Rizal and Relics

HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY ! ! !

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda  

(June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896)

The Royal and Pontifical University of the Philippines, The University of Santo Tomas’ Faculty of Medicine’s record of Jose Rizal with a grade of Aprovado.  The grades were Notable (Excellent), Sobresaliente (Very Good), Aprovado (Passed) and Reprovado (Failed).

Noli Me Tangere Primera Edicion.  The photo above was one of the firsts.

A Decade of Harry Potter

My heart is heavy with emotions to know that my favorite movie series is going to end next month.  I grew up with “Harry Potter”. Ten years ago, I watched the first movie with first-year-college friends.  Toys! I miss you all!  The second, third and fourth were shared with a then special someone that made the fifth one quite sad to watch with (postgrad) friends.  The sixth one was my first 3D movie and it was already my professional colleagues who were with me.  I watched the first part of the seventh movie many times with different friends but I plan to watch the last one alone because I just want to be with the characters who are close to my heart.  No exceptions including Lord Voldemort! NYAAHH! I want to be with them as they fight in the wizarding war. Dobby is already dead and I know that some will follow him.

Below are the trailers from the first movie to the most recent.  Enjoy!

Lolo Dad’s Brasserie

Mr. Jones

Chef Thella’s (Foodbuzz 24×24) Modern Thanksgiving Dinner

La Preciosa

Harry Potter: A Guide – Hogwarts

Are you in Communion with All the Saints today?

There is a part in the Credo, Apostle’s Creed, where Christians profess their belief in the “Communion of the Saints”.  However, this dogma has always been misunderstood if not misinterpreted as a physical act of receiving a host by the saints.  Quite funny.

First of all, please be reminded of a nature of a Church Dogma – it is an object of Faith and certainly not a product of rationality.  Thus, we shall never know or reason for or against one.  As Dr. Alfredo Co says, “When we know, we don’t believe; when we believe, we don’t know.” Thus, the Apostle’s Creed rightly starts with “I believe” and not “I know”.

The real meaning of the Communion of Saints is spiritual solidarity which binds together the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory, and the saints in heaven in the organic unity of the same mystical body under Christ its head, and in a constant interchange of prayers and sacrifices.

Does this make sense?  Translated into a picture, it is -

 

Let us go back to the basics.  Like God, the Church has three forms. They are:

• THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT, which speaks of the Saints in Heaven
• THE CHURCH MILITANT, which speaks of the Faithful on Earth
• THE CHURCH SUFFERING, which speaks of the Souls in Purgatory

These three forms are vivified by PRAYER and SACRIFICES and they become ONE CHURCH.  The Church Triumphant prays for the Faithful on Earth and the Souls in Purgatory.  The Church Militant prays to the Saints in Heaven, for one another and for the Souls in Purgatory.  The Church Suffering is prayed for by the Saints in Heaven and Faithful on Earth.

Thus, the definition above can already be 60% understood.

The real meaning of the Communion of Saints is spiritual solidarity which binds together the Faithful on Earth, the Souls in Purgatory, and the Saints in Heaven in the organic unity of the same mystical body under Christ its head, and in a constant interchange of Prayers and Sacrifices.

The only part left unexplained is the concept which tells us about Christ as Head.  We can all agree that the head of the ONE Church is Christ himself and the Pope is only a Vicar of Christ on Earth.  The most that we can know is that the Pope leads THE CHURCH MILITANT. 

In the concept of the Triune God, God, the Father, is the Judge while God, the Son, a.k.a. Jesus Christ, is the Savior.  The saving act of Christ did not end in his death on the cross.  It is continued through His ONE Church.  He leads this salvation-oriented Church towards the Father.  Salvation is achieved through Prayers and Sacrifices.  Basically, Christ wants us all to go to Heaven and be with Him.  This goal creates spiritually solidarity.

Yes, you got it right!  The moment we pray and sacrifice for others, living or dead, we become Saints and in communion with other Saints, we partake in this wonderfully mystical body of Christ called Church.

Do you belong?  It’s a good feeling to have that we can be Saints on Earth. 

Happy All Saints Day!

P.S. Membership out of fear that in the future you might need prayer and sacrifices is not advisable.  It debases the essence of selflessness for others.

Chef Thella’s 24×24 [Ovarian Cancer Awareness Lunch] (Thank you!)

Chef Thella’s Debut Menu