The Christmas Tree

Christmas is in the air again and I want to share with the readers of my blog some of the objects we have in our home that symbolizes Christmas. For us Christmas is not just a social event or a holiday. Above all Christmas is all about Christ. Why ask what the spirit of Christmas is? Christmas is about Christ. The mystery of the incarnation is celebrated and recreated. Although in the past the history of Christmas Trees were associated with the north Rhineland custom but today has found universal acceptance. I have a simple interpretation of it. For me Christmas tree symbolizes the the Tree of Life in Paradise. And who is this tree of life? This tree of life is Jesus Christ. Thus Christmas reminds us that once upon a time and today and forever we have Christ as the symbol of our faith and our pledge for eternal life.

This is the Christmas tree in our living room painstakingly set up by my sister. Though my sister is married and lives in a different house she still comes more often to help us set up this Christmas Tree. A delight for the Children with a didactic value.

The Child Jesus

I bought this image of the Baby Jesus sometime ago in Manila. I like the way the artist has portrayed Christ. I visited the department stores and could not find anything similar to these. The objects on display are more of inferior in comparison to this image.

The Nativity Scene

It was said that St. Francis started this practice of displaying nativity scenes. Here in the Philippines we call this "Belen". Almost every home has a Belen. My mother bought this set many years ago in Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City. In this ensemble I noticed that the shepered is missing. My mother said that with the renovations that we made in our house some objects went missing. But I am sure the children will love this nativity set.

Venerable Pope Pius XII

Coronation of the Salus Populi Romani by Pope Pius XII in 1954

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Congregation for the Causes of Saints has published the decree declaring Pope Pius XII and Pope John Paul II venerable. Venerable Pius XII and Venerable John Paul II, Pray for us!

How can I not recognize this Pope, who in a radio message to the Marian Congress of the Philippines in 1954 said thus and I quote:

"Philippines! Kingdom of Mary! Philippines! Kingdom of the Holy Rosary! Run to this throne of grace, to this saving devotion, because the storm is raging not far away from you. Remain firm in the Holy Faith of your fathers, that you have received at the cradle, just as your islands remain firm, although shaken by earthquakes and violently besieged by irritated waves. And never let the sacred fire of your love for your heavenly Mother die in your souls, this sacred fire represented by these volcanoes erupting from time to time reveal the furnace hidden in your land.' [Emphasis supplied]

"Pope Pius XII has been declared "venerable" because he is a model for Christian life, not because of the historical decisions he made." Zenit.org

Mt. Mayon : Timid Fury of a Volcano

A couple of days ago around 22,000 people were evacuated for safety because of the simmering fury of Mt. Mayon. Mayon is known for her beauty but it has had a history of violent eruption. Burying entire villages, destroying crops and livestock. Using my cellphone camera I took these pictures of Mt. Mayon.

Majestic Mt. Mayon as seen from the roof top of Jennifers Kababayan Hotel

Clouds always love to form around the conic shape of the volcano during high humidity days

A seeming unrest. Mt. Mayon as seen from the 2nd Floor of Hotel Villa Angelina

Guinobatan, Albay

Today I have the chance to visit the town of Guinobatan. A municipality in Albay Province. It is a town set on hilly terrain. Its proximity to Mt. Mayon Volcano makes it susceptible to lahar flooding and ashfall during volcanic eruption. The town is also famous for Simeon Ola considered a local hero for his struggle against the American occupation forces. Nonetheless, because of its terrain, hills and mountains, the town has been famous for its natural springs.

Anyone thinking of performing visita iglesia might consider Guinobatan's parish church of Our Lady of the Assumption.

The town overlooking the hills and beyond.

The belfry of the Church rises above the lush tropical vegatation. On top of it the Cross of Christ proclaiming the eternal salvation, witnessing to the people of Guinobatan

The belfry and the entrance. Notice the banner announcing the appoiuntment of the New Bishop of Legazpi, the Most Rev. Joel Z. Baylon together with the outgoing administrator, Auxilliary Bishop, Most Reverend Lucilo Quiambao

A poster in front of the church providing instruction on the proper dress code when attending mass.

The Outdoor Altar of Christ the King. At the bottom of the monument are the statues of the four virtues that characterizes the Kingdom of God. The statue also bore the Latin inscription Christus Regnat.

The Ad orientem altar now fell into disuse. Now a metal fenscing surrounds it to prevent vandals from sitting or climbing on it.

The symbols of Mary on the Door post. This church is indeed a Marian Church.

The Most Rev. Joel Z. Baylon

Congratulation to the new Bishop of Legazpi, His Excellency, Joel Z. Baylon, D.D. prior to his appointment as Bishop of Legazpi, Most Rev. Baylon was Bishop of Masbate. For more on his biography please visit CBCP on line here is an excerpt from the CBCP News: " LEGAZPI City, Dec. 9, 2009—The Province of Albay, famous for its Mayon Volcano, is in the thick of preparations to welcome its sixth bishop, the 55-year old Bishop Joel Z. Baylon, in fitting liturgical reception and canonical installation at the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral at 4:00 P.M. tomorrow. The Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales will lead about 30 other bishops from across the country. Baylon will be formally introduced by Archbishop Leonardo Z. Legazpi, Metropolitan archbishop of Nueva Caceres, to the bishops-emeriti and clergy of the Diocese of Legazpi. CNCP News

The Joys of Advent

The Belfry of the Parish Church of San Juan Bautista Bedecked with Neon Lights.

The Public Plaza of Tabaco City a washed in neon lights to celebrate Christmas.
The Manger scene and other decorations courtesy of the City Government

The season of advent commences again. In a few weeks time it will be Christmas. Though advent is relatively a short season in the liturgical calendar, it is the most joyful. Many traditions and practices evolved out of this season. Peope now a days tend to speculate on the meaning of Christmas. Forgetting that Christmas is all about Christ. God's love expressed is expressed to us by sending us His own begotted Son as a gift of grace. As the Bible said, the Law came through Moses but grace and truth came thorugh Jesus Christ. The real message of Christmas is that we need to prepare our selves to be in a state of Grace so that we can assimilate the spirit of Christmas and give ourselves in the service of others.

Warming Relations Between Moscow and the Holy See

An AFP report states that there is warming of relationship between the Holy See and Moscow. President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia signed a decree establishing full diplomatic relation between Moscow and the Holy See. It was said that the government of Russia would have not done this without the concurrence of the Partriarchate of Moscow. The rapproachment between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church is a concrete sign and a positive outcome of ecumenism. Today more than ever Christianity faces a common enemy in militant secularism that seeks to put religion in the sphere of private life and make relativism as the philosophy behind its morality. A Europe that does not look back at its past and negates the role of Christianity in shaping its culture will never find itself. Materialism is nothing. It is souless. It will not last the beatings of time. Christ said He who hears my word and do them is like a man who builds his house upon a rock. Let us pray for our Church, that they may be one.

Pantocrator