Life that matters, facing the sunset

There is wisdom in the wise words: Growing old is a blessing that those who died young did not have the chance to enjoy.

Because celebrating life is beautiful, especially as I face the threshold towards life sunset.

In the remaining steps in my journey of life, I choose to travel light and be happy, becoming more philosophical and reflective about the joy of living. I realize that the greatest treasure in this life is actually living a happy life.

I have learned that happiness is not having what you want; it is really wanting and appreciating what I already have.

So looking at the bright side of life comes easy. Good times become good memories. Bad times become good lessons. I look to the future with serenity and hope... because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life.

Yet it is the present that fascinates me still, where I can reflect on life's great lessons, like the wisdom shared by these powerful thoughts:

Whether I am ready or not, someday it will come to an end. That means there will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days for me.

So that all the things I collected through the years, whether treasures or baubles, will just pass to someone else... to my loved ones I hope. But even these will shrivel to irrelevance insofar as I am concerned anyway. Because it will not matter what I owned or what I was owed... when my time is finally up.

Even my grudges, resentments, frustrations will finally disappear; so too my hopes, plans, and to-do list will expire.  Everything in my material world will become irrelevant.... someday.

So then what really matters? Well, I search for answers in these inspiring words:

What matters is not what I got, but what I gave and shared...

What matters is not my competence, but my character....

What matters is not my success, if any, but my significance, especially to those dear to me....

What matters is not what I learned but the things and examples that I taught and shared with those who look up to me....

What matters is not how many people I knew, but how many people will feel a lasting loss, when I am gone...

What matters is not my memories, but rather the memories that live in the people who love me....

What matters is my integrity, compassion, sacrifice. Because they can enrich, empower, and encourage others to emulate my examples... if they have any worth to humanity.

Yet I also realize that living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. Neither it is a matter of circumstances, but of deliberate choice.

So I choose and commit myself to live a life that matters, in what remains of my life's journey, as I end my reflection with....

A Serenity Prayer  

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

enjoying one moment at a time;

trusting that the Lord will make all things right

if I surrender to His will;

so that I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

forever and ever in the next.

Thank You, Lord for the gift of life.

Thank You for my life's milestone

I celebrate today, May 9, 2014.

Amen.

Moving forward in my journey of life towards the sunset, I have learned that there is really no way to happiness. Because happiness is simply a way of life. But the best thing, I have also learned, is that it is free..... at least I think.

To Our Lovely Daughter

All the angels were smiling

down from heaven one special day

when you were joyfully born

Some years ago this very day.

You really are a priceless daughter

who fills our home with cheers

And you grow more beautiful

with each and every year.

We watch and pray as you grow

in love and in faith, in beauty and in grace

You bring us joy and pure delight

just to gaze upon your lovely face.

May the Lord bless you, our dear angel

more so on this very special day

for all the joys you always bring

like a bit of heaven in our world.

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHIN-CHIN!

April 12, 2014

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Palm Sunday, which falls on April 13, 2014, marks the end of the Catholic Lent Season and the beginning of Holy Week. The liturgy for this Sunday is one of the most beautiful prayers for Lent.

The vestment used by the priest, and the liturgical color is red.

The official liturgical title of this day is "Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion". Because it brings together the triumphal procession of Christ as King and the proclamation of his Passion.  There are two important reflections we can glean from the Church rite:

1.  Jesus' entry into Jerusalem is commemorated by means of a solemn procession of palm branches.

The people gather together in a lesser church or in another suitable place outside the church.  The rite of the blessing of palm branches by the priest takes place.

In Christianity, palm branches signify victory over the prince of death. It is a

sign of victory over the flesh and the world, according to Psalm 92:13 (Justus ut palma florebit,  which means "The just shall flourish like the palm tree.") 

Palms are especially associated with the memory of the martyrs of the Church. For example, our second Filipino Saint Pedro Calungsod carries a palm branch to signify his martyrdom.

Also, palm branches have been used by all nations as an emblem of joy and victory over enemies.

In places where palm trees cannot be found, branches of olive or other trees are used. In such cases at least little flowers or crosses made of palm be attached to the olive boughs.

After the ceremony of the blessing of the palms, the first Gospel reading of the Lord's entrance into Jerusalem (according to Matthew 21:1-11 for this year) is proclaimed. A short homily may be given by the priest, but it is optional.

Then, the procession of the blessed palms to the church follows. The people take part in the procession singing  and waving branches of the palm tree or other trees in their hands.

2.    Jesus' suffering and death:

Part Two of this Sunday's liturgy is the celebration of Holy Mass when the procession is inside the church and the priest-celebrant reaches the altar proper.

In the Gospel part, the narration of the Lord's Passion (according to Matthew 27:11-54 for this year) is read without candles, incense, initial greeting or marking of the book with the sign of the cross.

The main Gospel may be read by a deacon, or even by lay readers, the part of Christ being reserved if possible to the priest-celebrant. At the end of the reading is said, "The Gospel of the Lord",  but the book is not kissed.

The main homily is given after the Gospel reading.

Then the celebration of the Holy Mass continuous, according to the usual liturgy.

After the Palm Sunday ceremony, the blessed palms are taken home by the faithful and devoutly kept at home to call to mind the victory of Christ as celebrated by today's procession.

A blessed Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion to all.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!

Valentine, Sweet Valentine

Every February 14, in almost all places around the world, candy, flowers and other gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did this tradition come from?

The Legend of St. Valentine

February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St.Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition.

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend says that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Caludius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, during his imprisonment, Valentine healed the daughter of his jailer, Asterius. And before his execution, he wrote her a letter which he signed as "Your Valentine" as a farewell.

Origin of Valentine Day: A Pagan Festival

It is believed that the Christian Church may have decided to place St. Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "Christianize" the pagan celebration of Lupercalia.  Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture.

Valentine's Day: A Day of Romance

Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity.  But it was outlawed --as it was deemed "un-Christian"-- at the end of the 15th Century. It was not until much later that the day became definitively associated with love.

Today Valentine's Day is marked by the exchange of romantic cards (Valentine), flowers and other gifts.

Happy Valentine's Day, Dear Everyone! 

Sources: History.com and Wikipedia

Simbang Gabi  in the Philippines

As our Advent pilgrimage draws near to Christmas Day, Catholics in the Philippines begin their spiritual preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with novena Masses popularly called "Simbang Gabi".

Simbang Gabi or Mass at Dawn is a devotional nine-day novena in honor of the Blessed Mother in preparation for Christmas. It is a tradition with deep roots in the country's religious culture, and one of the longest and most popular among Filipino traditions in the Philippines. Simbang Gabi expresses the faith of Filipinos who hold the belief that God is ever present in human history, in the simple joys and anxieties of life's humblest activities.

This novena Mass begins on December 16 until 24. Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn at 4 or 5 in the morning, to welcome the faithful to the Simbang Gabi Mass.

Many urban parishes now celebrate anticipated Simbang Gabi around 8 or 9 in the evening in order to accommodate the needs of people on a great variety of work schedules. Anticipated Simbang Gabi Masses start on December 15 to 23.

Origin

It is said that Simbang Gabi traces its roots in Mexico in 1587. Here in the Philippines it originated in the early days of Spanish rule. This cherished Christmas custom eventually became a distinct feature of Philippine culture.

Christmas Celebration

The changing of times does not break the preservation of celebrating Simbang Gabi in the Philippines. The tradition continuous to our generation, although the celebration incorporates new ways. 

For example, there are colorful lights and lanterns that fill every street leading to the churches. Songs of the season are played to warm the hearts. Families, friends and the faithful in general go to the nearest church to attend the nine-day novena Mass. And shortly after Mass families go back home to feast on various delicacies like bibingka, puto bungbong or a drink of salabat or hot chocolate.

Relevance

Simbang Gabi is not just a tradition that is celebrated because we need to do so. It provides a significant moment to strengthen relationship among family members. More importantly, it is a time when our faith is intensified. It is the time when we feel the presence of the Lord because it is our spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.

The old Spanish name for the Simbang Gabi is actually "Misa de Aguinaldo". The phrase offers some insight into the meaning of Simbang Gabi. In Spanish "aguinaldo" means a gift. So Misa de Aguinaldo suggests a gift for the Child Jesus on his birthday. Because the observance of Simbang Gabi is somewhat a sacrifice of love as it requires dedication, will power and discipline to get out of bed so early while yet fulfilling all of one's daily duties and obligations.

It is good to be able to complete the nine-day novena Masses. Even if we miss some days, the blessing does not depend on the number of Mass attended. What is important is the disposition of the person who makes some sacrifice of waking up early to attend the Simbang Gabi Mass and receive the Lord's blessing.

Church Bells Ring

Let the bells of Simbang Gabi break the pre-dawn silence of the whole land. For the bells of Simbang Gabi offer a message of hope in God, especially at this crucial time when our nation has been devastated by series of calamities, both man-made and natural. 

Let us hope in God, and pray for peace on earth to people of good will.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!