Thank you

I am duty bound to thank St. Therese of the Child Jesus and St. Philomena for favors received.

To the Unknown God

The Besaki Temple Complex in Bali.  The Mother Temple of Hinduism in this Island

While on a business trip to Bali, Indonesia and despite of the hectic schedule I found some little time to explore the beauty of this Island famed for its culture and for its tourism value.  I decided to visit one of the most renowned temple in Bali.  According to my tour guide there are 17 temples in this complex.  Every temple is dedicated to a particular use.  One section of the temple was dedicated for all members of other religions where they can also pray.  This reminded me of the passage in the Bible where St. Paul commended the religiosity of the Athenians and that a shrine was even dedicated to the "unknown god".  This conversation became the starting point for St. Paul to proclaim the message of the gospel.  St. Paul did not dare to insult the gods of the Athenians but focused his discussions on the Unknown God, which according to him was the One God who created the heavens and earth and all living creature and in this One God we derive all our being.   One impression I got is that even in places where the gospel of Christ is not known, the light of God's knowledge is not fully extinguished.  The various forms of religiousity can be a starting point for our search for God.  Thus for us Christians it is incumbent that our lives, deeds and words should reflect the values of the gospel in order to draw other people to the light of Christ's message of salvation.

To Coffee Lovers

Right now I am in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.  We visited the Capitol and while waiting for the Vice-Governor to meet us, we were served good tasting coffee.  The said this is a specialty here.  Hmmm delicious.  There is really nothing in this world that pleases me than a good cup of coffee.  Thank God for this blessing.

Religiosity in Bali

A temple scene in Bali

I notice that people in most part of Bali are religious.  You see all those little shrines around dedicated to their gods.

Archibishop Burke on the Traditional Latin Mass

'True. I still recall the contentment with which the Holy Father presented this document beforehand to a restricted group of bishops, to which I was invited. With this courageous gesture, the Pope wished to confirm in the Church that the liturgy must be carried out in an organic way, without having to perceive traumatic breaks, something which, unfortunately, happened following the Council.  Personally, I find no difficulty or contradiction in celebrating Holy Mass according to the Novus Ordo and according to the so-called rite of St. Pius V. The motu propio "Summorum Pontificum" was a wise gesture that, I am certain, will bear good fruits in the Church." (Source: Zenit.org )

RoR in the Balinese Church

 The Interior of St. Francis Xavier Church in Kuta Bali, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

Its been a while that I have not updated my blog.  Busy days have overtaken me.  This afternoon after our workshop I decided to attend mass at St. Francis in Bali.  I noticed that the Church in Bali has adapted the Benedictine arrangement of the altar as proposed by Pope Benedict XVI.  The priest is properly vested, there was the alb, stole and chusable.  There are six candles and a crucifix in the middle of the altar.  I also notice that the lector and readers are males and not females.  How I wish that the Philippine Church will get away from the influence of the minimalist way of celebrating mass as is common in the Philippines.  By the way the music in this Mass was truly sacred.  Not pop music or combaya but very reverent and has an air of sacrality. These are just my impressions.  When I return to the Philippines I will have good memories of the church here in Indonesia.

The Warrior in God's Name

The Image of St. Michael enshrined in a Church named in His Honor at Visita, San Miguel Island

"See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. '    (Ex 23:20-22)

Trust in the Lord

“Let nothing disturb thee, nothing affright thee; all things are passing; God never changeth.” - St. Teresa of Avila

A Tribute to the Father of Fathers

The Outdoor Image of St. Joseph in Caramoan, Camarines Sur, the Philippines

St. Teresa of Avila on St. Joseph

"I took for my advocate and lord the glorious Saint Joseph and commended myself earnestly to him; and I found that this my father and lord delivered me both from this trouble and also from other and greater troubles concerning my honor and the loss of my soul, and that he gave me greater blessings than I could ask of him. I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I am astonished at the great favors which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succor us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succors us in them all and that the Lord wishes to teach us that as He was Himself subject to him on earth (for, being His guardian and being called His father, he could command Him) just so in Heaven He still does all that he asks. This has also been the experience of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to him; and even to-day there are many who have great devotion to him through having newly experienced this truth."

Source of the Quote