Summorum Pontificum: Bearing Fruits II

Island of Papa Stronsay in Scotland

The Transalpine redemptorists have reported on their blog that they are reconciled with Rome and recently have received the recognition from the Commission Ecclesia Dei, the body in the Curia in charge with facilitating the reunion of traditionalists with the Church after the sad event of the 1988 episcopal consecrations in Econe. Our readers may visit this external link Transalpine Redemptorits. The group also has a website at Golgotha Monastery.

Traditional Latin Mass in Alabang, Philippines

Photos Courtesy of Fr. Abraham Arganiosa, CRS.

After long preparations, the TLM was offered in the Parish of St. Jerome Emiliani, with Fr. Gratto, CRS as Celebrant.

Major Elevation

The Altar Servers

During the Intervals

The Celebrant wearing the Traditional Roman Vestments (Fiddle Back chusable common during the Baroque era and laced alb)

To the Little Flower in the Garden of Christ

"How thick with mercies is the path along which God has always led me! He has fulfilled everyone of my desires, and That is why His bitter cup is sweet to me."

-St. Therese of the Child Jesus
(The Story of a Soul, Trans. John Beevers, Sinag-Tala Publishers, Manila, p.93)

Today as I conclude a Novena to my Patron Saint, I would like to offer Our Lord a great thanksgiving for He has seen fit to grant my wishes and petition through the intercession of His handmaid, the Little Flower.

Lord, you have given to us St. Therese to be an example of obedience to the evangelical vows teach us to follow your ways and let us enter too in this school of obedience to the evangelical counsels so that we may become worthy of your promises. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

SOLEMNITY OF STS. PETER AND PAUL

Seventh Sunday After Pentecost Falls under the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul. The Church celebrates the feasts of these two great saints considered to be as pillars of the Church. Both were Apostles and and Martyrs. Shown here is the Painting of St. Peter by Francesco del Cossa. On the left end is the Byzantine carving of St. Paul.

St. Peter is called the Prince of the Apostles, and the First Pope of the Church. In the Scripture we find that Christ made the first call to Simon Peter and his companions while they were fishing on the lake. "And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother , casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers). And he saith to them: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men." Matthew 4:18-19 (Douay-Rheims Version). An avid follower of Jesus Christ. His name was changed from Simon to Cephas (Peter) which means "rock". His confession that Jesus was the Messiah, Son of God and Savior of Israel earned Him the Lord's favor and thereby he was given the charged to be chief of the Apostles. Christ in ordaining Him spoke thus: "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I willbuild my Church and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it." St. John the evangelist gave us a very beautiful account of how Our Lord charged Peter with the care of the Church. "Feed my lambs", "Feed my Sheep". During Christ's passion, Satan has desired to sift Peter away, But Christ prayed for Peter that he may be strengthened, and charged him to strengthen the brethren. Indeed St. Peter died a martyr for the faith. Tradition had it that when he was crucified he made the request that he be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same way that the Lord was crucified. St. Peter, Chief of the Apostles, Vicar of Christ, Supreme Pontiff, Martyr and Saint, pray for us, and pray for our unity here on earth. Amen.

St. Paul was known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. At first he was a persecutor of the Christians. A devout Pharisee and Jew, St. Paul persecuted the primitive Church. Hailing them to judges and jailing them. But on the way to Damascus, Christ appeared to him in a vision, asking him "Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me?" Paul replied, "who are you Lord?"... "I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you persecutes..." From Damascus St. Paul was converted and was instrumental in the spread of Christianity among the Gentiles. He died as a martyr during the reign of Emperor Nero. Through his effort the Christian faith was spread to the gentile nations. He struggled and resisted the Judaizers who were aiming to impose circumcision and the Mosaic ritual law among the gentiles. In the Council of Jerusalem, he argued for these proposals.

Prayer:

Lord Almighty Father, through your Son Jesus our Lord, you have provided us with the inspiration and fruits of the labors of these two apostles and pillars of the Church. May we be strengthened by the faith and teachings of these apostles. May their example inspire the faithful to obey their Bishops and for Bishops too to exercise their duties as teachers, evangelizers and a good administrators of their Churches. Most especially we pray for unity and the healing of Schism between the East and the West and may all those who separated from the Church return to the fold of St. Peter, so that there will be one body and one spirit. We pray for our Pope Benedict XVI that all the Bishops will obey the Holy Father especially with regard to the apostolic letter Summurom Pontificum. We pray for union of the Orthodox Churches with the Mother of all Churches, the Church of Rome. We ask this in Christ name. Amen.

TLM at the 4th National Convention of Diocesan Chancellors

Photos and Narration by Gerald Cenir [Posted with Permission]

The 4th National Convention of Diocesan Chancellors, that started yesterday, June 24th 2008, began with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite with Msgr. Moises Andrade, chancellor of the Diocese of Malolos, as celebrant. As the servers prepared the plenary hall of Pius XII Catholic Center, Msgr. Andrade gave a short cathecisis and explained briefly the different parts of the Traditional Mass to his fellow chancellors and guests. The chancellors and guests followed the Traditional Mass, from beginning to end, attentively and reverently and even received the Body of our Lord kneeling in adoration and awe.During the second day of the convention, Msgr. Moises Andrade will give a talk on the Holy Father's Apostolic Letter given motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.The 4th National Convention of Diocesan Chancellors is a three day event from June 24 to June 26, 2008 originally in Corregidor Island but moved to Pius XII Catholic Center in UN Avenue Manila due to high waves.

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

On June 27, 2008, the Church will celebrate the feast of Our Lady known under the title: Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Among Eastern Christians this icon is known as Our Lady of the Passion, owing to the symbolism of the Icon. On both side of Mary and Jesus are the two ministering Archangels, On the Left side is St. Michael carrying the spear/lance and crown of thorns. On the right side is St. Gabriel Carrying the Cross. It was slo called Mother of the Passion because in the icon the boy Christ clings o her mother for safety and comfort. upon seeing the instruments of torture that would serve his sacrifice. Hence we too have Mary as Our shelter. A refuge in time of need. This icon is very much venerated here in the Philippines and almost every church and home has this icon on display.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

The Redemptorist Church in Dumaguete City whose main point of veneration is the icon of Our Lady.

The Interior of the Shrine

Countdown for the FSSPX - Rome Agreement Begins

Let us earnstly pray that the Lord will touch the hearts of the FSSPX Chapter to favorably agree to the conditions set forth by the Holy See for its regularization. The Holy See like a mother seeks to unite her children. More of this story can be found on New Liturgical Movement.