Happy All Saints Day!

HAPPY FEAST of ALL SAINTS!

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of your Holy Mother and all the Saints through whose lives we see YOU... through their acts of Charity; their expressions of Hope; their Joy in service; their sowing of Peace; their sharing of Love!  Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

The Litany of the Saints

Lord, have mercy on us [Lord, have mercy on us]
Christ, have mercy on us [Christ, have mercy on us]
Lord, have mercy on us [Lord, have mercy on us]
Christ, hear us [Christ, graciously hear us]

God the Father of Heaven [have mercy on us]
God the Son, Redeemer of the World [have mercy on us]
God the Holy Ghost [have mercy on us]
Holy Trinity, One God [have mercy on us]

Holy Mary [pray for us]
Holy Mother of God [pray for us]
Holy Virgin of Virgins [pray for us]

St. Michael [pray for us]
St. Gabriel [pray for us]
St. Raphael [pray for us]
All you Holy Angels and Archangels [pray for us]
All you Holy Orders of Blessed Spirits [pray for us]
St. John the Baptist [pray for us]
St. Joseph [pray for us]
All you Holy Patriarchs and Prophets [pray for us]
St. Peter [pray for us]
St. Paul [pray for us]
St. Andrew [pray for us]
St. James [pray for us]
St. John [pray for us]
St. Thomas [pray for us]
St. James [pray for us]
St. Philip [pray for us]
St. Bartholomew [pray for us]
St. Matthew [pray for us]
St. Simon [pray for us]
St. Thaddeus [pray for us]
St. Matthias [pray for us]
St. Barnabas [pray for us]
St. Luke [pray for us]
St. Mark [pray for us]
All you Holy Apostles and Evangelists [pray for us]
All you Holy Disciples of Our Lord [pray for us]
All you Holy Innocents [pray for us]
St. Stephen [pray for us]
St. Lawrence [pray for us]
St. Vincent [pray for us]
SS. Fabian and Sebastian [pray for us]
SS. John and Paul [pray for us]
SS. Cosmas and Damian [pray for us]
SS. Gervase and Protase [pray for us]
All you Holy Martyrs [pray for us]
St. Sylvester [pray for us]
St. Gregory [pray for us]
St. Ambrose [pray for us]
St. Augustine [pray for us]
St. Jerome [pray for us]
St. Martin [pray for us]
St. Nicholas [pray for us]
All you Holy Bishops and Confessors [pray for us]
All you holy doctors [pray for us]
St. Anthony [pray for us]
St. Benedict [pray for us]
St. Bernard [pray for us]
St. Dominic [pray for us]
St. Francis [pray for us]
All you Holy Priests and Levites [pray for us]
All you Holy Monks and Hermits [pray for us]
St. Mary Magdalen [pray for us]
St. Agatha [pray for us]
St. Lucy [pray for us]
St. Agnes [pray for us]
St. Cecilia [pray for us]
St. Catherine [pray for us]
St. Anastasia [pray for us]
All you Holy Virgins and Widows [pray for us]
All you Holy Saints of God [pray for us]

From all evil [pray us, O Lord]
From all sin [pray us, O Lord]
From Thy wrath [pray us, O Lord]
From a sudden and unprovided death [pray us, O Lord]
From the deceits of the devil [pray us, O Lord]
From anger, and hatred, and all ill-will [pray us, O Lord]
From the spirit of fornication [pray us, O Lord]
From lightning and tempest [pray us, O Lord]
From the scourge of earthquakes [pray us, O Lord]
From plague, famine and war [pray us, O Lord]
From everlasting death [pray us, O Lord]

By the Mystery of Thy Holy Incarnation [pray us, O Lord]
By Thy coming [pray us, O Lord]
By Thy nativity [pray us, O Lord]
By Thy baptism and holy fasting [pray us, O Lord]
By Thy Cross and Passion [pray us, O Lord]
By Thy Death and burial [pray us, O Lord]
By Thy holy Resurrection [pray us, O Lord]
By Thine admirable Ascension [pray us, O Lord]
By the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete [pray us, O Lord]

On the Day of Judgment [deliver us, O Lord]

We sinners, we beseech Thee [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst spare us [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst pardon us [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy Holy Church [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all ecclesiastical orders in holy religion [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian peoples [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the Gospel all unbelievers [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relatives, and benefactors from eternal damnation [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed [hear us, O Lord]
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us, Son of God [hear us, O Lord]

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world [spare us, O Lord]
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world [graciously hear us, O Lord]
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world [have mercy on us]

Christ, hear us [Christ, graciously hear us]
Lord, have mercy on us [Lord, have mercy on us]
Christ, have mercy on us [Christ, have mercy on us]
Lord, have mercy on us [Lord, have mercy on us]

Amen

Fatima for Families

Not that long ago my parish started a new ministry called BE A HOLY FAMILY (abbreviated as BAHF in this blog).  It's aim is to invite families - parents and their children - to come together every 4th Sunday of the month for a lesson, an activity, and refreshments.  The goal is to foster the strengthening of the "domestic church" in order to help families grow in sanctity.  It's a beautiful ministry in our parish, and a much-needed one in today's Church and the world, in general.

So yesterday, this ministry was invited to the BAHF October gathering to speak about the young Fatima Seers and the important message that our Blessed Mother entrusted them with to pass on to the rest of us.  I summarized the message in this manner - Our Lady asked that we ...

1.  Amend our lives (convert)
2.  Pray the Rosary daily for World Peace
3.  Pray for the conversion of sinners and make reparation for all our sins

I also encouraged parents to teach their children how to pray, then to pray as a family, as the prayers of innocent youngsters have particular efficacy before the throne of God, given their pure hearts ... and combining kids with the Rosary makes for a powerful force for good in our troubled times.

Thankfully, the children patiently listened to the presentation and were surprisingly attentive throughout ... and so were the parents.  Afterward, we invited the families to venerate the clothing relics of Sts. Francisco and Jacinta along with a little piece of wood from the tree of apparitions that were on display, courtesy of this ministry.  The relics were a big help in making the story and message of the apparitions a lot more real and tangible for the audience, especially the children.

And finally, something amazing occurred today that I believe was a blessing from Our Lady of Fatima and the child-seers to the families who attended.  Almost immediately after leaving the Kamiano Center, where I had gone for the Noon Mass, I witnessed a silhouette of Our Lady of Fatima in the sky above downtown Honolulu.  It was massive and clear enough for me to recognize it was the Holy Mother's figure.  I actually ignored it at first, but after walking half a block and coming to another gap in the buildings, and seeing the image intact, I decided to take a few photos - below are the clearest pics.

    

I shared the pics with my prayer group members and one pointed out the figures of Francisco and Jacinta kneeling to the right of Our Lady, which I did not initially see in the sky.   This is how I concĺuded that it was Our Lady of Fatima and she was likely happy that her message was shared with the families yesterday morning ... and she was blessing all of us for it.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: October 2026

Click/Tap on the image above or here to hear

this month's message from Medjugorje

My new hobby!

I recently discovered 3D Printing and the wheels in my head haven't stopped turning as I ponder the possibilities!

Stay tuned ... there's more to come!

Marian Devotion is Alive and Well in Kailua!

While May is traditionally celebrated as the Month of Mary, October also holds a place in the hearts of the faithful as the Month of the Holy Rosary.  As such, October is one of the most spiritually vibrant months in the Catholic calendar.  This special time invites us to draw closer to God through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, via her most cherished prayer.  Whether through private meditation in our homes or communal prayer in our parishes, October is an opportune time to commune with Our Lady; to deepen our personal relationship with her and her Divine Son.

In my Kailua parish, October holds a special rhythm of grace, which I'm happy to blog about for the spiritual edification of readers.  Here's a look at how Mother Mary and the Rosary are being celebrated this month in my parish, and how you, too, can bring these meaningful devotional practices into your own respective parishes.

🌹 St. Anthony of Padua Parish’s Pilgrim Madonna Program

One of the most exciting ways my parish encourages Marian Devotion is through our Pilgrim Madonna Program.  To foster domestic church life and a spirit of community prayer, my Pastor commissioned four distinct images of Our Lady (including two icons personally written by this author) that "travel" from household to household throughout October (and during May, too).  This is the third year we've done it and it's become an event our families look forward too.

             

Three of our four Pilgrim Madonnas - representing

Our Lady of Medjugorje, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady

of Lourdes - displayed in the homes of parishioners.

How does it work? Families sign up to host a Pilgrim Madonna in their home for 3-day intervals.  While the image is with a household, the family commits to pray the Rosary together and encouraged to invite their relatives and neighbors to participate.  Since the program's inception, signal graces have been reported, thanks be to God!

🌹 Parish Rosary Marathon

This past October 7th, 2026 - the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and the anniversary of the historic Battle of Lepanto - our parish took devotion to the next level by hosting a special "Rosary Marathon" during which parishioners prayed all four sets of the Rosary Mysteries in one sitting.  It's a minor sacrifice, but more than worth it, considering the blessings Our Lady promises to her Rosary devotees.

    

From start to finish, as the rhythmic cadence of the "Hail Mary" filled the air, the vibe in the church was nothing short of deep, deep serenity and the tangible presence of the Divine.  The night was topped off by refreshments served by our resident FIAT Prayer Group and with fellowship time amongst participants; several people expressed positive feedback about the Rosary Marathon, making for a fitting tribute to Our Lady on her feast day ... and proving that when people come together in sincere prayer, souls are changed for the better.

🌹 America Needs Fatima Rosary Rally

And today, October 10th, 2026 ... the Vargas Family again held their America Needs Fatima Public Rosary Rally (an annual event I and several others enthusiastically look forward to!).  While praying in the church is vital, taking our faith out into the community and public places is a powerful witness to the world.

Equipped with a giant banner, statues, and rosary beads, we offered prayerful reparation for sins and implored God’s mercy for our country through Mary’s intercession ... and we were even blessed by an amazing sign before our Rosary commenced - a visual manifestion of the Blessed Virgin's figure in the sky above us!

     

Our Lady came to encourage us - Ave Maria!

Group meetings such as these remind us that our faith is not meant to be hidden behind closed doors; rather, it's meant to shine brightly for all to see.  

This author (standing) with our gracious hosts:

Michael, Auntie Patti & Auntie Edwina.

And finally, the food served afterward by our wonderful hosts was fantastic!  May God continue blessing the Vargas and Saunders Ohana!

🌹 October isn't finished yet!

As we journey through the rest of the month, let us not let the special charisms of this Month of the Rosary pass us by (October 13th is the Anniversary of the Great Miracle of the Sun in Fatima!).  Pick up your Rosary and pray it through the end of October ... and ask Heaven for graces upon yourselves, your loved ones, and for the world.  Remember that our Blessed Mother never fails to hear the prayers of her children.

Our Lady of the Rosary,

pray for us!

Saint of the Month - October 2026: Niña Ruiz Abad

The Servant of God

Niña Ruiz Abad

A Modern Beacon of Faith

Early Life

Niña Ruiz Abad was born on October 31, 1979 in Quezon City, Philippines.  Her parents—Alex Cuadrante Abad and Corazon Javier Ruiz—were both lawyers who hailed from Ilocos Norte.  Niña had one sister, Mary Anne.  Her early childhood, however, was marked by deep trial when her father unexpectedly passed away when she was only two or three years old, leaving her mother to raise the two young girls.

Despite the tragedy, Niña’s spiritual foundation was laid early.  She was baptized on March 15, 1980, at the Santo Domingo Church—the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary—in Quezon City.  In 1987, she received her First Communion at the Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Cubao.

In April 1988, due to her mother’s professional commitments, the family relocated to Sarrat, Ilocos Norte where Niña excelled academically in elementary and middle schools.  Throughout her transitions between city life and her ancestral home in Ilocos, Niña maintained a singular, unshakeable focus: Putting God first in all things.

A Remarkable Piety

What set Niña apart from her peers was an extraordinary, mature faith in God and spiritual discipline that manifested at a very young age.  Widely remembered as "the girl who always wore a rosary" she frequently went about with a rosary around her neck as an outward sign of her dedication to Christ through His Blessed Mother.  Her personal motto, "God first" served as the guiding principle for her day-to-day existence.  Her daily routine was steeped in prayer and rigorous piety:

• Devotional Discipline: Niña dedicated much time to personal prayer, often spending up to an hour and a half kneeling with her hands raised and eyes closed in deep meditation, completely immovable as she quietly communed with God.  When her mother asked her if this tired her, the child replied, "No Mama, I am happy to talk to God.  I feel like I'm floating."  Furthermore, Nina actively encouraged her family and household helpers to join her in praying the Angelus and the daily Rosary, acting as a young apostle of peace and piety within her own household ... and if anyone refused or gave an excuse so as not to participate, the child would simply reply, "No ... God first!", which was usually enough to persuade the listener to pray with her.

• Love for the Holy Eucharist and the Mass: During Mass, unlike most children her age, she was particularly attentive and exhibited profound reverence, keeping her hands clasped tightly in front of her heart throughout the liturgy; it goes without saying that her devotion to our Eucharistic Lord was admirable for one so young.

• Home Altars and Religious Imagery: Niña's family home featured 9 devotional altars.  She maintained a deep affection for every holy image displayed, often sleeping with representations of the Santo Niño and Our Lady of the Rosary or Our Lady of Lourdes close to her.  She loved decorating each altar with flowers picked from her family's garden ... and if there weren't enough individual blossoms to go around, she plucked the petals off so as to spread them around each holy image.

• Simplicity and Penance: Demonstrating a striking innocence and a desire to avoid moral failing, she famously avoided eating apples, believing that the fruit symbolized the original sin of Adam and Eve.  She also preferred clothing that was unpretentious, shunning the color black unless it was strictly required by her school uniform.

• Distribution of Sacramentals: And finally, one other thing this child was known for was her habitual giving away of sacramentals such as rosaries, prayer books, holy cards, Bibles, etc. ... to family, friends, and others who would accept them from her.

Niña at her First Holy Communion

Even during her lifetime, those who crossed paths with Niña recognized that there was something innately good about her.  Teachers, classmates, and neighbors frequently recalled her gentle demeanor, her patience during trials, and her ability to comfort those around her with a spiritual wisdom that defied her age.  Her sanctity was not characterized by grand accomplishments, but by pure innocence, deep joy, and an intense awareness of God's presence.  Niña proved that holiness can be lived out by all ... even by a child.

Unexpected Death & Legacy

In 1989, at the age of nine, Niña was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition.  Despite knowing the fragility of her health, she continued her devout lifestyle with remarkable fortitude.  On August 16, 1993, Niña suffered a severe heart attack while in school.  She was immediately rushed to the hospital, but her earthly life came to its conclusion at the tender age of 13.

Cause for Sainthood

Niña's formal journey toward sainthood commenced under the Diocese of Laoag.  After receiving the necessary clearance (nihil obstat) from the Vatican, the diocesan inquiry into her life, heroic virtues, and reputation for sanctity was officially opened on April 7, 2024 (coinciding with Divine Mercy Sunday).  A special tribunal was established to gather testimonies from her remaining relatives, teachers, friends, and those touched by her intercession.  Her path toward official recognition by the Universal Church marks a historic milestone: she has the distinction of being one of the youngest candidates for canonization in Southeast Asia.

Initially, Niña was laid to rest at the public cemetery in Ilocos Norte.  However, as her reputation for holiness grew posthumously, her remains were exhumed on April 6, 2024, and translated to a special tomb within the historic Church of Santa Monica in Sarrat, where the public is welcomed to privately invoke the Servant of God's intercession.

* * * Meeting a Special Mother * * *

The photos above and below were taken on Sunday, 9/27/2026, at St. George Church in Waimanalo during a celebration Mass and dinner for St. Lorenzo Ruiz.  It just so happened that Mrs. Corazon Abad (Niña's mother) was in town visiting with friends so Fr. Raymund Ellorin invited her to be a part of the festivities.  Following the Mass, she gave a short testimonial about her daughter after which this author had the privilege of being introduced to her by Fr. Raymund.  What a delight it was to converse with this woman of faith and to hear from her first-hand accounts of Niña's devout conduct, some of which are included in this blog.

This author with Fr. Ray and Mrs. Corazon Abad

(center w/lei) ... and a 3rd Class Relic Card of her

daughter that she gifted the congregation with.

Please join this ministry in praying for the speedy canonization of Niña Ruiz Abad.

Little Niña, pray for us!

Celebrating St. Lorenzo Ruiz!

There are a lot of Filipinos here in Hawaii ... and fortunately, we've brought with us many of our traditions, including our love for great get-togethers and food ... and for us Filipino Catholics, also our strong devotion to the Blessed Mother and Saints, and their Fiestas!  In particular, we have a warm place in our hearts for St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first-ever Filipino proclaimed a Saint ... and whose Feast Day is observed on September 28th.  So it's been a very busy last few days with us local Filipinos at two parishes I'm closely associated with:

ST. GEORGE CHURCH, WAIMANALO

For about 5 years now, a dedicated Filipino community at this parish has been conducting an annual novena to St. Lorenzo, leading up to his Feast Day when they throw a big party honoring the Saint.  This year, though, they held their celebration the day before the Feast (9/27) and it was just as festive as prior years!

A beautiful statue of St. Lorenzo Ruiz in the

St. George Parish's "Garden of Hope".

But what made this year's event extra-special was the attendance of Mrs. Corazon Abad, the mother of the Niña Ruiz Abad, a young Filipina being investigated for possible Sainthood by the Diocese of Laoag in the Philippines.  Mrs. Abad happened to be staying with friends in Waimanalo so the Pastor—Fr. Raymund Ellorin—invited her to join in the celebration at which she gave a glowing testimonial about her daughter's virtuous life.  It was beautiful and inspiring to hear.

Mrs. Corazon Abad speaking passionately about her

daughter - the Servant of God, Niña Ruiz Abad.

... and the party after was a blast with tons of local and Filipino foods and desserts (e.g. Pansit, Lumpia, Chicken Adobo, Pinakbet, Pork Guisantes, Puto, Biko, etc.), live entertainment, and great fellowship with my friends at St. George Church.  The only downside was I left the place stuffed!

 

My first plate.

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH, KAILUA

While St. George was having their 9-day novena, my home-parish in Kailua simultaneously held its first-ever Triduum to St. Lorenzo.  Although the Filipino community in St. Anthony's is not as large as that in Waimanalo, we managed to have a meaningful three days of prayer that culminated on the actual Feast Day of St. Lorenzo with a Mass, a presentation on the life of St. Lorenzo (conducted by this ministry), and a potluck dinner that was well-attended not just by our Filipino parishioners but by other people, as well.

 

LEFT:  This ministry's "Memorial Stones" of Sts. Lorenzo & St. Pedro Calungsod

from their actual sites of martyrdom in Nagasaki and Tumon (Guam).

RIGHT:  Note the Holy Face of Christ that was visible on our parish's crucifix

during the Sunday Triduum Prayers to St. Lorenzo.

My parish's potluck dinner was also loaded with tasty foods, including a whole roasted pig (Lechon)!  All in all, for our first-time Fiesta for St. Lorenzo Ruiz, it was a fantastic celebration.  One, which I hope will grow into another longstanding parish tradition.  Again, the only downside of tonight's event was I left the church way too stuffed!

St. Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us!

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: September 2026

Click/Tap on the image above or here to hear

this month's message from Medjugorje

Sodality of Our Blessed Lady Presentation, 9-12-2026: 200 Years of Catholicism in Hawaii

For the third time, this ministry had the privilege of sharing about the history of the Catholic Faith in Hawaii.  This time around, the presentation was conducted during a Day of Recollection, a one-day retreat held by St. John Vianney Church's Sodality of Our Blessed Lady, a women's religious lay-association dedicated to promoting devotion to the Virgin Mary in their parish, as well as charitable works.

The Lourdes Grotto at the St. Anthony Retreat Center.

The retreat was held in Kalihi Valley at the beautiful St. Anthony Retreat Center, a place I personally consider to be holy ground.  In particular, there is a large replica of the Lourdes Grotto on the far end of the compound, where the presence of God and the Holy Virgin is particularly tangible ... and special graces have occasionally been reported.  I always enjoy time spent here whenever I visit.

A participant prayerfully reaching for a Saint's

intercession through contact with a relic.

All in all, the presentation was well-received by the 30+ women who attended, several of whom are close friends and acquaintances of mine through my weekly attendance at St. John Vianney Church; feedback was consistently positive as the stories shared touched hearts ... and the presence of certain relics allowed for meaningful, personal connections with their respective Saints.

"Mahalo.  Your presentation was

awesome and so informative."

- Cathe W.

Having done this presentation three times already in a short period of time, I am finding that there is something about the sacrifices of the early Hawaiian Catholics that deeply resonates with my audiences.  Most are surprised to learn that extraordinary sanctity in our islands existed decades before our official Saints of Kalaupapa!

     

Lastly, there may have been a special blessing granted by our Lord to the pious women of the Sodality, inadvertently captured in a photo this author took of the holy grotto before my presentation started.  I had been praying for the group before the pic was snapped so it may just be an affirmation that our Lord has His loving gaze upon them!

Saint of the Month - September 2026: Blessed Maria Bolognesi

Bl. Maria Bolognesi

A Mystic of Suffering & Unwavering Charity

Memorial: September 7th

Early Years

Maria Bolognesi was born on October 21, 1924, in Bosaro, in the province of Rovigo, Italy.  Her entry into the world was marked by difficult family circumstances; her natural father, who was himself illegitimate, refused to marry her mother and separated from her shortly before Maria's birth.  For the first several years of her life, she lived with her mother under humble and impoverished conditions.  A profound anchor during her early childhood was her maternal grandmother, Cesira, who instilled in young Maria a deep-seated love for God, prayer, and the Catholic faith.

In 1929, her mother married Giuseppe Bolognesi, and the family moved to San Cassiano.  Though her stepfather proved to have an abrasive and sometimes violent temperament toward her mother, Maria was embraced by her new home and later helped raise her younger siblings.  Due to the family's extreme poverty, Maria was only able to complete the first two grades of elementary school before dropping out to work as an agricultural laborer in the fields.  Despite these early hardships, she gravitated intensely toward the Church, desiring to attend Holy Mass daily, participate in catechism, and spend hours in prayer.  A pivotal moment of her youth occurred in 1932 when she fell severely ill with a high fever at the same time her mother contracted life-threatening meningitis.  Encouraged by a nun preparing her for her First Communion that Jesus would grant her a sincere wish, Maria prayed for her mother’s recovery—a prayer that was miraculously answered, allowing Maria to receive her First Communion with deep emotional devotion later that year.

Diabolic Possession & Deliverance

As Maria entered young adulthood, her life became the battleground for an extraordinary and terrifying spiritual trial.  Beginning in the summer of 1940 (or mid-1941 according to alternate accounts), she underwent a severe and harrowing period of diabolical possession.  During this dark chapter, she experienced acute physical and spiritual torment; she was physically repelled and rendered unable to enter a church, and standard prayers or blessings from local priests initially failed to help her.  At one point, Maria's family and clergy were so desperate that she was bound to a chair so that her priest—Fr. Santo Magro—could attempt an exorcism or blessing, which also proved unsuccessful.

Maria (center) with friends

Misunderstood by those around her, she was even sent to a psychiatric hospital for medical evaluation.  However, before she arrived, the Bishop of Rovigo, Guido Maria Mazzocco, blessed her from his residence window, and examining doctors ultimately confirmed that she exhibited no underlying psychological disorders.  This intense spiritual warfare—which local tradition attributed to the effects of an evil spell—finally broke in April 1942, culminating in her ultimate deliverance.

Mystical Gifts & Stigmata

The conclusion of her diabolic trials ushered in a profound era of extraordinary mystical phenomena.  On the evening of Holy Thursday, April 2, 1942, Maria received her first apparition of Jesus Christ.  In this encounter, our Lord presented her with a mysterious gold engagement ring embedded with five rubies (signifying his Holy Wounds) and invited her to deeper union with him through the Passion.  Christ also assured the Beata that she would miraculously learn to read.  On the following day—Good Friday—she experienced stigmata for the first time, but invisibly, an event that was repeated weekly.  Under the guidance of her spiritual director, Fr. Bassiano Paiato, she began keeping a detailed spiritual diary.

Maria's mystical wedding ring from Jesus, which replaced

the original ring of engagement he gave her in 1942.

Over the ensuing decades, Maria's mystical experiences escalated.  She continued to see Christ and, occasionally, our Blessed Mother; was granted visions of Heaven and Purgatory; foretold future events; could read the hearts of those around her; and was often surrounded by a heavenly fragrance, especially during episodes of ecstasy.  Beginning in 1944, the hidden stigmata slowly began to manifest visibly—she started to regularly sweat blood on Fridays ... then in January 1954, the first visible stigmatic wound appeared on her right hand, followed by lesions on her feet and left hand during subsequent retreats and visions.  On Good Friday 1955, during a visit from Jesus in San Giovanni Rotondo where St. Padre Pio lived (Maria had a special mystical kinship with St. Pio), she was sealed with the final stigmata: a deep chest-wound in her left side.  At the same time, Jesus exchanged the betrothal ring he initially gave her with another one bearing a likeness of his crucified face, thus completing their Mystical Marriage.

Later Years

Despite her immense physical burdens and profound mystical experiences, Maria lived a life deeply integrated into practical charity and apostolic work.  In the 1940s and 1950s, she moved into a period of active service, working closely with neighbors and local families to care for orphans, teach catechism, and assist children whose parents were laboring in the fields.  She became a familiar, comforting presence in local hospitals, dedicating herself entirely to the sick and the destitute.

However, inspite her many good works, the Beata's life was not without external persecution; in March 1948, she was brutally attacked by three criminal men who left her severely injured and unconscious in the snow—an ordeal she endured with remarkable forgiveness, even as local authorities initially cast skeptical doubt on her account.  Additionally, she suffered relentless physical illnesses, including severe arthritis, colitis, appendicitis, and near-blindness.

After a heart attack in 1971, she turned to painting as an outlet while maintaining a quiet, hidden life of holiness, anchored by an unshakeable devotion to the Eucharist and a total surrender to Divine Providence, willingly offering her intense personal pains and mystical stigmata as sacrifices for the conversion of sinners and the spiritual strength of priests.  On this difficult path she found guidance and support in successive spiritual directors such as Mgr. Rodolfo Barbieri, Mgr. Adelino Marenga, and Mgr. Aldo Balduin.

Death & Beatification

Maria Bolognesi’s earthly life came to a peaceful end on January 30, 1980, when she suffered a fatal heart attack at 2:00 a.m. in Rovigo, at the age of 56.  Her passing marked the end of a life defined by intense redemptive suffering, yet her spiritual legacy immediately began to flourish among the faithful.  Her remains were later transferred to her home parish in Bosaro.

Bl. Maria had a special affinity with children.

Maria's formal Cause for Canonization opened on February 18, 1992, under Pope John Paul II, granting her the title of Servant of God.  Following rigorous diocesan investigations into her heroic virtues—which led Pope Benedict XVI to name her Venerable in 2012—attention turned to a verified miracle required for beatification.  This involved the inexplicable medical healing of a man named Marco, which was thoroughly vetted and approved by medical boards and theologians.  On May 2, 2013, Pope Francis officially promulgated the decree recognizing the miracle and Maria Bolognesi was officially Beatified on September 7, 2013.  This ceremony cemented her place in the Church as an extraordinary role model of endurance, mystical grace, and silent charity.

Bl. Maria Bolognesi, pray for us!

Our Lady, the "God-Bearer"

It's another First Saturday, a day revered by countless Marian Devotees throughout the world.  Me included.  You'll usually find this blogger at St. John Vianney Church in Kailua on the mornings of First Saturdays because of what happens there each month: the Pastor, Fr. Vincent, celebrates morning Mass; he offers the Sacrament of Healing; an hour of Eucharistic Adoration immediately follows the Mass; and there's Confession during and after Adoration.  It's a Marian devotee's paradise and I get to enjoy it every First Saturday, including today.

Fr. Vincent leading us in the Divine Praises.

In this blog, I'd like to share another curious pic concerning the outdoor Marian Shrine at St. John Vianney Parish.  I snapped it before the Mass, as I waited for the church doors to open.  I was looking at the shrine and praying to Our Lady ... then felt prompted to take a few photos from where I stood near the entrance.  Later, I noticed that in one of the pics - if you zoom in at the statue - the light reflected on it seems to form the luminous profile of a pregnant woman (note the large "baby bump").  It definitely doesn't look anything like the statue and my immediate thought is that it reminds me of the Holy Virgin's sublime role as the THEOTOKOS or the "God-Bearer" ... and of all days and of all places, the image appeared on a First Saturday when Mother Mary is especially honored ... and in a shrine dedicated to her.  I'm not saying the figure is a miracle, but I don't believe in coincidences either.

       

The garden shrine (left) and is that the luminous figure of

the Blessed Virgin as a pregnant woman (circled)?

Regardless what the figure is, I feel incredibly blessed and grateful for this morning's events.  It's a comfort to think that Our Lady is always nearby but the Holy Mass and the other Sacraments I partook of, and time spent in Adoration, are actually the gifts from God that are of much greater value.  All Thanks and Praises be to Him!

Beneath your mercy, we take refuge,

O Virgin Theotokos.  Disdain not our

supplications in our distress, but

deliver us from perils, O only pure

and blessed one.

- from the Sub Tuum Praesidium

(ancient prayer to Mary, 250 AD)

Presentation, 8-28-2026: 200 Years of Catholicism in Hawaii

At St. George Church in Waimanalo ... another successful presentation about the history of Catholicism in Hawaii.  200 years of abundant good fruit!

Relics of Hawaii's most popular Saints:

Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Anthony of Padua,

& St. Therese of Lisieux on display ...

The parish's beautiful stained-glass

depictions of Sts. Damien and Marianne,

and Servant of God Bro. Joseph Dutton.

"Thank you, Peter, for a very inspiring sharing

of the work of God in Hawaii. My belief in the spirit

of sacrifice to follow Christ was strengthened by

the life of these heroic souls. May God bless you

for being an instrument of God's word."

- Fr. Ray Ellorin