CATHOLICS SHOULD render true service by setting aside their interests and performing their roles quietly, a Dominican priest said.
Santisimo Rosario parish priest Fr. Paul Reagan Talavera, O.P. said genuine devotees are those who prefer to remain discreet and find contentment in quietly serving the Lord and placing others before themselves.
“You don’t think about yourself when you become a servant of the Lord. True servants, as much as possible, want to be in the background. They almost don’t want to mention their role,” Talavera said in his homily during the misa mayor for the Fiesta del Santisimo Rosario on Sunday, Oct. 1.
Talavera cited as an example the Virgin Mary who embodied the strength of selflessness and devotion despite the uncertainties and challenges she faced.
“She was able to say, ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord. I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.’ One thing about being a handmaid is that you are not doing things for yourself. You have no personal interests,” Talavera said.
The Dominican priest also emphasized the need to be aware of the true essence of the feast, which he said is rooted in the unifying power of faith and devotion to Mary, the queen of the Most Holy Rosary.
According to Talavera, the Holy Rosary fosters a vocal and contemplative prayerful atmosphere that unites people in their devotion.
“Praying the [Holy] Rosary can be an individual practice, but once you begin, it becomes continuous. And then later on, more and more join in. Perhaps that’s why it’s no wonder that Father Patrick Peyton, in the Family Rosary Crusade, would tell us, ‘the family that prays together stays together,” he said.
The mass was part of the celebration of the 81st founding anniversary of the Santisimo Rosario Parish and the feast of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, the patroness of UST.
After the mass, a procession featuring the images of the Nuestra Señora del Santisino Rosario and various saints was held in areas surrounding UST.
