Maligayang Pasko sa Lahat!!! Kumain lamang ng tama at baka tumaba!

Operation Rescue

Christmas Carols Bring Good News To Abortion Workers’ Neighborhoods

December 21st, 2005

Wichita, KS – Accompanied by the Truth Truck, Operation Rescue conducted Christmas caroling in the neighborhoods of abortion workers Edna Roach, Sara Phares Brown, and Marguerite Reed, all employees of late-term abortionist George R. Tiller. All three women have been involved in botched abortions resulting in the emergency hospitalization of abortion patients, including one death in January.

The first stop was the neighborhood of Edna Roach. As neighbors returned home for the day, nine rescuers sang traditional Christmas hymns near Roach’s residence. It appeared that no one was at home and that Roach’s car had not been moved for several days. The caroling went off without incident, in sharp contrast to a previous visit to the neighborhood when OR staffers were attacked during a prayer walk.

Roach is known for accompanying ambulances to the emergency room when women are injured during abortions.

Next, the carolers spread Christmas cheer to the neighborhood of Sara Phares Brown, the clinic worker who drove Tiller to the Emergency Room the day 19-year old Christin Gilbert died from abortion complications.

Rescuers offered prayers of Brown’s repentance and salvation. “Sara has recently filed for divorce and is probably going through a difficult time in her life,” said OR spokesperson Cheryl Sullenger. “We hope she finds the peace that only a true relationship with God can bring.”

The final destination on OR’s Christmas caroling tour was the neighborhood of Marguerite Reed, the abortion worker who placed the evasive 911 call as Christin Gilbert lay dying at Tiller’s abortion mill on January 13, 2005.

As carolers sung, Reed returned home from work and OR President Troy Newman spoke to her of Gilbert’s death and her need for repentance and forgiveness thought Jesus Christ.

One agitated neighbor was clearly not in the holiday spirit, and stood in her front yard yelling at carolers. Police arrived and informed her that the carolers were well within the law. Prayers were offered for Reed’s repentance and salvation.

“The Good News that Christ came to Earth to atone for our sins was clearly heard in these neighborhoods,” said Newman. “We are aware that abortion workers live often troubled lives. We pray that in this season of peace and good will toward men that these women will repent from the sin of child-killing and find true peace through Jesus Christ and good will toward the pre-born they now persecute.”

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Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian organizations in the nation. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to restore legal personhood to the pre-born and stop abortion in obedience to biblical mandates.

source: http://operationrescue.org

We Can't Afford to be Bystanders

I was walking down a dimly lit street late one evening when I heard muffled screams coming from behind a clump of bushes. Alarmed, I slowed down to listen, and panicked when I realized that what I was hearing were the unmistakable sounds of a struggle; heave grunting, frantic scuffling, the tearing of fabric. Only yards from where I stood, a woman was being attacked.

Should I get involved? I was frightened for my own safety, and cursed myself for having suddenly decided to take a new route home that night. What if I became another statistic? Shouldn't I just run to the nearest phone and call the police? Although it seemed like an eternity, the deliberations in my head had taken only seconds, but already the girl's cries were growing weaker. I knew I had to act fast. How could I walk away from this?

No, I finally resolved, I could not turn my back on the fate of this unknown woman, even if it meant risking my own life. I am not a brave man, nor am I athletic. I don't know where I found the moral courage and the physical strength--but once I had finally resolved to help the girl, I became strangely transformed. I ran behind the bushes and pulled the assailant off the woman. Grappling, we fell to the ground, where we wrestled for a few minutes until the attacker jumped up and escaped.

Panting hard, I scrambled upright and approached the girl, who was crouched behind a tree, sobbing. In the darkness, I could barely see her outline, but I could certainly sense her trembling shock. Not wanting to frighten her further, I at first spoke to her from a distance. "It's ok," I said soothingly. "The man ran away. You're safe now."

There was a long pause and then I heard her words, uttered in wonder, in amazement. "Dad, is that you?" And then, from behind the tree, stepped my youngest daughter, Katherine.

-Greg O'Leary Taken from "Small Miracles" by: Halberstam and Leventhal

FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED

I am a part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed." The die has been cast. The decision has been made. I have stepped over the line. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, love with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and spoken up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner is clear: I am a part of the "Fellowship of the Unashamed."

Remember "The Seven Habits"?

In the late 1990s a book similar in popularity with "Purpose Driven Life" hit the bookstands-- "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. I bought two of it and again bought the succeeding spin-offs like "First things First" and "The Priciple Centered Leadership", all of them I wasn't able to finish reading though.

Recently I came across with a brief outline of the "Seven Habits..." I still love the practical instructions and the wisdom that accompany each "habit". Sooner, I will be able to finish reading them so I can move on to the "8th Habit".

--Josua Jaena

Misa de Gallo, Simbang, Gabi, Noche Buena, atbp.

by Bobby Pilar

Q: Ano ang kaibahan ng Misa de Aguinaldo sa Misa de Gallo?
A: Our Simbang Gabi (dawn Masses) is also known as Misa de Aguinaldo (gift Masses) and is commonly confused with Misa De Gallo (cock Mass or Mass of the rooster). The former pertains to the nine consecutive mornings before Christmas beginning Dec. 16 while the latter refers to the Christmas Eve Mass usually at 10:00 in the evening to formally welcome the Birth of our Lord. Simbang Gabi (literally “night worship”) is technically a misnomer because the nine pre-Christmas Masses & novena are usually held at about 4:00 in the morning. But in recent years, the Catholic Church has allowed the holding of the Simbang Gabi in the evening at 8:00. As an anticipated Mass, the first Mass is held in the evening of Dec. 15 and the last, in the evening of Dec. 23. This adaptation was made to entice and accommodate more people on a variety of work schedules and sleeping habits.

It was believed that Misa de Aguinaldo has its origins in Mexico where in 1587, Fray Diego de Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman, asked the Pope’s permission to hold Christmastide Masses outdoors because the church could not accommodate the multitude that attended the dawn services. When the petition was granted, these Masses became known as Misa de Aguinaldo. In Spanish aguinaldo means a gift. As the word suggest, this nine days observance surely requires our gift of sacrifice and love for the Child Jesus.
In about 1660, Pope Sixtus V decreed that these dawn Masses also be held in the Philippines. To prepare for the Christmas season, the missionary friars held a series of dawn Masses to give the farmers a chance to hear Mass before setting out for the fields. Since then, the Simbang Gabi has become a Filipino religious tradition handed down from generation to generation. The Simbang Gabi ends on Christmas Eve with a midnight Mass (now at 10:00 p.m.) known as the Misa de Gallo. Actually, the early morning Mass which begins at 4:00 in the morning dates back to 1565 when the first Spanish governor-general Miguel Lopez de Legazpi celebrated the first Feast of the Nativity in our country.

Q. Ano naman ang kaibahan ng Noche Buena sa Media Noche?
A. On Christmas Eve, the night of Dec. 24, families will once again fill the churches for the Misa de Gallo. After the Mass, the Filipino family will dine together in what is traditionally called Noche Buena. Many Filipino families take advantage of this occasion to organize family reunions. After the Noche Buena, family members gather for the exchange gifts and the picture taking. On New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, families make as much noise together up to midnight. They then dine together again for the Media Noche. In Spanish medianoche means midnight.

Q. How can I make Simbang Gabi part of our family tradition?
A. It certainly is most difficult to get out of bed for nine consecutive mornings at 3:00 to be ready for the 4:00 a.m. Misa de Aguinaldo. Some parishes now offer 8:00 p.m. anticipated Masses and so one doesn’t have to get out of bed so early. For those who are already daily Mass-goers, it will simply mean time adjustment.
Thanks to the introduction of the advance time, Yola and I are able to fulfill this unique Filipino tradition for some years now. We’ve successfully divided our physical & spiritual Advent preparations into two portions. The physical preparations like decors, gifts, etc. are all done by Dec. 14. By Dec. 15 we are free from all the hassle of the season to fully experience the spiritual celebration of “Emmanuel,” God with us. Maligayang Pasko sa Inyong Lahat!

Greetings & Love from Bobby & Yola

‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’

By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

It's taken more than 50 years for a live-action version of Christian author C.S. Lewis' beloved children's fantasy, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," to finally make it to the big screen. And after viewing Disney's captivating $150 million adaptation, it's safe to say it was worth the wait.

William Moseley, with sword, Skandar Keynes and Anna Popplewell star in a scene from the movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." The movie, which has a Christian theme, opens in theaters this December. (CNS photo)

First published in 1950, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" -- the first in a seven-volume series known as "The Chronicles of Narnia" -- has had several previous renderings, including a stage production, two British television series and an Emmy Award-winning animated feature that aired on American TV in 1979.

Produced in partnership with faith-friendly Walden Media, the movie not only stays reverently true to the story and spiritual subtext of Lewis' tale, but is a cinematic work of extraordinary beauty that, much like the title's enchanted armoire, transports viewers to a wondrous world of adventure, heroism and religious symbolism.

It also proves what Lewis believed about literature -- that anything worth reading when you are 5 is worth reading when you are 50 -- is equally valid for film, though Lewis himself had strong reservations about translating his Narnia books into live-action movies.

Set in World War II-era England, the story centers on four young siblings: Peter (William Moseley), the eldest of the Pevensie brood; sensible sister Susan (Anna Popplewell); duplicitous Edmund (Skandar Keynes); and plucky little Lucy (apple-cheeked newcomer Georgie Henley). Evacuated from blitzkrieg-bombarded London, the children are left in the safekeeping of an elderly and eccentric professor (Jim Broadbent) who lives in a large house in the country.

While playing hide and seek, Lucy happens upon an old wardrobe through which she stumbles magically into Narnia -- a fairy-tale realm populated by talking animals and mythical creatures -- and she later returns along with her brothers and sister.

Their appearance foretold by an ancient Narnian prophecy, the children set out to rescue an imprisoned faun (James McAvoy) arrested for fraternizing with Lucy.

Their quest eventually leads them to fight alongside Narnia's regal lion king Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson), against the evil White Witch, Jadis (Tilda Swinton), who holds the land under an icy spell of eternal deep freeze ("always winter, never Christmas").

From the moment Lucy first sets eyes on the snow-blanketed Narnian glade -- with its iconic, out-of-place lamppost -- fans of the book will know that they are in sure hands with director Andrew Adamson, who never allows spectacle to overshadow the story's emotional core.

He also captures both the childlike wonder and indefinable, melancholic nostalgia for a world beyond our own that underscores all seven books.

Comparisons will inevitably be made to Peter Jackson's superior "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Both productions involved added pressure of a fan base rabidly protective of the source material. Both films also use fairy-tale and mythic motifs to explore larger themes of good and evil, sin and redemption, and death and resurrection, far more overt here. This is best illustrated by the clearly allegorical Christ-figure of Aslan, "a willing victim ... killed in a traitor's stead" only to come back to life in glorified form. (Though gentle at times, Aslan is not "tame," but a wild and dangerous lion of Judah.)

Told with symbolic strokes, the deeply poignant sequence unmistakably traces Christ's passion from Gethsemane to his dying on Calvary, here a stone table upon which Aslan is ritualistically slain. (Adults may even feel their tear ducts swelling.) Those first to witness the "resurrected" Aslan are women, and afterward Aslan "breathes" a new spirit of life into those Narnians turned to stone by the White Witch's magic, echoing both Pentecost and the harrowing of hell.

While "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" lacks the character development and narrative depth, as well as the grander scale, of "Rings" (written by Lewis' close friend, J.R.R. Tolkien), its simple, self-contained story works to its advantage as a film.

Though a few of the processed shots are obvious, overall the special effects are impressive, including a majestic -- and amazingly realistic -- computer-rendered Aslan.

The climactic battle may be too intense for young children, as may be scenes involving a pack of vicious wolves serving as Jadis' henchmen. Hardest of all to watch is Aslan's atoning death, surrounded by hellish legions seemingly conjured from a Hieronymus Bosch painting. His apparent "defeat" is trumpeted by Jadis' victory cry, "So much for love." Some parents may feel it inappropriately upsetting for a "family film," but Lewis himself argued that it was proper not to shield children from knowledge that they are "born into a world of death, violence, wounds, adventure, heroism and cowardice, good and evil."

The performances are all superb, especially those of the adorable Georgie Henley and Swinton, who brings an understated iciness to her role, which she plays as a cross between Hans Christian Andersen's Snow Queen and Xena, warrior princess.

Unlike Lucy at the end, moviegoers won't be left wondering if they'll ever find passage back into Narnia; with six more movies planned, the door is, thankfully, left ajar!

The film contains some battlefield violence, intense scenes of child peril and menace, and several frightening sequences. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification for the PG-rated film is A-II -- adults and adolescents.

Catholic Filipina makes ultimate sacrifice for unborn son

by Agence France-Presse

LONDON-Call it maternal instinct.

A British-based Filipino mother who found out she had cancer after becoming pregnant sacrificed her life for her unborn baby by refusing an abortion and chemotherapy, a British newspaper reported Friday.

Devout Catholic Bernadette Mimura-known as Milai-shunned the potentially life-saving treatment because doctors told her it would kill the child, regional daily the Northern Echo reported.

The 37-year-old, who lived near Stockton-on-Tees, northeast England, with her British partner, Adam Taylor, survived long enough to see the birth of their son, Nathan.

But soon after seeing him baptized, she was transferred to a hospice where she died about a week later.

Funds needed for RP burial

Priest Alan Sheridan is spearheading an appeal to raise 3,700 pounds (P347,816) to repatriate Mimura's body to the Philippines for burial. Money left over will help her other three children from a first marriage.

The priest said he hopes the Philippine government would help with a grant to fly the three youngsters from Britain for the ceremony.

"Being a Catholic, abortion for her was out of the question," Taylor told the newspaper. "It was a tough decision but we could not give up on Nathan."

The youngster-now four-months-old-was premature but was born fit and healthy. The baby, whose mother was given a mild form of chemotherapy to suppress her breast cancer, had to be induced after she developed complications.

Father Sheridan, who performed the baptism, said: "Bernadette said the most important thing was the birth of her baby and she would not do anything to harm him. Having an abortion was never a consideration. I know she talked it over with Adam and because she was a Catholic, there was no way she would have done it.

" He added: "She had to judge which life was more important and she just prayed there would be a cure for cancer."

Metro Manila Familia Leaders' Prayer Meeting

"Leron, leron sinta..." Sing that to the tune of "Those were the days" by Gene Raskin and imagine how the East meets the West in the last Metro Manila leaders' prayer meeting of Familia. Of course the North, South and Central areas also took a swing around that getting-to-know segment last October 19, 2005. The prayer meeting was held in Layforce Center, San Carlos Seminary and was hosted by Familia South 2 headed by Bro. Joey Binay.

Bro. Bobby Pilar gave a talk on The Good Shepherd from Psalm 23. He ended his teaching with this statement of exhortation: "What is most valuable is not what we have, but WHO we have in our lives. Jesus Christ is who we have."

What Familia Kids Like Best About Christmas

by: Anne Dulay and Odet Tuazon

I receive many gifts from my Lola and Lolo. – John Benedict Delima, 4

Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. I like gifts for Christmas. I told Jesus I will be a good Kuya to Colin and Camille, Mommy and Daddy. – Elian Punzalan, 5

Many food and we go to church as family and it’s Jesus’ birthday! – Charles Jesse Delima, 5

I like receiving gifts. – Jamille Binay, 6

Love and gifts. – Ashley Otanes, 6

Pagbibigay ng regalo – Eliza Chavez, 9 and Joseph Chavez, 7

Toys – Harold Carandang, 8

The happiness I feel during Christmas. – Andrie Lopez, 9

Parties, reunions, Christmas decorations, and gifts – Lucia Villaluz, 9

Pagsasama-sama ng mga kamag-anak at paggunita sa araw ng kapangnakan ni Jesus – Carina Beatrice Villegas, 9

What I like most about Christmas is when my family goes to church and comes home with a beautiful lesson about God and Jesus. After that, my family eats and of course, prays together for our blessings in our daily needs. Afterwards, we receive beautiful gifts from our neighbors and open them at the same time. And after we do these things, we finally sleep and again we pray for the wonderful time that happened in our lives. And these are the things I like most about Christmas. – Kamille Beatrice O. Dela Cruz, 9

I like the gifts Santa gives me. – RJ Santos, 10

The happiness I feel. – Adrie Lopez, 10

Kasiyahan na nararamdaman ko, pagdalaw sa mga kamag-anak, ninong at ninang, mga regalo at siyempre, masasarap na pagkain. – Robert John Tuazon, 11

The joy in people’s hearts. – Diane Lopez, 12

Everything is great about Christmas! – Lui Villaluz, 12

The feeling of love and compassion. – Alfonso Otanes, 13

The gift of sharing. – Celine Lopez, 13

Waking up early and attending the nine-day Misa de Gallo. – Raymund Mark Tuazon, 15

12 Days of Christmas

contributed by:

Mariles A. Ibarra FAMILIA, Mary the Queen

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…” Contrary to common belief, the twelve days in the popular Christmas song are not the twelve days before Christmas but the twelve days after Christmas until the eve of Epiphany or the Feast of the Three Kings, traditionally observed on January 6th. Thus, January 5th is the Twelfth Night, a time of much festivity in the early Western Christian Church, as well as the time to remove the trimmings of Christmas.

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

The Secret Code?

But do we know what the song means? It may at first sound to be a nursery rhyme or a senseless ditty, with images of leaping lords, swimming swans and dairy maids a-milking. Some have suggested that it is a song of Christian instruction dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Faith. They contend that it was a mnemonic device to teach catechism to youngsters in a time of religious persecution in England. Practising Catholics had to couch their teachings in innocuous lyrics. Thus, they used codes to represent the basic tenets of the Church. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that was important for children to learn. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas.

The other symbols with their meanings:

2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments

3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues

4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.

6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation

7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments

8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes

9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments

11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles

12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

Some quarters have questioned this interpretation, however, delving on some historical inaccuracies. Others dismiss it as an urban myth or legend with no basis in fact. Maybe historical accuracy is not the point; suffice to say or acknowledge that the source is uncertain, but it should not prevent us from using the song as part of our celebration of this most wondrous season of all. And now we have a new and fuller understanding of the words.

Cut to Modern Times

This is a modern version, one we can relate to easily:

The New Twelve Days of Christmas

(Words by Claire Cloninger, Arranged by David Maddux, Sung by First Call, from the album “An Evening in December”, Vol.1)

On the (twelfth) day of Christmas a vision came to me:

Twelve diets slimming,

Eleven stockings brimming,

Ten trees for trimming,

Nine cash dispersals,

Eight choir rehearsals,

Seven plates of dressing,

Six cards with blessing,

Five shopping malls,

Four manger scenes,

Three fruit cakes,

Two evergreens

And a child born to set the world free.

Despite the season’s hustle and bustle, let us not forget the “reason for the season.” Let us stop and reflect on God’s wonderful plan of redemption, set in motion first by the Annunciation, then by the birth of our Savior.

A blessed Christmas to one and all!