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Friday, April 30, 2010

One of the best blog posts

Father Z re-posted parts of the Creative Minority report's post.  He made the comment.  I couldn't agree more.  Here is the post...

***

Pro-lifers like me love science and technology. Yup. We're like science geeks without the comic books. And we've got girlfriend and wives.

For years, religious people have been called backward and anti-science while pro-lifers actually couldn't wait for scientific and technological breakthroughs so we could all get a better look inside the womb and understand better what it is to be human. I think everyone must remember the first time they saw a 4-d ultrasound. It changes you. It's changed lots of people.

The moment America saw the delicate, beautiful, and strong hand, the human features, the smiles, the thumbsucking of a 20-week-old baby in the womb much of America reconsidered everything we took for granted. When we see five beautiful fingers that only a loving God would take the time to create reach out, it changed everything.


Poll numbers in recent years have taken a decidedly pro-life turn and while part of that is simply that pro-lifers have more children another aspect that shouldn't be dismissed is that the more we see inside the womb the more difficult it is to believe the lies of abortionists who say it's a blob of tissue.

The unspoken message of the ultrasound is clear to all with an open heart: “I'm human—just like you.”

It was the same message of Harriet Beecher Stowe whose novel “Uncle Tom's Cabin” made the horrors of slavery impossible to ignore. It was the message of Rosa Parks who awakened a slumbering country to the evils of racism by the simple act of sitting down. It is the message of the victims and the oppressed throughout our history: “"I'm human—just like you.”

That moment when a woman sees an ultrasound will encourage millions to reconsider where they stand on the issue of when life begins. And that's why pro-aborts are fighting to keep women in the dark as to what/who is growing inside them.

I have great faith that science is on our side simply because truth is on our side
. And the recent spate of ultrasound laws, I think, are a great thing. And I think before the country is willing to listen to a pro-lifer saying "don't" they might just listen to pro-lifers saying "look."


***

HUZZAH TO CREATIVE MINORITY REPORT!

PART 2: Hope to see this...soon!



His Hermeneuticalness, Tim Cardinal Finigan and his Vicar General, Msgr. John Zuhlsdorf!

Do visit the blogs of these great priest and the great service they do for the Church!

Sell them all!

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 16, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The proposal of a member of the social networking Web site Facebook suggesting that the Vatican should exchange its treasures for food in Africa is an impossibility due to international law, says Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes. [Aside from international law...I'll get on this at length later.]

The president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum [After Paul VI's speech in 1972 in which he says:  "So we were able to give your ecclesial action for aid the name of one heart, a heart that beats in rhythm with the heart of Christ, whose pity for the hungry multitudes reaches them even in their spiritual hunger"] said this Friday to ZENIT at a press conference Friday in which he commented on the online petition titled "Exchange the Vatican’s Treasures for Food for Africa. Do You Want to Sign a Petition?"
The cardinal noted that, apart from the ideological aspect of the proposal, the Pope cannot consider it because he is prevented from doing so by international law.

This Pontifical council is responsible for the direction and coordination among the charitable organizations and activities promoted by the Catholic Church.

Alberto Juesas Escudero of Spain launched the initiative, which now has more than 40,000 supporters. [see how many uninformed people there are?  I wish my petition to Stop Communion in the Hand reaches the same number so I can deliver this, hoepfully, personally to the Holy Father!] Escudero claims "it is a shameful to see the Vatican’s riches and then watch the news."

He explained that what motivated him to issue this invitation was that he believes the Vatican "does not admit its errors. [...] It does not preach by example. Jesus was born in a cave and lived in poverty." [So we are Christians...As Christians, we should follow Him. So, Mr. Escudero...Were you born in a cave?  Are you living a life of poverty?]

The youth concluded: "The Vatican is a disgrace! The Catholic religion is a disgrace!" [Hate the Catholic Church.  Such a trend.]

In answer to ZENIT’s questions, Cardinal Cordes explained that he has heard similar proposals for the past 40 years, and that before it was even much more frequent. [The hate has been going on.]

When John Paul II called him to Rome to work in the Curia, he observed that "the climate against the Vatican was very strong."

He explained, "I had looked into [the status of the Vatican’s holdings] and found out that the Church cannot do what it wants with the works of art that are in the Vatican."

In reality, he said, the Church "has the duty to conserve the works of art in the name of the Italian state." He affirmed, "It cannot sell them."

The prelate recalled an incident in the 1970s when a benefactor made a donation to renovate the Collegio Teutonico inside the Vatican, and the residence director wanted to give this person a small statue -- of a meager value compared to the others in the Vatican Museums -- as a gesture of gratitude.

The German benefactor had a lot of problems with the Italian state, as he was accused of taking goods that Italy was charged with safeguarding.

"In every country there are a lot of measures for the defense of works of art, because the state has a duty to maintain them," Cardinal Cordes added, noting that the Holy See treasures are also part of Italian cultural history.

The Cor Unum president underlined the work of the Catholic Church in health services and education in various regions in Africa. [Do all those who signed the petition know what the Church is doing in terms of charitable work?]

"When they come to meet the Pope, the African presidents recognize this," he said.

Without the Church, he affirmed, a huge part of those afflicted with AIDS would be abandoned, because the Church, with its network of hospitals, is the organization that cares for the largest number of people affected by the virus. [Do they know this even before they signed up?]

The cardinal noted that the Pope's upcoming March 17-23 visit to Cameroon and Angola is drawing the attention of the global media to Africa, and making the world more aware of the needs of that continent. He expressed the hope that the Papal trip will promote concrete acts of solidarity and respect.

***

Does anyone of those who signed know of the work of the many Catholic orders and congregations and lay organizations such as Catholic Charities and the Knights of Columbus?  Do they have any idea how much money and manpower hours the men and women of these organizations give to men and women around the world regardless of their race, sex, age and creed?

If they want to sell the treasures of the Vatican...then why not do the same to the...

SMITHSONIAN?
THE LOUVRE?
CAIRO AND BRITISH MUSEUM?

AND ALL OTHER MUSUEMS OF THE WORLD!

SELL THE EIFFEL TOWER, THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, THE PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT AND ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SELL

Then we would have so much money, we have more than enough to feed the hungry of Africa...

Then  when they get sick and hungry again...

Let us make more works of art and then sell them...

!@#$^%$!$@&%

Another plot for Dan Brown's new novel...

Google and The Holy See unite!

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 18, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Google, a symbol of the seemingly endless possibilities of the Internet, will team up with the Vatican Television Center and Vatican Radio in a joint venture to give Benedict XVI his own YouTube channel. [That's great!]

According to the Vatican press office, texts and video footage of the Pope's speeches supplied by Vatican radio and television would be posted directly onto the video-sharing Web site.

Details of the initiative will be announced Friday in conjunction with the publication of Benedict XVI's message for the 43rd World Communications Day. Saturday is the feast of St. Francis de Sales, patron of journalists. [and professional communicators, my Patron!]

The theme for the day, which will be celebrated May 31, is "New Technologies, New Relationships: Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship."

Henrique de Castro, Managing Director Media Solutions for Google, will be present at the press conference to announce the initiative between the Internet company and the Vatican.

Also present will be Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Monsignor Paul Tighe, secretary of the same council, and Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of Vatican Radio, Vatican Television Center and the Vatican press office.

***

Keep the Pope's YouTube channel in your favorites!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Solemn Pontifical Mass at the faldstool in the Philippines!!!

Thanks to Mark Bunag for the photos.  He was the Masters of Ceremonies of the Solemn Pontifical High Mass in honor of St. Peter Canisius and celebrated by His Excellency ANTONIO R. TOBIAS, Bishop of Novaliches. The Mass was held in Seven Joys of Mary Chapel of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate on April 27, 2010 at 10:30 am. The Mass was attended by the whole community of sisters, third orders of the FI, friends and benefactors and even those living within the neghborhood.  A blessed moment indeed!  Hope the TLM will have a regular home in the Diocese!

HUZZAH  YOUR EXCELLENCY!!!


The cappa magna of the bishop

The chapel

Cappa magna rules!!!

Prayers at the foot of the altar

Confiteor...

The schola, composed of the Franciscan Sisters

The Canon

Communion

Procession to the chapel after Mass


Final blessing

Posing for posterity


As the great Father Z says "Brick by brick..."

For this I offer the following:

More family meals...

From CNN.com

***

A rabbi walks into St. Peter's Square, meets the pope, and tells the Holy Father that one way to defuse the sex abuse scandal plaguing the church is for the Vatican to begin promoting a secular version of Shabbat dinner, the traditional Jewish Friday meal.

 This is a typical Filipino family eating together


It's no joke.

A prominent American rabbi, Shmuley Boteach, spoke briefly to Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday about encouraging parents to eat dinner with their children as a way for the Vatican to re-establish its pro-family image, which has been battered by the priest sex abuse scandal, Boteach said. [Sitting together at the family table for meals is not a problem for Filipinos until recently most of the youth work at odd hours.  So rarely can you find family members eating meals together.  And most families eat out!  No quality time together.]

The brief exchange came after the pope's regular Wednesday address at the Vatican, during which Boteach was seated on a dais along with other Vatican guests. When he met Benedict on a receiving line afterward, Boteach pitched him on his family dinner initiative, called "Turn Friday Night into Family Night."

"I said ... 'If the church embraces an initiative like this, which is positive, it could put a lot of the scandal behind it,'" [This is a nice way to inculturate.  Leaving the LITURGY ALONE!] Boteach said, recounting his chat with the pope. "People will see the church doesn't just speak about opposition to gay marriage and abortion.'"

The pope appeared to be receptive to the idea, Boteach said. " 'We have to work together on this, we have to work together on this,' " Boteach quoted the pope as saying. But, Benedict did not make a firm commitment to the family dinner initiative, the rabbi said.

The Vatican was not immediately available for comment.

"The church is now perceived as not being a champion of families because the scandal has hit with so much force," [That is the perception of a few evil entities.] Boteach said. "I came (to the Vatican) as a friend and as someone who is critical as well. Because my criticism is real, the church knows my friendship is real."

Following his talk with the pope, Boteach said he was invited to meet with Cardinal Walter Kasper, who spearheads the Vatican's Jewish outreach, with whom Boteach fleshed out his criticism of the church's response to priestly sex abuse.

Boteach was invited to the Vatican to look over documents related to Pope Pius XII, the Holocaust-era church leader who Benedict has signaled he would like to move closer to sainthood. [This is interesting.]

The rabbi has been a spiritual adviser to Michael Jackson, who died last year, and a frequent guest on Oprah Winfrey's talk show. [Ohhhh....kaaayyy....]

A number of recent Vatican actions have caused tensions between the church and the Jewish world. Last year, Benedict lifted the excommunication of a Holocaust-denying bishop, Richard Williamson. [CNN never fails.]

Earlier this month, the pope's personal preacher compared the fury over sexual abuse within the church to anti-Semitism, though the priest, the Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa, later apologized. [Still going...]

But Boteach has been impressed by the Vatican's overtures to him and to other Jewish leaders. "I thinks he's a friend to the Jews -- a very close friend," Boteach said of the pope.

Boteach said that the Vatican had shown him documents from its private archive showing that Pius XII, a controversial figure among Jews, rescued Italian Jews during the Holocaust. But Boteach remains critical of Pius, saying he displayed "absolute silence in condemning the Nazi Holocaust outright, which might have gone to great lengths to prevent it." [And he thinks the pope can stop the Holocaust?!  Yeah right.  No wonder he is close to Oprah!]

The church has said that Pius would have put more Jews in danger by publicly condemning the Holocaust because it would have provoked the Nazis.

***

A minute ago he talked sense...
Then...it went downhill.

Only when families stay and do things together can the bonds of love and trust be strengthened among family members thus can help families face the facts of life.
As the great Rosary priest said "THE FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER."

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Crucifix: Sign of Contradiction

 (This is the crucifix that spoke to Padre Pio and which gave him the stigmata.  The picture above is courtesy of of John Sonnen of Orbis Catholicus Secundus)

ROME, APRIL 26, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The "rousing" force of the cross has been rediscovered, said the Pontifical Council for the Laity secretary while reflecting on the 26th anniversary of the World Youth Day Cross.

Bishop Josef Clemens stated this Thursday in a Mass at the international youth center of San Lorenzo, which houses the cross gifted by John Paul II to youth on April 22, 1984.

The center, created by the Pontiff in 1983, is near St. Peter's Square and holds the cross when it is not on pilgrimage around the world. [See the photo below of the World Youth Day Cross courtesy of John Sonnen of Orbis Catholicus Secundus.]

Bishop Clemens noted in his homily that "the recent controversies over the presence of the crucifix in public buildings, in schools and hospitals, has enabled us to understand the 'rousing' capacity of the cross of Christ." [Do you know who hates crucifixes?]

The cross "is increasingly a sign of contradiction, a question that calls for answers by the 'deacons of the Word' and, in our days, it calls for even more answers from 'deacons of Christian life,'" the prelate affirmed.

Father Eric Jacquinet, director of the San Lorenzo Center and head of the youth section of the laity council, explained that "it is important to present the message of the cross to young people who come here."

He continued, "Young people know suffering, failures, doubt, mourning: They need to find consolation, strength and hope." [After Calvary is the empty tomb.  In a materialistic world, everything is short-cut, and microwaveable!  Good Friday first before Easter.]

"When young people come to venerate the cross with great faith, their hearts are touched," Father Jacquinet said. "For some, veneration of the cross is the most important moment of the pilgrimage to Rome."

The youth of the San Lorenzo center made a video titled "The Power of the Cross" to illustrate this "rousing" force. The video, made in collaboration with H2O News and the Emmanuel Community of Rome, was presented at the end of the Mass. [The youth made it!  Get it?  The YOUTH!]

The documentary includes the testimonies of 17 young people, not only recounting the history of the youth day cross, but above all the power manifested in it and the love for humanity that led Christ to accept death.

On the video, young people tell stories about the loss of a friend, the lack of a father in a family, or the loss of an unborn child. They tell of how they have been able to find true forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and joy only in Christ and in his cross.

The video, which is currently only available for viewing in the San Lorenzo Center, is ready in Italian, English, French, Spanish, German and Polish.

It aims to be an instrument of evangelization, communicating to young people who attend the center the mystery of the cross. The video will be used to receive groups and individuals in the center, and will accompany the youth day cross in its journeying to the dioceses of the whole world.

***

Where is the crucifix of your parish church located?  The center or to the side?  Speaks a lot about your parish priest.

Do you carry a crucifix with you?

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Request for prayers: For a good friend

Please say a prayer for my good friend Jay.  He requests our prayers for him and his work at the University. Please pause for a moment and say the Memorare for him, his family and his particular intentions.


Brother Anthony Kowalczyk, (pictured above) was an ardent devotee of our dear Mother.  Whenever someone asks him for prayers, he would say "Ave", that is to say the Ave Maria.  Before he would say a prayer for those requesting it from him, he would pause for a moment and say to our dear Lady,

"Pardon me dear Mother, if I trouble you again."

He trusts our Mother so much.  He even asks our Lady to pardon him for always asking something from our Mother.  Why not?  If He so trusts Himself to be born of Her, nurtured, reared and brought up...who are we to not place our lives to Her care.

And so, please pause for a moment,say the words that Brother Anthony said and say these prayers...

Áve María, grátia pléna, Dóminus técum. 
Benedícta tu in muliéribus, 
et benedíctus frúctus véntris túi, Iésus.
Sáncta María, Máter Déi, óra pro nóbis peccatóribus, 
nunc et in hóra mórtis nóstrae. Ámen.

MEMORARE, O piissima Virgo Maria,
non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia,
tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia,
esse derelictum.
Ego tali animatus confidentia,
ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro,
ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto.
Noli, Mater Verbi,
verba mea despicere;
sed audi propitia et exaudi.
Amen.

Another Pinoy bishop to celebrate the EF Mass!

I read through Facebook posts that Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias will be celebrating an EF Low Mass today. He is the second Ordinary to celebrate the TLM after Bishop Camilo Gregorio Bishop Prelate of Batanes.


Can someone send me updates and/or photos?

I know that I have oftern criticized Bishop Tobias for his over involvement in the political situation in the country.  And, honestly, I did not expect this to happen...so....

Huzzah for Bishop Tobias!!!

What the?!?!?!


"Hey Pinoy Catholic! What are you complaining? This is the modern day donkey!"

Eeyore! Eeyore! Eeyore!

Wish I had a dollar everytime I hear that!

By the way, the priest in the photo is Fr. Gerry Tapiador, SSL, Vicar General of the Diocese of Novaliches. He is a biblical expert. Just so you know.

CBCP News reporter gets it mixed up

LAS PIŇAS, Parañaque, April 26, 2010—The Five Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ Parish in Las Piñas City has celebrated its silver feast day April 18, 2010 with a solemn High Mass officiated by Parañaque Bishop Jesse Eugenio Mercado, D.D. [We do not have that term forthe Novus Ordo Mass. The Solemn High Mass is only used for the Tridentine Mass. Obviously the one who wrote the report is not aware that such term is not used in the OF anymore.  Well,I once heard our parish priest say, "Let us have High Mass."  I later found out that all that was added was him vesting in chasuble and having incense.  He only wears an alb and stole for Mass.  See the reason why I am a member of SLAP and GULP?]

Various liturgical activities were held prior the celebration of the feast day such as the administration of the sacraments of Confirmation, Mass Wedding and celebration of Pista sa Nayon, on the 9th, 17th and 15th of April respectively.

The confirmation was officiated by retired Manila auxiliary Bishop Teodoro J. Buhain, Jr. D.D while the Mass Wedding of 12 couples was officiated by Fr. Dennis Batacandolo, CSS, the parish priest of the Five Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ, together with two other concelebrants.

A film on the life of Padre Pio was shown on April 13. A Medical-Dental mission took place on April 16 at the parish medical-dental center in the morning. In the evening of the same day, the parishioners gathered for a dinner dance in commemoration of the Five Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ. A showdown of the clusters of the parish was performed in the evening of April 17. [Good!  Not during the Mass!  Dance all the way till the morning!  But not during the Mass!  I hope they did not have one.  Can someone confirm this?]

Administered by the priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of our Lord Jesus Christ (CSS), the Parish of the Five Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ will celebrate the culmination of its silver jubilee year on June 12, 2010.

On the occasion of its jubilee year, the parish of the Five Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ has been designated as a pilgrimage church by Pope Benedict XVI through a decree, from June 12, 2009 to June 12, 2010.

Likewise, the CSS community in the Philippines will mark its silver jubilee of foundation on June 12, 2010.

The CSS congregation was founded by St. Gaspar Bertoni in Verona, Italy in 1777. (Vanessa Puno)


***

Let's end this post on a happy note shall we?

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIVE WOUNDS OF OUR LORD OF JESUS CHRIST PARISH!!!

GULP Alert: EMHCs

Here is something why I am not so confident of having a stricter regulation on the recruitment of EMHCs.

From Ben Vallejo...

***
Dear PinoyCatholic

Let me tell you about a Eucharistic horror in the Diocese of Pasig!

During Communion at a Mass in that diocese, I made a sign (clasped hands in prayer) that I would like to receive the Sacred Host the old way. The Extraordinary Minister of Communion DROPPED THE HOST since he did not want it on my tongue! [How he dropped It, we can only imagine!]

It was good that my reflexes were good and I caught the Lord in my left hand!

Now I do know that Catholics can receive the Host orally even in churches where the indult of receiving it on the hand is given. A Catholic need only to have his hands clasped in prayer (as in the way people have done for 2000 years!)

And BTW, the late Cardinal Sin (when Pasig was part of the Archdiocese of Manila) gave an indult for communion in the hand for public health reasons. Now with the reason gone, why is the indult still there?

***

I am sure that you are not the only one who experienced this horror, Ben.  And I can only imagine the feeling of disgust at the attitude of the EMHC.

Let me share with you a somewhat similar experience.  And this one does not even involve an EMHC but a PRIEST!

I went to Mass with my wife.  I DO NOT receive Communion in the Hand. So, I put down my hand but they are clasped.  From the queue, I could see how the priest distributed the Hosts.  He would grab a number of Hosts in his hand and flip it to the hands of the communicants.  He is handling the Hosts as if they were poker chips!  I could also see that he is not saying "The Body of Christ"  when he gives Them.  When it was my time to communicate, I said "Amen" even if I did not hear him say "The Body of Christ".  I was sticking my tongue out but I could not feel the Host touch it.  When I opened my eye, I saw the priest inserting the Host into my clasp hands!

Now for the love of God, I do not consider this guy a priest anymore.  He is downright unworthy of the priesthood!

I reasoned to my wife that I will report this to the bishop but my wife told me to let it go and pray for old guy. By the way, this happened in the cathedral in the South.  I haven't seen the priest anymore.


Things to ponder regarding our experiences, Ben:

1.  There are certain cases when the priest can distribute Communion yet there is a platoon of EMHC distributing Communion.  Watch Studio 23's  Mass every Sunday morning and you'll see what I mean.  During this years' Chrism Mass in our diocese, the same thing happened.  Imagine...Chrism Mass...all priests of the diocese, secular or religious is in attendance. YET...EMHCs distributed Holy Communion aside from the bishop and 4 priests!  Is it really a necessity to have the EMHCs, even if they are the EXTRAORDINARY MINISTER to do the task of distributing Holy Communion or are the priests really are into the "laicization"of certain roles of the ordained priesthood even though this is considered an abuse in Redemptionis Sacramentum? In articles 157 and 158 of RS it says:
157.  If there is usually present a sufficient number of sacred ministers for the distribution of Holy Communion, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion may not be appointed. Indeed, in such circumstances, those who may have already been appointed to this ministry should not exercise it. The practice of those Priests is reprobated who, even though present at the celebration, abstain from distributing Communion and hand this function over to laypersons
158. Indeed, the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion may administer Communion only when the Priest and Deacon are lacking, when the Priest is prevented by weakness or advanced age or some other genuine reason, or when the number of faithful coming to Communion is so great that the very celebration of Mass would be unduly prolonged. [Usually Communion service in Sunday Masses in the Philippines do not last more than 10 minutes.  So is there a need for EMHCs?]  This, however, is to be understood in such a way that a brief prolongation, considering the circumstances and culture of the place, is not at all a sufficient reason.
 For all I care, there are only three reasons that I could think of why this happens:

          1.  Those priests are too lazy to do their jobs.
          2.  Some priests act dumb as if they do not know anything about Redemptionis Sacramentum,which
                unfortunately most do not.
          3.  That dreaded "active participation"of the laity.


2.  EMHCs are not properly disposed liturgically and theologically; thus the need for stricter regulations of this great privilege of holding the Lord and distributing Him for Holy Communion.  I personally know some EMHCs in our parish.  Most are retirees.  Some would love to join a lot of lay organizations.  Some are only after the position of being around the sanctuary.  All of them...and I mean ALL of them...I asked during a casual conversation about the parts of the Mass(OF), and you know what?  They could not even tell me!  How come our priests and bishops trust these men who could not even answer a simple question about the Mass?!  Some EMHCs lay hands and bless the children who come with their parents for Communion.  Lay men cannot make a blessing and make gestures as if they received Holy Orders!  I cannot even hear some say the words "The Body of Christ" audibly!

The words of the Lord come to mind..."Do not give to the dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls to the pigs..."

3. The ordinary practice of receiving communion is through the mouth.  Receiving by Hand, which I abhor in the strongest possible terms, [SIGN THE PETITION!] is an INDULT, meaning it is an option.  It is not the norm but an option.  Most of our EMHC are on auto-pilot.  What they see as common, is the right thing.  So it most receive in the hand and our priest promote the practice, THEN PROBABLY, they surmise, it IS the ordinary way.  No one can force you to receive by the hand!


I have been invited a countless number of times to be an EMHC and I politely declined because:

1.  I do NOT agree to this practice.
2.  I AM AGAINST COMMUNION IN THE HAND.  If ever I become an EMHC, I do not want to be forced to give Communion in this way.


Do we expect our bishops to act this decisively?  DO NOT EXPECT THIS.  Not in the near future.

With this seemingly cold hearted, go with the flow attitude of our bishops regarding liturgical abuses, better document it. Get a photo or a video and I'll upload it on my blog.  If I can, I'll write a letter to Cardinal Levada of the CDF to report the abuses committed in our country which our dear bishops do not even dare lift a finger to address properly. National politics come first usually.

Enough of the talk.  Let us walk the talk for our priests and bishops.  If they will not do it, then we will.

Ben, if you can have the name of the EMHC, report it to the parish priest.  Hope your priest acts on it!  If not, we'll think of a better way to get your priest's attention.

To Ben, Catholic Defender, Gerald...to members of SLAP (Survivors of Liturgical Abuse in Parishes) and GULP (God's Undercover Liturgical Police) and all those who read my blog...

Let this be our inspiration to stay vigilant...

Monday, April 26, 2010

GULP Alert: Losing the sense of the sacred

From Catholic Defender...

***
I have a bad experience with FEMALE ALTAR SERVERS in the Diocese of Malolos, Holy Family Parish in Sapang, Palay, Bulacan.

The newly built house of worship was perfect for worship. However before each masses, the situation inside was like a MARKET. Before the entrance procession, the LADY ALTARS [?!] were lined up, some didn't even tie their shaggy hairs. And to my indignation, two ladies chitchat while in the isle for 30min, with a comb in one hand and candle on the other and combs her hair constantly like she's in front of a mirror.

I tried to call the attention of one of the leading older male altar servers but to no avail. [Unfortunately, the older they get, the longer they were in service of the parish, the hard-headed they get!  Take it from someone who has to learn a lot of patience dealing with the "Reverend Mothers."]

Adding insult to injury, though there are lots of Mass ushers in uniform, no one was checking the behavior of their own. The HERMANA's were talking so loud that in my desire to pray I can't even consentrate.

During communion, there were small kids who line up for communion. At isa pang nagsalita "P**ang ina, ang haba ng pila.." [Oh my...] so I told this young boy to stop receiving the communion.

After the Mass, those sampaguita vendors even steps inside to sell their sampaguitas.. i told these needy vendors to respect the sacredness of the Church...

I hope the parish priest of this Parish or at least the Bishop will read this comment.

It happened not only once, it happened many times, otherwise I won't point this out.

We need to make our Churches sacred for this is where we all worship the One TRUE God, the Bread of Life...

***

First of all, why are there still altar servers in the Diocese of Malolos?  Is this for the sake of novelty?  Was there even a call from the faithful for "full active participation" and the need for "gender sensitivity" within the Altar Servers?  I seriously doubt it.  I think this is novelty for novelty's sake.  Or the other paradigm..."if it's new, it must be good!  If it's old, it must be bad."

Let us remember that boys are made altar servers because they are being invited or "lured", "tempted" to consider the ORDAINED ministry.  How will this happen to girls as altar servers? 

I cannot blame the people for being too noisy in church before the Mass or any liturgical celebration IF the environment encourages them to be so.  If for quite sometime, liturgical celebrations are conducted in an atmosphere that encourages people to take the Mass and the newly built church for granted, then we cannot blame the people for acting in such way.

It is the role of our priests and bishops to orient people towards the holy.  The vital role of catechism, the proper construction of our churches, the solemnity of our liturgy (which obviously must discard the mundane songs and dances) would definitely help the people know and experience the Holy.

Take this from Sacrosanctum Concilium

30. To promote active participation, the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes. And at the proper times all should observe a reverent silence.
Take note that the Council Father envisioned active participation in these terms:

The people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes.

Active participation is in terms of the people ACTIVELY responding and singing and through actions, gestures and bodily attitudes. Unfortunately, liturgists who have dissenting agendas, used this as a creative license to do whatever they want with the Mass...And so started the disintegration of the holy character of the Mass.  Not that I am saying that the Mass lost EVERYTHING that is holy.  No!  That is heresy!

I am saying that by emphasizing more on Man (the dancing, the secular music, the over simplification of church architecture and design), the emphasis on the "communal meal" rather than the same sacrifice of Calvary, people have begun to see the Mass as a community activity, a gathering, which, not surprisingly, ready-made liturgies like Euchalette and Sambuhay, ALWAYS emphasizes.


As a lowly cardinal said in two separate occassions:

We ought to get back the dimension of the sacred in the liturgy. The liturgy is not a festivity; it is not a meeting for the purpose of having a good time. It is of no importance that the parish priest has cudgeled his brains to come up with suggestive ideas or imaginative novelties. The liturgy is what makes the Thrice-Holy God present amongst us; it is the burning bush; it is the Alliance of God with man in Jesus Christ, who has died and risen again. The grandeur of the liturgy does not rest upon the fact that it offers an interesting entertainment, but in rendering tangible the Totally Other, whom we are not capable of summoning. He comes because He wills. In other words, the essential in the liturgy is the mystery, which is realized in the common ritual of the Church; all the rest diminishes it. Men experiment with it in lively fashion, and find themselves deceived, when the mystery is transformed into distraction, when the chief actor in the liturgy is not the Living God but the priest or the liturgical director. - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Chile, 1988)
 Do we still need sacred space, sacred time, mediating symbols? Yes, we do need them, precisely so that, through the "image," through the sign, we learn to see the openness of heaven. We need them to give us the capacity to know the mystery of God in the pierced heart of the Crucified. - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Spirit of the Liturgy )

Just like you, we all pray that our priests and bishops inculcate that love of the Mass and the liturgy just like how St. John Marie Vianney loved them.

Try talking to your parish priest.  I hope he is not too defensive just like much of the priests I talked to when confronted with the same issue.

If push comes to shove, video tape it and send it to the CDF or upload it on YouTube.  I'll even post it here on TPC.  You won't get any satisfying results at CBCP...

Susan Boyle to sing for Pope?

We have heard a number of celebrities singing for the late Pope John Paul II before...and now it is the turn of Benedict XVI with none other than Susan Boyle of "Britain's Got Talent" being planned to sing for the pope when His Holiness visits UK.



Your thoughts?

Saturday, April 24, 2010

GULP ALERT: Tons of Liturgical updates in Arch of Manila website

I was surfing the web and found a lot of links about the liturgy in the Archdiocese of Manila's website.

Things that caught my attention.

ALTAR SERVER BASIC SEMINAR
We highly discourage parishes from recruiting female altar servers.

- Though I laud the efforts of the Archdiocese to ban altar girls, I am wondering why the training of altar servers will be on the Archdiocesan level.  Is this indicative that the Liturgical Minister for the Acrhdiocese wants full control of how parishes celebrate the liturgy?

And what's up with this so-called Philippine Academy of Liturgical Research? Is Fr. Anscar really going berserk?

Stop spending your time and money listening to this man.  Just buy this book...


I think this book drives "liturgical creationists" mad...like blessed salt and holy water on demon possessed!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Pinay Nuns in Rome!




I guess by their habits..the ones in black are Benedictines and the one in brown is a Poor Clare.

We need more Pinoy nuns...in veils and less in the streets...PLEASE!

Your habits are a silent witness of your consecration to your Groom!

Mabuhay sisters!  God bless you that you remain faithful to your religious vows!

Courtesy of John Sonnen of Orbis Catholicus Secundus

Sex abuse scandal: time to wake up...but who?

From CBCP News.

***

MANILA, April 22, 2010—The clerical sex abuse crisis should serve as a wake-up call for the Catholic hierarchy, a church official said. [There you are.]

It also boils down, according to Monsignor Elmer Abacahin, to where the priests came from—seminary formation.

He said the situation shows the need for human and spiritual formation programs for priests and seminarians on the tragedy and specifically on the topic of sexuality. [Time to meet the crisis head on!  It is a sad reality but hey, it IS reality and even though the crisis has not involved any Filipino priest yet, the Pinoy bishops should get themselves ready!]

A former seminary formator himself, Abacahin said the pastoral reality of celibacy and sexuality especially in the area of formation of future priests must be confronted at the stage of formatives years. [Unfortunately, seminary staff are not competent to handle this type of formation.  Some priests and nuns are mostly "National Bookstore Psychologists", people who just pick up the latest Dr. Phil book and a week later you see them giving talks about how to make your life better.]

“The recently sex scandals raised especially to the highest position (pope) is a wakeup call for formators to confront and to address the question of celibacy and sexuality,” Abacahin said.

He said it should not be taken as a mere subject but seriously on a private level and spiritual direction and counseling especially in the formative years.

The priest called for much more attention to the role of human formation, a factor integrating the intellectual, spiritual and pastoral formation. [that is why not all priests are suited to become formators, just as not every priest is suited to become a teacher or even a preacher.  Some are just too terrible to bear.  I even had one professor who got his PhD in an American University.  If you hate taking sleeping pills, get him to talk to you all the way to La-La Land.  He is a walking sleeping pill in the classroom!  As the old maxim goes, "You can't give what you do not have."]

Human transformation, he said, includes development of emotional, psychological and social maturity. [The monsignor is slowly forgetting the spiritual aspect.]

Abacahin served as spiritual director and spirituality formator of the San Jose de Mindanao Seminary in Cagayan de Oro City for 10 years.

At present, he is the executive secretary of the Office on Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) [hmmmm...I am not so into this "ministry".] of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

He said the situation calls for formators to intensify more and give top priority on the area of the implication on celibacy and sexuality. [How about the CBCP setting up safety nets this early, eh?  Do you agree?]

“It is a wake-up call that this reality must be addressed seriously by formators... it should not be taken as a mere subject but it must be part of the whole integral process of the formation,” he added.

“It should not be difficult to deal with in the seminary… this thing must be openly discussed between the spiritual director and the counselor,” he also said.

***

As I have always blogged...

There is nothing wrong if we notice that the neighbors lawn deserves some trimming...

But oftentimes, our bishops forget to sweep our own floors first.

But there are also times when some of our bishops busy looking for the lost 25 centavo coin inside his house, he became oblivious of what is happening in his own neighborhood.

A good thing a priest is brave enough to say these things.

Huzzah to Monsi Elmer!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Arguments that Jesus belongs to a certain race...

Here is something from Random Musings By Cliff


There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:
1. He called everyone brother .
2. He liked Gospel.
3. He couldn't get a fair trial.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:
1. He went into His Father's business.
2. He lived at home until he was 33.
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:
1. He talked with His hands.
2. He had wine with His meals.
3. He used olive oil.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:
1. He never cut His hair.
2. He walked around barefoot all the time.
3. He started a new religion.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Native American:
1. He was at peace with nature.
2. He ate a lot of fish.
3. He talked about the Great Spirit.

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:
1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.

But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 good arguments that Jesus had the beautiful spirit of a WOMAN:
1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was no food.
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it.
3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was work to do.


This one came from me...

But these are also three compelling reasons that Jesus is a Pinoy.

1.He loves to eat out with his friends and loved ones.
2.He tells a lot of stories.
3.Like Filipinos, Christ suffers from short-term memory loss...He easily forgives and forgets

MABUHAY!

'Bombed Maria' statue blessed by Pope headed to US

The "Bombed Maria"

.- After the general audience on Wednesday morning at the Vatican, the Holy Father blessed what remains of a statue that partially survived the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Rome is just the first stop on an international "peace pilgrimage" by the Archbishop of Nagasaki and the "Bombed Maria," which will arrive at the U.N. in time for the start of nuclear non-proliferation talks in May.

There is little left of the once six-foot tall statue of Mary from the Urakami Cathedral of Nagasaki, just the a hollow looking visage still in one piece from the neck up. Half bleached white and half charcoal black, all that remained of the statue after the Aug. 9, 1945 atomic explosion was the head.

She is known as "Bombed Maria" locally.

According to an article published online by the archdiocese in February, Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami is on his way to unite the Italian-made statue with the remains of another statue of Mary that survived the bombing of the northern Spanish city Guernica on April 26, 1937.

In an interesting twist, all that remains Spanish statue is its head, a fact Archbishop Takami called "incredible."
The statues are being brought together during what the archdiocese is calling a "peace pilgrimage" that marks 65 years since the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs were dropped. The event is being remembered at the Guernica Peace Museum by a special exhibit.

The stop at the Vatican on Wednesday gave the pilgrimage and statue the Pope's blessing. Another stop on the way to Guernica will be Barcelona's Sagrada Familia Cathedral, to be consecrated by Pope Benedict on Nov. 7.

Reflecting on the message he wishes to convey along the route, the archbishop said in February, "Peace can never be created by violence."

He expressed his hope that the pilgrimage "not only lets more people know about the suffering caused by the atomic bombing, but also becomes an appeal for peace using non-violent methods."

With that purpose in mind, the statues will be taken by their respective bishops to the U.N. in time for to make an appeal for the renewal of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Noting the challenge of every country to rid the world of these weapons, regardless of their nuclear capabilities, the bishops of Hiroshima and Nagasaki requested in a formal statement on Feb. 26 that global leaders "take the courageous step toward the total abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of a world without wars."

Midori Shikayama, a spokesperson for the archdiocese, told Ecumenical News International (ENI) that the head of "Bombed Maria" will eventually be taken to New York City, where it will be placed in St. Patrick's Cathedral. It will be there for Mass on May 2, the day before the inauguration of the NPT conference at the U.N.

Archbishop Takami hopes to be able to meet with Ban Ki-Moon and the NPT conference president-elect, Libran Nuevas Cabactulan, to be able to deliver them the formal statement for peace in person.

***
Here is a restored version of the Madonna


Here is another interesting photo of the cathedral.

The altar of the cathedral. Note how the Japanese Catholics preserved their liturgical heritage. The cathedral was bombed! Yet they want the way it used to look before the bombing.

Compare it to this cathedral.


Destroyed by an earthquake...

And replaced with this monstrosity and sorry excuse for a church...


Well, the "cathedral" will not be bombed. But the pope "bombed" this sorry excuse for a Catholic priest, bishop and cardinal!

No.  He's not serving Kool-Aid...

Darn it!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Only the sacred music and things for the Holy of Holies


Can you tell the difference?? from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

Recovering Choir Director and a fellow Pinoy Catholic Aristotle Esguerra is mentioned in the video.

For more beautiful music visit http://musicfortheliturgy.org/ and the other sites mentioned in the video.

The Black Biretta takes on attackers of the EF Mass

Matt Abbott of Renew America interviewed the "venerable" Fr. John Trigilio (right) of the Black Biretta blog on his reactions to a securities broker cum liturgist who lambasted the Traditional Latin Mass and its adherents.

Attention Fr. Chupungco and attendees of the Liturgical Congress!


***

A rather fatuous commentary titled "Take a pass on the Latin Mass" on the Web site of the leftist U.S. Catholic magazine led me to ask Father John Trigilio Jr., author and president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, for his thoughts on said commentary. The following is Father's response (slightly edited):

'How ironic that the same crowd which lambasted and chastised traditional Catholics for their affection for the 'old' Mass (the Traditional Latin Mass, or more accurately, the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite) these past 45 years are now themselves nostalgic for their beloved 'folk' Mass. [Remember Chupungco's talk about those trapped in the past?  Good point here.]

'Yet, it is not nostalgia to reinvent, redefine or rewrite history. Pope Benedict XVI made it clear that the extraordinary form was never invalidated nor abolished. The ordinary form (alias Novus Ordo or Vatican II vernacular Mass) has been normative since 1970 but the Tridentine rite (or Traditional Latin Mass) has been, remains and will always be valid and licit for Catholic worship. The so-called 'folk' Masses, or what the author calls 'alternative, progressive Masses,' were never normative. Many were in fact illicit as they did not conform to the rubrics of the General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM) of the 'new' Mass of 1970. [Many are still illicit! More on this below.  You won't believe this.]

'Liturgical abuses abounded prolifically when every Larry Liturgist decided he knew better than Rome or the USCCB and concocted their own aberrant worship services. [Our parish priest has the liturgical mantra of "We did that in last year's Mass.  What do we do for this year?" Remember our "Deal or no deal" parish priest?  Oh believe me.  I am counting the days remaining before a MASSIVE protest at the Diocesan Chancery erupts to have this nut job booted out of our parish!] It is almost reminiscent of former KGB spies and out of work Russian bureaucrats having nostalgia for the 'good old days' of the now defunct Soviet Union. The 'progressive' Catholics who chanted Kumbaya as often as a faithful Jew would the Shma' Israel, romanticize the pre-John Paul II and Benedict XVI days when liturgical goons ran diocesan worship offices. [Bugnini's posse!]

'Hello, wake up and smell the coffee! There is a reason why the folk Mass crowd is getting older and fewer. Young and middle-aged faithful grew up under the pastoral leadership of Pope John Paul the Great. Latin was no longer a dead or secret language. Reverence is a key component to sacred liturgy. [BINGO!] Pedestrian services cannot compete with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Whether ordinary form or extraordinary, both are equally valid and licit and both serve the spiritual needs of those who attend them. The 'look at your neighbor' theater-in-the-round modern monstrosities posing as churches are nothing more than banal self-serve ego worship. They emphasize the immanent while the authentic churches focus on the transcendent. [Any Manila Catholics remember the sight of the chapel in a famous mall in Makati?]

'I often tell my parishioners that church is the embassy of heaven. When they cross the threshold and enter the House of God, they are on foreign soil. They have passed from the earthly Babylon into the heavenly Jerusalem. This is why stained glass depicting lives of the saints adorns the real churches while clear plain glass allows the alternate worship sites to gawk and glare at the secular world. Gymnasiums are fine for sports but not for divine worship. [I once remember an elderly priest commenting on our new parish church which was completely devoid of any sacred symbol save for the Resurrected Christ figure in the sanctuary.  He said "This place is too ugly to be even called a gymnasium!"  Nobel simplicity?  Our beloved showman parish priest does it on the outside, but boy wait till you see his bank accounts!  And he is a religious priest...with vows of poverty, chastity and obedience!] Sacred liturgy is about God not about man. Religion is required by the cardinal virtue of Justice. We owe God proper adoration and praise. When we pat ourselves on the back, however, it is not religion but entertainment. [Gotta love Fr. Trigilio!]

'It is furthermore presumptuous at best and petty-minded at worse to accuse those who prefer the more traditional forms of Catholic worship as being elitist. They are merely exercising their legitimate option to attend Catholic worship in a form that best meets their spiritual needs. The language, vestments and architecture accentuate and enhance that. But narrow-minded 'progressives' are like the political liberals who when scratched hard enough betray their fascist colors. They wish to impose their 1960s ideal of how Catholics ought to pray. [Same like the Obama maniacs who think that if you are against gay marriage, you are homophobic!  If you are against abortion rights, you are disrespectful of women's rights!]

'Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi. Proper and reverent liturgy done according to the rubrics reinforces the doctrinal and moral teachings of the Magisterium. [Say the Black, Do the Red!]When both word and sacrament coincide, we get a blueprint for how to live a holy life, that is, a way of sanctification to prepare us for the afterlife. Folksy gym services are informal (as opposed to reverent) and only instill an attachment to this world since the worship space is so temporary and so earthly. Real churches, on the other hand, are permanent, transcendent, sacred and other-worldly.

'I love both the ordinary and the extraordinary forms. Both, when done properly, reverently and prayerfully, edify the soul and nourish the Mystical Body of Christ while rendering true and fitting worship to the One True God. Just as both the Western (Latin) and Eastern (Byzantine) churches have their unique traditions, the Novus Ordo and the Traditional Latin Mass are both elegant and exquisite means of teaching and sustaining the Catholic religion. [I agree.  But I still prefer the sacred silence the Traditional Mass has.  The bowing at the mention of the Holy Name.  The kneeling at the mention of the Incarnation...Beautiful!]

'The romper-room liturgies and Woodstock-era ceremonies of the '60s and '70s did nothing but chase away vocations and enlarge Fundamentalist sects. People fled the nonsense when the real thing was denied them. I do not miss 'Glory and Praise' and the other trite meanderings sung as if at a local drinking hole. Bar tunes are not hymns. Sacred art is about saintly people and salvation history. White-washing did nothing more than erase many people's memories of the popular saints their ancestors honored when they built these gorgeous churches. Hiding tabernacles did not promote belief in the Real Presence, but it did expand the social room. [Watch if these priests who hide tabernacles even spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament and you won't be surprised to find that they do not.  It's almost saying that they are uncomfortable at the presence of the Lord.]

'Vatican II did not simply tolerate a modicum of Latin and preponderance of the vernacular. It encouraged the common parts be said in the liturgical language of the rite. The council envisioned not just the Creed, Gloria, Agnus Dei and Sanctus but also the Preface and Eucharistic Prayer as well as the Pater Noster. Orienting the direction of worship toward the East by both priest and congregation was never abrogated. [Never ever!  Pope Benedict proved this yet a Filipino bishop prohibited his priest to do this!] The option of facing the people was never given priority by the documents.[Never given priority but became the norm.  This is the "evil spirit" of Vatican 2:  the option became the norm and the norm became taboo.]

'Unfortunately, while the bishops were still en route home from the close of Vatican II, the 'liturgists' got hold of the helm and steered the ship into uncharted waters. Innovation became outright abuse of rubrical norms. Participation was no longer interior but based on geography; hence sanctuaries became more crowded than the pews with all kinds of 'ministers' dancing about as if at a bad ballet. Going up the altar of God is still the cornerstone of Catholic worship, whether English or Latin, ordinary or extraordinary form.


'How you pray and worship influences what you believe and both determine how you live and behave. Praying in a sports arena is going to reinforce the notion that liturgy is about us and not about the Almighty. Funny, I thought that was the sin of Lucifer way back when.' [Excellent!]

***
Fr. Trigilio posted this on his blog as a commentary to the article (the one I posted above) by Mark Abbott in Renew America:

Fr. Z said it best when he commented on Summorum Pontificum that the gravitational force of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite will influence the Ordinary Form. In other words, the great reverence and elegance of the TLM can and ought to be an integral part of the celebration of the Novus Ordo (as originally intended by the Council Fathers). [Which Chupungco and his gangs hate!]

He rightly points out the genius of Pope B16 to allow both the old and the new (extraordinary and ordinary) to mutually enhance each other and together provide for the spiritual needs of the faithful. Rather than being a contest, it is the principle of the Catholic "et ... et" (BOTH ... AND). The secular world embraces the dualistic heresy of the "aut ... aut" (EITHER ... OR). Catholicism has the fullness of grace (all seven sacraments) and the fullness of truth (Divine Revelation as found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition).



***


I once attended Mass in our chapel and was curious to look into the sacristy.  I had access since I was once the choir master of our village chapel.  To my great horror and grief, I saw a bottle of a famous table wine in the sacristy.  So I asked the sacristan what it was there for.  I almost fainted after learning from him that it is and was the "Mass wine"!  That means all of our past Masses were invalid!  I almost took out my whip and made a scene there!  In short, I talked to everyone in the chapel including our parish priest who says Mass and reminded him that ONLY grape wine must be used.  The regular Mompo wine was brought and used.  I hope they still do to this day because I don't assist in Mass in our village chapel anymore. 

Two points:  Where the priest not noticing something different in the way the wine tastes?  And most importantly, priests must be liturgically knowledgeable!  I do not blame the sacristan.  He does not know this things.  The priest should do his job!  If I did not peek into the sacristy, then my poor neighbors would still have an invalid Mass!

For cying out loud, look at the blogosphere.  You have more traditional Catholics who know their liturgical heritage well than the Revisionist Liturgical History of Anscar Chupungco.

Be informed so you will not fall into their traps!

Papa Benny appoints pro-life bishop to "gay friendly" Miami

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando, Florida, to become the next metropolitan archbishop of Miami, replacing Archbishop John Favalora, whose resignation was accepted by the Vatican on Tuesday.

This is a bit unexpected as Favalora will not turn 75 until this December.  75 is the canonical age of retirement for bishops and they are required to submit their resignation letter once they reach that age.  The Vatican also did not give a reason for allowing the early resignation. 

Under his leadership, the archdiocese gained a reputation as a "gay-friendly" diocese for hosting homosexualist events.  Also, Fr. "Oprah" was also his priest.  The guy who married his girlfriend and moved to the Episcopal Church.

You can read more of this news development here.

This is the retiring bishop...

His in Florida!  That's the reason for the shirt...


This is the one replacing him...



Seems the Holy Father is slowly cleaning house!

Next stop...the Philippines!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Happenings at the KofC Philippines 8th National Convention

Photos and speeches of the 8th National Convention of the Knights of Columbus of the Philippines are available here.  http://kofc.org/un/eb/en/news/releases/detail/549472.html

Here are some photos.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson meets with Knights of Columbus leaders from the Philippines outside Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral before Mass.

Archbishop of Cebu, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, delivering his sermon during the Opening Mass of the National Convention.  He is seen here preaching from his cathedra.  Other archbishops and bishops concelebrated.

Here's the Worthy Supreme Knight, Carl Anderson, addressing the brother knights and their wives during the Convention Dinner.  Here he is shown wearing the traditional Barong.  He is also wearing around his neck the jewels of his office as Supreme Knight.  This is proper for all office bearer knights to wear at formal functions of the Order.  The statue on the backdrop is of Fr. George Willmann, SJ, who brought the KofC to the Philippines.

Hon. Hilario G. Davide Jr. addresses the 8th National Convention of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines.  He is a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, former Philippine ambassador to the United Nations and probably most importantly, former Grand Knight, former District Deputy, former State of Advocate and a brother Sir Knight!

Monday, April 19, 2010

GULP Alert: Photos from the Liturgical Congress of the Archdiocese of Manila

There are a lot posted in the Archdiocese's website, so I chose a few that caught my attention..

What?!?!?  That is Fr. Genaro Diwa on the podium.  He is the chief liturgist of the Archdiocese.  By the way, the What?!?!? is for the slide, not for Fr. Diwa.  Better clear that up.  Maybe because Baptism is the sacrament of initiation and the first sacrament a Christian receives?  I hope it does not play on the baptism = royal priesthood thing that leads to active participation of the laity in Mass that sort of thing.

Now this one deserves praise.  I did not even expect to see this!  Now do we expect not to see overlay stoles and rainbow vestments?  And chasu-albs?  And priests not wearing albs under their street clothes?  Hmmm...

Holy things for the Lord.  Therefore, ordinary secular or mundane items such as wine glasses WILL NEVER be acceptable to replace the chalice.  The BB in the slide probably stands for "Book of Blessings".

Take note of what was said in the slide.  I will point out a very glaring violation or even disrespect towards the Lord.  Later...

Wow!  Trent was mentioned!  How about the papal bull "Quo Primum" mentioned?  I guess not.  Wishful thinking.

Take note the sanctuary.  Notice how the tabernacle and a niche where the Bible is placed is on equal position.

Since when the printed word of God is equal to the Eternal and Incarnate Word of God?  Since when is the Book equal to that of Lord, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity present in the Holy Eucharist?  Does this kind of an architecture express our respect and devotion towards the Eucharistic Lord?  If you click on the photo, the presider's chair is in the center of sanctuary, occupying the place of honor.  Since when is the priest the center of celebration and not the Lord himself?


Tell your priest to put back the Lord in the center of your church!  Show me one church liturgical law that says that the tabernacle must be placed on the side, as the case is in this seminary chapel.

If you notice in the middle, that is Fr. Anscar Chupungco.  Yes he was there.   As what was said in Star Wars: "Where there is the apprentice, there is the master."

I wonder what was the purpose of the Congress.  By the looks of those who attended, most are lay.  Hmmm...Hard to get priests to attend the Congress?  Why are most of the attendees the laity?

We can only speculate.

Is the Ateneo de Manila University still Catholic?


Monk's Hobbit posted a very interesting article about what happened during the dialogues about the "Speech-gate" of PLDT boss Manny Pangilinan.

The discussion about the the actions taken by the Board of Trustees on the resignation of Pangilinan as Chairman led to the discussion about the support of the faculty of the Ateneo for:

1.  the Reproductive Health Bill, which legalizes artificial birth control and gives the appropriate budget for this from the national government and;

2.  a professor in a Catholic University which pushes for the adoption of homosexual norms in the government, in defiance of Catholic moral teaching on homosexuality as stated in the Catechism.

With professors like these in a Catholic University, who needs heretics, schismatics and atheists?

If St. Ignatius were alive, you know he'll smack his Jesuit sons in the head.

Read more of Monk's Hobbit's post here and the interesting exchange between Dr. Quirino and Norman, a reader who has a gay brother and why he supports "gay rights".