FAITH AND TRADITION: Defensores Fidei Foundation Gives a Talk to the Familia Community

FAITH AND TRADITION: DEFENSORES FIDEI FOUNDATION GIVES A TALK TO THE FAMILIA COMMUNITY

Mary the Queen Parish

San Juan City

March 15, 2012

8:00 P.M. –  10:00 P.M.

Sharing notes: Mr. Henry Siy and Atty. Marwil N. Llasos, O.P. before the start of the talk

            For the second time, DEFENSORES FIDEI FOUNDATION (DFF) was invited by the FAMILIA COMMUNITY of LIGAYA NG PANGINOON to give a talk to the community. This time the talk was given to a larger audience composed of representatives from different parishes or communities within the sector or district. There were more than a hundred people in the hall.

Representatives of Familia communities before the start of the Praise and Worship

            Joining me was the Founding Chairman of DFF, Bro. Henry Siy, his wife Nancy, and Tom Borromeo of DFF. Bro. Gerald Cenir later on followed us to Mary the Queen for the talk.

An elder of the Familia community gives the opening remarks

The Praise and Worship started at 8:00 in the evening. An elder of the community gave the opening remarks and led the prayer. It was followed by Charismatic hymns and praying in tongues.

Mr. Henry Siy, Founding Chairman of Defensores Fidei Foundation, introduces the DFF

An elder of the community introduced the speakers and guests to the participants. Bro. Henry Siy, DFF Founding Chairman introduced DFF, its ministry and activities. He also gave a brief presentation on apologetics. After his talk, Bro. Henry introduced me as the main speaker for the night.

Atty. Marwil N. Llasos, O.P., Associate Member and Resource Person of DFF, talks on Faith and Tradition

I was gratified to see the big turnout. I greeted them amidst their resounding applause. It was my second time to give to Familia Community. The last time I gave a talk to the community was last February 23, 2012.[1] 

Atty. Marwil N. Llasos, O.P. acknowledges the participants from the different communities 

The topic assigned for me to talk about was “Faith and Tradition.”  I mentioned that the topic is opportune because it is a response to Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration of the Year of Faith. I then preached on the necessity of faith and the challenge to nurture it especially among the young.

Bro. Marwil Llasos talks about Pope Benedict XVI's declaration of the Year of Faith

I then proceeded to explain the meaning of tradition and its importance in our faith life. Tradition, rightly understood, can help sustain, nourish and strengthen our faith. It is by tradition that we pass on the faith to the next generation of believers.

Bro. Mars Llasos discusses the meaning and role of tradition in our faith

I gave an extensive discussion on the different pious traditions or popular devotions during Lent and related these traditions and devotions on how they can help deepen the faith.

Bro. Mars Llasos expounds on tradition

An open forum followed after my talk. Bro. Henry Siy served as the moderator and he helped me answer some of the questions. The faith-filled event ended with the closing prayer.

Bro. Mars Llasos reads 2 Thessalonians 2:15

After the talk, many participants flocked to me and the other members of DFF to thank us for sharing our faith to them that night. I was touched when an old lady, a mother who recently lost her son in a violent death, approached me and thanked me for my talk. She said she felt better now because my talk on Lenten devotions somehow gave her the answers she wanted to hear. I promised to pray for the eternal repose of her son’s soul. Some approached me to ask more questions about our faith while others invited me to give a talk to their communities.

Bro. Mars Llasos explains the "deposit of faith"

We all went home happy and thankful to God for the gift of faith.

Below is the brief sketch of my talk based on my powerpoint presentation:

Bro. Mars Llasos humors the participants

FAITH AND DEVOTION

Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.

Associate Member and Resource Person - Defensores Fidei Foundation

TRADITION: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” (2 Thes. 2:15)

DEPOSIT OF FAITH:  “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust” (1 Tim. 6:20)

The word “entrusted” is paratheke, which means a deposit. Apostolic oral tradition is part of what the Catholic Church has always called the “Deposit of Faith” (Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition authentically interpreted by the magisterium of the Church).

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Tim. 3:14)

Bro. Mars Llasos distinguishes the three (3) types of tradition

CLASSIFICATION (TYPES) OF TRADITION:

1.      Sacred or Apostolic Tradition (Tradition with capital T) – immutable; cannot be changed

2.      Liturgical traditions – can be changed by the competent authority of the Church – i.e., the Pope.

Mass

Liturgy of the Hours

Rites/Rituals

Rites of Sacraments

3.      Pious traditions

Pious devotions

Popular devotions

Bro. Mars Llasos' heart-to-heart talk with the members of Familia Community

POPULAR DEVOTION:

Popular means “related” to the people – as the people of God. Popular devotions originate from the people and are loved and cherished by them. In approving these popular devotions, the Church recognizes the truth, goodness and beauty n them. In a manner of speaking, the Church simply discerned the voice of God in the voice of the people.

Devotion, on the other hand, does not only mean external acts. The Latin word devotio implies an internal attitude – the dedication in performing all that belongs to the service of God. 

Bro. Mars Llasos explains Sacred or Apostolic Tradition

LENTEN DEVOTIONS:

X   Procession

X  Pasiong Mahal

X  Way of the Cross

X  Seven Last Words[1]

 

Bro. Mars Llasos clarifies liturgical and pious traditions

Bro. Mars Llasos anchors his preaching on the written Word of God

Bro. Mars Llasos gives reflections on Lenten pious traditions

Bro. Mars Llasos plumbs the depth of pious traditions and popular devotions

Bro. Henry Siy moderates the open forum

Bro. Henry shares his insights on faith and tradition during the open forum

Bro. Mars Llasos answers questions during the open forum as Bro. Henry Siy looks on

 

Bro. Mars Llasos responds to a query from a participant

---

[1]  http://bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/2012/02/its-more-biblical-here-in-catholic.html.

[2] Based on my talk outline here:

http://www.bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/2012/03/bro-mars-gives-talk-on-seven-last-words.html.

BRO. MARS GIVES A TALK ON THE SEVEN LAST WORDS TO THE HOLY ANGELS OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

 

Angelic Preacher: Marwil N. Llasos, O.P. regularly preaches at the Holy Angels of the Blessed Sacrament in St. James the Great Parish, Ayala Alabang Village

BRO. MARS GIVES A TALK ON THE SEVEN LAST WORDS TO THE HOLY ANGELS OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

St. James the Great Parish

Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City

March 13, 2012

8:00 P.M. –  9:00 P.M.

 

Bro. Marwil N. Llasos gives a theological reflection on the Seven Last Words of Christ

The Holy Angels of the Blessed Sacrament, one of the organizations based in St. James the Great Parish in Ayala Alabang Village, holds its prayer meeting every second Thursday of the Month. This group, founded by very devout spouses Mike and Cristina Bichara, fosters adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to the Holy Angels. I am honored to be the group’s regular preacher.

Bro. Marwil N. Llasos preaches to the "angels" 

 For this month, the Holy Angels group held its prayer meeting on March 13, 2012. A Holy Hour and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the main church of St. James the Great Parish. Afterwards, the members move to the conference room for the agape and the prayer meeting.

The "angels" listen to their "angelic preacher"

I was requested to continue my Lenten talks. Hence, I decided to give a theological reflection on the Seven Last Words of Christ. Below is the outline of my talk:

 

Bro. Marwil Llasos shares the fruits of his contemplation on the Seven Last Words

I. We are all familiar with the Siete Palabras held every good Friday, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 in the afternoon. We are accustomed to the shrill and melodramatic histrionics of lay preachers who are tasked to give their reflections on each of the Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ every Good Friday. The Siete Palabras is one of the many Good Friday devotions we have in our country.

A lady lawyer jots down notes from the talk of a fellow lawyer

II. The Seven Last Words were uttered by Our Lord amidst intense suffering and excruciating pain in a span of three (3) hours while He was hanging on the cross. These are the words of a dying God, a dying Savior.

Bro. Mars Llasos shares his reflection on the meaning of the Seven Last Words of Christ

III. There is power in God’s Word. The Seven Last Words are very important because these are the words of the Word of God Himself – the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14) – and who has the words of eternal life (Jn. 6:68). The Seven Last Words of Christ have power – and they have meaning. We will reflect on the power and meaning of each word.

Members of the Holy Angels groups jot down notes from the preaching of their regular speaker

IV. The Seven Last Words express the deepest needs/feelings/aspirations of man. They express the greatest longings of the human heart. Jesus took these sentiments unto Himself as a man. These are the same sentiments of the creature He was about to save by His death. Jesus was in solidarity with man. He was truly human.

Mr. and Mrs. Mike and Cristina Bichara at the front of the podium

V. Because humanity is hypostatically united to the divinity in the person of Christ, these words, in a certain sense, are also the deepest longings of God. Thus, the Seven Last Words were a “dialogue” between God and man in the person of Christ, as it were. In Christ, humanity and divinity became one – and on the cross the wide chasm between God and man was bridged.

"The Seven Last Words express the deepest longings of the human heart..." - Bro. Marwil Llasos

VII. The Seven Last Words

1. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do (Lk. 23:24)

     - Man needs forgiveness. God wants to grant forgiveness.

Members of the Holy Angels of the Blessed Sacrament listen to their speaker

            2. Today, you will be with me in paradise (Lk. 23:24)

- Man wants paradise. God wishes all to go to paradise. Paradise is where God is.

- We are all thieves

- Promise of salvation is given only to the repentant

Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.: "Jesus took these sentiments unto Himself ... He is in solidarity with man ... He was truly human..."

            

            3. Woman, behold your son: behold your mother (Jn. 19:26)

- Man’s need to belong to a family (family relationship). God is in the business of making a family.            

Preaching the "Seven Last Words" from God's Word: Bro. Marwil Llasos reads the Scripture

            4. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me (Mt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34)

             - Man’s fear of abandonment; being left alone – no one to love you; Abandonment   
            due to divorce, separation, distance, strained relationship, death, etc.

     - Feeling of being abandoned by God when overwhelmed with problems, frustration and pain

     - God wants us to be with Him

     - Can you not watch for an hour with Me? (Mt. 26:40)

 

"In a sense, it can also be said that the words uttered by Jesus on the cross also express the deepest longing of God ..."

5. I thirst (Jn. 19:28)

- Thirst for justice and righteousness; thirst for love and affection – for all that we   

   desire

- Spiritual thirst – Famine for the Word of God (Amos 8:11)

- Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mt. 4:4)

- Jesus Christ thirsts for our love; love cannot be forced

- Jesus Christ thirsts for souls; salvation of souls – paramount importance – if you were the only one person in this world, Jesus would still die for you. That’s how much He loves each and every soul 

Active listeners: The members of the Holy Angels  group are all ears to their preacher

            6. It is finished (Jn. 19:30)

- The need to see our work through to completion; to finish what we started

- Unfinished business – school, degree, project, work

- End to one’s problems – sickness, dark night of the soul, storm

-Jesus finished the work of salvation; He did what He had to do. It’s up to us to respond.

Bro. Marwil N. Llasos leads the closing prayer

            7. Father, into Thy hands, I commend my spirit (Lk. 23:46)

- Entrustment to God – commend to Him all our worries, problems, cares, etc.

- God commends, entrusts to us our mission – He commends to us to work for justice, righteousness, etc. God trusts in man. He only has us in mind to the task He entrusted to us.

Self-Directed Recollection of the Company of St. Dominic

The Servant of God Mother Francisca del Espiritu Santo de Fuentes, O.P.

SELF-DIRECTED RECOLLECTION OF THE COMPANY OF ST. DOMINIC 

Mother Francisca Pastoral and Catechetical Center

Sta. Catalina Convent

Siena College Quezon City

March 11, 2012

9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours

Rosarian Satcheil M. Amamangpang leads the prayer

            The Company of St. Dominic of the Archdiocese of Manila (CSD) held itse monthly self-directed recollection (SDR) at Mother Francisca Pastoral and Catechetical Center last March 11, 2012. The SDR, held every 2^nd Sunday of the month, is a whole day affair.

RYM Coordinator Art Reynald G. Drueco, O.P. reads the Reading for the Morning Prayer

CSD Supreme Moderator Nestor G. Limqueco, O.P. talks on Christian Prayer

            The SDR started with praying the Holy Rosary. Bro. Satcheil M. Amamangpang of the Rosarian Youth Movement and Bro. Nhyl Eleda, a CSD aspirant, took turns in leading the prayer.

Main Speaker: Rev. Fr. Jose Antonio E. Aureada, O.P., STh.D.

Fr. Tony Aureada gave reflections for Lent

The Holy Rosary was followed by the Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. Thereafter, CSD Supreme Moderator Nestor G. Limqueco, O.P., M.A. gave a very informative talk on Christian Prayer.

Contemplative Mode: Bro. Marwil N. Llasos mulls the reflections given by Fr. Aureada

Multi-media presentation of Fr. Aureada on "change"

At 10:00 in the morning, Rev. Fr. Jose Antonio E. Aureada, O.P., STh.D. provided a series of reflections for Lent. A technology-savvy preacher and professor of Sacred Theology, Fr. Tony Aureada made use of multi-media presentation to drive home the lessons of his talk.

"Change is needed in order to survive and live!"

Bro. Nestor M. Limqueco continues his talk on Christian Prayer

Among others, Fr. Aureada insisted that a human person goes through several seasons in life. People often judge other people based on only one season that he has observed. He pointed out that we cannot rightly judge others if we have not seen all the other seasons.

Bro. Nestor flips the pages of his Christian Prayer

 
Bro. Marwil Llasos supplements the talk of Bro. Nestor Limqueco

Another topic that Fr. Tony Aureada discussed was “change.” Giving the eagle as an example, Fr. Aureada matter-of-factly emphasized that change is needed in order to survive and to leave.

Bro. Mars Llasos distinguishes personal prayer from liturgical prayer

CSD members listen to the discussion

Lunch and fellowship followed after the talk of Fr. Aureada. After lunch, the SDR resumed with the continuation of the talk of Bro. Nestor Limqueco on Christian Prayer. A Master of Arts in Religious Education, Bro. Nestor conducted a workshop to acquaint the members of the CSD with the Liturgy of the Hours. He likened the Christian Prayer as the “spouse” of CSD members. A member of the CSD cannot do without the Christian Prayer, he enthused.

CSD members react to the talks

God with Us: Our Eucharistic Lord

CSD Formator Marwil N. Llasos, O.P., J.D., supplemented the talk of Bro. Nestor by providing the distinction between personal prayer and liturgical prayer. According to him, the efficacy of personal prayer is contingent on the grace, personal holiness and disposition of an individual. Liturgical prayer, on the other hand, is the official prayer of the Church. According to the CSD Formator, in liturgical prayer, it is the whole Christ Himself praying – both Head and Body, the Church. Thus, the power of liturgical prayer rests on Christ, our Head and High Priest who prays with and for His Body, the Church.

CSD members adore the Lord present in their midst

Keeping Jesus company for an hour: Also in the picture is Sr. Meriam Litor, O.P., formatress of the CSD

The Holy Hour followed the talks. The members of the CSD adored the Eucharistic Lord exposed in the Blessed Sacrament. In the Holy Hour, the Lord Jesus is literally Emmanuel for the CSD members – God with us. The CSD offered the Lord their silent prayer, love and adoration.

Rev. Fr. Alfred A. Fernandez, O.P. celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the CSD

Ms. Irma Paulino, O.P. reads the First Reading

The Holy Hour was followed by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Alfred A. Fernandez, O.P. Fr. Fernandez gave a very insightful homily which the CSD members truly appreciated. The Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours was incorporated in the Holy Mass. Fr. Fernandez joined the CSD for the Evening Prayer.

CSD aspirant Virgie Toledo leads in the Responsorial Psalm

Mr. Adrian B. Tambuyat, O.P. reads the Second Reading

The meeting of the CSD members followed. It was jointly presided by CSD’s Supreme Moderator and Formator, brothers Nestor G. Limqueco, O.P. and Marwil N. Llasos, O.P. CSD members were given their assigned tasks to deepen their formation in the Dominican spirituality as well as in their consecrated life. The meeting ended with the closing prayer led by the CSD Formator and the singing of the Salve Regina.

CSD members stand to honor the Holy Gospel

Rev. Fr. Alfred Fernandez, O.P. proclaims the Good News 

The SDR grounded the CSD members in their Dominican spirituality because it incorporates all the four pillars of the Dominican way of life – prayer, community, study and apostolate.

Fr. Fernandez gives an inspiring homily

Fr. Fernandez addresses CSD members

CSD members receive Holy Communion on the tongue while kneeling

Brothers Nestor Limqueco, O.P. and Marwil Llasos, O.P. co-preside the meeting

CSD members attend the meeting

CSD Supreme Moderator gives CSD members their assigned tasks