Jesus, I trust in you!
The annunciation by an angel to St.
Joseph is the first of the series of angelic visitations that we shall
encounter during the Simbang Gabi. Angels have played prominent roles in the
infancy narratives. Angels will announce the conception of John the Baptist and
of our Lord. They will sing on Christmas night and proclaim the Lord’s birth to
shepherds. They will warn the magi and St. Joseph of Herod’s evil plans. Angels
are bearers of the Good News and that Good News is Jesus.
So the angel revealed in a dream to
St. Joseph not only the wonderful plan the Lord had for Mary his wife but also
the identity of her son: He is Emmanuel (God with us) who fulfills the prophecy
of the Virgin giving birth. He is to be named Jesus because he will save his
people from their sins. He is both God and Savior: God who saves people from
sins.
The apparitions of Our Lady to the
shepherd children of Fatima were preceded by angelic visitations. During
springtime of 1916, an angel appeared to the children. He introduced himself to
them as the Angel of Peace and he taught them a prayer: “My God, I believe, I
adore, I hope, I love you. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, nor
adore, nor hope, nor love you.” Then he said to them, “Pray like that. The
Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.”
During the summer of that same
year, a second angelic visitation occurred. The angel introduced himself as the
guardian angel of Portugal and he told them: “You must pray a great deal. The
Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer up prayers and
sacrifices constantly to the Most High.” He taught the children: “Make everything
you do a sacrifice and offer it to God in reparation for the countless sins by
which he is offended (nasaktan) and in supplication for the conversion of
sinners. In this way, you will bring peace to your country…above all, accept
and bear with submission all the sufferings which the Lord may send you.”
After 3 months, the angel appeared
to them a 3rd time. This time, the Holy Eucharist appeared suspended
in mid-air. The angel prostrated in adoration on the ground and led the
children in a prayer of reparation: “Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, I adore you profoundly. I offer you the most precious Body, Blood, Soul
and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, really and truly present in every
tabernacle of the world in reparation for the countless outrages (pang
aalipusta), sacrileges (kalapastanganan) and indifferences (pagwawalang bahala)
by which he is offended. And through the
infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary, I beg you to convert poor sinners.” Then, the angel gave Holy Communion
to the children.
As the angel revealed to St. Joseph
the identity of the Son of Mary as God the Savior, so also the angel revealed
to the children the identity of the Blessed Sacrament, namely, it is the Body,
Blood, Soul and Divinity to the Lord Jesus. He made the children realize how
holy the Blessed Sacrament is for it is God himself present among us. The angel
taught them the value of prayer and sacrifice and also the necessity of
reparation for sins and prayer for the conversion of sinners.
We should likewise learn these
lessons from the angel. As St. Joseph was convinced to welcome Mary and her Son
into his home, so also may we learn to welcome Christ into our lives. Welcome
Christ by receiving him worthily in Holy Communion. Let us repent and confess
our sins and make reparation for them. Let us make up to the Lord for those who
do not believe, adore, hope, nor love him.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray
for us who have recourse to thee!
