The Cardinal that was and forever
Today, October 26, 2017, marks a great religious history for the Cebuanos especially the Catholics. The Philippine president declared it a special non-working holiday in the entire Cebu province to give time for the faithful to pay the last respects to the great servant of God. Today is the interment of His Eminence Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vi dal.
I have one vivid memory that is now refreshed with the passing of a servant of God. Cardinal Vidal has a poignant moment to me and my family. This was when he visited my ailing uncle priest, the late Fr. Gregorio Y. Ca bating an, former vice president for Academic Affairs of the University of San Carlos, who opted to serve the Archdiocese of Cebu during the time of the late Julio Cardinal Rosales.
Fr. Cabatingan, living in a nipa hut until his death, was a personification of ultimate modesty. The good Cardinal wanted my uncle to stay in the retirement house at the Archbishop's Palace as he wanted the former to be well taken care of. It was truly a gesture of humility, compassion, and kindness. Like a good shepherd that would never desert his flock. But my uncle was unyielding to such pleading.
But now the great servant is gone. But even if we cannot anymore see him offering masses, in churches or in special religious events, we can still feel his enormous legacy in us, in the church where he has taken care of for decades.
And when I chanced to drop by on his wake the other day, after a few minutes of staring at his casket from afar, I was approached by Msgr. Agustin Ancajas who gave me a preferential treatment so I would be able to take a closer glimpse of the Cardinal. And much to my delight when Msgr. Ancajas also gave me a special I.D. pass so I could assist those who would be present on the day of the Cardinal's burial.
In the bible, there are several references as to taking care of our fellowmen. Philippians 2:4 states "Let each of you look not only to his interests, but also to the interests of others." John 3:17-18 said that but if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
James 2:14-17 has this to say: What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Even if he has been honorably discharged from full-time work, he remained to be an influential religious voice that has been listened to by both political and religious leaders. And so the words of Archbishop Socrates Villegas: "Cardinal Vidal cannot die. He who has always shared in the dying and rising of the Lord daily in his priestly life cannot die."
His goodness has paved the way for a memory that is worth keeping for there was once a time a stranger who came to Cebu but through the years has endeared the hearts of the Cebuanos and captured the attention of the country and the world. Our memories with him will forever be in our hearts and spirits.
Daghang salamat among pinanggang Cardinal Vidal...