Mary, our Lady of the Pillar

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

2011-12-18T08:11:00.000+08:00

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

"For with God

nothing will be impossible."

Luke 1:37

When the angel Gabriel reveals to the Virgin Mary that she would become the mother of the Savior of the world, she asks how can this come about. Mary, it seems, had made a vow to remain a virgin even though married to Joseph, so she could not see how God would want her to break this solemn promise. God however honors her vow of virginity and brings about Jesus’ conception not through a human agency but by the power of the Holy Spirit. What may seem impossible to us is not impossible for God, so let us not limit God to our own human perspective.

In the midst of a storm, be strong in faith for God is with you. . .

A man lost everything he had in a terrible typhoon. Distraught, he approached a monk and told him, “I lost everything!” “I’m sorry to hear you lost your faith,” the monk responded. “I did not say I lost my faith,” the man corrected. “Oh, I’m sorry then that you lost your hope,” the monk continued. “I did not lose my hope either,” the man volunteered. The monk then said, “You still have your faith. You still have your hope. Then you did not lose everything. You still have something upon which everything can be built.”

Today, we read from Luke the story of the Annunciation where the angel Gabriel announced to Mary the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that the “the virgin shall be with child and give birth to a son, and they shall call Him ‘Emmanuel,’ a name which means ‘God is with us.’” Let us hold on to this truth. There will be times this will be challenged or will not be evident. But like Joseph and Mary, let us act on this assurance — He is Emmanuel, God with us.Fr. Joel O. Jason

PRAYERS PASS THROUGH MARY

2011-11-10T06:10:00.000+08:00

When our hands have touched spices, they give fragrance to all they handle. Let us make our prayers pass through the hands of the Blessed Virgin. She will make them fragrant.

-- St. John Vianney

UNION OF GOD AND MAN

2011-10-20T06:16:00.000+08:00

Who can put Mary's high honour into words? She is both mother and virgin. I am overwhelmed by the wonder of this miracle. Of course no one could be prevented from living in the house he had built for himself, yet who would invite mockery by asking his own servant to become his mother? Behold then the joy of the whole universe. Let the union of God and man in the Son of the Virgin Mary fill us with awe and adoration.

-- Saint Cyril of Alexandria

THE MOST HOLY NAME OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

2011-09-12T06:50:00.000+08:00

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Feast of Mary. Today, we are celebrating the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Are any of you familiar with the meaning of the Christian name Mary? Mary, having a Hebrew origin, means "The Beautiful." Indeed, she is as a beautiful blooming flower of the Lord God who has and continues to manifest endless favours upon her.

The devotion to Jesus through Mary has been progressive throughout the entire history of the Holy Catholic Church. While some members of the Church have written about the Blessed Virgin Mary prior to the fourth century, it was not until then that her name had become rather popular among the Christian community.

Moving ahead in history, in 1683, Vienna was besieged by an army of 550,000 Turkish invaders who had reached the city walls and threatened all of Europe. John Sobieski, the King of Poland, a religious prince, came to the assistance of Vienna with a smaller army on the octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After serving the priest during the celebration of the Holy Mass and having received Holy Communion, he rose against the enemy by stating, "Let us march with confidence under the protection of Heaven and with the aid of the Most Holy Virgin!" At the approach of King John and his army, the Turks were struck with a sudden fear and fled in complete disorder.

Following this great victory under the auspice of our heavenly Mother, in the Fall of 1683 A.D., Pope Innocent XI ordered that the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary be celebrated each year by the universal Church as a perpetual memorial of the victory of King John Sobieski of Poland against the enemy at Vienna, Austria. The purpose of this feast was to remind the faithful to recommend to God on this day, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the necessities of the Church while giving thanks to God for His gracious protection and numberless mercies.

Since those days, this special Feast of Mary has been celebrated during the octave of the Nativity of Our Lady.

Referring to the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Richard of St. Laurence stated, "there is not such powerful help in any name, nor is there any other name given to men, after that of Jesus, from which so much salvation is poured forth upon men as from the name of Mary that the devout invocation of this sweet and holy name leads to the acquisition of superabundant graces in this life, and a very high degree of glory in the next."

Today, when we consider the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception that was proclaimed in 1854 by Pope Pius IX, we can now perceive why God had sent His Spirit to guide the Holy Catholic Church towards the granting of great honours to the Most Holy Name of Mary. According to this Dogma, "The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin. (Inneffabilis Deus 1854, cited in the Catechism of the Catholic Church # 491)

As the only human being, this excluding Jesus, who was free of all traces of sins and remained so throughout her life, the Blessed Virgin Mary achieved perfection where the first Eve had failed. As the Second Eve, the Blessed Virgin Mary, was elevated by God as the spiritual mother of mankind.

These honours, and the many more that have been bestowed upon the Blessed Virgin Mary leave no doubt in the mind of Catholics that her Most Holy Name, Mary, the Beautiful one, a name that has been elevated higher than all human beings and angels, is the fountain of superabundant graces that shower upon us sinners from the Throne of God.

So powerful is the Most Holy Name of Mary, that it is said that the devils fear the Queen of heaven to such a degree, that only on hearing her great name pronounced, they fly from those who seek her help as from a burning fire."

From the life of St. Bridget, we learn that the Blessed revealed to her "that there is not on earth a sinner, however devoid he may be of the love of God, from whom the devil is not obliged immediately to fly, if he invokes her holy name with a determination to repent." On another occasion, the Blessed Virgin Mary stated, "that all the devils venerate and fear her name to such a degree, that on hearing it, they immediately loosen the claws with which they hold the soul captive."

In view of all these great Marian blessings that have been bestowed from Heaven, let us today honour the Most Holy Name of Mary with great esteem so our loving Mother may continue to be praised in every nation on earth. And may our spiritual devotion not only last one day, but be extended to every day of the year.

The Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an optional memorial celebrated in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church on 12 September. It was removed from the Church calendar by Annibale Bugnini, Secretary to the Commission for Liturgical Reform during Vatican II, but restored by Pope John Paul II in 2002, along with the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.

It was first celebrated in Spain in 1513. [1] It was associated with the 1683 defeat of the Muslim army outside of Vienna. The Polish king, John Sobieski, arrived at Vienna with his army on the octave of the Nativity of Mary. He entrusted his force to Mary, and the Turks were routed. Pope Innocent XI declared the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a celebration for the universal Church as a memorial of the victory.[2]

This feast is a counterpart to the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (January 3); both have the possibility of uniting people easily divided on other matters.

The feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary began in Spain in 1513 and in 1671 was extended to all of Spain and the Kingdom of Naples. In 1683, John Sobieski, king of Poland, brought an army to the outskirts of Vienna to stop the advance of Muslim armies loyal to Mohammed IV in Constantinople. After Sobieski entrusted himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he and his soldiers thoroughly defeated the Muslims. Pope Innocent XI extended this feast to the entire Church.

Comment:

Mary always points us to God, reminding us of God's infinite goodness. She helps us to open our hearts to God's ways, wherever those may lead us. Honored under the title “Queen of Peace,” Mary encourages us to cooperate with Jesus in building a peace based on justice, a peace that respects the fundamental human rights (including religious rights) of all peoples.

Quote:

“Lord our God, when your Son was dying on the altar of the cross, he gave us as our mother the one he had chosen to be his own mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant that we who call upon the holy name of Mary, our mother, with confidence in her protection may receive strength and comfort in all our needs” (Marian Sacramentary, Mass for the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)

2011-08-22T05:54:00.001+08:00

Pius XII established this feast in 1954. But Mary’s queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” As in all the mysteries of Mary’s life, Mary is closely associated with Jesus: Her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship. We can also recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king has great influence in court.

In the fourth century St. Ephrem called Mary “Lady” and “Queen.” Later Church fathers and doctors continued to use the title. Hymns of the 11th to 13th centuries address Mary as queen: “Hail, Holy Queen,” “Hail, Queen of Heaven,” “Queen of Heaven.” The Dominican rosary and the Franciscan crown as well as numerous invocations in Mary’s litany celebrate her queenship.

The feast is a logical follow-up to the Assumption and is now celebrated on the octave day of that feast. In his encyclical To the Queen of Heaven, Pius XII points out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection and because of her intercessory power.

Comment:

As St. Paul suggests in Romans 8:28–30, God has predestined human beings from all eternity to share the image of his Son. All the more was Mary predestined to be the mother of Jesus. As Jesus was to be king of all creation, Mary, in dependence on Jesus, was to be queen. All other titles to queenship derive from this eternal intention of God. As Jesus exercised his kingship on earth by serving his Father and his fellow human beings, so did Mary exercise her queenship. As the glorified Jesus remains with us as our king till the end of time (Matthew 28:20), so does Mary, who was assumed into heaven and crowned queen of heaven and earth.

Quote:

“Let the entire body of the faithful pour forth persevering prayer to the Mother of God and Mother of men. Let them implore that she who aided the beginnings of the Church by her prayers may now, exalted as she is in heaven above all the saints and angels, intercede with her Son in the fellowship of all the saints. May she do so until all the peoples of the human family, whether they are honored with the name of Christian or whether they still do not know their Savior, are happily gathered together in peace and harmony into the one People of God, for the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 69).

Source: http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1115

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

2011-08-15T08:05:00.001+08:00

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name". -- Luke 1:46-49

The Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life. The Virgin Mary "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." Mary's assumption is a divine gift to her as the 'Mother of God'. Mary completed her life as a shining example to the human race, the perspective of the gift of assumption is offered to the whole human race.

The Assumption is a major feast day, commonly celebrated on August 15. In many countries it is a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation.

In John 14:3, Jesus tells his disciples at the Last Supper, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also."

Mary is the pledge of the fulfillment of Christ's promise. The Assumption and her acceptance into the glory of Heaven is seen as the symbol of the promise made by Jesus to all enduring Christians that they too will be received into paradise.

The prophet's words: "I will glorify the place of my feet," [Isaiah 60:13] is certain that the divine Redeemer had bedecked with supreme glory his most beloved Mother from whom he had received human flesh. A clear statement that the Blessed Virgin has been assumed in her body, where was the place of the Lord's feet..."

In Luke 1:28, words used by the angel who addressed her "Hail, full of grace" stated clearly and incisively that she was exempted from the fourfold curse that had been laid upon Eve [cf. Genesis 3:16]. It is entirely certain that God would never have permitted her body to have been resolved into dust and ashes.

In Song of Songs 8:5, "Who is this that comes up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her beloved?" From this we can see that she is there bodily...her blessedness would not have been complete unless she were there as a person. The soul is not a person, but the soul, joined to the body, is a person. It is manifest that she is there in soul and in body. Otherwise she would not possess her complete beatitude.

1 Corinthians 15 reads, "For by a man came death, and by a man the resurrection of the dead. And as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But every one in his own order: the firstfruits Christ, then they that are of Christ, who have believed in his coming. Afterwards the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God and the Father, when he shall have brought to nought all principality, and power, and virtue. For he must reign, until he hath put all his enemies under his feet. And the enemy death shall be destroyed last: For he hath put all things under his feet."

In this passage Paul alludes to Genesis 3:15 (in addition to the primary reference of Psalms 8:6), where it is prophesied that the seed of the woman will crush Satan with his feet. Since, then, Jesus arose to Heaven to fulfill this prophecy, it follows that the woman would have a similar end, since she shared this enmity with Satan. The struggle against the infernal foe which, as foretold in the protoevangelium [i.e. Genesis 3:15], would finally result in that most complete victory over the sin and death which are always mentioned together in the writings of the Apostle of the Gentiles. Consequently, just as the glorious resurrection of Jesus was an essential part and the final sign of this victory, so that struggle which was common to the Blessed Virgin and her divine Son should be brought to a close by the glorification of her virginal body, for the same Apostle says: "When this mortal thing hath put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory."

Psalms 132, a liturgical psalm commemorating the return of the Ark of God to Jerusalem[30] and lamenting its subsequent loss. The second half of the psalm says that the loss will be recompensed in the New Covenant, and so it is hopefully prayed, "Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified". Since the Church sees this New Covenant ark in Mary, it understands that she was taken into Heaven in the same manner as the Lord – that is, body and soul.

Psalms 45:9–17 for support of a heavenly Queen present bodily with the heavenly King Jesus, and Song of Songs 3:6, 4:8, and 6:9, which speaks of David's lover "that goeth up by the desert, as a pillar of smoke of aromatical spices, of myrrh, and frankincense, and of all the powders of the perfumer".

In Revelation 12:1-2, "that woman clothed with the sun" whom John the Apostle contemplated on the Island of Patmos" as support for the doctrine. The text seems to parallel this woman with the woman of the Genesis 3 prophecy (and hence Mary): for in verse 9 the passage recalls "that old serpent" of Genesis 3, and reflects the prophecy that God would place "enmities between thee [i.e. Satan] and the woman, and thy seed and her seed" when it says that Satan "was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed" (Rev. 12:17).

All these passages – viz., John 14:3, Isaiah 60:13, Luke 1:28, Song of Songs 8:5, 1st Corinthians 15:21–26, Psalms 132:8, Psalms 45:9–17, Song of Songs 3:6, 4:8, 6:9, Genesis 3:15, and Revelation 12:1–2 – are drawn upon as Scriptural support of the Assumption both in that original document, and today by Catholic apologists.

Visitation of the Virgin Mary (Feast)

2011-05-31T06:42:00.001+08:00

"Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth.

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."

And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. -- Luke 1:39-56

The Visitation is the visit of Mary with Elizabeth as recorded in the Gospel of Luke 1:39-56. It is also the term for a Christian feast day commemorating this visit, celebrated on 31 May in the West (2 July in calendars of the 1263-1969 period and in the modern regional calendar of Germany) and 30 March in the East.

Mary visits her relative Elizabeth; they are both pregnant. Mary is pregnant with Jesus and Elizabeth is pregnant with John the Baptist.

Mary left Nazareth immediately after the Annunciation and went to Hebron, south of Jerusalem, to attend her cousin Elizabeth. Catholics believe that the purpose of this visit was to bring divine grace to both Elizabeth and her unborn child. Even though he was still in his mother's womb, John became aware of the presence of his Divine Saviour, and leapt for joy as he was cleansed from original sin and filled with divine grace. Elizabeth also responded, and recognised the presence of Jesus. Thus Mary now for the first time exercised her function as mediatrix between God and man. (See external links.). It is also at this point (in response to Elizabeth's remark "And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb. And whence [is] this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed [is] she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."[1]) that Mary proclaims the Magnificat (My soul doth magnify the Lord), Luke 1:46b–55), for which reason this canticle had traditionally been reserved for this feast day.

In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, the Visitation is the second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.

This is a fairly late feast, going back only to the 13th or 14th century. It was established widely throughout the Church to pray for unity. The present date of celebration was set in 1969 in order to follow the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25) and precede the Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24).

Like most feasts of Mary, it is closely connected with Jesus and his saving work. The more visible actors in the visitation drama (see Luke 1:39-45) are Mary and Elizabeth. However, Jesus and John the Baptist steal the scene in a hidden way. Jesus makes John leap with joy—the joy of messianic salvation. Elizabeth, in turn, is filled with the Holy Spirit and addresses words of praise to Mary—words that echo down through the ages.

It is helpful to recall that we do not have a journalist’s account of this meeting. Rather, Luke, speaking for the Church, gives a prayerful poet’s rendition of the scene. Elizabeth’s praise of Mary as “the mother of my Lord” can be viewed as the earliest Church’s devotion to Mary. As with all authentic devotion to Mary, Elizabeth’s (the Church’s) words first praise God for what God has done to Mary. Only secondly does she praise Mary for trusting God’s words.

Then comes the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Here Mary herself (like the Church) traces all her greatness to God.

One of the invocations in Mary’s litany is “Ark of the Covenant.” Like the Ark of the Covenant of old, Mary brings God’s presence into the lives of other people. As David danced before the Ark, John the Baptist leaps for joy. As the Ark helped to unite the 12 tribes of Israel by being placed in David’s capital, so Mary has the power to unite all Christians in her Son. At times, devotion to Mary may have occasioned some divisiveness, but we can hope that authentic devotion will lead all to Christ and therefore to one another.

“Moved by charity, therefore, Mary goes to the house of her kinswoman…. While every word of Elizabeth’s is filled with meaning, her final words would seem to have a fundamental importance: ‘And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her from the Lord’ (Luke 1:45). These words can be linked with the title ‘full of grace’ of the angel’s greeting. Both of these texts reveal an essential Mariological content, namely the truth about Mary, who has become really present in the mystery of Christ precisely because she ‘has believed.’ The fullness of grace announced by the angel means the gift of God himself. Mary’s faith, proclaimed by Elizabeth at the visitation, indicates how the Virgin of Nazareth responded to this gift” (Pope John Paul II, The Mother of the Redeemer, 12).

Source:
http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1400

The Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity)

2011-03-25T06:55:00.000+08:00

"With God nothing will be impossible."

Luke 1:37

"Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." -- Isaiah 7:11

The thought follows the look; delight comes after the thought; and consent after delight. -- St. Augustine

Look
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel." -- Isaiah 7:14

Thought
And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.

Delight
And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." -- Luke 1:28-32

Consent
And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. -- Luke 1:38

Then I said, "Lo, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me; I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart."

I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; lo, I have not restrained my lips, as thou knowest, O LORD. I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation.

Do not thou, O LORD, withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness ever preserve me! -- Psalms 40:7-11

Deliver our Souls from Death

2011-03-24T07:22:00.000+08:00

"The poor man died

and was carried by the angels

to Abraham's bosom.

The rich man also died and was buried;

and in Hades, being in torment,

he lifted up his eyes,

and saw Abraham far off

and Laz'arus in his bosom ."

Luke 16:22-23

In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.

-- Byzantine Liturgy, Troparion, Feast of the Dormition, August 15th

Our Lady's Love

2011-03-06T06:29:00.000+08:00

"But whoever drinks of the water

that I will give him shall never thirst;

but the water that I will give him

will become in him a well of water

springing up to eternal life."

John 4:14

Our Lady's love is like a stream that has its source in the Eternal Fountains, quenches the thirst of all, can never be drained, and ever flows back to its Source.

-- St. Marguerite Bourgeoys

Full of Grace

2010-12-08T06:19:00.000+08:00

The Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Solemnity)

A feast called the Conception of Mary arose in the Eastern Church in the seventh century. It came to the West in the eighth century. In the eleventh century it received its present name, the Immaculate Conception. In the eighteenth century it became a feast of the universal Church.

In 1854, Pius IX solemnly proclaimed: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin.”

It took a long time for this doctrine to develop. While many Fathers and Doctors of the Church considered Mary the greatest and holiest of the saints, they often had difficulty in seeing Mary as sinless—either at her conception or throughout her life. This is one of the Church teachings that arose more from the piety of the faithful than from the insights of brilliant theologians. Even such champions of Mary as Bernard and Thomas Aquinas could not see theological justification for this teaching.

Two Franciscans, William of Ware and Blessed John Duns Scotus, helped develop the theology. They point out that Mary’s Immaculate Conception enhances Jesus’ redemptive work. Other members of the human race are cleansed from original sin after birth. In Mary, Jesus’ work was so powerful as to prevent original sin at the outset.

Comment:

In Luke 1:28 the angel Gabriel, speaking on God’s behalf, addresses Mary as “full of grace” (or “highly favored”). In that context this phrase means that Mary is receiving all the special divine help necessary for the task ahead. However, the Church grows in understanding with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit led the Church, especially non-theologians, to the insight that Mary had to be the most perfect work of God next to the Incarnation. Or rather, Mary’s intimate association with the Incarnation called for the special involvement of God in Mary’s whole life. The logic of piety helped God’s people to believe that Mary was full of grace and free of sin from the first moment of her existence. Moreover, this great privilege of Mary is the highlight of all that God has done in Jesus. Rightly understood, the incomparable holiness of Mary shows forth the incomparable goodness of God.

Quote:

“[Mary] gave to the world the Life that renews all things, and she was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.

“It is no wonder, then, that the usage prevailed among the holy Fathers whereby they called the mother of God entirely holy and free from all stain of sin, fashioned by the Holy Spirit into a kind of new substance and new creature. Adorned from the first instant of her conception with the splendors of an entirely unique holiness, the Virgin of Nazareth is, on God’s command, greeted by an angel messenger as ‘full of grace’ (cf. Luke 1:28). To the heavenly messenger she replies: ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word’ (Luke 1:38)” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 56).

Devoted to Prayer

2010-10-07T08:17:00.001+08:00

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

-- Acts 1: 12 - 14

MARY, MOTHER OF ALL RULERS!

2010-08-15T09:18:00.000+08:00

Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house; and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him; the people of Tyre will sue your favor with gifts, the richest of the people

Instead of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth.

Psalms 45: 10 - 12, 16

ARE YOU THE ACCUSER OR ACCUSED?

2010-08-15T09:02:00.000+08:00

God's temple is shaken . . .
Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Mary is in pain . . .
And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery.

Jesus, the one true ruler brings salvation . . .
Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Revelation 11: 19, 12: 1 - 6, 10

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Solemnity)

2010-08-15T07:07:00.000+08:00

Take notice that if souls do not find themselves quite resolved to pardon any injury or affront which may be inflicted upon them, they cannot trust much to their prayer. For the soul which God truly unites to Himself by so lofty a method of prayer, feels none of these things, and no longer cares whether she is esteemed or not, or whether she is spoke well of or ill; nay rather honors and repose give her more pain than dishonor and trials.
-- St. Teresa

ONE BODY IN CHRIST

2009-11-03T09:40:00.000+08:00

We, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.

Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.

BUILT INTO THE DWELLING PLACE OF GOD

2009-10-28T07:52:00.000+08:00

As a member of the household of God, you were built upon the foundation of the apostles with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

In Him, the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

CHOSEN FROM AMONG MEN

2009-10-25T07:32:00.000+08:00

A priest is chosen among men and appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. Like any other men, he too is a sinner and beset with weakness.

Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. He should not take honor upon himself but only for God who called upon him.

His model is Christ who did not exalt himself to be made a high priest but was appointed by God who said to him, "Thous art my Son, today I have begotten thee".

Medical Services (Clinic)

2008-01-20T10:37:00.000+08:00

Parish Fund Allocation

2008-01-20T10:36:00.001+08:00

Fund Balances

2008-01-20T10:32:00.000+08:00

Other Pastoral Programs

2008-01-20T10:29:00.001+08:00

Pastoral Programs

2008-01-20T10:26:00.001+08:00

Education / Formation

2008-01-20T10:24:00.001+08:00

Social Services

2008-01-20T10:22:00.000+08:00

Sinag (Scholarship Program)

2008-01-20T10:20:00.000+08:00

Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting

2008-01-20T10:18:00.001+08:00

Hapag-Asa (Feeding Program)

2008-01-20T10:16:00.001+08:00

Youth Encounter

2008-01-20T10:14:00.001+08:00

Parish Pentecost Experience

2008-01-20T10:12:00.000+08:00

Parish Renewal Experience (Prex)

2008-01-20T10:10:00.001+08:00

Singles Encounter

2008-01-20T10:08:00.001+08:00

Marriage Encounter

2008-01-20T09:57:00.000+08:00

SELECTION OF SERVANT LEADERS

2007-10-15T08:36:00.000+08:00

The new set of Parish Servant Leaders were presented to Bishop Jesse Mercado and the whole congregation of the Our Lady of the Pillar Parish during the Solemn High Mass in celebration of the Feast of our beloved Patroness last October 15, 2007.

Heading the three councils are Edsel Espiritu and Ditas Cristobal for the Planning, Ruben Ramirez for Pastoral, and Nick Leano for Finance.

These three councils are in line with the new structure for parishes that were adopted during the Diocesan Pastoral Assembly.

A formal turn-over ceremony will be done on the next councils meeting.

SELECTION OF SERVANT LEADERS

2007-09-17T10:52:00.000+08:00

There will be no regular Concils Meeting on August 2007, instead a Pastoral Assembly shall be held on August 4, 2007, Saturday, 7:00 P.M. at the OLPP Church for the purpose of nominating the next set of Servant Leaders.

Registration - All ministry and organization secretaries shall take charge of the registration of their members to be headed by the PPC Secretariat. After registering, each participant shall be given a "Nomination Slip". Please request your members to bring ballpens.

Holy Hour - starts at 8:00 P.M.

Nominations - Before nominating in writing a candidate for a specific position as stated in the Nomination Slip, the incumbent officer of the said position shall be called to render a brief explanation of his or her role and responsibilities in the parish.

Qualification of Candidates:

An active parish servant for at least two (2) years.
Not an incumbent PPC-PFC Officer or PPC Commission Head

There was a query made by Bro. Ron Mendoza of Adoracion Nocturna why the incumbent officers could not be nominated. Fr. Greg explained that there is a need to move up the ladder of leadership. The parish needs new leaders and those incumbent officers will go back to their own ministries. The more leaders we have, the more effective the parish will be.

PPC POSITIONS : Head Servant, Asst. Head Servant, Secretariat Head, Treasurer, Liason Officer, Heads of Worship, Education & Formation, Social Service & Development, Marriage & Family Life, and Youth.

PFC POSITIONS : PFC Head, and Ways and Means Head.

FAMILY

2007-09-15T13:21:00.000+08:00

KEY ISSUES:

a. Relational (dysfunction among families)
Root Causes of Dysfunction:

Poor or lack of preparation from marriage.
Inability of spouses to accept responsibilities as married persons.
Couples’ bringing their woundedness from their families of origin to their marriage.
Couples’ unreadiness as bread-earners.
Lack of appreciation of the Sacrament of Marriage.

b. Financial
Root Causes:

Lack of skills, education and training.
Attitude towards work.
Migration to Manila.
Unwise selection of government leaders and officers.

c. Spiritual
Root Cause:

Lack of knowledge or poor understanding of the faith that leads to not practicing or not living the faith.

PASTORAL RECOMMENDATION
Proposed Objective:

To be able to strengthen at least thirty percent (30%) of the families in the diocese in the next five years.

Strategies:
a. 100% Celebration of Marriage.
b.Formulation of holistic and standardized approach in strengthening married couples and their children.
c.Creation of a networking system among all the ministries in the diocese.
d.Recognition and/or establishment of Marriage and Family Life Ministry in all parishes.

Specific Plans of Action:

a. Improve the Pre and Post Marriage Programs.

MFLM workers in all parishes, in coordination with the Marriage and Family Life Commission Head/s, must collate, review and come up with a standardized topics for both pre and post marriage programs.
Ensure the quality of pre-marriage program with an extensive course content to equip engaged couples in their journey as sacramental married couples.
Setting up of one integral system that would link all post marriage programs being offered by parish family life ministry and the trans-parochial/mandated organizations with the diocesan family life programs.

b. Introduce a Venue in Restoring or Renewing Broken Relationships

Making available to families and parishioners a counseling center.
Providing a support system for all members of the family through authentic BEC’s
Establishing partnerships with schools particularly PTA’s and school guidance offices for early detection of parent-child/siblings relational problems.
Setting up a marriage renewal program specializing in healing of broken relationships.
Setting up of a marriage tribunal that will assist married couples whose “unions do not survive because they were lacking from the very beginning some essential ingredients without which there could not be a valid marriage.” (Jaime Cardinal Sin)

YOUTH

2007-09-15T13:09:00.000+08:00

PRIORITY AREAS OF CONCERN
& PASTORAL RECOMMENDATIONS
From the DPA Lineamenta

KEY ISSUES:

a. Drug Addiction
b. Poor Parenting
c. Lack of financial resources
d. Peer pressure
e. Lack of educational opportunity

Though drug addiction, poor parenting and lack of financial resources are the most pressing problems facing the youth of the Diocese, subsequent discussion and deliberation of the Commission traced the real problems of the young as emanating from (1) Poor Evangelization, (2) Poor Family Relations and (3) Negative Influence of Mass Media.

PASTORAL RECOMMENDATIONS:
As Pastoral direction and thrust, the commission came up with four-pronged approach namely:

Spiritual - Evangelize the young
Human - Professionalize the Yth ministry
Culture - Learn the language of the young
Relationship - Journey with the young

The DPA Youth Commission recommends the following:

a. The Church, family and community should adopt a shared vision on the pastoral care for and with the youth.

b. Professionalize the diocesan youth ministry.

c. Develop youth oriented formation and catechetical programs wherein they can identify Christ as their brother and friend.

d. Establish youth Christian action group in local communities.

DIOCESAN VISION / MISSION

2007-09-15T13:05:00.000+08:00

VISION

We, the local Church of the Diocese of Paranaque, envision ourselves as a communion of diverse communities, embracing and sharing in Jesus’ mission to proclaim the reign of the Father, Constantly renewed by the Holy Spirit and accompanied by Mary, our mother and model.

MISSION

As a Diocese, we commit ourselves to proclaim the Kingdom of God by:

1. Recognizing the primacy of grace and our need for continual renewal (aggiornamento)

2. Building BECs as the way of being Church and experiencing communion (communio)

3. Engaging in the integral evangelization of all, particularly the developing communities, the family and the youth (Missio)

CORE VALUES

2007-09-15T13:03:00.000+08:00

CORE VALUES

In order for us to fulfill our vision and mission for our local Church here in the Diocese of Parañaque, we hope to instill in our hearts the following core values in order for us to truly own our common dream.

1. OPENNESS TO THE GRACE OF CONVERSION

Our life entails openness to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives as a Christian community, especially to the call for us to leave behind our old ways of thinking, our old paradigms , and to move towards a new way of being Church, a new way of loving and serving each other.

2. UNITY IN DIVERSITY

As a communion of diverse communities, we respect & appreciate the diversity & richness of culture present in the three cities comprising our diocese. Yet, in spite of all our differences, we have one common faith in one Lord and Savior, as expressed in one common way of worship and one common vision-mission for our selves.

3. RESPONSIBILITY (shared)

As members of the Body of Christ, the Church, in spite of the varied ministries and duties we have, we all share in the responsibility of proclaiming his Good News to all by our words and deeds with love and fidelity. At the same time, we are challenged to be “response-able:, able to discern & respond to the “signs of the times” as seen in the needs of the Dev. Communities, Family & the Youth.

4. STEWARDSHIP

Everything we have is a blessing … gifts from the Lord. All our resources and facilities are gifts from his Divine Providence. Thus, we are not owners of all these things. On the contrary, we are mere caretakers of all these gifts for the good of the community. We are challenged to live as faithful and trustworthy workers in God’s vineyard by the way we mobilize and manage the people and resources entrusted to our care.

PASTORAL PRIORITIES

2007-09-15T12:54:00.000+08:00

PASTORAL PRIORITIES

1. Everything we have is a blessing … gifts from the Lord. All our resources and facilities are gifts from his Divine Providence. Thus, we are not owners of all these things. On the contrary, we are mere caretakers of all these gifts for the good of the community. We are challenged to live as faithful and trustworthy workers in God’s vineyard by the way we mobilize and manage the people and resources entrusted to our care.

2. Renew focus on the sectors of Youth, Family and Developing Communities. In renewing focus on these sectors, shift emphasis from dole-out to one of shared responsibility, from passive recipients to active evangelizers.

3. Renew and Strengthen relationships among the priests (their sacramental brotherhood) and between priests and laity.

4. Strengthen liturgy as the focal point of communion in worship.

5. Promote BEC as the basic mode of being church, and the parish as the focal point of unity and harmony.

6. Strengthen, standardize and harmonize catechesis and formation programs for all strata: School Children, Young Adults Clergy, Laity, Church Worker, professional, volunteer, Ministries, Mandated Organizations
For chosen segments, aside from formation programs, skills training and further higher education are also necessary to increase competence.

7. Learn how to influence and renew our urbanized culture in Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Las Piñas and win it over towards renewed integral evangelization, reaching out to its critical centers (malls, offices, schools, media), utilizing the language it understands and the modern means and ways it employs.

8. Intensify the missionary spirit that will move people to evangelize outside there personal sphere of comfort, whether in their neighbourhood, the parish, the diocese or beyond our borders. We should all be missionaries.

9. Intensify the call for vocations.

10. Acquire and apply modern management techniques and principles of transparency, equity and mutual trust in marshalling and managing resources.

VICARIATE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

2007-09-06T18:48:00.000+08:00

Praying with and for one another

Because of this faith it is obvious that prayer needs to be a real feature of our marriages and our family life. Praying with one another helps us to remember that Christ is present, and praying for one another helps us to see one another as God sees us. And God only sees the good in each of us. When we look at one another with our own eyes only, very often what we see is the things that are wrong. Through the power of God in our lives we can see the goodness and the beauty of our wife or husband; our daughter or son; our mother or father.

Almighty God,

every good thing comes from you.

Fill our hearts with love for you,

increase our faith and by your constant care

protect the good you have given us.

Lord, you renew us constantly through your Spirit.

May you always strengthen us in love

and help us to serve you in each other.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

AMEN

WE ASK FOR YOUR INTERCESSION

FOR OUR PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES,

FOR THE 1ST MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

IN OUR VICARIATE.

Witnessing is being God with flesh on. It's about showing other people what Christ is like. A kind work, a thoughtful gesture. Sometimes that's all it takes to open the door to telling someone else about God. Ever had the opportunity present itself and brought someone else into relationship with Christ? It's not only exciting to be on the receiving end, but on the giving end also. Share your story to encourage more people to step out of their comfort zone and tell others about why their life is different.

Invite them, in our

1st Marriage Encounter Weekend

on September 28,29 & 30

at the BLD Covenant House, Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Its about time...

pass what is worth passing on....

WEEKEND ENCOUNTERS

2007-09-02T11:15:00.000+08:00

Based on our Calendar of Activities for 2007, our Parish at present has scheduled the following Weekend Encounters:

Marriage Encounter - February/August
Youth Encounter - April
Singles Encounter - May
Parish Reneweal Experience - September
Parish Pentecost Exeperience - November

The Weekend Encounters must identify what programs should be undertaken by the Parish in 2008. Such programs should be developed within the context of the bigger Parish Community. They should plan their programs as opportunities for more involvement of parishioners. The more people are involved, the more they get the feeling of being a part of the bigger whole.

Development of a three-year program would be ideal, but for now, we can start with 2008.

Note: Excepts from Execom Meeting with Education/Formation Commission and Weekend Encounters last July 24, 2007.

COMMISSIONS

2007-09-02T11:09:00.000+08:00

In a meeting with the Executive Committee together with the Education and Formation Commission and Weekend Encounters held last July 24, 2007 at the Formation Center, Fr. Greg said that a report from each of the Five Diocesan priority commissions is expected in September 2007. The five priority commissions are:

Liturgy, Worship and Popular Religiosity
Catechetics and Religious Education
Caritas (Social Services and Development)
Marriage and Family Life
Youth

Coordinators will be nominated in the diocesan level and once chosen, he or she will relinquish his position in the parish.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE VOTING (PPCRV)

2007-09-02T10:32:00.000+08:00

PARISH UPDATE:

In the Councils Meeting held last July 15, 2007, the body was made aware of Comelec Resolution No. 8218 regarding the Barangay Election Voters. The resolution specified the coverage: registration, transfer of registration, reactivation. This will be held at the local Comelec office on July 15, to 22. Requirements and Qualifications were likewise reported.

DIOCESAN UPDATE

Question lang??? all of us in the Diocese are aware of our Diocesan priorities; Family, Youth, Liturgy & Worship and Human Promotions which include among others Dev Com, and PPCRV which accordingly will be PPCRG (Responsible Governance acc to approved Lineamenta). I think Fr. Greg Ramos of Pillar Parish is the Diocesan Coordinator ng Human Promotions

Monsi Mel, isn't it about time we align with DPA and start working as Diocese, thru Vicariate then Parish? In our last exercise last May, we were not able to utilize coordination thru Vicariates Coordinators thus, 'di na maximize ang coordination.

Therefore I suggest to Bubop, Mel Doroteo to meet first with the 6 Vicariate Lay Coordinators, Vicar Foranes for better information and coordination. Salamat po.

Doy Altea