Requiem for a Revolutionary

IF MONTFORT DEEMED himself a worm, in deprecation of his worth to the Blessed Virgin Mary, germ comes to mind as the next least entity (mine) to approximate that saint’s self-depravity.

He used the word in Psalm 22:6, found in his book “Friends of the Cross,” (16): “If anyone wants to follow Me who so humbled and emptied Myself that I have become rather a worm than a man.” The verse of the psalm itself reads: “But I am a worm and no man, scorned by men and despised by the people.” Montfort applies v. 6 to Jesus and considers Psalm 22 as messianic, since the opening of this psalm, an individual lament, occurs on the lips of Jesus crucified. Even though v. 7 is not used in the New Testament, it describes the abject humiliation of the psalmist who, as the Servant of YHWH, “is despised and rejected” by men (Is. 53:3). In these words, according to Montfort, Jesus describes His kenosis as He invites the Friends of the Cross to follow him. Further, Psalm 22 is a prophecy about the suffering the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would endure at the hands of men. So, the real author of the Psalm is Jesus Christ Himself. In verse 6, He says, “I am a worm”. This must have been Montfort’s frame of reference when he referred to himself humbly similarly. I adhere submissively to my germ attribute in deference to his low self-estimation. Although I’m humbled that I never had the intention of levelling myself lower than Jesus (for I am way deep down there).

One or two of my readers wondered what I meant by the word. A friend was even as bold as to assume if I didn’t really mean “gem,” directly alluding to my outputs which, of course, brought me great discomfort, and similarly bothered me to dispute that, no, my efforts are paltry to merit such an exalted allusion. Germ is exactly what I call my idea or ideas of paraphrasing Scripture to make the Word of God accessible and easier to understand by whoever happens to veer near my attempt at spreading it. I thanked Montfort’s degrading himself because he gave me reason to go lower is all the argument I have to offer.

My mission in putting out the weekly Scripturals (terrible are the rare instances when I’d miss so vowed never to be remiss) was born out of happenstance. Fresh out of consecration to Jesus through Mary, the National Director of Montfort Center of Spirituality (MCS) convened the Association of Mary Queen of All Hearts (AMQAH) consecrants and grouped them into four teams and tasked each with administrative, evangelization, mission, and spirituality functions to activate and perpetuate the reign of Christ through Mary. We were made the lay associates of the Society of Monfort Missionaries to serve as their counterpart in propagating the faith pilgrimage in the Philippines.

For a time, I served as team leader of the evangelization team. I found no difficulty in the task at first. Four years went by without incident until I felt age and health (and economic challenges) creeping up on me and I expressed the desire to continue no longer. Except for the writing aspect of the role (which I vowed to not abdicate), Fr. Fed allowed my release. I also assured Ate Marivic (my successor) that I’d always be on hand should my help be needed.

I never imagined my musings would merit attention, my goal only being to glorify God through the words pulsing from my heart. But a small following emerged from my initial output and, however slim but steady, the spare readership held fast and sustained sufficiently to encourage me to soldier on. More significantly, my reflections found favor with the Production Manager of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc., Bob Laurio who, to this day, allows my four columns to appear in their online publication, filcatholic.org. I cannot not find the adequacy to express praise and thanksgiving to God.

I rejoice my return to the Holy Spirit Parish, still serve San Jose, ang Tagapagtanggol (her just spouse I never regretted revering), and continue sharing and spreading the silent revolution Mary’s Magificat started.

Amen.