Someone who doesn't believe in the Church

There was a report that in an interview, a certain high ranking church official said that he does not believe in the Church. It is sad when there are people, specially from the higher ranks of clergy, who categorically state their disbelief in the Holy Mother the Church and that someday she will cease to exist. The reason for all the scandals happening around us is that we, the laity, are not holy enough. We should help the suffering clergy by becoming and being holy. Let us offer our sacrifices to help our suffering clergy.

Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis

The post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis has been released. Just a few observations (not in particular order):

1. Reverence to the Eucharist, sacrificial nature of the Mass

2. Proper placement of the Tabernacle in the Sanctuary

3. The Hermeneutic of Continuity not rapture.

4. Use of Latin and Gregorian Chants especially during, reading between the lines, but not limited to international gatherings. That, as Fr. Z and a few others, translates the Latin aequum est into english "it is proper, reasonable, right" that such liturgies be celebrated in Latin and that the better-known prayers be celebrated in Latin. He even asks the future seminarians to "receive the preparation needed to understand and to celebrate Mass in Latin," to use Latin texts and Gregorian chants and not to forget that the Laity can be taught to recite the more common prayers in Latin and sing parts of the Liturgy to Gregorian chants.

"... exceptis lectionibus, homilia et oratione fidelium, aequum est ut huiusmodi celebrationes fiant lingua Latina; similiter Latine recitentur orationes pervulgatae"

5. Active Participation does not refer to mere external activity

Though many expected, to name a few, references to the Tridentine Mass, more specifically, to its liberation, and expected that it would have some legislations in it to forcefully counter liturgical abuses, it shows what vision the Holy Father has for the Church's liturgical direction. He might have just laid the groundwork for the reform of the reform.

The Most Holy and Perfect Sacrifice

Save the Liturgy. Save the World!

Lenten Abstinence

Is it just me or practicing Catholics in Manila are getting fewer these days?

This is the second Friday of lent and the second time i noticed a lot of people eat meat, from grilled pork to burgers to fried chicken. Where are all the people that lined up during Ash Wednesday to get their foreheads marked with a cross? It seems they all have disappeared. It's either they are ignorant of church law, or that they just don't care. What worries me more is when these two possibilities are enforced when pastors stresses to the flock that abstinence of meat is no longer necessary, but abstinence to sin is.

How can one triumph over temptation and sin when one has not yet mastered over his will, mind and body? The whole exercise of abstaining from meat is for one to master self control, by giving up meat dishes every Friday for a far more greater purpose. Remember Jesus, who spent his forty days and nights fasting in the desert, has won over temptation. Yes, it is true that He won because He is God, but don't forget that He showed us the way how to succeed in winning over temptation and sin, through sacrifice and self control.

Fasting and abstinence from meat is our tradition as Catholics. It is a treasure that is rich in teaching. Let us not put it aside by replacing it with worldly philosophies and interpretations of how to fast and abstain. It is our Catholic Faith, let us live it.