Thursday. September 24, 2026. The feast of Our Lady of Mercy honors the origins of the Mercedarians to commemorate the story of Our Lady of Ransom started by St. Peter Nolasco, who was a merchant and practiced works of charity. It was a time when Muslims plundered the coasts and took Christians as slaves. The condition of the victims was horrendous. Many would lose their faith, thinking that God abandoned them. So he began freeing the captives in Venice. With his own wealth, he formed a group willing to place their goods in common and organized expeditions to negotiate the freeing of slaves. Their trade as merchants made this work easier to rescue slaves. When their money ran out, they formed confraternities to raise funds “almsgiving for the captives”. But there comes a time when all help is exhausted. The Christians of Europe were praying intensely to obtain from God the remedy for the great evil that had befallen them. On August 1, 1218, the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Peter Nolasco, to his confessor, St. Raymund of Penafort, and to the king, and through these three servants of God established a work of perfect charity, the redemption of captives. On that night, the Virgin Mary appeared first to St. Peter Nolasco, saying that she indeed desired the establishment of a religious Order, later known as the Mercedarians, bearing the name of her mercy. Its members would undertake to deliver Christian captives and offer themselves, if necessary, as a ransom pledge. The Order, established in Spain, was approved Our Lady of Mercy. Besides the three vows of religious life, poverty, chastity, and obedience, they made a fourth vow: to dedicate their lives to free the slaves. By the grace of God, under the protection of His Virgin Mother, the Order spread. Its growth was increased as its members often followed Our Lady’s directive to give themselves up to voluntary slavery when necessary, to aid the good work. This fourth vow is what distinguished the new community of the Mercedarios. Each triumph they achieved was attributed through prayers. Peter Nolasco, at 77, pronounced Psalm 76: “We thank you, God, we give thanks; we call upon your name, we declare your wonderful deeds. And with your strong arm you rescued the captive and oppressed.” And then he fell asleep in the mantle of Our Lady. His intercession obtained many miracles. It was to thank the Blessed Virgin that a feast day was instituted and observed on how Our Lady ransoms us from the slavery of our sins, and brings us the grace of conversion. (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
Our Lady of Mercy. Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you with praise and thanks for having rescued a fallen world by your generous consent! Receive our gratitude, and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins. (…)Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede for women consecrated to God. May all who venerate you feel your help and protection. Help us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it your continual concern to pray for the people of God, for you were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen. (Saint Augustine)
Word Today. Luke 9:7-9. Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead;” others were saying, “Elijah has appeared;” still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?
Reflection. The words of the Popes. You come to know Jesus in the day-to-day routine of everyday life. Yes, you must learn about Jesus from the Catechism. But it is not enough to know Him with your mind: that is just the first step. You must come to know Jesus through dialogue with Him, by speaking to Him, in prayer, on your knees. If you do not pray, if you do not speak to Jesus, you do not know Him. You know things about Jesus, but you do not have that knowledge which the heart gives you in prayer. Knowing Jesus with the mind comes from studying the Catechism; knowing Jesus with the heart comes from prayer and dialogue with Him. This helps us quite a lot, but it is not enough… There is a third way to get to know Jesus: it is discipleship. Going with Him, walking with Him. One cannot get to know Jesus without committing yourself to Him, without staking your life on Him. When so many people, including ourselves, ask this question, “Who is this?” The Word of God answers us: “Do you want to know who? Read what the Church tells you about Him, speak to Him in prayer and walk His path with Him. In this way, you will come to know who this man is”. This is the way! (Pope Francis, Homily at Santa Marta, 26 September 2013)
Guardian Angel Novena – Day 2
Loving God, you are so good that you gave me a Guardian Angel to protect my body and my soul. Help me to know and follow my angel so that, with their guidance, I will be worthy of being in Heaven with You!
My sweet Guardian Angel, you are my defender every day of my life. Protect me from sin and bodily harm. Help me to learn to defend and protect myself so that I can be the person that God is calling me to be.
You are with me all the time, so you already know these are my intentions that I ask you to deliver to the Lord. – Grace our children, and their children’s children, to wholeheartedly support The Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation Vision and Mission – For those who have more in life, help the needy who have no life support help themselves. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
“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 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 fruits of the wake you leave, and who you leave it to, and what you leave. Let your wake speak, not your name.
Ester and My State of Health
(Vital stats are recorded by Ester Tony C every day, 24 hr. PDNs.)
Ester’s morning BP was 120 /80. HR 71, O2sat 96%. Temp 36. 5
Last Night’s BP 120/70. HR 65. O2sat 98%. Temp 36.4
Tony’s morning BP was 110 /80. HR 60. O2sat 99%. Temp. 36.5
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 61. O2sat 98%. Temp 36.7
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. Johnny Ong’s youngest son, Richard, is diagnosed with blood cancer.
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