This memorial is in honor of the nameless followers of Christ brutally killed by the mad Emperor Nero as scapegoats  for the fire in Rome. The Pagan historian Tacitus and St. Clement of Rome  tell of a night of horror (August 15, 64 A.D. ) when in the imperial parks, Christians were put into animal skins and hunted, were brutally attacked, and were made into living torches  to light the road for Nero’s chariot. Learn more about this brutal crime to the early Christians here.

This day has been consecrated for us by the martyrdom of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. It is not some obscure saints we are talking about, “Their sound has gone out into all the earth and their words to the ends of the world (Psalm 19).” These martyrs have seen what they proclaimed , they pursuit justice by confessing the truth, by dying for the truth. Read more about them here.

Pope Benedict XVI has signed a document that would allow more churches to adopt the old Latin Mass that largely faded from use during the 1960’s, when the groundbreaking Second Vatican Council opened the doors to worship in the local vernacular, Vatican officials say.

The revival of what is known as the Tridentine Mass has long been promoted by Roman Catholic traditionalists , who say it is more moving, contemplative and historically authentic than the modern Mass.

But Pope Benedict has been hearing resistance from cardinals and bishops , many of them in Europe , who argue that the change would  divide the church by promulgating two very different official rites.

Read the rest of the article here.

Prayer to Our Mother of Perpetual Help

O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke thy most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living  and the salvation of the dying.  O purest Mary, O sweetest Mary, let thy name be henceforth ever on my lips. Delay not , O Blessed Lady, to help me , whenever I call on thee; for, in all my temptations, in all my needs, I shall never cease to call on thee, ever repeating thy sacred name, Mary, Mary.

O what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion, feel my soul when I utter thy sacred name, or even only think of thee. I thank the Lord for having given thee, for my good, so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name. But I will not be content with merely uttering thy name. Let my love for thee prompt me  ever to hail thee, Mother of Perpetual Help.

To JM who at times gives up when he cannot get things done:

Words of Encouragement from an Angel

Try and try again, never give up,

In the end you will be rewarded with success,

Thank and praise God for all your effots and accomplishments.

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God’s healing touch.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive the week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest or torture of death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

May all the Blessings that life has to offer you . . . .

Surround you and Enfold you.

Strengthen and Protect you.

May you walk in peace and  pass it on to all you meet.

Count your blessings, and have a beautiful day !

Author Unknown

At home finally, enjoying the game, after getting lost at the hypermart

After morning mass yesterday, we went to a hypermart to buy some groceries for the coming week. JM took a cart as usual from the entrance of the hypermart, pushed it as we went along shopping. Before we have even started, we saw from a distance a giant purple elephant mascot approaching our way. I saw his eyes grew big as if terrified with the approaching thing. The mascot looked as if it was really coming our way, he told me he would turn left to the men’s clothing section to avoid it. I didn’t bother to ask why. To my surprise the mascot followed us right into the men’s section and when JM saw this, he was gone in a second, completely abandoning the still empty cart in my hands. I had no idea where he had gone. Drowned in the weekend crowd and I thought the possibility of finding my son was  nil. I was deeply worried not because my son is not capable of going home by himself, but of those bad people preying on young , innocent children who are unaccompanied. I kept on calling  his name at the top of my voice, searched every corner of the hypermart, returned back to the men’s clothing section , but my search was futile. I nearly gave up hope, I thought of offering a prayer for his safe return to me. . . . he’s the only child I’ve got, please dear Lord, please return  him safely to me. A voice told me to return back once again in the men’s clothing section and for the last time, I called out his name. At times like this I didn’t care if the other shoppers were staring at me. One last call, I saw him emerged from  behind a line of men’s polo shirt , rushed towards me with an embrace. He was given a lecture of course, but I was really grateful he’s back to me safely. I asked why he ran away, he told me he dislikes mascots , any color, any form, as long as they are mascots, he’s overwhelmed by their size. Too gigantic I think for a boy like him.

“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wishes him to be called. He asked for a stone tablet and wrote “John is his name,” and all were amazed . Immediately his mouth opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.

Luke 1:61-64

In the community I live in, families have a tradition of “adopting” for a weeks time a miraculous statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Our Lady is transferred to the next adopting family  by procession around the community, usually on Saturday nights. Once the home of the adopting family is reached, the statue of Our Lady is then placed in an altar prepared  just for her by family members. Her altar is decorated with flowers and candles and is covered with lace , silk or satin material. A welcome prayer is then said by the head of the family and snacks are served afterwards. During the whole week, every night, the Rosary and the Litany of the Blessed Mother are recited by family members, each member takes turn nightly in leading the prayer. When seven days comes to an end, the members of the family recites the parting prayer and sends the miraculous statue to the next adoptive home together with the community.