'Do not chew my Son!'

"Do not chew my Son!" The Blessed Virgin Mary exhorted communicants to keep from masticating the Sacred Host received in Holy Communion. Rightly so because the consecrated Host is no longer a plain wafer but Our Lord Jesus Christ in the form of a Host -- alive, breathing, pulsating, throbbing; and, above all, God and Savior! In a search to better understand the Holy Eucharist, I came across a website where I happened to read the Marian message. Change had to take place afterwards on how I conduct myself during Holy Communion. By the grace of God, upon receiving the Sacred Host on my tongue, I make it a point to just let the Host stay on my tongue unmoved as I return to my kneeler -- without allowing the Host to touch even my palate. Once on my kneeler, I will begin producing saliva to soak the Host with it, back to back; and then swallow the soft Host whole. I make it a habit to behave so since I first read the Marian message; and, not long after, in Carmel when the Host that was placed on my tongue during Holy Communion began leaping by “Itself” inside my mouth -- from my tongue to my palate and back to my tongue, up and down, half up and down, a quarter up and down, then rapid small dribbles until the Host stopped and rested back on my tongue -- the movement had beat and rhythm like a coin or ball tossed on the pavement. I was already on my way back to my kneeler when it happened so that it felt like I was walking above ground. The experience was repeated in Fatima.

Hands in worship

"All you peoples, clap your hands; shout to God with joyful cries." -Psalm 47:1. Clapping of hands was used to worship God in the Old Testament -- and even today by non-Catholic Christians, the "born-again" and the Catholic charismatics. Doing so is fitting as it is biblical -- but the location where we do the clapping is a matter worth examining. The non-Catholic "born-again" Christian communities do hands-clapping during worship at "their" place of worship -- and it is all right! -- while the Catholic charismatics do it even during the conduct of the Holy Mass and in their assemblies within the Catholic churches where the Tabernacle of the Eucharistic Host is enshrined -- let us see if it is all right. The Old Testament is the announcement of the coming of Jesus-Messiah -- thus, prior to His Passion and Death on the Cross. The hands-clapping act as a form of worship to God is proper in the Old Testament because the Old Testament is prior to Jesus' Passion and Death on the Cross.

The praying hands are opposite to clapping hands.

Why is it appropriate, then, to clap hands in worship when the non-Catholic "born-again" Christians do it? Because they clap their hands at "their" place of worship and "their" place of worship is without the Tabernacle that enshrines the Eucharistic Host (the Real Presence of Jesus Christ that bore the marks of His Passion and Death on the Cross) that only the Catholic Church has been entrusted with by Jesus Christ Himself (remember transubstantiation: only Catholic priests can turn Bread and Wine into the Real Body and Blood of Jesus Christ). Therefore, the Catholics must not clap their hands before, during and after the Holy Mass is officiated within the Catholic churches simply because the Holy Mass is a remembrance of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross and the Tabernacle that encloses the Eucharistic Host is always enshrined in the center of the Altars in all the Catholic churches of the world.

The praying hands of the Madonna.

What is rejoicing in front of a suffering man? Such is like a mockery to him. The same is true with the Lord when we clap our hands in front of His Eucharistic Presence and the Holy Eucharist. In Lamentations 2:15, clapping is not only used to worship God in the Old Testament but also to ridicule, to deride or to mock. Holy Mass is Holy Mass, it must be conducted with utmost solemnity, reverence and love -- as well as the Eucharistic Presence in the Tabernacle. Catholic charismatic communities must, therefore, withhold the practice of clapping every Holy Mass and hold charismatic activities outside the Catholic churches where we are free to clap our hands to worship God. Lastly, let me quote Ezekiel 21:22 where it is written, "Then I, too, shall clap my hands and spend my fury. I, the Lord, have spoken."

Dead bodies everywhere!

I had this dream morning of the other day. I found myself in an "apartment" where a small party was about to begin. Food was already served on the table and young people started coming in. I did not know any of the people I saw there but I was there. Next scene: I found myself outside the apartment with onlookers gathering around. I could see like two men in black suits pouring water on the floor as if to clean up something and in one section of the floor were laid dead bodies of those who attended the party. Next scene: I found myself in the hallway leading to the inside of what seems like a hospital -- and there were corpses everywhere, decomposing; and milky-white worms crawling on the cadavers. A woman in silent mourning was taking watch of her dead child! A little boy -- in the kneeling position with forehead touching the floor and worms slithering on his head and body -- was about to die. There were yellowish, bodily fluids -- fresh and dried -- on the floor and live worms. And the nauseating smell of corpses! The hospital was in operation no longer. Everybody -- and everything! -- was contaminated. I ran to get out! I ran trying to step only on the floors without fluids, worms and corpses. And I woke up.

Reblogged: The city on a hill

'THE HEART WHERE I WILL SPEAK': The city on a hill:

Can darkness penetrate light? Only light can penetrate darkness! But when light is covered by "those" entrusted with it, darkness comes in and evils of all kinds are at play in the dark, for evils are attracted to darkness.

Jesus Christ is "the light of the world" -John 8:12 and has left His Living Presence to the world via consecrated Wafer and Wine in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. 

However, when the Church (say, the local Church) does not exercise its Faith in the Holy Eucharist, the Presence of Jesus-Light is extinguished in that area.

Evils, spiritual, physical and man-made like cataclysms, calamities, so-called "climate change" and "UFOs," terrorism, prostitution, crimes and the likes abound -- even murders in the name of "peace and prosperity."

It is "we" who have invited these evils to come in by our indifference, faithlessness and sacrileges committed against the Holy Eucharist.

So no matter how "we" make noise barrage in the pulpits, if the root cause of the problem were not addressed upon, we just wonder why the perpetrators still linger on in our place of jurisdiction.

"I am very happy to have arrived hither but if I must express my desire that the church does not scream, not clap hands, and not even greet the Pope because 'Templum Dei, templum Dei.' 

"Now if you are happy to find you in this beautiful church, imagine if the Pope is not happy to see his children, but as soon as he sees them good children, not their hands beat them in the face, and this is what is in front of you and the Successor of St. Peter." -St. Pope John XXIII

Born Free: Is it your life story?

Born free, as free as the wind blows

As free as the grass grows 

Born free to follow your heart 

So goes the lyrics of the song Born Free, theme song from the movie of the same title in the sixties.

The world still astounds you 

Each time you look at a star 

Live free, and beauty surrounds you 

Born Free is a true-to-life story about Elsa, an orphaned lioness cub, which game warden George Adamson took from the wilderness of Kenya to be raised by him and wife Joy at their home as a couple would rear a child.

Stay free, where no walls divide you 

You're free as a roaring tide 

So there's no need to hide

But time came for the couple to leave Kenya and the government ordered them to turn over Elsa to a zoo. Joy, however, declined to buy the idea as Elsa would never be happy being a caged captive. She wanted to set her free into the wilds. But how could she survive since she became a domesticated pet, untrained to hunt, to kill, and to be wild?

Born free, and life is worth living 

But only worth living 

Cause you're born free 

They trained Elsa to live as she should be. And they succeeded. She eventually lived in the wilderness, had a mate, and raised cubs of her own the way God willed her to live [at least, in this earth-life] -- "born to hunt, born to kill" -- and yet retained "all her affection" for the Adamsons "who nurtured her for so long." 

The song -- the movie -- our life story.

The coming season of change

Last night, I had a dream. In that dream, I was sleeping [double dream] and I sprang up suddenly from my sleep in the middle of the night as I felt the breakage of all the generational curses afflicting me and my family. I was very excited also for my loved ones because I knew that, at that very moment, wherever they might be, they were also being set free. -Diary, April 13, 2008, 1:58 p.m., Sunday. 

God is all to me. If people see my imperfections, I don't care. God knows I am imperfect; and I, too, know it. I never do things to impress the world. God is pleased by my acceptance of the truth, the truth that I am not perfect. My imperfection is actually an asset. Because, through this, I can long for God, the Only One Who can make me whole. It never saddens me when the world sees the truth about me. I rejoice instead. Because when Divine Intervention comes in my life, the world will know that "everything is possible with God!" -Diary, July 17, 2008, 6:43 p.m., Thursday.

Divine defense - Three

Reading 1ACTS 20:28-38

At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus:
“Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers,
in which you tend the Church of God
that he acquired with his own Blood.
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you,
and they will not spare the flock.
And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth
to draw the disciples away after them.
So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day,
I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

When he had finished speaking
he knelt down and prayed with them all.
They were all weeping loudly
as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,
for they were deeply distressed that he had said
that they would never see his face again.
Then they escorted him to the ship.

source: usccb.org

'Bl. Almendras'

I had a dream at early dawn. There was a tower-like structure where in the middle was an inscription that reads "Bl. Almendras" or "Blessed Almendras." Almendras is a local political name. A little higher than the inscription was a man walking on a platform. The inscription was his name or as he was fondly called. He was admired. Even my nephew told me he is good and kind. But the Lord let me feel who he is. He was satan. I faced him and he faced me. I took my rosary and said it; he took a rosary and said it. But when I shouted that the Blood of Christ was shed for me, he could not say it himself, he could not repeat my declaration. And I woke up. -Diary, November 17, 2008, 11:50 p.m.

Divine defense - Two

Gospel JN 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” 

source: usccb.org

John 15:1-8

New International Version (NIV)

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you.No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

source: biblegateway.com

Prayer heals a sick baby

I remember a family neighbor who won gambling. From my room, one night, I heard the father shouting for winning "last two" game. Next day, I saw the mother buying groceries. A thought came on me: feeding the children of something that came from gambling? What would happen to them? Days passed and the youngest, a baby, was sick of diarrhea. They admitted the child to a government hospital every now and then without healing -- until the older boy went to my room and asked for prayers. It was a spontaneous prayer -- really from the heart because the Lord let me feel the pain of the family. Next day, the boy thanked me. His younger brother started having semi-hard stool. I told him to thank the Lord because it was the Lord Who healed his baby brother. "But it was you who prayed!" -- said the boy. Lord Jesus, thank You for those graces. I am giving back to You the glory. Amen. -Diary entry, June 7, 2008, Saturday.

(The blogger's note: Before praying, I remember I asked the boy to repeat after me the prayers of repentance I would be saying. I asked for forgiveness for all my sins and the sins of my family -- which the boy also uttered so that the boy repented for his sins and the sins of his family. And I went on with a free-flowing prayer for healing -- born out of mercy. Of course, the older boy was prompted by his mother to ask me to pray for the baby. They attributed the healing to that prayer so much so that the baby is now a boy and each time he sees me he takes my right hand for blessing. To God be the glory!)

Divine defense - One

Reading 1IS 58:7-10

Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you remove from your midst
oppression, false accusation and malicious speech;
if you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

Responsorial Psalm PS 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R/ (4a) The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
R/ The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
R/ The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R/ Alleluia.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
His justice shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R/ The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
or:
R/ Alleluia.

Reading 2 1 COR 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of Spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.

Gospel MT 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”

source: usccb.org