The great Filipino theologian, Fr. Catalino Arevalo, once wrote that to appreciate and understand the Faith of the Filipino one must look seriously at their devotion to Mary. Every province and region in the the Philippines has a special name and devotion to Mary, each one venerated with great devotion by people who have considered themselves her adopted children. In my home province of Pampanga, she is the Virgen de los Remedios, the source of remedies and consolation. We, Kapampangans, have always turned to her intercession in moments of crises; be it during the social unrest between landlords and their tenants, or during the devastation of Mount Pinatubo or when families are separated due to the OFW diaspora. In the US, several Kapampangan communities have brought this beautiful devotion to this diaspora.
Mary’s Fiat is the supreme expression to total faith and surrender to God’s will. When she fervently said “Be it done unto me according to thy word.”, Mary experienced a liberation that truly made her heart sing. And the song that came forth from her mouth, the Magnificat, has been one of the most beautiful and most often quoted through the ages.
I will be as faith-full as Mary and say my own Fiat to everything that comes into my life: the events, the persons, the blessings and the trials trusting that the Mighty One will do great things for me.
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor son the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Luke 1:46-56