IT WAS an instant yes when Analu Lizares Trebol invited me to “mamiesta” sa Talisay for lunch at Lola Asion’s home. Talisay is our hometown and I cherish many childhood memories there.
I remember every Saturday and Sunday, we would be transported to the town north of Bacolod to be united with the Simplicio Lizares Sr. clan in my Papa Ande’s house. After lunch would be the dreaded “a dormir” time for the “apos” while the titos and titas were gathered around the square table with their favorite pastime mahjong.
Having complied with the siesta time, all of us first cousins would excitedly rush off to Lola Asion’s house. She had a small kidney-shaped pool and all of us would jump into it. Looking at the pool now, I can’t believe how 20 or more of us could fit there. But we did and it was such a joy!
On my way to Talisay last Thursday, I ran into the procession of San Nicolas de Tolentino, the patron saint of the city. San Nicolas became a monk at the age of 18, and seven years later, he was ordained a priest. He gained a reputation as a preacher and a confessor. He had visions of angels reciting “to Tolentino” and took this as a sign to move there and where he lived the rest of his life. He ministered to the poor and the criminals.
Once, after a long fast and totally weak, he received a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Augustine. They told him to eat some bread marked with cross and dipped in water. Upon doing so he became immediately stronger. He started distributing these rolls to the ailing, while praying to Mary, often curing the sufferers; this is the origin of the Augustinian custom of blessing and distributing Saint Nicholas Bread.
Nicolas also received visions of Purgatory, which friends ascribed to his lengthy fasts. Prayer for the souls in purgatory was the outstanding characteristic of his spirituality. Because of this, San Nicholas was proclaimed patron of the souls in Purgatory, in 1884 by Leo XIII.
Towards the end of his life he became ill, suffering greatly, but still continued the mortification that had been part of his holy life. Nicholas died on September 10, 1305.
He was canonized by Pope Eugene IV in 1446 and his feast is September 10.
Fiestas are marked by the celebration of honoring the feast of saints, Our Lady or Our Lord. There are processions and parades, people dancing in the streets, homes open to welcome visitors.
It was a great day to be with friends in family and recalling the wonderful times of our childhood in Lola Asion’s house. As we feast, let us likewise look into the lives of the saints we are honoring and learn from their exemplary lives so that we can gear ourselves to the reason why we are here.
Viva San Nicolas de Tolentino!