Catholic Saints Relics

            I have known about relics when I attended the feast day of St. Rita de Cascia's feast day and St. Anthony de Padua after attending the holy mass. We were allowed to kiss the relic. 

What are relics. They are the mortal remains of a saint or someone you considered to be a holy person. For us Roman Catholics, they are a source of inspiration especially to our faith. They have been a source of miracles and an advancement of faith. 

It is forbidden to buy 1st and 2nd class relics as states in the Canon law. If you mistakenly bought one without the knowledge that it is it is forbidden. You should immediately talk to your parish priest. I read that you can give these relics to the church for safekeeping, for it really belongs to them, not for individuals like us. We are allowed to have 3rd class relics (items that has been placed and has touched a first or a second class relic) and mementos from the place of saints or the place that the Holy Family has trod upon. For example it is not wrong to have a piece of soil rock. I also have a St. Michael rock from Mount Gargano in Italy which I obtained from a seller who was referred to me by a brother tied to a religious store in the U.S.A who brings relics to the faithful. The relic is free according to him. Only the case of the relic and the material of it is the one that you need to pay.

I thank God for these tangible things that has been left by his holy and faithful men and women. These things brings us more closer to Him and has helped us experience his love and miracle.

Totus Bookstore

         I will never forget the Latin word "Totus," for I have a Pope John Paul II t-shirt wayback when I was still  a teen. I remember it well, it is a pink t-shirt with John Paul II's coat of arms. The shirt's design meaning in English was "All yours, Mary!" The shirt was a gift to me by my late aunt which she bought from our parish church in Manila. 

My husband told me that he will just give me a cash gift this Christmas, and I will just buy what I want for myself. As you all know, I love books, and here was I browsing online for a good Catholic bookstore. I really envy the people abroad like in Canada and U.S., because they can buy good books easily. We have Catholic bookstores here but their titles are not that extensive, and most carry the books written by local authors, and very few imported books. So I was really happy when I found out that this bookstore that I have never heard of carries all of the titles that I'm looking for like the book by Joan Carol Cruz, about the incorrupt bodies of the saints. I am also very much interested in Marian apparitions so I also got another of her book which is entitled, "She How She Loves Us." 

I also bought a Catholic for a Reason series book by Scott Hahn, and another author. The store also specialized in Apologetics books. I mean, this is their main goal to be able to provide good Apologetics books for the church people. We should be able to defend our faith like St. Francis de Sales, especially when Non-Catholics target us in dialogues, or have a debate with us. I'm sure not all of us are knowledgeable on how to answer, and have a counter-reply.

The bookstore is located in Greenhills, San Juan. You can also order and pay online to them, and have the books delivered in your doorstep, just like what I did today. It is very helpful especially during this quarantine season. Looking for good Catholic books? Then checkout Totus Bookstore. 

Their website is Totus Bookstore

God is Good! I Got Married!

     Every long lost dream led by me to where you are. Others who broke my heart, they were like Northern stars, pointing me on my way into your loving arms. This much I know is true. That God  blessed the broken road, that led me straight to you. Yes, He did.

  October 11, 2020 was an unforgettable day for me. After waiting impatiently for this month to come, on this day, I tied the knot! I have waited all my life for this moment. 

I was heartbroken because of a person before, it is not because of love that I was heartbroken, because love is a good thing, and it comes from God. It is man that is cruel. Every pain that I felt, and tears that I have shed before was washed away now. Anyway, I thank God that I met someone like my husband. When we conversed a bit longer at work, I already felt a connection between us. He may not be my ideal man physically, (I am more attracted to chinito guys).

This year has been a blessed year for me even if it is not so good for everyone of us because of the pandemic. When he proposed to me this year, on the 28th of May, the day of his elder sister's birthday also, like what he told me, it indeed changed my life. 

Standing in front of the altar, reciting our marriage vows, feels surreal. I thank God for making all of these possible. Even if the first day of our married life as a husband, and wife was not that smooth. 

I would like to take this time to thank the ever supportive family of my husband. Thank you to his parents for supporting, loving, and raising a good, responsible, and a loving son. Someone who is very respectful, and who honors his parents, and very loving to his mom. One character that I look for in a guy is that he should be loving to his mom. Because it will reflect on how he will treat his wife later on. I also would like to thank his siblings for being a good elder, and a younger sister to him. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for your generosity. May God bless all of you more! I am also proud that he is wise in terms of financial matters, and very orderly in the house. I also love that he loves music. Almost all the positive qualities that he has, I have prayed for in a future husband. I really never thought that I would meet my future partner at work, but like my late aunt said. I did! 

I also would like to thank my immediate family member. To my parents, and especially to my Dad, I know it has been a long time prayer and wish of yours to see your daughter get married someday. Thanks also to my nephew who is the representative of my older brother, and his family. Thank you also to my relatives who greeted me/us.

Thank you also to our wedding suppliers namely,

Ivory and White Bridal Store (for my gown, the groom's suit, and other bridal accessories, veil, arrhae and cord.)

Erin Shop PH and Micka Fabulosa online shop (for our wedding souvenirs)

April's Cup-Cakes and Muffins (for our lovely powdered blue, 3 tiered-layer wedding cake, and for our post-nuptial single-layer naked cake.)

The New Albergus, Inc. (for our family, and wedding sponsors food)

Studio Namu (for our pre-nup, and wedding photos and video)

To our dear aunt, Mrs. Jane San Diego, for the engagement and our wedding rings. 

Thank you also to The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, also known as The Manila Cathedral, Mother of all Churches, Cathedrals and Basilicas of the Philippines. To Fr. Kali Llamado for interviewing us in our canonical interview, and to Fr. Junbim Torres, OSA, for officiating the mass of our wedding. Also, to the head of the office section services Ms. Donna. 

Last but not the least, to our Almighty God the Father, for making this day possible. For this match was written by you. We ask that you continually guide, us, bless and protect our marriage, this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

I almost gave up in finding the one meant for me. As they say, good things happen when you least expect it. Also, be nice to everyone. For you may never know he or she could be the angel in your life. In our Pre-Cana seminar, we have learned that married life is not that all bed of roses and smooth sailing. We will have fights and arguments, but one thing is for sure no matter what we should always stick together as one! 

This is just the start of my journey, and I know God will be always on our side, with the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary. I came back home, and He has given me more than what I deserve. A loving God, who loves his prodigal son, and daughter unconditionally. 

New American Bible Revised

  I previously posted on this blog, my only copy of a Roman Catholic Bible which is the Christian Community Bible. I posted it in our Catholic Apologetics group online, and I did not get a positive comment. Someone said that the commentaries are too liberal. Also, that the translation is not that good. A lot commented about the New American Bible. So I planned to get one. My bf's Bible is NAB, it was a gift from his dad. It was a good choice because the NAB, is the version used in the lectionary. I remember, it was also recommended to me before by the staff of St. Paul Bookstore.

I recently purchased mine just this week from my ever reliable Roman Catholic bookstore which is the St. Paul Bookstore. Even if it's a quarantine period they accept deliveries. I ordered this together with my mother's day gift for the mom of my bf.

The one that I got was the Millenials edition. The colors of the Bible's jacket is not the usual we always see so maybe that's the reason why it was named like that. The available colors are Turquoise green, Burnt Sienna, Blue and Purple. I chose the Purple one. It is a personal size. A bit thick, it has Bible tabs included. I am glad that this Bible has 2 ribbon markers, so you can go back to where you stopped reading, and mark that important page or section.

The Roman Catholic Bible has 73 books. Compared to the Protestant Bible. Because the Protestants removed the Deuterocanonical they call it Apocryphal which means forbidden or secret because the author of these writings are unknown or the origin is doubtful.

Let me share this story that I read online. In 393 A.D. St. Jerome was given a task by the Pope to translate all the Bible books in Latin. St. Jerome then asked the helped of rabbis, to help him translate Hebrew to Latin. The rabbis think that the Deuterocanical books were uninspired because they said they don't have them in Hebrew only in Greek. The Pope still ordered St. Jerome to translate because the church has traditions wayback, and these books were read in churches, therefore they are inspired writings. So, St. Jerome translated them anyway. Fast forward to later times, in 1947 a young boy looking for a lost goat in a cave near the Dead Sea found an amazing archeological find, and that is the 7 Deuterocanonical books all written in Hebrew!

So that's the story why us Roman Catholics have more books in the Bible than the Protestants. As you can see from the photo posted here. I also put the original Divine Mercy image in front of my new NAB revised Bible. Isn't the story amazing?! No wonder even until now, Jesus is always telling us to trust in Him! Because He will always be a wonderworker.

Remembering my Late Aunt Rosario

  I want to dedicate this post of mine to my late aunt Rosario, we fondly call her Auntie Charito, or Chato for short. She would use that nickname when we would play scrabble. I love playing scrabble with her because we would bet on real money, even if I rarely win. She passed away a decade ago. Our life in Manila when aunt was living used to appear in my dreams back then. I still miss her, and grandma (her mom).

I just remember her again when I posted something on my social networking page. It is about the works of Msgr. Josemaria Escriva, now a saint, and founder of Opus Dei. Yes, Opus Dei is not some kind of mysterious evil organization, or a secret society as depicted in the movie "Da Vinci Code." My aunt has a lot of religious books. Among them is my favorite novel, entitled "Bernadette and Lourdes," by Michael de Saint Pierre, "Prayer of the Warrior," a book about St. Michael the Archangel by Michael Brown, and "The Way," quotes and sayings by Msgr. Josemaria Escriva.

My aunt spurred my interest in Catholic books, and our first picture bible was, "My Bible Friends," by Etta B. Degering. She bought us books regularly and even subscribed  to Reader's Digest. My first book of Saints came from her, "Lives of Saints." I also like to read the movie like magazine from St. Paul's bookstore because of her. I used to own, The Life of St. Rita of Cascia. I also grew up attending mass with her, most often if my mom didn't join us or my other aunt. The two of us would always hear the anticipated mass at Our Lady of Lourdes chapel officiated by SVD priests, that's where I met my late nun friend Sr. Cyrilda Ferriols. Before that hospital was partly run by religious, but now that hospital was privatized already. If we are very early she would treat me to the hospital canteen. I would always order noodles soup, paired with fried lumpiang tongue (bean sprouts). Other times we would hear children's anticipated mass at Our Lady of Fatima, and after that I will rent a movie at VHS shop near the church, or she would buy me ice cream, or macaroni, spaghetti sauce, and sausage. That would be my food for Sunday. She also enrolled in an Bible correspondence school which she finished. I think I got my love of reading from her.

I learned many things from her, like my OC behavior attitude when it comes to cleanliness. She was also good cook. I loved her adobong pata, beefsteak, chicken with mushroom afritada, sinigang sa miso, and many more. She even taught me a no bake dessert. Even if she's also strict, and a bit conservative to us, especially to me. She has shown me, and let me feel that she loves me as if I were her own daughter. She didn't marry, by the way. Those whom I knew say, too bad my aunt didn't marry, it was a waste because she's pretty!

I hope and pray she's in a better place right now. I'm thankful to God that she, "Auntie Charito," became my aunt. For I learned a lot about life from her.

Journey to Carmel

  No, I have not been to Carmel, and I have not traveled to the place where Elijah has trod upon. I am referring to my journey to Carmel as a Carmelite aspirant, more than a decade ago. When I was a young girl, I dreamed of becoming a nun. As a teenager and a young adult I have visited a long of Contemplative orders in my country, namely, The Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (more popularly known as the Pink Sisters), Poor Clares, Dominicans, and of course I have seen cloistered Carmelite Nuns when I professed our promises in a local Carmelite Convent. St. Therese of the Child Jesus, was influential in my religious desire. I have her autobiography, and for those of you who didn't know she entered the Carmelite convent at such a young age, she's 15 years old. It is not usual for religious order to accept younger women, but she was an exception. Her zealous desire to be a religious at such a young age, even telling the Pope, of her desire to enter the convent.

Third Order Secular are lay people who belong to a religious order. They profess "promises", similar to vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Why I chose the Carmel way of life. First, I am attracted to a contemplative life. A prayerful life, and religious studies. Also because, I look up to Carmelites saints! St. Teresa and St. John of Avila. I have read the book written by St. Teresa before, The Interior Castle. Below are a lists of what Carmel life is about.

• *listening to the Word of God and responding in silent prayer for at least half an hour each day,
• *participating in the Church’s liturgy – daily Mass where possible, Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church, and, if possible, also Night Prayer,
• *taking Mary our Mother as our model of prayer and service as she pondered the Word of God in her heart and lived in obedience to that Word,
• *studying and meditating on the inspired teachings of the Carmelite saints, especially Saints Teresa and John of the Cross,
• *studying and meditating on the beliefs of our Christian faith and our Catholic tradition,
• *supporting one another through regular Community meetings, contact and service.

I am glad that I'm back now. I was baptized and confirmed as a Roman Catholic and I am so relieved to know that whatever I do it cannot be taken away from me. Of course, I know my mistake of joining a Protestant church. Being baptized as a Roman Catholic it cannot be taken back. It is already imprinted in me, marked on my soul, as stated in Canon 845.1. 

What I want to say is my life is a testimony of God's love, grace and mercy. I am absolutely a sinner, not perfect, but I still want to follow our Lord Jesus. In our lifetime, there will come a time when we feel as if we are like traveling in a dry desert. But it is one way of God communicating with us. Like what Thomas Merton said. 

"Wilderness had been created supremely valuable in the eyes of God precisely because it had no value to men. The wasteland was the land that could never be wasted by men because it offered them nothing. There was nothing to attract them. There was nothing to exploit. The desert was the region in which the Chosen People had wandered for forty years, cared for by God alone. They could have reached the Promised Land in a few months if they had traveled directly to it. God's plan was that they should learn to love Him in the wilderness and that they should always look back on the time in the desert as the idyllic time of their life with Him alone. The desert was created simply to be itself, not to be transformed by men into something else."

Let our prayers be, that we may see and feel God no matter what state of life we are in. That He is always near us, and know that He will never ever leave us. 

Questions and Answers

  Many issues are thrown to the Roman Catholic church. I also have questions that were not really fully answered before. Now, I'm thankful that I have discovered this new group online that I can freely ask questions. I also came to know a Jesuit priest Fr. Jacob Boddicker, who answered all my questions in brief and concise manner. Sharing it with you all:

My first question has something to do with the Bible books. Protestants removed the deuterocanonicals, they like to call it apocryphal, meaning secret or hidden. But it's not actually.

When Christianity began, the early Christians only had the Jewish Scriptures; what we call the Old Testament. The Jewish world was divided into two kinds of Jews: those that lived in the Holy Land, and those that lived outside, known as the "diaspora." Most of the Jews outside the Holy Land spoke Greek, not Hebrew, and so they used a Greek translation of their Scriptures called the Septuagint. In the Holy Land their Scriptures were in Hebrew. The Septuagint had 7 more books than the Hebrew scriptures, mainly books telling stories of their people's history so that they would not forget. Jews outside the Holy Land also observed feasts and holidays for an extra day longer than Jews in the Holy Land; being a Jew in a foreign land required you to do extra to maintain your cultural identity. 

 When Christianity began spreading outside of the Holy Land, Greek became the common language; this is why the writings of the New Testament were almost all written in Greek. The early Christians therefore used the longer Greek Septuagint for their Scriptures because Jew and Gentile alike could read it, and this became the primary translation of the Old Testament the Church used from the earliest days. If you look up the oldest Bibles still in existence, from just a couple hundred years after Christ, you will see that they contain the deuterocanonical books just like Catholic Bibles do today. All Bibles had these books until Martin Luther translated the Bible into German, and decided to use the Hebrew version of the Old Testament to translate into German, and so he removed those seven books; this is why they are not in Protestant Bibles. It is useful, too, because 2 Maccabees gives good Scriptural support for purgatory and praying for the dead.  He wanted to remove the Gospel of John, the Letter of James, and the Book of Revelation but his fellow Reformers argued against it. Why? He claimed they weren't Scripture, but if you think about it John gives the strongest Scripture evidence for Catholic belief in the Eucharist, and James says "faith without works is dead." 

My next questions is that if God forbids statues, why do Roman Catholic church have statues.

 Why do we have statues? Leah, do you have photographs of loved ones in your room? Churches have had statues for centuries to remind us of the saints and of Jesus, to help us remember that they were real people. In ancient times there were no photographs, so you had a painting or a statue made of an important person. Many cultures still make statues of famous or important people; why wouldn't we do that for the most important people of all: Jesus, Mary, and the saints? The commandment against graven images is only against images that are made to be worshipped; Catholics do not worship statues. If making statues of holy things at all was against God's commandment, why did the Temple have statues of trees, animals, and even angels and cherubim? Even the Ark of the Covenant had two statues of cherubim on it. 

The Protestant study Bible is different from the Roman Catholic. Because of the interpretation. My Protestant churchmates said Jesus has siblings. So what is really the truth?

Regarding Jesus' brothers and sisters: There are two main ways to explain what this means. In the Hebrew language there is no word for cousin, step-sibling, or half-sibling. Remember how Jacob had 12 sons? They all referred to one another as "brother" and never as "half-brother," even though Joseph, for example, was born of a different mother. Even Abraham refers to his nephew Lot as his brother! This is because in that culture your close relatives were seen as your siblings; you likely even grew up with them, possibly in the same house or at least the same neighborhood. It is most likely that the "brothers and sisters" of Jesus were either half or step-siblings from a previous marriage Joseph was in before becoming Mary's husband (hence why Joseph is sometimes depicted in art as being much older looking than Mary) or they were His cousins, whom He would have seen as being His brothers and sisters though they had different parents.

So that's it. I hope that you also have found the answers to your questions. If you have questions never be afraid to ask.