The Freedom of Simplicity

The Freedom of Simplicity

Happiness is not found outside of you. It doesn't come from cars, clothes, cash, or Caribbean cruises. Happiness is found within. But how can you find it if you don't have the simplicity of time and space to discover the most important things in your life? How can you search the depths of your soul if you are too busy impressing others, acquiring wealth, protecting your properties, and paying your debts? Simplicity is not about the external either: living in a doghouse, eating in a Hepatitis joints, wearing rags. Let me define what it is: Simplicity is living from the core of your being.

A TREASURE MAP OF HAPPINESS

Simplicity will point to you where and what and who the gold is in your life. Let me share with you the seven powerful lessons I've learned on simple living:

LIVE ON LESS, AND DELIGHT IN THEM MORE
Some take their pleasure dining in classy restaurants, trips to Europe, and owning the latest home theatre-equipment. I've chosen the simple path: If I can simply be with my wife, or take a quiet stroll under a canopy of stars, or play with a child, or read a good book in my home, or laugh with friends over a pizza, I consider myself richly blessed. Focus on what you have and not on what you don't have.

STOP RUNNING AND WALK INSTEAD
Here's the truth: The person who has covered the greatest distance does NOT win, but the one who has most enjoyed the journey does. Stop running around chasing your own tail! Get off your hurried pace and learn to breathe. Replace doing with being. Learn to say no to invitations, appointments, and commitments, activities and events that will rob you of your focus. Learn to say "yes "to rest, to tranquillity, to quietness.

YOU ARE MORE THAN YOUR WEALTH
I own very few things today. Because I am more than the brand of my watch, the logo of my shoes, the name of my car. I believe that if in my soul I deeply respect and value myself, people around me will sense that, and they too, will value and respect me-whether I'm wearing Armani or not. You are more than your wealth.

AVOID BUYING ON CREDIT
I don't believe in borrowing from credit cards. (For convenience, I use one card but I pay the whole amount at the end of each month.) If I need something really bad, I save up for it. Sometimes, at midpoint, I realize I don't really need the darn thing and give up the whole idea. The only exception I feel we should enter into a credit is when buying a non-depreciating item, such as housing or land. I believe we should always live within our earning capacity. Proverbs 22:7 says, "Those who borrow are slaves of moneylenders."

GIVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
If I content myself with P250 shirt instead of P4,000 Lacoste, I can help others more. Trust me, there is immense pleasure! You will find that the empty thrill of owning a diamond ring on your finger pales in comparison to the joy of handling a piece of bread to an orphan child.
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2Corinthians 9:8) The Old Testament of tithing, or giving 10% of your income is a good guideline to follow. The New Testament challenges us to give with a cheerful heart. (When you're cheerful, you may give more than 10%!) Make it a habit.

SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
Saving is essential to being good stewards of the money that God "lends" to us. Saving is an important way of providing for our future-both for our needs and to be generous to others. I recommend that you save at least 10% of your income. I can almost hear you now: "Bo, that's impossible!" Oh yeah? Well, how did you live three years back when your salary was one-half its present amount? Sacrifice. Many of our needs are actually wants. Is cable TV a need? Will you suddenly die if you can't watch CNN or HBO? Are those new golf clubs essential to your existence? Invest in time deposits, long-term stocks and housing.

BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET
Make a list of all your monthly expenses, according to categories. Make also a list of irregular expenses-those that don't come monthly. Set up another savings account for these expenses and put in a little money each month. To differentiate this from the savings account, we call ours freedom account" because it frees us from worrying about them when they suddenly attack. And stick to your budget!

ONE LAST WORD BEFORE WE CLOSE
Balance. Don't take living simply to the extremes! Living simply doesn't mean living in deprivation. There are special days when my wife and I eat in a fancy restaurant. Or when we splurge into a vacation. Very rare, yes, but my point is that you take living simply NOT as a rigid goal-but as a happy process towards the goals of generosity, inner peace and holiness.

Move for Declaration of New Dogma

VIDAL JOINS MOVE FOR DECLARATION OF NEW DOGMA
By Leslie Ann G. Aquino

Manila Bulletin, February 17, 2008

Archbishop of Cebu Ricardo Cardinal Vidal has joined Catholic Church leaders in the world in urging other prelates to call upon Pope Benedict XVI to declare a fifth Marian dogma that would “proclaim the full Christian truth about Mary.”

Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, together with the Cardinals Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi, India; Luis Aponte Martinex, emeritus of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Varkey Vithayathil of Ernakulam Angamaly, India; and Ernesto Corripio y Ahumada, emeritus of Mexico City, urged other prelates in the world in a letter to support them by asking the Pontiff to proclaim Mary as “the Spiritual Mother of All Humanity, the co-redemptrix with Jesus the Redeemer, Mediatrix of All Graces with Jesus the one Mediator, and Advocate with Jesus Christ on behalf of the human race.”

“We believe the time is opportune for a solemn definition of clarification regarding the constant teaching of the church concerning the Mother of the Redeemer and her unique cooperation in the work of Redemption, as well as her subsequent roles in the distribution of grace and intercession for the human family,” they said in their petition, a portion of which was posted on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) website.

The cardinals said they are hoping that such a move would “start an in-depth worldwide dialogue on Mary’s role in salvation for our time.”

Anticipating the argument that a new dogma could affect ecumenical dialogues by reinforcing the fears of Protestants about Catholic attitudes towards Mary, the cardinals said that a clear presentation of Catholic beliefs could be a “service clarification to other religious traditions.”

The English translation of the letter, including the original Latin text of the “votum” or petition, formulated in 2005, was presented formally to the Pope by Cardinal Telesphore in 2006. it was released by the secretariat of the five cardinals, co-sponsors of the conference on “Marian Co-Redemption,” held in Fatima, Portugal in 2005.

Our Lady of Lourdes

In 1858, in the grotto of Massabielle, near Lourdes in southern France, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl.

She revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision, and told the girl to drink from a fountain in the grotto.No fountain was to be seen, but when Bernadette dug at a spot designated by the apparition, a spring began to flow. The water from this still flowing spring has shown remarkable healing power, though it contains no curative property that science can identify.

The Virgin appeared 18 times to the little peasant who would latter become St. Bernardette, but the most important apparition was the 16th: On the evening on March 24th, Bernadette told her parents of the feeling she had that she was being called to the Grotto once more by an interior impulse - she intended to return there in the morning. It had been a long time since the Lady had visited her - more than two weeks! How long that night was - try as she might, the child was unable to sleep. As soon as the first light of dawn began to pierce the darkness of night, she rose and quickly dressed.

Bernadette arrived at the Grotto at five in the morning, with her blessed candle in her hand. Her parents were with her. Even before she reached the rock, she could see the wondrous light filling the niche, in which stood her beautiful Lady.

Bernadette herself describes the conversation and events which followed this moment - "Whilst I was praying, the thought of asking Her name came to my mind with such persistence that I could think of nothing else. I feared to be presumptuous in repeating a question She had always refused to answer and yet something compelled me to speak. At last, under an irresistible impulsion, the words fell from my mouth and I begged the Lady to tell me who She was.

"The Lady did as She had always done before; She bowed Her head and smiled but She did not reply. "

I cannot say why, but I felt myself bolder and asked Her again to graciously tell me Her name; however, She only smiled and bowed as before, still remaining silent.

"Then once more, for the third time, clasping my hands and confessing myself to be unworthy of the great favour I was asking of Her, I again made my request.

"The Lady was standing above the rose bush, in a position very similar to that shown on the Miraculous Medal. At my third request, Her face became very serious and She seemed to bow down in an attitude of humility. Then She joined Her hands and raised them to Her breast. She looked up to Heaven.

"Then slowly opening Her hands and leaning towards me, She said to me in a voice vibrating with emotion

'I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION'

"She smiled again, spoke no more, and disappeared smiling".

In 1862 Church authorities confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions and authorized the cult of Our Lady of Lourdes for the diocese. The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes became worldwide in 1907.

Plenary Indulgence

In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, France, Pope Benedict grants a special plenary indulgence to anyone who would visit the church or grotto of our Lady of Lourdes on February 2-11, 2008. But please note that plenary indulgence is granted under 3 conditions:

1. Sacramental Confession

2. Eucharistic Communion

3. Prayer for the intention of the Pope

It is further required that ALL attachment to sin EVEN VENIAL SIN is absent Here's a link for further information on this topic. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=11178.

The National Shrine of our Lady of Lourdes is located along Kanlaon Street corner Amoranto Street (formerly Retiro) Quezon City.

Relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus

The relics arrived 15 January 2008 and will stay in the country for two months (up to March 2008).

Below are the places the holy relics will visit till March:

Jan 15-19 Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Villamor Pasay City

Jan 20-21 Our Lady of All Nations, Villamor Pasay City

Jan 21-22 Navy-Sto. Nino Chapel, Bonifacio Naval Station

Jan 22-23 Army-St. Michael Chapel Fort Bonifacio

Jan 23-24 Camp Crame-St. Joseph Chapel

Jan 24-25 Camp Aguinaldo-St. Ignatius Military Cathedral

Jan 25-27 Diocese of Cubao

Jan 28-30 Diocese of Balanga, Bataan

Jan 31- Feb 1 Diocese of TarlacFeb 2-5 Vigan Ilocos Sur

Feb 6-7 Diocese of Malolos

Feb8-20 Metro Province of Lipa, Batangas, Mindoro, Lucena and Gumaca Diocese

Feb 21-23 Archdiocese of Palo, Leyte

Feb 23-24 Diocese of Naval

Feb 24-27 Archdiocese of Cebu

Feb 27-March 1 Diocese of Tagbilaran, Bohol

March 1-4 Archdiocese of Jaro, Iloilo

March 4-7 Diocese of Baoclod

March 7-8 Malacanang

March 8-10 Manila Cathedral

March 10-13 Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City

The Four Marian Dogmas Part 2

3) Immaculate Conception

The solemn definition of Mary's Immaculate Conception is like Divine Motherhood and Perpetual Virginity part of the christological doctrine, but it was proclaimed as an independent dogma by Pope Pious IX in his Apostolic Constitution "Ineffabilis Deus" (December 8, 1854). Though highlighting a privilege of Mary it in fact stresses the dignity and holiness required to become "Mother of God." The privilege of the Immaculate Conception is the source and basis for Mary's all-holiness as Mother of God.

More specifically, the dogma of the Immaculate Conception states "that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege from Almighty God and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, was kept free of every stain of original sin."

This dogma has both a "negative" and a "positive" meaning which complement each other. The "negative" meaning stresses Mary's freedom from original sin thanks to the anticipated or retroactive (here called preventive) grace of Christ's redemptive act. By the same token, the dogma suggests Mary's all-holiness. This "positive" meaning is the consequence of the absence of original sin. Mary's life is permanently and intimately related to God, and thus she is the all-holy.

Although difficult to explain, original sin provokes disorderliness in thought and behavior, especially with regard to the primacy of God's presence in our life. Consequently, in declaring Mary immaculately conceived, the Church sees in Mary one who never denied God the least sign of love. Thus, the dogma declares that from her beginning Mary was exceptionally holy and in constant union with the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit.

4) The Assumption

This marian dogma was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950 on his Encyclical Munificentissimus Deus.

A distinction needs to be made between Ascension and Assumption. Jesus Christ, Son of God and Risen Lord, ascended into heaven, a sign of divine power. Mary, on the contrary, was elevated or assumed into heaven by the power and grace of God.

The dogmas states that "Mary, Immaculate Mother of God ever Virgin, after finishing the course of her life on earth, was taken up in body and soul to heavenly glory." This definition as well as that of the Immaculate Conception makes not only reference to the universal, certain and firm consent of the Magisterium but makes allusion to the concordant belief of the faithful. The Assumption had been a part of the Church's spiritual and doctrinal patrimony for centuries. It had been part of theological reflection but also of the liturgy and was part of the sense of the faithful.

This dogma has no direct basis in scripture. It was nonetheless declared "divinely revealed," meaning that it is contained implicitly in divine Revelation. It may be understood as the logical conclusion of Mary's vocation on earth, and the way she lived her life in union with God and her mission. The assumption may be seen as a consequence of Divine Motherhood. Being through, with, and for her Son on earth, it would seem fitting for Mary to be through, with, and for her Son in heaven, too. She was on earth the generous associate of her Son. The Assumption tells us that this association continues in heaven. Mary is indissolubly linked to her Son on earth and in heaven.

In heaven, Mary's active involvement in salvation history continues: "Taken up to heaven, she did not lay aside her salvific duty ... By her maternal love she cares for the brothers and sisters of her Son who still journey on earth" (LG). Mary is the "eschatological icon of the Church" (CCC 972), meaning the Church contemplates in Mary her own end of times.
The definition of the dogma does not say how the transition from Mary's earthly state to her heavenly state happened. Did Mary die? Was she assumed to heaven without prior separation of soul and body? The question remains open for discussion. However, the opinion that Mary passed through death as her Son did, has the stronger support in tradition.

Glorified in body and soul, Mary is already in the state that will be ours after the resurrection of the dead.

The Four Marian Dogmas Part 1

There are four dogmas stating Mary's personal relationship with God and her role in human salvation .

1) Divine Motherhood

Mary's divine motherhood was proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus in 431.
Various names are used to describe Mary's role as mother of Jesus. She is called "Mother of God" which translates the more accurately stated greek term "Theotokos" or "Birthgiver of God."

The Council of Ephesus (431) attributed to Mary the title, Mother of God. This needs to be read against the Council's declaration that in Christ there are two natures, one divine and one human, but only one person. Indeed, according to the Council the holy virgin is the Mother of God since she begot according to the flesh the Word of God made flesh. This decision was further explained by the Council of Chalcedon (451) which says with regard to Mary's divine motherhood:

"...begotten from the Father before the ages as regards his godhead, and in the last days, the same, because of us and because of our salvation begotten from the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, as regards his manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten..."
Mary's Divine Motherhood was not the object of an independent or exclusive dogmatic declaration. The statement is embedded in texts defining the person and natures of Jesus Christ. Thus, the dogma of Divine Motherhood becomes an integral part of the christological dogma. This does not diminish its definitive and binding character. The dogma of Divine Motherhood is generally accepted by all Christian denominations.

2) Perpetual Virginity

The expression perpetual virginity, ever-virgin, or simply "Mary the Virgin" refers primarily to the conception and birth of Jesus. From the first formulations of faith, especially in baptismal formulas or professions of faith, the Church professed that Jesus Christ was conceived without human seed by the power of the Holy Spirit only. Here lies the decisive meaning of expressions such as "conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary," "Mary's virginal conception," or "virgin birth." The early baptismal formula (since the 3rd century) state Mary's virginity without further explaining it, but there is no doubt about its physical meaning. Later statements are more explicit. Mary conceived "without any detriment to her virginity, which remained inviolate even after his birth" (Council of the Lateran, 649).

Although never explicated in detail, the Catholic Church holds as dogma that Mary was and is Virgin before, in and after Christ's birth. It stresses thus the radical novelty of the Incarnation and Mary's no less radical and exclusive dedication to her mission as mother of her Son, Jesus Christ. Vatican II reiterated the teaching about Mary, the Ever-Virgin, by stating that Christ's birth did not diminish Mary's virginal integrity but sanctified it . The Catechism of the Catholic Church ponders the deeper meaning of the virgin bride and perpetual virginity (499-507). It also maintains that Jesus Christ was Mary's only child. The so-called "brothers and sisters" are close relations.