I came across an interesting piece of news from the website of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines and I quote: "Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla has reiterated the objection made by the Episcopal Commission on the Liturgy of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (ECL-CBCP) to the proposal of a group to have a liturgical feast in honor of God the Father, saying there is no convincing biblical and theological reason for such a devotion and feast." CBCP News (Emphasis supplied).
Personally I agree with the Archbishop because every celebration of the Eucharist or Mass and the sacraments are all God-centered. So why should there be a separate liturgical feast? The worship of God should not be downgraded to the level of liturgical feasts celebrated in honor of a saint. God is the center of every thing. In fact every form of devotion be they novenas, rosary, way of the cross should lead us to the summit of our worship which is the HOLY MASS. I remember one of the books I have read about Mother Angelica where she said that these novenas are like vitamin pills that give us energy to go on. But they are not the center but only a means to an end. I would opine that there are two main criteria to judge whether a certain devotion is fruitful, (1) Results in the sanctification and charity of the devotees, and (2) Deep love and devotion for the Holy Mass. If a certain devotional formulas drives us away from the Mass then it is not a genuine devotion. In our country we people who give to much emphasis on novenas but neglects the main focus which is to know Christ and to pattern our lives to His. Hence I agree with the good archbishop that there is indeed no theological nor biblical reasons to have a feast in honor of God the Father because every Mass and every act of worship and devotion should be a feast for God.
Personally I agree with the Archbishop because every celebration of the Eucharist or Mass and the sacraments are all God-centered. So why should there be a separate liturgical feast? The worship of God should not be downgraded to the level of liturgical feasts celebrated in honor of a saint. God is the center of every thing. In fact every form of devotion be they novenas, rosary, way of the cross should lead us to the summit of our worship which is the HOLY MASS. I remember one of the books I have read about Mother Angelica where she said that these novenas are like vitamin pills that give us energy to go on. But they are not the center but only a means to an end. I would opine that there are two main criteria to judge whether a certain devotion is fruitful, (1) Results in the sanctification and charity of the devotees, and (2) Deep love and devotion for the Holy Mass. If a certain devotional formulas drives us away from the Mass then it is not a genuine devotion. In our country we people who give to much emphasis on novenas but neglects the main focus which is to know Christ and to pattern our lives to His. Hence I agree with the good archbishop that there is indeed no theological nor biblical reasons to have a feast in honor of God the Father because every Mass and every act of worship and devotion should be a feast for God.
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