January 2018
Vol 15 Issue 1
It is a restless evil
Jas 3:8
Dear brothers and sisters,
This new year, we begin a new series of reflections focusing on community life. We begin with a reflection on the sin of slander, a serious wrongdoing that can adversely affect our life in the community. Slander is the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame or damage another's reputation. Since it involves a violation of commutative justice, it imposes on its perpetrator the obligation of restitution. The Church's teaching is very clear − the only adequate way for the sin of slander to be forgiven is "to retract his false statement", "to declare that he has made a mistake", and "to unequivocally take back his untruth even at the expense of exhibiting himself a liar." Pope Francis concluded his homily on slander by praying the oldest complete prayer to Mary, Sub Tuum Praesidium (Under Your Protection). We do the same:
We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God.
Despise not our petitions in our necessities,
But deliver us from all dangers,
O ever glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
May 2018
Vol 15 Issue 5
Rejoice and be glad
Mk 5:12
Dear brothers and sisters,
With God's grace, we are able to catch up with the release schedule of Letters of Aquila and Priscilla with this reflection for the month of May 2018. We encourage everyone to read Pope Francis' latest Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and be Glad). For us, chapter 4 is the most interesting since here Pope Francis identifies five signs of holiness. After reading chapter 4, you may wish to reflect if these signs are present in your life: Are you joyful? Do you have a sense of humor? Do you belong to a community? Is prayer part of your everyday life? May the Blessed Mother show us the path to holiness and lead us to a life-changing encounter with her Son.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
November 2018
Vol 15 Issue 9
Husbands, love your wives
Eph 5:25
Dear brothers and sisters,
After visiting Taj Mahal in Agra, India a month after renewing our marriage vows at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on our 50th wedding anniversary, we sent the following message to friends and families: "Taj Mahal, a monument to love. A fitting visit after our 50th wedding anniversary at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, providing a human touch to the incomparable love of God and our Lady for us." Indeed, the beauty of Taj Mahal ‒ although wonderfully stunning ‒ and the love of Shah Jahan for Mumtaz Mahal ‒ although devotedly enduring ‒ have human limitations but provide a human touch to the divine, self-sacrificing love of God and the endearing, motherly love of Mary for each and everyone of us. The lives of Aquila and Priscilla and of the first couple to be canonized together, Louis and Zellie Martin, as well as the story of Taj Mahal, a monument to the enduring love of Shah Jahan for Mumtaz Mahal, should inspire all couples but particularly all husbands to truly love their wives.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
2018
February 2018
Vol 15 Issue 2
When you do these things should I be silent?
Ps 50:21
Dear brothers and sisters,
In view of the good things that happened as a consequence of the January issue of Letters of Aquila and Priscilla, we wish to elaborate our reflection and make even clearer the teaching of the Catholic Church on the sin of slander. By fully knowing and clearly understanding the gravity and seriousness of this offense, we hope that the community will continue to seek the protection of the Blessed Mother against temptations to commit slander, for as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, "those who do not endeavor to repair the harm they have done by slandering their neighbor, cannot obtain pardon from God, nor absolution from the priest." Thus once again we pray: "We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin."
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
June 2018
Vol 15 Issue 6
God formed man out of clay
Gen 2:7
Dear brothers and sisters,
With the story of Adam and Eve hitting the headlines in both print, broadcast and social media, we wish to share with you some thoughts on the same story as related in the Christian Bible and in the Muslim Qur'an. While we are not scholars in both of these texts, we have tried to check the quotes from various sources to help ensure accuracy. We hope that this narrative will be of some help in your own discernment process as you try to find the best way to respond to recent headline events.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
December 2018
Vol 15 Issue 10
He cured them
Mt 4:24
Dear brothers and sisters,
8 December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, while 9 December is the Feast of St. Juan Diego, and 12 December is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. While Juan Diego was being beatified at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on 6 May 1990, a drug addict tried to commit suicide by jumping out of their apartment not too far from the Basilica. His mother prayed to Juan Diego to intercede for his son and to the Virgin of Guadalupe to listen to Juan Diego. His son was miraculously healed after only 3 days in the hospital with no broken bones or any physical impairment. This miracle led to Juan Diego's canonization years later. Jesus is the Healer. St. Juan Diego and the Blessed Mother draw from Jesus the power of healing. And Mary draw us to Jesus, her Son, for our continuing conversion and healing.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
March 2018
Vol 15 Issue 3
He began to wash the disciples’ feet
Jn 13:5
Dear brothers and sisters,
We greet you a blessed Holy Week. And for tomorrow, a glorious and joyful Easter. We wish to share with you some reflections and background on this common practice that we observe every Holy Week ‒ the washing of the feet, or the Holy Thursday Mandatum. Pope Francis in 2016 modified this rite by making it non-exclusive to men. Now, men and women, Catholic or non-Catholic, can be selected for the washing of the feet, making more inclusive the teaching of Christ. And Pope Francis does not only wash the feet ‒ he kisses them! May the teaching of our Lord, that he came to serve and not to be served, come alive in us this Holy Week and all the days of our life.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
July 2018
Vol 15 Issue 7
Blasphemy against the Spirit cannot be forgiven
Mt 12:31
Dear brothers and sisters,
Many of us have always wondered what Jesus meant when he said that "blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven", as reported in all the Synoptic Gospels (Mk 3:28-29, Mt 12:31-32, Lk 12:10). What constitutes blasphemy against the Spirit? Why is it unforgivable? These days when blasphemies against God abound, we wish to share with you our reflections on the subject, which is perhaps more informative rather than inspirational. We urge everyone to pray, pray always, during these times when God's name is frequently taken in vain. May the Holy Spirit be our constant guide and advocate.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
April 2018
Vol 15 Issue 4
They were mending their nets
Mk 1:19
Dear brothers and sisters,
We have been very busy giving Solemn Charge Weekend Retreat talks every weekend during the past few months that we were unable to write our Aquila and Priscilla letters and reflections. But with God's grace, here is the letter for April. We hope to also write the letter for May. May our experience in Beijing last April also strengthen your faith that truly the Holy Spirit is working vigorously in our community. Let us all pray for CFC China that the Holy Spirit may continue to empower them to tell the story of Jesus for the glory of the Father. May the Blessed Mother continue to reveal to us her Son, our Lord and Savior.
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN
October 2018
Vol 15 Issue 8
Behold, your mother
Jn 19:27
Dear brothers and sisters,
Preparations for our 50th wedding anniversary and our renewal of marriage vows at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, followed by a mission to CFC Macau to give teachings prevented us from writing Letters of Aquila and Priscilla for the months of August and September. We now wish to share with you our reflections on our pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was truly an unforgettable event, a bountiful blessing from God, a pilgrimage of love. For us, our children, grandchildren, siblings, college friends, and CFC brothers and sisters who joined the pilgrimage, Jesus words have come true, "Behold, your mother."
With our love and prayers,
JUN and JEAN