Category: Faith & Life

Meeting the world

adminFaith & Life

Those who see the encounter with the world as one of the means to understand the crisis in the Church would not be wrong. Certainly one cannot understand the Church outside of the context of the world, as it must be right where the message of salvation it bears is most needed. But she must always be vigilant so that, by not conforming to the mentality of the time, she is not a slave to the ways of the world and currents of thought that contradict her saving mission. So, as the healthy tradition teaches, in the world but not of the world.

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Simbang Gabi – a tradition dating back to the 8th century Rorate Mass

adminFaith & Life, Local, World

The Simbang Gabi was not actually conceived in the Philippines. It traces its roots to the so-called Rorate Masses in Europe that date back to the 8th century, when there was a custom of celebrating Masses in honor of our Lady in the time of Advent. These Masses were called “Rorate Masses” because the entrance antiphon began with the words  “Rorate caeli désuper et nubes pluant justum” (“Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just”).

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Justo Gallego

One man, one Cathedral

adminFaith & Life, World

Without any technical knowledge of engineering or architecture, just that acquired by reading art books, Justo Gallego managed to build a unique Cathedral that combines, in its large dimensions, the use in large part of recycled materials. His inspiration is the Romanesque style, which for him is timeless. The final result culminated in an impressive cathedral, almost completed, and built to “give testimony of his great faith,” his surrender and love for God, having said that he had already disconnected from the world for many years. He was always characterized by his humility and always wanted to remain hidden from fame. He worked tirelessly until he was 96 years old, putting stone upon stone, supported by his faith and his great health secret: a lot of fasting and avoiding eating meat.

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Change is possible

adminFaith & Life

I still remember the shock I had in my twenties, when (rarely in those years) I went to confession for some heavy burdens on my conscience. I was expecting a pat on the back, but the old priest had only harsh words for me: “You are too wishy-washy. Don’t try to find excuses for your behavior and stop it! Otherwise, it’s useless for you come again to ask God for forgivingness!” I have to admit that the priest’s unconventional rebuke did somehow reorient my life. I knew I had to do some serious soul searching before going to confession again. 

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Colbert: faith and fun

adminFaith & Life, World

Colvert’s zeal comes from his mother’s upbringing. He was the last of her eleven children. “She taught me to be grateful for my life regardless of what that entailed, and that’s directly related to the image of Christ on the cross and the example of sacrifice that he gave us. What she taught me is that the deliverance God offers you from pain is not no pain — it’s that the pain is actually a gift. What’s the option? God doesn’t really give you another choice.” 

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Et et or aut aut?

adminFaith & Life

Today we hear frequently about “inclusiveness”. I understand that the word is a variant of the term “welcome”: of different ideas, cultural positions, traditions, etc. A bit like “looking for what unites and not what divides”. Even priests speak of “inclusiveness,” for example with regard to ecumenism and dialogue with other religions. I ask myself: To what extent? Is it possible to put together completely opposite ideas?

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