CAFETERIA CATHOLICISM
(TURO-TURONG KATOLIKO)
Bro. Bobby General (NSTI, SJWP Prophetic Ministry)
ARE YOU A “CAFETERIA CATHOLIC”?
Most of us have heard of the term “Cafeteria Catholics.” The term refers to Catholics who pick and choose what they do and don’t believe. I prefer to call them “Custom Catholics.” All of us prefer the custom things in life and because of that, we want a custom faith. We want to pick and choose. Custom Catholics or Cafeteria Catholics are harder to talk with. Custom Catholics still pretend to be Catholics even though they have denied teachings of Christ through the Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Traditions & the Holy Magisterium. You can’t say, “I believe in the Eucharist but I’m also politically pro-choice.” You can’t say, “I believe in the Second Vatican Council but I don’t believe in the Council of Trent.” You can’t say, “I believe in the Pope, but I don’t believe in the Church’s social teachings” or “I submit to the Bishops but not the Parish Priest”, and many other things, Catholic but not on the death penalty issue, Catholic but pro-abortion and many others even Liturgical practices.
The word Catholic comes from Greek, “kata holos” which literally means “according to the whole.” So, it can mean “universal” as in “according to the whole world,” but it can also refer to the entire collection of teaching from Christ and the Apostles that we believe “according to the whole” of all true teaching.
If someone knowingly denies even one Catholic teaching, he has essentially called Christ and the Apostles a bunch of liars or lunatics. Christ claimed everything. He couldn’t get something wrong. He also promised that Saint Peter and his apostles would “bind and loose” (Matthew 16: 13ff) accordingly in His name, that’s either true or it is not true. It can’t be 99% true. It must be 100% true. Instead, God gave us a universal, catholic, true and unchanging body of religious teachings so that each of us could have a personal and custom experience of Him.
It’s true that we each are invited to a custom journey of salvation. To make sure that we don’t drive off the cliff, God has set up visible, tangible, and protective guard rails that don’t move. These are the Scriptures, Sacred Traditions and the Magisterium, the full deposit of faith; they are there to protect us. Let us not be guided by our preferences leading to customized Catholicism or cafeteria Catholicism.
Reflections:
1. Do I pick and choose which liturgical, ministerial or practical Catholic practices that I have to perform?
2. What motivates me to perform my Catholic practices and duties?
Prayer:
Father we thank you for Jesus, our brother and Lord who showed us that He is the way, the truth and the life. We thank you for the Holy Spirit who continues to be our guide and strengthen us as we sojourn from this life in preparation to the next. Allow us to truly put our faith in You through the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Let our lives be guided according to Your will by Your Word, the Scriptures, the Sacred Traditions handed to us through the centuries and by the Magisterium the teaching authority of the Church. If our preferences are not according to them, change our heart to conform to them by your grace. May all of us live our lives as fully Christian Catholics in the Roman Catholic Church, storehouse of your divine truth in these our time. We ask this Father in the Name of Jesus together with the Holy Spirit who lives and reigns with You, One God forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Spouses, Mama Mary and Papa Joseph, pray for us, the poor, the sick, the suffering and the dying of today. Amen.
Most of us have heard of the term “Cafeteria Catholics.” The term refers to Catholics who pick and choose what they do and don’t believe. I prefer to call them “Custom Catholics.” All of us prefer the custom things in life and because of that, we want a custom faith. We want to pick and choose. Custom Catholics or Cafeteria Catholics are harder to talk with. Custom Catholics still pretend to be Catholics even though they have denied teachings of Christ through the Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Traditions & the Holy Magisterium. You can’t say, “I believe in the Eucharist but I’m also politically pro-choice.” You can’t say, “I believe in the Second Vatican Council but I don’t believe in the Council of Trent.” You can’t say, “I believe in the Pope, but I don’t believe in the Church’s social teachings” or “I submit to the Bishops but not the Parish Priest”, and many other things, Catholic but not on the death penalty issue, Catholic but pro-abortion and many others even Liturgical practices.
The word Catholic comes from Greek, “kata holos” which literally means “according to the whole.” So, it can mean “universal” as in “according to the whole world,” but it can also refer to the entire collection of teaching from Christ and the Apostles that we believe “according to the whole” of all true teaching.
If someone knowingly denies even one Catholic teaching, he has essentially called Christ and the Apostles a bunch of liars or lunatics. Christ claimed everything. He couldn’t get something wrong. He also promised that Saint Peter and his apostles would “bind and loose” (Matthew 16: 13ff) accordingly in His name, that’s either true or it is not true. It can’t be 99% true. It must be 100% true. Instead, God gave us a universal, catholic, true and unchanging body of religious teachings so that each of us could have a personal and custom experience of Him.
It’s true that we each are invited to a custom journey of salvation. To make sure that we don’t drive off the cliff, God has set up visible, tangible, and protective guard rails that don’t move. These are the Scriptures, Sacred Traditions and the Magisterium, the full deposit of faith; they are there to protect us. Let us not be guided by our preferences leading to customized Catholicism or cafeteria Catholicism.
Reflections:
1. Do I pick and choose which liturgical, ministerial or practical Catholic practices that I have to perform?
2. What motivates me to perform my Catholic practices and duties?
Prayer:
Father we thank you for Jesus, our brother and Lord who showed us that He is the way, the truth and the life. We thank you for the Holy Spirit who continues to be our guide and strengthen us as we sojourn from this life in preparation to the next. Allow us to truly put our faith in You through the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Let our lives be guided according to Your will by Your Word, the Scriptures, the Sacred Traditions handed to us through the centuries and by the Magisterium the teaching authority of the Church. If our preferences are not according to them, change our heart to conform to them by your grace. May all of us live our lives as fully Christian Catholics in the Roman Catholic Church, storehouse of your divine truth in these our time. We ask this Father in the Name of Jesus together with the Holy Spirit who lives and reigns with You, One God forever and ever. Amen.
Holy Spouses, Mama Mary and Papa Joseph, pray for us, the poor, the sick, the suffering and the dying of today. Amen.
TOPIC 3: CATHOLIC CHURCH: COMMUNION
PART 1: CHURCH
TOPIC 3: CATHOLIC CHURCH: COMMUNION
THE GRACES OF BAPTISM INCORPORATED US INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH. THIS IS THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF OUR FAITH. WE ARE IN COMMUNION WITH OTHERS, STARTING WITH OUR FAMILIES, THE PARISH COMMUNITY, THE DIOCESE OR ARCHDIOCESE AND THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH.
As sacrament, the Church is Christ's instrument. "She is taken up by him also as the instrument for the salvation of all," "the universal sacrament of salvation," by which Christ is "at once manifesting and actualizing the mystery of God's love for men."199 The Church "is the visible plan of God's love for humanity," because God desires "that the whole human race may become one People of God, form one Body ofChrist, and be built up into one temple of the Holy Spirit." (CCC 776)
PART 1: CHURCH:
Now here is what I am trying to say: All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. Here is a list of some of the parts he has placed in his Church, which is his body: Apostles, Prophets—those who preach God’s Word, Teachers, Those who do miracles, Those who have the gift of healing; Those who can help others, Those who can get others to work together,
Those who speak in languages they have never learned. (1Cor 12: 27-28)
A) ETYMOLOGY (CCC #751)
ECCLESIA (LT), EKKLESIA (GK), QAHAL (HB)
= AN ASSEMBLY OF GOD’S PEOPLE
GK KYRIAKE (CALLING OUT TO GATHER)
KIRCHE(GR) CHURCH (ENG)
THE CHURCH IS PREFIGURED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THROUGH ISRAEL, THE PEOPLE OF GOD. THIS MEANS THAT THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN TO BE HIS OWN. THEY HAVE A COVENANT WITH HIM AND IN EFFECT THEY BECAME VERY SPECIAL IN HIS EYES. HOWEVER WHEN GOD, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME INTO OUR MIDST (JN 1:14) THE COVENANT HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE JEWS BUT TO INCLUDE ALL MEN AND WOMEN WHO WOULD ACCEPT HIM BY THE WATERS OF BAPTISM AND BECOME PART OF HIS MYSTICAL BODY, THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH IS THE VISIBLE AND SPIRITUAL ENTITY THAT ENTERED A COVENANT WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS’ BLOOD AND REDEMPTION. THE CHURCH HAS JESUS AS HER HEAD AND STRIVES TO BRING THE KINGDOM OF LOVE JESUS STARTED TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH REGARDLESS OF RACE, CULTURE, GENDER AND ECONOMIC STATUS. IN THIS ENTITY, LOVE AND SERVICE IS THE DENOMINATION.
THE DOCUMENTS OF VATICAN II PARTICULARLY IN LUMEN GENTIUM (DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH) PLACED EMPHASIS ON THE MEANING OF CHURCH AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO KNOW, LOVE, SERVE AND BE WITH THE ALMIGHTY FOREVER. IF BEFORE VATICAN II THE EMPHASIS MEANING WHEN YOU ASK CATHOLICS THE DEFINITION OF THE CHURCH, THEY WOULD PROBABLY GIVE YOU AN ADDRESS, TODAY, THE EMPHASIS AFTER VATICAN II IS THE CHURCH AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD, REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, UNITED IN PRAYER AND LITURGY, PROCLAIMING HIS KINGDOM OF LOVE BY THEIRS THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS.
B) DEFINITION (CCC #752)
THE CHURCH HAS A THREE FOLD MEANING; IT IS THE LITURGICAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD (WORSHIPPERS), IT IS ALSO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY (PEOPLE) AND THE WHOLE UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS (NON PREJUDICIAL) AROUND THE WORLD. THIS 3 FOLD MEANING IS AN EXPANSION OF THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT OF QAHAL (ISRAEL) AND SIGNIFIES THE DESIRE OF GOD TO INCLUDE ALL OF HIS CREATURES TO BECOME TRULY HIS OWN. THE CHURCH BELOVED BY HIM, EXIST BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE, NURTURED BY THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LAMB (EUCHARIST), FORMED BY HIS WORDS AND TEACHINGS (SCRIPTURE/TRADITION/MAGISTERIUM), UNITED IN WORSHIP (LITURGICAL), AND LIVING IN CHARITY AND SERVICE FOR ALL MEN.
THE GRACES OF BAPTISM INCORPORATED US INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH. THIS IS THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF OUR FAITH. WE ARE IN COMMUNION WITH OTHERS, STARTING WITH OUR FAMILIES, THE PARISH COMMUNITY, THE DIOCESE OR ARCHDIOCESE AND THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH.
As sacrament, the Church is Christ's instrument. "She is taken up by him also as the instrument for the salvation of all," "the universal sacrament of salvation," by which Christ is "at once manifesting and actualizing the mystery of God's love for men."199 The Church "is the visible plan of God's love for humanity," because God desires "that the whole human race may become one People of God, form one Body ofChrist, and be built up into one temple of the Holy Spirit." (CCC 776)
PART 1: CHURCH:
Now here is what I am trying to say: All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. Here is a list of some of the parts he has placed in his Church, which is his body: Apostles, Prophets—those who preach God’s Word, Teachers, Those who do miracles, Those who have the gift of healing; Those who can help others, Those who can get others to work together,
Those who speak in languages they have never learned. (1Cor 12: 27-28)
A) ETYMOLOGY (CCC #751)
ECCLESIA (LT), EKKLESIA (GK), QAHAL (HB)
= AN ASSEMBLY OF GOD’S PEOPLE
GK KYRIAKE (CALLING OUT TO GATHER)
KIRCHE(GR) CHURCH (ENG)
THE CHURCH IS PREFIGURED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THROUGH ISRAEL, THE PEOPLE OF GOD. THIS MEANS THAT THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN TO BE HIS OWN. THEY HAVE A COVENANT WITH HIM AND IN EFFECT THEY BECAME VERY SPECIAL IN HIS EYES. HOWEVER WHEN GOD, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME INTO OUR MIDST (JN 1:14) THE COVENANT HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE JEWS BUT TO INCLUDE ALL MEN AND WOMEN WHO WOULD ACCEPT HIM BY THE WATERS OF BAPTISM AND BECOME PART OF HIS MYSTICAL BODY, THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH IS THE VISIBLE AND SPIRITUAL ENTITY THAT ENTERED A COVENANT WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS’ BLOOD AND REDEMPTION. THE CHURCH HAS JESUS AS HER HEAD AND STRIVES TO BRING THE KINGDOM OF LOVE JESUS STARTED TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH REGARDLESS OF RACE, CULTURE, GENDER AND ECONOMIC STATUS. IN THIS ENTITY, LOVE AND SERVICE IS THE DENOMINATION.
THE DOCUMENTS OF VATICAN II PARTICULARLY IN LUMEN GENTIUM (DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH) PLACED EMPHASIS ON THE MEANING OF CHURCH AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO KNOW, LOVE, SERVE AND BE WITH THE ALMIGHTY FOREVER. IF BEFORE VATICAN II THE EMPHASIS MEANING WHEN YOU ASK CATHOLICS THE DEFINITION OF THE CHURCH, THEY WOULD PROBABLY GIVE YOU AN ADDRESS, TODAY, THE EMPHASIS AFTER VATICAN II IS THE CHURCH AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD, REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, UNITED IN PRAYER AND LITURGY, PROCLAIMING HIS KINGDOM OF LOVE BY THEIRS THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS.
B) DEFINITION (CCC #752)
THE CHURCH HAS A THREE FOLD MEANING; IT IS THE LITURGICAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD (WORSHIPPERS), IT IS ALSO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY (PEOPLE) AND THE WHOLE UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS (NON PREJUDICIAL) AROUND THE WORLD. THIS 3 FOLD MEANING IS AN EXPANSION OF THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT OF QAHAL (ISRAEL) AND SIGNIFIES THE DESIRE OF GOD TO INCLUDE ALL OF HIS CREATURES TO BECOME TRULY HIS OWN. THE CHURCH BELOVED BY HIM, EXIST BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE, NURTURED BY THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LAMB (EUCHARIST), FORMED BY HIS WORDS AND TEACHINGS (SCRIPTURE/TRADITION/MAGISTERIUM), UNITED IN WORSHIP (LITURGICAL), AND LIVING IN CHARITY AND SERVICE FOR ALL MEN.
C) MARKS OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH: (CCC 811)
1. ONE (CCC 813)
The Church is one because of her source: "the highest exemplar and source of this mystery is the unity, in the Trinity of Persons, of one God, the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit." The Church is one because of her founder: for "the Word made flesh, the prince of peace, reconciled all men to God by the cross, . . . restoring the unity of all in one people and one body."The Church is one because of her "soul": "It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that he is the principle of the Church's unity." Unity is of the essence of the Church.
2. HOLY (CCC 823)
"The Church . . . is held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy. This is because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as 'alone holy,' loved the Church as his Bride, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her; he joined her to Himself as his body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of
God." The Church, then, is "the holy People of God," and her members are called saints."
3. CATHOLIC (CCC 830)
The word "catholic" means "universal," in the sense of "according to the totality" or "in keeping with the whole." the Church is catholic in a double sense: First, the Church is catholic because Christ is present in her. "Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic Church (Ignatius of Antioch; Bishop & Martyr)." In her subsists the fullness of Christ's body united with its head; this implies that she receives from him "the fullness of the means of salvation" which he has willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession. The Church was, in this fundamental sense, catholic on the day of Pentecost and will always be so until the day of the Parousia (2nd Coming of the Lord).
4. APOSTOLIC (CCC 857)
The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the apostles, in three ways:
- she was and remains built on "the foundation of the Apostles," The witnesses chosen and sent on mission by Christ himself;
- with the help of the Spirit dwelling in her, the Church keeps and hands on the teaching, the "good deposit," the salutary words she has heard from the apostles (traditions);
- she continues to be taught, sanctified, and guided by the apostles until Christ's return, through their successors in pastoral office: the college of bishops, "assisted by priests, in union with the successor of Peter, the Church's supreme pastor"
1. ONE (CCC 813)
The Church is one because of her source: "the highest exemplar and source of this mystery is the unity, in the Trinity of Persons, of one God, the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit." The Church is one because of her founder: for "the Word made flesh, the prince of peace, reconciled all men to God by the cross, . . . restoring the unity of all in one people and one body."The Church is one because of her "soul": "It is the Holy Spirit, dwelling in those who believe and pervading and ruling over the entire Church, who brings about that wonderful communion of the faithful and joins them together so intimately in Christ that he is the principle of the Church's unity." Unity is of the essence of the Church.
2. HOLY (CCC 823)
"The Church . . . is held, as a matter of faith, to be unfailingly holy. This is because Christ, the Son of God, who with the Father and the Spirit is hailed as 'alone holy,' loved the Church as his Bride, giving himself up for her so as to sanctify her; he joined her to Himself as his body and endowed her with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the glory of
God." The Church, then, is "the holy People of God," and her members are called saints."
3. CATHOLIC (CCC 830)
The word "catholic" means "universal," in the sense of "according to the totality" or "in keeping with the whole." the Church is catholic in a double sense: First, the Church is catholic because Christ is present in her. "Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic Church (Ignatius of Antioch; Bishop & Martyr)." In her subsists the fullness of Christ's body united with its head; this implies that she receives from him "the fullness of the means of salvation" which he has willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession. The Church was, in this fundamental sense, catholic on the day of Pentecost and will always be so until the day of the Parousia (2nd Coming of the Lord).
4. APOSTOLIC (CCC 857)
The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the apostles, in three ways:
- she was and remains built on "the foundation of the Apostles," The witnesses chosen and sent on mission by Christ himself;
- with the help of the Spirit dwelling in her, the Church keeps and hands on the teaching, the "good deposit," the salutary words she has heard from the apostles (traditions);
- she continues to be taught, sanctified, and guided by the apostles until Christ's return, through their successors in pastoral office: the college of bishops, "assisted by priests, in union with the successor of Peter, the Church's supreme pastor"
STORIES FROM THE WELL: (07)
OUR FORMER PARISH PRIEST WHO OVER THE COURSE OF A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A DECADE HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD FRIEND TO OUR FAMILY. IN FACT, HE WAS THE GODFATHER OF MY DAUGHTER FOR CONFIRMATION AND TRUTHFULLY IS VIEWED BY US IN OUR FAMILY AS A PART OF IT. THIS REALITY IS SEEN BY ALL IN THE PARISH AND WAS NO SECRET REALLY. HOWEVER, THE TIME CAME WHEN HE HAD TO TAKE ON ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT AND THIS HAS HONESTLY CAUSED QUITE A BIT OF SADNESS ON MY PART WHICH I THINK IS VERY HUMAN INDEED. FOR SOME REASON THE PEOPLE IN THE PARISH THOUGHT THAT IN MY CAPACITY AS THE EDUCATION MINISTER, I DECIDED TO SERVE IN THE PARISH WHERE MY FRIEND IS TO BE TRANSFERRED. HONESTLY, THE IDEA IS STARTING TO BE APPEALING TO ME. YOU SEE, THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FRIENDSHIP IS HONOR AND RESPECT WHICH I THINK IS THE VERY CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN WAY OF RELATING TO OTHERS. IN A LANDMARK PARISH ANNIVERSARY WE HAD FOR OUR MASS PRESIDER, HIS EMINENCE HIMSELF, THE CARDINAL. AGAIN FOR SOME REASON, IT IS LIKE HE KNOWS, SO IN THE PPC (PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL) PHOTO OPPORTUNITY, HE REACHED OUT TO ME INDICATING THAT I SIT IN FRONT OF HIM. ACTUALLY I STILL HAVE THIS PHOTO IN MY FILE. HE HELD ME WITH BOTH HANDS ON MY SHOULDERS AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO STAND, HE LEANED OVER TO MY EARS AND SAID, “WE WILL NEVER ABANDON OUR PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH”. THIS CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE BUT IT MADE ENTERTAINING SERVING IN ANOTHER PARISH, ALTHOUGH VERY CONVENIENT FOR ME BECAUSE OF THE PASTOR WHO IS A VERY GOOD FRIEND (ACTUALLY I WAS SHOWN THE OFFICE I WILL OCCUPY IF I EVER DECIDE TO TAKE THE OFFER), OUT OF THE QUESTION ALREADY. IN OBEDIENCE TO THE ARCHBISHOP WHO DIRECTLY TOLD ME TO DO SO, I HAVE TO CONTINUE IN THE PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER. FLASH FORWARD A FEW YEARS AFTER, THE NEW PARISH PRIEST BECAME A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF OUR FAMILY AS WELL. WE DO WORK TOGETHER SO VERY WELL AND WE ALWAYS FIND OURSELVES AGREEING TO PERTINENT AND IMPORTANT POINTS BOTH THEOLOGICAL AND PASTORAL. AT HINDSIGHT, THIS ATTITUDE OF WORKING WELL WITH OUR PASTORS, THE PARISH PRIEST BECAME A WAY OF LIFE FOR ME WAS STARTED BY 2 PERSON, A FORMER PARISH PRIEST AND A LAY LEADER ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO. WHEN I AM REACHING A CRISIS IN THIS AREA, THE ARCHBISHOP WHO HAS THE FULLNESS OF THE PRIESTHOOD AND TRUE PASTOR AND TEACHER GAVE ME DIRECTION TO WHICH I AM THANKFUL TO GOD ALMIGHTY AND REINFORCED MY CONVICTION THAT GOD DOES WORK AND GUIDES HIS PEOPLE, EVEN IN SOME SMALL PERSONAL MATTER. LAST YEAR ON MY 54TH BIRTHDAY, A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, A PRIEST WITH A TRUE HEART FOR THE POOR, WHO’S FIRST ASSIGNMENT AFTER ORDINATION IS AT THE PARISH, GAVE ME A BOOK AND HE WROTE SOMETHING THAT TRULY TOUCHED ME, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB! YOU ARE GRACE FOR ME AND FOR THE CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR LOVING THE CHURCH AND ESPECIALLY FOR LOVING US PRIESTS UNCONDITIONALLY!” THE DECISION TO STAY THE COURSE I THINK IS THE GOD ORDAINED PATH AND AS I LOOK BACK AT THE FRUITS OF MINISTRY AND SERVICE OVER TIME IN THIS THE PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH, IT TRULY WAS. THE BISHOPS AND PRIESTS HAS AND I GUESS WILL ALWAYS BE MY CO-WORKERS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND MY RESPECT FOR THEM HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY THROUGH THE DECADES. GOD FORBID THAT I THINK I AM BETTER THAN ANY OF THESE HOLY MEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR ENTIRE LIFE FOR GOD AND HIS PEOPLE, THE CHURCH. GLORY TO GOD FOR THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH!
OUR FORMER PARISH PRIEST WHO OVER THE COURSE OF A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A DECADE HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD FRIEND TO OUR FAMILY. IN FACT, HE WAS THE GODFATHER OF MY DAUGHTER FOR CONFIRMATION AND TRUTHFULLY IS VIEWED BY US IN OUR FAMILY AS A PART OF IT. THIS REALITY IS SEEN BY ALL IN THE PARISH AND WAS NO SECRET REALLY. HOWEVER, THE TIME CAME WHEN HE HAD TO TAKE ON ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT AND THIS HAS HONESTLY CAUSED QUITE A BIT OF SADNESS ON MY PART WHICH I THINK IS VERY HUMAN INDEED. FOR SOME REASON THE PEOPLE IN THE PARISH THOUGHT THAT IN MY CAPACITY AS THE EDUCATION MINISTER, I DECIDED TO SERVE IN THE PARISH WHERE MY FRIEND IS TO BE TRANSFERRED. HONESTLY, THE IDEA IS STARTING TO BE APPEALING TO ME. YOU SEE, THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FRIENDSHIP IS HONOR AND RESPECT WHICH I THINK IS THE VERY CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN WAY OF RELATING TO OTHERS. IN A LANDMARK PARISH ANNIVERSARY WE HAD FOR OUR MASS PRESIDER, HIS EMINENCE HIMSELF, THE CARDINAL. AGAIN FOR SOME REASON, IT IS LIKE HE KNOWS, SO IN THE PPC (PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL) PHOTO OPPORTUNITY, HE REACHED OUT TO ME INDICATING THAT I SIT IN FRONT OF HIM. ACTUALLY I STILL HAVE THIS PHOTO IN MY FILE. HE HELD ME WITH BOTH HANDS ON MY SHOULDERS AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO STAND, HE LEANED OVER TO MY EARS AND SAID, “WE WILL NEVER ABANDON OUR PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH”. THIS CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE BUT IT MADE ENTERTAINING SERVING IN ANOTHER PARISH, ALTHOUGH VERY CONVENIENT FOR ME BECAUSE OF THE PASTOR WHO IS A VERY GOOD FRIEND (ACTUALLY I WAS SHOWN THE OFFICE I WILL OCCUPY IF I EVER DECIDE TO TAKE THE OFFER), OUT OF THE QUESTION ALREADY. IN OBEDIENCE TO THE ARCHBISHOP WHO DIRECTLY TOLD ME TO DO SO, I HAVE TO CONTINUE IN THE PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER. FLASH FORWARD A FEW YEARS AFTER, THE NEW PARISH PRIEST BECAME A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF OUR FAMILY AS WELL. WE DO WORK TOGETHER SO VERY WELL AND WE ALWAYS FIND OURSELVES AGREEING TO PERTINENT AND IMPORTANT POINTS BOTH THEOLOGICAL AND PASTORAL. AT HINDSIGHT, THIS ATTITUDE OF WORKING WELL WITH OUR PASTORS, THE PARISH PRIEST BECAME A WAY OF LIFE FOR ME WAS STARTED BY 2 PERSON, A FORMER PARISH PRIEST AND A LAY LEADER ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO. WHEN I AM REACHING A CRISIS IN THIS AREA, THE ARCHBISHOP WHO HAS THE FULLNESS OF THE PRIESTHOOD AND TRUE PASTOR AND TEACHER GAVE ME DIRECTION TO WHICH I AM THANKFUL TO GOD ALMIGHTY AND REINFORCED MY CONVICTION THAT GOD DOES WORK AND GUIDES HIS PEOPLE, EVEN IN SOME SMALL PERSONAL MATTER. LAST YEAR ON MY 54TH BIRTHDAY, A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, A PRIEST WITH A TRUE HEART FOR THE POOR, WHO’S FIRST ASSIGNMENT AFTER ORDINATION IS AT THE PARISH, GAVE ME A BOOK AND HE WROTE SOMETHING THAT TRULY TOUCHED ME, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB! YOU ARE GRACE FOR ME AND FOR THE CHURCH. THANK YOU FOR LOVING THE CHURCH AND ESPECIALLY FOR LOVING US PRIESTS UNCONDITIONALLY!” THE DECISION TO STAY THE COURSE I THINK IS THE GOD ORDAINED PATH AND AS I LOOK BACK AT THE FRUITS OF MINISTRY AND SERVICE OVER TIME IN THIS THE PARISH OF ST. JOSEPH, IT TRULY WAS. THE BISHOPS AND PRIESTS HAS AND I GUESS WILL ALWAYS BE MY CO-WORKERS IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND MY RESPECT FOR THEM HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY THROUGH THE DECADES. GOD FORBID THAT I THINK I AM BETTER THAN ANY OF THESE HOLY MEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR ENTIRE LIFE FOR GOD AND HIS PEOPLE, THE CHURCH. GLORY TO GOD FOR THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH!
TOPIC 2 (PART 3): THE GREAT COMMISSION
TOPIC 2 (PART 3): THE GREAT COMMISSION
INTRO: TECHNICALLY WE ALL BECAME CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED IN THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHRUCH. THIS PRODUCED IN ALL OF US AN INDELIBLE CHARACTER THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN OUR LIFETIME. HENCE, ONCE A PERSON IS BAPTIZED EVEN AS AN INFANT THE SACRAMENTAL GRACES HAS BEEN DISPENSED THEREFORE THERE IS NEVER A NEED TO REPEAT IT. MOREOVER IT IS DEEMED THAT THE SACRAMENT IS A NECESSARY REQUISITE TO SALVATION.
"THE LORD HIMSELF AFFIRMS THAT BAPTISM IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION. HE ALSO COMMANDS HIS DISCIPLES TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO ALL NATIONS AND TO BAPTIZE THEM." (CCC1257)
PART 3: THE GREAT COMMISSION:
“GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZE THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.” (MT 28: 19-20)
A. WE ARE DISCIPLES OF JESUS, OUR BROTHER AND LORD:
RABBANIC TRADITION IN THE JEWISH CONTEXT IS DESCRIBED THIS WAY. WHEN A YOUNG MAN WANTS TO BE A RABBI, HE WILL GO INTO AN APPRENTICE OF SORTS WITH A RABBI. THIS MEANS HE WOULD BE TAKEN IN BY THE RABBI AND LITERALLY LIVE WITH THE RABBI. THE GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO IMITATE THE RABBI INCLUDING MAYBE THE HABITS AND EVERYTHING. IT IS HIGH LEVEL IMITATION. IN OUR FULL CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN LIFE, JESUS IS OUR RABBI OR TEACHER. THE NEED TO BE IN THE MASTER’S FEET BECOMES IMPERATIVE. THIS MEANS THAT WE MUST PUT PREMIUM TO PRAYER AND THE SCRIPTURES WHICH CONTAINS THE WORDS AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS. FOR HOW CAN WE LEARN FROM THE GENTLE MASTER IF WE WILL NOT SPEND OUR TIME GETTING TO KNOW HIM MORE INTIMATELY THROUGH HIS WORDS AND TEACHINGS. JESUS HIMSELF SAID TO MARTHA IN THE GOSPEL IN REFERENCE TO MARY (SISTERS OF LAZARUS) THAT SHE HAS CHOSEN THE BETTER PART WHICH IS TO SIT AT THE MASTER’S FEET AND LISTEN TO HIS LIFE GIVING WORDS. WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, HE IS OUR MASTER. BY OUR BAPTISM WE BECAME DISCIPLES OF JESUS. HE IS THE ONE WE IMITATE, HE IS THE ONE WE FOLLOW AND HE IS THE ONE WE OBEY. WE LEARN HIS WORDS AND TEACHINGS AND LIVE OUR LIVES GUIDED BY THEM. THESE WE CAN DO BY LECTIO DIVINA, THE ANCIENT BUT EFFECTIVE READING AND PRAYING OF THE SCRIPTURES. AS DISCIPLES OUR GOAL IS TO BE LIKE JESUS IN THOUGHTS, WORDS AND ACTION. ST. JEROME (TRANSLATOR OF THE VULGATE & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH) SAID, "IGNORANCE OF SCRIPTURES IS IGNORANCE OF CHRIST".
INTRO: TECHNICALLY WE ALL BECAME CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED IN THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHRUCH. THIS PRODUCED IN ALL OF US AN INDELIBLE CHARACTER THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN OUR LIFETIME. HENCE, ONCE A PERSON IS BAPTIZED EVEN AS AN INFANT THE SACRAMENTAL GRACES HAS BEEN DISPENSED THEREFORE THERE IS NEVER A NEED TO REPEAT IT. MOREOVER IT IS DEEMED THAT THE SACRAMENT IS A NECESSARY REQUISITE TO SALVATION.
"THE LORD HIMSELF AFFIRMS THAT BAPTISM IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION. HE ALSO COMMANDS HIS DISCIPLES TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO ALL NATIONS AND TO BAPTIZE THEM." (CCC1257)
PART 3: THE GREAT COMMISSION:
“GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZE THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.” (MT 28: 19-20)
A. WE ARE DISCIPLES OF JESUS, OUR BROTHER AND LORD:
RABBANIC TRADITION IN THE JEWISH CONTEXT IS DESCRIBED THIS WAY. WHEN A YOUNG MAN WANTS TO BE A RABBI, HE WILL GO INTO AN APPRENTICE OF SORTS WITH A RABBI. THIS MEANS HE WOULD BE TAKEN IN BY THE RABBI AND LITERALLY LIVE WITH THE RABBI. THE GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO IMITATE THE RABBI INCLUDING MAYBE THE HABITS AND EVERYTHING. IT IS HIGH LEVEL IMITATION. IN OUR FULL CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN LIFE, JESUS IS OUR RABBI OR TEACHER. THE NEED TO BE IN THE MASTER’S FEET BECOMES IMPERATIVE. THIS MEANS THAT WE MUST PUT PREMIUM TO PRAYER AND THE SCRIPTURES WHICH CONTAINS THE WORDS AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS. FOR HOW CAN WE LEARN FROM THE GENTLE MASTER IF WE WILL NOT SPEND OUR TIME GETTING TO KNOW HIM MORE INTIMATELY THROUGH HIS WORDS AND TEACHINGS. JESUS HIMSELF SAID TO MARTHA IN THE GOSPEL IN REFERENCE TO MARY (SISTERS OF LAZARUS) THAT SHE HAS CHOSEN THE BETTER PART WHICH IS TO SIT AT THE MASTER’S FEET AND LISTEN TO HIS LIFE GIVING WORDS. WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, HE IS OUR MASTER. BY OUR BAPTISM WE BECAME DISCIPLES OF JESUS. HE IS THE ONE WE IMITATE, HE IS THE ONE WE FOLLOW AND HE IS THE ONE WE OBEY. WE LEARN HIS WORDS AND TEACHINGS AND LIVE OUR LIVES GUIDED BY THEM. THESE WE CAN DO BY LECTIO DIVINA, THE ANCIENT BUT EFFECTIVE READING AND PRAYING OF THE SCRIPTURES. AS DISCIPLES OUR GOAL IS TO BE LIKE JESUS IN THOUGHTS, WORDS AND ACTION. ST. JEROME (TRANSLATOR OF THE VULGATE & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH) SAID, "IGNORANCE OF SCRIPTURES IS IGNORANCE OF CHRIST".
B. WE ARE MISSIONARIES AND IT IS JESUS WHO CALLS US TO DO THIS.
The lay apostolate, however, is a participation in the salvific mission of the
Church itself. Through their baptism and confirmation all are commissioned to
that apostolate by the Lord Himself. (Lumen Gentium #33; Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)
1. THE PASSAGE IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 28 QUOTED ABOVE WERE THE LAST WORDS JESUS SAID BEFORE HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. IN SOME WAY THIS IS HIS LAST WILL FOR US ALL WHO WILL FOLLOW HIM. THE VERY LAST WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS IS FOR US TO GO OUT AND TO BRING PERSONS OF ALL RACES AND CULTURES INTO A LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ALMIGHTY FATHER, THROUGH JESUS AND INTO THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. FURTHERMORE HE SAID TO DO THIS BY BAPTIZING THEM. THE LAST THINGS PEOPLE SAY BEFORE A SCENE OF DEPARTURE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS ESPECIALLY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PERSON LEAVING. MOST PROBABLY THE PERSON WILL NOT SPEAK OF TRIVIAL THINGS. HENCE THESE WORDS OF JESUS ARE IMPORTANT FOR US ALL AND IT IS A CALL TO ENGAGE IN MISSION OR APOSTOLATE. SAYING THIS TO US ALL THROUGH HIS CHOSEN DISCIPLES JUST MAKES THIS IMPERATIVE MORE INTENSE OR DRAMATIC (FOR EMPHASIS PURPOSES) TO SAY THE LEAST. I THINK IN THE HIERARCHY OF COMMANDS, THIS TOOK THE PROVERBIAL CAKE.
The lay apostolate, however, is a participation in the salvific mission of the
Church itself. Through their baptism and confirmation all are commissioned to
that apostolate by the Lord Himself. (Lumen Gentium #33; Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)
1. THE PASSAGE IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 28 QUOTED ABOVE WERE THE LAST WORDS JESUS SAID BEFORE HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. IN SOME WAY THIS IS HIS LAST WILL FOR US ALL WHO WILL FOLLOW HIM. THE VERY LAST WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS IS FOR US TO GO OUT AND TO BRING PERSONS OF ALL RACES AND CULTURES INTO A LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ALMIGHTY FATHER, THROUGH JESUS AND INTO THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. FURTHERMORE HE SAID TO DO THIS BY BAPTIZING THEM. THE LAST THINGS PEOPLE SAY BEFORE A SCENE OF DEPARTURE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS ESPECIALLY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PERSON LEAVING. MOST PROBABLY THE PERSON WILL NOT SPEAK OF TRIVIAL THINGS. HENCE THESE WORDS OF JESUS ARE IMPORTANT FOR US ALL AND IT IS A CALL TO ENGAGE IN MISSION OR APOSTOLATE. SAYING THIS TO US ALL THROUGH HIS CHOSEN DISCIPLES JUST MAKES THIS IMPERATIVE MORE INTENSE OR DRAMATIC (FOR EMPHASIS PURPOSES) TO SAY THE LEAST. I THINK IN THE HIERARCHY OF COMMANDS, THIS TOOK THE PROVERBIAL CAKE.
2. WE ARE CALLED NOT TO BE SPECTATORS IN PROCLAIMING THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO ALL NATIONS STARTING WITH OUR FAMILIES AND RELATIVES MOVING TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND ON TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH AROUND THE WORLD. THESE THE DOCUMENT ABOVE IN LUMEN GENTIUM CLEARLY STATED REGARDING LAY MISSIONS OR APOSTOLATE. WE ARE CALLED TO BE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS ARENA AND NOT TO LEAVE THE TASK TO THE CLERGY WHO ARE BURDENED ENOUGH AS IT IS. WE MUST CONTRIBUTE OUR TIME, TALENTS AND EVEN OUR TREASURE TO BRING PERSONS INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD WHICH IS A KINGDOM OF LOVE. WE DO THEM BY OUR WITNESS, OUR GOOD EXAMPLE, THROUGH OUR WORDS AND DEEDS. I WILL ALWAYS MAINTAIN THAT THE PERSON WHO ARRANGED THE CHAIRS AND THE PERSON WHO DID THE PREACHING OR TEACHING, RECEIVES THE SAME GRACES AND WILL BE BLESSED BY THE LORD, WHO IS UNPREJUDICED, EQUALLY. MEANING IF GOD WILL GIVE THE ALLEGORICAL 4 POINTS, HE WILL EQUALLY TO BOTH THE ONE WHO ARRANGED THE CHAIRS AND THE PREACHER. IN EVANGELII NUNTIANDI BLESSED POPE PAUL VI STATES THAT CATHOLIC EVANGELIZATION IS MORE WITNESS (EXAMPLE OF GOOD WORKS) THAN IT IS WORDS OR PREACHING. MY IMPRESSION IS THAT HE WANTS US TO SHOW BY OUR EXAMPLE FIRST, THEN GO AND SPEAK ABOUT GOSPEL TRUTHS. THIS FOR ME IS LOGICAL ALTHOUGH IT IS MORE CHALLENGING. ST. ANTHONY THE ARK OF THE TESTAMENTS, MIRACULOUS WONDER WORKER AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH SAID, "ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, LET YOUR WORDS TEACH AND YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK".
3. LOVE IS THE MOTIVATION FOR EVANGELIZATION, MISSION OR APOSTOLATE. LOVE GOD AND LOVE FOR OTHERS. LOVE IS AND SHOULD BE AT THE HEART OF ALL EVANGELISM, MISSIONARY OR APOSTOLIC ACTIVITES. LOVE IS WHAT WE PROCLAIM BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IT IN OUR LIVES. SOMETIMES WE DO OUR MISSION OR APOSTOLATE IN THE CHURCH BECAUSE WE LIKE THE ATTENTION, WE SEEM TO THINK WE ARE MORE CAPABLE THAN OTHERS OR WE ARE JUST THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN DO THIS AND BEING SUCH WE ARE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO BE UNPLEASANT TO OTHERS. THIS CANNOT BE THINGS MOTIVATED OUT OF LOVE. WE NEED TO PRAY THAT THE LORD DELIVER US FROM THESE SELFISH TENDENCIES AND JUST TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THE MISSION OR APOSTOLATE HE HAS COMMISSIONED US TO DO. WE MUST IN SOME WAY, BY THE GRACE OF GOD REMOVE THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION AND HAVE THE SPIRIT OF TRUE CHARITY. LOVE, I BELIEVE IN MINISTRY OR SERVICE IS THIS, THAT WE DO THIS TO GLORIFY GOD NOT OURSELVES AND CONDUCTED TO EDIFY HIS PEOPLE. WE CANNOT BE TRUE MINISTERS IF WE HAVE OURSELVES, OUR FEELINGS AND OUR BENEFITS IN OUR HEART WHILE DOING THIS. THE PRAYER BY ST. CATHERINE LABOURE (MIRACULOUS MEDAL AND INCORRUPTIBLE) WHICH I PRAY EVERY THURSDAY SAYS IT BEAUTIFULLY, “I PRAY AND LISTEN TO GOD, IF HE HAS A TASK FOR ME, THANKS BE TO GOD. IF HE DOES NOT, THANKS BE TO GOD AS WELL”. IT IS NOT ABOUT US, IT IS ACTUALLY ALL ABOUT GOD AND FOR HIS GLORY AND THEN FOR THE EDIFICATION OF HIS PEOPLE, HIS CREATED ONES IN HIS VERY OWN IMAGE. AS A CHURCH COMMUNITY PEOPLE OUTSIDE MUST SAY LIKE IN THE EARLY CHURCH, “SEE HOW THEY LOVE ONE ANOTHER”. THIS IS OUR STRONGEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE WITNESS, THEY SEE LOVE (GOD) IN OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS.
A great many wonderful things are to be hoped for from this familiar dialogue between the laity and their spiritual leaders (bishops & priests): in the laity a strengthened sense of personal responsibility; a renewed enthusiasm; a more ready application of their talents to the projects of their spiritual leaders. The latter, on the other hand, aided by the experience of the laity, can more clearly and more incisively come to decisions regarding both spiritual and temporal matters. In this way, the whole Church, strengthened by each one of its members, may more effectively fulfill its mission for the life of the world. (Lumen Gentium #37; Dogmatic Constitution on the Church
STORIES FROM THE WELL: (06)
SINCE NOVEMBER 2017 WE HAVE AS A TENANT A BROTHER WHO IS UNDERGOING SOME NEURO AILMENTS. HE CANNOT GO OUTSIDE FROM THE GATE OF THEIR HOME BECAUSE WHEN HE DOES HE SUFFERS FROM SOME PSYCHOSOMATIC MANIFESTIONS LIKE WETTING, EXTREME FEAR AND THE LIKE. ACTUALLY THE REASON WHY HE RESIDED HERE AT OUR BUILDING IS HIS DOCTOR LIVES ON THE NEXT STREET TO FACILITITATE THE SESSIONS. DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF HIS STAY HERE, HE WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED TO THE DOCTOR (SOMETIMES I WOULD) AND BY EVENING WE WILL SPEND SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT THE PLAN OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES WHICH IS TO LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST (JOHN 10). THEN THE NEXT WEEK I OPENED UP FOR HIM THE IDEA OF CONFESSION SO I ASKED MY CO-APOSTOLATE MATE PRIEST, FR. JOHON MINTO RAY FROM BANGLADESH TO HEAR HIS CONFESSION AND HE AGREED. AFTER THAT WE WOULD STILL HAVE OUR SESSIONS (ALMOST DAILY) AND EVERY SUNDAY, I WOULD BRING JESUS TO HIM IN THE EUCHARIST. I UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE IS UNDERGOING SO I TOOK THE TIME TO SHOW HIM MY LOVE AND CONCERN BY SPENDING TIME WITH HIM EVERY TIME HE NEEDS TO TALK. HIS RELATIVE, AN AUNT ACTUALLY SURPRISED ME BECAUSE WHEN WE SAW EACH OTHER AT CHURCH, SHE THANKED ME THAT I AM DOING THIS FOR HIS NEPHEW. HE IS BETTER NOW BUT I STILL THINK HE WOULD STILL NEED SOME TIME TO TRULY RECOVER COMPLETELY BUT WITH THE SUPPORT OF HIS RELATIVES AND THE CHURCH (THROUGH ME), I KNOW THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS WE WILL SEE HIM TRULY BACK ON HIS FEET AND LEADING A MORE PRODUCTIVE LIFE ONCE MORE. HE IS VERY TALENTED AND I TOLD HIM THAT HE SHOULD RECOVER BECAUSE HE COULD BE A FORCE FOR GOOD THAT WILL BRING GLORY TO GOD AND EDIFY THOSE AROUND HIM. TO QUOTE HER AUNT THE COMBINATION OF SCIENCE (THROUGH HIS DOCTOR) AND FAITH (THROUGH ME?) WILL SURELY BRING ABOUT THE RECOVERY EVERYONE DESIRES, VERY THOMIST INDEED "FAITH AND REASON". BY THE WAY, HE GOES TO THE SESSIONS BY HIMSELF NOWADAYS AND WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE NEARBY MALL. AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM (FOR GOD’S GREATER GLORY).
SINCE NOVEMBER 2017 WE HAVE AS A TENANT A BROTHER WHO IS UNDERGOING SOME NEURO AILMENTS. HE CANNOT GO OUTSIDE FROM THE GATE OF THEIR HOME BECAUSE WHEN HE DOES HE SUFFERS FROM SOME PSYCHOSOMATIC MANIFESTIONS LIKE WETTING, EXTREME FEAR AND THE LIKE. ACTUALLY THE REASON WHY HE RESIDED HERE AT OUR BUILDING IS HIS DOCTOR LIVES ON THE NEXT STREET TO FACILITITATE THE SESSIONS. DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF HIS STAY HERE, HE WOULD BE ACCOMPANIED TO THE DOCTOR (SOMETIMES I WOULD) AND BY EVENING WE WILL SPEND SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT THE PLAN OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES WHICH IS TO LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST (JOHN 10). THEN THE NEXT WEEK I OPENED UP FOR HIM THE IDEA OF CONFESSION SO I ASKED MY CO-APOSTOLATE MATE PRIEST, FR. JOHON MINTO RAY FROM BANGLADESH TO HEAR HIS CONFESSION AND HE AGREED. AFTER THAT WE WOULD STILL HAVE OUR SESSIONS (ALMOST DAILY) AND EVERY SUNDAY, I WOULD BRING JESUS TO HIM IN THE EUCHARIST. I UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE IS UNDERGOING SO I TOOK THE TIME TO SHOW HIM MY LOVE AND CONCERN BY SPENDING TIME WITH HIM EVERY TIME HE NEEDS TO TALK. HIS RELATIVE, AN AUNT ACTUALLY SURPRISED ME BECAUSE WHEN WE SAW EACH OTHER AT CHURCH, SHE THANKED ME THAT I AM DOING THIS FOR HIS NEPHEW. HE IS BETTER NOW BUT I STILL THINK HE WOULD STILL NEED SOME TIME TO TRULY RECOVER COMPLETELY BUT WITH THE SUPPORT OF HIS RELATIVES AND THE CHURCH (THROUGH ME), I KNOW THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS WE WILL SEE HIM TRULY BACK ON HIS FEET AND LEADING A MORE PRODUCTIVE LIFE ONCE MORE. HE IS VERY TALENTED AND I TOLD HIM THAT HE SHOULD RECOVER BECAUSE HE COULD BE A FORCE FOR GOOD THAT WILL BRING GLORY TO GOD AND EDIFY THOSE AROUND HIM. TO QUOTE HER AUNT THE COMBINATION OF SCIENCE (THROUGH HIS DOCTOR) AND FAITH (THROUGH ME?) WILL SURELY BRING ABOUT THE RECOVERY EVERYONE DESIRES, VERY THOMIST INDEED "FAITH AND REASON". BY THE WAY, HE GOES TO THE SESSIONS BY HIMSELF NOWADAYS AND WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE NEARBY MALL. AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM (FOR GOD’S GREATER GLORY).
TOPIC 2 (PART 2) CATHOLICS: SHARERS OF THE LIFE & MISSION OF CHRIST:
INTRO: TECHNICALLY WE ALL BECAME CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED IN THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHRUCH. THIS PRODUCED IN ALL OF US AN INDELIBLE CHARACTER THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN OUR LIFETIME. HENCE, ONCE A PERSON IS BAPTIZED EVEN AS AN INFANT THE SACRAMENTAL GRACES HAS BEEN DISPENSED THEREFORE THERE IS NEVER A NEED TO REPEAT IT. MOREOVER IT IS DEEMED THAT THE SACRAMENT IS A NECESSARY REQUISITE TO SALVATION.
THE LORD HIMSELF AFFIRMS THAT BAPTISM IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION.HE ALSO COMMANDS HIS DISCIPLES TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO ALL NATIONS AND TO BAPTIZE THEM. (CCC1257)
II SHARERS OF THE LIFE & MISSION OF CHRIST:
“REBORN AS SONS OF GOD, (THE BAPTIZED) MUST PROFESS BEFORE MEN THE FAITH THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD THROUGH THE CHURCH” AND PARTICIPATE IN THE APOSTOLIC AND MISSIONARY ACTIVITY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. (CCC 1270)
THE LORD HIMSELF AFFIRMS THAT BAPTISM IS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION.HE ALSO COMMANDS HIS DISCIPLES TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO ALL NATIONS AND TO BAPTIZE THEM. (CCC1257)
II SHARERS OF THE LIFE & MISSION OF CHRIST:
“REBORN AS SONS OF GOD, (THE BAPTIZED) MUST PROFESS BEFORE MEN THE FAITH THEY HAVE RECEIVED FROM GOD THROUGH THE CHURCH” AND PARTICIPATE IN THE APOSTOLIC AND MISSIONARY ACTIVITY OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. (CCC 1270)
A. PRIEST (1PT 2: 9-10) CCC 1268
WE ARE PRIESTS WHETHER THE COMMON (LAITY) OR MINISTERIAL (CLERGY). THIS IS PART OF OUR CALLING. AS PRIEST OUR PRAYERS BECOME MEANINGFUL. WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, SHED ON THE CROSS BRINGING US IN COMMUNION WITH GOD, OUR FATHER. IN THE OLD DISPENSATION, IT IS ONLY THE HIGH PRIEST WHO COMES INTO THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD, HOLY OF HOLIES IN THE TEMPLE. THE HOLY OF HOLIES IN THE TEMPLE IS SEPARATED BY A VEIL. IN THE ACCOUNTS OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR LORD, THE EVANGELISTS WRITES AT THE MOMENT OF EXPIRATION, THE VEIL WAS TORN APART. THIS TELL US THAT NOW, WE WHO WILL BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CAN NOW ENTER INTO THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD THROUGH PRAYER. MOREOVER THAT THIS IS A GRACE GOD GIVES US BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR US AND IS PAID FOR BY THE LAMB OF GOD, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS A GREAT PRIVELEGE THAT MANY TIMES WE NEGLECT OR WORSE, WE DO NOT PUT FAITH INTO MEANING WE SEE VERY LITTLE VALUE. UPON BAPTISM, THE PRIEST WHICH IS THE RIGHTFUL MINISTER APPLIES THE CHRISM OIL AND TELLS US THAT WE ARE TO SHARE IN THE MISSION OF CHRIST AS PRIEST, PROPHET AND KING. THIS IS OUR COMMON CALLING AS BAPTIZED CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS.
OUR PRIESTHOOD MAKES PRAYER A VOCATION. IT IS A TASK THAT WE PERFORM AS PART OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. IT IS LIKEWISE THE TASK THAT WOULD LITERALLY BRING US IN COMMUNION WITH GOD. OUR PRAYER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN US BRINGS US TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD JUST LIKE THE PRIESTS OF THE OLD DISPENSATION. WE ARE UNITED WITH THE DIVINE IN PRAYER, MEDITATION AND CONTEMPLATION. PRAYER IS ALSO KIND OF LIKE FOOD FOR OUR SOULS BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT OF PRAYER, IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, WE RECEIVE GRACES THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO GROW IN THE VIRTUES. AS WE SPEND TIME AS WELL IN INTERCESSION ESPECIALLY, OUR CHARITY AND LOVE FOR OTHERS GROW EXPONENTIALLY. PRAYER IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS IS NOT JUST A VOCATION IT IS A NECCESITY THAT WE NEED IN OUR PILGRIMAGE TOWARDS THE KINGDOM OF GOD, HEAVEN.
“WE NEED TO PRAY 30 MINUTES EACH DAY. HOWEVER, IF WE ARE BUSY, WE NEED TO PRAY ONE HOUR .” (ST. FRANCIS DE SALES, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH)
WE ARE PRIESTS WHETHER THE COMMON (LAITY) OR MINISTERIAL (CLERGY). THIS IS PART OF OUR CALLING. AS PRIEST OUR PRAYERS BECOME MEANINGFUL. WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS, SHED ON THE CROSS BRINGING US IN COMMUNION WITH GOD, OUR FATHER. IN THE OLD DISPENSATION, IT IS ONLY THE HIGH PRIEST WHO COMES INTO THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD, HOLY OF HOLIES IN THE TEMPLE. THE HOLY OF HOLIES IN THE TEMPLE IS SEPARATED BY A VEIL. IN THE ACCOUNTS OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF OUR LORD, THE EVANGELISTS WRITES AT THE MOMENT OF EXPIRATION, THE VEIL WAS TORN APART. THIS TELL US THAT NOW, WE WHO WILL BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CAN NOW ENTER INTO THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD THROUGH PRAYER. MOREOVER THAT THIS IS A GRACE GOD GIVES US BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR US AND IS PAID FOR BY THE LAMB OF GOD, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS A GREAT PRIVELEGE THAT MANY TIMES WE NEGLECT OR WORSE, WE DO NOT PUT FAITH INTO MEANING WE SEE VERY LITTLE VALUE. UPON BAPTISM, THE PRIEST WHICH IS THE RIGHTFUL MINISTER APPLIES THE CHRISM OIL AND TELLS US THAT WE ARE TO SHARE IN THE MISSION OF CHRIST AS PRIEST, PROPHET AND KING. THIS IS OUR COMMON CALLING AS BAPTIZED CATHOLIC CHRISTIANS.
OUR PRIESTHOOD MAKES PRAYER A VOCATION. IT IS A TASK THAT WE PERFORM AS PART OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. IT IS LIKEWISE THE TASK THAT WOULD LITERALLY BRING US IN COMMUNION WITH GOD. OUR PRAYER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN US BRINGS US TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD JUST LIKE THE PRIESTS OF THE OLD DISPENSATION. WE ARE UNITED WITH THE DIVINE IN PRAYER, MEDITATION AND CONTEMPLATION. PRAYER IS ALSO KIND OF LIKE FOOD FOR OUR SOULS BECAUSE AT THE MOMENT OF PRAYER, IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, WE RECEIVE GRACES THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO GROW IN THE VIRTUES. AS WE SPEND TIME AS WELL IN INTERCESSION ESPECIALLY, OUR CHARITY AND LOVE FOR OTHERS GROW EXPONENTIALLY. PRAYER IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS IS NOT JUST A VOCATION IT IS A NECCESITY THAT WE NEED IN OUR PILGRIMAGE TOWARDS THE KINGDOM OF GOD, HEAVEN.
“WE NEED TO PRAY 30 MINUTES EACH DAY. HOWEVER, IF WE ARE BUSY, WE NEED TO PRAY ONE HOUR .” (ST. FRANCIS DE SALES, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH)
B. PROPHET (LUMEN GENTIUM 35)
THE PROPHET OF OLD ACT AS THE VOICE OF GOD ON EARTH. THE CHURCH IS THE VOICE OF GOD IN THESE OUR TIMES. THE CHURCH GUIDES THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO THE DISCOVERY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WILL OF GOD. SHE GUIDES THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO ALL TRUTH. SHE IS THE LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES AND BRINGS THE FLOCK TO THE RIGHT AND GOD ORDAINED PATH. THE CHURCH IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO WILL PROTECT THE FLOCK FROM EVIL AND IF NEED BE, LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE FLOCK.
AS PROPHETS WE MUST BE AWARE OF THE WILL OF GOD IN THESE OUR TIMES. AS WE MOVE TO BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A PERSON IN THE FAMILY, THE PARISH, THE DIOCESE OR ARCHDIOCESE AND IN THE WORLD AT LARGE. OUR HEARTS MUST BE SET ON FINDING OUT AND BEING GUIDED BY THE WILL OF GOD.
TRADITIONALLY THESE ARE THE MEANS BY WHICH WE GET OUR FAITH AND GUIDANCE; SACRED SCRIPTUES (THE BIBLE), SACRED TRADITIONS AND THE TEACHING AUTHORITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THESE ARE THE NORMAL WAYS IN WHICH WE FIND OUT THE WILL OF GOD AND SPEAK OF IT TO OTHERS AS PROPHETS OF OUR TIMES IN THE FAMILY AND ELSEWHERE.
ON SPECIFIC ISSUES HOWEVER, SOMETIMES THE CHURCH EITHER THROUGH THE MAGISTERIUM OR THROUGH THE BISHOP CONFERENCES, WILL COME OUT WITH SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR THE FAITHFULTO FOLLOW WHETHER IT BE IN THE UNIVERSAL OR LOCAL DIOCESE. THESE GUIDELINES ARE PROPHETIC VOICES THAT WE MUST ALL ADHERE TO AND IF GIVEN A CHANCE PROCLAIM TO OTHERS.
LIKE THE PROPHETS OF OLD, SOME OF THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE REJECTED AND RIDICULED. WE MUST STAY THE COURSE AND BY FAITH KNOW THAT IN THE END THE WILL OF GOD IS THE RIGHT PATH TO TAKE.
THE PROPHET OF OLD ACT AS THE VOICE OF GOD ON EARTH. THE CHURCH IS THE VOICE OF GOD IN THESE OUR TIMES. THE CHURCH GUIDES THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO THE DISCOVERY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WILL OF GOD. SHE GUIDES THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO ALL TRUTH. SHE IS THE LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES AND BRINGS THE FLOCK TO THE RIGHT AND GOD ORDAINED PATH. THE CHURCH IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO WILL PROTECT THE FLOCK FROM EVIL AND IF NEED BE, LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE FLOCK.
AS PROPHETS WE MUST BE AWARE OF THE WILL OF GOD IN THESE OUR TIMES. AS WE MOVE TO BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD AS A PERSON IN THE FAMILY, THE PARISH, THE DIOCESE OR ARCHDIOCESE AND IN THE WORLD AT LARGE. OUR HEARTS MUST BE SET ON FINDING OUT AND BEING GUIDED BY THE WILL OF GOD.
TRADITIONALLY THESE ARE THE MEANS BY WHICH WE GET OUR FAITH AND GUIDANCE; SACRED SCRIPTUES (THE BIBLE), SACRED TRADITIONS AND THE TEACHING AUTHORITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THESE ARE THE NORMAL WAYS IN WHICH WE FIND OUT THE WILL OF GOD AND SPEAK OF IT TO OTHERS AS PROPHETS OF OUR TIMES IN THE FAMILY AND ELSEWHERE.
ON SPECIFIC ISSUES HOWEVER, SOMETIMES THE CHURCH EITHER THROUGH THE MAGISTERIUM OR THROUGH THE BISHOP CONFERENCES, WILL COME OUT WITH SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR THE FAITHFULTO FOLLOW WHETHER IT BE IN THE UNIVERSAL OR LOCAL DIOCESE. THESE GUIDELINES ARE PROPHETIC VOICES THAT WE MUST ALL ADHERE TO AND IF GIVEN A CHANCE PROCLAIM TO OTHERS.
LIKE THE PROPHETS OF OLD, SOME OF THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE REJECTED AND RIDICULED. WE MUST STAY THE COURSE AND BY FAITH KNOW THAT IN THE END THE WILL OF GOD IS THE RIGHT PATH TO TAKE.
C. KING (PHIL 2: 8-9)
JESUS SAID, “I CAME NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE AND GIVE MY LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY”. OUR LORD AND MASTER SHOWED US THE ROYAL WAY OF LIFE AND IT IS A LIFE OF SERVING OTHERS AND PROCLAIMING THE KINGDOM OF GOD. WE CANNOT TRULY SHARE IN THE MISSION OF JESUS AS KING WHILE REMAINING COMFORTABLE WITH OUR ME AND MY GOD MENTALITY. SERVICE IS A WAY OF LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IT IS WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO.
THE WORKSHOP FOR OUR SERVICE LIFE IS BEST APPLIED IN THE STRUCTURES THAT WE HAVE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. WE START IN THE FAMILY, THEN WE MOVE TO THE PARISH COMMUNITY (NEIGHBORS), THEN WE MOVE TO THE BIGGER VENUE THE DIOCESE OR ARCHDIOCESE AND IF NEED BE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.
JESUS AS KING IS LIKEWISE A REFLECTION OF HIS VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH BY HIS RESURRECTION. AS SHARERS WITH THE KINGSHIP OF JESUS, WE HIS FOLLOWERS ARE CALLED TO LIVE A LIFE OF HOLINESS. THIS IS A LIFE WHERE AS WE OPERATE AND LIVE IN THE CHURCH, WE GROW IN THE VIRTUES AND BEAR THE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIFE. TO SERVE OR TO PERFORM THE ACTIVITY IS NOT ENOUGH, WE MUST GROW IN THE VIRTUES AS WE PERFORM THE SERVICE ACTIVITY. THIS I BELIEVE IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR SERVICE.
FINALLY, I THINK TO SHARE THE KINGSHIP OF JESUS MEANS WE ARE BECOMING LESS FOCUSED ON OURSELVES AND IS BECOMING MORE FOCUSED ON OTHERS, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
JESUS SAID, “I CAME NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE AND GIVE MY LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY”. OUR LORD AND MASTER SHOWED US THE ROYAL WAY OF LIFE AND IT IS A LIFE OF SERVING OTHERS AND PROCLAIMING THE KINGDOM OF GOD. WE CANNOT TRULY SHARE IN THE MISSION OF JESUS AS KING WHILE REMAINING COMFORTABLE WITH OUR ME AND MY GOD MENTALITY. SERVICE IS A WAY OF LIFE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IT IS WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO.
THE WORKSHOP FOR OUR SERVICE LIFE IS BEST APPLIED IN THE STRUCTURES THAT WE HAVE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. WE START IN THE FAMILY, THEN WE MOVE TO THE PARISH COMMUNITY (NEIGHBORS), THEN WE MOVE TO THE BIGGER VENUE THE DIOCESE OR ARCHDIOCESE AND IF NEED BE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.
JESUS AS KING IS LIKEWISE A REFLECTION OF HIS VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH BY HIS RESURRECTION. AS SHARERS WITH THE KINGSHIP OF JESUS, WE HIS FOLLOWERS ARE CALLED TO LIVE A LIFE OF HOLINESS. THIS IS A LIFE WHERE AS WE OPERATE AND LIVE IN THE CHURCH, WE GROW IN THE VIRTUES AND BEAR THE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIFE. TO SERVE OR TO PERFORM THE ACTIVITY IS NOT ENOUGH, WE MUST GROW IN THE VIRTUES AS WE PERFORM THE SERVICE ACTIVITY. THIS I BELIEVE IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR SERVICE.
FINALLY, I THINK TO SHARE THE KINGSHIP OF JESUS MEANS WE ARE BECOMING LESS FOCUSED ON OURSELVES AND IS BECOMING MORE FOCUSED ON OTHERS, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
STORIES FROM THE WELL (05)
EVERY SUNDAY WE HERE AT ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH SPECIFICALLY MYSELF AND BROTHER JUN SUNGA CONDUCT OUR EUCHARISTIC APOSTOLATE TO THE SICK AND THOSE WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THE SICK IN THE HOSPITAL HERE IN OUR PARISH, ST. CLARES HOSPITAL. WE HAVE FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS BEEN FAITHFUL IN THIS APOSTOLATE AND THOSE WHOM WE ADMINISTER THIS HAVE FULFILLED THEIR SUNDAY OBLIGATION FOR MASS AS THIS IS THE FACULTY WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM OUR PARISH PRIEST. THIS WAS STARTED FOR US BY A FRANISCAN NUN, SISTER HELEN WHO CONDUCT VISITATION FOR THE SICK EVERY THURSDAY IN THE MENTIONED HOSPITAL. WE WILL GO THROUGH ALL THE ROOMS IN EVERY FLOOR. INCLUDED IN OUR EUCHARISTIC APOSTOLATE IS THE READING OF THE GOSPEL AND THEN I (A BIBLICAL MINISTER AS WELL), SHALL SHARE SOME THINGS TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO A PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND IN LINE WITH THEIR PATRTICULAR SITUATION. AS I SHARE, I CONTINUE TO ASK INSPIRATION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT AND PARTICULARLY THE FRANCISCAN SAINTS, FRANCIS, ANTONIO AND CLARE. MANY TIMES THE MESSAGE WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM ROOM TO ROOM. SOMETIMES THOSE WHO I SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH WILL TELL ME THAT THEY ARE TOUCHED AND LED TO ACTION AFTER SUCH APOSTOLATE AS THEY FELT THAT IT IS PERSONAL MESSAGE OF GOD FOR THEM. THIS WILL END FOR ME WITH GOING TO THE RECOVERY AND NEURO SECTION OF THE HOSPITAL IN THE TOP FLOOR. HERE I DO TAKE MY TIME AND MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE FOR SPIRITUAL CONSULTATIONS OR JUST SHARING FROM THE PATIENTS. OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS, MANY OF THESE PATIENTS HAVE BEEN MINISTERED TO AND THE MESSAGE I WILL MAINTAIN IS THAT “GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU IN YOUR FAMILIES, IN YOUR WORKPLACES, THE PARISH AND YOU ARE JUST HERE TO RECOVER”. THESE WORDS GIVE THEM HOPE. IN HINDSIGHT AS I CONDUCT THE APOSTOLATE WHICH FOR ME IS SHARING IN THE THREE FOLD MISSION OF THE LORD JESUS AS PRIEST (PRAYING WITH THEM), PROPHET (SHARING GOD’S WORD TO THEM) AND KING (SERVING THEM BY BRINGING JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST), I FIND MYSELF BEING EVANGELIZED BY THEIR OPEN HEARTS AND RECEPTION TO THE PLAN OF GOD. SOMETIMES, I TELL THEM THIS SO THEY WOULD NOT FEEL SO HELPLESS. IN THE END, I UNDERSTAND AND RELATE TO THEM. I REMEMBER THE WORDS OF A PRIEST/EVANGELIST WHO SAID THAT WHEN WE SERVE GOD THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORS, “WE ARE JUST BEGGARS (POOR) POINTING OUT TO THEM (OTHER BEGGARS/POOR) WHERE TO FIND THE BREAD (LIFE)”. THIS IS FOR ME THE HEART OF EVANGELIZATION, TO BRING OTHER PERSONS INTO A LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER, THROUGH HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON JESUS AND INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR HELPER. AMEN.
EVERY SUNDAY WE HERE AT ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER PARISH SPECIFICALLY MYSELF AND BROTHER JUN SUNGA CONDUCT OUR EUCHARISTIC APOSTOLATE TO THE SICK AND THOSE WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF THE SICK IN THE HOSPITAL HERE IN OUR PARISH, ST. CLARES HOSPITAL. WE HAVE FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS BEEN FAITHFUL IN THIS APOSTOLATE AND THOSE WHOM WE ADMINISTER THIS HAVE FULFILLED THEIR SUNDAY OBLIGATION FOR MASS AS THIS IS THE FACULTY WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM OUR PARISH PRIEST. THIS WAS STARTED FOR US BY A FRANISCAN NUN, SISTER HELEN WHO CONDUCT VISITATION FOR THE SICK EVERY THURSDAY IN THE MENTIONED HOSPITAL. WE WILL GO THROUGH ALL THE ROOMS IN EVERY FLOOR. INCLUDED IN OUR EUCHARISTIC APOSTOLATE IS THE READING OF THE GOSPEL AND THEN I (A BIBLICAL MINISTER AS WELL), SHALL SHARE SOME THINGS TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO A PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND IN LINE WITH THEIR PATRTICULAR SITUATION. AS I SHARE, I CONTINUE TO ASK INSPIRATION FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT AND PARTICULARLY THE FRANCISCAN SAINTS, FRANCIS, ANTONIO AND CLARE. MANY TIMES THE MESSAGE WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM ROOM TO ROOM. SOMETIMES THOSE WHO I SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH WILL TELL ME THAT THEY ARE TOUCHED AND LED TO ACTION AFTER SUCH APOSTOLATE AS THEY FELT THAT IT IS PERSONAL MESSAGE OF GOD FOR THEM. THIS WILL END FOR ME WITH GOING TO THE RECOVERY AND NEURO SECTION OF THE HOSPITAL IN THE TOP FLOOR. HERE I DO TAKE MY TIME AND MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE FOR SPIRITUAL CONSULTATIONS OR JUST SHARING FROM THE PATIENTS. OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS, MANY OF THESE PATIENTS HAVE BEEN MINISTERED TO AND THE MESSAGE I WILL MAINTAIN IS THAT “GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU IN YOUR FAMILIES, IN YOUR WORKPLACES, THE PARISH AND YOU ARE JUST HERE TO RECOVER”. THESE WORDS GIVE THEM HOPE. IN HINDSIGHT AS I CONDUCT THE APOSTOLATE WHICH FOR ME IS SHARING IN THE THREE FOLD MISSION OF THE LORD JESUS AS PRIEST (PRAYING WITH THEM), PROPHET (SHARING GOD’S WORD TO THEM) AND KING (SERVING THEM BY BRINGING JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST), I FIND MYSELF BEING EVANGELIZED BY THEIR OPEN HEARTS AND RECEPTION TO THE PLAN OF GOD. SOMETIMES, I TELL THEM THIS SO THEY WOULD NOT FEEL SO HELPLESS. IN THE END, I UNDERSTAND AND RELATE TO THEM. I REMEMBER THE WORDS OF A PRIEST/EVANGELIST WHO SAID THAT WHEN WE SERVE GOD THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORS, “WE ARE JUST BEGGARS (POOR) POINTING OUT TO THEM (OTHER BEGGARS/POOR) WHERE TO FIND THE BREAD (LIFE)”. THIS IS FOR ME THE HEART OF EVANGELIZATION, TO BRING OTHER PERSONS INTO A LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER, THROUGH HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON JESUS AND INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR HELPER. AMEN.
TOPIC 2 (PART 1): CATHOLICS: SHARERS OF THE LIFE & MISSION OF CHRIST
TOPIC 2 (PART 1): CATHOLICS: SHARERS OF THE LIFE & MISSION OF CHRIST
INTRO: TECHNICALLY WE ALL BECAME CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED IN THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHRUCH. THIS PRODUCED IN ALL OF US AN INDELIBLE CHARACTER THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN OUR LIFETIME. HENCE, ONCE A PERSON IS BAPTIZED EVEN AS AN INFANT THE SACRAMENTAL GRACES HAS BEEN DISPENSED THEREFORE THERE IS NEVER A NEED TO REPEAT IT. MOREOVER IT IS DEEMED THAT THE SACRAMENT IS A NECESSARY REQUISITE TO SALVATION.
THE LORD HIMSELF AFFIRMS THAT BAPTISM IS NECESSARY FOR
SALVATION.HE ALSO COMMANDS HIS DISCIPLES TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TOALL NATIONS AND TO BAPTIZE THEM. (CCC1257)
INTRO: TECHNICALLY WE ALL BECAME CATHOLICS AND CHRISTIANS WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED IN THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHRUCH. THIS PRODUCED IN ALL OF US AN INDELIBLE CHARACTER THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN OUR LIFETIME. HENCE, ONCE A PERSON IS BAPTIZED EVEN AS AN INFANT THE SACRAMENTAL GRACES HAS BEEN DISPENSED THEREFORE THERE IS NEVER A NEED TO REPEAT IT. MOREOVER IT IS DEEMED THAT THE SACRAMENT IS A NECESSARY REQUISITE TO SALVATION.
THE LORD HIMSELF AFFIRMS THAT BAPTISM IS NECESSARY FOR
SALVATION.HE ALSO COMMANDS HIS DISCIPLES TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TOALL NATIONS AND TO BAPTIZE THEM. (CCC1257)
I EFFECTS OF BAPTISM:
“THE MOST HOLY TRINITY GIVES THE BAPTIZED SANCTIFYING GRACE, THE GRACE OF JUSTIFICATION ENABLING THEM TO BELIEVE IN GOD, TO HOPE IN HIM AND TO LOVE HIM THROUGH THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES; GIVING THEM THE POWER TO LIVE AND ACT UNDER THE PROMPTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; ALLOWING THEM TO GROW IN GOODNESS THROUGH THE MORAL VIRTUES. THUS THE WHOLE ORGANISM OF THE CHRISTIAN’S SUPERNATURAL LIFE HAS ITS ROOTS IN BAPTISM.” (CCC 1266)
“THE MOST HOLY TRINITY GIVES THE BAPTIZED SANCTIFYING GRACE, THE GRACE OF JUSTIFICATION ENABLING THEM TO BELIEVE IN GOD, TO HOPE IN HIM AND TO LOVE HIM THROUGH THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES; GIVING THEM THE POWER TO LIVE AND ACT UNDER THE PROMPTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; ALLOWING THEM TO GROW IN GOODNESS THROUGH THE MORAL VIRTUES. THUS THE WHOLE ORGANISM OF THE CHRISTIAN’S SUPERNATURAL LIFE HAS ITS ROOTS IN BAPTISM.” (CCC 1266)
1. FORGIVENESS OF SINS (ORIGINAL AND PERSONAL) CCC 1263/1264
WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED THESE SINS ARE WASHED AWAY GIVING US A NEW REBIRTH (JOHN 3) WHICH IS THE JUSTIFICATION THAT GOD DOES TO US. REMOVAL OF SINS WILL HOWEVER NOT FREE US FROM THE EFFECTS OF SIN SUCH AS SUFFERING, ILLNESS AND DEATH. ALSO THIS DOES NOT TAKE AWAY OUR FREE WILL AND THROUGH OUR CONCUPISCENCE MIGHT MOVE US AWAY FROM GOD BY OUR INDIVIDUAL SINS. THESE ARE THE RULES OF OUR MILITANT ENGAGEMENT THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY BE ON GUARD AND WATCH SO THAT IN THE END WE MIGHT BE FOUND WORTHY TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED THESE SINS ARE WASHED AWAY GIVING US A NEW REBIRTH (JOHN 3) WHICH IS THE JUSTIFICATION THAT GOD DOES TO US. REMOVAL OF SINS WILL HOWEVER NOT FREE US FROM THE EFFECTS OF SIN SUCH AS SUFFERING, ILLNESS AND DEATH. ALSO THIS DOES NOT TAKE AWAY OUR FREE WILL AND THROUGH OUR CONCUPISCENCE MIGHT MOVE US AWAY FROM GOD BY OUR INDIVIDUAL SINS. THESE ARE THE RULES OF OUR MILITANT ENGAGEMENT THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY BE ON GUARD AND WATCH SO THAT IN THE END WE MIGHT BE FOUND WORTHY TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
2. NEW LIFE AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD. CCC 1268/1270
OUR IDENTITY AFTER THE BAPTISM IS GIVEN TO EACH ONE OF US. IN MY SIMPLE CATECHISM WITH OUR PEOPLE HERE I WOULD ALWAYS SAY THAT WE ARE GIVEN AN IDENTITY WITH THE CORRESPONDING NUMBER THAT I SAY IS PERMANENT AND IS THE ONE THAT IS PLACED IN THE ALLEGORICAL BOOK OF LIFE. THIS ID MAKES US BONA FIDE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD AND LIKE ST PAUL SAYS MAKES US CRY OUT TO HIM AS ABBA. GOD IN A WAY BECOMES MORE INTIMATE WITH US AND OUR EXPERIENCE OF HIM BECOMES PERSONAL. CONFIDENTLY WE CAN NOW PRAY THE PRAYER JESUS HIMSELF TAUGHT US. THIS IS OUR IDENTITY AFTER BAPTISM, WE ARE NOW HEIRS OF THE KING OF KINGS.
OUR IDENTITY AFTER THE BAPTISM IS GIVEN TO EACH ONE OF US. IN MY SIMPLE CATECHISM WITH OUR PEOPLE HERE I WOULD ALWAYS SAY THAT WE ARE GIVEN AN IDENTITY WITH THE CORRESPONDING NUMBER THAT I SAY IS PERMANENT AND IS THE ONE THAT IS PLACED IN THE ALLEGORICAL BOOK OF LIFE. THIS ID MAKES US BONA FIDE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD AND LIKE ST PAUL SAYS MAKES US CRY OUT TO HIM AS ABBA. GOD IN A WAY BECOMES MORE INTIMATE WITH US AND OUR EXPERIENCE OF HIM BECOMES PERSONAL. CONFIDENTLY WE CAN NOW PRAY THE PRAYER JESUS HIMSELF TAUGHT US. THIS IS OUR IDENTITY AFTER BAPTISM, WE ARE NOW HEIRS OF THE KING OF KINGS.
3. TEMPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CCC 1264
THE PROCESS OF CLEANSING MANY TIMES MAKES FOR THE DIRT TO BE TAKEN AWAY. IN BAPTISM OUR ORIGINAL AND PERSONAL SINS (DIRT OF THE SOUL) WERE WASHED AWAY BY THE MERITS OF THE BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS. HOWEVER GOD DID NOT LEAVE IT JUST LIKE THAT, HE FILLED UP THE VOID WITH HIS VERY LOVE, THE HOLY SPIRIT.THE VERY LOVE OF GOD IS POURED OUT TO US AND WE RECEIVE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH THE CORRESPONDING GIFTS AND GRACES (1COR 12 & 13). THESE GIFTS (CHARISMA) WERE GIVEN TO US SO THAT WE COULD FULFILL OUR MISSION OF LOVE FOR THE PRAISE OF GOD ALONE. ALL OF US
CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD ARE TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF HIS LOVE AND MAKE US HIS WITNESSES (ACTS 1:8). AS WE YIELD MORE FULLY TO HIS PROMPTINGS, HE USES US TO GLORIFY HIS NAME AND EDIFY HIS PEOPLE. THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES US TO PRAY AS WELL AND THIS PRAYER BECOMES A LOVING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE FATHER AND HIS CHILDREN.
THE PROCESS OF CLEANSING MANY TIMES MAKES FOR THE DIRT TO BE TAKEN AWAY. IN BAPTISM OUR ORIGINAL AND PERSONAL SINS (DIRT OF THE SOUL) WERE WASHED AWAY BY THE MERITS OF THE BLOOD OF THE LORD JESUS. HOWEVER GOD DID NOT LEAVE IT JUST LIKE THAT, HE FILLED UP THE VOID WITH HIS VERY LOVE, THE HOLY SPIRIT.THE VERY LOVE OF GOD IS POURED OUT TO US AND WE RECEIVE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH THE CORRESPONDING GIFTS AND GRACES (1COR 12 & 13). THESE GIFTS (CHARISMA) WERE GIVEN TO US SO THAT WE COULD FULFILL OUR MISSION OF LOVE FOR THE PRAISE OF GOD ALONE. ALL OF US
CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD ARE TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF HIS LOVE AND MAKE US HIS WITNESSES (ACTS 1:8). AS WE YIELD MORE FULLY TO HIS PROMPTINGS, HE USES US TO GLORIFY HIS NAME AND EDIFY HIS PEOPLE. THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES US TO PRAY AS WELL AND THIS PRAYER BECOMES A LOVING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE FATHER AND HIS CHILDREN.
4. INCORPORATED UNTO THE CHURCH; SHARING IN THE MISSION OF CHRIST HIMSELF AS PRIEST, PROPHET AND KING. CCC1267
OUR CHURCH IS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. IT IS TO WHICH THAT WE ARE INCORPORATED INTO BY BAPTISM. WE BECOME MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST WITH CHRIST HIMSELF AS THE HEAD. WHILE WAITING FOR THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD JESUS, WE ARE ENTRUSTED TO CERTAIN MEN WHO WILL ACT AS HIS VICAR AND WE CALL THESE MEN AS POPES. THEY ARE VISIBLE REPRESENTATION OF JESUS OUR LORD IN THESE OUR TIME TODAY. OUR LOVE, HONOR, RESPECT AND OBEDIENCE WE GIVE TO THEM IS AS IF WE DO IT TO THE LORD. THIS OFFICE IS GIVEN BY THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF WHEN HE GAVE PETER, THE 1ST POPE THE SYMBOLIC KEYS OF HEAVEN WHICH IS THE AUTHORITY TO BIND, LOOSE, FORGIVE AND NOT TO FORGIVE. THESE POPES IS REPRESENTED TO US IN THE LOCAL DIOCESE BY THE SHEPHERD, THE BISHOPS WHO IN TURN ENTRUSTED US TO THE LOCAL PARISH PRIEST. SOMETIMES WE IN THE CHURCH GET SIDETRACKED REGARDING THIS CONTINUES LINE BETWEEN THE POPE, THE BISHOP AND OUR LOCAL PASTORS, THE PARISH PRIEST. I THINK AWARENESS OF THIS TRUTH WOULD MOVE US TO VIEW OUR PASTORS, SHEPHERDS AND THE HOLY FATHER WITH MUCH RESPECT AND PUT US IN OUR PLACE, THE CORRECT AND HUMBLE PLACE. GOD FORBID THAT WE DO NOT SEE OURSELVES AS THE BETTERS OF THESE MEN WHO HAVE LITERALLY GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE EDIFICATION OF HIS PEOPLE ON EARTH, THE CHURCH MILITANT.
“PRIESTS HAVE RECEIVED A POWER WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN NEITHER TO ANGELS NOR TO ARCHANGELS. IT WAS SAID TO THEM: “WHOSOEVER YOU SHALL BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN; AND WHATSOEVER YOU SHALL LOOSE, SHALL BE LOOSED.”… WHAT GREAT POWER IS THERE THAN THIS? THE FATHER HAS GIVEN ALL JUDGEMENT TO THE SON AND NOW I SEE THE SON PLACING ALL THIS POWER IN THE HANDS OF MEN (PRIESTS).
(ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH)
OUR CHURCH IS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. IT IS TO WHICH THAT WE ARE INCORPORATED INTO BY BAPTISM. WE BECOME MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST WITH CHRIST HIMSELF AS THE HEAD. WHILE WAITING FOR THE SECOND COMING OF THE LORD JESUS, WE ARE ENTRUSTED TO CERTAIN MEN WHO WILL ACT AS HIS VICAR AND WE CALL THESE MEN AS POPES. THEY ARE VISIBLE REPRESENTATION OF JESUS OUR LORD IN THESE OUR TIME TODAY. OUR LOVE, HONOR, RESPECT AND OBEDIENCE WE GIVE TO THEM IS AS IF WE DO IT TO THE LORD. THIS OFFICE IS GIVEN BY THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF WHEN HE GAVE PETER, THE 1ST POPE THE SYMBOLIC KEYS OF HEAVEN WHICH IS THE AUTHORITY TO BIND, LOOSE, FORGIVE AND NOT TO FORGIVE. THESE POPES IS REPRESENTED TO US IN THE LOCAL DIOCESE BY THE SHEPHERD, THE BISHOPS WHO IN TURN ENTRUSTED US TO THE LOCAL PARISH PRIEST. SOMETIMES WE IN THE CHURCH GET SIDETRACKED REGARDING THIS CONTINUES LINE BETWEEN THE POPE, THE BISHOP AND OUR LOCAL PASTORS, THE PARISH PRIEST. I THINK AWARENESS OF THIS TRUTH WOULD MOVE US TO VIEW OUR PASTORS, SHEPHERDS AND THE HOLY FATHER WITH MUCH RESPECT AND PUT US IN OUR PLACE, THE CORRECT AND HUMBLE PLACE. GOD FORBID THAT WE DO NOT SEE OURSELVES AS THE BETTERS OF THESE MEN WHO HAVE LITERALLY GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE EDIFICATION OF HIS PEOPLE ON EARTH, THE CHURCH MILITANT.
“PRIESTS HAVE RECEIVED A POWER WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN NEITHER TO ANGELS NOR TO ARCHANGELS. IT WAS SAID TO THEM: “WHOSOEVER YOU SHALL BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN; AND WHATSOEVER YOU SHALL LOOSE, SHALL BE LOOSED.”… WHAT GREAT POWER IS THERE THAN THIS? THE FATHER HAS GIVEN ALL JUDGEMENT TO THE SON AND NOW I SEE THE SON PLACING ALL THIS POWER IN THE HANDS OF MEN (PRIESTS).
(ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH)
STORIES FROM THE WELL (04)
I WAS CATECHIZING THE PARENTS OF THOSE WHO WILL RECEIVE BAPTISM AS PART OF A PROGRAM BY THE LOCAL POLITICIAN WHO DECIDED TO SPONSOR MAYBE ABOUT 20 INFANTS FOR A FREE BAPTISM. WHILE I WAS GOING THROUGH THE SEMINAR, I SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM AS TO THE EFFECT IT WILL HAVE ON INFANTS WHO ARE NOT BAPTIZED AND IN THE EVENT OF DEATH WITHOUT THE GRACE OF BAPTISM. I TOLD THEM ACCORDING TO THE THOMIST (ST. THOMAS AQUINAS) VIEW, THOSE WHO PASS OVER EVEN INFANTS WHO HAS NO PERSONAL SIN YET WILL NOT REACH THE BEATIFIC VISION OR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THE PARENTS FAILED TO ARRANGE THEIR BAPTISM MEANS THEY STILL HAVE ORIGINAL SIN. AS I WAS CONTINUING THE SEMINAR, I NOTICED A MOTHER WITH THE INFANT IN HER HAND (WHO IS LISTED FOR BAPTISM) IS ATTENDING WITH A MUCH BIGGER CHILD ABOUT 5 YEARS OF AGE. TO CUT THE STORY SHORT I FINISHED WITH MY LECTURE AND TOLD THEM THAT I SHALL SEE THEM THIS COMING SUNDAY. HOWEVER, I TOLD THE MOTHER WITH THE INFANT AND THE CHILD TO STAY. I ASKED THE MOTHER WHO IS THE GODFATHER OF THE BIGGER CHILD AND TO MY SURPRISE SHE TOLD ME THAT HE IS NOT YET BAPTIZED. IT ALARMED ME AND I SPOKE TO THE MOTHER AND ASKED WHY SHE DID NOT HAVE HIM LISTED. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE PROGRAM OF THE LOCAL POLITICIAN IS FOR UP TO 1 YEAR OLD ONLY. REALIZING THIS I SPOKE TO THE PARISH OFFICE SECRETARY TO HAVE THE BIGGER CHILD LISTED AND THAT I WILL PAY FOR WHATEVER EXPENSE OR DONATION WHICH I ACTUALLY DID. EVENTUALLY THE INFANT AND THE BIGGER CHILD WAS BAPTIZED. I WAS SO RELIEVED BECAUSE IN THESE TIMES WE JUST CAN’T BE SURE ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE CHILDREN ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE IN THE POORER SEGMENT OF OUR SOCIETY. THIS EXPERIENCE REINFORCED IN ME THAT BAPTISM IS TRUTHFULLY A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, BEATIFIC VISION AND LIMBO.
I WAS CATECHIZING THE PARENTS OF THOSE WHO WILL RECEIVE BAPTISM AS PART OF A PROGRAM BY THE LOCAL POLITICIAN WHO DECIDED TO SPONSOR MAYBE ABOUT 20 INFANTS FOR A FREE BAPTISM. WHILE I WAS GOING THROUGH THE SEMINAR, I SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM AS TO THE EFFECT IT WILL HAVE ON INFANTS WHO ARE NOT BAPTIZED AND IN THE EVENT OF DEATH WITHOUT THE GRACE OF BAPTISM. I TOLD THEM ACCORDING TO THE THOMIST (ST. THOMAS AQUINAS) VIEW, THOSE WHO PASS OVER EVEN INFANTS WHO HAS NO PERSONAL SIN YET WILL NOT REACH THE BEATIFIC VISION OR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THE PARENTS FAILED TO ARRANGE THEIR BAPTISM MEANS THEY STILL HAVE ORIGINAL SIN. AS I WAS CONTINUING THE SEMINAR, I NOTICED A MOTHER WITH THE INFANT IN HER HAND (WHO IS LISTED FOR BAPTISM) IS ATTENDING WITH A MUCH BIGGER CHILD ABOUT 5 YEARS OF AGE. TO CUT THE STORY SHORT I FINISHED WITH MY LECTURE AND TOLD THEM THAT I SHALL SEE THEM THIS COMING SUNDAY. HOWEVER, I TOLD THE MOTHER WITH THE INFANT AND THE CHILD TO STAY. I ASKED THE MOTHER WHO IS THE GODFATHER OF THE BIGGER CHILD AND TO MY SURPRISE SHE TOLD ME THAT HE IS NOT YET BAPTIZED. IT ALARMED ME AND I SPOKE TO THE MOTHER AND ASKED WHY SHE DID NOT HAVE HIM LISTED. SHE TOLD ME THAT THE PROGRAM OF THE LOCAL POLITICIAN IS FOR UP TO 1 YEAR OLD ONLY. REALIZING THIS I SPOKE TO THE PARISH OFFICE SECRETARY TO HAVE THE BIGGER CHILD LISTED AND THAT I WILL PAY FOR WHATEVER EXPENSE OR DONATION WHICH I ACTUALLY DID. EVENTUALLY THE INFANT AND THE BIGGER CHILD WAS BAPTIZED. I WAS SO RELIEVED BECAUSE IN THESE TIMES WE JUST CAN’T BE SURE ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF THE CHILDREN ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE IN THE POORER SEGMENT OF OUR SOCIETY. THIS EXPERIENCE REINFORCED IN ME THAT BAPTISM IS TRUTHFULLY A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, BEATIFIC VISION AND LIMBO.
TOPIC 1: PART 2: UNION WITH GOD
“YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF LORD, AND OUR HEART’S ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST ON YOU.” (ST. AUGUSTINE)
ST. AUGUSTINE SPEAKS TO US THAT FULLNESS OF LIFE, BEING FULLY ALIVE, IS A DIRECT CONSEQUENCE OF AN INTIMATE COMMUNION WITH GOD. A COMMUNION THAT CAN HAPPEN TO US ALL THROUGH THE MERITS OF OUR SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST WHO SHED HIS BLOOD TO BRING US BACK TO THE PLAN OF GOD FOR ALL OF US, COMMUNION WITH HIM. JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” (JOHN 14; )
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN ABOUT 16 OR 17; I HAVE FRIENDS, I PLAY SPORTS, I LOVE MUSIC AND PLAY A LITTLE BIT, I AM OCCUPIED IN SCHOOL AND AM DOING NOT TOO BAD, BUT STILL IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS STILL LACKING. IT IS LIKE A VOID INSIDE THAT I CANNOT EXPLAIN. THEN SOMEONE SPOKE TO ME ABOUT GOD AND TOLD ME HOW MUCH GOD WANTS TO BE IN MY LIFE AND BEFORE LONG I AM PRAYING WITH HIM AND ASKED GOD TO COME INTO MY LIFE. FOR THE MOST PART THAT EXPERIENCE GAVE ME CLARITY AND GAVE MY LIFE DIRECTION. I STARTED PRAYING AND READING THE BIBLE EVERYDAY AND GREW SOMEHOW IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. MOST OF ALL I THOUGHT MY LIFE BEFORE GOD WAS ACTIVE, NOW WITH GOD IT BECAME MUCH MORE ACTIVE. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 30 YEARS THEN, MY LIFE HAS NOT BEEN ABSENT OF BUMPS AND HICCUPS BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, WHEN GOD FILLED THE VOID IN MY LIFE IT WAS NEVER THE SAME. IT BECAME A MORE MEANINGFUL JOURNEY THAT EVERYDAY I GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR SUCH A BLESSING.
1. WE GET LIFE AS WE REMAIN IN COMMUNION WITH GOD OUR FATHER. GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF LIFE. IT IS ONLY AS WE REMAIN IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH HIM CAN WE TRULY BE ALIVE. WITH HIM IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS WE CAN MOVE FROM SELF PREOCCUPATION TO BEING OTHER CENTERED. THIS IS WHAT FAITH IN GOD TRULY IS, TO REALIZE THAT WE NEED NOT WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE HAVE GOD WHO ULTIMATELY KNOWS WHAT IS BETTER FOR US. THEREBY WE ARE ABLE TO FOCUS ON WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THE GOOD OR BENEFIT OF THE OTHER PERSON. AS JESUS SAID “UNLESS A GRAIN OF WHEAT FALLS AND DIES, IT CANNOT BEAR ANY FRUIT.”
2. FULL CATHOLICISM IS A LIFE OF COMMUNION WITH GOD, THROUGH THE SON AND IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS RADICAL LIFE EFFECTING CHANGE IS FOUNDED ON THE TRUTH THAT JESUS OUR SAVIOR IS ALSO OUR MASTER AND WE SIT AT HIS FEET. WE REFLECT, STUDY AND AM GUIDED BY THE WORDS AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS IN THE GOSPEL. THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE BY THE GOSPEL VALUES. ALSO WE LEARN TO YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH IS OUR HELP AND TEACHER. THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES ISSUES SPRING FORTH THAT WE AS THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD FACE AND STRUGGLE WITH. THE LORD JESUS PROMISED TO GIVE US THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THIS CHARISM IS MORE SO ENJOYED BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THROUGH THE MAGISTERIUM (POPE AND COUNCILS). THESE ARE THE CONCRETE VEHICLES TO WHICH WE ARE GUIDED BY THE LORD AT ANY AGE SINCE OUR FOUNDING ABOUT 33AD BY JESUS HIMSELF AND CONTINUED BY THE APOSTLES.
3. WE LIVE OUR LIFE LIKEWISE IN COMMUNION WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE COMMUNITY. ST PAUL'S ECCLESIOLOGY TELLS US THAT WE ARE ONE BODY WITH CHRIST HIMSELF AS HEAD. FURTHER MORE HE SAYS THAT WHEN ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HURT, THE REST SUFFERS. WE MUST THEREFORE SEE OURSELVES AND OUR SPIRITUALITY NOT AS AN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE ONLY BUT DONE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST. WE HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON WITH THESE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THOSE WE ARE JOURNEYING TOGETHER IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. GOD IS LOVE AND WE LIKEWISE AM CALLED TO LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE AND SERVICE TO OTHERS. COMMUNITY IS NOT AN OPTION FOR WITHOUT OTHERS HOW CAN WE EXPRESS OUR LOVE FULLY. JESUS SAYS, “LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVED LOVED YOU”.
CONCLUSION PART 2:
HAPPINESS IS AT THE HEART AND IS THE DESIRE OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS. ACCORDING TO ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, HAPPINESS IS GOD. HOWEVER HE ALSO SAYS IN THE SUMMA THAT GOD IS THE BE ALL AND ALL AND IS THE PURSUIT OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS. MOREOVER, HE RECOGNIZES THAT FOR OTHERS THEIR GOD IS DIFFERENT AS NOT ALL HAVE THE PURSUITS. THOSE WHO SEARCHES FOR GOD IN TRYING TO USE FAITH AND REASON TO KNOW, LOVE AND SERVE HIM, THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH FOR THEY ARE PURSUING HAPPINESS (GOD) BY GOING DEEPER IN COMMUNION WITH HIM. IT IS HOWEVER CLEAR TO THE ANGELIC DOCTOR THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO SEEK HAPPINESS IN THE THINGS MATERIAL LIKE HOUSES, CARS, LUXURY, ETC. THOSE WHO SEEK IT IN PLEASURE LIKE FAME, ETC. HE CONTINUES THAT UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM, THESE THINGS WHICH ARE FINITE IS THEIR GOD AND SADLY THEY HAVE MISSED THE POINT. HAPPINESS, THE GREATEST GOOD ACCORDING TO HIM IS ONLY TO BE ATTAINED BY COMMUNION WITH GOD, THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF ALL THINGS. IT IS ONLY WITH HIM THAT WE CAN FIND TRUE AND LASTING HAPPINESS. IT IS DEFINITELY WHAT LIFE IS ACTUALLY ALL ABOUT, FULLNESS OF LIFE & THE GLORY OF GOD.
STORIES FROM THE WELL 03
CONVERSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE (BISHOP & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH)
AUGUSTINE'S LIFE AS A YOUNG MAN WAS CHARACTERIZED BY LOOSE LIVING AND A SEARCH FOR ANSWERS TO LIFE'S BASIC QUESTIONS. HE WOULD FOLLOW VARIOUS PHILOSOPHERS, ONLY TO BECOME DISILLUSIONED WITH THEIR TEACHINGS. FOR NINE YEARS HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANICHEAN SECT. BUT HE GRADUALLY BECAME AWARE THAT MANICHEISM WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE SASTISFACTORY ANSWERS TO HIS PROBING QUESTIONS.AT THIS TIME, AUGUSTINE WAS TEACHING RHETORIC IN MILAN. HE WENT TO HEAR THE PREACHING OF SAINT AMBROSE, THE BISHOP OF MILAN. AT FIRST HE WENT ONLY TO HEAR AMBROSE'S ELOQUENT STYLE OF SPEAKING. BUT THE BISHOP'S PREACHING LED AUGUSTINE TO A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE AND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. SOME TIME IN THE YEAR 386, AUGUSTINE AND HIS FRIEND ALYPIUS WERE SPENDING TIME IN MILAN. WHILE OUTDOORS, AUGUSTINE HEARD THE VOICE OF A CHILD SINGING A SONG, THE WORDS OF WHICH WERE, "PICK IT UP AND READ IT. PICK IT UP AND READ IT." HE THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT THE SONG WAS RELATED TO SOME KIND OF CHILDREN'S GAME, BUT COULD NOT REMEMBER EVER HAVING HEARD SUCH A SONG BEFORE. THEN, REALIZING THAT THIS SONG MIGHT BE A COMMAND FROM GOD TO OPEN AND READ THE SCRIPTURES, HE LOCATED A BIBLE, PICKED IT UP, OPENED IT AND READ THE FIRST PASSAGE HE SAW. IT WAS FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. AUGUSTINE READ:“NOT IN CAROUSING AND DRUNKENNESS, NOT IN SEXUAL EXCESS AND LUST, NOT IN QUARRELING AND JEALOUSY. RATHER, PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH.” (ROMANS 13: 13-14) READING THIS SCRIPTURE, AUGUSTINE FELT AS IF HIS HEART WERE FLOODED WITH LIGHT. HE TURNED TOTALLY FROM HIS LIFE OF SIN. HE WAS BAPTIZED BY AMBROSE DURING THE EASTER VIGIL APRIL 24, 387. HIS FRIEND ALYPIUS AND HIS SON ADEODATUS WERE BAPTIZED AT THE SAME TIME.
LATER, REFLECTING ON THIS EXPERIENCE, AUGUSTINE WROTE HIS FAMOUS PRAYER: “YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF, LORD, AND OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN YOU.” HE WENT ON TO BECOME A POWERFUL INFLUENCE ON THE SPIRITUALITY AND THEOLOGY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH WHOSE WORDS AND TEACHING IS STILL BEING STUDIED UP TO THIS TIME MORE THAN 1,500 YEARS LATER. WHEN WE OPEN OUR HEART TO LET THE LORD IN, HE WILL COME AND COMMUNE WITH US.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN ABOUT 16 OR 17; I HAVE FRIENDS, I PLAY SPORTS, I LOVE MUSIC AND PLAY A LITTLE BIT, I AM OCCUPIED IN SCHOOL AND AM DOING NOT TOO BAD, BUT STILL IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS STILL LACKING. IT IS LIKE A VOID INSIDE THAT I CANNOT EXPLAIN. THEN SOMEONE SPOKE TO ME ABOUT GOD AND TOLD ME HOW MUCH GOD WANTS TO BE IN MY LIFE AND BEFORE LONG I AM PRAYING WITH HIM AND ASKED GOD TO COME INTO MY LIFE. FOR THE MOST PART THAT EXPERIENCE GAVE ME CLARITY AND GAVE MY LIFE DIRECTION. I STARTED PRAYING AND READING THE BIBLE EVERYDAY AND GREW SOMEHOW IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. MOST OF ALL I THOUGHT MY LIFE BEFORE GOD WAS ACTIVE, NOW WITH GOD IT BECAME MUCH MORE ACTIVE. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 30 YEARS THEN, MY LIFE HAS NOT BEEN ABSENT OF BUMPS AND HICCUPS BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, WHEN GOD FILLED THE VOID IN MY LIFE IT WAS NEVER THE SAME. IT BECAME A MORE MEANINGFUL JOURNEY THAT EVERYDAY I GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR SUCH A BLESSING.
1. WE GET LIFE AS WE REMAIN IN COMMUNION WITH GOD OUR FATHER. GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF LIFE. IT IS ONLY AS WE REMAIN IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH HIM CAN WE TRULY BE ALIVE. WITH HIM IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS WE CAN MOVE FROM SELF PREOCCUPATION TO BEING OTHER CENTERED. THIS IS WHAT FAITH IN GOD TRULY IS, TO REALIZE THAT WE NEED NOT WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE HAVE GOD WHO ULTIMATELY KNOWS WHAT IS BETTER FOR US. THEREBY WE ARE ABLE TO FOCUS ON WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THE GOOD OR BENEFIT OF THE OTHER PERSON. AS JESUS SAID “UNLESS A GRAIN OF WHEAT FALLS AND DIES, IT CANNOT BEAR ANY FRUIT.”
2. FULL CATHOLICISM IS A LIFE OF COMMUNION WITH GOD, THROUGH THE SON AND IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS RADICAL LIFE EFFECTING CHANGE IS FOUNDED ON THE TRUTH THAT JESUS OUR SAVIOR IS ALSO OUR MASTER AND WE SIT AT HIS FEET. WE REFLECT, STUDY AND AM GUIDED BY THE WORDS AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS IN THE GOSPEL. THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE BY THE GOSPEL VALUES. ALSO WE LEARN TO YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH IS OUR HELP AND TEACHER. THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES ISSUES SPRING FORTH THAT WE AS THE NEW PEOPLE OF GOD FACE AND STRUGGLE WITH. THE LORD JESUS PROMISED TO GIVE US THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THIS CHARISM IS MORE SO ENJOYED BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THROUGH THE MAGISTERIUM (POPE AND COUNCILS). THESE ARE THE CONCRETE VEHICLES TO WHICH WE ARE GUIDED BY THE LORD AT ANY AGE SINCE OUR FOUNDING ABOUT 33AD BY JESUS HIMSELF AND CONTINUED BY THE APOSTLES.
3. WE LIVE OUR LIFE LIKEWISE IN COMMUNION WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE COMMUNITY. ST PAUL'S ECCLESIOLOGY TELLS US THAT WE ARE ONE BODY WITH CHRIST HIMSELF AS HEAD. FURTHER MORE HE SAYS THAT WHEN ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HURT, THE REST SUFFERS. WE MUST THEREFORE SEE OURSELVES AND OUR SPIRITUALITY NOT AS AN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE ONLY BUT DONE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST. WE HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON WITH THESE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THOSE WE ARE JOURNEYING TOGETHER IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. GOD IS LOVE AND WE LIKEWISE AM CALLED TO LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE AND SERVICE TO OTHERS. COMMUNITY IS NOT AN OPTION FOR WITHOUT OTHERS HOW CAN WE EXPRESS OUR LOVE FULLY. JESUS SAYS, “LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVED LOVED YOU”.
CONCLUSION PART 2:
HAPPINESS IS AT THE HEART AND IS THE DESIRE OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS. ACCORDING TO ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, HAPPINESS IS GOD. HOWEVER HE ALSO SAYS IN THE SUMMA THAT GOD IS THE BE ALL AND ALL AND IS THE PURSUIT OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS. MOREOVER, HE RECOGNIZES THAT FOR OTHERS THEIR GOD IS DIFFERENT AS NOT ALL HAVE THE PURSUITS. THOSE WHO SEARCHES FOR GOD IN TRYING TO USE FAITH AND REASON TO KNOW, LOVE AND SERVE HIM, THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH FOR THEY ARE PURSUING HAPPINESS (GOD) BY GOING DEEPER IN COMMUNION WITH HIM. IT IS HOWEVER CLEAR TO THE ANGELIC DOCTOR THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO SEEK HAPPINESS IN THE THINGS MATERIAL LIKE HOUSES, CARS, LUXURY, ETC. THOSE WHO SEEK IT IN PLEASURE LIKE FAME, ETC. HE CONTINUES THAT UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM, THESE THINGS WHICH ARE FINITE IS THEIR GOD AND SADLY THEY HAVE MISSED THE POINT. HAPPINESS, THE GREATEST GOOD ACCORDING TO HIM IS ONLY TO BE ATTAINED BY COMMUNION WITH GOD, THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF ALL THINGS. IT IS ONLY WITH HIM THAT WE CAN FIND TRUE AND LASTING HAPPINESS. IT IS DEFINITELY WHAT LIFE IS ACTUALLY ALL ABOUT, FULLNESS OF LIFE & THE GLORY OF GOD.
STORIES FROM THE WELL 03
CONVERSION OF ST. AUGUSTINE (BISHOP & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH)
AUGUSTINE'S LIFE AS A YOUNG MAN WAS CHARACTERIZED BY LOOSE LIVING AND A SEARCH FOR ANSWERS TO LIFE'S BASIC QUESTIONS. HE WOULD FOLLOW VARIOUS PHILOSOPHERS, ONLY TO BECOME DISILLUSIONED WITH THEIR TEACHINGS. FOR NINE YEARS HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MANICHEAN SECT. BUT HE GRADUALLY BECAME AWARE THAT MANICHEISM WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE SASTISFACTORY ANSWERS TO HIS PROBING QUESTIONS.AT THIS TIME, AUGUSTINE WAS TEACHING RHETORIC IN MILAN. HE WENT TO HEAR THE PREACHING OF SAINT AMBROSE, THE BISHOP OF MILAN. AT FIRST HE WENT ONLY TO HEAR AMBROSE'S ELOQUENT STYLE OF SPEAKING. BUT THE BISHOP'S PREACHING LED AUGUSTINE TO A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE AND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. SOME TIME IN THE YEAR 386, AUGUSTINE AND HIS FRIEND ALYPIUS WERE SPENDING TIME IN MILAN. WHILE OUTDOORS, AUGUSTINE HEARD THE VOICE OF A CHILD SINGING A SONG, THE WORDS OF WHICH WERE, "PICK IT UP AND READ IT. PICK IT UP AND READ IT." HE THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT THE SONG WAS RELATED TO SOME KIND OF CHILDREN'S GAME, BUT COULD NOT REMEMBER EVER HAVING HEARD SUCH A SONG BEFORE. THEN, REALIZING THAT THIS SONG MIGHT BE A COMMAND FROM GOD TO OPEN AND READ THE SCRIPTURES, HE LOCATED A BIBLE, PICKED IT UP, OPENED IT AND READ THE FIRST PASSAGE HE SAW. IT WAS FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS. AUGUSTINE READ:“NOT IN CAROUSING AND DRUNKENNESS, NOT IN SEXUAL EXCESS AND LUST, NOT IN QUARRELING AND JEALOUSY. RATHER, PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH.” (ROMANS 13: 13-14) READING THIS SCRIPTURE, AUGUSTINE FELT AS IF HIS HEART WERE FLOODED WITH LIGHT. HE TURNED TOTALLY FROM HIS LIFE OF SIN. HE WAS BAPTIZED BY AMBROSE DURING THE EASTER VIGIL APRIL 24, 387. HIS FRIEND ALYPIUS AND HIS SON ADEODATUS WERE BAPTIZED AT THE SAME TIME.
LATER, REFLECTING ON THIS EXPERIENCE, AUGUSTINE WROTE HIS FAMOUS PRAYER: “YOU HAVE MADE US FOR YOURSELF, LORD, AND OUR HEARTS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN YOU.” HE WENT ON TO BECOME A POWERFUL INFLUENCE ON THE SPIRITUALITY AND THEOLOGY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH WHOSE WORDS AND TEACHING IS STILL BEING STUDIED UP TO THIS TIME MORE THAN 1,500 YEARS LATER. WHEN WE OPEN OUR HEART TO LET THE LORD IN, HE WILL COME AND COMMUNE WITH US.
TOPIC 1: SUBTOPIC I: “THE GLORY OF GOD IS MAN FULLY ALIVE” (ST. IRANEAUS)
TOPIC 1: THE GLORY OF GOD IS MAN FULLY ALIVE:
JESUS SAID, “I HAVE COME TO GIVE YOU LIFE, A LIFE TO THE FULL” (JOHN 10:10)
SUBTOPIC I: “THE GLORY OF GOD IS MAN FULLY ALIVE” (ST. IRANEAUS)
ST. IRANEAUS WAS ONE OF THE CHURCH FATHERS AND RECOGNIZED FOR HIS BRILLIANT THEOLOGICAL MIND AND OF COURSE FOR HIS MAGNUM OPUS TO REFUTE GNOSTICISM, “AGAINST HERESY”. THIS STATEMENT IS AN EYE OPENER FOR US AS IT DECLARES SOME SPECIFIC THINGS ABOUT GOD, OUR CREATOR AND A FATHER TO US ACCORDING TO JESUS, OUR BROTHER AND LORD. AS WE BREAKDOWN THE STATEMENT WE WILL GET A GLIMPSE OF GOD, WHO DESIRES ONLY THE GOOD THINGS FOR US AND WHOSE JOY IS IT THAT HE OUR CREATOR BE SEEN IN US ALL FOR HIS GREATER HONOR AND GLORY.
1. GOD DESIRES ONLY THAT WE REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL AS HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS. EXPOUNDING ON THE WORDS OF THE GREAT SAINT WE CAN SAY THAT THE VERY HEART OF GOD IS FOR US TO LIVE A LIFE MARKED WITH ABUNDANCE PARTICULARLY THE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; LOVE, JOY, PEACE, AND SO FORTH. THESE VIRTUES BECOMES OUR TRAITS IN THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS. OUR JOURNEY IN THIS LIFE SHOULD BE A MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE ATTAINMENT OF THESE ESSENTIAL TRAITS, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT EASY, STILL IT IS THE THING WE STRIVE AND PRAY FOR UNTIL WE REACH OR ENTER HEAVEN AND THE ATTAINMENT OF THE BEATIFIC VISION (SEEING GOD FACE TO FACE) DESCRIBED BY ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, THE ANGELIC DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH. AS WE STRIVE BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WHEN WE RELATE TO PEOPLE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE POWER OF GOD WORKING IN OUR LIVES. THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD BEING IN US IS REFLECTED BY THE WAY WE THINK, SPEAK AND DO THINGS, VIRTUES WHICH ARE THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF GOD.
VIRTUE OF HUMILITY: HIS EMINENCE LUIS ANTONIO CARDINAL G. TAGLE
CARDINAL TAGLE WHOM I HAD MANY EXPERIENCES OF WORKING WITH IS THE EXAMPLE OF A MAN HUMBLE AND WISE. AS A DOCTOR OF DIVINITY AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS HE HAD STUDIED AND EXCELLED WITH, HE COULD PRESUSME TO BE RIGHT ALL THE TIME BUT THE THING IS HE DOES NOT THINK, SPEAK AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT. I REMEMBER AN INSTANCE WHEN WE ARE ABOUT TO DO AN ACTIVITY TOGETHER, I WAS SURPRISED THAT HE WOULD LOOK TO ME AND SAY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? TRUTHFULLY IT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD SO I HAD TO REBOUND AND GET MY WITS TOGETHER. WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER I JUST ACT AS A BODY GUARD OF SOME SORT AND WHEN HE SAID THAT, I WAS TO SAY THE LEAST “STUPEFIED”. I TOLD HIM THIS IS WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO AND HE SMILED AT ME AND SAID YES, LET US DO IT THAT WAY. THE HUMILITY AND THE NON PRESUMPTIOUSNESS HE MANIFESTED OPENED MY EYES AND HEART NOT BE PRESUMPTIOUS AND “ALL KNOWING”. THIS HOLY MAN OF GOD IS AN EXAMPLE FOR ME OF A MAN FULLY ALIVE IN GOD, THE SHEPHERD OF MILLIONS, A CELEBRITY, LEARNED AND ALL BUT STILL VERY HUMBLE AND LOVING.
2. WHEN WE REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL AS HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS, MEANING AS WE LIVE OUR LIFE ACCORDING TO HIS PLAN FOR US, HE IS GLORIFIED. A VERY NORMAL THING FOR HUMANS IS TO PLEASE THE PERSONS THEY LOVE. WE TRY TO PLEASE OUR PARENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR GOOD IS ALWAYS IN THEIR HEARTS AND WE KNOW THAT THEY LOVE US. IT IS THE SAME WITH GOD WHO LOVES US SO MUCH MORE THAN OUR HUMAN PARENTS. ANOTHER GOAL WE HAVE IS THAT WE WORK TOWARDS KNOWING, LOVING AND SERVING THE LORD BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT WE ARE BEING DRAWN TO A DEEPER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF HIS LOVE & MERCY. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A PROCESS EVEN A LIFE LONG ONE TO WHICH WE SUBMIT. AS THIS HAPPENS, WE AIM TO GLORIFY GOD BECAUSE WE DO THINGS THAT WILL COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE THAT GOD IS WITH US AND WE EXPRESS IT BY LOVING AND SERVING OUR FELLOW MEN STARTING WITH OUR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND THE WHOLE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER. THIS WILL GIVE GLORY TO GOD.
VISION OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (ANGELIC DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH)
NEAR THE END OF HIS LIFE, OUR ANGELIC DOCTOR HAD A PROFOUND ECSTATIC EXPERIENCE UPON WHICH IT IS THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF SPEAKING TO HIM AND TOLD HIM THAT HE HAS DONE WELL, TO DEFEND HIM, PROCLAIM HIM AND GUIDE THE CHURCH WITH HIS WRITING AND PREACHING. THEN JESUS ASKED HIM WHAT REWARD DOES HE WANT FOR ALL HIS SEEMING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE ANGELIC DOCTOR COULD ONLY SAY, “ONLY YOU O LORD, ONLY YOU O LORD”.
3. OUR GOD DOES HAVE A SPECIFIC PLAN FOR US, AS A PEOPLE AND AS AN INDIVIDUAL CREATED IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS. IN THIS COMPUTER AGE AND INFORMATION OVERLOADED AGE, THE STRUGGLE IS TO SEE GOD AND TO ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT HE HAS A PLAN FOR US. THAT THIS PLAN IS VERY PERSONAL TO THE POINT THAT IN MOST IF NOT ALL SITUATIONS WE ENCOUNTER, GOD HAS A SPECIFIC WILL AND PLAN FOR US TO DO. SHOULD WE TURN LEFT OR RIGHT? SHOULD I SAY THIS OR SAY ANOTHER THING? GOD MIGHT WANT ONE TO DO ONE THING AND THE OTHER TO DO THE OPPOSITE. IT IS NOT ALWAYS UNIFORM FOR US ALL OR ONE PATH ONLY. THE SEARCH FOR GOD I AM SPEAKING ABOUT IS THE SEARCH FOR HIS SPECIFIC WILL. A LIFE OF CONSTANT DISCERNMENT THEREFORE BECOMES IMPERATIVE. THE GOOD NEWS HOWEVER IS THAT FOR THOSE WHO WILL SEEK, GOD CAN BE FOUND. JESUS SAID THIS IN THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT AND HIS WORDS ARE TRUE AND FAITHFUL ALL THE TIME. ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, FOUNDER OR THE SOCIETY OF JESUS OR THE JESUITS, SPIRITUALITY IS ANCHORED ON THIS TRUTH “SEEING GOD IN ALL THINGS”. MY FRIEND PRIEST WHO HAS A MASTERAL DEGREE IN SPIRITUALITY POINTED THIS TO ME WHEN HE ASKED ME OVER BREAKFAST AT WHAT IS THE MATERIAL I AM USING FOR MY PERSONAL RETREAT. THE CHALLENGE IS THEREFORE TO INCORPORATE IN OUR LIVES A LIFE OF PRAYER, SCRIPTURE AND MEDITATION BECAUSE THESE ARE THE THINGS WE CAN USE TO SEARCH FOR AND FIND GOD’S SPECIFIC WILL BECAUSE HE HAS A PERSONAL PLAN FOR US. ALSO IT IS LIKEWISE COMMENDABLE TO HAVE A PERSONAL CONFESSOR WHO CAN DISPENSE THE SACRAMENTS AND JOIN YOU IN THE SEARCH FOR GOD’S WILL. THEIR WISDOM FROM STUDIES, EXPERIENCE AND PRAYERS WILL BE AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE AND HELP FOR US. THIS DISCERNMENT OR SEARCH FOR GOD’S WILL IN THE IGANTIUS WAY IS NOT FOR PERSONAL WISDOM OR BENEFIT ONLY. IT IS TO BE TRANSLATED INTO ACTION. I LIKE THE IGNATIAN MATERIAL I USED AND THE GOAL IS “CONTEMPLATION IN ACTION”. THE BALANCE HAS TO BE STRIVEN BY EVERYONE, THE APOSTLE ST. JAMES SAID IT BEST IN THE SCRIPTURES, “FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS THOROUGHLY LIFELESS”. AS WE CONTEMPLATE, MEDITATE, PRAY AND DO OUR DEVOTIONS OUR MINDS ARE FILLED WITH THE THINGS OF GOD, THIS THEN SHOULD LEAD US TO A VERY ACTIVE LIFE OF BEING GOD’S CHANNEL OF LOVE TO OTHERS; OUR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, PARISHES, DIOCESES AND THE WHOLE WORLD WHEREVER GOD, WHO IS PRESENT IN ALL THINGS, LEAD US. THIS AS WE DO WILL LEAD US TO A MORE VIRTOUS LIFE, PAVE THE WAY FOR GROWTH SPIRITUALLY AND MOVE US AWAY FROM SELFISHNESS OR EVEN SELF PROMOTION CONTRARY TO THE WILL OF GOD. FINALLY, WE MUST GUARD OURSELVES IN BEING PRESUMPTIOUS IN THINKING BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN READING SCRIPTURES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, ATTENDED MANY SEMINARS, GAVE A TEACHING MANY TIMES THAT YOU KNOW ALWAYS THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD. THE SEARCH FOR IT, WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND DISPOSITION IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES BEING CATHOLIC AND CHRISTIAN EXCITING AND CHALLENGING. I ALWAYS SAY THAT IF YOU ENCOUNTER ONE WHO THINKS AND SAY THAT HE OR SHE KNOWS WHAT IS CORRECT OR RIGHT ALL THE TIME, CHANCES ARE THEY ARE PROBABLY WRONG MOST OF THE TIME.
STORIES FROM THE WELL (02):
IN OUR PARISH THERE IS AN OLD LADY WHO GOES TO CHURCH DAILY. SHE IS A MEMBER OF MANY FORMATION RELATED ORGANIZATIONS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER AND HAS ATTENDED MANY SEMINARS ALREADY. FOR AWHILE SHE IS NOT ABLE TO HEAR MASS AND WHEN SHE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO, VISIBLY WEAK THOUGH, SHE APPROACHED ME AND SAID, “GOD TOLD ME TO SEEK YOU AND HAVE YOU PRAY FOR ME AND ASK THE PRAYERS OF ST. JOSEPH FOR MY RECOVERY AND HEALING”. APPARENTLY SHE FELL DOWN FROM THE STAIRS OF HER DAUGHTERS HOUSE AND IS IN PAIN. I ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD WANT ME TO BRING HER TO THE PRIEST, SHE RESPONDED AND TOLD ME THAT GOD TOLD HER IT HAS TO BE ME. JOKINGLY I ASKED HER WHY AND SHE SAID BECAUSE OUR PATRON, ST. JOSEPH SEEMS TO BE VERY VISIBLY CLOSE TO ME AND THE HOPE OF THE SICK AND SOLACE OF THE AFFLICTED WILL PRAY FOR HER THROUGH ME OF SORTS. TO CUT THE STORY, I PRAYED FOR HER WITH THE BLESSED PATRON OF OUR PARISH AND ADMINISTERED TO HER THE OIL OF ST. JOSEPH I GOT FROM MY WIFE RUBY’S BEST FRIEND AT THE SHRINE OF ST. JOSEPH IN MONTREAL. THEN I ASKED HER HOW DOES SHE FEEL AND SHE TOLD ME, THERE IS NO MORE PAIN AND SHE STARTED DANCING A LITTLE BIT TO SHOW ME. THIS WAS MAYBE 2 YEARS AGO AND YESTERDAY, I SAW HER AT MASS AND SHE SEEMS VERY WELL INDEED. A PERSON AS I PERCIEVE, FULLY ALIVE IN GOD.THE POINT OF THE STORY IS WHEN SHE GOT THE INSPIRATION FROM GOD THROUGH HER PRAYERS, SHE ACTED ON IT AND THE GLORY OF GOD WAS REVEALED. THAT IS CONTEMPLATION IN ACTION. IF WE JUST SPEND TIME TO LISTEN WITH OPEN MIND AND HEART, HE WILL SPEAK, LEAD US AND WHEN WE ACT UPON IT, HIS GLORY WILL BE REVEALED FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE. DO NOT FORGET JESUS SAID IN THE GOOD SHEPHERD DISCOURSE, “THE SHEEP FOLLOW HIM (GOOD SHEPHERD) FOR THEY KNOW HIS VOICE”. (JOHN 10:4)
JESUS SAID, “I HAVE COME TO GIVE YOU LIFE, A LIFE TO THE FULL” (JOHN 10:10)
SUBTOPIC I: “THE GLORY OF GOD IS MAN FULLY ALIVE” (ST. IRANEAUS)
ST. IRANEAUS WAS ONE OF THE CHURCH FATHERS AND RECOGNIZED FOR HIS BRILLIANT THEOLOGICAL MIND AND OF COURSE FOR HIS MAGNUM OPUS TO REFUTE GNOSTICISM, “AGAINST HERESY”. THIS STATEMENT IS AN EYE OPENER FOR US AS IT DECLARES SOME SPECIFIC THINGS ABOUT GOD, OUR CREATOR AND A FATHER TO US ACCORDING TO JESUS, OUR BROTHER AND LORD. AS WE BREAKDOWN THE STATEMENT WE WILL GET A GLIMPSE OF GOD, WHO DESIRES ONLY THE GOOD THINGS FOR US AND WHOSE JOY IS IT THAT HE OUR CREATOR BE SEEN IN US ALL FOR HIS GREATER HONOR AND GLORY.
1. GOD DESIRES ONLY THAT WE REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL AS HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS. EXPOUNDING ON THE WORDS OF THE GREAT SAINT WE CAN SAY THAT THE VERY HEART OF GOD IS FOR US TO LIVE A LIFE MARKED WITH ABUNDANCE PARTICULARLY THE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; LOVE, JOY, PEACE, AND SO FORTH. THESE VIRTUES BECOMES OUR TRAITS IN THOUGHTS, WORDS AND DEEDS. OUR JOURNEY IN THIS LIFE SHOULD BE A MOVEMENT TOWARDS THE ATTAINMENT OF THESE ESSENTIAL TRAITS, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT EASY, STILL IT IS THE THING WE STRIVE AND PRAY FOR UNTIL WE REACH OR ENTER HEAVEN AND THE ATTAINMENT OF THE BEATIFIC VISION (SEEING GOD FACE TO FACE) DESCRIBED BY ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, THE ANGELIC DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH. AS WE STRIVE BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WHEN WE RELATE TO PEOPLE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE POWER OF GOD WORKING IN OUR LIVES. THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD BEING IN US IS REFLECTED BY THE WAY WE THINK, SPEAK AND DO THINGS, VIRTUES WHICH ARE THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF GOD.
VIRTUE OF HUMILITY: HIS EMINENCE LUIS ANTONIO CARDINAL G. TAGLE
CARDINAL TAGLE WHOM I HAD MANY EXPERIENCES OF WORKING WITH IS THE EXAMPLE OF A MAN HUMBLE AND WISE. AS A DOCTOR OF DIVINITY AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS HE HAD STUDIED AND EXCELLED WITH, HE COULD PRESUSME TO BE RIGHT ALL THE TIME BUT THE THING IS HE DOES NOT THINK, SPEAK AND DO THINGS LIKE THAT. I REMEMBER AN INSTANCE WHEN WE ARE ABOUT TO DO AN ACTIVITY TOGETHER, I WAS SURPRISED THAT HE WOULD LOOK TO ME AND SAY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? TRUTHFULLY IT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD SO I HAD TO REBOUND AND GET MY WITS TOGETHER. WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER I JUST ACT AS A BODY GUARD OF SOME SORT AND WHEN HE SAID THAT, I WAS TO SAY THE LEAST “STUPEFIED”. I TOLD HIM THIS IS WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO AND HE SMILED AT ME AND SAID YES, LET US DO IT THAT WAY. THE HUMILITY AND THE NON PRESUMPTIOUSNESS HE MANIFESTED OPENED MY EYES AND HEART NOT BE PRESUMPTIOUS AND “ALL KNOWING”. THIS HOLY MAN OF GOD IS AN EXAMPLE FOR ME OF A MAN FULLY ALIVE IN GOD, THE SHEPHERD OF MILLIONS, A CELEBRITY, LEARNED AND ALL BUT STILL VERY HUMBLE AND LOVING.
2. WHEN WE REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL AS HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS, MEANING AS WE LIVE OUR LIFE ACCORDING TO HIS PLAN FOR US, HE IS GLORIFIED. A VERY NORMAL THING FOR HUMANS IS TO PLEASE THE PERSONS THEY LOVE. WE TRY TO PLEASE OUR PARENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR GOOD IS ALWAYS IN THEIR HEARTS AND WE KNOW THAT THEY LOVE US. IT IS THE SAME WITH GOD WHO LOVES US SO MUCH MORE THAN OUR HUMAN PARENTS. ANOTHER GOAL WE HAVE IS THAT WE WORK TOWARDS KNOWING, LOVING AND SERVING THE LORD BECAUSE WE REALIZE THAT WE ARE BEING DRAWN TO A DEEPER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF HIS LOVE & MERCY. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A PROCESS EVEN A LIFE LONG ONE TO WHICH WE SUBMIT. AS THIS HAPPENS, WE AIM TO GLORIFY GOD BECAUSE WE DO THINGS THAT WILL COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE THAT GOD IS WITH US AND WE EXPRESS IT BY LOVING AND SERVING OUR FELLOW MEN STARTING WITH OUR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND THE WHOLE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER. THIS WILL GIVE GLORY TO GOD.
VISION OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS (ANGELIC DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH)
NEAR THE END OF HIS LIFE, OUR ANGELIC DOCTOR HAD A PROFOUND ECSTATIC EXPERIENCE UPON WHICH IT IS THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF SPEAKING TO HIM AND TOLD HIM THAT HE HAS DONE WELL, TO DEFEND HIM, PROCLAIM HIM AND GUIDE THE CHURCH WITH HIS WRITING AND PREACHING. THEN JESUS ASKED HIM WHAT REWARD DOES HE WANT FOR ALL HIS SEEMING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE ANGELIC DOCTOR COULD ONLY SAY, “ONLY YOU O LORD, ONLY YOU O LORD”.
3. OUR GOD DOES HAVE A SPECIFIC PLAN FOR US, AS A PEOPLE AND AS AN INDIVIDUAL CREATED IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS. IN THIS COMPUTER AGE AND INFORMATION OVERLOADED AGE, THE STRUGGLE IS TO SEE GOD AND TO ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT HE HAS A PLAN FOR US. THAT THIS PLAN IS VERY PERSONAL TO THE POINT THAT IN MOST IF NOT ALL SITUATIONS WE ENCOUNTER, GOD HAS A SPECIFIC WILL AND PLAN FOR US TO DO. SHOULD WE TURN LEFT OR RIGHT? SHOULD I SAY THIS OR SAY ANOTHER THING? GOD MIGHT WANT ONE TO DO ONE THING AND THE OTHER TO DO THE OPPOSITE. IT IS NOT ALWAYS UNIFORM FOR US ALL OR ONE PATH ONLY. THE SEARCH FOR GOD I AM SPEAKING ABOUT IS THE SEARCH FOR HIS SPECIFIC WILL. A LIFE OF CONSTANT DISCERNMENT THEREFORE BECOMES IMPERATIVE. THE GOOD NEWS HOWEVER IS THAT FOR THOSE WHO WILL SEEK, GOD CAN BE FOUND. JESUS SAID THIS IN THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT AND HIS WORDS ARE TRUE AND FAITHFUL ALL THE TIME. ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, FOUNDER OR THE SOCIETY OF JESUS OR THE JESUITS, SPIRITUALITY IS ANCHORED ON THIS TRUTH “SEEING GOD IN ALL THINGS”. MY FRIEND PRIEST WHO HAS A MASTERAL DEGREE IN SPIRITUALITY POINTED THIS TO ME WHEN HE ASKED ME OVER BREAKFAST AT WHAT IS THE MATERIAL I AM USING FOR MY PERSONAL RETREAT. THE CHALLENGE IS THEREFORE TO INCORPORATE IN OUR LIVES A LIFE OF PRAYER, SCRIPTURE AND MEDITATION BECAUSE THESE ARE THE THINGS WE CAN USE TO SEARCH FOR AND FIND GOD’S SPECIFIC WILL BECAUSE HE HAS A PERSONAL PLAN FOR US. ALSO IT IS LIKEWISE COMMENDABLE TO HAVE A PERSONAL CONFESSOR WHO CAN DISPENSE THE SACRAMENTS AND JOIN YOU IN THE SEARCH FOR GOD’S WILL. THEIR WISDOM FROM STUDIES, EXPERIENCE AND PRAYERS WILL BE AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE AND HELP FOR US. THIS DISCERNMENT OR SEARCH FOR GOD’S WILL IN THE IGANTIUS WAY IS NOT FOR PERSONAL WISDOM OR BENEFIT ONLY. IT IS TO BE TRANSLATED INTO ACTION. I LIKE THE IGNATIAN MATERIAL I USED AND THE GOAL IS “CONTEMPLATION IN ACTION”. THE BALANCE HAS TO BE STRIVEN BY EVERYONE, THE APOSTLE ST. JAMES SAID IT BEST IN THE SCRIPTURES, “FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS THOROUGHLY LIFELESS”. AS WE CONTEMPLATE, MEDITATE, PRAY AND DO OUR DEVOTIONS OUR MINDS ARE FILLED WITH THE THINGS OF GOD, THIS THEN SHOULD LEAD US TO A VERY ACTIVE LIFE OF BEING GOD’S CHANNEL OF LOVE TO OTHERS; OUR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, PARISHES, DIOCESES AND THE WHOLE WORLD WHEREVER GOD, WHO IS PRESENT IN ALL THINGS, LEAD US. THIS AS WE DO WILL LEAD US TO A MORE VIRTOUS LIFE, PAVE THE WAY FOR GROWTH SPIRITUALLY AND MOVE US AWAY FROM SELFISHNESS OR EVEN SELF PROMOTION CONTRARY TO THE WILL OF GOD. FINALLY, WE MUST GUARD OURSELVES IN BEING PRESUMPTIOUS IN THINKING BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN READING SCRIPTURES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, ATTENDED MANY SEMINARS, GAVE A TEACHING MANY TIMES THAT YOU KNOW ALWAYS THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD. THE SEARCH FOR IT, WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND DISPOSITION IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES BEING CATHOLIC AND CHRISTIAN EXCITING AND CHALLENGING. I ALWAYS SAY THAT IF YOU ENCOUNTER ONE WHO THINKS AND SAY THAT HE OR SHE KNOWS WHAT IS CORRECT OR RIGHT ALL THE TIME, CHANCES ARE THEY ARE PROBABLY WRONG MOST OF THE TIME.
STORIES FROM THE WELL (02):
IN OUR PARISH THERE IS AN OLD LADY WHO GOES TO CHURCH DAILY. SHE IS A MEMBER OF MANY FORMATION RELATED ORGANIZATIONS WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER AND HAS ATTENDED MANY SEMINARS ALREADY. FOR AWHILE SHE IS NOT ABLE TO HEAR MASS AND WHEN SHE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO, VISIBLY WEAK THOUGH, SHE APPROACHED ME AND SAID, “GOD TOLD ME TO SEEK YOU AND HAVE YOU PRAY FOR ME AND ASK THE PRAYERS OF ST. JOSEPH FOR MY RECOVERY AND HEALING”. APPARENTLY SHE FELL DOWN FROM THE STAIRS OF HER DAUGHTERS HOUSE AND IS IN PAIN. I ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD WANT ME TO BRING HER TO THE PRIEST, SHE RESPONDED AND TOLD ME THAT GOD TOLD HER IT HAS TO BE ME. JOKINGLY I ASKED HER WHY AND SHE SAID BECAUSE OUR PATRON, ST. JOSEPH SEEMS TO BE VERY VISIBLY CLOSE TO ME AND THE HOPE OF THE SICK AND SOLACE OF THE AFFLICTED WILL PRAY FOR HER THROUGH ME OF SORTS. TO CUT THE STORY, I PRAYED FOR HER WITH THE BLESSED PATRON OF OUR PARISH AND ADMINISTERED TO HER THE OIL OF ST. JOSEPH I GOT FROM MY WIFE RUBY’S BEST FRIEND AT THE SHRINE OF ST. JOSEPH IN MONTREAL. THEN I ASKED HER HOW DOES SHE FEEL AND SHE TOLD ME, THERE IS NO MORE PAIN AND SHE STARTED DANCING A LITTLE BIT TO SHOW ME. THIS WAS MAYBE 2 YEARS AGO AND YESTERDAY, I SAW HER AT MASS AND SHE SEEMS VERY WELL INDEED. A PERSON AS I PERCIEVE, FULLY ALIVE IN GOD.THE POINT OF THE STORY IS WHEN SHE GOT THE INSPIRATION FROM GOD THROUGH HER PRAYERS, SHE ACTED ON IT AND THE GLORY OF GOD WAS REVEALED. THAT IS CONTEMPLATION IN ACTION. IF WE JUST SPEND TIME TO LISTEN WITH OPEN MIND AND HEART, HE WILL SPEAK, LEAD US AND WHEN WE ACT UPON IT, HIS GLORY WILL BE REVEALED FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE. DO NOT FORGET JESUS SAID IN THE GOOD SHEPHERD DISCOURSE, “THE SHEEP FOLLOW HIM (GOOD SHEPHERD) FOR THEY KNOW HIS VOICE”. (JOHN 10:4)
FULLY CATHOLIC = FULLY CHRISTIAN
THIS IS A SERIES OF TEACHINGS AND EXHORTATION THAT WOULD TRY TO BRING INTO FOCUS THAT CATHOLICISM IS CHRISTIANITY AND IT IS A WAY OF LIFE. IT IS A WAY OF THINKING, SPEAKING AND DOING THINGS THAT SHAPES PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES AND DIOCESES, CONTINENTS AND THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT. IT IS IN EFFECT A WAY OF KNOWING, LOVING AND SERVING GOD ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE CHURCH FOR HIS GLORY AND THE EDIFICATION HIS PEOPLE, THE CHURCH. I WILL BE DRAWING LIKEWISE FROM THE WELL OR MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF PASTORAL EXPERIENCES DEALING WITH BISHOPS, PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND COUNTLESS LAY LEADERS IN DIFFERENT MOVEMENTS, ORGANIZATIONS AND MINISTRIES.
GOALS:
1. TO DEEPEN PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY BASED ON THE TEACHINGS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES, THE TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (CCC CATHECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH) AND THROUGH THE LIVES AND WITNESS OF THE CANONIZED SAINTS, THE CHURCH FATHERS AND THE DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH.
2. TO APPRECIATE THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AFTER THE FAMILY WHICH IS THE PARISH AND BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS AND NOT JUST SPECTATORS WATCHING EVENTS IN THE SIDELINE BUT RATHER GIVING OUT TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE EDIFICATION OF HIS PEOPLE. WE CONDUCT OUR MISSION AND APOSTOLATES IN THESE STRUCTURES THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME
3. TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BASIC CALLING FOR ALL CATHOLICS IS TO BE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND SHARERS OF HIS MISSION AS PRIEST, PROPHET AND KING THEREBY MAKING THEM TRULY CHRISTIAN. THAT CHRISTIAN LIFE AND BEING TRUE CATHOLICS IS A VERY EXCITING WAY OF LIFE AND THE STRUGGLE TO BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD EVEN HERE IS THE CHALLENGE WE ALL MUST UNDERTAKE REGARDLESS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS, GENDER OR EVEN EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT. TO QUOTE THE PONDO NG PINOY CATECHESIS, “NO ONE IS SO POOR THAT THEY CANNOT GIVE NOR NO ONE IS SO RICH THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO RECEIVE”.
4. TO COMMUNICATE THE IDEA THAT THE CHRISTIAN CATHOLIC LIFE IS NOT ISOLATED BUT IS LIVED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE FAMILY, THE PARISH, THE DIOCESE AND THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH WITH GOD AS OUR FATHER, JESUS OUR BROTHER AND LORD AND LIVING BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITH THE GUIDANCE AND IN COMMUNION WITH THE VICAR OF CHRIST, THE POPE, THE BISHOPS AND THE PRIESTS WHO ARE THE SHEPHERDS OF THE CHURCH.
5. TO DEEPEN OUR INDIVIDUAL SPIRITUALITY BY THE TIME TESTED METHODS AND WAYS AS TAUGHT BY THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH. SPIRITUALITY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GROW IN VIRTUES PARTICULARLY OF FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE THEREBY GIVING US THE GRACE TO THINK, SPEAK AND DO THINGS IN IMITATION OF JESUS WITH THE INSPIRATION AND PRAYRS OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER, ST. JOSEPH AND THE OTHER SAINTS WHOM WE KNOW ARE IN THE GLORY OF HEAVEN RIGHT NOW.
STORIES FROM THE WELL:
RECENTLY I WAS ASKED BY MY PARISH PRIEST TO JOIN HIM IN A MEETING WITH THE YOUTH MINISTERS OF OUR PARISH. SO AT THE MEETING I SHARED MY EXPERIENCES WHEN I WAS A YOUTH MINISTER A LONG TIME AGO. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS IN THIS MINISTRY THAT I MET WITH MY WIFE RUBY(LIFE LONG PARTNER). IT WAS HERE AS WELL THAT I DEVELOPED LIFE LONG FRIENDSHIPS THAT ARE LONG LASTING AND ORDAINED BY GOD HIMSELF. THESE I SAID ARE FRIENDS I STAYED IN TOUCH WITH FOR DECADES NOW. SOME OF THEM ARE NOW BASED IN FAR PLACES AND EVEN ONE BECAME A PRIEST. THEY ARE IN THEIR OWN WAY SERVING GOD AND THE CHURCH IN THEIR SPECIFIC STATE OF LIFE, AS PARENTS AND CATECHIST AND THE LIKE. I TOLD THEM THAT WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, WE HELPED EACH OTHER OUT IN OUR PARTICULAR STATE OF LIFE. WE HELPED EACH OTHER IN SCHOOL WORK, SHARE GOD’S MESSAGES BOTH PERSONAL AND FOR THE GROUP AND JUST DEVELOPED FAITH CENTERED FRIENDSHIP. IN SHORT WE JUST DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON LOVE AND SERVICE WHICH FOR ME IS THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.THE STRESS WE HAVE IS THAT WE ARE OPTING FOR WHAT WE TERM BACK THEN AS QUALITY WHICH ACTUALLY IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING PRACTICAL FAITH THAT CATHOLICS ARE CHRISTIANS MEANING THEY LIVE OUT THE FAITH. WE DID NOT FOCUS ON TECHNIQUES, PRESENTATION OR NUMBERS BUT RATHER ON THE IDEA THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ABOUT LOVING AND SERVING. FAITH IN PRACTICE, CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER, SHARING EACH OTHERS BURDENS, TRYING TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR EACH MEMBER IF NOT ON THE PRACTICAL LEVEL, AT THE VERY LEAST BY PROVIDING A LISTENING EAR AND OPEN HEART. FOR THE MOST PART THE TESTIMONY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CORE GROUP OVER THE DECADES PROVE THAT THE LORD DID WONDERS. WHEN I SHARED THIS EXPERIENCE TO THE CURRENT MINISTERS, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY THINK THIS IS ALL WELL AND GOOD BUT ARE NOT IN LINE WITH THE TIMES TODAY, IT SHOULD BE MORE VISUAL, DRAMATIC, EFFICIENT (RESULTS AND NUMBERS ORIENTED) AND THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR PROTESTANT MINISTERS AND THEIR TECHNIQUES AND SUCH. REALIZING THAT IT SEEMS THAT FOR THEM I AM A REMNANT OF THE JURRASIC AGE OR SOMETHING, I DECIDED TO STOP MY PROBABLY SEEMING DISCOURSE TO THEM. I THINK THIS IS SYMPTOMATIC OF THE TIMES IN THIS INFORMATION OVERLOADED WORLD. WE MISS OUT ON THE IMPORTANT TRUTHS LIKE EVANGELIZATION IS NOT A TASK OF TECHNIQUES OR STRATEGIES, IT IS GOD’S WORK AND IT SHOULD BE GOD LED. GOD WILL WORK TO ALL MEN BUT MANY TIMES HE WILL NOT CHOOSE THOSE WHO ALREADY THINK THEY ARE WISE BECAUSE VERY LITTLE ROOM WILL REMAIN FOR GOD. THE FIRST VICAR OF CHRIST, ST. PETER CHOSEN BY JESUS IS A FISHERMAN, NOT THE WISEST BUT DEFINITELY IS INTENSE IN HIS LOVE FOR GOD. HE WAS OPEN MEANING HIS HEART HENCE GOD WAS ABLE TO WORK WONDERS THROUGH HIM. THE CHURCH WE HAVE IS FOUNDED ON THESE APOSTLES, FISHERMEN AND SIMPLE FOLKS MOSTLY.
THE OLD SCHOOL METHOD ACCORDING TO THE YOUNGER FOLKS WAS BLESSED BY GOD FOR HIS GLORY. LAST YEAR WE HAD OUR REUNION AT ITALY AND IT WAS IN THE YEAR OF MERCY. FITTING FOR EVEN OUR NAME AS A GROUP WAS GIVEN TO US IN PRAYER “NEW JERUSALEM” AND TO MEET AT ROME WHICH IS THE NEW JERUSALEM OF SORTS AS THE CENTER OF FAITH, THE CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN FAITH. WE ARE BACK THEN AND STILL IS NOW A DIVERSE GROUP AND CONTINUING WITH WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED BACK THEN THAT FAITH IS PRACTICAL AND APPLICABLE. WE GOT OLDER NOW BUT THE FAITH WE HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE BY BACK THEN, STILL FOR THE MOST PART GUIDES US ON OUR JOURNEY IN THIS LIFE. CHRISTIANITY OR CATHOLICISM IS NOT A SET OF BELIEFS OR RULES IT IS A WAY OF LIVING, LOVING, RELATING AND DOING THINGS WITH GOD AS OUR FATHER, JESUS OUR BROTHER AND LORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AS OUR HELPER.
GOALS:
1. TO DEEPEN PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY BASED ON THE TEACHINGS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES, THE TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (CCC CATHECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH) AND THROUGH THE LIVES AND WITNESS OF THE CANONIZED SAINTS, THE CHURCH FATHERS AND THE DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH.
2. TO APPRECIATE THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AFTER THE FAMILY WHICH IS THE PARISH AND BECOME ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS AND NOT JUST SPECTATORS WATCHING EVENTS IN THE SIDELINE BUT RATHER GIVING OUT TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE EDIFICATION OF HIS PEOPLE. WE CONDUCT OUR MISSION AND APOSTOLATES IN THESE STRUCTURES THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME
3. TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BASIC CALLING FOR ALL CATHOLICS IS TO BE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND SHARERS OF HIS MISSION AS PRIEST, PROPHET AND KING THEREBY MAKING THEM TRULY CHRISTIAN. THAT CHRISTIAN LIFE AND BEING TRUE CATHOLICS IS A VERY EXCITING WAY OF LIFE AND THE STRUGGLE TO BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD EVEN HERE IS THE CHALLENGE WE ALL MUST UNDERTAKE REGARDLESS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS, GENDER OR EVEN EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT. TO QUOTE THE PONDO NG PINOY CATECHESIS, “NO ONE IS SO POOR THAT THEY CANNOT GIVE NOR NO ONE IS SO RICH THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO RECEIVE”.
4. TO COMMUNICATE THE IDEA THAT THE CHRISTIAN CATHOLIC LIFE IS NOT ISOLATED BUT IS LIVED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE FAMILY, THE PARISH, THE DIOCESE AND THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH WITH GOD AS OUR FATHER, JESUS OUR BROTHER AND LORD AND LIVING BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WITH THE GUIDANCE AND IN COMMUNION WITH THE VICAR OF CHRIST, THE POPE, THE BISHOPS AND THE PRIESTS WHO ARE THE SHEPHERDS OF THE CHURCH.
5. TO DEEPEN OUR INDIVIDUAL SPIRITUALITY BY THE TIME TESTED METHODS AND WAYS AS TAUGHT BY THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH. SPIRITUALITY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GROW IN VIRTUES PARTICULARLY OF FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE THEREBY GIVING US THE GRACE TO THINK, SPEAK AND DO THINGS IN IMITATION OF JESUS WITH THE INSPIRATION AND PRAYRS OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER, ST. JOSEPH AND THE OTHER SAINTS WHOM WE KNOW ARE IN THE GLORY OF HEAVEN RIGHT NOW.
STORIES FROM THE WELL:
RECENTLY I WAS ASKED BY MY PARISH PRIEST TO JOIN HIM IN A MEETING WITH THE YOUTH MINISTERS OF OUR PARISH. SO AT THE MEETING I SHARED MY EXPERIENCES WHEN I WAS A YOUTH MINISTER A LONG TIME AGO. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS IN THIS MINISTRY THAT I MET WITH MY WIFE RUBY(LIFE LONG PARTNER). IT WAS HERE AS WELL THAT I DEVELOPED LIFE LONG FRIENDSHIPS THAT ARE LONG LASTING AND ORDAINED BY GOD HIMSELF. THESE I SAID ARE FRIENDS I STAYED IN TOUCH WITH FOR DECADES NOW. SOME OF THEM ARE NOW BASED IN FAR PLACES AND EVEN ONE BECAME A PRIEST. THEY ARE IN THEIR OWN WAY SERVING GOD AND THE CHURCH IN THEIR SPECIFIC STATE OF LIFE, AS PARENTS AND CATECHIST AND THE LIKE. I TOLD THEM THAT WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, WE HELPED EACH OTHER OUT IN OUR PARTICULAR STATE OF LIFE. WE HELPED EACH OTHER IN SCHOOL WORK, SHARE GOD’S MESSAGES BOTH PERSONAL AND FOR THE GROUP AND JUST DEVELOPED FAITH CENTERED FRIENDSHIP. IN SHORT WE JUST DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON LOVE AND SERVICE WHICH FOR ME IS THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.THE STRESS WE HAVE IS THAT WE ARE OPTING FOR WHAT WE TERM BACK THEN AS QUALITY WHICH ACTUALLY IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING PRACTICAL FAITH THAT CATHOLICS ARE CHRISTIANS MEANING THEY LIVE OUT THE FAITH. WE DID NOT FOCUS ON TECHNIQUES, PRESENTATION OR NUMBERS BUT RATHER ON THE IDEA THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ABOUT LOVING AND SERVING. FAITH IN PRACTICE, CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER, SHARING EACH OTHERS BURDENS, TRYING TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR EACH MEMBER IF NOT ON THE PRACTICAL LEVEL, AT THE VERY LEAST BY PROVIDING A LISTENING EAR AND OPEN HEART. FOR THE MOST PART THE TESTIMONY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CORE GROUP OVER THE DECADES PROVE THAT THE LORD DID WONDERS. WHEN I SHARED THIS EXPERIENCE TO THE CURRENT MINISTERS, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY THINK THIS IS ALL WELL AND GOOD BUT ARE NOT IN LINE WITH THE TIMES TODAY, IT SHOULD BE MORE VISUAL, DRAMATIC, EFFICIENT (RESULTS AND NUMBERS ORIENTED) AND THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR PROTESTANT MINISTERS AND THEIR TECHNIQUES AND SUCH. REALIZING THAT IT SEEMS THAT FOR THEM I AM A REMNANT OF THE JURRASIC AGE OR SOMETHING, I DECIDED TO STOP MY PROBABLY SEEMING DISCOURSE TO THEM. I THINK THIS IS SYMPTOMATIC OF THE TIMES IN THIS INFORMATION OVERLOADED WORLD. WE MISS OUT ON THE IMPORTANT TRUTHS LIKE EVANGELIZATION IS NOT A TASK OF TECHNIQUES OR STRATEGIES, IT IS GOD’S WORK AND IT SHOULD BE GOD LED. GOD WILL WORK TO ALL MEN BUT MANY TIMES HE WILL NOT CHOOSE THOSE WHO ALREADY THINK THEY ARE WISE BECAUSE VERY LITTLE ROOM WILL REMAIN FOR GOD. THE FIRST VICAR OF CHRIST, ST. PETER CHOSEN BY JESUS IS A FISHERMAN, NOT THE WISEST BUT DEFINITELY IS INTENSE IN HIS LOVE FOR GOD. HE WAS OPEN MEANING HIS HEART HENCE GOD WAS ABLE TO WORK WONDERS THROUGH HIM. THE CHURCH WE HAVE IS FOUNDED ON THESE APOSTLES, FISHERMEN AND SIMPLE FOLKS MOSTLY.
THE OLD SCHOOL METHOD ACCORDING TO THE YOUNGER FOLKS WAS BLESSED BY GOD FOR HIS GLORY. LAST YEAR WE HAD OUR REUNION AT ITALY AND IT WAS IN THE YEAR OF MERCY. FITTING FOR EVEN OUR NAME AS A GROUP WAS GIVEN TO US IN PRAYER “NEW JERUSALEM” AND TO MEET AT ROME WHICH IS THE NEW JERUSALEM OF SORTS AS THE CENTER OF FAITH, THE CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN FAITH. WE ARE BACK THEN AND STILL IS NOW A DIVERSE GROUP AND CONTINUING WITH WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED BACK THEN THAT FAITH IS PRACTICAL AND APPLICABLE. WE GOT OLDER NOW BUT THE FAITH WE HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE BY BACK THEN, STILL FOR THE MOST PART GUIDES US ON OUR JOURNEY IN THIS LIFE. CHRISTIANITY OR CATHOLICISM IS NOT A SET OF BELIEFS OR RULES IT IS A WAY OF LIVING, LOVING, RELATING AND DOING THINGS WITH GOD AS OUR FATHER, JESUS OUR BROTHER AND LORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AS OUR HELPER.