GULP EXAM

Aside from the chasu-alb, there other GULPs in this picture taken before Mass started.

If this is the kind of bishops we have, what future can we hope for in the Church?

Miracle attributed to Paul VI approved!

Don't tell me I told you so?

Didn't I break the news?

It was in 2012 when I heard the news that the process for the pope's beatification was being fast-tracked, no!  Express Lane tracked!  And a few weeks ago, I broke the news that Paul VI is set to be beatified with word coming out of Rome that a miracle has been approved with no scientific explanation for the inexplicable healing of a fetus!   Yes, an unborn boy!


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From this source.

Giovanni Battista Montini's beatification is near: this morning cardinals and bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously approved the miracle attributed to the intercession of the Italian Pope from Brescia, who died in August 1978. The year which marked the canonization of two Popes – John XXIII and John Paul II – will also be the year of Paul VI’s beatification. In the next few days Pope Francis will be promulgating the decree on the miracle attributed to the late Pope and the date suggested for the actual beatification is 19 October. The beatification is expected to take place in Rome on the occasion of the concluding ceremony of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family: [I told you so!]  it was Paul VI himself who established the Synod in September 1965 in response to a request made by the Council fathers. It should be noted that next August will mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of Paul VI’s first big encyclical, the “Ecclesiam Suam”, which he wrote and edited entirely by himself.

The miracle attributed to the intercession of Paul VI was witnessed in the United States in 2001. It involved the healing of an unborn child, which was found to have serious problems and a high risk of brain damage: the foetus’ bladder was damaged and doctors reported ascites (presence of liquid in the abdomen) and anhydramnios (absence of fluid in the amniotic sac). All attempts to correct the problem proved futile and in the end the doctors said the child would either die in the womb or it would be born with severe renal impairment. Abortion was offered as an option but the mother refused. Instead, she took the advice given to her by a nun who was a friend of the family and had met Montini: she decided to pray for Paul VI’s intercession using a fragment of the Pope’s vestments which the nun had given her.  [And some people just keep relics for themselves, even using it for scrupulous reasons, or for bragging rights!]

Ten weeks later the results of the medical tests showed a substantial improvement in the child’s health and it was born by Caesarean section in the 39th week of pregnancy. The case was presented to the former Postulator of the Cause, the Jesuit Paolo Molinari – who passed away last week - in Rome. Faith weekly Credere revealed that the diocesan inquiry was launched in 2003 and all witnesses agree that the case in question cannot be explained scientifically.

The child has made it to thirteen and his health is constantly monitored to ensure that his psychophysical state is normal. Doctors are especially keeping an eye on the child’s renal function. On 12 December last year the medical consultation of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints headed by Professor Patrizio Polisca, confirmed the impossibility of explaining the healing and the dicastery’s theologians gave their approval last 18 February. Benedict XVI promulgated Paul VI’s heroic virtues on 20 December 2012.


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Someone said "There is a rush to canonize these Vatican II popes!  The pope is in fact canonizing Vatican II!"

Wha???

So what about Paul's "Humanae Vitae"?  Nada?

How about Pius XII?

A miracle is being investigated.  What is so amazing about this is it involved not just Pius XII, but also John Paul II!

Read it here.

Happy eating!

This restaurant looks G-R-E-A-T, with a barong-clad waiter at your beck-and-call.

But do not be deceived.  This is a GULP report!

Anybody who can guess what this is?

Much is too much

The priest definitely had the best of intentions but wearing a biretta during the procession to the Altar of Repose on Holy Thursday.

And wearing the maniple during the Pauline Mass is okay, but this is the Liturgy of Good Friday which is not a Mass.

Yet hats off to the San Pedro Apostol Parish in the Diocese of San Pablo, Laguna.

Rest in Peace, Bishop

Funeral Mass and internment of Bishop Protacio Gungon, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Antipolo

Biretta Sighting

Unfortunately, not on priests but on boys who welcomed the relic of Saint John Bosco a few years ago.

I find it odd that these boys were asked to dress up like Don Bosco on cassock and biretta, but the sons of the the saint himself would not do so.

When will we see priests look like priests?

What would Don Bosco do?

Why is there a small crucifix in the  middle of the altar od Don Bosco Parish in Makati?  Is this an attempt to follow the Spirit of the Liturgy of Joseph Ratzinger?

If it is, then it is a failed attempt.

Where a direct common turning towards the east is not possible, the cross can serve as the interior "east" of faith. It should stand in the middle of the altar and be the common point of focus for both priest and praying community.

How can it be a common point if it is so small?

But this is worse. Why is there a fountain beside the Lectern and the Paschal Candle? Is this in reference to Ezekiel? I saw water flowing out from under the threshold of the temple.

I had high hopes for this Parish, but now it is gone.

New ferula

Pope Francis seems to be fond of ferulas, using almost a new one in each of his public Masses, like this image from the Mass of the Lord's Supper.

Honorable Congressman Fariñas doing the unthinkable while with the Pope

Cong. Fariñas even called it the selfie of his life.

Well, who gets to have a selfie with a reigning pope, no?

But watch how he got the selfie.

So much class!

That woman who was greeting the pope he just rudely interrupted is the Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican, Mercedes Tuazon.

And he did not interrupt just the ambassador.  He also did it to the pope.

What do you expect of him?

Manners?

Nah.

The ring of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

I can't help my trained eye to notice what the pope emeritus was wearing during the Canonization Mass.

You have to click the image for a larger view.

 

As most of us knew now, the pope emeritus is not wearing the Piscatorial Ring anymore, of course, since he is not the reigning pope.

As you can see, he is wearing a different ring.

Here is a close-up of his ring.

And you can see his papal coat of arms on the cane.  No, he is not pope anymore so stop that conspiracy theory.

And here is another image of the pope emeritus and his ring.

And here is the close up of that ring.

It is called the Conciliar Ring or the Episcopal Ring of the Council Fathers or more famously known as Vatican II Ring.

Here is another view of the ring.  You can see that this is an open type so it is perfect for anyone with varying ring sizes considering that these rings were made without asking the Council Fathers their ring sizes.

This was given to all the Council Fathers after the closing session of the Council by Pope Paul VI.

(Sedevacantists:  Cue video clip of Sauron giving the rings of power to elves, dwarves and men!)

I personally saw this on one archbishop who was a Council Father.  I kissed it and he let me take a good look at it.

Considering the number of Council Father, I think the material is rather cheap and this is easily done.  The back of this ring open so it can fit any ring size.

But in some aspects, I like the design.

Father Ratzinger was a peritus (expert) for Joseph Cardinal Frings of Cologne.  He certainly was not a Council Father so he definitely did not receive this ring.

This might be from Cardinal Frings or from another bishop.

So, for the liberals, Benedict XVI was a traitor of the Council.  See the ring?

For the traditionalists, he is an apostle of the Council.  Summorum Pontificum?  SSPX reunification efforts?

As far as I can still remember the Pope emeritus is the pope of Christian Unity and of the hermeneutic of continuity.

And even if you produce 1 million Anscar Chupungco's or 1 billion Genaro Diwa, it would still not suffice for one Joseph Ratzinger in terms of sound theology and liturgy.

Continuity (Ratzinger)

Rupture and Innovation (Chupungco and Diwa)

If there is one humble man the whole world is missing with all the hoopla about the simplicity of Pope Francis, it is Benedict XVI.

Only a humble man can admit that he is done enough and it is time to step down.

Preparing for Communion for the Canonization Mass

 

These were some of the ciboria used for the Canonization Mass.

Have you seen this much ciboria in one Mass?

Not his much actually, but you'll never see that much ciboria used even for a large number of the faithful hearing Mass at either a park like Luneta or an indoor facility like Araneta Coliseum.

No.

We use CHEAP materials for our ciboria, like wood and even PLASTIC in dis-honor with that hot tempered, ill mannered priest who celebrated Mass using Tupperware for a ciborium.

Yes. He did.  I have the photographic evidence.

Point of the matter is this:  

We give precious things for the Lord because that is how we show our appreciation to someone we VALUE.  We give VALUABLE THINGS.  (Nahahawa ako kay BOY CAPS LOCK AH!)

With or without the liturgical laws about sacred vessels, with or without what was instructed upon Moses concerning worshiping the Lord at the Temple...

We give him the BEST ALWAYS!

So the next time you see priests using TUPPERWARE or PYREX as ciboria for the Holy Eucharist, or use mass vestments whose market value is way cheaper than the pants or shoes or watch they are wearing, remind them that God sees...all the time!

No amount of reasoning or CAPS LOCKING can make them weasel out of this one.

Reliquaries containing the relics of the two new saint-popes