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S5.2 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entres toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pécheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

St Thomas Parish, Tucson, Arizona was the gathering place for over forty Catholic young adults to reflect, discuss, pray and enjoy being together for a Franciscan presentation on the Eucharist. Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Mary Ann Spanjers guided the evening with an emphasis on how much God is in love with us! “I appreciated sharing with those at my table their experiences with the Eucharist and Adoration. It was good to hear the stories told about the life of St. Francis and both Brother and Sister’s lives.” https://fscc-calledtobe.org/2025/03/26/tucson-catholic-young-adults-gather-for-eucharist-reflection-by-franciscans/

The Fifth Corrowful Mystery The Crucifixion and Death Le Cinquième Mystère Douloureux La Crucification et la Mort Notre Père, qui est au cieux, Que Ton nom soit sanctifier, Que Ton règne vienne, Que Ta volonté soit faite, sur la terre comme au ciel, Donne nous aujourd'hui, notre pain de ce jours, Pardonnes-nous nos offenses, comme nous pardonnons aussi a ceux qui nous ont offensé Ne nous soumet pas a la tentation, mais d`élivres-nous du mal. Amen S5.1 Je vous salut Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous, vous êtes bénie entres toutes les femmes et Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous pécheurs, maintenant et a l'heure de notre mort. Amen

Agreed 100% Ironically perhaps, and maybe the source of the inclusion, fyi, in French Canadien history, it was common for the name Blanche (White in french) to be given to a new born girl if she was born during or near a major snow storm. In folklore, the the name 'Blanche' is given to a new born baby girl who wa born outside during a major snow storm... Just saying... traditionally, French Canadien name 'Blanche' is given in much the fashion you describe above. I myself had a great aunt who carried the name 'Blanche'. That being said - I'm glad it was a flop^and I would hat e that my ancestry contributed to this bastardization of a timeless classic.

Things are looking better now. But remember, no one is immortal. Our Lord Himself passed through death.

I thought so too.

Till death do us part, is really only a half truth! BTW

Pope Francis looked very frail when I saw a clip of him on TV. And e was breathless after speaking only a few words. Hopefully, after a good rest his health will improve

The Gospel we just heard is sometimes called the ” Story of the Prodigal Son” or the “Story of the Two Sons” Or the “Story of the Forgiving Father.” This story asks each of us an important question: Will you go in? Will you go in to the feast of forgiveness, will you go in to the party where all are welcome, or will you remain outside? The Biblical record indicates that Jesus was addressing the scribes and the Pharisees. However, it is reasonable to conclude that sinners who had come to see Jesus also heard His words—for it was about them that He spoke. We know the son’s request in this parable is outrageous in every way. In this ancient culture land confers identity and status on the family. This boy is calling for a premature division of the land – move that will diminish the standing and welfare of the whole family. So it is a blow directed not at his father but at the older brother and the rest of the family. The family suffers disgrace. The boy will become isolated because of this disrespect. The family will be ridiculed for letting this happen. The father gives the son what he wants. The son squanders everything and there’s an economic recession that makes things harder and the son can only find a job feeding pigs. The boy is according to Jewish standards an outcast. He’s feeding pigs and is a Gentile. He thinks about his father and goes home. As he nears his home he sees his father running towards him. His father flings his arms around him. The father wants to reward his son with everything he has left. My son’s not dead; he’s alive! He’s not lost; he’s been found!” There’s no lecture, no suggestion that he go inside and apologize to his mother. What does happen is welcome, and celebration. Will this boy go into the feast of forgiveness? The younger son travels home in sorrow yet finds an unexpected welcome. Will he go into the feast of forgiveness, or will he stay outside? There’s also the elder son. He has his own way of remaining outside. Mark Twain describes him perfectly as “a good man in the worst sense of the word.” He’s upstanding, a hard worker, respected by others, fit to inherit the farm, but he’s also a reservoir of resentment. The elder son comes home after a long, hard day to find the house unexpectedly alive. This makes the elder son suspicious. Still outside, he finds out from a farmhand that the party’s for his brother. He remains outside, yelling insults at his brother and father. The father, now anxious, goes outside to his angry elder son who expresses many resentments. Finally, the father gets a word in. The truth is, he loves both his sons. To welcome the wastrel is no loss for the elder: it means the elder brother has gained his sibling back. The elder brother has also fled from his father. For years he has ignored his father’s kindness. A false, image of a demanding father has held sway over him and made life miserable for those around him. The real father tries to shatter this illusion. He wants his older son to return home, too. Will the elder son go in where all are welcome ? Or will he remain outside, isolated in anger? This elder brother lives in many people. Their sin is one of quiet forgetfulness. They overlook their blessings. Their appreciation turns dull. They feel sorry for themselves, become jealous of others, and strive all the harder to be worthy. They have no taste for a party that welcomes home a prodigal. But the door remains open. How about you? Will you go in to the feast of forgiveness, will you go in to the party where all are welcome, or will you remain outside? Remember who tells the story: Jesus Christ. He does not simply talk about the Father; the Father dwells in him. He does not simply speak of our return; he invites us back. He does not simply describe the party; he makes that party possible. Lent is a time for conversion. My prayer today is that we may all come to know we are loved as the Prodigal Child, to know we must love as the parent, and to know that to love and be loved we must wrestle with our darkness as the elder sibling. We have responded to his story because we are here, here inside our Father’s house. Now comes the feast of forgiveness, the banquet of our eternal home.

The performatively progressive ” Disney's Snow White live action remake flopped and flopped HARD. Disney’s live action remake of the 1930s classic “Snow White” is on track to be one of the biggest flops of the year. It cost more than $270 million to make but its big opening weekend debut amounted to about $43 million domestically. This should be a GIANT wake up call for Disney. the Brothers Grimm fairytale “Snow White,” describes the protagonist as having “skin as white as snow.”, but the lead character (Disney's remade Snow White) has stating for the record that the title character name for or after - surviving a snowstorm as a child? Very strange . The movie’s “pseudo-progressive” approach to portraying the seven dwarves as CGI-animated figures and referred to them as “magical creatures” in the movie, instead of cute little dwarf's ( Bashful: the shy dwarf, Doc: the leader dwarf, Dopey: the silly dwarf, Grumpy: the surly dwarf, Happy: the cheerful dwarf, Sleepy: the tired dwarf last but not least Sneezy: the sneezing dwarf strange too

There is a difference between "expecting to separate" versus protecting yourself in case one's spouse is no longer around. A spouse can die or become disabled or be an innocent victim of a separation. What then?

March 23, 2025 VATICAN CITY (AP) — A frail Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on Sunday after a five-week hospitalization for life-threatening double pneumonia, and he made a surprise stop at his favorite basilica on the way home before beginning two months of prescribed rest and recovery.

Jesus is on a prophetic journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, preaching and teaching along the way. Crowds have gathered to hear him speak. Some of those present bring up the fate of some Galileans brutally murdered by Pilate while they were at prayer in the Temple in Jerusalem. Were they sinners? Did they deserve their fate? Jesus speaks clearly to his listeners. These were random events, not meant as examples of divine punishment. These people did not die because they were sinners. They died because life is fragile and unpredictable. Jesus addresses those of us who have survived thus far. We should not mistake our good fortune for God’s special blessing. He repeats twice, for emphasis: Unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Perish has a double meaning. We can perish both outwardly and inwardly: the concrete death of the body, and the abstract death of the soul. As we pray in the collect of the day: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls. Jesus is speaking of death in an eschatological sense, the destruction of the soul. The warning is unmistakable: Repent before it is too late. Indeed, anything could happen at any time. Wildfire, flood, terrorism, cancer diagnosis. Awareness of life’s fragility creates urgency. The unrepentant may suddenly find they have delayed too long. Yet while we live, it is not too late. Jesus follows his warning with the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. In the parable, bearing fruit is an image of repentance. This tree may continue to live without bearing fruit because it has been granted additional time, unlike the victims of the disasters in the first part of the passage. The gardener in the parable is a good steward of souls. Give them another chance, offer them some support, perhaps they’ll see the light. But unless the tree makes good use of the additional time, the result will be its destruction. Time to repent, like life itself, is not infinite. St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, in contrast, depicts a time when God punishes those who have actually failed to be faithful He is critical of those who boast that they have special wisdom or knowledge of correct religious practice. Paul warns us: So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. St Paul could also be thinking of the Gospel Parable of the Barren Fig Tree when he is writing. God is patient, forgiving, even hopeful for humankind. We’ve heard a great deal about repentance, from St John the Baptist to Jesus to St Paul. So, what does it mean, to repent? The Oxford Dictionary affirms what most of us would answer: to “feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin” . Mea culpa, mea culpa, I have sinned. Yes, to repent is to regret past sins. What about concrete action? If possible, to correct those sins, and to move forward doing good deeds? In a spiritual sense, repentance might mean a change of mind, of perspective, a new way of seeing things. Repentance might mean that, as Christians, we are called to seize the opportunity for joy in God’s grace. Now, the gospel passage is about urgency. Our existence is precarious. God is patient, but the parable implies perhaps not infinitely so. Our time is running out. What does repentance look like in a time of uncertainty, when we can control so little, when injustice spins out of control? What about this possibility: Be as kind and helpful as possible in daily life. Work toward being compassionate, aware, conscious, civic-minded. Be a fertile part of the village, even when it’s not necessarily easy or convenient. Repentance is not a one-and-done occurrence. As Paul writes, if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. Repentance is ongoing, a daily, even hourly, process. In the face of life’s fragility, unpredictability, and urgency, let us consider repentance as a practice. Beginning with a Lenten practice, may we begin to consider and act upon the ways we can contribute to our communities. A smile, a compliment. An act of kindness and help. Generosity, financial and with presence. Keeping our planet healthy in ways large and small. Jesus teaches us that a disaster could happen at any time, through no fault of our own. St Paul reminds us that a failure to be faithful could happen to anyone. In either case, we must be vigilant and humble, and we must repent. These are the messages of Lent. Our time is running out. May we live our lives in a state of repentance.

There is a photo of Mother Marie Therese taken during her profession with two other Nuns, all of which wore the kerchief covering their chin. Mother was also mentioned in the book of Mother Mary Francis when she accompanied her during one of her foundations. Unfortunately, I have difficulty posting photos here.

This convent is the old Convent of the Pink Sisters when they relocated to Baguio from Lipa. After the war they transferred to another location but still within Baguio City.

Lydia Ysip (b,30.1.1919 in Cabiao) was still a postulant when she died. Her father was a judge and a man of upright character. Lydia was a chemistry student. After her studies she wanted to become a nun but her father advised her to wait and think the matter over for some time. So she became a teacher. In 1943 she applied to enter Baguio and entered on 23 November. The obituary states: "From the moment of her entry she was a model of religious detachment and recollection. In every respect her behavior was exemplary." She gave harmonium lessons. No work was too much or too difficult for her. She was simple and undemanding and was immensely happy about the coming day of her investiture on May 8. When she was found after the bombing she seemed to be still alive but made no movement. One foot had been torn off. The cause of death was probably the strong air pressure of the exploding bomb. The postulant Remedios Venezuela was the daughter of a respected landowner in Pangasinan. Born on 24 April 1919, she studied at the Holy Spirit College in Manila and togethen with Lydia Ysip on 21 November 1943 entered the convent in Baguio. Though as the only child of the family she was "somewhat spoilt" she soon began to cope with convent life. Because of her friendly disposition she was loved by all. She often volunteered for extra work. She loved nature. The air-raid attacks terrified the somewhat fearful postulant so much she also asked to go to Tuba which was reckoned to be safer. The she died. The obituary states: "A large pice of metal struck her on the breast which became a great open wound. A locket containing a relic of the Little Flower which she always carried round her neck had sunk into the wound and was now filled with blood. But the thin face - which didn't show the slightest trace of injury - glowed with the most profound peace."

Sr. M. Angeles, Aurora Tioseco, entered in Baguio on 14 August 1936. She was 25. She was the eldest of her family and accustomed to asserting her authority. She found obedience and subjection in the convent a great burden but she learnt to overcome her feelings. It was said of her that she was "humble of heart." She loved praying much and used every chance she could to practice penance and mortification. She made her first profession on 8 May 1940. She never made her final profession. About her death the chronicle states: "When cruel death knocked her over unexpectedly on 6 March 1945 she was holding her hand that lovely English meditation book "Vigil." No external wounds could be seen. The terrible air pressure which her heart could not withstand must have killed her instantly. She looked so natural, as if she were sleeping." Sr. M. Caridad, Marcelina Lainez, entered Baguio on 21 June 1941. She was 30 years old and a teacher. She had to wait ten years to get permission from her parents to enter. Settling down was not a problem for her. The chronicle notes: "She was willing to make sacrifices, modest and undemanding. At all times she demonstrated a great respect and obedience for the prescriptions of our rule. As a Novice Sr. M. Caridad had to do much work she had never turned her hand before. But she was willing, trustworthy and faithful. You could depend on her." On 21 November 1944 she completed her second year of novitiate. But since the superior and official novice mistress were absent she was advised to put her profession off until May. The chronicle graphically describes her death wounds: Above her brow we saw 2-cm-wide wound stretching from temple to temple. The back of her head was completely crushed."

Sr. M. Paula, Trinidad Lazo, was the second eldest Philippine Sister. The child of a very good Catholic family from Vigan, at the age of 18 she entered in Lipa on 19 June 1931. The family wanted her to be a doctor but she herself preferred to spend her life a contemplative sister. She was killed while working in the kitchen. Sr. M. Sebastiana, Asuncion Altamirano, was a native of Lipa. She was 27 and with a college education when she entered the local adoration convent on 3 June 1932. She felt completely happy there. As the chronicle puts it: "Retiring and friendly by nature, she was pleasant companion both at work and at play. Her youthful, hearty laugh worked like a tonic on others. Though she spent most of her time in the kitchen she found time to exercise her many other talents. Sr. M. Reparatrix, Maria Abad, was from San Juan, La Union. Before entered (14.8.1936) she was a teacher. She was accepted into the convent in Lipa but her father stubbornly refused to give his permission, so she had to wait till after his death. The eldest of three postulants in Baguio, she received the habit on 8 May 1398. The eldest of the three postulants in Baguio, she received the habit on 8 May 1938. The chronicles remarks: "Very soon the small, lively Sr. Abad - despite her homesickness - felt very much at home with us." Her main place of work was the sewing room. The air-raid on January gave her such a shock that she never got over it. Her own cell was badly damaged. So, though with heavy heart, she volunteered to be among the first group of Sisters to move to Tuba. On the way she said to herself: "I simply can't, I will go back," and on 5 March she asked correction: hus, Sr. M. Reparatrix too became a victim for the Lord. Sr. M. Paula, Trinidad Lazo, was the second eldest Philippine Sister. The child of a very good Catholic family from Vigan, at the age of 18 she entered in Lipa on 19 June 1931. The family wanted her to be a doctor but she herself preferred to spend her life a contemplative sister. She was killed while working in the kitchen. Sr. M. Sebastiana, Asuncion Altamirano, was a native of Lipa. She was 27 and with a college education when she entered the local adoration convent on 3 June 1932. She felt completely happy there. As the chronicle puts it: "Retiring and friendly by nature, she was pleasant companion both at work and at play. Her youthful, hearty laugh worked like a tonic on others. Though she spent most of her time in the kitchen she found time to exercise her many other talents. Sr. M. Reparatrix, Maria Abad, was from San Juan, La Union. Before entered (14.8.1936) she was a teacher. She was accepted into the convent in Lipa but her father stubbornly refused to give his permission, so she had to wait till after his death. The eldest of three postulants in Baguio, she received the habit on 8 May 1398. The eldest of the three postulants in Baguio, she received the habit on 8 May 1938. The chronicles remarks: "Very soon the small, lively Sr. Abad - despite her homesickness - felt very much at home with us." Her main place of work was the sewing room. The air-raid on January gave her such a shock that she never got over it. Her own cell was badly damaged. So, though with heavy heart, she volunteered to be among the first group of Sisters to move to Tuba. On the way she said to herself: "I simply can't, I will go back," and on 5 March she asked to accompany the group that went back to Baguio for provisions but did not go. When the bomb fell the next morning at 9:00 a.m. in Tuba she was inside the house. A bomb fragment hit her in the back and penetrated her liver and other organs. It could be seen protruding on the other side under the skin. It was 3:00 p.m. before the doctor came. He removed the piece of steel; but it was too late. Before she died Fr. Urban heard her confession and administered the last rites.

Now we devoted ourselves entirely to the good Sr. M. Reparatrix. Brother Alfons carried her in his arms and put her lying on a bed. She received the sacrament of penance, the sacrament of the sick and papal blessing and the indulgence for the dying. The little nun was well prepared. The doctor came and began the operation. While Sister Una stood near hear head with the ether bottle I knelt at her side and whispered aspirations and other prayers. She remained fully conscious and sometimes nodded, especially when I mentioned the great intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It soon became obvious to the doctor that there was no hope; internal lesion would soon lead to death. And indeed sooner than we expected she quietly fell asleep in the Lord. Thus, Sr. M. Reparatrix too became a victim to the Lord. The men dug another grave near the big one and, first first thing in the morning, after Fr. Urban insisted on helping to be bring the body to the grave, saying the prayers and filling in the grave. Lord, may she rest in peace." Sr. M. Joachima added this sentence to the report: "God claimed a great sacrifice. As Fr. Guttierex said, he wished that seven native Philippines would offer their lives for their native country so that the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit would abundantly pour down on it." The deceased were: four professed Sisters: M. Paula, M. Sebastiana, M. Reparatrix, and M. Angeles; a novice: M. Caridad, and two postulants: Lydia Ysip and Remedios Venezuela.

I asked Sr. Una, a Maryknoll Sister, to help the wounded and bandage their wounds. She returned soon again and said other Sisters were not so bad. Only Sr. M. Reparatrix complained about terrible pain and believe she would die soon. Gregorio, our faithful servant, carried her in his arms to a safer place. Sr. M. Reparatrix said she was not wounded. But Sr. Una found a wound under her ribs. She was probably hit by a machine gun bullet; she had to get medical attention as soon as possible. Doctors from Baguio were in Atap, at least half an hour away. Dr. Rivera came - his wife was well aquainted with Sr. Ysip. Marcelino, Sr. Eucharistina's brother and other men accompanied him. They brought a lot of operations equipment with them. But first let us return to our beloved departed Sisters. Rev. Father Urban was already there and Brother Alfons and Father Gutierrez, a Dominican, came soon afterwards. All stood at the scene of the tragedy as if paralyzed. Since the dead were exposed to the sun we first carried them to a shady place and lined them up in a row. Brother Alfons, a professor and chemist, knew all about bombs and told us that these bombs were of the worst kind. The great pressure could tear human bodies apart. We notice this as we carried the bodies. It was a miracle that we were not all killed. Now the men looked for a place to bury the dead. The bomb which had hit the ground about 20 meters from the house displaced enough earth to form a grave. The hole had only to be widened somewhat at the bottom. In the meantime I went to an upstairs room of the house to fetch blankets. I got shock. A heap of mattresses piled in the corner had caught fire. Not a drop of water was in the house. Several mattresses, pillows, and blankets were burnt but, thank God, the food and laundry were spared. In the meantime the grave was ready and we prepared our beloved dead for burial. Poor children! You died like soldiers on the field of battle, like soldiers you will be buried. So we covered them with sheets. We carefully laid the bodies on boards and placed them side by side. One after the other the two priest carried them to the grave. Deeply moved, they recited the funeral prayers. The priests and the Brother filled in the grave. Of all the Sisters only Sr. M. Paulina and I were present. It was just as good. It would have been to much for the others. We knelt a little longer at the grave. Everything was simple, very simple, but we did our best.

Three steps farther on I saw the good Sr. M. Sebastiana. One eye had been blown out, he other was closed. She was still alive and was groaning softly, otherwise motionless and unconscious. I sprinkled her with holy water and made the sign of the cross on her lips. I went on. The next body I found was that of Sr. M. Paula. She had just gone up the four steps to the kitchen when she was struck down. Like a sacrificial lamb she lay on her back, hands folded across her breast, clothing smooth down to her feet. The eyes were closed, she was groaning softly. There was no sign of injury. Having prayed the act of contrition I went on. I saw Sr. Ysip. Her eyes were wide open and I could see she was conscious. A flicker of joy brightened her face and it seemed as if there was a question or request on her lips. But she could not speak and made no movement. The right foot was completely broken off above the ankle. I found Sr. M. Angeles and Sr. M. Venezuela as if they were peacefully sleeping sideways, faces resting on their arms, motionless and without any sign of life. I was completely alone. I prayed loudly and sprinkled holy water in all directions. More bombs fell nearby. I heard the sound of machine guns. All the other Sisters had fled into the shelters we had dug under the house a few days before. Worried about her charges, Sr. M. Paulina came out after a while. She was baffled by what had happened. "Sister M. Caridad, Sister Valenzuela, Sister Ysip. Lord, your will be done even if I don't understand it." She dragged me to the shelter some distance from the house under two boulders. "Sister M. Joachima, you too will be killed. Can't you hear the rattle of the machine guns?" Overcome with pain and grief we rested for a while. But I could not endure it any longer and ran back. Sister M. Sebastiana was dead and the eyes of Sister Ysip were closed in their last sleep. Sr. M. Paula was still breathing. Anxiously I gazed into the distance to see if I could see our chaplain coming. I saw him coming out of the undergrowth; I shouted and waved. He came up the hill as quickly as he could. He administered absolution and the sacrament of the sick. Only Sr. M. Paula was still alive. I supported her head with my hands. She gave a deep sigh and returned her soul to her Creator. Srs. M. Engelharda, M. Rosaria. M. Pacis and M. Eucharistiana were covered with blood. So far, I had not been with the Sisters in the shelter.

"Next morning the first three hours of the day were devoted as usual to the service of the Lord - community morning prayer, meditation, Holy Mass with Communion. After breakfast we prayed the rosary, did spiritual reading and the second meditation for half an hour. Normally it was nine o'clock before we were finished. The weather was lovely and most of the Sisters were outside. It was my custom to make this half an hour meditation on my kneed before the relic of the True Cross. Today Sr. M. Prudentiana and Sr. M Eucharistiana were kneeling at my side. The skies were unusually busy. I thought of our good Sisters in Baguio and blessed them with the relic of the Cross. It never dawned on me that on this particular day we ourselves would be needing the blessing of the Cross. Not far away we heard the sound of machine guns. Then something terrible happened. There was a terrible bang, a mighty suction of air and the house began to shudder and shake. I read - and I will never forget it - loud screams which lasted for several seconds. Then all was still. I was unscathed. In a minute I was in the open - I just don't know how I managed to crawl through the debris of the bombed-out kitchen. Good Lord, is it a dream or reality! I am standing over the body of Sr. M. Caridad. She must have been killed on the spot. I had a bottle of holy water in my pocket. I blessed Sr. M. Caridad and then I knew from a gentle groan that she was still alive. Out loud I began to say an act of perfect contrition. O my God, I love you with all my heart and I am sorry for having offended you for you are so good. I had no time to think or reflect. I believe it was the guardian angels who inspired me to do this because their dying charges would best hear and grasp the act of contrition which they must have said thousands of times in the quarter-hour prayer.

New page: https://www.instagram.com/cisterciannuns/

Oh mon Jésus, pardonnes-nous nos péchers, préserves-nous des feux de l'enfer, conduisez ua ciel toutes les âmes, spécialement celles qui ont le plus beson de Ta miséricorde. Amen Gloire au Père, et au Fils et au Saint Esprit, comme il était au commencement, maintenant et toujours, pour les siècles des siècles. Amen Notre Père, qui est au cieux, que Ton nom soit sanctifier, Que Ton règne vienne, Que Ta olonter soit faite sur la terre comme au ciel Donnes-ous aujourd'hui, notre pain de ce jours, Pardonnes-nous nos offenses, comme nous pardonnons aussi a ceux qui nous ont offensé. Ne nous soumet pas a la tentation, mais délivres-nous du mal. Amen

The events are described in a report by the superior, Sr. M. Joachima, in June 1945. She had to take over responsibility for the convent after the two Americans Srs. M. Leonarda, the superior and M. Theophila, her assistant had been taken away by the Japanese. She tells the bad injury sustained by Sr. M. Canisia, the swine fever in their own piggery, the worries about ensuring a daily supply of food, the loyalty of the mayor of Baguio, Mr. Mitra, and making provision for future possible needs. The sisters were not scrupulous. They managed to get a dozen trees sewed down for fuel. When they could not get people to bring in the timber they did it themselves: "First they hesitated, then we took permission to enlarge the enclosure." says the report. They knew that the "war money" was losing value day by day so they bought and laid up sore of vegetables, sweet potatoes, bananas, eggs, beans, maize, dried fish, etc. For the vow ceremony they did not want to bake a cake but, states the report, "God sent it" - also "200 fresh eggs, fresh meat and a nice parcel with money." Then the military began to fortify Baguio. Many private families had to leave their houses. Many convents were occupied by soldiers. The Japanese were thinking of using the adoration convent as headquarters but decided the rooms were too small. The officers cautioned them about remaining in the middle of the military zone but the Sisters decided to stay anyway. They simply had to economize on space in order to take in other evacuated people, 26 in all. Bombs fell and destroyed the market place. The Sisters erected an air-raid shelter. On the feast day of the Blessed Founder a bomb fell near the convent church: "Many window panes were broken, parts of the windows fell out of their frames and the main door could no longer be closed. Otherwise there was no damage. The lovely statues of Our Lady and St. Joseph were untouched. Gradually the evacuees, lay and religious, left the convent. On 31 January 1945 there was a heavy bombardment and the air-raid shelters of the Sisters were hit on three sides by machine-gun fire. For a long time the superior could not make up her mind whether to go or stay. Then Tuba, a place 6 km from Baguio, was suggested to them as a place of refuge. There were unoccupied living quarters. The Japanese had left. The nuns felt Tuba was the safest place. The superior let the Sisters decide for themselves whether they wanted to move to Tuba or stay in Baguio. Twelve members of the community said they would go to Tuba - the other eleven stayed in Baguio. The house in Baguio was damaged by the artillery fire. But the Sisters provided the others in Tuba with food. They continued with their usual daily routine to the extent the air-raid warnings permitted them - but more intensively. They moved between bunker, work place and chapel. They no longer had a priest or Holy Mass. The link between the convent and Baguio was broken, but not with Tuba. The superior who had at first remained in Baguio but then moved to Tuba returned to Baguio again on 5 March with four Sisters to pick up provisions. They returned to Tuba the same evening. Concerning the next day she reports: