Tuesday. October 20, 2026. Saint Paul of the Cross. Paolo Francesco Daneii, born in the Republic of Genoa in 1694. His father ran a small dry-goods store. Paul was the second of 16 children, but only 6 survived. He received his early education from a priest in Lombardy. He made great progress, and at 15 he left school and taught catechism in churches near his home. Paul experienced a conversion to a life of prayer at the age of 19. In 1715, Paul joined a crusade against the Turks but realized that the life of a soldier was not his calling. He returned to help in the family business. At 26, Paul had a series of prayer experiences which made it clear to him that God was inviting him to form a community that would live an evangelical life and promote the love of God revealed in the Passion of Jesus. A legend tells that in a vision, he saw himself clothed in the habit he and his companions would wear. The first name Paul received for his community was “the Poor of Jesus,” came to be known as the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, or the Passionists.
He built his first monastery and later established a larger community. Paul called his monasteries “retreats” to underline the life of solitude and contemplation which he believed was necessary for someone who wished to preach the message of the Cross. His saintly death occurred in 177 at the age of 81. Saint Paul’s devotion to Christ’s passion must have seemed eccentric, yet it was that devotion that nurtured his compassion and supported a preaching ministry that touched the hearts of many listeners. He was one of the most popular preachers of his day, known for both his words and his generous acts of mercy. God lavished upon Saint Paul the greatest gifts in the supernatural order, but he treated himself with the greatest rigor and believed that he was a useless servant and a great sinner. (Maridol: My Morning Prayer)
Our Father and brother, as we stand with you before the Cross of Christ, may our minds, our hearts, and our lives be overwhelmed by the love shown there for us. As you followed the example of Jesus Crucified, may we too be emptied of all things but the desire to do God’s will and so keep alive the memory of the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, our only hope. Amen
WORD Today. Luke 12:35-38. Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”
Reflection. The words of the Popes. Jesus says: “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning” (Lk 12: 35). This means living fully in the present by grasping the promise of eternity. Our whole life is a striving for eternal life, and we must be ready. A person is ready when he or she is completely given to God and to his or her brothers and sisters. Not when there is applause and success; no, life is much more than that. It is being in the world to the full, in the truth and freedom of the children of God and in the relationship of brotherhood with others. And this intensity of relationship with the Father and with our brothers and sisters is nourished by prayer: prayer allows God to be close to us, it frees us from solitude and infuses hope. Prayer oxygenates life: just as one cannot live without breathing, one cannot be a Christian and live as a Christian, let alone as a consecrated person, without prayer. (Pope Francis, Address to members of the Secular Institute of Oblate Missionary Cooperators, 20 November 2021)
Dearest Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of this new day and for the many blessings. Today, Your Word reminds us to be ready, to keep our lamps burning, and to remain faithful while waiting for You. Teach me to live each day with a watchful heart, a willing spirit, and a faith that never grows weary. Help me to be ready each day; may I never become too busy with the concerns of this world that I forget to make room for You. Remind me to always remain faithful and ready. Keep my heart prepared, my lamp burning, and my life centered on Your love. Jesus, help me to live each day ready to meet You, trusting in Your goodness and mercy. 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 Its 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 120/60. HR 68. O2sat 98%. Temp 36. 3
Last Night’s BP 120/70. HR 71. O2sat 99%. Temp 36.2
Tony’s morning BP was 110/70. HR 60. O2sat 98%. Temp. 36.6
Last Night’s BP 110/80. HR 64. 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 at 57.
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
Lunch at Chef Jessie, Rockwell, Makati
Menu for Ester’s 90th Birthday Celebration, Chef Jessie, Rockwell, Makati
5 PM PICA PICA
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Adobo Profiterole
Heart of Palm Money bags
Potato Chips
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6 PM SIT-DOWN MENU
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Caesar Salad with Crispy Grilled Prwans in Creamy Balsamic Dressing
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Cream of Fresh Mushroom Soup
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Lemon Sorbet
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Grilled U.S. Black Angus Rib Eye Steak in Bourguignon sauce with country roast potatoes
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Or
Baked rack of Lamb with Provence crust in rosemary jus, served with herbed couscous.
Grilled vegetables
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Or
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Fresh Chocolate Kiss
with fresh fruit coulis
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Coffee or Tea
