BAGONG LODI: BRO. MARCEL VAN
SI MARCEL VAN (March 15,
1928 – July 10, 1959), O Marcel Nguyễn
Tân Văn C.Ss.R., lingkod NG DIYOS (Servant of God), AY ISANG VIETNAMESE
NA MIYEMBRO NG REDEMPTORIST CONGREGATION. NOONG NABUBUHAY SIYA, NAKATANGGAP SIYA
NG MGA MENSAHE AT PANGITAIN MULA SA PANGINOONG HESUS, SA MAHAL NA BIRHENG
MARIA, AT KAY SANTA TERESITA DEL NIÑO HESUS. TINAGURIAN SIYANG “ALAGAD NG
PAG-IBIG,” SA PAGPAPATULOY NG MGA ARAL NI SANTA TERESITA UKOL SA “MUNTING
LANDAS” NG KABANALAN (LITTLE WAY). NAMATAY SI BROTHER MARCEL SA BILANGGUAN SA
NORTH VIETNAM, MATAPOS ANG MARAMING PAGHIHIRAP SA KAMAY NG MGA KOMUNISTA.
BALANG ARAW, NAWA SIYA AY KILALANIN BILANG ISANG GANAP NA SANTO NG SIMBAHAN.
NARITO ANG ILANG
MAGAGANDANG PANALANGIN NI BRO. MARCEL VAN:
Mary, Mother dear, I
bring you all my dryness (in prayer), praying you to offer them to Jesus your
child, in the hope that he can use them to bring back a sinful soul to the
fervor of his love.
My beloved Jesus, help
me to understand the precious treasure of the "Divine Grace", and to
remain faithful to this grace.
My Jesus, how can I
speak to you right now? Can I not express my feelings with a look? Yes, but my
eyes are very dry, as the reflection of the dryness of my heart.
I'm plunged into
dryness! These words alone summarize my state of fervor at this time. This
dryness, I offer you, Jesus, with my sins and all that has helped to make my
soul weak and miserable.
Jesus, I am a great
sinner, am I not? It is probably for this reason that I am still held in this
land of exile. If it is so, I ask you for the grace of conversion, to be able
to appear in judgment when my last day comes in this world. Grant me the grace
of conversion, help me to achieve holiness.
I see that I am lacking
in many things, that in my great misery I am incapable of doing anything on my
own to convert myself. It remains for me to put all my trust in you, Jesus. You
just have to say a word to transform my whole life. Do not refuse me this
favor.
Finally, I still have a
desire that you express yourself, Jesus, if it is your pleasure; you give me,
as the last cross, the disease of "tuberculosis". If I wish to endure
this disease, it is because my soul claims it with the intention of escaping
this passing life, to be united perfectly to you during eternity. I still want
this disease to pray for the future priest who will replace me, and who at this
moment encounters a thousand difficulties. Oh! may you, in your love answer my request!
…
I urge you too, most
holy Mother Mary, to intercede to obtain this favor. I also make the same
request to you, little Thérèse, my sister.
