Expecting A Baby in a Culture of Truth and Love

Expecting A Baby in a Culture of Truth and Love

The recent good news that Britain’s newest Royal Couple, Prince William and Princess Kate, are expecting their first child—the third in line to be the successor to the Royal throne—gave great joy to many in the United Kingdom and in the world.  The news brought about by the confinement of Duchess of Cambidge in a London hospital due to an acute morning sickness did not escape paparazzi reporters and the official media.  Other trivia or facts on this news were capitalized as sensational for the day, even stories reminiscent of how the late Princess Diana and husband Prince Charles years ago anticipated their first born—Prince William.

Recent knowledge that the Royal Couple--the Duke and Duchess
of Cambridge--is expecting their first baby has been  a great global news. 

The arrival of a baby in a family is normally viewed as a blessing and a cause for joy.   In the Philippines, the parents’ usual understated enthusiasm is also mixed with expected tensions as they prepare for this new  member of the family.  The crib, the little clothes, and the baby’s booties...all these are prepared one by one as much as possible before the baby comes.  The mother takes more than the usual precaution of herself while the father works harder to save more to cover the needs of his spouse and the soon-to-be-born daughter or son.  Once the bundle of joy arrives, everyone at home suddenly acquires light, color, and life.  The baby now becomes a center of attraction and the family members are entertained and awed with the little one’s growth and development.

Each life from the moment of conception
in the mother's womb is sacred,

Amid various perceptions on each child that is to be born, I sigh with relief when a child’s life is safeguarded by both the baby's mother and father.  Is it not at this point where we should really secure the future of a human being’s quality of life?  Is it not here when we protect the sacredness of the person and endeavor to thwart the various threats to the survival of the greatest value on earth?  Definitely, the world welcomes a V.I.P.’s especially if the one to be born has good social and economic standing.  If one is not a prince but only a “commoner” or “indigent” in  society—another mouth to feed they say—many frown.  The poor or weaklings, they say, should not be so many because they will frustrate the ideal of a great, intelligent, and progressive society.  And the birth of many poor ones unsettles and disconcerts even those who benefit from the families of these children.  And if it is in their power, they will even legislate laws or ordinances to control births with this in mind--an apparent quality of life.

May they be allowed to celebrate their birthdays and their first "Christmas" as well.

On the other side of the issue, a new life that begins from the moment of conception means news of good tidings.  Protection of that fetus, the baby-in-potency starts for the parents. And for a parent’s caring and loving heart—for that father or  mother, especially for the mother who bears and gives birth to a new life—that child will always be a treasure, her Prince or her Princess, no matter what.  In these days of Advent, may we also thing of the children to be born whose lives just started to be formed… May they be allowed to have birthdays and celebrate their first “Christmas” too.

The Virgin of Guadalupe is known to be the Protector of the Unborn.  Know also the beautiful story of the Virgin of Guadalupe from this link: http://www.catholic.org/about/guadalupe.php

John Paul II wrote one of the best prayer in promotion of a culture of life with Our Lady of Guadalupe as inspiration:

O Mary, bright dawn of the new world,

Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life
Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers
of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women who are victims of brutal violence,
Of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or

out of  misguided mercy.

Grant that all who believe in your Son
may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love
to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude
throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely,

in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, 

the Creator and lover of life.

Blessed Pope John Paul II

Praying for our Faithful Departed

At Pinegrove Memorial Park in Sydney, Australia

     Surely we miss those whom we love and who are no longer with us on earth.  In my Catholic Faith, November is usually the time dedicated to pray for the these souls we call the Faithful Departed.  Love continues after death and the wish that our loved ones reach their destination in Happiness and Peace.  We accompany them with prayers and we best express this by offering for them Holy Mass or the Celebration of the Eucharist.  

The Holy Mass is one of the best prayers for the Faithful Departed.

      In a special way, I remember my sister, my dad, and other relatives not with us now but continues to help me in special ways...  This tradition of prayer makes the family, group, or any association more bonded.  Saying a simple prayer for them or offering a good deed would be helpful even though it is just the prayer of Eternal Rest...  Searching for some good prayers, I came across this link:Prayers for the Faithful Departed - Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory and copied here Prayers for the Faithful Departed that may be useful for you or some of your friends. Just click the cited link.  Here it goes:

At detail of cross and an angel in a tombstone in a Christian cemetery.

"Prayer for the dead is one of the greatest acts of charity we can perform. Our prayers help them during their time in Purgatory, so that they can enter more quickly into the fullness of heaven. These prayers are especially suited for offering a novena on behalf of the dead, or for praying during those seasons of the year (November, in the Western Church; Lent, in the Eastern Church) designated by the Church as times of fervent prayer for the faithful departed."

De Profundis

The De Profundis is a penitential psalm that is sung as part of vespers (evening prayer) and in commemorations of the dead. It is also a good psalm to express our sorrow as we prepare for the Sacrament of Confession.

Prayer for Mercy on the Souls in Purgatory

While we know that all who are in Purgatory will enter into Heaven, we are still bound by charity to try to lessen the suffering of the Holy Souls through our prayers and deeds. While our first responsibility is to those people we have known, it is important to remember in our prayers those souls who are most forsaken.

A Prayer for a Deceased Mother

This prayer is a good way to remember our mother. It is especially useful to pray as a novena on the anniversaries of her death; or during the month of November, which the Church sets aside for prayer for the dead; or simply anytime that her memory comes to mind.

A Prayer for a Deceased Father

This prayer is a good way to remember our father. It is especially useful to pray as a novena on the anniversaries of his death; or during the month of November, which the Church sets aside for prayer for the dead; or simply anytime that his memory comes to mind.

A Prayer for Deceased Parents

This prayer is a good way to remember our parents, who have gone before us. It is especially useful to pray as a novena on the anniversaries of their deaths; or during the month of November, which the Church sets aside for prayer for the dead; or simply anytime that their memory comes to mind.

Prayer for All the Deceased

This beautiful prayer, drawn from the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, reminds us that Christ's victory over death brings us all the possibility of eternal rest. We pray for all of those who have gone before us, that they, too, may enter into Heaven.

Prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

Christ's mercy encompasses all men. He desires the salvation of everyone, and so we approach Him with confidence that He will have mercy on the Holy Souls in Purgatory, who have already proved their love for Him.

Eternal Rest

One of the most commonly recited of Catholic prayers in times past, this prayer has fallen into disuse in the last few decades. Prayer for the dead is one of the greatest acts of charity we can perform.

Eternal Memory

This prayer is used in Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. The "eternal memory" mentioned in the prayer is remembrance by God, which is another way of saying that the soul has entered heaven and enjoys eternal life.

Weekly Prayers for the Faithful Departed

The Church offers us different prayers that we can say each day of the week for the faithful departed. These are especially useful for offering a novena on behalf of the dead, or for praying during those seasons of the year (November, in the Western Church; Lent, in the Eastern Church) designated by the Church as times of fervent prayer for the...

Sunday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

This is a prayer for the faithful departed to be offered on Sundays.

Monday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

This prayer is said on Mondays for the souls of the faithful departed.

Tuesday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

On Tuesdays, Catholics pray this prayer for the souls of the faithful departed.

Wednesday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

Catholics pray this prayer on Wednesdays for the souls of the faithful departed.

Thursday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

We should remember the faithful departed on Thursdays by praying this prayer.

Friday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

This prayer is offered on Fridays for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saturday Prayer for the Faithful Departed

Catholics pray this prayer on Saturdays for the souls of the faithful departed.

Indulgence for a Visit to a Cemetery

This indulgence for a visit to a cemetery encourages us to spend a moment in prayer for the souls in Purgatory.

The Reason of Simbang Gabi

Facade of St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church, Singalong, Manila

               Leaving NCFP yesterday, my office mate Lucille looked forward to waking up early tomorrow for her last Simbang Gabi… very happy to almost completing her nine-day pledge to attend it since December 16.  Many Filipinos showed their felicity for Christmas through the tradition of Simbang Gabi or Evening Mass.  Dawn Masses in preparation for Christmas were celebrated in most Catholic churches from December 16 until December 24.  This would culminate to the joyful celebration of Christ’s birthday with the Misa de Gallo or Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.

Looking at the church from the side of St. Anthony School

               It is interesting to note that the Simbang Gabi tradition has its roots from Mexico in the 16^th century and was adopted in the Philippines during the latter part of the 17^th century. Filipino farmers and fishermen were invited to attend the dawn Masses and for practical purposes, it was held at dawn so that they could still work afterwards.  Until now, many would attend the Simbang Gabi.  It is a special way for the Filipino soul to adore and thank their Creator for the ending year, or through it to say sorry, or to ask a concrete favor from God during the Simbang Gabi novena.

Some thirty minutes before 9:00 p.m. December 16, 2010 Holy Mass

               Nowadays, parishes have considered anew the circumstances of the people attending the Simbang Gabi.  Although some parishes would celebrate it either at night or at dawn, our parish -- St. Anthony of Padua in Singalong -- had the Simbang Gabi at 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.  The congregation in the church would usually await the homily of the priest celebrant so as to enrich more their spiritual preparation for Christmas.  They would also enthusiastically sing the Advent and Christmas songs during Mass.  The church is well lit and is beautifully decorated with local Christmas lanterns called parol.  The main attraction for all inside the Church is the Belen or the Nativity Scene arrangement.

The Joy of Advent is very much in the air during the Simbang Gabi

              During the Simbang Gabi, churches teem with people especially young ones.  I think it is due to the Joy conveyed by the Event as it focused on the Faith and bonding with family and friends.  Filipinos also want to do things together like singing songs and eating good food after Mass.  After each Simbang Gabi, many would anticipate the traditional breakfast options: bibingka or puto bumbong with tsokolate, kape, or salabat. Today, there are more and varied choices for breakfast just outside the church.

               I attended my first Simbang Gabi when I was in junior high school.  My best friend and I decided to attend it so she picked me up at home around 3:30 a.m.  Myra and I then attended the 4:00 a.m. Mass.  After that  Simbang Gabi, we were so sleepy at school the whole day.  I cannot remember now other details of that Mass, but Myra—who has been in the United States for many years—and I would always remember fondly the joy of the experience, our sleepiness, and our breakfast—hot chocolate donuts—after the Simbang Gabi.

Images of St. Joseph with Our Lady expecting the Child Jesus (found just near the entrance of St. Anthony Church)

              The Holy Mass in Simbang Gabi shows the unity of Faith as it transcends the then and now, the here and there.   I know that many Filipinos in the U.S. and other countries also try to have Simbang Gabi even if it’s winter.  Sustaining great traditions truly require genuine devotedness.  Thanks to those who have given their very best, their all, in preserving this Christian tradition and its accompanying Filipino customs.  How they highlight clearly the reason of the Season—the Joy in the coming of Jesus Christ who is yet unborn and defenseless in the Blessed Virgin Mary's womb.  

               
               Maligayang Pasko!