Cotabato Cathedral Bombing

Please pray....

for the victims...Requeim aeternam...

for their families...That the Lord may comfort them in their time fo bereavement and find solace in the promise of the resurrection.

for those who committed this dastardly act...that the Lord free them from the influence of the devil to sow fear, hate and death.

for the Church in Cotabato...to find stregth and hope in the example of the martyrs and saints in their witness of the Faith.

Guess what this is...FINAL ANSWER

cuaguy of The Adventures of a CUA Student gave the correct answer!

This is a tabernacle.

Is this something befitting the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament?

Gay Priest urges priests to disobey the Church, targets the Knights of Columbus

Geoffrey Farrow, a suspended priest turned gay activist has called for Catholic priests to retaliate against the Knights of Columbus for their support of Proposition 8.

This openly gay priest was removed as pastor from the St. Paul Newman Center at Cal State Fresno in October 2008 for his outspoken defiance of church teaching over Proposition 8 and the issue of homosexuality. 

Here is what this man suggests:

" So, what can priests do to fight the anti-gay agenda of the bishops and the K of C? Here is a short list:

1) Divest the full amount of your Knights of Columbus life insurance policy immediately. Take the check and invest the funds with an LGBT friendly fund. If every priest and K of C insurance policy holder were to do this, it would create a considerable capital drain on K of C and cripple their ability to write large checks to thwart LGBT legislation and ballot initiatives.

2) If you are a layperson, write them at tell them why you have done this. If you are a priest, simply inform them that you have decided to use the funds to promote social justice.

3) Pastors have the power to decide what is published in the Sunday bulletin and what is announced at Mass on Sundays. Do not let the K of C publish or announce.

4) Pastors may grant or withhold permission for organizations to use church facilities for their meetings. Most parishes have very tight facility scheduling. Create a program and tell the K of C they need to meet elsewhere."

***

Yeah. right.  He is fighting against discrimination by being...hateful.  I can hear a drop of dew fall into my glass of water for the deafening silence his bishop HAS NOT DONE to address the filth that this priest is spreading.  The pope has fast tracked the process to dispense the ordained. Get him a one way ticket RAPIDO!  Such bigoted view of the Knights.  Of course we will support Prop 8 because legalizing gay marriage is an attack on the natural and moral law of marriage.

And as Knights, we are to defend that which attacks the Church, even if the attacks come from erring bishops or priests!  If our holy founder, Ven. Fr. Michael McGivney were alive, he'll do the same thing.  And as a Knight, I would give more of my time and money for causes such as the defense of traditional marriage and defense of the unborn!

You can read more here:

The devil is working double time.  Pray even more!

Anti Abortion Video Removed by YouTube.

The video below is taken by the Mona Lisa Project documenting the work of Planned Parenthood (PP) the pro-abortion group.  In the video a PP counselors tells the undercover Live Action actors that abortion pictures they see are "not real" so that the alleged 15-year-old girl would agree to submit to an abortion.

You can learn more from this story by clicking here:

Planned Parenthood Falsely Says Abortion Pictures Are "not Real" - The best bloopers are a click away

Postscript about the Manila Liturgical Congress

UCANews posted this news about the recently concluded Liturgical Congress of the Archdiocese of Manila.  My comment and emphasis.

***

PHILIPPINES Right attitudes, practices stressed at liturgical congress

PASAY CITY, Philippines (UCAN) -- A disappointed priest was about to leave the church and not celebrate Mass after seeing that only three children were present. [So it was not enough for him to say Mass?  You need more people to celebrate the Mass?!?!  You need more... "audience"?  Can you not offer the Mass with those three kids around?!?!]

However, "he agreed to wait after the children pleaded with him, [Blessed be those kids.  They have more faith than...]  and when the chapel filled up an hour later, he complained about people being late," narrated Father Genaro Diwa. He said one of the men apologized to the priest, explaining that people had to walk two hours to get to church. 

Father Diwa, the Manila archdiocesan liturgical commission director, was speaking during a session of the Liturgy Congress held on June 20 and 27 for people involved in the liturgical ministry.

More than 10,000 people from five cities served by the archdiocese attended the event, organized by Manila archdiocese's Ministry of Liturgical Affairs to renew Church workers' spirit of service.

In his sharing, Father Diwa stressed to priests the importance of being Christlike to their flock, and reminded them they have to help believers "recognize" Jesus present in the breaking of the bread at Mass. [Favorite term of liturgists.  Using the Road to Emmaus breaking of bread.]

Father Diwa also discussed the pastoral letter, "Without Sunday, We Cannot Live," issued by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales of Manila in June. In his letter, Cardinal Rosales expressed the wish "to bring parishioners back to the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist, which they had neglected."  [Maybe it would have been better if the Congress discussed why people neglecting the Mass.  Maybe dodging the bullet?]

Father Diwa explained that worship, not rest, should be one's focus on Sunday. [Of course!] He said Sunday Mass allows Catholics to detach themselves from what can often be an "oppressive rhythm of work," and to be renewed spiritually. [Well maybe let's try sticking to the rubrics of the Mass for starters.  Or maybe...try offering the TLM in every parish, let's see how the people would react, eh?]

During the congress, some church choir members told UCA News that some young parishioners like themselves had stopped attending church after starting work in call centers, which sometimes entails long hours. They said Sunday is the only day for them to rest or catch up with household chores such as doing the laundry. [Been there done that.  BUT... if there is a will, there's ALWAYS a way.  Otherwise, there's always an EXCUSE.  Well if the Mass in your parish has regular "liturgical" dancers....THAT is an excuse!]

Father Diwa also cautioned lay Church workers against contributing to a misunderstanding that Mass can be "paid for." Offerings of money must be given freely, collection boxes must be placed at the side of the altar and names of Mass sponsors need not be announced, he said. Gifts to the priest on birthdays or other personal occasions also should not be included with the Offertory at Mass.

One example of an inappropriate Mass practice was provided by Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, a Eucharistic minister. [HUH?!?!  The Chief Justice is a Freemason!  What the?!?!]  During a panel discussion, he shared how some "people with court cases," who line up to receive Communion from him, hand him envelopes containing copies of documents on their case. [This happens if people don't know or appreciate that they are attending a holy event.  They don't act accordingly to the event they have attended.]

They then talk to him after Mass and ask him to judge in their favor.

The chief justice said he explains that he prays before he gives his verdicts, and believes the Holy Spirit guides his judgments.  [But Chief Justice...you cannot be a practicing Catholic and a Mason at the same time.]

Congress participants included lectors, Mass commentators, altar servers, choir leaders and offertory collectors. Members of the Mother Butler Guild, who take charge of altar linens and priests' vestments, also joined the congress.  [The MBG must have a "proper" orientation about the right liturgical art so they design vestments reflective of the heritage of Catholic beauty.  Always hate the Picasso-type of art in churches.  Don't you?]

***

Well, the Congress IMHO is a catechesis on the cardinal's pastoral letter which I have a lot of questions especially on liturgical practices.  But I laud the cardinal for emphasizing that ONLY boys can be altar servers since being an altar server attracts these young men to the priesthood.  Ergo, if girls get attracted to the priesthood, this is what you'll get.

and this...

then to this...

and finally....

Please pray for the healing of Cory Aquino

I am requesting all the readers of The Pinoy Catholic to please pray for former president Corazon "Cory" Aquino who is battling colon cancer.  She is now confined at the Makati Medical Center in Manila and has reportedly lost her appetite.  The whole nation is praying for her.  Let's storm heaven with our prayers.

She is the slain widow of opposition leader Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.  Her husband was assassinated by police escorts after disembarking a plane from the US.  He was exiled there by the former dictator of the country, Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the country for 27 years.  His wife, Cory, led the opposition in fighting the dictator.  A peaceful revolution, backed by the support of Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, called the People Power Revolution toppled the Marcos dictatorship and installed Mrs. Aquino to power.

Here is Mrs. Aquino on the cover of Time Magazine as the Woman of the Year.

Keep her and all of the sick in your prayers.  Offer a rosary or a Chaplet of Divine Mercy for her healing.

Guess what this is

Please post your answers by clicking the comment link below.

Corrent answer to be revealed on Sunday, July 5, Manila time.

Prophetic Warning of Venerable Pope Pius XII

A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, "Where have they taken Him?" [Roche, Pie XII Devant L'Histoire, pp. 52-53.]

"The desire to restore everything indiscriminately to its ancient condition (antiquarianism) is neither wise nor praiseworthy. It would be wrong, for example, to want the altar restored to its ancient form of table; to want black eliminated from the liturgical colors, and pictures and statue excluded from our churches; to require crucifixes that do not represent the bitter sufferings of the divine Redeemer." (Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Letter "Mediator Dei")

"vestal virgins" dancing on top of an altar.

"Polka" Mass, where mass songs are in...polka and waltz

Closing Mass of the abomination called "Religious Education Congress" of his Royal Highness, er... I mean His Eminence Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles with some of his dancing girls.

"Typical" church...Resurrected Christ Cross, Table for an altar, Tabernacle to the side, completely drab church.

"Consecrating" the wine are (left) Bishop Norbert Henri Turini of Cahors, France, and Fr. Guy Gilbert, who is called the Priest of Delinquents for his work with criminal youth.  Notice the bread.  Same as the one in the local deli, eh?

The pope's words were not heeded but they obeyed this archbishop:

"We must strip from our Catholic prayers and from the Catholic liturgy
everything which can be the shadow of a stumbling block for our
separated brethren that is for the Protestants " 
   
-- Annibale Bugnini, the main author of the New Mass 
L'Osservatore Romano 19 March 1965

IF...

If Rembert Weakland were a cardinal, he could have voted this guy here... pope!

That's "Bishop" Vicki Gene Robinson and his "mister", Mark Andrew.

 That's right.  He is named Vicki by his parents and yup that's right, that guy is his partner.

Now this is how Rembert Weakland wants the Catholic Church to be.  

Take it from Vicki himself.

   
  The nation’s first openly gay Episcopal bishop told a crowd of about 200 that come June he’s marching down the aisle with his longtime male partner Mark Andrew.

     “I always wanted to be a June bride,” said Bishop Gene Robinson at a talk on Nov. 27 at Nova Southeastern University.

YUCK.

All About the Pallium

Today, the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the Holy Father, Benedict XVI bestowed pallia (plural of pallium) upon the newly appointed or assigned metropolitan archbishops around the world.  They are called upon to the Eternal City to receive the pallium from the hands of the pope himself to signify their unity with the Successor of St. Peter.

I was reading the interesting exchanges in the combox of Fr. Z's What Does The Prayer Really Say?  and I found an interesting discussion about the pallium.

Some of the readers commented that the pallium worn by our present pope in the mural at the Major Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Walls.  These are the photos of the murals.

BEFORE

AFTER

I personally don't like the first pallium used by the pope which was given to him during his Installation Mass.  There are more than a nunber of times the large pallium would fall off the pope's shoulders that the it needs to be placed properly again on his shoulders.  Further, the huge pallium will be too cumbersome if he uses it on a Roman chasuble.

Critics say that Abp. Piero Marini, the former papal Master of Ceremonies, "invented" the 1st pallium that Papa Benny used.  Well, Piero Marini, being a protege of Annibale Bugnini, is known to invent things in the liturgy as we can see in the photo below.

Yup!  That IS a pallium used by JP2 and not another version of an overlay stole.  As quickly as it was used, quickly did it disappear. That pallium is not used ever since.  Goodbye to Piero Marini's "archaelogistic liturgical innovations", if there is such a term.  

Below is a photo of JP2 using the pallium similar to archbishops use today, but with the papal fanon, the gold striped linen, almost similar in shape to a mozzetta, where the pallium is resting.

As you can see the pope was in full papal regalia.  Well, not full exactly.  The tiara is not there.  I  miss the papal fanon.  The photo shows probably the only time Papa Lolek used the papal fanon and the other vestments like the dalmatic and tunicle.  Hard to say if he is wearing the maniple in this photo.  I believe he said Mass at Sta. Cecilia.  LITURGICAL EYE CANDY!

Some have suggested that the pope use the same pallium as the one he bestows upon the metropolitan archbishops every Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and use the fanon to distinguish him as bearer of an office higher that the metropolitans and to convey the message that the archbishops are indeed united with him.  Some say that he continue using the present one and add the fanon.

Personally, I prefer the one Pope Benedict XVI uses.  And I would love to see him use the papal fanon and be clothed the same as Pope John Paul II above.

What do you think?  Which pallium do you prefer?  Do you want to see the fanon back?

By the way, other bloggers want to see the tiara back on the pope's head too.  I like to see it too.

You can read more authoritative articles about the history and present use of the pallium through the New Liturgical Movement by clicking here

The interview with Msgr. Guido Marini, the present Papal MC, regarding the design of the new pallium can be accessed here

Masses may be suspended if Flu Virus spread gets worse

Here are some excerpts from a troubling news about the reaction of Pinoy bishops to the Influenza A (H1N1) scare.  Courtesy of GMANews.tv

***

MANILA, Philippines - The Catholic Church is considering suspending Masses should the spread of the A(H1N1) flu virus become worse in the Philippines – as a "last resort."

But Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, along with some priests and parishioners, thinks the proposal unnecessary, [IT IS!!!] according to Mariz Umali in her GMA Weekend Report aired on Sunday, shortly after midnight.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines made the announcement through Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Yñiguez.

However, suspending Masses would be a "drastic measure," Yñiguez stressed in an interview with GMA's Lala Roque.

"We will have to evaluate that [the situation]... lalo na yang misa, yan ang pinakamahalagang gawaiin natin bilang mga Katoliko [especially since the Mass is our most impontant activity as Catholics]," Yñiguez said. [Then why even toy with the idea?]

In response, Duque said: "Walang gumagawa ng ganoon sa ibang bansa, kahit na yung mataas ang kanilang kaso. Kasi mild lang ito. Wala tayong problema dito kasi mild cases lang 'to. Hindi kailangan pahintuin ang pagmimisa ng mga tao."

[No other country has done that, not even those with a high incidence of flu. This is a mild flu. We don't have a problem here because our cases are mild. There's no need to stop people from going to Mass.] [PRECISELY!!!  Not even the persecutions of the Romans, the Japanese, the Communists and the Nazis stopped the faithful from celebrating the Mass!  And now this?!?!]

Fr. Ed Guarin of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Quezon City echoed the same sentiment, saying that most of the people in his church did not mind holding hands while singing "Our Father" because they were acquainted with each other. [Liturgically, holding hands or raised hand does matter.]

Earlier this month, the Church modified mass services, disallowing hand-to-mouth communion and holding hands while singing the Our Father. But these traditional practices have returned in some churches. [Is it because the faithful have more faith?]

***

Deadlier viruses have struck the world, like Ebola, SARS and even Black Death but NONE of these were met by previous Church officials with suggesting that MASS BE STOPPED!  Who benefits from Mass not being celebrated?

There is a susperstition in the Philippines that evil spirits roam the land during Good Friday because it is the only time when Mass is not offered and that as the old folks would say it "God is dead on that day."

SOOOO, if Mass is stopped...who benefits?  WHO ROAMS THE STREETS?

Some men of faith...

Lost Catholic Heritage: How a galero is used

An unnamed archbishop wearing his galero, with tassels or fiocchi, hanging by his chest, as it was properly worn.  Ahh...lost forever probably...