The Blessed Virgin Mary,
The Mother of God 

Solemnity

January 1st

drawing by Helen Hull Hitchcock

Mary is the Mother of Jesus, who is true God and true man.

Mary, Mother of God - Catechism of the Catholic Church

495 Called in the Gospels "the Mother of Jesus," Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as "the mother of my Lord." In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly "Mother of God".

From the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy
 
The Solemnity of the Holy Mother of God

115. On New Year's Day, the octave day of Christmas, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Holy Mother of God. The divine and virginal motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a singular salvific event: for Our Lady it was the foretaste and cause of her extraordinary glory; for us it is a source of grace and salvation because "through her we have received the Author of life"(127).

The solemnity of the 1 January, an eminently Marian feast, presents an excellent opportunity for liturgical piety to encounter popular piety: the first celebrates this event in a manner proper to it; the second, when duly catechised, lends joy and happiness to the various expressions of praise offered to Our Lady on the birth of her divine Son, to deepen our understanding of many prayers, beginning with that which says: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners".

116. In the West, 1 January is an inaugural day marking the beginning of the civil year. The faithful are also involved in the celebrations for the beginning of the new year and exchange "new year" greetings. However, they should try to lend a Christian understanding to this custom making of these greetings an expression of popular piety. The faithful, naturally, realize that the "new year" is placed under the patronage of the Lord, and in exchanging new year greetings they implicitly and explicitly place the New Year under the Lord's dominion, since to him belongs all time (cf. Ap 1, 8; 22,13)(128).

A connection between this consciousness and the popular custom of singing the Veni Creator Spiritus can easily be made so that on 1 January the faithful can pray that the Spirit may direct their thoughts and actions, and those of the community during the course of the year(129).

117. New year greetings also include an expression of hope for a peaceful New Year. This has profound biblical, Christological and incarnational origins. The "quality of peace" has always been invoked throughout history by all men, and especially during violent and destructive times of war.

The Holy See shares the profound aspirations of man for peace. Since 1967, 1 January has been designated "world day for peace".

Popular piety has not been oblivious to this initiative of the Holy See. In the light of the new born Prince of Peace, it reserves this day for intense prayer for peace, education towards peace and those value inextricably linked with it, such as liberty, fraternal solidarity, the dignity of the human person, respect for nature, the right to work, the sacredness of human life, and the denunciation of injustices which trouble the conscience of man and threaten peace.

APOSTLES' CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

   maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
   who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
   born of the virgin Mary,
   suffered under Pontius Pilate,
   was crucified, died, and was buried.
   He descended into hell.
   The third day he rose again from the dead.
   He ascended into heaven
   and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
   From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
   the holy Christian Church,
   the communion of saints,
   the forgiveness of sins,
   the resurrection of the body,
   and the life everlasting. Amen.

JESUS SAID,"I WAS IMPRISONED AND YOU VISITED ME."

2ND MINDANAO ASSEMBLY OF CHAPLAINS AND VOLUNTEERS IN PRISON SERVICE (VIPS)

                          

EPISCOPAL COMMISSION ON PRISON PASTORAL CARE

Vision-Mission

Vision:  Towards a Total Human Development of the Members of the Prison Community
Mission:  Formation of Community of Disciples that will promote and provide programs and opportunities to meet the unique needs of the prisoners and their families, ex-prisoners and their families, victims and their families, the correctional employees and the volunteers in prison service.

Current Major Thrusts:

• Promotion and Organization of Volunteers in Prison Service or Restorative Justice Advocates in various arch/dioceses to deliver the Integrated Pastoral Program for the Rehabilitation of the members of the Prison Society i.e. Worship, Formation, Advocacy/ Networking and Service Program
• Continuing Advocacy of Enlightened Legislations that promote and serve Christian values and attitudes towards the members of the prison community.
• Establishment of Linkages and Partnerships with groups, agencies and organizations involved in prison.
• Sustained Program for ECPPC Staff and Volunteers towards deepening of their commitments and understanding of the prison ministry to better deliver services needed by the members of the prison community.
• Special Projects in relation to the ECPPC regular program.
• Direct Services like para-legal and educational assistance of children of ex-prisoners and prisoners.

Volunteers in Prison Service (VIPS) and Restorative Justice Advocates: Promotion and Strengthening

 To deliver basic services to the members of the prison community (Integrated Prison Pastoral Care Program i.e. Formation, Worship, Service, Advocacy and Linkages, Temporalities), the ECPPC has made as its priority the organization of Volunteer in Prison Service (VIPS) units and Restorative Justice Advocates in the different dioceses and archdioceses. The commission does this by conducting Orientation Seminar that aims to provide the volunteers an understanding of the ministry. As of 2011 we have about 86 volunteer units.

The commission also:

•  Publish VIPS Update quarterly to establish communication and provide information among each unit.
• Follow-up the units through our pastoral program officer and national coordinator of VIPS.
• Conducts General Assembly of VIPS and Chaplains every three years and Regional Assembly before the General Assembly.

Advocacy, Networking Partnership and Linkages for Enlightened Legislation

A.  Linkages and Networking.  The CBCP-ECPPC is an active member of the following coalitions and organizations;

• Coalition Against Death Penalty (CADP). The coalition, which is a non-stock, non-profit organization, aims to abolish the death penalty. It is composed of 18 non-governmental organizations.  It meets once a month.  The ECPPC acts as the Secretariat of the coalition.
• Philippine Action for Youthful Offenders (PAYO).  The organization  aims to address concerns affecting children in conflict with the law. It meets once a month. The ECPPC also acts as the Secretariat.
• Integrated Correctional Association of the Philippines (ICAP).  It is a non-stock, non-profit organization whose goal is to seek reforms and changes in the correctional field.  It meets once a month.  The ECPPC is the office of the association.
• Pope John Paul II Foundation for Prisoners Welfare (FOPRIW).  It is a non-stock, non-profit religious organizations establish by ECPPC with the sole purpose of raising funds to finance the program of the ECPPC.  It holds office in the ECPPC.
• International Prison Chaplains Association (IPCA).  It is an international organization of different denominational group involved in prison work.  It seeks to establish linkages among the prison workers and to support each other.  It holds conference every 5 years.  The office is in Ottawa, Canada.
• International Commission of Catholic Prison Pastoral Care (ICCPPC).  It is an international group of catholic chaplains that seek to institute reforms in the penal system and establish strong relationships among catholic prison workers.  It holds conference every 4 years. Its office is in Netherlands.
• Technical Committee on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice of the National Police Commission.  This body is composed of the members of the 5 pillars of the criminal Justice system that meets quarterly to address concerns affecting the criminal justice system
• Sub- Committee on Executive Commitments of the Inter- agency to Monitor the Implementation of the Persons Deprive of Liberty Summit.

B. Advocacy.  The CBCP-ECPPC is advocating and lobbying for the following:

• Adoption and advancement of restorative interventions in our justice system
• Total Abolition of the Death Penalty
• Passage of the Pre-trial Release Program or Release on Recognizance Act
• Creation of the Department of Corrections

Special Projects

• Annual Prison Awareness Sunday Celebration every last Sunday of October.  The commission spearheads every last week of October to awaken the public on the plight of the members of the prison community.  This coincides with the celebration by the government of the National Correctional Consciousness Week.  Each VIPS unit prepares their activities. The highlight of the celebration is the granting of Gawad Paglilingkod Award to individuals and groups who have shown outstanding service in the prison ministry.
• Paralegal Training Seminars are given to volunteers who would provide paralegal assistance to inmates.
• Service Consciousness Seminars are conducted to the correctional employees to inculcate the value of service and to imbibe among them the gospel values
• Seminar Workshop on Restorative Justice-Justice That  Heals are held to promote and advance the adoption of restorative justice paradigm in addressing the problem of criminality.  It promotes the kind of justice  that heals the wounds caused by crime.

4.  Sustained Program for ECPPC Staff and Volunteers

The commission holds reflection seminars for the staff to deepen their commitment and understanding of the prison ministry to better deliver services needed to promote the interests of the prison society.

The following activities are held:

• Advent and Lenten Retreat
• Evaluation and Planning every 6 months
• Study and Reflection Day every first Friday
• Theological and Pastoral Updating
• Fellowship every summer and Christmas
• Staff Meeting and Faith sharing session once a month

Direct Services of the ECPPC

• Para-legal Assistance.  The commission gives para-legal assistance mostly to convicted prisoners by way of interceding for executive clemency and parole.
• Educational Assistance. The commission provides educational support to children of prisoners and ex-prisoners.  It comes in various forms such as tuition fee support, monthly allowance, and supplies assistance.  As of today there are 20 scholars
• Livelihood and Loan Assistance. The commission also provides livelihood support to prisoners and ex-prisoners on occasional basis.  A maximum amount of P10, 000 is allowed.
• Medical Assistance.  The commission also gives medical assistance to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families whenever the need arises.
• Other assistance. The commission also grants transportation assistance to release inmates, funeral assistance and counseling services.

2011 CBCP-ECPPC Bishops and Personnel

CBCP-ECPPC BISHOPS

Chairman   : Bishop Pedro D .Arigo

Vice Chair: Artemio Rillera

Treasurer: Bishop Manuel Sobreviñas

Members:

             Bishop  George B. Rimando

             Bishop Warlito Cajandig

CBCP-ECPPC STAFF

Exec. Secretary     :  Rodolfo S. Diamante

Accountant            : Angelito J.  Cariaso

VIPS Coordinator : Gerard Ian V. Bernabe

Pastoral Program Officer: Michael V. Bartolome

Cashier: Rolando C.  Arriola

Office Secretary;  Ester G. Alicante

Office Assistant:  Dolly L. Pangilinan

                                  

Consultants/Resource Persons

a) Auditor/Finance: Juliet B. Rafael

b) Publicity/Promotion :  John Nelson Tan

c)Volunteer Organization: Alfonso S. De Ocampo/ Gerard Ian Bernabe/ Lee Fresnosa

ANSWER IT VERY QUICK.SALAMAT!

Answers:

How fast can you guess these words?

1. F_ _K
2. PU_S_
3. S_X
4. P_N_S
5. BOO_S
6. _ _NDOM


Answers:

STARJED MUSIC MINISTRY last 01-30-10

SALAMAT LORD! SA MGA NAKAUBAN NA MGA TAWO SA MINISTRY. DIHA SA AMONG MGA KALAINAN, DIIN KAMI NAGKAHIUSA, SA AMONG MGA KAHUYANG DIIN KAMI NAHIMONG KUSGAN PINAAGI SA GRASYA UG PANABANG SA DIOS.

LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US!

CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US!  

                                                                                                         LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US!

MAMA MARY IS OUR LADY OF LORETO

Our Lady of Loreto, December 10

Hic Verbum caro factum est
"Here the Word was made Flesh"

This is the inscription found at the base of the altar in the Holy House of Loreto. The house where the Blessed Virgin Mary said yes to God and allowed the Son of Man to become alive within her. It was in that moment that the Holy Mother of God was born and eternal salvation became attainable for all of mankind.

The Litany of Loreto, which is said faithfully in this Holy House, was approved by Sixtus V in 1587.

"Its titles and invocations set before us Mary's exalted privileges, her holiness of life, her amiability and power, her motherly spirit and queenly majesty. The principle that has been followed in their interpretation is the one enunciated by the same Pius IX: "God enriched her so wonderfully from the treasury of His divinity, far beyond all angels and saints with the abundance of all heavenly gifts, that she . . .should show forth such fullness of innocence and holiness, than which a greater under God is unthinkable and which, beside God, no one can even conceive in thought." Hence, whatever virtue and holiness is found in angels and saints must be present in Mary in an immeasurably higher degree."
(Source: Our Lady's Titles, by Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D.)

Visit Margaret for a beautiful devotion.

December 10 is the traditional feast of Our Lady of Loreto. Pray the Litany today with your family.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

Mother of Christ, pray for us.

Mother of divine grace, pray for us.

Mother most pure, pray for us.

Mother most chaste, pray for us.

Mother inviolate, pray for us.

Mother undefiled, pray for us.

Mother most amiable, pray for us.

Mother most admirable, pray for us.

Mother of good counsel, pray for us.

Mother of our Creator, pray for us.

Mother of our Savior, pray for us.

Virgin most prudent, pray for us.

Virgin most venerable, pray for us.

Virgin most renouned, pray for us.

Virgin most powerful, pray for us.

Virgin most merciful, pray for us.

Virgin most faithful, pray for us.

Mirror of justice, pray for us.

Seat of wisdom, pray for us.

Cause of our joy, pray for us.

Spiritual vessel, pray for us.

Vessel of honor, pray for us.

Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.

Mystical rose, pray for us.

Tower of David, pray for us.

Tower of ivory, pray for us.

House of gold, pray for us.

Ark of the covenant, pray for us.

Gate of heaven, pray for us.

Morning star, pray for us.

Health of the sick, pray for us.

Refuge of sinners, pray for us.

Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.

Help of Christians, pray for us.

Queen of Angels, pray for us.

Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us.

Queen of Prophets, pray for us.

Queen of Apostles, pray for us.

Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.

Queen of Confessors, pray for us.

Queen of Virgins, pray for us.

Queen of all Saints, pray for us.

Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.

Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.

Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us.

Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us O Lord

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

LET US PRAY

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, unto us Thy servants, that we may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sadness, and enter into the joy of Thine eternal gladness. Through Chrsit our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER FOR FAVORS

Merciful God, you have called Dionisia Talangpaz to manifest your grace of humility and fortitude in serving your church, under the mantle of Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel.Please grant this favor....(Please mention your favor to obtain through Mo. Dionisia) United with the loving supplication of your dear courageous and faithful Mother Dionisia, whose glory and joy in your kingdom, we ask you to reveal her holiness and grant her beatification, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray 1 Our father, 1 Hail Mary and 1 Glory be...to grant our favor.

BIOGRAPHY OF HIS HOLINESS BLESSED JOHN PAUL II

Karol J. Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since his October 1978 election to the papacy, was born in Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometres from Cracow, on May 18, 1920. He was the second of two sons born to Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. His mother died in 1929. His eldest brother Edmund, a doctor, died in 1932 and his father, a non-commissioned army officer died in 1941.
He made his First Holy Communion at age 9 and was confirmed at 18. Upon graduation from Marcin Wadowita high school in Wadowice, he enrolled in Cracow's Jagiellonian University in 1938 and in a school for drama.
The Nazi occupation forces closed the university in 1939 and young Karol had to work in a quarry (1940-1944) and then in the Solvay chemical factory to earn his living and to avoid being deported to Germany.
In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Cracow, run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Cracow. At the same time, Karol Wojtyla was one of the pioneers of the "Rhapsodic Theatre," also clandestine.
After the Second World War, he continued his studies in the major seminary of Cracow, once it had re-opened, and in the faculty of theology of the Jagiellonian University, until his priestly ordination in Cracow on November 1, 1946.
Soon after, Cardinal Sapieha sent him to Rome where he worked under the guidance of the French Dominican, Garrigou-Lagrange. He finished his doctorate in theology in 1948 with a thesis on the topic of faith in the works of St. John of the Cross. At that time, during his vacations, he exercised his pastoral ministry among the Polish immigrants of France, Belgium and Holland.
In 1948 he returned to Poland and was vicar of various parishes in Cracow as well as chaplain for the university students until 1951, when he took up again his studies on philosophy and theology. In 1953 he defended his habilitation thesis on "evaluation of the possibility of founding a Christian ethic on the ethical system of Max Scheler" at the Faculty of Theology of Jagiellonian University (It was the last habilitation before closing the Faculty by comunist goverment).
Later he became professor of moral philosophy and social ethics in the major seminary of Cracow and in the Faculty of philosophy at the Catholic University of Lubin (where he became the Director of the Chair of Ethic, and lectured for 25 years until his election for the Pope in 1978).
On July 4, 1958, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cracow by Pope Pius XII, and was consecrated September 28, 1958, in Wawel Cathedral, Cracow, by Archbishop Baziak.
On January 13, 1964, he was nominated Archbishop of Cracow by Pope Paul VI, who made him a cardinal June 26, 1967.
Besides taking part in Vatican Council II with an important contribution to the elaboration of the Constitution Gaudium et spes, Cardinal Wojtyla participated in all the assemblies of the Synod of Bishops.
Since the start of his Pontificate on October 16, 1978, Pope John Paul II has completed 95 pastoral visits outside of Italy and 142 within Italy . As Bishop of Rome he has visited 301 of the 334 parishes.
His principal documents include 14 encyclicals , 13 apostolic exhortations , 11 apostolic constitutions and 42 apostolic letters. The Pope has also published three books : "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" (October 1994); "Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination" (November 1996) and "Roman Tryptych - Meditations", a book of poems (March 2003).
John Paul II has presided at 138 beatification ceremonies ( 1,310 Blesseds proclaimed ) and 48 canonization ceremonies ( 469 Saints ) during his pontificate. He has held 8 consistories in which he created 201 cardinals . He has also convened six plenary meetings of the College of Cardinals.
From 1978 to today the Holy Father has presided at 15 Synods of Bishops : six ordinary (1980, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1994, 2001), one extraordinary (1985) and eight special (1980, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998[2] and 1999).
No other Pope has encountered so many individuals like John Paul II: to date, more than 16,700,000 pilgrims have participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1,000). Such figure is without counting all other special audiences and religious ceremonies held [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone] and the millions of faithful met during pastoral visits made in Italy and throughout the world. It must also be remembered the numerous government personalities encountered during 38 official visits and in the 690 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State , and even the 226 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.

THE MEANING OF ADVENT WREATH AND ITS HISTORY

THE MEANING OF THE ADVENT WREATH

Most Advent wreaths use three colors – purple, pink, and white. However, some may use blue in place of the purple.

• 1st CANDLE – (purple) THE PROPHECY CANDLE or CANDLE OF HOPE – We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us. Our hope comes from God. “And again, Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:12-13)
• 2nd CANDLE – (purple) THE BETHLEHEM CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF PREPARATION – God kept his promise of a Savior who would be born in Bethlehem.  Preparation means to “get ready”. Help us to be ready to welcome YOU, O GOD! “As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.‘ (Luke 3:4-6)
• 3rd CANDLE – (pink) THE SHEPHERD CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF JOY – The angels sang a message of JOY! “…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:7-15)
• 4th CANDLE – (purple) THE ANGEL CANDLE or THE CANDLE OF LOVE – The angles announced the good news of a Savior.  God sent his only Son to earth to save us, because he loves us! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)
• 5th CANDLE – (white) “CHRIST CANDLE” – The white candle reminds us that Jesus is the spotless lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins! His birth was for his death, his death was for our birth! “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!‘” (John 1:29) “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.’ In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.‘” (John 3:1-8)

The History of the Advent Wreath

As with many long-standing customs, the origins of the Advent wreath are somewhat debated. Some histories of the advent wreath say that Christians simply adapted an even earlier custom from pre-Christian Germanic tribes. Supposedly, then, these pagan people tried to break the darkness of winter with candles and invoke the sun god to return with the warmth and light of spring. In addition, the evergreen wreath would remind them that there is still life and the circle of time would again come back to spring.

According to this viewpoint, Christians later placed new and Biblical meaning to the old customs. Now the candles pointed to Jesus, the Light of the world (John 3:17-21.) The evergreen wreath now reminded believers that our Savior God grants new and everlasting life in Jesus. The wreath was also a symbol of victory, for a garland wreath was often placed on victors in contests or conquests. So naturally, a Christian can think of the crown of life that Jesus has won for us. The four candles in an Advent wreath would then emphasize the four week period of penitence and preparation during Advent, as we eagerly await the coming of the Light of the world to bring new life and hope.

The advent wreath became quite popular in homes in post-Reformation Germany. It seems pretty certain that in many German homes families had a custom of lighting four candles during advent, candles placed in a wreath of evergreens. When these candles were lit, Scripture and prayer was part of the custom and the family devotion time was a time of instructing the children about Christ’s coming. Later, the custom crossed over different denominational lines and other faith traditions adapted its use. Today, you can find Advent wreathes in many Protestant and Roman Catholic churches.

Christmas at Living Hope

Living Hope uses an Advent wreath as part of our worship services leading up to Christmas.  Join us as we Prepare our hearts with Hope, Joy and Love as we eagerly look forward to Christmas–the celebration of the birth our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENT B

1st Sunday of Advent (B)

Marcos 13:33-37

Karon ang pinakaunang adlaw sa liturhikanhong kalendaryo sa atong Simbahan, nga mao usab ang unang Domingo sa Adbyento. Ang pulong “adbyento” nagagikan sa pinulungang Latin nga adventus, nga nagpasabut og “pag-abut”. Ang adbyento mao ang panahon kanus-a kita gidapit sa Simbahan nga mangandam sa pag-abut sa Ginoo.

Duha ka klase nga pag-abut sa Dios ang atong gihunahuna niining panahon sa adbyento. Una, mangandam kita sa pagbalik-lantaw sa iyang pagpakatawo karong Disyembre 25. Pinaagi niini, mabati nato pag-usab ang dakong gugma sa Dios, nga mipadala sa Iyang bugtong Anak dili aron sa pagsilot kondili aron sa pagluwas sa kalibutan (Jn 3:16). Upat kini ka semana nga pagpangandam, nga maoy gihulagway sa upat ka kandila diha sa “advent wreath”. Ang kolor nga “green” nga naglibot sa advent wreath maoy simbolo sa walay katapusang kinabuhi nga gidala ni Jesus para kanato. Ang “violet” mao ang liturhikanhong kolor sa adbyento, nga simbolo sa paghinulsol. Ang pagbasol sa sala mao ang labing importante nga matang sa pagpangandam sa pag-abut sa Ginoo. Usahay, gamiton usab ang kolor nga “royal blue”, simbolo sa paglaum ug kahinangop, nga mao usab ang diwa sa adbyento. Mahinangpon kita nga magpaabut sa kaluwasan nga maoy gidala sa natawong Ginoo.

Ug ikaduha, ato usab nga pangandaman ang pag-abut sa Ginoo panahon sa atong kamatayon ug ang iyang pag-abut sa katapusan sa kalibutan, kanus-a kita iyang pagahukman subay sa atong binuhatan. Pagtukaw ug pagbantay kamo! Mao kini ang tawag sa Simbahan kanato ning panahon sa adbyento. Angay kita nga magmabinantayon tungod kay dili nato mahibaloan kon kanus-a gayud moabut ang Dios sa atong kinabuhi.

Diha sa Ebanghelyo, gipakasama ni Cristo ang iyang mga tinun-an sa usa ka sulugoon nga gitahasan sa iyang agalon sa pagbantay sa ganghaan sa iyang kabtangan. Sa panahon ni Jesus, daghang mga adunahan magbilin og mga sulugoon nga mobantay sa ilang yuta ug negosyo samtang sila nagpuyo sa laing dapit. Usa kini ka dakong pagsulay sa mga sulugoon nga gipiyalan: Magmakugihon ba sila sa paghimo sa buluhaton nga gisangon kanila bisan wala diha ang agalon? O, molihok lamang sila kon taliabut na ang tag-iya? Sanglit dili mahibaloan ang takna sa pagbalik sa agalon, ang mga maalamong sulugoon magmatinud-anon sa ilang pagtrabaho sa tanang adlaw. Sa susamang paagi, ang mga sumusunod ni Jesus dili angay nga magpasagad sa ilang misyon tungod kay ang Dios moabut sa ilang kinabuhi sa bisan unsang oras sa adlaw – pwede sa sayong kabuntagon, sa udto, o sa tungang gabii.

Ang usa ka ginikanan maglaum nga ang iyang mga anak magbantay ug maglimpyo sa balay samtang siya nangita pa og panginabuhian. Ang usa ka magtutudlo magdahum usab nga ang iyang mga estudyante magtrabaho sa ilang buluhaton samtang siya aduna pay importante nga gilakaw. Sa samang paagi, si Cristo nagsalig nga ang iyang mga sumusunod magpadayon sa pagsangyaw sa Ebanghelyo pinaagi sa pulong ug sa buhat hangtud sa iyang pagbalik.

Pamalandongan nato kini:

1.         Unsa may atong gibuhat karon agi og pagpangandam sa pasko sa pagkatawo sa atong Ginoo?

2.        Unsa may atong gipanghimo sa matag adlaw aron mahimo kitang andam sa pakigkita sa Ginoo panahon sa atong kamatayon o kaha sa Adlaw sa Paghukom?

THE HOLY READINGS OF THE DAY

Friday of the Thirty-third week in Ordinary Time

2nd book of Maccabees 4:36-37.52-59. 
Then Judas and his brothers said, "Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it."
So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.
Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, that is, the month of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight,
they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of holocausts that they had made.
On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it, on that very day it was reconsecrated with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals.
All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success.
For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered holocausts and sacrifices of deliverance and praise.
They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields; they repaired the gates and the priests' chambers and furnished them with doors.
There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed.
Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary every year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev.

1st book of Chronicles 29:10.11abc-11d.12a-12bcd. 
Then David blessed the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, praying in these words: "Blessed may you be, O LORD, God of Israel our father, from eternity to eternity.
"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory. For all in heaven and on earth is yours; yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty; you are exalted as head over all.
"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory. For all in heaven and on earth is yours; yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty; you are exalted as head over all.
"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory. For all in heaven and on earth is yours; yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty; you are exalted as head over all.
"Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory. For all in heaven and on earth is yours; yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty; you are exalted as head over all.
"Riches and honor are from you, and you have dominion over all. In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.
"Riches and honor are from you, and you have dominion over all. In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.
"Riches and honor are from you, and you have dominion over all. In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.
"Riches and honor are from you, and you have dominion over all. In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 19:45-48. 
Then Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things,
saying to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.'"
And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

PAG- AMPO SA BANA UG ASAWA.

This is a daily prayer is for all married couples. Husband and wife may hold each other’s hands while reciting this prayer.

O God, we want to live our life together with you and always to continue it with you. Help us never to hurt and never to grieve each other. Help us to share all our works, all our hopes, all our dreams, all our successes, all our failures, all our joys and all our sorrows. Help us to have no secrets from each other so that we may be truly one. Keep us always true to each other, and grant that all the years ahead may draw us ever closer to each other. Grant that nothing may ever come between us and nothing may ever make us ever drift apart. And as we live with each other, help us to live with you, so that our love may grow perfect in your love, for you are the God whose name is love. This we ask for your love’s sake. Amen

A FRUITFUL CONVERSATION WITH JESUS CHRIST

Jesus: Hello. Did you call me?

Man: Called you? No. Who is this?

Jesus: This is Jesus. I heard your prayers. So I thought I will chat.

Man: I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually busy now. I am in the midst of something.

Jesus: What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.

Man: Don’t know. But I can’t find free time. Life has become hectic. It’s rush hour all the time.

Jesus: Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

Man: I understand. But I still can’t figure out. By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on instant messaging chat.

Jesus: Well I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.

Man: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?

Jesus: Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

Man: why are we then constantly unhappy?

Jesus: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. That’s why you are not happy.

Man: But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?

Jesus: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

Man: But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty.

Jesus: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Man: If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?

Jesus: Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don’t suffer. With that experience their life become better not bitter.

Man: You mean to say such experience is useful?

Jesus: Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Man: But still, why should we go through such tests? Why can’t we be free from problems?

Jesus: Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

Man: Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don’t know where we are heading.

Jesus: If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.

Man: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do?

Jesus: Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock.

Man: In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

Jesus: Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

Man: What surprises you about people?

Jesus: When they suffer they ask, “why me? When they prosper, they never ask “Why me” Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth.

Man: Sometimes I ask, who I am, why am I here. I can’t get the answer.

Jesus: Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.

Man: How can I get the best out of life?

Jesus: Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Man: One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

Jesus: There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.

Man: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I am so happy to start the day with a new sense of inspiration.

Jesus: Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don’t believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.

Man: Thank you so much.

Jesus: You are always welcome. Have a good day my friend.

SUNDAY HOMILY NOVEMBER 13, 2011

Homilies by Msgr. Lope Robredillo

Our Creative Response to God’s Gift of Salvation

• November 10, 2011 9:58 am
• 
  

Homily on the Thirty-Third Sunday of Year A (Matt 25:16-30)

Nov 13, 2011

By Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD
“PARISIAN  Life” is now a 120-year-old painting of Juan Luna’s, depicting a woman in a café, on the right side of which are Juan Luna himself, Jose Rizal and Ariston Bautista Lin in a huddle.  A few years ago, it was auctioned off by Christie’s auction house in Hongkong where the painting was the second top selling lot, and Winston Garcia, who was then GSIS president and general manager, won the bid at P46 million, but the GSIS would have to pay a premium of 10% of the final bid price.  When GSIS won the bid, Garcia was quoted to have said that we were buying not a masterpiece but a piece of Philippine history.  But he got a lot of flak.  Sen. Manuel Villar said that while Garcia’s objective may have been noble, the welfare of the GSIS members should have been his primary consideration.  According to Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta, the GSIS should have funneled a hefty part of the money to the members in the form of more benefits, if indeed it was awash in money.  Complained Bayan Muna Rep. Crispin Beltran: “For years, members have been demanding better services and increased package of benefits from the GSIS.  But what they give us are questionable investments, behest loans and ‘barya-baryang’ yearly dividends which are not even commensurate to the amounts we have contributed.”
For many, the people’s money in the GSIS was not invested in a right place.  Which reminds us of the third servant in today’s parable of the silver pieces: he placed his master’s money in the wrong place.  But that is going ahead of the story’s point.  To begin with, the parable, like last Sunday’s, is clearly allegorical, although as Jesus himself told it, it probably had a different point. Most likely, it was intended for the Jewish religious authorities, such as the scribes and the Pharisees, who like the third servant, were so much concerned with the preservation of the religious tradition they had been entrusted with that they refused to hear the new message that Jesus brought.  But this main point has given way to allegorization.  As it stands in Matthew, the master’s invitation “Come, share your master’s joy” (Matt 25:21b) obviously refers to the messianic banquet in the Kingdom of God.  The servants (v 14b et passim) stand for Christians who, through baptism, accept Christ as their master.  The silver pieces (v 15) represent the faith that God gives them through baptism. And the “going away” and the long absence of the master (v 15b, 19a) refer to the journey of Christ to heaven and his physical absence from the world.  His coming home (V 19) is the parousia, the second coming of the Lord.  The early Church moralized the parable with the addition of the saying, “Those who have will get more until they grow rich, while those who have not will lose even the little they have” (v 29).  Concerned with the coming eschatological event, it is now a parable of judgment.
While it is true that in this allegorization the story revolves around the three servants to whom the master disbursed his silver pieces, it gives far greater attention on the third servant.  In the dialogue between the master and this servant, the former sharply rebuked the latter for his failure to do something with the silver pieces entrusted to him.  This unproductive servant is held up as an bad example of one who, having been entrusted with capital, was more concerned about himself and thus about keeping the money intact—an attitude which, in Matthew’s redaction, shows his lazy and sterile life.  Because his desire was security, however false, he was unable to obey the master in a very creative way, unlike the two other servants who made capital gains.  If Matthew dwells at length on this lazy and unproductive servant, it is because the parable is meant to teach us that the gift of faith given to us at Baptism must grow while we await Jesus’ second coming so that, upon his return, we can give a good account on what we have done to the faith we received.  This growth of faith is our creative response to the offer God has given us, while living in the period between now and Christ’s arrival at the end of time.
What does this mean?  Like the first servants who, having received five thousand silver pieces, went to invest it and made another five, so we must be believers whose faith grows and bears fruit.  Or, if we look at the parable as an allegory on the membership of the Kingdom at the end-time, we are supposed to work out our salvation in the same way that the first two servants invested the master’s money.  Of course, salvation is God’s grace (Titus 3:5), but our part is to make a creative and proper response to it.  In the second reading (1Thess 5:16), Paul expresses this in terms of being “awake and sober” (v 6)—“We who live by day must be alert, putting on faith and love as breastplate” (v 7).  A productive faith is one that bears fruit in love.  Thus Paul: “Your love must be sincere. Detest what is evil, cling to what is good.  Love one another with the affection of brothers.  Anticipate each other in showing respect.  Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; he whom you serve is the Lord” (Rom 12:9-11).  The first reading makes the same emphasis when it speaks of works: “Give her a reward for her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates” (Prov 31:31).  Of course, Paul himself makes a laconic expression of the growth of faith in love, when he says that in Christ what counts is “only faith that expresses itself in love” (Gal 5:6).
If the master was harsh with the third servant because he was concerned only with his own security, this implies that the growth of faith must benefit others.  This brings to mind James’ assertion about unproductive faith: “If a brother or a sister has nothing to wear and no food for the day and you say to him, ‘Goodbye and good luck!  Keep warm and well fed’, but do not meet their bodily needs, what good is that?  So it is with faith that does nothing in practice.  It is thoroughly lifeless” (Jas 2:14-17).  Obviously, the parable stresses that like any gift, faith, no matter how small, is precious, and has to bear fruit for others.  Which brings us back to the “Parisian Life.” One wonders, then, whether by buying the Luna painting, the GSIS was obedient to the mission of the institution in a creative way.  No one disputes that the work of art was priceless, that its proper home should be the Philippines.  But whether it was the GSIS that should buy the painting for P50.6 million, and whether it made a good creative and productive investment of the people’s hard-earned money, that is what is being disputed.  At the end time, Jesus would dispute, too, the way the gift of faith has been invested—whether it grew, or it simply became fossilized.