A year ago...

Exactly a year ago, October 29, 2006, I attended my first Traditional Latin Mass in Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Masambong, Quezon City. After having spent 15 years of my life in Catholic institutions that never had anything traditional but rather "culturally youth oriented" Masses, even without any background in Latin and traditional rubrics whatsoever, I felt I was at home because I knew that this was the same Mass countless saints assisted at and even died for...I knew I was in Calvary.

Glorietta 2 Blast

An explosion rocked a shopping mall in Makati City Friday afternoon. Eight people died and at the latest count, a 129 others were injured. Authorities immediately rushed to the scene to secure the area, conduct a search and rescue and investigate the incident. Authorities earlier suspected that it might have been caused by an LPG tank, however, as they saw the extent of the damage, they are now not ruling out other possibilities.

This is truly a sad day. I ask you dear readers to join us in praying for those who have died and to ask for strength for those who were wounded and injured.

Photos taken by a fellow blogger here.

What Does the (Latin) Prayer Really Sound Like?

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, popularly known as Fr. Z, has an audio project in his blog called
"What Does the (Latin) Prayers Really Sound Like?" The service is primarily intended for priests who want to use the 1962 Missale Romanum, to make them a little more comfortable and confident by being able to hear the prayers before they have to sing or say them.

The lay people are also invited to hear the prayers that "...by hearing the prayers ahead of time and get them in their ears and hearts, their active participation is made much more profound. Active participation, as the Church desires, is first and foremost active receptivity."

PRAYERCAzT 01: 20th Sunday after Pentecost - 1962 Missale Romanum

PRAYERCAzT 02: Preface of the Most Holy Trinity

Bishops who void Summorum Pontificum: Do not allow yourselves to be used as INSTRUMENTS OF THE DEVIL

There are several statements from bishop's conferences and individual bishops giving their own interpretation of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum that are very restrictive to the point of voiding the Holy Father's motu proprio. Read on what Archbishop Ranjith, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline, has to say:

[From Fr.Z's wdtprs.com]

A kind reader sent me this fascinating excerpt from a talk given by His Excellency Most Rev. Malcolm Ranjith, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments.

the talk was entitled “Faith, Obedience and Theology” and was delivered at the annual meeting of the Dutch Latin Liturgy Association (Vereniging voor Latijnse Liturgie) in ’s-Hertogenbosch (The Netherlands) on 6 October 2007.

He gave the talk in English, but the person who sent it to me translated it from Dutch. So, it probably varies a little from the original English, which perhaps someone out there can dig up for us.

Read this, with my emphases.

“The motu proprio Summorum Pontificum on the Latin Liturgy of July 7th 2007 is the fruit of a deep reflection by our Pope on the mission of the Church. It is not up to us, who wear ecclesiastical purple and red, to draw this into question, to be disobedient and make the motu proprio void by our own little, tittle rules. Even not if they were made by a bishops conference. Even bishops do not have this right. What the Holy Fathers says, has to be obeyed in the Church. If we do not follow this principle, we will allow ourselves to be used as instruments of the devil, and nobody else. This will lead to discord in the Church, and slows down her mission. We do not have the time to waste on this. Else we behave like emperor Nero, fiddling on his violin while Rome was burning. The churches are emptying, there are no vocations, the seminaries are empty. Priests become older and older, and young priests are scarce.”

NB: His Excellency has made a connection between Pope Benedict’s decision to promulgate Summorum Pontificum and a remedy for ills in the Church, namely, empty churches and empty seminaries.

Thus, this the Pope’s provisions are willed by God, for they comes from Peter as something for the good of the Church. They seek the defend the Church and build her up at critical points of attack by the devil, namely, what happens in a church (worship of God and sanctification through the sacraments, especially Holy Mass) and what happens in a seminary (men are formed to be alter Christus).

Thus, anyone who resists the provisions of the Motu Proprio, aimed at healing these problems of the Church, actually aids the Enemy of the soul and becomes the devil’s pawns.


We don’t have time to waste.

Philippine National Anthem (Pacquiao-Barrera Fight 2)

Manny Pacquiao won yesterday's match via a unanimous decision. I'm glad I was able to catch the fight via the live telecast at the San Juan Arena and still make it to the 1:30pm Mass. Most unforgettable was the way Kyla sang the Philippine National Anthem. She has proven that one can sing our Pambansang Awit with humility and still clearly emanate the pride and honor of being a Filipino. She did so without even the use of unnecessary ad libs. She just sang the way it should be sang and yet we felt every note arousing our sense of nationalism and patriotism. Very well done Kyla. Very well done.

Kneel before the Lord thy God

What makes it hard for us to genuflect before our God? We, the lay people, religious nuns and brothers, extraordinary ministers, seminarians, altar servers, church assistants and helpers, even priests, pass before the tabernacle with the sanctuary lamp lit or before the exposed Blessed Sacrament and just do a simple bow when we should genuflect! Sometimes we even just ignore the Divine Presence. What makes it so difficult for us to give due reverence to Jesus who is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament? Are we afraid and ashamed that our fellow "catholics" would accuse us of worshiping and genuflecting before a wafer or cookie? Has genuflecting become a scandal? Are we afraid that they would accuse us of superstition? Is this an "inculturation" thing that prevents us from doing so? If the statues could move, they would already have knelt and worshiped.

Lord, we ask for Your forgiveness and mercy. Teach us to humble ourselves before You, to give due reverence to You, our Lord, our Saviour, our King. Give us the courage not to be afraid and ashamed to kneel, genuflect and give you due reverence when people accuse us of worshiping a cookie when it is really is Your Body, it is really You who Is truly present. Amen.