Ad Maoirem De Gloriam

Mary, the Mother of God Roman Catholics and Eastern-rite Catholics have always treasured the practice of praying to Our Blessed Mother and to the other saints in heaven. In fact for almost 1500 years, until the start of the Protestant Reformation, the important role played by Our Blessed Mother in our salvation history was accepted throughout Christendom, as was the spiritual value of praying to her and to the other saints. The Second Vatican Council spoke of honouring Mary, the mother of God, with 'special reverence'. This special reverence, or 'veneration' as it is often called, which Catholics direct to Mary, is sometimes mistaken by our Protestant brethren for the adoration which is to be reserved for God alone. The Catholic Church, however, is quite clear on the distinction between honouring Mary and worshipping God, and while encouraging devotion to our Blessed Mother, the Church has always recognized Mary's oneness "with all human beings i...

Myspace Religious Chistmas Comments

Christmas in the Philippines is a mixture of Western and native Filipino traditions. Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, sending Christmas cards, and singing carols have all been inherited from the cultures of the West. However, these have all been adapted to fit the nature and personality of the Filipino people. Christmas Eve in the Philippines is one of the traditions most families celebrate. It is a night without sleep and a continuous celebration moving right into Christmas Day. As December 24th dawns, the last Mass of Simbang Gabi is attended; then preparation begins for Noche Buena, which is a family feast that takes place after midnight. The Noche Buena is very much like an open house celebration. Family, friends, relatives, and neighbors drop by to wish every family member "Maligayang Pasko" (Merry Christmas). Food is in abundance, often served in buffet style. Guests or visitors partake of the food prepared by the host family (even though they are already full or bloat...

SIMBANG GABI or MISA DE GALLO, "midnight mass" or "mass of the rooster" comes from the Catholic custom of gathering for celebration of the Eucharist in the pre-dawn hours of each of the nine days beforeChristmas. STARTING after midnight tonight (15 December), church bells will be ringing very early in the morning until Christmas Day. Today marks the beginning of the Christmas novena, or Simbang Gabi, in Tagalog. For Filipino Catholics the nine-day celebration before Christmas is a tradition with deep roots in the country's religious culture. Literally, simbang gabi means ``night worship.'' The name comes from the Catholic custom of gathering for the celebration of the Eucharist in the pre-dawn hours on each of the nine days before Christmas. Hence, this celebration is also known by its popular Spanish name as the misa de gallo, or ``mass of the rooster.'' Catholic churches throughout the country will be ringing their bells around 3:00 or 3:30 in ...

St. John of the Cross Founder (with St. Teresa) of the Discalced Carmelites , doctor of mystic theology , b. at Hontoveros, Old Castile , 24 June, 1542; d. at Ubeda, Andalusia , 14 Dec., 1591. John de Yepes, youngest child of Gonzalo de Yepes and Catherine Alvarez, poor silk weavers of Toledo, knew from his earliest years the hardships of life. The father, originally of a good family but disinherited on account of his marriage below his rank, died in the prime of his youth; the widow , assisted by her eldest son, was scarcely able to provide the bare necessities. John was sent to the poor school at Medina del Campo, whither the family had gone to live, and proved an attentive and diligent pupil; but when apprenticed to an artisan, he seemed incapable of learning anything. Thereupon the governor of the hospital of Medina took him into his service, and for seven years John divided his time between waiting on the poorest of the poor , and frequenting a school established by the Jes...

Our Lady of Guadalupe, also called the Virgin of Guadalupe ( Spanish : Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or Virgen de Guadalupe) is a 16th century Roman Catholic Mexican icon representing an apparition of the Virgin Mary . It is perhaps Mexico's most popular religious and cultural image. Guadalupe's feast day is celebrated on December 12 , commemorating the traditional account of her appearances to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City from December 9 , 1531 through December 12 , 1531 . The Virgin of Guadalupe is a symbol of significant importance to Catholics. Mainstream Catholics believe that Guadalupe was a manifestation of the Virgin Mary in the Americas and recognize her as "Empress of the Americas." The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the second most visited Roman Catholic shrine in the world. The Virgin of Guadalupe has also symbolized the Mexican nation since Mexico's War of Independence . Both Miguel Hid...

December 14 St. John of the Cross (1541-1591) John is a saint because his life was a heroic effort to live up to his name: “of the Cross.” The folly of the cross came to full realization in time. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34b) is the story of John’s life. The Paschal Mystery—through death to life—strongly marks John as reformer, mystic-poet and theologian-priest. Ordained a Carmelite priest at 25 (1567), John met Teresa of Jesus (Avila) and like her vowed himself to the primitive Rule of the Carmelites. As partner with Teresa and in his own right, John engaged in the work of reform, and came to experience the price of reform: increasing opposition, misunderstanding, persecution, imprisonment. He came to know the cross acutely—to experience the dying of Jesus—as he sat month after month in his dark, damp, narrow cell with only his God! Yet, the paradox! In this dying of imprisonment John came to life, uttering poetry. I...

This Coming December 14 is the feast day of the Holy Father of the Order of Discalced Carmelites.. Saint John of the Cross..