Save your people Lord, and bless your heritage

Christ is our same Lord yesterday,

today and forever. 

Save your people Lord, and bless your inheritance.

Govern and uphold them now and always.

Day by day we bless you.

We praise your name for ever.

Keep us today and the rest of the year, Lord, from all sin.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

Lord show us your love and mercy.

For we put our trust in you.

In you, Lord is our hope.

And we shall never hope in vain.

(Adoration, Evening prayer and Te Deum this evening to thank the Lord for the past year 2013 and seek the Lord's blessing for the new year 2014, Università Pontifica Salesiana, Roma.)

Every New Year's Eve ...from the time we were cognizant of the excitement of the fireworks not only to be seen but to be able to fire them up ourselves even to the point of almost foolishly burning the house down, I remember only the last years I was a teenager when things were more brought into perspective... All my childhood years I never had a noche Buena feasting, post fireworks with my papalolo around. The lights and noise and excitement of the fireworks blocked that sensitivity. I finally found out later that on his last years with us in the Philippines before migrating to the states, that he always made it a point to go and remain prostrate on the floor of the church to adore before the blessed sacrament.  When we asked what was he doing there, he would explain that he was praying for all members of his family (then, now and in the future). Mamalola could not go since she was always in he kitchen but it was Mamalola' s role to gather all her chicks before the statue of St.joseph to pray the rosary together an hour or so before midnight.
and because of that... it was no wonder, every new year was, is and will be a happy one.
May the Faith in the Lord of time and of life bestow on you and your loved ones, his blessings of peace. love you, God bless you with a priestly prayer - c:ako