Strength and courage are borne of faith

While waiting for our hatha yoga session to start at the Science of Identity Foundation, I read a book entitled “Multo” which explains what happens to a person’s soul after he dies.

Since my late husband committed suicide to avoid legal problems, the portion in the booklet about it interested me.

It said that if a person dies after deliberately hurting himself like suicide or even accidental like drug overdose, his soul will have difficulty ascending to heaven.

Meanwhile, in a Catholic booklet on souls, a nun narrated that heaven is so beautiful that souls in purgatory look forward to the time when they’re totally cleansed of their sins. For those who committed suicide, it would be more difficult for them, so they appeal for prayers to help them attain paradise.

That’s why we have Gregorian masses for this purpose.

Suicide cases are all over the news and we hear several reactions like: “Kagaga sa iya, para lang sa lalaki mahikog gid sia?” and “Poor man, he was not able to endure the pain caused by his illness”, among others.

But, we are urged to share Christ’s suffering on this earth and have faith that we will attain eternal paradise.

AMO VITAM

To emphasize how Christians can live with faith amid difficulties, St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary is staging “Amo Vitam” (I Love Life) on February 21, 22 and 24.

Its poster shows a young man holding another man who has blood oozing from his slit wrist. Underneath the title is the quote from Porta Fidei, “Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy.”

Ren Joseph Rodrigo, in his synopsis wrote, “The story is set after the Great Apocalypse when the 7 Capital sins surfaced from Hell and ravaged what remained of the Earth. But after bringing millions into darkness two humans, Vita and his younger brother, Amo managed to escape them. Amo who was already touched by the wrath of Ira (Anger), slowly consumed into darkness begged Vita to go on without him. Vita contested. They continued their journey to ‘that place their mother told them about’ or the Promised Land until they reached a colony of humanity, not yet touched by The Sins, but are consumed by darkness. There they met Benjamin Klaus (thief), Rebeka (prostitute), and Lucio (a politician), whom they befriended and helped bring out of the darkness consuming them. Knowing this turn of events among humanity because of Vita and Amo’s goodness, the Sins were left puzzled asking what was in Vita and Amo and all of humanity that brought them out of darkness once again and into the light.”

This is St. Vincent Ferrer’s story on the greatness of humanity.

Playwright and director is Joseph Sylvester Evidente Pampliega, musical directors are Hermas Pacificador Jr (also lyricist, composer and conductor), Rev. Fr. Theodbriel Villariza Jr and Rev. Fr. Domingo Rafael Alimajen Jr.

Its other lyricists are Jay Vee Nono, John Paul Trivino, Mark Rexie Sornito and Caesar Roy Panes.

The play schedule is: 3 p.m. matinee and 7 p.m. gala at the seminary’s auditorium, St. Vincent’s Hall.

For tickets and inquiries, contact 0927.334.9122, 0917.779.9001 or 0921.299.7746. (Kathy Villalon, The News Today Libre, February 8, 2013)