Long live the Pope!

The Catholic Church does not have a leader today.  Pope Benedict XVI resigned and his last day as Pope was on Feb. 28th.

How does an organization exist without a head?

If the church were an ordinary organization or corporate entity, it would have been simple. There would be a temporary or interim chair or officer or sometimes, a collective body, assigned to cover his work.

But a massive organization like the Catholic church, a church of more than 1 billion members, with a mission to strengthen the Church built by Jesus Christ, cannot simply be assigned an ordinary or interim leader.

The impact of Pope Benedict's XVI resignation is like a thunder roaring in the four corners of the world, and would continue to clap even when he and the generation of the year he resigned would be long gone. It is a historical event, not only in the Catholic annals but in the records of modern civilization.

I thought about this resignation. I read about Pope Benedict's reason for doing so, and I read about conspiracy theories, about various analyst's commentaries regarding this event.

And I found myself saying, "Pope Benedict, true to his academic-like tenure as Pope, having been regarded guardian and enforcer of conservative church doctrines, resigned because he believed that a Pope is not infallible, the Pope is just an ordinary human with human limitations, like getting weak as one gets older. So he resigned and showed the world that the papacy, while it is divinely-inspired, is also a human endeavor, and like any human task or assignment, can be faulted, can be erroneous, can be subject to stress and pressures, and yes, it can be departed from, and re-assigned to someone else."

All the talk about the ex-Pope being pressured by a larger, unseen, organized force within the Catholic church will just remain a conspiracy theory.

And although Pope Emeritus Benedict alluded to rivalry and individualism within the inner conclave of the Church and his advisers, the fact still remains that there are no direct public pronouncements regarding this.

Looking at it objectively, Pope Benedict left a legacy of strength and courage. For when faced with fragility of health and mind, and of doubt ("There were moments of joy and light but also moments that were not easy ... there were moments, as there were throughout the history of the Church, when the seas were rough and the wind blew against us and it seemed that the Lord was sleeping"), he chose the courageous act of resigning in order to give the Church a new start, a new leader who, he felt, could face better the daunting challenges of a new world ("However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith..")

His resignation has changed the Catholic church forever; it will become a precedent for future Popes. It will become an option for future popes who could not perform or who would perform below par. It would make the Catholic Church act more swiftly in terms of crises, and problems besetting it.

I think it was Pope Benedict's greatest contribution to the church.

By his resignation, he brought the Catholic church closer to the modern world which he found complex, by showing that like a man-made entity, the Catholic Church which was built by the human son of God, can be re-shaped for it to be better and more responsive and stronger.

Here's the full text of Pope Benedict's resignation letter, as presented on the Vatican web site:

Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.  I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects.  And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013

The Old Belfry.

It pealed throughout town
Clang clang clang clang,
The bell in the belfry as old as a clown
Bouncing up and down as it mightily rang,
I should remember it's goden sound
As I lay recovered from deep slumber, 
And in jest I'd prepare the pillows in mound
As dear aunt would come yelling out a thunder,
While old sis lays plates and cups in a hurry
Old Uncle hides still in his blanket of wool,
For the dawn mass will start in a huff and a flurry,
While we folks meander our way amidst an air so cool,
And our good priest says liturgy in a dull mono-tony
Yet the choir shouts its songs in melodious har - mony.

Another Philippine Catholic Gem: St. Peter of Alcantara

St. Peter of Alcantara Church

St. Peter of Alcantara Church in Pakil, Laguna took 35 years of construction and was finished in 1767. The Virgin of Turumba is enshrined in this church. The structure remains the same despite requiring several repairs and renovations for damages caused by various natural calamities.
St. Peter of Alcantara Church has a Baroque facade. The icons of 14 biblical charaters are seen on the main altar. It also features the painting of St. Francis of Assisi experiencing stigmata and St. Peter of Alcantara receiving host.

The facade features delicate and florid appliques—cherub heads, saints' medallions, and ornamental frames for the windows and saints' niches. The main portal is defined by a decorative arch with a prominent keystone, which is echoed in the choir loft window which bears the carved seal of the Franciscan order at its tympanum.

The patron saint's niche at the pediment prominently displays the florid decoration of the whole facade and the high relief pilasters, as though these dramatic elements are concentrated there. The raking cornice is raked with an alternating stream of plain moldings and carved embellishments.

 Finials cap the side columns of the front facade.

The facade is vertically divided by high relief pilasters and columns, a continuous stream of cornices and horizontal moldings balance the vertical tendencies of the pilasters and columns.
The church's bell tower is attached to the main structure, formed by three tapering tiers, equally festooned with decorations as the rest of the church.

Virgen Dolores de Turumba is enshrined in the Church and commemorated in the yearly Turumba Festival

In the nearby town of Paete, Laguna, wood carvers create beautiful images and relics of Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary, Holy Family, angels, and of different saints

A Feast for Everyone.

My niece Hannah and her husband Naldy and my sister Sonia had been harping at it over several family gatherings; about the Feast hosted by Filipino Catholic lay preacher and inspirational speaker Bo Sanchez, Kerygma founder.

My own daughter had given me in the past several books written by Bo.  And then my niece gifted me with a couple more.

I like the style of writing of Bo; simple and humorous, so I continued to read his books.

Once an older person in church said that he'd like to see more Bo Sanchez's speak in the parish Bible seminars but then he added it seemed to him that Bo only speaks about happy times, and does not prepare his listeners or members of his prayer community for the bad times.

I didn't comment on this one because I haven't heard Bo Sanchez actually speak.

Yesterday we had the chance to hear Bo Sanchez speak.

We attended his Talk at the PICC Plenary Hall which centered on Solutions - Choose God’s Long-Term Solutions. This was the second of a three-part talk, Guaranteed: Three Things God Promises You: Supply, Solutions, Significance.

My seatmate to the left, a chubby boy who's probably eight or nine was so infectious.  He'd say what Bo asked the audience to say, and ask what Bo asked the audience to ask, and sang along with the beautiful choir, complete with body and hand actions.

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And looking around and above, I saw the same kind of enthusiasm and vibrancy from everyone. 

Meanwhile a younger boy seated at the front who was playing a game in his cell phone earlier became attentive and sang when the choir led the song I am counting on God.

The Feast was a welcoming event.  At the lobby of the Plenary Hall, members carried sign saying "Welcome First Time Attendees," and had easy smiles for everyone.

Ushers were friendly; so was everyone.  First timers like us felt the immediate warmth and genuineness of the people around us.

In his talk, Bo Sanchez used live persons to clearly illustrate his point; it was highly effective. The gist: don't focus on your problem, instead, focus on your purpose. Ask for God solutions.

Before the Talk, Fr. Alex Balatbat celebrated the 10:45 am mass.  He was energetic and gave an excellent homily on the Sunday Gospel reading.

After the talk, people milled around the lobby buying books and stuff. First timers were invited to join other first timers in small groups labelled "couples, singles, call center agents, etc." as prelude to joining "caring groups" or cg's. Caring groups meet during the week, and before and after the talk on Sundays.

On the way out, we saw caring groups huddled in meetings.

Physically, we were hungry when we left PICC as it was close to 2 p.m. but spiritually, we were completely fed.

In Bo Sanchez' own words, " Ultimately, I want to “franchise” the FEAST to the various parishes all over the Philippines—and around the world.

Through the internet, we’ll be video streaming the Manila FEAST to hundreds of similar gatherings in various parish churches, thus strengthening the parishes by giving their parishioners the option of attending the FEAST in their own local parish," said Bo.


Watch live video from The Feast on Justin.tv

Senor Nazareno.

The Black Nazarene at the Minor Basilica in Quiapo.

The famed Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila is close to my heart. At age 7 years or maybe even younger, I had been brought there by an aunt.

It was a regular devotion. I was a child suffering from asthma so my Aunt took me with her on her Friday novenas to pray for good health. She would walk on her knees down the aisle towards the altar and I would walk with my feet with her.

After the mass, we'd fall in line to kiss the Black Nazarene.

Wikipedia says that "The Black Nazarene, known to devotees in Spanish as Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno (Tagalog: Poong Itim na Nazareno; Spanish: El Cristo Nazareno Negro) is a life-sized, dark wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ carrying the cross while representing his passion and agony and is believed to be miraculous by many Filipino Catholics.

A Replica of the Black Nazarene, displayed outside the Basilica.

Originally with fair complexion, it turned dark after it survived a burning galleon ship on its arrival from Mexico. The image is currently in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo district, Manila, Philippines where it is venerated weekly with Friday Novena Masses.

The statue is celebrated on three annual occasions, and comes out of its own basilica each New Year's Day, Good Friday and on January 9, celebrating its novena feast, transfer (Spanish: Traslación) and enshrinement in the present Basilica, and is attended by several million devotees."

An older sister was also taken to the novenas and even wore the Black Nazarene's red robe.

On the feast days of the Black Nazarene on January 9th, we would be spectators for years of the most spectacular procession held in the Philippines. Those years, the processions were not as crowded as today; kids were still able to participate.

My Aunt became a devout Black Nazarene devotee because she told us that it was in one of her novenas that she had the vision of the man she would finally marry; my Uncle.

The Friday devotion to Senor Nazareno was special to me as a child; it also meant seeing Hollywood movies along the cinemas in Avenida Rizal and feasting at Wa Nam, a Chinese restaurant.

In the years ahead and into adulthood, my Friday novena to the Black Nazarene didn't take place anymore. It became sporadic. It became a 10-minute prayer as I passed the Church on my way to shopping for shoes in Carriedo, or going to the movies in Sta. Cruz, or on my way to U.P. Diliman and home.

Procession on the Feast Day of Senor Nazareno, January 9.

In my recent over stay in Manila, I re-discovered the Black Nazarene of Quiapo again. As I was not a regular member of any church, I worshipped in a number of churches: at the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord in Megamall, at the San Andres Apostol in Cainta, St. Francis in Mandaluyong, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, and the Basilica in Quiapo.

Thousands of devotess reach out to the Black Nazarene.

These days if I attend the  Friday novena to Senor Nazareno, it is no longer the Hollywood movies that I look forward to after the mass, but shopping for fresh vegetables and fruits along Villalobos and reminishing the Quiapo days of my childhood.

Senor Nazareno maybe a spectacle to foreign tourists, an event to capture on cameras, but to its millions of devotees, He remains a source of healing and miracles.

Media Noche.

Media noche means the half of a night or middle of a night.  It is used in the Philippines to connote New Year's Eve or that time when the clock strikes at 12 midnight, and it is in between the old and the new year.

Media Noche is literally celebrated with a bang in the Philippines; fireworks and firecrackers and even gun shots roar and light up the night and sky.

This New Year 2012-2013 celebrations, at least 413 people were reported injured. A six- year old girl is still in a coma at a  hospital with a gun shot wound in her head and a four-year old boy who went to use the bathroom in his cousin's house died from four gun shots/

Filipinos traditionally celebrate New Year's eve and day hosting or attending family reunions. And since the dawning of the Metro Manila film festival, New Year has also been the last day to see Tagalog movie entries to the festival.

Gift giving or what we call in our family "monito, monita" is another Filipino Holiday Season tradition.  It is the counterpart of exchange gift but here the relative you give a gift to remains a secret until the name is called out in the actual handing out of gifts.

Media Noche is also an occasion to bring out the best holiday food in the table.  The usual Pinoy media noche fare always include the jamon or Chinese sweet ham, queso de bola (Chinese edam cheese) tsokolateng cacao, buko salad, Pinoy sweet spaghetti, pan americano, halayang ube o sweet purple yam, 12 round fruits, and of course, liquor, liqueur and wine.

In the olden days, children went from house to house and were given money by the old folks; even non- relatives knocked at houses and received food and money. 

In the village where we live, it is quite surprising to still have people whom you don't know holler "namamasko po," (Merry Christmas, can we have some gifts?).

The Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on New Year's Day so it is a  holiday of obligation.