“Lord, iniibig mo ako.” (Lord, You love me.)
This powerful message resonated deeply with the community during their monthly recollection led by Fr. Benito de Guzman, S.J., the invited facilitator for February 2025.
Fr. Benito, who is currently the Chaplain at UP Philippine General Hospital, emphasized the importance of affirming God’s love daily, encouraging the community to declare uplifting truths such as “I am loved by God” and “Lord, thank You for loving me.” These words, he explained, are not just affirmations but a means of anchoring oneself in God’s grace.
Drawing from the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, particularly the Present Moment paradigm, Fr. Benito reminded participants that their past wounds should not dictate their present.
“God’s revelation of who we truly are is an ongoing process,” he said, stressing the need for self-awareness, as personal weaknesses can be entry points for temptation.
As the recollection came to a close, Fr. Benito left the community with a compelling invitation: “Let Jesus possess you.” He described this as pagsasanay sa kabanalan—a continuous training in holiness that deepens one’s relationship with Christ.
