Grace from the Lord and Our Participation

(Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., during the 1st Day of the 3rd DaDiTaMa Quarterly Meeting at San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral, Mati City.)

Who rises from the Lord, from Him, can we ask help?

Because again, I have to point out: in the Roman Catholic tradition of the Church, when we celebrate the Eucharist, He is present. Not symbolic, not a representation. He is actually present, especially in His Word, the Evangelion, the Gospel. In the Church tradition, He is the One who speaks, and then moving to the order of His Body and Blood, not symbols, truly Flesh and Blood of Christ. So for us, murag yano na.

Every time we are gathered around the altar is a very special moment, a special anamnesis, a special remembering. Ana in Greek means “bring forth,” and mnesis means “memory.” In the Greek sense, when the memory is brought forth, that one operates and makes it actual. So at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of Me” is operative right now Him who is present.

What graces do we ask from the Lord on these occasions?

I would propose three graces from the Lord the grace that we ask from Him, through St. Nicholas, and through Mahal na Birhen:

First: The grace to be holy, the grace to be a saint. Second: The grace to be Christified. Third: The grace to be like San Nicolas (to be san… san… santos).

That may make us easy, but that makes us brought forward.

The very important element of our Faith: the Communion of Saints. We believe in sainthood; we believe that it is not only for San Nicolas. That san—that holiness—is supposed to be ours.

I would like to apply a little bit for all priests, matud pa sa bunyag (as said in baptism)—to act, agere in persona Christi Capitis, to act like Christ. Like Christ, like San Nicolas. To be blessed by the grace, to be engulfed, to be molded, to be like Christ.

I always remember this preaching of the previous Pope, Pope Francis. Mu-ingon si Pope Francis: remember the mysterium lunae (mystery of the moon). Mu-ingon si Pope Francis, our life of faith is a mystery of the moon. The moon does not produce its own light; that which has a romantic glow at night is simply because the moon is hit by the sun. That moon can shine at night, but not by producing its own light, simply because it is hit by the sun.

San Nicolas is holy, Christ-like, not because he made it or produced it on his own. San Nicolas was hit by the light by the grace of Christ.

So, we ask the Lord today to be holy, to move us, inspire us, to whisper to us, to position ourselves in life, para ma-igo ta sa glow of the Sun who is the Lord so maka-shine kita. Shine because we are hit by the grace of Christ. So, first grace: dili kita mo-hesitate uban ni St. Nicolas, the grace to be saints, the grace to be holy.

We don’t only ask for energy, the wisdom, and courage to work, but to work in the synodal way. We may move forward in the journey, but a very important prerequisite is that we walk together. And beautifully, that is seen in our DADITMA meeting. We will be listening to one another, how we can kapit-bisig together: workers in Digos, in Davao, in Tagum, and Mati—that we can work in a synodal way. Dili magpa-unahay, ulahi, but work together.

So the grace to be saints, to be holy, and the grace to serve, work in a synodal way, like Paul is telling us in the second reading.

San Nicolas de Tolentino, help us to be holy, to be working hand in hand with others, and also to be reconcilers and healers in our broken land.