Carrying of the Cross: A Must for Priests says Cardinal Vidal

His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal of the Archdiocese of Cebu has this much to say in his homily for priests and I quote from the CBCP News report.

“But the cross that we have to bear is not the opposite of these, but the exercise of restraint in the face of adulation, gifts and affirmation. The first lesson of Jesus crucified is thus to ‘deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me,’ ” Vidal said.

“The best way a priest can know the condition of God’s people is through the confessional. Like St. John Mary Vianney, a priest should spend much time in the confessional to know the real needs of the people he serves. We do not know the needs of people by virtues they exercise; we know their problems by the sins they commit,” the cardinal said.

Jesus Carrying the Cross by Hieronymus Bosch

ERECTION OF A PERSONAL TRIDENTINE PARISH IN THE DIOCESE OF CUBAO

Here is a message from D.P. Maturan:

The Bishop of the Diocese of Cubao, his excellency Bishop Honesto F.Ongtioco, D.D., has permitted the erection of a personal parish for those who are attached to the Extra Ordinary Form of the Latin Rite. The church building will be dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and will under the auspices of Fr. Michell Joe Zerrudo and the Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph to consolidate efforts aong various groups advocating the return of the form of Mass popularly known as the Tridentine Mass. The parish will also be available for other Sacraments to be administered according to the liturgical books of 1962 or prior to 1970. It will also be a venue of training for priests who would like to learn the ancient usage of the Roman Rite and others who would like to learn the rubrics of serving at the traditional rites, including schola and choir training. The Diocese is now looking for a venue for the said personal parish and funds are solicited in order
to commence such as august aposolate. Funds may be channeled through Fr. Michell Joe B. Zerrudo, Parish of Our Lord of Divine Mercy, Diocese of Cubao, Maamo cor. Madasalins Sts., Sikatuna, Quezon City, Philippines or may call his parish at 029213337. We therefore appeal to traditonal Catholic communities to help us in such endeavor.

Dennis Raymond P. Maturan
Founding Chairman
Ecclesia Dei Society of St. Joseph

Pope Benedict Affirms Trust and Confidence with Cardinal Bertone

 Pope Benedict on Cardinal Bertone:

"I have always admired his 'sensus fidei,' his doctrinal and canonical preparation and his 'humanitas,' which helped us very much to live, in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a climate of genuine familiarity, unity and a decisive and determined discipline of work," Read more at CBCP News .


Let us pray for the Pope's program on the "Reform of the Reformed" in the Liturgy.  Cardinal Bertone is a great help for the Pope in this respect.

We need priests who will .....

"The lay faithful enjoined the clerics to work with them in attaining peace that “honors human dignity, protects human rights, and condemns institutional violence/forms of cruelty.”  CBCP News 

My comment:  The Clergy need not take on the roles of social revolutionaries.  If the Clergy will only diligently teach the Doctrines and the Catechism, not from the lens social activism but form the lens of the gospel, then every lay faithful who comes to church and to mass will be edified to become good citizens.  We need priests who will instruct us in the teachings of the gospel, we need priests who will sit in the confessionals, we need priests who will stay in churches rather than stay invisible. How we long for homilies that seek to explain the mystery of the gospel rather than politics.

Pope's Message to Filipino Prelates

The message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the Filipino Prelates holding their plenary meeting at the St. Pius XII hall in Manila and I am presenting here some excerpts.  The full text of this new item can be read at CBCP Online .  I found the message touching because it goes to the heart of the role of a Bishop and of a priest and it shows how important are their role for the sanctification of the Church, which is very much needed by the Filipino Church.  The active participation of the Church of the laity, which is so evident now, should not make drive away priests nor make them complacent of their role in teaching the doctrine of the faith.  How many times do we see Bishops and priests give to much emphasis on issues like politics or the environment.  Although I would opine that these issues can legitimately be the concern of the Church because pastoring the flock is also integrative.  While attention is given to the temporal well being of the flock, the Bishops and priests should give more attention to the administration of the Sacraments and the teaching of the Word of God, by preaching, homilies and catechism.  Sacraments can only be performed by the ordained clergy and is intended to sanctify the faithful.  Teaching the Word of God is also the major concern of the Ordained.  Although in some cases these functions can also be shared by the lay faithful.  Sometimes I feel sad that many secular issues have overridden this concern for the spiritual needs of the Church.  Sometimes concern for the environment or for politics is misconstrued as catechism. I feel sad that the basic teachings of the Church are not imparted on the faithful.  It is sad to note also that many homilies now are centered on how to vote, and how to fight for the integrity of the environment and seldom do I hear homilies that expounds on the words of the Scriptures, of the church fathers and other useful lessons.  We should remember that Sunday masses more often is the only time that Catholics do see their parish churches and this is a very good opportunity to impart teaching.  I  hope that our Bishops and priests will give more attention to how the liturgy is celebrated and how beautiful it should be.  These things cannot just be delegated to the lay.  But the Priests should also give attention and supervise.  I wish that our priests should give more time for the celebration of the sacred mysteries so that people will be encourage to go to church and grow fervent in their faith.  This is also one way of encouraging vocations to the priesthood.  The many times our priests engaged in secular concerns tends to discourage young men to enter to the priesthood.  This is perhaps because who would want to be ordained if one would simply be a social worker or an environmentalist.  No one needs ordination to be an environmentalist. 


"He said a bishop’s role is to sanctify, and in order to do this one must first tend to his own holiness of life.  “By preaching the Word, offering Eucharistic sacrifice, and administering the sacraments to God’s people, the clergy in your respective dioceses ...may grow in holiness,” Benedict XVI said. ....Bertone said the pope is urging Filipino prelates to continue acting their role as the chief catechists of their respective pastoral jurisdictions. This means, he said, that bishops must be willing always and everywhere to stand up and teach those in need of instruction and for them to “manifest ever more clearly the spirit of God at work in the world.” In parting, Cardinal Bertone assured the bishops of the pontiff’s “apostolic blessing” while commending their works for the Catholic Church."

Caramoan Revisited

For a lighter moment let me share with you some pictures I have of the Church in Caramoan, Camarines Sur. Although I have posted some pieces before about Caramoan, but let me do this again.  Perhaps some of you who are planning to travel can consider Caramoan to your itinerary.  Caramoan is known for its islands and beaches, but seldom do every one take notice that despite the remoteness of Caramoan it has one of the most beautiful brick church in the entire Bicol Peninsula and a wide courtyard.  I would suggest that Bicol historians to explore the history of this municipality.

The Photo below shows the facade of the Church dedicated to St. Michael, the Archangel. The two niches below shows the image of Sts. Peter and Paul, patron saints of Rome and the apostles credited for having founded the Church in Rome.

My students, Richardson and Jose.

The Church has a spacious grounds and courtyard littered with Narra Trees and with statues and shrines.  The Parish priest usually helps in cleaning the lawn.  The altar boys also volunteer their services to help clean this spacious yard.

The Risen Christ.  The church would have been beautiful if it had the old retablos.  The parish priest is planning to restore the retablos.  Because according to him that the reredos are more appropriate for the architecture of the church.

The statue and shrine of St. Joseph.  I found this statue inspiring.  It evokes awe and admiration for the greatest of all fathers.

Between Belief in Visions and Obedience to the Church: Which is which?

I just feel sad reading about the events in Medjugorje.  As a faithful Catholic I feel sad that there are fellow Catholics who would trust in so called Marian visions, unauthorized by the Church, and yet disobey their local bishop.  We should be reminded that the teaching of the Church is based on the teaching of the apostles, the fathers, as guided by the Holy Ghost.  No apparition or visionary  can overthrow that.  Apparitions and visions are private revelations and therefore when they contradict the teachings of the Church and foment disobedience should be rejected.  Belief in visions are not obligatory, but belief and obedience to the teaching authority of the Church is necessary for salvation.  St. Paul has this to say and we better pay attention:

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema." Galatians 1:8 (Douay-Rheims)


You may visit the Diocese of Mostar for the statement of His Excellency Ratko Peric, Bishop of Mostar.  let us pray for the suffering church of Mostar.