St. Claire, Virgin

Today is August 12, 2008, 3rd Class Feast of St. Claire of Assisi.

St. Claire was sometimes called alterfranciscus because of her immitation of the life of the great mendicant Friar St. Francis of Assisi. She followed the rule of St. Francis but unlike the mendicant order, she could not go itenerant but lived in an enclosure in the Church of San Damiano rebuilt by St. Francis. She became the prioress and eventually an Abbess. She governed the order of nuns - Poor Claire) for 42 years until her death. She was known for her holiness, for love of poverty and for her obedience to the will of God. She outlived Francis for nearly12 years.

My Prayerful Reflection:

Lord, we thank you for giving us a Saint like Claire whose love for poverty and obedience to your will truly reflected the values and strength of the Evangelical Counsels - Obedience, Chastity and Poverty. In all these three counsels she has striven to live and obey. She animated all these counsels by her life despite opposition and difficulties. Today as we are confronted by the gods of secularism, whose virtues are the love for comfort and riches and the independence of the "self", may we ever be reminded of the Life and Example of St. Claire. To be poor in spirit and in material things, poverty willingly chosen and not imposed by circumstances. Chastity, both in heart and in practical reality and in relation to other persons. And obedience first to God and to God-appointed authorities on earth. Lord, thank you for the gift of St. Claire and may we be found true till the end of time. We may not have the holy stigmata, but impress on our hearts the five wounds of the Savior so that when we are tempted to sin we may seek out the wounds of the Lord and hide under the protection of the water and blood that gushed out from the Heart of the Dying Savior. In Jesus name, Amen.

St. Claire, pray for us so that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

ST. LAWRENCE OF ROME, MARTYR 2nd Class Feast

August 11 is the feast of St. Lawrence, Martyr. St. Lawrence is a well-loved Saint in Rome and Highly venerated. He is one of the Patron Saints of the City of Rome. He was the deacon of Pope St. Sixtus II. Lawrence received religious instruction from Sixtus when hte latter was an Archdeacon. When Sixtus was elected Pope he made Lawrence a deacon and entrusted with the goods and treasures of the Church. It was said that during the persecutions inaugurated by Emperor Valerian in 258, the emperor gave Lawrence three days to gather the goods of the Church and surrender them to the emperor. Forthwith the deacon gather the goods and distributed them to the poor of the Church. When the day of reckoning came the emperor asked for the treasures. Thence, Lawrence called the poor, the maimed and the feeble, and He courageously told the emperor that these are the treasures of the Church. St. Lawrence died a martyrs death. He was roasted in gridiron. When roasted the story was told that the dying Lawrence told the tormentors to turn him so that the other side of his body would also be roasted. Thus his image is depicted as carrying the gridiron.

St. Lawrence Pray for us. Amen.

More of Pictures from ADNU

Here are some more photos from Ateneo de Naga University. For the past few years the school has been expanding. The High School Department has moved to a new Campus, while the old campus is still the center of Tertiary Education. An Excellent University.

Statue of an Unnamed Jesuit

The Sanctuary and the Celebrant's Chair in the Christ the King Church

Ornate Door of the Church

The Madrigal Center for Entrepreneurship

Our Business Meeting at the O'Brien Library, ADNU

13th Sunday After Pentecost

This is the 13th Sunday After Pentecost in the Liturgical Calendar. Today's theme for the Mass reminds us of the three cardinal virtues, Faith, Hope and Charity. The Epistle is taken from Galatians 3:16-22. The lesson speaks about the promise of God to Abraham and how in these days it has been fulfilled. The Law that was given to Moses proved to us that all are under sin. But the promise of God through Jesus Christ takes away sin. Here the apostle speaks of the mystery of conversion or metanoia. As we believe the gospel of Christ we experience true conversion - a change of heart. The Self deformed by Original Sin is transformed to be conformed to the Paradisic state of Adam - Holiness and innocence. The Gospel for today is taken from Luke 17-11-19. In the gospel we read how Jesus dispensed His healing powers - the powers to deliver from sin and illness. But out of the ten lepers only one, a Samaritan who remember to turn back and thank the Lord. The lesson of gratefulness is demonstrated here. As we hoped and received from the Lord, should we not thank Him for everything?

An Icon Depicting the Sower from the Sts. Konstantine and Helena Orthodox Church, Romania

Collecta: Almighty everlasting God, give to us increase of faith, hope, and charity: and that we may deserve to obtain what we may deserve to obtain what do dost promise, make us love what Thous dost command. Through our Lord....

A Visit to One of Bicol's Renowed Catholic School

Who says that Business Trips cannot mix with pleasure? Well, if you consider photography as pleasure so be it. On August 5, 2008 while attending a conference in Ateneo de Naga University, I took time to observe some interesting places in this Campus. Ateneo de Naga University used to be an all-boys high school but now has become co-educational and has expanded to the tertiary level. It has built a refutation of excellence and has established the spirit of St. Ignatius de Loyola in Bicol. The university is run by the members of the Society of Jesus.

The Church of Christ the King. Serves the Spiritual and Pastoral Needs of the University Community. The Church in its architectural style and decoration reflects a combination of traditional Catholic Faith, A Catholic Faith expressed in terms of Filipino Culture, and a reflection of the Ignatius's Spirituality

A Peace Marker on Campus. Behind is the St. Ignatius House, residence of the Jesuit Community.

St. Ignatius House located behind the Church of Christ the King. Noticed the Statue of Mary.

The Facade of the Old Building of Ateneo de Naga which through the years has acquired the symbolism of what the school has been.

The Interior of the Church, The Altar and Sanctuary depicting the Crucifixion. The Blessed Sacrament is also Present at the Central portion of the Altar.

The Sanctuary. The Image of Our Lady of Penafrancia is at the side near the ambo.

The Annunciation depicted on Stain glass

On the side altar, the Filipino rendition of the Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Confessional

St. Dominic of Guzman

August 4 -St. Dominic, Confessor

The contribution of St. Dominic to the Church is expressed by the collect for his votive mass.

"O God, who has vouchsafed to make Thy Church Illustrious by the merits and teaching of the Blessed Dominic, Thy confessor: grant that, through his intercession she may not be deprived of temporal help, and may ever advance in spiritual increase, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who livest and reign forever and ever."

A very interesting line I read from Wikipedia says about St. Dominic:

"In 1208 Dominic encountered the papal legates returning in pomp to Rome, foiled in their attempt to crush the growing sect. To them he administered his famous rebuke: "It is not by the display of power and pomp, cavalcades of retainers, and richly-houseled palfreys, or by gorgeous apparel, that the heretics win proselytes; it is by zealous preaching, by apostolic humility, by austerity, by seeming, it is true, but by seeming holiness. Zeal must be met by zeal, humility by humility, false sanctity by real sanctity, preaching falsehood by preaching truth."

Prayer:

Dear St. Dominic by your example and zeal you battled with heretics and overcome them by your preaching of the gospel truths, zeal for the church, humility and love for the Holy Rosary. Our Lady of the Rosary was your vanguard to defeat heresies. In our days we are surrounded by heresies and sects, by your intercession obtain for us the grace to persevere in our faith and may we never loose heart in testifying to the truth. Above all grant us the grace of humility and obedience. Amen.

Our Lady of the Rosary, painting by Bartolome Esteban Perez Murillo. St. Dominic De Guzman employed the Rosary to Defeat the Albigensian Heresy

12th Sunday After Pentecost

The Group of Faithful who assisted at Today's Traditional Latin Mass, August 3, 2008, the 12th Sunday After Pentecost in the 1962 Roman Liturgical Calendar

The Traditional Latin Mass Community at the Aemilianum College assisted at a low Mass celebrated by the Chaplain, Fr. Abraham Arganiosa, CRS. Some of the Ladies were not around because it is the first Sunday of the Month and most of them are in their home parishes. However, as usual there were children and mothers who were first timers. There was also a young lady with her friends who happened to see the televised presentation of the TLM. She was challenged and was encouraged to join because of what she saw on TV. The TLM indeed offers us a window to the rich liturgical tradition of the Roman Church. As faithful Roman Catholics we love the Mass, it is the highest form of Prayer. Higher and better than our private prayer. This is because the Mass is the public prayer of the Church as a body. This is the main reason why the same words, the same readings are said in all Roman Catholic Churches because it is the Church of God praying together as one body wherever they are scattered or located. Whether in Africa, Asia, Rome or Oceania, the Church raises up its voice in unison in praise of God. Looking up to Christ our hope for the resurrection. This concept of the Mass is less understood by some. Some people will say why should I go to Mass when I can pray individually at home? The answer is simple, your prayer at home is your private prayer, but when you assist at Mass you pray together with the whole Church, and the corporate prayer of the Church is more pleasing in the eyes of God because it is the prayer of His Body redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son and Our Lord and Savior.

Reflection and Readings

The 12th Sunday After Pentecost reminds us of the power of Baptism and confirmation which was given to us. This power should be seen in how we practice charity towards our neighbors. For the Charity of Christ is patient and unites the Faithful into one bond with the Lord who saved them from condemnation.

The Epistle for this Sunday is derived from 2 Corinthians 3:4-9. In this lesson the St. Paul contrasts the Law of Moses with the Law of Christ, the efficacy of the Old Testament Ministry and the New Testament. In the new law St. Paul tells us that we cannot claim sufficiency for ourselves because the ministry of the new Testament is more efficacious. Because instead of condemnation it saves.
The gospel reading for this Sunday is taken from St. Luke 10:23-37. Here Christ Our Lord illustrate the meaning of true Charity as demonstrated by the Good Samaritan. He that truly serves God must serve the wounded and the poor.