Sunday. August 9, 2026. Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Edith Stein was born in 1891 (the Feast of Atonement) to a Jewish family in Breslau, Germany. Though she became agnostic in her teen years, through her passionate study of philosophy as an adult she searched for truth and found it in reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Jesus. In 1922, she was baptized a Catholic, and in 1933 entered the Discalced Carmel of Cologne where she took the name of Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. During the Nazi occupation, she was sent to Carmel in Echt, Netherlands. When the Nazis occupied the Netherlands, all Jews and Jewish converts were arrested. Sister Teresa Benedicta and her sister Rosa were arrested. They were sent to Auschwitz; she said to Rosa, “Come. Let us go and die for our people.” Sister Teresa Benedicta was gassed and cremated on August 9, 1942, and died a martyr for the Christian faith after having offered herself as a holocaust for the people of Israel. Saint Teresa Benedicta is a woman of profound intellectual gifts, learning, and spirituality. She saw it as her vocation “to intercede with God for everyone,” she prayed especially for the Jews of Germany, “I ask the Lord to accept my life and my death,” she wrote in 1939, “so that the Lord will be accepted by his people and that his kingdom may come in glory, for the salvation of Germany and the peace of the world.” (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
EWTN Online Mass Presider Fr. John Paul Mary, MFVA
Lord, God, you brought St Teresa Benedicta to the fullness of the science of the Cross at the hour of her martyrdom. Through her intercession, allow us always to seek after you, the supreme truth, to remain faithful until death to the covenant of love ratified in the blood of your Son for the salvation of all men and women. St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, please intercede for this petition of Ester and mine – Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, help us to parent our children with a gentle heart as you did. Show us how to raise our children in faith and bring our families into the Light of Jesus. We place our petitions in your hands and ask that you lay them before your daughter, Blessed Mother Mary, and her child Jesus. “Ester, and I thank you blessings and grace for our children to support the MONTINOLA-CUMAGUN CARE FOUNDATION’S FOUR LEGS of PURPOSE(moa) (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 Business as multipliers*. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded…”_ 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) Our Father, Hail Mary, & Glory be.. St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for our children to wholeheartedly support the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation.
Santuario de San Antonio Online Mass Presider Fr. Robert Manansala
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, “Pity me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His 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 him 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 her daughter was healed from that hour.
Reflection. The Words of the Popes. Jesus says that purity is not connected to external rites, but is first and foremost about inner dispositions. Therefore, there is no use in washing one’s hands several times to be pure if one then harbours evil thoughts in one’s heart such as greed, envy or pride, or evil intentions such as deceit, theft, betrayal and slander. Jesus draws attention to the need to beware of ritualism, which does not make one grow in goodness. On the contrary, it can sometimes lead one to neglect, or even to justify, one’s choices and attitudes or those of others that are uncharitable, that wound the soul and close the heart. This is a double life, and one cannot do this. And this is what the Pharisees did. External purity, without good attitudes, merciful attitudes towards others. One cannot be very decent to everyone outwardly, and perhaps even do a bit of volunteer work and a few philanthropic gestures, but then nurture hatred towards others within, despise the poor and the least, or behave dishonestly at work. The relationship with God is reduced to external gestures, and one remains impervious to the purifying action of his grace, indulging in thoughts, words and behaviours empty of love. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 1st September 2024)
Radyo Katipunan Online Mass Presider Fr. Francis Alvarez, SJ
Assumption Novena – Day 4. Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death and given the hope of eternal life. As we rejoice in the Assumption of Mary, give to us a renewed confidence in the victory of the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation. O Mother, Assumed into Heaven, because you shared in all the mysteries of our Redemption, Jesus crowned you with glory. With your most glorious and powerful intercession, help us, O loving Mother, and present to Jesus our request. (Mention Your Request) Pray for us. Amen
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.” (Shakespeare: Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2). 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 have more in life who want and try to be their brothers’ keepers for those who have less in life – “Ester and I for your blessings and grace for our children to wholeheartedly support the MONTINOLA-CUMAGUN CARE FOUNDATION, 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. Luke 12:48.” … 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.” 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 for us. Amen. 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. PDNs.2
This morning, Ester’s BP was 110/80. HR 76. O2sat 97%. Temp 36.3
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 64. O2sat 97%. Temp.36.3
Tony’s morning BP was 110/70. HR 60. O2sat 99%. Temp 36.7
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 67. O2sat 98%. Temp.36.5
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.
After Mass. (Top; With Millete Zamora, LectorWith Millete Zamora, Lector, Bottom:: With Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM, Today’s Mass Presiders )