Knights of St. Michael members
The Papal Visit is a historic event for many Filipinos regardless of religion. Since the arrival of the Pope last Thursday, January 15, the social media networking sites were flooded with #PopeFrancisPH and #PapalVisitPH hashtags which proved the love and support of many Filipinos. While there were still bashers, many Catholics preferred to remain silent and prayerful during the Papal Visit.
Some members of the Catholic Apologetic group Knights of St. Michael (KSM) were asked about their individual encounters and preparations for the visit. These are their answers:
Paulo Miguel Magisa Ksm (Grand Master):
Ako bilang Grand Master ng KSM, minarapat kong magbigay ng maagang pahayag ukol sa pagtatanggol sa ating Santo Papa Francisco, upang maagang maihanda ang mga maaabot ng aking artikulo bago pa sumapit ang Papal Visit. Sinadya kong iwasan ang mga debate o anumang talakayang apolohetika mapa online man o personal na pakikipanayam habang naririto ang Santo Padre pagkat nais kong ilaan ang oras ko sa pagbabahagi ng aking sarili sa mga gawaing may kinalaman sa Papal Visit. Ito rin ay panahon upang maituon ko ang aking sarili sa tunay na diwa ng temang “Awa at Habag” na ninanais ng Papa Francisco na isabuhay nating lahat. At bilang panghuli nais kong gugulin ang lahat ng sandali ng may kapayapaan at kapanatagan upang maging mabunga ang pagninilay na aking nasimulan. Isang simulaing bahagi ng kasaysayang ipapamana sa susunod na henerasyon.
Naramdam ko ng makita ko si Pope kahit di ko sya nahawakan o nalapitan pero nang kumaway sya sa amin damang dama ko na mahal niya ako. Oo mahal niya ako yan ang naramdaman ko. Lalo akong naging inspirado maging isang simpleng lingkod lamang sa ubasan ng Panginoon.
XDhane Visitacion Ksm:
Ako po may naka sagutan kaso po hindi ko na shinare kasi kapwa natin xa catholic. Naiinis lang ako s pananaw nya. 
nkakasama ng loob 
tapos ung isang ibang sekta na tumutuligsa kay Pope nkalimutan ko po name. Pero pinaalam ko kay Brother pau na ininvite ko sa page natin kasi wala pa ako masyado alam sa debate. Eh hindi nman po nag paramdam sa page.
Dennis Lester Blas Ksm (Grand Bailiff):
Ako simple lang… Nagmumuni muni kasi ako lalo na nung nabasa ko yung message na Pope regarding others faith. Tyaka tumigil muna ako (sa pakikipag debate) at di ako naapektohan lately kahit may nababasa ako kasi mas nangingibabaw yung saya na nararamdman ko kesa sa mainis sa mga nababasa ko…
John Steven Ganitano KSM at the Int’l Media Center, Manila Hotel
John Steven Ganitano Ksm:
We are actually celebrating a very significant event that entails not just mundane festivities and preparations but also a deeper renewal of faith and personal encounter with Christ. It is for this reason that we must refrain from engaging on unfruitful and uncharitable discussions regarding the shallow matters of faith that could only ruin this much anticipated moment. Let the message of mercy and compassion brought to us by Pope Francis touch our hearts and the hearts of our separated brethren in Christ and lead us all to genuine conversion.
Jesza Garcia Ksm:
The Holy Spirit itself will defend its community. This people who keeps on bashing our beliefs are just mocking us specially ths kind of occassions..
We are also just an instrument to what we would really want people to understand.. now thT its quiet.. it means nalulukuban tayo na banal na spirito ..at ang bansa. .para kahit saglit e umayos .
I believe so sir.
You know sir. I havenr seen papa yet.. kasi I have work.. and as much as I wanted to go out early or watch over the net.. i couldnt kazi wala signal…
But whn I arrive frm work yesterday and was able to see him on tv going to moa.. I had goosebumps.. up until he spoke.. i felt a tear.. i cant explain why..
MgJane Visitacion Ksm (Grand Chancellor):
I want to dedicate these 4 days to the Holy Father. I want to give him my clean self, unpolluted by the unavoidable pain and hate that I commonly feel towards the heresies that are continuously trying to demolish our strong and ancient faith and Church.
Pope Francis deserves to get the mercy and compassion from me, which he restlessly gives to everyone, may they be CATHOLICS or not. His love and compassion to everyone inspires not only us, CATHOLICS, but also non-Catholics because he shows deep respect to the entire religious groups.
He deserves my resistance against the heretics that even up until this moment, are still striving hard to destroy him and his good intentions.
I commit myself to shut up for a while as long as he’s here and perhaps, get back to those heretics in a more compassionate way after he’s gone back to Vatican.
For now, I want to give my whole self to the presence of thy Holiness.
“Our best defense is prayer”, Sem. Khing Latoja Macaranas Ksm, Grand Chevalier, at the Int’l Media Center
According to Sem. Khing Latoja Macaranas Ksm, Grand Chevalier / Spokesperson, “Since the arrival of Pope Francis, we have been encouraging our co-apologists to shun answering / debating with other religions during the visit of His holiness. We know that the Pope is promoting healthy inter-religious relationships and as his flock we are necessitated to follow our leader, Pope Francis, the ‘stone upon which Christ built His Church’ (Mt. 16:18). The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is “a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build” (3:3); “a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing” (3:5); “a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace” (3:7-8). I myself had an encounter with the Pope. I was passing by the Manila Cathedral after his Mass when his convoy went out. Nakatalikod na sya pero kumakaway pa rin ako. That’s the Francis Magic. He draws many people to prayer and unity.”
Aside from spiritual preparations,
KSM is also well represented in Papal Visit activities. Most members were chosen among other youths to have an encounter with His Holiness on January 18, 2015 at the University of Santo Tomas while the others signed up as volunteers.
“The Papal Visit and its message is much greater than our emotions and the anger of Anti-Catholics so why bother? For now, PRAYER is our best defense (apologeia). The fact that Pope Francis is here the more that we have to be Catholic (all-embracing)”, the spokesperson added.
AVE MARIA!