The Filipino Traditional Roman Catholic

Pope Visits Benin

2011-11-19T17:40:00.000-08:00

VATICAN CITY, 18 NOV 2011 (VIS) - This morning Benedict XVI began the twenty-second apostolic trip of his pontificate which is taking him to Benin where, on Sunday, he will sign the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops.

The Pope departed from Fiumicino airport in Rome at 9 a.m., landing at the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin airport in Cotonou at 3 p.m. On arrival he was greeted by Thomas Yayi Boni, president of Benin, Archbishop Antoine Ganye of Cotonou, and other civil and religious authorities.

In his address, the Pope enumerated three reasons for his visit to the country: the invitation he had received from the president and the members of the Episcopal Conference of Benin, which this year celebrates the 150th anniversary of evangelisation; the signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Africae Munus", and the third "more personal and more emotive" reason of praying before the tomb of Cardinal Gantin and thanking "Benin for having given the Church such a distinguished son".

The Holy Father continued: "Benin is a country of ancient and noble traditions. Her history is significant. I am pleased to take this opportunity to greet the traditional chiefs. Their contribution is important in the construction of the country's future. I would like to encourage them to contribute, with their wisdom and understanding of local customs, in the delicate transition currently under way from tradition to modernity.

"Modernity", he added, "need not provoke fear, but neither can it be constructed by neglecting the past. It needs to be accompanied by prudence for the good of all in order to avoid the pitfalls which exist on the African continent and elsewhere, such as unconditional surrender to the law of the market or that of finance, nationalism or exaggerated and sterile tribalism which can become destructive, a politicisation of inter-religious tensions to the detriment of the common good, or finally the erosion of human, cultural, ethical and religious values. The transition to modernity must be guided by sure criteria ... rooted in the dignity of the person, the importance of the family and respect for life. All of these values exist in view of the common good which must take first place, and which must constitute the primary concern of all in positions of responsibility".

"The Church, for her part, offers her own specific contribution", the Pope concluded. "By her presence, her prayer and her various works of mercy, especially in education and health care, she wishes to give her best to everyone. She wants to be close to those who are in need, near to those who search for God. She wants to make it understood that God is neither absent nor irrelevant as some would have us believe but that He is the friend of man. It is in this spirit of friendship and of fraternity that I come to your country". (This news is from Vatican Information Service ).

After all the Dust has settled in...then what?

2011-05-29T06:38:00.000-07:00

By RICARDO J. CARDINAL VIDAL

Archbishop Emeritus of Cebu and HLI Foreign Advisor

Your Excellency, Archbishop Jose Palma,

My Brother Bishops,

My Brother Priests,

My dear Dames of the Order of St. Sylvester,

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has honored us once again with the conferment of the Ecclesiastical award Dame of the Order of St. Sylvester to nine illustrious Cebuanas, distinguished by their works of charity and long service to the Church.

As I congratulate you, Dames Anita Cabinian, Julia Gandionco, Rosa Maria Garcia, Conchita Go, Lourdes Jereza, Lourdes Vilma Lee, Anita Sanchez, Alita Solon and Mariquita Yeung, I also thank you for the work you have done for the Church and for the underprivileged. Through your apostolates, you have given the Church in Cebu a heart that truly cares for the poor.

There are many who profess to take the cudgels for the poor nowadays. They say they empower the poor by giving them control over their lives. Yet, instead of providing them basic medicine, they gave them contraceptive pills that can cause cancer. Instead of curbing corruption so that basic services may reach the poorest of the poor, they focus on pushing a bill that has been rejected so many times before, as if it is the only bill that really matters for all Filipinos.

It is difficult to be Catholic nowadays. To profess the Catholic faith nowadays, in its integral fullness, is to be labeled “medieval”, “outmoded”, “bigoted.” We are the ones given all kinds of names, yet we are also accused of name-calling.

We are challenged to argue our case with sobriety and intelligence, yet, no matter how you explain the matter comprehensively, only sound bites, taken out of context, many times portraying the Church in a bad light, see print or is carried on television. Sometimes one wonders whether the media are deaf, blind or simply biased.

We have said it before, and will say it again, contraception is immoral, and no one has the option to be immoral, whether you are rich or poor. They would argue that contraception is immoral only for Catholics, and many Catholics do not even think it immoral. Reducing morality to a matter of faith or personal opinion is precisely what the Church is warning against. If today they say everyone must be given freedom of choice, and the object of the choice is contraception, tomorrow they will say everyone must be given freedom of choice, but the object of the choice would be abortion, homosexual marriage, divorce or euthanasia. You may say it is far-fetched, that contraception is far less serious a sin than the ones I have mentioned. But the logic by which contraception is pushed is the same logic by which all the others are proposed: the key words are “freedom of choice” and “moral relativism.” The argument goes as follows: because we cannot agree on what is moral or not, we might as well allow everything and anything. After all, everyone must have freedom of choice.

It is true, the RH Bill prohibits abortion today, but the language of the bill already prepares the way for abortion to be legalized. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the current US Secretary of State and former First Lady was quoted as saying thus: “… If we’re talking about maternal health, you cannot have maternal health without reproductive health. And reproductive health includes contraception and family planning and access to legal, safe abortion.” (end of quote) Do you really think they will stop at contraception?

Morality is the limit of freedom. Or rather, morality is the perfection of freedom. We become more free by moral choices. We become less free by immoral decisions. Some say we Bishops do not listen, that we are narrow-minded and are concerned only of preserving our power at the expense of those who wallow in poverty. I say we listen first and foremost to the Chief Shepherd, for we are not the vine, we are only the branches. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

Some say we should listen to what the people say. “Vox populi, vox dei.” I say, if such is the case, then Moses should have listened to the Israelites who wanted to return to slavery in Egypt, and Barabbas should have been hailed Messiah instead of Jesus, for the crowd preferred that rebel over our blessed Lord.

So, after all is said and done, when the dust of this battle settles, will the poor have hope for the future? Let us not use the name of the poor in vain. If you really cared for the poor, you would have crafted laws to bring down the cost of medicine and basic necessities. You would have liberalized restrictions to attract more investments, clamp down on corruption to encourage investors, focused on building homes and schools and infrastructure to shelter and educate and promote development. Instead, the nation’s energy is wasted on a bill that, in its positive aspects, is already in place, but only needs implementation.

Some argue we are just too many, our meager resources are overwhelmed by the sheer number of people to house, to educate, to hire, to feed. They conveniently forget that the Marcos years saw the most aggressive population program in our nation’s history. It did not bring us anywhere, for unless we root out corruption from our system, we will always have meager resources, whether we are only 40 or a hundred million.

I would like to apologize to our awardees if I used this occasion to engage in polemic over an issue that has no bearing on today’s festive occasion. But does it not have any bearing at all? Is not the essence of this award the catholic character of your work?

I chose to speak on this subject today because of its urgency. I chose to speak on this topic on this occasion because as Catholics awarded for loyalty and devotion, you need to understand what you believe, so that in understanding, your faith may grow ever stronger, your devotion ever more fervent, your work to help the poor and support the Church ever more zealous.

May the Lord bless you and your families. May the Lord bless our nation and enlighten our leaders. Amen.

From the "Catholic Position on the RH Bill"

Repentance, Truth and the Splendor of the Priesthood

2010-12-21T17:10:00.000-08:00

"In the vision of Saint Hildegard, the face of the Church is stained with dust, and this is how we have seen it. Her garment is torn – by the sins of priests. The way she saw and expressed it is the way we have experienced it this year. We must accept this humiliation as an exhortation to truth and a call to renewal. Only the truth saves. We must ask ourselves what we can do to repair as much as possible the injustice that has occurred. We must ask ourselves what was wrong in our proclamation, in our whole way of living the Christian life, to allow such a thing to happen. We must discover a new resoluteness in faith and in doing good. We must be capable of doing penance. We must be determined to make every possible effort in priestly formation to prevent anything of the kind from happening again. This is also the moment to offer heartfelt thanks to all those who work to help victims and to restore their trust in the Church, their capacity to believe her message. In my meetings with victims of this sin, I have also always found people who, with great dedication, stand alongside those who suffer and have been damaged. This is also the occasion to thank the many good priests who act as channels of the Lord’s goodness in humility and fidelity and, amid the devastations, bear witness to the unforfeited beauty of the priesthood." - His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Address on the occasion of Christmas to the Roman Curia.

Those of you who wish to read the beautiful and eloquent address of the Holy Father, you may visit the TEXT.

I opine that this is one of the most difficult times in the life of the Church and things happened for a reason. Even as we read the Bible we find stories of heroism as well as infidelity. But the Holy Father has spoken eloquently of the fact that truth is the one that saves us and it will save us under this circumstances. This is a call for repentance and reparation. From this dark event the priesthood will emerge more stronger and beautiful a testament of God's love for his people.

The Immaculate Conception

2010-12-07T08:12:00.000-08:00

We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faithful.

—Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, December 8, 1854

In Praise of Gaudi

2010-11-20T20:29:00.000-08:00

“In this place, Gaudi desired to unify that inspiration which came to him from the three books which nourished him as a man, as a believer and as an architect: the book of nature, the book of sacred Scripture and the book of the liturgy. In this way he brought together the reality of the world and the history of salvation, as recounted in the Bible and made present in the liturgy. He made stones, trees and human life part of the church so that all creation might come together in praise of God, but at the same time he brought the sacred images outside so as to place before people the mystery of God revealed in the birth, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this way, he brilliantly helped to build our human consciousness, anchored in the world yet open to God, enlightened and sanctified by Christ. In this he accomplished one of the most important tasks of our times: overcoming the division between human consciousness and Christian consciousness, between living in this temporal world and being open to eternal life, between the beauty of things and God as beauty. Antoni GaudÃ did this not with words but with stones, lines, planes, and points. Indeed, beauty is one of mankind’s greatest needs; it is the root from which the branches of our peace and the fruits of our hope come forth. Beauty also reveals God because, like him, a work of beauty is pure gratuity; it calls us to freedom and draws us away from selfishness.” Excerpt from the homily of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI quoted from getreligion.org

Reflection on the Solemnity of Christ the King

2010-11-20T19:08:00.000-08:00

In the Novus Ordo calendar, today is the Solemnity of Christ the King. I want to offer today a few of my personal reflections on the significance of this solemnity.

I really regret that I was not able to keep up with the recent important events in various papal activities due to the demands of my work. But one thing that impressed me was the recently concluded papal visit to Spain and the dedication of the Sagrada Familia. A huge temple designed by Gaudi. An impressive monument, not only from the point of architecture but from the perspective of its great teaching significance. It is one huge cathedral and an effective visual aid in teaching the faith.

I would opine that the greatness of this cathedral is also in effect a rebuke to the present rulers of Spain. Especially that on the social issues its parliament and government has enacted laws that contradicts the principles of life. The sinister force of secularism seem to encroach on this old bastion of Catholicism. This should not serve as bewilderment for all of us. For indeed no one can come to Christ unless the Father draws them near. For us who believe this is something for us to rejoice. Not because we could expel demons or heal the sick but because the Father has given us His Kingdom.

All Souls Day Reflection

2010-11-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the eve of All Souls Day. A copious downpour of rain somehow dampen the event. But I took the time also to visit the remains of my grandparents Miguel and Maria. November 1 is a national holiday in the Philippines, but I decided to report to work voluntarily because there seems to be plenty of work to be done which on normal days I could not accomplish. As a form of sharing let me offer you some of my thoughts and reflection about All Souls Day. I have also taken some snap shots of my little visit to the cemetery near the Church. It has been customary in some Catholic Churches to have the cemetery near the Church this is because of the belief in the resurrection. A year ago we decided to have the remains of our grandparents be moved from the local public cemetery to the Church cemetery.

I know that some of our protestant friends criticized us for this practice of praying for the dead. This is perhaps because they do not understand why we Catholics and the ancient church prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed. Actually this belief is founded on our faith as declared in the Nicene Creed that we recite every Sunday Mass. We believe in the communion of the saints, which means that since all of us baptized Christians belong to one mystical body of Christ we are bounded together by that bond of love that binds the Trinity. That whether we live or die all of us are united intimately to Christ and to one another. In our catechism we were taught that the church has three manifestations: (1) Militant, this includes all the living members since while we are here on earth we battle we with the self, the world and the devil and we need to make the final perseverance; (2) Suffering, these are the baptized members who died in the grace of God and are saved yet because of the temporal punishment due to sin are still deprived of the total vision of God. They are in the prison of purgatorial fires. They have this agony of longing to be with God but are denied of the vision because they have to satisfy the justice of God. They need our prayers because since they are in prison they cannot help themselves; and (3) triumphant these are the members who are now in heaven and are enjoying the vision of God. Occasionally the church declares canonically some as saints but there are countless unrecognized saints. On November 1 we celebrate the feast of All Saints and we implore their prayers for us. On November 2 we celebrate All Souls day, here we are reminded to pray for the dead and those who are in purgatory. Our prayers and good works and the masses offered for them will bring them relief and a step closer to the object of their longing - God.

Here is a link that will explain what Purgatory is.

This evening I took the time visit this grotto near the church where the cemetery is. This is a popular shrine judging from the number of people coming here and the number of candles flickering.

This is the cemetery where the remains of my grandparents are interred. I owe to my grandparents my Catholic Faith. As a child I love to hear my grandfather tell stories about the saints and about the stories in the Bible. My grandfather was a very devout man. He was a member of the Adoracion Nucturna Filipina, a pious association of the faithful devoted to the worhsip and vigil of Christ in the Eucharist. Even when he was in his 80's he would unabashedly carry the flag and banner of the association even in public. My grandmother too was a devotee of the Virgin Mary and of Saint Joseph. She was diligent teacher who taught me about my catechism. She saw to it that we go to church every Sunday. The Church has been very much a part of me because of the training they gave me.

The outdoor altar of Christ the King.

Our Parish Church

All Saints and All Souls Day

2010-10-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

Today is all saints day and tomorrow is all souls day. This is a beautiful day to reflect on the communion of the saints. When we chant the litany of the saints we got the transcendental perspective of the Kingdom of God. Let this day too be an opportunity to exercise our charity since the souls in purgatory needs our prayers too.

The Right of the Church to Proclaim the Truth

2010-10-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

His Grace, the Most Reverend Leonardo Z. Legazpi, O.P. wrote a pastoral letter on the role of the church in public life. Here is an excerpt from the pastoral letter the full text can be read at this link.

"The teachings of the Church concerning prevailing social issues that affect people are not merely limited to renunciation of immoral acts, but in a more positive light, these teachings seek to form and illumine our conscience to enable us to choose the good and to genuinely decide in accordance with what is true.[18] In this sense, the Church is a vital contributor in the political debate, a transformative resource[19] insofar as she helps in purifying and shedding light upon the application of reason to the discovery of objective moral principles.[20] Ultimately, the right and duty of the Church to speak about the Truth and to form conscience in the Truth is rooted not so much in her doctrinal statements and pastoral letters but in her fidelity in following Jesus.[21]"

Memorial of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

2010-10-07T03:53:00.000-07:00

One of the most popular and enduring devotions in the Church is the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin. It has wrought wonderful miracles for those who recited it with faith and devotion. St. Dominic overcame heresy by promoting this devotion.

As a child we were taught to recite the Rosary. We memorized the mysteries and were able to recite it by heart. As a college student it has helped me pass exams with high colors. In facing life's crises it has helped me.

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary pray for us.

SPIRITUAL CHILDLIKENESS: ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS & THE GUARDIAN ANGELS

2010-10-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

October 2 and 3 are 3rd class feasts of the Guardian Angles and St. Therese of the Child Jesus respectively. Both are important for me and I found that devotion to the guardian angels is worth it. My guardian angel has protected me while driving my car and in my various travels. The church believes that each one of us baptized members of the church were given our particular angels to guide us and protect us. The Bible says that these are fiery creatures and ministers of God. They bod the command of God and strong and powerful.

I owe also a lot to my dear patron saint, St. Therese. Indeed a person well loved by the Lord because of her childlike faith and simplicity. A virgin and doctor of the church. Her profound understanding of the mysteries of the gospel has earned her the title of Doctor of the Church. She teaches us the little way of Christ.

Yesterday afternoon we held a get together for twenty or so little children in the school. We treated them with stories, candies and goods. I notice this little boy, probably because he was too young to join the other children he went venturing the corridors of the school. I took this snap shot and was inspired by the simple message of this picture. To be child-like, to have that faith and assurance of a child. To trust in the Lord is what propelled saints to become saints. St. Therese thank you so much for your friendship, my guardian angle I do not know your name but you are also my real friend and helper. Thank you Lord for providing me with true friends!

Is There a Need to Re-Emphasize the Use of Vernacular and Inculturation?

2010-09-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

"Is there a need to re-emphasize the use of vernacular and inculcation in the liturgy when it is evident that these are in existence in the Catholic liturgical landscape of the Philippines???" I asked myself this question after reading the statement released by the National Meeting of the Diocesan Directors of Liturgy Silver Jubilee Statement. I hold to the impression that some liturgists in our country may not be aware of the REFORM OF THE REFORMED program of Pope Benedict XVI. That's why most statements in relation to the liturgy either openly contradicts the program of the Holy Father or simply downplayed it. Here are some of my comments. These are my opinions and I stand corrected.

On the Vernacular

The National Meeting of Dicesan Directors of Liturgy Silver Jubilee Statement as published in the RCAM highlighted several points. While I observe that there were several good points in that statement I want to offer my own observations on several points. Let me quote point #1

"The Use of the Vernacular. While we respect the option to use Latin and celebrate the Tridentine liturgy, we uphold the use of the vernacular in our parishes and communities and recommend translations that faithfully reflect both the spiritual doctrine of the texts and the linguistic patterns of our vernacular languages"

Let me offer some of my observation. (1) Tridentine Liturgy is not the correct word. The Rite of Mass formulated by St. Pius V during the Council of Trent is not a new rite but rather it was the reformed liturgy of the Roman Rite, standardized and made universal. One should understand the liturgical landscape of the reformeation and post-reformation period in Europe. There were the multiplicity of regional liturgies. Almost every region or dioceses in Euope has its own local variation. The multiplicity of rites created confusion and increased the chances that heretical ideas could penetrate the liturgy. Thus St. Pius V by the authority of the council revised the Roman Liturgy and made it universal. However, liturgies aging 200 years old and above were exempted. Whereas liturgies not reaching the age of 200 were deemed abolished. This in the context of the saying that the Law of prayer becomes the law of faith. For as we pray thus we will also believe. Thus correct word should be Traditional Latin Mass or the Forma Extraordinaria.

(2) Why is there a need for the liturgists to uphold the use of the vernacular when there is no widespread demand for the Extraordinary Form? To me it is absurd. The framers of this statement should have read the accompanying letter of Pope Benedict XVI to explain the Summorum Pontificum which allay the fears of those who think that the celebration of the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite will alter the liturgical landscape.

(3) The issue here is not about language. It is not about Latin versus the vernacular because the original text of the Roman Rite is in Latin, whatever vernacular that exists are mere translations of the basic Latin Texts. There is a danger in spiritualizing the original texts because there are dangers of misinterpretations. We should remember that language is a tool of communication. It can also be a repository. Thus the direct and faithful translations to the vernacular is to be preferred over the "spiritualized" translations. Direct translation will ensure orthodoxy. And the use of Liturgical language will ensure and promote sacrality, which is so much wanting in todays liturgies. The liturgy is the public worship of the Church, there we enter into the sacred realm away from the profane. Hence the use of profane language and music in the liturgy demotes the experience of the sacred. The liturgy just like any other field of human endeavor has its own language that makes it her own. Thus Christians who attends church regularly will not find it difficult to get acquinted with the nuances. We won't even have any need for commentators, which often obstructs the flow of the celebration. In fact Vatican II documents on the liturgy only authorize the translation of the Mass in the vernacular on a partial basis. But the self arbiters of the reform failed to recognize this. Latin is the Language of the Roman Church and if this is totally eliminated from the liturgy it will create rupture and discontinuity. This is somehting dificult to comprehend. Even our Latin Texts contains the Greek Kyreie if only to emphasize that even there was a shift from Greek to Latin we recognize our rootedness in the Greek Church which is more ancient than the Roman. The masses celebrated on EWTN is a very good example of a Vatican II mass. They also have done a great job in featuring the Extraordinary Form on several occasions.

Is there a paranoia here vis-a-vis the Latin Mass?

On Inculturation

Liturgical Inculturation. The interest in recent times to revive the Tridentine Liturgy should not draw the attention, especially of the Church leaders, from the unfinished agenda of liturgical inculturation. We are of the persuasion that liturgical renewal, as envisioned by the Constitution on Liturgy of Vatican II, entails liturgical inculturation and that our rich cultural heritage has much to offer to make the Roman liturgy truly Filipino.

Why is there a constant mention of the Tridentine Liturgy??? Is the Tridentine Liturgy a threat to the on going so called inculturation agenda? I wish that the framers of this statement would read the entire Apostolic Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Summorum Pontificum and its accompanying Letter to the Bishops. The statement as quoted above reveals that they are aware of an interest in the use of the Tridentine Liturgy. The question should be asked logically - WHY IS THERE AN INTEREST IN THE TRIDENTINE LITURGY 40 YEARS AFTER THE SO CALLED REFORM? Is it because the current reforms which started in the 70s failed to capture the true essence of liturgical reform as envisioned by Vatican II? It seems to me that the statement above expresses sthe unfounded fear which the Holy Father in his accompanying letter to the motu proprio seeks to allay, and I quote the words of the Holy Father:

"In the first place, there is the fear that the document detracts from the authority of the Second Vatican Council, one of whose essential decisions – the liturgical reform – is being called into question. This fear is unfounded. In this regard, it must first be said that the Missal published by Paul VI and then republished in two subsequent editions by John Paul II, obviously is and continues to be the normal Form – the Forma ordinaria – of the Eucharistic Liturgy. The last version of the Missale Romanum prior to the Council, which was published with the authority of Pope John XXIII in 1962 and used during the Council, will now be able to be used as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgical celebration. It is not appropriate to speak of these two versions of the Roman Missal as if they were "two Rites". Rather, it is a matter of a twofold use of one and the same rite."

As for the status of the Tridentine Liturgy here is what the Holy Father says:

"As for the use of the 1962 Missal as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgy of the Mass, I would like to draw attention to the fact that this Missal was never juridically abrogated and, consequently, in principle, was always permitted."

(Clear as the sun!)

There is a UCAN article written by Archbishop Dosado that explains what the Reform of the Reform of Pope Benedict means. Please follow the link to read the full article. In this article Arcbihop Dosado offered his ideas abut the true meaning of the reform and he explained the intent of the Holy Father in promoting the Reform of the Reformed. He also explained the problem of current state of liturgical renewal in this way:

"Looking back, some of the culprits for me for the gradual loss of the true reform of the liturgy were the so-called “liturgists” who were more like technicians and choreographers rather than pure students of liturgy. They had a peculiar affinity for refined liturgical celebrations coupled with disdain for the old rites and devotions. Unfortunately, some bishops, not pure students of liturgy either, gave in to their terrorist proclivities."

I would opine that the lack of interest in liturgical affairs in the Philippines have given reign to the self arbiters of the liturgical reform. But its not too late. The Holy Father has been pursuing quietly but steadfastly this project of genuine liturgical renewal based on the hermeneuics of continuity.

In conclusion I would like to share with you my comments on the UCANarticle in support of the article.

I would like to reiterate my support for Archbishop Dosado. I was born in the Novus Ordo and I was witness to the gradual disfiguring of our liturgies in the Philippines. The deconstructionists and inculturation schools have done so much damage to the Catholic identity and worship of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Not only it has distorted the historical and legitimate development of the liturgy, the destruction is manifested even in the way religious art and architecture were treated. So much heritage and historical values were lost, all in the name of "renewal" using Vatican II as the card. I hope that this INCULTURATION school should vanished in the mountains of Malaybalay and I hope that the REFORM OF THE REFORMED of Pope Benedict will find its way into this Catholic country and reestablish Catholic identity. AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS ARCHBISHOP DOSADO you are in our prayers always "Be not afraid... fear not the wolves in sheep's clothing".

Legazpi City: City of My Dreams ( Part 1 )

2010-09-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

September 11 is a memorable date because of what had happened in New York several years ago. But at that time I was travelling for Manila on board a Cebu Pacific Air from Legazpi to Manila. I have been on this route many times but I simply did not have much time to take photos. But last September 11 I brought along with me my Olympus Camera. I took one of the best shots I could ever take of Mt. Mayon Volcano. Picture speaks more than words. Upon checking in I specifically requested the lady attending to tickets to put me on a seat near the window so that I could have a full view of the mountain. I would think that Bicol is a beautiful place and and an excellent one for tourism. This peninsula is gifted with flora and fauna.

On the picture you could see the coastline of Legazpi City. Stretching from the city center one can enjoy a breathtaking view of Albay Bay and the pacific ocean. This coastline contains the road going to the City of Tabaco.

Perhaps a year ago I heard the pilot did make mention of this sight as the chocolate hills of Bohol in Albay. That famed chocolate hills in Bohol Island in the Visayas. But one need not go to Bohol to see those hills. The western portion of Albay is characterized by rugged topography, with small hills donning the countryside.

Mount Mayon volcano as seen from the ramps of Embarcadero, Legazpi's newest shopping center. The government has done a great job in encouraging private investors to invest in tourism and entertainment business in the city.

The shorelines of Legazpi are dotted with this kind of trawlers or fishing boats. Albay gulf is a fish sanctuary. And the waters off the Pacific ocean are rich in marine resources. Fishing is one of the major economic activity of many of Legazpinos.

Here is another view of Mt. Mayon.

The light house of Embarkadero de Legazpi.

The Madonna a Paradox of the Kingdom of God

2010-08-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

There is nothing in religious iconography that really moves me so strongly than the image of the Madonna and Child. These images portray the weak side of humanity - a woman, a mother and a child. In our contemporary society we would say that these belong to the marginalized group or sometimes to sectors that needed protection. But contemplating on the meaning of this icon, one would see an immense strength and blessing. For in reality the icon of the Madonna and Child are images of peace, triumph and victory. It portrays to us how humility and submission to the will of God can overcome the ugly faces of disobedience and pride that led to the fall of humanity. Now we see how the Woman clothe with the sun and the Child, the Man-God has conquered everything and has now led a train of captives to heaven.

Pray for us O holy Mother of God that we may be made worthy of the promises of God. Amen.

What does it mean to walk into the shadow of death?

2010-08-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

I have posted this in my facebook account:

What does it mean to walk in the shadow of death? When I seem hopeless and abandoned, & when that despondency descend on me, I plunged into that leap of faith, throw myself into the hands of God my Savior, knowing that He who is my maker will not abandon me. For the chastisement of God is medicine and His Mercy a healing balm.

The psalmist in the Old Testament has poetically described the life of a believer as someone walking in the shadow of death. What does it really mean to walk in the shadow of death without undergoing death itself. We we were born into this world for a purpose no doubt. For even Our Lord Jesus said that the smallest bird in the sky will never fall unless it has the permission of God our Father. That even our hairs are numbered. This reality may seem difficult to grasp because of our finiteness. But to simply put it everything is under the control of God. We make a lot of choices and God gave us freedom to choose. To a large extent what ever happens to us is the product of our own making. But to walk in the shadow of death means to be confronted by our limitations and finiteness. Thus often we descend on despondency. But this condescension to despondency is an invitation for us to pluge ourselves into that level of trust - the ultimate test of faith. Faith is an act of grasping however we do not see what we are grasping us but it is an invisible assurance of what we hope for. To some extend faith is a human act because we have to will it, but ultimately it is a gift that only God Almighty can give. It is an act of Grace. God will give it to those that asks for it in humility and submission to His Will.

Our Lady of Penafrancia: Revisited 2010

2010-08-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

We Catholics are fortunate to have devotional practices. Sometimes our Protestant friends do not understand why we do what we do. Among the devotion of which I love is to go on pilgrimages and make vows or "panata" as the Filipinos would say. The popularity of this devotion illustrates the innate spirituality that we have as a people. As a matter of private devotion a week ago from this day I went to visit the Basilica Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia, patroness of Bicolandia. This Basilica houses the miraculous icons of Our Lady of Penafrancia and the Divino Rostro (Holy Face) so intimately venerated by the Bicolano people.

I have the habit of visiting this shrine every now and then and especially at time that I feel the urge to do so. Our blessed Lady has done so much for me. She has saved me from perils and dangers and has granted the many requests I have had. Even the mundane concerns she pays attention to it. By intuition I always feel if she wants me to pay her a visit. Even when I am far away in moments of need I always invoke the name of Our Lady of Penafrancia and I always feel that she answers me and comforts me and covers me with her maternal cloak.

Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Penafrancia, Balatas, Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines

The Blessed Lady has loved the Bicolanos for givng herself as a gift to the Christianization of this people 400 years ago. The Franciscans and the Augustinians have done so much to evangelize this region of volcanoes, fertile lands and friendly people. It was among the Cimmarones (indigenous people of this land) that Our Lady first showed her favor and miracle. Our Lady loves everyone and she has shown her special favor among the humble and the downtrodden. Today as an expression of love the Bicolanos has made her icon identical with Bicol culture. In so much so that no one can speak today of Bicol without associating it with the icon of Penafrancia. One has to visit Naga City in September to witness the intense fervor of the Bicolanos during her week long festival. They have to see the novenas and the fluvial processions and how with fervor the Bicolanos extol their love for the Virgin Mary and for her Son Our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sanctuary

As I visited the Shrine, last Sunday, I saw the newly refurbished altar piece and sanctuary of the Basilica. The rector and his staff and indeed the entire Archdiocese are preparing for the redidication of the Altar and of the Church on September 13, 2010. They are also preparing for the celebration of the 300 years of Devotion to Ina (as the bicolanos fondly call Mary). I love the design of the altar piece. On top is the niche that would contain the original image of our Lady of Penafrancia. On the center is the Blessed Eucharist. On the side portions one could see the images of Divino Rostro, St. Joseph. I notice that the Crucifix was relocated at the back portion. I wish they could have placed the crucifix at the center or in an area visible near the altar. The altar table is located at the center with two huge candelabras.

The Altar Piece

A closer look at the niche that would display the image of Our Lady with decorative flickering candles. And also the sanctuary.

The Image of Our Lady of Penafrancia, adorned and bedecked with Jewels and Precious Stones

This is the less than two feet image of Our Lady of Penafrancia. Bedecked temporarily at the side altar while the renovations are underway. She look resplendent with her jewels and clothes. Here the blessed Virgin tells us to look at her son. She is there to point us to her Son.

The Icon of the Holy Face

This is a replica of the image of Divino Rostro. Venerated in the same Basilica along side the Virgin. These icon reflects also the social realities of the Bicolano people. In the suffering face of Christ they could identify with their sufferings as a people. Bicol is one of the poorest region in the Philippines. With its people mired in deep poverty, they find identity and consolation in this image of Christ. This also is a pledge of the salvation that they will obrain through the redemption worked out by Christ.

The Dome

The inspiring dome shows the coat of arms of the suffragan dioceses of the Archdiocese of Caceres, the Catholic heartland of Bicol. The Dioceses includes Legazpi, Sorsogon, Masbate, Catanduanes and Libmanan, with Caceres as the Archdiocese.

The Choir Loft

The huge stain glass window behind the choir loft. The image of Penafrancia is depicted using indigenous art and symbolisms.

The Man of Sorrows

2010-08-25T17:22:00.000-07:00

O Holy Face of Christ, Have Mercy on Us.

Official and Votive Prayer to the Miraculous Icon of the Holy Face, venerated by six million Bicolano people in the Philippines and displayed for veneration at the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Penafrancia, Archdiocese of Caceres, Naga City, Camarines Sur, the Philippines.

" O Lord Jesus, in your bitter passion

You became a Man of Sorrows,

In your disfigured face,

I see in your infinite love.

I am consumed with the desire

to love you and make you loved by all men.

I venerate your sacred face

Because it is the human expression

Of the face of the Father

The tears in your eyes are like pearls

Which I desire to offer to God in

Expiation of my sins and the spiritual

salvation of sinners.

O Jesus your adorable face ravishes my heart.

And set me on fire with your love,

so that my only desire will be to contemplate your Face in heaven!"

Amen.

To the Victim of Love for the Cross: Martyr of Auschwitz

2010-08-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

(Source: Wikipedia)

"I beg the Lord to take my life and my death … for all concerns of the sacred hearts of Jesus and Mary and the holy church, especially for the preservation of our holy order, in particular the Carmelite monasteries of Cologne and Echt, as atonement for the unbelief of the Jewish People and that the Lord will be received by his own people and his kingdom shall come in glory, for the salvation of Germany and the peace of the world, at last for my loved ones, living or dead, and for all God gave to me: that none of them shall go astray." - Edith Stein (St. Benedicta of the Cross)

Women Priests anyone???

2010-07-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

I found this article interesting from UCAN, the title of the article is "Nuns' attack Vatican on women's ordination". Sometimes I wonder why nuns advocating positions contrary to the teaching of the Church advocating ideas and advocacies contrary to the teachings. of the church. Feminism is a worldly ideology and sadly it has found its inroads in some religious orders. They erroneously equate equality of the sexes with sameness. Man and women are equal in the sight of God but they are not the same. They have specific roles to play in the Church and in this world. As one reader commented: "Church can commit no mistake because it is the Body of Christ. God choose man to be His priest and woman as His Mother. (Eccl 7: 28.29) " which my mind has shought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. See, this alone I found, that God made human beings straightforward, but they have devised many schemes" Respected Sr. we should try to follow the rule that God wanted us to follow. " Chastity. poverty and obedience" not activism."

Why I remain a Catholic

2010-07-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

The recent scandals that rocked the Church in Europe is indeed something for us to be sad about. This is because it involves the clergy and our Leaders. Sometimes I do not understand why these problems were to resurface at a time that the Church is battling with various issues that involves morality, materialism and life issues. Some of my friends wonder why I remain a Catholic. My answer is very simple but loud: I AM CONVINCED OF THE CLAIMS AND TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, it is apostolic, founded by Jesus Christ and on the apostles. Nothing can shake that conviction from me.

A Beautiful Reflection on Creation

2010-07-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

Legazpi City, Sunset (Photo by Dr. Herbert R.). The Creation Speaks of the Beauty of God, His gentleness and Compassion.

Here is a quote that I would like to share. This is from the late Thomas Merton. The title of the book is "The New Man" Published by Bantam Books (1981) First published in 1962. Page 29.

"The glory, the strength, the suppleness, the life of all things came into being at a command from God and praised Him. It was not because they praised Him that He looked at them: they praised Him because they were seen by Him: they praised Him because they were seen by Him. Their being, their life and their beauty existed because they were known by Him. Their being, their reality, their existence, their movement, their life: these things praised Him because they were decided in His own wisdom and existed by an option of His liberty."

This is a very insightful reflection on the beauty and mystery of creation. Had I not read this line, this idea will not come to me. Indeed, we praised God because we were made by Him. God does not need our praise and worship. He sufficient unto Himself. But he created us because He chose to love us. Thus we owe everything to Him that we love and praise Him.

On Becoming a Shelter

2010-07-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

This afternoon while taking my coffee for the mid afternoon break, I saw five little birds (mayas) sitting on top of our air-conditioning unit outside of the window. It was a stormy afternoon as Typhoon "Basyang" took a landfall in the north. The little birds were all wet and it seems that the heat generated by the motor of the air-conditioning unit served their need for heat. I was amused and I took pity on the birds. I thought I would take a photo of them. But I did not want to scare them with the flash so I simply leave them. But as I sat on my desk I began to reflect on how trouble some is life on earth. We have troubles, trials and tribulations. Often the best charity we can offer our neighbors in need are our love and care. Like those little birds, there are hundreds of souls out there suffering. They need shelter from the storm, they the heat of love and tender loving care, a place to hide themselves from the storm. Are we ready to be a shelter for our neighbors in need? Let us do works of mercy by making our lives shelter for others. Kind words and encouragement may indeed suffice. But when we give and give until it hurts that is the test of the fullness of our love for our neighbors.

With Faith in God Nothing is Impossible!

2010-06-30T04:53:00.000-07:00

"With faith in God nothing is impossible," says Pope Benedict XVI. In his homily on the vespers on the eve of the feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul, he reiterated the need to trust and believe in God. That things can be done not on our strength but it can be accomplished by our faith in God. He also spoke of the need for the New Evangelization, to reach out to countries who has deep Christian root but now because of the influence of militant secularism has abandoned faith in God. Let me share with you this quote from the Holy Father's homily:

Taking up this legacy, I have been able to affirm, at the beginning of my Petrine ministry, that the Church is young, and open to the future. And I repeat it today, near the sepulcher of St. Paul: The Church is an immense force of renewal in the world, not because of her strength, but because of the force of the Gospel, in which the Holy Spirit of God breathes, the God Creator and Redeemer of the world. [emphasis supplied] The challenges of the present age are certainly beyond human capacities; they are the historical and social challenges, and with greater reason, the spiritual challenges. At times it seems to us pastors of the Church that we are reliving the experience of the Apostles, when thousands of needy persons followed Jesus, and he asked: What can we do for all these people? They then experienced their impotence. But Jesus had in fact demonstrated to them that with faith in God nothing is impossible, and that a few loaves and a few fish, blessed and shared, could satiate all. But it was not -- and is not -- only hunger for material food: There is a more profound hunger, which only God can satiate. (Source: zenit.org June 28,2010)

Today the profound challenge for the pastors of the Church is how to respond to the need of the faithful who now in moder times are confronted with varied challenges.

Solemnity of Sts. Peter & Paul

2010-06-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

June 29 is the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, here the church celebrates and recall the martyrdom of these two pillars of the Church. What is the significance of St. Peter to the Church? He was the chosen leader of the church, the head and symbol of unity. St. Peter was not perfect he was a man fraught with weaknesses. His first encounter with Jesus wan on the fishing boat. In that story it was told that all night they went fishing and they catch nothing. But in the early of morning our Lord stepped up and told them to lower the net. And lo they gathered a hundredfold. Simon Peter exclaimed "Stay away from me Lord for I am a sinful man." Jesus said "from now on you shall no longer be fishers but fishers of men." In one instance when there was a storm, they asked Jesus to save them and they saw Jesus walking on the water. Simon Peter requested to be invited to walk on the water. And once half way, he began to sink. Jesus rebuked Peter for his lack of faith. Simon-Peter was also an impulsive man, prone to imprudent decisions. He steike the ears of Malchus when the High Priests servants tried to arrest Jesus. Simon Peter also displayed cowardice when he denied our Lord three times. But Jesus told him, "Satan has desired to sift you (Peter) like wheat, but I have prayed for you. Once you are converted strengthened your brothers." After the Ascension of Our Lord and after Pentecost Peter became the confirmed leader of the Apostles and of the Church. The wisdom of God was upon him and by work, life and teaching he has nourished the church. In the end he paid for it by his own life by dying the martyr's death on the cross. He felt so unworthy to be crucified in the same manner with Our Lord so he requested that he be crucified upside down. St. Peter, Vicar of Christ and chief of the apostles, pray for us.

On the Cross, Parables and Paradoxes

2010-06-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

Cross marker in San Miguel Island, Tabaco City, Philippines

I am impressed by the homily delivered by the Holy Father in his mass at the Church of the Holy Cross in Paphos, Republic of Cyprus. He spoke about the cross as form of capital punishment for the ancient Romans , on which our Lord Jesus was crucified. Today we took on this symbol as a symbol of salvation and liberation. It was carried by Christ and now carried forth by the Church as a symbol of God's saving power. I wonder why our Lord often teach us precious lesson by means of parables and paradoxes. Perhaps this is to challenge us and help us see that with God nothing is impossible. Who would ever think that the instrument of cruel punishment will become the symbol of our salvation and freedom. God works in many ways. Our feeble mind will never be able to fathom such love. God's ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. This brings us close to the core idea that we have to truly surrender our will to God's will. This is our challenge, this is our battle. We must overcome our "selves". This may seem impossible at least for us but the Grace of the Lord is sufficient for us. If only we will accept it with faith.

The Closing of the Annus Sacerdotalis

2010-06-13T06:06:00.000-07:00

Tridentime Mass at Amaelianum College, Sorsogon City, Philippines.

Tridentine Mass at Aemelianum College: The Priest as alter Christus becomes the Christ at the moment of the Celebration of the Sacred Mysteries. A minister and dispenser of the benefits of the altar.

The year for priests was concluded with a Papal Mass at St. Peters. The Pope highlighted several issues and in general he has mentioned something about the blessing. I would like to give emphasis on some points raised by the Holy Father.

"Had the Year for Priests been a glorification of our individual human performance, it would have been ruined by these events. But for us what happened was precisely the opposite: we grew in gratitude for God’s gift, a gift concealed in "earthen vessels" which ever anew, even amid human weakness, makes his love concretely present in this world. So let us look upon all that happened as a summons to purification, as a task which we bring to the future and which makes us acknowledge and love all the more the great gift we have received from God. In this way, his gift becomes a commitment to respond to God’s courage and humility by our own courage and our own humility. The word of God, which we have sung in the Entrance Antiphon of today’s liturgy, can speak to us, at this hour, of what it means to become and to be a priest: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29)." (Zenit.org)

Despite of the scandals about clergy abuses in Ireland, Germany and other places, these tragic event did not ruin the Church. The Holy Father is right when he said that priests are earthen vessels, there is a constant call for renewal and purification. Even in deepest sin God can penetrate us. Constantly we are called to look unto Christ and learn from Him. As a Catholic layman I do am not discouraged. This scandals and abuses can never dampen or destroy my relationship with the Church.

I am ever grateful for my priests, to the priest who baptized me, to the Bishop who confirmed me in the faith, to the priest who heard my confession, the priest who says mass for us every day and every week. Thank you Lord for these gifts. Indeed it is through your priests that we approach the altar of sacrifice, that we are sanctified and renewed in the Church. Lord send us holy priests who will love your house, who will love your ministry.

Tribute to a Beloved Saint

2010-06-13T02:15:00.000-07:00

What should I say to honor such a Saint whose popularity is because he simply lived the gospel and was willing to preach it with his life and blood. In many of his images and icon he is depicted with a lily symbol of purity. He studied the gospel, preached it and lived it. His love and zeal has inspired millions. Even now he answers the wishes of the faithful and is a powerful advocate. St. Anthony pray for us!

In the Valley of the Shadow of Death

2010-06-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

"Then there is the phrase about the "darkest valley" through which the Lord leads us. Our path as individuals will one day lead us into the valley of the shadow of death, where no one can accompany us. Yet he will be there. Christ himself descended into the dark night of death. Even there he will not abandon us. Even there he will lead us. "If I sink to the nether world, you are present there", says Psalm 139(138). Truly you are there, even in the throes of death, and hence our Responsorial Psalm can say: even there, in the darkest valley, I fear no evil. When speaking of the darkest valley, we can also think of the dark valleys of temptation, discouragement and trial through which everyone has to pass. Even in these dark valleys of life he is there. Lord, in the darkness of temptation, at the hour of dusk when all light seems to have died away, show me that you are there. Help us priests, so that we can remain beside the persons entrusted to us in these dark nights. So that we can show them your own light." Pope Benedict XVI, address at the Papal Mass in Honor of the Sacred Heart

June as the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

2010-06-01T02:26:00.000-07:00

In this turbulent times where our faith is buffeted by the strong waves of moral forces trying to undermine our faith, let us offer ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Full of love, burning with zeal for the salvation of men and women. Let the Sacred Heart of Jesus be our refuge and strength.

Thank you

2010-05-22T15:47:00.001-07:00

I am duty bound to thank St. Therese of the Child Jesus and St. Philomena for favors received.

To the Unknown God

2010-05-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Besaki Temple Complex in Bali. The Mother Temple of Hinduism in this Island

While on a business trip to Bali, Indonesia and despite of the hectic schedule I found some little time to explore the beauty of this Island famed for its culture and for its tourism value. I decided to visit one of the most renowned temple in Bali. According to my tour guide there are 17 temples in this complex. Every temple is dedicated to a particular use. One section of the temple was dedicated for all members of other religions where they can also pray. This reminded me of the passage in the Bible where St. Paul commended the religiosity of the Athenians and that a shrine was even dedicated to the "unknown god". This conversation became the starting point for St. Paul to proclaim the message of the gospel. St. Paul did not dare to insult the gods of the Athenians but focused his discussions on the Unknown God, which according to him was the One God who created the heavens and earth and all living creature and in this One God we derive all our being. One impression I got is that even in places where the gospel of Christ is not known, the light of God's knowledge is not fully extinguished. The various forms of religiousity can be a starting point for our search for God. Thus for us Christians it is incumbent that our lives, deeds and words should reflect the values of the gospel in order to draw other people to the light of Christ's message of salvation.

To Coffee Lovers

2010-05-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

Right now I am in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. We visited the Capitol and while waiting for the Vice-Governor to meet us, we were served good tasting coffee. The said this is a specialty here. Hmmm delicious. There is really nothing in this world that pleases me than a good cup of coffee. Thank God for this blessing.

Religiosity in Bali

2010-05-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

A temple scene in Bali

I notice that people in most part of Bali are religious. You see all those little shrines around dedicated to their gods.

Archibishop Burke on the Traditional Latin Mass

2010-05-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

'True. I still recall the contentment with which the Holy Father presented this document beforehand to a restricted group of bishops, to which I was invited. With this courageous gesture, the Pope wished to confirm in the Church that the liturgy must be carried out in an organic way, without having to perceive traumatic breaks, something which, unfortunately, happened following the Council. Personally, I find no difficulty or contradiction in celebrating Holy Mass according to the Novus Ordo and according to the so-called rite of St. Pius V. The motu propio "Summorum Pontificum" was a wise gesture that, I am certain, will bear good fruits in the Church." (Source: Zenit.org )

RoR in the Balinese Church

2010-05-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Interior of St. Francis Xavier Church in Kuta Bali, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Its been a while that I have not updated my blog. Busy days have overtaken me. This afternoon after our workshop I decided to attend mass at St. Francis in Bali. I noticed that the Church in Bali has adapted the Benedictine arrangement of the altar as proposed by Pope Benedict XVI. The priest is properly vested, there was the alb, stole and chusable. There are six candles and a crucifix in the middle of the altar. I also notice that the lector and readers are males and not females. How I wish that the Philippine Church will get away from the influence of the minimalist way of celebrating mass as is common in the Philippines. By the way the music in this Mass was truly sacred. Not pop music or combaya but very reverent and has an air of sacrality. These are just my impressions. When I return to the Philippines I will have good memories of the church here in Indonesia.

The Warrior in God's Name

2010-05-07T04:55:00.000-07:00

The Image of St. Michael enshrined in a Church named in His Honor at Visita, San Miguel Island

"See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. ' (Ex 23:20-22)

Trust in the Lord

2010-05-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

“Let nothing disturb thee, nothing affright thee; all things are passing; God never changeth.” - St. Teresa of Avila

A Tribute to the Father of Fathers

2010-05-01T18:04:00.000-07:00

The Outdoor Image of St. Joseph in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, the Philippines

St. Teresa of Avila on St. Joseph

"I took for my advocate and lord the glorious Saint Joseph and commended myself earnestly to him; and I found that this my father and lord delivered me both from this trouble and also from other and greater troubles concerning my honor and the loss of my soul, and that he gave me greater blessings than I could ask of him. I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I am astonished at the great favors which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succor us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succors us in them all and that the Lord wishes to teach us that as He was Himself subject to him on earth (for, being His guardian and being called His father, he could command Him) just so in Heaven He still does all that he asks. This has also been the experience of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to him; and even to-day there are many who have great devotion to him through having newly experienced this truth."

Source of the Quote

Long Live Pope Benedict XVI

2010-04-26T08:41:00.000-07:00

Image Source

"Dear friends! At this moment there is no need for me to present a program of governance. I was able to give an indication of what I see as my task in my Message of Wednesday April 20, and there will be other opportunities to do so. My real program of governance is not to do my own will, not to pursue my own ideas, but to listen, together with the whole Church, to the word and the will of the Lord, to be guided by Him, so that He Himself will lead the Church at this hour of our history. Instead of putting forward a program, I should simply like to comment on the two liturgical symbols which represent the inauguration of the Petrine Ministry; both these symbols, moreover, reflect clearly what we heard proclaimed in today's readings." Source of Quotation

It was five years since His Holiness ascended to the throne of St Peter. And I would say that this Pope is one of the greatest Pope we ever had. Even if the Pontificate is short considering his age when he was elected to the Papacy. A man who has in mind the good of the Church. Wrote encyclicals that spoke of the cardinal virtues, who emphasize the importance of the Creed. He has quietly inaugurated a program of liturgical reform, putting the liturgy in the right perspective and in continuity with Sacred Tradition. He was very courageous, who stood up against the opposition of the secular and anti-Christian culture of the West known as militant secularism who wants to put the church out of the public square. He issued Summurom Pontificum, stating once and for all that the Traditional Latin Mass was never abrogated and that every Priest has the right to celebrate it even without the permission of the Bishop. He lifted the excommunication of the four Bishops of the the SSPX, entered into dialog with the Traditionalist group founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefevbre. He endured the accusations of anti-Christian Press. He was unjustly defamed in news papers and the media. But one thing is sure this man - Benedict XVI has all in his mind the good and welfare of the Church.

Holy Father, we support you and we are praying for you. No matter what the ungodly press is saying we believe in your efforts and sincerity. We reject the black propaganda against the Church and against your pontificate. The enemies of the Church will not prevail. Dear Holy Father we stand behind you. You are our Shepherd we will obey your voice. The wolves cannot harm us nor separate us from God and His Church. Amen.

Divine Mercy Sunday

2010-04-10T01:32:00.000-07:00

Let us fulfill the wish of Jesus that this Sunday be consecrated as Divine Mercy Sunday

Why seek the Living among the dead?

2010-04-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

Christ is Risen!

Just as the angels proclaim the message of Christ's birth by means of an angel to the shepherds, angels too proclaim the resurrection of Christ. The angel asked the women, "Why seek the living among the dead?'. Christ is Risen. Indeed why did Christ revealed himself first to Mary Magdalen and not to the Blessed Mother? Perhaps it is because Christ died for sinners and rose again for their redemption. So Magdalen being the symbol of the sins of Humankind, Christ appeared to show himself as the redemption. From the darkness of our world we see the great light.

Tonight I felt blessed as I attended the Paschal Vigil. There at the renewal of the Baptismal vows, the priest requested us to light our candles while we recite our vows. There right then with the long golden candle I recited my vows. With my candle lighted symbolizing Christ, I renewed my vows as if in a wedding and I could feel the grace of God filling my heart with peace and assurance.

Mercer on Pope Benedict XVI

2010-04-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder why some liberal Catholics seem to abhor our Pope, and it amazes me that Anglicans and Evangelicals can appreciate more our Pope more than the liberal Catholics. Here is an excerpt from what Bishop Mercer had to say of the Traditional Anglicans.

It’s no wonder that this Pope appeals more and more to evangelical Christians, to Anglicans and to the Orthodox. Some of us have been deceived by the liberal media or even by liberal Roman Catholics into writing him off as “the rottweiler cardinal” or “the panzer cardinal”. But like another elderly pope who came to office late in life, John XXIII, this man is full of astonishing surprises.

More of this can be read from "A Man Sent From God Whose Name is Benedict".

Divine Mercy in My Soul

2010-04-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

Good Friday begins the Novena to Jesus of Divine Mercy

"I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fount of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever graces they need in the hardship of life and, especially, at the hour of death. On each day you will bring to My Heart a different group of souls , and you will immerse them i this ocean of My mercy, and I will bring all these souls into the house of My Father. You will do this in this life and in the next. I will deny nothing to any soul whom you will bring to the fount of My mercy. On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My bitter Passion, for graces for these souls." [Divine Mercy In My Soul, The Diary of Sister M. Faustina Kowalska, Marian Press, 1987].

"The Lord will Always be Crucified until the End of the World"

2010-04-01T21:47:00.000-07:00

The Image of the Crucified Christ from the Cathedral of St. Peter & St. Paul, Diocese of Sorsogon

The agony of Christ will last till the end of the world;

we must not slumber during this agony.

-- Pascal.

Catholic Herald Defends Pope Benedict

2010-04-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to the THE CATHOLIC HELRAD

Divine Mercy

2010-04-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

Today, Good Friday we are reminded that today is the first day of Novena for the Divine Mercy Devotion as proposed by Sister Faustina. Let us remember our Holy Father and the Church in this Novena.

"Eternal Father, I offer you the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Only Son in atonement for our sins and that of the whole world. Amen."

Jesus, King of Divine Mercy, Have Mercy on Us.

TO SERVE AND NOT TO BE SERVED

2010-04-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

This Good Friday is a memorable for everyone because the Church Universal is partaking of the sufferings of Christ. Just as the mob shouted for Christ's crucifixion, the secular and ungodly world under pretense of morality is crucifying our Church. Falsely accusing our Pope and other leaders of wrong doing. With the purpose of silencing the Church. Let us pray and let us be steadfast in our witnessing of our faith. This world will never love our Lord. But lets be thankful that we have sure sign of salvation afforded to us by the redemptive work of Christ today signified by the Triduum. A verse in the Bible caught my attention and to me this has been a significant point for meditation:

Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many. Matthew: 20:28

The Setting sun reminds us that everything must come to a repose. But what makes the sun set beautiful is that it gives us hope that tomorrow there will be another morning.

"Mistaking the Woods with the Trees"

2010-03-31T22:38:00.000-07:00

Pravda, the Russian News Agency Defends Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Church. Here are some excerpts.

Much of the news coming out, in the effort to disguise ideological propaganda, contains the fundamental error of mistaking the wood with the trees ... especially when the aim is to denigrate. That is, from an isolated case, preferably rough outlines, and generalized in order to induce the reader to think that the whole is of the same nature. This generalization obviously has ideological connotations and follows a political agenda that seeks to deconstruct traditional society and all its secular institutions and to impose a New World Order after the manner of the sinister interests of the international oligarchy, the same ones that handle the financial markets and through them, largely control the global economy. We refer to cases ofpedophilia within the ranks of the Catholic Church recently publicized by international news agencies.

and here is more:

The fury of the anti-clerical secular lobby goes so far as to revive old cases like that of Father Lawrence Murphy, back in 1975, to address the current Pope insidiously and in this way, the very Roman Catholic Church. On 25 March of this year, the prestigious New York Times published an article that allegedly accused Benedict XVI of covering up for the priest from Milwaukee in 1995 when the Pope was still Cardinal and responsible for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith It must be motivated by a very strong hatred of Catholicism to raise this issue 35 years afterwards...

The complaint is all the more insidious when it ignores all that this body has had is the specific function to monitor doctrinal deviations, heresies, so nothing to do with the Law, which deals with cases of indiscipline, as are the acts that violate the chastity of the clergy are required. It is ignored that this priest was acquitted by civil law, which did not find evidence of the practice of pedophilia on deaf boys who were protected. How aware are we made that the Catholic hierarchy kept him under surveillance and did so not so much for suspicion of sexual abuse of minors, but for doctrinal deviations. It was this and only for this reason that the then Cardinal Ratzinger, in 1995, sanctioned, and then limited his pastoral functions. Four months later Murphy died. We do not believe that the New York newspaper was absolutely unaware of these facts. From here, it follows that bad faith exists and a defamatory smear campaign has been articulated against the world Catholic hierarchy.

Indeed in the field of ecumenical relations the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church will unite to defend our Judeo-Christian patrimony against the attacks of those people with ideological leanings and with a political agenda to destroy the Christian religion.

You can read more of this report at PRAVDA

Cardinal Levada Defends Pope Benedict XVI Against Calumnious Articles

2010-03-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

William Cardinal Levada has written an excellent article to his former Archdiocesan paper. The title of the article:The New York Times and Pope Benedict XVI: how it looks to an American in the Vatican. Here is an excerpt"

In our melting pot of peoples, languages and backgrounds, Americans are not noted as examples of “high” culture. But we can take pride as a rule in our passion for fairness. In the Vatican where I currently work, my colleagues – whether fellow cardinals at meetings or officials in my office – come from many different countries, continents and cultures. As I write this response today (March 26, 2010) I have had to admit to them that I am not proud of America’s newspaper of record, the New York Times, as a paragon of fairness.

Read more of this On the Catholic San Francisco Online.

Milwaukee Judicial Vicar Speaks Out His Mind

2010-03-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting article written by Fr. Thomas Brundage to defend himself and the Vicar of Christ. Read HERE.

Palm Sunday 2010

2010-03-27T02:09:00.000-07:00

Zechariah 9:9-10

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion, shout for joy, O daughter of Jerusalem: BEHOLD THY KING will come to thee, the just and saviour: he is poor, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."

"And I will destroy the chariot out of Ephraim, and the horse out of Jerusalem, and the bow for war shall be broken: and he shall speak peace to the Gentiles, and his power shall be from sea to sea, and from the rivers even to the end of the earth."

My Meditation:

Every year as we live thought the life, hope and expectations of the Church though the celebrations in the Liturgical calendar, we come again to this most important and solemn occasion of our faith. The sacred passion of our Lord. Through out the week we shall relived in a very special way the passion of Christ. Our Lord has promised graces for people who will meditate on His passion.

The special thing that comes to my mind this week are the secular mass media's attack on the Holy Father. The world will never indeed love our Lord. The Jewish Leaders of Christ's time crucified Him, and today in the same manner they are trying to crucify our Holy Father. I admire so much the patience by which our Holy Father in dealing with these attacks. I am saddened by the silence of the people who should have been defending our Church.

Let us remember our Church is a most special way this lenten season and may our sufferings and sacrifices be offered for this intention.

Defenders of the Faith

2010-03-26T02:19:00.000-07:00

There is a CNS report defending the church here is an excerpt:

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican defended a decision not to laicize a Wisconsin priest who sexually abused deaf children, despite the recommendation of his bishop that he be removed from the priesthood. In a statement responding to a report in the New York Times, the Vatican said that by the time it learned of the case in the late 1990s, the priest was elderly and in poor health. The Vatican eventually suggested that the priest continue to be restricted in ministry instead of laicized, and he died four months later, the Vatican said.

For the full story READ HERE

I also follow Fr.Z's comments on his blog and here is an excerpt.

I know that Holy Catholic Church in its human dimension has to undergo this purification. It simply has to happen. The Church will always be attacked from without and within, as part of a constant purification. And I would be inconsistent indeed were I not to apply what I constantly mention to those going through a harsh purification. St. Augustine said about Christ, Physician of the soul, who corrects us sometimes with nearly unbearable means: "The doctor doesn’t stop cutting just because the patient is screaming for him to stop."

You can follow through Fr. Z's article Here

All these events are sad indeed. I feel that there is a concerted plan in the secular and anti-Catholic media to discredit the Holy Father and His collaborators. God is great and on this month of St. Joseph, may this humble and great father intercede and protect our Pope, our leaders and the faithful ones.

Pope's Letter to Irish Catholics

2010-03-20T16:33:00.000-07:00

The child abuse scandals that has rocked the church in Ireland and in some countries has cast a dark shadow on the Church. On March 19, 2010, his holiness Pope Benedict XVI has issued a pastoral letter to Ireland. The full text of this letter can be read from - HERE

Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

To the Priests and Religious who have committed child abuse, the Holy Father wrote:

"You betrayed the trust that was placed in you by innocent young people and their parents, and you must answer for it before Almighty God and before properly constituted tribunals. You have forfeited the esteem of the people of Ireland and brought shame and dishonour upon your confreres. Those of you who are priests violated the sanctity of the sacrament of Holy Orders in which Christ makes himself present in us and in our actions. Together with the immense harm done to victims, great damage has been done to the Church and to the public perception of the priesthood and religious life.

I urge you to examine your conscience, take responsibility for the sins you have committed, and humbly express your sorrow. Sincere repentance opens the door to God’s forgiveness and the grace of true amendment. By offering prayers and penances for those you have wronged, you should seek to atone personally for your actions. Christ’s redeeming sacrifice has the power to forgive even the gravest of sins, and to bring forth good from even the most terrible evil. At the same time, God’s justice summons us to give an account of our actions and to conceal nothing. Openly acknowledge your guilt, submit yourselves to the demands of justice, but do not despair of God’s mercy."

Let Us Pray for Our Pope and Our Church-Christ's Church

2010-03-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

The Holy Father was verbally abuse by a man at St. Peter's square. Here is the excerpt from the HERALD SUN :

A man, apparently in his early 50s, shouted "bulls***, bulls***" while stretching an accusatory arm towards Benedict XVI, after approaching the barrier in front of the Pope's podium. Vatican police forcibly removed the man, still shouting, from the square. The Pope went on to announce that he would "soon" send a pastoral letter to Irish Catholics over the paedophile priest scandal that has rocked Ireland.

You can follow the link for the report. Personally I feel very sad about the events in the Church. The sex and pedophile scandals have been manipulated by the enemies of the Church to destroy the church. Let us pray all the more about these events. Let us never loose hope. The Lord is good and may He grant healing for every one affected and may those who were affected learn also the meaning of forgiveness. Let us pray for our dear Pope Benedict XVI. Our Pope is a good man, he has a deep understanding of the problems of the church, and has done so much for the good of the Church. I believe that his mind is all set for the good of the church. I have never lost hope in our Pope. I believe and support his program of unity and reconciliation. The Church is a Divine organization, it will endure until the end of time. Though she is made up of weak human beings, sinful as they are. But the grace of God through the ministry of the church will continue to feed and nurture His children. Viva il Papa.

As we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, let us seek the intercession of St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church.

To Thee Oh Holy Joseph

2010-03-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

The Holy Family by Raphael, 1506

"Joseph teaches us that it is possible to love without possessing," said the Holy Father. "In contemplating Joseph, all men and women can, by God's grace, come to experience healing from their emotional wounds, if only they embrace the plan that God has begun to bring about in those close to him, just as Joseph entered into the work of redemption through Mary and as a result of what God had already done in her." (Zenit.org .).

The Priesthood and the Hermeneutics of Continuity

2010-03-13T00:29:00.000-08:00

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in an address to the participants in the International Theological Conference Organized by the Clergy expounded beautifully and poignantly on the meaning of the Priesthood and its connection with the Priesthood of Christ. Here is an excerpt form zenit.org.

Jesus Christ, the Eternal Priest

"For this reason, it is important to overcome dangerous reductionism that, in past decades, using categories that were more functional than ontological, has presented the priest almost as a "social agent," running the risk of betraying the priesthood of Christ itself. Just as the hermeneutic of continuity is increasingly revealed as urgent to understand in an appropriate way the texts of the Second Vatican Council, similarly an hermeneutic seems necessary that we could describe "of priestly continuity," which, starting from Jesus of Nazareth, Lord and Christ, and going through the 2,000 years of the history of grandeur and holiness, of culture and piety, which the priesthood has written in the world, arrives at our days."

Holy Orders (Wikipedia, Priesthood Catholic Church)

I am delighted that here in this speech the Holy Father has underscored the need to understand the meaning of the Second Vatican Council through a hermeneutics of continuity. By this it means that the Second Vatican Council is not a "super council" that overrides the other councils and magesterial pronouncements of Popes and the Church. Rather it is a valid council and one among the many councils that the Church has had since the church was founded by Christ in Jerusalem and handed on to the apostles. The Second Vatican Council did not define new dogmas, but of a fact it is a pastoral council and not a dogmatic council. It simply reaffirmed what was already in existence. Unfortunately the liberal elements and those with leanings on "modernism" have taken the wrong notion that the Second Vatican Council was a blanket authority to discard the old and to bring in the new. The problems in Liturgy and moral teachings that resulted in the aftermath of the council stemmed from the hermeneutics of rupture. All of a sudden it was as if the umbilical cord that connects the mother to the child was cut off thus resulting to serious problems.

This hermeutics of rupture is very much a problem in the priesthood. The role of the priest has been reduced to a "social revolutionary", "politicians", "champion of the poor", "social worker", etc... While it is true that priests must defend and uphold the welfare of the flock in the social sphere, it is by no means a limitation on the role of the Priest. The primary role of the Priest is to be a Priest-Mediator, Alter Christus, along the lines of the Order of Melchizedek. To be a priest forever. It is our fervent prayer that our priests will realize this need and once again reclaim their place in the house of the Lord and redefine their identity as identical with that of Jesus Christ the eternal priest.

The Text of the Holy Father's address can be read Here

"The Goal of Ecumenism is Union with the Catholic Church"

2010-03-10T01:37:00.000-08:00

"In a lengthy address delivered in Canada on March 6, Cardinal William Levada, prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, stated that the reception of communities of Anglicans into the Catholic Church is consistent with Anglican-Catholic ecumenical dialogue because “union with the Catholic Church is the goal of ecumenism.' " Read More of These from Catholic Culture.Org

Is Politics Good for the Church?

2010-03-07T03:47:00.000-08:00

Here is an exerpt from a news report from the CBCP News entitled "6 Bishops Now Backs JC, March 6, 2010.

"Four more Catholic bishops came out in the open endorsing the Ang Kapatiran party of presidential aspirant John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes, breaking with the tradition of offering commentary on election-related moral issues without endorsing candidates."

Sometimes, I wonder how bad the social situation here in the Philippines has become. That even Bishops are moved to intervene in order to defend the principles and faith that has molded our Nation against the gigantic problems of corruption and seeming impunity for evils in our country. I personally believe that it is not a good idea for clerics to be involve in politics. Politics involves a struggle for power where individuals, groups and parties jostle for control. Often these contending parties wish to defeat their opponents. Thus for religious leaders to be involve in politics is never a good idea. It will compromise the mission of the Church. The Hierarchy should stand above the situation. Being pastors of souls they have to stand above the rest. For they are a fathers to both the good and obedient as well as to the disobedient. However, I could not blame some of our Bishops. And I will never dare to criticize such moves, because this shows us that our society has gone the way of the wild. Justice cries out to heaven, innocent blood spilled, the poor go hungry while their leaders enjoy the good life, the powerful continues to oppress the weak. Our leaders have let us down. Successive generations of leaders failed to live up to righteous governance. Thus, Christians who live up to the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ could not stand idle and pretend not to know. For indeed, the true follower of Christ will be moved to do something to uphold justice. The true religion as St. James said is to do mercy and to be kind to the poor. Who will defend the flock against the ravening wolves? Our Bishops are just doing their job. So let us use our privileges and rights to choose good leaders who will uphold truth and justice and who will defend life against the culture of death and materialism.

Liturgical Tug of War

2010-03-06T04:49:00.001-08:00

An interview was conducted by a reporter of the National Catholic Reporter. I took notice of this report from the NLM. Papal Master of Ceremonies Monsignor Guido Marini explained what he meant by "Reform of the Reformed". Those of you who would like to read the text of the interview can visit the links above.

What Monsignor Marini expressed is not something new. I believe that he was simply echoing what was in the mind of the Holy Father concerning the “Reform of the Reformed” as it apply to the liturgy. Early in his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI expressed the need to reestablish the link or to put it simply emphasize the hermeneutics of continuity. Perhaps this is the reason why some who oppose this new liturgical movement has found ways to attack or to put it in mild terms, criticize the Pope by not mentioning his name but by directing their criticism to the papal master of ceremonies and others who support this reform.

Even while as a cardinal, Benedict XVI has expressed the need to emphasize the hermeneutics of continuity. The difficulty that arose in the aftermath of the council was on how to implement its decrees. To put this more eloquently, I will quote what Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI said in an address delivered in Santiago, Chile on July 13, 1988, (emphasis supplied):

“The Second Vatican Council has not been treated as part of the entire living Tradition of the Church, but as an end of Tradition, a new start from zero. The truth is that this particular Council defined no dogma at all, and deliberately chose to remain on a modest level, as a merely pastoral council; yet many treat it as though it had made itself into a sort of a super dogma which takes away the importance of all the rest.”[i]

Further he stated that the only way that Vatican Council II can be made effectively operative is to consider it as part of the entire living tradition of the Church. Not as a blanket authority to discard the past but a means to consolidate the past and present with the entire living experience of the pilgrim Church. The irony or should I say the difficulty was expressed by then Cardinal Ratzinger when he said:

“That which was previously was considered most holy-the form in which the liturgy was handed down-suddenly appears as most forbidden of all things, the one thing that can safely be prohibited. It is intolerable to criticize decisions which have been taken since the Council; on the other hand, if men make question of ancient rules, or even of the great truths of the Faith-for instance, the corporeal virginity of Mary, the bodily Resurrection of Jesus, the immortality of the soul, etc.-nobody complains or only does so with the greatest moderation. I was a professor, have seen how the very same bishop who, before the Council, had fired a teacher, who was really irreproachable, for a certain crudeness of speech, was not prepared, after the council, to dismiss a professor who openly denied certain fundamental truths of the Faith.”[ii]

Thus further, the conclusion given by Cardinal Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI is summarized powerfully thus:

“All this leads a great number of people to ask themselves if the Church of today is really the same as that of yesterday, or if they have changed it for something else without telling people. The only way in which Vatican II can be made plausible is to present it as it is: one part of the unbroken, the unique Tradition of the Church and of her faith.”[iii]

Looking at the answers given by Monsignor Guido Marini to the reporter’s questions, I find his reasoning excellent and truly explain the program of his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

"I don’t believe that the liturgy of the church needs any radical changes or distortions, in part because it’s not in the logic of this spirit of development in continuity. I believe instead that it’s a matter of consolidating what already exists, in a more authentic way, according to the true mind of the church." (Emphasis supplied). (NCR)

I think that Mosignor Marini has said it well. This is the reason why we laypeople could not grasp the logic why all of a sudden the crucifixes were removed from the altars and substituted with an empty crucifix and with the figures of the resurrected Lord. The disappearance of the communion rails, the liturgical tasks which previously were done by the clergy are now being performed by lay people. Why do the enculturation scholars and “gurus” need to dig for artifacts and find tidbits of discoveries and then all of a sudden make this as the norm as if the church had been sleeping for a long time and as if the living tradition has been ruptured. The promoters of enculturation have after all failed to understand the meaning of authentic liturgical evolution. Liturgical practices evolve with time. Most often this evolution takes several years even centuries. They evolve for a reason and they evolve not from anywhere but from existing liturgical tradition and practices. I would opine that this is what Monsignor Marini mean when he said those words quoted above.

Thus, turning back the clock is not the correct term to describe this new liturgical movement as some of its opponent would like to make it appear. But rather this new liturgical movement is a means to consolidate the reforms and to connect it with the entire living Tradition of the Church or the Deposit of Faith. The purpose is to offer an authentic interpretation of the reforms as envisioned by the Second Vatican Council. The hermeneutics of rupture is the main reason for the increasing desacralization of the liturgy, which resulted in much deformation of the liturgy and abuses. Which as the principle goes, how we pray is the way we also believe. Thus many of the moral aberrations of our times like moral relativism have its roots in this rupture. Once the body of the tree is detached from the roots (tradition) it looses its vitality. The restoration of the Sacred in the liturgy will bring back the old piety and devotion in the church that has helped it withstand trials and persecutions.

I am inclined to believe that the Summorum Pontificum of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI should be interpreted along the lines of continuity. Monsignor Marini expressed it thus:

"In my opinion, what’s important now is that the two forms of the Roman rite look upon one another with great serenity, realizing that both belong to the life of the church and that neither is the only true, authentic expression. But rather, the two forms of Roman Rite can mutually enrich each other. This must be the path along which we should walk, because perhaps we haven’t yet truly arrived at this attitude of serenity and welcome in daily life." (NCR)

Thus from this point of view, it is inappropriate now to speak of the Tridentine Rite as “the Mass of All Ages” if by this to denote that the rite surrounding the Mass under that typical edition is fixed for eternity. Even St. Pius V speak of revising the missal in order to provide a standard missal for the Roman Rite, which at the time prior to the Council of Trent appeared in various editions dictated by local sees and custom. On the other hand it will also be inappropriate to say that the Reforms of Vatican II discards the rites of the pre-conciliar Mass. Rather, the correct way to view the Mass as far as the Roman Rite is concerned is that there is only one Roman Rite in two forms, namely the Extraordinary Form (1962) and the Ordinary Form (the current novus ordo rite). The motu proprio Summorum Pontificum explains this more clearly. Both forms of the Roman rite are legitimate and can be used according to existing church law. I believe that the growing appeal of the classical rite (extraordinary form) will help improve the Novus Ordo and bring to clarity the mind of the council fathers. I do personally believe that the decrees of the Second Vatican Council must be interpreted in the light of Tradition. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz has aptly described this relationship between the Extraordinary and the Ordinary in his preface to the Daily Missal:

“May it likewise contribute to the understanding that the older rites need not be disdained in order to appreciate the new, nor must the new rites be disparaged in order to love the old”.

In conclusion I would say that the pontificate of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI is a gift to the Church. His pontificate will help consolidate the reforms envisioned by the Second Vatican Council in an authentic way. For just as Christ is the same Yesterday, Today and Forever, so is His Bride the Church.

[i] Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, “Lessons from the Lefevbre Schism”. Position Paper. Documentation Service. Vol. IV, no. 12, Manila: 1989, pp. 19-20

[ii] Ibid p. 20

[iii] Ibid p. 20

A Layman's Reaction to the Paper of Fr. Anscar J. Chupungco, OSB

2010-02-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

A simple layman like me dares not to presume to know more. But reading the paper delivered by Fr. Anscar J. Chupungco entitled "Liturgical Studies and Liturgical Renewal" on the occasion on the launched of the Broken Bay Institute, I was moved to blogged my reaction. And here it is. Please bear with me. This are just my honest opinion.

On saying that the twenty years of Vatican II was the springtime of liturgical renewal...

Most of us agree that there is a need for a liturgical renewal. But my perception is that the liturgical reforms after the Second Vatican Council went far beyond the intentions of the council. All of a sudden, many tried and tested usages were abolished or neglected. When we were growing up we were made to think that Latin was obsolete. And that was the line of thinking I had before I discovered the traditional liturgy. As I was growing up in the seventies I have observed the following: (1) The disappearance of the ancient hymns and chants and now replaced with contemporary music akin to pop; (2) The demolition of the high altars and the communion rails. (3) the Disappearance of tried and tested devotions and popular piety, (4) the disappearance of the confessionals, etc... and many other things too painful to recall. How can the promoters of the novus ordo described the seventies as springtime. Does anyone today speak of springtime after the fruits of the drastic "reform" of the 70s??? or was there really ever a springtime? Why were the reformers too eager to discard so many things? Have they not thought of the value of the practices they abolished? Were the practices associated with the pre-Vatican II deemed abolished?

I am for the reform of the reformed. I think we must go back to the real intention of Vatican II. The speculation of the scholars and the fads of the time have been harmful to the church. The church should not march with the times. The Church must influence the times. The church as a divinely instituted unit is called out from this world. The eternal kingdom is the vocation of the church. This world will never love Christ nor his church. It has persecuted Christ and the Church. Thus our liturgies must truly express that heavenly vocation.

“The agenda is, to all appearance, an attempt to put the clock back half a century. It seems to conveniently forget that since Vatican II, the Church has been marching with the times, acknowledging the changes in social and religious culture, and adopting new pastoral strategies.”

I would opine that Fr. Chupungo missed the point of Pope Benedict’s agenda for liturgical reform. I wish he would have read carefully the letter of Pope Benedict XVI to the Bishops of the world. The reason for the reform of the reformed is stated very clearly by the Holy Father thus: “Many people who clearly accepted the binding character of the Second Vatican Council, and were faithful to the Pope and the Bishops, nonetheless also desired to recover the form of the sacred liturgy that was dear to them. This occurred above all because in many places celebrations were not faithful to the prescriptions of the new Missal, but the latter actually was understood as authorizing or even requiring creativity, which frequently led to deformations of the liturgy which were hard to bear. (emphasis supplied) I am speaking from experience, since I too lived through that period with all its hopes and its confusion. And I have seen how arbitrary deformations of the liturgy caused deep pain to individuals totally rooted in the faith of the Church.” (From the Letter of the Pope accompanying the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.)

The apostles were men who turned the world upside down. They changed the culture of the Roman Empire. And not vice-versa. The martyrs of the early church period willingly spilled their blood for Christ as a testimony. Thus it was said that the blood of the martyrs were the seed of the church. The theological giants of the medieval ages such as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas endeavored to established the church with the sound teachings and combat the heresies of their times. So today popular culture should not dictate what the church should do but that the church should be faithful in witnessing so that she could be an influence that would change culture to make it conform to the values of the gospel. But when worldly popular culture influences the liturgical culture then that is something serious to think about.

Thus, the "reform of the reformed" of the ROR as it is called is meant not to turn back the clock but rather it is an attempt to connect the present with the past. The deposit of faith is characterized by continuity and not rupture. Because it is impossible to say that the practices of the past which has nourished the church for centuries all of a sudden would be forbidden or stopped. If that happens there is a rupture. Like an umbilical cord that connects the infant with the mother, continuity in tradition connects us with the life and spirituality of the church. If only we read the documents of the Second Vatican Council in the light of tradition that there will be a realization of the good fruits. We should consider Vatican II as part of the ongoing tradition, one among the many ecumenical councils of the Church and not a supra council that will supplant the other councils. It is a pastoral council meant to guide the Church and not to teach a new doctrine.

“It is regrettable that today the word “inculturation” is spoken in some Church quarters in whispers and muffled voice.”

This is because inculturation as interpreted by some has led to unwanted creativity that has serious consequences for the dignified celebration of the Eucharist. For example what about those young people dancing during the offertory and even during the consecration. Are these practices part of the liturgy??? Do they have traditional precedence or are these simple innovations purposely done to effect a feeling of "enculturation"? For almost 400 hundred years of Christianity in the Philippines I have never heard that dancing was part of the Roman Ritual accepted by the Native Church. Thus indeed no one will attempt to speak in loud voice about enculturation. Yes its right, it has to be spoken in whispers and muffled voice because the deformation in the liturgy caused by innovations done in the name of enculturation is an embarrassment. In the first place why introduced innovations when the Roman Liturgy and ritual has been assimilated and accepted by the native church? Why would people speak about enculturation in hushed voices? Perhaps because it has lost its appeal. Perhaps "enculturation" is just one of the many "theological fads". Thus we should discern the spirit of the times and not immediately accede to it. We don't march with the times, we seek to influence the times so that by doing so we fulfill the Great Commission given to us by Christ - to make disciples of all Nations. Christ did not tell us to dialogue with the world. Christ commanded us to preach the Gospel and to make disciples of all nations, and to wait for Him until He comes in glory.

“Will Latinised English make the liturgy more awesome? It will certainly sound mysterious, but will it be more prayerful? Will the silent recitation of the Eucharistic Prayer, preferably in Latin, evoke more vividly the Last Supper of Jesus? Is receiving Holy Communion on one’s knees and on the tongue more reverent than receiving it standing and in the hand? Will the priestly role of mediation be reinforced by praying at the altar with the back to the assembly?”

The purpose of direct translation is not to make it awesome. The purpose is to make the rendering of the original text faithful to the original. Because interpretative translations can cause problems especially in matters of faith and belief. Direct translation will safeguard the integrity and meaning. In the ecclesiastical province where I belong (Archdiocese of Caceres, the Bicol Translation has been revised to conform to the orginal and it is now being use and no ordinary faithful complains.). Receiving communion on the tongue is the ordinary form or manner of receiving communion. While receiving in the hand is the indult. The irony is that the indult has now become the ordinary. Let’s remember too that gestures can enhance the solemnity and it is our outward expression of faith. Some faith groups outside of the Catholic Church receive communion in the hand because they do not believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. But for us who believe in the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist must by all means show it by our gestures. Our gestures are not only personal but it is our public affirmation and declaration of faith. So when I receive communion in the tongue and kneeling, I adore the True God, like St. Thomas we say “My Lord and My God.” When the priest turns his back on the assembly, he is leading them towards Christ, the hope of the resurrection. Hence priest and people are directed to God.

The Province of Albay and Mayon Volcano: Story and Pictures

2010-02-23T05:45:00.000-08:00

In the forty years of my life I have taken for granted the beauty of my home province. I have flown from Legazpi City to Manila many times on official business and on personal trips, and never taken the time to capture this beauty on camera. But this time I took the pains to take with me my hand camera and took these pictures. I am glad that the Lord has given me this chance to live in one of the most beautiful places in these Philippine Islands and not only in the Philippines but in the whole world. Aboard Cebu Pacific Air on February 20, 2010 using my Olympus FE-310 I took these pictures.

The tarmac of Legazpi Domestic Airport. In the background are the Linon Hill and Mt. Mayon Volcano. (I used my Nokia E61i phone to capture this).

Below is the facade of Legazpi Domestic Airport.

As the plane soared high over Legazpi City, the capital of Albay Province one can see a glimpse of the City. Legazpi is a small city but it is beautiful. The people are generally urbanites the city is clean well ordered. You will see here the Albay gulf.

Another view of Legazpi City and Albay Gulf.

The buildings with redbrick colored roof is Aquinas University, my alma mater. I obtained my B.A. in Philosophy from this Catholic University. I obtained solid Thomistic training in Philosophy from this institution. The Campus is bounded on the left by the Yawa river, which form time to time suffers from siltation coming from the foot of Mt. Mayon volcano. Two years ago a devastating flood submerge this portion of the city. But in a few months time the University recovered and now you how beautiful the buildings are. The symmetry and orderliness is admirable. Oppiste the University campus is the Bicol Regional Government Center. I am proud of the education I received from this Domincan Institution. The solid Catholic education I received is something that I will cherish. 'Gratitude in Love" as the university motto says.

Mt. Mayon the majestic. Look at the valleys. Mt. Mayon is one of the most active volcano in the Philippines. Its eruption from time to time provides nourishment for the valleys and provides fertility to the land. But also deadly and devastating.

The Bicol peninsula is a string of volcanoes. At the background is Mt. Malinao, an extinct volcano. Home to wild animals and wild orchids.

From the eastern seaboard the plane circled around Mt. Mayon towards the north bound for Manila. From a distance I could see my little home city of Tabaco. San Miguel Island is also seen from a distance. While the Island province of Catanduanes is seen from afar.

The peak of Mt. Malinao. I wonder what it looks like inside those crater. Ten years ago I went with some of my students at the foot of this mountain. We enjoyed our little picnic near a falls. We did some little adventure by looking for the source of the falls. Along our way to the top we saw little caves and little streams of water. Wild orchids and exotic plants. Although we were careful not to encounter poisonous snakes.

Another view of the crater.

Beyond Mt. Malinao one could see the rice granary of Bicol, the district of Partido. Wide valleys and rice paddies dot the surrounding valleys and hills. Beyond is the Caramoan Peninsula, made famous by the TV serious Survivor. Its enchanting islets and white beaches will enthrall the nature loving tourist.

From the Naia 3 terminal I hit the road for my destination. From here one can see the Church of a military camp.

The fastfood sign competes for attention with the Cross of the Church. Once upon a time crosses dotted the skyline proclaiming the glory of God. Today the gods of commercialism competes with the proclamation of our faith. How important it is that in this materialistic age of ours we sand firm for our faith. In our own little way let us do what God wills.

The Lenten Season

2010-02-15T21:03:00.000-08:00

The Heart of the merciful Lord is like a door it opens and beckons the sinner to come.

Tomorrow is ash Wednesday and signals the beginning for Lent. A time to fast and a time to reflect on oneself in relation to God and in relation to our neighbor. What are we going to do to make this Lenten Season meaningful? There are several options aside from what is required of us by church law.

Visit seven churches
Via Crucis
Works of Charity
Volunteer Work
Abstain from Texting
Abstain from the Internet

What else?.....

Our Lady of Lourdes

2010-02-10T21:16:00.000-08:00

Rosary Basilica, Lourdes, France

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us!

St. Bernadette

2010-02-10T20:37:00.000-08:00

St. Bernadette, the Visionary of Lourdes, photo source: Wikipedia

"Bernadette was faithful in her mission, she was humble in glory, she was valiant under trial." (Trochu, p. 379) - Pope Pius XI (Source: "St. Bernadette and Lourdes by Fr. Ambrose Ryan, OFM)

St. Bernadette Pray for us!

Pope Benedict on St. Anthony of Padua

2010-02-10T20:24:00.000-08:00

St. Anthony de Padua with the Child Jesus by Antonio de Pereda

"Only a soul that prays can make progress in the spiritual life: this is the privileged object of St. Anthony's preaching. He knows well the defects of human nature, the tendency to fall into sin; that is why he constantly exhorts to combat the inclination to covetousness, to pride, to impurity and to practice the virtues of poverty and generosity, of humility and obedience, of chastity and purity. At the beginning of the 13th century, in the context of the rebirth of the cities and the flourishing of trade, there was an increased number of people who were insensitive to the poor. Because of this, Anthony many times invites the faithful to think of true wealth, that of the heart, which, making them good and merciful, makes them accumulate treasures for Heaven. "O rich people," he exhorts, "befriend ... the poor, welcome them in your homes: They will then be the ones who receive you in the eternal tabernacles, where the beauty of peace is, the confidence of security, and the opulent quiet of eternal satiety" (Ibid., p. 29)." - Pope Benedict on St. Anthony given at the Papal Audience on February 10, 2010. More can be read from Zenit.org.

The "Enculturation" Thing

2010-02-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

May I share with you the comment I posted in the blog Pray Tell under the post "Truth Telling"

“Enculturation” – I have heard this word spoken so many times since the early 80s. If, as a Filipino I reflect on this and see our history of 300 years of Spanish evangelization, I would say that the Spanish Missionaries have done a great job in spreading Catholicism in this country. For that I am grateful. The Catholic religion has been planted deep in our national collective consciousness in so much so that we are the only country in the world where Catholic principles are expressed in almost every facet of life and even in our constitution, despite of separation of church and state. I am glad that the Spanish missionaries did not have the “enculturation” concepts as espoused by today’s’ gurus of enculturation otherwise they would have ended up “dialoguing” with the Filipino natives rather than converting them to Catholicism. I am tired of this enculturation thing. I have loved my faith not because I think I am a Filipino or some members of other nationalities, I think I am a Christian and a Catholic because I believe in Christ, in his message, and I adhere to the teachings of the Roman Pontiff. I am tired of this enculturation thing. Scholars will enjoy these discourses but we ordinary Catholics are tired of this. It has produced so much artificiality and almost fabricated practices to appear enculturated. Why do we allow ourselves to be the specimens of experimentation of this so called “enculturation”. It has been injurious to our Catholic Identity and has lessened our power to witness to this dying world which Christ died for in order to save.

The Illusion of Self-Sufficiency

2010-02-04T19:54:00.000-08:00

"Conversion to Christ, believing in the Gospel, ultimately means this: to exit the illusion of self-sufficiency in order to discover and accept one’s own need – the need of others and God, the need of His forgiveness and His friendship. So we understand how faith is altogether different from a natural, good-feeling, obvious fact: humility is required to accept that I need Another to free me from "what is mine," to give me gratuitously "what is His." This happens especially in the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. Thanks to Christ’s action, we may enter into the "greatest" justice, which is that of love (cf. Rm 13, 8-10), the justice that recognises itself in every case more a debtor than a creditor, because it has received more than could ever have been expected."

- Pope Benedict XVI on His Lenten Message

Gubat Sorsogon, More Pictures for the Nostalgic Gubatnon

2010-02-04T06:07:00.000-08:00

I use to go to this far flung municipality every Wednesday to teach at our external Campus. I have to endure more than 80 kilometers of road travel. Here as I was walking from the campus I decided to pass by the Church of St. Anthony and took pictures of the back portion of the Church as seen from Campus. To some of you who grew up in Gubat but now are based abroad...enjoy...and refresh your memories of this quiet but lovely town.

Candelaria [ Candlemass]

2010-02-02T20:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday February 2, I had the opportunity to hear mass at the Cathedral Church of our diocese. I attended a meeting at the Social Action Center and happened to drop by at the church at noon time for the candlemass. Today is also the death anniversary of my grandmother Maria Arcos Bufete, who died on Candlemass day. She was a devotee of the Virgin Mary and God granted her the grace to die in the state of grace. She died conscious and prior to her death she received consciously the last rites. The night before she died, and despite of failing memory she struggled to recite the Pater Noster. To me that was a sign of a happy predestination. May she rest in peace. I know that she is there praying for us. And we too in return, as a family, offer our prayers and spiritual works of mercy for her repose. I think that the Catholic family should be that way.

The statue of an Angel bearing the container of holy water

at the entrance of the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Great

The faithful standing for the blessing of the candles. Unfortunately I did not bring one with me. But it was a joy to see the faithful, with devotion and delight held up their ligthed candles for the blessing.

The Cathedral, half full, but in a short while will be filled with the faithful for the noon day Mass. Despite of their Busy work Filipinos in this cathedral parish celebrates candlemass. The Cathedral is located in the heart of the Capital of the province of Albay beside the city hall and the provincial capitol. So most of the faithful attending mass are government employees. The City government even has a choir that sings in this cathedral every Sunday.

Carrying of the Cross: A Must for Priests says Cardinal Vidal

2010-01-28T14:55:00.000-08:00

His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal of the Archdiocese of Cebu has this much to say in his homily for priests and I quote from the CBCP News report.

“But the cross that we have to bear is not the opposite of these, but the exercise of restraint in the face of adulation, gifts and affirmation. The first lesson of Jesus crucified is thus to ‘deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me,’ ” Vidal said.

“The best way a priest can know the condition of God’s people is through the confessional. Like St. John Mary Vianney, a priest should spend much time in the confessional to know the real needs of the people he serves. We do not know the needs of people by virtues they exercise; we know their problems by the sins they commit,” the cardinal said.

Jesus Carrying the Cross by Hieronymus Bosch

ERECTION OF A PERSONAL TRIDENTINE PARISH IN THE DIOCESE OF CUBAO

2010-01-26T15:31:00.000-08:00

Here is a message from D.P. Maturan:

The Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao, his excellency Bishop Honesto F.Ongtioco, D.D., has permitted the erection of a personal parish for those who are attached to the Extra Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite. The church building will be dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and will under the auspices of Fr. Michell Joe Zerrudo and the EcclesiaÂ Dei SocietyÂ of St. Joseph to consolidate efforts aong various groups advocating the return of the form of Mass popularly knownÂ as the Tridentine Mass. The parish will also be available for other Sacraments to be administered according to the liturgical books of 1962 or prior toÂ 1970. It will also be a venue of training for priests who would like to learn the ancient usage of the Roman Rite and others who would like to learn the rubrics of serving at the traditional rites, including schola and choir training. The Diocese is now looking for a venue for the said personal parish and funds areÂ solicited in order
to commence such as august aposolate. Funds may be channeled through Fr. Michell Joe B. Zerrudo, Parish of Our Lord of Divine Mercy, Diocese of Cubao,Â Maamo cor. Madasalins Sts., Sikatuna, Quezon City, Philippines or may call his parish at 029213337. We therefore appeal to traditonal Catholic communities to help us in such endeavor.

Dennis Raymond P. Maturan
Founding Chairman
Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph

Pope Benedict Affirms Trust and Confidence with Cardinal Bertone

2010-01-26T15:08:00.000-08:00

Pope Benedict on Cardinal Bertone:

"I have always admired his 'sensus fidei,' his doctrinal and canonical preparation and his 'humanitas,' which helped us very much to live, in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a climate of genuine familiarity, unity and a decisive and determined discipline of work," Read more at CBCP News .

Let us pray for the Pope's program on the "Reform of the Reformed" in the Liturgy. Cardinal Bertone is a great help for the Pope in this respect.

We need priests who will .....

2010-01-26T05:31:00.000-08:00

"The lay faithful enjoined the clerics to work with them in attaining peace that “honors human dignity, protects human rights, and condemns institutional violence/forms of cruelty.” CBCP News

My comment: The Clergy need not take on the roles of social revolutionaries. If the Clergy will only diligently teach the Doctrines and the Catechism, not from the lens social activism but form the lens of the gospel, then every lay faithful who comes to church and to mass will be edified to become good citizens. We need priests who will instruct us in the teachings of the gospel, we need priests who will sit in the confessionals, we need priests who will stay in churches rather than stay invisible. How we long for homilies that seek to explain the mystery of the gospel rather than politics.

Pope's Message to Filipino Prelates

2010-01-24T00:07:00.000-08:00

The message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the Filipino Prelates holding their plenary meeting at the St. Pius XII hall in Manila and I am presenting here some excerpts. The full text of this new item can be read at CBCP Online . I found the message touching because it goes to the heart of the role of a Bishop and of a priest and it shows how important are their role for the sanctification of the Church, which is very much needed by the Filipino Church. The active participation of the Church of the laity, which is so evident now, should not make drive away priests nor make them complacent of their role in teaching the doctrine of the faith. How many times do we see Bishops and priests give to much emphasis on issues like politics or the environment. Although I would opine that these issues can legitimately be the concern of the Church because pastoring the flock is also integrative. While attention is given to the temporal well being of the flock, the Bishops and priests should give more attention to the administration of the Sacraments and the teaching of the Word of God, by preaching, homilies and catechism. Sacraments can only be performed by the ordained clergy and is intended to sanctify the faithful. Teaching the Word of God is also the major concern of the Ordained. Although in some cases these functions can also be shared by the lay faithful. Sometimes I feel sad that many secular issues have overridden this concern for the spiritual needs of the Church. Sometimes concern for the environment or for politics is misconstrued as catechism. I feel sad that the basic teachings of the Church are not imparted on the faithful. It is sad to note also that many homilies now are centered on how to vote, and how to fight for the integrity of the environment and seldom do I hear homilies that expounds on the words of the Scriptures, of the church fathers and other useful lessons. We should remember that Sunday masses more often is the only time that Catholics do see their parish churches and this is a very good opportunity to impart teaching. I hope that our Bishops and priests will give more attention to how the liturgy is celebrated and how beautiful it should be. These things cannot just be delegated to the lay. But the Priests should also give attention and supervise. I wish that our priests should give more time for the celebration of the sacred mysteries so that people will be encourage to go to church and grow fervent in their faith. This is also one way of encouraging vocations to the priesthood. The many times our priests engaged in secular concerns tends to discourage young men to enter to the priesthood. This is perhaps because who would want to be ordained if one would simply be a social worker or an environmentalist. No one needs ordination to be an environmentalist.

"He said a bishop’s role is to sanctify, and in order to do this one must first tend to his own holiness of life. “By preaching the Word, offering Eucharistic sacrifice, and administering the sacraments to God’s people, the clergy in your respective dioceses ...may grow in holiness,” Benedict XVI said. ....Bertone said the pope is urging Filipino prelates to continue acting their role as the chief catechists of their respective pastoral jurisdictions. This means, he said, that bishops must be willing always and everywhere to stand up and teach those in need of instruction and for them to “manifest ever more clearly the spirit of God at work in the world.” In parting, Cardinal Bertone assured the bishops of the pontiff’s “apostolic blessing” while commending their works for the Catholic Church."

Caramoan Revisited

2010-01-20T05:57:00.000-08:00

For a lighter moment let me share with you some pictures I have of the Church in Caramoan, Camarines Sur. Although I have posted some pieces before about Caramoan, but let me do this again. Perhaps some of you who are planning to travel can consider Caramoan to your itinerary. Caramoan is known for its islands and beaches, but seldom do every one take notice that despite the remoteness of Caramoan it has one of the most beautiful brick church in the entire Bicol Peninsula and a wide courtyard. I would suggest that Bicol historians to explore the history of this municipality.

The Photo below shows the facade of the Church dedicated to St. Michael, the Archangel. The two niches below shows the image of Sts. Peter and Paul, patron saints of Rome and the apostles credited for having founded the Church in Rome.

My students, Richardson and Jose.

The Church has a spacious grounds and courtyard littered with Narra Trees and with statues and shrines. The Parish priest usually helps in cleaning the lawn. The altar boys also volunteer their services to help clean this spacious yard.

The Risen Christ. The church would have been beautiful if it had the old retablos. The parish priest is planning to restore the retablos. Because according to him that the reredos are more appropriate for the architecture of the church.

The statue and shrine of St. Joseph. I found this statue inspiring. It evokes awe and admiration for the greatest of all fathers.

Between Belief in Visions and Obedience to the Church: Which is which?

2010-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

I just feel sad reading about the events in Medjugorje. As a faithful Catholic I feel sad that there are fellow Catholics who would trust in so called Marian visions, unauthorized by the Church, and yet disobey their local bishop. We should be reminded that the teaching of the Church is based on the teaching of the apostles, the fathers, as guided by the Holy Ghost. No apparition or visionary can overthrow that. Apparitions and visions are private revelations and therefore when they contradict the teachings of the Church and foment disobedience should be rejected. Belief in visions are not obligatory, but belief and obedience to the teaching authority of the Church is necessary for salvation. St. Paul has this to say and we better pay attention:

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema." Galatians 1:8 (Douay-Rheims)

You may visit the Diocese of Mostar for the statement of His Excellency Ratko Peric, Bishop of Mostar. let us pray for the suffering church of Mostar.

Pit Senor

2010-01-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

Basilica del Santo Nino in Cebu City, One of the Oldest Church in the Philippine Islands

"The wolf shall dwell with the lamb: and the leopard shall lie down with the kid: the calf and the lion, and the sheep shall abide together, and a little child shall lead them." Isaiah 11:6 (Douay-Rheims)

After the celebration in Quiapo last January 9, the people of the Visayas will be celebrating tomorrow the Sinulog Festival in honor of the Child Jesus. The Image of the Child Jesus, venerated in the Visayas as the Santo Nino de Cebu is very much Spanish in origin. Though Spanish in origin, it has captured so well the innate religious sentiments of the Filipino people. Historically the Santo Nino is also linked to the evangelization of these islands. I myself is also a devotee of the Santo Nino. I do not know and I cannot explain the charm and the peace that this form of devotion evokes in me and in my fellow Filipinos. In my office desk and in my bookshelves I have the image of the Child Jesus prominently displayed for everyone to see. There are many explanations given by some modern theologians so called about this attachment of the Filipinos. But I would prefer to stick to the simple explanation that our national character of religiosity tends favorably to a closer devotion to the Lord. This is our national destiny. Christ seen as a Child, demonstrates to us his paradox once again. It demonstrates to us that faith in God Almighty is demonstrated not by human power but by his power. In our weakness the power of God is more manifest because faith can move mountains as our Lord said. But on the other hand there is also a lesson to the ordinary devotee and Catholics, that our religious fervor is a good sign and a valuable trait. But these are not ends in themselves but as a means to an end. If our religious fervor nourishes us in the same way a baby is nourished by milk, so let this devotion be our milk to help us grow in maturity. For indeed our maturity is made more manifest when we are increasing in our love for the Eucharist, that is to say the Holy Mass. For they that hear the word of God shall live and they that eat of his body and blood shall have everlasting life.

Let us Pray for Haiti

2010-01-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

Port-au-Prince Cathedral in Haiti

Haiti suffered from a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale. It was reported that the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince was one of those who were killed. Let us pray for the suffering people so that they may find consolation and hope.

Black Nazarene

2010-01-08T05:32:00.000-08:00

The Original Image of the Black Nazarene

January 9, 2010 will see again the fervour of Filipino Catholics as they honor the feast of the Nazarene. This is a devotion that honors an icon that depicts Christ carrying the cross to calvary. I pray and I hope that this feast will not only make manifest the extraordinary devotion of the Filipinos but also be a way to teach us the ways of Christ and His gospel. To hear the gospel and obey it is indeed the greatest form of devotion we can show our Lord. There will be excessive expressions but let this be a means to uplift our faith and to make it mature. True devotion to Christ is eloquently expressed by living a penitent life that seeks reformation of life and a desire to follow in the teachings of the gospel.

Hymn to the Nazarene by Lucio San Pedro

"Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Dinarangal ka namin (We honor you)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Nilul'walhati ka namin (We glorify you)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Dinarangal ka namin (We honor you)
Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno (Our Father Jesus Nazarene)
Nilul'walhati ka namin (We glorify you)"

Creativity in Liturgy: Authentic or Inauthentic?

2010-01-07T07:08:00.000-08:00

I want to give emphasis on this quote from Msgr. Guido Marini, Pontifical Master of Liturgical Ceremonies, this was taken from his speech at the Clergy Conference in Rome, January 6, 2010, A conference for the year of priests:

"From this perspective it is not difficult to realise how far distant some modes of conduct are from the authentic spirit of the liturgy. In fact, some individuals have managed to upset the liturgy of the church in various ways under the pretext of a wrongly devised creativity. This was done on the grounds of adapting to the local situation and the needs of the community, thus appropriating the right to remove from, add to, or modify the liturgical rite in pursuit of subjective and emotional ends. For this, we priests are largely responsible."
the full text of the speech can be read from NLM

Archbishop Socrates Villegas Urges Clergy to Celebrate Liturgy with Utmost Decorum

2010-01-02T20:34:00.000-08:00

"Saying that a decorous and solemn celebration of the liturgy is a mandate imposed on priests by virtue of their ordination, a young Catholic prelate called on his clergy to celebrate the Eucharist with the dignity and solemnity it deserves. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, in a fraternal letter sent to his priests on December 31, said it is a solemn duty of priests to celebrate the Mass with utmost reverence and attentive care." More of this can be read from CBCP NEWS "

Here is my comment:

Amen Archbishop Soc Villegas, Mabuhay ka!

How many of our Filipino clergy take to heart the care of sanctuaries and the celebration of the Sacraments? This laxity is shown in the way even vestments are worn. To site as an example priests are beginning to neglect the use of the alb as primary vestment. Another is the way vessels are cared for. Nobody uses now the Paten to protect the host from falling down. I have seen several times how the hosts fell from the hands of extraordinary ministers and picked up just like as if an ordinary thing falls without due care for the particles of the sacred species.

In our diocese today one thing I lament is the poor way by which some liturgies are executed. Many priests don't wear the alb anymore and much less the cincture. Sometimes the chasuble are designed to cover the entire body so as to make the excuse not to wear the alb. But often the material is so thin that street clothes could be seen. Some of the vessels are not well maintained. I am glad though that I have no longer seen priests use earthen or ceramic vessels. Thanks to "Redemptionis Sacramentum". Priests tend to be very busy, they give prominence to their social work functions and etc... But some have forgotten that we lay people always have in our mind our priests as ministers of the altar and hence we expect them to give full attention to the liturgy, the confessionals, to lead us in prayers and to sanctify us. In most cases this image of the priest is wanting. Thus how could we expect young men to have the vocation to the priesthood if what they see and observe does not fall into their mental image of a priest. I only hope that our priests will pay more attention to this.

Octave of the Nativity - Solemnity of the Circumcision of Our Lord

2010-01-01T21:22:00.000-08:00

January 1 - Solemnity of the Circumcision of Our Lord.

Christ Baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. Painting from the Baptistry of the Our Lady of Pnafrancia Church, Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines

O God, it was through the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary that You bestowed the gift of eternal life upon mankind. Grant that we may feel the powerful intercession of Mary, through whom we were privileged to receive the giver of life, Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord; who lives and rules with You . . . (Collect)

The Quiet Time

2010-01-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

Note: The Christmas season has afforded me the opportunity to have a couple of weeks vacation and this has afforded me a respite from the busy and cramp schedule. I also took this opportunity to clean up mu bookshelves and fortunately I found a file of old manuscripts I have written almost twenty years ago. I would like to share with you this piece entitled The Quiet Time. I wrote this article way back in 1990 and was published in the youth section of the bi weekly journal The Messenger of Truth in June 20, 1990.

_______________________

On of the spiritual exercises that are indespensible to Christian growth is the quiet time. Each and everyone of us feels the need for an inner fortitude to sustain us in our daily walk of life. Therefore the apostle Paul prays, "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." (Ephesians 3:16)

The object of practicing the quiet time is for us to be still and know the Lord is God. We need to set aside an hour where , in quietness and stillness, we can think about the goodness of God, where in quietness we can open our hearts to God. Sometimes during the busy hours of the Day our thoughts are so scattered; we hardly have room for for thoughts about God. If we are not used to giving the first hours of our mornings to God, we might find our day trivial and our evenings unpleasant. If this is the case let us ask God to direct our meditation upon the love of God.

A good part of the day to have our quiet time is the early morning. While there is no set rule, the time most convenient for us will do. The Bible is the tool we use in our meditations as we spend our quiet time. A good devotional book may be a good supplement. As much as possible there should be privacy. It will be easier for us to direct our thoughts to God when we are in private. Jesus said, "Be though, when though prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hst shut thy door, pray to thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:6)

Spending time more with God will change our charcter.

Mental discipline is one of the factors that will contribute to the degree of blessing we can receive in our quiet time. Sometimes our thoughts are prone to jump form one point to another. Thus in our quiet time we must realize we are communing with God. Our minds must be directed to Him. If we have problems, such as, jobs or business pressures, let us leave them behind while we enjoy our quiet time and devotions. Remember that for everything there is a proper time. If we are willing to commit everything to God, then He shall make everything beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The time we spend with God will always be for our own benefit. We can receive every blessing that God has stored for us. Let us take Moses as an example. Forty days and nights he spent with God caused his face to be so brilliant that he had to veil it. He was so immersed in the divine presence that God's glory was abiding in him. He was not conscious of that until the Israelites told him they feared to approached him because his face was so brilliant with light. In the New Testament, Paul compared Moses' experience in this verse: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord". (II Corinthians 3:18). Spending time more with God will change our charcter. In this way we find strength to do our daily tasks and duties. This inward strength will be a motivating factor for us to work for the Lord. This will give the Holy Spirit a chance to implant in our hearts convictions that would surely build us into mature Christians.

We cannot minimize the role of quiet time in relation to our spiritual development, if we neglect this spiritual exercise, we will find it difficult to listen to God. We will not be able to perceive the voice of God wile our mind is occupied with the cares of this life. When God spoke to Elijah, He spoke in a "still small voice" (II Kings 19:12). Can we hear this "still small voice" if our minds are occupied with the hub of activities? Of course we can hear God in the busy workplace just as we can hear Him in the loneliness of a desert. Quietness is a state of heart and mind. It is even possible for us to go in the quietness of the desert and yet our hearts can be filled with turmoil. As we set a certain time of the day for our quiet him, we will discover that it is very worth the while. There we can hear that "still small voice" speaking in the depths of our soul. As we bow ourselves to God, our hearts will be filled with reverence for Him who has saved us and washed us from our sins.

Pope Paul VI on Peace

2009-12-31T06:59:00.000-08:00

"A warning must be kept in mind. Peace cannot be based on a false rhetoric of words which are welcomed because they answer to the deep, genuine aspirations of humanity, but which can also serve, and unfortunately have sometimes served, to hide the lack of true spirit and of real intentions for peace, if not indeed to mask sentiments and actions of oppression and party interests. Nor can one rightly speak of peace where no recognition or respect is given to its solid foundations: namely, sincerity, justice and love in the relations between states, and, within the limits of each nation, in the relations of citizens with each other and with their rulers; freedom of individuals and of peoples, in all its expressions, civic, cultural, moral, and religious; otherwise, it is not peace which will exist - even if, perchance, oppression is able to create the external appearance of order and legality - but an unceasing and insuppressible growth of revolt and war." [Excerpt/quote] Pope Paul VI in 1968, the Declaration can be read from the Holy See's Website

Solemnity of the Mother of God

2009-12-29T16:55:00.000-08:00

"In the revised arrangement of the Christmas season, we should all turn with one mind to the restored solemnity of the Mother of God. This feast was entered into the calendar in the liturgy of the city of Rome for the first day of January. The purpose of the celebration is to honor the role of Mary in the mystery of salvation and at the same time to sing the praises of the unique dignity thus coming to "the Holy Mother...through whom we have been given the gift of the Author of life." This same solemnity also offers an excellent opportunity to renew the adoration rightfully to be shown to the newborn Prince of Peace, as we once again hear the good tidings of great joy and pray to God, through the intercession of the Queen of Peace, for the priceless gift of peace. Because of these considerations and the fact that the octave of Christmas coincides with a day of hope, New Year's Day, we have assigned to it the observance of the World Day of Peace (Paul VI, Marialis Cultus, Feb. 2, 1974, no.5)." As qouted from ChurchYear.net

On the Feast of the Holy Innocents

2009-12-27T01:58:00.000-08:00

On this feast of the Holy Innocents let us pray for the Christians in Iraq.

Celebration of Corpus Christi in Iraq, 1920, attended by Chaldeans, Syriacs, and Armenians.

Lesson on this Feast of the Holy Family

2009-12-27T01:40:00.000-08:00

This Sunday is the Feast of the Holy Family. The gospel reading for this Sunday narrates how Mary and Joseph lost Jesus in the milieu. Upon finding Jesus conversing with the doctors of the Temple, Mary told Jesus how she and his father had been sorrowing looking for him. Jesus replied that it was his mission to be at His Father's House. Nobody understood all these words but Mary kept all these things in her heart. Many times, Our Lord works in marvelous ways to confound the pride of humankind. In the story of the nativity we saw how our Lord announced the birth of his Son not by an imperial edict and not to the mighty but to the shepherds. We know that in Jesus' time shepherds were despised and marginalized. But it is to them that the proclamation of God's favor was first made known. Here was the mighty Roman Empire conducting a census of its realms. But in the midst of night silently and quietly Jesus was born in a stable.

The Holy Family's Flight into Egypt

Today, I consider this celebration of the feast of the Holy Family significant because the church militant is confronted with life issues. There are laws and policies that promotes abortion and materialism as a central value of family life. Worldly people think that happiness can be measured by material things. To limit the number of children for the purpose that both husband and wife would have the chance to enjoy life. That unwanted children are better disposed of rather than given life. Where are now the values of self sacrifice? Ought not parents sacrifice for their children? I am grateful that I have parents who work so hard to provide us education and nurture us. Our parents never thought of their own personal convenience but totally gave their lives for us so that we may have a better future. As Christians we should stand for all these values. Materialism has destroyed our values. Human life is no lionger given its proper value. Let us pray for our Bishops who are courageously standing up for the truth. Let us pray for the misguided Catholic Politicians who are making a mockery of their faith in the public square. Remember that our faith is not something to be put under the closet. It is like a candle. we place it on top of the table so that everyone may be lighted.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph enfold us in your love, amen.

The "Us" aspect of the Church

2009-12-26T04:52:00.000-08:00

"The "us" of the Church is alive in the place where Jesus was born, in the Holy Land, inviting its people to abandon every logic of violence and vengeance, and to engage with renewed vigour and generosity in the process which leads to peaceful coexistence. The "us" of the Church is present in the other countries of the Middle East. How can we forget the troubled situation in Iraq and the "little flock" of Christians which lives in the region? At times it is subject to violence and injustice, but it remains determined to make its own contribution to the building of a society opposed to the logic of conflict and the rejection of one’s neighbour. The "us" of the Church is active in Sri Lanka, in the Korean peninsula and in the Philippines, as well as in the other countries of Asia, as a leaven of reconciliation and peace." - Pope Benedict XVI.

For more of this read: Fr. Z

I love this message of the Holy Father because this is the right response to violence. True Christians don't use violence in response to violence but rather makes every way to make peace. We should never forget that Our Lord Jesus said: "Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God."

To the City Rome and the World

2009-12-25T04:02:00.000-08:00

Today, it is a delight to see the Holy Father impart his apostolic blessing to the Christians in Rome and to all the world. I was also delighted and observe how he would greet the Filipinos. Before imparting his blessing in Filipino he paused for a moment to acknowledge the Filipino audience. For me I consider it a special treatment and esteem that the Holy Father had for the Filipinos. I would think that the Philippines is the only country in the world today that has laws and social system anchored on orthodox Catholic Teachings. Despite of our marginalization becuase of our manifold problems, the faith of the Filipinos remain steadfast. Thank you Pope Benedict XVI for your love and esteem for the Filipino Nation.

The Shepherds

2009-12-24T19:13:00.000-08:00

Today in his Midnight Mass Homily the Holy Father has made the shepherds of Bethlehem as focus of his meditation. "We must awake" says the Holy Father, and the shepherds have demonstrated to us how we should respond to the call of God. The Pope made mention of dreamers. Dreamers live in their own world. But in order for us to be able to see the truth we should get out of that selfish world and rediscover the common reality and truth. This desire for God is present in everyone and we who have the knowledge must extend that help so that others may desire it.

Pope Knocked Down by a Woman Who Jumped Barriers at St. Peters

2009-12-24T17:40:00.000-08:00

A CNN Report said: "A woman jumped a barrier at the start of Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's Basilica and knocked down the pope, briefly disrupting ceremonies. Screams erupted from onlooking worshippers when the woman ran toward Pope Benedict XVI and grabbed onto his vestments as he walked down the main aisle of the church, video footage showed. He was quickly helped to his feet by his aides -- prompting cheers from the crowd -- and the service was resumed, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told CNN." For Detailed Story read it at CNN World.

Let us thank Our Lord and Our Lady for protecting the Holy Father from harm. As we pray and hope that the pontificate of His Holiness will bring much good for the restoration and authentic interpretation of Vatican II. He has displayed and bold courage in his teachings and proclamation of the Word of God and the authentic transmission of the deposit of the faith.

Glory to God in the Highest

2009-12-24T03:17:00.000-08:00

The Nativity Scene

Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. - 1 Timothy 3:16 (NAB)

"In this Child, in fact, God-Love is manifested: God comes without weapons, without strength, because he does not aim to conquer, we could say, from without, but rather wants to be welcomed by man in liberty. God becomes a defenseless Child to conquer man's pride, violence and desire to possess. In Jesus, God took up this poor and defenseless condition to conquer with love and lead us to our true identity'

zenit.org - Pope Benedict XVI Address at the general audience December 23, 2009 at the Paul VI Hall.

Paradise on Earth? : A Visit to Misibis, Cagraray Island

2009-12-22T08:58:00.000-08:00

As nature lover and an avid traveler, I could not help myself but share with you dear readers some of the photo shots I took this morning (December 22, 2009) while we were on a tree planting activity at Misibis, Cagraray Island in the Philippines. These offshore islands for sometime have been considered as backwater but today has found prominence because of its pristine beauty. Some private investors and the provincial government has been promoting misibis as a tourist destination. I don't want to clog my blog with pictures but I feel that I will be selfish if I did not share these wonderful photos with you. We were privilege to visit the resort. Tourism development is a development goal of the government of the Philippines. And with these development projects going on this will boost tourism and put Cagraray Island into the map of the world.

This is the Cagraray Island Eco-Energy Park a project that demonstrate corporate social responsibility.

Looks like we are at the Aereopagus. Is this the Aegean Islands in Greece? No, it is in Misibis, the Philippines

Our Friends

For the Sports Enthusiasts, overcome your fear! Go jump!

Test your endurance!

Misibis Beach Resort

With all the amenities to enjoy

Albay Gulf in the Background

World class accomodation

The Christmas Tree

2009-12-21T05:42:00.001-08:00

Christmas is in the air again and I want to share with the readers of my blog some of the objects we have in our home that symbolizes Christmas. For us Christmas is not just a social event or a holiday. Above all Christmas is all about Christ. Why ask what the spirit of Christmas is? Christmas is about Christ. The mystery of the incarnation is celebrated and recreated. Although in the past the history of Christmas Trees were associated with the north Rhineland custom but today has found universal acceptance. I have a simple interpretation of it. For me Christmas tree symbolizes the the Tree of Life in Paradise. And who is this tree of life? This tree of life is Jesus Christ. Thus Christmas reminds us that once upon a time and today and forever we have Christ as the symbol of our faith and our pledge for eternal life.

This is the Christmas tree in our living room painstakingly set up by my sister. Though my sister is married and lives in a different house she still comes more often to help us set up this Christmas Tree. A delight for the Children with a didactic value.

The Child Jesus

I bought this image of the Baby Jesus sometime ago in Manila. I like the way the artist has portrayed Christ. I visited the department stores and could not find anything similar to these. The objects on display are more of inferior in comparison to this image.

The Nativity Scene

It was said that St. Francis started this practice of displaying nativity scenes. Here in the Philippines we call this "Belen". Almost every home has a Belen. My mother bought this set many years ago in Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. In this ensemble I noticed that the shepered is missing. My mother said that with the renovations that we made in our house some objects went missing. But I am sure the children will love this nativity set.

Venerable Pope Pius XII

2009-12-20T16:36:00.000-08:00

Coronation of the Salus Populi Romani by Pope Pius XII in 1954

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Congregation for the Causes of Saints has published the decree declaring Pope Pius XII and Pope John Paul II venerable. Venerable Pius XII and Venerable John Paul II, Pray for us!

How can I not recognize this Pope, who in a radio message to the Marian Congress of the Philippines in 1954 said thus and I quote:

"Philippines! Kingdom of Mary! Philippines! Kingdom of the Holy Rosary! Run to this throne of grace, to this saving devotion, because the storm is raging not far away from you. Remain firm in the Holy Faith of your fathers, that you have received at the cradle, just as your islands remain firm, although shaken by earthquakes and violently besieged by irritated waves. And never let the sacred fire of your love for your heavenly Mother die in your souls, this sacred fire represented by these volcanoes erupting from time to time reveal the furnace hidden in your land.' [Emphasis supplied]

"Pope Pius XII has been declared "venerable" because he is a model for Christian life, not because of the historical decisions he made." Zenit.org

Mt. Mayon : Timid Fury of a Volcano

2009-12-16T07:06:00.000-08:00

A couple of days ago around 22,000 people were evacuated for safety because of the simmering fury of Mt. Mayon. Mayon is known for her beauty but it has had a history of violent eruption. Burying entire villages, destroying crops and livestock. Using my cellphone camera I took these pictures of Mt. Mayon.

Majestic Mt. Mayon as seen from the roof top of Jennifers Kababayan Hotel

Clouds always love to form around the conic shape of the volcano during high humidity days

A seeming unrest. Mt. Mayon as seen from the 2nd Floor of Hotel Villa Angelina

Guinobatan, Albay

2009-12-12T07:13:00.000-08:00

Today I have the chance to visit the town of Guinobatan. A municipality in Albay Province. It is a town set on hilly terrain. Its proximity to Mt. Mayon Volcano makes it susceptible to lahar flooding and ashfall during volcanic eruption. The town is also famous for Simeon Ola considered a local hero for his struggle against the American occupation forces. Nonetheless, because of its terrain, hills and mountains, the town has been famous for its natural springs.

Anyone thinking of performing visita iglesia might consider Guinobatan's parish church of Our Lady of the Assumption.

The town overlooking the hills and beyond.

The belfry of the Church rises above the lush tropical vegatation. On top of it the Cross of Christ proclaiming the eternal salvation, witnessing to the people of Guinobatan

The belfry and the entrance. Notice the banner announcing the appoiuntment of the New Bishop of Legazpi, the Most Rev. Joel Z. Baylon together with the outgoing administrator, Auxilliary Bishop, Most Reverend Lucilo Quiambao

A poster in front of the church providing instruction on the proper dress code when attending mass.

The Outdoor Altar of Christ the King. At the bottom of the monument are the statues of the four virtues that characterizes the Kingdom of God. The statue also bore the Latin inscription Christus Regnat.

The Ad orientem altar now fell into disuse. Now a metal fenscing surrounds it to prevent vandals from sitting or climbing on it.

The symbols of Mary on the Door post. This church is indeed a Marian Church.

The Most Rev. Joel Z. Baylon

2009-12-09T07:53:00.000-08:00

Congratulation to the new Bishop of Legazpi, His Excellency, Joel Z. Baylon, D.D. prior to his appointment as Bishop of Legazpi, Most Rev. Baylon was Bishop of Masbate. For more on his biography please visit CBCP on line here is an excerpt from the CBCP News: " LEGAZPI City, Dec. 9, 2009—The Province of Albay, famous for its Mayon Volcano, is in the thick of preparations to welcome its sixth bishop, the 55-year old Bishop Joel Z. Baylon, in fitting liturgical reception and canonical installation at the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral at 4:00 P.M. tomorrow. The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales will lead about 30 other bishops from across the country. Baylon will be formally introduced by Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, Metropolitan archbishop of Nueva Caceres, to the bishops-emeriti and clergy of the Diocese of Legazpi. CNCP News

The Joys of Advent

2009-12-05T19:18:00.000-08:00

The Belfry of the Parish Church of San Juan Bautista Bedecked with Neon Lights.

The Public Plaza of Tabaco City a washed in neon lights to celebrate Christmas.
The Manger scene and other decorations courtesy of the City Government

The season of advent commences again. In a few weeks time it will be Christmas. Though advent is relatively a short season in the liturgical calendar, it is the most joyful. Many traditions and practices evolved out of this season. Peope now a days tend to speculate on the meaning of Christmas. Forgetting that Christmas is all about Christ. God's love expressed is expressed to us by sending us His own begotted Son as a gift of grace. As the Bible said, the Law came through Moses but grace and truth came thorugh Jesus Christ. The real message of Christmas is that we need to prepare our selves to be in a state of Grace so that we can assimilate the spirit of Christmas and give ourselves in the service of others.

Warming Relations Between Moscow and the Holy See

2009-12-05T02:44:00.000-08:00

An AFP report states that there is warming of relationship between the Holy See and Moscow. President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia signed a decree establishing full diplomatic relation between Moscow and the Holy See. It was said that the government of Russia would have not done this without the concurrence of the Partriarchate of Moscow. The rapproachment between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church is a concrete sign and a positive outcome of ecumenism. Today more than ever Christianity faces a common enemy in militant secularism that seeks to put religion in the sphere of private life and make relativism as the philosophy behind its morality. A Europe that does not look back at its past and negates the role of Christianity in shaping its culture will never find itself. Materialism is nothing. It is souless. It will not last the beatings of time. Christ said He who hears my word and do them is like a man who builds his house upon a rock. Let us pray for our Church, that they may be one.

Pantocrator