The Ugliness and the Beauty Around

What, Pray, Tell me, is a Priest on Call? Well, there is this expensive looking car parked illegally. And a sticker says "Priest on Call" with name and contact number. No hiding of identity there, huh.
But St. John Eudes said that Bad priests are bad signs. It is a sign of God's anger. We get the priests we deserve. Well, priests are products of society.

Stupid is as stupid does this boy - Canada's wanna be Prime Minister; And so we also get the politicians we deserve. These are elected politicians. Yes, it's really quite telling.

And in a world that continues to abort children in the womb; Even using the papaya for abortion recruiters. And so the battle for life goes on.

Inspite of it all, there are inspiring stories of changing hearts like this one from Pope Benedict XVI's first convert

As Pope Benedict XVI said, “Being struck and overcome by the beauty of Christ is a more real, more profound knowledge than mere rational deduction.” Yes, I am so endeared to our pope emeritus and his enduring legacy of love for beauty.
Yes, the world has darkness and light. It has ugliness but also a beauty that reflects the source of perfect beauty- God.

Freedom of Person Captured by the Love of God

Carrón (CL): “The Incredible Freedom of a Man Taken Hold of By Christ”
Communion and Liberation Press Office, Milan
2/11/2013

Following Benedict XVI’s announcement of his renunciation of the Petrine ministry, Fr. Julián Carrón, President of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, issued this statement:
"With this gesture, as imposing as it is unexpected, the Pope witnesses to us such a fullness in the relationship with Christ that he surprises us with an unprecedented act of freedom that puts the good of the Church before all else. Thus he shows everyone that he is completely entrusted to the mysterious design of an Other.
Who would not want a freedom like this?
The Pope’s gesture is a powerful reminder to renounce every human security, trusting exclusively in the strength of the Holy Spirit. It’s as if Benedict XVI said to us, in St. Paul’s words, ‘I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus’ (Phil 1:6).
Through the Pope’s announcement, the Lord asks us to pierce through all appearances, going back through all of the human enthusiasm with which we greeted Benedict XVI’s election and with which we have followed him in these eight years, grateful for every word of his.
We, too, desire to live the same experience of identification with Christ that dictated this historic act for the life of the Church and of the world to the Pope; and so, it is with freedom and full of wonder that we receive this extreme gesture of paternity, carried out for love of his children, entrusting his person to Our Lady so that he may continue to be our father, giving his life for the work of an Other, that is, for the edification of God’s Church.
With all of our brothers and sisters, together with Benedict XVI, we ask the Spirit of Christ to assist the Church in the choice of a father who can guide her in a historic moment that is so delicate and decisive.”

I have just read this. (bold characters - mine for emphasis) and what a wonderful reflection to make- how Christ, the Truth sets us free. With the world clamoring for so many rights and freedoms we choose for themselves, we miss out on the AUTHENTIC FREEDOM that comes when captured by the love of God. It's a freedom that sets us free from ourselves, our limitations, and our iniquities. While the licentious freedom the world gives lead us stuck to ourselves and winding up in a dead-end; The true freedom keeps us journeying through the seasons of time to the inexhaustible possibilities of our life until we find ourselves to eternity.

Yes, this is the freedom I desire - the incredible freedom of a person captured by the love of God.

Versus News

Retired Bishop tells Catholics to IGNORE the Archbishop Well, it was on a specific issue- receiving Holy Communion for those promoting Same-Sex Marriage. He insists punitive has no place in pastoral work. Oh yeah... like fathers who do not know tough love. No standing in the corner. Never grounded. Just love. Whatever that means.

And so... UK Liturgist says DON'T IMITATE the Pope ... that is, on Liturgical practice. Well, he is the Pope.

So... okay. Then... To HELL with Uniform; Let's just Love. Yeah, what is important is what's in the heart. I use that excuse when I want to cop out.

EXPLOSIONS Rock Finish of Boston Marathon on April 5, 2013. Now, don't tell me this is love. What could be in their hearts to do such a thing.

Amidst all the strifes and darkness, we can go Go FORWARD with Certainty. The world is broken but there is still hope and true love.

Courage of Papa Bene

Humility is the often used adjective to describe Pope Benedict XVI/ Papa Bene. Indeed, there is that humble and gentle spirit that pervades him. The anecdotes of those around him and have met him paint a man who is truly simple, accomodating, and patient.
Yet, I see in him another virtue and that is courage. It is not like the self-righteous, self-centered courage that wants attention to one's self and snaps at anyone that distracts.. It is not a firy kind of courage that guns at those who disagree. It is not an imposing kind of courage that wants to shove himself right into your face. It is not an aggressive, fearless kind of courage of muggers, rapists, smugglers. Neither is it a vociferous courage that tries to drown a fear of being found out.
Papa Bene, now Papa Ratzi, has courage. And it is no wonder how some people are so angry at him. He lends voice to their questions and gives a proposition that will bring them to question themselves. Unsettling, indeed.
Papa Ritzi has courage to be where he is also vulnerable. A position where he can be subjected to adulation and ridicule alike. He goes into Twitter, grants interviews, was a guest writer for Wall Street Journal, was on BBC radio. He has Q&A with the youth, the prisoners and others.. He met with the sex abused victims. He has a vulnerability borne of a courage that is not afraid to love. That knows love.
Papa Ritzi has a courage that confronts the realities of life. Such courage cultivated when he was a Prefect. He knows the ills of Christendom and the world, at large. Yet, he can fearlessly face it and do what he can do to correct. This is the courage borne of faithfulness to the Truth. He is convicted of the Truth and became a co-worker of Truth and this has given him the courage to be out in the storm and yet, never loses hope.
Papa Ratzi's renunciation of the papacy was a hallmark of courage. It is a courage to face who he is, even if it displeases other people. It is a courage that even makes him all the more vulnerable. The courage of facing who he is brings forth a strength to continue to live a faithful and purposeful life.

Most of all, Papa Ratzi has a gentle, quiet courage that comes from holiness. His personal relationship with God, his personal encounter with Jesus was the source of his courage. He believes, loves, and trusts this Person of Jesus and that was all there is for him to do what he must do.
“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die.” GK Chesterton

Happy Birthday Papa Bene!

Happy Birthday Papa Bene!

Vote for Love

Times are critical and that makes every choice we make of great import. The Enemy is definitely waging a fierce war with God.

• the (mandatory) promotion of artificial contraception and artificial conception - a denial of God's choice in the creation of human life.
• the (mandatory) promotion of same-sex marriage - a denial God's choice in giving each one a nature of being- male or female.
• the (mandatory) promotion of abortion and euthanasia - a denial of God's choice to participate in making life worth living.
Unfortunately, majority of heads of States are already pushing for this. Thus, this mid-term election is just as critical. Those in the Senate and in the city level must be against RH bill, Same-sex Marriage, Abortion, and Euthanasia. This is NON-NEGOTIABLE or else we will live a mannequin life that's empty inside. God, family, and love will be obscured and everything else will be turned inside out.
We can not be deceived that such agenda is pro-poor and for social justice. It will be a world run by an elite self-righteous, messianic minority and their cronies.

Sure, there are many other issues. But most issues can be addressed by existing institutions, and people can change with a higher value system. But when the culture of death which had already crept in into our culture be given more foothold, it will be difficult to turn the tide of social engineering.

White Vote, Catholic Vote, Team Buhay is the only way to go. No matter what the outcome may be, I must vote as I believe; And I believe in God, love, life, and family.

"When the freedom to be creative becomes the FREEDOM to CREATE ONESELF, then necessarily the Maker himself is DENIED and ultimately man too is stripped of his dignity as a creature of God, as the image of God at the core of his being."

"The defence of the family is about man himself. And it becomes clear that when God is denied, human dignity also disappears." (20 Dec 2012) Benedict XVI