Tuesday. August 25, 2026. Saint Louis of France was born at Poissy, France, in 1214. From his tenderest infancy he was inspired with a love for holy things. At 12, he lost his father, and his mother became regent of the kingdom. He was then crowned in Reims. At 20, he married Margaret, the daughter of the Count of Provence, and 2 years later he took the reins of government into his own hands. At his coronation as king, Louis IX bound himself by oath to behave as God’s anointed, as the father of his people and feudal lord of the King of Peace. He actually interpreted his kingly duties in the light of faith. After the violence of two previous reigns, he brought peace and justice.
At 30, he “took the cross” for a Crusade. His reign is remembered as a medieval golden age in which the Kingdom of France reached an economic as well as political peak. His fellow European rulers esteemed him highly, not only for his military pre-eminence and the wealth of his kingdom, but for his reputation for fairness and moral integrity. He was a reformer and developed French royal justice. Louis was devoted to his people, founding hospitals, visiting the sick, and, like his patron Saint Francis, caring even for people with leprosy. He united France by the force of his personality and holiness. For many years the nation was at peace. Every day, Louis had 13 special guests from among the poor to eat with him, and a large number of poor were served meals near his palace. During Advent and Lent, all who presented themselves were given a meal, and Louis often served them. He kept lists of needy people, whom he regularly relieved, in every province of his dominion. Disturbed by new Muslim advances in Syria, he led another crusade, but was diverted to Tunis. The army was decimated by a disease, and Louis himself died on foreign soil at the age of 56; he was succeeded by his son Philip III. Saint Louis’ actions were inspired by Christian zeal and Catholic devotion. He was a just king. Renowned for his moderate lifestyle, reason, bravery, and chivalrous politeness, he was a splendid knight whose kindness and engaging manner made him popular. They regard him as a “monk king”, the only canonized king of France. (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
EWTN Online Mass Presider Fr. John Paul Mary, MFVA
O God, who called your servant Louis of France to an earthly throne to advance Your heavenly kingdom, grant that we who commemorate him this day may be fruitful in good works. Saint Louis, intercede for me with our Heavenly Father. Obtain for me the grace to follow in thy footsteps. We place our petitions in your hands and ask that you lay them before your daughter, Blessed Mother Mary, and her child Jesus. Seek this, our favor – for your blessings and grace for our children to wholeheartedly 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. (A.G.C. Autobiography Song of Myself Memoirs, Looking Back at Serendipity, 2002). Through Jesus, who lives with you in His kingdom. Saint Louis, pray for us!
Santuario de San Antonio Parish Online Mass Presider Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM
WORD Today. Matthew 23:23-26. Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence – cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside may be clean.”
Reflection. The Words of the Popes. Hypocrisy is the greatest danger because it can ruin even the most sacred realities. Hypocrisy is a danger. This is why Jesus was harsh with hypocrites. We can read, for example, chapter 23 of Matthew, in which Jesus speaks so strongly to the hypocrites of that time. Are we not at times a bit like those Pharisees? Perhaps we look at others from top to bottom, thinking that we are better than them, that we have our lives under control, that we do not need God or the Church, or our brothers or sisters every day. We forget that it is legitimate to look down on someone else only in one case: when it is necessary to help them get up. This is the only case. The others are not legitimate. There is only one way, the way of humility — to purify ourselves from the sense of superiority, from formalism and hypocrisy, to see others as our brothers and sisters, sinners like ourselves, and to see Jesus as the Saviour who comes for us, not for others, for us, just as we are, with our poverty, misery and failings, above all with our need to be raised, forgiven and saved. And let us remember another thing: with Jesus, there is always the possibility of beginning again. It is never too late. There is always the possibility to begin again. Take courage. He is close to us, and this is a time of conversion. Each of us can think: “I have this situation inside, this problem that I am ashamed of…”. But Jesus is beside you. Begin again. There is always the possibility of taking a step forward. He is waiting for us and never grows tired of us. He never tires! (Pope Francis, Angelus, 4 December 2022)
Radyo Katipunan Online Mass Presider Fr. Philip Yohan, SJ
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 – “Ester and I pray for your blessings to 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, Pray The Memorare – “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection was left unaided. . .”
Ester and my state of health – vital stats are recorded by Ester’s everyday, 24 hr. 2 PDNs.
This morning, Ester’s BP was 110 /80. Hr. 72. O2sat 98%. Temp 36. 7
Last Night BP 110/78. HR 78. O2sat 98%. Temp 36.5
Tony’s morning 4 am BP was 110/80. HR 78. O2sat 98%. Temp 36.5
11 am BP was 110 /70. HR.53. O2sat 98%. Temp 36.7
Last Night 110/70. HR 65. O2sat 98%. Temp 36.5
Beata John Paul 1, watch over Justice Jun’s state of health, comfort, and Well-being. Also for Cristina C and Ester’s health recovery from more than 5 years of stomah adhesion, 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
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” (William Shakespeare: Julius Caesar (Act 3, Scene 2) Business Enterprises are not Legacy: the wake you leave, who you leave it to, and what do you leave. Let your wake speak, not your name. These phrases do not have a direct match in Shakespeare’s works, but they echo a theme he explored: “The idea that a person’s imperfections and transgressions remain attached to them in the afterlife.” I believe in the serendipity of faith as I remember from homilies, lectures, or readings, and the serendipities I was blessed with in my life – My Prayers. (Autobiography AG. Cumagun: Song of Myself, Memoirs Looking Back at Serendipities, 2002)
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