This title is in our Catholic tradition. We learned it in our catechism class. It is maybe part of the so-called APOCRYPHA, a body of stories based in the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph which are not found in the gospels of Sts. Matthew,...
GIVEN our notorious tendency to fall into spiritual lukewarmness and complacency, if not coldness, we need to often exert conscious effort to burn with desire and to light up our fire to love God and everybody else. We cannot deny that we often are good...
THIS should be the attitude to have in our relation with God. He always takes the initiative to come to us, to knock at our heart’s door. We should be welcoming to him, and more than that, we should be appreciative of his love and...
Earning a diploma is always a milestone for me. In this lifetime I have wished for 5 diplomas: 1 for elementary; 1 for high school; 1 for college; 1 for masteral; and 1 for doctoral. I am struggling to complete my Ph.D. in applied linguistics...
Maybe you have heard about the "Momo Challenge" circulating in all media platforms these past few days. In the challenge, a character named Momo is considered the master who allegedly instructs its victims mostly youngsters to harm someone and then themselves. Also, the character would...
Yes, with a little help from us the full wonder of God’s grace would be revealed to us. This was articulated by Christ himself when he compared the Kingdom of God to how a seed grows. (cfr. Mk 4,26-34) “It is as if a man were...
It is graduation season again. Time for conferring degrees during graduation ceremony; time for wearing togas or academic gowns; time for quarreling relatives or separated parents to be in one occasion for celebration. In the Philippines, graduation is celebrated with too much fanfare. It is because...
I am referring to the Lenten observance of not eating meat on Fridays of Lent and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Historically, when the Church required Catholics from eating meat, it was understood that since meat was a daily need in those days especially in...
An excerpt from last March 6, 2019 Ash Wednesday’s homily by Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D. at San Pedro Cathedral. Lent begins today, Ash Wednesday, up to Holy Thursday daytime (only). Ang misa sa Huwebes Santo sa gabii dili na na lent. Lent begins today...
WE know that holiness is for everyone. That’s what God wants us to be, since we are his image and likeness, children of his. He wants us to be like him. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,” Christ told us very clearly. (Mt...
