Earth Angels

 

“For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” – Psalm 91:11

In my last blog, I recounted my experience with my Guardian Angel whose name I believe to be Lucerne and the coincidence/God-incidence that my rescue happened in Lucerne, Switzerland. I painted an angel sitting among flowers also named Lucerne to honor that experience.

This time I painted another watercolor of angels to honor and thank the Earth Angels who also came to my aid during my accident.

My roomie Leni, my main Earth Angel during our Marian Pilgrimage, left this comment on my FB post about my Lucerne angelic encounter. It vividly described the other angels who hovered around me:

“It was really a scare. After your guardian angel who gave you the ice pack, myriads of angels came to the rescue in the form of our fellow pilgrims. A nurse pilgrim never left your side while others tried to find ways to comfort you. One knocked on our door to bring antibiotic cream to heal the wound, one brought a bucket of ice to ensure that you had the cold pack as needed. Indeed, as Psalm 91 says, God will put His angels in charge of you to protect you wherever you go. And He did and will always do.”

There were others. One gave me a cold soda can till the ice arrived. Another offered to give me a massage with a soothing balm when we reached the hotel. And others who prayed that my injury will be minor and that our flight home will not aggravate my condition. The care they gave made me feel like I was surrounded by a soft, soothing cloud.

So here’s my tribute to them: Earth Angels amidst Angel Trumpet flowers.

Angel of God, My Guardian Dear

 

“Behold, I will send an angel before you to protect you on your way.” – Exodus 23:20

It was the last night of our 2024 European pilgrimage. We were in the Swiss city of Lucerne. Fatigue had settled in after a long day of sightseeing and frenetic shopping as it was the only free time we were given to buy pasalubongs.

My steps were already leaden as we headed back to the tour bus. Suddenly, my foot caught on a small rise in the pavement that I failed to notice.

I plunged headlong towards the bus steps hitting the side of my face. A cut, just a few millimeters from my eye, spewed blood. My co-pilgrims panicked looking for ice to stem the bleeding. Chances were low that a group of tourists would immediately find ice in our location.

I was surprised when an ice bag was handed to me within a few minutes. That saved me from further complications and a trip to the emergency room.

Later, I asked where the ice came from. I was told someone who looked like a local had run to McDonald’s right after my accident. After the trip, Manny, my cousin’s husband, described my savior to me as a beautiful, white young woman with an angelic smile.

I had already felt she was my guardian angel sent by God to heal me as soon as I got the ice pack. But Manny’s description of her solidified my conviction.

More than that, something else made the fine hair on my arms prickle. I remembered years ago I read an article on how to discern the name of your guardian angel. Though other articles cautioned against doing that, I kept the name that came to me in my memory bank: Lucerne. And this angel “encounter” just happened to be in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Coincidence? Maybe. I’d rather think it was God-incidence. It may be God’s way of reminding me of His promise that He will always send an angel to go before me. There have been quite a few incidents when I felt the protection of our guardian angels for me and my family. But this was made more special because of the name and the place.

And of course, I just have to immortalize the experience with a watercolor painting. I painted an angel sitting in the midst of Lucerne flowers, purple blossoms of the alfalfa plant. Thank you my Guardian Angel dear.

In the Name of the Mother of God

 

Karm-El, Hebrew for vine of God.

 

In my previous blog, I mentioned that my husband threatened in jest to give our younger son the name Two Alfredo (second son of Alfredo) if I didn’t come up with a more meaningful one. It’s a good thing Buddy was born on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. What better name can there be than the special day he was born on – Julian (for July) Carmelo.

 

Our Lady of Mount Carmel has always been a big part of my life. As a little girl, the Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel which was very near our house was a place I frequented. I didn’t just attend masses there with my parents but would even come to play in their courtyard. I just loved hearing the nuns who were hidden behind a screen sing, like angels’ voices coming out of nowhere. And because I was a precocious kid, I was a favorite of the nuns who were allowed to go outside the cloisters. I often got treated with the trimmings from the communion hosts they made. Even when we moved to Manila, our family stayed connected. We would ask them for prayers for special occasions and concerns.

 

So when Buddy was born on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I truly felt he was a gift from her (he was huge at 8 pounds and the cutest baby). This is especially so because I know my father had asked the nuns for prayers for my delivery that saved me from a complication.

 

True to his name, Carmelo grew up to become God’s fruitful vine. Talented, kind, generous, responsible and very upright. With his older brother, he has taken on my late husband’s mantle of taking care of our family.

 

For that I honor him and pray for him on his natal day:

“Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself.” – Psalm 80:15

Firstborn

 

 

“Blessed is the mother with a good son.” – Me

 

I googled that quote just to make sure I’m not plagiarizing anybody. Although the sentiment is universal for all mothers, I wanted a kinda sorta original one to mark my firstborn’s birthday. (By the way, I’m doubly blessed as I have two of them.)

“Woman, behold your son.” – John 19:26 

The gospel at mass this morning was spot on for Jaffy’s birthday. I felt it was me, in Mary’s place, God was talking to. He is God’s gift. And I praise God every day for the man he has become – godly, kind, loving, considerate, and generous.

And of course handsome 😊

 

But don’t take my word for it. I’m naturally biased. Ask his students and their parents. They just adore him.

 

What made the gospel more appropriate is that Mary was entrusted to John. Jaffy’s real name is Juan Alfredo. It stemmed from my late husband’s sense of humor. Since I had the difficult task of going through labor, I assigned him to think of our firstborn’s name. His name is Alfredo so the comic genius that he is thought of Juan (One) Alfredo – Alfredo’s first. For our second son, he threatened to name him Two Alfredo if I didn’t come up with another name.

 

But Juan or John turned out to be meaningful in the light of today’s gospel. I was entrusted to a “John” when God took back my husband. As a solo parent now in my “graceful” years, my sons are the ones who lovingly sustain me just as John took care of Mother Mary. And with my younger son abroad, Jaffy is the one who helps me with my daily burdens. Blessed be me.

 

Prayer for Jaffy: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:24-26