FR. FERNANDO SUAREZ WITH FR. VICTOR APACIBLE CONCELEBRATING THE FEAST OF THE SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS ON JULY 1, 2011 AT NSSH
When it was announced that Fr. Fernando Suarez would be the main celebrant of the July 1, 2011 6:00 PM Mass of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart, I knew it was an answered prayer that was long overdue.
My first encounter of Fr. Fernando was in 2007 in one of his earlier healing Masses in MonteMaria Batangas; where I had the privilege of getting to be acquainted of his Healing Ministry when he was still relatively unknown as the humble healer.
"TRUST IS WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM HIS MEEK AND HUMBLE HEART."
Previously, I had known him to be a faithful Sacred Heart devotee, and this he confirmed in tonight’s Homily through an anecdote he related as to the origin of the Sacred Heart Devotion. Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Visitandine nun at the convent of Paray-le-Monial consulted Father de la Colombiere regarding the Sacred Heart visions and intentions revealed to her by our Lord Jesus Christ.
So to test the authenticity of her revelations, Fr. Colombiere instructed her to ask Jesus what his most recent sins were. To which the merciful Jesus replied, “I have already forgotten your sins.” He recognized these to be actions as emanating of the Spirit of God and consecrated himself to the Sacred Heart and directed Sister Margaret Mary to write down her account and to circulate it throughout France and England. And this was how the Sacred Heart devotion flourished from Europe to spread throughout the entire world.
Fr. Fernando says, “When I visited the Chapel of Visitation in Paray-le-Monial in France, I fully appreciated the relevance and importance of the Sacred Heart Devotion to me. This same portrait of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with outstretched hands offering His Most Sacred Heart as a refuge to the burdens and trials of daily life is truly an invitation for the weary to entrust all their cares upon Him. This is because Jesus loves us so much that He cares for us.”
"THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORM OF PRAYER FOR HEALING."
He stresses, “I am not the healer, Jesus Christ is the Divine Healer, I am only God’s human instrument. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the most powerful form of prayer for healing. When the Blessed Host is raised; this is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, happy are those who are called to partake of the Supper. Then you respond, Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but if You only say the Word, then I shall be healed."
"Do not underestimate the power of the Word. Depending on how one uses it, words can heal or destroy a person. So if one has nothing better to say of somebody, better not to say anything at all for the words that pass judgment on others may be the same judgment to be rendered on that very person.”
Fr. Fernando continues, “Life is full of various problems and worries. It is a normal process of daily living to have many problems, as its purpose is to teach us and to become learning constructive experiences for us. These are also necessary to inculcate in us that we need to cling to God and that He is always there to cast all of our worries upon Him."
"When my mind is greatly troubled and beset by so many worries, I call to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and pray to cast all of my worries and fears to Him. Lord, I can’t take this anymore so I let you take care of these for me. Trust is what we need to learn from His meek and humble Heart. So don’t be afraid, to always call on God, because He knows your situation even without you telling Him so. We only need to come to Him, trust in Him and ask from Him.”
"IT IS A LONG FULFILLED WISH THAT I CELEBRATE MASS TODAY ON THE FEAST OF THE SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART HERE AT THE NATIONAL SHRINE."
“Being an ardent devotee of the Sacred Heart, I have long wanted to celebrate Mass here at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart and it is a long fulfilled wish that I celebrate it most especially today on the Feast of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.” explains Fr. Suarez.
It has been over four years since I last attended a healing Mass of Fr. Fernando in MonteMaria Batangas. So much has happened since then including the major relocation of the original MonteMaria project from Batangas to their presently owned 33-hectare San Miguel property in Barangay Amuyong, Alfonso, Metro Tagaytay. The new permanent site requires extensive development such as infrastructure installation of the Oratory of the Blessed Virgin Mary and massive facilities enhancements such that financial assistance, contributions and pledges/donations to their MMP Charitable Organization (Mary Mother of the Poor) are a welcome alternative.
My lasting impression of Fr. Fernando Suarez is that of a humble healer. He is characterized by his friendliness and naturally warm-relations, joviality and simplicity, but his outstanding traits are his humility and genuine sincerity to serve. Today, he impresses me more as a humble servant of the Sacred Heart. This man’s heart is truly sincere in his desire to serve others that he has no pretenses of acknowledging where his healing power comes from. He does not tire of sharing his healing gift to others even when it requires so much of his own private time, to the point of self-exhaustion.
Often declaring that he is only an instrument of the Divine Healer, he actualizes it. Every time I see how the people call on him, running to him and desperately wanting to touch even just the hem of his priestly garment, I am reminded of Jesus, the Divine Healer. We are just like the bleeding woman who needs to have enough faith in Jesus Christ to accomplish our own healing, as He would say to us “By your faith, you are healed.”
HUMBLE SERVANT OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AND IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
Toward the end of the Thanksgiving Prayer, Fr. Fernando sat in front of us and the people nearby were all reaching with their hands to touch him at different parts of his sides and shoulder. He realizes how so much the people wanted to relate to him so he turned to us and started to touch everyone within his sight. I can sense his natural fondness and affection for these devotees who were anticipating healing miracles from him.
At that very moment, seeing Fr. Fernando in that very same situation, I now clearly understood what Jesus Christ’s situation was like when everyone crowded and wanted to come near Him to ask for a miracle. It is not easy being a servant of the people when the desire to serve doesn’t emanate sincerely from one’s heart.
The Divine Love that emanates from the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a selfless and honorable act of service whose only intention is to propagate love of others without expecting anything in return. Tonight, I have witnessed this similar trait in Fr. Fernando Suarez; the humble servant of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
We continuously pray to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Fr. Fernando Suarez and his congregation for the continued fulfillment of his MonteMaria project, his Healing Ministry and the Ministry of the Poor.
PRAISE BE TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS AND IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY!
EDWIN L. YAP
Makati City, Philippines
