Mother Mary: The Queen of Heaven

Today we celebrate the Queenship of Mother Mary:

"The purpose of the Feast is that all may recognize more clearly and venerate more devoutly the merciful and motherly sovereignty of her who bore God in her womb" (Ven. Pius XII, Ad. Coeli Reginam). 

On the day of her Assumption, Mary our Mother was solemnly crowned by Christ and received by the whole court of Heaven as Queen.  

What Christ has done in Heaven and the Church has done on our behalf we should now do individually, that is, we should recognize Mary's Queenship, enthrone her in our homes, consecrate ourselves to her and, by this means, establish in our lives the reign of Mary Immaculate Queen of the Universe."

Click instructions on How to Enthrone Mother Mary in your Home and Consecrate your Family to Her.    

   

National Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary 2013

The consecration of the Philippines to the Immaculate Heart of Mary happens today at ten in the morning. We can join the activities or pray the Holy Rosary with your family at home. Here is the official letter from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila:

Circular No. 2013-16
May 10, 2013

TO: ALL PARISH PRIESTS, RECTORS, CHAPLAINS, SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS OF PARISHES, SHRINES, CHAPLAINCIES AND COMMUNITIES, RELIGIOUS AND LAY FAITHFUL

RE: NATIONAL CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY ON JUNE 8, 2013
 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines declared in its 106th Plenary Assembly on January 28, 2013, “the holding of a simultaneous National Consecration to the Immaculate  Heart of Mary on June 8, 2013, feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at 10 in the morning in all cathedrals, parish churches, shrines and chapels in all the archdioceses, dioceses, prelatures and apostolic vicariates of the country.

This solemn act entrustment and consecration is part of our Year of Faith observance and also part of the nine-year preparation for the 2021 celebration of the arrival of the Christian faith in the Philippines.

This act of renewal, accompanies necessarily by our renewal of consecration to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, relies on the immense grace from God that passes through the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary for us, her children whom she loves.  “Pueblo Amante de Maria”: Isang Bayang Sumisinta kay Maria. The national consecration desires that under the banner of Mary all Filipinos will be one and in peace in faith and love.

The Archdiocese of Manila will be in solidarity with the entire Church in the Philippines on June 8, 2013.  We are sending all parishes and shrines, chaplaincies and communities the primer, novena and liturgy (in English and Tagalog) for the event.  We ask that the event and its activities be announced in all masses starting May 15, 2013.  The novena (May 30 to June 7) is to be done before the morning and evening masses.

On June 8, there can be a procession followed by the praying of the Rosary before the Mass at 10 a.m. where the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be done.  And at 12 noon let us all ring the bells in our churches and chapels for the resounding call for the Angelus, the prayer of Mary.

The electronic file of the poster showing the image of the “Madonna and her motherly mantle” (the Schutzmantel Madonna) as ‘inculturated” by priest artist Fr. Armand Tangi, SSP, is available at our website, www.rcam.org and can be downloaded for printing of tarpaulins and other promotional purposes.  The novena and liturgy are also posted on the website.
I also invite parishes and communities to send delegates to san Fernando de Dilao Parish, Paco, Manila where, together with delegates from suffragan dioceses, a common celebration of the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Province of Manila will be held.  I will preside at the Eucharistic Celebration at 10:00 in the morning.

Let June 8, 2013 be our very special day with our Blessed Mother, our very own Mother’s day, when we all come together under her mantle of care and protection, of comfort and consolation, of love and peace, and be renewed in faith in Jesus Christ, sent to us by the father through the Holy Spirit.  We will do this confident that we are Pueblo Amante de Maria, Isang Bayang Sumisinta kay Maria.

I ask all to gather in your parishes, shrines, and chaplaincies and really pour our heart and soul in this act of consecration, to reinvigorate the world in the love of God.
 (signed)

LUIS ANTONIO G. CARDINAL TAGLE
Archbishop of Manila

Visit the National Celebration for the Consecration of the Philippines to the Immaculate Heart of Mary  page for further details.

Easter Break 2013

Tonight is the beginning of my six-day break from school. Most of my colleagues and students are all out flying towards their vacation or are already there. Its nice to know that everyone is taking this break and that they are spending their time with their families and loved ones.

That's good and that's really good!

You guys might find this one helpful when the sun sets and everyone gathers to chill down:

RP's State of the Nation 2013

Here comes the rain again. When all we get from the news is about ruined relationships by personalities in Philippine Society. Aren't you tired of seeing them throw tantrums on national television?

Why do your laundry in public? And it doesn't help when everyone is jumping in to such "issues" and giving their own opinions.

C'mon guys! You are smarter than all of these.

We have, for the Nth time, Kris Aquino hugging the primetime last night and announcing her resignation to all her shows. My daughter told me this last night and all I said was "Anak, let Kris do her thing and get all the attention she wants. Let her be."

And we have the Chiz Escudero/Heart Evangelista-Ongpauco Saga. I hope this one is settled soon.

We've had enough. We don't need this. We dont!

There are so many problems we have to face these days and you guys aren't helping.

Check out NASA's Current Impact Risk Assessment.

NASA asks the world to pray, nothing more, nothing less.

In the end, these agnostics, skeptics and atheists go back to the essential: praying and believing in God.

We have Pope Francis

We have Pope Francis to guide us through the 22nd century and I pray that God's Will takes over in everything the Catholic Church does. Prayers, prayers and more prayers.

Here is Philippine Daily Inquirer's summary of Pope Francis first homily. The Catholic Church as an important institution of the society is real and I myself never thought of it but it is a possibility, the Church becoming an NGO:

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis on Thursday warned cardinals at his first Mass since being elected that the Catholic Church risked being reduced to a non-governmental organization unless it undergoes spiritual renewal.

Warning of the dangers of inaction, Francis told the cardinals that the Church could “end up a compassionate NGO,” using a word in Italian that can also mean “pitiful.”

“If we do not confess, if we do not pray to the Lord, we are praying to the Devil. When you do not confess to Jesus Christ, you are confessing to the worldliness of the Devil,” he said. 

“Walking, building and confessing are not so easy. Sometimes there are tremors,” he said.
“I would like all of us after these days of grace to have the courage to walk in the presence of the Lord,” he said.

Oh Lord we pray!

Papal Conclave 2013 Begins

We are looking for a new leader. The Papal Conclave begins today with no clear favorites. Thanks much to the unexpected resignation of the previous pope, Benedict the 16th.

With an estimated population of 1.2 billion, the Catholic Church remains to be the only organized religion in the world that has a direct lineage from Jesus Christ. All else were started by somebody else.

Please join me in praying for all the cardinals participating in the conclave. May the Holy Spirit guide them in choosing for our next pope.

Our very own, Cardinal Luis Tagle is in the conclave and netizens are one in saying that he is among the favorites to be the next pope.

We'll see but what's more important is this: Divine Will takes over.

Free Download: Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle

Here is a copy of the book Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle which according to Amazon,  is said to be:

"A dramatic account about a Communist who purposely enters the Catholic priesthood (along with many, many others) with the intent of subverting and destroying the Church from within. Tells of his commission to enter the priesthood, his various experiences in the seminary, and the means and methods he used and promoted to help effect from within the auto-dissolution of the Catholic Church. Absorbing and compelling reading from beginning to end. The author explains how she found the information on this Communist-priest and why she decided to publish those findings. Helps to explain much of what has happened to undermine the Catholic Church today."

I've heard about this book in 1996 but never really had the money to buy and order online, I had to settle myself to reviews and comments found on the internet. Two weeks ago, when I've decided I'm willing to shell out $25 for the ebook, that's when I found a free download in one of the ebook hosts scattered online.

So here it is:

The Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle by buenaventura_f_a

Lenten Season 2013

It is Ash Wednesday today and I thank God for having the time, health and opportunity to celebrate the Holy Eucharist with my family.

The Lent is a season of prayer, fasting and offering sacrifice.

Although the announcement of resignation of Pope Benedict the 16th came a day before Ash Wednesday, the whole world awaits for the next pope.

Let us all pray for the leaders of the Catholic Church to have the courage to go against the tide of modernism and liberalism which leads humanity to self-destruction.

Let us all kneel down and pray.

Philippine Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law

The man who once said "Kayo ang boss ko" is the same man who signed the Reproductive Health Law last December 21, 2012.   Two years into his presidency, PNoy has made enemy with the institution that helped his mom get into Malacanang, the Catholic Church.

PNoy, do you think Boy Abunda will ever take you in as the poster boy for his Make Your Nanay Proud foundation? If your mom is alive today, what would she tell you? The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has lost big time against you and I don't really know how they'll recover from this.

Here is a copy of the law also known as Republic Act No. 10354:

RH Law

Feast of Theotokos

The first day of the year, January 1, is a Holy day of obligation. Theotokos is a Greek title of Mary as the Mother of God. Theotokos means God-bearer and this was decreed in the year 431 during the Council of Ephesus.

Theotokos, Mother Mary's Divine Motherhood, Perpetual Virginity and Perfect Sanctity according to Catholic Encyclopedia:

Mary's perpetual virginity

In connection with the study of Mary during Our Lord's hidden life, we meet the questions of herperpetual virginity, of her Divine motherhood, and of her personal sanctity. Her spotless virginity has been sufficiently considered in the article on the Virgin Birth. The authorities there cited maintain that Mary remained a virgin when she conceived and gave birth to her Divine Son, as well as after the birth of Jesus. Mary's question (Luke 1:34), the angel's answer (Luke 1:35-37), Joseph's way of behaving in his doubt (Matthew 1:19-25), Christ's words addressed to the Jews (John 8:19) show that Mary retained her virginity during the conception of her Divine Son. [65]As to Mary's virginity after her childbirth, it is not denied by St. Matthew's expressions "before they came together" (1:18), "her firstborn son" (1:25), nor by the fact that the New Testament books repeatedly refer to the "brothers of Jesus". [66] The words "before they came together" mean probably, "before they lived in the same house", referring to the time when they were merelybetrothed; but even if the words be understood of marital intercourse, they only state that theIncarnation took place before any such intercourse had intervened, without implying that it did occur after the Incarnation of the Son of God. [67]The same must be said of the expression, "and he knew her not till she brought forth her firstborn son" (Matthew 1:25); the Evangelist tells us what did not happen before the birth of Jesus, without suggesting that it happened after his birth. [68] The name "firstborn" applies to Jesus whether his mother remained a virgin or gave birth to other children after Jesus; among the Jews it was a legal name [69], so that its occurrence in the Gospel cannot astonish us.Finally, the "brothers of Jesus" are neither the sons of Mary, nor the brothers of Our Lord in the proper sense of the word, but they are His cousins or the more or less near relatives. [70] TheChurch insists that in His birth the Son of God did not lessen but consecrate the virginal integrity of His mother (Secret in Mass of Purification). The Fathers express themselves in similar language concerning this privilege of Mary. [71]

Mary's divine motherhood

 Mary's Divine motherhood is based on the teaching of the Gospels, on the writings of the Fathers, and on the express definition of the Church. St. Matthew (1:25) testifies that Mary "brought forth herfirst-born son" and that He was called Jesus. According to St. John (1:15) Jesus is the Word made flesh, the Word Who assumed human nature in the womb of Mary. As Mary was truly the mother ofJesus, and as Jesus was truly God from the first moment of His conception, Mary is truly the mother of God. Even the earliest Fathers did not hesitate to draw this conclusion as may be seen in the writings of St. Ignatius [72], St. Irenaeus [73], and Tertullian [74]. The contention of Nestoriusdenying to Mary the title "Mother of God" [75] was followed by the teaching of the Council of Ephesus proclaiming Mary to be Theotokos in the true sense of the word. [76]

Mary's perfect sanctity

Some few patristic writers expressed their doubts as to the presence of minor moral defects in Our Blessed Lady. [77] St. Basil, e.g., suggests that Mary yielded to doubt on hearing the words of holy Simeon and on witnessing the crucifixion. [78] St. John Chrysostom is of opinion that Mary would have felt fear and trouble, unless the angel had explained the mystery of the Incarnation to her, and that she showed some vainglory at the marriage feast in Cana and on visiting her Son during His public life together with the brothers of the Lord. [79] St. Cyril of Alexandria [80] speaks of Mary'sdoubt and discouragement at the foot of the cross. But these Greek writers cannot be said to express an Apostolic tradition, when they express their private and singular opinions. Scripture andtradition agree in ascribing to Mary the greatest personal sanctity; She is conceived without the stain of original sin; she shows the greatest humility and patience in her daily life (Luke 1:38, 48); she exhibits an heroic patience under the most trying circumstances (Luke 2:7, 35, 48; John 19:25-27). When there is question of sin, Mary must always be excepted. [81] Mary's complete exemption from actual sin is confirmed by the Council of Trent (Session VI, Canon 23): "If any one say that man once justified can during his whole life avoid all sins, even venial ones, as the Church holds that the Blessed Virgin did by special privilege of God, let him be anathema." Theologians assert that Mary was impeccable, not by the essential perfection of her nature, but by a special Divine privilege. Moreover, the Fathers, at least since the fifth century, almost unanimously maintain that the Blessed Virgin never experienced the motions of concupiscence.

May we all start our year in peace with ourselves, our brothers and sisters and with the God that we believe in, whoever they maybe.

Free Download: Song of the Bird

I found a PDF copy of Anthony de Mello's "Song of the Bird" and I'm sharing it here. The Jesuit priest from India wrote some of the finest books on spirituality and awareness which has influenced scholars and leaders from around the world.

Just like any great thinkers and writers, Anthony de Mello had brushes with the Jesuit authority and was faulted for bordering on a rather radical and liberal teachings.

Download this book and try to read it wherever and whenever you feel like it.

SORRY BUT SCRIBD REMOVED THIS DOCUMENT FROM MY COLLECTION. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A COPY, LEAVE A COMMENT AND EMAIL AD. I GOT IT FOR FREE SO I AM SHARING IT TO ANYONE INTERESTED FOR FREE.

Song of the Bird

Happy birthday Mother Mary 2012

Here are my prayers and greetings to our beloved Mother Mary, the Queen of Heaven:

"Remember oh most gracious Virgin Mary

That never was it known

That anyone who fled to your protection

Implored your help

Or sought your intercession

Was left unaided

inspired by this confidence

We fly unto you

Oh virgin of virgins, our mother

To you we come

Before you we stand

Sinful and Sorrowful

Oh mother of the Word Incarnate

Despite not our petitions

But in your mercy

Hear and answer us.

Amen."

"Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed our you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen."

"Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy. Hail our lives our sweetness and our hopes. To you do we cry poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate. Your eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus!"

Happy birthday Mother Mary!

Manual on Population Development Education

Here is my copy of the PopDevEd Manual, published by the San Carlos University Press in cooperation with Philippine Commission on Population and Development. It was surprising to find out about this manual because it was meant to be used for teaching students Catholic schools in the elementary, high school and college levels in the Philippines.

You can download the manual and use it for teaching purposes.

Maybe the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines can use this to spread their cause. The resources are there, why not use it in enlightening the people instead of waging war in the Senate and Congress?

Win without fighting, fight with all your will!

Here it is:

Population and Development Education

Mother's Day 2012

This year's mother's day is celebrated on May 14, Sunday. All over the world, Mother's day is celebrated every second Saturday of May. Every year, the whole world recognizes and celebrates the important role mothers have.

If you want a historical background of the beginnings of Mother's day celebration, you may want to Google the Anna Jarvis and Grafton, West Virginia. Two years after her mother's death in May 1907, Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in her church. The service took the form of an appreciation of her mother and those of all the attendees. In 1909, this idea or practice became a common thing statewide. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson Established Mother's Day as a National Holiday.

Ironically, Anna Jarvis and her sister Ellsinore, campaigned against the what the holiday celebration had become. The person who did so much to promote the remembrance of every mother on Earth died of poverty fighting against the commercialization of the holiday.

Every mother would love a visit or phone call from their children on this day so whatever gift you may have for them, make sure you deliver it personally.

Anna Jarvis said:

A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment.

Read more about it.

Happy Mothers day to all the mothers in the world!

Thanks and happy mothers day to my mom,  Cora Buenaventura and to my mother-in-law, Emy Dandan! Above all, I'd like to say thank you to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her unending maternal love to me and the rest of her followers!

I'd like to share this book about her, The Glories of Mary.

Writings of Blessed Maria Agreda

I have been trying to add to my collection the fourth book of Blessed Maria Agreda Mystical City of God but I just can't and I don't know why. Over at Scribd, Miguel Vas has this tons of documents and I've been collecting most of his documents including the four books of Mystical City of God.

Here is one of Miguel Vas set of collection which you guys might find appealing: The Writings of Blessed Maria of Agreda.

Earth Day 2012

Today is Earth Day and everyone thinks going green is the best way to solve environmental problems plaguing our Mother Earth.  Environmental activists all around the world have tried in vain to help in preventing further damage to our only home which has suffered greatly since the dawn of industrialization.

I say "unless greed, abuse of power and selfishness is not addressed among the world's elite, our environment will never recover from further destruction".

The year 2012 is critical for all humans. Will we be seeing the end of times to see the new Era of Peace for Mankind? I repeat, it is the end of times that we are to look into and not the end of the world. It is the end of sinning for mankind and the reign of peace that we are looking forward to seeing.

Will our race be ready for the challenges ahead?

I guess these activists are screaming to their hearts discontent and yet missing the point. Greed, abuse of power and selfishness have led humanity to where we are now. We are now in a new dimension where the fight between good and evil is obvious.

Which side will you be in? It's your choice.



   

Flagging a Chessplayer on Chesscube

I played this game with the white pieces over at Chesscube against ahmed2005100 with flag handle of Egypt. I had to report him after game for sending me a message in Arabic and followed it up with "f u mother".

For sure, this Egyptian flag-carrying player over at Chesscube doesn't know English. All he knows is violence and poor frustration tolerance.

Can't blame him though for acting that way. He and his entire country has been in a war mode since the first flooding of the Nile.

Here's the game:

Easter Sunday 2012

Today is another beginning for everyone who believes in God Almighty! Today is Easter Sunday and it is the feast of feasts, the gladness of Christians. It is today, more than two thousand years ago, when Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and gained the crown of victory.

This is the centerpiece of God's plan for salvation. What Adam and Eve lost, Jesus Christ and Mary redeemed. Let this day be  the beginning of our new life, purge the old and live according to God's ways.

I'd like to share this video which features the Byrds' cover of Turn, Turn, Turn from the 60's by Pete Seeger. The lyrics was taken verbatim from the Book of Ecclesiastes, as found in the King James Version of the Bible 1611. Although the sequence of the words was rearranged for the song, Pete Seeger added only six words in it. The Byrds cover is the most successful recorded version easily recahin No.1 in the US Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1965.

Holy Week 2012

The Lenten Season 2012 is at its peak this week and I've already set up the activities for the remaining days leading to Easter Sunday. Tomorrow, Holy Wednesday, I'll be doing the Visita Iglesia with my wife and our starting point will be the Imus Cathedral and we'll end in San Lorenzo Ruiz Church. We will try to visit and pray in fourteen churches and I will take the chance to take as much pictures as I can after each prayer and meditation.

The holy week is a good time to reflect ton our lives, loved ones, family members, friends, colleagues and activies, achievements, failures. This is also a perfect time to renew our relationships with God and Mother Earth. The holy week gives us this chance to be cleanse our minds and souls.

It has been a very successful and productive schoolyear for our children this year. Our eldest, Patricia, placed 5th in her SPED-Fast Learner Class over-all and she bagged the Leadership Award for her batch. This wouldn't be possible without Jesus and Mother Mary's guidance to our family. For Freedom, he is doing very well with the homeschooling and his piano lessons has given him the motivation to work on something he feels comfortable with. He found his niche! For Miguel, he won the Most Resourceful Student ahead of his batch and is raring to go through the homeschooling like his kuya Freedom. we were blessed last October 27 with another member of the Family, our daughter Fides Sophia. She pretty much takes the center stage and was welcomed by her siblings with open heart and curious minds. A totally blessed year for the whole family.

Here is a YouTube video that was uploaded by a former student who I have kept in touch with because I've taught her brother chess for a very long time now. Nicole has been studying piano for about eight years now and last April 1, Sunday, she decided to upload her piano performances on YouTube. Her YouTube Chanel is Pianoismylove47.

Almost everyone in her current school have requested a song for her to play on the piano and upload on YouTube. I've written my favorites and so far, she has agreed and uploaded some of the songs on my list. Here some of the videos:

The Queen of Heaven our Mother

There's just too much going on in our lives that we tend to forget the very meaning of our living. The world wide web made it possible for everyone to connect but it also opened the floodgates for immorality, pandora's box opened.

We have to have the skills needed to sift through the millions of information available on the web, what is reliably correct, what is relatively just and what is universally true.

Here is a very nice video I found on YouTube about The Queen of Heaven, Mother Mary, our mother. I'd like to tell you this: I share the same beliefs with the speaker in the video and if you don't I'm fine with it. I expect the same from you".