On the Feast of the Holy Innocents

On this feast of the Holy Innocents let us pray for the Christians in Iraq.

Celebration of Corpus Christi in Iraq, 1920, attended by Chaldeans, Syriacs, and Armenians.

Bracing for Another Super Typhoon

As the country prepares for another super typhoon, let us pray and seek the Mercy of God to spare this poor country from devastation.

"Eternal Father I offer you the body, blood, soul and divinity of your only beloved Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

Praying for the Holy Father

Let us pray for the health and well being of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

Today as we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Let us remember in our petition the Unity of the Church and especially that at this moment that the on going process of discussions with the Vatican and the SSPX is undergoing rough seas.

The Image of the Sacred Heart from St. Michael's Church, Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

Christ Carrying the Cross Painting by El Greco

For all the outrages committed against the Blessed Sacrament and for the Open rebellion against the will of the Sovereign Pontiff. Let us pray.

O, Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with a desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, we prostrate before Thy throne of mercy, and in the name of all mankind, pledge our love and fidelity to Thee. The more Thy mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly we shall believe them, O Sacred Heart of Jesus! The more impiety endeavors to extinguish our hope of immortality, the more we shall trust in Thy Heart, sole Hope of mankind! The more hearts resist Thy Divine attractions, the more we shall love Thee, O infinitely amiable Heart of Jesus! The more unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore It, O Divine Heart of Jesus! The more Thy holy laws are transgressed and ignored, the more we shall delight to observe them, O most holy Heart of Jesus! The more Thy Sacraments are despised and abandoned, the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, O most generous Heart of Jesus! The more the imitation of Thy virtues is neglected and forgotten, the more we shall endeavor to practice them, O Heart, model of every virtue! The more the devil labors to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls! The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, the more we shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, O Heart of Jesus! The more Thy Holy Church is despised, the more we shall endeavor to be her faithful children, O Sweet Heart of Jesus! The more Thy Vicar on earth is persecuted, the more will we honor him as the infallible head of Thy Holy Church, show our fidelity and pray for him, O kingly Heart of Jesus! O Sacred Heart, through Thy powerful grace, may we become Thy apostles in the midst of a corrupted world, and be Thy crown in the kingdom of Heaven. Amen

From Ulster taig

First Sunday in Lent

16th century master illuminator Simon Bening's depiction of the devil approaching Jesus with a stone to be turned into bread [Photo from wikipedia]

Reflection by Dr. herbert r.

Tomorrow is the first Sunday in Lent. Lent is one of the holiest season of the liturgical year. It reminds us of one of the most important aspect of salvation history and our redemption. It reminds us of the fall of our first parents and to the woes by which the human race was subjected as a result of the fall. The "original sin" as termed by the Theologians, is evident in our way of thinking and attitude. Our enmity with God as expressed for our disdain for the good and our weakness to follow holy and good inspirations. this truth is poignantly expressed by St. Paul in the following words: "Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse; for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened." [Romans 1:20-21 NRSV] But Christ's ministry demonstrated to us that by faith in his redeeming work we can overcome our weakness and obtain light. St. John the Baptist said, "For the Law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." The temptation in the desert demonstrated to us that we as Humans with the help of Christ can overcome the greatest temptations that leads to perdition. we can overcome our bodily desires, our desire for power and ambition and outr power to always presume and abuse the mercy of God. St. Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me..."

The graduale for tommorrow says thus: "Angelis suis Deus mandavit de te, ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis. In manibus portabunt te ne umquam offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum." Yes, as we walk in this dark word. With manifold temptations and problems, God is ready to send His angels to protect his people from falling. "For god knows how to take care of his own," says the apostle. So how do we respond to this? What is required of us is to believe, to trust and to obey. Obedience is such a painful word these days and many people cant bear the thoughts of obedience. But true faith obeys and follows the will of God.

Prayer:

Lord you are our habitation as in ages past. We thank you for giving us your Son to be our example. By his works of fortitude and love has shown us that we can overcome the world, the devil and the self. Lord please help our unbelief. Thank you for your mercy and love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Lets Offer Our Support to the Holy Father

From various sources we have read how the Ausrian Bishops expressed their defiance of the Holy Father's Decision to appoint a Bishop and their criticism over the lifting of the excommunications of the SSPX Bishops and the attacks and defiance the Holy Father is receiving from some Bishops and the Secular Press. No matter how silent the apostasy is, it is now being made manifest. Let us unite in prayer. Let us support our Pope and the teaching of the Catholic Church.

All Souls Day: Prayer for the Unborn who Died through Abortion

Madonna and Child

+. Lord Almighty God, we come before your throne of grace to offer our prayers for the souls of innocent children killed by abortion. We pray that your eternal merits gained on the Cross and by your resurrection be the solace and peace of these little souls. We believe that they are in your presence beholding your face. We also pray that the culture of death promoted by means of contraception, procured abortion, materialism and selfishness be defeated by the prayers and supplication of your faithful. May they rest in peace. Amen.

My Lady, intercede with us to your dear Son. Amen.

A Prayer for Peace

The Crucified Christ

At the height of typhoon "Frank" the Ship M/V Princes of the Stars sunk off Sibuyan Island near the Central Philippine Province of Romblon. Several Hundreds of people are feared dead. A peace time tragedy in the Maritime history of the Philippines. Let us offer our prayers for the repose of the souls of those who perished in this tragic accident. Let us pray for spiritual comfort for the grieving and fast recovery of survivors. When we attend Mass let us include this as one of our intentions.

"...they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead..." (2 Machabees 12;45-46 Challoner-Douay Version).

PRAYING AS THE CHURCH PRAYS

"Pray without ceasing..." says St. Paul. Indeed frail as we are, we are all called to pray. In many ways the Church has found a way to fuflfill this mandate through the recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours. What other forms of devotional prayer could be more Biblical than the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Office? Those in the Sacred Orders and the professed religious are bound by Law to recite the office. But since Vatican II the council has encouraged the faithful to recite the Divine Office in their own circumstances and as time permits. One thing that differentiate the religious life from the laity is that the religious have more time to devote to prayer, not like the laity who are burdened with the daily chores of making a living and supporting their families. But as I am reminded of a Hymn that goes this way..."Sweet Hour of Prayer... sweet hour of prayer...that calls me from a world of care..." Indeed prayer is a refuge... it is not the mere murmuring of words but the act of the mind that ascend to God by meditation and inspiration. Reciting the Liturgy of the Hours wether in private or in community setting is indeed more beneficial that our privately composed prayers because it is the prayer of the whole Church. When we meditate on these psalms, readings and prayers, we elevate our minds to God together with the members of Christ's Body. When I was younger in age and in spirituality, I though that prayer was more of recitation of words. When I reached puberty I began to question the rationale for memorization and recitation of prayers. But when I became older I realized that printed and recited prayers were aid or tools designed to help us set our mind attune to the mind of the Lord. Even if we recite the same words daily, yet if our hearts and minds are open to the Lord, He will always give us new insights that will revitalize our prayer life.

PRAYER FOR ALL PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

Martyrdom has been an important aspect of early Christian History. The Book of Apocalypse depict the travails of the early Christians in the hands of the Pagan Roman Emperors. Indeed in various history of the Christian period martyrdom has been a way to demonstrate the way the Lord loves His people. Even in our modern times we still observe this phenomenon of grace. One very poignant story that inspires me was the story of Maximilian Kolbe. While as a youth he was given that vision of the blessed Virgin Mary, where Our Lady offered him two crowns, the white and red crown. The White represent purity and the red represented martyrdom. Without hesitation the young Kolbe chose both. And indeed later in life he will receive the crown of Martyrdom in the hands of the Nazis. Today we see this phenomenon. We particularly remember the Christians in Iraq and in Palestine. Let us offer them our sincere prayer so that the Lord will give them strength and that this will become an opportunity to show love. That we as Christians do not wish anyone harm and that we bless our enemies instead of cursing them. Like Jesus we ask the Father to forgive them, just as we also ask for forgiveness. For Christ said, Love will cancel a multitude of sin.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Father of all consolations, we bless your name and we honor you. We especially lift up to you our brothers and sisters in Iraq, in Palestine and in other places where they are subjected to persecution and some have suffered martyrdom. Give them your consolation and peace. May the blood that have been spilled in the Name of Christ serve as a way to put a stop to all forms of violence of humans against humans. May this experience serve to purify our faith and strengthen our resolve to believe and to love. Let our prayers and sacrifices ascend to your glory in Jesus name. Amen.