Brotherhood of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

READ: Bishop Ruperto Santos of Antipolo asks for prayers due to heavy rains from Typhoon Carina, which caused widespread flooding and displacement in Metro Manila and other provinces.

PRAYER RALLY | The Archdiocese of Cebu, through the Commission on Family and Life, is organizing a Prayer Rally on 27 July 2024, Saturday, calling Cebuanos to say “Yes to Marriage and the Family; No to Divorce.”

The Prayer Rally or procession will traverse from Fuente Osmeña Circle to the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu.

Images of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, St. Joseph, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Sñr Sto. Niño will join the procession.

The assembly is at the Fuente Osmeña Circle at 1:00 PM. The procession will start at 3:00 PM. There will be a short program at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño at 4:00 PM, then the Eucharistic Mass to be presided over by Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma will follow at 5:00 PM.

THIS IS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. You may opt to join the procession, following any carroza of your choice, or you may follow the Carroza of the Santo Niño.

A circular has been sent to all parishes concerning this activity, also about the suspension of Saturday afternoon masses in the archdiocese for the faithful to participate.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Full talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTrYtGJeL54&ab_channel=DustinQuick

"Behold the heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming Itself, in order to testify Its love; and in return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for me in this sacrament of love."
—Apparition of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Dear Filipinos,

We are people of love. We always cling to love stories with a happy ending. We grow up with movies and teleseryes ending in a wedding scene and stories in which the last line states: "And they live happily ever after." We are people invested in true love that ends up on the altar. Though we know that happily ever after is too good to be true and that there is no perfect relationship, but it consoles our hearts to find the true one worth fighting for.

"𝘛𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩, 𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙙𝙤 𝙪𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩."

To believe in love and marriage is not a fantasy. It is not only in movies, television, or novels. It is a reality lived by many. We must protect it. It should remain a major life decision, and no paper can make marriage an option and an easy in-and-out route for anyone who is not a believer in the sanctity of marriage. And so we must build our values in terms of love and marriage. We Filipinos have it. Stop letting the world change our views as a solid Christian nation.

Yes, it is also a reality that there are broken and unreconcilable relationships. But before ending, first, we must work things out. Let us encourage the government and the church to help couples by providing and promoting free marriage counseling and pastoral for such cases. Let us hear more news about faithful and joyful married couples. We have a lot of lay Catholic groups or communities with family ministry to join: Missionary Families of Christ, Couples for Christ, and Love Flock, to name a few. And if hope is nowhere to be found despite all the efforts, let them file for separation first, then annulment.

"𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨-𝘢𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘸𝘢 𝘢𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵, 𝘯𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘣𝘰 𝘮𝘰 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘰 𝘬𝘢 𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘺𝘰 𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘸𝘢.” —Filipino Proverb

No one should enter into a relationship without God as the center. Marriage is a gift from God. Let us fix our values and beliefs. A marriage lasts not because it starts with a grand wedding but because love and faith are there—faith in Jesus and one another. Marriage is building a family together. The children reap what the parents sow.

We must also know that married life is not for all and must not force this vocation. We must discern our true calling: marriage, single blessedness, priesthood, and religious life. Surrender to the plans of the Lord and let Him lead us to the path of our true vocation and experience the joy that we will experience once we are living it.

Let us stop westernizing the Philippines. Divorce is never the solution to stop broken families from existing. When it comes to love, marriage, and family, we know better than them. We are the last bastion of the world that upholds the Sanctity of Marriage. Let us show the world that love and marriage are worth fighting for with God.

Choose Philippines. 𝙋𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙨, 𝐍𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞.

DIVORCE IN THE PHILIPPINES, YES OR NO?

The proposal to legalize divorce in the Philippines has sparked heated discussions and divided opinions among netizens. Where do you stand on this issue?

The usual argument of pro-divorce is to protect women from being abused and battered by their spouses.

Now, we say "pro-divorce is pro-abuse" and that the abuser would just remarry and hop to another victim to abuse.

The critic would say no since we have law such as Magna Carta for Women (R.A. 9710) and Anti-Violence Against Women & Children (9262) that would potentially stop the abuser.

So, if the aforementioned laws are there to stop abusers, then abuse is not a good argument for divorce.

And since the divorce regulations doesn't make things easier and cheap for everyone (court proceedings, legal fees, etc.), only those with means can do so. Hence, abusers can exploit the loophole, remarry, and victimize women. Pro-Divorce is Pro-Abuse.

There are already remedies for these: annulment, legal separation, restraining orders, and jail-time to abusers. So, divorce is not a good argument for abuses.

1. Ano ang annulment?

Answer. Kapag "annuled" na ang isang couple, idinedeklara na walang bisa o "void" ang kasal nila from the start. In other words, walang totoong kasal na naganap sa kanila. Kaya, pwede silang mag-asawa ulit kasi hindi naman talaga sila totoong kasado simula't sapul. Walang marriage na binubuwag sa annulment kasi walang totoong marriage na naganap.

PS. Ang "annulment" na pinag-uusapan ko rito ay CHURCH ANNULMENT at hindi CIVIL ANNULMENT.

2. Ano ang legal separation?

Answer. Sa legal separation magkahiwalay ang couple pero hindi pwedeng mag-asawa ulit dahil "valid" ang marriage nila. Makoconsider na "adultery" kapag nakapagrelasyon sa iba. Isang MALAKING KASALANAN ang adultery na pwedeng magdala sa atin sa impyerno.

3. Ano ang divorce?

Answer. Sa divorce magkahiwalay ang couple at pwedeng magpakasal ulit kahit na "valid" ang marriage nila.

Sabi ng Panginoong Hesus, "Ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay huwag paghiwalayin ng tao (MARK 10:9)."

Sa divorce, ginagawa na lang "temporary contract" ang marriage imbes na "lifetime commitment" o covenant ito. Nagiging CHEAP ang value ng marriage dahil mas dadami pa ang mga couple na magpapakasal kahit hindi pa handa.

"Magpakasal na tayo. Total, pwede naman tayong magdivorce anytime kung gugustohin natin," malamang ito ang magiging usual reason sa pagpapakasal kung magiging legal ang divorce.

4. Papano yung mga pamilyang sirang-sira na?

Answer. Sa mga pamilyang sirang-sira na, meron namang annulment at legal separation. So, no need na ang divorce.

Ipakulong nyo ang abusive partner. May VAWC law po tayo.

5. Diba pareho lang namang naghihiwalay ang couple sa annulment, legal separation, at divorce?

Answer. Oo. Parehong naghihiwalay pero MAGKAIBA pa rin ang case at nature.

Sa annulment hindi nasisira ang SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE kasi wala namang marriage na nangyari in the first place.

Sa legal separation naman, kahit na magkahiwalay ang mag-asawa, eh hindi naman pwedeng mag-asawa ulit kasi ADULTERY yun. Malaking kasalanan yun. Tsaka may chance pang magbalikan ang couple kung sakali.

Sa divorce, sinisira nito ang SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE kasi kahit na valid ang kasal, ihinihiwalay pa rin ang couple at binibigyan sila ng karapatan na mag-asawa ulit which is ADULTERY. Divorce promotes adultery. Divorce promotes sin. Divorce promotes hell.

In addition, mas lumalabo ang chance na ma save pa ang marriage kasi binigbiyan ng right na mag-asawa ulit sa iba.

6. Mahal at matagal ang proseso ng annulment. Kaya, kailangan ilegalize ang divorce.

Answer. Yun pala e. Ang process pala ang problema. So, yun dapat ang i-fix. Dapat gumawa ng hakbang ang kongreso, together with the Church, para mas mapadali at maging affordable ang annulment process. So, di na kailangan pang ipush ang divorce. Kailangan lang ayusin ang annulment process sa bansa.

7. Hayaan na lang natin ang mga couple kung ano ang gusto nilang option. Wala kayong karapatan na manghimasok sa buhay nila. Tsaka, hindi naman lahat Katoliko. Hindi lahat naniniwala sa Bibliya.

Answer: Hindi natin pwedeng bigyan ng MALING OPTION ang tao. Maling option po ang divorce. Kagaya lang yan sa abortion at su***de.

"Sanctity of Marriage" na po ang nakasalalay dito. Kaya dapat kaming mag-ingay against divorce. Kapag binibigyan natin ng karapatan ang tao na sirain ang "sanctity of marriage", binibigyan na rin natin siya ng karapatan na sirain ang pamilya. Kapag sira ang pamilya, sira rin ang lipunan.

For those who are trying to seek research-based evidences showing negative effects of divorce, please read here:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2484939021772534&id=1875469692719473

Divorce is a reflection of how broken we are as individuals and as a society. It's not a long-term solution for the problems we created ourselves.

We want divorce because we've never been taught the things we ought to have learned before getting married:

1. Understanding what marriage really is and why you're getting married (clue, it's not just for love alone);

2. Being aware and working out all your personal issues and traumas before entering a relationship so you don't inflict your pain on your partner;

3. Observing potential boyfriends/girlfriends with a discerning eye to spot potential red flags;

4. Being clear with the alignment of your values and temperaments once you've started dating and before getting engaged. If your values don't align and your temperaments clash, it's going to be an uphill battle even before you get married, more so after the wedding.

Yes, it's important to say but it is more essential that we start teaching these 4 things to our young people. Let go of the brokenness first, offer it up to God so He can make you whole; and instead of adding more brokenness to your family and to society, be an instrument of their healing.

Update on Divorce Bill

◦Approved on 2nd reading at the House of Representatives on May 15, 2024
◦When calendared for 3rd reading (could be as early as Monday, May 20, 2024), everything is mostly ceremonial and ministerial: when presented by the Majority Floor Leader, the bill will be passed, *but it does not become a law yet.*
◦Senate’s version will undergo the same process
◦As of May 18, 2024, SB 2443 still has to be calendared for 2nd reading.
◦After 3rd reading (which we hope does not happen this Congress), the approved versions of both Houses are reconciled, finalized and approved by the Bi-cameral Conference Committee
◦Presidential action - for approval or veto.

It is therefore, our fervent hope and prayer that the HR does not calendar the Bill for 3rd reading and that the Senate does not move and act further on the pending Divorce Bill.

We urge everyone to help STOP the passage of the Divorce Bill. Let us:
1. Populate social media with expressions of our opposition
2. Write/Talk to our Congressmen and Senators
3. Write letters to the editors of various newspapers
4. Make noise in other legal forms and ways to catch attention of our legislators
5. PRAY intensely and unceasingly.

Salamat po at Mabuhay ang PAMILYANG PILIPINO!

ALLIANCE FOR THE FAMILY FOUNDATION PHILS. INC. (ALFI)
18 May 2024

JUST IN: Absolute divorce bill approved on third and final reading by the House of Representatives. 126 voted in favor of the measure, 109 voted against it, and 20 abstained. | via Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News

[UPDATED] English and Cebuano Version of the “Oratio Imperata Ad Petendam Pluviam" or the Obligatory Prayer to Request for Rain

MAG-AMPO KITA | Oratio Imperata alang sa Ulan

Among mahigugmaong Amahan, magbubuhat sa kalibutan ug sa tibuok uniberso ug ang tanang mga maanindot sa kinaiyahan nga nagpalambo sa imong mga buhing binuhat, mapaubsanon kaming nagahangyo kanimo sa pagpadala sa ulan nga gikinahanglan kaayo sa among nasud niining panahona aron sa pagpatubig sa among mga kaumahan, paglikay sa krisis sa kuryente, paghatag og tubig alang sa among lawasnong panginahanglan ug aron pagpabuhi og balik sa among naugang yuta.

Sa imong Diyosnong pagmando, ang hangin ug ang dagat mosunod, ipandong ang imong kamot, Makagagahum nga Diyos, aron mohunong na ang mabangis nga El Niño ug mosugod na ang naandang timpo sa ting-ulan aron mapugngan ang nag-ong-ong nga krisis.

Maluluy-on ug manggihatagong Diyos, ipabati dinhi kanamo ang tim-os nga gugma alang niining kalibutana ug ang tanan nga naglibot niini. Ug niining panahon sa panginahanglan, O Diyos, himoa kaming mas mopaambit pa, mas moalagad pa ug mas mohigugma pa.

Kini among gipangayo pinaagi sa among Ginoong Jesucristo nga buhi ug hari uban kanimo diha sa kahiusa sa Espiritu Santo, Diyos hangtud sa kahangturan. Amen.

Birhen sa Guadalupe, i-ampo mo kami.
San Jose, i-ampo mo kami.
San Lorenzo Ruiz, i-ampo mo kami.
San Pedro Calungsod, i-ampo mo kami.

——————

LET US PRAY | ORATIO IMPERATA for Rain

God our loving Father, Creator of our earth and of the universe, and all the wondrous elements of nature that sustain your living creatures, we humbly ask you to send us the rain that our country needs so badly at this time, to irrigate our fields, to stave off a power shortage, to provide water for our bodily health, and to refresh our parched lands. At your command the wind and the seas obey, raise your hand Almighty God to commence the normal rainy season that has now been long delayed so that crisis may be averted.

Merciful and generous God, instill in us a deep love for this earth and all that is in and around it. And at this time of crisis, dear Lord, move us to share more, to serve more and to love more.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever. Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz, pray for us.
Saint Pedro Calungsod, pray for us.

📌 Adaptation from: Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, August 2007, February 2010
📌 Translated and Revised by: Commission on Worship of the Archdiocese of Cebu, April 2016

Blessed feast of St. Joseph the Worker.

Pray for us!