Let's Join Our Hands for Nature

When God Winks December 2024 Letran Class Reunion in Vegas

When God winks 

“Many years ago, I read ‘Small Miracles,’ a book about extraordinary coincidences that the author believed were divine encounters. This inspired of me to document my own ‘Exacto’ moments, and I’m surprised to find that these experiences are becoming more frequent.

This are some of stories of coincidences in my life

My friend Johnny was just thinking of calling to see me a day before and here I am at his house the next day.

Went there to just bring something from my wife

Went Home to the Philippines and for some reasons many of our choir members from different part of the world visited. A great reunion.

Volunteered to take pictures at a church activity then was surprised she is the daughter of one our patient in Dialysis clinic

Exacto moment

Story of coincidence in Las Vegas

December 13 we were at Las Vegas for a reunion.

There was a place Noypiwhere we are to have dinner
Noypits.

It so happened that there are two restaurants with the same name.

There was a bit of confusion.
We landed on the mall which is not the restaurant we are supposed to go.

My friend Ferdie called Beng to find out where she was
Exacto she was there.
So she rode with us going to right restaurant

not a coincidence

Confession

We went to mass at Saint Anne that afternoon and missed the scheduled confession time.

End of the Holy Mass I talked to the priest if I could asked for a confession. The priest told me to just wait until he finished greeting his parishioners

You know what? the last person from his parish likewise asked for a confession

Nagulat ako. With that Sis Eva likewise joined us in confession.

Next morning Sis Eva said she was so happy and confide to me of her desire to have a confession before Christmas. A situation so difficult in her busy work schedule.

It was an answered prayer

Letran Batch 83 reunion

After the Raffle I got her exchange gift lol

Exacto moment with my classmates Beng

God was pouring out His Spirit upon me, as Joel had prophesied He would, before the Day of the Lord. I felt tingly all over—and so joyful

Story of Father Faraon

We were on the table drinking and suddenly the name of Father Faraon was mentioned

He is the Priest who is instrumental of my Spiritual transformation with the Eucharistic Miracle that I experienced in a healing mass in the 90’s

How would you surely know it’s really a miracle of the Holy Eucharist not just a feeling

There was lay person who became a priest because of almost the same encounter

From the book Up in the Mountain

the blessing to the people; that would come from Christ Himself, present in the Eucharist), elevated the host above his head, preparing to make the sign of the Cross.

Looking up at the Blessed Sacrament, 1 felt shame— but also hope, for He had come, not for the righteous, but for sinners. Like me. There were tears in my eyes, then; I couldn’t pray, couldn’t find the words. But He could see my heart.

As the priest brought the monstrance down, the altar boy rang the bell-just as I had, many years ago. Suddenly I felt pins and needles all over. Then came this warmth— it was as if I was bathed in invisible sunlight, from the top of my head down to my toes, and from the inside, out.

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Testimony of my classmates Ferdie and his wife about the miracle of the Our Lady of Mediatrix dancing sun in Lipa.

This unique, mysterious and still-contentious case all began with a young nun in a quiet convent garden in 1948.

Sr. Teresita, also known as Sr. Teresing, was just 21 years old when allegedly, Mary began appearing to her in the garden of her Carmelite convent in Lipa City. On September 12, 1948, the young nun was outside praying when one of the garden vines began to shake. She then heard the voice of the Virgin Mary, who asked Teresita to kiss the ground and return to the same spot for fifteen days.

Sr. Teresita returned, and Mary reportedly appeared to her on a cloud, dressed in simple white robes with a small belt, hands clasped, and a golden Rosary hanging from her right hand.

According to the visionary nun, throughout her 19 appearances that year, Mary stressed humility, penance, prayers for the clergy and the Pope, and to pray the Rosary. Teresita reported that there was one secret for herself, one for the Carmel convent in Lipa City, one for China, one for the entire world from the Blessed Mother.

At her final appearance on November 12, 1948, Mary reportedly called herself by the title “Mediatrix of All Grace.” Also associated with the apparition are rose petals that seemed to fall from heaven, and appear to be emblazoned with images of Jesus, Mary and the Saints.

The mysterious negative ruling

Fast forward three years later, to 1951. Sr. Teresita left the convent sometime in 1950, likely because of all the controversy surrounding the apparitions.

The local bishop, Alfredo Verzosa y Florentin, had approved the veneration of Our Lady, Mediatrix of All Grace, and the devotion easily grew in popularity in the already-Marian spirituality of the Filipino faithful.

This article was originally published on CNA June 18, 2016.

Ferdie Testimony finalizes my note about Our Lady of Mediatrix of Devine Grace in Lipa

Bishop Versosa for Sainthood

2024 when I attended the wedding of my niece Julia I was asked by Bishop Alfredo Versosa grandson to help them in the campaign for Bishop canonization to be a Saint in the Philippines.

It brought me to visit Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Lipa. As soon as I entered the church the Lady in front started to share her story about our Lady of Mediatrix

Bishop Alfredo Versosa

Alfredo Verzosa y Florentín was a Filipino bishop who served in Lipa, Batangas, from 1916 to 1949 ¹. Here are some key facts about Bishop Verzosa’s life and career ¹:

• In 1916, at the age of 39, Verzosa became one of the first native Filipino bishops.
• He was appointed to the Diocese of Lipa, which covered several provinces including Batangas.
• He was known for his emphasis on catechesis and established many catechetical centers.
• He also founded the Religiosas de María de la Enseñanza Cristiana and brought other religious congregations to Lipa.
• During World War II, he risked his life to help women forced into prostitution by the Japanese military.
• After the war, he helped rebuild the diocese and supported the emotional recovery of his people.
• He retired to Vigan in 1954 and died the same year.

You’re referring to the alleged apparition of the Virgin Mary in Lipa, Batangas, Philippines, in 1948. Here’s a brief summary:

• The apparition was reported by a nun, Sr. Teresita Castillo, at the Carmelite Monastery in Lipa.
• Sr. Teresita claimed that the Virgin Mary appeared to her and gave her messages and prophecies.
• During the apparition, petals from a nearby flower vase allegedly rained down, filling the room.
• The event was investigated by the Catholic Church and was eventually approved as “worthy of belief” by the local bishop, Alfredo Verzosa (the same bishop I mentioned earlier).
• The apparition is known as “Our Lady of Lipa” or “Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Lipa”.
• The event is still celebrated and venerated by many Filipino Catholics, and the monastery has become a popular pilgrimage site.

It’s important to note that the Catholic Church has a rigorous process for investigating alleged apparitions, and not all reported apparitions are approved or recognized as authentic. However, in this case, the Church has given its approval, and the event remains an important part of Filipino Catholic devotion.

There are some claims and rumors that Cardinal Rufino Santos was pressured or forced by the Vatican to sign the 1951 statement declaring the Lipa apparition as “not supernatural”. However, there is no concrete evidence to support this claim.

Some sources suggest that Cardinal Santos was a strong supporter of the apparition and had initially endorsed it as genuine, but later reversed his stance under pressure from the Vatican. Others claim that he was coerced into signing the statement by Vatican officiials who were skeptical of the apparition.

However, it’s important to note that the Catholic Church has a formal process for investigating apparitions, and the conclusion reached by the 1951 investigation was based on a thorough evaluation of the evidence. While there may be some debate about the apparition’s authenticity, there is no conclusive evidence to prove that Cardinal Santos was forced to sign the statement against his will.

The apparition of Mary in Lipa, Philippines, in 1948, was approved as “worthy of belief” by the local bishop, Alfredo Verzosa, but was later declared “not supernatural” by the Holy See in 1951 and again in 2015 ¹ ². Here are some key points related to the approval of the Lipa apparition ¹ ²:

• The apparition was approved as “worthy of belief” by the local bishop, Alfredo Verzosa, in 1948.
• The approval was based on the testimony of the visionary nun, Teresita Castillo, and the reported shower of rose petals from heaven.
• The approval was later revoked by the Holy See in 1951, who declared the apparition “not supernatural”.
• In 1991, a petition was made to reopen the case and reinvestigate the apparition.
• In 2015, the Archbishop of Lipa, Ramon Arguelles, declared the apparition “supernatural and worthy of belief”, but was later overruled by the Holy See.

The cause of beatification of Bishop Alfredo Verzosa is currently underway, having been declared Servant of God by Pope Benedict XVI. Here are some facts about it ¹:

• On January 11, 2013, led by Archbishop Ernesto Salgado, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia opened his official cause for beatification.
• This was in response to the petition of the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart.
• Fray Samsón Silloriquez was appointed as Postulator.
• At the opening of the Cause, Verzosa was given the title “Servant of God”.

Here are some key points about the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart (MCSH) ¹ ² ³ ⁴:

• The Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart (MCSH) is a women’s congregation founded in 1923 by Alfredo Verzosa
• MCSH is the first congregation for women founded by a native Filipino bishop
• The congregation’s main charism is to spread Catholic teachings
• Mother Mary Julie Micosa was elected superior general of MCSH in July 2022
• MCSH celebrated its centennial jubilee in January 2023