Spiritually Fit?

The biggest money drawers nowadays have something to do with health and beauty.  How to stay young, how to get a fabulous body, how to be mentally alert, how to have good sex all the time, etc.

So businesses like spa, beauty treatment clinics, body contouring, plastic and all types of non-invasive surgeries make big bucks and service providers go laughing all the way to the banks.

While at christian churches, attendance continues to dwindle?

I was having a drink with friends a couple of weeks ago and one colleague mentioned about the sorry state of Philippine churches, which according to one survey, has plummeted to about 36% from a high of 74,  attendance on Sunday masses.

I raised my doubt about this particular survey and opined that "look, even in our own parish, all the four Sunday masses are almost always full," and voiced out the same theme that other Catholics were saying: that the SWS survey seems to be skewed, done during the time of Philippine local elections.

But because it was a birthday party of another friend, I chose not to pursue the topic, and joined the others in a more merry conversation.

But I heard and seen it all around; Catholic churches are experiencing a renaissance, a surge in attendance.

At the Feast, held at the PICC, there are four masses and talks every Sunday, and each one has always been full to the brim.

At the Megamall's Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord, there are two weekday masses and about six Sunday masses, and in each Sunday mass, if you're about two minutes late into the rite you can't find an empty seat.

Go to the Quiapo church on Fridays and Sundays, you cannot drop a pin amidst the church goers.

Here's Fr. Bel R. San Luis' piece on the matter and SWS survey.

Doubts on mass attendance survey

By Fr. Bel R. San Luis, SVD

Published: April 21, 2013 at Manila Bulletin

"RECENTLY the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed its survey result that the Filipino Catholics going to church every Sunday had gone down from 64 percent to 37 percent.
* * *
The Catholic bishops quickly reacted, saying that the survey was not true. Some bishops even opined that the result might have been manipulated in order to silence the church leaders for being vocal against certain policies of the administration, like the RH bill.
* * *
On the contrary, Catholic prelates said, the number of churchgoers is even increasing. Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said: “The nine masses in Jaro Cathedral are still filled to capacity. Priests maintain their masses in center and barrios.”
* * *
The same is true in the Diocese of Marbel in South Cotabato and the Diocese of Cubao. “In the 26 parishes in Marbel, attendance is up. I have visited 17 parishes and the findings also show vibrancy,” said Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez.
* * *
“In the diocese I do not see this observation. In fact, the number of churchgoers has increased because we have mall masses,” Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said.
Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon and Msgr. Clemente Ignacio, Quiapo Church rector, also noted that Mass attendance has increased.
* * *
I am involved in the Marriage Encounter apostolate and for me, Mass attendance has increased considerably because of the numerous Catholic charismatic and renewal communities. Indifferent and lukewarm Catholics have returned to the church and their faiths are much stronger now.
* * *
In the forefront of these renewal movements are the El Shaddai, Couples for Christ, Marriage Encounter, Loved Flock, all of which have numerous communities and chapters locally and internationally.
It’s surprising, therefore, that the SWS comes out with a negative result of the church’s Mass attendance in the Philippines."
* * *

Going to mass on weekdays and Sundays is one way to keep our spiritual being in full alert, and optimum level. Praying at different times of the day, in adoration, thanksgiving and repentance, just like repetitive exercise, will make our experience and relationship with God firmer and healthy.

These days our youth are getting portly and unhealthy due to choice of food, and concerned parents  are starting to worry and are encouraging them to diet and exercise.

The same guidance should be directed to the youth who are getting lukewarm about their Catholic faith; parents must be vigilant and include them always in the family worship.

Prayers, anyone?

My mother taught me my evening prayer.  It is a simple prayer of thanks for having gone through a full day and a prayer to see the beautiful morning after. It is a prayer of thanks for having been given good health for the day and a summon for help in serving the Lord and parents.

It is a kid's prayer which I faithfully recite even as an adult,  night after night and also on mornings of each day.

Prayers are powerful, that I learned from an early age.

When we were kids, we'd also been taught a prayer by an aunt to be recited during calamities and emergencies. It is a prayer in song.

I remember me and my siblings and cousins singing it during play times on hot summer days in Manila which were interrupted by strong rains, usually in May.

I remember singing it on a late evening, lonesome trip along the long stretch of Pennsylvania turnpike, a trip punctuated by heavy snow and fog. It was Thanksgiving Eve and I was headed to Ohio to celebrate the Day with my sister and her family.

Winter storm hazardous driving

Even now, I still cry at how my prayers have been answered faithfully by Our Lord. And I marvel at His greatness and compassion for He never fails to show His presence by giving in even to the small, sometimes mundane things we ask from Him.

People relatively unknown to me regularly ask for prayers for someone who's sick or dying, or for problems big and small. I never fully understood why.

Then I heard a priest told a congregation how easy it is to pray in times of joy and financial boom, but wait when it's time of bad luck and illness and economic downturn. That's the time when it's most difficult to pray to and praise God.

That's why we need to pray for those who are in distress - health wise, financial-wise, spiritually-wise, because they are having a hard time praying for themselves.

That's probably why praying for someone has become a big business these days.

People in Manila frown at those "prayer-ladies" lined up outside the Basilica of Senor Nazareno in Quiapo, who pray for and with people in exchange for pennies or dimes. Once, we went to the Shrine of Padre Pio in Eastwood and found also individuals outside the premises asking for money in exchange for prayers.

But what about those high-end, televised worship groups who'd pray for people and then beg for regular contribution and donations? Like the lowly prayer-ladies of Quiapo, they also prey on the prayer needs of those who are sick and troubled.

Of late, prayer warriors have entered the vocabulary. 

One website describes "Prayer warriors are Christian-based group of family, friends and total strangers coming together to prayerfully support one another in times of need, as well as in thanksgiving, and in celebration. The Prayer Warriors believe God hears every prayer. He answers prayers in His own way and in His own time."

Let's remember what the Good News proclaims, in Matthew 18: 19-20, " Again (amen) I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my Heavenly Father.  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them."