A Grateful Soul

When we were studying Sacred Liturgy in the Major Seminary in Jaro, Iloilo, our Spanish professor, a good liturgist and a good spiritual guide, used to advise us future priests that whenever there was no requested intention for Mass, we should offer our Masses for those souls in purgatory who have no Masses said for them. The Eucharistic Sacrifice is the most powerful prayer that can pay for the remaining punishments due to sin, he told us. And the souls, once in heaven with God, would in gratitude surely return the favor as testified by several people. I myself experienced this “repayment” by the mysterious appearance of a grateful soul.

The time is August 1961. I was ordained priest only on March 18, 1961. The place is Our Lady of Peace Parish, a very poor parish in La Paz District, Iloilo City. The occasion: After two sick calls I was resting in a spot between the parish church and the priest convento.

Our house cook, Tiwo by name, called from a window: “Father, we have a big problem. We cannot have supper this evening.” “Why”, I asked surprised. “No money, Father.” “How come?”, I blurted, “Where is the cura parroco Msgr. Fegarido?”

He said, “The cura is not around. I asked money from Esco the fiscal but he said there was no requested Mass, no funeral, no wedding, no baptism, no income at all during the week.” Then I suggested he could call our neighbor Mrs. Arnaldo and borrow 50 pesos but he refused because he was ashamed. “Okay,” I said, “I myself will call her shortly.”

After I said that I suddenly realized a man was approaching and smiling and greeting me Good Afternoon. I smiled back my respect. Then he asked if I could say Mass for him. Of course I could, I said, and when would he want the Mass said, I asked again. “It is up to you, Father,” and he handed me a 50-peso bill. Being human I must admit that deep inside me I was already thinking of supper! But the amount was too big for a Mass stipend which was 5 pesos at that time.

When I said it was too much he smiled saying, “It is okay, Father, you priests here might need it for something very important”, he said. After I said my Thanks I asked if we had met before and where was his residence. I was embarrassed when he told me he was Mr. Estrada and his house was just behind the parish church and very near the house of Esco our fiscal.

We shook hands and as soon as he left I called Tiwo almost excitedly. The next day was Sunday and during the Mass my eyes were also roaming around looking for Mr. Estrada. He was not around. After the Mass I asked Esco if it was true that during the week there was no income at all. He confirmed what Tiwo had earlier told me. Then I asked if he saw Mr. Estrada his neighbor at Mass because he came yesterday and gave me 50-pesos for today’s 7am Mass to be said for him.

Esco was shocked as he made the sign of the cross! He said, “Father, do you remember? Last June you were playing basketball in the plaza. I asked you to come to church to bless our neighbor Mr. Estrada whom we were burying that afternoon. You even peeped into the coffin after the blessing. He died already last June!”.

I cannot explain the mystery. Perhaps my seminary professor was right.