Christmas Midnight Mass: Christ the Priest, the Victim, the Bread of Life

CHRISTMAS MASS AT MIDNIGHT 2017

YEAR OF THE CLERGY AND CONSECRATED PERSONS

DECEMBER 25, 2017

Jesus, I trust in you!

Our Parish Belen for 2017

Tonight we return to Bethlehem as Joseph and Mary did as they sought to comply with the worldwide census declared by Augustus Caesar. They had to return to the city of David because Joseph was of the House of David. It was necessary for the Messiah to be born in the city of David because he is Son of David, the legitimate heir to the throne of his royal ancestor. But there is another reason for the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The name “Bethlehem” means “house of bread.” Bethlehem is the fitting birth place for Jesus who is the Bread of Life. In fact the sign which the angels gave the shepherds was that of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying on a manger. The manger is the receptacle of animal food. On it is placed the hay for the feeding of the ox and the donkey and even of the sheep. The new-born baby of Mary was laid on a manger not because the hay was soft but because Mary’s child is our food: “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. The food that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

It is rather remarkable that we celebrate today the birth of the Son of God in the flesh. And later on, he shall give his flesh as food for the life of the world. We cannot deny the Eucharistic character of this Holy Day that we are celebrating tonight. It is called “Christmas” and its name is derived from two words: Christ and Mass. The Church, even from ancient times, has understood the mystery of Christ’s Incarnation in the mystery of the Eucharist. In fact, St. John Paul II himself said that the Eucharist is the continuation of the mystery of the Incarnation to our times.

And it is in this light that we have a renewed appreciation of the mystery of the Priesthood. We are celebrating this Christmas in the Year of the Clergy and the Consecrated People. As Mary brought forth the birth in the flesh of God the Son, so also the priest, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority of the words of Christ, brings about the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. The Mass, presided by the priest, is not only our encounter with the Paschal Mystery. It is also our encounter with the mystery of the Incarnation: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. The Incarnation took place in Mary’s womb. The Transubstantiation takes place in the hands of the priest. The priest may not be as pure and sinless as the Virgin Mary. But nevertheless, the Son of God humbles himself to take flesh in the bread and wine offered on the altar during Mass.

In fact, we cannot miss the fact that the angels appeared to shepherds who were keeping watch over their flock at night. The sheep they were tending were the Awassi sheep, the only breed of sheep that is indigenous in Israel. The Awassi sheep breed in the summer and drop lambs in the winter. Thus, in Israel, the principal lambing season runs from December to January. These shepherds to whom the angels appeared were Levitical shepherds who were tasked to keep watch over the temple flock. The reason why the shepherds kept watch at night was that they were attending to the dropping of the lambs. Once a lamb is dropped, they bring it into the cave where it is wrapped in swaddling clothes to keep it from being injured at birth. The lambs they watch over were destined to be the Passover lambs that are supposed to be unblemished. Thus, the shepherds understood what the angel’s message meant: the one born on this night is the unblemished Lamb of God who would be sacrificed on Passover. Christ born today is not only the Bread of Life. He is also the Paschal Lamb, the Victim who would render God the most perfect and the highest act of worship. This Lamb of God is also the High Priest of the new covenant. Being the first-born of creation, he is the head of the household who offers the sacrifice of the family of humankind. He will offer not the blood of animals or of other human beings. He will offer his own flesh and his own blood for the redemption of the world.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us not look at him simply as a cute new-born infant. The one who rests on the manger is the Bread of Life. The one who is wrapped in swaddling clothes is the unblemished Lamb of God. The first-born of Mary is the first-born of creation, the High Priest of the new covenant. This great mystery is renewed every day during Mass. In the Mass, the priest acts in the person of Christ the High Priest. In his hands the incarnation takes place so that the Lamb of God may be offered to the Father and he be returned to us as the Bread of Life that we must eat to enter into communion with God and so receive access to the Divine Life. Truly, this is Christ’s Mass where Jesus comes both as Priest and Victim. Come, let us adore him.   

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Simbang Gabi 6 (Fatima Centennial): Eucharist

Jesus, I trust in you!

Mary went in haste to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant (John the Baptist) leaped in her womb and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.” It was truly a blessed encounter because both Elizabeth and her unborn baby John were sanctified by the Holy Spirit and this brought joy to both of them. What could be the reason for such joy and for such blessing? The reason is the hidden presence of the Lord Jesus who, at that time, was already in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Our Lady did not visit on her own accord. Rather, she brought to them Jesus. He is the lover referred to by the first reading: Hark! My lover – here he comes…here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows… Little did the Virgin Mary know that she was the tabernacle in whom God dwelt. Wherever she went, she brought the Lord Jesus with her. From within Mary’s womb, the Lord Jesus blessed and bestowed the Holy Spirit.

When Our Lady appeared to the children at Fatima, she said, “To prevent this (war, famine, persecution of the Church), I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the first Saturdays.” Necessary to living the Fatima message is Eucharistic reparation. The Blessed Virgin wants us to receive Holy Communion on the first Saturday of the month in reparation for the sins of mankind. On the third angelic apparition to the children in 1916, the angel prostrated himself before the Blessed Sacrament and after reciting a prayer of reparation “for the countless outrages, sacrileges, and indifferences” committed against the Eucharist, he urged the children to “make reparation and console your God.” After this, the children would spend many hours daily repeating the prayer taught by the angel and Eucharistic reparation became part of their lives.

The 1^st apparition of Our Lady of Fatima occurred on May 13, 1917, the Feast of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament. When she opened her hands on the children and communicated to them streams of intense light, the children were overwhelmed and they felt “lost in God” whom they recognized in that light. So, the children prostrated on the ground in adoration and poured out their praise of the Blessed Sacrament.

Our Lady asked that we receive Holy Communion on the 1^st Saturday of every month. The angel in 1916, gave Holy Communion to the children. He said: “Receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by ungrateful men. Make reparation and console your God.” The angel was referring to sacrilegious Communions, the desecration of tabernacles and the violation of the Sacred Hosts which occur with frightening frequency throughout the world today. Besides these heinous crimes against the Blessed Sacrament, there is also the lapse of millions of our fellow Catholics to atone for. So many Catholics no longer receive Holy Communion. We must also make amends for the repeated violation of the 3^rd Commandment: “You shall keep the day of the Lord holy.” On September 19, 1846, Our Lady appeared to 2 children in the village of La Sallete in France. There, she expressed her sorrow: “I gave you six days to work; I kept the seventh for myself, and no one wishes to grant it to me. This is what weighs down the arm of my Son so much.” That was in 1846, 170 years ago and the indifference to the Sunday Mass has worsened since then.       

Even when she was quite ill, little Jacinta would drag herself to daily Mass in the parish church of Fatima. Sometimes, Lucia would restrain her but she would answer: “I’m going for sinners who do not even go to Mass on Sundays.” If a sick little girl could do this, why can’t we?

It is a pity that we fail to understand how much joy the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament could give us. If only we could experience what the children experienced when they were lost in the presence of God. The presence of Christ in the womb of Mary bought joy to both Elizabeth and John the Baptist. It is the same joy that is bestowed on anyone who receives communion or at least draws near the tabernacle. Many people simply do not know what they are missing. Many of us fail to recognize Jesus who is really present Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus is the joy desired by the human heart.

In this Christmas season, let us put the Mass at the center of the holy Day. The Festival is called Christmas…the Mass of Christ. The Mass is the center of Christmas because the Eucharist is the continuation of the Incarnation. Here, Christmas takes place anew: the Word becomes flesh. In this Christmas during the Centennial of Fatima, let us make a firm resolve to receive Communion every 1^st Saturday of the month in reparation for the sins of men. The Lord wants to be consoled by us in this way. Let us give him joy and allow him to give us joy so that our joy may be complete.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Tunay na Katawan at Dugo ni Kristo

Hesus, nananalig ako sa iyo!

Walang kaduda-duda na lubhang napakalinaw, klarong klaro, ang sinabi ni Hesus kung ano ba itong pagkain na ibinibigay niya para sa ikabubuhay ng mundo. Ito ay walang iba kundi ang kanyang laman. Ano daw? Laman daw? Sa sobrang linaw ng kanyang sinabi, nagtalo ang mga nakikinig sa kanya. Hindi nila pinagtalunan kung totoong narinig nila na laman daw ni Hesus ang kanyang ipakakain. Ang pinagtalunan nila ay “Paanong maibibigay sa atin ng taong ito ang kanyang laman upan kanin natin?”  At para maging maliwanag sa lahat, apat na ulit na ginamit ni Hesus ang mga salitang laman at dugo: 1. Malibang kanin ninyo ang laman ng Anak ng Tao ay inumin ang kanyang dugo, hindi kayo magkakaroon ng buhay; 2. Ang kumakain ng aking laman at umiinom ng aking dugo ay may buhay na walang hanggan; 3. Ang aking laman ay tunay na pagkain, at ang aking dugo ay tunay na inumin; 4. Ang kumakain ng aking laman at umiinom ng aking dugo ay nananahan sa akin, at ako sa kanya.

Malinaw na malinaw na “ang tinapay at alak ay nagiging katawan at dugo ni Kristo kaya masasabi na si Hesus ay tunay na naririto sa sakramento.” (CCC, 1375) Itinuro ni San Juan Chrysostomo: “Hindi ang tao ang nagdudulot ng pagbabago kaya ang iniaalay ay nagiging katawan at dugo ni Kristo. Ang nagdudulot ng pagbabagong ito ay mismong si Kristo na ipinako para sa atin. Ang pari na gumaganap sa papel ni Kristo ang siyang bumibigkas ng mga salitang ito, subalit ang kapangyarihan at biyaya ay sa Diyos. Ito ang aking katawan, ang wika niya. Ang salitang ito ang nagdudulot ng pagbabago sa mga alay.” Sa kapangyarihan ng Espiritu Santo at sa bisa ng salita ni Kristo, ang tinapay at alak na dinala sa altar ay nagiging katawan at dugo ni Hesus. Ang katawan at dugo, pati na ang kaluluwa at pagkaDiyos ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo ay tunay na tinataglay ng kabanal-banalang sakramento ng Eukaristiya. Sa madaling salita, ang buong Kristo ay tunay na nilalaman ng sakramentong ito. (CCC, 1374) Bagama’t hindi nagbabago ang anyo ng tinapay at alak, nagbabago ang kalikasan nito: ito ay nagiging katawan at dugo ni Hesus. Buong buo si Hesus sa bawat uri (species) at bahagi ng banal na Sakramentio. Kahit hatihatiin pa ang anyong tinapay, hindi nahahati si Kristo. (CCC, 1376) Kung paanong naroroon si Hesus noong pinanganak siya sa Batlehem, kung paanong naroroon siya noong namatay siya sa Kalbaryo, kung paanong naroroon siya at naghahari sa langit,  sa Misa, tunay na naririto si Hesus sa anyo ng tinapay at alak. Naririto si Hesus upang ialay niya ang kanyang sarili bilang kalugod lugod na handog sa Diyos Ama. Naririto si Hesus upang makuha niya para sa atin ang kapatawaran ng ating mga kasalanan. Naririto si Hesus upang makamit niya para sa atin ang lahat ng pagpapala at biyaya. Sa madaling salita, naririto si Hesus upang maidulot niya sa atin ang mga bunga ng kanyang kamatayan at muling pagkabuhay.

Kaya nga nakapagbibigay ng buhay na walang hanggan ang sakramentong ito sa sinumang tatanggap nito ay sapagkat ang kinakain at iniinom natin ay si Hesus, ang Diyos Anak. Ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit buong paggalang natin tinatanggap siya sa banal na Misa. Hindi pangkaraniwang pagkain, hindi ordinaryong pagkain at inumin ang iniaalay at pinagsasaluhan natin sa Misa kundi ang katawan at dugo ni Kristo. Huwag natin pagdudahan ito dahil ang mismong nagsabi na kinakain at iniinom natin ang kanyang laman at dugo ay walang iba kundi si Hesus. Hindi siya marunong magsinungaling. Hindi siya maaring magkamali dahil siya ang Daan, ang Katotohanan, at ang Buhay.  

Ave Maria Purissima, sin pecado concebida!

Ang Halaga ng palagiang Pagsisimba

Hesus, nananalig ako sa iyo.

“Kumain siya at uminom at siya’y lumakas” – ito ang sinabi ng unang pagbasa tungkol kay Profeta Elias na sa simula’y halos mawalan na ng pag-asa dahil sa matinding pagod na kanyang nadama sa kanyang mahabang paglalakbay. Pinakain siya at pinainom ng isang anghel at dahil dito, nakapaglakbay pa siya nang mahaba patungo sa Horeb, ang bundok ng Panginoon. Kung paanong nagdulot ng pambihirang lakas kay Elias ang ipinakain at ipinainom sa kanya ng anghel, gayon din ang idinudulot ng pagkaing ibinibigay ng Panginoong Hesus sa atin: “Ang sinumang kumain ng pagkaing bumaba mula sa langit ay hindi mamamatay. Ako ang pagkaing bumaba mula sa langit. Mabubuhay magpakailan man ang sinumang kumain nito. At ang pagkaing ibibigay ko sa ikabubuhay ng sanlibutan ay ang aking laman.”

Pinalalakas tayo ng kinakain natin. Pinapawi nito ang ating gutom at uhaw hanggang sa susunod na kainan. Dahil batid natin ang kapakinabangang dulot ng pagkain at inumin kaya tinitiyak nating hindi tayo lumiliban sa oras ng pagkain…hindi tayo nagpapalipas ng gutom. Subalit kay dali para sa atin ang isantabi ang pagtanggap ng banal na Komunyon! Palibhasa, hindi natin kaagad agad nakikita ang idinudulot nitong pakinabang sa atin. Parang walang naidudulot na mabuti para sa atin ang pagtanggap sa katawan ni Kristo. At dito tayo nagkakamali. Sa oras ng ating kamatayan, matutuklasan natin ang maraming kabutihan na idinulot sa atin ng mga banal na Misa na ating dinaluhan. Sa oras ng ating kamatayan, ang mga Misa na taos puso nating dinaluhan ang siyang magdudulot sa atin ng aliw at pag-asa. Ang isang Misang dinaluhan natin habang nabubuhay tayo ay higit na makakatulong sa atin sa oras ng ating kamatayan kaysa maraming mga pamisang iaalay para sa atin matapos nating pumanaw.

Sinabi ng ating Panginoon kay Santa Gertrudes: “Makatitiyak ang sinumang taimtim na dumalo sa banal na Misa na ang dami ng mga Santo na isusugo ko sa kanya upang aliwin at ipagtanggol siya sa oras ng kamatayan ay magiging kasukat ng dami ng mga Misang taimtim niyang dinaluhan sa buong buhay niya.” Huwag nating kalilimutan na ang oras ng ating kamatayan ang magiging pinakamalaking laban natin sa buhay. Sa oras na iyon, ibubuhos ni Satanas ang lahat ng nalalaman niyang panlilinlang upang makuha niya ang ating kaluluwa. Kaya nga kakailanganin natin ang lahat ng makalangit na tulong para ipag-adya tayo mula sa lahat ng masama dahil diyan nakasalalay ang ating kaligtasan.

Sinabi ni San Juan Maria Vianney: “Kung nalalaman lamang natin ang halaga ng Banal na Misa, tiyak na magsusumikap tayo na dumalo at makinabang tayo dito.” At sinabi pa ni San Pedro Julian Eymard: “Kilalanin mo, O Kristiyano, na ang Misa ang pinakabanal na gawain ng Relihiyon. Wala kang magagawang anupaman upang higit na purihin ang Panginoon o higit na tulungan mo ang iyong kaluluwa  kaysa taimtim na pagdalo sa Misa.” Kaya nga nararapat lamang na ituring nating mapalad tayo tuwing may pagkakataon tayong makadalo sa Misa. Si Santa Maria Goretti, isang labindalawang taong gulang na bata, ay naglakad ng labinglimang milya para lang makapagsimba sa araw ng Linggo. Si Padre Pio ay nagdiwang ng Misa kahit na siya’y nilalagnat at dinudugo. Sa ating sariling buhay, dapat nating ituring ang banal na Misa na mas mahalaga kaysa iba pang mga bagay. Sabi ni San Bernardo: “Higit na pakikinabangan natin ang pagdalo sa isang Misa kaysa anupamang kawanggawa o paglalakbay sa buong mundo para lamang marating ang mga banal na lugar.” Dapat unahin natin ang pagsisimba kaysa iba pang mga libangan na pinag-aaksayahan natin ng oras ngunit hindi naman nakatutulong sa ating kaluluwa. (Nauubos ang oras mo sa COC…matutulungan ka ba niyan sa oras ng iyong kamatayan? Mabibigyan ka ba niyan ng buhay na walang hanggan?) Matuto tayong maglaan ng oras at magsakripisyo kung kinakailangan para makapagsimba at makapagkomunyon. Sinabi ni San Agustin: “Binibilang ng mga anghel ang lahat ng ating mga yapak kapag pumupunta tayo sa simbahan upang dumalo sa Misa at dahil diyan ay gagantimpalaan tayo ng Diyos sa buhay na ito at sa kabila.” Kaya kunin natin ang lahat ng pagkakataon para makapagsimba at tumanggap ng Banal na Komunyon. Mabubuhay kaylanman ang sinumang kumain ng Tinapay ng buhay!

Ave Maria Purissima, sin pecado concebida!  

Pinakakain ng Diyos

Jesus, nananalig ako sa iyo!

Sa taong ito, ang mga pagbasa ay kinukuha sa Mabuting Balita ayon kay San Marcos. Subalit dahil maigsi ang aklat na ito, naglalaan ang Simbahan ng nararapat na panahon na pagnilayan ang mga kabanata sa aklat ni San Juan na tumutukoy sa misteryo ng Banal na Eukaristiya. Mabuting pagkakataon ito para maihanda natin ang ating mga sarili para sa pagdiriwang ng International Eucharistic Congress na gaganapin sa Cebu sa darating na Enero ng 2016.

Sa mabuting Balita sa araw na ito, sinabi ng ating Panginoong Hesus: “Gumawa kayo, hindi upang magkaroon ng pagkaing nasisira, kundi upang magkaroon ng pagkaing hindi nasisira at nagbibigay ng buhay na walang hanggan. Ibibigay ito sa inyo ng Anak ng Tao, sapagkat siya ang binigyan ng kapangyarihan ng Diyos Ama.” Lahat tayo ay naghahanap buhay upang magkaroon ng pagkain sa araw araw. Kahit mahirap, nagtratrabaho tayo dahil kailangan nating kumain para mabuhay. Sa kanilang paglalakbay sa disyerto patungo sa Lupang Pangako, walang pagkakataon ang mga Israelita na magtanim at mag-ani ng kanilang makakain dahil sa patuloy nilang paglilipat sa ibat ibang mga lugar. Dahil dito, nagbigay ang Diyos sa kanila ng tinapay na nagmumula sa langit tuwing umaga at mga pugo naman sa gabi. Ang Panginoon ang siyang nagpakain sa kanila sa buong apatnapung taon ng kanilang paglalakbay sa ilang. Anim na araw ang inilalaan natin sa paghahanap buhay upang kumita at mapakain natin ang ating mga pamilya. Subalit sa araw ng Linggo, lumiliban tayo sa paghahanap buhay upang makadalo sa Banal na Misa. Sa pagdiriwang ng Misa, ginagawa sa atin ng Diyos ang kanyang ginawa para sa mga Israelita sa kanilang paglalakbay sa ilang. Sa Misa, hindi tayo ang gumagawa para makakain. Bagkus, sa Misa, ang Diyos mismo ang nagpapakain sa atin.

Ipinaliwanag ng ating Panginoong Hesus: “Ang aking Ama ang nagbibigay sa inyo ng tunay na pagkaing mula sa langit.” At ang pagkaing bigay ng Diyos, ang pagkaing bumaba mula sa langit, ang pagkaing nagbibigay buhay ay walang iba kundi si Hesus: “Ako ang pagkaing nagbibigay buhay. Ang lumalapit sa akin ay hindi na magugutom, at ang nananalig sa akin ay hindi na mauuhaw kailanman.”

Totoo na inihahain sa altar ang tinapay at alak na nagmumula sa lupa at bunga ng ating paggawa. Subalit ang mga haing ito ay hindi nagiging Eukaristiya hanggat hindi ito pinagbabago ng Diyos at ginagawang katawan at dugo ni Hesus. Tulad ng bata sa pagbasa noong nakaraang linggo, nagdadala tayo sa dambana ng tinapay na niluto natin mula sa trigo at alak na pinisa natin mula sa ubas. Ngunit ang mga dinala natin ay hindi ang Eukaristiya. Upang maganap ang Eukaristiya, kailangang kunin ng Panginoon ang ating mga handog at ang mga ito’y gawin niyang kanyang katawan at dugo. Ang pinagsasaluhan natin ay hindi tinapay at alak kundi ang katawan at dugo ng Diyos Anak. Ang Eukaristiya ay hindi tungkol sa pagdadala natin ng tinapay at alak. Ang Eukaristiya ay tungkol sa pagpanaog ni Hesus mula sa langit patungo dito sa dambana. Ang Eukaristiya ay tungkol sa pagpanaog ni Hesus sa altar upang maibigay niya sa atin ang kanyang sarili bilang pagkaing nagbibigay buhay. Kung nauunawaan lang natin ang tunay na kahulugan ng mga sinabing ito ni Hesus, pananabikan natin ang pagdalo sa Misa. Sasabihin natin kay Hesus ang sinabi sa kanya ng mga tao: “Panginoon, bigyan ninyo kami lagi ng pagkaing iyan.” Kung nakikilala lamang natin kung sino ang tinatanggap natin sa banal na Komunyon, mapapaluhod tayo sa harap ng dakilang misteryong tinatanggap natin. Ang tinatanggap natin sa banal na Misa ay hindi pangkaraniwang pagkaing nasisira. Ang tinatanggap natin sa banal na Misa ay hindi natin kayang bilhin mula sa pinagtuluan ng ating pawis.  Ang tinatanggap natin sa banal na Misa ay ang pagkaing bumaba mula sa langit, ang pagkaing bigay ng Diyos Ama, ang pagkaing nagbibigay ng buhay na walang hanggan. Ito ay walang iba kundi si Hesus, ang pagkaing nagbibigay buhay. Sabihin natin sa kanya: “Panginoon, ibigay mo sa amin ang pagkaing iyan upang hindi na kami magutom o mauhaw kalian man.”

Ave Maria purissima, sin pecado concebida! 

A Memorable Corpus Christi Procession

The Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite celebrating the external solemnity of Corpus Christi

We walked in procession in the midst of the poorer sections of the parish

The Lord is passing by!

The rain poured heavily in the middle of the procession

Everybody was wet (including the priest)...everybody except the Lord.

They all knelt on the wet pavement

Such a wonderful manifestation of Faith

The children sang the praises of the Lord!

In the middle of the procession, the rain poured heavily. No one scampered for shelter. Everybody continued to walk and sing to the Blessed Sacrament. Imagine the choir singing the Te Deum in the rain! The only concern for everyone was to keep the Blessed Sacrament dry. At Benediction, everybody knelt on the wet pavement. Everyone was wet...including the priest...everyone except the Lord. It was truly a manifestation of great faith...indeed, a procession befitting the YEAR OF FAITH! (Thanks Ron Yu for the Photos and songs)

The Missing Red Lamp

Eugene Cardinal Pacelli (1931), the Future Pope Pius XII said these prophetic words:

“I am worried by the Blessed Virgin’s messages to Lucy of Fatima. This persistence of Mary about the dangers which menace the Church is a Divine warning against the suicide of altering the Faith, in Her liturgy, Her theology and Her soul...I hear all around me innovators who wish to dismantle the Sacred Chapel, destroy the universal flame of the true Faith of the Church, reject Her ornaments and make Her feel remorse for Her historical past.”

“A day will come when the civilized world will deny its God, when the Church will doubt as Peter doubted. She will be tempted to believe that man has become God. In our churches, Christians will search in vain for the red lamp where God awaits them. Like Mary Magdalene, weeping before the empty tomb, they will ask, ‘Where have they taken Him?’”


Canterbury Tales by Taylor Marshall: Pius XII on the Missing Red Lamp of the Real Prese...: