Joy abounds as the Virgin of Peñafrancia once again finds her place among the people of Bicol, invigorating the faithful with new-found hope.
Month: September 2022
In Penang’s Georgetown, Lighthouse Thrift House shines a beam of hope
The writer’s journey to Penang reveals vestiges of the locale’s Portuguese ancestry and its strong Catholic roots, which have, no doubt, contributed to the existence of the Lighthouse Thrift House, a safe haven for the underprivileged.
From being lost to becoming seekers
Internal and external forces may cause us to lose our way, but God never ceases to seek us, to open avenues to save our souls. In being found by God, we must in turn become the instruments of His seeking, saving souls for Him just as He saved us.
When Value Outweighs the Price Tag
We stand cautioned against judging and condemning others, whatever their faults might be. Our true value lies in the fact that we are all children beloved of God, irrespective of our spiritual or social status.
BITE-SIZE THEOLOGY (189): How about feelings and sentiments?
Are passions good or bad? St Thomas writes: “We may consider the passions of the soul in two ways: first, in themselves; secondly, as being subject to the command of the reason and will.
THE ABSOLUTE NEED OF PRAYER (# 1)
Prayer is the spiritual manna for the soul, essential to cement our bond with God. Prayers said in faith, love and charity are prayers said unceasingly, marking a mature relationship with our Maker.
A Cold Shower
The war continues, with millions of refugees and thousands of dead. A war that, as the Holy See stated in a press release a few days ago, “is morally unjust, unacceptable, barbaric, senseless, repugnant, and sacrilegious.” Will the Russian people have the courage to end it?
Back to school: Macau’s Catholic institutions open with renewed vigor, sense of hope
The beginning of a new school year heralds the promise of a better future for young students, putting the distress of the pandemic behind them. Students, whose morality is shaped by Catholic schools in particular, are seen as beacons of hope to change the world.
Total Surrender
Complete renunciation of all that holds us back from belonging intimately to Christ is the only means to fulfilling His mission for us. It is only by ridding ourselves of interior and exterior attachments that we can truly be God’s children.
The Discouraging Leader
This Sunday’s Gospel reminds us of the historical and practical reason why Jesus laid such stringent conditions before his followers while also challenging us with the metaphorical context as to how much are we willing to sacrifice to follow Christ.