Lord knows so many things have happened in the past 2 yrs and several months since I became a renewed Catholic. And so I finally have much to be grateful for.
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1 - Thank You Lord, I am still alive
If God had let me die before Lent 2023 I would surely go to Hell. Not that there was any reason for me to die suddenly but as we don't have control on when we die this is my thought process. I wasn't living the life of a good Christian at all despite being a cradle Catholic. Such a tragedy many of us live like this without a care for our souls.
In late 2022 I discovered the beginning of a terrible disease and then I even got tuberculosis in 2023 from going to a public hospital. Egads I never coughed so bad in life. 😂 Anyway that kind of suffering was the best ever and so I thank God I am still alive this year.
My illness was officially diagnosed in mid-2023 and it's still around. I guess I will have it for a few more years or I dunno what God has planned for me. All I know is I will live my remaining life for the Lord as much as I can and never for myself anymore.
2 - Thank You Lord, I am able to do things for other people more often than before
Yes I used to be so selfish that I don't even want to give anything to any street dwellers and beggars. I rarely gave alms like they don't deserve it at all!!! Aside from that I rarely did any Deeds of Mercy (there are 14 of them in total) for so many years until I truly got to know the Lord.
Before the pandemic happened I even got shocked one time when I was eating at a small eatery with a group of people. We just came from a swimming lesson and wanted to eat and relax before going home. A beggar approached one of the guys who was eating and then to my shock he didn't turn him away but offered to buy food for the poor man instead!!! In my mind I was like, "why would you give them food they would just keep on begging!?!" See, at the time I never met anyone that generous to a beggar! Like, I was really shocked that I remember that moment to this day. My mind was like, "how could you?!?" but I never said anything.
Indeed the Lord is a God of infinite mercy and love. Since my spiritual renewal I finally understood why. If we cannot give poor people a job or a livelihood then at least offer some food and not money.
God is so merciful and loving that He gave me enough time and opportunities to turn back to Him. Now I am able to try my best to share more of what I can to others. It is my turn to do such like the man who shocked me. Not easy but I'm getting there slowly but surely with God's grace.
Woman lighting candles in church. photo source
The Lord even impressed it upon me during my prayers in the adoration chapel that I should be praying for the poor souls in purgatory too. Like, I never prayed for the deceased in my entire life except when I went to some masses for the dead.
Even the dearly departed need our prayers too. Much better to pray for people when alive but since most people don't then better pray for those who have passed on too.
Nobody told me we should be praying for souls of the departed as well. Yeah I went to a Catholic high school but I don't even remember much of what was taught back then except for the First Friday masses and the rosary prayers. And thus since last year I have been praying for them more than before.
3 - Thank God, I have been able to visit Jubilee Churches to gain indulgences
I have never tried gaining any plenary indulgence ever in my entire life until I became a renewed Catholic around Lent 2023. Glory to God in the highest! And this is why I was so happy that 2025 is a Jubilee Year when we can all gain DOUBLE plenary indulgence per day!!! Wow!
Of course I cannot gain it everyday of the year but I try my best whenever I can. Wouldn't have been able to gain as much indulgence as I can this year if it wasn't a Jubilee Year. Thank You Lord for such a year!
Say hello to the Parañaque Cathedral!
I was able to visit various churches (like the one in Parañaque city) in the many cities here in Metro Manila (National Capital Region) plus nearby provinces like Rizal and Cavite. Wouldn't have been able to travel to various places and visit the churches if not for the Jubilee Year!
4 - Praise the Lord, I have been teaching kids catechism
I have never in my entire life dreamt of teaching children. NEVER. Lord knows never in a million years did I think of doing such a thing. Like, why would I? 😂 Even if a college schoolmate used to tell me being a teacher was the best ever, I didn't find it awesome at all, NOT ONE BIT. But here I am, many years later, answering the call of the Lord. 😅 My past self would be completely shocked that I'm doing such a thing now. 😆 All because I finally got hit by the 'evangelizing bug'. 😁
No I don't have any training in teaching anyone and I pretty much wanna give up and quit every time the class ends. But through prayers and supplications, God gives me strength to endure, patience and everything else I need to keep at it. Good thing all volunteers are given a manual/curriculum by the catechism department of the diocese so we can teach whatever is in it.
Last year my temperament was worse so I definitely wouldn't have been patient enough to deal with kids. This year thru God's grace I have a much better attitude than I did in the many adult years of my life. All thanks to the promise of Jesus on Divine Mercy Sunday. God is good indeed!
Parish of the Lord of Divine Mercy in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. Regally decorated for Divine Mercy Sunday fiesta 2023.
5 - I am thankful that finally I know how to be grateful
For many years I struggled to be grateful for most things in my life. I always see online the saying that we should be grateful, of course because I was into self-help and such for years. Little did I know it was God missing in my life that's why I didn't know how to appreciate everything.
And thru the catechism classes I've been teaching I was reminded how God created everything before mankind. He gave us everything He created, all the food and all kinds of resources we could eat and use. All He asks is for us to take care of it all but what do we do instead? Ah humanity, we should be grateful for everything and yet we take them all for granted.
Anyway, these days every morning when I wake up I always greet God and thank Him as much as I can any moment of the day, whenever I can. Sometimes I still forget to thank the Lord but I try my best. Better than nothing haha.
6 - I am grateful for all the suffering I had and still experiencing to this day
Yes, this is the Catholic mindset. We don't back down from any kind of hardship but we welcome it for we can offer it to the Lord to help other people. Read more on it in my older posts: Your Suffering and Pain Can Secretly Drag You to Hell, Unless...
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It doesn't matter if my neighbors are obnoxious and still indifferent to others. I don't even bother whenever the cats poop near the front door of our apartment anymore due to all the people feeding the stray cats. (But it still annoys me when I let it get to me. 🙄) My illness also isn't much of a burden at all. And whenever people treat me badly online they are giving me more fuel to offer to the Lord for the sanctification of more sinners. 🙏
Thank You Jesus for all the inconveniences and problems that come my way. Thank You Lord for teaching us the Way!
7 - I am thankful to be free of my mobile phone addiction
Yep, my smartphone finally 'died' when I accidentally 'killed' it back in July and I have not regretted it ever since. Actually I was surprised to feel relief when it happened. 😂 I did try to have it repaired but no technician could fix it anymore. Good riddance!
Now all I gotta do is regulate my computer usage and I should be better off. Haha. Still have internet addiction despite losing my phone though. But surely we'll get to that moment where I won't even wanna go online. Someday it's gonna happen.
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8 - Grateful that I am able to read the Bible more than I used to
As a cradle Catholic, this is our weakness. Haha. We do not read the Bible at all. We're not like Protestants who have read their 66 book Bible from cover to cover several times already. The only time I read a Bible in its entirety was back in high school because I was bored. 😆 I read the King James Version because that was all we had at home. Not even a Catholic Bible. Sad huh? Didn't even know the difference until 2 yrs ago. 😂
And so I am grateful someone bought and gave me a Catholic Bible last year, all 73 books of it with commentaries! ♥️🙏✝️ Didn't start reading it much until this year though. haha. At least I'm improving from zero Bible reading to some days of Bible reading. 😆
My first Catholic Bible!
I even started going to daily mass this year to compensate for not being able to read the Bible everyday. Much better than just reading it on my own because the priest explains the first reading and the Gospel. Plus I watch reflections of those two from priests online. (First Things First by Bishop Pabillo and TV Maria, Fr. Windylle Macaranas' daily Gospel reflections and Word of the Day by Fr. Richard Lagos) Thank You Lord there is an abundance of priests posting content online since the pandemic happened!
Done reading the New Testament last month. Now I'm reading the Old Testament and done with the Book of Genesis. Oh boy I don't know when I'll finish everything but I'll just take it one day at a time.
Grateful Beyond Measure
There is of course more to be grateful for but these are the 8 which I decided to share for the 12 Blogs of Christmas contest of the Hive PH community. Feel free to join too!
Here's a song of praise to God. I love Forrest Frank! Another reason to be thankful this year because I never knew of him until his miraculous healing!
Anyway your thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated.
