Social media

In this post-modern era, we are wired by the influence of social media. They became a part of our lives, and everyday we never miss a day without checking our email, Facebook, Tumblr (only girls use tumblr), Youtube and other social accounts. Of course we constantly check, like and share various funny posts and quotes that we seem to laugh or to relate at with. They can be inspirational quotes, 7-second Vine videos, funny pictures, various kinds of meme pictures shared from 9gag or for some, Imgur. I am a fan of memes, particularly Countryball memes.

Some of our friends and most people, particularly those who were famous, make funny videos and funny faces in pictures in order to spread good feeling to their fans and to their friends. They also make pictures that portray reality in the form of ridicule and sarcasm, especially when it comes to social issues, world events and their observation of daily life. They post the things they want to say from the heart and want to say wise things, share to their friends because they want to express themselves of their feelings to their friends in the Internet, or share some, well, "wisdom".

These things are very okay, but it seems online materials feed our own narcissism that we keep on glorifying ourselves and often claim about how "cool" and "hip" we are but entirely different in real life. With these online materials, we can use this in order that the people will accept us of who we are, in order that people would look unto us as "wise", "witty", "enlightened" and in order to become cool in our own ways. But you would realize that everything is an illusion. The Internet is entirely designed to make people closer through communication and entertainment but not shamelessly express our stupidity.  In the end, it is only you that matters most.  The one who is entirely different, entirely private, entirely naive and unaware that all of these things only come to pass. We would find another way for ourselves to express  and to make our audience feel good about it, especially about you.

But in the end, it would only lead you to nowhere.
You're just wasting many hours on PC or in smartphone on these trivial stuff.

The Song of Friendship: A reflection on the spirituality of friendship

Our life as individual beings can be, most of the time, likened to the things we love. Life for some can be likened to a movie, a road, an infinity pool, or a race (if they seem to like living life on the fast lane). But I would like to liken my own life to a thing I absolutely love: songs. Whether I’m on my tub, or travelling on my way to work or simply listening to a good friend sing her heartwarming songs (I hope she does not read this, joke!), songs are a good way of self-expression and communication.

St. Augustine of Hippo would often say that songs are for lovers, an ancient proverb of the Church would note as well that singing is praying twice. And for those born yesterday, a song that I like from the movie “The Book of Life” speaks eloquently about it; 

“Live life like it's a song

 so turn it on and sing along,

 it's alright if it goes wrong, 

just keep calm and carry on.”

(Jesse & Joy, Live Life from The Book of Life official soundtrack)

And one of the reasons why life is worth living is the gift of friendship. Just as how life can be eloquently expressed as a song, friendship is a song taken by two or more people. It makes sense to call life a web of friendships and relationships. Anyhow, these are the few things I mused about the song of friendship, which are really some few tips necessary to “sing”  it well today.

1. This song demands someone to sing it along with- For most of us, karaokes are not fun if there is somebody to join us in singing, or simply just to make comments (puna) with our voice. Friendship as song demands a duet: two is always better than one. Friendship as song is to express one song beautifully as we can, not two separate songs sung at the same time (which is a veritable disaster!).

2. It often has high notes and low notes- We cannot choose which notes we are to sing. If we do “choose”, the song becomes meaningless and kaput. Performing the part of duets well demand that we sing all notes, regardless of anything, until the end. It may happen that the person may also go out of tune with the song, but a good person will not mind it. They must be able to keep themselves together from falling apart.

3. The song of friendship is best sung with the heart, not with the mind. Although a sane head is a necessary prerequisite for a good relationship, the ‘sanity’ of the heart matters as well. Just as much as the other tries to “be careful with your heart” (as Jose Mari Chan would popularly croon in one of his hits), you have to reciprocate it as well. Lest if you try, the worst happens.

4. The goal of the song is to love twice, thrice or even a lot of times. Without this primary requirement, we end up treating persons as strangers or mere acquaintances. Without the love present in the hearts of those involved, we unknowingly or knowingly use them. 

The song of friendship is the song of the heart, the song of life and the song of God’s love. If we happened to forget all of these in the name of petty problems or other forms of rivalry, do not worry. There is always a second chance, a replay and an encore performance. 

One day, let us hope that the Friend of us all, the Lord, will tell us that we have excellently performed this task, that of singing the communion of persons as a means towards the greater glory of God. Amen.

________________________________________

Admins: Do not post on the Facebook page unless directed to. (The Troll)

The Primacy of the Self: A letter to Malone

(I am asking the other admins NOT to post this on FB unless I direct it to be. Is it clear?

The Troll )

13 April 2015

Saturday of the Third Week of Easter

Holy Spirit Adoration Convent, Davao

Dear Malone,

I hope you do have the guts and the courage to read this. I am very, very, very frank this time, and I am not taking any limits to writing here. I speak here in a very truthful, human and frank way.

One of the characteristic traits of the modern world is 'amor proprio', that is, love of self. From taking selfies to eating food and drinking up to the bottle all by oneself, the modern man is trained to become cognizant of his own needs, his own wants, his own desires, his own self. And so, the modern person, or the modern kid/teenager grows up to 'worship' or 'adore' a trinity of "Me, myself and I".

But what most of us, individual persons collectively taken, forget is that when we often look at ourselves, we often forget others in the picture. When we narrow down to what we will do in a particular situation, we often overlook at what will happen to others as a result of what we do. Similarly, our reaction to that particular reaction will affect others as well.

And with this so-called "primacy of the self", comes three major falls in relationships:

1. Your relationship with your authentic self- You immediately forget your true nature: you are a community!(If we are to take up Fr. Sensei on this point) you are a person for others! (I do hope Ateneans read this point) you are a SOCIAL being! (if we are to take modern psychology...) 

This is a truth that demands to be told daily: your self worth is determined by the time and by the effort you give to others, your dignity is not really something based inherently, but it is looked at a communitarian viewpoint.

And that is the authentic self.

2. Your relationship with others- It takes two to tango, two to boogie, two to cha-cha, and one to do budots (which is not part of the main idea, anyway!). The dance of life demands two or more people to fully swing it into rhythm. Your mom did not do it alone, she needed Dad to get her into the game of motherhood. You did not grow up alone socially, you needed your friends.... You  do not love alone, it is not real love if it happens. You do not love shadow versions of others, you love who they are, them with all their faults, weaknesses and imperfections. 

If you begin loving your self too much, your relationships with others tangle up. Because unknowingly, you play persons to achieve ends, not things to achieve a better sense of community (which is legitimate, anyhow!). 

3. Your relationship with God- God is a community of persons: Father, Son and Spirit. Their unity of love is the model of human existence. Man is called not only to live, but to exist. Existence denotes three things: communion with self, others and God. Lose one and you fail to exist in the minds and hearts of others.

If you love the self, God will then be for you a commodity, a dummy that can be controlled to your whim. If he acts to your favor, happy are you! If he doesn't, you suddenly ask 'what's wrong with the world/God/universe?' when you are the one who is actually in trouble. If you happen to be in ministry, love of God is NOT anymore the main reason for ministry/service. You end up doing everything for your own ends.

And that's the three major falls that happen as a result of amor proprio.

Blame it on modern ideology, technology, faulty family background or even as early on in academics you were trained to excel and outsmart, outplay, outshine others.... But the crux of the matter rests on what you do with yourself. What you are is not defined by these things; believe me that will not last long. What will last long is a good name, a good character and a good number of people who will say to themselves: "this man or woman lived short/long, and it was fruitful". 

The self is a very tricky person to play with. It can make or break you, depending on how you play with it. But the way of perfecting the self comes from the very letters of the word "self". Remember, you are called to:

S-ervice

E-xcellence

L-ove

F-idelity

and that's the remedy for egoistic mentality. That's how we overcome too much love of self.

________________________________________

Here, to be direct about everything...

I reminded you from time to time that I am not perfect, I am a person bound to fail, and especially to fail your expectations, or probably your feelings. And if you leave me hanging next time without telling me why, you are making me worry very much, without your knowledge. Hence, I am constantly praying not only for myself (for pardon or some sort of strength), but for you (that you may realize, that you can understand) everyday. 

If I had told you things in a brutal manner, forgive me for it was simply me and my faulty head. (I admit, I do have the same problems as you have) Yet, openness was a key factor when we begun communicating. We defined it well.... And this was what I simply asked of you. And now you are barring it from me... are you still you, Malone?

And finally, here are three questions, Malone, before we talk again:

1. Have you thought of what may happen if you listened to your self alone when in "down" moments? Have you realized what distance means to other people?

2. Have you thought of failure as an important test of any relationship. If I fail, does it mean I am not anymore your friend?

3. You know that I am very quick to forgive, but not to forget: what can you do in this situation to help remedy yourself? 

Finally, I hope this letter was not long to read. You still have people to teach and you still have many people to love and to serve. And for it, I wish you all the best, and I pray for God to bless you in your life as a student, an active lector and a friend to many. 

And I ask you to pray for me, despite my humanity and my frailty. I humbly beg you for it!

From here, I remain your spiritual father, your friend, your brother and companion,

"confidant"

(PS- Tell the Troll immediately of your feelings and reactions on this post, he is much willing to explain, explain further, apologize or what... to you.)

(For other readers who may wish to discern...)

Reading Francis through Benedict (and the Church): Setting Things Straight

NB: This short essay was a thing I wrote for English class. And when we talk about religion, and want something good to discuss, Ratzingerians often look at the present Pontificate, and see it in the light of the previous ones... And here it goes....

______________________________

“Pope Francis is the coolest, kindest and best Pope ever! He kisses infants, hugs lepers and even lives in a simple house rather than within the palaces of the Vatican. No Pope has ever thought of “the poor” while deemphasizing major issues to make the Church friendlier and inviting. He dresses simply, unlike his predecessor who likes to romp around like an emperor with new clothes. With his “Francis Effect”, he reaches out and inspires Catholics to live the Faith better and invites non-Catholics to enter the Church in a way no other pope can.”

This is how modern media and the secular world paints Pope Francis. They praise his picture-perfect actions, follow his fervent and intense homilies, listen to his audiences and rave about him far better than his predecessors. They admire his charm and tenderness, while raving about his “no-comment” attitude on controversial issues. Contrariwise, they paint his predecessors as villains who did the Church more harm than good by blaming them for the issues that surround the Church, such as the sexual abuse crisis, the corruption present in the Roman Curia, the “gay lobby”, among others. But far from their attention is the fact that our current Pope must be understood within the context of the Church’s history, especially during the pontificate of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

A few months ago, Pope Francis “shocked” the world with his stand on the gay issue: ‘If someone is gay, and he searches for the Lord, and he has good will, who am I to judge?”. These words sparked intense reactions, and among them were those liberal-minded people who claim that “mercy” has finally won over dogma, that Francis will now support same-sex unions, allow manifest homosexuals to receive the Sacraments, and later on recognize homosexuals as regular members of the Church.

Debates and reactions once again went up as the Pope and some selected clergymen gathered last October in Rome for the Extraordinary Synod on the Family. The media and the secular world enjoyed it as they heard of “positive”comments and saw the Synodal documents which contained support for critical issues such as the approval of same-sex unions, Communion for the divorced and remarried, etc. Some declared it was an “act of courage” and a “new direction” for the Church, and expected drastic changes out of it (but were saddened at the release of the Synod’s final document). But, all of us should not buy into these interpretations; as the media will deliberately portray Francis to push their agenda and influence (or trouble) Catholics with their own brand of Francis.

First of all, Francis is not a pope different from others. He is not a different epoch, nor another person different from the long line of 265 popes who faithfully served the Church. He is and must be seen in line with the Church he serves; her history, perennial teachings and dogmas, and not the opines of others.

For example, his statement on the “gay lobby” may shock others, but it is really a simplified version of a similar stand taken by the Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI: “Christianity, Catholicism, isn’t a collection of prohibitions: it’s a positive option. It’s very important that we look at it again because this idea has almost completely disappeared today”. Francis, in stating a “via media” opinion, seeks not to favor any opinion, nor be “politically-correct”, but only to encourage all to seek the Lord’s will and do it, whether you are a member of any lobby or not. For him, “mercy and compassion” is indeed what it means in the Christian context, and it is not the relativistic “tolerance and condoning” attitude that he subscribes to.

Moreover, he is not different from other Popes in terms of his governance. A few months into his Pontificate, we already have seen some things that may displease modern sensibilities. First, he excommunicated a priest who supports same-sex unions and women’s ordination. Second, he has supported the reform of the US Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which was started by Pope Benedict in 2010. Moreover, he has also been intensely pro-life; speaking against abortion, contraception and euthanasia as grave sins against those who are marginalized in the “peripheries” of life and society. And best of all, he has explicitly used the thoughts and words of previous Popes such as St. John Paul II and Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI to enrich his catechetical and theological discourses and his homilies.

Finally, he is not different from any other Pope in terms of his actions. If Francis practices picture-perfect actions and speaks quote-worthy statements; who would forget the actions of his past predecessors that made history? Who would forget Pope John Paul II embracing his assassin, kissing an AIDS-infected child, or his legendary globe-trotting? Who would forget Pope Benedict’s liturgical grandeur or theological expertise, and best of all, his humility as he tendered his resignation? Who would forget the deeds and words of the previous Pontiffs whom Francis recently beatified or canonized? Indeed, he is not different from them, nor is he a “revolutionary” in papal robes, as the media portrays.

The challenge for us now is to really listen to what our Pope has to say about things. Now is the time to be more careful in listening to commentaries, and stop listening to distortions and misunderstandings. Let us particularly take time to read for ourselves, the documents and statements issued officially by the Vatican, and not by any secular commenter.  Let us not be fooled into the secular media’s image of Pope Francis, but indeed see him as a part of the wonderful line of saintly, human and humble Popes who served Christ’s Church. Pope Francis is a wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit to us, reminding us of the ever-present vitality of Peter’s leadership in the Church: “Popes come and go, but the Papacy never dies!”

A meditation of Paradise

A meditation on PARADISE

For the Paschal Feast

by St. Alphonsus Maria di Ligouri

The Joys of Heaven

I.

Oh, happy are we if we suffer with patience on earth the troubles of this present life! Distress of circumstances, fears, bodily infirmities, persecutions and crosses of every kind, will one day come to an end; and if we be saved, they will all become for us subjects of joy and glory in paradise: Your sorrow (says the Saviour, to encourage us) shall be turned into joy.

So great are the delights of paradise, that they can neither be explained nor understood by us mortals: Eye hath not seen (says the Apostle), nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for those who love Him. Beauties like the beauties of paradise, eye hath never seen; harmonies like unto the harmonies of paradise, ear hath never heard; nor hath ever human heart gained the comprehension of the joys which God hath prepared for those who love Him.

Beautiful is the sight of a landscape adorned with hills, plains, woods and views of the sea. Beautiful is the sight of a garden abounding with fruit, flowers and fountains. Oh, how much more beautiful is paradise!


II.

To understand how great the joys of paradise are, it is enough to know that in that blessed realm resides a God Omnipotent, Whose care is to render happy His beloved souls. St. Bernard says that paradise is a place where “there is nothing that thou wouldst not, and everything that thou wouldst.” There shalt thou not find anything that is displeasing to thyself, and everything thou dost desire thou shalt find: “There is nothing that thou wouldst not.” In paradise there is no night; no seasons of winter and summer; but one perpetual day of unvaried serenity, and one perpetual spring of unvaried delight.

No more persecutions, no jealousies are there; for there do all in sincerity love one another, and each rejoices in each other’s good, as if it were his own. No more bodily infirmities, no pains are there, for the body is no longer subject to suffering; no poverty is there, for everyone is rich to the full, not having anything more to desire; no more fears are there, for the soul being confirmed in grace can sin no more, nor lose that supreme good which it possesses.

III.

“There is everything that thou wouldst.” “Nihil est nolis, totum est quod velis.” In paradise thou shalt have whatsoever thou desirest. There the sight is satisfied in beholding that city so beautiful and its citizens all clothed in royal apparel, for they are all kings of that everlasting kingdom.

There shall we see the beauty of Mary, whose appearance will be more beautiful than that of all the Angels and Saints together.

We shall see the Beauty of Jesus, which will immeasurably surpass the beauty of Mary.

Smell will be satisfied with the perfumes of paradise. Hearing will be satisfied with the harmonies of heaven and the canticles of the blessed, who will all with ravishing sweetness sing the divine praises for all eternity.

Ah, my God, I deserve not paradise, but hell; yet Thy death gives me a hope of obtaining it. I desire and ask paradise of Thee, not so much in order to enjoy, as in order to love Thee everlastingly, secure that it will never more be possible for me to lose Thee.

O Mary, my Mother, O Star of the Sea, it is for thee, by thy prayers, to conduct me to paradise.