by: ANGELI MAE S. CANTILLANA
The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the Filipino Catholics to renew consciousness and commitment mission of the Church through heroism and holiness.
Heroism and holiness begin when one makes himself open for God’s love and challenges, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said during the “Saints and Heroes. No Less” last Aug. 21 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the Filipino Catholics to renew consciousness and commitment mission of the Church through heroism and holiness.
Heroism and holiness begin when one makes himself open for God’s love and challenges, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said during the “Saints and Heroes. No Less” last Aug. 21 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
“Do not protect yourself from god. You cannot be a saint unless you see how much God loves you,” Villegas said in his homily during the Eucharistic celebration of the event. “The journey to heroism begins when you allow god to die and rise for you and to tell you ‘this is how much I love you.’”
Villegas said the laity should not bothered by the “disturbances” that God has been giving the humanity, noting that these are tests of faith that will transform and sanctify humanity from sins.
He added that troubles from God are different from troubles coming from permanent pleasures of life.
“Troubles that comes from money, power, can make you insecure. Troubles that come from greed can make your life more complicated. But believe, if you allow god to disturb you, he’ll make beautiful things happen to your life,” Villegas said, speaking before the thousands of Catholics inside the "full house" arena.
Moreover, renowned Catholic speaker Bo Sanchez echoed Villegas on the beauty of God’s disturbances, noting that the humanity should allow God to “invade” their personal and professional world.
Sanchez said the love for Jesus can be seen not only through embracing religious life, but also through proclaiming the Gospel in the laity’s chosen fields.
“You insist that God is found in the religious field. But God has said, ‘I want to invade your whole life,” Sanchez said. “We are in our different fields not because of pleasure. But because we have to spread the hidden treasure. And the name of that hidden treasure is called Jesus.”
The one-day theological event, organized by the Don Bosco Center for Studies, CBCP- Episcopal Commission on Lay Apostolate, CBCP- Episcopal Commission on Youth, and CBCP- Episcopal Commission on Life, is one of the highlights answering the CBCP’s declaration of the Year of the laity.
Aside from Sanchez, the event also featured Catholic speakers Frank Padilla of the Couples for Christ for Family and Life, Mike Velarde of El Shaddai, Bernie Villegas of the University of Asia and the Pacific, EJ and Joy Aguila, and Raoul Roncal.
Villegas said the laity should not bothered by the “disturbances” that God has been giving the humanity, noting that these are tests of faith that will transform and sanctify humanity from sins.
He added that troubles from God are different from troubles coming from permanent pleasures of life.
“Troubles that comes from money, power, can make you insecure. Troubles that come from greed can make your life more complicated. But believe, if you allow god to disturb you, he’ll make beautiful things happen to your life,” Villegas said, speaking before the thousands of Catholics inside the "full house" arena.
Moreover, renowned Catholic speaker Bo Sanchez echoed Villegas on the beauty of God’s disturbances, noting that the humanity should allow God to “invade” their personal and professional world.
Sanchez said the love for Jesus can be seen not only through embracing religious life, but also through proclaiming the Gospel in the laity’s chosen fields.
“You insist that God is found in the religious field. But God has said, ‘I want to invade your whole life,” Sanchez said. “We are in our different fields not because of pleasure. But because we have to spread the hidden treasure. And the name of that hidden treasure is called Jesus.”
The one-day theological event, organized by the Don Bosco Center for Studies, CBCP- Episcopal Commission on Lay Apostolate, CBCP- Episcopal Commission on Youth, and CBCP- Episcopal Commission on Life, is one of the highlights answering the CBCP’s declaration of the Year of the laity.
Aside from Sanchez, the event also featured Catholic speakers Frank Padilla of the Couples for Christ for Family and Life, Mike Velarde of El Shaddai, Bernie Villegas of the University of Asia and the Pacific, EJ and Joy Aguila, and Raoul Roncal.