February 2 - Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple

Today, February 2, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple.

Biblical Foundation

We can read the account of this mystery in the life of Our Lord in the Gospel of Saint Luke (Chapter 2: 22-40). Forty days after the birth of Our Lord, the Virgin Mother Mary and Saint Joseph brought the baby Jesus into the Temple in obedience to the Law of Moses. It was likewise the time for Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, to undergo a ritual purification after giving birth to her first and only child (Leviticus 12; Exodus 13:12-15).

For Today

For us Christians, both in the Western and Eastern Churches, we continue to remember this great event in the life of Our Lord in the fourth joyful mystery of the Holy Rosary and as we gather here to celebrate the Most Holy Eucharist.

Today, we brought candles to be blessed. These candles, that will be lit, symbolize Christ, the light of the world, who shines forth as he was presented to the Temple.

The light of Christ was seen most especially by the two heralds of God: the Prophet Simeon and the Prophetess Anna, who waited for a long the time for the coming of the Messiah. This was manifested when Prophet Simeon, while holding the baby Jesus, said (Luke 2: 26): “Lumen ad revelationem gentium” -A light for revelation to the Gentiles: Jesus is our light and our life.

As we gather today in this Eucharistic celebration, holding our lighted candles, let us remember our own baptism when Christ, our light, shines on us the radiance of faith, hope, and love.  These candles that we hold will be holy and must be given the due respect when we return to our homes. Each candle will be a sacramental: a symbol of the presence of the sacred, that whenever darkness hover our homes and our lives, we light them so that the light of Christ will triumph.

A Day for Consecrated Life

Like Jesus, all of us were presented to the Church when we were baptized. It is the moment when our parents desired to consecrate our life to God that led us to the prime vocation of everyone: To be Holy.

The Vocation to Holiness is a call to everyone. Some were called to enrich this vocation through Holy Orders, through Religious and Consecrated life, and through Married life.

Today, coinciding with the Feast of the Lord’s Presentation and Consecration, we celebrate the World Day for Consecrated Life, initiated by Blessed Pope John Paul II. In this Eucharistic Celebration, let us remember the Religious Men and Women and Consecrated Lay People who professed to follow Jesus: the obedient, chaste, and poor one, through the evangelical counsels or vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty. In a special way, let us pray for them that they may always have the strength from God to fulfill their profession and to continue spreading the love of Jesus by proclaiming the Word of God in various nations and races.

Prayer

Before we start our Eucharistic Celebration, may we invite everyone to please kneel and, together, with Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, offer a simple prayer for all Religious and Consecrated Men and Women:

O, Mary, Mother of the Church,
we entrust all consecrated people to you,
that you may obtain for them the fullness of divine light:
may they live in listening to the Word of God,
in the humility of following Jesus, your Son and our Lord,
in the acceptance of the visit of the Holy Spirit,
in the daily joy of the Magnificat,
so that the Church may be edified by the holy lives

of these sons and daughters of yours,
in the commandment of love. Amen.

January 29, 2012 - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Brothers and Sisters: do not be afraid to go in a spiritual warfare! Fight sin! Fight evil! Fight with the name of Jesus, the powerful Lord and Master of our life! In our hearts, he lives! Never allow the devil work in you! He is not your master! Avoid sin! Avoid evil!

But the question is: “How?” Listen to God’s voice, never harden your hearts. Believe in him! Accept him as your God, your only true God. Jesus is your Lord! The Holy Spirit is your life! Our Lady is your Mother! The Saints and Angels are your friends! Remove anxiety, it will never help. Go away with the seven capital sins! It will never make you happy.

My friends, let go of the worldly and evil pleasures! Let God live in you and work in your life! If he reigns in your life, you will see that the greatest joy in the world is the joy the comes from the Master of All, God.

Feastday of the Angelic Doctor (January 28)

"Follow the Norms of the Church"

The Holy See approved the Neo-Catechumenal Way's form of celebrating Christian Initiation, which is different from the normal Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) celebrated by the Roman Church. But why only the Christian Initiation and not the way how they celebrate Mass? Well... Vatican officials gave wonderful statements to tell "The Way" and the whole world what the Eucharist and liturgy is. I quote two below:

"With respect to the celebrations of the Holy Mass and the other liturgies of the Church, follow the norms of the Church as indicated in the liturgical books – to do otherwise must be understood to be a liturgical abuse."

“But also during the way, it is important not to separate oneself from the parish community, and particularly in the celebration of the Eucharist which is the true place of universal unity, where the Lord embraces us in our various states of spiritual maturity and unites us in the one bread that makes us one body.” - Pope Benedict XVI

January 22, 2012 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

I love watching drama serials on television. One particular serial is entitled “Ikaw ang Pag-ibig,” which, for me, is so inspiring and full of life lessons. But what touched me most is when the kids return “Baby Raffa” to the belen of the Church that led to their conversion, especially the two kids who were influenced by evil. The Baby Jesus changed them by his presence, miracles experienced, and adventures they had.

We just ended Christmas, the feasts of the Black Nazarene and of the Santo Niño. Filipinos love festivities very much. But what will happen next? Two choices: conversion or nothing.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to repent and believe in the coming of the Kingdom of God. This is not for us to fear with judgment and doomsday but an invitation to open our hearts to the reality that life on earth is not the ultimate end and joy of men. To choose conversion is choosing Jesus. Choosing Jesus is to live in joy, peace, and mercy of God.

May the Gospel today open our hearts to respond to the call to conversion. If we wish to feel the presence and miracle of Jesus, go to the Eucharist! If you wish to have an adventure with Jesus, live in him and stay with him. Life will be much better; life is best with Jesus!

Feast of the Holy Child (Philippines)

"Jesus as a child, Jesus as an adolescent. 

I love to picture you like this, Lord, because… I can dare more. 

I love to see you as a tiny, almost helpless babe. 

It makes me feel you need me."

-St. Josemaria Escriva

The Forge, 301

Proclamation of the Date of Easter 2012

Know, dear Brothers and Sisters that,

as we have rejoiced at the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ,

so by leave of God's mercy we announce to you also

the joy of his Resurrection, who is our Saviour.

On the twenty-second day of February will fall Ash Wednesday,

and the beginning of the fast of the most sacred Lenten season. 

On the eight day of April you will celebrate with joy Easter Day,

the Paschal feast of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the twentieth day of May

will be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the twenty-seventh day of May, the feast of Pentecost.

On the tenth day of June, the feast of

the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).

On the second day of December, the First Sunday of the Advent

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

to whom is honour and glory for ever and ever.

Amen.

*****

PROCLAMATION OF FEASTS - One of the special traditions connected with Epiphany was the publication on January 6 of the annual letter of the patriarch of Alexandria announcing the date of Easter for the current year (epistola festalis). The scholars of Alexandria were considered most competent to make the difficult computations and observations necessary to determine this date, and thus the whole East followed their findings, which were sent to all churches by the patriarch. In the sixth century, the fourth Council of Orleans (541) ordered the same procedure in the West. During the Middle Ages the dates of other movable feasts used to be added to the date of Easter and be solemnly read to the people on Epiphany Day. This ancient custom is still observed in some cathedrals as a traditional solemnity on January 6 at the end of pontifical Mass.

January 8, 2012 - Epiphany of Our Lord

DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS: Today the Lord Jesus Christ manifested himself to all nations represented by the Magi; he is Emmanuel, God who is with us, fully divine and fully human. As we gather here in the Holy Eucharist, he speaks to us, the Eternal Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. On this altar, he manifests himself once again, the Bread of Angels who becomes the Bread of Man. Moreover, he is with us and he bestows peace to people of good will.

As we near to the conclusion of Christmas, we ask Our Lady's intercession, together with Saint Joseph, and the Saintly Magi that the mercy and glory of God be manifested not only with our lips but in the lives we lead. Hence, as a pilgrim Church, confirmed in faith and charity, we may share the blessed hope of God’s saving power.

The title "Saint"

I received e-mails regarding a calendar where Blessed Pedro Calungsod, whose feast is on April 2, was already declared a "Saint." That is why when you buy this calendar they already made him a Saint. Well, for me, he is, but due to some comments let us do this little catechesis.

After a miracle had been attributed to a Blessed, the Postulator and Vice Postulators will prepare the official report and documents to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. After some time, by the grace of God, the Prefect of the Congregation will present the "alleged" miracle. The pope is the only person who can removed the word "allege" miracle attributed to the Blessed.  At the end of the presentation (audience of the prefect to the pope), the pope needs to approve the miracle. The approval of the miracle means that the Blessed is in heaven and the proof is the miracle attributed through his intercession, and he is now nominated for Canonization.

The pope will now call for a Consistory of Cardinals wherein they will need to vote if the Blessed is worthy to be canonized. Each candidate will be presented to the Venerable Cardinals by the Cardinal-Prefect of the Causes for Saints, who reads to them the life and miracle of the Blessed. At the end, each candidate for Canonization must acquire a majority of votes from the Cardinals.

If the candidate for Canonization won the votes of the Cardinals, the pope, together with the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will announce (or notify) the Universal Church on the date of the Canonization of the Blessed Servants of God. (In the case of Blessed Pedro, his canonization will be on October 2012.)

At the Canonization ceremony, which is made (normally) during a Eucharistic Celebration, the pope will read after the presentation of the Cardinal-Prefect and Litany of the Saints the formula of Canonization:

(For example, let's use Blessed Josemaria Escriva, in singular case)

“For the honor of the Blessed Trinity, the exaltation of the Catholic faith and the fostering of Christian life, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and our own, after due deliberation and frequent prayers for divine assistance, and having sought the counsel of many of our brethren in the Episcopate, we declare and define that Blessed Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer is a Saint and we enroll him among the Saints, decreeing that he is to be venerated in the whole Church as one of the Saints.”

Let's do a commentary on the formula:

“For the honor of the Blessed Trinity, the exaltation of the Catholic faith and the fostering of Christian life, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and our own, after due deliberation and frequent prayers for divine assistance, and having sought the counsel of many of our brethren in the Episcopate (remember the Cause for Canonization and the Consistory of Cardinals? Yup, this formula tells the truth!), we declare and define (meaning the Church through its pastors) that Blessed Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer is a Saint (for the first time, the pope will use the title to the person) and we enroll him among the Saints (it means that he is now counted among them and is given the rights and privileges of being one), decreeing that he is to be venerated in the whole Church as one of the Saints (one of the the rights and privileges of a Saint is the Universal Veneration of the faithful). ”

At the end, the pope will put the decree in to permanency by making the Sign of the Cross, a very meaningful act that the Canonization of the Saints is not only made by the Church for her good but for the glory of the Holy Trinity. Canonization is a way of glorifying God, glorifying God in his angels and his saints.

The relics are now being brought into procession and enshrine in the sanctuary. The placing of the relics and the tapestry in the Saint Peter's balcony, where the image of the newly Canonized saint/s (though already unveiled), are "signals" for Universal Veneration.

From Msgr. PE Hallet:

Benedict XIV enumerates seven acts as constituting this official cultus. 

(1). All Christians are commanded to regard them as, and call them, saints. 

(2). They are invoked in the public prayers of the Church, and it is forbidden any longer to pray them. 

(3). Churches and altars may be dedicated to God in their honour. 

(4). Mass is offered and Divine Office recited in their honour, and though this Mass may not be prescribed for the universal Church, but only for one or more dioceses, yet it may be said, as a votive Mass, anywhere throughout the Church. 

(5). Feast days are assigned to them. 

(6). Their images are depicted with the aureole or other attributes of sanctity. 

(7). Their relics are publicly honoured.

Canonization is the final and irreformable judgment of the Church, and therefore we are bound, as her dutiful children, to believe that saints duly canonized are in heaven. Beatification, on the contrary, is not a decree for the whole Church, but rather of the nature of a local tolerance, and therefore we are not bound to believe that the beatified are in heaven, although we should be extremely rash not to do so, especially where they have been formally beatified by the Church, and not merely allowed to retain an immemorial cultus.

Welcome Message in Davao

 

(Delivered during the arrival of the relics of Blessed John Paul II. John Paul II College of Davao, December 18, 2011.)

Mamakpak kitang mga nahigugma sa Diyos!

Bisag kigapoy tang gahulat, atong kasingkasing para kay Hesus dili malaayan kay naa kitay inspirasyon si Pope John Paul II. 

Gihigugma kamo ni Pope John Paul II, gihigugma kita ni Pope John Paul II.

Nagalantaw siya kanato sa kalangitan, para mangamuyo para sa katawhan. Pope John Paul II niya imong mga deboto, nangamuyo nga imo kaming ipangadye. Pangadye e kami ug tudloi kami mga ihatag among tibuok nga kasingkasing, panghunahun a ug kalag para regalo kang Hesus sa iyang adlaw nga natawhan. Daghang salamat sa pagduaw nimo sa Davao.