Prega per noi*

A thought to ponder came into my mind today. How to pray? Many people pray to God. But there could have been different ways on how people do it. Most people recite traditional prayers. Some do their novenas. Some offer gifts and sacrifices. Some pray to saints. Some pray directly to God. Some pray using their own free thoughts and words.

I met Father Pearse this afternoon to talk about the church schedule for next month. It was about five minutes before six thirty. And by seven, he would be having the Holy Hour. So after our talk, I told him that I might as well join the Holy Hour. He told me that I can just leave whenever I want. Many people do that. Some people stay only for five to ten minutes. Some arrive in the middle and some arrive within the last few minutes of the Holy Hour.

I stayed. As Father told me that during the Holy Hour, there are no pre-determined prayers, I can pray freely. So I started with praying the common prayers. But I still wanted to stay after I finished my prayers so I just talked to God directly. I talked to Him just like a friend. I know that He knows what are inside my heart and mind even without saying a word but still I talked to Him heart-to-heart and mind-to-mind. This way I really feel comfortable. I can freely express to him everything I want to tell him.

I remembered my Religion teacher in second grade. He taught us how to pray. First, we gave thanks to the Lord for all the graces that we are receiving. Then, acknowledge our sins and ask for forgiveness. Last would be the things that we would like God to give us. Since then, my personal prayers have been in that pattern. Everyone has his or her own ways of praying but for me it is my personal routine.

I remembered my prayer book also in the Philippines. I have my "Gabay" (Guide) prayer book at home but I was not able to bring it here in Japan. It is very handy as I have the Rosary prayers, Order of the Mass, Stations of the Cross and other prayers written there.

As minutes passed during the Holy Hour I felt so light that I am talking to God. I remembered that this is the same feeling I feel every time I pray in the Adoration Chapel. Anyway, the setting is almost the same as Father exposed the Holy Eucharist in the altar. An hour has already passed and the Holy Hour will be held again next week.

At home, thoughts about prayers remained in my mind. I recited the Holy Rosary before going to bed. To tell you frankly now I have the habit of praying the five decades of Hail Mary the Holy Rosary in five different languages-English, Tagalog, Latin, Japanese and Italian-to keep me away from feeling sleepy and to learn how to pray in different languages. Before I also tried praying the entire rosary in Italian but I can not still memorize the Lord's Prayer and Glory Be. However, I do feel that I still have lots of time to learn them anyway. Pray for me.

* "Pray for us" in Italian.

Golden Week 2005

2005年度ゴールデンウィーク

４月２８日(木)－東京に到着

　　　　　　　－東京ディズニーランドの遠足(ジャニスさんと一緒に)

４月２９日(金)－東京ディズニーシー(ジャニスさんと一緒に)

４月３０日(土)－昼間休憩

　　　　　　　－祖師谷留学生会館に住んでいるフィリピン人の留学生とのバドミントンと運動(参加者:アビ,ロメオ,ジャニス,ディディス,アレックス,ブリックス,ラーリ,ダヤン,エディーお兄さん,マリテス)

５月０１日(日)－新宿にあるインド料理のレストランでの昼食(ジャニスさんと一緒に)

－東京都庁の撮影(ジャニスさんと一緒に)

　　　　　　　－四ツ谷の聖イグナチオ教会でのフォークミサ(ジャニスさんと一緒に)

　　　　　　　－港区の東京タワー遠足(ジャニスさんと一緒に)

５月０２日(月)－祖師谷留学生会館に住んでいるフィリピン人の留学生たちの料理会（エリックは「豚肉とブロッコリーとオイスターソース」を作った）(参加者: (アビ,ロメオ,ジャニス,ディディス,チー,アレックス,ギング, ダヤン,エディーお兄さん, レヤ)

　　　　　　　－アビ家での飲み会、モノポリーのゲーム(参加者:アビ,ロメオ, ジャニス,ディディス,チー,アレックス)

５月０３日(火)－昼間休憩

　　　　　　　－お台場の遠足、大観覧車乗車(ジャニスさんと一緒に)

　　　　　　　－祖師谷留学生会館に住んでいるフィリピン人の留学生たちとのカラオケ(参加者:

５月０４日(水)－阿部家の訪問、高山社長の出会い、うなぎレストランでの夕食

　　　　　　　－浅草の浅草寺(せんそうじ)の訪問(一人で)

　　　　　　　－六本木でのバーホッピング(ジャニスさんと一緒に)

５月０５日(木)－多摩市のドーミー永山の訪問(ジャニスさんと一緒に)

　　　　　　　－Toho Cinemaでの「ハイド・アンド・シーク」(Hide and Seek)の映画(ジャニスさんと一緒に)

　　　　　　　－山形に戻る

５月０６日(金)－山形にと到着

写真集：http://ebdeguzman.multiply.com/photos/album/22

Golden Week 2005
Thu Apr 28 - Arrival at Tokyo

- Tokyo Disneyland with Janice

Fri Apr 29 - Tokyo Disney Sea with Janice

Sat Apr 30 - rest during the daytime

- Badminton and gym with international student of Filipino who lives in Soshigaya International Student Hall (Abby, Romeo, Janice, Didith, Alex, Brix, Larry, Dianne, Kuya Eddie, Maritess)

Sun May 01 - Lunch at an Indian restaurant in Shinjuku with Janice

- Picture taking at Tokyo Metropolitan Government area

- Folk Mass in Saint Ignatius Church in Yotsuya

- Excursion to Tokyo Tower in Minato Ward

Mon May 02 - Dinner/Cooking session with Filipino students living in Soshigaya International Student Hall (Eric cooked “Pork and Broccoli in Oyster Sauce”.) (Abby, Romeo, Janice, Didith, Chie, Alex, Ging, Dianne, Kuya Eddie, Lea)

- Drinking in Abby’s place and Monopoly game (Abby, Romeo, Janice, Didith, Chie, Alex)

Tue May 03 - rest during the daytime

- Excursion to Odaiba and getting on the large Ferris wheel

- Karaoke with Filipino students living in Soshigaya International Student Hall (Dianne, Dennis, Lea, Janice)

Wed May 04 - Afternoon meeting/visit to Abe Family and Mr. Takayama in Saitama

- Dinner with Mr. Takayama and Mr. Abe in an eel restaurant

- Visit to Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa

- Bar hopping with Janice in Roppongi Hills

Thu May 05 - Visit to Dormy Nagayama in Tama City with Janice

- Viewing of the movie “Hide and Seek” in Toho Cinema.

- Return to Yamagata.

Fri May 06 - Arrival to Yamagata

Ｐｈｏｔｏｓ：http://ebdeguzman.multiply.com/photos/album/22