Thursday. September 17, 2026. Saint Robert Bellarmine, SJ. Roberto Francesco Romolo Bellarmino was born at Montepulciano, Italy, the son of noble parents. As a boy, he knew the Veni, Veni, Iesu by heart and composed several poems in Italian and Latin. Robert entered the newly formed Society of Jesus in 1560 and, after his ordination, went on to teach, where he became famous for his Latin sermons. In 1576, he was appointed to the chair of controversial theology at the Roman College, becoming Rector in 1592; he went on to become Provincial of Naples in 1594 and Cardinal in 1598. This outstanding scholar and devoted servant of God defended the Apostolic See against the anti-clericals and against political tenets. Through his writings, Bellarmine was involved in the political, religious, and social issues of the time. He also communicated the decree condemning the Copernican doctrine of the movements of the earth and sun, issued by Galileo Galilei in 1616. Although he was one of the most powerful men in Rome, Bellarmine lived an austere life. He gave most of his money to the poor. Once he gave the tapestries from his living quarters to the poor, saying that the walls wouldn’t catch cold. While he took little regard for his own comforts, he always saw to it that his servants and aides had everything they needed. He has left us a host of important writings, including works of devotion and instruction, as well as controversy. He died in 1621 and was declared Doctor of the Church in 1931. Robert Bellarmine devoted his life to the study of Scripture and Catholic doctrine. His writings help us understand that the real source of our faith is not merely a set of doctrines, but rather the person of Jesus still living in the Church today. (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
God our Father, You gave Robert Bellarmine wisdom and goodness to defend the faith of Your Church. By his prayers may we always rejoice in the profession of our faith. (intention(s):
Saint Bellarmine.SJ, though born of noble parents and one of the most powerful men in Rome, Bellarmine gave most of his money to the poor. “Once he gave the tapestries from his living quarters to the poor, saying that the walls wouldn’t catch cold. While he took little regard for his own comforts, he always saw to it that his servants and aides had everything they needed.”
St. Bellarmine, SJ. You have been together with Blessed Mother Mary, the first Saint since my Ateneo de Manila high school at Padre Faura, Manila, and one of the public first grade school graduates at Philippine Normal College, Manila, accepted (not a grade school graduate of the Ateneo) under Open Policy, a limited number of public school graduates under a competitive entrance examination of the top ten of Fr. Delaney’s, SJ, last act as Dean of the Ateneo High School Department beneficiary. Saint Robert Bellarmine, I pray for your intercessory pr ayers through Blessed Mother Mary, as was my religious habit developed at the Ateneo when I prayed for courage, patience, and wisdom to overcome the hurdles and hardships as one of Ateneo’s public school graduates, of whom, as I can remember, two of my fellow integrants gave up and transferred to NCAA Schools, rivals of the prestigious annual basketball tournament, one of whom was named an All–Star of the league.
Ester and I, blessed to grace our children and their children’s children, are wholeheartedly supporting The MONTINOLA CUMAGUN CARE FOUNDATION’S MISSION:
1. Help those who cannot help themselves. “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:35-40).
(1) Special Children– SPED.
(2.) Handicapped Senior Citizens – Physical Therapy.
1l. Help those who can help themselves help others. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
(3.) Financial Support for Diocesan priests and Grade School Teachers for the rural areas.
(4.) Management and Financial Support for Selected Start-up Small Businesses.
Let the good works of the MCC Foundation speak, not our name. St. Bellarmine, Pray for us
WORD Today. Luke 7:36-50. A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” Simon said in reply,
“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not kiss me; she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Reflection. The words of the Popes. Jesus was used to accepting invitations to eat, and not only from “publicans”, but also from the “Pharisees”, who were His bitterest adversaries. For example, we read in Luke: “One of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house, and took His place at table” (Lk 7:36). During this meal, an event took place that sheds yet more light on Jesus’ behaviour towards poor humanity, made up of so many “sinners” whom the so-called “righteous” despise and condemn. Now, a woman known in the city as a sinner was among those present; weeping, she kissed Jesus’ feet and anointed them with perfumed oil. A link between the forgiveness of sins and the love inspired by faith: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much”. Then He says to her: “Your sins are forgiven … Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (John Paul II, Catechesis of 10 February 1988)
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” (Shakespeare). Business Enterprises are not Legacy: It is the wake you leave. Let the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation’s Good Work speak, not our family 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 – “Ester and I pray for your blessings to grace our children, and their children’s children, to wholeheartedly support The MCC FOUNDATION – 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 to thy protection was left unaided. . .” the good news of peace and justice through Ester and my founding the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation.
Business Enterprises are not Legacy. It is the wake you leave, on who you leave it, and what you leave. Let your wake speak, not your name.
Ester and my state of health – vital stats are recorded by Ester’s everyday, 24 hr. PDNs.
Ester’s morning BP was 110 /70. Hr. 69 O2sat 97%. Temp 36. 6
Last Night’s BP 110/80. HR 68. O2sat 95%. Temp 36.4
Tony’s morning BP was 110 /80. HR 68. O2sat 97%. Temp. 36.7
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 56. O2sat 99%. Temp 36.5
Beata John Paul 1, watch over Cristina C, Justice Jun’s state of health, Ester’s recovery, and our autistic son John Paul’s emotional/emotional stability 57 (baptized John Paul a decade before Cardinal Luciano of Milan took the regnal name of John Paul), whom we met, promised to pray for him that John Paul II continued with Christmas greetings, 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
Visit to John Paul’s Lipa Farmhouse, Gated Farm Subdivision, Barangay Amilao, Batangas, after Tropical Storm Pilandok and its after tropical depression of pa bugso-buso heavy rainfall.
