Explore the Truth.
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
In our previous defense of the Catholic Faith, we defend the nature of God that we Catholics believed. Defending our faith also teaches others including the next generation. Today we defend other topics that the protestants usually criticized about us Catholics.
Defending the Catholic Faith is a duty that we must fulfill including the priest and those who serve in the church. It is not only defending our soul from our persecutors but also strengthens the faith of those who listen during the defense, including our loved ones. Previously, we shared three topics about the Catholic Faith that we answered to defend it. Now we would like to share more:
Catholicism is not just another religion in the world, but the religion that only Christ built upon St. Peter the apostle. But since this is the church that our Lord created, the devil will do anything to destroy it. Not just outside the church, but also from within. They will attack our Catholic faith and those who had a lack of knowledge which has a possibility to weaken its faith, either they will leave the church or chose not to believe in God. Many us are not knowledgeable about our Catholic faith, mostly to our generation today because of lack of Catechism that most churches are not providing anymore since Vatican II. We must defend our faith not just from other religion such as the Protestants, but also from our fellow Catholics whom are influenced by the Protestants and Modernist. As Catholics, our faith is important. This defense is not just for our own soul but also to others including our loved ones. In this article, we will provide things in our Catholic faith that we must defend.
Have you gone to Japan and tried their authentic Ramen? Or went to the United Kingdom and try their Beef Wellington? Or have you tried the Puto Calasiao in Pangasinan, Philippines? This is one of the Traditional Foods that is very authentic of these places. But what if someone will say, the way of cooking of Ramen is too old, let's change it. He removed the usual ramen ingredients and replace it with something new. Then when you taste it, it tastes like a cup noodle with less salty flavor. Or someone will say let’s remove the breading on the beef wellington to look more appealing. Then when you introduce this to the British. They will say to you that "This is not beef Wellington". This is the taste and appearance that we are now experiencing today when the Second Vatican Council decides to change or remove some important ingredients of our Catholic Faith, and this is by removing some of the Sacred Traditions. The Second Vatican Council teaches that the tradition does not work in modern times today. So, what are those sacred traditions that do not fit today?
Now that the word about the Traditional Latin Mass or the Tridentine Mass has spread all over the world including the internet. There are questions that were frequently asked about these two Holy Mass, the Traditional Latin and the Novus Ordo Mass. Many were confused because of the information that was posted on the social media. As the Traditionalist such as Taylor Marshall and Archbishop Schneider explained the errors of the New Mass, the modernist such as the Vatican and some of the Priests defend the Novus Ordo Mass and criticized the Traditional Mass. We've been posting articles about the Traditional Latin Mass to educate our readers, but let's look at the point of view of some Traditionalist, modernist about these two Holy Mass and what is our view.
On July 16, 2023 during the Memorial of our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Archbishop Victor Bendico of CBCP and also archbishop of Capiz, released circular no. 2023-03 on the question as whether the faithful are allowed to hold or raise hands during the Lord's prayer in the Mass. He indicates Pope Francis' catechesis last March 14, 2017 that everyone can do the raise hand gesture and to hold hands of Our Father. In recent years, some churches stop using Orans to the faithful, but because of this statement of the CBCP, it brings confusion for some of the faithful who don't know if they will use this gesture or not. Is the Pope and CBCP correct about this matter? Before we answer that, let's take a look of the origin of the Orans.
In the Holy Mass, there is a long history of debate between the Catholics and the Protestants on where the priest has to face during the Holy Mass. Before the Vatican II council, the Priest always faces to the altar during the Holy Mass. This orientation is called "Ad Orientem". Then changes occurred on Pope Paul VI's Mass (Novus Ordo Mass) in 1969 where the Priest is now facing the congregation. This orientation is called "Versus Populum". The Traditional Catholics societies such as the Society of Pope Pius X (SSPX) and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) still using the Ad Orientem as they celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass. Now, the debate is now between the Traditionalist and the Modernist. The question is, which is better? The Ad Orientem or the Versus Populum? Before we answer. Let's take a look of their history.
There's a recent news that more than 500 thousand of Germany's Catholics left the church. One of the main reasons is the attitude of the church towards sexual abuse which they seek justice. Second, they want a bigger role for women in the church. Third, acceptance of the LGBT and lastly, allowing divorce in the Church. These reasons are not only happening in Germany but also in other parts of the world. Many faithful wish to have another reform for these matters. But, is it right that we leave the church because of these scandals, crimes which involve some priest and then no actions were taken? Or we leave the church because it does not do what we wanted such as same-sex marriage and women clergy. Here is why we should not leave the church.
Traditional Catholic societies have suffered in the past because of their brethren in the Church. They condemned the movement of these societies because they believe that the traditional way of life is not fitting in with the modern world, just like the Vatican II taught. Though many Catholics, including those who did not experience the Tridentine Rite, treat the Novus Ordo Mass as the Traditional one. Even though the Novus Ordo Mass started out as solemn, it has gradually introduced more Protestant gestures that remove the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
The Tridentine Mass or the Traditional Latin Mass is still restricted and can only be attended by the parishes or churches that are under the Traditional Catholic Societies or communities. Since the SSPX (Society of St. Pius X) has its bishops unlike other Traditional societies, they slowly built churches in every part of the world where some people discover the beauty of the Traditional Latin Mass. And since many Traditional Societies have been formed in the past years after the promulgation of the Novus Ordo Mass, followers of the Traditional societies are spreading the word of the importance and truth about the Sacred Tradition and the Sacred Rite of the Holy Mass.
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
Cabra Island in Lubang, Mindoro Occidental is small island which used to have a functional lighthouse for seafarers. With a length of 4.5 kms. (2.8 miles) and 2.9 kms. (1.8 miles) in its longest and widest sides. The lighthouse was built 600 meters from the sea from the western side of the island by the Spaniards in 1885 and is no longer functioning even during the time of the apparitions in 1966. The Spaniards named it Cabra because they saw a herd of goats there but during the time of the apparitions the island being small is also called by the visitors Cabra islet. The Cabra islet actually is a smaller island close to the island which some natives call Cabra also because it has the shape of a goat.
The reason why our great heroes used propaganda was because during that time although education was already well-established in the islands, we were still not free. Hence, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena and even Jose P. Rizal pushed for the great propaganda movement through La Solidaridad. With propaganda people in Europe, more particularly Spain will take notice how the Indios are being oppressed by the Spaniards. Apparently, they the great propaganda movement was justified because the Filipinos at that time were not free.
Any good mother can relate to our article concerning the seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although Our Lady did not actually experience what her Son Jesus Christ did, the vicarious experience of Our Lady as His Mother can never be discounted. With the merits of recollecting these sorrows as a supernatural promise concerning a devotion, we are presenting to you the seven sorrows that she had experienced which when meditated upon with the prayer of the Ave Maria for each sorrow, a certain merit is earned by each devout soul.
It seems that China is bent on making war with the Philippines.
On the premise that the Catholic Church is the Church founded by Jesus Christ and is therefore, a living church; I am writing here the feast days of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who up to this present time continues to be a messenger of the Holy Spirit to teach the complete Truth in the end of times through her many apparitions.
Filipinos, especially those in Batangas should not feel so bad about how church authorities handled the Lipa Apparitions in 1948. In fact, in India, there is the case of Our Lady’s apparitions which were neither authenticated nor decided upon either by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith or under its new name, Dicastery of the Doctrine of Faith. When Paul III established the original Sacred Congregation of Universal Inquisition in 1547, the events in the small town on Coromandel Coast by the Bay of Bengal, Tamil Nadu state, should have been investigated but we do know how limited communication was during the advent of Renaissance was. In fact, the 1948 apparition in Lipa which happened already in modern times and the authorities still failed in dialogue and transparency which led to confusion of the Filipino faithful. But the lessons of faith in Velankanni eludes intrigues and politicking by church officials and we are only happy to explore them in spite of the fact that they only involved legends which lent to credibility and therefore, faith. Not that we are espousing belief in Medjugorje, as it was found to teach heresy but this is a matter of how we discern spiritual fruits.
It seems that the Medjugorje Apparitions are true because the cult following of said events have grown very much through the years as proof that “by their fruits ye shall know them.”
I do not wish to prove something new. Before the cases I will mention in this article Our Lady’s intercession had already been proven several times such as in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, La Naval de Manila in 1646 and the Siege of Vienna in 1683. However, since there is a continues diabolical plot by some Protestants and anti-Marian movements to undermine the role of the Mother of God in protecting her children, allow me to recount her role in at least three decisive events in the last two centuries.
It seems that Our Lady is always on the side of the underpriveleged.
During the start of the EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) revolution, February 22, 1986, the forces under Fidel Ramos and Juan Ponce Enrile gravitated in Camp Rafael Crame with the Commander in Chief’s forces ready to pounce on them. During that time Enrile, the Secretary of national defense was divulging that the alleged ambush attempt on his life was just staged in order to justify the imposition of martial law just as in the case of the so-called “Light a Fire” Movement. On the night of the break-up as Ramos and Enrile did not want being arrested, Jaime Cardinal Sin asked the people to bring food to the soldiers in Crame and if possibly protect Ramos’ group. On the next day multitudes of people came to answer the archbishop of Manila’s call.
I always wanted to be in. To be in nowadays, as a modernist, is to accuse Christ of anything. Anything at all. And I , someone who has found immortality has found youth, through witchcraft, and filthy wealth as my lasting inheritance. My name is not important for you but I would sure be remembered by those who somehow, for any reason at all, like the modernists, in order to attack Christ, will endeavor to remember. I am the young rich man who has approached Christ and told Him that I follow the commandments. And yet, what did He do, he even insulted me by saying that the rich will have a hard time passing through the eye of the needle. Goodness, after following all the commandments, this is all I would get. For some, Jesus, the rabbi may be such a gentle person but even more than 2,000 years ago, all I have in my recollection is the pain of being rejected. For how would you feel if someone tells you to leave all your riches behind in order that I could follow Him.
It must have been a very charitable stance for the Catholic Church when its Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith came down with Fiducia Supplicans signed by its prefect, Victor Manuel Fernandez and fully-approved by Pope Francis. This doctrine presupposes that couples, even when living in sin, have the right to be blessed by any willing priest and that the priest concerned is doing them an act of charity short of the sacrament. We however, find this doctrine, although their lame excuse is that it is only pastoral, to be very dangerous as it has made sacramental blessing quite a simple commodity. Perhaps, it has somehow made the priest licentious in a “bless all you can” stance.
Ecumenism is such a big word. I do not know how all mankind as brothers are going to fit in. But if you are elected Vicar of Christ, perhaps you would know how the charism given to popes must be so special that things unfathomable for us would be possible for them.
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.