a happiness formula)
For the occasion of the Year of the Priest, June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010, Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao gave us a copy of a litany of humility for everyone, composed by Cardinal Merry del Val. It describes certain aspects of humility which corroborate the statements of Jesus for our benefit: "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted" (Lk. 18:14); "There is more happiness in giving than in receiving" (Acts 20:35). Perhaps this could help counteract that spirit of envy or resentment that shows unhappiness at others' achievements. They term that as "crab mentality" in the pejorative sense, like crabs pulling down others climbing up. The right attitude is "to rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow" (Rom. 12:15). Of course, the lasting happiness is that experienced by Jesus and the saints who follow His way: "Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted. Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be comforted....Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven...(Mt. 5:5, 10); "Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce you as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets" (Lk. 6:23).
Herewith the Litany of Humility for Everyone: (composed by Cardinal Merry del Val who often recited it after the celebration of the Holy Mass). Since love and humility are God's spiritual gifts, it is incorporated in a litany prayer asking it from the Lord Jesus who had assured us: "the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him" (Mt. 7:7).
Litany of Humility for Everyone
O Jesus! Meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.
That in the opinion of the world others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus grant me the grace to desire it .
That others become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus grant me the grace to desire it.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Artificial Contraceptives
With the RH Bill issues connected to the stand of several politicians running on these Philippine elections 2010, the contraceptive controversy has gained the forefront. The stand of the Church has been clear since the issuance of the Encyclical Humanae Vitae (on Human Life) of Pope Paul Vi, in 1968. Just as today the minds of people tend to revert to natural cures (or as close to nature) as remedy for sicknesses (vis-a-vis side effects of artificial medications), so also it seems the Church favors the responsible parenthood, only through natural ways of self-control, not the artificial devices of contraception. The production of such devices has become a booming business, that is what has accentuated the issue since money is involved here. The Church favors respect for life, the first right of man, over such other considerations, much more so, since the issue is very much connected to the morality of sex, family, and the purity of morals. The corruption comes in, precisely, since "the love of money is the root of all evils" (1 Tim. 6:10). It does bespeak a lack of trust in God's care when we hear the "lumang tugtugin - matiwas ang caldero ko dahil sa kahirapan ng buhay" (life is so harsh and I will barely have enough to eat, literally translated: "my kettle will be turned upside down for lack of food to cook."
At the beginning of creation: "God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. God blessed them saying to them, 'Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it'" (Gen. 1:27-28). To follow God's will, let us choose the candidates who have a deep respect for life. Rather than limit the guests to the table of life, we must rather increase the resources of food, clothing, and shelter so we may have better citizens of the earth and future citizens of our final destiny of heaven with God and His saints, in our true and final home.
At the beginning of creation: "God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. God blessed them saying to them, 'Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it'" (Gen. 1:27-28). To follow God's will, let us choose the candidates who have a deep respect for life. Rather than limit the guests to the table of life, we must rather increase the resources of food, clothing, and shelter so we may have better citizens of the earth and future citizens of our final destiny of heaven with God and His saints, in our true and final home.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Condemned?
Is it that important to believe in Jesus, if He is the truth. Evidently. If He shows the true way to God’s kingdom, it must be extremely important to believe in Him. Belief in the sense of doing or acting in accord with His word and example. At least let’s be sincere in finding out and searching the truth in all sincerity. Why? Because ultimate salvation might depend on that. Specially since He has shown by word and deed His divine powers, through clear signs and miracles that only God can do. A normal person will proceed by the evidence of deeds and facts, as the principle states: Contra factum non valet argumentum (translate: You do not argue against clear facts.)
“God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved. No one who believes in him will be condemned; but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son” (Jn. 3:18). Shall we not follow that person who in His word and deed only manifests love, truth, purity and justice? Are we not afraid of eternal condemnation? At least let us be true and sincere in humbly searching for the truth. The truth will set us free (cf. Jn. 8:32). Time is too short to waste, especially in the matter concerning our eternal salvation. God is infinitely merciful, compassionate and just. Even so, we can never abuse of such Divine Mercy by ever postponing our conversion. It must be here and now. “If today you hear his voice harden not your hearts, as at Meribah and Massah in the wilderness” (Ps. 94:8). Presumption of God’s mercy is one of the unforgivable sins against the Holy Spirit about which Jesus has sternly warned us (cf. Mt. 12:32). We must trust, but not abuse God’s mercy.
“God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved. No one who believes in him will be condemned; but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son” (Jn. 3:18). Shall we not follow that person who in His word and deed only manifests love, truth, purity and justice? Are we not afraid of eternal condemnation? At least let us be true and sincere in humbly searching for the truth. The truth will set us free (cf. Jn. 8:32). Time is too short to waste, especially in the matter concerning our eternal salvation. God is infinitely merciful, compassionate and just. Even so, we can never abuse of such Divine Mercy by ever postponing our conversion. It must be here and now. “If today you hear his voice harden not your hearts, as at Meribah and Massah in the wilderness” (Ps. 94:8). Presumption of God’s mercy is one of the unforgivable sins against the Holy Spirit about which Jesus has sternly warned us (cf. Mt. 12:32). We must trust, but not abuse God’s mercy.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
A Matter of Pride
Pride would be at the root of the violent contentions in our world. Yes, pride and worldly interests. The fitting disposition would be to adopt the position of humility that allows space and freedom to others for development, success and reputation. We must avoid that monopoly that desires everything for oneself which was the mindset of dictators in the past who committed such ghostly massacres of numberless lives (1 mean by the millions).
We have therefore to shun such attitudes of ambition, envy or hate, and be willing to undergo humiliation, contempt or ridicule for the sake of peace. Let's do away with the crab mentality that desires others' downfall, but rather let us show happiness at others' success or achievements. This would be following an attitude that gives a chance for the truth to prove itself amid an air of freedom and democracy that respects others' rights and opinions. Let us follow the advice of Gamaliel that is narrated at the Acts of the Apostles.
as follows.
"So they brought them (the Apostles) in and made them stand before the Council and the High Priest questioned them. 'We gave you strict orders not to preach such a Savior; but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend charging us with the killing of this man.' To this Peter and the apostles replied, 'Better for us to obey God rather than any human authority! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a wooden post. God set him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses to all these things, as well as the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.' When the Council heard this, they became very angry and wanted to kill them. But one of them, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law highly respected by the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin. He ordered the men to be taken outside for a few minutes and then he spoke to the assembly. 'Fellow Israelites, consider well what you intend to do to these men. For some time ago Theudas came forward, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed and all his followers were dispersed and his whole following was scattered. So, in this present case, I advise you to have nothing to do with these men. Leave them alone. If their project or activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. If, on the other hand, it is from God, you will not be able to destroy it and you may indeed find yourselves fighting against God.' The Council let themselves be persuaded. They called in the apostles and had them whipped, and ordered them not to speak again of Jesus Savior. Then they set them free. The apostles went out from the Council rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name. Day after day, both in the Temple and in people's homes, they continued to teach and to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah" (Acts 5:27-42).
We have therefore to shun such attitudes of ambition, envy or hate, and be willing to undergo humiliation, contempt or ridicule for the sake of peace. Let's do away with the crab mentality that desires others' downfall, but rather let us show happiness at others' success or achievements. This would be following an attitude that gives a chance for the truth to prove itself amid an air of freedom and democracy that respects others' rights and opinions. Let us follow the advice of Gamaliel that is narrated at the Acts of the Apostles.
as follows.
"So they brought them (the Apostles) in and made them stand before the Council and the High Priest questioned them. 'We gave you strict orders not to preach such a Savior; but you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend charging us with the killing of this man.' To this Peter and the apostles replied, 'Better for us to obey God rather than any human authority! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a wooden post. God set him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses to all these things, as well as the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.' When the Council heard this, they became very angry and wanted to kill them. But one of them, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law highly respected by the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin. He ordered the men to be taken outside for a few minutes and then he spoke to the assembly. 'Fellow Israelites, consider well what you intend to do to these men. For some time ago Theudas came forward, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed and all his followers were dispersed and his whole following was scattered. So, in this present case, I advise you to have nothing to do with these men. Leave them alone. If their project or activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. If, on the other hand, it is from God, you will not be able to destroy it and you may indeed find yourselves fighting against God.' The Council let themselves be persuaded. They called in the apostles and had them whipped, and ordered them not to speak again of Jesus Savior. Then they set them free. The apostles went out from the Council rejoicing that they were considered worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name. Day after day, both in the Temple and in people's homes, they continued to teach and to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah" (Acts 5:27-42).
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Truth Sets Free
(Jn. 8:32)
As we look at the violent chaos in different parts of our world, we begin to wonder, and ask the question: why? The answer must delve deeper. Is the violence inside us or outside us?
Let’s examine a grain of truth in that Spanish proverb: Tu enemigo peor eres tu (translate: You are your own worst enemy). We keep pointing accusing fingers at others when the fault and problem lies within ourselves. Jesus said so: “Do not judge and you will not be judged; because the judgments you give are the judgments you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How dare you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:1-5).
Sometimes people make lots of fuss about the kinds of food we eat. Jesus answers that problem in the gospel of Matthew: “He called the people to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. What goes into the mouth does not make a man unclean; it is what comes out of the mouth that makes him unclean…. Can you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes through the stomach and is discharged into the sewer? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and it is these that make a man unclean. For from the heart come evil intentions: murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that make a man unclean. But to eat with unwashed hands does not make a man unclean’” (Mt. 15:10-20). These evil intentions and hatred in your heart cause all the trouble in the world, the evacuation problems, the needless loss of precious lives, the human rights violations, and in the end will bring us, if we do not repent, to the eternal fires of hell.
As we look at the violent chaos in different parts of our world, we begin to wonder, and ask the question: why? The answer must delve deeper. Is the violence inside us or outside us?
Let’s examine a grain of truth in that Spanish proverb: Tu enemigo peor eres tu (translate: You are your own worst enemy). We keep pointing accusing fingers at others when the fault and problem lies within ourselves. Jesus said so: “Do not judge and you will not be judged; because the judgments you give are the judgments you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How dare you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:1-5).
Sometimes people make lots of fuss about the kinds of food we eat. Jesus answers that problem in the gospel of Matthew: “He called the people to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. What goes into the mouth does not make a man unclean; it is what comes out of the mouth that makes him unclean…. Can you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes through the stomach and is discharged into the sewer? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and it is these that make a man unclean. For from the heart come evil intentions: murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, slander. These are the things that make a man unclean. But to eat with unwashed hands does not make a man unclean’” (Mt. 15:10-20). These evil intentions and hatred in your heart cause all the trouble in the world, the evacuation problems, the needless loss of precious lives, the human rights violations, and in the end will bring us, if we do not repent, to the eternal fires of hell.
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