Paul’s (was baptized John Paul a decade before Cardinal Luciano of Milan took the regnal name of John Paul) emotional and physical disability, 57 years old, and my weakening 89-year-old body.
FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED AND SOULS IN PURGATORY
In Memory of all those who left us. We remember you in the morning and at night. You are always with us. We pray for the souls in Purgatory.
Blessed Mother Mary, I bring to you for your intercession the souls of Amb. Manuel R. and Dolores G. Cumagun, Juana Cumagun, Annette Cumagun, Lina Beltran, Judge and Mrs. Dolores Cumagun, Gov. Primo & Magdalena H. Gaffud, Dr. Trino, Sr. & Angeles Montinola, Betty, Luie, Trino, Jr. Montinola, Bernardino, and Isabel Jalandoni. Dr. Terry Lirio-Montinola, Dr. & Mrs. Tomacruz, Akira Tsusaka, Boy Eugenio, Jesus Ibañez, Sen. Nene Pimentel, Santiago Ranada 111, Boysie Villavicensio, Patria Manuel, Dr. Mariano Laurel, Rene Datu, (Ateneo ’54 – Jimmy Ongpin, Atty. Ato Gonzales, Buddy Joaquin, Fr. Unson, Msgr. Tantoco, Atty. Art Alafriz, Robert Arevalo Ylagan, Maximo Abesamis, Jr., Jesse Paredes), Atty. C. Platon, Araceli Rivera, Rey Castañeda, Col. Tanseco, Dr. E Fores, Dr. J. Caedo, Christine Syjuco, Leni Panganiban, Raul Boncan, Atty. Spanky and Dolly Perez, Amb. Albert del Rosario, Nellie Valdez, Toti Herbosa, Tec Syjuco, AL, Umberto (Beck) Gonzales, and Rufo Colayco. Pray 7 Our Father and The Credo.
Franjo just back from Silay Bacolod