sacramental bread

Lawrence says: Sacramental bread, sometimes called the lamb, altar bread, host or simply Communion bread, is the bread which is used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist.

A host is a portion of bread used for Holy Communion in many Christian churches. In Western Christianity the host is often a thin, round unleavened wafer.

Roman Catholic unleavened Host for the Celebrant and wafers for the communicants (the bread has not yet been consecrated).
Jagger for making hosts.

The word 'host' is derived from the Latin hostia, which means 'sacrificial victim'. The term can be used to describe the bread both before and after consecration, though it is more correct to use it after consecration - "altar bread" being preferred before consecration.

Western theology teaches that at the Words of Institution the bread is changed or altered (known as either transubstantiation or transignification according to tradition or denomination) into the Body of Christ, while Eastern theology sees the epiclesis as no less necessary.

Hosts are often made by nuns as a means of supporting their religious communities. In the Latin Rite, unleavened bread is used as in the Jewish Passover or Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches (like the Eastern Orthodox Church) use leavened bread for Prosphora (the Greek word for Eucharistic altar bread). The Armenian Catholic Church (like the Armenian Apostolic Church), the Syro-Malabar Church and the Maronite Church have adopted the use of unleavened bread (see liturgical latinisation).

Some traditions proscribe the use of spiced, flavored or sweetened hosts, while others allow it.[citation needed] However, both Eastern and Western traditions insist that the bread must be made from wheat. The Code of Canon Law, Canon 924 requires that the hosts be made from wheat flour and water only.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal §321 recommends that "the eucharistic bread ... be made in such a way that the priest at Mass with a congregation is able in practice to break it into parts for distribution to at least some of the faithful. ...

The action of the fraction or breaking of bread, which gave its name to the Eucharist in apostolic times, will bring out more clearly the force and importance of the sign of unity of all in the one bread, and of the sign of charity by the fact that the one bread is distributed among the brothers and sisters."

life in a religious house

Gbex says: My friend Lawrence told me a story when we had a nice long phone talk last night that he himself had been with the community of religious brothers who live atop the canyons of New Mexico.

His story was so challenging that I could not imagine myself living in such condition. He lived life with monks and he did what the monks were doing: pray eight times a day, conduct work in silence and live most of the time in silence inside the four walls of the monastery.

I admire Lawrence for having lived such austere and contemplative kind of lifestyle. Now that he is out in the world where he used to live prior to his coming to the monastery, I challenged him to be sronger and steadfast as he was eight years ago.

the story of faith

Lawrence says: It's been almost a year and 2 months now when I met Jay through the net. He was then faced with a serious problem: his little boy was so sick with a skippyheart that he would do any impossible thing possible to survive his infant son.

That was when he requested me to say a little prayer for his little boy. I did. I made a promise. I told him I will. I also asked my comrades in the manifold to do the same thing. After a year, his son's heart problem vanished. I didn't know what went on- jay told me one day when he sent me an email update about his son's healing. That was indeed an incredible faith.


I told Jay (picture inset) that it was his faith that cured his little boy's sickness and that my prayers and my comrades' prayers were just secondary in the healing experience of his son Jared.

On the day Jared was born a year ago, Jay and his wife Janice, prayed so hard for him and their prayers moved God's merciful and loving heart to put an end to their son's suffering.

On the day I got an email from Jay requesting me to include their son in my daily prayers, I told him that I willl absolutely pray for him on one condition that he and his wife would do the same and exert more than anybody else.

I also told Jay to give up one thing that he fancied most in his life and had it offered for his boy. He did though he did not tell me what abstinence or mortification he offered for Jared.

Yesterday evening, Jay met me at Rob Ermita for a second meet-up after the initial eyeball that we had during the occasion of his son's first birthday.

We had a sumptuous dinner at Cabalen's.


When Janice (picture inset) met me for the first time during the occasion of her son's first birthday, she was so delightful that finally we have met in person.

The day I came over amidst my embarrasment as I arived 30 minutes before the children's party wrapped up, (I blamed it on the trafficked streets of Manila) shame on me, LOL., Jay's parents and relatives were so glad that I have finally showed up in person.

Janice was more charming when I met her in person that day than when I saw her in her photos which were sent to me by Jay through the email attachments during his regular email updates about their son Jared.

That day was the day we all met in person after a year of being friends in the cyberspace. Yesterday, Jay handed me a bag from Janice's trip to Thailand and when I opened it, I was just enthralled to see a statue of a Thai godess! That was sweet of her to bring me one souvenir from Thailand.


The day Jared celebrated his first birthday, I saw in his parents' eyes and faces how happy they were for having him as God's gift to them.

That was the day I finally come to meet the boy I have prayed for one year with my mortifications, for the most part- abstinence from taking any kind of coffee either brewed, espresso or instant cofeemix.

The year of non-intake of caffeine made my prayers stronger, more focused and well-deserved.

This is Jared (picture inset), a bubbly healthy one-year old boy with no trace of any skippyheart problem and is indeed so robust and super hyper boy. And oh boy! he was so heavy I was struggling to keep him when I held him.

This is the story of an incredible faith!

San Damiano cross...

The San Damiano Cross is the icon cross that St. Francis of Assisi was praying before when he received the commission from the Lord to rebuild the Church.

The original cross presently hangs in the Basilica of Saint Clare (Basilica di Santa Chiara) in Assisi.Franciscans cherish this cross as the symbol of their mission from God. The cross is called an icon cross because it contains images of people who have a part in the meaning of the cross.

The tradition of such crosses began in the eastern Church and was transported by Serbian monks to the Umbria district of Italy.The San Damiano Cross was one of a number of crosses painted with similar figures during the 12th century in Umbria.

The name of the painter is unknown, but it was fashioned around the year 1100.The purpose of an icon cross was to teach the meaning of the event depicted and thereby strengthen the faith of the people.The cross is called an icon cross because it contains images of persons who have a part in the meaning of the cross.

The tradition of such crosses began in the Eastern Church and was carried by the Serbian Monks to the Umbrian district of Italy. The Byzantine style was common in Italy before Cimabue and Giotto.These conclusions have been reached based on a thorough study of the history of the cross and the literature concerning it.

Very little literature is available in English. Most of it can only be read in Italian or French.The author also found it very helpful to compare the cross to similar crosses in Umbrian art.Finally, much of the English literature on the cross is faulty in its analysis since it dates back to sources prior to 1938 when the cross was restored to its original depiction.

When the Poor Clares moved from San Damiano to the Basilica of Santa Chiara in 1257, they took the original San Damiano Cross with them and still guard it with great solicitude.It now hangs over the high altar of the Basilica of Santa Chiara.

The crucifix hanging over the altar of the ancient church of San Damiano is a copy.

All Franciscans cherish this cross as the symbol of their mission from God to commit our lives and resources to renew and rebuild the Church in the power of God.

icon painting at its best...

Gbex says: One of my fancies is collecting icons!..... It is not my hobby but since my girlfriend is a Fine Arts student, I have acquired the habit of collecting beautiful icons!

Let me just give you a brief background about icon painting: Actually, Christian art began, about two centuries after Christ, by borrowing motifs from Roman Imperial imagery, classical Greek and Roman religion and popular art which was the motif of Christ in Majesty that owes something to both Imperial portraits and depictions of Zeus.

In the Late Antique period, iconography was standardized, and related more closely to Biblical texts, although many gaps in the canonical Gospel narratives were plugged with matter from the apocryphal gospels.

From the 15th century, religious painting gradually freed itself from the habit of following earlier compositional models, and by the 16th century, artists were expected to find novel compositions for each subject, and direct borrowings from earlier artists are more often of the poses of individual figures than of whole compositions. Got it? Let me continue my narrative...

The Reformation soon restricted most Protestant religious painting to Biblical scenes conceived along the lines of history painting, and after some decades the Catholic Council of Trent reined in somewhat the freedom of Catholic artists.

SO there you go my friends--- icon paintings at their best!!!!!!

a symbol...

Dom says: The word cross was introduced to English in the 10th century as the term for the instrument of the torturous execution of Christ (gradually replacing the earlier word rood), ultimately from Latin crux, via Old Irish cros.

The word can nowadays refer to the geometrical shape unrelated to its Christian significance. The Latin Crux (translating Greek stauros) was a Roman torture device used for crucifixion.

Also known as the Latin cross or crux ordinaria, it is the most common symbol of Christianity, intended to represent the death of Jesus when He was crucified on the True Cross and His resurrection in the New Testament.

facing the thunderstorms...

Dom says: I am having a hard time integrating myself to my community. It seems that I am facing so much difficulty in doing the routines of the structure of the community in each day.

Although there is so much sense of obedience on my part towards the community's customary practice, I can feel an inward sense of reluctance and resistance inside of me of what is going on in the realms of my community.

I am embarrassed because the monks of the community in which I belong is so understanding, kind, and compassionate of my shortcomings and infirmities....

I find it so hard to recall, remember and get into the reality of my past. This gives me so much energy that causes so much exhaustion that ends me to acquiring sleepless nights. Just last night, I was all awake and was only able to get some sleep at 1:15AM in the wee hours of the morning....

This sleep patterns affect my daily integration to the community's customary. Can it be because of the medications that Dr Miller has prescribed me for the injury that I am sustaining now from the motorbike accident?

Can it be because of a residue from the three-month long hibernation that took place while I was undergoing the much needed counseling with Dr Hannah Leigh Bull? ...

Can it be because of the realization of the death of my elder sister Cecilia, which up to now, I still mourn and grieve?

My condition at present is difficult. Just right timing for me to get an email from my ex-girlfriend-turned-best-friend, Eileen. The email has given me so much encouragement and courage to keep going.

From: "Eileen Abustan"

To: "Albert Pilarca"

It says: hi, Remember this and smile ...
A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning.
The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child.
Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.
When the mother's car drew up beside the child she lowered the window and called to her, "What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?"
The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty. God keeps taking my picture."

...May God bless you today as you face the storms that come your way.

Eileen

God's messengers...

Dom says:Doves are the most sweet among God's little flying creatures.
I can attest to this statement when I personally experienced getting flocked by these sweet little flying creatures while at Josh's rooftop in Pentecost Sunday!

The role of white doves in the Old Testament pages was so significant and that these same little flying creatures were used by God in many instances in the history of saints as well.

Would you like to try raising these sweet little flying messengers of God?

living on the verge of extremes...

Dom says: God speaks in every human life at its extremes!

Last Pentecost Sunday, I was invited by a friendblogger whose name is Josh of Me And My Doves to attend the Eucharistic Celebration in observance of Pentecost that coincided with their Fiesta Celebration of Nuestra Senora DeLa Paz Y Buen Viaje.

Josh while choreographing the Church Choir during the Offertory


Josh with his Choir members towards the end of the Mass


Me and Josh with his mom, an active member of their Church


D sinner and the Redeemer

To quote what Josh said in his blog, he said: "Last May 11, i was really blessed because during our barrio fiesta, a visit from Kuya Dom was indeed a blessing. Me, a sinful man, being visited by God's messenger. He wanted a 1st hand experience of my stories in my blog, and boy i was laughing my heart out when i toured him around my place! He was even convinced dat my dillema on whom to buy my dove grains was just literally "chicken feed!"....

"Josh, let me tell you this: that we are all sinners in the eyes of God and that the glory of God's Kingdom will only come to our hands when we repent and do penance and finally go back to Him... let me paraphrase what you sang with your choir members during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist that humid Sunday morning when we celebrated with charismatic ambience the blessings of that significant day: ...these lyrics struck and touched me so hard that I nearly wept in the presence of the whole congregation... Kuya Dom"

"WE remember how YOU loved us to Your death and still we celebrate for YOU are the with us here. And WE believe that we will see YOU when when YOU come in YOur glory Lord. WE celebrate. WE believe."

banquet galore....

@2:30PM USA Time, Saturday, April 12th, 2008, Dom says: WE just finished with the Buffet banquet in honor of three Vietnamese monks who professed their Solemn Vows in the ceremony that was held and was conducted at the Abbey Church of our monastery this morning at 10:30Am.

The two-hour Solemn Consecration ceremony of the three viet-monks highlighted the celebration of the Holy Eucharist which was presided by the Abbot Superior of my community Rev Abbot Philip Lawrence, OSB and was assisted by me as his Master of Ceremonies.

The long ceremony was followed shortly by a reception banquet for the guests, monks of my community and the nuns of our neighboring community for women, at the refectory in Phase three.

The banquet, as it was a buffet, gave the monks, guests, and nuns a chance to mix themselves together as they enjoyed the food that was cooked and prepared by the Vietnamese nuns of our neighboring community of the Benedictine Nuns of Our lady of The Desert, just a mile away from the monks compound. It also gave us all a chance to TALK while at table as the banquet was declared by the Abbot as a TALKING MEAL.

The following pictures were taken by no other than yours truly while the Banquet went on.

Pictures and images of the Profession Ceremonies of the three Vietnamese monks inside the Abbey Church will be posted on my next update as they will still be handed to me by brother Cecilien-the Madagascar monk who had the access to the whole Profession ceremonies with his digital camera.

The newly Professed Vietnamese monksDom John Dat (38 years old) with yours truly(52 years old)


Dom Dominic Dat (32 years old) with yours truly

Dom Peter Khoa(37 years old) with yours truly

The foods served at the Banquet table

















The monks, nuns, and guests partake the foods at the banquet table





While at the refectory, monks and nuns with guests enjoyed the food and the 'talking-meal chance' of their lifetime, LOL...





and the Sub-prior, Fr Christian (white American) together with Fr. Romualdo(Korean) and brother Anselmo(Mexican), took initiative to open the red and white wines for the banquet

Images of the Profession Ceremony at the Abbey Church will follow shortly.

a time to reflect...

We all, for sometime in our life, are given a chance to stop momentarily from what we are doing and start to think things out in regards to our daily life's dealings with other people. This reflections somehow may lead us to think deeply and tend to go back to an old query: how do we relate ourselves to God? How do we manage to love God?
I LOVE THIS GOD...
because I am sure that No one falls in love by choice, =it is by CHANCE. but then ...
No one stays in love by chance, =it is by WORK.
And finally, no one falls out of love by chance, =it is by CHOICE ......

And it is my choice to love this MAN!

...because He did lots of great things for me, now I do something for Him. I Spread his words...

as what in Matthew 10:32 says, 'Whoever acknowledges Me before men,
I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns Me before men, I will disown him before My Father in heaven"...

meaning of life...

What is the meaning of life? It depends on what you mean by "meaning." If you mean where did we come from, that's a metaphysical, religious, or spiritual question. If you mean what is the purpose of living, or how should we live our lives, the answer depends on who you ask.

In the East, some of our ancestors believed in:
a. karma, i.e., every action has a natural consequence
b. constant self-improvement to become perfect
c. moderation in all things
d. respect for others
e. kindness toward those less fortunate
f. formal education to get better jobs
g. proper behavior leading to success in life and to the afterlife
h. respect for elders in exchange for generosity to the youth
i. respect for government in exchange for ruling for the people
j. excellence in kindness, knowledge, and manners

In the West, some of our ancestors believed in:
a. proper diet and exercise to improve the body
b. formal studies to improve the mind
c. music appreciation to improve the emotions
d. equal treatment of women
e. limiting alcohol, swearing, silliness, excess, and illegal sex
f. knowledge and wisdom leading to happiness
g. honesty, peacefulness, order, cheerfulness, and moderation
h. self-restraint, generosity, and courage leading to happiness
i. emotional detachment from material things
j. fairness, bravery, self-discipline, and self-sacrifice

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
1. Survival and Temporal Success-To survive, exist in time, and reproduce if possible before death.

2. Wisdom and Knowledge- To gain as much wisdom and knowledge as possible.

3. Ethical- To treat others with compassion. To work for justice and freedom.

4. Religious and Spiritual- To please God and to enjoy the afterlife. To be the best you can.

5. Philosophical- To benefit the human species or all life forms. To maximize happiness or minimize pain. Or, there is no purpose to life.

6. Other- To fulfill your dreams.

What is the purpose of your life? Do you have one? More than one? Too many? Is your purpose anything more than your life goals? Does your purpose match any of the ones listed above?

the day of majesty and glory....

@ 10:15Pm of Palm Sunday, Godofredo Bertolucio Xavier Lorenzo (GBex for short) says: before the day gets over, let me say, have a wonderful meditations and reflections as you spend the days of the Holy Week!

Before the day ends , let me remind you again with a greeting that is just fitting and proper for the day's celebration: The great Palm Sunday!....
May you all be blessed by our good Lord as you come to enter the days of our Lord's Passion, Death and Ressurection.....
If you feel like contemplating more of today's significance in adherence to your spiritual life, I may recommend you to read my buddy's reflections of the day, here!

visiting other Faiths...

Yesterday, my friend who is in another faith's denomination asked me to tag along with him for his regular visit to his temple...I guess the experience I got from coming along with him inside the temple was a clear indication that we are in different beliefs and faith experiences yet we do have one common goal, and that is: to worship our own respective Gods....





have you tried getting inside this temple?.... It was a rewarding, cool experience to be inside one's house of worship and prayer!