“WHERE IS GOD?” This was the cry of a little girl while typhoon “Ondoy” was pouring torrential rains that flooded their residence up to the roof top. It was, indeed, a cry for help.
Mr. Isagani A. Cruz in his column at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, dated October 11, 2009, says: “ A look at our present situation seems to suggest that the little girl’s searching question has denied us His protection. We seem to be helpless in the moral and material problems caused by Ondoy and Pepeng. Thousands of lives have been claimed by inundations and landslides, depriving parents of their children, families of their homes and possessions, sons and daughters of their hope for a better life.”
From my readings, however, I have learned that God’s methods are people. God uses people to come to the rescue of those whose lives are being exposed to dangers. While not all may be rescued, the number of those whose lives are spared thru the help of other people would still be the great majority.
And so, Mr. Isagani Cruz further states: “God has united us in coping with our common problems. God has given us the gift of unity in resisting the holocaust that is threatening all our people. All our people include the Christians – the Catholics and Protestants alike – and those of other faiths, the Muslims, the Jews, the Buddhists, and the followers of Hare Krishna. Hallelujah for the men and women of the Philippines who are obeying the Will of God in helping their fellow Filipinos in distress like the Good Samaritan in the Bible. This is probably your answer, little girl.”
Time and again, I have personally experienced this loving presence of God in my life. Hence, when I reached the age of 76 I wrote “A Thanksgiving Memoir to God”. As a Foreword to that Memoir I said: “This is a humble attempt to put into writing the deep feelings of gratitude that are welling in my heart for all the blessings that God has graciously bestowed on me during my earthly sojourn through the instrumentality of persons who came along my path and helped me find a meaning to my life. I hope that those who will read this memoir, especially those whose names shall be mentioned, if they are still alive, will praise God for having been used by Him as channels of His bountiful blessings on me. May this memoir, therefore, serve as my personal testimony to the loving presence of God in my life which I believe He extends to every human being in this world, regardless of race, religion or nationality, for His love is universal, unconditional and has no favorites”. (Deut. 10:17; Gal.2:6)
God, therefore, is here with us in this world. People are His representatives or instruments in answering our prayers. When people, enlightened and empowered by His grace make themselves available to serve the needs of their fellowmen, it is God, indeed, Who is in action thru them.
By: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Date: Oct. 18, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
IS THERE A PURGATORY?
IS THERE A PURGATORY?
This was the question that my professor in theology asked me to dwell on when I was a seminarian at St. Francis de Sales Seminary at Lipa City in 1953.
I would like to share the results of my study on this matter.
The first one to come out openly against the doctrine of Purgatory was Martin Luther, an Augustinian Friar, when on the eve of All Saints Day, 1517, he posted a list of 95 propositions on the church door in Wittenburg, Germany. His denial of purgatory was a logical consequence of his doctrine that we are saved by faith alone.
In the General Council of Trent in 1563 there was a Decree on Purgatory which reads as follows: “The Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Spirit and in accordance with sacred Scripture and the ancient Tradition of the Fathers, has taught in the holy Councils that there is a purgatory, and that the souls detained there are helped by the acts of intercession (suffragia) of the faithful, and especially by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar. Therefore this holy Council commands the bishops to strive diligently that the sound doctrine of purgatory, handed down by the Holy Fathers and the sacred Councils, be believed by the faithful and that it be adhered to, taught and preached everywhere.”
In the Old Testament (2 Mc. 12:46) it says: “This was the reason why Judas offered this sacrifice for the dead, so that the dead might be pardoned for their sin.”
In the New Testament (1 Cor. 3:15) it says: “…but if your work becomes ashes, you will pay for it. You will be saved, but it will be as if passing through fire.”
“Salvation through Faith Alone” is actually the basic ground for denying the existence of Purgatory.
In the Letter of James, however, we read the following: “Brothers, what good is it to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you. If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food and one of you says, ‘May things go well for you; be warm and satisfied’, without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead. … So you see, a person obtains holiness by his deeds and not by faith alone….So, just as the body is dead without its spirit, so faith, without deeds, is also dead.” (James 2:14-26)
The Catechism for Filipino Catholics says: “Purgatory means ‘the state of final purification’ so that those who died in the state of grace but are weighed down by the remnants of selfishness and sin, may be purified and thus enter into everlasting glory with the Lord.” (2104)
Here in the Philippines on November 1-2 of every year, we witness huge crowds of people visiting the graves of their beloved dead and praying for the eternal repose of their souls. This to me is a phenomenon which manifests the deep faith of the great majority of our people that somehow in God’s infinite goodness and mercy they can still do something to hasten or mitigate any temporal punishment that a soul has to undergo in order to be fully cleansed and be worthy to be admitted into the Kingdom of God where there is everlasting peace, love and happiness.
by: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Date: Oct. 11, 2009
This was the question that my professor in theology asked me to dwell on when I was a seminarian at St. Francis de Sales Seminary at Lipa City in 1953.
I would like to share the results of my study on this matter.
The first one to come out openly against the doctrine of Purgatory was Martin Luther, an Augustinian Friar, when on the eve of All Saints Day, 1517, he posted a list of 95 propositions on the church door in Wittenburg, Germany. His denial of purgatory was a logical consequence of his doctrine that we are saved by faith alone.
In the General Council of Trent in 1563 there was a Decree on Purgatory which reads as follows: “The Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Spirit and in accordance with sacred Scripture and the ancient Tradition of the Fathers, has taught in the holy Councils that there is a purgatory, and that the souls detained there are helped by the acts of intercession (suffragia) of the faithful, and especially by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar. Therefore this holy Council commands the bishops to strive diligently that the sound doctrine of purgatory, handed down by the Holy Fathers and the sacred Councils, be believed by the faithful and that it be adhered to, taught and preached everywhere.”
In the Old Testament (2 Mc. 12:46) it says: “This was the reason why Judas offered this sacrifice for the dead, so that the dead might be pardoned for their sin.”
In the New Testament (1 Cor. 3:15) it says: “…but if your work becomes ashes, you will pay for it. You will be saved, but it will be as if passing through fire.”
“Salvation through Faith Alone” is actually the basic ground for denying the existence of Purgatory.
In the Letter of James, however, we read the following: “Brothers, what good is it to profess faith without showing works? Such faith has no power to save you. If a brother or sister is in need of clothes or food and one of you says, ‘May things go well for you; be warm and satisfied’, without attending to their material needs, what good is that? So it is for faith without deeds: it is totally dead. … So you see, a person obtains holiness by his deeds and not by faith alone….So, just as the body is dead without its spirit, so faith, without deeds, is also dead.” (James 2:14-26)
The Catechism for Filipino Catholics says: “Purgatory means ‘the state of final purification’ so that those who died in the state of grace but are weighed down by the remnants of selfishness and sin, may be purified and thus enter into everlasting glory with the Lord.” (2104)
Here in the Philippines on November 1-2 of every year, we witness huge crowds of people visiting the graves of their beloved dead and praying for the eternal repose of their souls. This to me is a phenomenon which manifests the deep faith of the great majority of our people that somehow in God’s infinite goodness and mercy they can still do something to hasten or mitigate any temporal punishment that a soul has to undergo in order to be fully cleansed and be worthy to be admitted into the Kingdom of God where there is everlasting peace, love and happiness.
by: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Date: Oct. 11, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
THE ROSARY
October is a month specially dedicated to our Blessed Mother Mary. It is a Christian tradition to pray the Holy Rosary not only individually but also in groups of families coming together. In practically every parish in our country, the Philippines, this is the devotion that is being practiced.
There are two questions which I would like to dwell on in this matter. First, “Why pray the Rosary?”. And secondly, “How should we pray the Rosary?”
To the first question, these are some of the reasons:
1. It is a very powerful prayer for intercession.
a. In the naval battle of Lepanto, which occurred on October 7, 1571, the victory of the Christians over the Moslems was attributed to the praying of the Rosary.
b. Sometime in October of 1616 at the shores of Manila Bay, 15 Dutch vessels invaded us. Though outnumbered with only 3 Spanish ships we overpowered them thru the intercession of Blessed Mother Mary as the faithful and soldiers prayed the Rosary.
2. It is a prayer advocated by our Blessed Mother Mary.
In her miraculous appearances at Lourdes of France and at Fatima of Portugal, our Blessed Mother Mary enjoined the praying of the Rosary to bring about peace in the world.
3. It is a prayer endorsed by several Popes.
a. Pope Leo XIII on Sept. 1, 1883, in his Encyclical “Supremi Apostolatus Officio” proposed the Rosary as an effective spiritual weapon against the evils afflicting society.
b. Blessed Pope John XXIII in his Apostolic Epistle on Sept. 29, 1961, endorsed the Rosary for the success of the Second Vatican Council.
c. Pope Paul VI, in his Apostolic Exhortation “Marialis Cultus”dated Feb. 2, 1974, emphasized the Rosary’s evangelical character and its Christocentric inspiration.
d. Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter “Rosarium Virginis Mariae” issued on Oct. 16, 2002, said that the Rosary is a “prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness”.
3. It is an effective means of obtaining one’s salvation.
Blessed Bartolo Longo, considered a True Apostle of the Rosary, heard an inspiration in the depths of his heart which says: “Whoever spreads the Rosary is saved!”
To the second question, Pope John Paul II says that the Rosary is “an exquisitely contemplative prayer”. He further says: “Without this contemplative dimension, it would lose its meaning, as Pope Paul VI clearly pointed out: Without contemplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the risk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ: ‘In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words’ (Mt. 6:7). By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord’s life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are disclosed.”
The Rosary, therefore, if prayed meditatively, will enable us to grow in our knowledge of Christ and thus bring us closer to Him thru the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary.
By: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Date: Oct. 4, 2009
There are two questions which I would like to dwell on in this matter. First, “Why pray the Rosary?”. And secondly, “How should we pray the Rosary?”
To the first question, these are some of the reasons:
1. It is a very powerful prayer for intercession.
a. In the naval battle of Lepanto, which occurred on October 7, 1571, the victory of the Christians over the Moslems was attributed to the praying of the Rosary.
b. Sometime in October of 1616 at the shores of Manila Bay, 15 Dutch vessels invaded us. Though outnumbered with only 3 Spanish ships we overpowered them thru the intercession of Blessed Mother Mary as the faithful and soldiers prayed the Rosary.
2. It is a prayer advocated by our Blessed Mother Mary.
In her miraculous appearances at Lourdes of France and at Fatima of Portugal, our Blessed Mother Mary enjoined the praying of the Rosary to bring about peace in the world.
3. It is a prayer endorsed by several Popes.
a. Pope Leo XIII on Sept. 1, 1883, in his Encyclical “Supremi Apostolatus Officio” proposed the Rosary as an effective spiritual weapon against the evils afflicting society.
b. Blessed Pope John XXIII in his Apostolic Epistle on Sept. 29, 1961, endorsed the Rosary for the success of the Second Vatican Council.
c. Pope Paul VI, in his Apostolic Exhortation “Marialis Cultus”dated Feb. 2, 1974, emphasized the Rosary’s evangelical character and its Christocentric inspiration.
d. Pope John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter “Rosarium Virginis Mariae” issued on Oct. 16, 2002, said that the Rosary is a “prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness”.
3. It is an effective means of obtaining one’s salvation.
Blessed Bartolo Longo, considered a True Apostle of the Rosary, heard an inspiration in the depths of his heart which says: “Whoever spreads the Rosary is saved!”
To the second question, Pope John Paul II says that the Rosary is “an exquisitely contemplative prayer”. He further says: “Without this contemplative dimension, it would lose its meaning, as Pope Paul VI clearly pointed out: Without contemplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the risk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ: ‘In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words’ (Mt. 6:7). By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord’s life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are disclosed.”
The Rosary, therefore, if prayed meditatively, will enable us to grow in our knowledge of Christ and thus bring us closer to Him thru the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary.
By: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Date: Oct. 4, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
THEOLOGY-FAITH-RELIGION
Theology, Faith, Religion – these are words which are often times mentioned in discussions on religious matters.
What is the difference of each one from the other?
Based on my readings I have gathered the following:
Theology is what we know about God.
Faith is what we accept or believe of what we know.
Religion is how we live or practice what we believe.
When it comes to Theology, practically every man has some knowledge of God and His relationship to the world from what he reads, hears or experiences. One, however, does not necessarily accept whatever he reads or hears. When he accepts what he knows, then it becomes a conviction, though not may be a certainty. This is what we call Faith.
One’s faith is manifested in the way one lives. If one merely believes but does not put into practice what he believes, his faith is dead. Thus, St. James, the Apostle, says” “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). When one does not live what he believes in, he becomes a person with a split personality. Faith to be meaningful must therefore, be put into action in one’s everyday life.
We pride ourselves as a Catholic country, since the great majority of us (80%) subscribe to the Christian Faith. This Christian Faith tells us that we should love one another as Christ loves us. It tells us to break the cycle of evil by overcoming evil with good. It tells us to be honest, responsible and to share our time, talents and treasure for the good of our community. But, why is there so much graft and corruption in our country? Why are we considered as among the most corrupt country in the world?
I believe that the answer is simply because most of us, so-called Christians, do not live what we believe. For this reason many of us may be branded as KBLs – because we go to Church only when we are wedded (Kasal), when we are baptized or have our children baptized (Biniag), and when we die (Libing) to be blessed. We are sacramentalized but not evangelized.
The great challenge for us is to have a decent life in our country.
While the means to meet this challenge may somehow be answered politically and economically, I submit that the real answer lies in the sphere of morality – when every citizen would live according to the dictates of his conscience and abide by what our Christian Faith dictates.
Then and only then can we form communities where there is true love. And where there is true love, there will be peace and harmony in our relationships with each other; and there will be generous sharing of what we are and what we have to make our country truly great.
By: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Sep. 27, 2009
What is the difference of each one from the other?
Based on my readings I have gathered the following:
Theology is what we know about God.
Faith is what we accept or believe of what we know.
Religion is how we live or practice what we believe.
When it comes to Theology, practically every man has some knowledge of God and His relationship to the world from what he reads, hears or experiences. One, however, does not necessarily accept whatever he reads or hears. When he accepts what he knows, then it becomes a conviction, though not may be a certainty. This is what we call Faith.
One’s faith is manifested in the way one lives. If one merely believes but does not put into practice what he believes, his faith is dead. Thus, St. James, the Apostle, says” “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). When one does not live what he believes in, he becomes a person with a split personality. Faith to be meaningful must therefore, be put into action in one’s everyday life.
We pride ourselves as a Catholic country, since the great majority of us (80%) subscribe to the Christian Faith. This Christian Faith tells us that we should love one another as Christ loves us. It tells us to break the cycle of evil by overcoming evil with good. It tells us to be honest, responsible and to share our time, talents and treasure for the good of our community. But, why is there so much graft and corruption in our country? Why are we considered as among the most corrupt country in the world?
I believe that the answer is simply because most of us, so-called Christians, do not live what we believe. For this reason many of us may be branded as KBLs – because we go to Church only when we are wedded (Kasal), when we are baptized or have our children baptized (Biniag), and when we die (Libing) to be blessed. We are sacramentalized but not evangelized.
The great challenge for us is to have a decent life in our country.
While the means to meet this challenge may somehow be answered politically and economically, I submit that the real answer lies in the sphere of morality – when every citizen would live according to the dictates of his conscience and abide by what our Christian Faith dictates.
Then and only then can we form communities where there is true love. And where there is true love, there will be peace and harmony in our relationships with each other; and there will be generous sharing of what we are and what we have to make our country truly great.
By: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Sep. 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
A POSTHUMOUS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
“THE BEST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS ARE POSTHUMOUS”. Thus says Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon Jr. in one of his articles in a book entitled: “Glimpses of Grace”.
“It is good”, he says, “when we organize our own birthday parties. But it is much better when people come to remember the day you were born even long after you are gone. It means they are so grateful that you came to their lives. It just shows that you were truly a blessing to them”.
It was on the occasion of the Birthday Celebration of our Blessed Mother Mary, September 8, that Rev. Sescon Jr. said those statements.
We have, indeed, been celebrating the Birthday of our Blessed Mother Mary since time immemorial. The blessings we have received and are still receiving thru her are countless. It was thru her that the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, was conceived and born. It was thru her that Jesus Christ performed His first public miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana. It was in her care and protection that Jesus Christ entrusted each and everyone of us, for we form the Church which He founded. It is thru her intercession that the Church has been receiving extraordinary blessings up to this time. These blessings continue to be poured on us in various ways, especially thru her miraculous apparitions in places like Lourdes in France, Guadalupe in Mexico, Fatima in Portugal, etc. These and many more are reasons why we celebrate the Birthday of our Blessed Mother Mary.
Can we be also a blessing to people?
We are told that Christ has a “Mystical Body” which we call the Church. We, who compose the Church, are members of this Mystical Body of Christ. Just as one is concerned with every part of his body, so is Christ concerned with every one who is a member of His Mystical Body. This, I believe, is the fundamental reason why one should live a life that others can consider as a blessing for them. The source of any blessing is actually God Himself, but God can use anyone as His instrument to pour out His blessings. One has only to make himself available to be used by God by surrendering oneself like our Blessed Mother Mary and say: “Behold the servant of the Lord, be it done unto me according to The Word”. (Lk.1:38)
Since our life is a Gift from God, this Gift should be used not only for our own good but also for the good of others. For this reason God also gave us the Gift of Love, because it is only thru the power of love that we can truly do something good for others. Love can be manifested in many ways. One of the best ways, however, is thru service. Serving the needs of others is actually what Our Lord Jesus Christ meant when He said: “For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you went to see me. …Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.” (Matt. 25: 35-40
Service to others is, indeed, the great challenge of Christianity. It is a challenge that requires a strong conviction in the personal relationship of Christ with every person in this world. In other words, one has to see the ‘Face of Christ’ in each and every person served. For those who are lovable, one may just be too willing and be glad to serve their needs; but for others who may be unlovable, one would need a special grace from God to be able to fulfill this command of Christ.
By: Salvador Cagurangan
Sep. 20, 2009
“It is good”, he says, “when we organize our own birthday parties. But it is much better when people come to remember the day you were born even long after you are gone. It means they are so grateful that you came to their lives. It just shows that you were truly a blessing to them”.
It was on the occasion of the Birthday Celebration of our Blessed Mother Mary, September 8, that Rev. Sescon Jr. said those statements.
We have, indeed, been celebrating the Birthday of our Blessed Mother Mary since time immemorial. The blessings we have received and are still receiving thru her are countless. It was thru her that the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, was conceived and born. It was thru her that Jesus Christ performed His first public miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding in Cana. It was in her care and protection that Jesus Christ entrusted each and everyone of us, for we form the Church which He founded. It is thru her intercession that the Church has been receiving extraordinary blessings up to this time. These blessings continue to be poured on us in various ways, especially thru her miraculous apparitions in places like Lourdes in France, Guadalupe in Mexico, Fatima in Portugal, etc. These and many more are reasons why we celebrate the Birthday of our Blessed Mother Mary.
Can we be also a blessing to people?
We are told that Christ has a “Mystical Body” which we call the Church. We, who compose the Church, are members of this Mystical Body of Christ. Just as one is concerned with every part of his body, so is Christ concerned with every one who is a member of His Mystical Body. This, I believe, is the fundamental reason why one should live a life that others can consider as a blessing for them. The source of any blessing is actually God Himself, but God can use anyone as His instrument to pour out His blessings. One has only to make himself available to be used by God by surrendering oneself like our Blessed Mother Mary and say: “Behold the servant of the Lord, be it done unto me according to The Word”. (Lk.1:38)
Since our life is a Gift from God, this Gift should be used not only for our own good but also for the good of others. For this reason God also gave us the Gift of Love, because it is only thru the power of love that we can truly do something good for others. Love can be manifested in many ways. One of the best ways, however, is thru service. Serving the needs of others is actually what Our Lord Jesus Christ meant when He said: “For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you went to see me. …Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.” (Matt. 25: 35-40
Service to others is, indeed, the great challenge of Christianity. It is a challenge that requires a strong conviction in the personal relationship of Christ with every person in this world. In other words, one has to see the ‘Face of Christ’ in each and every person served. For those who are lovable, one may just be too willing and be glad to serve their needs; but for others who may be unlovable, one would need a special grace from God to be able to fulfill this command of Christ.
By: Salvador Cagurangan
Sep. 20, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
THE ART OF LISTENING
The most difficult of arts is “THE ART OF LISTENING”. This is a viewpoint expressed by a renowned Jesuit, Rev. Fr. Horacio de la Costa, S.J., in one of his homilies that has been published by the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus and the Ateneo de Manila University.
Dwelling on this statement, I pondered on the possible reasons to support its truthfulness. What came to my mind are some attitudes that one has to have in order to really listen to others.
One has to be OPEN-MINDED. To really listen to others one has to admit that no one has a monopoly of the truth. And so, one should consider seriously what others say.
One has to be HUMBLE. The viewpoints of others could be as good or even better than one’s own viewpoint. Thus one should be willing to make adjustments or even discard his own viewpoint in favor of what others say.
One has to be PATIENT. One must be willing to give enough time to others to express their ideas. This requires being quiet and really listening to the one talking until he finishes.
One has to be OBJECTIVE. One has to consider not “WHO” is right, but “WHAT” is right. A viewpoint should be evaluated on its merits and not on the personality of the one who expresses it.
One has to be RADICAL. To seek the truth one must be willing to make extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions or institutions. This means having the courage to depart from the traditional ways of thinking and doing things, if such is not in accordance with what is deemed to be right.
The Art of Listening would require attitudes as mentioned: To be open minded, humble, patient, objective and radical. To develop these attitudes is, indeed, a big order. Hence, I believe there is truth to the statement of Rev. Fr. Horacio de la Costa that “THE ART OF LISTENING IS THE MOST DIFFICULT OF ARTS”.
By: Salvador Cagurangan
Sep. 13, 2009
Dwelling on this statement, I pondered on the possible reasons to support its truthfulness. What came to my mind are some attitudes that one has to have in order to really listen to others.
One has to be OPEN-MINDED. To really listen to others one has to admit that no one has a monopoly of the truth. And so, one should consider seriously what others say.
One has to be HUMBLE. The viewpoints of others could be as good or even better than one’s own viewpoint. Thus one should be willing to make adjustments or even discard his own viewpoint in favor of what others say.
One has to be PATIENT. One must be willing to give enough time to others to express their ideas. This requires being quiet and really listening to the one talking until he finishes.
One has to be OBJECTIVE. One has to consider not “WHO” is right, but “WHAT” is right. A viewpoint should be evaluated on its merits and not on the personality of the one who expresses it.
One has to be RADICAL. To seek the truth one must be willing to make extreme changes in existing views, habits, conditions or institutions. This means having the courage to depart from the traditional ways of thinking and doing things, if such is not in accordance with what is deemed to be right.
The Art of Listening would require attitudes as mentioned: To be open minded, humble, patient, objective and radical. To develop these attitudes is, indeed, a big order. Hence, I believe there is truth to the statement of Rev. Fr. Horacio de la Costa that “THE ART OF LISTENING IS THE MOST DIFFICULT OF ARTS”.
By: Salvador Cagurangan
Sep. 13, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
THE SIGNATURES OF GOD
A signature is a way of confirming something as true or correct. Hence, it has been used by men in formal or non-formal transactions to attest to the veracity of whatever may have been stated.
As human beings we have been groping in a world which up to now challenges man’s capacity to fully understand. It is a world full of mysteries. Man himself is still a great mystery to his own understanding. His origin is still the subject of research, and his destiny is still a matter of faith. There is, however, a universal acknowledgement by all men, regardless of nationality, race or creed, that there must be SOMEONE who has caused the existence of everything in this world. This Someone we commonly call “GOD”.
The reality of God is a given fact, we may say. But how to describe God’s being is beyond human comprehension. We can only attempt to see a glimpse of His personality. Our Christian faith tells us that He is a TRINITY – ONE GOD IN THREE DIVINE PERSONS, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To God the Father is attributed the Work of Creation, to God the Son the Work of Salvation, and to God the Holy Spirit the Work of Sanctification.
Following the tenets of our Christian Faith, we may attempt to see a glimpse of God’s personality by looking at His Signatures on these various Works which are attributed to Him, namely: Creation, Salvation and Sanctification.
The Work of Creation is evident in the existence of everything in this world. For no being in this world can exist without a power from Someone to create and sustain it in its existence. Without this creative power there would be nothing in this world. Nothing and nobody can boast of existing by his or its own power. This complete dependence on a Creative Power of everything that is existing in this world is a Signature of God as Creator.
The Work of Salvation can be seen in the Process of Canonization thru which the Christian Church assures us that certain persons are now enjoying the Beatific Vision of God in Heaven and thus can be venerated as SAINTS. In other words, they exemplify the Fruits of the Redeeming Power of Christ, Who came into this world, “so that all those who believe in Him shall not perish but have life everlasting”. (John 3:16). Aside from these Canonized Saints, there are innumerable people whose lives are likewise pleasing to God and thus could also be considered as saints. These saints are the Signatures of the Work of Salvation.
The Work of Sanctification is being manifested by many on-going Programs of Renewal in the Christian Church. To mention a few are: The Parish Renewal Experience (PREX), The Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS), The Marriage Encounter (ME). In these renewal programs we continue to experience and witness the Power of the Holy Spirit in touching the lives of thousands of people who by cooperating with the grace of God were and are being transformed so as to grow in holiness and become more and more pleasing to God. These, indeed, are Signatures of the Work of Sanctification.
God is still a Great Mystery for all of us. Thru these Signatures of God, however, we are continually assured of God’s existence, His infinite Power and unconditional Love. Faith in the Reality of God, however, must be manifested in a Life that is pleasing to God.
By: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Sep. 6, 2009
As human beings we have been groping in a world which up to now challenges man’s capacity to fully understand. It is a world full of mysteries. Man himself is still a great mystery to his own understanding. His origin is still the subject of research, and his destiny is still a matter of faith. There is, however, a universal acknowledgement by all men, regardless of nationality, race or creed, that there must be SOMEONE who has caused the existence of everything in this world. This Someone we commonly call “GOD”.
The reality of God is a given fact, we may say. But how to describe God’s being is beyond human comprehension. We can only attempt to see a glimpse of His personality. Our Christian faith tells us that He is a TRINITY – ONE GOD IN THREE DIVINE PERSONS, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. To God the Father is attributed the Work of Creation, to God the Son the Work of Salvation, and to God the Holy Spirit the Work of Sanctification.
Following the tenets of our Christian Faith, we may attempt to see a glimpse of God’s personality by looking at His Signatures on these various Works which are attributed to Him, namely: Creation, Salvation and Sanctification.
The Work of Creation is evident in the existence of everything in this world. For no being in this world can exist without a power from Someone to create and sustain it in its existence. Without this creative power there would be nothing in this world. Nothing and nobody can boast of existing by his or its own power. This complete dependence on a Creative Power of everything that is existing in this world is a Signature of God as Creator.
The Work of Salvation can be seen in the Process of Canonization thru which the Christian Church assures us that certain persons are now enjoying the Beatific Vision of God in Heaven and thus can be venerated as SAINTS. In other words, they exemplify the Fruits of the Redeeming Power of Christ, Who came into this world, “so that all those who believe in Him shall not perish but have life everlasting”. (John 3:16). Aside from these Canonized Saints, there are innumerable people whose lives are likewise pleasing to God and thus could also be considered as saints. These saints are the Signatures of the Work of Salvation.
The Work of Sanctification is being manifested by many on-going Programs of Renewal in the Christian Church. To mention a few are: The Parish Renewal Experience (PREX), The Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS), The Marriage Encounter (ME). In these renewal programs we continue to experience and witness the Power of the Holy Spirit in touching the lives of thousands of people who by cooperating with the grace of God were and are being transformed so as to grow in holiness and become more and more pleasing to God. These, indeed, are Signatures of the Work of Sanctification.
God is still a Great Mystery for all of us. Thru these Signatures of God, however, we are continually assured of God’s existence, His infinite Power and unconditional Love. Faith in the Reality of God, however, must be manifested in a Life that is pleasing to God.
By: Salvador "Buddy" Cagurangan
Sep. 6, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
A FORMULA FOR HAPPINESS
Reflecting on one of the articles of Rev. Fr. Rufino C. Sescon, Jr. in his book “Glimpses of Grace” I consider his admonition as a kind of Formula for Happiness.
His admonition is: “Charge your heart with the love of Jesus; Celebrate what is right in the world; Catch a glimpse of God’s presence in your life”.
Since the admonition uses three verbs that all begin with the letter “C” I would consider it as the “3 Cs for a Happy Life”.
The first: “Charge your heart with the love of Jesus” means emptying oneself of all kinds of selfishness and filling one’s heart with a genuine unconditional love of Jesus. It means a total surrender of oneself to our Lord Jesus Christ, so He could truly live and reign in one’s life with a sincere desire to serve Him by always doing His Holy Will.
The second: “Celebrate what is right in the world” means looking at what is good and wonderful in what is happening right now in one’s life and thanking God for them. Oftentimes we just take things for granted, not realizing that every moment of our life is actually a gift of God. Indeed, the world is full of God’s creation which should fill our hearts and minds with awe and wonder. Every bit of God’s creation is a reason for celebration to manifest our deep gratitude to God for His infinite power and goodness.
The third: “Catch a glimpse of God’s presence in your life” means striving to be aware that God is truly alive and is in control of everything in this world, for there is nothing in this world that can exist even for one moment without God’s creative power. Since God is a pure Spirit, His presence is something that cannot be perceived by our senses. A spirit, I believe, can be perceived only by another spirit. Hence, it is when our human spirit could be truly attuned to God that somehow we could have a glimpse of God’s presence in our life. To be attuned to God is, of course, a Gift of God that He dispenses as He pleases. No one can earn it. One can only pray to be given the privilege of receiving this Great Gift of God’s Presence. We are told that in the next life this is one of the gifts we shall receive- “to see God face to face”. But in our life here on earth, it seems we can have only a “glimpse” of such presence.
Applying this admonition in our life could bring true peace and happiness. When one’s heart is filled with the Love of Jesus; when he is moved with deep gratitude for the manifestations of God’s goodness in this world; when he is given the privilege of having at least a “glimpse” of God’s presence; I believe these will bring peace and joy. and thus will serve as a “Formula for Happiness”.
By: Salvador B. Cagurangan
Aug. 30, 2009
His admonition is: “Charge your heart with the love of Jesus; Celebrate what is right in the world; Catch a glimpse of God’s presence in your life”.
Since the admonition uses three verbs that all begin with the letter “C” I would consider it as the “3 Cs for a Happy Life”.
The first: “Charge your heart with the love of Jesus” means emptying oneself of all kinds of selfishness and filling one’s heart with a genuine unconditional love of Jesus. It means a total surrender of oneself to our Lord Jesus Christ, so He could truly live and reign in one’s life with a sincere desire to serve Him by always doing His Holy Will.
The second: “Celebrate what is right in the world” means looking at what is good and wonderful in what is happening right now in one’s life and thanking God for them. Oftentimes we just take things for granted, not realizing that every moment of our life is actually a gift of God. Indeed, the world is full of God’s creation which should fill our hearts and minds with awe and wonder. Every bit of God’s creation is a reason for celebration to manifest our deep gratitude to God for His infinite power and goodness.
The third: “Catch a glimpse of God’s presence in your life” means striving to be aware that God is truly alive and is in control of everything in this world, for there is nothing in this world that can exist even for one moment without God’s creative power. Since God is a pure Spirit, His presence is something that cannot be perceived by our senses. A spirit, I believe, can be perceived only by another spirit. Hence, it is when our human spirit could be truly attuned to God that somehow we could have a glimpse of God’s presence in our life. To be attuned to God is, of course, a Gift of God that He dispenses as He pleases. No one can earn it. One can only pray to be given the privilege of receiving this Great Gift of God’s Presence. We are told that in the next life this is one of the gifts we shall receive- “to see God face to face”. But in our life here on earth, it seems we can have only a “glimpse” of such presence.
Applying this admonition in our life could bring true peace and happiness. When one’s heart is filled with the Love of Jesus; when he is moved with deep gratitude for the manifestations of God’s goodness in this world; when he is given the privilege of having at least a “glimpse” of God’s presence; I believe these will bring peace and joy. and thus will serve as a “Formula for Happiness”.
By: Salvador B. Cagurangan
Aug. 30, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
HATE the SIN, LOVE the SINNER
“HATE the SIN, but LOVE the SINNER”. This is what Spiritual Mentors tell us to understand what Jesus meant when He said: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance”. (Lk. 5:32).
Reflecting on the said statement, I realized that there must be a difference between the sin and the sinner. Indeed, the difference lies in their sources or authors. The author of sin is man himself. Matthew 5: 19, reads: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders”. The author of the sinner, however, is God Himself. Genesis 1:27 reads: “God created man in His own image…”.
Sin comes from man when he abuses the gift of freedom by doing something which is not directed towards what is good for himself or for others. It is something, therefore, that is not in accordance with the Will of God. Hence, it is considered evil and in one way or another it must be overcome.
The sinner is a human being who has been created by God Himself. Being a creation of God, he must be respected and loved. Despite all his weaknesses and sinfulness, he remains a creature of God. Since he belongs to God, it is only God who has the right to dispose of him.
It is only God Who can truly judge him and reward or condemn him accordingly. Jesus said: “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then recompense every man according to his deeds”. (Matt. 16:27)
When sin, therefore, is committed, it is the evil or what is wrong that has to be corrected or condemned. But the sinner is someone whose existence is still maintained by the creative power of God and who has the potential of recognizing his mistake to the extent of doing what needs to be done to correct the wrong and become attuned to the Will of God.
This is the phenomenon of what is called “conversion” which has actually brought about the great changes in the lives of thousands of people whom we today venerate as “Saints”. Among the most prominent of them is Saint Paul. He was a persecutor of the Christians. But when through some mysterious event He experienced the reality of Christ, he became the great Apostle to the gentiles. Another great example is Saint Augustine of Hippo. He was actually wallowing in the sins of the flesh, when mysteriously he heard a voice: “take and read”. He read a certain passage in the Bible which started his conversion. From a sinner he made a turn about in his life. He became a priest, a bishop and eventually a Saint.
Sin is the work of man and has to be overcome with something good. We certainly have to do everything we can to correct the wrong. However, the sinner is a human being – the work of God, created in His image and likeness. He is someone in whom we can see the Face of God, so to speak. Hence, he deserves our loving concern, regardless of his sinfulness, for he actually is the object of God’s redeeming grace – the reason for Christ’s coming to this world, so that “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16). With this faith we cannot but give due respect to him and let God do with him as He pleases.
By: Salvador B. Cagurangan
Aug. 23, 2009
Reflecting on the said statement, I realized that there must be a difference between the sin and the sinner. Indeed, the difference lies in their sources or authors. The author of sin is man himself. Matthew 5: 19, reads: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders”. The author of the sinner, however, is God Himself. Genesis 1:27 reads: “God created man in His own image…”.
Sin comes from man when he abuses the gift of freedom by doing something which is not directed towards what is good for himself or for others. It is something, therefore, that is not in accordance with the Will of God. Hence, it is considered evil and in one way or another it must be overcome.
The sinner is a human being who has been created by God Himself. Being a creation of God, he must be respected and loved. Despite all his weaknesses and sinfulness, he remains a creature of God. Since he belongs to God, it is only God who has the right to dispose of him.
It is only God Who can truly judge him and reward or condemn him accordingly. Jesus said: “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then recompense every man according to his deeds”. (Matt. 16:27)
When sin, therefore, is committed, it is the evil or what is wrong that has to be corrected or condemned. But the sinner is someone whose existence is still maintained by the creative power of God and who has the potential of recognizing his mistake to the extent of doing what needs to be done to correct the wrong and become attuned to the Will of God.
This is the phenomenon of what is called “conversion” which has actually brought about the great changes in the lives of thousands of people whom we today venerate as “Saints”. Among the most prominent of them is Saint Paul. He was a persecutor of the Christians. But when through some mysterious event He experienced the reality of Christ, he became the great Apostle to the gentiles. Another great example is Saint Augustine of Hippo. He was actually wallowing in the sins of the flesh, when mysteriously he heard a voice: “take and read”. He read a certain passage in the Bible which started his conversion. From a sinner he made a turn about in his life. He became a priest, a bishop and eventually a Saint.
Sin is the work of man and has to be overcome with something good. We certainly have to do everything we can to correct the wrong. However, the sinner is a human being – the work of God, created in His image and likeness. He is someone in whom we can see the Face of God, so to speak. Hence, he deserves our loving concern, regardless of his sinfulness, for he actually is the object of God’s redeeming grace – the reason for Christ’s coming to this world, so that “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16). With this faith we cannot but give due respect to him and let God do with him as He pleases.
By: Salvador B. Cagurangan
Aug. 23, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
BREAK THE CYCLE OF EVIL
The Great Challenge of Christianity is “TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF EVIL”.
This, I believe, is what Our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to do when He said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the sons of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that!
You must be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:43-48)
“An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” (Matt.5:38) This is how we, as human beings, usually react to any harm done to us. We tend to return evil for evil, or do harm to those who do harm to us. In other words, we want to retaliate. Hence, there is a Cycle of Evil. In our world today we are experiencing the great sufferings brought about due to this attitude of vengeance.
Looking at Christ hanging on the Cross, I believe that He could have easily annihilated all those who were torturing Him, because He is God. But why did He not use His power to do so? Instead He prayed: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”.
This, I believe, is one of the reasons why Christ became man, so He could show us how to break the cycle of evil by not retaliating, but instead be forgiving to those who hurt us.
We must admit, however, that to do this act of forgiveness requires a strong conviction that the one being forgiven is a creature made in the image and likeness of God that deserves our loving concern and respect. It requires seeing God Himself in the person He created. This is the great dignity of every man in this world. It is because of this dignity that Christ said: “Now I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you”. (John 13:34) In other words, Christ is now the New Standard for love.
Humanly speaking, this command is something beyond our comprehension and even beyond our human capacity to fulfill. It is something that man cannot do without a special help from God. Hence, in order to fulfill it man has to humbly pray to seek God’s grace. For what may seem impossible for man is possible with God.
This grace that enables man to forgive is actually what Christ is offering to anyone who believes in Him. When one receives this grace and puts it into practice, he then becomes an instrument of God “TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF EVIL” and thus help to make this world a better place to live in.
By: Salvador B. Cagurangan
Aug. 16, 2009
This, I believe, is what Our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to do when He said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the sons of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that!
You must be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:43-48)
“An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” (Matt.5:38) This is how we, as human beings, usually react to any harm done to us. We tend to return evil for evil, or do harm to those who do harm to us. In other words, we want to retaliate. Hence, there is a Cycle of Evil. In our world today we are experiencing the great sufferings brought about due to this attitude of vengeance.
Looking at Christ hanging on the Cross, I believe that He could have easily annihilated all those who were torturing Him, because He is God. But why did He not use His power to do so? Instead He prayed: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”.
This, I believe, is one of the reasons why Christ became man, so He could show us how to break the cycle of evil by not retaliating, but instead be forgiving to those who hurt us.
We must admit, however, that to do this act of forgiveness requires a strong conviction that the one being forgiven is a creature made in the image and likeness of God that deserves our loving concern and respect. It requires seeing God Himself in the person He created. This is the great dignity of every man in this world. It is because of this dignity that Christ said: “Now I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you”. (John 13:34) In other words, Christ is now the New Standard for love.
Humanly speaking, this command is something beyond our comprehension and even beyond our human capacity to fulfill. It is something that man cannot do without a special help from God. Hence, in order to fulfill it man has to humbly pray to seek God’s grace. For what may seem impossible for man is possible with God.
This grace that enables man to forgive is actually what Christ is offering to anyone who believes in Him. When one receives this grace and puts it into practice, he then becomes an instrument of God “TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF EVIL” and thus help to make this world a better place to live in.
By: Salvador B. Cagurangan
Aug. 16, 2009
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