Tuesday. October 13, 2026. Saint Edward the Confessor was born in Islip, Oxfordshire, son of the Saxon King Ethelred II and his second wife Emma, daughter of Duke Richard I of Normandy. Edward spent his early years at Ely Abbey, one of the richest and most influential abbeys. In 1013, the king of Denmark seized the English throne and Ethelred and his family fled into exile. Edward and his brother were taken to the court of his uncle, Duke Richard II of Normandy, where they were able to grow up in safety. He spent half his life in Normandy, where he made a vow of chastity, served at Masses and developed the reputation of having a saintly character. Edward claimed the throne, and his religious reputation made him acceptable. After many decades of fighting in England, Edward’s reign was to be one of almost unbroken peace. He managed the country well, living within the income of his royal estates. He was known to listen to complaints and dispense justice fairly. He even began the royal custom of laying hands on people to cure them of scrofula, “the king’s evil”. This tradition carried on for nearly 700 years. Edward agreed to a political marriage with Edith, daughter of Earl Godwin of Wessex, but he kept his vow of chastity. He vowed to make a pilgrimage to St. Peter’s tomb in Rome; however, leaving England for that length of time would have destabilised the country. The Pope therefore requested that Edward build a new abbey to St. Peter. Edward rebuilt and enlarged the Saxon abbey in Westminster. “Westminster Abbey” was dedicated just a week before his death. His vow of chastity meant that he died without an obvious heir. There were contenders, and William “the Conqueror” succeeded, hence the start of the Norman era. Many legends sprang about Saint Edward the Confessor both during his lifetime and after his death. He lived a life renowned for generosity and piety and was considered a gentle and devoted ruler. His reputation for healing the sick continued after his death. His piety gained him the surname “the Confessor”. ( A confessor is a saint who did not die a martyr’s death but whose life proclaimed their faith). Saint Edward the Confessor was a man of great prayer – rather like a crowned monk. He was hailed throughout his life as a gentle, loyal and devoted king. (Maeidol: My Morning Prayer)
Lord, you raised Saint Edward, king and confessor, to excel in good government and faithful service. May these ideals survive and flourish among us through his prayers. Most glorious St. Edward, you showed your devotion to God with patience, gentleness, and generosity. Like you, may I serve to strengthen the Kingdom of God through patient prayer and justice before charity.
Mention your request here: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’”( Ephesians 6:1–3)
“Charity is no substitute for justice withheld.” (St. Augustine of Hippo) Kindness, donations, or charitable acts cannot erase or fix a failure to give someone what they have rightfully earned or deserve. As detailed in discussions on Catholic 365, true love requires fulfilling the obligations of justice before or alongside acts of generosity.
WORD Today. Luke 11:37-41. After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at the table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”
Reflection, The words of the Popes. Freedom is a treasure that is truly appreciated only when it is lost. For many of us who are used to living in freedom, it often appears to be an acquired right rather than a gift and a legacy to be preserved. How many misunderstandings there are around the topic of freedom, and how many different views have clashed over the centuries!
In the case of the Galatians, the Apostle could not bear that those Christians, after having known and accepted the truth of Christ, allowed themselves to be attracted to deceptive proposals, moving from freedom to slavery: from the liberating presence of Jesus to slavery to sin, to legalism, and so forth. Even today, legalism is one of our problems for many Christians who take refuge in legalism, in sophistry. Paul therefore invites the Christians to remain firm in the freedom they had received in baptism, without allowing themselves to be put once again under the “yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1). He is rightly protective of this freedom. A proclamation that would preclude freedom in Christ would never be evangelical. It might be Pelagian or Jansenist or something like that, but not evangelical. One can never force in the name of Jesus; one cannot make anyone a slave in the name of Jesus who makes us free. Freedom is a gift which was given to us at baptism. (Pope Francis, General Audience, 6 October 2021)
Heavenly Father, thank You for the many blessings You continue to pour into my life. You remind me today that what matters most is the cleanliness and the purity of my heart. Help me not to be too concerned with how others see me, but to focus on becoming the person You want me to be. Cleanse my heart of pride, judgment, selfishness, and anything that keeps me from loving You. Teach me to be generous in spirit, compassionate in my words, and genuine in my actions. May my faith be reflected in the kindness I share and the love I give without expecting anything in return. Purify my heart so that everything I do may come from a place of love. Jesus, create in me a clean heart. 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, 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 A.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…” Bless Ester and my founding the Montinola Cumagun Care Foundation. Let the Wake Speak.
Ester and My State of Health
(Vital Stats of Ester and Tony C are recorded every day by 24 hr. PDNs.)
Ester’s morning BP was 110/70. HR 71. O2sat 97%. Temp 36.2
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 70. O2sat 97%. Temp. 36.2
Tony’s morning BP was 110/70. HR 54. O2sat 98%. Temp 36.4
Last Night’s BP 110/70. HR 58. O2sat 98%. Temp. 36.6
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 stability 57.
Mary. Mama Mary walks us through the entire Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious angles of the life of our Savior when we pray with her in the Rosary.
October is the month of Our Lady of the Rosary. For many sinners, she and her Rosary have been the lifeline that pulled them back to Jesus.
Rosary means “garland of roses.” The family that prays together stays together. Daily Rosary trains the whole family in humility and obedience, becoming a cohesive garland of lives linked by strong faith, hope, and love for God and each other. Let us pray the Rosary with Mama Mary.
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