The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines issued a call to all our people, regardless of their faith – Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists. Their call was in the warm, strong spirit of John Paul II. They asked all of us to devote one day - Monday, September 12 – to a time of intense prayer for peace in our land.
And the people responded! Every diocese, every religious order, every charismatic groups, from Batanes to Tawi Tawi. The Bishops asked for a pilgrimage to the monastery of Our Lady of Carmel in Lipa, Batangas. And the people came! Eleven Bishops and Archbishops, 110 priests, and a little army of people – all of them praying together.
It began with an all night vigil, at 9 p.m. on Sunday, September 11 – the fourth anniversary of the terrible tragedy of the twin towers in New York City. They prayed together in the San Sebastian Cathedral. At five in the morning they marched in procession to the grounds of the Carmelite Monastery.
All that day was devoted to prayer, and to real meditation. The people were led by Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa; by Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Manila; by Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro, Iloilo, the incoming president of the CBCP; by Bishop Camilo Gregorio of Babuyanes, Batanes; by Bishop Guillermo Afable of Digos in Davao del Sur; and by Bishop Leo Drona, S.D.B., of San Pablo.
Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, of San Fernando, Pampanga, who is the chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, led the consecration of the Filipino Family to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mediatrix of all Grace.
At 3:30 in the afternoon the principal celebrant of the final Mass was His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, of Cebu. With him on the altar were all the Bishops and Archbishops. The Mass was held outside of the Carmelite Church. The priests and people stood shoulder to shoulder on the grounds of the Carmelite Monastery, praying together for peace in our land, praying to Christ Our Lord through his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Cardinal Vidal, and all the Bishops, led the people in the Consecration of the Philippines to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace. This is how they prayed:
"Our dearest mother of God and mother of us all, we have come to lay down at your feet all the cares and uncertainties of our time, so that you can lay them at the feet of your divine Son.
From selfish and destructive politics that stunt our maturity as a nation. . . . . .
From the apathy and indifference to the plight of a suffering people. . . . .
From the misuse and plunder of the nation’s resources that further impoverish the poor. . . . .
From the illegal drug trade that destroys the health and wellbeing of our people. . . . .
From corruption in public governance that tramples upon public trust. . . . .
From the corruptive influence of population control programs and organizations that foster an unwelcoming attitude to children and to the unborn. . . . .
From the legislative initiatives that threaten the unity, integrity and fruitfulness of the Filipino Family. . . . .
From lifestyles that choose worldly goods over spiritual values . . . .
From the mentality that seeks to separate public life from morals. . . . . .
Deliver us, O Lord!
As you brought Him to us 2,000 years ago, bring Him into our hearts today. We consecrate ourselves, our families, our communities and the Philippines to your Immaculate Heart, O Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, for you are the mother of God and mother of us all.
Sustain us from hereon so that we will truly become God’s people, the "Pueblo Amante de Maria," the light of the good news for other nations.
Give tranquil days to our nation and keep watch over our paths. Bring God to our children, to our youth, to our elders, to our families, to our communities, to our leaders, to our clergy and religious, to those who do not share our faith, to those who do not believe in God, to our beloved country, the Philippines, and to the whole world.
On the very next day, Tuesday, September 13, the Bishops held their regular scheduled meeting of the Permanent Council, which speaks for all the Bishops when the General Assembly is not in session.
The media men and women were waiting for them to issue a strong political statement. It did not come. The Bishops stood their ground. They maintained the position that they had taken on July 10. "Politics is the business of Catholic laymen. It is not the business of the Catholic clergy. The Bishops, as religious leaders, must confine themselves to moral issues, to the explanation of moral principles."
This caused a wave of comment on television, over the radio, and in the press. But the statement of the Bishops was wise, with the wisdom of God. This is exactly what they said, as reported by the President of the CBCP, Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla, of Davao.
The search for truth must continue, and must be guided by the principles of the rule of law and moral principles of truth, justice and the common good.
More important and urgent for us now is the economic survival of our people – this is why I said recently "Let us move forward."
We remind our people, especially our Basic Ecclesial Communities, lay organizations and movements, that the political arena is their responsibility as baptized Catholics.
We again exhort our people to intensify prayer – intense, personal and sustained prayer – which will open our hearts to the God among us.
Finally, as your pastors, we appeal to the people to meet our present trials with sobriety and faith in God who loves and cares for us. Let us see our present situation as a God-given challenge to grow and mature as a people. + FERNANDO R. CAPALLA, Archbishop of Davao, President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, September 13, 2005.
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