August 12, 2005 Bishop Angel Lagdameo's 25th Episcopal Anniversary.

Right after our community mass this morning, Fr. Gerard and I headed gracefully to Iloilo City to attend the 9:00 O'clock mass for the Silver jubilee celebration of Bishop Angel. The sea was a bit rough due to the recent typhoon few days ago but was safe enough for the pumpboat to traverse it, yet not without tightening your stomach from time to time. I could not help but think of one of the trips of the disciples in which they were buffeted by the waves because of the storm and Christ was at the stern gently asleep on the cushion.

Fear of sinking never really crossed my mind at that time not because I know how to swim and that the distance between Guimaras and Iloilo is not that far, but maybe because I enjoyed the ride and of the thought that Christ is with us and no matter what will happen whether we sink or float we are with Him. Besides, I was also saying the rosary. I felt safe with Christ and the Blessed Virgin with us on that trip. Whether this is just and imagination or based on faith it's up to the reader to decide, but it really makes a difference.

We arrived safe and sound at the other side of the sea and then disembarked to get a jeepney for Jaro where the house of the bishop is. Fr. Masculino ushered us upstairs. Bishop Angel was there with some of his guests and was very appreciative of our presence as though having seen rare birds wandered in another habitat! We were offered breakfast but has to refuse it graciously, saying that we had finished taking ours. Then we were brought to a room to don on our habit. Afterwards, we went down to be with the priests waiting for the procession from the bishop's house to the Cathedral. While waiting, Fr. Masculino brought me to another room saying that I have to be with the other bishops. My heart started to pound faster than normal. I told him that I will just be with Fr. Gerard and the other priests, but could not restrain him. When I entered, there were already several bishops in the room. To tell honestly, that was my first time to be with bishops in a concelebrated mass. Some asked my name and where I came from and to others I introduced myself. Then the master of ceremony told me to remove the stole I was wearing and to put on another one which matches with the chasuble. Up to this point, I still feel stable and can handle myself quite well.

My embarrassment came when the MC told me that I have also to wear the miter! We have a little tug of war. I started to haggle with him that it's fine to wear the chasuble but not the miter. I sincerely, honestly, & humbly told him that I am not an abbot. It is true that I am the superior of Our Lady of the Philippine Abbey, but I am an appointed superior not elected. In other words, I am a superior ad nutum (temporary, removable at any time). Although in Canon Law I am a major superior and has an ordinary power, yet in our tradition, an abbot is elected by the community not appointed. To my understanding, only an abbot or a bishop up can wear a miter and that it would be height of presumption on my part to usurp a dignity which does not belong to me. The MC must have been confused of all this explanation. He went out and looked for the liturgist of the archdiocese to consult this thing whether I have to wear the miter or not. After a while he came back and said: "It's Okay, you can wear the miter." So, I told him that out of obedience I will do it!

It was like a fiat of Our Lady. When I uttered those words I felt a tremendous relief. At least, I told him all the truth and have done my part. This reminds me of the topic "On Obedience" (part of this is dialogue obedience) which I was giving to our novices. I hammered many times that we are never wrong when we obey so long as the command is not contrary to the commandments of God or the teaching of the Church. The thought that there is no commandment of God or teaching of the Church that a superior ad nutum should not wear a miter restored back the composure of my heart knowing that I was not wrong in obeying the command of the MC even though it was difficult for me. Chapter 68 of the Rule of St. Benedict points out that if a monk is commanded a burdensome task or something he cannot do, he should, with complete gentleness and obedience, accept the order given him. Should he see, however, that the weight of the burden is altogether too much for his strength, then he should choose the appropriate moment and explain patiently to his superior the reasons why he cannot perform the task. This he ought to do without pride, obstinacy or refusal. If after the explanation the superior is still determined to hold to his original order, then the junior monk must recognized that this is best for him. Trusting in God's help, he must love to obey.

Soon after, the Papal Nuncio & Cardinal Vidal entered. I had met the Papal Nuncio a year ago when he stayed with us overnight. That was the time when Bishop Bacani was on a long term retreat with us. Cardinal Vidal, who had been to our monastery during the abbacy of Dom Filomeno, asked me where my pectoral cross is! As if the wound of my former embarrassment has to be opened again. I was like the man who was in the banquet hall and was asked by the king why he did not wear a wedding garment. The only difference was that Cardinal Vidal did not throw me outside to grind my teeth in darkness.

But anyhow, against all odds, I processed with them to the Cathedral. We processed two by two. The bishop emeritus of Digos, Most Rev. Generoso C. Camiña, who was at my left and is originally from Iloilo, drew me out from my monkish silence by engaging a running conversation with me while processing. I thought funny inside and was a bit self-conscious. I still could hardly believe that I was wearing the miter. When we arrived at the Cathedral it was already reverberating with the sound of music. It would not be difficult to feel that you are in the third heaven hearing the lovely music. Then, the bishops started to kiss the altar and went to their respective chairs. That was the last hurdle that I have to overcome. What if the miter fell when I kiss the altar since it was a bit bigger for my head? My ignorance urges me to keep on observing the bishops what they are doing with it when to put it on your head and when to remove it. However, after a while I regained back my composure.

Cardinal Vidal gave the homily. He talks about the services of Bishop Angel in different dioceses before he became bishop of Jaro including the time when Bishop Angel worked with him in the diocese of Cebu - how they were friends, brothers, & fellow workers in the vineyard of the Lord. Right after the communion hymn, the papal Nuncio gave another talk. He mentioned the telegram sent by Pope Benedict XVI congratulating Bishop Angel on his 25th Episcopal anniversary encouraging him to persevere in his ministry and be an example to the flock entrusted to his care. At the end of the mass, Bishop Angel delivered a moving account of his 17 years as a priest and 25 years as a bishop. He acknowledges that he still feels young at heart - a heart of a child. As a matter of fact, the Mass was for children; children were the ones bringing the offertory gifts and were singing in some parts of the liturgy. It was very obvious that it was one of the high moments of Bishop Angel.

August 20, 2005 Solemnity of St. Bernard of Clairvaux

At a certain point in the history of our community we developed the custom of having our bishop as the main celebrant at Mass on the feast of St. Bernard. He eats with us in our refectory and after lunch and Mid-afternoon prayer we invite him to talk to the community of whatever would interest us. However, this year Bishop Angel was not able to come because he was down with flu on the very day itself. I was just informed early that morning of his health condition.

We were really excited the night before the feast because we also heard news that Bishop Tony Ledesma, the son of the donor of our property, was due to come the following day together with 14 other priests. Then the question arose whether we have enough chasuble for the concelebrating priests. But it turned out that there were only 3 priests with Bishop Tony and the rest were the staff of the prelature of Ipil - both men and women.

Without any shadow of a doubt the coming of Bishop Tony was really providential. He himself did not know that Bishop Angel was supposedly coming to our place. They just finished their retreat in Bacolod and thought of coming here since it was the first time for his companions to visit our place.

Br. Aelred picked them up at the wharf in Jordan and showed them around the monastery. I greeted them and explained to Bishop Tony what happened and asked him to be the main celebrant that day. With his gentle demeanor, he graciously accepted the invitation. In his homily he said that for him it was like a homecoming to be with us. He mentioned the fact he had his first mass here in 1973. He also talked about the prelature of Ipil.

After mass Bishop Tony blessed the new statue of Our Lady of the Philippines. This statue was donated by Celso S. Bate and his group from Manila. Celso came over from Manila to witness the installation and blessing of this statue. Then we had lunch in our refectory together with the companions of Bishop Tony. We were crowded in our modest refectory but, at least, each one has a place to sit. After lunch and None prayer, Bishop Tony and his group talked to our community.

Each one of them introduced their names and what they are doing. Then the question and answer followed. It was edifying to hear them speak of the growth of their Basic Ecclesial Communities. It spreads out in more than 600 chapels and about 2,000 clusters of cells throughout the prelature. And from 9 parishes it grows up to 19 parishes at present.

Bishop Tony mentioned that this year their prelature is observing 2 anniversaries. The first is the 25th anniversary of the creation of the prelature. The second is the 10th anniversary of the Ipil raid. This happened in 1995 when the town's public market was burned and razed to the ground by a group of rebels purported to be the Abu Sayaf. About 60 people, including church workers, were killed at that time.

It is interesting to know of the ongoing inter-religious dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Mindanao and for mutual respect for each other's cultural religious traditions. In one of their bishops-ulama dialogue, Bishop Tony said that religious leaders of both Christian and Muslim communities agreed to promote a common devotion to Mary the mother of Our Lord Jesus whom the Muslim also revered as their Prophet, Isa. The Koran gives an account of the virgin birth of Isa from his mother Maryam. Muslims recognize this divine intervention in the birth of Isa and the special role to his mother. In this sense, Mary or Maryam has a role as "the mediatrix between different religious communities, and advocate for her son's presence in a world that yearns for the Gospel values of mutual tolerance, love and sharing, and lasting peace for all nations." So be it.

After our dialogue with Bishop Tony and his staff they headed for the city to take the boat that night for Ipil. God's angels accompanied them. No doubt about that.

God bless you all.

In Christ and Mary,
Fr. Alberic and the monks of OLP