The Mission of the Philippines Nation

The Mission of the Philippines Nation

PIO XII - Papa in preghiera 217x274

S. S. Ven. Pío XII

 

Philippines has a particular physiognomy and we are able to note this if we learn what the special Mission of this country is. His Holiness Ven. Pius XII liked to refer to the Philippines as a “noble Nation”[1]. Philippines, as the Pope said, is a Noble Nation and has a Mission, a very important Mission. The same Pope stated this: the first
spiritual value of the Philippine Nation is the conservation and the expansion, the increase, of the Catholic Faith[2]. Moreover, He said that the Philippine Nation is placed in a providential position[3].

 

As we already quoted, the same Pope had said to this noble Nation that the Philippines has a special Mission, a special vocation. The Pope said that Philippines seems to have the vocation of being the highest flag bearer of the Gospel and the Cross in the vasts oceanshores open, as a promise, to the immense extensions of the Pacific Ocean[4].

Also, Saint John Paul II Magnus had encouraged the Philippines to be Apostles, to be light of the world, to be witness of the Lord, to announce the Faith to the others. In fact, when the Pope was in Manila he had called “the Filipino people”[5] to collaborate “in the Church’s mission of proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”[6].

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S. S. San Juan Pablo II Magno

Saint John Paul II, in the ceremony of canonization of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz said this: “the Philippines (…) from being evangelized is called to become an evangelizer in the great work of bringing the Gospel to the peoples of Asia. May this task of evangelization begin in Philippine families, following the example of Lorenzo Ruiz, husband and father of three children, who first collaborated with the Dominican Fathers in Manila, and then shared their martyrdom in Nagasaki”[7].

Is profitable to remember that the main center of the missionary actions of the Dominican Religious Family in Asia was in Manila and the second main base of the Asiatic missionary apostolates of the Jesuits was also there. Manila was also the center of the Catholic Missions of the Augustinian Fathers in the Orient[8]. Furthermore, in Manila was founded the first catholic University of Asia, the one of “Saint Thomas Aquinas”. Moreover, the Philippines and Macao were the highest missionary bases of Asia. And, are strong reasons to think that the Philippines was purely the supreme missionary base of Asia, that is, the highest point of the Missio Ad Gentes in Asia, in all the History. It was no by chance that from Philippines so many Missionaries had departed to convert pagan populations and a lot of them are Martyrs.

Now, is easier to understand why the Philippines was called by Saint John Paul Magnus, “the light of the faith in Asia” and why the first Missionaries called it “the door of the Faith in Asia”.  Philippines is an extraordinary Nation. Is evident that is so much loved my God. In fact, Philippines was the location of the most multitudinous Mass of the History, the 15 of January of 1995. Was in Manila with more than 4.000.000 souls and was celebrated by Saint John Paul II Magnus, who exhorted the Philippines to evangelize Asia and the whole world with these strong words: “Dear People of God in the Philippines, go forth in the power of the Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth […] and the wider world of Asia, towards which the Church in the Philippines has a special responsibility before the Lord; you Filipino young people have a special responsibility before the Lord for Asia. And all of you, not only the Filipino people (Mubuhay!), have the same responsibility before the Lord and the world beyond, working through faith for the renewal of God’s whole creation. That is your responsibility, your calling, everywhere, in Europe, in Africa, in both Americas, in Australia, everywhere! (Cf. Second Plenary Council of the Philippines,Acts and Decrees, n. 7)”[9].

Francisco Xavier

Sacerdote Misionero en Taiwan

 

[1]Ven. H.H. Pío XII, Discurso de Su Santidad Pío XII al Señor Manuel V. Morán, Primer Embajador de la República de Filipinas ante la Santa Sede. AAS 43 (1951) 440-442.

[2] The Pope uses these words: «entre los más preciados valores espirituales de su pueblo —por él y por Nos tan amado—ocupa el primer lugar la conservación y el aumento de su fe»(Ibid).

[3] Ibid.

[4] The translation belongs to us. The Pope said in spanish these exact words: “un gran pueblo —el vuestro—, cuya especial vocación parece ser la de abanderado mayor del Evangelio y de la Cruz en esas playas extremas del mundo abiertas, como una promesa, a las inconmensurables extensiones del Pacífico”(Ven. H.H.  Pius XII, «Radio Message of His Holiness Pius XII to the Participants in the 2nd National Eucharistic Congress  of the Philippine Islands (AAS 48, 1956, 834-838)»).

[5] St. H.H. John Paul II The Great, Holy Mass in the Cathedral of Manila  in the Apostolic Journey to Pakistan, Philippines I, Guam (United States of America), Japan, Anchorage (United States Of America), en (1981).

[6] Ibid, 2.

[7] St. H.H. John Paul II The Great, Homily of His Holiness John Paul II in The Eucharistic Concelebration  For The Canonization Of 16 Martyrs (World Day For Missions), en (1987), 5.

[8] According to the official information of the “San Agustín Museum”of Manila.

[9] Saint John Paul II Magnus, Homily in the 10th world youth day (Apostolic Journey to the Philippines,  Papua New Guinea, Australia and Sri Lanka), 8, Rizal Park, Manila 1995.

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