All Souls Day Reflection

Tonight is the eve of All Souls Day.  A copious downpour of rain somehow dampen the event.  But I took the time also to visit the remains of my grandparents Miguel and Maria.  November 1 is a national holiday in the Philippines, but I decided to report to work voluntarily because there seems to be plenty of work to be done which on normal days I could not accomplish.  As a form of sharing let me offer you some of my thoughts and reflection about All Souls Day.  I have also taken some snap shots of my little visit to the cemetery near the Church.  It has been customary in some Catholic Churches to have the cemetery near the Church this is because of the belief in the resurrection.  A year ago we decided to have the remains of our grandparents be moved from the local public cemetery to the Church cemetery.  

I know that some of our protestant friends criticized us for this practice of praying for the dead.  This is perhaps because they do not understand why we Catholics and the ancient church prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed.  Actually this belief is founded on our faith as declared in the Nicene Creed that we recite every Sunday Mass.  We believe in the communion of the saints, which means that since all of us baptized Christians belong to one mystical body of Christ we are bounded together by that bond of love that binds the Trinity.  That whether we live or die all of us are united intimately to Christ and to one another.  In our catechism we were taught that the church has three manifestations: (1) Militant, this includes all the living members since while we are here on earth we battle we with the self, the world and the devil and we need to make the final perseverance; (2) Suffering, these are the baptized members who died in the grace of God and are saved yet because of the temporal punishment due to sin are still deprived of the total vision of God.  They are in the prison of purgatorial fires.  They have this agony of longing to be with God but are denied of the vision because they have to satisfy the justice of God.  They need our prayers because since they are in prison they cannot help themselves; and (3) triumphant these are the members who are now in heaven and are enjoying the vision of God.  Occasionally the church declares canonically some as saints but there are countless unrecognized saints.  On November 1 we celebrate the feast of All Saints and we implore their prayers for us.  On November 2 we celebrate All Souls day, here we are reminded to pray for the dead and those who are in purgatory.  Our prayers and good works and the masses offered for them will bring them relief and a step closer to the object of their longing - God.  

Here is a link that will explain what Purgatory is.  

 This evening I took the time visit this grotto near the church where the cemetery is.  This is a popular shrine judging from the number of people coming here and the number of candles flickering.

This is the cemetery where the remains of my grandparents are interred.  I owe to my grandparents  my Catholic Faith.  As a child I love to hear my grandfather tell stories about the saints and about the stories in the Bible.  My grandfather was a very devout man.  He was a member of the Adoracion Nucturna Filipina, a pious association of the faithful devoted to the worhsip and vigil of Christ in the Eucharist.  Even when he was in his 80's he would unabashedly carry the flag and banner of the association even in public.  My grandmother too was a devotee of the Virgin Mary and of Saint Joseph.  She was diligent teacher who taught me about my catechism.  She saw to it that we go to church every Sunday.  The Church has been very much a part of me because of the training they gave me.    

The outdoor altar of Christ the King.

Our Parish Church

All Saints and All Souls Day

Today is all saints day and tomorrow is all souls day.  This is a beautiful day to reflect on the communion of the saints.  When we chant the litany of the saints we got the transcendental perspective of the Kingdom of God.  Let this day too be an opportunity to exercise our charity since the souls in purgatory needs our prayers too.

The Right of the Church to Proclaim the Truth

 His Grace, the Most Reverend Leonardo Z. Legazpi, O.P. wrote a pastoral letter on the role of the church in public life.  Here is an excerpt from the pastoral letter the full text can be read at this link.

"The teachings of the Church concerning prevailing social issues that affect people are not merely limited to renunciation of immoral acts, but in a more positive light, these teachings seek to form and illumine our conscience to enable us to choose the good and to genuinely decide in accordance with what is true.[18] In this sense, the Church is a vital contributor in the political debate, a transformative resource[19] insofar as she helps in purifying and shedding light upon the application of reason to the discovery of objective moral principles.[20] Ultimately, the right and duty of the Church to speak about the Truth and to form conscience in the Truth is rooted not so much in her doctrinal statements and pastoral letters but in her fidelity in following Jesus.[21]"

Memorial of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

One of the most popular and enduring devotions in the Church is the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin.  It has wrought wonderful miracles for those who recited it with faith and devotion.  St. Dominic overcame heresy by promoting this devotion.  

As a child we were taught to recite the Rosary.  We memorized the mysteries and were able to recite it by heart.  As a college student it has helped me pass exams with high colors.  In facing life's crises it has helped me.  

Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary pray for us.

SPIRITUAL CHILDLIKENESS: ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS & THE GUARDIAN ANGELS

October 2 and 3 are 3rd class feasts of the Guardian Angles and St. Therese of the Child Jesus respectively.  Both are important for me and I found that devotion to the guardian angels is worth it.  My guardian angel has protected me while driving my car and in my various travels.  The church believes that each one of us baptized members of the church were given our particular angels to guide us and protect us.  The Bible says that these are fiery creatures and ministers of God.  They bod the command of God and strong and powerful.

I owe also a lot to my dear patron saint, St. Therese.  Indeed a person well loved by the Lord because of her childlike faith and simplicity.  A virgin and doctor of the church.  Her profound understanding of the mysteries of the gospel has earned her the title of Doctor of the Church.  She teaches us the little way of Christ.

Yesterday afternoon we held a get together for twenty or so little children in the school.  We treated them with stories, candies and goods.  I notice this little boy, probably because he was too young to join the other children he went venturing the corridors of the school.  I took this snap shot and was inspired by the simple message of this picture.  To be child-like, to have that faith and assurance of a child.  To trust in the Lord is what propelled saints to become saints.  St.  Therese thank you so much for your friendship, my guardian angle I do not know your name but you are also my real friend and helper.  Thank you Lord for providing me with true friends!

Is There a Need to Re-Emphasize the Use of Vernacular and Inculturation?

"Is there a need to re-emphasize the use of vernacular and inculcation in the liturgy when it is evident that these are in existence in the Catholic liturgical landscape of the Philippines???" I asked myself this question after reading the statement released by the National Meeting of the Diocesan Directors of Liturgy Silver Jubilee Statement.  I hold to the impression that some liturgists in our country may not be aware of the REFORM OF THE REFORMED  program of Pope Benedict XVI.  That's why most statements in relation to the liturgy either openly contradicts the program of the Holy Father or simply downplayed it.  Here are some of my comments.  These are my opinions and I stand corrected.

On the Vernacular

The National Meeting of Dicesan Directors of Liturgy Silver Jubilee Statement as published in the RCAM highlighted several points.  While I observe that there were several good points in that statement I want to offer my own observations on several points.  Let me quote point #1 

"The Use of the Vernacular. While we respect the option to use Latin and celebrate the Tridentine liturgy, we uphold the use of the vernacular in our parishes and communities and recommend translations that faithfully reflect both the spiritual doctrine of the texts and the linguistic patterns of our vernacular languages"

Let me offer some of my observation. (1) Tridentine Liturgy is not the correct word.  The Rite of Mass formulated by St. Pius V during the Council of Trent is not a new rite but rather it was the reformed  liturgy of the Roman Rite, standardized and made universal.  One should understand the liturgical landscape of the reformeation and post-reformation period in Europe.  There were the multiplicity of regional liturgies.  Almost every region or dioceses in Euope has its own local variation.  The multiplicity of rites created confusion and increased the chances that heretical ideas  could penetrate the liturgy.  Thus St. Pius V by the authority of the council revised the Roman Liturgy and made it universal.  However, liturgies aging 200 years old and above were exempted.  Whereas liturgies not reaching the age of 200 were deemed abolished.  This in the context of the saying that the Law of prayer becomes the law of faith.  For as we pray thus we will also believe.  Thus correct word should be Traditional Latin Mass or the Forma Extraordinaria. 

(2)  Why is there a need for the liturgists to uphold the use of the vernacular when there is no widespread demand for the Extraordinary Form?  To me it is absurd.  The framers of this statement should have read the accompanying letter of Pope Benedict XVI to explain the Summorum Pontificum which allay the fears of those who think that the celebration of the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite will alter the liturgical landscape.

(3) The issue here is not about language. It is not about Latin versus the vernacular because the original text of the Roman Rite is in Latin, whatever vernacular that exists are mere translations of the basic Latin Texts.  There is a danger in spiritualizing the original texts because there are dangers of misinterpretations.  We should remember that language is a tool of communication.  It can also be a repository.  Thus the direct and faithful translations to the vernacular is to be preferred over the "spiritualized" translations. Direct translation will ensure orthodoxy. And the use of Liturgical language will ensure and promote sacrality, which is so much wanting in todays liturgies.  The liturgy is the public worship of the Church, there we enter into the sacred realm away from the profane.  Hence the use of profane language and music in the liturgy demotes the experience of the sacred.  The liturgy just like any other field of human endeavor has its own language that makes it her own.  Thus Christians who attends church regularly will not find it difficult to get acquinted with the nuances.  We won't even have any need for commentators, which often obstructs the flow of the celebration. In fact Vatican II documents on the liturgy only authorize the translation of the Mass in the vernacular on a partial basis.  But the self arbiters of the reform failed to recognize this.  Latin is the Language of the Roman Church and if this is totally eliminated from the liturgy it will create rupture and discontinuity.  This is somehting dificult to comprehend.  Even our Latin Texts contains the Greek Kyreie if only to emphasize that even there was a shift from Greek to Latin we recognize our rootedness in the Greek Church which is more ancient than the Roman.  The masses celebrated on EWTN is a very good example of a Vatican II mass.  They also have done a great job in featuring the Extraordinary Form on several occasions.

Is there a paranoia here vis-a-vis the Latin Mass?

On Inculturation

Liturgical Inculturation. The interest in recent times to revive the Tridentine Liturgy should not draw the attention, especially of the Church leaders, from the unfinished agenda of liturgical inculturation. We are of the persuasion that liturgical renewal, as envisioned by the Constitution on Liturgy of Vatican II, entails liturgical inculturation and that our rich cultural heritage has much to offer to make the Roman liturgy truly Filipino.

Why is there a constant mention of the Tridentine Liturgy??? Is the Tridentine Liturgy a threat to the on going so called inculturation agenda?  I wish that the framers of this statement would read the entire Apostolic Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI Summorum Pontificum and its accompanying Letter to the Bishops.  The statement as quoted above reveals that they are aware of an interest in the use of the Tridentine Liturgy.  The question should be asked logically - WHY IS THERE AN INTEREST IN THE TRIDENTINE LITURGY 40 YEARS AFTER THE SO CALLED REFORM?  Is it because the current reforms which started in the 70s failed to capture the true essence of liturgical reform as envisioned by Vatican II? It seems to me that the statement above expresses sthe unfounded fear which the Holy Father in his accompanying letter to the motu proprio seeks to allay, and I quote the words of the Holy Father:

"In the first place, there is the fear that the document detracts from the authority of the Second Vatican Council, one of whose essential decisions – the liturgical reform – is being called into question. This fear is unfounded. In this regard, it must first be said that the Missal published by Paul VI and then republished in two subsequent editions by John Paul II, obviously is and continues to be the normal Form – the Forma ordinaria – of the Eucharistic Liturgy. The last version of the Missale Romanum prior to the Council, which was published with the authority of Pope John XXIII in 1962 and used during the Council, will now be able to be used as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgical celebration. It is not appropriate to speak of these two versions of the Roman Missal as if they were "two Rites". Rather, it is a matter of a twofold use of one and the same rite."

As for the status of the Tridentine Liturgy here is what the Holy Father says:

"As for the use of the 1962 Missal as a Forma extraordinaria of the liturgy of the Mass, I would like to draw attention to the fact that this Missal was never juridically abrogated and, consequently, in principle, was always permitted."

(Clear as the sun!)

There is a UCAN article written by Archbishop Dosado that explains what the Reform of the Reform of Pope Benedict means.  Please follow the link to read the full article.  In this article Arcbihop Dosado offered his ideas abut the true meaning of the reform and he explained the intent of the Holy Father in promoting the Reform of the Reformed.  He also explained the problem of current state of liturgical renewal in this way:

"Looking back, some of the culprits for me for the gradual loss of the true reform of the liturgy were the so-called “liturgists” who were more like technicians and choreographers rather than pure students of liturgy. They had a peculiar affinity for refined liturgical celebrations coupled with disdain for the old rites and devotions. Unfortunately, some bishops, not pure students of liturgy either, gave in to their terrorist proclivities."

I would opine that the lack of interest in liturgical affairs in the Philippines have given reign to the self arbiters of the liturgical reform.   But its not too late.  The Holy Father has been pursuing quietly but steadfastly this project of genuine liturgical renewal based on the hermeneuics of continuity. 

In conclusion I would like to share with you my comments on the UCANarticle in support of the article.

I would like to reiterate my support for Archbishop Dosado. I was born in the Novus Ordo and I was witness to the gradual disfiguring of our liturgies in the Philippines. The deconstructionists and inculturation schools have done so much damage to the Catholic identity and worship of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. Not only it has distorted the historical and legitimate development of the liturgy, the destruction is manifested even in the way religious art and architecture were treated. So much heritage and historical values were lost, all in the name of "renewal" using Vatican II as the card.  I hope that this INCULTURATION school should vanished in the mountains of Malaybalay and I hope that the REFORM OF THE REFORMED of Pope Benedict will find its way into this Catholic country and reestablish Catholic identity. AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS ARCHBISHOP DOSADO you are in our prayers always "Be not afraid... fear not the wolves in sheep's clothing".

Legazpi City: City of My Dreams ( Part 1 )

September 11 is a memorable date because of what had happened in New York several years ago.  But at that time I was travelling for Manila on board a Cebu Pacific Air from Legazpi to Manila.  I have been on this route many times but I simply did not have much time to take photos.  But last September 11 I brought along with me my Olympus Camera.  I took one of the best shots I could ever take of Mt. Mayon Volcano.  Picture speaks more than words.  Upon checking in I specifically requested the lady attending to tickets to put me on a seat near the window so that I could have a full view of the mountain.  I would think that Bicol is a beautiful place and and an excellent one for tourism. This peninsula is gifted with flora and fauna.  

On the picture you could see the coastline of Legazpi City. Stretching from the city center one can enjoy a breathtaking view of Albay Bay and the pacific ocean.  This coastline contains the road going to the City of Tabaco. 

Perhaps a year ago I heard the pilot did make mention of this sight as the chocolate hills of Bohol in Albay.  That famed chocolate hills in Bohol Island in the Visayas.  But one need not go to Bohol to see those hills.  The western portion of Albay is characterized by rugged topography, with small hills donning the countryside.

Mount Mayon volcano as seen from the ramps of Embarcadero, Legazpi's newest shopping center.  The government has done a great job in encouraging private investors to invest in tourism and entertainment business in the city.

The shorelines of Legazpi are dotted with this kind of trawlers or fishing boats.  Albay gulf is a fish sanctuary.  And the waters off the Pacific ocean are rich in marine resources.  Fishing is one of the major economic activity of many of Legazpinos.

Here is another view of Mt. Mayon.

The light house of Embarkadero de Legazpi.