MikeLigalig.com

Stefan Porwoll, manager of Sea Life Aquarium in Oberhausen, contemplates the memorial to their deceased star Paul the octopus, which was unveiled on Thursday. The two-meter-high statue of Paul atop a football contains a viewing window where visitors can see the urn containing his ashes. The seemingly clairvoyant octopus shot to fame during the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa when he accurately predicted the winning team in each of the German matches, as well as the final. Paul died in October 2010, aged two-and-a-half -- apparently a ripe old age for an octopus.

kon wala ka masayop ang namolo sa kaponongan Fil.German Catholic association Bol-anon? Nalimot nako sa iyang ngalan. Scarb pls help I need his email address, ty.

Happy Beersday Inday Kiamoy!

St. Sebastian
(257?-288?)



Nothing is historically certain about St. Sebastian except that he was a Roman martyr, was venerated in Milan even in the time of St. Ambrose and was buried on the Appian Way, probably near the present Basilica of St. Sebastian. Devotion to him spread rapidly, and he is mentioned in several martyrologies as early as a.d. 350.

The legend of St. Sebastian is important in art, and there is a vast iconography. Scholars now agree that a pious fable has Sebastian entering the Roman army because only there could he assist the martyrs without arousing suspicion. Finally he was found out, brought before Emperor Diocletian and delivered to Mauritanian archers to be shot to death. His body was pierced with arrows, and he was left for dead. But he was found still alive by those who came to bury him. He recovered, but refused to flee. One day he took up a position near where the emperor was to pass. He accosted the emperor, denouncing him for his cruelty to Christians. This time the sentence of death was carried out. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs. HE was buried on the Appian Way, close to the catacombs that bear his name.


Comment:

The fact that many of the early saints made such a tremendous impression on the Churchâ€"awakening widespread devotion and great praise from the greatest writers of the Churchâ€"is proof of the heroism of their lives. As has been said, legends may not be literally true. Yet they may express the very substance of the faith and courage evident in the lives of these heroes and heroines of Christ.

Patron Saint of:

Athletes

Virtue of Hope

The virtue of hope can sustain us through life’s greatest trials. By hoping in God’s victory over sin and death, we can more peacefully endure personal tragedies.

Asa ang bidet?

Shaved or not?

St. Fabian
(c. 250)


Fabian was a Roman layman who came into the city from his farm one day as clergy and people were preparing to elect a new pope. Eusebius, a Church historian, says a dove flew in and settled on the head of Fabian. This sign united the votes of clergy and laity and he was chosen unanimously.

He led the Church for 14 years and died a martyr’s death during the persecution of Decius in a.d. 250. St. Cyprian wrote to his successor that Fabian was an “incomparable” man whose glory in death matched the holiness and purity of his life.

In the catacombs of St. Callistus, the stone that covered Fabian’s grave may still be seen, broken into four pieces, bearing the Greek words, “Fabian, bishop, martyr.”


Comment:

We can go confidently into the future and accept the change that growth demands only if we have firm roots in the past, in a living tradition. A few pieces of stone in Rome are a reminder to us that we are bearers of more than 20 centuries of a living tradition of faith and courage in living the life of Christ and showing it to the world. We have brothers and sisters who have “gone before us marked with the sign of faith,” as the First Eucharistic Prayer puts it, to light the way for us.

Quote:

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church” (Tertullian).

Perfect Bliss    

Sin has distorted human existence. Faithfulness to God will ultimately bring perfect bliss but not in this fallen world. Here even the holiest men and women suffer from the crimes of others, as did Christ on the cross.

A park bench on the Maaraue peninsula on the Rhine River near Wiesbaden was almost completely submerged on Monday. Many parts of Germany have suffered severe flooding in the last 10 days due to a combination of rainfall and snow melt from the unseasonably warm January weather.

During the intensive investigations one of the bank´s high official was found dead floating in Thames river.

Belated birthday greetings Scarb!

God is love, tanan ta adunay krus nga gipas-an, anaa ra nato kon unsa ang atong "attitude" sa pagdala. God Bless!

Da Bins korek! It was something to do with the banking affairs of the Vatican. A German journalist made a documentary on this a long time ago.

I have read that some noodles are treated with chemicals so they won´t stick together when cooked. This is detrimental to digestion, so it was advised to eat 2x a week. My son loved this instant noodles. I buy seldom so he won´t be eating too often.

St. Charles of Sezze
(1613-1670)


Charles thought that God was calling him to be a missionary in India, but he never got there. God had something better for this 17th-century successor to Brother Juniper.

Born in Sezze, southeast of Rome, Charles was inspired by the lives of Salvator Horta and Paschal Baylon to become a Franciscan; he did that in 1635. Charles tells us in his autobiography, "Our Lord put in my heart a determination to become a lay brother with a great desire to be poor and to beg alms for his love."

Charles served as cook, porter, sacristan, gardener and beggar at various friaries in Italy. In some ways, he was "an accident waiting to happen." He once started a huge fire in the kitchen when the oil in which he was frying onions burst into flames.

One story shows how thoroughly Charles adopted the spirit of St. Francis. The superior ordered Charles â€" then porter â€" to give food only to traveling friars who came to the door. Charles obeyed this direction; simultaneously the alms to the friars decreased. Charles convinced the superior the two facts were related. When the friars resumed giving goods to all who asked at the door, alms to the friars increased also.

At the direction of his confessor Charles wrote his autobiography, The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God. He also wrote several other spiritual books. He made good use of his various spiritual directors throughout the years; they helped him discern which of Charles’ ideas or ambitions were from God. Charles himself was sought out for spiritual advice. The dying Pope Clement IX called Charles to his bedside for a blessing.

Charles had a firm sense of God’s providence. Father Severino Gori has said, "By word and example he recalled in all the need of pursuing only that which is eternal" (Leonard Perotti, St. Charles of Sezze: An Autobiography, page 215).

He died at San Francesco a Ripa in Rome and was buried there. Pope John XXIII canonized him in 1959.


Comment:

The drama in the lives of the saints is mostly interior. Charles’ life was spectacular only in his cooperation with God’s grace. He was captivated by God’s majesty and great mercy to all of us.

Quote:

Father Gori says that the autobiography of Charles "stands as a very strong refutation of the opinion, quite common among religious people, that saints are born saints, that they are privileged right from their first appearance on this earth. This is not so. Saints become saints in the usual way, due to the generous fidelity of their correspondence to divine grace. They had to fight just as we do, and more so, against their passions, the world and the devil" (St. Charles of Sezze: An Autobiography, page viii).

In Unison With Jesus

This is a perfect image of the life of faith: to joyfully cling to Christ, moving only according to his commands for our lives.

from my mailbox:


Most of us don ' t drink before sleeping because we want to avoid frequent trips to the bathroom.

IMPORTANT:

Never go thirsty when going to bed and be sure you have plenty of water during your 8 hour rest. It is sudden death in adults which cause them to die while sleeping. Many theories have been put forward as its cause. However, here is an article which sheds some light to the cause of this malady. Please read on:

Medical investigators in China , Japan and several Asian countries who performed autopsies on persons who died from "acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis" found out that the majority of them had eaten minutes before going to bed. This was a startling finding. However, it wasn ' t the food that caused nightmares but DEHYDRATION.

Imbibing even with a few drinks of alcohol or just eating immediately before bedtime compound this. An empty stomach will trigger an electrolyte imbalance and other factors that causes a person to dehydrate or lose water.

It is therefore advisable for a person to take several glasses of water before bedtime if he had a few or several alcoholic drinks. Avoid eating much before bedtime, but if you can not avoid it, allow at least two hours for the body to digest the food before hitting the sack and drink plenty of water. The most important thing is, never go thirsty when going to bed and be sure you have plenty of water during your 8 hour rest.

Please pass on to your friends.

Aduna kay almoranans Bay?

St. Anthony of Egypt
(251-356)




The life of Anthony will remind many people of St. Francis of Assisi. At 20, Anthony was so moved by the Gospel message, “Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor” (Mark 10:21b), that he actually did just that with his large inheritance. He is different from Francis in that most of Anthony’s life was spent in solitude. He saw the world completely covered with snares, and gave the Church and the world the witness of solitary asceticism, great personal mortification and prayer. But no saint is antisocial, and Anthony drew many people to himself for spiritual healing and guidance.

At 54, he responded to many requests and founded a sort of monastery of scattered cells. Again like Francis, he had great fear of “stately buildings and well-laden tables.”

At 60, he hoped to be a martyr in the renewed Roman persecution of 311, fearlessly exposing himself to danger while giving moral and material support to those in prison. At 88, he was fighting the Arian heresy, that massive trauma from which it took the Church centuries to recover. “The mule kicking over the altar” denied the divinity of Christ.

Anthony is associated in art with a T-shaped cross, a pig and a book. The pig and the cross are symbols of his valiant warfare with the devilâ€"the cross his constant means of power over evil spirits, the pig a symbol of the devil himself. The book recalls his preference for “the book of nature” over the printed word. Anthony died in solitude at 105.


Comment:

In an age that smiles at the notion of devils and angels, a person known for having power over evil spirits must at least make us pause. And in a day when people speak of life as a “rat race,” one who devotes a whole life to solitude and prayer points to an essential of the Christian life in all ages. Anthony’s hermit life reminds us of the absoluteness of our break with sin and the totality of our commitment to Christ. Even in God’s good world, there is another world whose false values constantly tempt us.

Faith Fourishes in the Dark

Trials, temptations, spiritual dryness and suffering are all opportunities for our faith to grow stronger. We can, of course, neglect these opportunities and allow our faith to wither and die. But those who praise God in life’s difficulties will experience the opposite effect.

der spiegel online.de

St. Berard and Companions
(d. 1220)





Preaching the gospel is often dangerous work. Leaving one’s homeland and adjusting to new cultures, governments and languages is difficult enough; but martyrdom sometimes caps all the other sacrifices.

In 1219 with the blessing of St. Francis, Berard left Italy with Peter, Adjute, Accurs, Odo and Vitalis to preach in Morocco. En route in Spain Vitalis became sick and commanded the other friars to continue their mission without him.

They tried preaching in Seville, then in Muslim hands, but made no converts. They went on to Morocco where they preached in the marketplace. The friars were immediately apprehended and ordered to leave the country; they refused. When they began preaching again, an exasperated sultan ordered them executed. After enduring severe beatings and declining various bribes to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ, the friars were beheaded by the sultan himself on January 16, 1220.

These were the first Franciscan martyrs. When Francis heard of their deaths, he exclaimed, "Now I can truly say that I have five Friars Minor!" Their relics were brought to Portugal where they prompted a young Augustinian canon to join the Franciscans and set off for Morocco the next year. That young man was Anthony of Padua. These five martyrs were canonized in 1481.


Comment:

The deaths of Berard and his companions sparked a missionary vocation in Anthony of Padua and others. There have been many, many Franciscans who have responded to Francis’ challenge. Proclaiming the gospel can be fatal, but that has not stopped the Franciscan men and women who even today risk their lives in many countries throughout the world.

Quote:

Before St. Francis, the Rules of religious orders made no mention of preaching to the Muslims. In the Rule of 1223, Francis wrote: "Those brothers who, by divine inspiration, desire to go among the Saracens and other nonbelievers should ask permission from their ministers provincial. But the ministers should not grant permission except to those whom they consider fit to be sent" (Chapter 12).

Seeking Faith    

“If faith is so important to our salvation, I will seek it where true faith first began; seek it among those who received it from God Himself.” â€"St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Doy, wala ka mamintana sa Ramiro Hspital?

Love Equally    

God, help us to see one another with your eyes, eyes that love equally. Help us to care with your heart, a heart that makes no separation or distinction.

CNN

Rome (CNN) -- John Paul II moved closer to sainthood Friday as the Vatican announced he will be beatified later this year.

The beatification ceremony, led by Pope Benedict XVI, will take place on May 1, the first Sunday after Easter, and is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of the faithful to St. Peter's Square, the Vatican said.

After that, the late pope will be known as "the Blessed John Paul II."

In order for a candidate to be beatified, one miracle after death must be proven through the scrutiny of medical and theological experts.
On fast track to sainthood
2005: Pope John Paul II dies
RELATED TOPICS

    * Pope John Paul II

John Paul was credited with the healing of Sister Marie-Simon-Pierre, a nun whose order prayed to the pope after he died. She says she was cured of Parkinson's disease, an ailment that also afflicted the pope. The experts looking into her recovery concluded that it was a miracle.

A second miracle would have to be confirmed for him to be officially canonized, or elevated as a saint of the Catholic Church.

The beatification of John Paul is coming very fast in Vatican terms, just under six years after his death.

He was born Karol Wojtyla in Poland in 1920 and as a child, dreamed of being a playwright and actor. By the time he died in 2005, he had spent more than a quarter century in the spotlight of a global stage, guiding millions with his religious teachings and vision.

From his earliest days as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, John Paul established himself as a superstar. He spoke more than a dozen languages and traveled to more than 100 countries -- setting an unheard-of pattern of pastoral travel.

He was charismatic and was always met by huge crowds. Many would kiss the ground in his presence.

Shortly after his death in April 2005, his successor Benedict announced that the normal five-year waiting period for beatification and canonization would be waived for the late pope.

The rule is intended to allow time for evidence and witnesses supporting the sainthood cause to be prepared, as well as to wait for emotions to dissipate after death. But John Paul himself set a precedent in 1999 when he granted a dispensation and let Mother Teresa's sainthood process begin two years after her death.
From Hada Messia, CNN
January 14, 2011 -- Updated 1656 GMT (0056 HKT)

Flood waters receded in some places in Australia on Friday. Here in the Brisbane suburb of West End, Andrew Taylor (second row) and his friends throw themselves into the clean up -- with a quick stop for a group photo around a wrecked piano. Much of Australia's third largest city was submerged in the floods that have ravaged Queensland in recent weeks. An estimated 26,000 homes have flooded, leaving thousands homeless.

from an email;

From: nicanor primavera
To: customerservice@cebupacificair.com
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 3:30:48 PM
Subject: Guest Feedback :registering observations on passenger and flight delays

Sirs:

Name:                                           Jurgenne H. Primavera
Address                                        155 Bonifacio St., Sta Cruz,
                                                     Arevalo, 5000 Iloilo City
Contact numbers                            TEL (033) 338-4430

Place of incident                            Mactan, Cebu
Record Locator                             Booking Reference ZXB7MX
Flight Details                                  5J 170/  11 Jan 2011


1.          Our flight's ETD Cebu-Iloilo was 1750 but had a delay of 1 hr and 30
min because of late arrival of aircraft from Tacloban.  In turn this was due to
poor weather in Tacloban.

          *  May I make the observation that CPA flights should be independent
of each other, meaning an Iloilo flight should fly so long as Iloilo weather is
fine. If CPA cannot assure this, then it should not have an Iloilo flight that
is at the mercy of the weather in another island.

2.          The delay extended our travel into dinner time (7:20 p.m.) yet no
food or drinks were offered to the passengers because CPA guidelines state that
only a 3-hr delay requires the providing of food by CPA.

            *  This criterion/guideline for serving food should be changed from
length/time (3 hrs) to when the delay occurs.  If during meal time, then
passengers should be fed.

3.          A co-passenger missed the earlier flight by only 5 minutes had to
pay more than P1,000 for re-booking to the next flight.  Yet when the flight was
delayed by 1.5 hrs, all CPA could say was "Sorry". Where is the reciprocity?
she complained/asked.

            *  CPA should not apply a double standard of heavy penalties for
delayed passengers and a mere "I'm sorry" for undue flight delays (not due to weather or force majeure) on their part.  Our 11 Jan 2011 delay was because of too many CPA flights such that a single plane has to fly to many destinations in a single day with no allowance for delays between flights.  It is blatantly unfair.


                                                             Jurgenne H. Primavera

Servant of God John the Gardener
(d. 1501)


John was born of poor parents in Portugal. Orphaned early in life, he spent some years begging from door to door. After finding work in Spain as a shepherd, he shared the little he earned with those even more needy than himself.

One day two Franciscans encountered him on a journey. Engaging him in conversation, they took a liking to the simple man and invited him to come and work at their friary in Salamanca. He readily accepted and was assigned to the task of assisting the brother with gardening duties. A short time later John himself entered the Franciscan Order and lived a life of prayer and meditation, fasting constantly, spending the nights in prayer, still helping the poor. Because of his work in the garden and the flowers he produced for the altar, he became known as "the gardener."

God favored John with the gift of prophecy and the ability to read hearts. Important persons, including princes, came to the humble, ever-obedient friar for advice. He was so loving towards all that he never wanted to take offense at anything. His advice was that to forgive offenses is an act of penance most pleasing to God.

He predicted the day of his own death: January 11, 1501.


Comment:

A monastery garden was tended well to feed the community, not to make the grounds pretty. John saw to it that the refectory table was well supplied. But he also added a bit of beauty, growing flowers to enhance the chapel. God is surely pleased when we add a bit of beauty to the worldâ€"especially when we warm it with an act of forgiveness. For, as John insisted, forgiveness is the loveliest thing in God’s eyes.

Abundant Grace    

No one can be excused for not having and finding divine grace. The most bountiful God distributes his grace abundantly to all, that is, to all who wish and seek it.

how did you managed to get your driving license? which car did you used? ;

Italy's Mount Etna erupted in spectacular fashion on Wednesday night, hurling flames and ash high into the night sky, and unleashing streams of lava. None of the villages on the lower slopes of the volcano were affected. Located on the island of Sicily, Mount Etna is Europe's tallest and most active volcano. It's last significant eruption was in 1992.

St. Hilary
(315?-368)



This staunch defender of the divinity of Christ was a gentle and courteous man, devoted to writing some of the greatest theology on the Trinity, and was like his Master in being labeled a “disturber of the peace.” In a very troubled period in the Church, his holiness was lived out in both scholarship and controversy.

Raised a pagan, he was converted to Christianity when he met his God of nature in the Scriptures. His wife was still living when he was chosen, against his will, to be the bishop of Poitiers in France. He was soon taken up with battling what became the scourge of the fourth century, Arianism, which denied the divinity of Christ.

The heresy spread rapidly. St. Jerome said “The world groaned and marveled to find that it was Arian.” When Emperor Constantius ordered all the bishops of the West to sign a condemnation of Athanasius, the great defender of the faith in the East, Hilary refused and was banished from France to far off Phrygia (in modern-day Turkey). Eventually he was called the “Athanasius of the West.” While writing in exile, he was invited by some semi-Arians (hoping for reconciliation) to a council the emperor called to counteract the Council of Nicea. But Hilary predictably defended the Church, and when he sought public debate with the heretical bishop who had exiled him, the Arians, dreading the meeting and its outcome, pleaded with the emperor to send this troublemaker back home. Hilary was welcomed by his people.


Comment:

Christ said his coming would bring not peace but a sword (see Matthew 10:34). The Gospels offer no support for us if we fantasize about a sunlit holiness that knows no problems. Christ did not escape at the last moment, though he did live happily ever afterâ€"after a life of controversy, problems, pain and frustration. Hilary, like all saints, simply had more of the same.

Spiritual Companions    

We call upon the intercession of that ever-growing blessed communion in heaven, those spiritual companions who through their prayers continue “to do the good” from their celestial watch posts on high.

taga tigbao, dis-a man intawon ka ni landing Doy?

Russian performers in rabbit costumes wait backstage during rehearsals for a Chinese New Year TV show at Beijing Television studios on Tuesday. Chinese New Year begins on Feb. 4 and celebrations last around two weeks. The rabbit in the Chinese zodiac represents affectionate, serene beings who are introverted, humble and popular.

Ang akong mga higala sa Dabao sa una nga mga muslim kay dili maka boot ug minyoon, usahay ipares sa mga ginikanan (pre-arranged marriage).

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
(1620-1700)

“God closes a door and then opens a window,” people sometimes say when dealing with their own disappointment or someone else’s. That was certainly true in Marguerite’s case. Children from European as well as Native American backgrounds in seventeenth-century Canada benefited from her great zeal and unshakable trust in God’s providence.

Born the sixth of 12 children in Troyes, France, Marguerite at the age of 20 believed that she was called to religious life. Her applications to the Carmelites and Poor Clares were unsuccessful. A priest friend suggested that perhaps God had other plans for her.

In 1654, the governor of the French settlement in Canada visited his sister, an Augustinian canoness in Troyes. Marguerite belonged to a sodality connected to that convent. The governor invited her to come to Canada and start a school in Ville-Marie (eventually the city of Montreal). When she arrived, the colony numbered 200 people with a hospital and a Jesuit mission chapel.

Soon after starting a school, she realized her need for coworkers. Returning to Troyes, she recruited a friend, Catherine Crolo, and two other young women. In 1667 they added classes at their school for Indian children. A second trip to France three years later resulted in six more young women and a letter from King Louis XIV, authorizing the school. The Congregation of Notre Dame was established in 1676 but its members did not make formal religious profession until 1698 when their Rule and constitutions were approved.

Marguerite established a school for Indian girls in Montreal. At the age of 69, she walked from Montreal to Quebec in response to the bishop’s request to establish a community of her sisters in that city. By the time she died, she was referred to as the “Mother of the Colony.” Marguerite was canonized in 1982.


Comment:

It’s easy to become discouraged when plans that we think that God must endorse are frustrated. Marguerite was called not to be a cloistered nun but to be a foundress and an educator. God had not ignored her after all.

Quote:

In his homily at her canonization, Pope John Paul II said, “...in particular, she [Marguerite] contributed to building up that new country [Canada], realizing the determining role of women, and she diligently strove toward their formation in a deeply Christian spirit.” He noted that she watched over her students with affection and confidence “in order to prepare them to become wives and worthy mothers, Christians, cultured, hardworking, radiant mothers.”

Hymn of Praise    

Just as many different instruments merge into the melodic glory of an orchestra, so too this radical diversity of the communion of saints blends into one magnificent hymn of praise to God. The communion is the result of a common union: union with Jesus Christ.

BBC

Italian man shot in head sneezes out bullet and lives

An Italian man has astonished doctors by sneezing a bullet out through his nose after being shot in the head.

Darco Sangermano, 28, had been taken to hospital in Naples for emergency treatment after being hit by a stray bullet during New Year's Eve celebrations.

The bullet passed behind his right eye and lodged in his nostril, but miraculously did no serious damage.

He is expected to make a full recovery, doctors say.

Mr Sangermano had spent New Year's Eve with his girlfriend in Naples.

As the city sky exploded in a traditional celebration of fireworks, firecrackers - and the occasional high-spirited blast of firearms - he was wandering the streets when a stray .22 calibre bullet struck him on the side of the head, behind his right eye.

Bleeding heavily, he was rushed to hospital.

But while he was waiting for doctors he sneezed - and the bullet popped out of his right nostril.

Doctors say it had been slowed down when it hit his skull - which almost certainly saved his sight, as well as his life.

Mr Sangermano is expected to undergo laser surgery on his right eye's damaged retina.

under drugs?

Ice diving is all part of the training for Istvan Papp, a member of a Hungarian special rescue team. In a frozen pond in Nyireghaza, 245 kilometers (152 miles) east of Budapest, Papp and his team mates had to cut through ice with a knife and learn how to break through a thick layer of ice from underneath as part of their emergency training.

St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch

January 11
529

Abbot and founder. Born at Garissus, Cappadocia (modern Turkey), in 423, he undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and after meeting with the famed St. Simeon Stylites, he entered a monastery. Later, he was named the head of a church between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, but departed to live as a hermit near the Dead Sea. As he attracted a large number of followers, Theodosius established a monastery which was divided among the various nationalities of the monks (Greek, Armenian, etc.), each with their own church. Appointed by the patriarch of Jerusalem to the post of visitor to all the cenobitical communities of Palestine, he used his influence as cenobiarch to oppose the spread of the heretical doctrines of Eutychianism, displaying such zeal in his preaching that Emperor Anastasius I (r. 491-518), who was sympathetic to the Eutychians, exiled him. Recalled by Emperor Justin soon after Anastasius' death, Theodosius spent his last years in poor health.

.

Created in His Image    

We were created in the likeness of an infinite God whose grandeur surpasses all earthly categories. The more perfectly we embrace this divine image, as the saints have done, the more expansive we become.

Quote from: islander on January 10, 2011, 11:17:00 PM
hahaha!  naklarong taga-new orleans ay. 

bitaw uy, di ko kasabot nganong ang women's attire during weddings nowadays mora naman ug cocktail dresses.  wa lang untay bare shoulders kun sa simbahan ang kasal.  (note women nos. 2 and 5 in the picture, from left to right.  add the bride's attire and, yes, they may as well be in a mardi gras.)

Matud pa sa karon nga simbahan, panamastamas sa Mahal nga Birhen ang in-ani nga pangsapot, koyog sa orog.

St. Gregory of Nyssa
(c. 330-395)


The son of two saints, Basil and Emmilia, young Gregory was raised by his older brother, St. Basil the Great, and his sister, Macrina, in modern-day Turkey. Gregory's success in his studies suggested great things were ahead for him. After becoming a professor of rhetoric, he was persuaded to devote his learning and efforts to the Church. By then married, Gregory went on to study for the priesthood and become ordained (this at a time when celibacy was not a matter of law for priests).

He was elected Bishop of Nyssa (in Lower Armenia) in 372, a period of great tension over the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. Briefly arrested after being falsely accused of embezzling Church funds, Gregory was restored to his see in 378, an act met with great joy by his people.

It was after the death of his beloved brother, Basil, that Gregory really came into his own. He wrote with great effectiveness against Arianism and other questionable doctrines, gaining a reputation as a defender of orthodoxy. He was sent on missions to counter other heresies and held a position of prominence at the Council of Constantinople. His fine reputation stayed with him for the remainder of his life, but over the centuries it gradually declined as the authorship of his writings became less and less certain. But, thanks to the work of scholars in the 20th century, his stature is once again appreciated. Indeed, St. Gregory of Nyssa is seen not simply as a pillar of orthodoxy but as one of the great contributors to the mystical tradition in Christian spirituality and to monasticism itself.


Comment:

Orthodoxy is a word that raises red flags in our minds. It connotes rigid attitudes that make no room for honest differences of opinion. But it might just as well suggest something else: faith that has settled deep in one’s bones. Gregory’s faith was like that. So deeply imbedded was his faith in Jesus that he knew the divinity that Arianism denied. When we resist something offered as truth without knowing exactly why, it may be because our faith has settled in our bones.

St. William of Bourges

William de Don Jeon was born at Nevers France. He was educated by his uncle Peter, archdeacon of Soissons, became a canon of Soissons and of Paris and then became a monk at Grandmont Abbey. He became a Cistercian at Pontigny, served as Abbot at Fontaine-Jean in Sens, and in 1187 became Abbot at Chalis near Senlis. He was named Archbishop of Bourges in 1200, accepted on the order of Pope Innocent III and his Cistercian superior, lived a life of great austerity, was in great demand as a confessor, aided the poor of his See, defended ecclesiastical rights against seculars, even the king, and converted many Albigensians during his missions to them. He died at Bourges on January 10, and was canonized in 1218 by Pope Honorius III. His feast day is January 10th.

Glory Be to the Trinity

Glory be to the Father, who yearns for our wholeness. Glory be to the Son, who loves us eternally. Glory be to the Holy Spirit, who dreams with us about the days to come. Amen.

Part 2: Honor and Virginity



For the girls, the worst thing is to be stigmatized as prostitutes, says Leila. "The entire family's honor is dependent on the virginity of the daughters." Sometimes girls call their fathers from her office at Papatya, only to hear shouted responses like: "Now you're a whore."

In many cases, the only solution for girls who have lost their virginity is reconstruction of the hymen. Although German health insurance agencies do not pay for the procedure, counseling centers offer discounted rates as low as â,¬130 ($171), which is one-tenth the usual fee. The demand is apparently as great as the hope that a small piece of skin can save everything for the girls: honor, love and family harmony.

The counselors at Papatya are also aware of the drawbacks of hymen reconstruction, which they say only reinforces the girls' sense of guilt. "They are living a constant lie," says Leila.

Fear and shame also cause many young women to suppress their pregnancies and, when they have no other options, to obtain illegal late-term abortions. In theory, such abortions should not be necessary, because an exception is often made in Germany for underage Muslim girls. If a girl can prove that her life would be in danger if her family discovered her pregnancy, the parental consent requirement is waived for an early abortion.
A Matter of Life and Death

Nevertheless, it is too late by the time many of them arrive at the practice of Dr. Petra Schneider. She seems nervous as she closes the door of her stark examination room. She is afraid of being prosecuted, because the help she offers her female patients is illegal. "The girls usually don't come here alone. Sometimes the mother or the boyfriend comes along. All of them want the same thing: They want it to happen quickly, and to prevent anyone in the family from finding out," she says quietly. A recent patient was a 16-year-old Turkish girl who arrived with her German boyfriend and his mother. The young woman had concealed her pregnancy for six months, wearing baggy clothing and saying that she had gained weight. The family, says Schneider, was only too pleased to believe her.
"End Your Silence, Not Your Life"

At the end of the conversation, Schneider shows this reporter the text of the law that defines advertising for abortion services as a crime -- yet another reason why people are unwilling to reveal their real names when discussing the issue.

"End your silence, not your life," reads a slogan on posters the Charité Hospital puts up in neighborhoods with large Turkish and Arab populations. The posters include the number of a crisis hotline.

Meryam Schouler-Ocak, a senior physician in psychiatry at Charité who runs the Suicide Prevention Initiative for Women With Turkish Immigrant Backgrounds, is behind the campaign. Schouler-Ocak, a petite woman with alert eyes, came to Germany from a Turkish village as a young girl. Before discussing her patients, she says, she feels that it is important to emphasize that honor killings and late-term abortions are not the only realities in the Turkish immigrant community, and that some women in the community live emancipated lives. "The people in my circle of friends and acquaintances all allow their daughters every freedom. Of course, they're all academics," she says.

Nevertheless, Schouler-Ocak is convinced that a liberal worldview and, most of all, equality of the sexes are not widespread among people of Turkish origin in Germany.
Control and Suspicion

Gülay, the young woman from Neukölln, thought long and hard about saving up the money for a hymen reconstruction. Five years ago, her first boyfriend broke up with her after having promised to marry her. After that, other men behaved in the same way, because, as Gülay believes, she was already "dirty."

She and her first boyfriend reconciled a year ago. They were married in March, but only after Gülay had promised him that there had been no one else in her life.

Six weeks later, she left her husband because she couldn't endure his need for control and his suspicions. Now she is living at home with her religious mother once again.

Today, she says, she is only interested in marrying a man who doesn't care about virginity. "You just have to find the right one," she says.

this is quite long so I divide this into 2 parts, very interesting;

Taboos and Fear among Muslim Girls
By Güner Balci

Young Muslim women are often forced to lead double lives in Europe. They have sex in public restrooms and stuff mobile phones in their bras to hide their secret existences from strict families. They are often forbidden from visiting gynecologists or receiving sex ed. In the worst cases, they undergo hymen reconstruction surgery, have late-term abortions or even commit suicide
Gülay, 22, lives in Berlin's Neukölln, a district that is home to a high number of Muslim immigrants, and has little in common with the cliché of the "girl with the headscarf." She wears tight jeans, low-cut blouses and has long hair that she doesn't keep covered. She is self-confident and looks people in the eye. Gülay plans to begin a training program to work as an airport ground hostess next year. At first glance, she comes across as a poster child for successful integration
Gülay is thinking about how best to sum up her dilemma. She nervously stirs her tea before launching into a litany of complaints. "The boys can screw around as much as they want, but if a girl does it she can expect to be shot," she says. "That's just sick." She first had sex five years ago, and it completely changed her life. Since then, she has been deathly afraid of being branded by her family as a dishonorable girl -- or, worst yet, punished and cast out.
"The problems these women face are caused by the patriarchal and traditional structures in families," says Berlin's commissioner for integration and migration, Günter Piening. According to Piening, youth welfare agencies, government offices and schools have been educated on the issue for years, "but a lot remains to be done."

Being Home by 8 p.m.

Of course, these problems do not exclusively affect Muslim groups. Young women in other social groups also suffer as a result of strict moral codes and domestic violence. And there are also Muslim families in which the daughters lead a modern, self-determined life, a fact that Piening and other politicians are quick to point out.
his helps to explain why many girls with Turkish and Arab origins are so candid about their double lives, but only as long as they are not named.

One of the places where they are more likely to speak their minds is a Berlin youth club for girls from devout families, which is strictly off-limits to boys -- the perfect place for Gülay and her girlfriends to meet. Otherwise, they are not permitted to go out. Going to a party is tantamount to turning tricks, and girls who are not home by 8 p.m., when shops close, need a good excuse to explain their tardiness.

The only freedom these girls enjoy is at school, while shopping or in youth clubs. "When I go home I hide my mobile phone in my underwear," says Sibel, giggling as she extracts a mobile phone from her bra. "I'm not allowed to have a mobile phone or talk to boys. What else should I do?"
Taking a boy home would almost be suicidal, say the girls at the youth club. The thought alone is so unheard-of that it triggers hysterical laughter. They rattle off the places where they have their rendezvous: hallways, park benches or the public restroom on Boddin Square in Neukölln, where person can get 20 minutes of privacy for 50 cents. Some girls are lucky enough to have a boyfriend with his own car or who can at least afford to pay â,¬20 ($27) for a hotel room.
Connecting with a Hotline

And what happens then?

Papatya, a Berlin crisis center and shelter for girls of Turkish origin, provides neither an address nor a telephone number on his website. For more than 20 years, Papatya has been offering protection and shelter to young immigrant girls and women fleeing domestic violence. The organization is careful to keep its identity and whereabouts a secret. When it comes to injured family honor, anyone who so much as helps the girls can quickly get into danger.

Ben, you are right, Davao is something especial. I´m contemplating to sell my house in Tagbi and relocate in Davao City.

The Black Nazarene, known to devotees as Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno de Quiapo ("Our Father Jesus Nazarene of Quiapo"), is a life-sized, dark-coloured, wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ, held to be miraculous by many Filipino devotees. The Black Nazarene is currently enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene is celebrated every January 9 with the weekly Friday Masses held in its honour beginning on the first Friday of the year.

The statue's original carver is an anonymous Mexican carpenter, and the image arrived in the archipelago by galleon from Acapulco, Mexico. Folk tradition attributes the colour of the Black Nazarene to a fire on the ship carrying it, charring the image from its original fair tone into its present dark complexion.

The image was brought to the Philippines by the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries on May 31, 1606. It was initially enshrined in the first Recollect church in Bagumbayan (now part of Rizal Park). On September 10, 1606, the church was inaugurated and placed under the patronage of St. John the Baptist. In 1608, the image was transferred to the second bigger Recollect church of San Nicolas de Tolentino built in Intramuros. Between 1767 and 1790, the Archbishop of Manila, Basilio Sancho de Santas Justa y Rufina, ordered the transfer of the Black Nazarene to its present location within the Quiapo church.

Today, the image borne in procession consists of the original body of the Black Nazarene connected to a replica of the head, while the original head portion of the statue remains on a replica of the body enshrined within the high altar of the basilica. An exception to this setup was during the 2007 feast, where both the original head and the body were combined in celebration of the Black Nazarene's 400 year history.

St. Adrian of Canterbury
(d. 710)

Though St. Adrian turned down a papal request to become Archbishop of Canterbury, England, Pope St. Vitalian accepted the rejection on the condition that Adrian serve as the Holy Father’s assistant and adviser. Adrian accepted, but ended up spending most of his life and doing most of his work in Canterbury.

Born in Africa, Adrian was serving as an abbot in Italy when the new Archbishop of Canterbury appointed him abbot of the monastery of Sts. Peter and Paul in Canterbury. Thanks to his leadership skills, the facility became one of the most important centers of learning. The school attracted many outstanding scholars from far and wide and produced numerous future bishops and archbishops. Students reportedly learned Greek and Latin and spoke Latin as well as their own native languages.

Adrian taught at the school for 40 years. He died there, probably in the year 710, and was buried in the monastery. Several hundred years later, when reconstruction was being done, Adrian’s body was discovered in an incorrupt state. As word spread, people flocked to his tomb, which became famous for miracles. Rumor had it that young schoolboys in trouble with their masters made regular visits there.

We Are All Equal

There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. â€"Mother Teresa

This was owned by Gary Lanuza, a pastor. I don't think lolokohin nya ang mga tao since he is preaching the words of GOD

I admire your sense of humor!

OXFORD, England (CNS)â€"The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, one of Europe's best-known pilgrimage sites, has been partially closed for repairs amid reports that falling rocks in its fabled grotto could signal a major landslide.

Work to secure the massive rock face above the grotto started Jan. 3 and was expected to continue through February, said the Diocese of Tarbes and Lourdes.

Despite the work, the grotto would remain "open and welcoming" during construction, the diocese said.

Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes detailed some of the work to be completed during a December news conference. He said the celebration of Mass would be canceled but that the daily rosary service at 3 p.m. would continue until repairs are completed.

"The rope inspection revealed that the rock on the northwest side has been affected during bad weather by very high humidity, which has led to the development of vegetation," Bishop Perrier explained.

"These conditions have contributed to erosions in the rock, principally horizontal, which have caused water to stagnate in the stone and split it when frozen. Year by year, the rock is shifting," he said.

The project will find workers affixing lose chunks of rock, some weighing up to 15 tons, to the existing rock face. Safety nets also will be installed to catch any rocks that may fall in the future.

Lourdes, near the Pyrenees mountains in southern France, attracts about 6 million visitors annually and has been a place of pilgrimage since 1858, when St. Bernardette Soubirous experienced the first of 18 visions of Mary.

Blessed Angela of Foligno
(1248-1309)


Some saints show marks of holiness very early. Not Angela! Born of a leading family in Foligno, she became immersed in the quest for wealth and social position. As a wife and mother, she continued this life of distraction.

Around the age of 40 she recognized the emptiness of her life and sought God’s help in the Sacrament of Penance. Her Franciscan confessor helped Angela to seek God’s pardon for her previous life and to dedicate herself to prayer and the works of charity.

Shortly after her conversion, her husband and children died. Selling most of her possessions, she entered the Secular Franciscan Order. She was alternately absorbed by meditating on the crucified Christ and by serving the poor of Foligno as a nurse and beggar for their needs. Other women joined her in a religious community.

At her confessor’s advice, Angela wrote her Book of Visions and Instructions. In it she recalls some of the temptations she suffered after her conversion; she also expresses her thanks to God for the Incarnation of Jesus. This book and her life earned for Angela the title "Teacher of Theologians." She was beatified in 1693.


Comment:

People who live in the United States today can understand Blessed Angela’s temptation to increase her sense of self-worth by accumulating money, fame or power. Striving to possess more and more, she became more and more self-centered. When she realized she was priceless because she was created and loved by God, she became very penitential and very charitable to the poor. What had seemed foolish early in her life now became very important. The path of self-emptying she followed is the path all holy men and women must follow.

Quote:

Pope John Paul II writes: “Christ the Redeemer of the World is the one who penetrated in a unique, unrepeatable way into the mystery of the human person and entered our ‘hearts.’ Rightly therefore does the Second Vatican Council teach: ‘The truth is that only in the mystery of the Incarnate Word does the mystery of the human person take on light.... Christ the New Adam, in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and his love, fully reveals human beings to themselves and brings to light their most high calling’” (Redemptor Hominis, .

Center of the Universe

We must be humble enough to recognize that we are not the center of the universe, but faithful enough to know that God frequently acts as though we are.

porbida nakaso sab na dinhe sa Germany, taas ang contamination, 77% than the tolerable amount. I have to refrain from baking and omelet.

Grace is God’s enabling power. His grace will give you the strength, wisdom and favor to accomplish what you could not normally accomplish on your own. His grace is sufficient for whatever you need in your future. Receive His grace today, by faith, and let Him empower you to walk through that difficulty into a place of supernatural victory in Jesus’ name!

Pastilan wah maapil, noh? ok
butang  nato sa no. 21!!

too good to be true, kung ikaw ay pekeh saan ka namin hahanapin?

This is so sad, in times like this when human life has not much value.

January 7
Patron of Canonists

St. Raymond of Pennafort, Patron Saint of Canonists (Feast day - January 7) Born in Spain, St. Raymond was a relative of the King of Aragon. From childhood he had a tender love and devotion to the Blessed Mother. He finished his studies at an early age, and became a famous teacher. He then gave up all his honors and entered the Order of the Dominicans. St. Raymond was very humble and very close to God. He did much penance and was so good and kind that he won many sinners to God. With King James of Aragon and St. Peter Nolasco he founded the Order of Our Lady of Ransom. The brave religious of this Order devoted themselves to saving poor Christians captured by the Moors.

Once he went with King James to the Island of Majorca to preach about Jesus. King James was a man of great qualities, but he let himself be ruled by passions. There on the Island, too, he was giving bad example. The Saint commanded him to send the woman away. The King said he would, but he did not keep his promise. So St. Raymond decided to leave the Island. The King declared he would punish any ship captain who brought the Saint back to Barcelona. Putting all his trust in God, Saint Raymond spread his cloak upon the water, tied up one corner of it to a stick for a sail, made the Sign of the Cross, stepped onto the cloak, and sailed along for six hours until he reached Barcelona. This miracle moved the King. He was sorry for what he had done, and he became a true follower of St. Raymond. St. Raymond was one hundred years old at the time of his death.

Discernment    

If our choices are based on trying to discern God’s will in our lives, it’s far better than OKâ€"it’s what we’re called to do as Christians.

A collapsed deer was rescued from the frozen surface of a lake by the fire department in Voerde in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia on Wednesday. The fire brigade used ropes to pull the exhausted but uninjured animal to safety. The lake near the town of Voerde is completely frozen over, and the fire team also had to perform a number of animal rescues on Tuesday.

BBC

Witches threaten Romanian taxman after new labour law

Self-declared witches in Romania are preparing to curse the country's rulers publicly for taxing their profession under an amended labour law.Poisonous mandrake plants are due to be hurled into the River Danube and queen witch Bratara Buzea has devised a spell involving cat dung and a dead dog.
Their professions, along with those of witch, astrologer, fortune teller and embalmer, were not listed in the previous labour code, and therefore not subject to tax.

But now they have been classified as self-employed, as part of the cash-strapped government's push to collect more revenue and crack down on tax evasion.

Witchcraft, widely regarded in Europe as superstition, continues to fascinate some Romanians.

Accusations of sorcery have arisen in politics, the legal system and other areas of public life in recent years.


Alisia, one of a dozen witches planning to hurl mandrake plants to bring "evil" on Romania's president and government, said her income was so small, the idea of taxing it was "foolish"."They steal and they come to us asking us to put spells on their enemies," she said.Payments to witches and astrologers are usually made in cash and are relatively small at up to 30 lei (£6, 7 euros, $9) per consultation, AP reports.

nindot sa iyong tingog no?

Today is a big feast in Cologne. Dedicated to the saints Peter and Mary, Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. Cologne Cathedral is the greatest Gothic cathedral in Germany and has been Cologne's most famous landmark for centuries. Once the tallest building in the world, Cologne Cathedral still boasts the world's largest church façade.

The cathedral's main treasure is a golden reliquary containing the remains of the Three Magi of Christmas story fame. These relics and other treasures have made Cologne Cathedral a major pilgrimage destination for centuries.The cathedral suffered 14 hits by World War II aerial bombs but did not collapse and reconstruction was completed in 1956. In the northwest tower's base, an emergency repair carried out with bad-quality brickstones taken from a nearby war ruin remained visible until the late 1990s as a reminder of the War, but then it was decided to reconstruct this section according to the original appearance. It is possible to climb a spiral staircase to a viewing platform about 98 metres above the ground.

In 1996, the cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List of culturally important sites and in 2004, it was placed on the "World Heritage in Danger" list.

nside, the most celebrated work of art in the cathedral is the Sarcophagus of the Magi, a large gilded sarcophagus dating to around 1200. The largest reliquary in the western world, the exterior is seven feet of gilded silver and jewels. Images of Old Testament prophets line the bottom and the 12 apostles decorate the top. Inside, the reliquary holds three golden-crowned skulls believed to belong to the Three Magi.

The Gero Cross (Gero-Kreuz), near the sacristy, is the oldest surviving monumental crucifix north of the Alps. Carved in 976 in a style ahead of its time, the crucifix depicts Jesus neither suffering nor triumphant, but with his eyes closed, dead. It is both a powerful religious image and a wonderful piece of art. With the Magi reliquary and the Madonna of Milan, the Gero Cross is one of the three major pilgrim stops in the cathedral.

The Chapel of the Virgin (Marienkapelle) contains The Patron Saints of Köln, painted in 1442 by Stefan Lochner. The painting is notable for its photographic realism (note the varieties of herbs in the foreground) and believable depth.

In the Sacrament Chapel is the Madonna of Milan (Mailänder Madonna), an elegant wooden sculpture depicting Mary and the child Jesus. Made in the Cologne Cathedral workshop around 1290, this High Gothic statue is associated with miracles and has attracted pilgrims for centuries. It is probably a replacement for an even older statue, which was brought to Cologne with the relics of the Three Magi by Rainald von Dassel and destroyed in the fire of 1248.

Another important statue of the Virgin Mary, which attracts the most attention from today's pilgrims and worshippers, is the miracle-working Jeweled Madonna in the north transept. Only the heads of the Virgin and Child can be seen; the remainder of the statue is dressed in a gown of white silk (last renewed in 1991) pinned with jewels and other ex-votos. The sculpture is Baroque and dates from the late 17th century.



South side

Breathtaking Gothic-looking east!

An evening service in the choir, watched over by the Three Magi.


The golden Shrine of the Magi, studded with Byzantine jewels.

The 10th-century Gero Cross.


Ex-votos (gifts) pinned to the dress of the miraculous Jeweled Madonna.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/cologne-cathedral

Massive ice sculptures form a magical frozen city. These sculptures are part of the 27th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, in China's northern Heilongjiang province. The festival, which opened on Jan. 5, 2011, is an annual three-month event featuring hundreds of activities related to snow and ice.

St. André Bessette
(1845-1937)





Brother André expressed a saint’s faith by a lifelong devotion to St. Joseph.

Sickness and weakness dogged André from birth. He was the eighth of 12 children born to a French Canadian couple near Montreal. Adopted at 12, when both parents had died, he became a farmhand. Various trades followed: shoemaker, baker, blacksmithâ€"all failures. He was a factory worker in the United States during the boom times of the Civil War.

At 25, he applied for entrance into the Congregation of the Holy Cross. After a year’s novitiate, he was not admitted because of his weak health. But with an extension and the urging of Bishop Bourget (see Marie-Rose Durocher, October 6), he was finally received. He was given the humble job of doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal, with additional duties as sacristan, laundry worker and messenger. “When I joined this community, the superiors showed me the door, and I remained 40 years.”

In his little room near the door, he spent much of the night on his knees. On his windowsill, facing Mount Royal, was a small statue of St. Joseph, to whom he had been devoted since childhood. When asked about it he said, “Some day, St. Joseph is going to be honored in a very special way on Mount Royal!”

When he heard someone was ill, he visited to bring cheer and to pray with the sick person. He would rub the sick person lightly with oil taken from a lamp burning in the college chapel. Word of healing powers began to spread.

When an epidemic broke out at a nearby college, André volunteered to nurse. Not one person died. The trickle of sick people to his door became a flood. His superiors were uneasy; diocesan authorities were suspicious; doctors called him a quack. “I do not cure,” he said again and again. “St. Joseph cures.” In the end he needed four secretaries to handle the 80,000 letters he received each year.

For many years the Holy Cross authorities had tried to buy land on Mount Royal. Brother André and others climbed the steep hill and planted medals of St. Joseph. Suddenly, the owners yielded. André collected 200 dollars to build a small chapel and began receiving visitors thereâ€"smiling through long hours of listening, applying St. Joseph’s oil. Some were cured, some not. The pile of crutches, canes and braces grew.

The chapel also grew. By 1931 there were gleaming walls, but money ran out. “Put a statue of St. Joseph in the middle. If he wants a roof over his head, he’ll get it.” The magnificent Oratory on Mount Royal took 50 years to build. The sickly boy who could not hold a job died at 92.

He is buried at the Oratory and was beatified in 1982. At his canonization in October 2010, Pope Benedict XVI said that St. Andre "lived the beatitude of the pure of heart."


Comment:

Rubbing ailing limbs with oil or a medal? Planting a medal to buy land? Isn’t this superstition? Aren’t we long past that?

Superstitious people rely only on the “magic” of a word or action. Brother André’s oil and medals were authentic sacramentals of a simple, total faith in the Father who lets his saints help him bless his children.


Quote:

“It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures,” said St. André Bessette.

Depend on God

While the world is filled with God’s overflowing goodness, it is poverty that allows one to experience this goodness by becoming radically dependent on God.

A photograph taken by a Philippine politician moments before he was shot dead has led to the arrest of his suspected killer.

Reynaldo Dagsa, a Manila district councillor, took a photo of his family outside their house on New Year's Day.

Unknowingly, a man raising his gun to fire was included in the background of the snap.

The family gave the photo to police who have now detained a man on suspicion of murder.

The killer is shown in the photograph wearing a back-to-front baseball cap just behind Mr Dagsa's daughter, wife and mother-in-law, who were unaware of his presence.

"While he was taking the picture of his family on New Year's Day, the killer appeared and he inadvertently took the picture of the killer with the gun aimed at him," local police chief Jude Santos told the AFP news agency.

Gun violence plagues the Philippines, with cheap firearms easily available on the legal and black markets.



What a fate!

St. John Neumann
(1811-1860)



John Neumann was born in what is now the Czech Republic. After studying in Prague, he came to New York at 25 and was ordained a priest. He did missionary work in New York until he was 29, when he joined the Redemptorists and became its first member to profess vows in the United States. He continued missionary work in Maryland, Virginia and Ohio, where he became popular with the Germans.

At 41, as bishop of Philadelphia, he organized the parochial school system into a diocesan one, increasing the number of pupils almost twentyfold within a short time.

Gifted with outstanding organizing ability, he drew into the city many teaching communities of sisters and the Christian Brothers. During his brief assignment as vice provincial for the Redemptorists, he placed them in the forefront of the parochial movement.

Well-known for his holiness and learning, spiritual writing and preaching, on October 13, 1963, John Neumann became the first American bishop to be beatified. Canonized in 1977, he is buried in St. Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia.


Comment:

Neumann took seriously our Lord’s words, “Go and teach all nations.” From Christ he received his instructions and the power to carry them out. For Christ does not give a mission without supplying the means to accomplish it. The Father’s gift in Christ to John Neumann was his exceptional organizing ability, which he used to spread the Good News.

Today the Church is in dire need of men and women to continue in our times the teaching of the Good News. The obstacles and inconveniences are real and costly. Yet when Christians approach Christ, he supplies the necessary talents to answer today’s needs. The Spirit of Christ continues his work through the instrumentality of generous Christians.


Quote:

“All people of whatever race, condition or age, in virtue of their dignity as human persons, have an inalienable right to education. This education should be suitable to the particular destiny of the individuals, adapted to their ability, sex and national cultural traditions, and should be conducive to amicable relations with other nations in order to promote true unity and peace in the world. True education aims to give people a formation which is directed towards their final end and the good of that society to which they belong and in which, as adults, they will have their share of duties to perform.” (Declaration on Christian Education, 1, Austin Flannery translation).

Uphill Battles    

St. John Neumann, we come to you because you must be the patron of uphill battles. Pray that we might walk humbly with our God. We honor your courage and ask that you will be our special advocate in our private uphill battles. Amen.

Snow-covered boats on the frozen Songhua River in China are seen illuminated in the glow from lights in a nearby restaurant on Monday. The river flows through the northern city of Harbin in Heilongjiang province. Northern China has experienced its heaviest snow in decades, causing chaos on the roads and stranding thousands of passengers at airports. Over the weekend, Beijing saw its heaviest snowfall since 1951, according to local media.

Congrats, our future leaders, hopefully with dignity and pride.

Adam Malysz of Poland competes during the Four Hills World Cup Tournament in Innsbruck, Austria, on Monday. The former competition champion is currently in second place going into the final event in the prestigious ski jumping tournament on Thursday in Bischofshofen, Austria. He is trailing Austrian Thomas Morgenstern, who currently leads by 27.3 points. The world famous event, which has taken place annually since 1952, is held in Oberstdorf, Germany, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Innsbruck, Austria, and Bischofshofen, Austria.

This is a wonderful photo,you can appreciate the aesthetic of females´body, okay guys relax ginagmay! Take a deep breath!

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
(1774-1821)




Mother Seton is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church. She founded the first American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage. All this she did in the span of 46 years while raising her five children.

Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a true daughter of the American Revolution, born August 28, 1774, just two years before the Declaration of Independence. By birth and marriage, she was linked to the first families of New York and enjoyed the fruits of high society. Reared a staunch Episcopalian by her mother and stepmother, she learned the value of prayer, Scripture and a nightly examination of conscience. Her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, did not have much use for churches but was a great humanitarian, teaching his daughter to love and serve others.

The early deaths of her mother in 1777 and her baby sister in 1778 gave Elizabeth a feel for eternity and the temporariness of the pilgrim life on earth. Far from being brooding and sullen, she faced each new “holocaust,” as she put it, with hopeful cheerfulness.

At 19, Elizabeth was the belle of New York and married a handsome, wealthy businessman, William Magee Seton. They had five children before his business failed and he died of tuberculosis. At 30, Elizabeth was widowed, penniless, with five small children to support.

While in Italy with her dying husband, Elizabeth witnessed Catholicity in action through family friends. Three basic points led her to become a Catholic: belief in the Real Presence, devotion to the Blessed Mother and conviction that the Catholic Church led back to the apostles and to Christ. Many of her family and friends rejected her when she became a Catholic in March 1805.

To support her children, she opened a school in Baltimore. From the beginning, her group followed the lines of a religious community, which was officially founded in 1809.

The thousand or more letters of Mother Seton reveal the development of her spiritual life from ordinary goodness to heroic sanctity. She suffered great trials of sickness, misunderstanding, the death of loved ones (her husband and two young daughters) and the heartache of a wayward son. She died January 4, 1821, and became the first American-born citizen to be beatified (1963) and then canonized (1975). She is buried in Emmitsburg, Maryland.


Comment:

Elizabeth Seton had no extraordinary gifts. She was not a mystic or stigmatic. She did not prophesy or speak in tongues. She had two great devotions: abandonment to the will of God and an ardent love for the Blessed Sacrament. She wrote to a friend, Julia Scott, that she would prefer to exchange the world for a “cave or a desert.” “But God has given me a great deal to do, and I have always and hope always to prefer his will to every wish of my own.” Her brand of sanctity is open to everyone if we love God and do his will.

Quote:

Elizabeth Seton told her sisters, “The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills it; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will.”

Patron Saint of:

Loss of parents

Renewed Vigor    
God, help us to look beyond the
bounds of earth and lift our souls into the realm of dancing specters. Protect us through the winter night that we might rise to the morning with a renewed vigor for life. Amen.

Ang kasing-kasing ni David nag lukso-lukso!

Pu-asa man kining tambaga!

Most Holy Name of Jesus



In a world of fiercely guarded corporate names and logos, it should be easy to understand this feast. The letters IHS are an abbreviation of Jesous, the Greek name for Jesus.

Although St. Paul might claim credit for promoting devotion to the Holy Name because Paul wrote in Philippians that God the Father gave Christ Jesus “that name that is above every name” (see 2:9), this devotion became popular because of 12th-century Cistercian monks and nuns but especially through the preaching of St. Bernardine of Siena, a 15th-century Franciscan.

Bernardine used devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus as a way of overcoming bitter and often bloody class struggles and family rivalries or vendettas in Italian city-states. The devotion grew, partly because of Franciscan and Dominican preachers. It spread even more widely after the Jesuits began promoting it in the 16th century.

In 1530, Pope Clement V approved an Office of the Holy Name for the Franciscans. In 1721, Pope Innocent XIII extended this feast to the entire Church.


Comment:

Jesus died and rose for the sake of all people. No one can trademark or copyright Jesus' name. Jesus is the Son of God and son of Mary. Everything that exists was created in and through the Son of God (see Colossians 1:15-20). The name of Jesus is debased if any Christian uses it as justification for berating non-Christians. Jesus reminds us that because we are all related to him we are, therefore, all related to one another.

Quote:

“Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful. You bring honor to those who believe, you teach those who preach, you give strength to the toiler, you sustain the weary” (St. Bernardine of Siena).

God, Keep Us Warm    

Blessed Keeper of the Night, surround us in your silent presence. As the world darkens into winter’s death, keep our spirits warm in the blanket of your love.

St. Basil the Great
and Gregory Nazianzen
(329-379)


Basil was on his way to becoming a famous teacher when he decided to begin a religious life of gospel poverty. After studying various modes of religious life, he founded what was probably the first monastery in Asia Minor. He is to monks of the East what St. Benedict is to the West, and his principles influence Eastern monasticism today.

He was ordained a priest, assisted the archbishop of Caesarea (now southeastern Turkey), and ultimately became archbishop himself, in spite of opposition from some of his suffragan bishops, probably because they foresaw coming reforms.

One of the most damaging heresies in the history of the Church, Arianism, which denied the divinity of Christ, was at its height. Emperor Valens persecuted orthodox believers, and put great pressure on Basil to remain silent and admit the heretics to communion. Basil remained firm, and Valens backed down. But trouble remained. When the great St. Athanasius (May 2) died, the mantle of defender of the faith against Arianism fell upon Basil. He strove mightily to unite and rally his fellow Catholics who were crushed by tyranny and torn by internal dissension. He was misunderstood, misrepresented, accused of heresy and ambition. Even appeals to the pope brought no response. “For my sins I seem to be unsuccessful in everything.”

He was tireless in pastoral care. He preached twice a day to huge crowds, built a hospital that was called a wonder of the world (as a youth he had organized famine relief and worked in a soup kitchen himself) and fought the prostitution business.

Basil was best known as an orator. His writings, though not recognized greatly in his lifetime, rightly place him among the great teachers of the Church. Seventy-two years after his death, the Council of Chalcedon described him as “the great Basil, minister of grace who has expounded the truth to the whole earth.”


Comment:

As the French say, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” Basil faced the same problems as modern Christians. Sainthood meant trying to preserve the spirit of Christ in such perplexing and painful problems as reform, organization, fighting for the poor, maintaining balance and peace in misunderstanding.

Quote:

St. Basil said: “The bread which you do not use is the bread of the hungry; the garment hanging in your wardrobe is the garment of him who is naked; the shoes that you do not wear are the shoes of the one who is barefoot; the money that you keep locked away is the money of the poor; the acts of charity that you do not perform are so many injustices that you commit.”

Gregory Nazianzen (329-390). After his baptism at 30, Gregory gladly accepted his friend Basil’s invitation to join him in a newly founded monastery. The solitude was broken when Gregory’s father, a bishop, needed help in his diocese and estate. It seems that Gregory was ordained a priest practically by force, and only reluctantly accepted the responsibility. He skillfully avoided a schism that threatened when his own father made compromises with Arianism. At 41, Gregory was chosen as bishop of a diocese near Caesarea and at once came into conflict with Valens, the emperor, who supported the Arians. An unfortunate by-product of the battle was the cooling of the friendship of two saints. Basil, his archbishop, sent him to a miserable and unhealthy town on the border of unjustly created divisions in his diocese. Basil reproached Gregory for not going to his see.

When protection for Arianism ended with the death of Valens, Gregory was called to rebuild the faith in the great see of Constantinople, which had been under Arian teachers for three decades. Retiring and sensitive, he dreaded being drawn into the whirlpool of corruption and violence. He first stayed at a friend’s home, which became the only orthodox church in the city. In such surroundings, he began giving the great sermons on the Trinity for which he is famous. In time, Gregory did rebuild the faith in the city, but at the cost of great suffering, slander, insults and even personal violence. An interloper even tried to take over his archdiocese.

His last days were spent in solitude and austerity. He wrote religious poetry, some of it autobiographical, of great depth and beauty. He was acclaimed simply as “the Theologian.”

COMMENT: It may be small comfort, but turmoil in the Church today is a mild storm compared to the devastation caused by the Arian heresy, a trauma the Church has never forgotten. Christ did not promise the kind of peace we would love to haveâ€"no problems, no opposition, no pain. In one way or another, holiness is always the way of the cross.

QUOTE: “God accepts our desires as though they were a great value. He longs ardently for us to desire and love him. He accepts our petitions for benefits as though we were doing him a favor. His joy in giving is greater than ours in receiving. So let us not be apathetic in our asking, nor set too narrow bounds to our requests; nor ask for frivolous things unworthy of God’s greatness.”




Patron Saint of:

Russia

Discover the Sacred    

Turn us into Magi, God. Boot us out of the familiar into the Holy City. Send us to the place where you dwell. As we leave the ordinary we discover the sacred, finding our heart’s delight hidden in the midst of your world.

http://english.freecopts.net/english/

At least 21 people were killed and 79 injured when a bomb exploded outside a Coptic Christian church in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria in the deadliest terrorist attack in Egypt since 2006.

The blast occurred after midnight as worshipers were leaving a New Year’s service, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on its website. “Foreign elements” appear to have been responsible for the blast, the ministry said, adding that it has beefed up security around churches nationwide “in light of the escalating threats from al-Qaeda to many countries.”

Al Qaeda’s branch in Iraq said in November it would attack Christian targets after it claimed Egypt’s Coptic Church was holding two women who had converted to Islam. The Church has denied this charge. No group has claimed responsibility for today’s blast.

Upon taking  a train this afternoon to Duesseldorf, I read their new monthly DeutscheBahn Magazine issue. On of the most interesting topic was about social business.
here are some exercpts from their webiste;
http://www.genisis-institute.org/107.html?&L=1

Social Business Management GmbH (SBM) aims to promote social entrepreneurship in a market environment to pave the way for an economy that is community-focused and socially and ecologically sustainable.
SBM consists of visionary leaders that are looking to help projects succeed. These mentors contribute with their experience and expertise: Entrepreneurs and investors, marketing and communications specialists, politicians and economists.

The Social Business Study will be published at the end of Februar 2009.

The illustration book "The Power of Dignity - The Grameen Family" was published at the end of December 2008 in Kamphausen Verlag.

The Impulse-book from Franz Alt and Peter Spiegel about Social Business will be published in April 2009, working title: "Wohlstand für alle ist möglich-Prosperity for All".

The book "Global Impact" (working title) will be published in Sommer 2009 in the Carl Hanser Verlag.

The already published studies and books can be bought in our Webshop.

I´m wondering if this could apply to us in our country.

para sa akong nadunggan ang UK ang nindot kay maka-apas dayon ang pamilya, gawas pa nga english speaking country.

Why did you say so? Or are you opinionated?

Doy, maajo na kay dili ka malibak!

Sikat sa India ang Suman kay artista man, apan ang suman kay Filipino cake wrapped in banana leaf, karon unsa on man pag short cut?

here´s our prayer to 2011;

Prayer for the Coming Year

Oh Thou, who art ever the same,
Grant us so to pass through
the coming year with faithful hearts,
that we may be able in all things
to please Thy loving eyes. Amen.
--Mozarabic, 700 A.D.

Mary, Mother of God


Mary’s divine motherhood broadens the Christmas spotlight. Mary has an important role to play in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. She consents to God’s invitation conveyed by the angel (Luke 1:26-38). Elizabeth proclaims: “Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:42-43, emphasis added). Mary’s role as mother of God places her in a unique position in God’s redemptive plan.

Without naming Mary, Paul asserts that “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4:4). Paul’s further statement that “God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out ‘Abba, Father!’“ helps us realize that Mary is mother to all the brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Some theologians also insist that Mary’s motherhood of Jesus is an important element in God’s creative plan. God’s “first” thought in creating was Jesus. Jesus, the incarnate Word, is the one who could give God perfect love and worship on behalf of all creation. As Jesus was “first” in God’s mind, Mary was “second” insofar as she was chosen from all eternity to be his mother.

The precise title “Mother of God” goes back at least to the third or fourth century. In the Greek form Theotokos (God-bearer), it became the touchstone of the Church’s teaching about the Incarnation. The Council of Ephesus in 431 insisted that the holy Fathers were right in calling the holy virgin Theotokos. At the end of this particular session, crowds of people marched through the street shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos!” The tradition reaches to our own day. In its chapter on Mary’s role in the Church, Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls Mary “Mother of God” 12 times.


Comment:

Other themes come together at today’s celebration. It is the Octave of Christmas: Our remembrance of Mary’s divine motherhood injects a further note of Christmas joy. It is a day of prayer for world peace: Mary is the mother of the Prince of Peace. It is the first day of a new year: Mary continues to bring new life to her childrenâ€"who are also God’s children.

Quote:

“The Blessed Virgin was eternally predestined, in conjunction with the incarnation of the divine Word, to be the Mother of God. By decree of divine Providence, she served on earth as the loving mother of the divine Redeemer, an associate of unique nobility, and the Lord’s humble handmaid. She conceived, brought forth, and nourished Christ” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 61).

God, Give Me Courage    

God of new beginnings, on this day of renewed faith, born again in hope, give me the courage to speak my dreams and place them in your hands. Give me the grace to move on them, to act on my desire to bring wholeness into my life. Amen.

The Happy Buddha, with a huge smile on his face and a large round belly, shows us the joy and the best of being who we really are.   No matter what the situation or circumstance is, he is always smiling.  He reminds us to smile and assure us that life is easy when seen from within. His large round belly symbolizes a good life and his very generous nature in  giving   joy and happiness.   

The Happy Buddha, also known as The Laughing Buddha, is a popular symbol of good fortune and the bringer of happiness.  The following are  some of his popular images:

--  A  Seated Happy Buddha:   He wishes you a lifetime of smiles and abundant joy and happiness.

--   Happy Buddha Standing and Holding Symbols of Good Fortune:  He wishes you good fortune, happiness and long life.

-- Happy Buddha Carrying a Big  Sack:  He uses the mysterious sack to collect your problems and  unhappiness, and exchanges them with  the  remedies, cures and  blessings.

-- Happy Buddha  Carrying a Gold Bag:  He wishes you a money bag full of good luck and fortune.  It symbolizes wealth and financial success.

-- Happy Buddha Surrounded by Small Child(ren):  The small child(ren)  symbolizes abundance from heaven and eternal youth.  They wish you  a happy family with a great deal of success and prosperity.

The Chinese love the Happy Buddha, who many regard as the Buddha of the Future, known to other Buddhists as Maitreya.  He is also descirbed as a Chan Buddhist Monk who lived in China over a thousand years ago.  Tradition describes him as a man of loving character.  He has a large belly and a big smile, so many nicknamed him then as the Laughing Buddha, or the Happy Buddha.

Over time, his image came to be viewed as signifying happiness, good fortune, fulfillment, prosperity and wealth.  The Chinese call The Happy Buddha  as "Me Lo Fo" and depict him in many different styles, as mentioned above.  But three features of the Happy Buddha never change:  his big broad smile signifying happiness, his big belly signifying wealth, and his big bag signifying other people's worries that he takes on.

The act of smiling automatically causes you to relax, to soften your facial features and eventually to release all tension within you.  It is the best antidote to the rise of worry, to anger and to people aggravating you.  When you have health problems, it is usually caused by a build up of anger and tension over the years.  So consciously creating the habit of smiling to destress benefits your health greatly.  Actually  it is the best anti-aging exercise ever.

Nothing works better than by imitating the big broad smile of the Happy Buddha.  Just by looking at his face creates an ambience of happiness.  This is because that kind of smile is always infectious.  So, It is extremely benficial to invite the Happy Buddha into the home.  Place him in a prominent place so that you are inspired each time to smile along with him.  Think of the happiness associated with him.  Then follow the popular folklores and rub his fat belly to create good luck and prosperity.

Those in business can place an image of the Happy Buddha at their cashier counters, reception desks, entry foyers or lobbies of offices.  In Asia many hotels and restaurants have invited the Happy Buddha to grace their premises, thus improving their business.  In such instances, select one carrying wealth symbols like ingots, pots of gold, treasure bag and even real money so that the Chi of abundance, wealth and happiness luck gets created.

Perhaps the Happy Buddha is the most popular Buddha because his big contagious smile makes everyone feel good.  So, display an image of the Happy Buddha on your desk at work or in your dining or living room at home.  He will bring a smile to your face every time you look at him, and attract happiness into your life at the same time.   But most of all, remember to smile and laugh along with the Happy Buddha.
http://www.springsgreetingcards.com/catalogs/store.asp?pid=35913&catid=22647

Famous Rabbit People:  Angelina Jolie, Anjelica Huston, Drew Barrymore, Edith Piaf, Fanny Brice, Helen Hunt, Jane Seymour, Joan Crawford, Kate Winslet, Natasha Richardson, and Tina Turner.

The Sign of the Rabbit

People born in the Year of the Rabbit share certain characteristics:  Keen, wise, fragile, tranquil, serene, considerate, fashionable, and kind.  Generally, they are quite calm, do not exhibit aggressive behavior, and will avoid confrontation at all costs.  When angry about something, they will approach it calmly and considerately, hardly ever raising their voice.  And they are quite keen and pay close attention to the situations developing around them.  They are intelligent and quick, and can talk themselves in or out of most situations with no problem.

The Rabbit is a symbol for mercy, elegance, and worship of beauty.  People born in the Year of the Rabbit are kind, loving persons, and dislike any hostile act.  They give others an impression of being frail-looking because of their gentle appearance.  But, in fact they are strong-minded and have strong wills.  They pursue their ideals all their lives in a precise and orderly way.  They do things slowly and deliberately because of their cautious characters.

There is no need to worry about their lives.  They are nimble, clever and good at avoiding harm to themselves. They are talented and like artistic ventures, such as painting and music and are generally quite present in these worlds.  They are also very hospitable, good hosts and warm-hearted companions.  They never embrace others in public places.  They know the art of saving face and giving consideration to the interests of both sides.

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are apt to be sensitive to ailments and to have bad allergies.  Stress or conflict will detriment their health.  Exercise could take off unnecessary stress and strengthen their physical condition.  They have to learn to incorporate more action into their everyday routines.   

They will become depressed and withdrawn if their homes do not consist of beautiful possessions that make them comfortable.  Their homes and offices usually are clutter-free.  They have really good communication skills and are best utilized in positions of management.  They make great teachers and counselors because they are so diplomatic and well-organized.  They can also make great painters or musicians due to their sense of beauty and their love of creativity.

Rabbit people are usually relatively careful when it comes to their finances.  They use much of their money for possessions such as their homes, cars or furniture.  They love hunting for antiques, arts and crafts and will tend to make sound investments in these types of things.

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT, 2011

02/03/2011 - 01/22/2012 (Metal)

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012.  The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animals signs.  The Rabbit is a lucky sign.  Rabbits are private individuals and a bit introverted.  People born in the Year of the Rabbit are reasonably friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends.  They are good teachers, counselors and communicators, but also need their own space.

According to Chinese tradition, the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves.  It is a time for negotiation.  Don't try to force issues, because if you do you will ultimately fail.  To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and your relationships with women and children.   Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.