True Wealth

Just thought you might get inspired from these quotes I took from True Wealth - Reflections on What Matters Most in Life by Blue Mountain Arts Collection.


Man cannot live by bread alone. The making of money, the accumulation of material power, is not all there is to living. Life is something more than these, and the man who misses this truth misses the greatest joy and satisfaction that can come into his life - service for others (Edward Bok)

-oOo-

So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. (Morrie Schwartz)

-oOo-

Real success is not to be sought after in the outer world, but discovered in your inner world. I am not condemning the stuff of life. We all want the things that life offers. But we don't need as much as we think we do.

Sooner or later you will discover that real success is to be found in loving relationships. With your family, friends, strangers, and anyone who crosses your path. It is kindness shared, support given and received, listening, giving, and caring.

These will endure while your car rusts, your toys break, and you tire of the temporary gratifications that bring you what you think is real.

What matters is people. What lasts is love. What counts are true friends. And if you treasure these you can count yourself a success. (Tim Connor)

-oOo-

If a man measures life by what others do for him, he is apt to be disappointed; but if he measures life by what he does for others, there is no time for despair. If he measures life by its accumulations, these usually fall short of his expectations, but if he measures life by the contribution which he has made to the sum of human happiness, his only disappointment is in not finding time to do all that his heart prompts him to do. Whether he spends his time trying to absorb from the world only to have the burden of life grow daily heavier, or spends his time in an effort to accomplish something of real value to the race, depends upon his ideal. (William Jennings Bryan)

-oOo-

True wealth is an emotion: it's a sense of absolute abundance. Our heritage alone makes us wealthy. We have the privilege of enjoying great works of art that we didn't paint, music we didn't compose, great educational institutions we didn't build. Feel the wealth of the nation's parks that you own. Know that you're a wealthy person now, and enjoy that wealth. Realize that this is a part of your abundance, and this feeling of gratitude will allow you to create even more. (Anthony Robbins)

-oOo-

Where To Go During An Earthquake

[Note: With all the earthquakes happening around the world, most recently in New Zealand and Japan, you should read this life-saving article.]

Where to Go During an Earthquake

Remember that stuff about hiding under a table or standing in a doorway? Well, forget it! This is a real eye opener. It could save your life someday.

EXCERPT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON 'THE TRIANGLE OF LIFE'

My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI ), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.

I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries. I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years, and have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene -- unnecessary.

Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them - NOT under them. This space is what I call the 'triangle of life'. The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the 'triangles' you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.

TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

1) Most everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' when building collapse are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.

2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a bed, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.

3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.

5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.

6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!

7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different 'moment of frequency' (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

8) Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible - It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.

10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

Spread the word and save someone's life...

The entire world is experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!

'We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly'

In 1996 we made a film, which proved my survival methodology to be correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul , University of Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did 'duck and cover,' and ten mannequins I used in my 'triangle of life' survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the results. The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under directly observable, scientific conditions , relevant to building collapse, showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and cover.

There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using my method of the 'triangle of life.' This film has been seen by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe, and it was seen in the USA , Canada and Latin America on the TV program Real TV.

"Triangle of Life"

Without listening or reading, simply by looking at the following self-explanatory photos, you can learn more than in a thousand words about how to protect yourself during a major earthquake...









If you are inside a vehicle, come out and sit or lie down next to it. If something falls on the vehicle, it will leave an empty space along the sides. See below:















(Source：國際救援小組（ARTI），網址：http://www.amerrescue.org/)

American Rescue Team International（ARTI）is said to be the World's most experienced rescue team and disaster management-mitigation organization.

Weekly News (Third Week of April 2011)

1. Pontiff Relives Christ's Passion and Death

ROME, APRIL 22, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI relived the "drama" of the passion and death of Jesus Christ tonight in Rome together with thousands of faithful, who gathered at the Colosseum to pray the Way of the Cross. [Read More]

2. Easter is the Victory of Love

Love is stronger than death! The greatest is love! The greatest one is the one who loves the most! [Read More]

3. John Paul II A Radiant Example of Faith, Pope Says

Vatican City, Apr 21, 2011 / 10:38 am (CNA/EWTN News).- During the celebration of the Chrismal Mass at the Vatican this morning, Pope Benedict said that despite many scandals in the Church, there are still "radiant examples of faith" such as John Paul II, who will be beatified on May 1. [Read More]

4. Tradition Trumps Church Teachings

Thousands of Filipinos ignore bishops' pleas to stop self-harm and crucifixions to mark Holy Week. [Read More]

5. Porn Company Amassing 1-800 Numbers

New York (AP) - For years, teenagers across the U.S. could call a toll-free hotline if they had embarrassing questions about AIDS and safe sex. Dial the same number now and you get a recording of giggling women offering to talk dirty to you. [Read More]

6. Earth Day: Abortion Has Killed 1-2 Billion Worldwide in 50 Years

The media is abuzz with news about humanity’s numbers. Sometime during the latter part of this year or early next year—the exact date is still a little fuzzy—there will be, for the first time in history, 7 billion people alive on the planet at the same time. [Read More]

7. Many Anglicans Will Become Catholic This Easter

LONDON (CNS) — The first personal ordinariate created for former Anglicans who decided to enter the Catholic Church will reach almost 1,000 by the end of the Easter vigil. [Read More]

8. Where Does America Stand on Life?

Pro-life veteran Joseph Scheidler discusses how politicians are standing up more for the unborn and why young people give him hope for winning the battle for life. [Read More]

9. Denise Jones – Ex-Drug Addict, Ex-Criminal, Ex-Lesbian [Read More]

10. Easter Message

Let every heart not be troubled (Jn 14:27). Live in peace for today the splendor of life shines forth in the rising of the Lord! [Read More]


Christ Is Risen, Alleluia! Happy Easter!

On The Interior Sufferings of Jesus Christ

Today, Good Friday, let us meditate on the interior sufferings of Our Lord taken from the book The Golden Key to Heaven by St. Anthony Mary Claret

First Point

Jesus Christ has suffered before we have, all the interior pains that we are met with on the road to perfection.

O my soul, with lively attention let us suppose you see your Divine Redeemer in the garden of Gethsemane. In your imagination try to penetrate deep into His Heart and understand those terrific pains with which He was oppressed...But bear in mind that the Divinity offered no relief to His Holy Humanity in this suffering, just as a holy soul that has gone to Heaven gives no aid to its body which it has abandoned to rot in the grave. Jesus suffered just as He would have suffered if He had been purely human and created as we are. With these thoughts, begin our meditation.

The first suffering of Jesus Christ was an immense sorrow.

There were two causes of this. The first was His burning Love. There was never a mother so devoted, who loved an only son with such tenderness as Jesus Christ loved each and every human being in particular. The second cause was His Infinite Knowledge. The Lord knew that, in spite of His Passion, the majority of men would come to perish eternally.*

(*Note - This does not say a majority of free creatures; and we know, according to the Holy Fathers, that angels vastly outnumber men and that just a third of them were lost. (Apoc. 12:4). Nor does this say a majority of all human beings, including infants; and we know that the majority of human deaths are of infants and fetuses, and an especially large majority when times are very wicked. "God bears up with men," writes St. Alphonsus Liguori, "but He does not bear forever. Were God to bear forever with sinners, no one would be damned: but the most common opinion is that the greater part of adults, even among Christians, are lost." "Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat." (Mt. 7:13)

From this came a sorrow which was enough to cause Him death, even if there had been no other pains. To conceive an idea of this, suppose, my soul, there is a mother who has left her little children, whom she loves devotedly, playing in a field. Suppose she turns to see them all mangled by a beast which has come out of a nearby forest, an dafter the horrible slaughter, tender members of their bodies are left scattered here and there, clawed and torn to pieces. Could one ever sufficiently understand the pain of that devoted mother at the sight of her dear little ones so tragically slain?

Enter now, O my soul, into Jesus' Heart and see if you cannot find a similar pain there at the sight of so many souls purchased by the shedding of all His Precious Blood and lost forever in hell.

The second interior suffering of Jesus Christ was fear.

There is nothing that more cruelly crushes a man's heart than fear of death close at hand. Not seldom has it happened that persons told of approaching death - even young, robust persons - have broken down overnight so as to appear aged and very feeble. What impression would fear of approaching death not make on Jesus' Heart - a death He plainly foresaw with all the terrible circumstances that made it so bitter to Him?

The third interior suffering of Jesus was the battle waged within Him.

Nature and grace joined in Jesus' Heart to bring on this battle. Nature made His Passion unbearable in view of the horror of the death and the bitter pangs experienced from man's ingratitude; therefore He turned to His Father with these words: "Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me." Grace called for the great sacrifice and induced Him to add: "Father, not My Will, but Thine be done..."

Who will explain the violence of this battle waged within Him? It is enough to know that His Sacred Humanity could not stand it and was forced to sweat an abundance of His Blood through all His pores.

The fourth interior suffering of Christ was His mortal agony.

A man's greatest trial and torment is surely his death agony. Imagine, my soul, that you see a dying man. His forehead yields a cold sweat caused by the struggle within him, which is most bitter. His hands and feet are limp and cool. Only with the greatest effort can he breathe. His heart pounds and putters. One pulsation does not yield place to another, for all is continually irregular and abnormal. The mere sight of him is pitiful. Consider now, my soul, your Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, reduced by inner pain to this agonizing state, and have no doubt that He would have died if an angel who had been sent from Heaven, had not comforted Him in that crisis so that He could complete His Sacrifice.

Affective Acts

O my Jesus, how great are Thy sufferings, and how great is Thy fortitude in the midst of them! Thou art abandoned in a sea of bitterness, of anguish and sorrow.

Compared to Thy suffering, what is mine, O afflicted Jesus? Ah! My suffering, compared to Thine, is very slight. Yet any suffering, however small, is enough to make me quit what I had started well. Distaste and sadness at time of prayer, lack of mortification, fickleness about good resolution, dissipation of mind, faint-heartedness, mistrust - these are the unhappy results from the pains which you offer me so that I may be approved and gain merit. Oh, how I should blame myself and be filled with shame in Thy presence! Thou, Who are Innocence Itself, submitted to pain; and I, who am a sinner, want only consolation.

Second Point

The state of desolation is far more to our advantage that that of consolation. O my soul, in what peace you could live in the midst of darkness and desolation, if you knew the advantages which desolation brings with it! From the following truths you can form a fair concept:

First Truth - The state of desolation is more suitable for our offering God an acceptable sacrifice, than is the state of consolation. Oh, my soul, how we deceive ourselves, even in spiritual things! If by luck one enjoys a bit of inner peace, if he experiences a little more tender devotion in his heart, if his eyes moisten with sweet tears, he counts the day on which this occurs a happy one. But, oh how much more valuable beyond comparison is a day of desolation!

For on the day which you call fortunate, God gives you something; but you give nothing to God. When He has feasted you at His table and given you a taste of His Sweetness, it is a generosity that is all His. Nothing comes from you for Him. Ah! How many there are who show themselves faithful to God in time of consolation; but how few there are who show themselves equally faithful in time of desolation!

When one finds oneself without any light and zest, and with his emotions stirred up in rebellion, and assaults of temptation of every kind at every turn, and yet he continues faithfully in silence, in prayer, in recollection, in mortification, and in all other virtuous practices, then we have the sacrifice which is the most acceptable to God, the gift of ourselves which His Majesty regards with eyes of most devoted satisfaction.

Second Truth - The state of desolation leads the soul to perfect love for God more securely than does the state of consolation.

To love God perfectly is nothing but to seek solely and purely His good pleasure, and outside of this to care about nothing else, neither on earth nor in Heaven. He that reaches this state enters in an instant into the possession of the most perfect love for God and becomes perfected in His Divine Presence. How to arrive at this, the surest way one can take is the road of desolation; for when a faithful soul in this state is without all consolation from the outside world and God withdraws all inner sweetness, he becomes practically crucified and little by little he dies to self and to all creatures. As he finds no satisfaction in anything else but the Divine good pleasure, in this he finds rest and in God he finds perfect Divine Love.

Third Truth - In preference to the state of consolation, it is the state of desolation which leads a soul more surely and more promptly to close union with God. You should know, my soul, that just as fire purifies gold, and as it rids it of all impurity and leaves it beautiful and shining, so the state of desolation purifies the soul, and as it burns up within it all affections that do not refer to God, it very promptly makes it pleasing to God and puts it in immediate readiness for close union with the Supreme Good, enlightening it with His Heavenly Light and inflaming it with a holy love for Him.

The same thing happens to it as happens to a room which the sun brightens and warms only when the shade which is blocking the passage of its rays is lifted. One cannot say this of the state of consolation; for as it agrees so much with selfishness, out of a thousand souls in that state there will scarcely be one which reaches union with God. Therefore how much more desirable is the state of desolation!

Affective Acts

What, then, will I do? I see Jesus in the state of desolation. He is sorrowful even unto death. (mt. 26:38). I realize that this state is supremely profitable to me, as it is the one which brings me to union with God. Why, then, am I unwilling to experience it? Ah! No! I am not unwilling.

At this moment I bow, kneeling at Thy Most Holy Feet, O my Jesus, and I consecrate and dedicate myself entirely to Thy Divine Will. My heart is ready to be left without any light, without any consolation, without any satisfaction, to suffer darkness, to be forsaken, as Thou were in the garden. I am ready to experience grief, temptation, and whatever else Thou wish me to suffer, my God.

Henceforth my only contentment and consolation will be the fulfillment of Thy Divine good pleasure. My only joy, my only relief is in being deprived for Thy sake and in Thy company, of all consolation and rest, and in knowing that in this way Thy Holy Will is fulfilled in me.

Prayer to Obtain Fortitude

But here is where I see that I must raise my hands, my eyes, and my heart to Thee, O my sweet Jesus, to beg Thy Sweet Mercy on my behalf. To see no relief in creatures and to be faithful to Thee; to have our mind clouded with heavy darkness, our will distressed with painful dryness, our heart afflicted with continual desolation and yet not falter; to bear the attack of horrible temptation, to have our mind harassed with frightening thoughts, but not yield to discouragement; to experience feelings of bitterness, anxiety, rebellion, when it seems that all our wild impulses are let loose on us, and yet to remain constant in God's service - this is virtue without equal. (For we know it is one thing to experience wayward tendencies, another thing to consent to them.)

Herein lies true self-denial, complete detachment from all creatures, true faithfulness, pure love, and the surest pledge of union with God. But for an achievement so generous, no less is required than a powerful and effective grace from Heaven. Therefore I appeal to Thee with all my strength, O my Jesus. Do Thou help me, Lord.

(Pray the Our Father and the Hail Mary or other short prayers)

Understanding Shame

Notes taken from our Lenten Recollection earlier this month on healing our shame.

Understanding Shame: Reflections from Falling Forward by Craig Lockwood


Shame, which has to do with man's separation from himself, gives rise to man's problems with intimacy. The core characteristic of shame is the disowning of self, which demands to be covered up. Shame calls for secrecy and darkness. One who experiences shame has an adversarial relationship with himself. He separates from himself to survive because the true and wounded self is felt to be too bad and unacceptable. It is, therefore, disowned and pushed away into darkness. Shame, in essence, self-hatred.

It is enough to say here that shame enters the heart early in the developmental stages of a child's life, frequently because of abandonment, abuse, and shaming actions of parents. The child bears the charged emotional milieu of the family home. Perhaps Mom or Dad used to rage out of control, used guilt to modify behavior, expressed direct doubt or condemnation towards the child, or perpetuated direct sexual, verbal, or physical abuse. Just as often, the shaming process happened indirectly as parents, in denial of their shame, imparted strong feelings of fear, anger, grief, or anxiety. When these feelings were not explained, the child had no choice but to internalize and carry them. This, the child subtly began to take in these feelings and store them as his own.

Dysfunctional parents use denial to avoid their own feelings of shame. To successfully avoid their own sense of "badness", they must act as if they are perfect or "shameless", by projecting their inner reality onto situations outside of themselves. In this projection, the child becomes the source of bad feelings and is blamed for the feeling state of the parent. The nonverbal message to the child amounts to, "If you would just stop doing whatever you are doing, I would not be so out of control." Even though this message is not given directly, the child must conclude that he is the problem. He must come to this conclusion because his parents are not helping him decode the situation by owning their own feelings. Slowly, a core identity of worthlessness is built and reinforced within the child. He begins to believe that if he could just get better, Mom or Dad wouldn't be so upset. So he tries harder (perfectionism) or develops some other survival strategy to make his pain go away.

At some point, the shamed self becomes too painful to live with and the false self begins to form and harden into place. This false self has many faces: the addict, the perfectionist, the dominant and controlling one, the worm, the shy one, the clown, the scapegoat. All of them are cover-ups for shame. Most shame develops in the early stages of a child's personality formation. Because of this, the split-off self is the child-like part of the person. Often a person with shame will experience an inability to attach to others, or to experience intimacy with others in relationship. The place in his heart that should be able to trust other and be vulnerable in relationships has been hated and sequestered away.

For the addict, changing and becoming like a child must be preceded by reconnecting with the part of him or her that can be child-like. He or she must integrate with that split-off part. Healing shame is accomplished through loving the child-like part of oneself, accepting its weaknesses and wounds, and reintegrating with it into the personality. The addict must welcome this child part with the help of Jesus. This reconciliation is a process that starts with discovering and experiencing negative emotions towards self first, then tracing them to the deeper attitudes and beliefs that embody self-hatred. Next comes confession to the Lord, repentance of sinful attitudes towards self, and sometimes, the building of relationship with the lost part, leading to healing.

Healing shame is almost always accompanied by healing of traumatic memories (from which issue diseased attitudes), and forgiveness of perpetrators - usually parents. Through this process, the faulty belief system is healed. What things are hidden from those who cannot access the childlike parts of themselves - the fact that their name is written in heaven. Jesus refers to a man's adoption into the family of God - the experiential knowledge that he is loved by the Father. Jesus reveals the Father through the part of man that holds the child-like qualities. It is through this part of him that the addict can receive the love of the Father's adoption. Receiving God's love in the depths of his heart can displace the lies fostered by years of shame-based parenting, or by significant events of abuse. The Father's love dismantles the driving power of trying to avoid the feelings of shame. Our call is to press into His love, by embracing the healing process, and letting Jesus walk with us into our most wounded places. As shame is healed, addiction withers and is replaced by inner peace, love and the ability to risk and connect in friendships.

Weekly News (Second Week of April 2011)

1. Benedict XVI's Holy Week Calendar

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 14, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Today the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff published the calendar of ceremonies to be presided over by Benedict XVI during Holy Week. [Read More]

2. JP II Shrine To Rise in Former Bataan Refugee Camp

MANILA, April 13, 2011—The Philippines will have its first shrine to Pope John Paul II at a former refugee camp in Bataan’s Morong town which the pontiff visited 30 years ago. [Read More]

3. Youth Challenged to Create New Renaissance With Social Media

Rome, Italy, Apr 15, 2011 / 04:05 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Secretary of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council on Social Communications says he wants to challenge young Catholics to “be geniuses and creators of a new Renaissance” using social media. [Read More]

4. Poverty Not Reduced by Population Control, States Vatican’s UN Observer

New York City, N.Y., Apr 14, 2011 / 01:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The chief Vatican representative to the United Nations said that pushing population control methods on underdeveloped countries offends human dignity and ultimately proves ineffective in eradicating global poverty. [Read More]

5. 'Incredible' Victory for Marriage, Family

The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has ruled to protect marriage and the natural family. [Read More]

6. Nebraska Bishop: Don’t Make ‘Prudence’ An Excuse to Avoid Preaching Boldly on Homosexuality

LINCOLN, Nebraska, April 15, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Priests should not use concerns over “prudence” as an excuse to avoid speaking boldly on the immorality of homosexual acts, says Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska. [Read More]

7. Obama Administration Castigates Vatican Over Family Planning

The contrast between the priorities of the developed and developing world was as clear as night and day.

“It is detrimental to not have adequate family planning resources,” a visibly US delegate told the room. “Why is there a resistance to acknowledging access to family planning as a necessity?” [Read More]

8. Stages of Love in The Spiritual Life

There are three stages in our love for God: servile love, mercenary love and filial love. [Read More]

9. Marriage 101

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The decline of traditional marriage in America continues to affect students’ education and the future welfare of the Catholic Church, said a University of Virginia professor at a symposium at The Catholic University of America. [Read More]

10. An Amazing Testimony – How God Transformed the Life of a Drag Queen ‘Star,’ Trace McNutt

On this, the homosexual activist “Day of Silence” in schools, we cannot remain silent about how God continues to help people out of the homosexual lifestyle — in this case, a former “drag queen” whose stage name was “Coma,” but whose actual name is Trace McNutt. Please take the time to watch all 11 short YouTube segments, and pass them on to your friends and family (especially those who have never seen an ex-homosexual testimony).

Here is the actual YouTube link to the 11-part testimony, which is available on a DVD titled, “God’s Relentless Pursuit of a FREAK, Drug-addicted Demonic Drag Queen” [from there you can link to all 11 videos].

World Youth Day Fun Run - May 1, 2011

Circular from the Archdiocese of Manila regarding WYD Fun Run 2011 on May 1:

TO: ALL PARISH PRIESTS/ YOUTH COORDINATORS AND LEADERS/
SCHOOL HEADS/ PRINCIPALS/ PRESIDENTS/ CAMPUS MINISTERS/
CHAPLAINS/ CATHOLIC DORMITORY STUDENTS AND DIRECTORS/
DIRECTORS AND HEADS OF THE ARCHDIOCESAN YOUTH
ORGANIZATIONS AND MOVEMENTS.

RE: WORLD YOUTH DAY FUN RUN (May1, 2011)


Greetings of peace!

The Archdiocesan Commission on Youth (ACY) and the Archdiocese Manila Biblical Apostolate are staging a sports event dubbed as World Youth Day Fun Run. It will be on May 1, 2011 coinciding the beatification of Pope John Paul II, starting from Quirino Grandstand and will end at the CCP Complex Ground. This event is a fund-raising project to send twenty (20) youth delegates from all the Vicariates of the Archdiocese for the World Youth Day Celebration in Madrid, Spain come August of this year. A ten thousand- runner turn out will enable us to finance various youth programs this year as the whole Philippine Church celebrates the Year of the Youth. Registration fees are as follows: P400.00 for the 3K, P500.00 for the 5K and P600 for the 10K.

In lieu of this we are fervently soliciting for your support by becoming registration venues and by providing a space in your parish church for the promotional advertisement. An incentives of ten percent of the total amount coming from the registration fees goes to the funds of your parish youth ministry.

We will be most happy to entertain any queries regarding this event. You may get in touch with us through our office nos. 523 2814 or 404 3673.

Thank you very much for your unwavering support for our young. May God bless all our efforts in bringing them in to a deeper and socially-relevant faith.



In Christ’s with Mary,

(signed)
REV. FR. RAMON JADE L. LICUANAN
Commissioner

-oOo-

Take part in this fun event by joining the race on May 1, 2011, 5 a.m at the PICC grounds in Pasay City. You can also choose to sponsor the said event. There will be Holy Mass after the race and this event will also coincide with the liturgical feast that the late PJPII instituted - Divine Mercy Sunday. Be there!


When: May 1, 2011

Where: PICC Grounds, Manila

Registration Period
April 2 – 25, 2011

Registration Venues
- Chris Sports (SM Manila, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM Annex/North Edsa, Glorietta)
- ROX, Bonifacio High Street 2nd Floor
- A Runner’s Circle Store
- Parish Churches in the Archdiocese of Manila

*Registration Fees
3 km – PHP400
5 km – PHP500
10km – PHP650

Singlet Design
to be uploaded soon

Assembly Time and Gun Start
As early as 4:30 a.m. up to 5:30 a.m.

Race Map / Race Route
Please visit www.takbo.ph to download race map.

(*Update: I personally called the office of the organizers and they told me that the race categories will be 3K, 5K, and 10K. Also, there will be walk-in registrations on site. Thank you.)

Full Life Easter 2011 Celebration

Get ready to celebrate Christ's resurrection and the gift of eternal life by attending Full Life at the SMX Convention Center on April 24 at 8 am! There will be mass, worship, surprise numbers and a talk from Bro. Bo Sanchez. Let us enjoy the fullness of life here on earth as well as in the life that awaits us in heaven! Open to all and admission is FREE!


"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10

Choose Your Pain

Nobody in this life is a stranger to pain. It is an unescapable reality. As far as I know everybody struggles with something in their life.

An obese man who keeps on eating unhealthy foods and practicing a sedentary lifestyle knows he will have to pay for it sooner or later. He eats like there is no tomorrow and because he is fat he barely has the energy to move around as a result. It does not matter to him what food he eats as long as it suits his taste buds and his belly is full. Because of his size he must have probably experienced some sort of ridicule and insult pertaining to his weight. He has probably heard from well-meaning friends and relatives a million times to watch his diet and exercise more often, but he continues on with his daily routine.

A sex addict caught into his late night habit of viewing internet porn when everyone else is asleep says to himself that it is just a harmless past time and that he is not hurting anyone. Over time, not content with just viewing porn and masturbation, he suddenly finds himself wanting to "act out" what he sees on the internet with another person. He searches online for hook-ups and now engages in one night stands with strangers. A few of his close friends counsel him regularly not to engage in such risky behavior but he ignores them, choosing instead to exact as much pleasure as he can get from his sexual escapades.

In both situations given above, choosing the pain of change is the most logical recourse if one wants to find himself in a better place.

Sure, it is the most uncomfortable thing in the world to do and ingrained habits do not disappear overnight. This might require you to make substantial lifestyle changes and personal sacrifices on your part and I understand that some people would rather stay where they are and do nothing about the situation...until it is all too late.

And this is where the second type of pain comes in - the pain of not changing - the pain of regret.

The obese man may choose to eat all the unhealthy foods he wants until he gets fatter and fatter and finally ends up having a stroke or heart attack. At this point, he realizes the extent of the damage to his health. He also realizes what a great burden he is to his family and loved ones. He now regrets it. The damage to his health is severe and he realizes if he had only made some adjustments to his eating habits and lifestyle, he is in a much better health condition now.

Meanwhile, the sex addict continues to engage in risky sexual encounters with prostitutes and strangers, ignoring the advices and warnings of the few people who know his struggle. One day his family discovers his sexual exploits and they left him out in the cold. To complicate the situation, he begins developing some flu-like symptoms, malaise, and unexplained weight loss. He later finds out he is HIV positive. Now he is totally devastated.

The situations I mentioned above do happen to real people and are meant to illustrate my point.

In whatever struggle we find ourselves in, the wise choice is to always choose the pain of change. I must tell you that it is going to hurt. Pain accompanies change. Habits are indeed hard to break.

But by making deliberate and positive steps, we can eventually correct the situation. The obese man may opt to stick to a health and fitness regimen suited to his condition. He will need to give up some unhealthy foods and opt for more healthful ones. Over time, this can result in a healthier and stronger body, thus minimizing the risk factors that can lead to serious and life-threatening illnesses.

The sex addict, coming to terms with his sexual addiction and acknowledging his need for help, may choose to seek the help of a pastor, a counselor, and a support group. Support from his family will also be of great help for him on his quest to achieve sobriety.

On the other hand I believe that the pain of regret is much more painful and costlier than the pain of change.

The pain of regret is comparable to the feeling of losing something of great value because of one's own fault and being deprived of the chance to gain it back again. It is a most painful kind of experience. I would like to compare it to the pain of loss that a damned soul endure in hell. In that awful place he has lost God which is his highest good for all eternity, he is in extreme torment, and he has no hope or opportunity whatsoever to change his situation and regain what he has lost. Now that is really painful.

We all have a choice. The good news is that we can choose the pain we want to endure. We can choose to change now while there is still a chance or we can choose to persist in our ways and be sorry for them later. The choice is ultimately ours. I hope we make the 'right' choice.

Weekly News (First Week of April 2011)

1. Pope Stresses Link Between Popular Piety, Liturgy

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 8, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is acknowledging the importance of popular expressions of piety, but is encouraging the close unity of these with the Church's liturgy. [Read More]

2. From Rome, 91-Year-Old Cardinal Returns to PH to Fight RH Bill

MANILA, April 8, 2011— After 25 years in Rome, one of the country’s three living cardinals returned to the Philippines to be one of the voices in the church’s campaign against a birth control measure. [Read More]

3. Courage Latino Leader Recounts Conversion

Lima, Peru, Apr 7, 2011 / 05:52 pm (CNA).- The leader of a Catholic ministry to homosexuals recently recalled his conversion story.

“God was leading me, through the advice of priests I spoke with, to see that a sexually active life, even with just one person of the same-sex, could not bring me happiness,” Guillermo Marquez told CNA. [Read More]

4. Homosexual Influence = Tyranny of The Minority

According to one researcher's findings, a small segment of the population seemingly has overwhelming influence over the rest of America. [Read More]

5. Study: U.S. Has 4M 'Gay' Adults; 1.7% of Populace

SAN FRANCISCO - A California demographer has released a best guess of how many homosexual adults are in the U.S. [Read More]

6. Donald Trump Explains Conversion to Pro-Life Side on Abortion

Business mogul Donald Trump shocked attendees at the conservative CPAC conference in February when he declared himself pro-life after years of supporting the pro-abortion position. [Read More]

7. Mandated Gay Clubs in Catholic Schools Can’t Help Students Overcome Homosexuality: Ontario Govt

TORONTO, Ontario, April 8, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Ontario Catholic schools will not be permitted to use the support groups that are being mandated under the government’s controversial equity and inclusive education strategy to counsel homosexual students to “reform their sexuality.” The government revealed the unprecedented challenge to the province’s publicly-funded Catholic education system in comments to LifeSiteNews. [Read More]

8. Head of Belgian Catholic Church Hit With Pies For Views on Abortion, Homosexuality

BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 7, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard of Brussels was hit in the face with custard pies Tuesday by homosexual activists who oppose what the head of the Belgian Catholic Church has said about homosexuality. [Read More]

9. Papal Preacher Extols Selfless Love

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Genuine love for others is the cornerstone of charity, but it needs to be backed up by concrete action to be a complete expression of God’s love for humanity, the papal preacher said. [Read More]

10. Stations of the Cross Reflect 'Level of the Human Heart'

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The cloistered Augustine nun who has written the meditations for Pope Benedict XVI’s Way of the Cross service said she strived for simplicity to give a voice to children who have been abused in the Church and beyond. [Read More]

Lenten Retreat c/o Verbum Dei Fathers

Forwarded invitation

Looking for a Lenten retreat to attend in the city this Holy Week? Consider attending Build Your Life, Build The World Easter Encounter organized by the Verbum Dei Missionaries. Please see details above for more info.

Directions to Notre Dame Vie Retreat House:

For Public Transport:

If from Cubao (Farmers), either:
1. Take FX - Bayan Novaliches
2. Bus - Bayan Novaliches

If from Manila, you may take a jeep to Novaliches in Blumentritt or take LRT to Monumento. Then get FX to Novaliches Bayan.

For Private Vehicles:

Take Commonwealth Avenue (towards Novaliches). Just go straight, it will continue to Don Mariano Highway. Near the end, turn left at Jordan Plains Subdivision Phase 1 and 2 (Landmark is Indo’s Convenience Store at the corner). Just follow the road and you will pass Isaiah St., Joshua St., then turn left at Moises St. Turn Right. Then turn left at Quirino Highway. You will see the Church, just follow that road. Turn right at Susano Road (intersection with stop light). You will pass by a market. Go straight, when you see St. Luke’s Shcool, the retreat house is next. Green Gate.

Why Filipinos Must Fight RH Bill

I got this handout from the recent pro-life rally at the PICC grounds and I believe this is at the heart of the 'real' issue.

Why Bible-Believing, Marriage-Loving, Family-Oriented Filipinos Must Be Against the Consolidated RH Bill of the 15th Congress
(To Be Known As The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2011)

By Bishop REUBEN M. ABANTE, DD

I have read the Consolidated RH Bill which is to be known as The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2011.

It is clear to me that this Bill intends to address the following issues that confront our country and people:

* Population growth
* Poverty
* Maternal death
* Violence Against Women
* Child Mortality
* AIDS and HIV
* Abortion (along with unwanted pregnancies)

Among the significant solutions offered by the Bill are:

* The inclusion of Family Planning Supplies as Essential Medicines and which leads to the Procurement, Distribution of the same to the Local Government and for the Whole Country (Sec 10, 11).

This clearly refers to the procurement of the National Government of supplies (as condoms, contraceptives and artificial methods) and the distribution of the same to all Filipinos in the whole country.

The Definition of Terms (Sec 4) of the Bill does not specifically define “Family Planning Supplies” but it does refer to “a full range of safe, legal, affordable, effective and modern methods of limiting and spacing pregnancy” (para h). The “modern methods” refers to safe, effective and legal methods, whether the natural, or artificial that are registered with the Food and Drug Administration or the Department of Health” (para n)

* The teaching of Reproductive Health and Sexuality Education to students starting from Grade Five up to Fourth Year High School both public and private schools, including out-of-school youth and those in the Alternative Learning Systems (Sec 16).

I am a Christian Filipino. As such, I respect the Bible, the Word of God, and the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. May I thus cite some references that guide my convictions as a Christian Filipino:

Ps 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it… (KJV)

Heb 13:4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (NKJV)

1 Cor 7:9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (NKJV)

Eph 5:31-32 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery… (KJV)

The Philippine Constitution states:

Article XV, THE FAMILY

Section 1. The State recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation. Accordingly, it shall strengthen its solidarity and actively promote its total development.

Section 2. Marriage, as an inviolable social institution, is the FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY and shall be protected by the State.

The Consolidated RH Bill does not promote nor protect Marriage. What it does promote are “natural and modern methods of family planning that are medically safe and legal” and “medically safe, legal, accessible, affordable and effective services and supplies.” There is no mention in the bill that the authors RECOGNIZE the Constitutional provision that “Marriage is the Foundation of the Family.”

The fact is, the Bill undermines the Institution of Marriage and endangers the Filipino Family. It subtly brings about a culture that marriage is not needed to do safe and enjoyable sex and even children. Nowhere in the Bill do the authors uphold the Biblical principle and the Filipino values that sex should come within the context of marriage! They aim to teach sex education to Grade Five pupils rather than teach marriage as a foundation of the family. They aim to procure contraceptives and condoms and distribute them to everyone without due regard to marriage as an institution.

Marriage is not simply a church doctrine. It is wrong to say that marriage is a matter of the church. If it is, then mayors, judges and ship captains should not at all perform marriage ceremonies! They are not the Health Care Providers who should only be made aware and trained to support families. They are the ministers, mayors, judges and all officials who perform marriages who should be equipped to give proper counsel to all who get married and start families.

Moreover, they are not teachers or health workers who can best understand the physical well-being of the children – but their own parents. They are the ones who should be taught parenting and be made aware of issues that confront their children. Let us not infringe into the sacredness and autonomy of the Filipino family!

Joel 1:3, “Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. (NKJV)

This author is convinced that the Promotion and Protection of Marriage as an Institution (along with proper counsel) shall address whatever the Consolidated RH Bill intends to address!

* MARRIAGE (along with proper counsel) PROTECTS WOMEN.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. (KJV)

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (KJV)

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (KJV)

Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. (KJV)

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (KJV)

It is Christian Filipino values for husbands to be at the side of their wives not just through her pregnancy and delivery but lifetime – For better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness or health, joy or sorrow… God designed marriage to protect women.

* MARRIAGE (along with proper counsel) ANSWERS POVERTY.

1 Tim 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (NKJV)

2 Cor 12:14 …For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. (NKJV)

What man who marries does not plan for his home and future? In most cases, those who have been stricken with poverty are couples who have not been taught the proper counsel in marriage.

What comes with marriage is Responsibility. If we promote a society that teaches safe sex without marriage, that distributes condoms and contraceptives even to the unmarried, we promote a next generation that will not know responsibility and values and one which will have no regard for marriage. It is a known fact that all countries which have adopted contraception as a way of life have drastically dwindled in number of marriages.

* MARRIAGE (along with proper counsel) ANSWERS POPULATION GROWTH.

What couple who plan to get married would not talk about having the right number of children who they can sustain and support? In most cases, most “unwanted” children come by relationships outside marriage – be they pre-marital or extra-marital. But if we have a society and a law that actively promote and protect marriages, this issue will be addressed and with a definite cooperation of the church and the state. Needless to say, most cases of abortion also come by relationships outside marriage.

If we really believe in the right of the child to live, then we should also believe in the right of the child to enjoy a good name, have a father and a mother, a home, legal privileges – and all that comes with marriage!

I was talking to a friend Muslim. He said, “In Islam, we can have as many as four wives and have as many children. But the basis for such is the man should be able to sustain and support them. It is that of having the proper view of marriage. It is a being responsible husbands and fathers. We do not simply want to have children. We want to get married and have well-sustained children.”

* MARRIAGE (along with proper counsel) PROTECTS FROM HIV/AIDS.

It is quite obvious – most men and women who contract HIV/AIDS have not considered the values that come with marriage!

What the Consolidated RH Bill lacks is a provision that actively promotes and protects marriage as an institution. Unless and until this Biblical principle and Filipino values are provided, I am convinced that the Consolidated RH Bill must be rejected!


Bishop REUBEN M. ABANTE, DD

reuben.abante@gmail.com

Weekly News (Fifth Week of March 2011)

1. Pope Announces a Third Vatican Council

With all of the confusion resulting from Vatican II, everyone’s been wondering if and when Vatican III would arrive. Unless you live under a rock, it’s been hard to ignore the vatican-insider chitter-chatter leaking out in the media about this highly anticipated announcement. [Read More]

2. CBCP Media Office Launches Online Site for Holy Week, Easter

MANILA, April 1, 2011—The media office of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines launched on Friday an online site that caters to overseas Filipino workers and physically impaired to join the celebration of Holy Week and Easter. [Read More]

3. EWTN Says Pulling Fr. Corapi Programs Respected Church Authority

Irondale, Ala., Apr 1, 2011 / 04:11 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Eternal Word Television Network said its decision to halt programming by the popular speaker Fr. John Corapi followed the lead of legitimate Church authority. [Read More]

4. Illinois High School Allows Display Celebrating Homosexual ‘Civil Unions’ Law [Read More]

5. Catholic School Blocks Speech By Former Homosexual for ‘Homophobia’

CABOOLTURE, Australia, March 31, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – An Australian Catholic secondary school has withdrawn permission for an event featuring a former homosexual speaker at the school, saying the presenter is not in line with Christian values and that “the Catholic Church abhors all forms of homophobia.” [Read More]

6. China May Switch to Two-Child Forced Abortion Policy in 2015

Chinese officials at the annual meeting of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National People’s Congress early last month discussed the idea of “relaxing” the one-child family planning policy that has resulted in forced abortions, coercive sterilizations and other human rights abuses. [Read More]

7. Majority of Catholics Attending Mass Weekly Support Gay ‘Marriage’ or Civil Unions: Poll

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 31, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Support for same-sex “marriage” and civil unions runs high among the Catholic population, even claiming the majority of Catholics who attend Mass weekly, according to a poll released this month. [Read More]

8. Pope Warns of Sex-Ed and ‘False Ideologies’ in Attacks on Latin American Families

ROME, March 29, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Catholic bishops of Latin America must protect families and children from “education programs which trivialize sexuality” and “false ideologies” Pope Benedict XVI said in an address this week. [Read More]

9. Faith Is the Remedy for Modern Moral Crisis

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Vatican-Jewish dialogue commission warned of a “moral crisis” in modern secular society and said religions need to respond with prayer, charitable action and dialogue. [Read More]

10. Priest Accused of ‘Anti-Gay Indoctrination’ For Teaching Catholic View of Homosexuality In Class

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, March 29, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Catholic priest has come under fire from homosexual activists for “anti-gay indoctrination” after he taught his students what the Catholic Church teaches about homosexuality in his high school course on gay “marriage.” [Read More]


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