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ST. VALENTINE'S TIPS

1. Spread love and kindness: Embrace the essence of St. Valentine by showing love and kindness to others. Offer a helping hand, a kind word, or a thoughtful gesture. Small acts of love can make a big difference in someone's day.
2. Express your love: Don't wait for a special occasion to express your love to those who matter to you. Take the time to tell them how much you care, appreciate them, and cherish their presence in your life. Let your loved ones know they are valued and loved.
3. Practice forgiveness: St. Valentine's legacy teaches us the power of forgiveness. Let go of grudges, resentments, and past hurts. Choose forgiveness and allow love to heal and mend relationships. Remember that forgiveness is a gift you give yourself as well.
4. Nurture your relationships: Invest time and effort in nurturing your relationships. Show up for your loved ones, listen to them, and make them feel important. Quality time, open communication, and genuine care can strengthen the bonds of love.
5. Prioritize self-love: Remember to love and care for yourself. Take time for self-care, engage in activities that bring you joy, and practice self-compassion. When you love yourself, you are better equipped to love others.
6. Celebrate love every day: Embrace the spirit of St. Valentine beyond just one day. Celebrate love in all its forms every day. Show appreciation, gratitude, and affection regularly. Let love be a guiding force in your life.

The true essence of St. Valentine's teachings lies in embracing love, kindness, and compassion in our daily lives; and

Always Remember....

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
1 John 4:8

Contributor:
Jay Calalang Manatad

Send a message to learn more

Understanding Ash Wednesday:

Q: What is Ash Wednesday?

A:Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of reflection, repentance, and preparation for Easter in the Christian calendar. It falls 46 days before Easter Sunday and is observed by many denominations, including Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, and some other Protestant denominations.

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Q: Why is it called Ash Wednesday?

A:The name "Ash Wednesday" comes from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of believers as a sign of repentance and mortality. These ashes are typically made by burning the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday.

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Q: What is the significance of the ashes?

A:The ashes symbolize several things. Firstly, they remind us of our mortality and the brevity of life. Secondly, they represent repentance and the desire to turn away from sin and towards God. Lastly, they serve as a sign of humility and a willingness to undergo spiritual renewal during the Lenten season.

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Q: How is Ash Wednesday celebrated?

A: Ash Wednesday is marked by various rituals and practices. Many churches hold special services where worshippers receive ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. During these services, there is often a focus on confession, prayer, and reflection on one's spiritual journey.

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Q: What is the significance of fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday?

A: Fasting and abstinence are common practices on Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent. Fasting involves limiting the amount of food consumed, while abstinence refers to refraining from certain types of food, particularly meat. These practices are meant to help believers focus on spiritual matters and detach from worldly distractions.

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Life of Saints

"Battle against Devil"

In the realm of Christian monasticism, the battle against the devil holds a significant place, and one saint renowned for such encounters is St. Benedict. Pope Gregory I vividly portrays one remarkable incident in the "Life of St. Benedict." Here is an account of this extraordinary encounter:

During his time as a hermit, St. Benedict faced relentless temptations from the devil. The devil took the form of a blackbird, persistently attempting to disrupt St. Benedict's contemplative life and lead him astray from his devotion to God. Aware of the source of temptation, St. Benedict steadfastly resisted the devil's allurements.

As the story unfolds, the devil's temptations intensified, culminating in a final desperate act to disturb St. Benedict's thoughts with a loud noise. In response, St. Benedict made the sign of the cross, shattering the devil's influence. The blackbird transformed into a monstrous and terrifying figure, representing the defeated forces of evil.

This encounter serves as a testament to St. Benedict's spiritual fortitude, unwavering faith, and the power of the sign of the cross as a symbol of protection against evil. St. Benedict's life and his battles against the devil hold immense significance within the Benedictine monastic tradition.

**CathTrivia**

DID YOU KNOW?
SINULOG

The term "Sinulog" is derived from the Cebuano adverb "sulog," which means "like water current movement." This etymology is fitting because the Sinulog dance involves a flowing and rhythmic forward-backward movement, resembling the sway of water. The dance is an integral part of the festival's cultural and religious celebrations, expressing joy and reverence for the Santo Niño.

The Sinulog Festival itself has roots dating back to the early 1980s when it was formally established as a cultural event. The dance, however, has deeper historical ties, with traditional dances and rituals honoring the Santo Niño dating back centuries in Cebu. The festival as it is known today, with its grand parades, vibrant costumes, and large-scale celebrations, has evolved over the years to become one of the Philippines' most significant cultural and religious events.

Sinulog! Mo syagit ug Kusog!

*HISTORY OF STO. NIÑO DE CEBU*

The history of Sr. Sto. Niño de Cebu is rich and rooted in the early Spanish colonial period in the Philippines.

1. Arrival of Ferdinand Magellan (1521):The story begins with the arrival of the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. He gifted the Santo Niño image to Queen Juana of Cebu as a symbol of friendship after her baptism. This was a pivotal moment in the introduction of Christianity to the archipelago.

2. Rediscovery of the Image (1565):
-The original image was lost for several years. It was rediscovered by Spanish explorers led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565 during the expedition to Cebu. The finding marked the beginning of the Santo Niño's veneration in the Philippines.

Establishment of Christianity (1565):
- With the rediscovery of the image, the Spanish began their efforts to establish Christianity in the Philippines. Augustinian priests led by Fr. Andres de Urdaneta played a significant role in this, and the Santo Niño became a central figure in the conversion of the locals.

Construction of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (1739):
-The Basilica Minore del Santo Niño was built in 1739 to house the miraculous image. This church, located in Cebu City, is one of the oldest in the Philippines and has become a major pilgrimage site for devotees.

Sinulog Festival:
The Sinulog Festival, celebrated every third Sunday of January in Cebu City, is a grand event that honors the Santo Niño. It features a vibrant procession, street dancing, and various religious activities, attracting thousands of pilgrims and tourists from around the country and beyond.

Miraculous Stories:
The Santo Niño is associated with numerous miraculous stories, healing powers, and answered prayers, deepening the devotion of the faithful. Many believers attribute their blessings and protection to the intercession of the Child Jesus.

The Santo Niño de Cebu holds a special place in the hearts of Filipinos. It is the symbol of Christianity.

VIVA PIT SEÑOR!

*History of the Black Nazarene and Translacion in the Quiapo Church*

The Translacion of the Black Nazarene in the Philippines is a grand procession that marks the transfer of the statue from Intramuros to Quiapo Church. The tradition began in 1787 when the image was transferred to its present home.

The story starts in 1606 when the life-sized, dark-skinned statue of Jesus Christ arrived in Manila from Mexico. It was initially enshrined in the Recollect Church in Intramuros. The statue gained popularity over the years, and by the late 18th century, a decision was made to transfer it to the Quiapo Church.

On January 9, 1787, the first Translacion took place. It involved a procession through the streets of Manila, where devotees, barefoot and often in maroon shirts, accompanied the image. This event aimed to bring the Black Nazarene closer to the masses and make it more accessible for veneration.

The Translacion has since become an annual tradition, attracting millions of devotees. The procession, known for its intense devotion and massive crowds, is considered one of the largest religious gatherings in the Philippines. The faithful believe that participating in the Translacion brings spiritual blessings and penance.

Throughout its history, the Translacion has faced challenges, including logistical issues and concerns about crowd control. Nevertheless, the event continues to symbolize deep faith, cultural identity, and the resilience of the Filipino people in the face of adversity.

*SHORT HISTORY*

THE THREE WISE MEN
(Cesar Ian Abila-Youth Catechist Dapitan)

The story of the Three Wise Men, also known as the Magi or the Three Kings, is primarily found in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 2:1-12) in the Bible. Here's a brief overview:

According to the biblical account, the Wise Men came from the East to Jerusalem, following a star that they believed signaled the birth of a significant king. King Herod, troubled by this news, gathered the chief priests and scribes to inquire where the Christ was to be born. They told him it was in Bethlehem.

The Wise Men continued to follow the star and found the Holy Family in Bethlehem. They presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus. The gifts are often seen as symbolic: gold symbolizing royalty, frankincense representing divinity, and myrrh foreshadowing sacrifice.

Having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the Wise Men departed for their own country by another route.

The number "three" is traditionally associated with the Wise Men due to the three gifts, but the Bible doesn't specify their exact number. The notion of them being kings and having specific names (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) is a later tradition and not explicitly mentioned in the biblical text.

The visit of the Wise Men is celebrated in Christian tradition as the Feast of Epiphany, which symbolizes the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles. The story of the Three Wise Men has become a significant part of the Nativity narrative, emphasizing the universality of Christ's message.

What is the Holy Epiphany?

In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates principally (but not solely) the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and thus Jesus Christ's physical manifestation to the Gentiles. It is sometimes called Three Kings' Day, and in some traditions celebrated as Little Christmas.

Source: wikipedia.org

SAGRADA FAMILIA

The family is the sacrament of God's love and a miniature form of the church. We must make sure our families are holy if we want our Church to continue being holy. The first place that God must be encountered is in our families.

The family is often called the principal cell or building block of human society. Since we are used to thinking about the family as the place where our Catholic faith is handed on and lived, we sometimes pay too little attention to how the family itself is related to the plan of God revealed in Scripture for the sake of our salvation in Jesus Christ.

See this link below for further reading👇👇

https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20060707_levada-valencia_en.html #:~:text=And%20we%20also%20read%2C%20%E2%80%9CTherefore,marriage%E2%80%9D%20%5BGS%2048%5D.

Why are the Holy Innocents martyrs?

Cyprian, writing in the middle of the third century, describes the Holy Innocents not only as martyrs, but as a sort of prototype for all martyrs: The nativity of Christ witnessed at once the martyrdom of infants, so that they who were two years old and under were slain for His name's sake.

See the full story at this link below👇👇

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/how-could-the-holy-innocents-be-martyrs

Catholic Mass Reading for December 28 2023, Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs

Gospel – Matthew 2:13-18

When the magi had departed, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: “Rise up, and take the boy and his mother, and flee into Egypt. And remain there until I tell you. For it will happen that Herod will seek the boy to destroy him.”

Joseph rose and took the boy and his mother by night, and withdrew into Egypt.

And he remained there, until the death of Herod, in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt, I called my son.”

Then Herod, seeing that he had been fooled by the Magi, was very angry. And so he sent to kill all the boys who were in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years of age and under, according to the time that he had learned by questioning the Magi.

Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled, saying:

"A voice has been heard in Ramah, great weeping and wailing: Rachel crying for her sons. And she was not willing to be consoled, because they were no more.”

For more Catholic Daily Mass Readings, please visit this link👇👇

https://catholicreadings.org/feast-holy-innocents-martyrs/

Catholic Mass Reading for December 26 2023, St. Stephen’s Feast Day

Gospel – Matthew 10:17-22

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Beware of men, for they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues.

and you shall be brought before governors, and before kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles:

But when they hand you over, do not choose to think about how or what to speak. For what to speak shall be given to you in that hour.

For it is not you who will be speaking, but the Spirit of your Father, who will speak in you.

And brother will hand over brother to death, and father will hand over son. And children will rise up against parents and bring about their deaths.

And you will be hated by all for the sake of my name. But whoever will have persevered, even to the end, the same shall be saved.

extracted from catholicreadings.org

What do gold frankincense and myrrh represent Catholic?

The Significance of Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold

The Church Fathers, who were early commentators on the Gospels, elucidate the significance of the three gifts (see Matthew 2:11).

Gold because the Holy Child truly is a King.

Frankinsence because the Holy Child truly is God.

Myrrh because the Holy Child is destined to be a Sacrifice.

Friends, God has created us to know and feel the profound and enduring joys that the shepherds and magi discovered to be real on this side of paradise. Let us follow their example by focusing our attention on Christ Jesus the Lord and refusing to be seduced by the fleeting pleasures that this world has to offer.

Taken and paraphrased from littleflowertoledo.org

A CONTRIBUTOR'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE:

"Celebrate Jesus Christ's birth with peace, love, and blessings in your heart, home, and life. Enjoy the spirit of giving and kindness in your life."

- Bro. Giovanni B. Ferraren (Anak Ni Tiago contributor)

Merry Christmas mga ka Anak Ni Tiago!!!

Christmas is a sacred celebration that reminds us of the profound love God bestowed upon us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. It is a time of renewed faith, where the light of Christ illuminates our hearts and dispels darkness. As we exchange gifts and share in the company of loved ones, we must remember the ultimate gift of God's love manifested in the form of a vulnerable child. As we enter the new year, let the spirit of Christmas linger in our hearts, guiding our steps and intentions. May the grace of the Christ Child be our guiding light.

Merry Christmas🙏❤🎅✝️🌲

Pope Francis Christmas quote about Christmas celebration:

“On this day of joy, we are all called to contemplate the Child Jesus, who gives hope once again to every person on the face of the earth. By his grace, let us with our voices and our actions give witness to solidarity and peace. Merry Christmas to all!”

Pope Francis, Christmas 2016

Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful Christmas. May peace, love, and prosperity follow you always. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

May your heart be lifted in praise this Christmas for the wonderful gift of Jesus and the joy He brings to our lives. Merry Christmas.

The Truth of the Nativity Story

Academic critics of the Faith have attacked its historical value for decades

Let’s go through this timeline to discuss the features that critics consider the most difficult to explain from a historical point of view.

Luke’s missing census

According to Luke 2:1-4, “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.”

According to the critics, this is wrong on several accounts. Specifically, no such empire-wide census ever took place, and, even if it had, Joseph would not have been required to travel to his place of ancestry for it. While a census was taken in A.D. 6, it was limited to Judea in order to inaugurate the beginning of Roman rule in that region.

Did Luke simply bungle this particular detail about Jesus’ life? That shouldn’t be our first assumption, since in all other respects Luke is a careful historian. For example, he correctly describes Herod’s family drama (Luke 3:19), the offices Herod and his family held (Luke 3:1), and even demonstrates knowledge of Herod’s lower-level servants (Luke 8:3).

What kind of census?

One plausible explanation is that Luke is not describing an empire-wide census for tax purposes but a registration that took place before the A.D. 6 census. The King James Version of the Bible renders the latter part of Luke 2:1, “there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” But a better translation of the word rendered “taxed” (or apographesthai) is “registered.”

See the full story at this link below👇👇

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-truth-of-the-nativity-story

This photo was re-edited from photo stock photos

This is a brief meditation for the stormy day we had today.
By Giovanni B Ferraren

Earlier, while I accompanied Fr. Patrick in his car, the sky was covered with crisp raindrops pouring on the ground. That time I remembered the events in the Bible about the story of Jesus and his apostles.

This is my reflection on a stormy day.

Mark 4:39

"And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

THE GOSPELS: A LESSON ABOUT STORMS IN MARK 4:35–41

Life's calamities are frequently likened to choppy waters. Whether we like it or not, they always arrive. We are terrified of them. They treat us badly and pose a threat to our entire sense of security and stability. We are uncertain about our ability to endure them. Furthermore, it is unknown how long they will last. For most of us, that is how a storm at land or sea would feel, at least. For Jesus, it was simply an opportunity to get forty winks.




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