Do I?

On Blessed Pope Paul VI

The beatification of Pope Paul VI is a grace as we celebrate World Missions Sunday and the closing of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family. Being a pope in a troublesome time for the Church where morals have been degrading, values distorted, doctrine in a wave of confusion, and secularism on the loose, he held firmly on his mottos: "Cum Ipso in Monte" (with Him on the Mount) and "In Nomine Domini" (In the Name of the Lord). He traversed the road even if it is steep and rocky knowing that Christ does not abandon his side as he concluded the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council all for the glory of the One God.

With him we are reminded of the very challenge and mission of the Church. Evangelization is not for a chosen few who are gifted in speech and rhetorics; it is for everyone. The Church has a mission and precisely by this that it makes Her a missionary. She is a missionary Church that seeks to touch the lives of all the baptized as well as those in the outskirts of the faith. "Cum ipso in monte" he reminds us. Let us go through this mountain; let us go through this mission; let us go with Christ who leads us all. "In Nomine Domini" he tells us. Let us journey together in Christ; let us journey for His glory; let us journey as a people baptized in His Name.

The photo is a commemorative medal during the Pontificate of Pope Paul VI in 1975 where the Ordinary Jubilee of Rome was celebrated. The general theme was "Reconciliation" as depicted on the engravings of two brothers reconciled with one another. How lovely it is that the words "Ut unum sint" arcs above them- that they may be one. It was also the last words of his predecessor, Pope John XXIII (who was canonized earlier) on his death bed.

Beati Pauli VI, ora pro nobis!

Remembering the Canonization of Sts. Arnold and Joseph, SVD

The statues of Sts. Arnold and Joseph in front of the Holy Spirit Chapel of the Divine Word Seminary
in Tagaytay City. A pose with SVD classmates, Bros. Harley and Raymond.

In October 5, 2003, the late Pope John Paul II canonized two important figures in the life of a missionary church, Sts. Arnold Janssen and Joseph Freinademetz, who planted the seed to found the Society of Divine Word (SVD).

We recall a part of the Pope's homily on the august celebration on this their anniversary:
"Their lives show clearly that the proclamation of the Gospel 'is the primary service which the Church can render to every individual and to all humanity' (Redemptoris Missio, n. 2). These new Saints teach us that evangelization always involves an explicit proclamation of Christ in addition to contributing to human advancement that has sometimes even proven dangerous, as the experience of so many missionaries shows... The priority of missionary institutes is the mission "ad gentes", which must come before any other social or humanitarian commitment, however necessary."

Ina

A replica image of Ina visiting the different diocesan seminaries in Tagaytay City.

Resuene vibrante el himno de amor
Que entona tu pueblo con grata y emoción
Patrona del Bicol, Gran Madre de Dios
Se siempre la Reina de Nuestra Región

Viva la Virgen Maria!

It was an unexpected visit; a blessing indeed. During the Mass said in Bicol language I couldn't help but recall the time we had Bicolano Mass in the parish a UPLB. I'm not Bicolano but have so many friends who are whom I remembered as I kissed Ina's mantilla.

Double Celebration

An image of the Child Mary in time for her birthday!

16" image of the Virgencita personally designed and made from Paete, Laguna.

La Virgencita Nina Maria.

I placed her in the sacristy in preparation for the Sunday blessing. People who walked inside noticed how the image was lovely and beautiful but most of them asked, "How is this?" Most thought it was a Sto. Nino but looked like a young girl. I told them, "This is the child Mary, la Nina Maria."

A year ago my godfather sent me a pendant of the Bambina from Italy. I kept it without knowing when to use it. Upon the arrival of this image, I remembered about the pendant and now it accents her.

It was also a very nice gift that I was allowed to go home and with my batchmates, serve in my home parish on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, our birthdays.

Devotion teaching mercy

Are you familiar with this scapular?

Yes I know what you are thinking. My grandmother and a bunch of old ladies in church wear these.

I remember when I was young I used to play around my aunt's house and there I saw these red ribbons with unusual markings at the end. Back then I didn't know that they were scapulars and so I played with it trying to figure out what were those. After some time they got entangled. When my aunt and grandmother saw their scapulars were entangled, they reprimanded me for my actions. Of course I felt bad and that marked my heart so bad that I said when I have money I will buy them replacements. They said the scapulars they wear during Mass were expensive. But growing up I learned they just cost P40.00.

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of that infinite love of our Lord for all humanity. His heart is surrounded by the crown of thorns that continues to pierce it so badly that it bleeds. Even at the climax of salvation at the top of Calvary as Jesus laid breathless on the cross, as He shed His precious blood for the remission of sin, still today people continue to persecute His heart because of sin.

Transformation is a Priestly Theology

"UNDERSTAND what you do, IMITATE what you celebrate, and CONFORM your life to the mystery of the Lord's Cross."

These beautiful admonitions are said by the presiding bishop to the ordinandus while handing over the chalice and the paten. It is an exhortation to the celebration of the sacraments especially the Mass. It is not only worship to God but a life-changing act that transforms not only the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ but that the whole of one's self may be an offering, an oblation, together with the whole people of God transformed into the image and likeness of Christ, the head of the Church, His Body.

How beautiful are these words that struck my heart upon hearing them today. Ever since I have been attending ordinations (in Filipino), I couldn't remember these words but hearing them in english caught my attention. Wow, how beautiful! What rich theology! What very meaningful words that those ordained to the sacred order of priesthood receive!