Why Does the Church Follow So Many Traditions? (Series LXXXV)

When the Pharisees challenge Jesus for failing to practice some of their religious traditions, he rebukes them sharply: “You nullify the word of Go9d in favor of your tradition that you have handed on” (Mk 7:13). Some Christians quo9te this passage to condemn Catholic tradition as a whole as something contrary to the “word of God.” But is Jesus actually condemning all tradition

The word “tradition” means literally “that which is handed down.” Anything received from others and passed on to others is thus a tradition: language, culture, scientific knowledge, and even faith itself. Jesus is certainly not condemning all of these things.

Is the Lord rejecting specifically religious tradition, then? If we examine other biblical passages, we must conclude that he is not. In speaking of the Eucharist, for example, St. Paul notes that he received it from Christ himself, to be handed down to others: “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you…” (1 Cor 11:23). He explicitly commends the Corinthians for adhering to such traditions: “I praise you because you… hold fast to the tradition, just as I handed them on to you” (1 Cor 11:2).

Some Christians insist that only Scripture is authoritative for Christian faith and life. They deny the Catholic teaching (and the historical reality) that Scripture is actually a written portion of a much wider sacred and authoritative Tradition, which includes other elements passed down orally and by patterns of behavior. They fail to realize that if Scripture were the only legitimate source of Christian belief and practice, the early Christians who lived before the New Testament was written and circulated could not have lived the faith.

St. Paul alludes to this reality. He tells the Thessalonians how to discern the truth from error: “Brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement [oral tradition] or by a letter of ours [Scripture]” (2 Thes 2:15). In addition, religious tradition can be enacted, a way of life handed down as an example: “Consider the outcome of [your leaders’] way of life and imitate their faith” (Heb 13:7).

The only traditions Jesus condemns, then, are those that contradict what we know, from divine revelation, to be God’s will (see Mt 15:3).

RELATED SCRIPTURE — Texts cited: Mt 15:3; Mk 7:13; 1 Cor 11:2, 23; 2 Thes 2:15; Heb 13:7. General: Mt 15:1-9; Mk 7:1-13; 1 Cor 4:15-17; Col 2:8; 2 Thes 3:6; 2 Tm 1:13. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH — 75-84; 95-98; 113; 120; 126; 172-175; 182; 1124; 2650-2651; 2661.

SA MULING PAGPATAK NG IYONG LUHA!!!

Ni: L.V.L.

Mahigit kumulang na isang dekada na rin ang unti unting lumipas.
Di ko na namalayan... Parang ang bilis nang panahon. Tumatanda na pala ako...
At sa paglipas ng panahon, sa bawat pagpapalit ng kulay ng mga dahon...
Sa kanilang pag patak.... at sa muli nilang pagsibol, parang ang dami kong nakaligtaan...
napabayaan.... nakalimutan at tuluyan nang di napaglaanan ng pansin....

Pero sa lahat nang ito.... ikaw at tanging ikaw lang ang di nawala sa aking gunita...
Laging may mga bagay na nagbibigay ng mga alaala ukol sa’yo...lagi kang anduon.... kasama ko...
Nakakalungkot mang isipin na sa haba nang panahon na di na tayo nagkasama...
Sa isa't isa pa rin tayo tumatakbo kung me problema tayo.... kumukuha nang suporta...

Halos isang dekada na rin.....Bumuo tayo nang pangarap at unti unti din itong tinibag nang panahon at di pag kakaunawaan.....Tinibag nang kawalang pag-aala-ala sa mararamdaman nang isa...
Ilang beses ko na bang pinapatak ang mga luha sa iyong mata.... Di ko na mabilang...
At di ka man maniwala sa aking mga sasabihin ngayon...

Sana ay mapatawad mo ako nang lubusan, sa lahat nang aking mga pagkukulang....
Wala akong intensiyon na paluhain ka.... na saktan ka... na balewalain....
Nabulag lang ako nang aking mga pangarap... at nakaligtaan ko na paglaanan ka
nang oras at nang aking sarili...
Ngayon, dahil sa aking pagkamakasarili at kawalan nang pakiramdam...

Alam ko na patuloy ka nang lalayo dahil sa mga nagawa at nasabi ko...
Sa paglimot ko sa mga pangakong tinuran ko sa iyo nuon...
Na sa tagal nang panahon at naging mga pangako na lamang...
Mapatawad mo pa sana ako...

Patawad sa mga idinulot kong luha....
Sana sa muling pagpatak nang luha sa iyong mga mata, di na ako ang laman nang iyong gunita....
Na sana sa pagpatak muli nang iyong mga luha... sana’y di na pasakit ang dahilan kundi saya...
Sana sa pagpatak muli nang iyong mga luha.......... di na ako ang dahilan....

Return From the Gates of Hell (16th of a Series)

Colombia, South America Interview of Dr. Gloria Polo by Radio Maria

With intense pain I cried out to her... mommy, how ashamed I am! I was condemned, mommy! Where I’m going I’ll never get to see you again! At that moment, they granted her a beautiful grace. She was still but her fingers moved and pointed upward. A couple of very painful scales fell from my eyes, that spiritual blindness. I saw a beautiful moment, when one of my patients told me: Doctor, you are very materialistic and some day you’ll need this. When you find yourself in imminent danger, ask Jesus Christ to cover you with His Blood, because He will never abandon you. He paid the price of blood for you. With that immense shame and pain I started to cry: Jesus Christ, Lord, have compassion on me! Forgive me, Lord, give me a second chance! And that was the most beautiful moment. I have no words to describe that moment. He came and pulled me out of that pit. When He picked me up, all those creatures threw themselves on the ground. He picked me up and he pulled me onto that flat part and told me with all His love: You will go back, you will have a second chance, but He told me it wasn’t because of my family’s prayer. It’s normal for them to pray and cry out for you. It’s because of the intercession of all those foreign to your body and blood who have cried, have prayed, and have raised their heart with immense love for you. I began to see many little lights lighting up, as little flames of love. I saw the people who were praying for me. But there was a big flame, it was the one that gave out the most light. It was the one that gave out the most love. I tried to see who that person was. The Lord told me: That person you see right there loves you so much, but he doesn’t even know you. He showed me how this man had seen an old newspaper clipping from the previous day. He was a poor peasant who lived in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (translator’s note: in northeastern Colombia). That poor man went into town and bought some processed sugar cane. They wrapped it for him in an old newspaper from the previous day. My picture was there, all burned. When that man saw the news, without even reading it in full, he fell to the ground and started crying with the deepest love. And he said, Father, Lord, have compassion on my little sister. Lord, save her. Look, Lord, if you save my little sister, I promise you I will go on pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lord in Buga (translator’s note: in southwestern Colombia), but please save her. Imagine a very poor man, he wasn’t complaining or cursing because he was hungry, but instead he had this capacity to love that he could offer to cross an entire country for someone he didn’t even know. And the Lord told me: That is love for your fellowman. And then He told me: You will go back, but you won’t repeat this 1000 times.

...To be continued

IWAS PUSOY !

Philippine Citizenship

Q. What are the common instances of dual citizenship that may frequently apply to Filipino citizens?
A. The most common example of dual citizenship is when a child whose parents are citizens of a country which uses the Jus Sanguinis Principle (blood principle) is born in another country which uses the Jus Soli Principle. (soil) Under the Jus Sanguinis Principle (which is observed in the Philippines), the child’s citizenship follows that of its parents, while under the Jus Soli Principle (which is followed in the United States of America), the child is conferred citizenship of the country where it was born regardless of the nationality of its parents. Thus, a child of Filipino parents born in the United States of America is both a Filipino citizen and an American citizen.

Q. Does a Filipino woman who marries a non Filipino lose her Philippine citizenship upon the marriage?
A. It depends. The loss or retention of Philippine citizenship by a Filipina marrying a non Filipino depends on the laws of the Philippines and that of the husband’s country.
Before the 1973 Constitution, the Filipino woman lost her Philippine citizenship if by virtue of the laws of the husband’s country, she acquires his nationality.

Under the 1973 Constitution, the Filipina retains her citizenship, unless there is an act or omission on her part which may be considered as one of the ways of losing Philippine citizenship under Philippine law (renunciation, naturalization, taking an oath of allegiance and joining the armed forces of the other country). This rule, which has also been retained in the 1987 Constitution, is now the prevailing rule.

Q. Does this rule apply to a Filipino male who marries a non Filipino?
A. Under the 1935 and 1973 constitutions, it only applied to the Filipino woman. Under the 1987 Constitution, it made the rule applicable to male or female Filipinos marrying non-Filipinos.

Q. Does a non Filipino woman who marries a Filipino man acquire Philippine citizenship?
A. Yes, but it is not automatic, in the sense that the non Filipino wife still has to prove in proceedings that she has none of the disqualifications in becoming a Philippine citizen. The non-Filipino wife in this case who wishes to acquire Philippine citizenship has to file a petition with the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines.

...To be continued

Schizophrenia (6)

Social: Living in an urban environment has been consistently found to be a risk factor for schizophrenia.[51][39] Social disadvantage has been found to be a risk factor, including poverty[52] and migration related to social adversity, racial discrimination, family dysfunction, unemployment or poor housing conditions.[53] Childhood experiences of abuse or trauma have also been implicated as risk factors for a diagnosis of schizophrenia later in life.[54][55] Parenting is not held responsible for schizophrenia but unsupportive dysfunctional relationships may contribute to an increased risk.[56][57]

Substance use: The relationship between schizophrenia and drug use is complex, meaning that a clear causal connection between drug use and schizophrenia has been difficult to tease apart. There is strong evidence that using certain drugs can trigger either the onset or relapse of schizophrenia in some people. It may also be the case, however, that people with schizophrenia use drugs to overcome negative feelings associated with both the commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication and the condition itself, where negative emotion, paranoia and anhedonia are all considered to be core features.[58] Amphetamines trigger the release of dopamine and excessive dopamine function is believed to be responsible for many symptoms of schizophrenia (known as the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia), amphetamines may worsen schizophrenia symptoms.[59] Schizophrenia can be triggered by heavy use of hallucinogenic or stimulant drugs.[60] One study suggests that cannabis use can contribute to psychosis, though the researchers suspected cannabis use was only a small component in a broad range of factors that can cause psychosis.[61]

Psychological: A number of psychological mechanisms have been implicated in the development and maintenance of schizophrenia. Cognitive biases that have been identified in those with a diagnosis or those at risk, especially when under stress or in confusing situations, include excessive attention to potential threats, jumping to conclusions, making external attributions, impaired reasoning about social situations and mental states, difficulty distinguishing inner speech from speech from an external source, and difficulties with early visual processing and maintaining concentration.[62][63][64][65] Some cognitive features may reflect global neurocognitive deficits in memory, attention, problem-solving, executive function or social cognition, while others may be related to particular issues and experiences.[66][56] Despite a common appearance of "blunted affect", recent findings indicate that many individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia are highly emotionally responsive, particularly to stressful or negative stimuli, and that such sensitivity may cause vulnerability to symptoms or to the disorder.[67][68][69] Some evidence suggests that the content of delusional beliefs and psychotic experiences can reflect emotional causes of the disorder, and that how a person interprets such experiences can influence symptomology.[70][71][72][73] Further evidence for the role of psychological mechanisms comes from the effects of therapies on symptoms of schizophrenia.[74]

Neural: ...

...To be continued

MGA BUGTONG, SALAWIKAIN, SAWIKAIN at mga PILING TULA

Ni C.S. Canonigo
(Book I) © 1996 Cebu City, Philippines

buto't balat = payat na payat = malnourished (literal=skin-and-bone)
BIBIG (MOUTH) tulak ng bibig = salita lamang, di tunay sa loob = insincere word (literal=pushed- by-the-mouth)
dalawa ang bibig = mabunganga, madaldal = nagger, talkative person = (literal=two-mouthed)

BITUKA (INTESTINE)
halang ang bituka = salbahe, desperado, hindi nangingiming pumatay ng tao
= a person with no morals compunction (literal=with a horizontal intestine)
mahapdi ang bituka = nagugutom = a hungry person (literal=sore intestine)

BULSA (POUCH/POCKET)
makapal ang bulsa = maraming pera = rich, wealthy (literal= with a thick pocket)
butas ang bulsa = walang pera = poor (literal=with a hole in the pocket)
sukat ang bulsa = marunong gumamit ng pera, marunong magbayad at mamahala ng kyamanan= someone who knows his ability to pay ng kayamanan

BUTO (BONE)
nagbabatak ng buto = nagtatrabaho ng higit sa kinakailangan = one who works hard
matigas ang buto = malakas = a strong person

...To be continued

Ang Puso at Tinig ng Mabuting Pastol

Ika-4 Linggo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay:

Ang Mabuting Pastol. Ito na marahil pinakakaaya-ayang larawang ginamit ni Hesus sa natatanging talinghaga sa ebanghelyo ayon kay San Juan upang ilarawan ang tunay na kahulugan sa kanya. Isang malalim na kaugnayan na nagdudulot ng kapayapaan at kaginhawahan gaya ng nasasaad sa Salmo 23: “Ang Panginoon ang aking Pastol pinagiginhawa akong lubos…” Alam ng mga tupa ang tinig ng tunay na pastol, at ang makarinig at makakilala sa tinig na ito ay nabibihag at napasusunod sa kanya.

Ano nga ba ang nasasapuso ng Mabuting Pastol? Paano ba natin siya makikilala? Paano natin malalaman ang kanyang tinig? Si Hesus ang Mabuting Pastol. Ang Mabuting Pastol ay may pusong mahabagin at handang mag-alay ng sariling buhay. Siya’y Pastol na nagbabantay at nagtatanggol sa kanyang mga tupa. Siya’y Pastol na gumagabay patungo sa isang “payapang batisan”. Kahit ano pa man ang mangyari, ang tunay na pastol ay hindi kailan man mang-iiwan o magpapabaya ng kanyang mga tupa. Di nga ba’t noong si Hesus ay nagpakain ng limanlibong katao, siya ay naawa sa kanila sapagkat para silang mga tupang walang pastol (Mc 6:34).

Si Hesus, ang Mabuting Pastol, ay kapiling natin sa Banal na Sakramento. Kinakalinga niya tayo at binubusog ng kanyang mga Salita na mapagpalaya at nagbibigay buhay. Inaakay niya tayo patungo sa maginhawang pastulan ng Ama sa langit. Sino nga ba ang hindi mabibihag sa kanyang tinig at pag-ibig? Ayon sa ating Santo Papa Benito XVI: Ang tao ay naililigtas ng pag-ibig. Kapag siya ay nakaranas ng dakila at tunay na pagmamamahal sa kanyang buhay, ito ay isang karanasan ng kaligtasan na nagbibigay ng bagong kahulugan sa buhay…(Spe Salvi #26). Si Hesus ang Mabuting Pastol na naglalarawan sa atin ng tunay na pagmamahal at kagandahang loob ng Diyos. Ang taong nakaranas ng kagandahang-loob at nakarinig sa matamis niyang tinig, ay magnanasang hanapin, yakapin at sundan ang tinig na ito. Nanaisin niyang magkaroon ng mas malapit at malalim na ugnayan sa Pastol na nagbibigay ng kaligtasan at buhay na walang hanggan. Ngunit iilan lamang ang nakaririnig ng tinig na ito at sumusunod sa kanya upang ipahayag ang kagandahang-loob ng Diyos. Maraming tupa ngunit kakaunti ang mga pastol… Maraming ani, ngunit kaunti nag manggagawa. Dahil dito, si Hesus ay nakiusap na manalangin tayo: “ Nang makita ni Hesus ang makapal na tao, naawa siya sa kanila sapagkat hirap sila at lupaypay na parang mga tupang walang pastol. At sinabi niya sa kanyang mga alagad: ‘Marami nga ang aanihin at kakaunti naman ang mga manggagawa. Idalangin ninyo sa Panginoon ng ani na magpadala siya ng mg a manggagawa sa kanyang ani’ (Mt 9:36-38).

Sa linggong ito na tinatawag nating “Linggo ng Mabuting Pastol” ay ipinagdiriwang din natin ang Pandaigdigang Araw ng Pananalangin para sa Bokasyon. Ginagabayan tayo ng Mabuting Pastol sa pamamagitan na rin ng mga parin na tinuturing nating mga pastol ng Sambayanang Kristiyano, kasama ang mga taong nag-alay ng kanilang buhay bilang relihiyosa at relihiyoso. Binibigyang kaganapan at makatotohanan ni Hesus ang kanyang larawan bilang isang Mabuting Pastol sa huwarang buhay ng bawat pari. Tunay nga, tulad ng pagpapaalala sa atin ng “Vatican II’, na ang pari ay kumakatawan kay Kristo, ang pinunong pastol ng Simbahan. Tayo ay kanyang tinitipon bilang isang kawan at katawan kung saan siya ang ulo. Ang hamong tuwina ay kung paano natin pinatutuloy ang pag-aalay ng puso ng Mabuting Pastol. Sa ating pananalangin para sa bokasyon upang ang kagandahang loob at pag-ibig ng Ama ay maihasik, suriin din natin ang ating mga sarili. Nakikilala ba natin ang tunay na tinig ng Mabuting Pastol, at hinahayaang mabihag tayo nito? Nakikinig ba tayo sa kanya at pinagninilayan ang mga kataga ng pagmamahal na ibinubulong niya sa ating mga puso, upang ito ay maibahagi rin natin sa iba? Nakikita ba sa ating pagkatao ang larawan ng isang Mabuting Pastol?

~ Sr. Ma. Anthony E. Basa, PDDM ~

Did Paul Challenge Peter’s Authority? (Series LXXXIV)

“When [Peter] came to Antioch,” St. Paul told the Galatians, “I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong” (Gal 2:11). He explained that he had rebuked St. Peter in person when the latter lapsed into practices contrary to the truth of the gospel (see 2:12-14).

Some non-Catholic Christians cite this event as evidence that Paul challenged Peter’s position as chief of the apostles. The implication, they insist, is that Christ’s choice of Peter as the “rock” of the Church did not bestow on the apostle any special authority in matters of doctrine or discipline, and that Peter’s successors (the popes) also lack such authority.

We must note, however, that Peter’s doctrinal and disciplinary authority was not challenged by Paul. Rather, Peter was rebuked for his hypocrisy. So Paul’s criticism had no bearing on Peter’s office, or on Paul’s position relative to it.

Consider this biblical parallel. In ancient Israel, the prophet Nathan rebuked King David for serious sin (see 2 Sm 12:1-14). But that rebuke was not a rejection of David’s office as king. In a similar way, Paul’s rebuke was not a rejection of Peter’s office as leader of the Church.

The truth is that Catholics have a long history of rebuking decadent clerics — popes included — while not denying their authority in the Church. (St. Bernard, St. Thomas Becket, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Dominic come to mind immediately.) In fact, St. Paul’s rebuke, far from implying a denial of St. Peter’s supremacy, implies just the opposite.

Paul stated that Peter’s bad example would “compel the Gentiles to live like Jews” (Gal 2:14, emphasis added). Peter’s behavior was imprudent and could do much harm precisely because of his authority as the leader of the Church.

The authority of St. Peter as the first pope was exercised on several occasions, as recorded in the Bible. He presided over and opened the first council of Christianity, in Jerusalem (see Acts 15:7-11). He was the first to recognize and refute heresy, in Simon Magus (see Acts 8:14-24). His proclamation at Pentecost concerning the “hose of Israel” (Acts 2:36) contains a fully authoritative interpretation of Scripture, a doctrinal decision, and a disciplinary decree (see Acts 2:14-41) - an example of “binding and loosing” (see Mt 16:17-19). He had the authority to judge the first recorded case of Church discipline (see Acts 5:1-11).

RELATED SCRIPTURE — Texts cited: 2 Sm 12:1-14; Mt 16:17-19; Acts 2:14-41; 5:1-11; 8:14-24; 15:7-11; Gal 2:11-14. General: Is 22:22; Lk 22:31-32; Jn 21:15-17; Acts 3:6-12. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH — 552-553, 641-642; 765; 881-882.

EL DORADO

By: Ed J. Titular
04.10.08

Flickering lights no more,
All are happy for no fear,
Peace reflects in their eyes,
Even angels come and sing,
In the dreamland called El Dorado.

Famine and war overruled,
Love and care are over flown'
Forest and mountain are all blooming,
All are dancing even fishes in the ocean,
This is the land of El Dorado.

The sky is blue and true,
All is smooth and calm,
The air is fresh and pure,
And no one is a bum,
All are equal at El Dorado.

El Dorado is a city of gold,
Life there is bold and can't be fold,
All are free and nothing to worry,
This is a place for you and me... and the weary,
Let’s build and dream this place of El Dorado.

Return From the Gates of Hell (15th of a Series)

Colombia, South America Interview of Dr. Gloria Polo by Radio Maria

What spiritual treasures do you bring? And my hands were empty! That’s when he told me: What was the point in your owning two condos, houses, and office buildings? You thought yourself a successful professional. You couldn’t even bring the dust off of one of those bricks here. What did you do with the talents I gave you? Talents, I thought. You had a mission. The mission to defend the kingdom of love, the Kingdom of God. I had forgotten I had a soul so I could hardly remember I had talents, that I was the merciful hands of God. Much less that all the good I didn’t make, hurt the Lord. Do you want to know what the Lord kept on asking me? About lack of love and charity. That’s when He told me about my spiritual death. I was alive, but dead. If you could have seen what spiritual death is, it’s like a soul that hates. Like a terribly sour and fastidious soul that injures everyone, full of sin. I could see my soul on the outside, smelling well, with good clothes on, but my stench on the inside, living deep in the abyss. No wonder I was so depressed and sour! And he told me: Your spiritual death began when you stopped hurting for your brothers!? I was warning you by showing you their plight everywhere. When you saw media coverage on murders, abductions, refugee situations, and with your tongue you said, on the outside, poor people, how sad?, but you didn’t really hurt for them. You felt nothing in your heart. Sin made your heart into a heart of stone. You can imagine my deep sorrow when my book closed. I had deep sorrow with God my Father for having behaved like that because, despite all my sins, despite all my filth, and all my indifference and all my horrible feelings, the Lord always, up until the last instant, searched for me. He would always send me instruments, people, He would talk to me, He would yell at me, He would take things away from me to seek me. He looked for me up until the very end. God is always begging? at each one of us to convert. I couldn't accuse Him of condemning me! Of course not. Out of my free will, I chose my father, and my father was not God. I chose Satan, he was my father. When that book closed, I noticed I was heading down into a pit with a door at its bottom. And as I’m heading there, I started calling out to all the saints so they would save me. You have no idea how many saints I remembered, being such a bad Catholic. I thought I could ask for help from Saint Isidore or Saint Francis of Assisi. When I ran out of saints, the same silence remained. I felt great emptiness and hurt. I thought everyone back on earth was probably thinking I had died a saint, perhaps even waiting eagerly to ask for my intercession. And look! Where was I headed? I lifted my eyes and they met the eyes of my mom. With intense pain I cried out to her...

...To be continued