More Than A Gift

Those things that we can buy are the things we can give to other people but those that we can't buy are the things that God gives us....those are with spiritual value....

Christmas comes only once in a year therefore we really wanted to give the best to our love ones...We even have our Kris Kringles.....so that everyone could have a gift for himself....yet through it all we must learn to appreciate gifts which may be simple yet it's the thoughtfulness of the person that should count^^

What do you think is the best gift we could give to our birthday celebrant on His birthday....The best gift I think would be to learn to value the life He has given us.....We're only humans as they say but we could be like Jesus in a way.....Have a big big heart like Jesus....

I love Mother Angelica

Read this one from Philippine Daily Inquirer.....

Papal award for Mother Angelica
By Lilia Borlongan-Alvarez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:13:00 12/04/2009

Filed Under: Television, Religions, Awards and Prizes

MANILA
, Philippines — If you don’t have the time to attend an Advent or Christmas retreat, tune in to reruns of “Mother Angelica Live Classics” on EWTN. They show the beloved nun in feisty fighting form, back when she was younger and slimmer. Others show her in her 70s, sitting on a chair and talking to a live audience at the EWTN studio.

Mother Angelica used her wit and self-deprecating humor to point out the seriousness of the themes she tackled. She often took her audience on a journey of self-reawakening by asking them her trademark quip: “Have you ever thought about that?”

Without a doubt, she has contributed immensely to the true essence of evangelization. For many years, the Catholic press had been merely scratching the surface, due to limited funding or indifference.

Substantial inroads

But, EWTN has since made substantial inroads on this regard. The network revolutionized the concept of Catholic broadcasting and generated profound awareness for the indispensability of religion and the Church. Mother Angelica’s program and the network’s other shows brought many Catholics back to the fold, and inspired many non-Catholics to convert to the faith.

EWTN’s programming primarily targets the Catholic faithful. Its programs are intended to keep discussions lively and interesting by using simple props and visual effects. Its hosts and guests similarly exude a charismatic aura.

A contemplative nun, Mother Angelica, now 86, founded the world’s largest Catholic TV network in a garage of the Our Lady of Angels Monastery in Irondale, Alabama, in 1981. In 1999, she relocated the monastery to another town in Alabama, where she resides with her community of sisters known as the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration.

Last October, she and Deacon R. William Steltemeier, chair of EWTN’s board of governors, were given the Cross of Honor, the highest accolade the Pope bestows upon the laity and religious. For their distinguished service to the Church, they were given the medal, officially known as Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, which literally means “For the Church and the Pope.”

EWTN President Michael Warsaw says that Pope Benedict XVI’s recognition of Mother Angelica and Steltemeier is a much-deserved honor. He enthuses, “It acknowledges the tremendous faith, hard work and sacrifices they made through the years in founding and building the network. Their recognition is a clear sign of the importance of the network’s mission for the Church and the Pope.”


I just love Mother Angelica and she deserves such recognition....

My God my strength...

I attended mass this morning and I've just reflected on some points shared by the priest....I just thought also of the relevance of the holy mass to us....Those points he shared to us are true....God only speaks the truth....We must carry our cross and follow Jesus....but more often we don't want to carry burden in our lives.....even to sacrifice a bit....Most of us are selfish and only think of ourselves.....I still have a long way to go to be able to say that I'm truly faithful to God.....I still can see my weaknesses....until now I am weak.....I'm still trying hard to become a good Christian....

I can see now the value of a holy mass to me....It always serves as a reminder for me to have faith....to truly believe in Him.....God is asking us to remain faithful to Him through the holy mass.....Let's rely on Him always....He will never ever forsake us....

Lanterns for Christmas

Lanterns3

Parol1

Parol3

Parol-2

Parolpampanga

 

 

In my province in Pampanga, these lanterns would find their way during the Christmas season....People would cost them a lot just to have one displayed in their homes...but if you want to see more of these beautiful lanterns just visit San Fernando, Pampanga one of the greatest cities we have producing great lanterns....

I remember the "drama" I had with lanterns when I was younger^^....It was Simbang Gabi then and Noche Buena....The whole family except my late father went out to go to church for the Noche Buena mass....I was maybe 8 yrs old then and I was the only one left behind with my father coz they refused to wake me up because they said I was really so sleepy at that time....So when I woke up, they were already at the church....I went down the stairs crying....The more I even looked exactly like Bruce Lee then^_~from too much crying(sob sob T_T)....So my father was trying to pacify me....He told me to stop crying so what he did I remember was to point at me the beautiful lantern in our neighborhood....Although it was really hard for me to stop crying coz I really wanted to attend the Noche Buena mass....He sat beside me and told me about the lantern as the symbol of that light that had guided the three kings from finding the Child Jesus....and we just sat there for an hour and looked at that beautiful lantern....until I stopped crying....After that my father  promised me that no matter what they would take me to the mass during the Noche Buena^^....but, by just looking at the lantern I may say by now that somehow I was already part of the thanksgiving mass we have for the birth of the Child Jesus....

Happy Thanksgiving^^

When we were younger we get to be invited by our American friends on their thanksgiving celebration....so I just wanna greet them a Happy Thanksgiving day^^

everyday a blessing

Sneeze...sneeeeze!!!....I have a cold right now....but it is manageable^^

 

I was trying to finish some of my paper works in school...It will be a busy month for us this December so I'm taking steps one day at a time to be able to beat some deadines....It also helps us when we try to have things done earlier even by doing so little  by little....I  noticed that the load becomes less heavier or  work seems to be manageable with God's grace ofcourse....

 

I consider everyday as always a blessing from God^^

Blessed Month...

December is a busy month yet it seems like everything just comes so smoothly during this particular month.....Like every Filipino would get excited about the coming celebrations it offers and everyone learns to offer a gift with one another.....although my real wish for us would be to become humble like what Jesus had shown us from the time of His birth and until now....We should be humble enough in asking blessings from God and in giving what we have to others....We should be thankful to all the gifts God has given us....Be thankful on what we have now and do not ask for too much....and share to others the blessings He has given us....