Glory to God in the Highest

The Nativity Scene

Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, Who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory. - 1 Timothy 3:16 (NAB)

"In this Child, in fact, God-Love is manifested: God comes without weapons, without strength, because he does not aim to conquer, we could say, from without, but rather wants to be welcomed by man in liberty. God becomes a defenseless Child to conquer man's pride, violence and desire to possess. In Jesus, God took up this poor and defenseless condition to conquer with love and lead us to our true identity'

zenit.org - Pope Benedict XVI Address at the general audience December 23, 2009 at the Paul VI Hall.

Our Recollection at the SOLT Regionalate in Putiao, Pilar, Sorsogon, Philippines

In my earlier post I shared with you some of the photos we had when we went on a one-day retreat at the Regionalate of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity at Putiao, Pilar, Sorsogon, the Philippines. May I share some more photos. Enjoy.....

A view of the Headquarters of the SOLT, this is the administrative building of the Society in the Asian Region of the SOLT

The receiving area of the Headquarters displays the portrait of the Our Lady. On the Left Side are the Photos of Pope Benedict XVI. On the right is the picture of Rev. Fr. Ogie Rosalinas, the General Priest Servant, now residing at the SOLT Mother House in Rome.

My students, regestering for the Recollection

A Holy Mass in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Fausto Malanyaon, SOLT our retreat master

The well-maintained yard of the headquarters.

The Bungalow housing the SOLT Sisters and Laity

The Students With their noon time activity

The social hall

Paved road in the Compound of the Headquarters

Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT)

Here is a brochure from the SOLT Vocation Director. I am posting it here just in case some of our young men and women would consider the religious life, to serve the poor and the underprivileged and to serve in far flung mission areas, to see the face of Christ by living the life of Poverty, Obedience and Chastity.

The Tropical Sun at its Best

In the Philippines one of the signs that Lent is around is the blazing heat of the tropical sun. March and April are the hottest months of the year. Thus Lenten season is celebrated in many ways but one of the prominent things that is associated with Lent is the blazing sun. Lent is a time for flagellants, processions, and the colorful Lenten and Easter liturgies. Yesterday I had the chance of going on a mini excursion on an offshore Island from my home city of Tabaco. I took this snapshots and perhaps to lighten our day, may I simply share with you some of the photos I have taken.

The pier. Our city is a gateway to the Island Province of Catanduanes:

Precipitation is high during warmer days, cloud formations could suddenly appear and cause drizzles:

The sea shores...of San Mighel Island.


Under a leafy tree.....ideal for the tropical sun, it provides effective shield from the rays of the sun.


Our bags and provisions.....

A Lesson of Faith and Trust: A Photo Essay

On February 11, 2009, I, my students and fellow instructors went on a tree planting activity at the centennial forest at the foot of Mt. Mayon Volcano. We took this as an opportunity to take a break from our monotonous academic work. Along the forest trail, we saw flora and fauna. This little encounters resulted in moments of reflection. I tried as best as I could to capture with my camera, these tidbits of reflection. let me share them with you. ..........

A single flower in a bushy corner of the forest speaks thousands of words of inspiration. Beautiful and more glorious than the glories of King Solomon.

"Consider how the lilies grow, they neither spin nor toil bu not even Solomon in Glory was clothed as this! O ye of little faith."

While climbing the trail, I notice this shrub with a flower. Even in the midst of a forest, a flower can grow and show its beauty. We who are in the forest of trials can show forth the beauty of God within our Souls. O Lord God you are the perfection of beauty, let your light shine in our souls so that we may constantly at all times radiate your beauty.

The Setting sun behind the clouds with silver lining at the centennial forest

"Lord the night is falling, abide with us...."
Life is a journey it is our Emmaus....

When the night falls we invite the Lord to come to our house and break bread. Lord your love is the source of everything, how do we long to be close to your heart.

My students and myself on a tree Planting Mission at the foot of Mt. Mayon Volcano

"I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
...........
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree."

lines from the Poem of Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

Leyte: Inside the Sto Nino Palace

Photos and Textual Essay by Dr. Herbert R.

Our stay in Las Navas, Northern Samar was indeed a test of will to adapt to unusual situations. With meager accomodation and very limited amenities, most of the company became weary souls. In order to revive our spirits we decided to spend three days in Tacloban City and in Dulag, Leyte. We took the grueling eight hours journey from Catarman to Leyte. Let me share with you some photos that will tell our story.

The Monument of Gen Douglas MacArthur. He is well remembrered for his famous statement, "I shall Return". He uttered these words while retreating from the Japanese Imperial Army.

We visited the Santo Nino House. A Spacious Palace built by Leyte's most famous woman, Madam Imelda Marcos, the wife of President Ferdinand Marcos. Is this statue of Sn Vicente?

The Image of the Immaculate Conception.

St. Francis

Station of the Cross

Wooden Statue of Sto. Nino

Portrait of a Younger Looking Madam Imelda R. Marcos

Silvery Sunset in Tacloban City

The students were delighted and amused at the long hardwood table in the conference room of the Palace

Amused or bewildered?

A Year After the Summorum Pontificum

By Dr. Herbert R.

Catholics attached to the Missal of 1962 had all the reasons to rejoice when in July 7, 2007 the Holy Father issued the Summorum Pontificum, providing a liberal indult for the Traditional Latin Mass. The document was released with an accompanying letter addressed to the Bishops. The Holy Father granted liberal use not only of the Missal but of the pre-Vatican II Sacramental Rites. Responsibility for granting request for the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass was relegated to the Parish Priests. Indeed, what a gift to every hearts attached to the Traditional Roman Rites. The SF is an occasion not of division but of healing the schism and the pains caused by abuses in the liturgy. The moved of the Holy Father was seen not only as courageous but controversial as well. But nonetheless the SF is a manifestation of the Holy Father’s desire to correct the abuses in the liturgy brought about by uncalled for innovations, and to place a correct perspective to the reforms inaugurated by the Second Vatican Council. At the time of his election to the pontificate, I remember watching and listening over television to his first allocution to the Cardinals. In that speech he spoke about the "reform of the reformed" in the Liturgy as one of his priority. And even at the time when he was Cardinal he spoke of this thing many times on several occasions. In July 13, 1988 before the Bishops of Chile in Santiago, he said: "One of the basic discoveries of the theology of ecumenism is that schisms can take place only when certain truths and certain values of the Christian Faith are no longer lived and loved within the Church. The truth which is marginalized becomes autonomous, remains detached from the whole of the ecclesiastical structure and a new movement then forms itself around it.".... Further he spoke of instances where Vatican II had been misinterpreted by some, "The Second Vatican Council has not been treated as a part of the entire living Tradition of the Church, but as an end of Tradition, a new start from zero. The truth is that this particular Council defined no dogma at all, and deliberately chose to remain on a modest level as a merely pastoral council; and yet many treat it as though it had made itself into a sort of sort of super dogma which takes away the importance of all the rest." The Cardinal further explained that... "the only way in which Vatican II can be made plausible is to present it as it is: one part of the unbroken, the unique Tradition of the Church and of her faith." [quotes from "Lessons from the Lefebvre Schism", by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger published in the Documentation Service vol. IV, Number 8, 1991, emphasis supplied]

Indeed the many changes that we see in Papal liturgies, today has prove that the Holy Father is giving flesh to the "reform of the reformed". This truth about the liturgy was eloquently expressed by Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz in his foreword to the Baronius Missal in this way "...the older rites need not be disdained in order to appreciate the new, nor must the new rites be disparaged in order to love the old." [Emphasis supplied]

Prayer for the Pope:
Almighty Father we bless you and thank you for giving us a Shepherd like Pope Benedict XVI. We thank you that after the turbulence and misinterpretation after Vatican II we have a leader and shepherd who will guide us to the beauty and treasury of the Church. We thank you for making us realize that in the church there is a treasury of faith that we can rediscover time and again. That turbulence and crisis cannot obscure. Indeed we have a Rock. In it we believe that you have founded the church. We ask for your blessing on our Pope and may he be blessed with long years in the pontificate to guide us and build your church. Thank you Lord. We ask this in the name of your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

PEACE DAY THANKSGIVING MASS

Our students at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy attended the Thanksgiving Mass, February 14, 2008, at 9:00 a.m.


Rev. Fr. Abe Arganiosa, CRS, celebrated for us the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite in English on February 11, 2008 in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes and as thanksgiving mass of our department. I served as the commentator and helped the students with the responses. Two of my male students offered their services as altar servers, while another student read the first lesson. The celebration was held with all simplicity and dignity. In his homily Fr. Abe explained well the reason why we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and the reason for it. Fr. Abe sang some of the common parts of the Mass. We thank the Lord for giving us Filipinos the custom of celebrating Mass before any major activity.


Our Department requested Fr. Abe to perform house blessing for our newly renovated offices and classrooms which were destroyed by typhoon Reming of last year. We thank the Lord for helping our School. In less than a year we were able to rebuild and restore our facilities. However, I lost my important collection of books as my office was completely drench by rain water because the entire roof our our hall was destroyed plus a portion of the wall fell down.

Fr. Abe will celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass on February 22, 2008 at their House in ACI. Please pray for his ministry and for our endeavor to live up to the spirit of the Apostolic Letter, Summorum Pontificum.