Pope's new album features composition from Muslim, Catholic and agnostic

ROME (Reuters Life!) – A Muslim, a Catholic and an agnostic composer have contributed music to an album featuring Pope Benedict singing and reciting prayers, which is due for release in November.

Producer Vincent Messina said his choice of Nour Eddine, Stefano Mainetti and Simon Boswell -- who describes himself as "undeclared" -- reflected "our aim to produce an album that has universal appeal to all those who love beautiful music."

"I certainly didn't intend to select or hire composers on the basis of their faith," Messina told Reuters.

"These three composers, I have known them for many, many years and they are all some great film composers ... In particular with regard to the Muslim composer from Morocco, Nour Eddine, the idea came because the roots of Gregorian music somehow we share with the Arabian melodic tradition."

The "Alma Mater" album features recordings from Vatican radio of Pope Benedict singing Marian litanies and reciting passages and prayers in St Peter's Basilica or during trips abroad.

"We will be able to listen to one track in particular where he is singing the Regina Coeli along with a choir from the beginning to the end," Messina said.

"Alma Mater" also includes the backing vocals of The Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome blended with modern classical recordings by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

It will be released by Geffen Records, the label that signed up Snoop Dog and Ashlee Simpson, on November 23 in Europe and the United States, and on November 29 in Britain.

Messina said he had yet to hear the Vatican's official reaction to the album.

"The Vatican is always very careful about communication and so you can imagine using the voice of the Holy Father and use it in a musical album," he said.

***

 "This one will never sell.  They'll  never understand..."

No.  Papa Benny is not talking about his new album.  He is singing a Barry Manilow classic during karaoke night.   But I guess, the agnostic Western media will really never understand.

But His Holiness is making good progress.  As John Allen commented on the pope's recent trip to the Czech Republic.

"No compromise on essential points of doctrine and discipline, but the most positive, upbeat presentation possible. Christianity is framed not as a dry book of rules, but as the answer to, as Benedict put it Monday morning, “the profound thirst for meaning and happiness in the heart of every person.'"

See cars parked inside a hospital compund being swept!

See how these cars looked like toys...
And how one brave soul risked his life to save another...

After the floods...

More Ondoy tragedy photos

San Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us!

A Message from the president of the CBCP

Epic Flood: A Call for Compassion

THE pictures we see in the newspapers and television screen in these days, after the epic flood brought about by devastating tropical storm “Ondoy” have many stories to tell which are beyond words. Many of the victims of super typhoon Ondoy has a scary experience to narrate.

While we keep in our imagination the pictures that invite our deepest sympathy, and even listen in our hearts to their desperate cries for help, the victims agonizing and angry complaints at the slowness or absence of response from Disaster Preparedness Program, let us see in this situation a call to everyone for compassion. If there were no graft and corruption in our government, our government would be more prepared to respond to such crisis.

Typhoon Ondoy’s destructive path may be the worst flood in more than half a century. Through the ravages of nature in the past, the Filipino sense of compassion, which we also call “bayanihan,” has been called forth. The pictures we have seen in the past few days are pictures of Filipinos responding to the call for compassion, of people willing to “suffer with,” people with the spirit of “bayanihan.”

We pray against typhoons, earthquakes, floods and other natural calamities. But when they do occur, the heroism of the Filipino comes out. We salute, for example, to that 18-year old teen-ager, Muelmar Magallanes, who lost his life after saving more than a dozen neighbors, the last of whom was a six-month old baby.

This one heroic example is an inspiration of our appeal with the CBCP National Secretariat for Social Action. The CBCP NASSA has been mobilized to help with its limited resources the victims of the flood. Relief goods have started to be gathered and distributed to the flood-affected provinces around Metro Manila. Caritas Manila has started to respond to the flood victims in Metro Manila. Compassion is drawing many Filipinos to unite with their unfortunate brothers and sisters. Social Action Centers of other Dioceses may join the campaign by sending to CBCP NASSA whatever they may collect. Profound gratitude to the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council and the US Bishops’ Conference – Catholic Relief Services. They were among the first to respond.

Other Institutions like the RED CROSS, have also started to respond to the call for compassion, as we have seen in GMA network and ABS-CBN network in the spirit respectively of “KAPUSO” and “KAPAMILYA.”

We bend our knees in prayer for salvation against natural calamities, but when they do come, we are not so helpless as not to respond with heroism. We have said it before and we say it again “In the Church, no one is so poor as to have nothing to give, and no one is so rich as to have nothing to receive.” We are humbled by the crises that come to us. We pray to God and appeal for our neighbor.

+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO
Archbishop of Jaro
CBCP President
September 29, 2009

Catholic blogs that posted the Ondoy tragedy

Patrick Madrid has posted an entry asking readers to pray for the victims of Tropical Strom Ondoy

http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com/2009/09/pray-for-your-brothers-and-sisters-in.html

Catholic Seeking also has a similar appeal.

http://catholicseeking.blogspot.com/2009/09/pray-for-families-in-philippines-flood.html

A little prayer goes a long way.  God bless the Philippines!

HAPPY MICHAELMAS

I am a devotee of St. Michael the Archangel and I love to say the Leonine Prayer to St. Michael after every Mass, OF or EF.

So in honor of the beloved Prince of the Heavenly Hosts, even though today is the feast of the three biblical archangels, I present this wonderful article courtesy of Fisheaters.com.

***

There are seven Archangels in all, but only the three mentioned in Sacred Scripture are commemorated liturgically; St. Gabriel's Feast is on 24 March, and St. Raphael's Feast is on 24 October (the Guardian Angels are remembered on 2 October. The other archangels, whom we know from the Book of Enoch, are Uriel, Raguel, Sariel, and Jeramiel.) Today, though, we honor St. Michael the Archangel, whose very name in Hebrew means, "Who is Like God." St. Michael is described in the Golden Legend, written in A.D. 1275 by Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa, thus:
For like as Daniel witnesseth, he shall arise and address in the time of Antichrist against him, and shall stand as a defender and keeper for them that be chosen. [Daniel 10:13, 12]

He also fought with the dragon and his angels, and casting them out of heaven, had a great victory. [Apocalypse 12:7-9]

He also had a great plea and altercation with the devil for the body of Moses, because he would not show it; for the children of Israel should have adored and worshipped it. [Jude 1]

He received the souls of saints and brought them into the paradise of exultation and joy.

He was prince of the synagogue of the Jews, but now he is established of our Lord, prince of the church of Jesu Christ.

And as it is said, he made the plagues of Egypt, he departed and divided the Red Sea, he led the people of Israel by the desert and set them in the land of promission, he is had among the company of holy angels as bannerer. And bearing the sign of our Lord, he shall slay by the commandment of God, right puissantly, Antichrist that shall be in the Mount of Olivet. And dead men shall arise at the voice of this same archangel. And he shall show at the day of judgment the Cross, the spear, the nails and the crown of thorns of Jesu Christ.

Expounding on St. Michael's final victory over the Antichrist, the Golden Legend continues:
The fourth victory is that the archangel Michael shall have of Antichrist when he shall slay him. Then Michael, the great prince, shall arise, as it is said Danielis xii.: “He shall arise for them that be chosen as a helper and a protector, and shall strongly stand against Antichrist.” And after, as the Gloss saith: “Antichrist shall feign him to be dead, and shall hide him three days,” and after, he shall appear saying that he is risen from death to life, and the devils shall bear him by art magic, and shall mount up into the air, and all the people shall marvel and worship him. And at the last he shall mount up on the Mount of Olivet, and when he shall be in a pavilion, in his siege [seat], entered into that place where our Lord ascended, Michael shall come and shall slay him. Of which victory is understood, after St. Gregory, that which is said in the Apocalypse. The battle is made in heaven.

This word of the treble battle in heaven is expounded of the battle that he had with Lucifer when he expulsed him out of heaven, and of the battle that he had with the devils that torment us.

St. Michael is our warrior against the Evil One, and is the one we call on in times of temptation, especially with our Prayer to St. Michael:

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who wander throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. 

This great champion of Israel has made many important appearances throughout the years. In A.D. 590, during the reign of Pope Gregory, a great pestilence swept through Rome. During a procession and litanies led by the Holy Father there, St. Michael appeared over the Castel Sant'Angelo -- a building which was formerly Hadrian's tomb, but which was converted to papal use, connected to the Vatican by a long tunnel. A statue of St. Michael sits atop the building today (picture at top right).

Mont St. Michel was built to St. Michael's honor off the coast of Normandy, France. Our warrior Saint is said to have appeared there in 708 to St. Aubert, Bishop of Avranches (picture at bottom right).

He also, along with SS. Margaret and Catherine, appeared to St. Joan of Arc (d. 1431) when she was thirteen years old, encouraging her to assist Charles VII in defeating the English. She later told her judges, "I saw them with these very eyes, as well as I see you."

St. Michael is patron of knights, policemen, soldiers, paramedics, ambulance drivers, etc., and also danger at sea, for the sick, and of a holy death. He is usually depicted in art carrying a sword and/or shield, battling Satan.

Prayer for Flood Victims

Outgoing Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop urged his flock to pray the Oratio Imperata to be " be offered for those who perished in the calamity and those who suffered destruction of their homes and properties."

Following is the full text of the Oratio Imperata:

Oh, God our Father:

In faith we acknowledge your paternal care over us, your sons, daughters and children. In hope we trust in your divine providence of giving us wisdom and courage as we face the challenges in life. In love we invoke your help and guidance during these difficult days of death and destruction in our dear country.

Our is a prayer of thanksgiving for once again reminding us that ours is an imperfect world, that heaven is not on earth and that nature every now and then tells us not to abuse her. Ours too is a prayer of repentance for calling upon you when we are in need and desperation but forgetting you in favourable times and pleasing occasions. Ours as well is a prayer of petition as we say:

Grant eternal peace to those who lost their lives. Embrace the children who died in their innocence. Help those who are hurt and cure those who are sick.

Encourage those who suffer the destruction of their homes and properties, and to once again stand up and rebuild their future.

Bless all those who extend their helping hands to those in need of food, shelter and clothing, who share their time, talents and resources with others.

Inspire more people to be men and women for their neighbors, convinced that the more they are for others, the taller they stand before you.

Spare us please from other natural disasters and devastations if this be according to Your will and for our own spiritual good and growth.

Relic of True Cross Stolen from Monastery Outside Madrid

Madrid, Spain, Sep 28, 2009 (CNA).- The Spanish daily La Razon reported this week that a relic of the Holy Cross was stolen from the Benedictine Monastery of the Valley of the Fallen, which had been in possession of the precious relic since 1960.

The paper reported the incident occurred on September 15.

The day before, which was the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Benedictine monks exposed the reliquary that contains the relic for veneration, as has been the custom for decades. The relic of the true Cross was given as a gift to the monks by Pope John XXIII in 1960.

As the monks were returning the liturgical vestments to the sacristy after Mass on September 15, they noticed that the reliquary had been opened and that the relic was no longer inside. The thief had apparently donned one of the monk’s habits in order to sneak the relic out of the monastery.

La Razon said the monks were upset at the discovery and are hoping the police will be able to recover the relic.

The Spanish daily recalled that “architect and archeologist Charles Rohault de Fleury wrote a book in 1870 in which he inventoried every known relic of the true Cross and that all together they would form less than one-third of the whole Cross.

“When she was almost 80 years old, in 326, St. Helena ordered an excavation on Calvary. She found three crosses in a quarry underneath a pagan temple. According to tradition, a woman who was ill was cured immediately when she touched one of the crosses, thus pointing out which one was the true Cross,” the newspaper recounted.

***

Most likely a work of antique collectors or those in the black market.  Let us just hope that the Holy Relic will not be used in voodoo or demonic rituals.

Photos of the devastation

For more photos of the devastation left by Tropical Storm Ondoy

click here:   http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=ondoy 

CRY FOR HELP FROM PINOY BISHOPS

MANILA, Sept. 27, 2009— The heavy rains brought by typhoon “Ondoy” have submerged various areas of Metro Manila and Rizal provinces underwater sending hundreds of families into evacuation centers.

Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Francisco de Leon said more than 300 families displaced by floods have sought refuge in schools and the church of Our Lady of the Abandoned parish in Marikina City.

In an appeal aired over Radio Veritas, the bishop asked the faithful to send donations of foodstuffs, clothing and other needed materials to help the victims.

He said donations may be sent to the parish office of the Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish.

The Metro Manila areas affected by floods include parishes under the Archdiocese of Manila, and dioceses of Cubao, Pasig, Antipolo, Kalookan, Novaliches and Malolos.

Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos likewise aired a similar appeal to help the flood victims in his diocese.

Many parishes in Bulacan area have also been engulfed in water, he said. Among the parishes submerged in water were those in Meycauayan, Valenzuela and Obando.

He said donations in cash and in kind may be sent to the diocesan Commission of Service in Plaridel, Bulacan.

Meanwhile, Antipolo social action director Fr. Bien Miguel reported that seven people died in a mudslide in his parish in Teresa, Rizal.

The priest is asking Caritas Manila for help.

He also asked the people to course their donations to Caritas Manila since the mudslide made the road to Teresa impassable at the moment.

As of this morning, reports coming from people in the Angono and Cainta areas said that floodwaters are still rising. (Pinky Barrientos, FSP)

Just how bad it was here in Manila

Thankfully this is not our house.  Just to give you an idea how deep the water was.

Latest reports say the amount of water dumped by Tropical Storm Ondoy was twice than that of Katrina

 

A street in a suburb of Manila

 

another street

 

Same thing, different street.  There are lots of these in Manila.

 

 Not a junk shop, nor the "usual" pile up.  These vehicles were washed and away by the raging floods.

Please include in your prayers the Philippines especially the people of Metro Manila. To my foreign TPC friends, you may send in your donations by

The Philippine National Red Cross 

ABS-CBN Foundation
SAGIP KAPAMILYA
Tel Nos. (632) 413-2667 / 416-0387
No 13 Examiner Street, Quezon City, Look for Ms Girlie Aragon

Bank: Banco de Oro, Mother Ignacia branch
Acct name: ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.
Acct no.: 5630020111

Routing code for international cash donations
BNORPHMM ABS-CBN Branch

ABS-CBN Foundation US Office Toll-Free 1-800-527-2820


CARITAS Manila

Feast of St. Lorenzo Ruiz and Companion Martyrs

 Tomorrow (September 28) is the feast day of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, proto-martyr of the Philippines and the first Filipino saint.  Please say the prayers below keeping in mind the victims of Tropical Strom Ondoy that destroyed homes and properties and killed more than 50 and left more missing.  (Thanks the La Naval de Manila Online blog for the above photo.)

***

O MOST MERCIFUL and almighty God, You bestowed as gift to Lorenzo Ruiz the strength to withstand the overpowering forces of death for the sake of his faith in You. 
 
Through his prayers, help us to follow his example by overcoming all life's trials and eventually, increase our hope and love in You. 
 
O St. Lorenzo Ruiz, you brought honor to your country, having been a level-headed and prudent father of the family, a witness of Christ in your life until your death. 
 
We present all our petitions to God through your help so that by our actions, we may know more and love more Jesus our Lord and Savior. 
 
We humbly implore your intercession O dear St. Lorenzo, for the infinite glory of God and in honor of your triumph as a martyr of Christ and defender of Christianity. Amen. 

   
O God, our loving Father: Your Son Jesus Christ delivered himself in sacrifice to You for: the love of men. Inspire us to love You with all our heart to the point of sacrifices. Your providential hand led your servants Saint Lorenzo and Companions to the land of Japan to imitate the sacrifice of Christ and to proclaim the Gospel of truth and the message of salvation. 

We humbly beseech You, through the intercession of this Holy martyrs, that we be given the grace of remaining faithful to You always as they did and that the light of the Gospel illumine all corners of our Christian motherland and of all countries near and far. We ask you this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


(silently mention the special favor you ask for through this novena)
One "Our Father…"
Ten "Hail Mary's…"
One "Glory be…"

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companion Martyrs, Pray for us!

***
For more about the first Pinoy Saint, click here for my post about the saint.

Spidey on Papa Benny!

(See spidey on the pope's right shoulder.)

PRAGUE – President Barack Obama had his fly. Now Pope Benedict XVI has his spider.

A large arachnid appeared on the pope's white robes as he addressed politicians and diplomats in Prague on Saturday afternoon. The pope didn't seem to notice at first — but journalists following the speech on a large screen flinched as the spider inched toward Benedict's neck.

It disappeared from view for a moment, but then could be seen crawling up the right side of the 82-year-old pontiff's face.

When it reached his ear, Benedict gave it a swat. But it didn't go away — it reappeared on the pope's left shoulder and scampered down his robe.

As the pope left the medieval Prague Castle's ornate Spanish Hall, the spider could be seen hanging from a piece of web.

In June, Obama now famously swatted and killed a fly that intruded on an interview for CNBC at the White House.

***
Guess the Western media will not go "gaga" over this one like how Obama swatted a fly!

Please say a prayer...

Please continue to pray for those who suffered from the storm that hit the northern island of the Philippines...

For those who lost their property...
For those who died...
For those who have devoted their time, money and effort to help those in need...

For just a few minutes of your time...

Please say one Pater Noster, one Ave Maria and one Gloria Patri for them...

PRAY FOR PINOYS

The Island of Luzon, where the capital Manila is located, is being battered by Tropical Depression, Ondoy.  I am listening on the radio right now as I am writing this and families are calling out for help as they are trapped inside their homes because of constant rising waters.  We are all trapped inside the office as the roads are all submerged in water.  The latest news I got was that the water is about 6 feet deep.

Some of the people living near our office are now being sheltered in the office since their homes are now submerged in water.  Imagine the look of their kids, drenched in water...

Please pray for us...

The Holy Founder of the Order of the Knights of Columbus closer to beatification

Father McGivney Sainthood Cause Advances, Knights of Columbus Founder Witnesses to Pastoral Vocation

HARTFORD, Connecticut, SEPT. 24, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The founder of the Knights of Columbus, Father Michael McGivney, might be closer to recognition as a saint, as an expanded report on a possible miracle has been sent to Rome.

The Knights of Columbus announced in a press release today that on Tuesday, officials of a supplemental tribunal from the Hartford Archdiocese, where Father McGivney served as a parish priest, formally sent the report to the Congregation for Saints' Causes.

Carl Anderson, the supreme knight, as well as a regular ZENIT columnist, explained that this submission "marks an important step forward."

He explained: "The Vatican's congregation for the causes of saints will now have valuable additional testimony that clarifies and adds significantly to the original submission.

"We believe that the congregation will now have all the information it needs to complete its assessment of the case, although of course this review could take several years."

The new report includes additional testimonies and interviews from witnesses and medical doctors who supported the original description of the reported miracle.

Father McGivney founded the knights in 1882, and died in 1890 at age 38. The cause for his sainthood was opened by Archbishop Daniel Cronin of Hartford in 1997. In March 2008, Benedict XVI declared him venerable.

"Father McGivney's beatification would be an important event," Anderson said, "not only for Knights of Columbus, but for the many thousands of parish priests who quietly do the Lord's work in parishes each day and regard him as an outstanding example for priests everywhere."

The supreme knight added, "In this Year for Priests it is an especially appropriate step forward."

***

ALLELUIA!!!
VIVAT JESUS!!

G.U.L.P. Exam

G.U.L.P.  - God's Undercover Liturgical Police.  As a trainee, one must quickly spot the Liturgical Not in a particular situation.

Take a look at the photo below and spot the Not.

 (Father Thomas Saw Htoo Htoo, the parish priest of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Yangon, blesses an elderly parishioner on Sept. 4, 2009. Father Htoo Htoo and his assistant, Father Camillus, make it a point to visit the elderly and sick every First Friday. (Photo by Catherine John/UCAN)

Rivalries among Catholic schools degrading education—Cardinal

A rather stale news but one that did not escape my eyes!

***

MANILA, Sept. 18, 2009— A senior Catholic bishop called on Catholic educators to look into the current deficiencies like the trend towards competition among schools bordering on unhealthy contest.

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said the problem defeats the real intention of Catholic education: evangelization. [now its commercialization!]

“Competition is good but when it is interpreted to be a contest among the rich, the values of charity and justice ear (sic) easily lost,” he said. [It was obviously a typo.  It should have read "and justice are easily lost."]

Cardinal Vidal made the statement in his homily on Friday during a Mass to formally close the three-day national convention of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines at the Manila Hotel.

According to the archbishop, the minds of young people are “impressionable” to dire things they see from their teachers of superiors.

“When they see their superiors and elders giving them a sense of being better than everyone else, then looking down on others as inferiors, charity and justice become patronizing attitudes,” he said.

The Church official said Catholic schools are called to be missionary because they are the potent means of evangelization. [Which was the reason why missionaries of old found schools.  It was a very effective means to evangelization and eventually towards conversion.  If the salvation of souls is still the reason why the religious congregations are in existence then this would be a no-brainer for them.  Unless they have a twisted theology on salvation...like those from Richard McBrien.]

Unhealthy competitions and even the growing cultural fixation of affluent people towards elitism in education, he stressed, are destroying Catholic education. [Couldn't agree more.  Most employers look to an applicant's Alma Mater rather than what the applicant can offer to the company.  My friend who was an HR Manager told me so.  She said that there is a some sort of "preference" for graduates of Philippine "Ivy League" Schools, if I may use the term.  But as per my experience as an employee and supervisor, the diploma is not an assurance that your employee would not be as stellar as the reputation of his school.  I've had my fair share of those who trumpet the name of their school but have nothing to prove whatsoever.  Just full of hot air.]

He said the emerging phenomenon that education sector is being used for profit should not just cause for alarm, but calls for action.  [Aside from founding a new religion or sect, education is a sure fire cash cow!]

“But then again we’re not after the money. The primary purpose of Catholic education is evangelization,” said the prelate. [I can suggest one teaching congregation that we can zero in on commercialization Your Eminence!]

Cardinal Vidal said Catholic schools are therefore challenged to work closely with the local Church and to be missionary institutions.

He added the schools are also called to advance a relevant yet prophetic education that seeks to promote social transformation in its programs and activities.

“This is the challenge of the Church to the schools to bring about the social and moral regeneration so that our people can participate more fully in the life of our nation and share in the goods of development,” he said. (Roy Lagarde)

***

My brother told me of a story after a game between the famous Blue Team and Green Team, the fabled rivalry in collegiate basketball.  His eldest is studying at the Blue School while his nephew is studying at the Green School.  Both kids are still in primary school.  He said that his nephew told him that he saw his classmates in their school yard crying profusely!  Why you might ask?  Just because their team lost to the Blue Team...

My goodness!  Are these the values Catholic schools are teaching our kids these days?

I am all for what the great Cardinal Vidal has said.

Huzzah to the Cardinal!

Know your Catholic Faith

Monk's Hobbit posted the schedule of free Apologetics Course seminars to be conducted by Defensores Fidei.

Here is the tentative schedule for Defensores Fidei 2009 Apologetics Course:

September 26 Church – Atty Marwil Llasos
October 3 Holy Bible – Chief de Vera
October 10 Papacy – Iboy Pinga
October 17 Sacraments 1 – Digoy Fernandez
October 24 Sacred Tradition/Magisterium – Dr. Dicky Boncan
October 31 Sacraments II – Fr. Abe Arganiosa, CRS (All Saints Day weekend!)
November 7 Church History – Chief de Vera
November 14 Mariology – Atty Marwil Llasos
November 21 Christology and Holy Trinity – Fr. Cayo Estrada
November 28 Sola Fidei/Sola Scriptura – Chief de Vera
December 5 Local Sects – Atty Marwil Llasos
December 12 ‘Bible Christians’ – Foreign Sects – Chief de Vera
December 19 Graduation and Christmas Party

Time: 9:00am – 12:00nn (Registration starts at 8:30am)

Fee: FREE ADMISSION

Venue:
Training Room of Amici Greenhills
3rd Floor Missouri Square Bldg
Connecticut corner Missouri Streets
Northeast Greenhills
Please call Lerma at 723-4326 for updates

***
Darn!  I have work every Saturday!  Podcast anyone?

Liturgical Inculturation in Asia

I was alerted by a faithful TPC reader (Thanks Mike!) by this. Monk's Hobbit also posted this and he has comments too. Read it here.

I have mine as well.

***

THE LITURGICAL YEAR AND INCULTURATION
13th A s i a n  L i t u r g y  F o r u m (ALF)
South-East Asian Region,
September 16-20, 2009
Bahay Pari, San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex, Edsa, Makati City

We, the delegates to the 13th Asian Liturgy Forum of South-East Asia, met from September 16-19, 2009 to discuss the timely and urgent topic of Liturgical Year and Inculturation. The meeting was held in Bahay-Pari of San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex, Makati City, Philippines, under the auspices of His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila to whom we express profound gratitude. The delegates to the meeting came from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. We are now pleased to share the result of our three-day meeting.

1. The history of the liturgical year shows that the calendar of feasts has been constantly adjusting itself to political, cultural, and religious environment of local Churches. [#@^@#$^.  The Pre-Vatican 2 liturgical calendar changes ONLY when feasts of saints are added.  This whole calendar was reformed after Vatican 2 even though the Council did not specify it!] This should serve as a guiding principle in our work of inculturating the liturgical year.

2. We note that inculturation normally takes place within the framework of approved liturgical books, whereby the substantial unity of the Roman Rite is preserved.  Hence, the inculturation of the liturgical calendar does not result in a totally new calendar that is an alternative to the typical edition of the Roman Rite. [They are trying to say "Hey relax.  We won't change anything."  Yeah...Right!]

3. However, [See that!] we acknowledge that inculturation might not always be sufficient to address certain local needs. [What needs are they trying to say here?]  We would not preclude the creation of particular liturgical calendars while retaining the register of feasts of the Roman Rite.

4. Roman traditional liturgical symbols may need to be adjusted in accord with the seasons of the year in the local Church. [What adjustments?  On what basis?] This would be applicable, for example, to liturgical feasts like Christmas and Easter whose original symbols do not correspond to existing seasons of the year in a particular Church. [This is dubious!]

5. Inspired by liturgical history, we recognize the role of local cultural and social traditions in the institution of some liturgical feasts like the Chair of St. Peter in Rome, which originated in the ancestral feast of ancient Rome called parentalia. In accord with liturgical norms, local Churches could institute feasts derived from their traditional and other established practices. [But the Chair of St. Peter has a universal appeal!  The Feast of the Sto. Niño is a local feast but it is still relevant BECAUSE it celebrates the childhood of Christ and the devotion Filipinos have for the Christ child.  It also brings to mind the conversion of the first Filipino Catholic who received the venerated image from Ferdinand Magellan as a baptismal gift.  Read here.)]

6. Likewise, the cycle of human work has shaped some liturgical celebrations like Rogation and Ember days. We believe that in the industrial world marked by the rhythm of work and rest, production and consumption, and strikes and negotiations, the Church should similarly establish pertinent liturgical feasts. [Yeah right!  Like Feast of Sick Leaves and Memorial of Materinity Leaves!  This shows you that these liturgists are more Man-centered, the me that is important!  See this kind of inculturation filth is completely different from the Christo-centric liturgy of Pre-Vatican 2!]

7. In regions where popular pious exercises abound and continue to be meaningful to the faithful the liturgical calendar can be enriched by the integration of popular religious practices with the liturgical feasts. [Oh yeah?  Why be so afraid of the EF Mass?  Why restrict it in Manila?  Why are there still no EF Masses in Manila Cathedral?  These pious exercises and they are meaningful.  Don't look too far.]

8. Sometimes political situations have left their mark on the liturgical calendar as witnessed by the institution of the feasts of Christ the King and St. Joseph the Worker. [SO?!] Local Churches may propose similar feasts to accompany the faithful across political systems. [Propose!  But do not impose it without the approval of the Holy See.  No railroading please like what THAT Belgian Cardinal did when he allowed Communion in the Hand even without the approval of Paul VI!]

In conclusion, given that time is relative, that situations are provisional, and that culture and traditions are in constant evolution, the Church should continue to revise, reinvent, and create liturgical feasts that meet the actual needs of the faithful. [DUBIOUS and DANGEROUS!  This is the premise of liturgical inculturists and revisionists.  They say that the Church always has to adopt and adapt to what the world wants and how the world wants it.  Before it was the other way around.  We worship because we need it.  Now these guys want it this way.  This is how we live...now this is how we should worship.]


That in all things God may be glorified. [Was this really written by the delegates or Fr. Anscar did the whole thing?  This signature gave him up!]

***
Notice how many times this statement uses the term "Local Church".

For all I care...this is a manifestation of liturgical "maniacs" pushing the panic button knowing that the Reform of the Reform is at hand!

Go enjoy yourselves while you can.  Pretend that you are the Episcopal Church, a DIY Christianity, but please don't infect us with your Man-centered brand of worship!

Padre Pio's Favorite Prayer

(It was said that when people ask for his prayers, Padre Pio would pray this Novena.  It has become a refuge for me whenever I ask for a special favor from the Lord.  Pray this always.  And whenever I pray to the Lord, I ask our Lady, "If it is not too much of a trouble, dear Mother, please pray with me during this time.  Ask the Lord to grant me, if it be according to His Will whatever I ask in His Name and through Your Intercession.  You did it before at Cana and have always did it ever since.  Please also pray for me.")

***

EFFICACIOUS NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART

O my Jesus, You have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and it will receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened to you." Behold, I knock, I seek, and I ask for the grace of ...(here add your request).

Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...Amen.

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. (Whom we love). Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death...Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end...Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.


Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...Amen.

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. (Whom we love). Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death...Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end...Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.


O my Jesus, You have said: "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you." Behold, in Your name, I ask the Father for the grace of...(here add your request).

Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...Amen.

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. (Whom we love). Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death...Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end...Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.


O my Jesus, You have said: "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." Encouraged by Your infallible words, I now ask for the grace of...(here add your request).

Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...Amen.

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. (Whom we love). Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death...Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end...Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.


O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have mercy on us sinners, and grant us the grace which we ask of You, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your tender mother and ours.

Hail, Holy Queen, our mother of mercy...our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we set up our sighs, morning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn thee then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary...Pray for us O loving mother of God that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ...Amen.

St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.

Happy St. Pio of Pietrelcina Day!

"Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer."

"Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God's heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips, but with your heart. In fact on certain occasions you should only speak to Him with your heart."

"Do you not see the Madonna always beside the tabernacle?"

"The longer the trial to which God subjects you, the greater the goodness in comforting you during the time of the trial and in the exaltation after the combat. "

"Keep close to the Catholic Church at all times, for the Church alone can give you true peace, since she alone possesses Jesus, the true Prince of Peace, in the Blessed Sacrament."

"Fear not because God is with you."

"Prayer is the oxygen of the soul."

"Who can assure us that we will be alive tomorrow? Let us listen to the voice of our conscience, to the voice of the royal prophet: "Today, if you hear God's voice, harden not your heart." Let us not put off from one moment to another (what we should do) because the (next moment) is not yet ours. "

"Oh, how precious time is! Blessed are those who know how to make good use of it. Oh, if only all could understand how precious time is, undoubtedly everyone would do his best to spend it in a praiseworthy manner!"

"The life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self; there is no flowering of the soul to the beauty of its perfection except at the price of pain."

"Do not disturb your soul at the sad spectacle of human injustice .... One day you will see the inevitable triumph of Divine justice over it."

"The pivot of perfection is love; he who lives in love lives in God, because God is love, as the Apostle says."

"To fail in charity is like wounding God in the apple of His eye. What is more delicate than the pupil of the eye? To fail in charity is like failing against nature."

"Try always to advance more in charity; enlarge your heart with confidence for the divine gifts which the Holy Spirit is anxious to pour into it."

"God can reject everything in a creature conceived in sin and of which it bears the indelible impression inherited from Adam. But He can absolutely not reject the sincere desire to love Him."

"Charity is the queen of virtues. As the pearls are held together by the thread, thus the virtues are held together by charity; as the pearls fall when the thread breaks, thus virtues are lost if charity diminishes."

"Humility and charity go hand in hand. The one glorifies, the other sanctifies."

"The time spent for the glory of God and the salvation of souls is never spent badly."

"Where there is no obedience, there is no virtue; where there is no virtue, there is no good. Where good is wanting, there is no love; where there is no love, God is absent; where God is absent, there is no heaven."

"Obey promptly! Do not consider the age or merit of the person. And in order to succeed, imagine you are obeying the Lord."


Most quotes courtesy of Catholic Fire

Papa Benny's got style...

The pope was pictured practicing before his meeting with U2 frontman, Bono.

Hmmm... Think he is ready.

Elderly Pro-lifer Assaulted in Arizona

Flagstaff, Ariz., Sep 21, 2009 (CNA).- Pro-life activist Johnny Wallace, 69, was attacked on Friday by two women as he stood holding two signs in front of City Hall in Flagstaff, Arizona. The women, both 48, yelled profanities at him, attempted to take his signs and wrestled him to the ground.

On the day of the attack, Wallace, who daily protests in front of City Hall, held two text-only signs. According to Operation Rescue, the signs said, “Abortion kills more black Americans in four days than the Klan killed in 150 years,” and the other, “Life begins at conception and ends at Planned Parenthood."

The two women who accosted Wallace were identified as Denise Redsteer and Laura Chapman. According to Northern Arizona Today, Wallace was knocked to the ground as he attempted to protect his signs from one of the women. The other woman then joined in the struggle.

Wallace was treated for minor injuries after the incident by medics called to the scene. Redsteer and Chapman were cited and released on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage.

Operation Rescue President Troy Newman released a statement on Monday commenting that Wallace was only “exercising his God-given rights as an American citizen when he was brutally assaulted because his attackers disagreed with his beliefs." [Right to free speech, Right to choose...the very same rights that these women were fighting for.  Guess they  really chose death rather than life.]

“This attack is especially disturbing because the motivation for the attack on Mr. Wallace was the same motivation that caused Harlan Drake to murder Jim Pouillon," Newman added. [Remember this news?  Oh yeah. CNN forgot this one too.]

Newman said that he believes there is “an increasing attitude that it is okay to hurt pro-life people if one does not agree with them. This disturbing trend must stop.” [If they can kill a defenseless innocent baby in the supposed to be "safest place" for him, "his own mother's womb", then what is there for pro-abortion people to stop them from hurting us?]

"We are thankful that Mr. Wallace was not hurt worse than he was, and pray that the violence against pro-life activists will come to an end," he stated.  [We can just hope and pray.]

***
I googled this news and found only one site to post this news.  Click here.

Guess CNN and other big news organizations don't care if an anti-abortion activist gets beaten up.

Bono to meet Benny

BONO TO MEET HIS SECOND POPE

U2 star BONO has been invited to sit down with POPE BENEDICT XVI.
The Catholic leader has invited the rocker, along with hundreds of other humanitarian artists and performers, to meet with him at the Sistine Chapelin the Vatican on 21 November (09).  If Bono accepts, it will be the second pontiff he has met in less than five years - the singer persuaded Pope John Paul to don his trademark sunglasses for the cameras in 2005.

Will this happen, this time with Papa Benny?

Visita Iglesia: St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church, Quezon City

We Pinoy Catholics have a tradition of visiting seven churches during Holy Thursday. Much the same as the tradition in Rome where pilgrims visit the the seven pilgrim churches as penance. They are Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter, Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul-outside-the-Walls, Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls, Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem, and traditionally Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls. Pope John Paul II replaced St. Sebastian with the Sanctuary of the Madonna of Divine Love for the jubilee year of 2000.

Even if it is not Holy Thursday, I will visit churches and will give my raves and comments about the church. Feel free to post in your comments as well

So here is my first offering.

First stop, St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church in the Diocese of Cubao, Quezon City.


Here is the outside of the parish church.

This is the inside of St. Paul the Apostle Parish Church in Quezon City.

I took this photo while a wedding was going on.

Notice the sanctuary? Drab...Iconoclastic...Modernist!  By the way, that crucifix there is slightly disfigured, bordering on being deformed.

Can't find the tabernacle? Yeah I was surprised too. After dipping my finger in holy water to sign myself with the Cross, I was about to genuflect when I cannot find the reason why I should genuflect at all!

I looked around and found a room/chapel in the left side of the church.

There, they have taken the Lord. Pews and kneelers inside.

***
 My verdict?  Where is "EXTREME CATHOLIC CHURCH MAKEOVER" when you need them?

The church does not lift your spirit, does not inspire you to prayer...  Take out the crucifix and you have one heck of an auditorium.  Oh, wait!  THAT would be an UGLY auditorium!

No sense of the sacred...

My disgust...INEFFABLE!!!

My prescription?  Visit The New Liturgical Movement and WDTPRS

Pray...

Laugh your heart out!
Blabber all day long!
Time is catching up on you!

Pray for his conversion before that eventual day...

Church in Vietnam under attack

The Communist regime is once again persecuting the Church in Vietnam.

Read more here.

Busy day!

Too much workload...

Blogging slowww...

The true face of abortion

Pro-choice...

We ALL are pro-choice.  It is in our nature as human beings to be free to choose whatever we want.

So it is a matter of choosing right or wrong, good or evil, LIFE or DEATH.

Watch this video and show them to people who will put their own rights first before the rights of those who do not have a voice to speak their own minds and the physical capacity to defend themselves.

The errors of Modernism...Placing Man and himself above everything else.

WARNING:  VERY TROUBLING IMAGES

Watch the video that CNN and NBC

***

TAKE THAT!!!

The Life and Martyrdom of the First Filipino Saint

"If I had a thousand lives, I will offer it all to him"  

SNAPSHOT: Fighting the winds of Change

These properly habbited Domincan sisters are able to fight of the "Vatican II Winds of Change", by being well grounded in Tradition...Thanks to their faithfulness to the Magisterium...

Robert Langdon aka Dan Brown

A quote from Dan Brown

***
"I have enormous respect for the Masons," Brown told The Associated Press during a recent interview. "In the most fundamental terms, with different cultures killing each other over whose version of God is correct, here is a worldwide organization that essentially says, `We don't care what you call God, or what you think about God, only that you believe in a god and let's all stand together as brothers and look in the same direction.'

***

It does not matter if the god you call is called Lucifer or if you invoke the name of your god for the annihilation of those who consider "unfaithful" (get the word play?)

This is one reason why Masonry is abhorred by the Catholic Church that membership is equal to automatic excommunication.

This is one reason why Catholics MUST NOT in anyway patronize the work of Dan Brown.  It's fuelling his filth factory! See my related post here

Epidemiologist: Pope Is Right About Condoms

PARIS, SEPT. 15, 2009 (Zenit.org).- There is a lack of realism in debate about condoms, according to a French epidemiologist who maintains that Benedict XVI's assertion that condom use can actually aggravate the AIDS crisis is "simply realistic."

René Ecochard, director of the biostatistics department at Lyon's University Hospital Center, signed a document last April supporting his case.

Speaking this week with France's La Manche Libre, Ecochard explained that there is "a lack of realism" on the condom issue, which he called a "prisoner of ideology."

This ideology brought an uproar in the Western press when Benedict XVI said en route to Africa on March 17 that the "problem of AIDS cannot be overcome merely with money, necessary though it is. If there is no human dimension, if Africans do not help [by responsible behavior], the problem cannot be overcome by the distribution of prophylactics: on the contrary, they increase it." [It's the attitude!  Not the plastic alone!]   Ecochard contended: It seems as though "opinion loses its points of reference when it addresses the issues of sexuality and the family."  The doctor acknowledged that part of the problem was "an error of understanding in public opinion."

He explained: "People thought that the Pope was speaking of the efficacy of the plastic, the condom, when in reality he was speaking of the campaigns to spread the condom. This is very different."

"As is true of every technological object of prevention, the condom has a quantified efficacy."

But therein is not the problem, Ecochard stated, "All epidemiologists agree today that the campaigns to distribute [condoms] in countries where the proportion of affected people is very high, do not work."

"If the condom works four out of five times," this might be sufficient "when AIDS is not widespread," he explained. "However, in a country in which 25% of young people 25 years old are affected -- Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia -- it isn't sufficient.

"The failure of this form of prevention is an epidemiological reality.

"Surrounded by experts, well informed by Rome's Academy of Sciences, the Pope mastered this issue very well before going to Africa." [The pope is not dumb to make those statements.]  Ecochard went on to reflect on the case of Uganda, the only country in which 25-year-old AIDS victims has been cut in third.  He noted that in Uganda, in addition to campaigns supporting condom distribution, there has been the ABC campaign: "Abstain, Be faithful, chastity or the condom." [Right on!]

"The presidential couple, religious groups, schools and businesses -- the whole world has supported this campaign," Ecochard noted. "It might be that this is not easy to copy from one country to another, but today, it's the only hope."

*** 
I once had a debate about the contraceptive issue with a superior.  He once argued why the Catholic Church (he is Catholic by the way, nominal though) and the Knights of Columbus (which I am) in particular are so against contraceptives when the world population is bloating.  I told him that it is an issue about life.  He countered by saying that contraceptives help families to have a decent life by controlling the population.  I told him that there are other ways to control the population but not through artificial means.  He answered "But people are lustful.  They just want to have sex all the time!  Just give them the means to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies!"  I told him that it is a matter of principle.  If we agree first and foremost when life begins, and what sex is all about, then we can continue in the debate of contraception.

We ended not agreeing because he defended his views in the mindset of Sigmund Freud while I did my best as a faithful son of the Church, following her teachings (based on Humanae Vitae and Evangelium Vitae).

Hard to convince someone who thinks we are born just to have sex... 

Blair: Conversion journey started with the Mass

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has discussed his conversion to Catholicism in an interview with L’Osservatore Romano.

“My spiritual journey began when I started to go to Mass with my wife,” he said. " "Then we decided to baptize our children in the Catholic faith. It was a journey that lasted 25 years, or perhaps more. In time, emotionally, intellectually and rationally it seemed to me that the Catholic home was the right one for me. When I left political office, and I no longer had all the context connected with being prime minister, it was something I really wanted to do.”

“One of the things that has most attracted me to the Catholic Church is her universal nature. If you are a Catholic, you can go anywhere in the world and attend Mass. I was at Mass in Kigali, Beijing, Singapore,” [Imagine if the whole Catholic world was still celebrating the EF Mass.  Everywhere you go, you have the same Mass, same rubrics, same readings.  Nothing to surprise you.  Now that is something.] he added. “The fact that wherever you are, you are in communion with others is really formidable.”

***

Let us pray that Mr. Blair remains steadfast in his faith and that he remains faithful to Her teachings.  Remember that he once criticized the pope about the Holiness' view on homosexuality.

Rosary pledges exceed 1-M target

MANILA, Sept. 14, 2009— New figures released this week by a Marian organization show the Filipinos’ strong devotion towards the regular recitation of the rosary.

The "Confraternity of Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace," an organization based in the Philipines, said rosary pledges for the “glorification” of Mary Mediatrix [or the declaration of the dogma!] have exceeded its one million target since the campaign started early this year.

“We now have 1,441,680 rosary pledges from Marian devotees,” said Fr Melvin Castro, founder and president of the Catholic organization.

The rosary crusade started last May 31 and targets devotees not only from the Philippines but also from different countries.

The initiative strives to offer Our Lady a bouquet of 1 million rosaries from Catholics who will pledge to say the rosary regularly from May 31, feast of the Pentecost and to culminate on Dec. 8, feast of the Immaculate Conception.

“By December 8, we will then present it to Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and of course to the Holy Father through the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams,” Fr Castro said.

The rosary crusade is also intended for the sanctification of the clergy and the family, for the true devotion to the Blessed Mother to flourish in the country and “for the graces necessary to guide the authorities deliberating the validity of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin, as Mediatrix of All Grace at Lipa”.

“Let us pray that those who are tasked to deliberate on the 1948 apparitions at Lipa will be guided by Holy Wisdom to discern its validity and thereafter make the necessary official pronouncements,” the priest added. (CBCPNews)

***

Join the rosary crusade!

Confraternity of Mary, Mediatrix of All-Grace
c/o Rev. Fr. Melvin P. Castro
Chancellor - Diocese of Tarlac
Bishop's Residence
Tarlac City 2300
PHILIPPINES

Telefax #: (045) 982-1938
Celfone #: (0918) 517-0803 or (0919) 618-1441

Email address: confraternity@marymediatrixofallgrace.org

At home where he really belongs...

He swims in the same murky swamp with these guys... 

Are we "required" to follow Vatican II as if it were a dogma?

Required here means on the same level as a dogma like the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.  We cannot call ourselves Catholic but do not believe the truth of the Faith.

In response to those who place Vatican II in the pedestal of the greatest and only teachings Catholics MUST follow... as if it is a dogma and denial of such is tantamount to excommunication.

Courtesy of my brother knight, The Catholic Knight

***

THE CATHOLIC KNIGHT: Pope Benedict XVI (while Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) clearly stated the nature of the Second Vatican Council was pastoral, as the council defined no doctrine infallibly, and sought to maintain a lower profile than previous ecumenical councils....

 

The Second Vatican Council has not been treated as a 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; and yet many treat it as though it had made itself into a sort of superdogma which takes away the importance of all the rest.

                                                                                      Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI
                                                                                       given July 13, 1988, in Santiago, Chile

This echoes the words of Pope Paul VI, who concluded the Second Vatican Council, and also stated it was purely pastoral in nature, having not applied the "note of infallibility" to any particular document...

In view of the pastoral nature of the Council, it avoided any extraordinary statements of dogmas endowed with the note of infallibility, but it still provided its teaching with the authority of the Ordinary Magisterium which must be accepted with docility according to the mind of the Council concerning the nature and aims of each document.

                                                                                                                           Pope Paul VI
                                                                                                              General Audience, 12 January 1966
***
These dissidents are not so hard to find.  Here in the Philippines, they are bred in a theology school named for the "a deceased queen of England who resides in an area in the City of Glasgow" [Suddenly felt like Dan Brown there.].

And these dissidents want you to believe and follow what they say...rather than the pope!

Yeah... right!  Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes!