Charmedgifts

14/01/2025

26/12/2024

PASKO pa rin po! ❤️🎄

26/12/2024

Giving our 💯! Amen! 🙏🏻💕

15/12/2024

CHECKLIST FOR CHRISTMAS
By Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

Question: What did Adam say to Eve on the day before Christmas?
Answer: “It’s Christmas Eve.”
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It’s 10 days before Christmas. Today is Gaudete Sunday. As we light the third candle of the Advent wreath, we are all reminded to rejoice and to be joyful. “Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the Great and Holy One of Israel!” (Isaiah 12)

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In today’s Gospel (Luke 3:10 -18) we are told that the source of true joy is that of being good: “Whoever has two cloaks should share it with a person who has none” (Luke 3:11). May we go beyond our comfort zones, and our holiday mode, and reach out to the last, the least, and the lost in our midst. “When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock, the work of Christmas begins—to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among others, to make music in the heart.” (The Work of Christmas, Howard Thurman)

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True joy also comes from being true and honest in our serving others. To those who collect taxes, John the Baptist’s teaching is very clear: “Stop collecting more than what is required.” (Luke 3:13)

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To those in the police or in the military, John the Baptist has this to say: “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.” (Luke 3: 14)

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“What should we do?” Let us go back to our hearts, and make a personal checklist on what to do to truly prepare for Christmas.

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“Handa ka na ba? (Are you prepared?)” Many of us are focused on our external preparations for the Christmas season like decorations, gifts, parties, noche buena meal, etc. Let us be mindful that there are so many people around us who have little to prepare externally, or have nothing at all, because of poverty and deprivation.

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“Ganda ka na ba? (Are you beautiful?)” Christmas is not going to happen in the malls, or in the parties, and revelries. It has to happen in the heart. To have a beautiful heart, you take the road of reconciliation and forgiveness. A good confession, a good talk or reaching out to others, and a sharing of your time, talent, and treasures to the sick and the poor—these are things that really gladden and cleanse our hearts.

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“Tanda mo na ba? (Do you remember?)” Try to find the time to remember that Christmas is all about a God who loved us so much that He gave His Only Begotten Son … (John 3:16). Remember, too, that we are to respect and love each other, and that we have a mission in this world. Don’t forget that our final destination is Heaven, and that we carry nothing with us when we leave this world, except the love and goodness that we have shared.

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We honor St. John the Baptist who never stopped saying “One mightier than I is coming” (Luke 3:16; Mark 1:7-11). This was a man who knew how to fade away, and not steal the light from his Master. If only we all learned to be humble, obedient, and grateful to Someone greater than ourselves! Life is more peaceful and meaningful if we apply BTS—Believe, Trust, Surrender everything and everyone to our loving Father. Trust the Lord more, worry less. Focus on the Lord, not on the load.

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The Misa de Gallo and the Simbang Gabi is one good way of preparing Christmas. This involves sacrifice, diligence, and perseverance to prepare for the coming of our newborn King. Let us do it with joy, and with the heart.

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“Poor persons will never disappear from the earth. That’s why I’m giving you this command: you must open your hand generously to your fellow Israelites, to the needy among you, and to the poor who live with you in your land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11) Time to let go of our accumulated stuff that are just gathering dust, and to share our extra cash which can make so many people so very happy this Christmas. No? Perhaps next Christmas? For sure, next Christmas will come but, we are not sure if we will still be around. So, now na. Do not postpone your conversion, and do not postpone your loving and sharing.

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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help us to prepare truly for your birthday. Amen

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

12/12/2024

Happy Feast Day!

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Let us pause for a while and say a little prayer.

01/12/2024

The Season of Advent is for Family. Let us pray. 🙏

11/11/2024

Awesome Monday! ✨

“To forgive is not to excuse what the other person did. It’s to prevent their behavior from destroying your heart.” – Unknown

It’s not easy to forgive. We would say that forgiving is not human. After the original sin, after the fall of our first parents, the consequences of resentment, hatred, envy, and malice are not love, not forgiveness, it is murder. It was Cain’s experience with his brother Abel. So God introduced forgiveness, a blessing we should be willing to receive. To receive not only because God commanded us to forgive but because we were originally designed in the image and likeness of God. We were originally designed like God: a God who is not malicious, a God who is merciful and compassionate. So, to forgive is to be like God. It is to recall our primordial original design. In the gospel today, Jesus emphasized forgiveness.

We should be clear on what forgiveness is and what forgiveness is not. First, forgiveness is not pretending that everything is fine or okay. If there’s someone who wronged us and said sorry to us we usually respond, “Okay, lang.” (It’s okay). In truth, sometimes it’s not okay for us, especially if it hurts us deeply. It’s not easy to forgive. Forgiveness is not making an excuse or permission for the person who offended us to do it again. A friend who betrayed us or a family member who manipulated or hurt us in the past can hurt us again and we usually take necessary steps to prevent them from hurting us again.

It’s not to forgive is to forget, Forgiveness is remembering. Because every hurt instructs, and which instructs makes us grow. But let us remember without anger, bitterness, and resentment in our hearts. It’s realizing that we cannot change that hurtful past, it’s refusing to let what we cannot change control us and only then we can move on. It’s not about retaliation, but the person who angers us controls us. We will not heal unless we stop hurting another.

Excerpt from the homily of Fr. Milan Ted D. Torralba

God bless 🙏

Gospel Lk 17:1-6
Jesus said to his disciples,
"Things that cause sin will inevitably occur,
but woe to the one through whom they occur.
It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck
and he be thrown into the sea
than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
Be on your guard!
If your brother sins, rebuke him;
and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he wrongs you seven times in one day
and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,'
you should forgive him."

And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you would say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."

05/11/2024

The primary difference between the Catholic Bible and the Protestant Bible

It is lies in the number of books included in the Old Testament. The Catholic Bible contains 46 Old Testament books, while the Protestant Bible typically contains only 39. This discrepancy stems from a difference in the accepted biblical canon—the collection of books considered to be divinely inspired and authoritative scripture.

The Deuterocanonical Books:

The seven books that are present in the Catholic Bible but absent from most Protestant Bibles are known as the Deuterocanonical books. These are:

- Tobit
- Judith
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
- Wisdom of Solomon
- Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
- Baruch

In addition, parts of Esther and Daniel found in the Catholic Bible are also considered deuterocanonical. These books were included in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible used by early Christians, but were not included in the Hebrew Masoretic Text, which became the basis for the Protestant Old Testament canon.

The Protestant Perspective:

Protestants, during the Reformation, rejected the authority of the Catholic Church and established their own biblical canon based on the Hebrew Masoretic Text. They argued that the deuterocanonical books lacked the same level of historical and textual support as the books included in the Hebrew Bible. They viewed these books as valuable historical and religious texts, but not divinely inspired scripture on par with the rest of the Bible. Many Protestant Bibles include these books in a separate section called the Apocrypha, indicating their non-canonical status. The Apocrypha's inclusion varies among Protestant denominations; some include it, while others omit it entirely.

The Catholic Perspective:

The Catholic Church, on the other hand, maintains that the deuterocanonical books are part of the divinely inspired canon. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) formally affirmed the inclusion of these books in the Catholic Bible. Catholics argue that these books have historical and theological value and contribute to a more complete understanding of salvation history.

Beyond the Book Count:

While the difference in the number of books is the most significant distinction, other minor variations exist between Catholic and Protestant Bibles in terms of the text itself. These minor variations are usually due to differences in translation and interpretation rather than the inclusion or exclusion of entire books. Different translations emphasize different aspects of the text, leading to subtle variations in wording and phrasing.

01/11/2024

November 1
SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS

" I believe... in the Communion of Saints” (Apostles' Creed)
https://opusdei.org/en-ph/article/what-is-the-communion-of-saints/

22/10/2024

17/10/2024

ST. LUKE, Evangelist
October 18

ST. LUKE WAS A PHYSICIAN, a convert.
From his gospel we learn details of the life of and Jesus’ .

Meditation. https://opusdei.org/en-ph/article/meditations-october-18-saint-luke/

16/10/2024

ONE DECEMBER MORNING in 1931, immediately after celebrating Mass, Fr. Josemaría Escrivá wrote his short book “Holy Rosary” in a single sitting.

The work is marked by two key themes: contemplation and spiritual childhood. Fr. Escriva invites the faithful to enter into each mystery as though they were present as a child or humble onlooker, witnessing firsthand the events surrounding the life of Jesus and Mary.

“We will contemplate the thirty years of his hidden life... We will be present at his Passion and death... We will marvel at the glory of his Resurrection...” (St. Josemaría Escriva)

Read more. https://opusdei.org/en-ph/article/holy-rosary/

14/10/2024

Dear Fellow CATHOLICS,

“Hallow" signifies holiness, and HALLOWeen is a celebration of the sanctity of God’s faithful children. It is not a time to glorify the devil. Dressing as demons or engaging in sinful behaviors on this sacred occasion deeply offends God and dishonors His saints, whose virtuous lives we are called to emulate. Let us commit to upholding holiness in our celebrations.

13/10/2024

String Rosary for little girls 👧🏻

30/09/2024

is here! 🌺

“THE HOLY ROSARY: the joys, the sorrows, and the glories of the life of Our Lady weave a crown of , repeated ceaselessly by the Angels and the Saints in Heaven — and by those who love our Mother here on earth…

“Practise this holy every day, and spread it." (St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge no. 621)

Read more. https://opusdei.org/en-ph/article/what-is-the-rosary/

29/09/2024

Prayer for the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. 🙏❤️