Mercy, Forgiveness and Justice

Shouldn't mercy and forgiveness be freely given to those who seek it especially to those who have reformed their lives? Shouldn't they be given a second chance, a new lease of life? Don't we all deserve a second chance since we are all sinners? If we say that there is no cure, isn't it tantamount to saying that grace is just imaginary, that God's grace cannot melt the hardest of hearts?


Shouldn't justice be also accorded to those who have habitually committed, without remorse, the unthinkable,  wolves in sheep's clothing, destroying the venerable image of their vocation especially to the eyes of the little children? Shouldn't justice be given that they may learn to reform their lives?

The Priests are God's men.

The priests are God's men. They have given their lives for Him and so they belong to Him and Him alone. Let them do their sacred duty of offering the Sacrifice of Calvary that brings us closer to His heavenly glory. Let us not give the world the opportunity to own them once more and trap them but instead let us allow these priests of our Lord the opportunity to bring us closer to God our Father in heaven. Encourage them to wear their cassocks more often, if not always, for they are priests not only when administering sacraments but they are priests all the time: they should be easily recognizable as such, priests. They should not feel ashamed to wear garments proper to who they are: priests. Encourage them to pray their breviaries everyday for it is through daily prayer and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and not social functions where they gather their strength. Let God's grace work through them for they are the link, called by God, that binds heaven and earth. The priests are God's men. When they fall, it is only because we are stubborn not to let go of the world. When they fall, it is only because we do not support them with our prayers. When they fall, it is because we do not love them as priests. Love them not as celebrities but love them with a sense of sacredness and awe for they are priests. These priests are God's men chosen by Him, elected by Him.


Photo Credits: Jesson Gonzaga Allerite
                       New Liturgical Movement

Just like buying candies

These condoms are displayed on a stand where it is clearly visible, easily accessible and within the reach of teens and young kids. No need to ask for it from a counter clerk, just grab one, pay for it and go. That's how easy it is to buy condoms in these drug store outlets inside the country's most popular chain of gigantic malls.

Visita Iglesia 2010

Latin Mass Community - Parish of the Lord of the Divine Mercy

Sikatuna Village, Quezon City

Parish of the Lord of the Divine Mercy
Sikatuna Village, Quezon City

Carmel of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Convent
Gilmore Ave. New Manila Quezon City

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine Parish
New Manila, Quezon City

St. John the Baptist Parish
Pinaglabanan St. San Juan City

Sanctuario de Sto. Cristo
F. Blumentritt St. San Juan City

Mary the Queen Parish
Greenhills, San Juan City

Sanctuario de San Jose
East Greenhills, Mandaluyong City

Announcements: Baguio Lenten Schedule in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite

Announcements: Easter Sunday Mass Schedule

Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph - Parish of the Lord of the Divine Mercy
Easter Sunday Schedule
according to the
Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite


Sunday 12:00 AM Easter Vigil
Sunday 2:00 PM Missa Cantata

Nobody but....who?

Father Jerry Orbos, SVD shared this story in his Philippine Daily Inquirer column last December 12, 2009

THE story is told about a priest who, wanting to be “in” with the youth, started the Mass by saying, “The Lord be with you… nobody, nobody but you!” In no time, he had the whole congregation singing and dancing to the popular song “Nobody, nobody but you!”

Is this what we have all for the sake of active participation and inculturation? Something must be wrong!

Is that a Catholic Altar?

No it is not. It is Lutheran. Quite surprisingly. this Lutheran altar looks more Catholic than those in many catholic churches...tables where the priest and the people can talk yada yada during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass...."The Lord be with you...nobody nobody but you!"

And yes, this Lutheran altar faces the liturgical east.

2010 Easter Triduum Liturgy

The Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph will celebrate the Easter Triduum Liturgy according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite for the Holy Week of 2010. The schedule is as follows:

Maundy Thursday - 10:00 AM
Good Friday - 10:00 AM
Easter Vigil - 12:00 Midnight

2010 Lenten Images Exhibit

The 2010 Lenten images exhibit by the members of the Hermandad de la Sagrada Pasion was inaugurated last Friday, February 26, 2010 at Clamshell One, Intramuros, Manila. Among the highlights of the first day of exhibit was the opening Solemn Mass celebrated by Rev. Father Rommel Rubia, O.A.R., the blessing of the images and the Way of the Cross. Following the customs inherited from Spain, servers acting as acolytes wore tunicles and a band preceeded the procession. The exhibit will run until Sunday, March 14, 2010. Culminating activities will be the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and a grand procession at 4pm.

Benedictine-style altar arrangement

Tunicled acolytes preparing

Tunicled acolytes in procession

Archdiocese of Manila Oratio Imperata / Intercessory Prayers for Rain

TO: ALL PARISH PRIESTS/SHRINE RECTORS/CHAPLAINS AND SCHOOL DIRECTORS

SUBJECT: ORATIO IMPERATA/INTERCESSORY PRAYERS FOR RAIN


People tasked with managing our water/power resources have warned that we face drought and shortage of water because of El Niño phenomenon. Our relief will come from nature. And so we implore the Master of all creation, God, our Father, at whose command the winds and the seas obey, to send us rain and ease the drought.

We are sending you the intentions to be inserted into the Daily and Sunday Prayers of the Faithful of the Mass:

Lord, hasten to send the rain we badly need so the damage to crops and other livelihood and impending power shortage may be averted, we pray…

Lord, inspire us in this time of crisis to share in the name of Jesus what we have and to take responsibility for one another and for the environment and resources that you have generously provided us, we pray...

The Oratio Imperata ad Petendam Pluviam is to be prayed after Communion before the Post Communion Prayer:

God our loving Father, creator of our earth and of the universe, and all the wondrous elements of nature that sustain your living creatures, we humbly ask you to send us the rain that our country needs so badly at this time, to irrigate our fields, to stave off a power shortage, to provide water for our bodily health, and to refresh our parched lands. At you command the wind and the seas obey, raise your hand Almighty God to send us so that crisis may be averted.

Merciful and generous God, open our eyes to the richness and beauty of your creation and instill in us a deep love for this earth and all that is in and around it. Teach us to be wise stewards of your creation so that we may always use them responsibly and protect them from abuse and exploitation. At this time of crisis, dear Lord, move us to share more and to love more.

Loving God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you entrusted the Filipino people to the special care of Mary our Mother, listen to the prayers that we bring up to her, our Blessed Mother, to intercede for us, for the protection of our land and our people, whom she loves.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Saint Rose of Lima, pray for us.

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.

February 28, 2010 is the Second Sunday of Lent and we start with these prayers on this day, the day of our intensified journey of Lent.

Let us together storm heavens with our supplication, that God's mercy be upon us and send us the rain we need.

God Bless!

+ GAUDENCIO B. CARDINAL ROSALES, D.D.
Archbishop of Manila

On Receiving Holy Communion

Father Anscar Chupungco OSB in his speech entitled: Liturgical Studies and Liturgical Renewal given 21 January 2010, Sydney Australia:

"Is receiving Holy Communion on one’s knees and on the tongue more reverent than receiving it standing and in the hand?"

Compare this:

with this:

Isn't it obvious???

[Thanks to Rorate Caeli for the video link.]

Important Clarifications from the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei

From the New Liturgical Movement:

The Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei has recently answered some important questions regarding the application of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum submitted by the moderator for the faithful attached to the Extraordinary Form of the diocese of Rzeszów, Poland. The answers, however, are applicable generally. The original questions (in German) and answers (in Italian), published by Nowy Ruch Liturgiczny are reproduced below. Here is an NLM summary; questions 2 and 3 have easily the biggest impact:

1. If there is no other possibility, because for instance in all churches of a diocese the liturgies of the Sacred Triduum are already being celebrated in the Ordinary Form, the liturgies of the Sacred Triduum may, in the same church in which they are already celebrated in the Ordinary Form, be additionally celebrated in the Extraordinary Form, if the local ordinary allows.

2. A Mass in the usus antiquior may replace a regularly scheduled Mass in the Ordinary Form. The question contextualizes that in many churches Sunday Masses are more or less scheduled continually, leaving free only very incovenient mid afternoon slots, but this is merely context, the question posed being general. The answer leaves the matter to the prudent judgement of the parish priest, and emphasises the right of a stable group to assist at Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

3. A parish priest may schedule a public Mass in the Extraordinary Form on his own accord (i.e. without the request of a group of faithful) for the benefit of the faithful including those unfamiliar with the usus antiquior. The response of the Commission here is identical to no. 2.

4. The calendar, readings or prefaces of the 1970 Missale Romanum may not be substituted for those of the 1962 Missale Romanum in Masses in the Extraordinary Form.

5. While the liturgical readings (Epistle and Gospel) themselves have to be read by
the priest (or deacon/subdeacon) as foreseen by the rubrics, a translation to the vernacular may afterwards be read also by a layman.

Philippine Government mocks St. Valentine

The Philippine Government has mocked what is supposed to be a Catholic day of commemorating one of its saints, St. Valentine, by promoting promiscuity on the guise of protection against sexually transmitted diseases. The Department of Health handed out leaflets promoting safe sex with a "Be Safe Always, Valentine" packs of condoms to men buying flowers at Manila's Dangwa wholesale flower market.

Read more here:
Gov't hands out free condoms with Valentine's Flowers



St. Valentine was a holy priest in Rome who never renounced his faith despite the beatings by club he had receive from the Roman authorities led by Emperor Claudius II. Eventually he was beheaded on February 14 at about the year 270. He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers and young people.

Second National Congress of the Clergy

Tomorrow will be the opening day of the Second National Congress of the Clergy that will be held in the World Trade Center, Pasay City until Friday, 29th of January.

The Congress "...intends to respond to the needs of the clergy in the Philippines as well as 'to surface the needs and realities concerning the ongoing formation and renewal of priests."

It is described by Msgr. Jose Bernardo Jr., the Executive Secretary of the National Organizing Committee as "...basically a retreat, a call to interior renewal, a call to holiness."

It is also intended, according to Msgr. Gerardo Santos, to provide the priests a deep and religious experience that will hopefully lead to spiritual conversion and greater commitment.

The Congress will have Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCap, Preacher of the Papal Household as retreat master and Imus Bishop Luis Chito Tagle "...will provide the challenge for the pastoral aspect of the call to holiness."

For the whole duration of the Congress, the bishops and priests will be accompanied by the relics of St. John Marie Vianney, the Patron Saint of Priests, that recently arrived in Manila. Among the relics that was brought here in Manila are the priestly stole and breviary of the beloved Saint.

Source: Second National Congress of the Clergy



Let us pray for our beloved priests:

"O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church:
Grant it love and the light of Your Spirit,
and give power to the words of Priests
so that hardened hearts might be brought
to repentance and return to You, O Lord.

Lord, give us holy Priests;
You yourself maintain them in holiness.
O Divine and Great High Priest,
may the power of Your mercy accompany them everywhere
and protect them from the devil's traps and snares
which are continually being set for the soul of Priests.

May the power of Your mercy, O Lord,
shatter and bring to naught
all that might tarnish the sanctity of Priests,
for You can do all things."

- St. Faustina's Diary #1052 -

Schedule of Exposition of the Relics of St. John Marie Vianney

From an Email:

January 23 - Arrival at NAIA at 9:30 a.m., National Shrine of the Sacred Heart at 11 am

January 24 - EDSA Shrine at 12 noon

January 25 to 29 - 2nd National Congress of the Clergy at the World Trade Center

January 29 - Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish at 12 noon

January 30 - Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene at 12 noon

January 31 - St. John Mary Vianney Parish at 12 noon

February 1 - Departure at NAIA at 11:30 a.m.

Thanks to Miguel Madarang Ramirez for the info.

The example of St. John the Baptist

Father Michell Joe Zerrudo on his blog, Sense of the Sacred, made a relevant relation between the priest and St. John the Baptist: The priest should never keep attention to himself, he should, like St. John the Baptist, directs all attention to the Bridesgroom, the Christ..."He must increase; I must decrease!"

By following the example of St. John the Baptist, the priest truly becomes Alter Christus in the Liturgy. The priest by not allowing his personality, ad libitum, to interfere (decrease), draws and directs all attention to the Action of Christ (increase) by following faithfully the words and actions prescribed in the Liturgy. It is therefore necessary that we, the congregation, together with the priests regain consciousness that Liturgy is a sacred and precious gift we have received and not something that we create, it is an act of prayer and not of entertainment.

Bishop stops singing of love songs in liturgy

“Secular love songs, even if they have religious themes, do not have any place in the divine liturgy,” - Archbishop Socrates Villegas, Lingayen-Dagupan

Full Story.

Photo Credits: John Glenn Lopez and @ your SiRVis.

Merry Christmas!

We commemorate the Lord's birth today to prepare ourselves for His Second Coming!


A Blessed Christmas to everyone!

Announcement: St. Jerome Emiliani Christmas Midnight Mass

The St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susanna Parish will be celebrating a Traditional Latin Missa Cantata Christmas Midnight Mass on December 24, 2009 at 11pm. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be celebrated by the parish priest, Father Grato Germanetto, C.R.S. He will be assisted by the altar servers and Van De Steen choir of the Societas Liturgiae Sacrae Sancti Gregorii. The church is located along Zapote Road, Alabang Town Center, Muntilupa City.