Simbang Gabi '11 --2nd day

There was a change of schedule at work today which made me finish my classes at six instead of half past five. I hurriedly walked out of Tesco to get a bus to ABAC for the mass. The ride was pretty slow as some schools in Navamin area have Saturday classes. The ride took quite  long  and worrying of not making it on time. I then decided  to get  off  in another stop taking my chances of  getting  a motorcycle ride to get to ABAC and to save time definitely.

I was running on my way to the building and even climbing up the stairs with my heels and there, the second reading was just done. I settled then in in front next to my two friends I felt so relieved I could hear the gospel. There was a great feeling that I made it to the Gospel, however as yesterday, the mass didn't have any homily. I figured the mass would still be in half and hour and knew that very moment  it would be as yesterday.

I felt incomplete, I know the homily connects the priest to the churchgoers, in that moment he can relate and the connection between him and the people is felt much it makes the gathering in a more "family" setting. Without it, the mass is similar to a DVD being played  and just watched by the viewers.  That is aside from the fact that the homily expands the message in the Holy Gospel which is a very essential part of the mass.

I couldn't help myself but approached the Fil. who primarily does the assisting in there asking if it was possible for the Priest (not Fil.) to have at least a Homily. He defended the priest doesn't give any homily on weekday mass and he considers the number of people attending the mass. I myself studied in a Catholic school in the past and attended the daily masses, it rarely happened for our priest not to give any homily in the half-an-hour mass.  In a second I thought, we are not having an ordinary mass, Simbang Gabi is a devotional mass in anticipation of Christmas and we never do this everyday, we have this once a year. I think we miss something.

I believe it's enough and thankful, too that I learnt about it on the second day. I understand now better why there are very few people who came for the mass, in fact lesser than yesterday. And I've decided myself not to go back there for the Simbang Gabi anymore.

Simbang Gabi '11 --1st day

It has been a long day for me today. I woke up with a terrible migraine the attack makes me like a vampire in my own term. I'm pretty comfortable with dim lights, I'm not into anything too bright except in clothings and when I have an attack,  I get  a problem dealing with anything illuminated or shining.  I badly needed to cover my curtains with darker fabric to block any light that came in my room earlier. I wish I can describe how inconvenient it is (until this moment) ...it's just not fun and minutes before going out by the evening for the mass, I really thought of not pushing through wondering if I could make it, thanks God I made it to Annunciation Chapel at Assumption University also known as ABAC.

I was surprised there were very few who came to the very first day in there. I'm aware though that many attend the dawn mass at Holy Redeemer Church in Ruamrudee and the first day is always remarkable. Going back to ABAC, guess there were less than twenty who came. The mass just lasted for half an hour and unfortunately, there wasn't any homily after the gospel.

I decided to drop by Big C after, I thought of taking a walk for  awhile then headed to the street where I can take a ride- a short cut ride to home. And before that, I got myself some tangerines and bananas. I had porridge for dinner, it was cool to eat on the sidewalk. I just realized that it is pretty different to walk past by a sidewalk eatery  than eating in there, the perspective is never alike. If you're in Bangkok, this is common in the evening, wherever part of the city you may go.....and me tonight? In there in Naram known as the night shopping/market road.

Looking forward to hear the homily tomorrow as I'll be in the same chapel.

The Immaculate Conception

The Catechism of the Catholic Church


source: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com

490 To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role." 132 The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace". 133 In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace. 

491 Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, 134 was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: 

The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin. 135 

492 The "splendor of an entirely unique holiness" by which Mary is "enriched from the first instant of her conception" comes wholly from Christ: she is "redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son". 136 The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" and chose her "in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love". 137 

493 The Fathers of the Eastern tradition call the Mother of God "the All-Holy" (Panagia), and celebrate her as "free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature". 138 By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long. 

132 LG 56. 

133 Lk 1:28. 

134 Lk 1:28. 

135 Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus (1854): DS 2803. 

136 LG 53, 56. 

137 Cf. Eph 1:3-4. 

138 LG 56. 

http://www.realcatholictv.com

Prayer to the Immaculate Conception (1)

O God, who by the Immaculate Conception

of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place
 for Your Son,

we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son,

You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us,

purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.

Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.

Amen.

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EWTN Global Catholic Television Network: Homily - Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary