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The Sanhedrin was the forum for the pharisees, who believed in the resurrection and in angels, and the saducees, who are akin to new theories and philosophies. All beliefs and philosophies concerning God and His creation are allowed to be expressed here. Read More
(Originally published on May 13, 2000 in Honor of the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, updated on February 2025)
Over time, many organizations have emerged in our country, spending large amounts of money on charitable works, including donations to hospitals, orphanages, homes for the elderly, scholarships, and relief efforts for those in distress. We often refer to these benefactors as philanthropists, as their mission is to share their wealth with the less fortunate.
During the time of our Lord here on Earth, many people saw, talked to, and touched Him, especially His Mother and His Apostles. While most of us today want to see Him personally, only a few of us are aware that we already have that experience when we receive Him during Holy Communion. Our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist during the first Mass, known as the Last Supper. When we are in front of the Eucharist, it's important to show reverence by kneeling and praying, as our Lord is in front of us.
The Permanent Instruction of the Alta Vendita is a secret document created by the Alta Vendita, the highest lodge of the Italian Carbonari, a Masonic organization operating in the 19th century. This document outlines a covert plan to infiltrate and corrupt the Catholic Church from within rather than attacking it directly. Unlike previous anti-Catholic movements that sought to destroy the Church through force, the Alta Vendita's strategy focused on gradual infiltration, ensuring that over time, the Church would adopt secular and modernist ideas. The document was leaked and published by the Vatican in the 19th century and was later endorsed by Popes Pius IX and Leo XIII, who saw it as a real threat to the Catholic faith.
During the Last Supper, our Lord commanded His Disciples “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me.” (Luke 22:19). Following His commandment, the Apostles celebrated Holy Mass and gave communion to the faithful. It is very important because Christ promises that those who eat His flesh (Sacred Host) and drink His blood shall have everlasting life. Our Lord Jesus Christ is presented to us in the form of Bread, the Holy Eucharist, each time we attend Mass. But how often should we receive Holy Communion?
Couples who are in love and don't want to be separated decide to get married so they can live together for eternity until death. They receive the Sacrament of Matrimony while standing side by side in front of the Altar of the Lord. As Christ's enemies gradually gain power and politics get involve to create Laws against God and His church, one of them is divorce.
Holiday is a special day when a country or place celebrates by cancelling work or classes for the day. It is derived from the ancient English term hāligdæg, which translates to Holy Day. Originally, this was a religious dedication, specifically by the Catholic Church, which was known as Precepts or Holy Days of Obligation. The church observed a special feast where the faithful were obligated to refrain their work to honor God, the Blessed Virgin Mary or the saints through procession, prayer, and fasting.
The Holy Rosary is the most commonly used prayer of Catholics in the world. It comes in second to the Holy Mass. During prayer, one would use rosary beads with a Crucifix while kneeling in front of the altar in church, chapel, or at home. Prayer was often led by a priest, deacon, nun, lay people in church, or any family member at home.
Many teachings of the Catholic faith came from Sacred Tradition or Oral Tradition, it was passed down through words of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Apostles, to the church fathers and the next generations with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The other one came from Sacred Scriptures, which we all know as the Holy Bible.
As Catholics, we must know the basic knowledge of our faith. It is important to teach this to our brethren, children and to the next generations. In Basic Catechism, we first learn the Four Pillars of Catholic Faith and it is the main focus on the Catechism of the Church from the Council of Trent and by Pope St. Pius X.
If you pray or read the Nicene Creed, you will see the words ‘One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.’ These are the Marks of the Church or also known as the Attributes of the Church. Only the Catholic Church has it because it is the only one established by Christ. The truth is not flowing through the protestants who removed themselves from the Church. Let's look into the significance of each mark.
Prayer to
Saint Michael
“Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.”
Ex Primoribus
The one considered the Queen of Zambales by its people is the Ina Poon Bato. Although, Protestants and cynics may disagree the predominantly Catholic population just feel that without Ina Poon Bato, Zambales could not be Christianized. As the story goes, the Aetas through the hunter Djadig discovered the image after being prompted by our Lady herself making the Aetas already believers even before the priest missionaries came in 1607, at least in her, thus paving the way for easier evangelization.
Every now and then, the name of the city of Biringan crops up as an enchanted city located in the vicinity of two big islands, Samar and Leyte. Anyway, stories of strange places either lost or are still possibly accessible abound in Filipino folklore.
Sometimes, I couldn’t blame our brother Muslims for their aversion to music which does not only entertain but likewise uplift the soul. It is because music when deliberately used could be a captivating instrument. Sound beckons and signals what could be igniting in the spirit, a spark that could enliven the soul or a flying ember that could cause a conflagration such as a mass hysteria.
One great thing that is terribly missing now in Philippine schools except perhaps the Catholic parochial schools is Cathechetical instruction. This is in keeping with the non-sectarian nature of the public school system which does not allow religious instruction in public schools. But there was a time when parishes enjoyed a number of volunteer cathechists who would be visiting schools regularly. The principals or school heads during those times allow them to give instruction to elementary graders to reinforce the teaching of Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) for as long as the parents or guardians have no objections.
The saga of the Lipa apparitions continue reflecting the pulse of the Filipino Catholic faithful. The alleged apparitions took place in 1948 with a Carmel postulant by the name of Teresita Castillo became the visionary of what would be known as the Mediatrix of All Grace.
The message of Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary given to mankind through the visionary Teresita “Teresing “Castillo can be considered to be important. In her apparitions worldwide, definitive in in scope for the living universal Church, she sometimes would be silent; relying on visuals as in Zeitun and Knock, or would have a series of messages relayed through a visionary as in Fatima and La Salette.
According to the mystics, St. Joseph was not just an ordinary carpenter. He was also an expert in stone craftmanship as well as in metal works. Which is why he was able to make ploughs and farm instruments made of metals and built houses from hewn stones. As an artisan therefore, he was considered a tekton. There are however things he wouldn’t make given precognition by Heaven concerning matters of faith. Joseph, the tekton of Nazareth didn’t want to make swords and spears and other weapons made to kill; he didn’t even want to forge nails and as a carpenter would only make dowels and joints to attach wood to one another.
For us mountaineers, there is no comparable agitation than that which is caused by the Lipa vine (Dendrocnide meyeniana). When you get in touch with this plant you start to itch and the natural tendency for one is scratch the affected area. And then the worst thing happens, the scratched area becomes swollen and grow really painful in time. Lipa is a city in Batangas which is named after this vine which was endemic in the area.
As a Catholic grows older, he starts outgrowing his belief in what he used to call each morning or evening or especially when he is distressed. As natural as he used to call his mom whenever he cries every time he is hurt, he would call upon his guardian angel as it was one of the first things he learned from Cathechism. But just as the belief in Santa Claus erode at an early age because of the materialism attached to it, the catholic individual would feel less comfortable in calling an unseen friend which he once regularly called by means of a short prayer.
It seems that Elizabeth Masue Masuda-Almazan is a possible saint.
Another set of Marian apparitions or appearances by the Virgin Mary had been claimed. No, I’m not referring to the Lipa Apparitions which church authorities suppressed nor the Cabra incidents which died out snuffed by involvement of local politics. I am referring to the alleged San Narciso apparitions of Our Lady to a Japanese national who chose to live in the homeland of her husband.
Today, we would like to educate ourselves over an issue. Is it possible for a foreigner to love another country other than his or her very own homeland? We will be gathering some pertinent evidences as we are motivated by our group’s trip to San Narciso, Zambales where we witnessed ourselves the heroism of two foreign nationals in the persons of Nellie Elizabeth Stocks-Fontillas and Elizabeth Masue Masuda-Almazan. But since some of us have already stated that they are already writing about the two Elizabeths, I would rather focus on other examples. Since I might come up with a very lengthy piece because many foreign nationals lived heroic lives in the Philippines, I would like to zero in on Americans and Japanese who are considered heroes in their own right when they somehow manifested their love of the Philippines and her people.
It was about five centuries ago when a sign of contradiction was transplanted in the islands. It was akin to the Byzantine sword brandished by Constantine the Great, whose cruel character as an emperor was transformed into a child Principe Constantino, to escort the representation of Santa Elena. At the same time if one holds the blade (kapit sa patalim), it was the cross of a faith that will triumph in the end.
Mariology
The Blessed Virgin Mary holds many revered titles in the Catholic tradition, but one of the most ecclesially significant is “Mother of the Church” (Mater Ecclesiae). Officially proclaimed by Pope Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council in 1964, this title affirms Mary’s unique and enduring role in the life of the Christian community. However, it is also a title that is not universally accepted across all Christian denominations, particularly among many Protestant communities.