‘White Lady’ seen at CBCP headquarters - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

‘White Lady’ seen at CBCP headquarters - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos


I just would like to share this story. Well, it's Halloween.

Trick or Treat...

Jamming for the Lord at Olanggo

"Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.  Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise." Psalms 33:1-3 (KJV)

Music is from the Lord. He is the one who created it. He gave us voices so we could sing praises, and instruments that we might make music to lift up His name. As David made psalms and raised his songs to the heavens, we too are called to worship Him with the gifts that he has given to us.

Last Friday, we went to Olanggo for the same reason David sings in the fields, to raise our voices and let the people hear songs for the Lord that they might know about His love through music.

Even through bad weather and unforeseen power outage, still God gave us power that the band could play, and stopped the rain that we might sing and dance on the sands and grasses of the island. It was already late, but never too late to raise ourselves in worship.

After the concert, we took refuge in the fine resorts, air-conditioned rooms, and soft beds. It was 1 AM but still awake enough to chat with our friends. We called it a night and finally rested our bodies for the journey home at daybreak. We are leaving, but the message that was left in the hearts of those who heard will stay forever.

My Younger Brother's Graduation

Three and a half years ago, I stepped into the stage waiting for my name to be called, so eager to receive the diploma which I have worked so hard for 5 years in college. It was such an awesome experience, knowing that I was a step closer to my dreams. I had finally closed the door of college life, and was ready to face whatever challenges my chosen career had to offer.

Last Saturday, my youngest sibling stepped into the same stage I walked through. He had that anxious look on his face, not sure if everything was true. Finally, all his efforts had paid off. After all the ups and downs that he had with his colleagues, he can finally celebrate graduation rites with his peers. He had the face of a victor, one that has failed and bounced back, tested and proven worthy of the prize that he will receive once his name is called.

At last, the long wait is over. My brother, with his right hand he received the diploma, the precious trophy which every student works so hard to obtain, a symbol of educational success and an emblem of triumph. I could see my parent's faces, bright with joy that finally, they had done an obligation that took more or less 18 years to complete. More importantly their son is finally ready to face the world.

After the graduation ceremony, we celebrated the event with food and drinks, in the company of our friends and family. Now, only one of my siblings is still left studying. Soon he too will walk through this same door. Soon enough. When that happens, the party will be grander than ours, not because he is a parent favorite, but because our parents will finally finish the role of getting us ready for the professional world, that all of us are able to stand on our own two feet. It is greater, because their children have grown into men, and no longer boys...

The Shroud of Turin: True or Fake?

The Shroud of Turin - an artifact that is believed to bear the image of the Christ. Christians revere to it as the burial cloth of Jesus of Nazareth when he was laid in his tomb. It is celebrated as a relic that shows the passion and suffering of the Savior when he died on the cross.

The authenticity of the shroud has been subject to intense debates by Catholics and people of faith, historians, and scientists. Though carbon tests performed on the shroud show that the relic is made during the medieval era, possibly between 1260 to 1390, scientists have not been able to prove how the image was left on the linen cloth.

Not until recently. An Italian scientist, Luigi Garlaschelli, has claimed that he is able to reproduce the Shroud using materials and techniques that was available in the medieval centuries.

Is the Shroud true or fake? The mysteries covering  this controversial artifact may soon be unearthed. Whatever is the conclusion to this historical question may impact the image of the Catholic Church and possibly the Christian community. But it should not in any way influence the Christian faith. It may affect the number of pilgrims that would go and see the relic, but it should not affect the growth of the Christian Church.

The Shroud, should be regarded as just another artifact. If it should be a fake, we still cannot deny the resemblance of the image left on the shroud to the popularized image of the Lord Jesus Christ,  thereby deceiving many of our fellow Christians. For whatever purposes the relic has been made, we cannot condemn the Church, only the ones that had made such a hoax. If it should be true, we can use it to remind us of the sacrifice the our Lord has made. We can use the pilgrimage to strengthen our faith.

We should not worship the cloth, just as much as we should not worship the cross. These symbolized  Christ's passion and suffering, not Jesus Christ himself. We cannot replace the person neither by his image nor his burial cloth. Only by grace can we be saved. Salvation is something only the Holy Spirit can grant us. It is not something he left us with, nor a faker, can do.

For more information, please refer to the links below.

Yahoo News: Italian scientist reproduces shroud

Wikipedia: Shroud of Turin