From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
And Catholics are required to abstain from meat or some other food on all Fridays of the year, unless a solemnity falls on that day. I fast and abstain every Friday.
After attending the Friday Mass arranged by our office, I went to The Old Spaghetti House to buy food to go as I have a meeting. The packaging is a simple brown bag except for the nice drawing with the name of the meal written on it. 😃
Woke up late; thus, I would finish my grocery shopping later than usual. Just when my niece would be using Edgar, the driver, to bring her to the airport for a quick vacation.
Bought the groceries at The Landmark Supermarket. After paying for my purchases, I asked Edgar to wait as I would be buying something at Healthy Options. This way, he would already be bringing it home with the groceries.
Talking of Healthy Options, I just found out I am now a Gold Member. Yes! I get a discount on my purchases in their store moving forward.
Thinking that I won't have much time before the rosary and the Mass to pray my devotions, I prayed the Precious Blood Chaplet from The Landmark to Healthy Options, and from Healthy Options to Sto. Niño de Paz Greenbelt Chapel.
The Mass presider is Fr. Dave. He is the chaplain of the Greenbelt Chapel. Today is the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. According to Fr. Dave, it was called Lateran because it is the Lateran family who donated the land where the Basilica is now standing. Do not confuse it with St. John of Lateran.
The message of his homily is "Seek Jesus while you still can." This is best explained with the story Fr. Dave shared. There is a dead man whose wake has been going on for three (3) weeks. It was learned that he gave instructions that he should be blessed by a priest before he is buried. When Fr. Dave went to the wake to bless him, no one is responding to his prayers. The people try to avoid him as if he has a contagious disease. Back to the church, that is when he learned that the dead man belongs to another religious sect. What is the benefit of the blessing if he is already dead? It would have been best if he converted to the church established by Jesus while he was still alive.
For my late lunch, I went to Mamak Kopitiam at the Food Choices in Glorietta 4. This is the first time I saw all their tables taken. Maybe because of this, my meal was served late.
Not to miss my The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf ice-blended fix. This is where I stayed a bit to start my blog.
Mocha Ice-Blended with Whipped Cream
On the way back to the Greenbelt Chapel to attend the anticipated Mass, prayed my one-year devotion of 15 Prayers of St Bridget. Started at Glorietta through The Landmark through the Greenbelt walkway ending at the Greenbelt Chapel.
Before the anticipated Mass, prayed as a community the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Rosary.
The Mass presider is Fr. Benny. We still celebrated the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. According to Fr. Benny, we have already observed our Sunday obligation by attending this Mass.
My takeaways:
Dedication means assigning a place permanently for people to gather for religious activities (like the sacraments).
The Lateran Basilica is the parish church of Rome. Many conventions were held there. It also has many popes entombed there.
If you are in Rome, although there are many churches there, these are the churches one must visit: Lateran Basilica, St. Paul's Basilica, St. Peter's Basilica, and Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
In St. Paul's letters, the church is not just the structure but the people practicing their faith in the church. We are Jesus' temple as Christ dwells in us.
The church must have three (3) things: the lectern (where the Word is read), the altar + tabernacle (for the Eucharist), and the priest's chair (representative of Jesus).
After the Mass, I passed through Beard Papa's to buy a box of cream puffs (buy 5 you get 1 free).
Then proceeded home--finishing my blog while in the car.
I should be working from home; but, I need to attend a face-to-face meeting in the morning. So off to the office I go.
The meeting finished earlier than expected (supposedly it should end by 1PM), thus, my stomach need not grumble. Went first to Glorietta to have lunch at El Pollo Loco and to-go ice-blended coffee from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf before proceeding home.
It is the first Saturday of November 2024 and it also happens to be the All Souls Day.
I would be observing the following for the first Saturday devotion:
Act of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Confession
Receive the Holy Eucharist
Pray the rosary
15 minutes of meditation of one of the mysteries of the rosary
For the All Souls Day:
Confession eight (8) days before or after today
Receive the Holy Eucharist
Visit the cemetery and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father
Some overlapped... 😇
Sto. Niño de Paz Greenbelt Chapel
After my confession, I meditated on the first Glorious Mystery. While waiting for the (public) rosary and the Mass, I prayed my devotions: Precious Blood Chaplet, and 15 Prayers of St. Bridget.
The Mass presider is Fr. Alemar. He is also my confessor for today. It seems the priest who is supposed to be the confessor after his schedule is late that he extended. Then, I think the priest that should be presiding the Mass is also unable to come that he covered for him. Bless you, Fr. Alemar! 🙏
Since the Saturday Mass is for the commemoration of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, Fr. Alemar's homily centered around this. There is the Triumphant Church (saints in heaven), Suffering Church (souls in purgatory), and the Militant Church (people who are alive). For the suffering church, we should not focus on the "suffering" but consider it as God's great mercy. The souls in purgatory are sure to get to heaven, they are just being cleansed. Their sins have been forgiven but there should be a reparation for these sins. The suffering church cannot pray for themselves; thus, it is us, the militant church, that should be praying for them so that they can be released soon to heaven. The souls in hell have no hope to be released from their bondage.
Fr. Alemar also asked to teach about purgatory early to the children (which also happened to him, thanks to his lola).
For my late lunch, I had it at The Landmark Food Center. After eating, I started my blog so that I would not forget the learning I had from the homily. Funny, a foreigner suddenly asked what kind of laptop I was using. When I said it was a Chromebook, he was surprised because he knows the Chromebook should be small. Mine's a bit thick but surprisingly very light. LOL
And of course, I wouldn't miss my frappuccino. I went to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf near the Glorietta Activity Center where I continued with my blog.
Chilling while waiting for the anticipated Mass, watched a YouTube video from Armor of God: Spiritual Warfare channel.
Proceeded to Greenbelt Chapel for the anticipated Mass. Prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Rosary before the Mass.
Fr. Ronaldo is the Mass presider. The Mass is still in commemoration of our dearly departed. Now, I was worried that I would not be observing my Sunday obligation by attending this Mass. As if my mind was read, at the start of the Mass, Fr. Ronaldo stated that attending this anticipated Mass, we would already be observing our Sunday obligation. 🙏
Some people ask what will happen after they die. The correct question is what one should do before you die to get to heaven.
After the Mass, proceeded to The Landmark Supermarket to buy candles and my yoghurt. Would be visiting my dearly departed at Sgt. Mariano Cemetery. This is to earn plenary indulgence in order for one of my dead family or relatives to be released from purgatory and go to heaven. I have to be specific that my actions are for this grace.
Went to Bistro Ravioli to buy food-to-go. Passed by Mary Grace for a mini chocolate cake.
At the Sgt. Mariano Cemetery, the area where the tombs of my dead are is dark (not lighted). Good thing I brought my flashlight. Unfortunately, forgot to bring the keys; thus, will have to slip the lighted candles in between the bars.
Decided to leave the condominium unit 30 minutes earlier than usual because I wanted to be at the Sgt. Mariano Cemetery before 6AM--I offered Mass at the Our Lady of Sorrows Parish for my dearly departed in their 6AM Mass. Will attend the online Mass while I am already at Sgt. Mariano Cemetery where my parents, grandparents, and other relatives are buried.
At 3:30AM, we are already on our way to Manila Memorial Park to visit my aunt and uncles. When my Nanay was still alive, she always visits her sister who is laid to rest there. Now, I have been doing it for her. Aside from my aunt, her husband, and her brother (my mom's brother, too) is buried there. Visited them. Was not able to visit their other brother since I cannot recall where he is buried.
Manila Memorial Park
Prayed two (2) decades of the rosary--one for my aunt and her husband, the other for my uncle.
Next stop is the Sgt. Mariano Cemetery, it is a public cemetery in Pasay.
Sgt. Mariano Cemetery
We are really early that I was able to set-up before the 6AM online Mass started. My iPad mini, Marshall Bluetooth speaker, battery-operated fan and sports stool completed my set-up. I also prayed the last three (3) decades of the rosary--one for my parents, grandparents, and (direct) uncles, another decade for our other relatives buried there, and another decade for our dearly departed we are unable to visit.
Also lit a candle (it is candle in a container where I have written all the names of our dearly departed we are unable to visit) in the cemetery's chapel.
Every dead I have visited, I sprinkle holy and exorcised water on their tombs to give them comfort. Since Sgt. Mariano Cemetery is my last stop for the day, and I still have remaining holy water, I sprinkle it to the tombs that seems no one visits.
For our breakfast, we went to Pancake House at Paseo de Magallanes. Ate our breakfast there and bought food-to-go.
Back home, since I registered for the Halloween Holy Hour by Monsignor Rossetti, I have set-up my Chromebook to project to the TV. Unlike his monthly deliverance using (private) YouTube, we will be using GoTo for the webinar. This why I went to the mall yesterday after office to buy a USB-C to HDMI cable. It worked well.
Using YouTube, I simply cast the screen. But with GoTo, not sure if they intend for the participants to talk. Not sure if simply casting the screen, I would still be able to use the microphone of my Chromebook. To be safe, using the cable for my TV and Chromebook set-up, I am sure that the video and sound will be played on the TV and the microphone is still available in my Chromebook.
Well, they posted the Halloween Holy Hour in YouTube eventually.
My usual Saturday starts with buying our groceries at The Landmark Supermarket. After paying for our purchases at the counter, left Edgar, the driver, to bring the groceries home while I proceed to Sto. Niño de Paz Greenbelt Chapel to attend the Saturday Mass. Edgar will be back later to bring me home after the anticipated Mass.
Greenbelt Chapel
Since I am early for the rosary and the Mass, I prayed my two (2) devotions, namely: Chaplet of the Precious Blood, and 15 Prayers of St. Bridget.
The presider of the Mass is Fr. Alemar. He is often the confessor when I observe the Saturday devotion. Here is my takeaway from his homily.
There are three things to note about the parable of the fig tree, namely: (a) the orchard, (b) the gardener, and (c) the fertilizer.
The orchard is the Church, it can also be our family, where we are expected to bear fruit. If we are far away from the "orchard" or we have become homeless, isn't it about time to go back home--to the Church?
The gardener is the people around us who can help. It is hard to grow when we are alone--we need others. Although, we should not be too dependent on them that we have become "parasites". (The last sentence is my thoughts, not the priest's. LOL)
And the fertilizer are those given by the Church--the sacraments, the devotions, Bible sharing, Bible study, catechism. Use them, avail of them.
During the Mass, I noticed a father carrying his little daughter throughout the Mass. I wanted to help but he might not look kindly on it. At the end of the Mass, one of the parishioners gave him money. His face shows surprise but is grateful. This emboldened me to give. I also gave him a bottle of exorcism oil which I always carry for these occasions. That one action started for others to give. The little girl is so thin. I included him and his child in my Mass intention.
For lunch, I went to Fiery Style at Glorietta 4. Ordered my usual. I started this post (using my Chromebook) in case I forget my learning this morning.
Fiery Style
Next stop is at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf near the Glorietta Activity Center. Of course, I continued with my blogging. LOL.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Decided to buy a smaller tumbler which I can bring when I go to the mall (instead of always buying mineral or distilled water). Went to Aquaflask. This store gives free engraving. Availed of it. Bought an 18 oz black tumbler.
AquaFlask
Proceeded to Greenbelt Chapel for the anticipated Mass. Was able to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet and the Rosary before the Mass. Fr. Benny is the presider.
There are three (3) things to take note of in the Gospel. (Hmmm.... how come there are always three?)
"The blind man replied to him, 'Master, I want to see.'" Jesus already knows what Bartimaeus wants yet He still asked him what He wanted. God will not force His grace to us, we should ask for it as He wills.
"He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus." Are we excited when we will see Jesus? Some don't attend the Sunday Mass anymore. When God gives us graces, He wants us to build a relationship with Him.
"Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way." From all the miracles that was presented in the Gospels, this is the only time when a person who received God's grace followed Jesus. What do we do if we receive God's grace? Do we promise to do something for something we ask from God? Do we keep our promise?
For the Jews, when they ask for healing, it is both physical and spiritual.
Before proceeding home, went to Mercury Drug at The Landmark to buy my medicine.
