I was a Sodalist in my younger days, but now Ester and in I our aging years, Child of Mary – The Icon of the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation.
Saturday. September 19, 2026. Saint Januarius was a bishop and martyr and a well-known member of the Church of Naples during the persecution of Diocletian. Januarius and his companions were thrown to the bears in the amphitheater of Pozzuoli, but the animals failed to attack them. They were beheaded, and believed that Januarius’ blood is kept in Naples as a relic. His blood was saved by a woman called Eusebia. The first certain date is 1389, when it was to have melted. Then, over the following 2 ½ centuries, official reports began to appear declaring that the blood spontaneously melted. While the report of the first incidence of liquefaction did not make any reference to the skull of the saint, assertions began to appear that this relic was activating the melting process, as if the blood, recognizing the body to which it belonged, a small glass vial holding a deep-red, stable substance has been removed from a safe location and brought before the faithful in the Cathedral of Naples. The vial is placed near the other relics of Saint Januarius, which rest under the altar. And then the drumbeat of prayers starts. God is bidden, fuel is poured on the fire of faith, and the mysterious moment arrives. Spontaneously, the stable, solid, red substance is transformed into a liquid that splashes around the inside walls of the vial for all to see. The blood of Saint Januarius has come to life. The city of Naples fires a twenty-one-gun salute from a nearby castle to signal that the transformation has occurred. There is no explanation for how this happens. But it happens, happens often, and has happened consistently for many centuries. The proof is the outcome itself. That a solid substance liquifies cannot be debated. The liquified blood must be the starting point for speculation, not a presumption of magic or sleight of hand; no faith is needed to accept this miracle. What happens is a fact: it occurs for no specific purpose. No sick person is healed, no sacrament is celebrated, no bishop is elected. It is a divine folly; experiments have been applied, but the phenomenon eludes natural explanation and has made the subject of controversy. There are many conversions to Catholicism. It is defined Catholic doctrine that miracles can happen; extraordinary miracles work to wake us up to the everyday miracles of life.
Oh St. Januarius, brave of faith in Jesus Christ, glorious patron of Catholic Naples, look upon us benignly and accept our vows, that today we lie at your feet with total confidence in your powerful patronage. We pray to you to pray for us, sure that we will be answered; and saved from all the evils that oppress us from all directions – pathological, narcissistic liars and their families who conspire to make their family name a legend of wealth and fame.
WORD Today. Luke 8:4-15. When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand. “This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.”
Reflection. This Parable of the Sower is the ‘mother’ of all parables, because it speaks about listening to the Word. It reminds us that the Word of God is a fruitful seed, and God scatters it, paying no mind to waste. Such is the heart of God! Each one of us is ground on which the seed of the Word falls; no one is excluded! The Word is given to each of us. We can ask: what type of terrain am I? Do I resemble the path, the rocky ground, the bramble bush? If we want, with the grace of God, we can become good soil, ploughed and cultivated, to help ripen the seed of the Word. It is already present in our heart, but making it fruitful depends on us; it depends on the embrace that we reserve for this seed. Often one is distracted by too many interests, by too many enticements, and it is difficult to distinguish, among the many voices and many words, that of the Lord, the only one that makes us free. This is why it is important to accustom oneself to listening to the Word of God, to reading it. And I return once more to that advice: always keep a handy copy of the Gospel with you, a pocket edition of the Gospel, in your pocket, in your purse, and then, read a short passage every day, so that you become used to reading the Word of God, understanding well the seed that God offers you, and I receive it. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 12 July 2020)
God of mercy and love, help me listen with an open heart, and make my heart a good soil for Your Word and let it take root in my life. When worries, distractions, or temptations try to take away Your Word, give me the grace to remain faithful. May my life bear fruit through love, kindness, patience, and service to others. Keep planting Your Word in my heart, and help me grow closer to You each day. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
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 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’s everyday, 24 hr. PDNs.
Ester’s morning BP was 110 /70 . Hr. 67 O2sat 98%. Temp 36. 4
Last Night’s BP 110/80. HR 67. O2sat 97%. Temp 36.4
Tony’s morning BP was 120 /80. HR 62. O2sat 99%. Temp. 36.6
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 66. O2sat 99%. Temp 36.7
Beata John Paul 1, watch over Cristina C, Justice Jun’s, Ester’s recovery, and our autistic son John Paul’s emotional 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
Oh St. Januarius, brave of faith in Jesus Christ, glorious patron of Catholic Naples, we, their family members, relatives, and friends, intercede for our beloved souls in Purgatory, and pray with total confidence in your powerful patronage for them to join you in heaven. The perpetual miracle of the liquefaction of your blood is an eloquent sign that you live among us, that you know our needs and and circunstances that can lead us to Purgatory; your intercesary prayers are sure that we will be saved from a longer purification time. Amen.
She walked without me for a block – I was asleep.
