In Memory of the Third Death Anniversary of Salome R. Barnuevo the “saintly servidora of the seminary” of San Jose (July 12)
For the Expanded Version you may click this link: Short Biography of Salome Barnuevo
You
would ask where she worked. Nanay Ming worked at the Holy Rosary Preparatory
Seminary as a “servidora for priests” on a greeting card send to her, they to her expresses their
gratitude to Nanay Ming it says that “your untiring service and hard-work is
worth of veneration”. A year before her death she received a “Plaque of
Recognition” in its citation it states that this was given to her in gratitude
for her involvement in the formation of the future priests of the Archdiocese
and “for her generous sharing of herself, time and talent to the Archdiocese of
Caceres in general and to the Holy Rosary Preparatory Seminary through her
active, dedicated and unconditional service rendered to this institution”. She
become also a spiritual mother for priests and seminarians in one instance she
stand for a one seminarian and it is said that because of her this seminarian
were ordained as a Priest (I do not know who is that priest). After her death
we found an old prayer card on her things dated November 9, 1996 it is a
souvenir card from the ordination of Fr. Rex now Bishop of the Diocese of Daet
and at the back of the prayer card it contains a Prayer for Priests which she
used in praying.
She
has an ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary: to Our Lady of Peñafrancia
and to Our Lady of Sorrows the patroness of the Sayos. On the Annual Fiesta of
Our Lady of Peñafrancia at the Basilica Minor in Naga City she always attend
Mass and visited the Cathedral to pray and give thanks before the image of Ina.
A year before her death she was confined on the hospital and has been discharge
a few days before the annual fiesta but then she insisted to travel alone just
to attend Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady
without the knowledge of her children who also had their pilgrimage to the same
Shrine. When her children finishes their turn to kiss Ina they were shock to
see their mother at the shrine on her “ tungkod” because she is not yet fully
recovered and can’t walk straight then what she did she kneel down and pray at
the back portion of the Shrine. It would be her last visit to the Shrine.
She
is also a great devotee and promoter of the Brown Scapular she distributes it
to each member of the family. After her death we found a plastic with brown scapulars
and plan to distribute it a year after her death. One time one of his grandson
requested another one then she immediately requested to the priest for a
scapular and ask him to bless it, then give it to her grandson but
unfortunately someone borrowed the scapular and lost it. Even she wore the
scapular with great fervor. We also found a little booklet on her things
entitled “Garment of Grace” it contains some information about the Scapular.
Nanay
Ming is also a Prayer Warrior of the Holy Souls in purgatory. On her sickbed
her daughter relates that she constantly read a “red book” translated in Bicol
from its original title “Read me or Rue it” meditating and praying for the
souls in purgatory. We’ve seen also on her things a Station of the Cross prayer
booklet dedicated for the poor souls in purgatory. She had this devotion to the
holy souls for she believed that when her time comes the souls she prayed for
and pass to eternity will surly help and aid her.
How
is she related to the Order of Servites? Salome Barnuevo is a member of the
Association of Sayos somewhat the same with or affiliated with Confraternity of
Our Lady of Sorrows. In a handout that I found from her things contains the
History of the “Siervos de Maria” and the Crown or Rosary of the Seven Sorrows
which is said used and prayed by the Seven Founders of the Order. How come that
she joined the Association? She herself related her story before joining the
said association to her children. She got very sick and not recovering well
from her illness on that night she had a dream a vision of a beautiful Lady
giving her a black robe same with the Servites and Sayos. After receiving the
message she commissioned someone to sew her black robe and joined the
Association of Sayos. She promised to participate actively till the time she
still can then her illness was miraculously healed. She participated to the
Penitential Procession annually wearing black robes down to the ankles with a
rosary dangles from a white cord from the waist, their black veil that covers
their faces were locked in place by a “payawan” or also known as
“makabuhay” a local vine with medicinal
value to depict Jesus crowned with thorns. They are also carrying instrument of
the Passion such as nails, a wooden cross, crown of thorns, and a bottle of
vinegar and so on while chanting prayers and walking barefooted. Her daughter related that Nanay Ming
participated in the Lord’s Passion in a very special way because yearly during
Holy Week she always struck by a mysterious sickness to suffer until the Holy
Week ends she believed that this is the way of the Lord to remind her of her
promised to participate to the annual penitential procession. During the
procession she would ask someone to accompany her and to look after her because
she is in pain and offer it to Jesus. The rosary grasped in her hand and the
continual recitation of the rosary sustains her strength until the procession
finish. After Semana Santa she would regain her health back to normal. Sayos
make reparation for the sufferings of Jesus. On Maundy Thursday the Sayos
visited Barangays in group of 4 or 5 to visit houses barefooted early in the
morning until noon they knock in every house to ask for alms like the Servites
they pray in each house from one to another. Whatever they collect goes
directly to the Church as contribution for the projects of the Parish. After this they return to the Church for the
afternoon prayers.
She
is a warm hearted person everyone that comes to her never left unaided. In one
instance her grandson desires to have a gold fish what she deed is that she ask
for a fish from the seminary grotto where there is a somewhat similar fish and
put it into a taper ware with water then
give it to his grandson. In another occasion she would adopt the orphaned
children of his husband’s family relatives and let them stay at their house and
send them to schooling. She would bath her sick and elderly relative with love
and dedication. Sometimes she would protect others from abuses. She is a loving
grandmother to her grandsons and daughters after work when she got home those
who are just in nearby houses would come just to ask for one peso then she
would get her wallet to give them some then for those are from far area she
would give them five pesos this simple act touches our heart the most. If
someone needs financial help she would seek help on her behalf for them. I know
and I believed this woman of selfless love would be one of our great
intercessor from heaven. During the funeral Mass the priest said on his sermon
“be glad because you have her in heaven to pray for you”.
For those who knew Nanay Ming please
share to us your encounter with this “saintly servant” then if you have some
pictures with her please do share also to us. Email us at: salomebarnuevocommissionoffice@gmail.com
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