C M Y K

Official Publication of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Candles, Jaro, Iloilo City Tel. Nos. 320-9505 & 329-1625 website: www.ourladyofcandlesnationalshrine.com email:jarocathedral@yahoo.com.ph

January 1, 2014

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Vol. XXII No. 001

Model of the Laity in Holiness

MARY,
Fr. Joenick S. Territorio

od is, the Fount of all Holiness. Holiness has two connotations: (a) one is separated from common (profane) use and is reserved for sacred use (ex. chalices, bread and wine, chapels, church are consecrated); and (b) one is marked with Gods seal, thus one becomes Gods own possession (ex. consecration of persons in baptism, in ordination or public profession of vows). It means that things, places, events, and persons are made holy because they participate in the holiness of God, who is thrice holy: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus... No one is good except God alone (Luke 18:19), no one is made holy by his efforts alone. In truth, our holiness is a participation in Gods holiness; it is the result of our attachmentto God. You are indeed Holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness (Eucharistic Prayer II). Mary Marys participation is principally and uniquely maternal in nature. She was chosen to be the Mother of God thus from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin" (cf. Ineffabilis Deus, Pius IX on Dogma of Immaculate Conception, 1954). Yet Marys light (holiness) is like that of the moon, totally reflected from the sun, the Son of God. Her significance stems from Christ. In fact, all the Marian dogmas are Christocentric for what the Catholic Church believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ (CCC 487). Marys role in the Church is inseparable from her union with
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C M Y K

NEW YEARS Messages

FRATERNITY - WAY TO SOLIDARITY, HARMONY AND PEACE

P
The New Year brings us to hope anew. We have to hope even though how difficult what the past year had been. We believe that we could overcome all these challenges because we believe that the loving God will not abandon us. As we start this New Year, we have to bear in our hearts that the only source of our hope is God: The God Who never changes and will fulfill His promise to be with us until the end of time. So let us journey with hope in this New Year! New hope in God! Blessed New Year to All!

Fr. Nathaniel G. Gentizon

MOST REV. ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO, D.D.

Archbishop of Jaro
Malipayon nga Bag-ong Tuig 2014 sa inyo tanan! Ang nahauna nga adlaw sang tuig nagadala sang bag-o nga Paglaum. Ang paglaum ginapabakod sang Pagtuo. Kag ang Pagtuo amo ang sadsaran sang kabuhi. Amo ini ang kabangdanan kon ngaa sa sini nga adlaw, ang aton Pagtuo nagaagda sa aton sa pagpatungod sang aton igtalupangod sa tatlo ka selebrasyon nga ginhugpong sa isa lamang ka adlaw. Ang nahauna amo ang pagpangamuyo para sa paghidait. Sang mabun-ag ang bata nga Dios sa Belen, ang mga anghel nag-amba sang ambahanon nga nagaproklamar sang paghidait sa mga tawo nga nahamut-an sang Dios. Nangin ma-ila ang paghidait sa aton. Wala sing tinion nga indi naton mabatian ang pagluntad sang kinagamo sa bisan diin nga parte sang kalibutan. Bisan sa lugar mismo nga gin-ambahan sang mga anghel, ara ang indi paghangpanay. Ang aton Santo Papa nagapanugyan nga indi kita maguntat sa pagpangita sang paghidait paagi sa dialogo, paagi sa pagsugilanon agod makakita sing solusyon sa mga gumontang nga nagabahin-bahin sa tawo. Sa sini nga tuig, amo ini ang akon ginapangayo nga aton himuon. Wala sing bagay nga indi matigayon kon ang tawo magkomunikar sa isa kag isa agod madangat ang paghilisugot. Nahamut-an ini sang Dios kag suno sa ambahanon sang mga anghel ang bunga sini amo ang paghidait. Ang ikaduha amo ang Oktaba sang Piesta sang Pagkatawo sang Ginuo. Sa istorya sang kabuhi ni Jesus, ang ikawalo ka adlaw amo ang adlaw sang sirkumsisyon suno sa kasugoan sang mga Judio. Labaw sa relihiyoso nga bahin sang sini nga ritwal sang mga Judio, ang ikawalo nga adlaw nagasimbolo sang pagpakig-unong sang bata nga si Jesus sa tawohanon nga kinaugali ang pagsunod sang panimalay ni Jesus sa kasugoan. Kinaandan na naton ang maghimo sing mga New Years Resolution nga amo ang ginabasihan naton sang pamat-od sa pagbag-o kag pagkambio sang mga pagbinatasan kag ugali nga luyag naton talikdan. Dapat kita mangin mabakod kag maisug sa pagtuman sang aton New Years Resolution para sa kaayohan nga matigayon bangod sang aton katutom sa sini nga bagay. Ang ikatlo amo ang Piesta ni Maria, Iloy sang Dios. Ang nahauna nga adlaw sang tuig, ginadedikar sang aton Simbahan sa kadugganan sang Iloy sang Dios. Itugyan naton sa iya iloynon nga pagtatap ang tanan naton nga mga handom kag mga luyag matigayon para sa sining tuig 2014 nga aton ginasugoran. Amo ini ang akon pangamuyo para sa inyo: Kabay pa nga ang Ginuo magbendisyon sa inyo kag magtipig sa inyo; Kabay pa nga ang Ginuo magpasilak sang iya nawong sa inyo kag magmaalwan sa inyo; Kabay pa nga ang Ginuo magtamod sa inyo kag maghatag sa inyo sing paghidait. (Num. 6:22-27) A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

ope Francis, in his message for the celebration of World Day of Peace this year, said, Fraternity is the foundation and pathway to peace. Fraternity, as it comes from the Latin word frater which means brother, signifies brotherhood. This truth becomes more meaningful during the Christmas season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Christmas, in fact, underscores the essence of fraternity that we are all brothers and sisters, not enemies and rivals, since we are all children of God. How can we express and spread fraternity? We can start it with our own attitudes. We free our minds from envy, anger and hatred and fill our hearts with faith, love and joy. We learn to let go of our biases and prejudices and see other people the way God sees them. Fraternity can be demonstrated with our family and friends. We expect less and give more. We demand less and listen more. We strive to grow in the virtue of patience and forgiveness. We are also called to communicate fraternity to the world by being more respectful, welcoming and reconciling recognizing our dignity as men and women created in the image and likeness of God. The aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda showed an overwhelming example of fraternity and solidarity as Filipinos and

nations from all over the world sent much needed aid to survivors. As a priest, I ask and challenge myself: Am I a sign of fraternity? Am I approachable and welcoming to people from all walks of life? Do I facilitate joy and hope? As a lay people, you can ask and challenge yourself: Am I a sign of fraternity for others? Am I respectful and loving enough? Do I bring harmony and peace in my home and workplace? If only we recognize each one as a brother or as a sister, we would not afford to do things that can harm or offend them. Rather, we will only love and care for each other as we are our brothers and sisters keepers. Lastly, may we make the prayer of St. Francis our own: Lord make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, love; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy With Marys maternal intercession, let us end 2013 with fraternity and love within our families, neighborhoods and communities. And let us start 2014 with a resolve to spread fraternity as a way to solidarity, harmony and peace! A Blessed New Year to one and all!

(A Reflection on Pope Francis World Day of Peace Message)

FRATERNITY - The Way to Peace

Armando A. Sue
all are sons and daughters of the same Father, and because they are grafted to Christ, (are) sons and daughters in the Son . . . Pope Francis further explains that

RT. REV. MSGR. HIGINIO C. VELARDE, JR., JCD, PA

Vicar General, Archdiocese of Jaro Parish Priest, National Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Candles

raternity, according to Pope Francis, is that quality which draws the person to fellowship with others and enables him to see them not as enemies but as brothers and sisters to be accepted and embraced. In the heart of every man and woman is the desire for a full life, including the irrepressible longing for fraternity. The world is on fire and mankind is enmeshed in some of the most trying situations in current world affairs, thereby affecting the peace and fraternal spirit of mankind. For Pope Francis, world peace can be achieved through the instrument of Fraternity. This fraternal spirit, he adds, can be discovered or rediscovered by the individual person in its integration to his own personhood; in his brotherhood relationship with other persons, including his neighbor; in the family as the basic unit of society; in his recognition and acceptance of the fatherhood of God the Father Who Is his Creator; in his recognition and acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Son of God the Father, and where , in Gods family,

world peace can be achieved through both the discovery and rediscovery of fraternity as a prerequisite for fighting poverty; for the prudent and sound management of the economy; for the extinguishment of war; for fighting and preventing corruption and organized crime; and for preserving, cultivating, and enhancing nature and the

environment. Quoting Pope Francis more specifically, we find the following explicit points: Fraternity is an essential human quality for we are relational beings. A lively awareness of our relatedness helps us to look upon and to treat each person as a true sister or brother; without fraternity it is impossible to build a just society and a solid and lasting peace. Fraternity is first learned in the family. The family is the wellspring of all fraternity, and as such is the foundation and the first pathway to peace. By its vocation it is meant to spread its love to the world around it . . . But this vocation is still frequently denied and ignoredin aworld marked by a globalization of indifference which makes us slowly inured to the suffering of others and closed in on ourselves. . . Globalization, as Benedict XVI pointed out, makes us neighbors, but does not make us brothers. The many situations of inequality, poverty and injustice, are signs not only of a profound lack of fraternity, but also of the absence of aculture of solidarity. ato page 6

CANDLE LIGHT (January 1, 2014)

CANDLE LIGHT (January 1, 2014)

Diin ini sa

Bibliya?

SI MARIA ILOY SANG DIOS?

Benje S. Pelobello
human and divine. Mary was only the mother of the human nature (Christotokos) but defined the hypostatic union of the divine and human natures in the one divine person in Christ... Declared Mary as Theotokos being the Mother of Jesus, God incarnate, second person of the Holy Trinity. Natabo ini sang tuig 431 AD Sa Ephesus. Pero ining kamatuoran padayon nga gina-atake kag ginapamatukan sang iban nga sekta nga nagakontra kay Maria kag sa Simbahan Katoliko. Kon maghambal kita nga si Maria iloy sang Dios, ano bala ang buot naton silingon? Ini wala nagakahulugan nga si Maria iloy sang pagka-Dios kag ang pagkaDios ara na nga daan sa ginsuguran. Wala man naton ginatudlo nga siya iloy sang Dios nga Amay kag sang Dios nga Espiritu Santo. Ang kahulugan sini amo nga si Maria iloy sang Dios nga Anak nga nagpakatawo ukon nangin tawo. Halimbawa abi sa bata nga baboy, ang iya inang matawag naton nga iloy sang baboy. Kon ang bata karabaw, ang iya iloy ukon inang, iloy sang karabaw. Gani sa bahin ni Maria, kon ang iya anak Dios, siya nga iloy nagakadapat lamang nga tawgon nga Iloy sang Dios. Pero basi masiling sila nga tani tawgon na lang naton si Maria nga iloy ni Jesus nga tawo tungod kay indi mabulag ang pagka-Dios kag pagka-tawo ni Jesus (Hypostatic Union)? Ining kamatuoran ara gid sa Santos nga Kasulatan. Mabasa naton sa Lucas 1:42 ang iloy sang akon Ginoo. Kag suno sa Salmo 100:3 kilalaha nga Ginu-o amo ang Dios. Gani kon si Maria ginatawag sa Bibliya nga iloy sang Ginoo kag ang Ginoo Dios, buot silingon, Iloy gid siya sang Dios. Ang ginakabig nga mga lideres sang Protestante nagapati mismo nga si Maria iloy sang Dios. Amo ini ang ginasiling ni Marthin Luther In this work thereby she was made the Mother of God.not only was Mary the mother of Him who is born in Bethlehem but of Him who before the world was eternally born of the Father from a mother in time and at the same time man and God (The Works of Luther p.572). Si John Calvin may amo man nga pagpati sa iya sinulatan nga Calvini Opera p.348,35 . Siya nagsiling Elizabeth called Mary mother of the Lord because the unity of the person in the two natures of Christ was such that she could have said that the mortal man in the womb of Mary was at the same time eternal God. Sa katapusan si Fr Polinar naghatag sining komentaryo nga nagasiling Could anyone limit or restrain the tremendous power of God? Suppose He has decided, as He did to have a mother could anyone stop Him? Much less question his decision? Is not God free to do or act as he pleases? Kingdom of Christ in the world, first and foremost, by conquering the reign of sin in themselves (cf. Rom 6:12), then, by serving Christ in their fellowmen and by leading them to the King for whom to serve is to reign. They should strive to make this world more and more Gods world, Gods kingdom where His will is done as it is in Heaven (CBCP Pastoral Exhortation on Catholic Laity, 2013). Mary is the perfect model of holiness for the laity because she herself is a layperson and that the place of her holiness is found in the ordinary life. Lay people (in fact all the baptized) consecrate themselves and all their work to God, thus their work becomes a prayer to God, it becomes Gods work (referring to priestly function); they proclaim the Gospel truth by their witnessing, preaching and apostolate (prophetic function); and they cooperate in the growth of Gods Kingdom by conquering sin and all its manifestations, in themselves, in families, in different strata of society. They make this world more and more Gods Kingdom (kingly function). This world is made holy because lay people transform their secular lives into sacred lives by offering them as an oblation to God by which the ordinary human works acquire divine and eternal value.

ng pagtulon-an nga si Maria Iloy sang Dios ukon Theotokos madugay na nga Doktrina sang Simbahan nga nag-umpisa pa sa mga Amay sang Santa Iglesia ukon mga Fathers of the Church. Ini isa ka kamatuoran nga padayon nga ginatuohan sang Simbahan kag klaro man nga ginasuportahan sang Santos nga Kasulatan. Ini nga titulo ni Maria nagikan sa argumento nga si Jesus matuod Dios kag tawo gani si Maria ng Iya Iloy, Iloy sang Dios. Pero ini nga kamatuoran sang pagligad sang panahon gintuyo nga pamatukan sang iban tungod sang ila sayop nga pagkilala sang matuod nga kahimtangan ni Jesus. Si Nestorius nga isa anay ka obispo nagtudlo nga si Kristo may duha ka persona - nga Sia Dios kag tawo. Tungod sining sayop nga pagtulon-an nagsiling Sia nga ang ginbunag ni Maria amo lamang ang tawhanon nga persona ni Kristo kag indi ang Iya pagkaDios. Gani si Maria, suno sa Iya, iloy lang ni Jesus nga tawo. Indi siya iloy sang Dios. Bangud sini ang Simbahan naghatag sang iya klaro nga panindugan nahanungod sa sining hitabo. Suno sa isa ka libro nga ginsulat ni Fr. Manuel Duetao nga ginatiguluhan, Unanswerable Answers, siya nagasaysay, the title theotokos, a Greek word meaning God Bearer or Mother of God has been applied to Mary the mother of Jesus. The phrase mother of God was adopted by the council of Ephesus to define the biblical doctrine of the Incarnation The Council Fathers condemned the Nestorian doctrine saying that in Christ are two distinct persons

5 New Years Resolutions Tips for Growth Christians Should Make

1. Take it Easy We know you work hard and play hard, but you probably also stress too hard and even think too hard! This year, give yourself a break from unnecessary stresses by slowing down. Forget running errands all day on your Saturdays. Instead, give yourself the gift of a leisurely walk, a Sunday night movie, or an afternoon spent gardening. 2. Read the Bible Reading the Bible is not only a great way to get in touch with God, but to relax and take time for yourself as well. Instead of spending your Monday evening watching reality TV reruns, reread your favorite verse in the Bible or find a new one to help you get motivated for the New Year. There is definitely an amazing verse just waiting to become your mantra for living better in 2013! 3. Go Gadget Free Yes, we know your smartphone is fun and its a great way to stay in touch with your friends and family, but its also an addiction. Make a rule for yourself that involves turning off all computers, cell phones, tablets, etc. at least once a week (Sunday seems like the perfect day to us)! At first this may seem like its hindering you from making connections, but its actually going to help you make even deeper connections with those around you! 4. Remove Negative Elements January is the perfect time of year to give up all the things holding you back from your best self yet! From negative friends to bad habits (smoking, drinking, gambling), its time to clear out all of the things you spent 2013 complaining about. Make a list of anything and everything you find negative in your life and remove them while you can. Now is the time to make yourself happy, so do it! 5. Add Positive Energy While youre removing all the negatives from your life, fill the void left behind with positive people and hobbies. Think about your funniest, most caring friends and ask them to lunch next weekend. Or, help yourself to stop obsessing with those cigarettes youre giving up by keeping a journal of positivity. Every time you get the craving to smoke, head to your journal to jot in everything youre thankful for in your life. You can also take up new hobbies like hiking, running, weight-lifting or yoga. Source: www.beliefnet.com

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Christ and flows directly from it (CCC 964). Mary is the perfect model of holiness precisely because of her perfect submission (union with) to Christ. Jesus did not ordain Mary a priest like Peter. She received no power to transform bread into the Body of Christ in the Holy Eucharist (priesthood) yet the Body of the Son of God was formed in her womb in the Incarnation (motherhood). Non-ordained, her holiness is lived in the ordinary day-to-day family and social life: as a mother, humble and obedient handmaid of the Lord, a helpful cousin to Elizabeth, a Virgin wife to Joseph, a concerned neighbour at the wedding in Cana, a disciple to His Son, a suffering mother beneath the Cross, etc. Laity What specifically characterizes the laity (non-ordained faithful) is their secular (not secularist) nature. The laity, by their very vocation, seek the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering them to the Plan of God. They live in the world, that is, in each and in all of the secular professions and occupations. They live in the ordinary circumstances of family and social life, from which the very web of their existence is woven... (cf. LG 31). They consecrate themselves and the

Manifesto for New Year

1. Embrace simplicity. Take inventory of your possessions. Do you have too much stuff? Too much clothing, too many pairs of shoes, too many decorations in your home? These material possessions are often purchased on an impulse and end up cluttering up space in your life. Reduce what you have in your home and donate it. Not only will you feel lighter; your home will have better energy with less blocks, making for more peaceful slumber and joyous times. In addition to the personal benefits, you will also be helping others in need if you choose to donate! 2. Surrender. Focus your energy on going with the flow rather than fighting uphill battles. Spending time alone in nature, meditating, or even just quiet time in contemplation can help you to pinpoint areas in your life where you may be resisting. Once you identify the situations that are draining you of valuable positive energy, you can allow yourself to accept rather than try to change them. When you surrender, freedom abounds. 3. Conquer Your Dreams. There is no better time than the present to accomplish some of your bigger goals. Spend some time thinking about your dreams and brainstorm some of the steps you need to take to get there. Clarity is key - when your mind is determined and clear about the path you need to be on, you really can accomplish anything! 4. Start Giving. Give complements, donate money, volunteer at the food bank, help a family in need. We spend so much time focusing on ourselves that we neglect to pay attention to the fact that we have so much to give. It is not just about donating money to charities, it is about utilizing whatever we have to help make the world a better place. Are you an accountant? Maybe you can join the Board of Directors for a local charity. Are you a nutritionist? Maybe your local food bank wants to start up classes on the importance of nutrition. The possibilities to give are endless, and the act of giving truly nourishes the spirit. 5. Foster Kindness. Make it a priority to be kind to everyone you know - and dont know! Co-workers, acquaintances, the cashier at the grocery story; pull out all the stops. This is a life-changing act. By being kind to those you encounter, you will be fostering more kindness, and the world can certainly afford to have more kind citizens.

world to God in their daily prayers. For all their works, prayers and apostolic endeavours, their ordinary married and family life, their daily occupations, their physical and mental relaxation, if carried out in the Spirit, and even the hardships of life, if patiently borne, all of these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Together with the offering of the Lords Holy Body, they are most fittingly offered in the Eucharist. Thus, the laity consecrate the world itself to God (cf. LG 34). They strive to acquire, first a deep and exact knowledge of the Truths of Faith in conformity to each persons capacity a correct Christian anthropology, the essentials of moral science, especially in what relate to their profession and circumstances, and a solid knowledge of the Churchs social teachings. All these things must be oriented, not simply to erudition, but to a true formation of conscience... (Jorge Miras, Secularity of the Lay Faithful). They cooperate in the external spread and the dynamic growth of the

Source: www.beliefnet.com

CANDLE LIGHT (January 1, 2014)

CANDLE LIGHT (January 1, 2014)

Quote to Ponder

2014: Year of the Laity

Renewal is rooted in n this Era of New faith, not in resolutions! Evangelization, Year 2014 They are made for New has been declared by the Catholic Bishops Conference Years and forgotten on an of the Philippines as the Year of average of thirteen days the Laity to give importance to later, say the surveys. the role of the Catholic faithful Faith is the result of a in the sanctification and decision about Christ. I transformation of the world. cannot make a new me or The Bishops of the a new you, but Christ can Philippines in their Pastoral make you new and me Exhortation entitled Filipino new, as well, if we decide Catholic Laity: Called to be Saints Sent Forth as for Him. Heroes said that there is a need to empower the - Frank Harrington
laity in the Church. The CBCP reminds the lay faithful, Your membership in the Church is a full membership. You belong to the Church as much as any pope, bishop, priest, or religious does. You are not second class members of the people of God. When you live the life of grace, you are full citizens of Gods kingdom on earth.

Anna Sheila A. Moreno

Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father FRANCIS to the Bishops Clergy, Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Todays World

Synthesis of the Evangelium Gaudii (last part)

often denigrated, he affirms, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity. I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the lives of the poor!. He adds an admonition: Any Church community, if it believes it can forget about the poor, runs the risk of breaking down. The Pope urges care for the weakest members of society: the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned and migrants, for whom the Pope exhorts a generous openness. He speaks about the victims of trafficking and new forms of slavery: This infamous network of crime is now well established in our cities, and many people have blood on their hands as a result of their comfortable and silent complicity. Doubly poor are those women who endure situations of exclusion, mistreatment and violence. Among the vulnerable for whom the Church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenceless and innocent among us. Nowadays efforts are made to deny them their human dignity. The Church cannot be expected to change her position on this question it is not progressive to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life. The Pope makes an appeal for respect for all creation: we are called to watch over and protect the fragile world in which we live. With regard to the theme of peace, the Pope affirms that a prophetic voice must be raised against attempts at false reconciliation to silence or appease the poor, while others refuse to renounce their privileges. For the construction of a society in peace, justice and fraternity he indicates four

Lay people need to realize that they are called to transform the world and bring Christs Kingdom into it through penetrating the different straits of society where they participate. Your own specific task, and the special responsibility given to you by the Lord is to find your own sanctification in the world, and to sanctify the world and transform it... You must go into the

ADMINISTRATION
RT. REV. MSgR. Higinio C. VelaRde, JR., JCD, PA.

PARISH
Parish Priest

world of the family, of business, of economics, of politics, of education, of the mass media and the social media, to every human endeavor where the future of humanity and the world are at stake and to make a difference. Lay people can be effective evangelizers by strengthening their Faith through reading the Good News, seeking recourse to the Sacraments, and contributing to the mission of new evangelization through their own simple means. It is our fervent prayer that the Year of the Laity will truly be a moment of grace for our Parish wherein our lay people are empowered through the Magagmay nga Kristianong Katilingban (MKK), with Mary as our model, to build Gods Kingdom in our midst where love, truth, justice and peace prevail.
Reference: cbcpnews.com

source: www.olgparishpenndel.org

Rev. FR. Ronald C. De Leon Senior Parochial Vicar Rev. fR. Nathaniel G. Gentizon Parochial Vicar Rev. fR. Philipp Neil Y. AntenoR-CRUz Special Assistant for Temporal Affairs Rev. mSgR. AleJandRo P. ESpeRanCilla Special Assistant for Liturgical Affairs Rev. fR. FRanCiSCo T. AngoStURa Rev. fR. JoeniCK S. teRRitoRio Rev. fR. CiRilo C. CamUS Resident Priests

(continuation from December 29 issue...) In relation to the challenges of the contemporary world, the Pope denounces the current economic system as unjust at its root. Such an economy kills because the law of the survival of the fittest prevails. The current culture of the disposable has created something new: the excluded are not the exploited but the outcast, the leftovers. A new tyranny is thus born, invisible and often virtual, of an autonomy of the market in which financial speculation and widespread corruption and self-serving tax-evasion reign. He also denounces attacks on religious freedom and the new persecutions directed against Christians. In many places the problem is more that of widespread indifference and relativism. The family, the Pope continues, is experiencing a profound cultural crisis. Reiterating the indispensable contribution of marriage to society, he underlines that the individualism of our postmodern and globalized era favours a lifestyle which distorts family bonds. He re-emphasizes the profound connection between evangelization and human advancement and the right of Pastors to offer opinions on all that affects peoples lives. No one can demand that religion should be relegated to the inner sanctum of personal life, without a right to offer an opinion on events affecting society. He quotes John Paul II, who said that the Church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice. For the Church, the option for the poor is primarily a theological category rather than a sociological one. This is why I want a Church that is poor and for the poor. They have much to teach us. As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved no solution will be found for this worlds problems. Politics, although

source: razoo.com

afrom page 3 True brotherhood among people presupposes and demands a transcendent Fatherhood. Based on the recognition of this fatherhood, human fraternity isconsolidated, each person becomes a neighbor who cares for others. Pope Francis, in issuing this message for the January 1st World Day of Peace, can be truly considered a Man of our Times, a special person who is truly aware of the current world situation, the Pontiff who is truly deserving of the Person of the Year accolade. Truly befitting of the current situation in our Filipino society, His Holiness message of fraternity as pathway to peace actually bears relation to our Filipino Bayanihan spirit and to its Ilonggo counterpart, the Dagyaw community spirit. The spirit of Fraternity, the Bayanihan, and the Dagyaw all emphasize the spirit of brotherhood, cooperation, unity, sharing, and shared vision inherent in the Filipino psyche. With the Bayanihan and the Dagyaw, there is the shared fraternal vision not only of the present of also of the future. Like in Pope Francis spirit of Fraternity the seed of vocation is founded on the family as the basic unit of the community. We can thus see that the strong religious and spiritual nature of the Filipino is founded on the family and the Bayanihan

EDITORIAL BOARD
REV. FR. NATHANIEL G. GENTIZON Editor-in-Chief PUReza D. LaCUeSta Associate Editor ANNA SHIELA A. MORENO News Editor JUlieta g. aQUilo Feature Editor Lalaine D. PaSQUin Circulation RICARDO Q. FALLACORINA ii Layout Artist FR. JoeniCK S. teRRitoRio ANNA SHIELA A. MORENO BenJe S. peloBello aRmando a. SUE Contributors The Candle Light is a non-profit weekly publication.

and Dagyaw spirit. With the introduction of our Catholic faith, we have become the new evangelizers, a light to the world, and a light to Asia. On the other hand, like all the other progressive societies of the world, Philippine society is bombarded with the proliferation of advanced technology gadgets and ideas which can become the vehicle for both good and evil intentions. Ipads, Tablets, cell phones, laptops, the Internet, and also cable TV have penetrated everyones life, from the student on his way to school, to the office employee, the trisikad driver, the farmer sitting on top of his carabao, the businessman, the parents, the house help going to market, or the lone matron on her shopping spree who hasnt taken hold of these modern gadgets? With all the modern venues for communication, who hasnt heard about the latest news and trends? If we can manage to look at the good and beneficial side to these, we should also have the nerve to face the potential evil, but these can be turned to good, protecting the essential fraternal, bayanihan and dagyaw qualities of our people. Used properly, these can become the venue, as we all realize by now, for our new evangelizations. The human fraternal spirit, the bayanihan, and the dagyaw are actually concretized in the various

Magagmay nga Kristianong Katilingban (MKK), Urna cells, the group praying of Rosaries in neighborhoods, and be cooperative spirit during barangay-sponsored Masses. We must however, educate our faithful Mass-goers who tinker with their cellphones while Mass is going on, detaching themselves from the spiritual fraternity of the congregation at worship during the Holy Sacrifice of the Blood of Jesus Christ. The Filipino family as the basic unit of society can be the seedbed for a strong Christian and Catholic catechetical and spiritual foundation. It is important for the fraternal spirit of empathy and genuine love to be established between parents and children, and for parents to educate their children well in basic Catholic catechetics and good manners and right conduct. They should insist, as resources permit, to enroll their children in good Catholic schools; for those in public schools, parents must strongly endorse the regular catechetical instructions of their children. Eventually, when the individual person, the family, the community, and the Church affect one another in their efforts to promote the fraternal spirit, the cycle and circle of fraternal spirit preservation becomes stronger, and solid peace will not be far from reality. A blessed, peace-filled, Godfilled new year to all!

Only the person who feels happiness in seeking the good of others, in desiring their happiness, can be a missionary
principles: Time is greater than space means working slowly but surely, without being obsessed with immediate results. Unity prevails over conflict means a diversified and life-giving unity. Realities are more important than ideas means avoiding reducing politics or faith to rhetoric. The whole is greater than the part means bringing together globalization and localization. Evangelization also involves the path of dialogue, the Pope continues, which opens the Church to collaboration with all political, social, religious and cultural spheres. Ecumenism is an indispensable path to evangelization. Mutual enrichment is important: we can learn so much from one another!, for example in the dialogue with our Orthodox brothers and sisters, we Catholics have the opportunity to learn more about the meaning of Episcopal collegiality and their experience of synodality; dialogue and friendship with the children of Israel are part of the life of Jesus disciples; interreligious dialogue, which must be conducted clear and joyful in ones own identity, is a necessary condition for peace in the world and does not obscure evangelization; in our times, our relationship with the followers of Islam has taken on great importance: the Pope humbly entreats those countries of Islamic tradition to guarantee

religious freedom to Christians, also in light of the freedom which followers of Islam enjoy in Western countries!. Faced with disconcerting episodes of violent fundamentalism he urges us to avoid hateful generalisations, for authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence. And against the attempt to private religions in some contexts, he affirms that the respect due to the agnostic or non-believing minority should not be arbitrarily imposed in a way that silences the convictions of the believing majority or ignores the wealth of religious traditions. He then repeats the importance of dialogue and alliance between believers and non-believers. The final chapter is dedicated to spirit-filled evangelizers, who are those who are fearlessly open to the working of the Holy Spirit and who have the courage to proclaim the newness of the Gospel with boldness (parrhesa) in every time and place, even when it meets with opposition. These are evangelizers who pray and work, in the knowledge that mission is at once a passion for Jesus and a passion for his people: Jesus wants us to touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others. He explains, In our dealings with the world, we are told to give reasons for our hope, but not as an enemy who critiques and condemns. Only the person who feels happiness in seeking the good of others, in desiring their happiness, can be a missionary; if I can help at least one person to have a better life, that already justifies the offering of my life. The Pope urges us not to be discouraged before failure or scarce results, since fruitfulness is often invisible, elusive and unquantifiable; we must know only that our commitment is necessary. The Exhortation concludes with a prayer to Mary, Mother of Evangelization. There is a Marian style to the Churchs work of evangelization. Whenever we look to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness.

source: www.usccb.org

CANDLE LIGHT (January 1, 2014)

CANDLE LIGHT (January 1, 2014)

Alma Redemptoris Mater

(Loving Mother of our Savior)
Mother of Christ, our hope, our Patroness, Star of the sea, our beacon in distress, Guide to the shores of everlasting day Gods holy people on their pilgrim way. Virgin by vow but Mother of all grace, Chosen by God to be his dwelling-place, Blessed are you: Gods word you did believe, Your Yes undid the No of sinful Eve. Daughter of God, who bore his holy One, Dearest of all, the Christ, your loving Son, Show us his face, O Mother, as on earth, Loving us all, you gave our Savior birth.

CANDLE LIGHT (January 1, 2014)