Auxiliary Rally Testimony of Ate Zenie: Then FORTUNATELY, I WAS able to catch the final strains of Fr. Abe’s welcome address before the testimony of Ate Zenie was announced by Ate Myla. On my way in, I was greeted by Sis Ria. Looking for a seat, my way was blocked by Ates Becky and Isa, who insisted I had breakfast (like the others who were in various stages of eating). Ate Isa was back before I could reach my seat with a plate and fork, Ate Becky right beside her pushing me towards the food-laden table. Unable to ward off their ministrations, I was left with little choice and proceeded to help myself to the food.
I started to eat as I decided that Fr. Abe’s concluding welcome remarks consoled my late arrival. Said he, just one who repents for his sin cancels a multitude of transgressions. I had to recall what he also said about Mary Magdalene very quickly, and effectively, as to make a mark in my memory: Mary looked for the Lord is why she was the first to see Him. Nowhere is it written that she was a prostitute; instead, Fr. Abe said she was a virgin and a saint. Then, the priest who is a stranger to stoppage, passed by me on his way out to say he still has to prepare for an upcoming Mass.
From across the room, my eyes caught Ate Pat, Sis Rita’s Mom, wave a smile. I smiled and waved back at her.
For her part, Ate Angel (as I have been wont to address the many times she bailed me out of a fix; let alone the Bible she and Kuya Boni gifted me with last November 12, 2014) shared the Legion of her time. She joined it when she was in grade school (which drew aaahs from the audience) where, once a week, a nun gave them catechetical instructions. Her school was in the barrio so the nun convinced her, so purposefully, to go to church in town, and she had to walk 1 kilometer to sit in her class. The fruit of that catechism is their Spiritual Director officiating at their wedding Mass. She was visibly intent in recollecting her Legionary past for she had an outline to make sure she didn’t miss a thing.
When they moved to BF Homes, she continued, and construction on their house was in progress, she heard the church bell and discovered that the parish was just a stone’s throw away from them. Mission was her first thought. The next thing she knew, a lady visited them, who introduced herself as the Praesidium president, and invited her to be a Legionary. Ate Zenie, simple and straightforward as she was, asked the lady through reciting, “Who is she that comes forth as a morning rising…” In response, the lady exclaimed the oft-repeated mantra of the Legion: “Once a Legionary…” Long story short, there were only two of them from BF Homes in the praesidium, whose members were from Mapayapa Village, with the President coming from Don Enrique Subdivision. The challenge, how to merge disparate members in an apparently secluded village, was never a problem. It even emboldened them, while Tora Tora planes flew above them, to conduct home visits, facing the situation head-on, amid the EDSA revolution. Republic Avenue, then a vast cogon field, and often rain-soaked, became their playground, never mind if they had to scale fences to get to the site of their apostolate, this while toting borrowed speakers! Their apostolate done, they had to contend next with the mud on their shoes.
Once early morning bolo-wielding drunks tried to intimidate them; they stood their ground. And, in the afternoon, when it got dark, they stuck to their agreement that no one leaves without the others so that everybody found their way out of the alien, unfriendly territory that was Republic Avenue.
Laura was a different story. Poverty afflicted, most of the people were TB-stricken, and wanted to tell their sad stories they couldn’t do anything but listen, because it solaced the poor story-tellers. Laura was such a labyrinth then their worry was mostly how to get out of the maze.
Most of the priests assigned to Jesus of Nazareth Chapel were French, which became a communication problem. They wanted someone well-versed in languages and, Ate Zenie being a tutor of Physics and Science, pointed at UtoLiza. But they were in Ate Zenie’s tutorial chamber and the French priests wondered if it was the Legion hub. And that started her deeper foray into the Legion apostolate. They’d send postulants and seminarians to her and there was even a 36-year-old candidate whom she taught English!
One of the difficulties they encountered had to do with baptism. It required the presence of the parents but, since most of them were doing odd-jobs to make ends meet, they could not be with their children, so the Sacraments were deferred. Some were constrained by the custom of preparing food for the guests which they were ill-equipped to afford. But the Legionaries soldiered on, short of borrowing white baptismal gowns for the candidates just so they are conferred with the grace.
The funny thing Ate Zenie remembers about the French is that they frowned at our conjugation system one of them acquired a Tagalog dictionary with the obvious attempt to teach Ate Zenie’s fellow Legionaries!
Looking back, no mattter how memorable the past is, she admits to not having the courage – and the energy- to repeat it. Except that she knows that there is still a lot to do. So she enjoined the auxiliaries present in the audience (there were 21), to pray more for those of us who are in the field. Surely, the prayer warriors, for whom the rally was conducted, ought to heed her entreaty. As I felt for the absent among them, I felt guilty for when I was, like them, lukewarm to the invitation to participate, and have no right now to cast judgment on their inability to be with us. Especially, I understood that their service need not be offered directly on behalf of the Legion for it will suffice to offer it in honor of our Blessed Lady. Auxiliary membership is to the Legion what its wings are to a bird. With these wings widely expanded by many auxiliaries, and beating powerfully under the rhythmic drive of their faithful prayer, the Legion can soar into the higher air of supernatural ideal and effort. It flies swiftly wherever it wills, and even the mountains cannot stay its course. But if those wings are folded, the Legion hobbles awkwardly and slowly along the ground, brought to a stop by the slightest obstacle. (Handbook Ch 16, p 95)
And Ate Myla was quick to second Ate Zenie’s exhortation as she thanked her while we applauded. And my regret subsided by the resolve that it is up to us, the soil that received the seed, to do what is necessary to turn disappointment into accomplishment.
Back to Basics Talk of UtoLiza: Now
I WAS NOT prepared to process the talk that UtoLiza gave. So used was I to her giving enlightenment whenever there was a gray area in the discussions of our Thursday meeting I kind of boxed her in that category: a light shedder. I was infinitely enriched when I tuned in on her in the entirety of her discourse.
But I should not forget that Sis Rhea, before giving her to us, led us in praying the rosary. On cue, we prayed along with her. I was bare-kneed until after the second mystery, when I removed my sandals and padded my sore knees.
Because basic, UtoL brought us back to July 21, 1940, the date Vincentian Fr. Manuel Garcia, CM, established the Legion in the Philippines with lay ladies Joaquina Lucas and Pacita Santos. The very first praesidium was Purification of the Lady in Hospicio de San Jose. Whereas now, there are already five Senatus (governing bodies); in Northern Philippines; Cebu; Bicolandia; Mindanao (CDO); and Western Visayas.
She proceeded to parse the Standing Instructions not to test the audience but to give them more depth and insistence. As she deepened our understanding of why the instructions had to stand out, she made me realize how great is our need for more inspirers and inspiring speakers to get us closer to Mary and her Son. I never saw Utol in that light and I was truly grateful I reconsidered my decision to renege on my fealty to another ministry and focus my attention and loyalty to Mary’s red army. I was convinced that, if we were as determined as her in inculcating the virtues of the Legion to every member, Jesus in every home will be a reality because the Legion, in their hearts, shall have instituted Mary.
Let me explain this by the portion where UtoL was expounding on the worksheet that a President has to never be without in every meeting. Without her bidding, Sis Carrot came up to hold the worksheet to make her unencumbered by the prop. I was of a sudden brought back to the past, when Carrot was but a wisp of a girl, a face among the crowd of catechism children awaiting their Legionary senior’s teaching. But the Legion does not take all the credit for her upbringing, Ate Taki and Kuya Rommel being in a Catholic category of their own, raising three church-based daughters to turn out as pious as them. A veritable product of the Legion, Sis Carrot would make a return appearance, this time offering a glass of water to the probably throat-dry speaker, who echoed my admiration for the presently a praesidium leader. And she took Utol’s thanks in stride.
I couldn’t wait to know what happens after the basic talk and, when it got to the Q and A part, immediately asked UtoL what, indeed, comes next to the present session. She threw the concern at Ate Myla (who obviously schedules the program) but I wanted to know at once and demanded an answer. She was constrained to mention Exploration Dominicalis (a praesidium activity), Holiday Apostolate (a Council activity), and Peregrinato Pro Christo (adventuring or traveling for Christ for a short period, usually no more than two weeks). I was tongue-tied but not sorry I asked. Instead, I braced myself inwardly for the work ahead.
Thinking of the upcoming “Kasambahay” project to be relaunched on August 6, I thought the back-to-back talks were a prolific peek, that the employers among the audience were privileged to have had a ringside seat to it. And makes it easier for us to convince the others when it is time to visit them. As Cardinal Chito exhorts, “The Word has been exposed, it is up to us to fulfill it.” And I will use the very little that I know to read more and live up more on what is necessary to bring Jesus into the homes of many through Mary.
When I returned to bed, a solitary firefly fluttered by. It’s been a while since one paid me a visit, since my last dose of Zen was delivered by a flashing bug. It’s good to be reminded of the attitude of gratitude.
Amen.
