Our Lady of Akita

Messages of Our Lady in Akita, Japan

Serious Messages for the world, like at Fatima

In 1973, the Blessed Virgin Mary gave Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa in Akita, Japan, three Messages through a statue of Mary. Bathed in a brilliant light, the statue became alive and spoke with a voice of indescribable beauty. Her Guardian Angel also appeared and taught her to pray.

The wooden statue, about 3 feet high, had been carved by an artist on the request of the Sisters of the Institute of the Handmaids of the Eucharist, founded by the local Bishop, Most Rev. John Shojiro Ito, of the Diocese of Niigata. This statue, from which the voice came, wept 101 times over a course of several years, from January 4, 1975, to September 15, 1981, the Feast of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows. It also perspired abundantly, and the perspiration sent out a sweet perfume. Its right palm bled from a wound that had the form of a cross.

Hundreds of people witnessed many of these events. Scientific analysis of blood and tears from the statue, provided by Professor Sagisaka of the faculty of Legal Medicine of the University of Akita, confirmed that the blood, tears, and perspiration were real human tears, sweat, and blood. They came from three blood groups: O, B, and AB.

Sister Agnes also has the stigmata on the right palm. A Korean woman with terminal brain cancer received immediate healing while praying before the statute in 1981. The miracle was confirmed by Dr. Tong-Woo-Kim of the St. Paul Hospital in Seoul and Fr. Theisen, President of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Seoul. The second miracle was the complete cure of the total deafness of Sister Agnes.

Miraculous events

The events began on June 12-14, 1973. During these days, Sister Agnes saw a brilliant light coming from the tabernacle. On Thursday, June 28, eve of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Sister Agnes again saw a blinding light from the Blessed Sacrament, rays of light, and a multitude of angels surrounding the altar in adoration before the Host.

In the evening, another mysterious event occurred. While praying in the chapel, Sister Agnes felt as though something pierced the palm of her left hand. There, in the center of her palm, were two red scratches in the form of a cross. As days went by, the pain became increasingly intense.

This phenomenon recurs every week, and Bishop Ito himself witnesses it: on Thursday evening, the wound is still dried out, but it begins to swell up, and scratches form on the skin. On Friday morning, blood flows and impregnates the bandages of gauze. On Saturday morning, the wound stops bleeding and becomes dry again. This phenomenon lasted the whole month of July.

On July 6, the Guardian Angel appeared to Sister Agnes, and said: “Do not fear. I am the one who is with you and watches over you. Do not fear. Pray with fervor not only because of your sins, but in reparation for those of all men. The world today wounds the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord by its ingratitudes and injuries. The wounds of Mary are much deeper and sorrowful than yours. Let us go and pray together in the chapel.”

Messages of Mary

In the chapel, the statue of the Virgin Mary came to life, and a voice of indescribable beauty struck her totally-deaf ears. This was to be the first Message of Mary:

“My daughter, My novice, you have obeyed Me well in abandoning all to follow Me. Is the infirmity of your ears painful? Your deafness will be healed, be sure. Be patient. It is the last trial. Does the wound of your hand cause you to suffer? Pray in reparation for the sins of men. Each person in this community is My irreplaceable daughter. Do you say well the prayer of the Handmaids of the Eucharist? Then, let us pray it together:

“Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of His Kingdom. Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls.

“Most Holy Mother of God. Never let me be separated from Your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as Your special child. Amen.”

As her Guardian Angel had told her, a cross-shaped wound, similar to that of Sister Agnes, appeared in the right hand of the statue of the Blessed Virgin, and blood started to flow.

On August 3, 1973, the First Friday of the month, Sister Agnes received the second Message from Mary:

“My daughter, My novice, do you love the Lord? If you love the Lord, listen to what I have to say to you. It is very important. You will convey it to your superior.

“Many men in this world afflict the Lord. I desire souls to console Him to soften the anger of the Heavenly Father. I wish, with My Son, for souls who will repair, by their suffering and their poverty, for the sinners and ingrates.

“In order that the world might know His anger, the Heavenly Father is preparing to inflict a great chastisement on all mankind. With My Son, I have intervened so many times to appease the wrath of the Father. I have prevented the coming of calamities by offering Him the sufferings of the Son on the Cross, His Precious Blood, and beloved souls who console Him and form a cohort of victim souls.

“Prayer, penance, and courageous sacrifices can soften the Father's anger. I desire this also from your community, that it love poverty, that it sanctify itself and pray in reparation for the ingratitude and outrages of so many men. Recite the prayer of the Handmaids of the Eucharist with awareness of its meaning; put it into practice: offer (whatever God may send) in reparation for sins. Let each one endeavour, according to her capacity and position, to offer herself entirely to the Lord.

“Even in a secular institute, prayer is necessary. Already souls who wish to pray are on the way to being gathered. Without attaching too much attention to the form, be faithful and fervent in prayer to console the Master.”

It was on Saturday, October 13, the anniversary day of the last Apparition of the Virgin Mary to the three children of Fatima, that Mary gave to Sister Agnes Her third Message, the most important and serious one:

“If men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never have seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the Bishops and the priests.

“The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see Cardinals opposing Cardinals, Bishops against other Bishops. The priests who venerate Me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres (other priests). Churches and altars will be sacked. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises, and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.

“The demon will be especially implacable against the souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of My sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will no longer be pardon for them.

“...Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able to still save you from the calamities which approach. Those who place their confidence in Me will be saved.”

The last Sunday of May, 1982, during the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Sister Agnes was completely cured from her deafness.

Approval of the local Bishop

After having himself been an eyewitness of the events, and having carefully investigated them for years, Most Rev. John Shojiro Ito, Bishop of Niigata (the diocese Akita belongs to) declared the events of Akita, Japan, to be of supernatural origin, and authorized throughout the entire diocese the veneration of the Holy Mother of Akita, in a long message which he ordered to be read in every parish of his diocese on Easter Sunday, April 22, 1984.. He said: “The Message of Akita is the Message of Fatima.”

Approval of Rome

Bishop Ito went to Rome a third time in June of 1988 to seek the opinion of the Holy See. “I was worried because of the seriousness of the Message,” he said. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, reassured Bishop Ito that he had acted properly, and gave definitive judgement on the Akita events and Messages as reliable and worthy of belief.

This article was published in the October-November-December, 2005 issue of “Michael”.

Source: 

"Messages of Our Lady in Akita, Japan" - Michael: Official Site of Michael Journal - Retrieved on July 7, 2011 - www.michaeljournal.org

The Pilgrims of St. Michael. (www.michaeljournal.org)

“Michael” Journal, 1101 Principale St.Rougemont, QC, Canada J0L 1M0

Awit ng Santo Rosario

Minsan ang buhay ay isang awit ng galak,
at mayroong liwanag na tatanglaw sa ating pagyapak.

Minsan ang buhay ay isang awit ng luha,
at siyang papawi nito ay ang pag-asa ng umaga,
at kahit anong tindi ng unos,
at kahit anong tindi ng dilim
may isang inang nagmamatyag,
nagmamahal sa 'tin.

Awit niya'y pag-ibig ng Diyos, tawag niya'y magbalik-loob,
turo nya'y buhay na ang Diyos lamang sa ati'y nagkaloob..

CHORUS:

O Inang mahal narito kami awit awit ang Ave Maria
at dalangin ng bawat pamilya'y kapayapaa't pagkakaisa
Ang rosaryo mong hawak namin at awit awit ang Ave Maria
puspos ka ng diwang banal, dinggin ang aming payak na dasal
Ihatid mo kami sa langit ng amang nagmamahal

O inang mahal narito kami't awit awit ang Ave maria
sa anak mong si Jesus puso namin ay ihahandog
ang rosario mo't hawak namin at awit awit ang Ave Maria
puspos ka ng diwang banal dinggin ang aming payak na dasal
ihatid mo kami sa langit sa amang mapagmahal

Canonization process of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity opens

Dijon-France, July 12, 2011 (Communicationes).- On July 11, 2011, in the Chapel of the Archbishop of Dijon, in the presence of the Most Reverend Roland Minnerah, Archbishop of Dijon, the super miro process for the canonization of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-
1906) was opened.

After a brief prayer and in the presence of a relic of the Carmelite of Dijon, the following members of the Tribunal were sworn in: His Excellency, Ennio Apeciti of the Archdiocese of Milan, Archdiocesan Judge-Delegate; Canon Paul Chadeuf, Promoter of Justice; and Mr. Yves Frot, Notary.

Canon Marc Galen, Archdiocesan Chancellor, read the supplice libello of the Vice-Postulator for the Cause, Father Antonio of the Mother of God, OCD, in which opening of the process is requested as a result of the proposed miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity.

Following this initial session, three Discalced Carmelites of the Monastery of Flavignerot were interviewed. The Belgian Monastery of Flavignerot is the location of the proposed healing miracle of Miss Marie-Paul Stevens.

Marie-Paul is a professor of religion in the Marist Brothers’ School in Malmedy, Belgium. In May 1997, she began to experience great difficulty in articulating words, simultaneously with the onset of salivary dysfunction. On the advice of a physician who was her friend, she underwent clinical analyses with a resulting diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome. This disease would gradually affect several body systems.

She traveled to Flavignerot after several unsuccessful treatments to thank Elizabeth of the Trinity for her support during her illness. On April 2, 2002, after having prayed in the chapel of the Carmel and made thanksgiving to Elizabeth for her help, she sat on some stones surrounding the parking area of the Monastery. Unexpectedly, before the dumbfounded eyes of two friends who accompanied her, she lifted her arms on high and exclaimed, full of surprise and joy, “I am no longer ill!” After that day, Marie-Paul resumed a completely normal life.

Source:

Communicationes N. 179

13/07/2011

Presenting PRI's POP 101 series, A four (4) part short videos  that takes a fresh, humorous approach to the demographic issues facing the world today. 

The Population Research Institute (PRI) is a non-profit research group whose goals are to expose the myth of overpopulation, to expose human rights abuses committed in population control programs, and to make the case that people are the world’s greatest resource.With a growing, global network of pro-life groups that spans over 30 countries. (Source)

For more information you can visit their website at : (http://www.pop.org)

Part 1

Overpopulation: The Making of a Myth

 Part 2

2.1 Kids: Stable Population 

 Part 3

Food: There's Lots Of It

 Part 4

Poverty: Where We All Started

 

 

 

HOLY SEE HIGHLIGHTS FOR The First Quater of 2011

Hear are the Highlights of the Papal Activities for the first quarter of this year as releasd by the Vatican Information Service (VIS)

JANUARY

14: Benedict XVI authorises the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree of the miracle attributed to the intercession of Venerable Servant of God John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla).

15: In accordance with the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution "Anglicanorum coetibus" of Pope Benedict XVI (4 November 2009), the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith erects a Personal Ordinariate within the territory of England and Wales for those groups of Anglican clergy and faithful who have expressed their desire to enter into full visible communion with the Catholic Church. The Decree of Erection specifies that the Ordinariate will be known as the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham and will be placed under the patronage of Blessed John Henry Newman..

24: Presentation of the Holy Father's Message for the forty-fifth World Day of Social Communications, on the theme: "Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age". The Day is celebrated on 5 June.

24: Benedict XVI receives a group from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany, visiting Rome for the close of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

25: Publication of the Pope's Message for the eighty-fifth World Mission Day, which falls on Sunday 23 October. The theme of the document is: "As the Father has sent me, so I send you".

FEBRUARY

1: Publication of a Message from Benedict XVI to the second Latin-American Continental Congress for Vocations, being held in Cartago, Costa Rica, from 31 January to 5 February.

3: Presentation of Benedict XVI's Message for the nineteenth World Day of the Sick, to be held on 11 February

3: Benedict XVI receives the Letters of Credence of Alfons M. Kloss, the new ambassador of Austria to the Holy See.

10: Publication of the Pope's Message for the forth-eighth World Day of Prayer for Vocations, to be celebrated on 15 May on the theme: "Proposing Vocations in the Local Church".

17: The Holy Father receives in audience Dimitry Medvedev, president of the Russian Federation.

18: Benedict XVI receives a group of prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines at the end of their "ad limina" visit.

22: Presentation of the 2011 Lenten Message of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, entitled: "You were buried with Him in Baptism, in which you were also raised with Him".

24: The Holy Father receives in audience Michel Sleiman, president of the Republic of Lebanon.

28: The Holy Father receives in audience Jerzey Buzek, president of the European Parliament.

MARCH

1: A new "Law concerning citizenship, residency and access" to Vatican City, promulgated by Benedict XVI on 22 February, Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, comes into effect today.

2: The Holy Father receives in private audience Josette Sheeran, executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

3: The Holy Father receives in audience Sebastian Pinera Echenique, president of the Republic of Chile.

3: Benedict XVI receives a group of prelates from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines at the end of their "ad limina" visit.

4: The Holy Father receives in audience Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, president of the Republic of Iceland.

10: Presentation of the second volume of Benedict XVI's book on Jesus of Nazareth: "From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection".

15: Activation of a new Facebook page concerning John Paul II in view of his beatification, at the address: www.facebook.com/vatican.johnpaul2.

16: Publication of a Message from the Holy Father addressed to Giorgio Napolitano, president of the Italian Republic, for the 150th anniversary of the political unity of Italy, on 17 March.

18: Presentation of the "Courtyard of the Gentiles", an initiative by the Pontifical Council for Culture involving two days of meeting and dialogue between believers and non-believers in Paris, France, on 24 and 25 March.

20: Benedict XVI makes a pastoral visit to the Roman parish of St. Corbinian, where he celebrates Mass and consecrates the new church.

25: Benedict XVI receives prelates of the Syro-Malankar Church, who have just completed their five-yearly "ad limina" visit.

25: The Pope grants the "Ecclesiastica Communio" requested of him in accordance with canon 76 para. 2 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches by His Beatitude Bechara Rai, canonically elected as Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites by the Synod of Bishops of the Maronite Church meeting in Bkerke, Lebanon, on 15 March.

27: Benedict XVI visits Rome's "Fosse Ardeatine" to commemorate the 335 victims executed there in 1944 by German occupying forces in Rome, in
reprisal for a bomb attack which had left thirty-three Germans dead.

28: The Holy Father receives in audience His Beatitude Chrysostomos II, archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus, primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, accompanied by Fr. Demosthenis Demosthenous and by Ioannis Charilaou.


Source:

V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service

Help Shut Down These Last Few Abortion Mills!

Being a pro-lifer, I have joined pro-life groups not only in our country but also the Priest for life movement of Fr. Frank Pavone in the US.

Being a member of Fr. Frank's movement I have joined his mailing list, and have just receive this e-mail from Fr. Frank's Alert calling  the attention of all members in this mailing list to help shut down an abortion mill in Kansas.

The letter is a call for all pro-lifers living in the U.S. specially those in the State of Kansas to help shutdown the remaining three (3) Abortion Mills in the area.  He said that once this remaining Abortion Mills are shutdown, Kansas will be come the first "abortion-free-state" in America.

In his letter he said that " Just recently, the State of Kansas (under the leadership of the new pro-life Governor, Sam Brownback) officially enacted new health regulations that require abortion mills to meet the normal standards of safety, cleanliness, and proper emergency procedures. The Kansas authorities were especially concerned about the protection of patients if (as often happens) something goes horribly wrong during an abortion. Other than killing a baby, that is."

Fr. Frank also said that "abortionists and their ilk routinely violate the normal health and safety practices that anyone would expect in a medical/surgical facility." But with the new safety regulations in place, abortionist no longer have a choice but to ensure that all safety regulations and practices are followed.

Aside from this , the letter said that abortion clinics " also need to have “hospital privileges” at a nearby emergency room in case the woman’s life is endangered by the all-too-frequent botched abortion. They’re required to have doors wide enough for an ambulance gurney to get through, as well as big enough operating rooms to allow emergency personnel to properly tend to the patient in distress. (Most of the abortion mills in America cram as many tiny operating rooms as possible into small, crowded, and outdated buildings in order to increase volume and profits.)"

Other regulations "pertains to the proper disposal of bio-medical hazardous materials such as syringes, bloody gauze or bed sheets, and yes - even the remains of the murdered babies".

Because of this new developments, the people of Kansas now have the "rare opportunity to legally  deliver a crushing blow to the abortion cartel in the United States" he added.

However the letter also indicated that despite this turn of events, a problem still exist since Kansas' former Governor Kathleen Sebelius - a rabid pro-abort who simply vetoes similar laws before and "would not even allow the Health Department to inspect the abortion mills, " according to Fr. Frank, is now Secretary of Health and Human Services for Obama.

He also said that "since Sebelius is in Washington, D.C.,... she still wields tremendous power and influence in Kansas, especially among local judges who are almost always seeking to be appointed to a higher office and will do whatever they’re told by the “Power Brokers” like Kathleen Sebelius."

Eventually a lawsuit was filed by the remaining abortion mills in Kansas to fight the new regulations.  Now "it’s in the hands of Judge Carlos Murguia and preliminary hearings already took place, and the abortionists got what they wanted. They got Judge Murguia to issue a “temporary restraining order” designed to give the abortionists more time to figure out what to do." he added.

Even so, in the words of Fr. Frank,  " But that TRO expires soon, and Judge Murguia will have to decide if the abortion mills should be allowed to operate in violation of the Kansas health regulations. That’s why I need your help as quickly as possible."

Thus his call "to make sure these three remaining Kansas abortion mills DO NOT get permission to continue killing babies.  We need to MAKE SURE the health regulations get applied to these abortionists… Because They ARE NOT Above The Law!"

With this an automatic e-mail click here has been prepared by Fr. Frank and the pro-lifers in Kansas  waiting to be sent by those who wish to support the  cause.

"Our goal is to have tens of thousands of e-mails delivered to Judge Murguia in the next few days - because we don’t know when he’s going to make his decision about the restraining order." - Fr. Frank Pavone

Which means doing our part - and get more people to join  this noble calling  of rejecting the culture of death and promoting life. Which is why I'm making a blog about it.

Aside from this, we as supporters of life are also called, "to take a moment to say a prayer that God’s will be done in this extremely vital fight to shut down abortion mills through legal,peaceful channels."  Since only with God’s grace and blessings, "can Kansas realistically become the first state in the US to have a NO abortion mills!"

In his parting words, Fr. Frank gave his blessings... "God bless all the pro-lifers in Kansas (especially Troy Newman and his tireless staff at Operation Rescue) who’ve fought so valiantly for many years to make this day happen."


Author's Notes:

It is my earnest hope that through this blog I will be able to reach more people to support this call.


Jov of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, OCDS

Earthquake!

Just before I went to sleep at around 1:15 this morning I heard a  low frequency rumbling noise  which was followed by ground shaking... a Magnetude 5.9 earthquake hit our area that lasted for more or less 15 secs.

Based from Philvolcs data, the quake has a depth of 30Km and an epicenter located at 035 km S 29° W of Iba (Zambales).  It was followed by three more aftershocks with magnitudes of 3.9, 4.0, and 2.8 located at 021 km S 80° W, 025 km S 34° W, and 004 km S 67° W of Iba respectively.

Since January of this year, our province have experienced a total of 39 quakes including today, with four (4) of which including this one  reported as "with felt intensities", with the latest by far, as the strongest.

Our province has been identified by Philvolcs to have two major active faults known as the "Iba fault", and liquefaction susceptibility areas. Liquefaction is a physical process that can occur during earthquakes that leads to ground failure. This happens when, fine grain of sands and silts behave as viscous fluids rather than solids that decreases soil strength, loosing its ability to support structures above it that can cause extensive surface damage resulting from the collapse of structures.

I'm just glad that my family is safe. Thank God!

Philippine Bishops receives the Palium from Pope Benedict XVI

Amidst the controversial reports of Bishops receiving Pajeros that were circulated by some news outfits and some blogger as the "Pajero Bishops", which was later vindicated by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee in their findings that no "Pajeros" were ever given to them and that the circulated reports were not true, two Filipino Archbishops, Jose Serofia Palma of Cebu and Sergio Lasam Utleg of Tuguegarao and 43 other bishops from 25 different countries were given their Palium, a garment used by archbishops as a sign of communion with the Pope.

The event which coincides with the 60th Celebration of  the Priestly Ordination of the Holy Father took place at the Vatican Basilica as the Pope con-celebrates a Holy Mass with the Archbishops.

In his Homily the Holy Father reminded the Archbishops that this woolen band "reminds us of the Shepherd Who Himself became a lamb, out of love for us. ... It reminds us of Him Who took the lamb - humanity - me - upon His shoulders, in order to carry me home.  It thus reminds us that we too, as shepherds in His service, are to carry others with us, taking them as it were upon our shoulders and bringing them to Christ.  It reminds us that we are called to be shepherds of His flock, which always remains His and does not become ours.  Finally the pallium also means quite concretely the communion of the shepherds of the Church with Peter and with his successors - it means that we must be shepherds for unity and in unity, and that it is only in the unity represented by Peter that we truly lead people to Christ".

The Holy Father then, concluded his homily by returning to reflect on his ordination sixty years ago, saying "I feel prompted at this moment to look back upon the things that have left their mark on the last six decades. I feel prompted to address to you, to all priests and bishops and to the faithful of the Church, a word of hope and encouragement; a word that has matured in long experience of how good the Lord is.  Above all, though, it is a time of thanksgiving: thanks to the Lord for the friendship that He has bestowed upon me and that He wishes to bestow upon us all. Thanks to the people who have formed and accompanied me.  And all this includes the prayer that the Lord will one day welcome us in His goodness and invite us to contemplate His joy. Amen".

Archbishop Sergio Lasam Utleg

Archbishop Sergio Lasam Utleg who was ordained priest at Tuguegarao, Philippines in March 30, 1968 and then ordained Bishop on March 17, 1997 in St. Peter's Cathedral, of the same province succeeded as the Bishop of Iligan In july 26, 1999. He held this position until November 26, 2006 when Pope Benedict VXI appointed him as Bishop of Laog and then five years later, on June 16, 2011, was elevated to Archbishop of Tuguegarao, replacing retiring Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan.

Archbishop Jose Serofia Palma

The Most Reverend José Serofia Palma, D.D., S.Th.D was born on March 19, 1950 in dingle Archdiocese of Jaro.  He studied philosophy at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary and had his theological studies at the St. Joseph Regional Seminary. He was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Jaro on August 21, 1976 and received his licentiate in Sacred Theology(STL) at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila, and his doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

In 1997 he was made Parish Priest of St Anthony of Padua in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo (Archdiocese of Jaro) until November 28, 1997, when the Blessed John Paul the Great appointed him Titular Bishop of Vazari Diddi and Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu. He was consecrated a year later on January 13, 1998 and was made Bishop-Ordinary of the See of Calbayog.

On March 18, 2006, Bishop Palma was appointed Archbishop of Palo by Pope Benedict XVI, succeeding Archbishop-Emeritus Pedro R. Dean. Four (4) years later on October 15 2010 he was appointed Archbishop of Cebu replacing Ricardo Cardinal Vidal who had been archbishop for 29 years and was installed on January 13, 2011 at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

He served as Vice-President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines from December 1, 2009 until July 11 of this year where he was elected President.


Sources:

VIS-Vatican Information Services

Jose S. Palma. (2011, July 23). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:15, August 3, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jose_S._Palma&oldid=441030746

Sergio Utleg. (2011, June 18). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:16, August 3, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sergio_Utleg&oldid=435001373

MORAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE IN GOVERNMENT

 VATICAN CITY, 24 JUL 2011 (VIS) - In his remarks before praying the Angelus this morning, Benedict XVI commented on the first reading from today's liturgy, a passage from the Book of Kings in which Solomon, ascending the throne, asks God for an understanding heart to serve His people with justice and to distinguish between good and evil.

Addressing the faithful gathered in the inner courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, the Pope explained the meaning of Solomon's prayer. "We know that 'heart' in the Bible indicates not just a part of the body but the core of the individual, the seat of his intentions and judgments; in other words, his conscience. An 'understanding heart' means, then, a conscience capable of listening, sensitive to the voice of truth and thus able to distinguish good from evil. In Solomon's case the request is motivated by his responsibility for guiding a nation, Israel, the people whom God chose to reveal His plan of salvation to the world. The king of Israel must, then, seek constant harmony with God and listen to His Word, in order to guide the people along the ways of the Lord, the way of justice and peace.

"However", the Holy Father added, "the example of Solomon applies to us all. Each of us has a conscience which makes us, in a certain sense, 'king'; in other words, which enables us to exercise the supreme human dignity of acting according to right conscience, doing good and avoiding evil. Moral conscience presupposes a capacity to listen to the voice of truth, humbly to follow its guidance. People called to play a role in government naturally have a further responsibility and, as Solomon teaches, have even greater need of God's help.

"But everyone has their part to play in their own particular situation. An erroneous mentality suggests that we should ask God for favors or favorable conditions. Yet the truth is that the real quality of our lives, and of social life in general, depends on the sound conscience of each individual, on the capacity of each person to recognize what is good, distinguish it from evil and patiently seek to put it into effect".

Pope Benedict concluded: "May the Virgin Mary help us, with God's grace, to make ou[r] own consciences open to truth and sensitive to justice, in order to serve the Kingdom of God".

ANG/VIS
20110725 (410)

Source:

For further information and research of documents visit:
www.visnews.org  and  www.vatican.va 

COPYRIGHT: The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service
may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service

Vindicated!

Looking back at the turn of events in the past few months have just made me realized that it has been a very long time since I made a post to this blog of mine. Mainly due to some work that I was required to finish, and because of this, I myself is no longer aware of what has been happening around me.

Although I do remember hearing a news item about Bishops receiving "Pajeros" it did not sinked-in until just a few days ago and although it might be a little late, it is still my belief that I do need to make a blog out of it to atleast offer some observation on the matter.

Doing some researching on how it all began, I have stumbled upon some blogs and articles posted over the Internet which have not simply criticized the involved Bishops but had also stated hateful statements even though the issue in itself was not that clear. 

There were many write-ups coming from supposed knowledgeable people which is most of them simply claims that they believed in reason but have simply made an immediate judgment without even seeking and looking on the actual facts (talk about being reasonable).

Sad to say though, that even today, after the Bishops were vindicated by the Senators themselves, some people still insist to their own conclusion, to the point of justifying their claim, when the very person, PCSO Chairman Margarita Juico who have made their findings publicly admitted to the Senators conducting the investigation that the very information that  was released by the media regarding these Bishops receiving Pajeros were wrong. (Source)

Although she has insisted during the Senate Hearing that the she did not say that the Bishops have received Pajeros  which have resulted for the branding of these Bishops as "Pajero Bishops", videos and news articles dating back when the press conference were made says otherwise.

But how could she have made the mistake of stating that Pajeros were given by the PCSO to these Bishops when the truth is that the PCSO have a complete documentation of what were the actual donations and were these vehicles are to be used?

Did she actually read the report before the press conference or did she simply made an assumption? Or worst, was it deliberate to stir up public opinion, if so, for what reason?

Other Reports

In one interview that Sen Lacson gave with reporters, Sen Lacson have said that according to the documents in his possession, not only Bishops but even Solons have received allocations from PCSO, "with one lone district managing to have received 55 million with the date of the Board Resolution covering the election" he said. (Source)

The donations that the PCSO gave to the Bishops to buy five vehicles as COA have reported was only 6.94 Million Pesos, Sen Lacson in his interview have stated that a lone district got an allocation of 55 million Pesos within the election period, and yet most bloggers and some media outfit have simple singled out the 6.9 million donations that the Bishops have received from the PCSO and even focused on the words "Pajero Bishops" in their headlines when looking at it alone, the 6.9 million would not have been enough to buy three (3) of this Pajeros. (Source)

No matter what the reasons maybe, as to why? how? and what? one thing is for sure, the truth no matter how someone hides it will always come out, and when it does, the one who sided with the Truth will be set free, while the others who have hidden the truth will be caught in their very own web of deceit.

This event in my own belief has not divided the True Catholic Church, but have in fact revealed the intentions of deceit of a hidden enemy that continuously hides and waits for proper timing to release his venomous lies.  Eventually, the Truth that we beleive in shall always be there to shed light even on the most darkest path, it might not be in an immediate manner, but in His time, it will.

You might be interested with these links too:

A time of pain, a time of grace (A Pastoral Statement)

Statement of Bishops Before The Blue Ribbon Committee

Full Episode of "RH-Bill: The Grand Debate" (GMA News and Public Affairs)

The following videos is the full episode of "RH-Bill: The Grand Debate" Produced by GMA News and Public Affairs, Hosted by: Ms. Mel Tiangco.

Videos can be found at "The official YouTube Channel of GMA News and Public Affairs." -  [Click here]

Part 1 of 8

 

Part 2 of 8

 

 Part 3 of 8

Part 4 of 8

Part 5 of 8

Part 6 of 8

 

 Part 7 of 8

 

Part 8 of 8

RECOGNISING THE PRIMACY OF GOD THE FATHER

VATICAN CITY, 17 JUL 2011 (VIS) - At midday today Benedict XVI appeared at the balcony overlooking the inner courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, to pray the Angelus with faithful gathered there.

Commenting, as he does every Sunday, on that morning's Gospel reading, the Pope explained how the parables are "brief narratives which Jesus uses to announce the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven. Using images and situations taken from everyday life, the Lord wishes to show us the true foundation of all things. He shows us ... the God Who acts, Who enters our daily lives".

Using these narratives, "the divine Master invites us to recognize, first and foremost, the primacy of God the Father. Where He is not present, nothing good can exist. He is a decisive priority in all things. The Kingdom of heaven means, in fact, the lordship of God; in other words, His will must be assumed as the criterion-guide for our existence".

In today's Gospel Jesus compares heaven to a field of wheat, "in order to help us understand that something small and hidden, but possessing an irrepressible life force, is sown within us. Despite all the obstacles, the seed will develop and the fruit ripen, but the fruit will be good only if the terrain of life has been cultivated in accordance with the divine will.

"For this reason", the Pope added, "in the parable of the weeds among the wheat Christ warns us that, after the master had sown his seed, 'while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat'. The meaning of this is that we must be ready to protect the grace we received on the day of Baptism, continuing to nourish faith in the Lord, which prevents evil from taking root".

Finally, the Pope turned his attention to the first reading of this morning's Mass, a passage from the Book of Wisdom underscoring the mercy and power of God. "If, then, we are all children of such a great and good Father", he said, "let us seek to resemble Him. This was the goal Jesus set Himself with His preaching, when He told His hearers: ''Be perfect ... as your heavenly Father is perfect".

ANG/VIS
20110718 (380)

Source: 

V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service