Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: August 2025

  "Dear children, my little children, my beloved ones; you are chosen because you have responded, you have put into practice my instructions and love God above all else.  Therefore, little children, pray with all your heart that my words may be realized.  Fast, sacrifice yourselves, love out of love for God who created you, and be, little children, my extended hands to this world that has not come to know the God of love.  Thank you for having responded to my call."

Saints & Relics Presentation: Sacred Hearts Academy, 8/18/2025

Today, this ministry had the joy and blessing of visiting Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu to conduct a presentation/relic exhibit for approximately 60 Sophomore students.  I've never been to this historic parochial school so I was excited to speak at a new venue - plus the gothic-style architecture in the chapel was beautiful, along with the campus.

As for the presentation, it turned out to be an enlightening experience for the students.  For example, before speaking about St. Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes to the girls, I first asked if any of them had ever heard of the French Saint and the Holy Grotto associated with her; not one participant raised a hand (and it wasn't because they were being shy)!  I was somewhat surprised by this because there's actually a huge replica of the Lourdes Grotto prominently located in their campus, as seen below ...

A replica of the Lourdes Grotto at the

Sacred Hearts Academy campus

And sure - not all of the students there are Catholic so those girls have a reason for not knowing about Lourdes, but I'm certain the majority are Catholic so it struck me that they've never been schooled about the spiritual significance behind their own grotto.

So I shared the story of St. Bernadette: her 18 apparitions of the Blessed Virgin in the grotto; the discovery of the miraculous spring; her holy life as a nun; and her incorrupt body.  The facial expressions I scanned in the audience - both the students and their respective teachers - shown with genuine interest and wide-eyed wonder, as I told the Saint's story and shared photos.  The same look was repeated over and over as the stories of several other holy individuals were narrated.

Relics on display for the students

In all, 11 relics were shared with the students, which included those belonging to St. Bernadette, Visionary of Lourdes; Bl. Carlo Acutis, Patron of Youth; St. Faustina Kowalska of Divine Mercy; St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Patroness of the Pro-Life Movement; Sts. Louis & Zelie Martin, Patrons of Families; St. Peregrine Laziosi, Patron of Cancer Patients; Bl. Pierina Morosini, Virgin & Martyr; Bl. Rolando Rivi, Martyr; St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower; and Our Lady's veil.

I often gauge the level of success of each presentation by the reaction of my audiences and by the feedback I receive after.  Today's talk seemed exceptionally successful because of what I saw reflected in the girls' faces and by their enthusiastic veneration of the relics present.  For sure, they all walked away knowing more than they did about our Saints ... and with greater appreciation for them, too - PRICELESS!

Students going up in small groups to view and

venerate the Saints and their respective relics.

All thanks and praises be to God!

The Marian Apparitions at Tre Fontane: From Prophecy to Revelation

This blog has been a long-time coming.  It's about the history of little-known Marian apparitions that took place in a grotto on a hill to the south of Rome, beginning in 1947.  The place is Tre Fontane ("Three Fountains") and I've been to this hallowed sanctuary four times during three pilgrimages I made to Italy - most recently in October 2024 - and it personally ranks high among the holy sites I've been blessed to visit so far.  Although this shrine has been mentioned in this blog before, I've been intending to exclusively feature Tre Fontane in its own post but never got around to it until I felt strongly prompted by a remarkable photo I took this past Saturday (see it here).  So, without any further ado, this is the amazing and inspirational story of the "Virgin of Revelation" of Tre Fontane ...

Prelude: Luigina Sinapi’s Prophetic Encounter (1937)

On April 12, 1937, a devout Roman catechist named Luigina Sinapi (a mystic-soul who is now a Venerable in the Sainthood Process) led a pilgrimage to the Abbey of Tre Fontane, the site traditionally associated with the martyrdom of St. Paul.  As she walked with her group through the eucalyptus grove that surrounded the area, Luigina separated for private prayer and discovered the remains of an aborted infant in a grotto (the secluded hillsides in the area were commonly known for illicit activity during the night).  With reverence, Luigina buried the remains with a Miraculous Medal.  It was then that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to her in radiant light.

Ven. Luigina Sinapi and the grotto of Tre

Fontane at the time of the apparitions

The Virgin delivered a striking prophecy: “I will return to this place.  I will make use of a man who today persecutes the Church, who wants to kill the Pope.”  She then instructed Luigina to go to St. Peter’s Basilica, where she would meet a woman dressed in black who would lead her to her brother, a cardinal destined to become Pope, and she was to reveal to him what transpired at Tre Fontane.  True to the Our Lady's words, Luigina met a woman - Elisabeth Pacelli - who introduced the mystic to her brother, Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli to whom Luigina relayed the Virgin's predictions; the same prelate later ascended to the papacy as Pope Pius XII in 1939.

Luigina's divine encounter, largely unknown outside devout circles, laid the spiritual groundwork for what would unfold exactly ten years later ... with Pope Pius XII later playing a prominent role in the history of Tre Fontane and Marian Devotion, in general.

The Apparition to Bruno Cornacchiola (1947)

Bruno Cornacchiola was a local street tram operator.  He was a rough man - a bitter anti-Catholic who had become a communist sympathizer and a member of the Seventh Day Adventist sect.  On April 12, 1947, he took his three children to the eucalyptus hills of Tre Fontane for a picnic.  He was preparing a speech to denounce the Virgin Mary’s perpetual virginity, intending to deliver it the next day.  Unknown to him, divine intervention awaited.

The seer of Tre Fontane with his wife

and their three children

While playing with a ball, his children wandered near the entrance of the same grotto where Ven. Luigina had received her apparition.  One by one, they knelt, transfixed while staring into the cavern and repeating “Beautiful Lady! Beautiful Lady!”  Bruno, who saw nothing, became confused and alarmed, and he tried lifting them but found each were immovable despite their diminutive sizes.  Struck with fear, he cried out in desperation, “God help us!” and suddenly he saw two disembodied luminous hands floating towards him, which touched his eyes.  The visionary felt "scales" painfully fall from his eyes and a brilliant light began forming in the grotto in which stood a woman of indescribable beauty: dressed in white with a rose-colored sash, a green mantle, and black hair.  She held a Bible close to her heart and her expression was somber but maternal.  A sweet floral aroma filled the grotto, while near her feet a broken crucifix and a cassock were seen.

The woman spoke: “I am she who is in the Divine Trinity: the Daughter of the Father; the Mother of the Son; and the Spouse and Temple of the Holy Spirit.  I am the Virgin of the Revelation.  You persecute me: enough of it now!  Enter into the Holy Fold, the Heavenly Court on Earth (the Catholic Church).”  She revealed that Bruno’s soul had been saved by the Nine First Fridays Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus he had once reluctantly agreed to do to please his devout wife, Iolanda.  Our Lady then added: “Live the Divine Doctrine.  Practice Christianity.  Live the Faith.  The Hail Marys that you pray with faith and love are like golden arrows that go straight to the heart of Jesus.”

 

The beautiful statue of the Virgin of

Revelation in the Sacred Grotto

The Virgin further urged Bruno to pray the Rosary daily for the conversion of sinners and the unity of Christians.  Then, as if anticipating the proclamation of her Assumption into Heaven, she stated: “My body did not decay, for it could not decay.  My Divine Son and the angels came to meet me at the hour of my death.”  Before departing, Our Lady warned him of trials ahead and instructed him to deliver her message personally to the Pope.

Aftermath and Bruno’s Life of Witness

Bruno’s conversion was immediate and profound.  He abandoned his plans to assassinate Pope Pius XII and instead became a tireless witness to the truth of the Catholic Faith.  He met with the Pope on July 22, 1947, and presented him with the makeshift dagger on which he had carved "Death to the Pope"; he begged for forgiveness.  Pius XII, on his part, was deeply moved upon hearing Bruno's story and the Virgin’s personal message delivered to him.  The same Pope later blessed the beautiful statue of the Virgin of Revelation in St. Peter’s Square before its transfer to Tre Fontane ... and it was Pope Pius XII who proclaimed the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary three years later on November 1st, 1950.

Bruno (center) during a group audience

with Pope Pius XII

Bruno dedicated the rest of his life to evangelization, often speaking publicly about the apparitions and urging devotion to the Virgin Mary.  He suffered trials - poverty, skepticism, and spiritual attacks - but remained steadfast.  He also founded a lay-apostolate called SACRI for the purpose of teaching the truths of the Catholic Church, and he continued to receive private apparitions along with messages, some prophetic in nature - for example, in February 1982, Our Lady allegedly said to him: “The thirsty and the lost will come to pray here.  They will find love, understanding, consolation: the true meaning of life.  Here, in this place of the grotto where I appeared several times, will be the sanctuary of expiation, as if it were purgatory on Earth.  There will be a gate with the significant name of "Gate of Peace".  All must enter through this gate.”

Bruno Cornacchiola died a holy death in 2001, and his Cause for Canonization has been initiated in Rome in 2017.  His fruitful legacy lives on through the association he started and the sanctuary built at the site of his heavenly visitations; his writings and testimony inspired countless conversions.  It goes without saying that Bruno’s story is a powerful affirmation of the Blessed Virgin's maternal intercession and the transformative grace of God's Love and Mercy.

Epilogue: Graces Continue to Flow from Tre Fontane

Today, the Holy Grotto at Tre Fontane remains a place of pilgrimage and quiet prayer.  Although the Church has not proclaimed an official approval of the apparitions, the shrine enjoys the tacit approval of the Vatican.  The chapel built over the site was authorized by Pope Pius XII in 1956 and entrusted by him to the care of the Franciscan Conventuals.  Mass is celebrated daily and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is administered regularly.  Tre Fontane is, as Our Lady indicated, a place of profound PEACE and CONVERSION.

And finally, the miracles witnessed from the very start of these apparitions continue to be reported, mainly through the devout use of the blessed soil from the grotto, fulfilling these words Our Lady spoke to Bruno back in 1947: “I promise this special favor: With this sinful soil I shall perform great miracles for the conversion of unbelievers and of sinners.”

The Servant of God, Bruno Cornacchiola, and

a packet of blessed soil from the Holy Grotto

If one is ever in Rome, this author highly recommends a stop at the Sanctuary of Tre Fontane.  One will not regret it.

Our Lady of Revelation, pray for us!

God makes the most ordinary things extraordinary! (UPDATED 8/21/2025)

Happy Birthday to

our Heavenly Mama Mary!

If one isn't aware, today - August 5th - is the Blessed Virgin's historical birthday.  At least that's what she supposedly said to several of the visionaries from the Church-approved apparition site of Medjugorje, although the Feast of Our Lady's Nativity is officially observed on September 8th.  What's more is that the Holy Virgin allegedly made the same revelation to another group of seers during the reported Marian apparitions at Oliveto Citra (Italy), which are still ongoing and under ecclesiastical investigation.

Anyway, concerning this date, allow me to share an amusing story that happened this afternoon: being a believer in the Medjugorje events and a devotee of the Virgin Mary, I privately observe each August 5th as her birthday ... and today was no different.  I went to Mass at Noon and sang "Happy Birthday" within my heart before a statue of our Heavenly Mother.  

Before returning to my office, I took a break on a bench, in the shade, next to a large planter.  Casually glancing into the planter, my eyes happened to rest on a leaf in the shrubbery that stood out because of its peculiar white pattern.  I was immediately captivated.

Just look at the photo I took of it and one will understand why ...

I won't state more about that unusual leaf because I think the photo - the specific pattern on its surface - is pretty self-explanatory, given the occasion.  Indeed, God has a way of transforming the most ordinary circumstances into the extraordinary!  I chuckled to myself, snapped pics, then went back to work smiling and uplifted - Thanks be to God!

Reflecting on today's happenings, I think this message from Medjugorje given by Our Lady back in 8/25/2003, fits the scenario perfectly:

“Dear children!  Also today I call you to give thanks to God in your heart for all the graces which He gives you, also through the signs and colors that are in nature.  God wants to draw you closer to Himself and moves you to give Him glory and thanks.  Therefore, little children, I call you anew to pray, pray, pray and do not forget that I am with you.  I intercede before God for each of you until your joy in Him is complete.  Thank you for having responded to my call.”

You can't make this stuff up.

* * *  U P D A T E :  8 / 2 1 / 2 0 2 5  * * *

Here's an amusing update concerning the leaf pictured above.  After Mass, today, I took another break next to the same planter to make a quick phone call.  I looked for the leaf and found it, only to discover the white pattern had changed a little - see for yourself:

Now she has a child with her - unbelievable!  Again, God has a way of making ordinary things extraordinary!

After 15 years, this blog has another thing to celebrate 🥳

Saint of the Month - August 2025: Saint Jeanne Delanoue

St. Jeanne Delanoue

A Soul Transformed by God's Mercy

Feast: August 17th

St. Jeanne Delanoue was born on June 18, 1666, in the city of Saumur, France, into a devout family who operated a small religious goods store near the local shrine of Our Lady of Ardilliers.  From a young age, Jeanne exhibited great intelligence, resourcefulness, and a keen business sense.  Yet despite her pious upbringing and proximity to a sacred place, her early life was marked more by ambition than holiness.  After the death of her parents, she took over the shop and expanded its profits, running it with keen efficiency but a hardened heart, even keeping her store open on Sundays and feast days, which was a scandal in her time.

But God had greater plans for Jeanne.

In 1693, her life changed profoundly through an encounter with a poor widow named Françoise Fouchet, who prophetically told her that she was destined for a much higher calling: to care for the poor.  At first skeptical, Jeanne resisted, but grace began to stir within her.  Soon after, she experienced a radical interior conversion and she abandoned her materialistic ways, closed her shop on Sundays, and began to visit the sick and destitute in the caves, cellars, and hovels of Saumur.  What had once been a heart of indifference was now set ablaze with divine charity.

Jeanne began welcoming orphans, the elderly, the sick, and the mentally ill into her own home.  Despite the ridicule of neighbors and even physical assaults from those who misunderstood her mission, she remained steadfast.  In 1704, she founded the Congregation of St. Anne of Providence, dedicated to the service of the most abandoned.  Trusting entirely in Divine Providence, Jeanne accepted no regular income or stable funding, relying solely on the mercy of God and the generosity He inspired in others.

The Saint’s work quickly expanded, and by the time of her death, Jeanne had founded or inspired the establishment of over a dozen homes for the poor across western France.  She became known not only for her boundless compassion but for her mystical life of prayer, penance, and spiritual discernment; she was known to heal the sick through her prayers and blessing.  Though she bore many sufferings in silence, her union with Christ deepened, and she often spoke of seeing Him in the faces of the poor.

St. Jeanne Delanoue died on August 17, 1736, worn out by a life of total self-giving.  She was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 31, 1982, as a radiant example of how God can transform even the most self-centered heart into one consumed by love.

A relic from St. Jeanne's bones, gifted to

this ministry by her congregation.

This Saint’s life remains a testimony that sanctity begins not with perfection, but with surrender - when the soul opens itself fully to God’s mercy and allows Divine Love to remake it into a likeness of Jesus Christ.

St. Jeanne Delanoue, pray for us!

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: July 2025

  "Dear children!  In this time of grace, when the Most High permits me to love you and lead you on the way of holiness, Satan wants to entangle you with the cord of peacelessness and hatred.  Do not permit him to prevail, but, little children, fight for the holiness of every life.  Thank you for having responded to my call."

A photo taken this morning after Mass

at St. John Vianney Church, Kailua (the

day this message was given at Medjugorje

- note Our Lady to the left of the sun).

It's the same Woman ...

The cloud-figure below was photographed yesterday morning - Friday, 7/18/2025.  It appeared as I drove to work just when I started praying the Rosary; the Luminous Mysteries, to be exact, which I always offer for the conversion of sinners, beginning with myself.

In person, the figure clearly resembled a familiar depiction of the Virgin Mary and, given its opportune timing, I was convinced it represented her maternal presence.  I sensed she gave this latest sign to encourage ... to intercede ... to pray and to receive prayer on behalf of her Son.

This author admits - it seems like I'm sometimes blogging the same, exact story over and over when it comes to signal graces I've unexpectedly received from Our Lady while engaged in the Rosary ... but it's generally how these unusual events occur: 90% of my personal encounters with seemingly holy images involve the Rosary Prayer before, during, or after.  If one lumps all of these similar stories together, they actually amount to a coherent testimonial as to the extraordinary blessings that are possible if one just commits to a filial relationship with our Heavenly Mother, and recite her favorite prayer frequently.

... and it just dawned on me how the figures look remarkably the same from one sighting to the next (note the above examples), but it makes sense, though - it is, after all, the same Woman.

"And there appeared a great wonder in

heaven; a woman clothed with the sun ..."

- Revelation 12:12

... and how she loves us very, very much!  So, if you aren't already practicing it, LOVE OUR HOLY MOTHER MARY ... FOLLOW WHAT SHE SAYS (see here and here) ... and PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY.  Her motherly presence and love will come alive in your own life, too!

Our Lady of the Rosary,

pray for us!

Breaking News: Another Marian Apparition approved by the Vatican!

  

Just a few days ago, on July 9, 2025, the Vatican issued a "nihil obstat" related to the reported Marian apparitions of Litmanová.  It's basically a green light - an official Church approval - for public devotions to be held at the site of the appearances and also for its associated messages.

These notable events occurred between August 1990 and August 1995 on Mount Zvir in northern Slovakia, where two young girls, Ivetka Korčáková and Katka Češelková, reported seeing the Virgin Mary, who identified herself as the “Immaculate Purity”.  The visionaries were 11 (Ivetka) and 12 when the visitations first began in a humble woodcutter's shack in the forest where they were resting from playing before Our Lady appeared in the midst of a bright light.  The shack has since been transformed into a rustic chapel atop the holy mountain.

"My dear children!  My Son invites

you.  Go to Him, and you will experience

true happiness and true peace.  My

dear children, I desire to lead you!  Open

your hearts to me, and you will

experience true peace and true joy.

Give thanks to the Cross!"

- Message of April 5, 1992

The apparitions commenced during a time of political upheaval and drew thousands of pilgrims, many of whom witnessed phenomena such as solar miracles and sought healing from a nearby spring reportedly blessed by the Holy Virgin.  Her messages emphasized conversion, simplicity, and spiritual renewal, similar to other approved Marian apparitions.

"My dear children!  Please take

more time to reflect on my messages.

I pray to God for one thing - to leave

His peace within you.  The current time

is a thief of peace.  Please say to God:

I love, therefore, I repent.

I love, therefore, I forgive.

I love, and that is my peace."

-  Message of March 5, 1995

Initially, Our Lady appeared on Sundays and Feast Days to the child seers, but later she came to the mountain on the First Sunday of each month and delivered public messages, just a few of which are posted here.

"My dear children, this revelation is

my last.  I love you ... and I thank you all

for what you have done for me here.

My beloved children!  I wanted

this to happen, to wake you up

from the dream of emptiness, so you

may understand the need for

conversion.  In this time, conversion

is essential!  Please, I beg you.

I will remain on this mountain.

Reflect on my messages!  Stay in

my heart during this time!

Stay, for you must become more

vigilant and simple.

The time that is coming has already

begun.  Remain like children - completely

free for God.  Please, take my words

to heart!  I love you and wait for

you in heaven."

- Final message of August 6, 1995

The seers, Ivetka (left) and Katka.

For more information about the apparitions

and messages of Litmanova, click here.

O Mary, Immaculate Purity,

pray for us!

Prayer & Discernment

This First Saturday I had another unusual experience.  I'm sharing about it here without any expectation of being believed and prepared for any ridicule it may entail.  Each reader should prayerfully discern this story on his/her own.  In fact, the subject of this blog is essentially about Prayer and Discernment, and I want people to seriously think about both.

Earlier this morning, as I was praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary before the 8:00 AM Mass at St. John Vianney Church (Kailua), I sensed the gentle presence of our Blessed Mother.  So I asked her, "My Lady, what is it that you want?" which was followed by a verbal response.  To my best recollection, the words I heard were: 

"I desire prayer ... and be vigilant,

my children, for the forces of evil are

preparing an assault like never before.

Pray for the gift of discernment."

That was it.  I actually didn't give it much credence at the time, but I also didn't outright dismiss it, either.  I went on with my Rosary but kept the words in the back of my mind.

After the Mass and some time in Eucharistic Adoration (this parish holds monthly Adoration after every First Saturday morning Mass), I did my customary visit to the parish's Immaculate Heart of Mary garden shrine to also spend prayer time with Our Lady.  I believe the place emanates grace ...

One of my favorites places to pray at -

the Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

at St. John Vianney Church in Kailua.

Before concluding, I knelt to receive the Virgin’s blessing and, remembering the words I heard earlier, I asked her to pray for me to the Holy Spirit for the gift of Discernment.  I then prayed the 3 Hail Marys that I usually end with.

As I stood up to leave, I glanced at my cellphone to check the time and was surprised to discover an oily stain on the surface of the screen ... but rather than appearing like a random smudge, it had a distinct and familiar form - see below:

I'm not claiming it's a bonafide miracle, but come on!  What are the odds of these circumstances occurring one after the other on a First Saturday (when the Blessed Virgin's influence is particularly strong)?  First, the mysterious voice; second, at the parish's exceptionally graced Marian Shrine (this is not the only strange experience I've had there); third, me asking for prayers from Our Lady, followed by an immediate appearance of a striking silhouette of a torso of a woman draped in a veil with hands together in prayer!  (You can't make this stuff up!)

Again, not trying to convince anyone that all of this is divine intervention ... but taken as a whole, it all goes beyond mere coincidences for me; beyond my own imagination and it's now resonating with on so many levels, including those words.

Our Lady, Loving Mother, pray for us.

The simple fact is - our society has spiraled down to a level where many evils are no longer viewed as evil, and truths have been twisted in a diabolic manner.  So it makes sense that we're being asked to Pray and Discern.  These are practices every serious Christian should routinely be engaging in to navigate our way through the jumble of good and bad in our present times.  However, ideally, we shouldn't need "messages" from Heaven prompting us ... but for those out there who do need some sort of encouragement, I hope and pray this story will be that gentle nudge.

Even if one thinks this is all just nonsense, one solid truth stands - Our Lady loves us dearly and she's been trying for centuries to guide us to a peaceful existence and then Heaven, via many apparitions, locutions, and signs.  Anyone needing her help can get it - starting right now - by simply opening one's heart to our Holy Mother then by saying a prayer.

"I am your servant; give me discernment

that I may understand your statutes."

- Psalm 119:125

Saint of the Month - July 2025: Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez

Bl. Carlos Manuel Rodríguez

A Life of Faith & Liturgical Renewal

Memorial: July 13th

This month I share a holy role-model who most of the Laity can sink their teeth into.  His life perfectly represents the concept of holiness in daily ordinary circumstances that we can all aspire to.

+ Early Life and Spiritual Formation +

Born Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríguez Santiago on November 22, 1918, in Caguas, Puerto Rico, he was the second of five children in a deeply pious family who simply called him Charlie.  His parents, Manuel and Herminia Rodríguez, instilled in him a strong faith from an early age.  He was baptized in the Sweet Name of Jesus Church on May 4, 1919, a parish that would remain prominent to his spiritual life.

Charlie’s childhood was marked by both joy and hardship.  In 1925, a devastating fire destroyed his family’s home and business, forcing them to live with his maternal grandparents.  In addition, he had a traumatic encounter with a vicious dog that resulted in him developing a serious digestive disorder.  Despite these challenges, he remained deeply committed to his faith, which steadily evolved into a profound love for the Eucharist and the Liturgy.  His grandmother, Alejandrina Esterás, played a significant role in shaping his spiritual outlook, teaching him the importance of prayer and devotion.

+ Education and Early Challenges +

Young Charlie attended Colegio Católico Notre Dame, where he excelled academically, particularly in religious studies.  However, his aspirations to become a priest were hindered by ulcerative colitis, which caused him great suffering throughout his life.  Despite his illness, he remained dedicated to his studies and faith, eventually transferring to Gautier Benítez High School and later the Academy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in San Juan.

His health struggles forced him to leave formal education before completing his degree, but he continued his intellectual pursuits independently.  He worked as an office clerk while dedicating his free time to Catholic catechesis and liturgical education.  His passion for the liturgical movement led him to translate and publish articles on the subject, promoting a deeper understanding of the Church’s traditions among Puerto Rican Catholics.

Bl. Carlos Manuel as a young student

(front row-center).

+ Apostolate and Liturgical Renewal +

Charlie became a key figure in the liturgical renewal movement, advocating for greater participation in the Eucharist and the Paschal Mystery.  He founded Liturgy and Christian Culture, a publication dedicated to educating Catholics about the richness of the liturgy.  His work extended beyond writing - he organized discussion groups, retreats, youth faith events, and catechetical programs, inspiring many to deepen their personal relationship with God.

Enrolling at the University of Puerto Rico in 1946, Charlie continued his personal mission of liturgical education.  He established the Círculo de Cultura Cristiana, a group dedicated to studying and promoting Catholic teachings.  His influence grew, and he became a respected mentor to students and clergy alike.

Despite his illness, the Blessed remained joyful and dedicated to his mission.  He was known for his humility, kindness, and unwavering faith, qualities that endeared him to those around him.  His motto, “We live for that night,” referred to the Easter Vigil, emphasizing the centrality of Christ’s resurrection in Christian life.

Charlie in evangelical action.

+ Final Years and Glorification +

Later diagnosed with colon cancer, Charlie’s health deteriorated in the early 1960s, but he continued his work until his passing on July 13, 1963; he was only 44-years-old.  His legacy of liturgical renewal and catechetical education left a lasting impact on in the Puerto Rico Catholic community and beyond.

Recognizing his sanctity, Pope John Paul II Beatified Carlos Manuel Rodriguez in April 2001, making him the first Puerto Rican and first Caribbean-born layperson to be beatified.  His feast day is celebrated on July 13, and he is commemorated as a patron of liturgical renewal and catechists.

Bl. Carlos Manuel’s life stands as a testament to faith, perseverance, and dedication to the Church’s liturgical traditions.  His work continues to inspire those seeking a deeper understanding of the Eucharist and the Paschal Mystery.  Let us pray for his speed Canonization.

Bl. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez,

pray for us.

Saints & Relics Presentation: Sts. Peter & Paul Church, Honolulu

Yesterday, on the Feast of the great Apostles, St. Peter & Paul, I was invited by the adult coordinators of a Youth Group to speak at their parish of Sts. Peter & Paul!  Their teens had inquired about Saints recently and the coordinators were familiar with this ministry through past presentations ... so there I was again this afternoon with 9 different relics in tow.

Today's line up of holy people/relics included St. Bernadette of Lourdes; Ven. Alexia Gonzales-Barros; the Blessed Claretian Martyrs of Barbastro; St. Damien of Molokai; Bl. Pierina Morosini; Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassatti; St. Margaret of Castello; St. Maximilian Kolbe; and St. Anthony of Padua.

Judging by the reaction and feedback from the teens and adults, the Saints again made a deep, positive impression on many of them.  I can always see it by how the audience members behave after each talk, when they're invited to approach the relic displayed to have a personal encounter with each Saint/Blessed I talked about.

Usually, their subtle facial expressions while standing in front of a relic almost seem as though they've come upon a wondrous treasure!  People pause for a bit in awe and reflection before reaching out to carefully touch the relics with their hands or with religious articles; mouths sometimes move silently, which I know is prayer ... and some are even teary-eyed during these moments of connection.  Then the cellphones come out for picture taking and to scan the QR codes I make available that link to biographies of each holy person.  It goes beyond mere curiosity.

Seeing the above reaction never gets old for me ... and it's especially encouraging to see our youth displaying such piety because I then have certainty that something that I shared about each holy person had managed to "stick" in their young hearts ... and better the Saints to have as role models than most of the superficial celebrities they tend to admire these days.

So may God bless my new Ohana in Christ at Sts. Peter & Paul Parish.  I Am looking forward to seeing them again this August for another scheduled presentation!

“... Let your face shine, that we may be saved!" - Psalm 80:7

As pictured above, we have a unique crucifix in our parish of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Kailua.  It's a carved wooden image that once hung in the prior church building that was completely burnt down back in July 1982.  The fact that this crucifix managed to remain intact and not be incinerated in that devastating fire is regarded as somewhat of a miracle by our old-timers ... and many revere it as a visible message of survival and hope from God.

This blogger personally regards the crucifix as especially holy and something remarkable happened today that confirmed it for me.  While leading our congregation in the Rosary, prior to the Saturday evening Vigil Mass, I looked up at the image and was surprised to see the suffering Holy Face of Jesus manifested on the torso of the charred corpus.  It resembled the face from the Shroud of Turin and it was so distinct I could even make out a crown of thorns!

I later snapped a few photos, which were mostly disappointing as they don't show the level of clarity I witnessed in person.  Below is the best photo out of the bunch - the face on the crucifix is still discernible.

If I recall correctly, it appeared after the third decade was completed - the Birth of Jesus - and as I was reciting the Fatima (decade) Prayer:

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins

and save us from the fires of hell.

Lead all souls to Heaven, especially

those most in need of Your mercy.

How relevant ... plus I am a long-time believer in the Holy Face Devotion and the Shroud of Turin!

ABOVE: The crucifix in St. Anthony

of Padua Church in Kailua, Oahu (the

apparition of the Holy Face is circled).

BELOW: The image (L) compared with

the Holy Face of our Lord from the sacred

Shroud of Turin (R).  The resemblance

is simply uncanny!

It all goes to remind us as that God is truly with us in the sanctity of our Catholic Sanctuaries - the "Holy of Holies" - and how responsive the Lord is to our prayers.  Plus, what a great affirmation of the Holy Face Devotion and the power of the Rosary Prayer.  Thanks and Praises be to God!

"You have said, “Seek my face.”  My heart

says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”."

- Psalm 27-8

"And I will not hide my face anymore

from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon

the house of Israel, declares the Lord God."

- Ezekiel 39:29