Ash Wednesday

21. "On the Wednesday before the first Sunday of Lent, the faithful receive the ashes, thus entering into the time established for the purification of their souls. This sign of penance, a traditionally biblical one, has been preserved among the Church's customs until the present day. It signifies the human condition of the sinner, who seeks to express his guilt before the Lord in an exterior manner, and by so doing express his interior conversion, led on by the confident hope that the Lord will be merciful. This same sign marks the beginning of the way of conversion, which is developed through the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance during the days before Easter". (22)

22. Ash Wednesday is to he observed as a day of penance in the whole Church, one of both abstinence and fasting. (24)

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel

Remember, you are dust, and to dust you will return

Season Of Lent

6. "The annual Lenten season is the fitting time to climb the Holy Mountain of Easter.

"The Lenten season has a double character, namely to prepare both catechumens and faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery. The catechumens, both with the rite of election and scrutinies, and by catechesis, are prepared for the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation; the faithful, ever more attentive to the word of God and prayer, prepare themselves by penance for the renewal of their baptismal promises". (6)

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Moises Andrade, STL 1948-2009

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered "come to me." With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

Appeal for Novena for the Pope Feb. 14 - 22

(FROM http://www.fssp.org/objet/com20090212.htm)

Appeal for Novena for the Pope Feb. 14 - 22

A message from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter - www.fssp.com

Many of the faithful are aware of the opposition which the Holy Father has faced in his efforts to reconcile the Society of Pius X. The current pressure from the media and others seems to not only threaten Pope Benedict’s work with SSPX. It also seems as though some would like to see it work as a means to undermine his very teaching and governing authority for his pontificate.

Given these oppositions which the Holy Father faces; given the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter's particular role in working as a bridge for those who have grown apart from the Church in the last forty years; finally, given that we hold St. Peter as our patron and have a particular attachment to his successor, the Fraterniy of St. Peter has asked all of its the members to offer increased prayers at this time for strength for Pope Benedict XVI.

A good number of priests and seminarians have contacted the General House to ask if the Fraternity could have particular prayers offered for this intention. All the members of the Fraternity are being asked to offer the following novena beginning on February 14 and concluding on the feast of the Chair of St. Peter. All the faithful in the Apostolates are encouraged to join in these prayers and that the Masses on that Sunday (Quinquagesima) would be offered for this intention as well.

Novena for the Pope:

Pater Noster, 3 Ave Maria, Gloria Patri		Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory be.
V. Orémus pro Pontífice nostro Benedícto. R. Dóminus consérvet eum, et vivíficet eum, et beátum fáciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in ánimam inimicórum eius.		V: Let us pray for our Pope Benedict. R: May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
V. Tu es Petrus. R. Et super hanc petram ædificábo Ecclésiam meam.		V. Thou art Peter, R. And upon this Rock, I will build My Church.
Orémus. Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, miserére fámulo tuo Pontífici nostro Benedícto : et dírige eum secúndum tuam cleméntiam in viam salútis ætérnæ : ut, te donánte, tibi plácita cúpiat, et tota virtúte perfíciat. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen.		Let us Pray, Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon your servant, Benedict, our Sovereign Pontiff, and guide him in your goodness on the way of eternal salvation; so that, with the prompting of your grace, he may desire what pleases you and accomplish it with all his strength. Through Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.
Mater Ecclésiæ, ora pro nobis. Sancte Petre, ora pro nobis.		V. Mother of the Church. R. Pray for us V. St. Peter. R. Pray for us

Comment on the Guidelines Laid Down by the Archbishop of Manila With Regard to the Extraordinary Form of Mass

(FROM Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce)

Statement

Comment on the Guidelines Laid Down by the Archbishop of Manila With Regard to the Extraordinary Form of Mass

by Leo Darroch, Executive President of the Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce
issued 11th February 2009

COMMENT:

There is so much in error with these guidelines that even though they mention the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, it is clear that the person who drafted the guidelines cannot possibly have read the Motu Proprio. The writer seems unaware that the previous rigidly-controlled state that existed under the indults of 1988 (Ecclesia Dei adflicta) and 1984 (Quattuor abhinc annos) ended abruptly at midnight on 13th September 2007. Under these indults, people and priests had to obtain permission from their local Ordinary before any celebrations of Mass using the Missal of 1962 could take place. Under Summorum Pontificum, which took effect from midnight on 13th September (i.e. from 14th September 2007), the permission to celebrate Mass according to the Missal of 1962 has been granted by the Supreme Legislator, the Pope, to "each Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular," to "use the Roman Missal published by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962,…and may do so on any day with the exception of the Easter Triduum. For such celebrations……..the priest has no need for permission from the Apostolic See or from his Ordinary." [Summ. Pont. Art 2]. The fact that one does not need the permission of the local ordinary to celebrate or attend Holy Mass in the Extraordinary Form, does not, in itself, derogate from the right of bishops to regulate liturgical matters in their sees. No doubt the Supreme Pontiff took that right into account when he assumed that no Catholic bishop would dissent from the superseding right of the Successor of Peter to regulate the liturgy for the universal Church.

Therefore, not only has any priest of the Latin rite the freedom to celebrate Mass on any day of the year (excluding the Easter Triduum but NOT excluding Sundays), but the Motu Proprio removes a need to obtain permission from anyone - either from the Holy See or his local bishop [Summ. Pont. Art.2].

To comment specifically on the detail of the guidelines:

• 1. Despite what is said in the opening statement these guidelines are NOT in accordance with the norms laid down by the Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI.
• 2. In Summorum Pontificum, the Supreme Pontiff dispensed local ordinaries from “regulating” the celebration according to the Extraordinary Form when, in his Letter to Bishops accompanying the Motu Proprio, His Holiness states "The present norms are also meant to free Bishops from constantly having to evaluate anew how they are to respond to various situations."
• 3. "The presider at this form of celebration should be a priest duly appointed by the Archbishop…." [Guidelines, para.4] There is no 'presider' at a Mass in the Extraordinary Form, this is a term introduced with the new order of Mass. In the Extraordinary Form of Mass there is a 'celebrant' who offers up the sacred mysteries acting in persona Christi.
• 4. Concerning paragraph 5 of the Guidelines - it is the duty of all Sacred Pastors to ensure the solemnity and orderliness of the celebration of ALL forms of liturgy in their diocese so it needs to be explained why the Extraordinary Form requires special attention? As the Extraordinary Form and the Ordinary Form are "two uses of the same rite" [Summ. Pont. Art. 1], is the participation of other ministers (i.e., lectors, Master of Ceremonies, servers, choir, etc.) in the Ordinary Form also to be determined and regulated by the Ministry for Liturgical Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila?
• 5. It is commendable that a missal / booklet of the rite in Latin and English be prepared to help the faithful follow the celebration but why should those who wish to participate in this Mass have to undergo a catechetical orientation before the celebration? Will this requirement for a catechetical orientation apply equally to those attending the Ordinary Form?
• 6. The local Ordinary has jurisdiction over this celebration in the sense that he must ensure that ALL liturgy under his jurisdiction is celebrated in conformity with the laws of the Church. Whatever is decided in relation with the Extraordinary Form of Mass must be decided "in full harmony, however, with all that has been laid down by the new norms of the Motu Proprio" [Letter to Bishops]. It is an abuse of authority, and in disobedience to the law expressed by the Supreme Pontiff, our Holy Father, to interfere in the right granted by the Successor of Peter to any priest in good standing to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of Mass. The Pope, the Supreme Legislator, has issued a DECREE, for the benefit of all priests and faithful of the Roman Rite in the Universal Church and no local bishop can interfere with this law and impose his own conditions in an act of public disobedience to the Vicar of Christ

The way forward for any priest or member of the faithful is clear. In accordance with article 7 of the Motu Proprio they must contact immediately the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei for clarification and send a copy of the guidelines that obstruct the provisions of Summorum Pontificum. They should write to:

H.E. Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos,
President, Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei,
Palazzo della Congr. per la Dottrina della Fide,
Piazza del Sant Ufficio,
00193 Rome,
ITALY.
Fax: +39 06 69 88 34 12. Email: eccdei@ecclsdei.va.

Leo Darroch, Executive President - International Federation Una Voce.
11th February 2009.

Vatican Recognizes 1st Asian Society of Priests

MANILA, Philippines, FEB. 6, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Canonical recognition was given to the Mission Society of the Philippines, the first society of priests founded in Asia, now present in 13 countries.

AsiaNews reported that the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Ivan Dias signed the pontifical decree.

The Missionary Society of the Philippines (MSP) was created in 1965 by the bishops of that country, on the fourth centennial of their nation's evangelization. Their goal was "to express in the concrete our gratitude to God for the gift of our faith," sharing it with "the peoples in Asia and the rest of the world,"

With this recognition, made public on Jan. 30 during the seventh general assembly of the MSP, they became a "Society of Apostolic Life for mission ad gentes of Pontifical Right" under the authority of the Holy See rather than the local bishops.

According to its statues, the MSP mission is directed especially to the villages of Asia, to the most de-Christianized zones or where the young Churches need most help.

Another of its objectives is to make Filipino emigrants conscious of their missionary vocation, to help them participate and be instruments of evangelization.

The MSP has more than 70 members working in the Asian countries of Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea, as well as in the United States, Australia, Holland and Great Britain.

In Asia there are five other similar societies, though under the jurisdiction of the local Church: There is another in the Philippines, one each in South Korea and Thailand, and two more in India.

SEPTUAGESIMA SEASON

SEPTUAGESIMA SEASON
Tempus Septuagesimae

From Septuagesima Sunday until the Saturday of Passion Week in all Masses of the Proper of the Saints the Alleluia & its Verse after the Gradual is replaced by a Tract. On ferias in the Septuagesima Season, when the Sunday Mass is resumed, the Tract is omitted.

Sun 8 SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY 2 Cl V
No Gl Cr Pr of the Holy Trinity

Archdiocese of Manila's Guidelines on the Roman Missal of 1962

From the Archdiocese of Manila's website

ARCHDIOCESAN GUIDELINES
ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE MASS
ACCORDING TO THE RITE OF THE ROMAN MISSAL
PUBLISHED IN 1962 (TRIDENTINE MASS)

In accordance with the norms laid down by the Apostolic Letter, issued motu propio, of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, Summorum Pontificum, We hereby establish the following guidelines and conditions on the celebration of the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Missal published in 1962 (Tridentine Mass) in the Archdiocese of Manila:

1. The regulation of the celebration of this extraordinary form of the Mass belongs to the Archbishop of Manila, through the Minister of the Ministry for Liturgical Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila.
   
   
2. This form of Mass is to be celebrated only at the Christ the King Chapel of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Manila once a month, but not on Sundays and Solemnities.
   
   
3. The presider at this form of celebration should be a priest duly appointed by the Archbishop of Manila.
   
   
4. To ensure the solemnity and orderliness of the celebration of this form of Mass, the participation of other ministers (i.e., lectors, Master of Ceremonies, servers, choir, etc.) in the liturgy is to be determined and regulated by the Ministry for Liturgical Affairs of the Archdiocese of Manila.
   
   
5. The celebration of the extraordinary form of the Mass in this Chapel is open to any individual or group in the Archdiocese of Manila who may have the desire to participate in such celebrations. Further requests from individuals or groups from the parishes of or who belong to the Archdiocese of Manila to celebrate this form of Mass is to be directed to join the monthly celebration at the Manila Cathedral.

6. It is highly encouraged that a missal / booklet of the rite in Latin and English be prepared to help the faithful follow the celebration. It is like wise encouraged that those who will participate in this Mass undergo a catechetical orientation before the celebration.

7. The Archbishop of Manila has jurisdiction over this celebration and, therefore, can decide to limit or discontinue this monthly celebration anytime he judges that this is not consonance with the whole pastoral direction of the Local Church.
   
   

Given in Manila, this 8th day of December 2008.

+GAUDENCIO B. CARDINAL ROSALES
Archbishop of Manila

Sign the letter of support for the Pope

(FROM:http://www.soutienabenoitxvi.org/index.php?lang=uk)

Appeal from plain Catholic faithful.

This letter gathers different Catholic faithful, from different tendencies, who wish to support the pope in his brave gesture. The authors of this site assure you of the complete confidentiality guaranteed to the names of the signatories, the list of which will be transmitted only to the Holy See.

On January, 21^st, You decided, Holy Father, to put an end to the excommunication which pressed on the bishops of the The Society of Saint Pius X. By this brave gesture, You acted the Good Shepherd of the flock entrusted to You by God.

We are men and women invested in the life of our city, we are fathers and mothers with a family or unmarried and, after stormy times, when « the boat seemed to take the water everywhere », we wish to build with You the Church of tomorrow with its Tradition for a foundation. This project includes inevitably the transmission of the Faith to the future generations, by the love of the Catholic Liturgy and by the defence of human life.

By this letter, we wish above all to express to You our deep gratitude. Although Your historic gesture has been met with hostility and confusing opinions from certain media and persons, it arouses in us a tremendous joy and fills us with Hope. We prayed for Your intentions, according the request You made at the beginning of Your Pontificate: « Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves.(1)»

We wish, by affixing our signature to this letter and indicating our age and the number of our children to say to You that with You, we want to build Christendom for the generations which will follow us, hoping wholeheartedly that future Christians will be self-confident and will proclaim to all the World the Credo.

So, in a spirit of filial respect, we bring You our support and our daily prayers for the pursuit of Your Pontificate, that God's Church will may emerge increased by it.

(1) Benedict XVI, April 25th, 2005

"Nothing emboldens more the audacity of the naughty ones than the weakness of kind people"

Leon XIII, encyclical Sapientæ Christianæ, January 10th, 1890

SIGN HERE

Schedule of the International Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima

February 1-4 Archdiocese of Lipa
Archbishop Ramon Arguelles

Archbishop of Lipa

San Lorenzo Drive, Lipa City

February 4-5 Archdiocese of San Fernando (Pampanga)
Archbishop Paciano Aniceto
Archdiocese of Pampanga
Mother of Good Counsel Seminary
San Fernando, Pampanga

February 5-6 Diocese of Balanga (Bataan)
Bishop Socrates Villagas
Bishop of Balanga
Bahay Pari
41 Paterno St., Poblacion
Balanga, Bataan

February 6-7 Diocese of Tarlac
San Sebastian Cathedral

February 7 TV Program: Heart to Heart
(NBN Channel 4-Manila)

February 8-9 Diocese of Butuan (Mindanao)
Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos
Bishop of Butuan
972 Conchita Extension
Pareja Subdivision
Butuan, Agusan del Sur

February 10-12 Diocese of Digos (Mindanao)
Bishop Guillermo Afable
Bishop of Digos
Home of the Clergy
Dona Aurora St.
Digos, Davao del Sur

February 12-14 Archdiocese of Jaro (Iloilo – Pany Island)
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo
Archbishop of Jaro
Jaro District
Iloilo

February 14-15 Parish of the Last Supper of the Lord
(Las Pinas City, Manila)
Rev. Fr. Augusto Pulido
Manila Times Village
Las Pinas City

February 15-16 Diocese of Pasig (Metro Manila)
Immaculate Conception Cathedral Rev. Fr. Roy Rosales
Plaza Rizal Compound
Pasig City

February 16-17 St. James the Great Parish
(Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City)

February 17-18 St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish
(Magallanes,Makati)
Rev. Fr. Benito Tuazon
Humabon Place, Magallanes Ave.
Makati City

February 18 Chapel of The Eucharistic Lord
SM Megamall Chapel (11:00AM – 7:00PM)
Rev. Fr. Vidamor Yu
SM Megamall Chapel
Mandaluyong City

Feruary 18-20 Diocese of Kalookan (Metro Manila)
Bishop Deogracias Iniguez
Bishop of Kaloocan
Bishop’s Residence
Mabini St.
Caloocan City

February 20-21 Christ the King Parish
(Greenmeadows, Quezon City)
Rev. Msgr. Daniel Sta. Maria
Greenmeadows Avenue
White Plains, Quezon City

Our Mother Comes to Us

This is the international pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima. It was sculpted in 1947 by Jose Thedim according to the description of Sr. Lucia. Since then it was traveling across the world bringing the message of hope and countless miracles are reported along the way. The said statue was reported to have shed human tears.
These visits around the world provide special occasions for the renewal to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and to Her Immaculate Heart.

(taken from Our Mother Comes to Us booklet)

It will visit the Philippines from January 28 to February 21.

Special thanks to my beloved brother Marwil Llasos for giving me the pictures of Our lady of Fatima and the copy of the booklet.

OUR LADY OF FATIMA, PRAY FOR US!

Benedict XVI Is Latest YouTube Star

Benedict XVI Notes Hopes for YouTube Site

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 25, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says he hopes that increased Vatican presence on the Internet will help those who "have yet to find a response to their spiritual yearning."

The Pope said this today in his English-language remarks after praying the Angelus with crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square. He was alluding to an initiative launched Friday: a new Vatican channel on YouTube.

Speaking of his message for World Communications Day, which was released Friday, he said it concerns "the new technologies which have made the Internet a resource of utmost importance, especially for the so-called digital generation."

"Undoubtedly, wise use of communications technology enables communities to be formed in ways that promote the search for the true, the good and the beautiful, transcending geographical boundaries and ethnic divisions," the Pontiff added. "To this end, the Vatican has launched a new initiative which will make information and news from the Holy See more readily accessible on the world wide Web.

"It is my hope that this initiative will enrich a wide range of people -- including those who have yet to find a response to their spiritual yearning -- through the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ whose message of Good News the Church bears to the ends of the earth."

--- --- ---

On the Net:

Vatican channel on YouTube: www.youtube.com/vatican.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONATHAN GOZOS

We would like to greet our dear brother Jonathan Gozos a
HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

May the good Lord bless you always.

Beside him is His Excellency Most Rev. Bishop Camilo Gregorio, D.D. of the Prelature of Batanes who celebrated last January 18 a Pontifical Mass according to the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite