Prayer power of Speaker Arroyo
AMAZING Madame Gloria! When everybody thought she was a political has-been and fading into political Limbo, lo and behold, she has risen to become today the third highest official of the Philippines.
What’s behind her incredible feat and political “resurrection”?
When I was assigned at the SVD Parish-Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, a stone’s throw away from Malacañang, I had the opportunity to get close to the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. I was invited to say Mass regularly at the Malacanang Chapel.
If there was anything unforgettable about the Madame, it was her piety and indomitable prayerfulness.
Let me cite some instances. Although she was extremely busy, she made it a point to be in the chapel at 8 a.m. for the daily Masses. That was true also after arriving from a long travel abroad. If she went out of town early in the morning, the Madame President saw to it that there was Mass in the afternoon after her arrival.
I expected that she would excuse herself due to jet lag or fatigue but no, she would be there kneeling at the front pew even ahead of the staff personnel and guests.
Upon her order, she had a “secret” passage made from her bedroom upstairs leading to the chapel below so she could slip out at night or during the day to pray without disturbance. If she could not go down, the lay minister would bring up the consecrated host mounted in a monstrance to her private altar.
On First Fridays, Madame Arroyo would lead the holy-hour devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that was culminated by a special Mass before 12 midnight.
Madame Arroyo never talked about her religious practices nor flaunted them but just silently did them. One time after one of my Masses, I said: “Madame, I’m very much impressed by your persevering faith, especially in the Holy Eucharist.” She replied: “Father, I need prayer for God’s grace and guidance.” At another time, she said: “I do my best and God will do the rest.”
It’s not surprising that she overcame her trials, difficulties, and adversities during her incumbency as president.
One thing I vividly recall was when her leadership was on the verge of being toppled down through a People Power after the “Hyatt 11” mass resignation of her Cabinet officials.
Amazingly, the political coup never materialized. That tense afternoon, I saw the president with PSG escorts leave the Palace, prompting me to think she would go and hide somewhere. But that was not the case. Instead, she went to the Lady of Sorrows Church in Malate, Manila, and prayed fervently.
The rebellion never happened and after that, she emerged even stronger than before. She finished her term as president after nine years-- the second longest serving president in Philippine history next to President Ferdinand Marcos.
Everybody thought the Madame Congresswoman would not return to politics anymore, knowing her physical condition. But look what happened! She pulled off a coup i n Con- gress, displacing the strongly entrenched Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez! Our macho President Duterte
As the saying goes: If you always stop when you meet a barking dog, you’ll never arrive at your destination.
himself was caught flat-footed. As a result, he seriously mulled not pushing through with the SONA, which was delayed for over one-andhalf -hours.
Following all those events in the life and faith of Madame Arroyo, I felt humbled and embarrassed because I, as a priest, should have inspired her but it was the other way around. She strengthened my faith, especially in the Holy Eucharist. Faith in the Eucharist, which we often take for granted, should inspire us to a greater faithin God, too.
By ourselves, we could never survive. We need a Higher Power and Spiritual Energy. Madame Arroyo lived and exemplified that invincible faith.
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