Some 1, 400 Catholic singles from places all over the world like Canada, China, Australia, the US, Europe, East Timor, and the Middle East, among others gathered in Singapore for the SFC International Conference from Feb. 26 to 28. (Photo: Emil Sayat)
SINGAPORE, Feb. 27, 2015 – Addressing some 1, 400 Catholic singles, a priest reminds the faithful about the power of the Friday devotion of the Stations of the Cross, saying it makes the devil mad and uncomfortable.
“[The Stations of the Cross] reminded [the devil] of his eternal future… The devil hates it because it is a replay of his eternal destiny and damnation,” said Couples for Christ (CFC) spiritual director Fr. Stephen Yim, opening the 23rd CFC – Singles for Christ International Conference at the Singapore Expo on Feb. 26, Friday.
The priest added: “There is the devil waiting for us. He will try to stop us from praying it, among many other things… He will try to discourage us.”
“When we do the Stations of the Cross, we will, despite the fact that life is difficult, we want to rejoice. No point in being sad over the fact that life is difficult.”
According to Yim, the faithful must pray so that they “will constantly have this joy in [them]” so that they can be “witnesses and heralds of this joy.”
The prayer, Yim explained, also nurtures in the Christian heart the same fortitude and faith Jesus had.
“The Stations of the Cross has a spirituality that we need to understand. They tell us how much Jesus suffered and died with us and that were willing to go that way.”
He said: “The Stations of the Cross also show us the future… It showed us what is to come. Life is difficult, get used to it… Jesus knew his future, he met it.”
The SFC ICON, themed “Unstoppable”, runs from Feb. 26 to 28 and is the first time the event is held outside the Philippines. (Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz / CBCP News)
