Prayer for the Departed

Dear God,

I believe that You are a loving and merciful God. I also believe that you do not consider death as the end but rather as the gateway to eternity. Therefore, oh Lord, I pray for my beloved relatives and friends who already fell asleep. I pray that You cleanse them from their transgressions and free them from the chain that prevents them from flying towards You.

My God, You love all human beings and truly desire that all of us will join You in Your kingdom for eternity. I pray for my grandfather and grandmother, whom my mother loves and misses the most. I pray for my aunt, who is the first one to take her rest among her siblings. I pray for three uncles, who have been a good father to their children. I pray for my niece, who left her parents in her infancy. I pray for my grandmother, whom I just met just for a few times but is a sweet and loving grandparent to her grandchildren.

Finally, I pray for all our departed love ones. May their souls bask under the sun of Your undying mercy.

I also pray for those of us, who are still alive, that we may continue following the righteous path that You had laid before us.

I pray this in the name of Jesus the Lord, together with the Holy Spirit.

Amen!

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Ishmael Wants to Meet Enma Ai

Well, the title of this blogpost tells it all. I really want to meet the mysterious girl Enma Ai.

Enma Ai is the main protagonist of the anime that I am watching right now. In English, Enma Ai’s name means Hell Girl. The anime is Jigoku Shoujo and I am addicted to it. Jigoku Shoujo is an anime that centers on Enma Ai, whose main role is to exact revenge for those who call her. Enma Ai punishes the antagonists of those of called her and send them directly to hell. As restitution for the vengeance that Enma Ai made, the one who called her will also be sent to hell after he/she dies to “roam forever in pain and suffering, never knowing what paradise is.”

I first saw this anime when I went to Davao, about two years ago. I did not understand the anime. But now, I think that it is good. Enma Ai is a cute anime character.

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"Your bitterness, I will dispel" - Enma Ai

I guess, every one of us have some moments in life when we want to take revenge to our enemies very badly. Some go to great lengths just to exact revenge like killing other people or making them suffer very much. Enma Ai is the personification of that human nature. By exacting revenge, we are making our enemies suffer. In the end, we also must face the consequences of our action when the time comes when we have to face our God. Revenge is a double-bladed sword that hurts the avenger’s target and also the avenger.

Jigoku Shoujo is a mystery filled anime that tackles human nature, especially anger and revenge. That is the reason why I am drawn to Enma Ai.

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Enma Ai and her minions.

In the episode that I am watching, the mystery surrounding Enma Ai is unfolding. Who is she and why does she exacts revenge? Who is the old woman who acts like her grandma? These are the questions that I am excited to discover as I watch Jigoku Shoujo.

However, my greatest question is: How will I ever contact Enma Ai?

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Suddenly, I Have More Relatives

Last last week, I attended the funeral of my grandfather’s brother in the neighboring town. As the usual Filipino culture, the funeral of my grandfather is almost devoid of sadness and served as a big family reunion. There is a mini casino where my cousins played and bet on cards. Tables were set-up for visitors that tell stories about the dead and other things. The coffee and biscuits are being passed around by the hosts to help the visitors to stay awake.

Present in the funeral are the regulars like my grandparents, my aunts, uncles, and cousins. What surprised me is when I was introduced to my other relatives from Bicol. I couldn’t believe that I have many lolo and lola (grandfather and grandmother) whom I just met there for the first time. And that does not include all of my third to fourth degree uncles, aunts, and cousins that accompanied the lolos and lolas.

The members of our clan is too numerous! Christmas can’t bring the whole clan together but when an elder member of the family dies, all of my relatives from around the country will come to see the dead person one last time.

On that day, I discovered that I have a meteorologist cousin who is now working in PAGASA. She graduated in Ateneo de Manila through a scholarship. I did not know that while I am studying in the University of the Philippines, I have a relative that is also studying in a university that is just a jeepney ride away.

Add my Bicolano relatives to the ones I met in Davao and I say that our clan is quite widespread. Suddenly, my relatives become plenty. As many as the stars of the Milky Way.

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Prayer for the Dead

This morning, I received a SMS message from an acquaintance/friend of mine. She said:

“Patay na pastor ko! Yung naikwento ko sa iyo na dinalaw namin ni [name of boyfriend] sa ospital noon.” (My pastor is dead! He is the one I told you that we visited in hospital).

Then I replied saying that I am sending my condolences to her that I will pray for her pastor’s soul and ask God to forgive all his transgressions so that he will be worthy to stand by His side forever.

Then she answered me this SMS:

“Saved ang pastor ko, no need to pray for his soul because we are sure that his soul is already in heaven. He died last Tuesday.”

I was stumped. I mean, I can’t reply immediately because I was baffled by her SMS reply. Why would a deceased person will not require or need the prayer of other people here on earth, specifically those who love him. All people need prayer even if they are alive or already dead.

I do not want to start an argument with her, but I believe that they are blinded because they ignore the power of prayer and the wonders that it could do. Or is it simply because that the deceased person is a pastor that a prayer for the forgiveness of all his sins is not needed. They are committing a great blunder, specifically that of PRIDE. And PRIDE is a one of the seven most dangerous sin.

Every dead people should be prayed over and we should humbly ask Jesus to heal the person. Since they do not to pray for Him, I’ll be the one to pray for him.

Prayer for the Dead

Dear God, I come upon you once again to ask a great favor.

Lord, it came to my knowledge that a pastor died last Tuesday.

My God, I beseech you to forgive all his sins and that of his ancestors.

Please, remember not his evil thought and deeds.

Please keep in mind his goodness and the love of many people.

May this unknown pastor find eternal rest in Your kingdom.

May he be worthy to see Your face in the end of days.

I pray this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Who reigns with you, forever and ever, with the Holy Spirit.

One God.

AMEN.