Reflections of a Pilgrim

As life's sunset comes nearer by the day, I am now just a pilgrim here on earth, no longer consumed by ambitions and competition, but just the joy of living, charting my remaining steps to my destiny. So now the walk is more gentle, more calm and relaxed, savoring every single step of the way, as I make my final footprints in the sands of life.

It is more fun doing just a leisurely walk in time, enjoying every moment of dear life, I mean what is left of it anyway. That is why I become kinder to myself and less critical of myself, trying my best to be at peace with my own imperfections. In a way, I become my own best friend.

Time becomes a luxury, and among the best use of it is to pray for all my loved ones alive, as well as those who chose to leave this world too soon: my dear parents, all my siblings, my departed classmates and friends.

And especially, of course, I pray for dear ones still with me to enjoy the joy of living: my own family, my children and my wife, as together we appreciate the blessing that comes with getting old. Indeed every moment with my loved ones is a treasure. but also always ready to accept that any moment it may be a final goodbye.

Perhaps I become a bit forgetful now... sometimes. I realize it is part of getting old, I think. But even so, some of life is just as well forgotten, isn't it? Because I choose to remember only the happy and joyful things instead.

In the journey of life I had my share of being brokenhearted, too, like all other mortals, I know. For how can your heart not break at each time you lose someone dear? Or when a loved one suffers or in pain?

Yet, it is also true that the experience of a broken heart has its own blessing. For it gave me the strength, and understanding, and compassion to face realities of life as they unfold. Because a heart that has never been broken is pristine and sterile, and will never know the joy of being imperfect, and being able to move on again with hope and trust that we are capable of overcoming.

So as I near (I think) my own sunset, I become philosophical and look at life more positively now. Like I care less about what other people think or say of me. I don't question myself anymore, especially if I can't figure out the answer anyway. In fact I feel that I have even earned the right to be wrong, at least sometimes.

Also, growing old sets me free to do whatever makes me happy. It feels good that way. I like the person that I become with just little regrets. And while I am still here in this journey I would rather not waste time lamenting what would have been, or even worrying about what will be. Just let it be... Amen.

So today is a great blessing that I reach another milestone in my pilgrimage of life. It is my special day in God's time, to celebrate life anew, while my time lasts, and enjoy the friendship of those who touched my life with love and kindness.

And so, my God and my Lord, I kneel before You today and let my heart whisper my humble prayer:

Thank You, O Lord, for the gift of my life.

Thank You for the blessing of the year that was.

Thank You for all those who remember me today.

Thank You, too, even for those who may have forgotten.

Thank you to my dear parents,
for sharing life and love with me.
Thank you to my siblings,
for the joy of living.
Thank you to all  my dear friends,
for the happiness and inspiration shared.

Thank You for the lesson and experience of the past;

for time of success, which are happy memories;

for times of trials, which remind of my own weakness,

and most of all my dependence on You, my God;

for time of joy when the sun is shining bright;

for time of sadness which drove me to You.

Lord, in Your mercy forgive me

for the hours I wasted,

for the chances I failed to take,

for the opportunities I missed.

Help me, O Lord, in my days remaining

to celebrate always life's unfolding,

both the rains and sunshine,

and thus bring happiness to all,

and joy to You, my loving Father.

Amen.

Deo Optimo Maximo!

Posted: 9 May 2013

Nick Isip
9 May 2013

Reflection on the 5th Last Word of our Lord Jesus

On Good Friday, I invite you to join me, as we keep our Lord Jesus Christ company in the place called Golgotha, or the Skull.

Behold our Lord hanging on that cross for all of us, for our sins. For we are the sinners, not our Lord. But he is the one crucified, not us. Is that fair, is that justice? Ask ourselves.

The sun is scourging hot. Our Lord is near the end of his human life. He senses it. He has hung on that cross for some agonizing hours by now.

Look at our Lord on the cross. It has become hard for Jesus to even get a breath. Hung from his arms, he must pull himself up each time he wants to breathe. His shoulders ache, his mouth is parched. He is physically exhausted.

And yet he does not want to die without a final word. He asks for something to drink to wet his lips for some relief.

St. John the evangelist wrote (Jn 19:28): After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said:

"I THIRST."

In the physical sense, thirst is our body's reaction to the loss of fluid. From his agony in the Garden of Olives, the scourging at the pillar, the agonizing way of the cross, our Lord has lost a lot of blood and body fluids with the extreme cruelty of his suffering. That is why he is now thirsty. He thirsts for water.

Now we know that we can live some days without food, but we cannot survive for long without water. We need water to survive. That is why we feel thirsty when there is an imbalance of fluids in our body. The mind triggers something to replenish immediately the loss of water in our body. Otherwise, we dehydrate and die. So under the intense heat of the sun and the physical suffering he endures, Jesus said, "I thirst."

Yet, more than the physical thirst for water, our Lord thirsts for our LOVE.

Remember that in his public ministry, Jesus healed so many sick, cured the lepers, preached God's kingdom to many people, and even fed the multitude who followed him. But now hanging on that cross of salvation, Jesus finds himself all alone, except for his mother, Mary, and the beloved disciple, John.

Earlier, his disciples deserted him. Judas has betrayed him to his enemies. Simon Peter denied him not once but thrice. All the people who followed him were gone. Jesus is left alone on his own, hanging on the cross and dying.

Can you imagine being in solitary confinement for a long time, cut off from all human contacts? You'd thirst for love, you'd thirst for human company. They say that the greatest sacrifice of our overseas Filipino workers, or OFWs, is loneliness, being separated from their loved ones, and that is a great sacrifice in the name of love for their families.

So our Lord in his dying moments thirsts for LOVE; he thirsts for your love; he thirsts for our love. He gives up his life for our sins, and all he asks in return is our love.

Do we respond to his invitation of love? How do we respond to his invitation of love?

Well, the Lord is not with us physically now, until we see him again in glory on judgement day. But he left us with his commandment of love: Love one another just as I have loved you. And the Lord loves us unto his death.

Today, hanging on that cross Jesus challenges us to witness our love for him through our love for our neighbors. Because whatever we do to the least of our neighbors, we do that for the Lord himself.

Jesus says, "I thirst"... he thirsts for love, he thirsts for compassion, for kindness on behalf of the poor, the suffering, the marginalized members of society.

Are we ready to take up the Lord's challenge? Are we ready to respond to his invitation of LOVE?

Our new Pope Francis calls for a Church of compassion, especially a Church that loves the poor among us.

As we await the Lord's resurrection on Easter Sunday, let us commit ourselves to follow his commandment by being faithful to all the teaching of his Church. In that way we quench the Lord's thirst for love with concrete actions of Christian living.

So that on judgement day before the Lord, we can say that the Lord was hungry and we gave him food to eat; the Lord was thirsty and we gave him water to drink; the Lord was homeless and we gave him our home to dwell... through genuine caring for the poor and the needy in our midst. Amen.


Deo Optimo Maximo!

Beautiful Latin Hymn and Prayers

During the Visita Iglesia on Holy Thursday, as we knelt before the Altar of Repose for prayers and meditation, we heard once again the beautiful Latin Hymns to the Blessed Sacrament. They are solemn and inspiring to the soul, like being in heaven while on earth, even when the faithful may not really understand perhaps what they convey.

In fact my youngest son asked me what they rely mean. I realized I forgot my Latin already, although I could still make some general sense out of it (I think). Anyway, there is always the internet to refresh my aging memory. So here are the more famous Latin Hymn and Prayer and their English translation:

(a)  Tantum Ergo

Tantum ergo Sacramentum

Veneremur cernui:

Et antiquum documentum

Novo cedat ritui;

Praestet fides supplementum

Sensuum defectui.

Genotori, genetoque

Laus et iubilatio,

Salus, honor, virtus quoque

Sit et benedictio:

Procedenti ab utroque

Compar sit laudatio.

Amen.

R.  Panem de caelo praestitisti eis.

V.  Omne delectamentum in se habentem.

R.  Oremus: Deus, qui nobis sub sacramento mirabili, passionis tuae memoriam reliquisti: tribue, quaesumus, ita nos corporis et sanguinis tui sacra mysteria venerari, ut redemptionis tuae fructum in nobis iugiter sentiamus. Qui vivis et regnes in saecula saeculorum.

V. Amen.

English Translation:

Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
Lo! oe'r ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Spirit proceeding
Forth from each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Might and endless majesty.
Amen,

R. Thou hast given them bread from heaven.

V.  Having within it all sweetness.

R.  Let us pray: O God, Who in this wonderful Sacrament left us a memorial of Thy Passion, grant, we implore Thee, that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood, as always to be conscious of the fruit of Thy Redemption. Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever.

V. Amen.


(Note: Tantum Ergo are the opening words of the last two verses of Pange Lingua, 

           a Mediaeval Latin Hymn written by St. Thomas Aquinas, the prominent 

           theologian and Doctor of the Church, in the 13th Century.  These last two

           verses are sung during veneration and Benediction of the Blessed

           Sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church.)


(b)  O Salutaris Hostia

O Salutaris Hostia,
Quae caeli pandis ostium:
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria.
Amen.

English Translation:

O saving Victim, opening wide,
The gate of heaven to man below!
Our foes press on from every side;
Thine aid supply, they strength bestow.

To Thy great name by endless praise.
Immortal Godhead, one in Three;
Oh, grant us endless length of days,
In our true native land with Thee.
Amen.

(Note:  O Salutaris Hostia is a moving tribute to our Lord, a wonderful hymn 

            also written by Saint Tomas Acquinas in the 13th Century. He composed

            the text for the feast of Corpus Christi, which was established by the 

            Church in 1264 to honor our Lord in the Eucharist, in His Body and

            Blood.)

Deo Optimo Maximo!

         Holy Saturday in the Catholic Church

Holy Saturday is the last day of Lent, of Holy Week, and the last day of the Easter Triduum.  It commemorates the day that Jesus Christ's body is laid into the tomb.

Christ lies in the grave, the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, mourning and meditating on his suffering and death. After the great battle, He is resting in peace, but upon Him we see the scars of intense suffering. The mortal wounds of his body remain visible to us.

The whole day we keep our spiritual silence to reflect on God's redeeming love who gave up his only Son to save us from sin.  Holy Saturday is and should be the most calm and quiet for the entire Church year. The altar remains stripped and completely bare to reflect our deep sorrow and contrition for Jesus' death.

But although we are in mourning, there is much preparation during the day for the Easter celebration. Liturgically, Holy Saturday lasts until 6 o'clock in the evening or dusk, after which the Easter season begins.

Easter Vigil

The Easter vigil service begins around 10 o'clock in the evening with the blessing of fire and the lighting of a new Paschal Candle.

Nine readings are assigned to the Easter vigil: seven from the Old Testament, and two from the New Testament.

After the last reading from the Old Testament, the priest intones the "Gloria". At that moment the candles at the altar are lit, the lights are switched on, and the church bells are rung again. The statues and icons, in places where they are covered with purple veils during Passiontide are dramatically unveiled.

After the homily portion, the liturgy of baptism and renewal of baptismal promises are done. The rest of the liturgy proceeds like a regular Mass.

The entire celebration of the Easter vigil should begin after nightfall and end before dawn of Sunday. Those who participate at the Easter vigil Mass fulfill their Sunday obligation. However, they may still attend regular Easter Sunday Mass and receive Holy Communion.

"Salubong"

In most parishes in the Philippines, the traditional "Salubong" is done.

"Salubong" (or the meeting) is a celebration of Christ's resurrection where two processions proceed from opposite ends of the parish towards the church in early morning (4 or 5 in the morning usually, just before dawn).

One procession is a statue of the Risen Lord, and the second procession is of the Virgin Mary wearing dark clothes (black or dark purple) and a black veil, in mourning, and traditionally accompanied by the women faithful.

The two processions meet up in front of the church, where there is a high platform where usually a child dressed as an angel  would lift the veil of the Virgin Mary as soon as she meets up (Salubong) with the Risen Christ. Then the procession heads into the church for Mass.

Deo Optimo Maximo!

Sources: Ordo 2013 and CatholicCulture.org

Good Friday in the Catholic Church

Good Friday is the second day of our Triduum. It is the day on which we commemorate the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the act that brought salvation to all.

                "It is accomplished," And bowing his head he gave up his spirit. 
                (Jn 19:30)
 

So today the whole Church, stripped of its ornaments, the altar bare with no cloths, candles nor cross, and the door of the empty tabernacle stands open, mourns the death of our Savior.    

The organ music is silent from Holy Thursday until the Alleluia at the Easter Vigil, as well as bells and other instruments; the only music permitted during this period is unaccompanied chant.

The liturgy in the afternoon consists of three parts:

(a)The Liturgy of the Word

The priest and assisting ministers enter in complete silence, without any singing. They prostrate themselves for a few moments of silent prayer in front of the altar, signifying both the abasement of earthly man, and also the grief and sorrow of the Church.

The Passion account from the Gospel of John is read. (During Holy Week, the Passion is read three times: on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday.)

(b)  Veneration of the Cross

A cross, either veiled or unveiled, is processed through the Church, and then venerated by the congregation. We reverently venerate and kiss the wooden cross on which hung the Savior of the world in order to honor the great sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us.

Adoration or veneration of an image or representation of Christ's cross does not mean we are actually honoring the material image but rather what it represents. In kneeling before the crucifix and kissing it we are paying the highest honor to our Lord's cross as the instrument of our salvation. Because the Cross is inseparable from His sacrifice; in reverencing His Cross we are, in effect, adoring Christ.

Thus we affirm: We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has redeemed the world.

(c) Holy Communion

The altar is covered with cloth for the Holy Communion part and the ciboria containing the Blessed Sacrament consecrated on Holy Thursday are brought to the altar from the place of reposition.

The Our Father and the Ecce Agnus Dei (This is the Lamb of God) are recited before Holy Communion.

Then the congregation receives Holy Communion.

The Prayer after Communion is said, followed by the final Prayer Over the People.

At the end of the rite, the priest  and people depart in silence, and the altar cloth is removed, leaving the altar bare again except for the Cross and two or more candlesticks.

Seven Last Words:

In some Churches the reflections on the Seven Last Words of Jesus are done prior to the afternoon liturgy.

Day of Fasting and Abstinence:

The Catholic Church treats Good Friday as a day of fast and abstinence. According to Church's rule, fasting is required for ages 18 to 60, and abstinence is from age 14.

The Church mourns in silence:

The rest of the day we keep our meditative silence to mourn the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, who saved us from our sins, as we await with joyful expectation his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
 

Deo Optimo Maximo!

Sources: Ordo 2013, Catholic Online, CatholicCulture.org