Ave Maria:-)
It's a long week-end for us here in the Philippines and all because of 2 beloved feastdays All Saints Day, Nov.1 and All Souls Day, Nov.2.but waaaiiitfriends before we pack those bags, fill those coolers with litres of coke , adoboand sandwiches, chichiryasstacked and ready to be consumed and head for the cemetery for that instant reunion with relatives --- I really wonder if they celebrate it this way at the other Catholic countries? But over here whether it's a memorial parksituated in more affluent areas --- and where the rich have specially built expensive mausoleums, practically a big studiounit in itself with its own toilet and facilities - the better to host those family reunions --- or whether it's those crowded cemeteries .... where can hardly find a place to sit... to walk or to park --haha yes that's how crowded it is --- it's really strange because you're remembering departed ones..yet the air is sooo festive ...ah yes Onli in Da Philippines
You'd be lucky if you happened to be at a memorial park where holy mass would be offered.. and then too it is heartwarming to see many families or individuals actually praying....often the holy rosary, lighting candles , flowers -- it makes for a continuous connection between the 'dead'(those who have hopefully crossed over to heaven) and the living (those who still need to fulfill their mission on earth).
Indeed wait a bit before going to Himlayang Pilipino or Eternal Gardens or Paco Cemetery...how bout brushing up firston our understanding of these 2 consecutive feasts...Can you imagine all the trouble we go thru , Yet miss the most Essential Part of all -- meaning --- baket? Anu ba talaga miron?Yan naman kase eh ...naka ugalian na lang natin yung join na nang join hahaha. Think before you jump, dear.
Here goes.... ALL SAINTS, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honor of all the saints, known and unknown.
In Western Christian theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. It is a national holiday in many historically Catholic countries.(that's us , yey!) In the Roman Catholic Church, the next day, All Souls' Day, specifically commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven.
Now bear with the next trivia ... it really is good for us Catholics and even non-Catholics to know this :Catholics celebrate All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in the fundamental belief that there is a prayerful spiritual communion between those in the state of grace who have died and are either being purified in purgatory or are in heaven (the 'church penitent' and the 'church triumphant', respectively), and the 'church militant' who are the living. Other Christian traditions define, remember and respond to the saints in different ways.
Everyday there's something new we can learn... something that makes us love our Christian faith more.In my inbox... found out that today's saint was a St. Wolfgang .... Wolfgang whoooo ...and what kind of name is that for a saint? But lo and behold Wolfgang it is. He was a bishop and a very good preacher, sparing his people from terrible sufferings by evangelizing the enemy pagans who were about to invade them.
the one who composed the prayerprayed : ..."that we be delivered from a glorification of the occult into a better understanding and appreciation for honoring the saints."
The prayer seeking St. Wolfgang's intercession went on to remind us how modern man is just much too fascinated with anything dark and sinister... name any branch of media : the movies and tv series that often turn out to be monster hitswith Part 1, 2 and 3's are those that deal with horror/occult/ bloody gory sick thrillers --- For the longest time , children all over the world were bananas with Harry Potter --yes Harry with his wizard powers was the coolest boy to emulate.... the Vampire seriesalso cunningly used the premise of Unwavering Romantic Love so that you later wished you'd have aVampire for your lover -- becoz hey...the love they offer never diesd-u-h---- and you can fly , rip off intestines off those who make life miserable for you... you stay physically gorgeous forever --- never mind if when hunger pangs strike you --you ache for human blood. yum-yum, slurp
What was this series .....oh Twilight.....?On cable tv..there are too many Vampire series True Blood... Buffy , some 'cool' witch series -- have to get the titles of current shows .... some presented in a cutesy, fashionista way --- that way you get the teens, pre-teen wannabes hooked ---- who wouldn't want to be beautiful, powerful and invincible --- watta masterful ploy ---
"Teach us to evangelize those who are fascinated with fear, evil and death..."the prayer went on ...
Ultra FASCINATION indeed.
It's the same Perfect Lie Satan used to lure Eve and then Adam.
Satan :Eve baby... You really don't have to obey God all the way.... He's doing this to have Absolute Control overyou.... but in fact you can be Like God.Eve:(in inital disbelief)I can???? Seriously???(oops , pride monstersteps in) I can be like God?! Where's that apple?!!!!Adam.... git here.Oh Eve... if foolishness had a name it would be spelled E-V-E .... you were content to have a little portion of seeming power ... Entirely Missing the point...God's power has for its source His Perfect Love and Holiness.... it's not might for might's sake... it's not glory for personal consumption.
the prayer ends with..."Fill us Jesus with your love, grace and holiness ..."( to replace the fascination with fear, evil, death)
In retrospect had a very young relative who was so taken with a terrible gory movie --- something like cruel rape... a lot of torture scenes and this young relative so glued , watched it many times...many times.
The young relative also was very quiet, withdrawn...had a lot of personal and family issues going on --- very poor self-esteem too.... was so afraid of how this fixation with that movie would tie up all her internal explosive elements.I mean..with everything this young person was going thru...-that's the lastmental/emotionalinput you'd want that person to recieve. thank God this young soul survived that phase but God knows the amount of inner healing still needed.
Watching Adventure Thrillers, Crime movies with a whodunit plot ...some well made sci-fi movies... or even historical epics like Braveheart ---- you can live with whatever blood is spilled on the screen -- it's not gore for gore's sake --- there's a good purpose... but many movies are so sick . You could not possibly sleep or eat after watching them, if you could last 15 minutes.
When husband Dilbert and I together with our ever loyal Lola Lina trekked to HimlayangPilipino.... even if the visit was just a short one...perhaps less than 2 hours.... just enough to clean , light candles, pray the rosary - then our silent prayers andprivate conversationwith our parents, with God( my dad, mom and my husband's mom all buried same area) -- it was an opportune time to simply slow down -- turn off our ever chugging internal engines -- just savor the time at the memorial park -- we went earlier than Nov. 1 sotho' there were already visitors at the park..it was still serene ... easy on the eyes..and still clean...thank God.
We don't have a big family... my cousins, aunts uncles most of them sa Visayas, the ones in Manila so far off --- so really it's just us sometimes with son Joshua --- my half sister half brother , Dils brother go on their day-off .... I just thank God that I still have this annual visit with Dilbert , lola... becoz one day they could be cleaning my lapida... or vice versa... my goodness ..may our hearts be prepared for that time of temporary situtation...you are our strength dearest Jesus.
We're looking at the lapidas of our belovedparents... and they are looking back at us from heaven..and they can see us in a better way . It is a good feeling knowing one day we will all be reunited...that many..the whole majestic host of angels and saints in heaven are praying for us...cheering us on .."Kaya nyo yan..kaya mo yan.... pagbutihin mo at napaka saya dito...sobra"
Are you tired? It's alright... we will just offer everything to our Saviour ....and cling to this passage : form the Letter of Paul to the Romans
28 We are well aware that works with those who love him, those who have been called in accordance with his purpose, and turns everything to their good.
AMEN TO THAT ST.PAUL...have a happy All Saints and All Souls Day celeb folks... God bless you..te mye
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