How's The Smoke of Satan in the Church Now?

"Taong 1999, nirebisa ang ilang bahagi ng eksorsismo sa Roman Ritual 1614. Ang reporma ay sinimulan ng Vatican II. Layunin nito na iakma ang eksorsismo sa diwa ng makabagong panahon. Ngunit para kina Fr. Syquia at Fr. Zerrudo, mas matapang pa rin ang Roman Ritual 1614 kaya ito pa rin ang kanilang ginagamit. Ito rin ang opinyon ni Fr. Gabriele Amorth, ang exorcist ng Rome. (In the year 1999, some of the parts of exorcism in the Roman Ritual 1614 was revised. The revision was spearheaded by the Vatican II. The purpose of the revision was to suit the exorcism on the spirit of modern times. But for Fr. Syquia and Fr. Zerrudo, the Roman Ritual 1614 is stronger and much more powerful hence they remained on using this.) [from I-Witness, "Exorcist", documentary of Jay Taruc, GMA channel 7]

30 Days magazine (June 2000) carried an interview of Father Gabriel Amorth, chief exorcist of Rome and the most famous exorcist in the world. Fr. Amorth said that the new rite of exorcism is "a farce. An incredible obstacle that is likely to prevent us from acting against the demon." He observes that the new exorcism rite forbids exorcisms on people who have been reportedly subjected to evil spells. Fr. Amorth exclaimed, "Absurd. Evil spells are by far the most frequent causes of possessions and evil procure)d through the demon: at least 90% of cases. It is as good as telling exorcists they can no longer perform exorcisms." He also noted that it also "solemnly declares that one should not carry out exorcisms if one is not certain of the presence of the devil. This is a masterstroke of incompetence: the certainty that the devil is present in someone can only be obtained by carrying out an exorcism." He considers the new rite "a blunt weapon. Efficacious prayers, prayers that had been in existence for twelve centuries, were suppressed and replaced by new ineffective prayers."

About Rome and the hierarchy, Fr. Amorth lamented, "We have a clergy and an episcopate who no longer believe in the devil, in exorcisms, in the extraordinary evil that the devil can cause, nor in the power that Jesus has given us to drive out demons." Explaining why he and other exorcists were denied an audience with the Pope, he warned, "The smoke of Satan has entered everywhere. Everywhere! Perhaps we were excluded from the audience with the Pope because they were afraid that such a large number of exorcists might succeed in chasing out the legions of demons that have installed themselves in the Vatican."

When asked by the reporter for 30 Days if he had made a joke, Fr. Amorth replied: "It may seem like a joke, but I do not believe it is. I have no doubt about the fact that the demon tempts the authorities of the Church especially, just as he tempts every authority, those of politics and industry."

Food for Thought! On the Existence of the Evil One

Those people who do not want to have a head-to-head combat with the devil by forgetting about him and believe that we should focus only on God are cowards, putting themselves in a very dangerous disposition, not detecting and educating themselves about the evil that is everywhere and invisible but real. They fear the devil but they do not fear God who is greatly feared by the devil - the only One who deserves to be feared by all creatures. These people cannot be considered as followers of Jesus whose entire ministry was composed of one-third of healing, deliverance and exorcisms. They are also victims of Satan, the evil one who wants everyone to believe that he does not exist. - Jesus Mary Hao

"God allowed Satan to have maximum freedom even to Judas."

"If we are aspirants of these modern times to become holy as God is holy, there is no other way than to imitate the saints, who are evident persons in imitating Christ."

"No part of the Gospel is not written down otherwise those are of no purpose and of no importance."

"Science cannot prove spiritual realm. Fr. Candido Amantini(+), and Fr. Gabriele Amorth who is the official exorcist of the Diocese of Rome, visited mental hospitals. They had done deliverance and exorcism on the patients. Half of them went home."

"Do you want proof about the devil's existence? Bring me a man who do not believe that the devil exist and you will have proof." - Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman

"Christians nowadays are the more persecuted than the Christians of old."(Because Satan uses institutions so that his presence will not be detected.) - one of Pope Francis' Homily.

"We should not attack one another. Rather, we should stand united and attack the one who is evil and toying us to attack each other."

"If you are a true follower of Jesus and is under attack by the devil and his demons, then, that's a good sign! This shows that we are a threat to him. But if not, then, something is wrong and in this state, he will not for now 'rock the boat' until he has full power over you."

"If we are real followers of Jesus, we are under attack by the evil one."

"Do not keep them (Christians) away from spiritual combat but protect them from the attacks and snares of the enemy."

"The early pagans before baptism undergoes exorcisms every week. Their God-parents were exorcist themselves. These pagans were believers of Grecko-Roman religion."

"The favorite method of the devils is idolatry."

"Islam is the heresy of the early Church in the 7th century. Mohammed just snatched or robbed a bible of the early Christians and changed many details of it on his own."

"St. Ignatius of Loyola is known as Master of Discernment."

"In Folk Catholicism : Inculturation is all right but it should not consist of anything that is pagan in origin or those beliefs, actions, rituals, prayers, and the like that should be condemned; these are not compatible with the Church' teaching and cannot be used as means for adoring, glorifying, and worshiping God. We can preserve the cultures that is compatible with religion and for God and avoiding contamination."

"Many Filipinos avail the sacraments and use the sacramentals of the Church together with the use of things or actions that were not used by the early Church nor of the saints of their time. The sacraments and sacramentals for many Filipinos were for good luck and not devotion."

"Blessing and grace of God is enough."

"Demons can predict but are out from the existing and present things or events. They do not know the future. That's why manghuhulas or fortune-tellers do not engaged in lottery or if engaged, with no winnings at all."

"Charismatics must be discerning when it comes to 'gifts'. It is questionable now if they are charisms from the Holy Spirit, or psychic powers that are demonic. For many 'charisms' are used that are demonic."

Material faculties of Man that the Devil can play with :
1.) the five senses
2.) imaginations
3.) emotions (feelings)
4.) psychic faculties

Sometimes where we are most psychic :
1.) Sleep
2.) Near-death
3.) childhood

What he cannot play with are the spiritual faculties such as :
1.) Will
2.) Intelligence

"Devils attack people who are religious and spiritual, if it is so, then that's a good sign!"

"Superstition will put you to a fear and anxiety based disposition."

"Don't say your prayers. Pray your prayers. No lip service." - Fr. Jose Francisco 'Jocis' C. Syquia

"New Agers believe that God is  life force."

"The real angel will never point to himself; He will not desire to be the center or attention of everyone. That's why they do not appear to us for they know there is a danger of worshiping them and we may forget whom we must only worship."

'Good luck' Catholics actions, bad, paganistic inculturation examples:
1.) Scapular side-by-side with anting-anting
2.) Novenas side-by-side with orasyon
3.) Devotion to the angels side-by-side with having an 'alagang duwende' or white dwarfs as cared companion.
4.) Sacred Heart Statue side-by-side with Buddha
5.)Image of the Child Jesus side-by-side with Good luck figurines (popular is a golden-colored cat who waves its one hand back and forth.)
6.) House blessing side-by-side with 'padugo' and feng shui (geomancy) that leads to house' infestation.
7.) St. Benedict's Medal side-by-side with saying 'Tabi-tabi po' (a Filipino incantation that is used to excuse oneself from the elementals such as dwarfs giving them respect out of fear and anxiety of Filipinos and by doing so, they will not be attacked and punished by them.)

Some Current Filipino Occult Practitioners
1.) Albularyo
2.) Mangkukulam
3.) Mambabarang - Its expertise is the use of fungus beetles or insects to send curses
4.) Magtatawas
5.) Manghihilot (with bulong, or whispering)
6.) Mananambal
7.) Manghuhula

"Know that God is a jealous God."

"We are against cosmic powers."

Some of the text were quoted from Ministry of Liberation Talk on Exorcism and Deliverance by Fr. Jose Francisco 'Jocis' C. Syquia, Santuario de San Jose Greenhills Mandaluyong City, August 17, 2013.

"Ite inflammate omnia!"

Holy Days of Obligation in the Philippines

What are the Holy Days of Obligation in the Philippines? by Carlos Antonio Palad (From a Status Update of Sir Dennis Raymond P. Maturan)

Every time a well-known Solemnity / First Class Feast comes around, I hear the inevitable question: "Is this day a Holy Day of Obligation"? I saw this question get asked on various Facebook pages on August 15 (the Assumption of Our Lady), just like in previous years. 

In this post I will present the legislation on this matter that is currently recognized by Rome and the CBCP, without in any way delving into the question of its wisdom, propriety and fidelity to the Tradition of the Church. 

In this regard, Filipino Catholics are "lucky" (or unfortunate, depending on who gets asked) that, under the Code of Canon Law currently recognized by the Holy See and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, the Philippines has only three Holy Days of Obligation, namely, the Immaculate Conception (December  Christmas Day / Nativity of Our Lord (December 25), and the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (January 1).

Three other days that are Holy Days of Obligation in the normative liturgical calendar of the Roman Rite, namely the solemnities / feasts of the Epiphany (January 6), Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter Sunday) and Corpus Christi Thursday (the Thursday after Trinity Sunday), have been moved by the Philippine hierarchy (with Rome's blessings) to Sundays. Epiphany is observed in the Philippines on the first Sunday after January 1, while Ascension and Corpus Christi are moved to the Sunday after their traditional dates.

The remaining four Holy Days of Obligation in the normative calendar of the Roman Rite -- St. Joseph (March 19), SS. Peter and Paul (November 1), the Assumption of the BVM (August 15) and All Saints (November 1) -- are not considered as such in the Philippines. 

The list of Holy Days of Obligation for the entire Roman Rite, as well as the authority of the local episcopal conferences to suppress or transfer some or all of these, are delineated in the 1983 Code of Canon Law:

Can. 1246 §1 The Lord's Day, on which the paschal mystery is celebrated, is by apostolic tradition to be observed in the universal Church as the primary holyday of obligation. In the same way the following holydays are to be observed: the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Epiphany, the Ascension of Christ, the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, the feast of Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, the feast of St Joseph, the feast of the Apostles SS Peter and Paul, and the feast of All Saints. 

§2 However, the Episcopal Conference may, with the prior approval of the Apostolic See, suppress certain holydays of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday.

On September 27, 1985, Pope John Paul II approved and confirmed the Norms Approved by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines for the Local Implementation of Some Provisions of the New Code of Canon Law. The entire text of this document can be found in CBCP Monitor, Vol. VI No. 6 (November - December 1985), pp. 32 - 43. To this very day this document has not been overturned or abolished. This document says the following regarding Holy Days of Obligation (pp. 39-40):

Can. 1246, 2: Holy Days of Obligation 

1. With reference to Canon 1246,2, the following feasts are holydays of obligation in the Philippines: 

a. January 1 - Motherhood of Mary (New Year)
b. December 8 - Immaculate Conception (Patroness of the Philippines)
c. December 25 - Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) 

Note: The Feast of Corpus Christi is not recommended by the CBCP because it always falls on a Thursday which is a working day; for this reason the solemnity of the feast will not be fostered because only very few people can go to church and the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, instead of being enhanced, will be diminished. Why? Because the people who usually go to the church only on Sundays can no longer celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi because it is already observed on a Thursday and cannot join the procession. 

2. All other feasts mentioned in Canon 1246, 1, are transferred to the nearest Sunday, preceding or following the feast.

Note: Three other feasts are celebrated on the nearest Sunday, namely: Epiphany, Ascension and Corpus Christi. The reason why the Bishops do not want to change the present discipline is because, pastorally, they find it hard to have to explain to the people that it is again a mortal sin not to go to Mass on Epiphany or Ascension or Corpus Christi, when all these past years we have been preaching that it was not, because these feasts are no longer Holy Days of Obligation.

3. The parish priest has the obligation to apply the Missa pro populo for his parishioners on Sundays and holydays as stated above, in accord with Canon 543, 2.

Ironically, while December 8 (an official Holy Day of Obligation) is not an official holiday in the Philippines, November 1, All Saints' Day, which is not recognized by the Philippine hierarchy as a Holy Day of Obligation, is an official holiday. As a result many Filipinos go to church on November 1 in the belief that it is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Exorcist Gives Tips On Warding Off Evil

Exorcist gives tips on how to ward off evil

"Any sense of fear or anxiety is an evil spirit..." - Fr. Joseph Iannuzi

Want to ward off nightmares or strange occurrences at home? Go back to the basic sacramentals, like wearing a scapular or using holy water and exorcised oil and salt.

A Rome-based theologian and exorcist, Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi, advised Filipino Catholics that these were some objects present-day believers could use to protect themselves from evil that usually goes unnoticed but is too common.

“The devil has been able to roam undetected even to the point that we don’t believe he exists,” the CBCPNews, the official news service of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), quoted Iannuzzi as saying.

The Italian priest, who has been assisting for years Fr. Gabriel Amorth, one of the chief exorcists in the diocese of Rome, gave a series of talks to Filipino audiences during his visit to the country over the weekend.

Iannuzzi of the Gregorian Pontifical University of Rome, also gave a theological presentation on the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary during a nationwide consecration to the Virgin held on Saturday in different churches.

Someone to devour

Iannuzzi explained how diabolical activities were more commonplace than people liked to believe.

“Any sense of fear or anxiety is an evil spirit… As St. Peter said in his letter, the devil roams the earth, looking for someone to devour,” the theologian said, noting that even nightmares might be the doing of the devil.

Stressing how potent sacramentals can be, Iannuzzi said these objects—such as holy water, exorcised oil and salt, scapulars and the Benedictine cross—should be used for protection against evil.

The Catholic Church defines sacramentals as sacred objects, actions or blessings that communicate grace to believers through the prayers of the Church. Exorcised salt and oil are special sacramentals blessed with exorcism prayers by a priest.

Weapon vs nightmares

Iannuzzi advised Catholics to sprinkle their homes with holy water should they experience “strange happenings.” The holy water—available in churches—is also powerful to combat nightmares, he said, advising the faithful to bless themselves with it before going to bed.

Iannuzzi also recommended using exorcised oil, whose effects last longer. But only olive oil can be used for such purpose, he pointed out.

But Iannuzzi was quick to add that the faithful must not overdo these holy practices. “I am not saying be scrupulous, [like] if anyone bothers you, throw [holy water] in their faces,” he explained.

For those who have been using the sacramentals to ward off evil, they must not complain if they don’t feel any differently, Iannuzzi said.

“Often, the proof is precisely that nothing happens,” he said. “This is what is keeping your family safe, believe it or not.”

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/424783/exorcist-gives-tips-on-how-to-ward-off-evil#ixzz2WIeaV7Yl
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I Am A Lesbian (Pol Medina Jr. Controversy)

Pol Medina Jr's comic strip became an issue when it tackled lesbianism particularly in St. Scholastica (I do not know if this refers to a college or academy.) 

The attack of this comic strip shows that Christians, particularly Catholics, and most particularly those who govern Catholic schools, were hypocrites because they "condone" lesbianism in their own institution, and it says that there were no beautiful lass who don't have a girlfriend.

It also gave a kick of possibility that even nuns of the schools were also lesbians. 

In my point of view, the comic strip is just showing the reality that lesbianism is existing even in Catholic institutions, that is actually against lesbianism and gay relationship as well. 

That is the sad existing reality that the comic strip shows. 

But, what is the impact of it in public when even nuns where dragged in this strip? That's another story.

The image of nuns and their vows of chastity may be damage by this comic strip that is asking - "Perhaps even nuns (who are in Catholic institutions) were tom girls?"

In media and public sense, it is already a damaging attack to the nuns even if it is a question. Why? Because it is a malicious question. Those kind of questions must not be there for it is unkind especially to those people who keep themselves chaste. 

The strip in its aspect may appear to have a malicious logic, meaning, if female students in an all-girls institutions were mostly lesbians, then, perhaps, nuns were also lesbians.

That is the bad part which I hate in that comic strip of Pol Medina Jr. 

I cannot say that Catholics, especially those who run Catholic schools can be considered as hypocrites because, they do not condone those female students who have perverted feelings to their female companions. It just happens that despite the fact that Catholic superiors were strongly against this sinful and pervert actions, hard-headed and disobedient female studs have their hidden last say. 

Hahahaha! Against all odds? Really. Indeed. That's what they call "love"? Well, I do not consider nor applaud to such immature and rubbish thing.

But what can we do? Our society naturally as it should be, is a male and female world. What happened to these all-girls (and even all-boys) schools were actually a societal crisis for male and female interaction were
mostly to totally destroyed. Now, what can you expect to those young people who are not in the heights of moral uprightness,  who are not built-up and mature on their own feelings, can govern self control? Identity crisis is really a problem for it is a personal struggle and can only helped by guided personal communication.

School authorities and parents should go hand-in-hand to personalize these alarming and scandalous situations. Male or female perversion to their natural state is a grave violation of order. We must have an in-depth and heart-to-heart communication towards our sons and daughters and that is the only way to help them solve their identity crisis.

I seriously condemn those lesbian and gay relationships. If God wants to establish a female-to-female relationships especially sexual, then, He should not created the male.

To Pol Jr., let us consider the outcome of our freedom of expression and what good it may bring to people.

Mary H. Distributist

C.S. Lewis on Atheism

The Family That Facebooks Together, Stays Together (Virtual Family Communication)

It is sad to know that even messages of holy persons become a "play thing" of people as a tool for advertisement. 

A mock on Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton's message about praying the rosary as a family,
"The family that prays together, stays together."

What are the implications of this mockery?

It will, at some point, become a trend to group of persons, especially a family, that using facebook together will help them become one and will be a source and center of their family to have a bondage to each other.

That statement will show that at some point, rosary is obsolete and not a trending tool for a family to have a hold to bring together the family members to become one as a family, then, facebook is. 

This mockery exhibits the use of facebook (or any virtual reality) in the family as a means of everything just to keep the family united. By doing so, their is no real love in the family, they are united just by fun and games, and verbal and loving touch communication that as a family must always have will be compromised and afterwards, little by little, vanish. 

Love within the family will be compromised by virtual communication. 

Openness of each member of  and to a family will be compromised too. 

The joy of communicating oneself to the other members of the family will be done in virtual reality such as facebook or twitter, or Wechat, or whatever it is. 

In conclusion, family is now a virtual compromised family connected by virtual fun and games and everything on the web.

We, the Family Rosary Crusade Youth Ministry Philippines seriously condemns the mock gimmick of this internet advertiser, compromising and damaging the holy message of our Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton, and the family as well. 

We are solid in this holy message, "The family that prays together, stays together. A world at prayer is a world at peace."

Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton, pray for us!

Mary H. Distributist

Arguments That Support God's Existence by St. Thomas Aquinas

The existence of God.

St. Thomas Aquinas was a Dominican friar who lived in the year 1200's. He was born to a noble family in Roca Seca, the kingdom of Sicily, Italy. Although his vocation was strongly opposed by his family, he pursued it. Thus, we benefit from his works in the fields of philosophy and theology for which the Church was made him one of the doctors of the Church.

His acclaimed work, the Summa Theologiae (Summa Theologica) is regarded as a "manual for beginners in theology" and as a "compendium of all the main theological teachings of the Church."

Is there a God?
Is there a God who exist?
Do God exist?

Let the Quinque Viae or the Five Ways of the Summa Theologica answer those questions.

The first way is the argument of the Unmoved Mover. This tries to explain that God must be the "cause of motion" in the universe. The universe is in motion but it could not have set itself in motion nor there can be infinite, perpetual or continuous motion. A being outside the universe had to set everything into motion, thus, according to the Summa, this Unmoved Mover is what we call God.

The second way is the argument of the First Cause. This tries to show that God must be the cause or the "creator of the universe". Now, everything in the universe is created by something else but these cannot go on infinitely. There must be a first cause and St. Thomas tells us that the "First and Uncaused Cause is what we call God.

The third way is the argument from Contingency. This tries to explain that the universe is created by God who is needed by others and "non-dependent on anything or anyone else". The whole universe is contingent for the universe and its contents to have existed, certain factors must have been in place. But there cannot be an infinite chain of contingencies. There must be something or someone who relies on nothing else in order to exist. Something or someone who created the conditions giving rise to the universe and all of its contents. Still from the Summa, this non-contingent being is what we call God.

The fourth way is the argument from Degree. This tries to explain that God is the "cause of all goodness and perfection." Due to varied judgements, there are varying degrees of perfection so one can say something is better than the other or not. But in order to come up with such judgement, there must be an ultimate standard of perfection. St. Thomas categorically tells us, this pinnacle of goodness and perfection is whom we call God. 

The fifth way is the argument of design. This claims that everything in the universe was "made" or "has a purpose" caused by God and follows the laws created by God. We are aware that everything in nature is orderly and systematic including the living and non-living things. Hence the universe having governing laws like the laws of physics among others proves the existence of an intelligent being who created these. Thus the Summa of St. Thomas states that this Intelligent Designer is whom we call God. 

In conclusion, truly, God do exists. 

Spiritual Warfare : My Spiritual Battles Against Lust and of All Temptations

When I saw these words from the diary of the Apostle of Divine Mercy St. Faustina Kowalska, it came to a point that I wrote it on the back pages of my 2012 book planner. I wrote it down so that I will always feel to review it, and besides, I feel that I am really the one who wrote it part. But the last photos deal with sins (Not from the diary. I am reviewing it and studying it as of now how to find "cure" and on how to fight and conquer these sins.) and the very last photo is an addition, of and from the virtues of Mama Mary according to the teachings of St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort, in his classical book, True Devotion to Mary and the pious practices that the Confraternity of Mary, Queen of All Hearts   (which is now renamed Statuary Group of Mary, Queen of All Hearts. Although I'm not a member of this and actually inquired about it because I'm interested to join but I was not able to, I am blessed to be a member of another Marian ancient confraternity, the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary.) highly recommends to its members especially these prayers are conformable to the spirit of the Confraternity. I am sorry for my hand-writing. Patience, my dear reader, patience. :) Smile! :) I may say that these meditative lines from the Diary can help a person to fight all temptations. As of now, I remain my article here. 

It is by battle against hell and by resistance to temptations that we give God fruits of our love. St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, Patron Saint of Priests, experienced many troublesome temptations and even physical attacks from the devil.

Let us all be vigilant in fighting temptations! May these help you!

How To Have Good Confession (Good Confession)

It is important to confess one's own sins to the priests but some of the penitents do not know what are the important dispositions to make and to take before making a confession. Are you one of those "some"?

My comrade, kindly consider some of the dispositions that a penitent must undergo before making a confession.

First, the penitent should start with a prayer before examining his/her conscience. This is an important element that should be considered first. The penitent is seeking and pleading light from God to know how he/she is helpless in his/her state of being in darkness of sin and ignorance and, this is to show that the penitent cannot really help him/herself in admitting his/her own faults but totally depends on the help of the merciful God who felt the hurt of his/her sins committed against Him.

Here are the prayers you may consider in your preparation and before the sacramental confession(kindly take note that the prayers differ from each other. The first is a preparation prayer meaning, you are taking down (in writing as much as possible so that you will not forget the sins you will confess and to save the time of the priest, and will help you to have a clean and good confession. I personally write all my sins to a piece of paper and, after my confession, I tear the paper to bits), by the help of God, the sins that you had committed before your examination of conscience while the other one is prayed before meeting the priest or prayed before you enter the confessional or, prayed before the priest (but first, as much as possible, try to pray before meeting the priest. In my opinion, it is, I think, the priest will start exclaiming prayers for you before the confession but consider that it is the priest's introductory prayers and are different from your own which (I lovely hope) came from a penitent heart.).

Second, the interior dispositions of the penitent must be present before, during and after the sacramental confession. The penitent must be truly humble and repentant, making him/herself little before God whom he/she had injured by sins, truly blaming him/herself for one's sins he/she had committed. And this is accompanied by a child-like, unshakable trust in God, solid faith, high hope, real love, and full confidence that he/she will receive pardon from the offenses that he/she had committed against this ever merciful God.

Third, the penitent must do penance given by the priest-confessor (and/or, if you are really moved, one may consider a self-destruction in addition to the penance received such as a consumption of just a one full meal for one day, less water intake or if you love, flagellation by a leather belt, wearing an itchy or uncomfortable shirt and/or dress, etc.).

Fourth, the last but not the least, the penitent must strive not to commit those sins again (all mortal sins) and strive greatly not to commit those venial sins again. Mortal sins are serious sins committed with full knowledge or consent or awareness or knew before hand (or even not) that such sins are declared by the Church as mortal sins (like pornography, masturbation, abortion, murder, stealing, etc.) while venial sins are sins committed with not so much knowledge or not knowing its gravity or less grave and do not totally separate a person from God but affects  negatively the relationship between God and the person (like "white" lies (I do not honor a lie regardless of the given color), cheating in quizzes of 5 items (a child exam perhaps?), etc.). Amending his/her ways, not to hurt God as much as greatly as possible.
Here is the Act of Contrition. And I will show you my own copy (that I bring along while in the sacramental confession) of it because I must confess to you, as of now, that I do not yet memorized this prayer. How sad. Pity me.

Let us proceed to the guides that will help us to better examine our conscience. These is one of my "sin reference" but if many of my sins are not listed here, I will try my best to dig it in the deepest part of my conscience so that all must be confessed. Please forgive me that I do not take time typing these here and just posted it as photos and some of the lines were being doubled on the shots. Kindly take patience. Thank you.
Smile.

 These photos contain the important (very,very,very) important facts we must consider. Again, we must.

 The other reference. It came from a little book of 1930's, "My Daily Missal", The other one is not posted here because I gave it away but you can buy it at all St Pauls Outlets. It is a gray folded pamphlet titled, "How To Make A Good Confession" (I do not know exactly the title) and its price is less than 25 cents. Please just ask the people of St Pauls for more infos. They will not bite you.

Here are some of the elements that is present in the confession (as I remember. But you can take pauses, especially if you are crying.)
Make the Sing of the Cross at the start of the confession ( follow the priest please.).

Begin with, "Father, my last good confession was on (state here when was your previous confession, it is not necessary if you do not remember the exact date. Just say like last month, last two months and so on) .... And since then, I have committed the following sins....

Now, confess first the most embarrassing and mortal sins (if you've committed) and go on until you went on to the lesser sins by saying the gravity of the sins and how frequent you do these sins like this that I do (I'm pertaining to the pattern on how I write it in the paper).

-I hurt my cat badly and mercilessly for sometime. ("badly and mercilessly" are the gravity factors of the sin other than hurting the cat and "for sometime" indicates the frequency of the sin committed. Question - is it okay to ignore these elements? Answer - As long as you learned these, It is up to you if you will follow your conscience who is pushing you to consider these considerable elements and so essential if you love to have a good confession. Besides, an exorcist of the Diocese of Cubao, Fr. Michell Joe "Jojo" B. Zerrudo said to me that next time, I should say how frequent are my sins. (when he heard my confession and knows that I still lack elements for a good confession).
-I lied for so many time.
-I always teased my baby sister.
-I became lazy for a time.
-I didn't respond to my household chores for sometime.... And so on....

And after the "litany of your sins", say this that I'm saying (but you can do or make your own.)

And the priest will continue to the formula of the absolution and so on....
Then, take the advices or the sermons of the priest for you (do not worry, priest won't bite you, ever!)
Then, receive the blessing He will give and join the priest in saying the "Amen".

May we all have a very good confession!

Spiritual Warfare (Part 4) : Lesser Forms of "Godlessness"

Becoming a religious is the greatest direction of life of the early Catholics.

When the Kingdom of God was announced victoriously for almost 2,000 years ago, and the fresh birth of the children of God was aflame by a burning desire in their own hearts to proclaim to all nations that "the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand", the baptized Christians were battled by the devil  and his minions and his instrument to destroy the growth of the Church and the proclamation of the promised salvation and eternal life. The instrument that Satan used was the Roman Empire who were living in the darkness of paganism or animism. 

The Roman Empire then was a nation or a state that had so many gods. Polytheism was the reigning belief then. And on the coming of the Christians, they stand solidly in evangelizing the pagans that there is only One living God, and those gods that the Romans worship then in particular were not really gods at all. At this, the Romans became furious, for such proclamation were ultimately against the living law of the Roman Empire - gods must be served by rightful ceremonies, rites, rituals, offerings, sacrifices in accordance with the law, there are proper ways to deal with these gods, based on their observation on how to "control" these gods and be favorable to the Romans appeals or wishes.

So the Christians were considered as criminals, deserved to be put to death, and now bloody persecutions began.

But the killing of thousands of Christians didn't help to stop the spreading of the Christian Faith. 

How so?

Because the killing of the Christians, the living, strong and solid faith of Christians facing persecution even unto death, the martyrs who endured the cruel persecutions with  indescribable patience and faith in God and His words, the love and hopes that lives in the Christians hearts and always seen in their works or deeds in the Christian community and to the Gentiles, the victory of the God of Christians over "gods" or demons, were flourished altogether. And on these main reasons, the many exorcisms done by Christians was one of the factors that, the Romans believed when they saw then how the God of the Christians subdued and rebuked those demons that the Romans worshiped as "gods", and, how the Holy Name of Christ drove out all those evil spirits who were pretending and hiding themselves in the form of "gods".

The Roman Empire were now truly convinced to the authenticity and the Power of the God of Christians over their "gods", and after seeing these marvels of Christians, Romans received the Catholic Faith and established it as the official religion of the state. Catholicism quickly spread to the neighboring lands of the Roman Empire.

By that time, becoming a religious is the greatest direction of life, so Catholicism is full of grace of women and men then, and the "fashion" of themselves was to become a monk, an hermit, a nun, a religious sister, a religious brother who prepared themselves to serve God and to win souls for Him. The "popular modes" then was going to a deserted place somewhere or being in a community (monastery or convent) enjoying and living in solitude, silence, being in the presence of God and the focus is almost God alone, fighting the temptations of the devil and fighting him head-on, destroying his holds on the people of God and so on.

I think that they must be envied by us modern people of these modern times. How greatly different they are to us! I pity myself. Let me show you why.

In these modern times we see how people live nowadays, all bodies are so abundantly enjoying the deliciousness of the inventions of man and its fruits which the purpose is to develop and give easy and comfort to man's needs (and too many wants) in its day-to-day living. Now, God is mostly, mostly forgotten by billions of people because these material things' brings so much delicious comfort and are so swift on attending people's needs (and so many wants) rather than prayers to God. We are greatly surrounded by these things that always and always catches our attentions. So in addition to this, these inventions or things, as I typed, are so great in number that we focus only to these material things. Wherever a person goes elsewhere, there is always things that gives him/her comfort and entertainment (like from televisions, radios, air-conditioner, electric fan, cellphones, computers, laptops, iphones, ipads, etc.). These worldly material things are now Satan's instruments to keep us away from God and His presence in us, little by little we end up to these and after that we plunge ourselves to be completely unrelated to God. These may serve as doorways of the devil and his demons to us, in the form of these things that brings lesser form of "Godlessness".

Of course, it is super easy to listen to always available music on the music player (like ipods) rather than spend a 30-minute silence in prayer and or, reciting the Holy Rosary of five decades and or, reading spiritual books and or, studying catechism and or, reading the Holy Bible prayerfully and or, attending to one's own pious practices and devotions, etc.

It is so easy to click on the television button or having a remote control(er) just in hand for so many fancy channels offering so many shows.

It is so easy to relax in a comfortable bed while the head of the electric fan is just 12-inch away from your head giving you fresh air (one of the roots of laziness?).

It is so easy to on your hi-tech music players while eyes closed, waiting for the crows to become swans.

It is so easy to use the Internet and open so many windows as you like, bringing so many virtual realities: games, videos, movies, etc. Of course, Internet is a doorway to another world, the virtual world, full of infinite excitements and fun!

And many more...

Now the presence of God on the person will vanish little by little because the heart and mind of the person were so much so occupied by these material things. How the holy people of old were so always recollected! They were the people who "walked their feet on earth but their hearts were always in heaven."

Let us all strive to become SAINTS!

Spiritual Warfare (Part 2) : Paganism And Superstition Were So Intact To Us

May I present to you some of the reasons why paganism in the Philippines is still existing, and is still strongly alive.

There are people who make themselves "wise" to the things that especially pertains to the world of the spirits or it can also known as, in Catholic literature, the world that is invisible. Those "wise and knowledgeable" people do not even know if those things they are sharing to others were true, or they do not even know if it is not true, and much worse, if those things exist at all, or not.

It can be said that these people where always and always driven by pride that they go and share to the world
and stand up as true witnesses on what they "know" about the existence of such reality, but actually they do not know, or even if they know something  about such reality of its existence, they knew just a bit of it, and most badly, they make-up these by their own stories that were not true at all.

So now we have different versions from different places, different beliefs, different opinions that were so much so contrary to the Catholic Faith. It can be said that it is a culture that can never be forgotten or be thrown away, or they did not ever received a proper or right catechesis about such topics or realities, or, even if they received catechesis, they will be hard-headed people as ever, continues to mix these practices came from both the Catholic Faith and the paganism and superstition.

Catholic Faith has its own mysteries and explained by the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and pagan culture and New Age Movement also has its own mysteries but the difference is these - while Catholic
Faith's mysteries were certainly, surely, or cannot be changed once all of these mysteries were declared as truths, paganism and New Age Movement's mysteries were living in false freedom of their own, depends on people or group of people who are in it, no problems when it comes to authority, the teachings can be changed, added, and/or subtracted.

Now these witnesses who were sharing these stories telling on what they saw, heard, and felt were saying the truth but these truths were just based on the context on the phenomena of what have just they saw, heard, and felt and these were not addressed on the only authority who knows on dealing and answering such phenomena or occurrences, the Catholic Church. That is why some phenomena and occurrences were not "cross-examined" by the authority were now receiving approval to a vast audience as truths even if it were not truths at all.

On these situations were spiritual phenomena or occurrences were sighted, heard, felt or recorded, the Catholic Church must and only the consultant of all, who will examine and give explanation or answer to such phenomena, because She, the Church, has the Fullness of the Truth of God, nothing more, nothing less.

And sadly, the worst of all, many people of our times are so ignorant because they believe quickly on a given account not telling themselves if it is true or not. This is one of the many weaknesses we inherited after the Fall of our first parents. We people were so easy to believe to the "truths" of men - not realizing if it is really true or not, but if men or women of God is speaking or telling the truths or Divine Revelations to us, we are so hard to get on believing.

Spiritual Warfare (Part 3) : Presenting the Ordinary Satanic Activity or Temptation

 Ladies and gentlemen, let us take a look at the tools or instruments of Satan in His "ordinary" activity.

We have three spiritual foes: 1.) the flesh; 2.) the world; 3.) the Devil. The flesh is often called “concupiscence,” which is the inclination to sin deep within us. The world and the Devil are external to us, but also very powerful threats to our true and lasting happiness.

1.) We base our description of the flesh on the famous passage of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist (+ circa 100 A.D.) in his First Letter (2:16): “For all that is in the world, the concupiscence of the flesh and the concupiscence of the eyes and the pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world.” Therefore, the spiritual foe we term the flesh may be further divided into: A.) the concupiscence of the flesh, which is the inordinate love of sensual pleasures; B.) the concupiscence of the eyes, which is all unwholesome curiosity and inordinate love of the goods of our earth; C.) the pride of life, which is excessive self-love and is accompanied by vanity.

2.) The world signifies “not the whole number of men upon the earth, among whom are found both choice souls and irreligious men; but the sum-total of those who oppose Jesus Christ and are the slaves of the threefold concupiscence.” Identified as such are unbelievers, the indifferent, hardened sinners and those who believe and even practice their religion but do so sinking in a moral neglectfulness.

3.) The Devil is representative of Satan and the Fallen Angels. The Devil was jealous of the contentment experienced by Adam and Eve and so tempted them to sin. Ever since he was successful in the Garden of Eden, the Devil has continued his efforts against men and women, boys and girls with the hideous goal of leading all human persons away from their beloved and loving Creator.

Ordinary Satanic Activity—Temptation

Temptation comes to us from the flesh, the world and the Devil. Father Adolphe Tanquerey, in his classic The Spiritual Life: A Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical Theology, defined temptation as “a solicitation to evil on the part of our spiritual foes.” God allows us to be tempted so that we will merit Heaven, but He does not tempt us directly. Temptation is a means of purification and an instrument of spiritual progress. By temptation, we grow in humility and love of God.

Some persons are tempted frequently and intensely (I do not know if I'll be happy or not because I am included in this category), while others are tempted less and without being deeply agitated.

The great Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Bishop and Doctor of the Church, taught that there are three distinct but related phases in each temptation: A.) suggestion, which is the proposal of some evil; B.) pleasure, which happens when after the moving towards the suggested evil, there is some attendant delight; C.) consent, which is when the will delights in the pleasure, willingly enjoys it and yields to it. Sin occurs only when there is consent.

When we overcome temptation, our souls are aided remarkably. A magnificent triumph results when temptation is shunned. Father Tanquerey isolated three things that we must do to conquer temptation: 1.) anticipate temptation; 2.) battle against it; 3.) thank God after a victory and rise quickly after any fall.

1.) Vigilance and prayer are required to anticipate temptation. Regarding vigilance, we assert: presumption that compels us to place ourselves unnecessarily in the midst of temptation must be avoided, as must vain terrors which increase the danger and harmful occasions of sin—persons, places, things and events. When prayer is added to vigilance, in the words of Father Tanquerey, we become “invincible. God is concerned in our success, for it is He Whom the Devil assails in us, it is His work which He would wreck in us.”

2.) Resistance against temptation is indispensable. Serious temptation must be confronted: A.) ready or immediately, without hesitation; B.) energetically, with determination and strength; C.) perseveringly, with toughness; D.) humbly, which “attracts grace, and grace gives us the victory.”

3.) Temptation vanquished means that the blessed person must render gratitude to Almighty God, for from Him derives the conquest. Sin surrendered to is an invitation to the repentant sinner “to humble himself sincerely before God, to acknowledge his incapacity to do any good, to place his trust in God, to be all the more cautious, and return to the practice of penance. A fault thus repaired will not establish a serious obstacle to perfection.”

We do not throw ourselves headlong into temptation without real necessity; however, neither do we fail to see that when God permits us to be tempted, amazing spiritual progress is possible.

Conclusion

Satan is indeed active in our world by way of temptation, but when we pray daily, receive the Sacraments (particularly Confession and the Most Holy Eucharist) worthily and often, perform acts of charity and self-denial, avail ourselves of the intercession of Our Blessed Mother and the Angels and Saints and avoid the near occasion of sin, we increase in Sanctifying Grace and overcome the temptations emanating from the flesh, the world and the Devil.

Such a happy result glorifies the Most Blessed Trinity and speeds us along the challenging path that will end for us in Paradise.

Source: http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=5143&page=1

I saw Satan Fall, available at all St Pauls Bookstore. Price - P155

Spiritual Warfare (Part 2) : Why Paganism Is Super Intact To Filipinos?

"...In many aspects of life, discipleship, spirituality is often set aside. 'Yan ang sinasabi ng PCP II. We are a predominantly Christian country in terms of numbers but there is a big divide between the faith, spirituality, discipleship and ordinary life." Archbishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle, 1st Catholic Social Media Summit.

The people of the Philippines are sacramentalized but not truly evangelized. Bishops at the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCPII)

Before the Spaniards landed to the Philippines, our first Filipinos who dwelt on the old Philippines were engaged in a trade called barter system wherein products were being bought and sold not by money that we modern people are using today but by products also in exchange of products according to the agreement between or among the parties involved in the trade. Here, our ancestors of old were connected not only for the products but also for meeting people from different lands who came from places of unknown tongues.

Our neighbor land China was one (actually, it still exist : MADE IN CHINA is familiar to you right?) of our trading friends in these barter system. Chinese brought their almost everything together with themselves, that is, they will be living here and so today, in this very Philippines, we have so many Chinese who were engaged in higher places of public and private standing especially, in businesses (Hmmmmnnn.... Isn't it unfair? As far as my poor intelligence is concerned, the population of the Filipinos now in China is more or less or absolutely, zero.)

After they brought their sleepy-looking shaped eyes of themselves here together with their goods contaminated by so many dynasties there from their big land , many of them decided to live here and do living.

Then afterwards, the Spaniards came.... Bringing the Cross of Salvation from this pagan world. Those who appreciate the old stories of the Philippines who felt the feet of the Spaniards walking on its land will know the adventures of the ships of Magellan and the rests of the Spaniards who came to the Philippines and neighboring lands. Evangelization began In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.... Many pagan Filipinos now became heir and heiress of the Kingdom of God.

Now, how about the Chinese? There were Chinese who were baptized by the Spaniards and called them Binondo, while the unconverted ones were called Parian.

Then how is it so that paganism is still alive in the Philippines despite the evangelization of the Spaniards on this land?

Because our native Filipinos hid underground their animistic/pagan practices during the stay and evangelization of the Spaniards who came bringing cross and sword to the Philippines. Before the colonizers from Spain landed here, the Philippines is far from the Christianized West meaning, it is a far land that received Christianity openly in general unlike the neighbors of the Philippines who were untouched by evangelization. I really believe the fact that we were speedily baptized because we're really, really, Filipinos of old and of now are very very friendly and super hospitable that all is always welcome to us! Whether the foreign is good or bad. Whether it is good culture or bad. All is really welcome to us that so, we embraced the Christianity that led us to the Holy and True God who is the Creator of all creatures and, sadly, we added it with bitter, spice, and everything that are not nice like the foreign paganism combined with our own paganism and so on. And also, before we embraced Catholicism, the Filipinos were so amazed by the animism and paganism of their own that they were moved to use it constantly because of its efficacy, the things of it which brought good luck and protection to them, etc. that they laid underground when the good and great gift that the Spaniards gave was only the Christian Faith and the most of the rest were of course, bad.

And here were foreign paganism that the foreigners, especially the Chinese, hid also from the Spaniards and later on were flourished by them decade after decade and up to now, mixed of superstitions, paganism/ animism, occult practices and many more are living up to now. And the causes of Filipino paganism's undying power and longevity are the antiquity of it passed and grew from generation to generation from our great, great, and even super great grandparents whom they shared to their sons and daughters and so on with matching credibility on the way they verbally shared and/or handed these things to them. Also, it is because of our true and real nature, the very nature of Filipinos really of being super friendly and hospitable individually that we welcome additions of paganism to our own practices, depending on the variety of one's own needs and wants and what are the most prominent and endorsed by famous people especially those who enjoy stardom. And sadly also, many of us are so easily getting in believing things already even if there is a great percentage that these sayings were ultimately untrue.

In addition, people nowadays are bombarded by so many invitations of "lucks" from reading materials like newspapers (whether tabloid or broadsheets) who cater horoscopes and fortune-telling especially palm reading and dream interpretation everyday, from always available neck-fashion medals or amulets or agimat or anting-anting that're sold just outside of the sanctuaries and churches like the Quiapo Church, from the bystanders who offer palm reading, fortune-telling, card reading, potions, many forms of "healing", from Chinese colorful and eye-catching paraphernalia advertised as lucky charms for any dealings of a person's day to day life, etc. and the hidden tactic of it all was that these things have new faces today and their appearances as I said, were quite or totally fancy and tempting and many are super filled with mystery, excitement, thrill and adventure that no one can resist oneself  not to avail or not to use it - this things of neo-paganism, and its sister, New Age Movement.

How can we combat these?

First, let us all be guided by The Word of God from the Sacred Scriptures. And God is speaking to us right now. Now, what is He telling? About paganism/occult?

"When you come into the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of the peoples there. Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortune-teller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghosts and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the Lord, and because of such abominations the Lord, your God, is driving these nations out of your way." 
(Deuteronomy 18:9-12)

Here, we see that the Lord, our God, is telling us that such deeds that He mentioned then to the Israelites, His chosen people, was, (and still now) a disgust to Him. There are rites or rituals or practices that God prescribes to us to praise, to adore, to venerate, to glorify Him, and now, He entrusted it to His Church. The rites or deeds that He mentioned were not of Him, so, it was (and it is) not a right or a good way to address Him through these things because by doing so, using these rites or practices, people were addressing it to other powers that are not of God, not of the Lord and, these powers were no other than, Satan the devil, and his demons.

Available at all St. Pauls Bookstore. Price - P175.