Free Catholic iTunes mp3s: Saint Paul was a Catholic Priest

Posted by Taylor Marshall 

G.K. Chesterton once observed that the Catholic Church has been “attacked on all sides and for all contradictory reasons. No sooner had one rationalist demonstrated that it was too far to the east than another demonstrated with equal clearness that it was much too far to the west.” The same may be said of Saint Paul. The history of heresy is essentially a series of contradictory positions, each claiming the authority of the Apostle Paul.

According to some heretics, Paul was the first corrupter of the life and doctrines of Jesus Christ. To others Paul alone preserved the true message of Christ that had been corrupted by the Twelve. Some consider Paul to have been the champion of grace, while others accuse him of yielding to the so-called Jewish legalism of Peter and James. Paul has since been accused of being too Greek, too Jewish, too gnostic, and too orthodox. 

In his own day, he was held by some to be an apostle and by others to be a heretic. Martin Luther claimed Paul’s authority, as did the Catholic Council of Trent. He has been called both a misogynist and a liberator of women. Some hail him as a proponent of freedom and others revile him for imposing rules against sexual freedom and social progress. 

Always and everywhere, Paul is pulled and tugged in opposite directions. Paul has been stretched out so thinly that his features have become faint, almost forgotten. Prophetically, Saint Peter aptly described the controversial nature of Paul’s epistles:

Also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you: As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, to their own destruction (2 Pet 3:15-16).

All the detractors of Paul stand united in their conviction that the historical Paul is certainly not the same Paul revered by the Catholic Church.There is today a deep prejudice against the so-called “Saint Paul” of the Catholic Church. They will grant that Paul was a rabbi, missionary, mystic, polemicist, author, and apostle. However, they will not grant that the man enshrined in the mosaics, statues, and stained glass of a thousand Catholic cathedrals is the Paul of history. The critics are convinced that the Catholic religion as we know it today has little to do with the historic Paul of Tarsus.

I believe that this prejudice is just that—a prejudice against a man defined by his own words. Paul is none other than a saint of the Holy Roman and Catholic Church. He spent his life wishing to bring his feet within the walls of Rome and he surrendered his head to the sword outside those very walls. 

Within his writings, we find the primitive and pristine doctrines of the Catholic Faith. We discover a Paul who is Catholic, a theologian who is sacramental, a churchman who is hierarchical, a mystic who is orthodox.

On the feast day of Saint Paul, I'd like to encourage you to listen to a series of iTunes podcasts that I did on the "Catholic Perspective on Paul." 

You can listen to them and download them FREE by clicking here.

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687.

Was Peter the "Other Man" in Rome? - A Mystery in St Paul's Romans

Posted by Taylor Marshall 

St Peter crucified upside down in Rome

Most Protestant scholars contest that Catholic claim that Saint Peter was the first bishop (pope) of Rome. They go so far as to say that Peter never even visited Rome. 

As we prepare to celebrate the feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (June 29), we should take a look at this objection.

I argue that there is plenty of evidence of Peter's presence not only in tradition, but also in Sacred Scripture. 

I refer to the mystery of the "another man" in Saint Paul's Epistle to the Romans.

[the following is a free selection from my book The Eternal City: Rome and the Origins of Catholicism]

As one reads the thirteenth chapter of Romans, one cannot help but see a concern in Paul’s mind about the tenuous state of the Roman Church in relationship to Imperial Rome. Once already the emperor had exiled all Jews from the city on account of “Chrestus" - a Roman mispronunciation of "Christus." Perhaps Paul was worried that the current emperor Nero Caesar might hear rumors that “Chrestus” was once again stirring up rebellion in the imperial city—this time not only among the Jews but also among the non-Jews. Paul therefore exhorts the Roman Christians to “be subject to the governing authorities,” and to honor the Roman Caesar in things pertaining to civic duties (Rom 13:3-7).

It may seem rather odd that Paul does not mention Peter’s name in his Epistle to the Romans. Protestant scholars are quick to use Peter’s absence in the Epistle to prove Peter’s absence in Rome, with an argument such as this: “If Peter had practiced his apostolic ministry in Rome, Paul would have referred to it. Since Paul did not mention Peter’s apostolic ministry in Rome, it must be the case that Peter had not been in Rome.”

Contrary to this claim let me affirm that Paul did in fact refer to Peter in his Epistle to the Romansthough not by name. This should not come as a surprise to us because Paul elsewhere avoids the proper names of important people. This is the “principle of anonymity”. The New Testament authors show a general reluctance to name names concerning certain subjects. 

The general pattern found in the New Testament is that if anything relates to the Roman Empire, do not be specific. This was a way to protect the Church from imperial persecution. Thus Rome is referred to as “Babylon” and “another place” and “the Beast”. For example, in his Epistle to the Romans, the Apostle refers to Nero Caesar a number of times, but not once does he refer to Nero by name. Paul refers to Nero repeatedly as an “authority”, “ruler”, “servant of God”, and even as a “minister” (Rom 13:2-6). Anyone who knows the diabolical character of Nero, may be surprised by these flattering titles, but there is no doubt that Paul speaks of the current emperor of his day—Nero Caesar.

In a similar fashion, Paul refers to Peter as the mysterious and apostolic “other man” of the Church of Rome. Paul states that “another man” has already laid the foundation of the Church of Rome. Paul further explains why he has not yet come to Rome: “I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on the foundation of another man” (Rom 15:20-21). The implication is that Paul has no need to come to Rome because “another man” has already built the foundation of the Church in Rome. 

The sufficiency of this other man’s Apostleship is manifest by Paul’s doctrine that the Apostles are the only men capable of laying the foundation of the Church in Christ (Gal 1:11-24). Thus, Paul had no desire to establish the Church in Rome because he saw the Church of Rome as perfectly established by “another man” with Apostolic credentials. 

Tradition identifies this “other man” as none other than Peter himself. This would explain the rather obscure reason given by Paul for his being “hindered very much” from coming to Rome (Rom 15:22). Paul was aware of his controversial status in the Church. If the Jews of Rome were rioting because of Peter, Paul would have driven them into hysteria! It would not have been appropriate for Paul to go to Rome. Paul’s affirmation that Rome is fully established under Apostolic authority is seen in his desire merely “to pass through” Rome and “enjoy your company for a little” as he travels to Spain (Rom 15:24).

Do you want to learn more about the little known historical and theological claims of the Catholic Church about Rome? 

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687.

A paradise within a paradise

Panglao Island in Bohol gets its first taste of five-star luxury with the opening of The Bellevue Resort

By Liza Ilarde

Published: June 25, 2013

Fancy a swim? Take your pick from the infinity pool or the big blue ocean

What do you look for in a resort before you even consider booking a stay there? Luxurious suites? Big bathrooms? Exquisite views? Great service? Lots of food choices? WiFi everywhere? 

These days, with all the choices that we're given, those requirements are not difficult to fulfill. But what I'm realizing is becoming just as important is, is it Instagrammable? 

Recently, there was one resort that constantly filled my Instagram feed and that made me so envious of people who had been there: The Bellevue Resort in Panglao Island, Bohol.

Mind you, Panglao Island in itself is a gem. 

I had been there several times and even enjoyed bar-hopping along Alona Beach, which is dotted with rustic resorts that come alive with music, dancing, and drinking when the sun goes down. 

But if you want to experience something more luxe, away from the noise and crowd, but with the same beautiful beach—white sand, turquoise waters, snorkeling/diving haven—then The Bellevue Resort is the new alternative. 

Quietly tucked away at Doljo Beach, located at the southwestern tip of Panglao, it has the advantage of being miles away from the busier northern part of the island.

After 20-30 minutes of driving through the charming provincial roads from Tagbilaran Airport, once you veer right into the driveway of the resort, you are immediately transported into another world that most people did not even know existed on this tropical island—a paradise within a paradise, if you will. What first struck me was the open-plan design of the lobby, where wind from every direction easily flows through, making it cool and breezy. Then there it was—the cluster of huge basket-weave pendant lamps hanging from the high ceiling that has been Instagrammed to death. And which triggered my envy!

But that now-distinct feature of The Bellevue Resort was just the beginning. Because looking past the lobby, past the lawn, and past the infinity pool was the ocean—crystal clear waters beckoning you to dive in, dotted with bancas waiting to take you island hopping. But first, I had to check in.

Here's a tip: If the view from your room is important to you, request for an ocean view. For a lot of people, though, it isn't, because most of their time anyway is spent outside the room, which is just for sleeping—if this is you, then you wouldn't mind the view that looks into the neighbor's garden or garage (a residential area surrounds part of the resort). Personally, I like a good view because I keep my curtains open all the time, even at night, so I was happy with my ocean-view room that even had a little balcony.

I had a Deluxe Room, which is their basic room, but I would hardly call it basic! It's very spacious at 41-45 square meters (size depends on the location within the resort) with enough room for a queen-size bed, day bed, coffee table, huge closet, and one wall fully mounted with a table for a desk, dresser, and, of course, the wide-screen TV. 

And did I mention the generous space allotted for the bathroom? You could throw a party in there! (Bigger groups or those who just want even more space can opt for the Junior Suite, the Premiere Suite, the Bellevue Suite, the Presidential Suite, or the Chairman's Suite, located at the very top of the resort and has a fabulous 360° view of the entire Panglao Island!)

A leisurely walk around the resort allowed me to explore the food options and plan my meals. Breakfast will be at Lamian, with buffets that make you spoiled for choice. Lunch will be at Marea, al fresco dining that specializes in seafood, located within a giant two-level nipa hut facing the beach. Happy hour will be at Flujo, a sunken bar and lounge just off the lobby, where you can watch the sun set or stargaze. And just my luck, my visit was timed with the formal launch of The Bellevue Pavilion, a 700-square-meter, fully air-conditioned tent they built for events, such as corporate conferences or wedding receptions (see sidebar). So a special dinner was set up at the tent, and then an after-party complete with bar, band, and fireworks right on the main lawn of the resort. Needless to say, it was a late night...

For activities other than eating, you can arrange with the concierge for other fun stuff to do—water activities, island hopping, city tour—or book a relaxing treatment at their newly opened spa, Azurea Spa. Or, if you're a stressed-out working stiff from the city like me, just plant your butt on one of the chaise lounges by the shore, order a cocktail, and watch the sun slowly go down. Spectacular, spectacular.

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687.

Being Selfish and the New Evangelization

Posted by Taylor Marshall 

Sometimes you meet someone and you sense right away that they want something from you. They are "takers." On the other hand, sometimes you meet someone who is genuine. We enjoy meeting that singular person who is truly generous. 

We like to be around people who are generous. People who are giving more than they get. Generous people are absolutely irresistible! 

Did you know that the only saying of Jesus Christ preserved outside the Gospels is from Acts 20:35: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Stay with me here, but I'm going to jump over to the "New Evangelization." I've expressed before that I'm concerned about the way "New Evangelization" is being degraded into a mere slogan. It's on the banner of every Catholic meeting, conference, and magazine, but few of us can articulate it.

Back in 1990, Pope John Paul II issued his encyclicalRedemptoris Missio, which clarified that a "New Evangelization" would not proclaim new content or a new Gospel. Rather, it would be new in "methods, ardor, and expression."

We often speak about methods and ardor. Are you "on fire"? Are you "passionate" about Christ? We like techniques. We like talking about ourselves.

Perhaps we should start focusing on the expression of generosity. How do we express the Gospel in public? Expression entails the "other." Expression scares us because it involves engaging the person who doesn't want to be "evangelized."

Which raises a question: Do other people think that Christians are generous? Or do they think that we're takers?

When they meet a Christian, do their shields go up? "Uh oh, she wants something from me. She wants me to convert. She wants to make me pray with her. She wants me to tell her friends she shared Christ with someone on the airplane. Uh oh, she wants to push her rosaries on my ovaries."

I get the sense that non-Christians believe that we're takers, not givers. The only way to change this impression is to begin making deposits in others. Bake a pie for a non-believer. Loan him your weedwacker. Better yet, mow his yard. Be real. Be authentic. Be generous.

Sometimes we think like this: "Oh, if I do X, Y, and Z for my neighbor Pagan Jimmy, then he'll feel obligated to go to church with me or listen to me talk about God." If you're thinking quid pro quo, you're off base. 

The Gospel has never been a tit for a tat...

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687.

China Bank offers new investment product

By Doris C. Dumlao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

 11 82 25

AFP file photo

Tycoon Henry Sy-led China Bank has unveiled a new unit investment trust fund (UITF) that will invest in a portfolio of select equities, targeting investors with higher risk appetite and a longer investment horizon.

In a statement, the bank said it had rolled out China Bank Equity Fund, its fifth UITF offering, “as part of its continued efforts to provide a comprehensive range of investment solutions to its clients.”

Classified as an “equity fund,” up to 90 percent of funds held will be invested in select equities listed at the local bourse. The balance will be invested in short-term tradable fixed-income securities and bank deposits to support liquidity and redemption requirements.

“With the generally bullish prospects portended for the Philippine economy, and by extension to the various companies listed in the domestic stock exchange, China Bank Equity Fund is an excellent opportunity for investors to participate in the bullish Philippine equities market and earn potentially higher returns,” said China Bank senior vice president and head of trust group Rene Sarmiento.

Available at all China Bank branches nationwide, the bank said the fund was for clients with an “aggressive” investor risk profile or those who are willing to stay invested in the fund for, at least, and accept a greater level of risks, such as the volatility of returns and possible erosion of principal.

“By assuming a longer investment horizon, the investor will be in a better position to weather short-term volatility that may be encountered by the fund due to changes in prevailing market conditions, and thus enjoy the potential benefits of capital appreciation and favorable long-term returns,” the bank said.

The minimum investment is P50,000 and the minimum holding period is 30 days. Once opened, regular additional contributions can be made in minimum amounts of P10,000.

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687.

Christian Courtesy & the Fountain of Life

Posted by Taylor Marshall 

I’m sitting in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport right now. I'm on my way to Denver to speak at the Catholic Media Conference.

I just successfully finished dodging through the TSA labyrinth of pain. My belt and shoes are back on now. I've collected my accouterments. I am struck by how inhumanely the TSA workers treat us, and how inhumanely the flyers treat the TSA workers in return. 

It’s a ping pong match of disrespect. 

Then, I go to purchase a green tea. Again, the customers in line are cold to the coffee bar workers. An alien might assume that the customers are being forced to buy something they don't want from people they don't like. The coffee bar workers are doing their best to smile and take orders. 

When I make my order, I try a little experiment. I say, “Good morning ma’am, may I please have a green tea and a bottled water. Thank you. I appreciate it. Have a nice day.”

A smile and some personal friendliness immediately transform the ladies behind the counter. To give them a smile and something personal was like giving a Route 44 Sonic Ocean Water to a man dying of thirst in an Arab desert. A smile can be a fountain of life. Oh, and unlike my comrades in line, I actually received shiny happy service from the ladies behind the counter.

It feels good to be courteous. I wish I had seasoned the TSA workers with a little smile and a kind word. Maybe even a “God bless you.”

Call it the theology of working your way through an airport. Shouldn’t we Christians be courteous? We speak a lot about the theology of the human body and the dignity of human life. Shouldn’t we also show courtesy to the TSA and the coffee workers? Shouldn't "smiling" be part of the theology of the body? The face is the mirror of the soul. It should be that people everywhere implicitly know, “Christians have joy. I like them. Maybe I'll become one of them?”

Godspeed,

Taylor

PS: This is completely unrelated. I just now saw at the airport newsstand a magazine (the Atlantic) cover-title that reads “What Straights Can Learn From Gay-Couples: Why Homosexuals have Happier and More Meaningful Relationships Than Heterosexuals.” Something like that. The media war is on. They won’t stop until they have full victory. Keep Calm and Keep Scapulars On...

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687.

The War is in Your Soul - An Enemy Within

Posted by Taylor Marshall 

Who is your greatest enemy? The friend who hurt you so badly years ago? Someone who persecutes you? The government? The devil?

Let me suggest that your greatest enemy is yourself. God made you to be with Him forever. Your divinely appointed destiny is to enter eternal bliss and be perfectly happy for ever.

But there is only one person in the world that can lose that for you. Only one person can forfeit eternal beatitude: You.

It's more than that. Which voice tells you that you're a failure? Tells you that people will laugh at you.?Tells you that you cannot succeed? Tells you that you're no good. Tells you that you're a loser? Tells you that your ideas are worthless? Tells you that people don't love you? Tells you that God doesn't love you?

Chances are, the voice that speaks that way most often and the loudest is not your boss, spouse, or enemy. It's the voice in your head. You are your own worst critic. We often do the devil's work for him freely.

Thanks to Adam and Eve, there is a battle raging inside of all of us. I feel it. You feel it. Almost 2,000 years ago Saint Paul described it like this:

“I find then a law, that when I have a will to do good, evil is present with me. For I am delighted with the law of God, according to the inward man: But I see another law in my members, fighting against the law of my mind and captivating me in the law of sin that is in my members.” (Romans 7:21–23, D-R)

So what's the answer? How do we battle this enemy ofconcupiscence within? Saint Paul explains:

“But in all these things we overcome, because of Him that hath loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor might, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37–39, D-R)

The answer is "because of Him that have loved us." Nothing can separate us form that infinite love. Yes, you can resist and squander that gift. The rejection of divine love is called mortal sin. We're in mortal combat with ourselves. At the end of time, we'll look back and see that the battle was not chiefly against Satan or evil governments. The battle is within. It's against yourself.

Whatever you do, don't panic. God wants you to be saved (1 Tim 2:4), and He's doing everything possible for you. He loves you!!! Here's Saint Paul's advice for the inner battle:

“Watch ye: stand fast in the faith: do manfully and be strengthened. Let all your things be done in charity.” (1 Corinthians 16:13–14, D-R)

Don't give up. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687.

Why Did God Give the Rosary? Answer from Saint Pio and Bl John Paul II

Posted by Taylor Marshall 

The Catholic Church has only known the Rosary for about 800 years. The fifteen mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary were given by Our Lady to Saint Dominic. 

[Please read my article: "How Our Lady Gave the Rosary to Saint Dominic"]

Since then the Catholic Church has encouraged all the faithful to pray the Rosary.

Padre Pio once said:

“Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.”

And only two weeks after his election to the See of Peter, Pope John Paul II frankly admitted:

 “The Rosary is my favourite prayer. A marvellous prayer! Marvellous in its simplicity and its depth.

Now consider this. Saint Francis of Assisi did not have the Rosary. Neither did Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, nor Saint Anselm, nor Saint Bede, nor Saint Gregory, nor Saint Benedict, nor Saint Augustine, nor Irenaeus, and not even the Holy Apostles.

The Holy Rosary is relatively new. And yet I am convinced that it is absolutely essential for our time. The "newness" of the Rosary reveals that the last 800 years of Church History has required a new weapon.

The Blessed Virgin Mary gave us a Scriptural weapon. She asked Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan that there be 150 Hail Mary's said in honor of the 150 Psalms. Also, she provided 15 biblical mysteries from the life of Christ for us to meditate upon. The whole arrangement is Our Lady's homage to Sacred Scripture. The 150 Hail Mary's were broken up into 15 "decades" of ten Hail Mary's. In this way, we can experience the biblical mysteries of her Son's life.

But why? Why did Heaven come up with this plan with beads and mysteries?

In many ways, the 1200s were the high point of Christian civilization. It was the era of Saint Thomas Aquinas and King Saint Louis of France. Since then, it's been a bumpy ride. The Rosary has been the chain or the seat belt that we need in these times of turbulence.

We need Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Rosary is a tangible sign that we are connected to Him. When I touch my Rosary, I know that Mary is connecting me to her Son. Jesus became human through Mary and that human connection is found there with her.

I'd really encourage you to pray the Rosary every day for the rest of your life. Make it part of your daily routine. It should be more important than brushing your teeth or checking your email. Praying the Rosary only takes 2% of your day. 15-20 minutes. Be a 2-percenter! Pray the Rosary daily. It will give your soul peace. You'll learn more about yourself and about God. You will got lost in the rhythm of the prayer and discover yourself with Jesus. It's truly beautiful!

ad Jesum per Mariam,

Taylor

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687.

Why the Word Matrimony, Not Marriage, is Better

Posted by Taylor Marshall 

Those seeking to redefine marriage are making great gains against the perennial doctrine of matrimony found in nature, Scripture, and Tradition. 

As we discussed in a previous post, the architects of culture always begin with the battle of language. This is a philosophical strategy. 

When we change the way we speak, we change our ideas. Changes in our ideas lead to changes in our actions.

words > ideas > actions

This corresponds to the moral capacity of man. After all, we can sin in "thought, word, and deed."

We've taken a big hit with the coinage of the phrase "marriage equality." This means that those that don't approve of homosexual "marriage" are against equality. 

Imagine someone at a cocktail party asks you, "Are you in favor of marriage equality?" What do you say? Are you against equality?!

It's like the question, "Have you stopped beating your wife?" There is no satisfactory way to answer that question.

Okay, so here's what you do in that situation. Change the word. Go with matrimony. 

Matrimony comes from the Latin matrimonium. It is a compound of two words: mater meaning "mother" and the suffix monium signifying "action, state, or condition."

Matrimony refers to the conception of babies in the mother's womb. The very word refers to the primary use of holy matrimony. 

We must stress that matrimony is an institution for having babies. Traditionally, the ceremony for matrimony symbolized and focused on this reality.

As matrimony became sterile through a contraceptive mentality over the last 50 years, homosexual unions (100% biologically sterile) became fully acceptable. 

So stress matrimony. Use that word and explain to people what it means. Matrimony entails motherhood!

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09164422611/09173373687.

Why God is Father, not Mother

Posted by Taylor Marshall 

Why do we say, "Our Father" and not "Our Mother"? God the Father, it would seem, does not have sexual organs of gender. Why then is He God the Father?

Lately, we have been exploring the way the culture of death manipulates the words of our language to gain ground in the culture war. So far, we've looked at Enlightenment use of the term "individual" and then, more recently, the phrases "gay marriage" and "marriage equality."

We are observing the careful strategy to strip "personhood" away from what it means to be human. Ultimately, this is a demonic attempt to undermine the way we know God as Father.

Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed God as His Father. Christ's mission, among other things, was to reveal that God could become our Father and so He taught us to pray "Our Father."

The Fatherhood of God goes back to the Old Testament: "He shall cry out to me: Thou art my Father." (Psalm 88:27)

But why is God "Our Father" and not "Our Mother"?

Sacred Scripture does use maternal language God. The Prophet Isaiah reveals:

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Isa 49:15), and "As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you" (Isa 66:13).

These are metaphors of God's tender mercy and compassion. Many have argued that passages like this prove that God is equally "Our Mother." Is this the case? Scripture and Tradition answer in the negative.

Here's the answer briefly. God created us male and female. Just like the rest of the animal kingdom, we humans are male and female. The Bible associates man with the actualizing power of the divine and the woman with the receptive power of the creation. 

The marriage of a man and woman signifies the sacramental union of the uncreated God with creatures. When a husband enters the bride, a new life springs forth. When God enters creation, the Life  of the World springs forth. The Incarnation of Christ is revealed.

This is why nature, creation, and the Church are always feminine. We speak of Mother Nature, Mother Earth, and Mother Church. These signify the receptive womb or matrix awaiting divine life.

This is also why Saint Paul associates the rejection of God with homosexual behavior (gay and lesbian) in the first chapter of his Epistle to the Romans:

“Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause, God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature. And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts, one towards another: men with men, working that which is filthy and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error.” (Romans 1:25–27, D-R)

Whenever we reject the sacramental vision of God as life giving Groom and creation as receptive Bride - when we mix that up - homosexuality is the result. The way we think leads to the way we act.

If sexuality does not have a divine signification pointing toward human salvation and felicity, then it loses all meaning.

Godspeed,

Taylor

PS: This is another reason why we must continue to employ the language of "Mother Church" and encourage true devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is the archetype for the Church and for all creation. She is the perfectly receptive woman. Yet another reason why she is sinless and without stain. The pinacle of true femininity. 

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Kalanggaman Island had 13,000 visitors in summer

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Friday, June 14, 2013

ALMOST 13,000 domestic and foreign tourists have visited Kalanggaman islet, the jewel destination of Palompon, Leyte during the summer months of April and May.

In an interview with Raoul Bacalla of the municipal eco-tourism office, he said the arrivals last April for domestic tourists were 5,474 and 485 foreign. In the month of May, there were 7,143 recorded tourist arrivals composing of 6,569 domestic and 574 foreign tourists, he said.

The island beckons with its unspoiled setting with azure waters, fine white sand, and sand bars at the eastern and western side.

Last month, the Cosmopolitan Philippines magazine had its pictorial in the island which will be published on its July or August issue.

Famous couturier, Dennis Andrade, brought along his models to the island for a photo shoot. He said he has been to the island a couple of times relaxing with friends. “You forget your worries away when you are in the island,” Andrade said.

Architect friends from Manila who visited the island for the first time were in awe. They chorused that Kalanggaman is a photographer’s haven and a must visit.

“We are happy with this development especially Mayor Ramon Oñate for our tourism industry, but as much as we want to, we can only accommodate 500 tourists a day in the island for security and safety reasons,” Bacalla said.

The eco-tourism office has also augmented the number of personnel in-charge of maintaining cleanliness in the island. “We added five staff of the existing personnel in the island. We want to show to our tourists that we are serious in protecting the ecological aspect of Kalanggaman for them to enjoy its beauty for years to come,” Bacalla said.

Last May 1, when M/S Bremen of Hapag Lloyd Shipping Liner anchored in the island, it earned P64,000 entrance fees from 124 foreign tourists on board.

During the visit of M/S Europa, the first luxury cruise ship that anchored offshore in Kalanggaman, the local government unit of Palompon got a whopping P164,000 entrance fees from nearly 400 European tourists.(Leyte Samar Daily Express)

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