Repost from Sense of the Sacred : CHARITY IS AN OBLIGATION

Charity is an Obligation

Praised be Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

Seeing the rich man go to hell, many people are inclined to ask: “What wrong has he done?” “What sin did he commit?”Apparently, he did not seem to do anything wrong. He did not commit any crime. He did not steal. There was no sign that his wealth was ill-gotten. The Lord described him as “a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.” So he liked to wear fine clothes – is there anything wrong with this? He liked to eat sumptuously – nothing wrong to this, so it seems. But why did he end in hell?

Although he had the right to enjoy his presumably honestly earned wealth, the presence of the poor man Lazarus at his door puts a limitation to that right. The presence of Lazarus imposed upon the rich man the obligation of charity. That’s right – charity is an obligation. It is not an option that we can easily discard when we are not disposed towards it. Charity is an obligation because it is a commandment. Remember the two greatest commandments? “Love God” and “Love your neighbor” are commandments. In fact they are the greatest of all commandments. And being commandments, these impose upon us an obligation to come to the aid of the needy.

We live in a time of great indifference. We are accustomed to observe the “mind your own business” rule. Is this not the way we treasure our individual privacy? My problems are mine and they are none of your business. You problems are yours and they are none of my business. I earn my living fair and square and I have a right to do with my earnings as I please. But this indifference is dangerous as the Prophet Amos condemns such complacency: “Woe to the complacent in Zion. Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat…they drink wine…and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph.” To enjoy one’s earnings is not evil but to do so while remaining indifferent to the sufferings of your fellowmen is evil. Evil does not only entail doing what is bad. It also means refusing to do what is good when I can afford to do so. Of course, we cannot solve the problem of world hunger or poverty in an instant. We can do so by feeding one hungry person at a time. Hunger and poverty will never be solved unless each of us undergoes a conversion of heart and live charity as a lifestyle.

I was homeless and you welcomed me:
Evacuation in the Parish Church during the time of Habagat.
Thanks to Fr. Aris Sison for the Photo

“The Year of Faith will also be a good opportunity to intensify the witness of charity. As St. Paul reminds us: ‘So faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of this is love.’ With even stronger words, - which have always placed Christians under obligation – St. James said: ‘What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead…” Faith without charity bears no fruit, while charity without faith would be a sentiment constantly at the mercy of doubt. Faith and charity each require the other, in such a way that each allows the other to set out along its respective path. Indeed, many Christians dedicate their lives with love to those who are lonely, marginalized or excluded, as those who are the first with the claim on our attention and the most important for us to support, because it is in them that the reflection of Christ’s own face is seen. Through faith, we can recognize the face of the risen Lord in those who ask for our love. ‘As you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’ These words are a warning that must not be forgotten and a perennial invitation to return the love by which he takes care of us. It is faith that enables us to recognize Christ and it is love that impels us to assist him whenever he becomes our neighbor along the journey of life. Supported by faith, let us look with hope at our commitment in the world, as we await ‘new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.’” (Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 14.)

Jesus, I trust in you. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

REVISED EDITION : Exorcism Encounters with the Paranormal and the Occult

From National Bookstore to St Pauls (Media and Publication) for 360Php

Why (almost) everyone must have this book?

Let's look at What readers are saying about EXORCISM which can be found in the first pages of the book itself 

WARNING: You won´t be able to put down this book. Because Fr. Jocis Syquia an official exorcist of the Catholic Church will take you into the hidden, dark world of demons and how they intersect our daily world. Speaking from personal experience of haunted houses, demons possession, ghosts, and true-to-life, scientifically unexplainable paranormal activity, Fr. Jocis will also show you the incomparable power of God over spirits. In the end, his mind-blowing stories will not make you fear the devil as much as they will make you love God more. - Bo Sanchez

For those who take their interior life seriously and desire to fully advance their prayer life, the experience of battling with the common enemies which are the world, the flesh, and the devil is ordinary, daily fare. Your book helps in shedding light on this nature of spiritual warfare. - Sr. Mary Bernard Cam, OCD, Mother Prioress, Carmelite Monastery of St. Therese

A very pastoral book... a "must read" especially during these times when many no longer believe in the existence of the devil. Fr Jocis shows us whom to turn to, what to do, what to pray, when we feel we are being attacked by the evil one.  - Susan Cheung, Businesswoman and In-charge of Healthcare Ministry, San Antonio Church, Forbes Park, Makati City

A very deep and compelling book, yet very simply narrated. I was glued to it until the last page. - Dolly Ajero, New Jersey, USA

And, what can I say about this book?

I really thank Fr. Jose Francisco "Jocis" C. Syquia for making this book available especially to laymen's reach. This book is a testament of the one-third ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ in the sacred scriptures which was liberating the souls from the oppression of the ancient enemy. This also testifies that exorcism and deliverance is not "out-moded" in these contemporary times. It's a must have book. In the end, you will appreciate that exorcism is not about the devil but rather, it is about the Lord, it is about the liberating and saving love of God through Christ towards people who were in the claws of the devil.

Have your own copy now!

Ite inflammate omnia!

ADMG!

Mary H. Distributist

Priests Who Celebrate Latin Mass Are Grumpy? Def'nitely Not!

I am very amazed until now and very happy to see these funny pictures of a priest celebrating his kiddie party on his 45th birthday where my mom also laughed once I showed these pictures of him who, by the way, celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in Latin everyday in his parish, and the official exorcist of the Diocese of Cubao.

But before you go to see the pictures, are you aware and awake that there are priests who celebrate the Holy Mass in Latin?

I pray your answer is yes. And if yes, I pray also that you knew because maybe you had read the Summorum Pontificum of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI or the Ecclesia Dei of Blessed Pope John Paul II before, or maybe you found out that those who celebrate latin masses were "traditionalists" (actually, they are) like those of the Society of St. Piux X - who I pray not the cause of the "demonization" of others to the latin mass.

But, I just want to say that Latin Masses are not boring nor it is just for people who were not joyful or grumpy or for those people who were intellectuals and intelligent when it comes to the Catholic Faith. The funny and sad thing is when we had this Novus Ordo (New Order of the Mass), or particularly the Holy Mass where the priests are facing the people, I witnessed the grumpy and not joyful people, despite the fact that choirs are super-free to sing "extravagant" and "spirit-uplifting" songs from the beginning till the mission-sending of the mass. Where the laity has an active physical participation in the Holy Mass where we have lectors and commentators, we have Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Wow! Big words!) and also from other organizations like Mother Butler's Guild and many more. I also met people who were in the heights of their parish service together with their hypocrisy and unholiness - but I love them. What I hate is what they did before (I hope they changed now.).

Despite the changes and innovation made by the Second Vatican Council, I still hope that people, many people are craving for an ancient spirituality of the Holy Mass. And although I do not understand Latin language as a whole, Holy Mass celebrated in latin is really different from the New Mass. Here, I interiorly enjoyed the real extravagance of this mass. It is solemn and respected. It has a sense of the sacred and has a truly pure worship and adoration, the highest prayer of all prayers addressed to God, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass can offer to the Most High. I am very much delighted to share this joy of this priest in these photos. May his charism and sense of the sacred lead many people to the Holy God who is holy and perfect. So, come on! Experience the Holy Mass attended by the Saints and holy people before! (By the way, you can bring here your gadgets like tablets or phones for viewing the Mass in Latin with the respective translation in english.
Kindly visit http://divinumofficium.com/ .)

Come and worship the Lord! (Father's face here is kinda creepy. But I assure you, he laughs!)

A priest devoted to St. Philomena 

And here are the birthday photos of Rev. Fr. Michell Joe "Jojo" B. Zerrudo. Thank you Sir Dennis Raymond P. Maturan for the pictures.

The theme is Kiddie Birthday Party so all ages are welcome!

Fr. Zerrudo watching the children perform in his birthday. 

Father with his friends at the dining table.

Fr. Jojo in his funny hat with Mr. Gerald Cenir on his left. (Do you think grumpy priests can wear that kind of hat?)

Fr. Jojo Zerrudo with his brother priests (Warming up for their show. This is my first time seeing a priest having a lollipop. Remember, he's an exorcist! So, I'll delete the myth that exorcist should be deadly serious.)

They're dancing Psy's, "Gentleman". (If this priest, especially in his ministry of exorcism and celebration of Tridentine Latin Mass, is deadly serious, most probably his seriously dead!)

Cute. Reverend. Gentleman!

Do you know a priest who is more cool, humorous, laughable, and joyful than he? 

Fr. Jojo Zerrudo's friends from left : Sir Dennis Raymond P. Maturan, Fr. Michell Joe himself, Mr. Gerald Cenir, and Mr. Alain Nacor. (The Birthday Boys.)

In conclusion, those who have their spirituality in the Latin Mass are joyful!

Experience the Latin Mass attended by our early Saints! (And, how poor they are for not experiencing the Novus Ordo. Joke.)

For the greater glory of God!