THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Principal Patroness of the Philippines: December 8

To become the mother of the Savior, Mary “was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such role.”  The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as “full of grace.”  In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God’s grace.

Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception.  That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854:

 The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserve immune from all stain of original sin.

The “splendor of an entirely unique holiness” by which Mary is “enriched from the first instant of her conception” comes wholly from Christ: she is “redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son.”  The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person “in Christ with every spiritual blessings in the heavenly places” and chose her “in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love.”

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Source:  Catechism of the Catholic Church 490 – 492

Source Image:  http://sevenbasketsfull.org/images/immaculate%20conception%201.jpg

ANG MALUWALHATING PAG-AAKYAT SA LANGIT SA MAHAL NA BIRHEN

August 15: Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary

Readings: Rev 11:19, 12:1-6; 1 Cor 15:20-26

Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

This feast has been celebrated in the East since the sixth century. It was introduced in Rome in the seventh century. On Nov. 1,1950 Pope Pius XII defined the Dogma of the assumption. He solemnly proclaimed that the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven at the end of her life. This feast confirms us in the virtue of hope, whereby we seek holiness of life in the midst of our ordinary duties. At the same time, it exhorts us to see heaven our final home.(Ordo 2010, Cycle C, Year II)

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Ang “pinangalagaang maging malaya mula sa lahat ng bahid dungis ng kasalanang-mana, ang kalinis-linisang Birhena, ay iniakyat – katawan at kaluluwa – sa makalangit na kaluwlahatian pagkatapos ng kanyang paglagi sa lupa.”  Sa pag-aakyat sa kanya sa langit upang makapisan ang kanyang Anak na si Kristong nabuhay na mag-uli, at sa kaganapan ng kanyang katauhan, ipinahahayag ni Maria ang kaganapan ng gawaing pagtubos ng Diyos para sa ating lahat, “isang palatandaan ng tiyak na pag-asa at kaginhawaan para sa naglalakbay na bayan ng Diyos.” [KPK 524]

Ang dalawang natatanging karapatan ni Maria, ang Kalinis-linisang Paglilihi sa kanya at ang Maluwalhati niyang Pag-aakyat sa Langit, ay hindi mga taliwas na aral na naghihiwalay sa atin kay Maria.  Sa halip ang mag ito’y mga natatanging karapatan ng kaganapan at kabuuan.  Ang biyaya ni Maria ay pangkalahatang ibinabahagi: ang kanyang natatanging karapatan ay yaong sa kaganapan.  Iginagawad ang dalawang natatanging karapatang ito sa pamamagitan ng presensiya ng Espiritu, na kung saan tayong lahat ay tinatawag upang makibahagi.  Kaya inilalagay nila si Maria sa pinakabuod ng lahat ng mga tao at ng Simbahan. [KPK 525]

Sa parktikal na pananalita, nangagahulugan ito na tulad ni Kristong walang kasalanan, si Maria ay hindi nabulag o nalito ng kapalaluan o huwad na pagkamasarili.  Higit na ganap at tunay na “makatao” kaysa atin, kaya tunay na napahahalagahan ni Maria ang mga pagsubok at kabiguan nating mga tao. [KPK 525]

Ang mga biyayang ito’y ibinigay kay Maria alang-alang sa kanyang bukod-tanging tungkuling gagampanan sa plano ng Diyos na iligtas ang lahat sa pamamagitan ng mapangtubos na misyon ni Jesus. [KPK 525]

Ang mapitagang kahulugan ng Pag-aakyat sa Langit kay Maria, katawan at kaluluwa, ay nagbibigay sa atin ng isang konkretong huwaran ng bagong sangnilikha ito.  Si Maria ang unang ganap na nakibahagi sa muling pagkabuhay ni Kristo.  Nakita na natin si Maria bilang unang anak, ang huwaran at Ina ng Simbahang naglalakbay.  Ngayon sa diwang kaugnay ng kanilang hantungan, pinag-uugnay si Maria at ang Simbahan.  Ganito inuunawa ng Tradisyon ang teksto mula sa Pahayag: “Lumitaw sa langit ang isang kagila-gilalas na tanda: isang babaeng nararamtan ng araw, at nakatuntong sa buwan; ang ulo niya’y may koronang binubuo ng labindalawang bituin” (Pah 12:1).  Ipinahayag ng Vaticano II: “Samantala, sa kadakilaang taglay niya sa katawan at kaluluwa sa langit, ang Ina ni Jesus ang larawan at simula ng Simbahang magiging ganap sa darating na panahon.  Gayundin, nagniningning siya sa lupa bilang tanda ng tiyak na pag-asa at kaginhawaan sa naglalakbay na Sambayanan ng Diyos hanggang sa dumating ang araw ng Panginoon.(LG 68) [KPK 2080]

Para sa Pilipinong Kristiyano, si Maria marahil ang pinakamabuting tulong sa pagkakaroon ng personal na pagkaunawa kung ano ang inihanda ng Diyos para sa mga nagmamahal sa Kanya. [KPK 2080]

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Source: Katesismo para sa mga Pilipinong Katoliko

Source image: LARAWAN: Gabay sa
Katekesis   [CFAM]                                                                                             http://www.flickr.com/photos/arthurofthechildjesus/4768977399/  

       

 

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid 13th centuries. They built a chapel in the midst of their hermitages which they dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, whom they conceived of in chivalric terms as the "Lady of the place."

History:

Since the 15th century, popular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has centered on the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel also known as the Brown Scapular, a sacramental associated with promises of Mary's special aid for the salvation of the devoted wearer. Traditionally, Mary is said to have given the Scapular to an early Carmelite named Saint Simon Stock. The liturgical feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on 16 July.

The solemn liturgical feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was probably first celebrated in England in the later part of the 14th century. Its object was thanksgiving to Mary, the patroness of the Carmelite Order, for the benefits she had accorded to it through its rocky early existence. The institution of the feast may have come in the wake of the vindication of their title "Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary" at Cambridge, England in 1374. The date chosen was July 17th; on the European mainland this date conflicted with the feast of St. Alexis, necessitating a shift to July 16th, which remains the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel throughout the Catholic Church. The Latin poem Flos Carmeli (meaning "Flower of Carmel") first appears as the sequence for this Mass.

The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is known to many Catholic faithful as the "scapular feast," associated with the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a devotional sacramental signifiying the wearer's consecration to Mary and affiliation with the Carmelite Order. A tradition first attested to in the late 1300s says that Saint Simon Stock, an early prior general of the Carmelite Order, had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in which she gave him the Brown Scapular which formed part of the Carmelite habit, promising that those who died wearing the scapular would be saved.

That there should be a connection in people's minds between the scapular, the widely popular devotion originating with the Carmelites, and this central Carmelite feast day, is surely not unnatural or unreasonable. But the liturgical feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel did not originally have a specific association with the Brown Scapular or the tradition of a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1653, a Carmelite named Fr. John Cheron, responding to scholarly criticism that Saint Simon Stock's vision may not have historically occurred (these doubts are echoed by historians today), published a document which he said was a letter written in the 13th century by Saint Simon Stock's secretary, "Peter Swanington". Historians conclude that this letter was forged, likely by Cheron himself. It was nevertheless uncritically embraced by many promoters of the scapular devotion. The forged document's claim of July 16, 1251 as the date of the vision (July 16 being the date of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel) subsequently led to a strong association between this feast day, and the scapular devotion, and in the intervening years until the late 1970s, this association with the scapular was also reflected in the liturgy for that day. The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as well as that of Saint Simon Stock came under scrutiny after Vatican II due to historical uncertainties, and today neither of these liturgies, even in the Carmelite proper, make reference to the scapular.

Carmelite Devotion to Mary:

The Carmelites see in the Blessed Virgin Mary a perfect model of the interior life of prayer and contemplation to which Carmelites aspire, a model of virtue, as well as the person who was closest in life to Jesus Christ. She is seen as the one who points Christians most surely to Christ, saying to all what she says to the servants at the wedding at Cana, "Do whatever he [Jesus] tells you." Carmelites look to Mary as spiritually their mother and sister. The Stella Maris Monastery on Mount Carmel, named after a traditional title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is considered the spiritual headquarters of the order.

Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, OCD, a revered authority on Carmelite spirituality, wrote that devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel means:

a special call to the interior life, which is preeminently a Marian life. Our Lady wants us to resemble her not only in our outward vesture but, far more, in heart and spirit. If we gaze into Mary's soul, we shall see that grace in her has flowered into a spiritual life of incalcuable wealth: a life of recollection, prayer, uninterrupted oblation to God, continual contact, and intimate union with him. Mary's soul is a sanctuary reserved for God alone, where no human creature has ever left its trace, where love and zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of mankind reign supreme. [...] Those who want to live their devotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to the full must follow Mary into the depths of her interior life. Carmel is the symbol of the contemplative life, the life wholly dedicated to the quest for God, wholly orientated towards intimacy with God; and the one who has best realized this highest of ideals is Our Lady herself, 'Queen and Splendor of Carmel'."

Church Teaching:

A 1996 doctrinal statement approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments states that "Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is bound to the history and spiritual values of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and is expressed through the scapular. Thus, whoever receives the scapular becomes a member of the order and pledges him/herself to live according to its spirituality in accordance with the characteristics of his/her state in life."

According to the ways in which the Church has intervened at various times to clarify the meaning and privileges of the Brown Scapular: "The scapular is a Marian habit or garment. It is both a sign and pledge. A sign of belonging to Mary; a pledge of her motherly protection, not only in this life but after death. As a sign, it is a conventional sign signifying three elements strictly joined: first, belonging to a religious family particularly devoted to Mary, especially dear to Mary, the Carmelite Order; second, consecration to Mary, devotion to and trust in her Immaculate Heart; third an incitement to become like Mary by imitating her virtues, above all her humility, chastity, and spirit of prayer."

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel

Source Image: http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/index.php?showtopic=70514

BAGONG TAON, BAGONG BUHAY

Sinalubong natin ang Bagong Taon na punong-puno ng buhay. Buhay na buhay ang mga tao. Masiglang masigla tayo. Maingay sa ibat-ibang uri ng paputok at torotot. May kantahan. May sayawan. May palaro. Ipinagdiriwang ang Bagong Taon. Ipinagdiriwang sa pamamagitan ng salu-salo: sa Banal na Misa at sa mahabang mesa.

Bagong Taon. Bagong simula.
Magandang simulan ang bagong taon na may sigla na nagmumula sa ating sarili at para sa ating kapwa. At simulan ang paglalakbay na punong-puno ng buhay at pag-asa.

Bagong simula. Bagong buhay.
Simula ng bagong buhay. Sinilang ang isang sanggol na ang pangalan ay Jesus.
Kailangan ng isang sanggol na kakalinga at mag-aaruga sa kanya upang Siya ay mabuhay.
Kailangan n’ya ng isang ina.
Kailangan ni Jesus si Maria. Si Maria ang Ina ni Jesus. Si Maria ay Ina ng Diyos sapagkat si Jesus ay Diyos.

Unang araw ng Bagong Taon, ika-1 ng Enero, ipinagdiriwang ng buong Simabahan ang Kapistahan ni Maria, Ina ng Diyos. Kaya’t higit pa sana ang ating pagdiriwang kaysa pagsalubong sa bagong taon. Nakakalungkot lamang, sa aking karanasan at obserbasyon, kakaunti ang nagsisimba sa araw na ito. Marahil puyat at tulog. Marahil nalasing sa ingay at kasiyahan. Marahil hindi alam na ngayon ay Kapisatahan ni Maria, ang Ina ng Diyos. Ang Ina nating lahat.

Gayunpaman, sa bagong taon na ito, sa bagong paglalakbay, mainam na ipagkatiwala natin ang ating buhay sa mapagkalinga at mapag-arugang pagmamahal ni Maria. Dadalhin at ilalapit tayo ni Maria kay Jesus.

At sa ating paglapit kay Jesus sa pamamagitan ni Maria, nawa’y sumibol ang bagong buhay. Tulad ng sinasabi ng isang awitin:
“Bagong taon, tayo’y magbagong buhay, nang lumigaya ang ating bayan. Tayo’y magsikap upang makamtan natin ang kasaganahan.”

Makapagbabago lamang tayo ng buhay kung tayo ay lalapit kay Jesus. Makiisa tayo sa gawain ni Maria. Kaya’t kailangan natin pagsumikapan din ang paglapit kay Jesus ng sa gayon makamtan natin ang biyaya na dulot ni Jesus sa pamamagitan ni Maria – ang buhay.

Si Jesus ang Buhay. Si Maria ang Ina ng Buhay.
Tayo ay patuloy na inaanyayahan ni Maria na dumalo sa Banal na Eukaristiya upang tanggapin ang Buhay – si Jesus. Kung tatanggapin natin si Jesus sa Banal na Komunyon, hindi lamang tayo ang liligaya kundi pati ang buong bayan. Kailangan natin si Jesus, lalo na ngayong malapit na ang Eleksyon 2010. Ang buhay ng bayan ang nakasalalay dito.

Nag-iingay ang bayan sa pagsalubong ng Bagong Taon upang itaboy at lumayas ang mga masasamang espiritu. Paano maitataboy at lalayas ang masamang espiritu kung nasasaatin mismo lumulukob ang masamang espiritu?

Kung nais nating maging masagana ang buhay natin, ang buhay ng bayan: Iboto si Maria! Maging deboto kay Maria! Sabi nga, “Mother knows best!”

KAARAWAN

Kaarawan. Isang araw na karugtong na ng ating buhay. Ito ang araw ng ating kapanganakan. Araw kung saan ay ipinagdiriwang ang buhay . . . buhay na regalo sa atin ng Diyos

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Sa tuwing sasapit ang ating bertday, iba’t-ibang damdamin ang lumilitaw depende sa kalagayang pangkasalukuyan. Pinapahalagahan natin ang araw na ito sa iba’t-ibang pamamaraan. Isa na rito ay ang nakaugalian na nating magbigay ng regalo. Regalo na babagay sa may kaarawan. Kahit sabihin pangkapos sa buhay, gagawa ng paraan upang mapaligaya lamang ang may kaarawan.

Kaya, habang papalapit ang kaarawan ng ating Mahal na Ina na si Maria, iniisip ko kung anong regalo ang maihahandog ko sa kanya. Subalit, ako ang na sorpresa. Anong ligaya ang aking naramdman sa biyayang hatid ng ating ina. Binigay n’ya sa akin ang isang pangarap na matagal ko ng minimithi. Na sa akala ko matagal pa bago mangyari o baka hindi na mangyari pa. Ngunit, naganap nga, ilang minuto bago ang pagsapit ng kanyang kaarawan. Ipinakita at itinuro sa akin ng ating Ina ang pamangkin ko na matagal ng nawalay sa piling namin, halos 15 years na ang nakaraan. Ngayon, magkakaroon muli kami ng ugnayan ng buhay na kaugnay ng buhay ko. Ang buhay na karugtong na ng aming buhay.

Masaya ako sapagkat, si Mama Mary ang may kaarawan ang siyang nagbigay ng regalo sa akin. Regalo na dulot ay kapayapaan. Muli, ipininakita at ipinadama ng Ina ang kanyang pagmamahal sa kanyang anak. Magtiwala lamang sa kanya at iyong makikita.

Karaniwan ng kaganapan sa araw ng ating kapanganakan ay ang ipinagdiriwang itong may kasamang salu-salo. Isang handaan kung saan inaanyayahan ang ating kapamilya, kamag-anak, kaibigan, kaklase, ka-opismeyt, at lahat ng mga taong malapit sa ating puso – mga kapuso.

Sa kaarawan ni Maria, isang natatanging regalo ang kanyang hinahandog sa atin. Isang handaan. Espesyal na salu-salo. Kung saan lahat tayo ay inaanyayahan. Dinadala tayo ni Maria sa handaang hinihanda ng kanyang Anak na si Jesus – ang Banal na Eukaristiya – ang tipan ng pag-ibig. Si Jesus ang Buhay. Si Jesus ang Liwanag.

Sa ating kaaarawan, marapat lamang na tayo ay nagpapasalamat sa buhay na handog ng Diyos sa atin. Sa kaarawan ni Maria, nagpapasalamat ako sa regalong handog niya. At nagpasalamat ako sa Diyos sapagkat ibinigay niya sa atin si Maria, na napupuno ng grasya, na magiging daan upang isilang ang Diyos sa piling natin – ang Emmanuel.

Sa kaarawang ito ni Maria, nawa’y maisilang din siya sa ating puso upang matularan natin siya sa kanyang kagandahang-loob at pag-aakay ng kapwa patungo kay Jesus. Mama Mary, maligayang kaarawan sa’yo! Happy Birthday, Mama Mary! Mahal kita!