Crusade against the Reproductive Health Bill (Update)

Prayer crusade against the RH Bill at Our Lady of Victories Chapel in New Manila today from 12 noon to 12 midnight.

Why Should Catholics Oppose HB96 (RH Bill)?

The Parish of the Holy Sacrifice and the Family Life and Ministry will have a forum on "Why Should Catholics Oppose HB96 (RH Bill)?" on Saturday October 30, 2010 at the Fr. John Delaney Hall, Holy Sacrifice Parish, U.P. Diliman.

Crusade against the Reproductive Health Bill

Our friends from the Our Lady of Victories Chapel in New Manila, Q.C. will have a Crusade against the Reproductive Health Bill on Saturday, October 30, 2010. There will be a Marian Eucharistic Adoration from noon to midnight on that day to pray against the passing of this RH Bill.

Exorcism documentary on TV

Just recently, a local TV station made a documentary on the catholic rite of exorcism. The documentary featured Rev. Father Jose Francisco "Jocis" Syquia, director of the Office of the Exorcism of the Archdiocese of Manila and Rev. Father Michell Joe Zerrudo from the Diocese of Cubao. Here is the complete I-Witness documentary narrated by Jay Taruc in two parts.

Part 1:


Part 2:

Requiescat in Pace, Msgr. Melencio De Vera

I just received a news that Msgr. Melencio De Vera has passed away, yesterday, 20th of October 2010. Msgr. De Vera was one of the few priests who celebrates the TLM from the early beginnings of the movement until the present despite his advanced age. Farewell, dear friend of the extraordinary form, may God have mercy on your soul and may you intercede for us. Requiem aeternam in dona ei Domine et lux perpetua luceat ei, requiescat in pace.

File photo courtesy of Dennis Raymond Maturan.

Msgr. Pozzo exposes the existence of a "Para-Conciliar" ideology within the Church

There is what we may call the Conciliar, or more exactly the para-Conciliar ideology, which was imposed on the Council from the beginning and which overshadowed it. By this expression is not meant something that concerns the texts of the Council, nor (even less) the intentions of the subjects, but the frame of overall interpretation by which the Council was situated and which acted as a type of internal conditioning in the subsequent reading of the acts and documents. The Council is not, in fact, the para-Conciliar ideology, but in the history of the ecclesiastical milieu and the means of mass communication it, i.e. the para-Conciliar ideology, has operated in large part towards a mystification of the Council. Since all the consequences of the para-Conciliar ideology have been manifested as an historical event, the revolution of 1968 must indeed be acknowledged, taking as its point of departure rupture with the past and a radical change in history. In the para-Conciliar ideology 1968 signifies a new form of the Church in rupture with the past, even if the roots of this rupture had been present for some time in certain Catholic circles.

Msgr. Guido Pozzo is the secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei. The complete unofficial translation of his July 2, 2010 speech can be found on Rorate Caeli.

The wolves and the weeds

The wolves and the weeds are making their presence felt and with it the dark cloud of confusion continues to descend upon us. We have been called to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth and for this reason the world hate us, just us it hated He who sent us. They come towards us with swords (bills), spears (condoms) and javelin (pills) but we will go against them in the Name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom they have defied. Let us arm ourselves with prayers, fasts and sacrifices.

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.