Photos! BBQ at Sharon's

Hello! Here are the photos I took of the BBQ last night. Many thanks to Sharon for hosting us and for the others, who did all the preparation. It was great fun. I loved the cheeeeeese.
Let's meet up again soon. Also, can we try to get together more often during term time? Nothing elaborate...just lunch once in a while.

Legion BBQ at Sharon's

A Date with the Lord

I came 45 minutes early for mass at my parish, so I was reading my Legion handbook while waiting for my choir-mates to come and for mass to start. Incidentally, a local Legionary who was also early for Legion meeting glanced upon the little red book I was holding and, after taking a moment to realize what it was, excitedly asked me, "Hey, you're Legion too?" That was the start of a memorable ten-minute conversation with the Legionary named Ed, my first official contact with the Legion in my parish here in Manila.

We talked about the usual things - our devotion, contact work, and other experiences in the Legion. He mentioned something which struck me: once, during one of his house visitations in the neighborhood, he came across a born-again Christian with a lot of questions. He told her he was no expert on doctrine because he wasn't a priest, but he did encourage her to go for mass. He advised her to imagine Mother Mary walking beside her each time she walks to attend mass, and to imagine having a date with Jesus who was waiting for her in the church. Wow. I was blown off by that thought! How beautiful it is to attend mass with this in mind - not even the strongest of winds or heaviest of rains could bring down one's fervor and one's eagerness to meet a loved one on a date, let alone to meet our Ultimate Lover at mass! And to have Mary bringing you to Her Son!

True enough, I found these lines on the Legion handbook:

"Her motherhood is particularly noted and experienced by the Christian people at the Sacred Banquet - the liturgical celebration of the mystery of the Redemption - at which Christ, his true body born of the Virgin Mary, becomes present.
The piety of the Christian people has always very rightly sensed a profound link between devotion to the Blessed Virgin and worship of the Eucharist: ... Mary guides the faithful to the Eucharist." (RMat 44) - Pt. 3, Chapter 8: The Legionary and the Eucharist

By the way, that born-again Christian eventually got baptised into the Catholic Church. It's always amazing how the Legion works through the ordinariness of its members. And thanks to my encounter with Ed, I was able to participate mass with a new sense of enthusiasm and purpose today - the beginning of many exciting dates with the Lord to look forward to.

Was Jesus' mother Mary divine or just human?

I just did an article submission for the topic above in a debate. You can see it here. :)

http://www.helium.com/items/1103194-is-mary-human-or-divine

Cheers!
Pau

Legionary Service: Allocutio by Sister Therese - 3 July 2008

When the great persecutor of Christians was thrown to the ground, he heard those words: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” These are the words which utter the doctrine of the ‘Mystical Body of Christ’ and it is on this doctrine that the legionary service is based upon.

The fruit of His Passion which brings about the Redemption is only made possible because the Head together with the Church form a single mystical person, such that the crowning of the Head which teaches forgiveness results in the redeeming act showered on all the faithful. He who teaches forgiveness suffered injustice. Yet the injustifiable death reconciled mankind to the Father and transcended life to us. Thence, if justice is to be upheld, is it then an absolute necessity to resort to the punishment that negates a transcended life and a transcendent dignity?

In the Handbook, it is mentioned that the special function of legionaries in the Mystical Body is to guide, console and enlighten others. It is further stated that this function can only be discharged adequately with the understanding of the ‘Mystical Body of Christ’.

The late Pope John Paul II in his encyclical ‘The Gospel of Life’ emphasized: “The life which God bestows upon man is much more than mere existence in time. It is a drive towards fullness of life; it is the seed of an existence which transcends the very limits of time: "For God created man for incorruption, and made him in the image of his own eternity" (Wis 2:23).”

Frank Duff described our Mother performing the role of the heart in the Mystical Body. She sends the blood of Christ coursing through the veins and arteries of the Mystical Body, bringing life and growth with it. The sacred heart of Christ leads this Body, a body less than perfect but through His grace is being mediated by her Immaculate Heart. A legionary service which mirrors this doctrine calls us to forgive the imperfections of the body and commands us to love every part of Her regardless of its significance.

In Evangelium Vitae, “the deepest element of God's commandment to protect human life is the requirement to show reverence and love for every person and the life of every person. This is the teaching which the Apostle Paul, echoing the words of Jesus, addresses to the Christians in Rome: "The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet', and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom 13:9-10).”

The transformation of Saul to Paul is an epitome of God’s magnanimity and His willingness to forgive. St John Eudes imagined us to be like the Christs upon earth to continue his life and actions. Thus, let us guide the precious souls we encounter to the Light, comfort those who are afflicted and preach Evangelium Vitae to enlighten those who are dead in sin.

The Legion in Korea: not just for old ladies

Fr Zuhlsdorf usually has very interesting commentaries on liturgy and other Church issues. He's an ardent admirer of the Tridentine Latin Mass. However I found what he implied in one post going a bit too far:

John Carmel Cardinal Heenan apparently said this after attending the first demonstration of the Novus Ordo.

"At home it is not only women and children but also fathers of families and young men who come regularly to mass. If we were to offer them the kind of ceremony we saw yesterday in the Sistine Chapel we would soon be left with a congregation mostly of women and children."

I scrolled down the comments and many where suggesting that the Cardinal was right and that the Novus Ordo Mass is somehow responsible for the decline in the participation of men in Church.

However, here's something elseI came across.

South Korea, where I currently make my home, unfortunately does not have the forma extraordinaria celebrated anywhere in the country, apart from the SSPX chapel in Seoul. The Mass, though, is celebrated with great devotion and reverence. Korean Catholicism, though, has not become emasculated. Indeed, some of the most active parishioners are men.

In my old parish in Gwangju (I now live in Seoul), we had many Legion of Mary groups, many of whom had quite a few men involved. I once attended a Mass at Seoul’s Cathedral where Legion of Mary groups from across the archdiocese were participating. So many men and women were there, many of them young. The Legion of Mary isn’t just a group for old ladies here.

Yay! :)

Mary's sacrifice

Man for man: Maid for maid: Tree for tree
Chapter 39: Cardinal Points of the Legion Apostolate

Whenever we think of Our Lady as the Co-Redemptress in Salvation, our minds usually wander back to the moment of the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel delivered God’s message to a young woman. God’s plan of salvation was put into action when she said yes. Be it done to me according to Thy Word.

But beyond the conception and birth of Christ, Our Mother also served as Co-Redemptress at the foot of the cross. I can only imagine the grief that Our Lady suffered. To live your whole life taking care of your only son, devoting all your waking moments to that one child, only to have him wrenched away from you.

Yet in the end, she denied nothing from God. She gave Him all she had. Her Son. And just like in the Annunciation, Mary replied with a “Yes” in Calvary, and the whole world was redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ’s body and blood.

"For as truly as she suffered and almost died with her suffering Son"-these are the words of Pope Benedict XV -"so truly did she renounce her maternal rights over that Son for the sake of our salvation, and immolate him, as far as with her lay, to placate God's justice. Hence it may justly be said that with Christ she redeemed the human race."

-Legion handbook

If you love someone, you love him, and when you have nothing else to give, you still gave him love. - Nineteen Eighty-Four

The Mystical Home of Nazareth

Reading the word 'home', the next word comes to my mind is 'family'.

As some of us have said in the previous blogs, I do think that the Legion has been more like a family than just a society. I think the word ‘family’ is very unique. It always refers to plural meaning, to the communion of people, yet it also reflects unity, its oneness in something that makes them can be called as family.

So are we, the Praesidium doesn’t refer to a single person (even our God is Trinitarian God), but we that form the Praesidium. Thus we have a different ability, strength, and weakness that have to complement each other. And what else can be more beautiful to unity us than to be united in Christ through Mary? Here is one image from the Handbook that I particularly like:

“A coloured glass will transmit only its own shade of light, obstructing all the other shades. But when glasses of all the different colours jointly project their shades, these unite to make the fullness of light. Similarly, when Christians in some number combine for the purposes of the Lord, their qualities supplementing each other, he is enabled through them to manifest his perfection and his power more fully.
So, when legionaries gather together in the praesidium in his name and for his work, he is present in that potent way; it has been made evident that power goes out from him there. (Mk 5:30)”

Just as a family will always have home, so are we as legionaries. Our home is to be the projection of the mystical home of Nazareth.

What make a place can be called as home? Sometimes it is not necessarily to be the place where we were born, or the place where we stay longest, sometimes there are some places that we can feel at home, comfortable to stay and live…Maybe because we are just familiar with it, or since we feel the family relationship so strong there, the atmosphere, or the love,… No other best way than learning from the Holy Family how they take care of their Holy Home…

“Also with Jesus in that little Legion family are his Mother and St. Joseph, who have towards the praesidium the same relation that they had to him; which permits us to look on the praesidium as a projection of the Home of Nazareth, and this not as a mere devotional exercise but as something based on reality. "We are obliged," says Bérulle, "to treat the things and mysteries of Jesus not as things past and dead, but as things living and present and even eternal." Likewise we may piously identify the premises and equipment of the praesidium with the fabric and the furniture of the Holy House, and we may regard the behaviour of the legionaries towards those adjuncts of the praesidium as a test of their appreciation of the truth that Christ lives in us and works through us, necessarily availing of the things that we are utilising.
This thought provides a sweet and compelling motive for a bestowing of a careful attention upon the things that surround the praesidium and form its home.”

Let’s imagine how our Lady takes care of the Home. It may be far from elaborate, but full of refinement and is the most beautiful home ever. She – with St. Joseph also of course- must have take care each little thing so to allow her Son to begin the work of redemption. So are we, imitating our Lady, as to prepare a good home for our Lord to co-operate with His works of redemption. Maintaining a good home also reflects the love within the family. From the little thing, the Handbook starts by mentioning to take care the accessories we use in the meetings, the cheerfulness, the spirit (to work as a family rather than individuals – imagine parents who do not know what are their children pursuing now… - ), the love, so as to make those staying in that home (the members) and thus visiting the home (our contacts, visitors), may feel at home, just as our Father always draw His children back to be united with Him here on earth, and later in our Home - Heaven.

Candles offered up in devotion

It's been a long time since I blogged, but while thinking of how exactly I was to share what I wanted to share, I was stunned for awhile, not quite knowing how to start...being in the legion demands a strong devotion to Mother Mary, but to me devotion to our Lord and to our Lady has always been an extremely personal thing...something that I don't quite feel comfortable talking about to friends unless the subject comes up, spreading the gospel message and all is also part of the work of the legion, and yet sometimes I am tongue-tied...but deep down inside I know how essential it is for the legionary to never "give up" and continue trying anyway, and how better than to begin first through developing a love for our Lady. I guess when one is in love, then one cannot help but talk about all things good about one's lover, and I guess to me it is only when one is truly deeply in love with Christ and our Mother Mary that then the spirit can work within us and inspire our work as legionaries as well.

According to Chapter 5 of the legionary handbook, it encourages legionaries to have a "Devotional Outlook" - I always thought that it was important during cellgroup sessions in CSS to start and end with a prayer, and in the Legion the beginning and ending of the meetings with prayer that reminds us that Mary is mediatrix of all graces, and with the rosary, the catena etc. is something that I think slowly develops a stronger sense of devotion in each and every legionary...and also one of the reasons why I was drawn to get to know more about the Legion of Mary at first, being known as the "Rosary group" might be a misconception, but it's not necessarily a bad thing! I also thought that it was sweet to acknowledge the presence of Mother Mary in the room during the meetings, always starting the reports of the week with "Good evening Mother Mary," then "and brothers and sisters", and how important it is to remember that she is always there watching over us as we go about our daily work. Alone, I don't think I could manage anything at all! But the thought of our Lady being there with us through everything gives the confidence, like how a child learning to take one's first steps is gently guided by the hand of a loving and gentle mother.

Being away in France and visiting so many churches that are named after Our Lady, every other church in France in every little countryside town is a "Notre-Dame", reminds one that devotion towards our Lady is still very much alive! But exactly how active anymore, I wasn't sure...throughout my journey in France I was constantly reminded by my other 3 Catholic companions that France is becoming an increasingly secular country that is PROUD to be secular...
but during the Sunday masses, the churches are still filled with people. I'd like to be optimistic and think that the need to know that Jesus is still our savior and to feel the love of Christ through the Eucharistic celebration is still what is pulling Catholics back to church. At every church, even the tiniest village ones, there are still many many blazing candles that are offered up to our Lord and to Mother Mary as well, prayers of many believers who are seeking miracles, or seeking to know God better, or praying for their loved ones...that is most inspiring, that devotion towards Christ and Mother Mary will never flicker out, candles are being continuously lit, especially in this present age of increasing secularism, of wars, of divorce and a milion and one other things that causes people to hurt, one NEEDS hope.

In the legion handbook, on page 23, point 6, is the subtitle "If Mary were but Known!", "The argument of Father Faber is that Mary is not half enough known or loved, with sad results for souls", followed by point 7, "If devotion to Mary will work such wonders, then the great purpose must be to bring that instrument to bear, to bring Mary to the world." Indeed, I think that through Mother Mary people get to grow closer to God, I think that the number of converts that first came to know more about the faith through attending Novena at Novena church is testament to that...there's also that strange syndrome that sometimes where inviting friends to attend a half hour Novena on Saturdays is less daunting that asking for a non/lapsed-Catholic to try participating in a full Sunday mass...
But anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I like how the handbook emphasises in point 7 that devotion to Mary will work such wonders, and that it is through a lay apostolic organisation, like the legion, that such is possible, because it is through loving Mary, that we get to know our Mother better, that we get to know how to love better, and also learn to "involve the hearts of all others in that love; utilising all its avenus of action to fulfil this purpose" - of learning how to love, with the heart of Mary.


Hundreds of people at the evening procession at Lourdes

It's fruits are intense idealism and action

I'm in the process of reading Chapter 10 of the Handbook. Here's what point six had to say:

Again, the Church by exhibiting only a cautious routine would place the Truth, of which it is the custodian, in a very disadvantageous setting. If the young once form the habit of looking to purely worldly or even irreligious systems for the active idealism for which generous natures crave, a terrible harm has been done, for which future generations will pay.

When I read this, my first thought was to examine the Church and think, yes the Church should be providing the youth with means to channel their idealism. Otherwise the situation will continue to be that young people who are brimming with idealism, who want to change the world will look for ways outside the Church and even consider the Church a barrier to their goals. They'll be drawn to men like Senator Barack Obama who, in addition to portraying himself as a messenger of change and idealism, also seems to believe that it is bitter people who cling to religion.

In short, I thought the Church could be doing more.

Here the Legion can aid by making its programme one of enterprise and effort and sacrifice, such as will help to capture for the Church those two words "idealism" and "action," making them handmaids of the Church's doctrine.

On reading these next few lines I realized: we are the Church! And more interestingly, the Legion of Mary is part of the Church that I was just thinking could be doing more. We are specifically to be the part of a Church that provides great avenues for expressing one's idealism.

It reminded me of the danger of looking to see what the Church can give me, when I should be part of the Church's effort to give to others.

It also brought home the fact that as a Legionary we are very much in the centre of the Church's work. We are cooperatores veritatis, "co-workers of the truth", along with the Holy Father (whose motto this is), bishops, priests, and active Catholics everywhere. We are part of the effort!

Finally, I do see a lot of idealism in the Legionaries at NUS: real yearning to change how things are done - in the world and even in the Legion (changes to make Legionaries live more in accordance with the Legion system).
I think this is a gift and something that should not be allowed to die off. Let's not, as time goes by, become cynical about the world. Let's believe we can make a difference wherever we are and that no problem, no injustice, no wrong, is too big that we give up trying to correct it.

"It is a moral force, not a material, which will vindicate your profession and secure your triumph. It is not giants who do most. How small was the Holy Land! Yet it subdued the world. How poor a spot was Attica! Yet it has formed the intellect. Moses was one, Elias was one, David was one, Paul was one, Athanasius was one, Leo was one. Grace ever works by few; it is the keen vision, the intense conviction, the indomitable resolve of the few, it is the blood of the martyr, it is the prayer of the saint, it is the heroic deed, it is the momentary crisis, it is the concentrated energy of a word, or a look, which is the instrument of heaven. Fear not, little flock, for he is mighty who is in the midst of you, and he will do for you great things." (Cardinal Newman: Present Position of Catholics)

Salve!

This is really heavenly!




Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
ad te clamamus
exsules filii Hevae,
ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.