Category: Feast Day

All Saints Day and All Souls Day

Post author By Jude Missa
Post date October 1, 2022

What is All Saints Day?

All Saints Day is a solemn Holiday that was dedicated to the Saints have attained in Heaven. All Saints mean all the Saints in heaven who are recognized by the Church and those who are known only to God. They might be some of the people we know including our beloved departed ones who are already in Heaven. These saints are praying for us in Heaven and they are closer to God.

What is All Souls Day?

The All Souls Day is a commemoration of all the faithful departed who are currently in Purgatory. On this day, we visit the tomb of our departed beloved ones or family member. We must pray for their souls to end their suffering in Purgatory and be with our savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why do some people celebrate it by wearing nightmarish creatures such as Frankenstein and the devil?

Because of lack of Catholic education. People celebrate Halloween by wearing costumes without knowing the meaning of “Hallow”. Hallow means “Holy”, if you pray the “Our Father”, you will encounter this word. If you are now aware that is not right to wear these costumes during All Saints Day and All Souls Day, please stop wearing and celebrating the Halloween in the party. Pray to the Saints that they will help us in our everyday challenges in our life and for other people, so we can be a better person and pray for the souls who are still in purgatory so they can finally go to Heaven.

Feast Day

The Importance Of The Saints

Post author By Jude Missa
Post date October 1, 2022

Why are Saints important in the Catholic Church?

Our Lord Jesus Christ is our role model that we should follow. But the Saints are important to the Cath are the great example of people who applied the teachings our Lord while they were here on earth. They also pray for us while they were in heaven. They are our intercessor to our Lord Jesus Christ. Their prayers are more heard because they are with God

Why is it important to listen to words of the Saints?

While the Holy Scriptures, including the Gospels shows us the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. The words of the Saints teach us how to apply these teachings and how to understand it more because some scriptures are not easy to understand including our generation today. Some make their own understanding of the scriptures including the protestants which is a danger to the faith. While the Saints apply the teachings from the Sacred scripture with the Sacred Oral Tradition. Sadly, when many people ignore the quotations or words of the Saints while not knowing that these are the samples of application of the words of the Holy Scripture.

What is the role of the Saints in Heaven?

The Saints are our intercessor to God in heaven. They pray to God for us together with Blessed Virgin Mary. They are not happy go lucky in heaven, one of their roles is to pray and worship our God closer than here on Earth.

Do the Catholics worship the Saints?

No. We don’t worship the saints, we give commemoration to them and pray for them. Praying to the saints is asking them to pray for us, who are sinners. We asked them to guide us, pray for us when we are in danger or while we are sick.

Instead of becoming a saint, can we become angels in heaven?

No. When we go to heaven, we cannot become angels because they are different heavenly creatures than us. This belief is the effect of some movies and television series where when a person died including an infant, they will become angels in heaven. But it is not true and the creators of this series or movies has lack of research. And even though they are fictions, some viewers believe this is true. When we go to heaven, we became holy, we became saints.

The Saints Who Were Removed from the Liturgical Calendar

Post author By Jude Missa
Post date October 1, 2022

Why these Saints are removed from the Liturgical Calendar?

During the Vatican II under the reign of Pope Paul VI in 1969, these saints were removed because of lack of documents about their life and treat them as a myth. Except for St. Cecilia, who was not removed from the Calendar because of popular devotion to her. The Vatican II was influenced by the protestants who rely only in the scriptures and not in the Sacred Oral Tradition. Though this saint has lack of documents about their life, their story lives in Sacred Oral Tradition.

Is it true that these Saints never existed?

No. They really exist. One of the proofs of their existence is their tombs like the tombs of St. Nicholas, St. George and St. Philomena. Another proof is the apparition of the Fourteen Holy Helpers in Bavaria Germany, where the Saints removed from the Liturgical Calendar are a member of the Holy Helpers such as St. Christopher, St. George and St. Barbara.

Are these Saints not Saints anymore?

No. They still venerate as Saints but the celebration of their feast day is now optional. It doesn’t mean that they were removed to the liturgical calendar means they are no saints anymore.

Jesus said to St. Peter, the first Pope “And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.” Does it mean that the Pope has a power to remove the Saints in Heaven?

No. The Pope is just a man and not a God. He cannot remove saints from Heaven if he removes them from the Liturgical Calendar or from the list of the venerate saints. God is the only person who makes a person a Saint and His knows us very well, even the Saints so He knows who are worthy to be with Him in Heaven.

Are there Catholic Churches that still celebrate the feats day of the Saints that were removed from the Liturgical Calendar?

Yes, there are. Most of them is the Traditional Catholic Societies and churches who have this saint as their Patron.

Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysterii_Paschalis

Feast Day Lent Tradition

What is Lent?

Post author By Jude Missa
Post date April 6, 2022

When did the Lent or Quadregisima begin?

There’s no’s exact date when the Lent began, but the forty days of fasting was first mentioned in the Council of Nicea on 325 A.D.

Why is the Purple color used in the Church during Lent?

The Purple color symbolizes Royalty and Penitence. In the Sacred Scripture (The Holy Bible), our Lord Jesus Christ was clothed in Purple Robe during His passion.

What is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday opens the Liturgical Season of Lent where the Priest put a cross of ash in the forehead of the faithful. Traditionally, the faithful will kneel while receiving the ash on the forehead. In the Old Testament, ash is a sign death and humility, and also symbolizes sadness and repentance of sins. The Ash is from the burnt palm that was blessed during Palm Sunday. There’s no exact date of origin when the Ash Wednesday began, but it was celebrated during the time of Pope St. Gregory the Great.

What are traditional practices that we must do during the Lenten Season?

One of the main practices that faithful shall do during Lent is Fasting and Abstinence. In Fasting, we must eat 1 regular meal and 2 small meals a day and not to eat any meat in a given day of abstinence such as Ash Wednesday, every Friday of Lent and in Holy Week.

Why the Church veil the Images with purple cloth?

Veiling the Images was called “Passiontide” where the church veils the images on Sunday before Palm Sunday. The center of the Passiontide is the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Veiling symbolizes when our Lord hide from the people that wants to stone Him (John 8:59). It also symbolizes the clothe that covers our Lord after His death.

What is Palm Sunday?

Palm Sunday is where we remember the entering of our Lord Jesus Christ in Jerusalem while riding the donkey and being greeted by people waving palm branches. During the Palm Sunday, the Priest will bless the people and the palm leaves with Holy Water. In tradition, a palm cross shape was blessed by the priest with Holy Water and kissed by the faithful.

What is Holy Week?

Holy Week is where we remember the Last Supper (the first Holy Mass) on Maundy Thursday, the death of our Lord on Good Friday until Holy Saturday.

Feast Day Hagiography

The Angelic Doctor – St. Thomas Aquinas

Post author By Jude Missa
Post date January 28, 2022

At the age of 19, he decided to join the Dominicans but his family was not happy about it. The Dominicans helped him go to Rome from Paris. But, during their journey, while he was drinking from a spring, he was kidnapped by his brothers and returned him to their home by the order of their mother. He was imprisoned in his own home for one year while teaching his sisters. His family was desperate to stop the saint from joining the Dominicans, they hired a prostitute to tempt him. Saint Thomas, drive them away using a burning wood and draw a Cross on the wall until he passed out and experience a mystical joy, and then two angels suddenly appeared. While he was asleep, the Angels said:

“Behold we gird thee by the command of God with girdle of chastity, which henceforth will never be imperiled. What human strenght can not be obtain, is now bestowed upon thee as a celestial gift.”

After that event, Saint Thomas received a grace of perfect Chastity of God and he wore the girdle until his death. His mother cannot convince his son, she plots a secret escape plan for his son. After his escape, he went to Rome and joined the Dominicans. In 1245, He was sent to the Faculty of the Arts for the University of Paris to study, where he met a Dominican Scholar, Albertus Magnus, or Saint Albert the Great. After he finished his education, he went to Cologne as an apprentice professor and also start to write three books. In 1256, he became a Regent Master of Theology in Paris. He also started to write his popular book, Summa Contra Gentiles. And when Pope Urban IV instituted the “Feast of Corpus Christi”, the Pope asked him to write a manuscript where the “Tantum Ergo” and “O Salutaris Hostia” were formed.

In 1269, Saint Thomas went to the Convent in Santa Sabina to teach where he started to write his famous book, the “Summa Theologica”. Which he believed can help the students who just started to learn. But in 1273, an altar server saw him floating, crying and praying at the front of the Crucifix of the Convent. Here, our Lord Jesus Christ asked him if what reward does the Saint wants because he wrote good about Him. But the Saint only want is our Lord as his reward. Then in December 6, 1273, he experienced an extasy while celebrating the mass. After mass, he discontinued his book and when someone asked him to finish his book, he replied:
“The end of my labors has come. All I have written appears to be as so much straw after the things that have been revealed to me.
After that, the Summa Theologica remained unfinished. In March 7, 1274, Saint Thomas Aquinas died.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, PRAY FOR US

St. Thomas Aquinas is the patron saint of students, philosophers, publishers, booksellers, academics, theologians, apologists, universities, and schools. He also has significant patronage in the Philippines, especially as the patron saint of the two towns of Santo Tomas and Mangaldan, and the University of Santo Tomas.

Feast Day Tradition

The Three Nativity of the Liturgical Calendar

Post author By Jude Missa
Post date January 23, 2022

1. The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas, December 25)

The Feast of the Nativity or Birth of our Lord is one of the most important feasts in the Catholic Church. It’s the only feast where the whole world celebrates it. Why is this feast being a very important one? Because it’s the birth date of our savior, and also our God, One of the Three Persons in the Holy Trinity.

2. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8)

The Catholic Church is also celebrating the Birth of the Mother of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Why does the church celebrate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary? She’s not only the Mother of Christ, but also the Queen of Heaven and Earth and also our mother. Just like her Son, she was also conceived without sin. She is the Immaculate Conception. This makes her special which is a valid reason to celebrate the date of her birth.

3. The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (June 24)

The Church also celebrates the birth of Saint John the Baptist, the cousin of our Lord. Why does the church celebrate his birthday? Because Saint John was born a saint. How does it happen? Most Saints are previous sinners, why was Saint John was born a Saint? When Saint Gabriel the Archangel appeared to Saint Zechariah, the archangel told him that his wife will bear a son and shall be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s wound. Then, when the Blessed Virgin Mary visit Saint Elizabeth who’s also pregnant, Saint John leaped for joy inside his mother’s womb when he felt the presence of our Lord inside the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At this moment, Saint John was filled with the Holy Spirit and freed from the original sin. In short, he was baptized while he was already inside his mother’s womb.
The difference between Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint John that Baptist is that he was born without sin as he was baptized inside Saint Elizabeth’s wound, while the Blessed Virgin was conceived without sin, it means that she was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her existence.

Source:
Aleteia.org
CatholicLife.com

Christmas Feast Day Tradition

The Parable of the First Christmas (Part 2)

Post author By Benito Sanctitus
Post date December 28, 2021

The star which the three kings had seen was formed by the angels, in which they saw a vision of a Virgin and a Child with a cross. This star which was also visible during the day became their guide towards Bethlehem until they reached the Cave of Nativity where they found the infant King. They left their camels outside upon entering the grotto. There they found the child in His mother’s arms. They laid prostrate while giving praises to the Child Jesus, the King of kings.

According to the Holy Catholic Tradition, the names of the three kings were Gaspar, Balthazar and Melchor. They reigned the lands which are known today as Iran and Iraq. King Gaspar, who was the youngest and had a fair complexion, was the first one to give his gift. He offered gold to the Lord Jesus. Next was King Balthazar, who had a dark complexion and he offered incense. Lastly, King Melchor, the oldest and had a white complexion, offered myrrh to the Infant King. At every gift offered made by the kings, the Child Jesus smiled at them and also the Virgin Mary was very thankful to the generosity that they have shown. On their return journey to their homeland, God warned them through dreams that they should not go back to Herod, so they changed their route home (Mt. 2:12).

Amidst the beautiful parable of the first Christmas, there are meaningful messages we ought to know. He was born to this world like the coming of a thief in the night, in a time that many were not expecting. That will also be the case in His Second Coming. Although a King (which is really true since the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph are descendants of King David) he chose to be born in a humble cave. The kind of wood that the Lord has chosen to be His manger was also the same type of wood that He had chosen to be His cross.

The cow and ass that entered the cave to give Him heat against the cold night, symbolizes faith and humility. The cow/ox is used in cultivating the field so that the soil will become fertile. It is liken to our faith which needed to be cultivated in order to become fertile. The ass, due to its size, is usually being used by travelers when the terrain is narrow, rocky and full of thorns. That is also what we should be if we want to follow the Lord because the road which leads to Heaven is narrow, rocky and full of thorns. We must experience pains and sufferings in order for us to follow Him; and we can only do this if we have humility within us. The camels that the three kings have brought with them could not enter the cave due to its size. If it is pride that reigns in us, we will be like the camels which only belong in an open place like the hot desert.

The poor and less fortunate are very dear to the Our Lord. The humble shepherds were the first visitors of the Holy Family which only shows that the word of Jesus is true. “How blessed are you who are poor: the Kingdom of God is yours.” (Luke 6:20) But this does not mean that the rich would never see Heaven (in fact, many saints were born from rich families), but like the Lord said that it will be easier for a camel to go though the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. The three kings did not find the Savior at once. They instead needed a star to be their guide. On the other hand, the humble and poor shepherds were told by an angel from Heaven.

The star which was seen by the three kings and in the shape of the cross symbolizes that of Faith, Hope and Charity which points toward the Holy Child in the manger.

The Three Kings represents the races in the world. Their gifts of gold, incense and myrrh tee us what we should offer to the Lord. Gold embodies true Love; incense that of Prayers; and myrrh, that of Sufferings. These are the gifts which we must also offer to Our Lord Jesus in order to please Him. We must have true love in our hearts, offer solemn prayers and accept sufferings wholeheartedly.

During Christmas, it is never important whatever things you will receive. What really matter is what you can give to your fellowmen and to God. Although things like Christmas lights, carols, gifts and delicious foods can add up to the spirit of Christmas, it is more important to welcome the birth of Our Lord Jesus with peace and goodwill in our hearts. Be ready to forgive others and also seek forgiveness for your sins. If we are suffering in our present state, just glance at the manger and remember the Parable of the First Christmas that brought deep faith, true hope and intense charity to all of us.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Feast Day Tradition

The Parable of the First Christmas (Part 1)

Post author By Benito Sanctitus
Post date December 25, 2021

Rome, the mighty empire, commanded that all heads of the family must go back to their native land in order to be registered in the list of tax payers. Full of sadness, St. Joseph conveyed this message to the Virgin Mary because she was expecting a child soon and she might suffer difficulty in the journey. The Virgin Mary answered that this is the will of God. So one cold winter morning, St. Joseph, with the Virgin Mary, left Nazareth and went toward Bethlehem where he came from. Ten thousand angels accompanied them on their journey in which only the Virgin Mary could see. When they reached Bethlehem, St. Joseph knocked at the doors of his relatives and friends so they can find a place to rest for the moment but no one let them in. They even received harsh words from them. By that time St. Joseph was already filled with sorrow, but the Virgin Mary comforted him and told him that there was a cave outside the town, which was used by the shepherds, where they can lodge. And she also told him “Let us sweetly embrace adversity and gladly go where the Lord is leading us.”

Upon entering the cave that was used by the shepherds as a manger, St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary prayed and gave thanks to the Lord. St. Joseph prepared the manger by placing straws and clean linen. Afterwards, he went out of the cave and when he looked back, he saw the Virgin Mary kneeling and praying while being enveloped by a magnificent light. Full of reverence and fear, he fell prostrate to the ground and fell asleep. As the Virgin Mary kneels, her eyes were directed towards Heaven and her hands were clasped to her chest. She was clothed by a light like that of the sun, her body was filled with the Holy Spirit that was incomparable to any other creature.

When midnight came, a bright light descended from Heaven and stayed on the Virgin Mary as a brilliant fire. In a wink of an eye, the child of God was born of a Virgin Mary in a humble manger. There laid the child Jesus, God who became man, immaculate and pure. From Him radiated a light that surpasses that of the sun and the angels that surrounding Him can be heard singing the most sweetest melodies. In that moment, the world was covered with a glorious peace.

The Blessed Virgin Mary covered the tiny body of Baby Jesus with swaddling clothes and reverently said, “Welcome, my God, my Lord, and my Son.”

Right afterwards, the Virgin Mary beckoned St. Joseph to come near and see the child. When St. Joseph saw the child, he again fell prostrated to the ground while giving praises to the Child Jesus. He only stood up after much pleading of his spouse. He held and kissed the child in his arms. While he was gently laying the child in the manger, a cow and an ass entered the cave. These animals went near the child and kneeled, their warm breath helped in keeping the child warm in that cold night. The Virgin Mary and St. Joseph were moved by what they saw, tears of joy fell from their eyes and continued giving praises to God.

In that Holy Hour when Our Lord was born, there is an unexplained joy that was felt in all corners of the world. Many animals were jumping with joy, dying flowers have came back to life, trees began to bloom and gave off sweet scents and many springs were filled with water. The birth of the Messiah were conveyed to the Holy Souls by the angles, St. Michael brought the good news to the souls of the Patriarchs and Prophets who were in limbo and also to the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary – St. Anne and St. Joachim. Another angel brought the news to St. Elizabeth and St. John the Baptist, and also to the Three Kings in the East. All home felt a different kind of joy because they knew that the Savior had come. But the most fortunate ones, because they were the first to see the Child Jesus, were the poor and humble shepherds.

In Bethlehem by that time, there were shepherds out in the filed who were tending their flocks. The Archangel Gabriel (who was also the tasked by God to announced to Virgin Mary her forthcoming motherhood) appeared before them and said:

“Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)

While the archangel was saying this, choirs of angels of dazzling beauty also appeared in heaven. They were praising and singing a sweet melody: “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will.”

When the archangel left, the shepherds went straight toward the cave. But before that, they first prepared their gifts. It was almost dawn when they reached the manger in Bethlehem. They saw the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and the Child Jesus in the manger. They were filled with joy and started praising the Son of God. They also gave their gifts, which were mostly animals, to the Holy Family who received their gifts with utmost humility.

(to be continued)

Christmas Feast Day Tradition

The Three Christmas Masses

Post author By Jude Missa
Post date December 22, 2021

THE ANGEL’S MASS

The Angel’s mass was celebrated during midnight. According to the tradition, our Lord Jesus Christ was born in midnight. This Mass recalls the announcement of the Angel’s to the shepherds that our Lord Jesus Christ was born. That is why it’s called “The Angel’s Mass”.

THE SHEPHERD’S MASS

The Shepherd’s Mass was celebrated at the dawn. It recalls the shepherds travel in haste to find the new born Christ. It was called the Shepherd’s Mass because it highlights the role of the Shepherds in proclaiming the good news of the birth of our Lord.

THE KING’S MASS

The King’s Mass was celebrated during the day. This Mass rejoices the coming of our Lord, our King, the King of Kings. It invites us to worship Him.
As a Catholic, we are obliged to attend the Holy Mass, to adore our Lord during the day of His Birth.

Merry Christmas to Everyone! God Bless!

Source:
https://www.catholiccompany.com/magazine/symbolism-christmas-masses-6178,
https://aleteia.org/2017/12/24/why-are-there-three-different-masses-on-christmas

Christmas Feast Day Tradition

The Gift of Gold, Myrrh and Frankincense

Post author By Simon Fe Dolor
Post date December 18, 2021

By tradition we all knew their names as King Melchor, Gaspar and Baltazhar. Thou from the vision accounts of mystic Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich, it mentions a different name it speaks of the tradition and allow me to quotes lines from her visions to picture how the saint guided by God was able to see and experience the first Christmas offering from The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Anne Catherine Emmerich:

“I have already related on Christmas Day how I saw the Birth of Christ being announced to the kings on Christmas night.”

“I now saw Mensor bringing out of a pouch hanging at his girdle a handful of little thick shining bars. They were as long as one’s finger, pointed at the top, and speckled with little gold-colored grains in the middle. He offered these to the Blessed Virgin as his gift, laying them humbly on her knee beside the Child. She accepted the gold with loving gratitude, and covered it with a corner of her cloak. These little bars of natural gold were Mensor’s gift, because he was full of fidelity and love and was seeking for the holy truth with unshaken fervor and devotion.”

“…Seir, the dark-brown one, came forward with his following and, falling with great humility on both knees, offered his present with touching words of homage. This was a little golden incense-boat full of little greenish grains of gum, which he laid on the table before the Infant Jesus. Incense was his gift because he embraced the will of God, and followed it willingly, reverently, and lovingly. He knelt there for a long time with deep devotion before withdrawing.”

“Theokeno, the white-skinned one, and the oldest. He was very old and heavy and was not able to kneel down; but he stood bowing low and placed on the table a golden vessel containing a delicate green plant. It seemed to be rooted; it was a tiny green upright tree, very delicate, bearing curly foliage with little delicate white flowers. It was myrrh. His gift was myrrh, because it symbolizes mortification and the overcoming of passions; for this good man had conquered extreme temptations to commit idolatry, polygamy, and to give way to violence.”

Aside from these very insightful details of the first gift giving the three gifts are valuable in so many ways during their time.
Gold has always been a symbol of riches and wealth. A valuable element and a precious metal used in many ways like coin and jewelry. It was mentioned many times in the Bible to represent riches worthy and fit for royalty. The Temple of King Solomon was decorated with overlay of gold. Incense was valuable, with other spices, were used in offering to God in the Old Testament. It was even mentioned in the Book of Exodus ground and burnt as an offering before the Ark of the Covenant. Even at present times, frankincense or its essential oils has its medicinal properties. Myrrh was also an important element for it was used together with incense for worship and prayer. Its essential oils’ fragrant qualities and healing properties are vital in life and even in death. Myrrh was mentioned several times in the old and new testament, all pertaining of spiritual significance. In the Book of Exodus God it was mentioned: And the Lord spoke to Moses, Saying: Take spices, of principal and chosen myrrh five hundred sicles, and of cinnamon half so much, that is, two hundred and fifty sicles, of calamus in like manner two hundred and fifty (Exodus 30:22-23). Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus used myrrh when they bury the Messiah (John 19:39).

Gold also represents the gift to a King. Myrrh symbolizes the mortal side of Christ, while frankincense signifies His divine nature.
Gold symbolized the love of Christ. Frankincense His priesthood. Myrrh Christs’ bitter passion and death.

We have a lot to learn from these gifts for its spiritual significance. That from birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, humility. In His passion and death, sacrifice. That we ought to follow His unconditional commandment, Love (gold). To never cease in thanksgiving and faith in prayer (frankincense) to God. To believe in God’s plan for us and accept the bitter pains we have to accept and suffer (myrrh).

“Therefore, we wanted to open ourselves and sought for a star to show us the right way. And it arose for us in the grace of vocation. We followed it and found the divine infant. He stretched out his hands for our gifts. He wanted the pure gold of a heart detached from all earthly goods; the myrrh of renunciation of all the happiness of this world in exchange for participation in the life and suffering of Jesus; the frankincense of a will that surrenders itself and strains upward to lose itself in the divine will. In return for these gifts, the divine Child gave us Himself.” – St. Edith Stein