Per Scientiam ad Dominum: Faith and Science

19/01/2026

A Prayer in the Face of Disappointment

Lord of hope and faithfulness,
You see the plans that did not unfold,
the doors that closed,
and the expectations that now weigh heavily on our hearts.

In this moment of disappointment,
teach us to trust when we do not understand,
to hope when outcomes fall short,
and to believe that You are still at work beyond what we can see.

Calm our restless thoughts,
heal the quiet discouragement within us,
and help us surrender what we cannot control
into Your wiser and loving hands.

May this disappointment not harden our hearts
but deepen our patience,
not weaken our spirit
but strengthen our faith in You.

We place our tomorrow in Your care,
confident that even delays and detours
can become pathways to grace.

Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

14/01/2026

PRAYER
Lord, help us to be humble and kind as we grow on, and help us not to forget the joy and simplicity of a child. Amen.

¡Viva Sto. Niño! Pit Señor!

08/01/2026

08/01/2026

Augustinian friar credited with founding the Science of Genetics - Gregor Johann Mendel(Jul 20,1822 - Jan 6,1884). He discovered mathematical patterns in the inheritance of 7 traits in his pea plant experiments, which is now called Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance.

03/01/2026

SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
The journey of the magi, who were wise men, or probably, in a broader term, scientists, is not perfect. They took a wrong turn and ended up in Jerusalem, at the palace of Herod. Herod had power, position, and information—but no joy. Herod knew the Scriptures, but he did not move. The Magi do not know everything, especially in matters of faith, yet they continued to walk. Sometimes, brothers and sisters, those who know less believe more, and those who know more love less. May the Lord reveal Himself to us as we continue our imperfect yet sincere journey through life.

31/12/2025

NEW YEAR REFLECTION: There will always be another year to begin again.
Not because you failed,
but because God is merciful.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning” (Lam 3:22–23).

Some hopes take time to unfold.
Some prayers ripen slowly.
Even God allows growth to happen in seasons.

You are allowed to begin quietly,
to begin with fear,
to begin again—
for “the Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in mercy” (Ps 145:8).

What matters is this:
your story is still in God’s hands.
“He who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion” (Phil 1:6).

31/12/2025

PRAYER: A Prayer for the New Year 2026

Lord God,
As we step into this new year,
we thank You for the days behind us
and entrust to You the days ahead.

Guide our thoughts, our words, and our choices.
Strengthen us in hope, steady us in faith,
and teach us to love more generously.

May 2026 be a year of healing, wisdom,
and quiet courage—
where Your light leads us
and Your peace remains with us always.

Amen.

27/12/2025

CHRISTMAS 1941
On Christmas 1941, Fr. Juan Labrador, OP (1894-1967) [See Photo] [i]wrote in his diary: “Due to the blackout, the early morning Masses and Midnight Mass have been cancelled all over the Philippines. No Christmas cards, no Christmas gift and no feasting. It is the saddest Christmas we have ever experienced. One of the fathers, an octogenarian, intriguingly exclaimed: ‘What an unusual thing! For the first time in my long, long life, I have seen Good Friday falling on Christmas Day.’”[ii]The following day, the feast of St. Stephen (ca. AD 5-ca. AD 34), the protomartyr of the Church, Pres. Manuel L. Quezon (1878-1944), upon the advice Gen. Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964),[iii] declared Manila an ‘Open City’, announcing the abandonment of all the defensive efforts to avoid further destruction. All newspapers published the text of the proclamation and radio stations broadcast the news throughout the day. A huge banner bearing the words ‘Open City’ and ‘No Shooting’ was strung across the front of the city hall. That night, the blackout ended and Manila was ablazed with lights.

The Dominicans foresaw the worst possible scenario so that a few days before the anticipated bombing of Intramuros, they took down the image of Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario La Naval de Manila from her altar and placed the image in the safety vault of the building adjacent to the convent called Procuración de la Provincia del Santo Rosario. On 27 December 1941, a squadron of Japanese airplanes flew over the city of Manila at around 2:00 pm, leaving behind a rain of destructive and incendiary bombs. Ironically, such devastating air strikes had been carried out after Manila was declared an ‘open city’.
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[i] Fr. Juan Labrador, OP (1894-1967) served as the Secretary-General of the University of Santo Tomás (1930-1936); Rector of Colegio de San Juan de Letrán (1936-1945); Professor and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and then Rector Magnificus of the University of Santo Tomás (1961-1965). Originally written in Spanish, his diary covers the period December 7, 1941 to May 7, 1945. An English translation of the diary was published as A Diary of the Japanese Occupation, Santo Tomás University Press, Manila, 1989. ISBN 971-506-019-6.
[ii]Labrador, p. 126.
[iii] In March 1942, Gen. Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964), together with his family and his staff, left Corregidor Island and escaped to Australia, where he became Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area. Upon his arrival, MacArthur gave a speech in which he famously promised "I shall return" to the Philippines. After more than two years of fighting in the Pacific, he fulfilled that promise.

25/12/2025

24/12/2025

Surrounded by Manila’s dense urban sprawl, UST remains an unexpected green refuge, where migratory and endemic wildlife continue to survive despite the city’s pollution.

READ: https://varsitarian.net/the-espana-campus-the-green-refuge-migratory-birds-refuse-to-skip/

24/12/2025

Why Do Christians Celebrate Jesus’ Birthday on December 25?

Every December 25, Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Yet a question often arises—especially in Bible studies and classrooms: Is December 25 really the exact day Jesus was born?

The short answer: the Bible does not give a specific date.
The deeper answer is far more meaningful.

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The Bible and the Missing Birthdate

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us how Jesus was born—of Mary, in Bethlehem, laid in a manger—but they never tell us when. The first Christians were more focused on who Jesus is and why He came, rather than on marking a birthday.

For the early Church, the Resurrection mattered more than chronology.

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Why December 25, Then?

By the 4th century, Christians had settled on December 25 as the feast of the Nativity. This choice was not random.

In the ancient Roman world, late December was marked by festivals celebrating light, including the winter solstice—the darkest time of the year. Christians proclaimed a bold message:

Christ is the true Light that enters the world’s darkness.

Celebrating Jesus’ birth at this time beautifully expressed the Gospel truth:

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2)

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Light, Not Competition

Some assume December 25 was chosen merely to replace pagan festivals. While cultural context played a role, the Church’s intention was theological, not tactical.

Rather than borrowing meaning from existing feasts, Christianity redefined time itself—declaring that history now turns around Christ. The message was simple and profound:
Light has come, and darkness does not have the final word.

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A Date Full of Meaning

December 25 also carried symbolic resonance. Early Christian thinkers believed that great prophets died on the same date they were conceived. Since Jesus’ death was commemorated around March 25, His conception (the Annunciation) was placed on that date—making His birth fall naturally on December 25.

Thus, Christmas celebrates not just a birthday, but the mystery of God entering human history.

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Why December 25 Still Matters Today

Whether or not Jesus was born on that exact day misses the point. What matters is what December 25 proclaims:
• God chose to dwell with humanity
• Hope was born in humility
• Light entered our longest night

Christmas is less about a calendar date and more about a divine encounter.

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In the End, Christmas Is a Confession of Faith

When Christians celebrate December 25, they are not claiming historical precision—they are making a proclamation:

God is with us. Emmanuel has come.

And that truth, more than any date, is worth celebrating—year after year.

23/12/2025

POPE LEO XIV's PRAYER INTENTIONS 2026
The pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network has released Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intentions for 2026.
Here is the complete list of the pope’s prayer intentions for the year.

Read article: https://tinyurl.com/3bapxbh9