On a lighter note...

I busied myself in taking some pics of the Oratory and took the pleasure of also taking shots of Fr. Andy and some of the servers including myself yesterday . Sorry for the poor quality. I only used a cam phone. :)

Our Lady of Atonement, Baguio Cathedral's patroness. Her statue located in the Oratory.

The Sanctuary.

A beautiful window of St. John the Baptist. (Notice the native elements in the border and their vestments.)

The Cathedral from the back of the grounds.

Msgr. Andres Cosalaln, Jr., our regular celebrant and the spearhead of all of this.

(Left to right) Ali, Angelo and Paul, our dedicated servers.

(Middle) Myself of course. At HIS service.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aguinaldo Masses being held in Baguio Cathedral Oratory

Since the 16th of December the Missas de Aguinaldo are being held at the Baguio Cathedral Oratory in the Tridentine Rite, 40 years after the last Tridentine Aguinaldo Masses were held in the Cathedral. We are very honored to have this special privilege to have our traditional Filipino "Simbang Gabi" as popularly known, in the Extraordinary Form. We are extending our invitation to many who would like to experience these special 9 days in the traditional way as done in the past centuries- with the Tridentine Mass.

The Missas are held every 5 in the morning starting the 16th up to the 24th of December at the Cathedral Oratory at the back of Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral, Baguio City, Philippines.

Chapel veils and our newly-published Latin-English Missalette are available at the entrance to the Oratory.

Also, the Solemn Mass of Midnight on Christmas Eve, December 24 are going to be held in the Traditional Latin Mass in the same Oratory at 10 in the evening with Rev. Msgr. Andres Cosalan (the Vicar-General of the Baguio Diocese) celebrating.

Again, there is no better way of experiencing Baguio's winter-like climate than going to Aguinaldo Masses but what's more unique are Aguinlado Masses in the Tridentine Rite! We would like to share this blessed Christmas season with you. So come, let us adore Him!!!

The Missa de Aguinaldo: A Reflection

It is truly a great challenge to wake up for the Traditional Aguinaldo Masses or Missa de Gallo here in the Philippines. With the cold wind blowing and the chill of early dawn, it is a bit intimidating to go out for Mass. I give the Filipino much applause for still retaining this custom which is held only here in the country as approved by the Holy See since the 17th Century.

Even though other countries have the Rorate Masses (the origin of the Missa de Gallo) held every Saturday of Advent, it would not compare to the specialness of the Missas de Aguinaldo in the Philippines where it is held 9 consecutive days as Novena not only for Christmas but in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary also.

It is also quite special with regard that Aguinaldo Masses do not bear so much a theme of Advent (i.e, violet vestments and the suppression of the Gloria) but are designated to be of joyful character (i.e, flowers in the church, decoration abounding, and the Gloria sung) because it is a celebration of the Dawn of Salvation (which Mary symbolizes) and the joy of Christ's Incarnation.

What remains of Advent in these dawn Masses is the element of penance wherein you must wake up early at dawn to give God glory and the gift of yourself, hence "aguinaldo". This is not so much as receiving a wish after completing the nine days, it is given that one receives many graces at Mass and at a time like this but it is more on giving Christ your time and sacrifice.

It is also, a joyful waiting. Waiting is usually anxiety-filled and very stressful but the Church, having designated Advent and these Aguinaldo Masses as a period of such wait, gives stress to the joy of promised Salvation rather than the pain of waiting. As in childbirth, the wait is not for the pain but for the joy of a child.

The Missas de Aguinaldo are a time to reflect upon the true meaning of the season and the joy God has given to men by being one of them. It is also a time to share in the great joy of the Blessed Virgin in her bringing forth of Salvation. These are the things that must come first. The other things like bonding with friends, getting wishes granted or tasting the goodies after Mass are not very important as the things that these nine days have and are going to teach us about Sacrifice,Thanksgiving, Adoration and Propitiation- the essence of the Holy sacrifice of the Mass.

Let us not be burdened by how hard it is to get to Mass in the cold dawn, but in the joy we give God and Mother Mary in giving ourselves fully as gifts to them in this Blessed Christmastide.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS" vs. "HAPPY HOLIDAYS"

The fullness of Christmastide is almost upon us...A few more days 'til we celebrate the great day when God showed Himself as a humble babe as a sign of redemption for the earth. But there's something that is truly bothering me. As a Filipino used to the merriness and length of the Christmas season in the Philippines, I cannot avoid being bothered by the greeting "Happy Holidays" in many malls and establishments and programs on radio and TV in the country, which they prefer rather than using "Merry Christmas."

Let us have a look at how many really are attempting to be "Grinchy" enough to wage a war on good Christmas. First they try to avoid putting up Nativity scenes or even mentioning the real essence of Christmas (as mentioning Jesus' coming as the Word made Flesh). Then they try to cram our mind with many other things like sales and material glory to cover up the Divine aspect of the season. Next, they try to introduce more and more secular songs into the scene that neither mention Jesus nor lead the people to contemplate on the specialness of what we are celebrating. Christmas songs today often mention receiving gifts, and merry-making and drinking but never Christ. Why is that?

But still it adds on. The Missa de Gallo or Missa de Aguinaldo popularly known as Simbang Gabi (the annual Philippine Dawn Masses offered to Our Lady 9 days before Christmas Day) somehow has kept its charm but many of todays youth have often misplaced its meaning as just a way to bond with friends, to chat in church grounds, to grab a wish after the 9 days or even as a way to cuddle up with a love one which leads to unpleasant behavior in church.

Another big thing is replacing or even abolishing the greeting "Merry Christmas" in preference to "Happy Holidays." It is very good  to consider that in a predominantly Catholic country like the Philippines, and with many other Christian denominations to top it all, it is very ridiculous to use "Happy Holidays" if we are knowledgeable that there is no other holiday in the Philippines than Christmas. We do not have extra holidays this season such as Kwanzaa or Hanukkah like in the USA. It is out of the context and out of the question.

This is a good evidence of how hard Christ's enemies try to influence us into losing what we ought t know about Christmas. Many are pursuing also for a "Christmas for everyone" not only for us Christians hence the secularization of Christmas songs, greetings and making "politically correct" terms for this season. But alas, the name Christmas cannot be separated from its root, Christ. I'm afraid that maybe one day they'd be ridiculous enough even to replace Christmas with "Shopsmas" or "Lightsmas" or even "Boozemas" as some have taken the season as meaning the same.

What do we need to do? Well it's simple. Let's start from small beginnings like our Savior did, shall we?

Let's consider using the greeting Merry Christmas, because that is properly so. Second, let's try to reflect upon, in everything that we do, whether at Missa de Gallo or planning for Noche Buena or buying gifts, on the true meaning of why we have this season. Third, let us not drown ourselves too much in the hectic race of shopping frenzies and parties but rather consider focusing ourselves on God  and the Mystery of the Incarnation. Let us take time to go to church this season mindful of the thanksgiving and love we owe Him. Fourth, let us be like our Blesses Mother Mary, "who pondered and kept within her heart all these things", because she is the greatest example of being a good Christian.

Lastly, let us teach the younger ones the meaning of Christ in Christmas. Making them used to a non-materialistic and a non-secularized Christmas within family and home can be a great start to make them good Christians.

Let's not forget nor forsake Christ from Christmas... After all, it is His day. "Venite Adoremus" (Come, let us adore) Him that cometh not as a great king but to be humbled and to be among us as Example and Salvation. He is the Emmanuel, Born of the Virgin Mary! Merry CHRIST-mas!

La Immaculada Concepcion (The Immaculate Conception)

Was any human person ever preserved from original sin?

-The Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from original sin in view of the merits of of her Divine Son, and this privilege is called her Immaculate Conception.

"And when the angel had come to her, he said, 'Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women'" (Luke 1:28).\

1. From the very first moment of her conception the Blessed Virgin was preserved from all stain of original sin. She was conceived and born without original sin.

God, having ordained that Mary was to be the Mother of His Son, could not permit her soul to lack

for a single instant all those graces that would make her most pleasing to Him.

2. Our Blessed Mother's soul was created as pure and spotless as the soul of Eve. Where Eve committed sin and lost her spotlessness, our Mother Mary kept herself pure and spotless to the end of her life.

We commemorate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8.

3. St. John the Baptist was cleansed from original sin while he was still in the womb of his mother. He was born free from sin, but he was, like us, conceived in sin.

(From:Morrow, Bishop Louis LaRavoire. My Catholic Faith. N.P.: International Copyright Union, 1954.)

Sanctuary Lamp

At last our Oratory will have its own "real" sanctuary lamp. With the word real, I mean that it has a real flame, unlike the old one which has an electric bulb in it.

I don't get the idea with the electric bulb. If they want a real sense of God's presence as is in the old days and also like in the Old Testament, shouldn't a real flame be more appropriate? Is there anything in Vatican II that dictates that all sanctuary lamps be electric from then on? I think there's none of that written.

Now, back to our new sanctuary lamp. Thanks be to God that our parish was generous enough to give funds for the lamp. It has been months since the Latin Mass Committee has been wanting to place a sanctuary lamp in the Cathedral Oratory. After all, it is traditional and befitting the Traditional Latin Masses celebrated there. And by this week it has come true. The lamp is not that perfect, just a simple equivalent to the golden one in our Cathedral, but still it gives off that special feeling. Utilizing coconut oil of the commercial brand and a large glass container complete with a beautiful and tall iron stand, it's still unsatisfactory but it's all we can do right now I guess.

But then, it's still the best 'cause we managed to get a true lamp into the Oratory. I hope this would give off more of the sense of holiness one wants to achieve especially in the sanctuary.

I'll update you with pictures soon. God bless you. That's all for now.

The Sacristan's Lantern II

Among the other ceremonial accessories from the Tridentine Mass is one of my favorite pieces, the Sacristan's Lantern or the Processional Lantern. As the sanctamissa.org website defines it:

"A processional lantern is similar in type to a torch, except that the lighted candle is enclosed in a glass

lantern. These are usually carried by altar boys in processions of the Blessed Sacrament, as on Corpus

Christi. In outdoor processions they are particularly useful..."

These lanterns are also used in Communion and in special Advent Masses called Rorate Masses where, before dawn, the Mass is celebrated in honor of the Virgin Mary. Also, it is traditionally celebrated in the dark of dawn resulting to the use of candles by the faithful and the altar servers. The darkness symbolizes the dawn of Creation and also the darkness Before the Coming of the Messiah. The Rorate Mass is also reasoned to have originated from the necessity of farmers to go to Advent Mass before early morning work, as Mass was prohibited in the night back then. (Take note that the Rorate Masses are the origin also of the Aguinaldo Masses or the Missa de Gallo in the Philippines.

The lanterns played a good part in making the Liturgy more beautiful because they were often carried by the servers during the celebration. It gives a feeling of the "first light of creation" as the solemn procession enters the altar in the beginning of the Mass.

The Sacristan's Lantern

Since the dawn of Vatican II many pieces and articles for Divine Worship have been lost or dispersed from old churches because they seemed "inappropriate" or even of no value to the new liturgy. Such things as crucifixes, candle sticks, lanterns and lamps have been regarded by some as non-essential along with old missals and altar cards which where of high value. A great upheaval began with the stripping of altars and the construction of new, basic, free standing altars that lacked beauty and somehow were more on "new age" art which were unworthy of the sacredness of the House of God.

This chaotic action of many in the Church on the art, furnishings and articles of worship of the Old Rite was not the aim of Vatican II. It is in the Council's spirit that all the articles in the Divine Worship from the Old Rite, being still of high value and being the property of God must remain and not thrown away, dispersed or left in negligence.

As I have observed in the past years, many of these furnishings have either ended up in museums (which may seem to be a little consolation but still positive), or in the bodegas or storage rooms of churches, or worst, lost, stolen, broken or thrown away. What can be the implication of this? Is it that what the past generations have regarded as sacred and valuable will be as good as dust to us? But a brighter side to this tale...

Pope Benedict XVI's Motu Proprio (released in 2007) has shed new light into the liturgy before Vatican II and have opened doors to a "reform of the reform". As he has said, whatever the past held as sacred we also hold sacred, many now in the church are making efforts to restore beauty in the liturgy. Because beauty is an essential aspect in the worship of God, it is rightfully so that the elements in the Mass such as vestments, altar pieces and sacred artworks be restored to their former grandeur and place of sacredness. These days we see vestments like fiddle-back chasubles and lace albs even in the Novus Ordo Rite. And in the re-introduction of the Tridentine Rite the beauty of external worship is reaching its high point.

So it is now time to dust off the old altar cards, missals and antique vestments, polish the candle holders, lanterns, crucifixes and relight the sanctuary lamp! The beauty of worship is now back!

If you are wondering why I made the title of this entry as "The Sacristan's Lantern" well, here is where you should also pay your attention...

As a person who loves antiques and adores seeing old church things being reused for the glory of it, I have volunteered myself in helping out in the Baguio Cathedral as a junior flower arranger, restorer and cleaner in the Oratory which is used for Tridentine Masses. I have since then seen many beautidul altar pieces and vestments that were lost through the years but reinstated to utility due to the comeback of the Traditional Latin Mass. Usually these things are disposed in storage but here I see them being given new life.

An old altar piece is most beautiful when used for its real purpose, in the altar, well polished and gleaming as it was in the past. An old vestment would not be of great value if it was just boxed and stowed away, rather it gives off its very best when used in the Holy Sacrifice.

Now, as I have been rummaging through the old implements from the past of Our Lady's Cathedral, I suddenly saw a delight for my eyes, Recently, the old sacristan's lanterns were taken out for use in the celebration of Christ the King in Baguio. I was very delighted to see these beautiful hand-carried lanterns used once again. I have heard that these were rarely used particularly during Holy Week and on Christ the King. Because I know that these were formerly used in the Tridentine Mass back then in the Cathedral, I suggested to myself that I should borrow some of these pieces to be used in the Tridentine Mass in the Oratory especially on the upcoming Aguinaldo Masses. I am still trying to gain complete permission to borrow and use these lamps from the Cathedral and I feel that I would get the permission soon enough and I guarantee that the lanterns would be a great addition to the splendor of the Tridentine Mass here in Baguio.

If these lanterns could just talk, they'd sing praise to the Holy Trinity together with the other articles re-used and reinstated in the Act of Divine Worship which is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

(P.S. I will update this entry with pictures of the sacristan's lantern and the other pieces re-used in the Oratory. God bless.)

Traditinal Latin Mass in the Dominican Convent of Santa Catalina in Marcos HIghway, Baguio City

Since the month of April 2009, the Traditional Latin Mass (popularly known as the Tridentine Mass) is being regularly celebrated at the Cathedral Chapel Oratory and Baptistery at the back of Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral in Baguio City. These Traditional Latin Masses have been pushed through by the initiative of Msgr. Andres M. Cosalan, Jr. in accordance to the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum of His Holiness Benedict XVI. The Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and at 3:30 p.m. in the same chapel by Msgr. Andres Cosalan himself.

With a steady growing number of regular attendees the Latin Masses have also reached the attention of many tourists coming to Baguio and are searching for the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Adding to this, the Dominican Convent of Santa Catalina in Marcos Highway, Baguio City has opened its doors to monthly Tridentine Masses also celebrated by Fr. Cosalan (as he is still the only priest in the locality that celebrates in the Extraordinary Form). Masses at the said convent are on every First Saturday of the Month at exactly 6:30 a.m. You can reach it by taxi cab and is readily seen and accessible through the highway. We are looking forward and praying fervently for more parishes and convents in the Diocese of Baguio to have the Traditional Latin Mass and for more people and priests to get interested in it.

Also, the Diocese of Baguio through the writing of Msgr. Cosalan has released a pamphlet (being the very first informative pamphlet on the TLM published by a Philippine diocese, according to the Rorate Coeli Blog*) entitled “An Introduction to the Traditional Latin Mass” that explains and promotes the Traditional Latin Mass. This has not only reached the faithful of Baguio City through the cooperation of many lovers of the TLM but also through the willingness of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters or Pinks Sisters to distribute copies in their convent chapel in Brentwood, Baguio City. God bless them all! Thankfully, these copies have not only reached the area of Baguio-Benguet but have even reached Metro Manila. Possibly more copies are to be published together with a new mass booklet (also by the good Monsignor) with the common prayers of the Mass for the consumption of the growing number of parishioners of the Tridentine Mass. (For inquiries about the Traditional Latin Mass in Baguio and about the “An Introduction to the Traditional Latin Mass” pamphlet please email mao.almadrones@ymail.com).

Being very hopeful, we in the Latin Mass Committee of the Diocese of Baguio are united with Msgr. Cosalan in praying and promoting the re-introduction of the Traditional Latin Mass in Baguio and Benguet and that in the coming months daily Masses in the Extraordinary Form may be celebrated. Also, we pray that the congregation in our little chapel may grow so that one day Baguio Cathedral itself may see the Tridentine Mass alive once again on its beautiful traditional marble high altar and sanctuary.

We ask for your fervent prayers in this advocacy in the greater glory of God and the Catholic Church. God bless you all.

Ad Iesum per Mariam,

The Traditional Latin Mass Committee of Baguio

(Taken from my old blogsite at http://iskolarngbayanisangsakristan.wordpress.com)

Aguinaldo Masses to be held in Baguio Cathedral Oratory

The Vicar General Msgr. Andres Cosalan, Jr. (who heads the Tridentine Masses in the Diocese of Baguio) has announced yesterday (November 29, 2009) that Aguinaldo Masses are to be held in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite starting December 16 at 5 o'clock in the morning. These are to be held in the Cathedral Oratory and are to be in line with the traditional Rorate Masses where Aguinaldo Masses originated from. This will give the faithful a better way of "tuning-in" on the mystery of the Incarnation and will be a different way of celebrating Missa de Gallo than was accustomed (i.e, the overfilled church with many people clamoring and chattering among the faithful gathered for Mass). Because it is in the Tridentine Rite, many are expecting for it to be more solemn and more meaningful.

WE hope to update you more on this. God bless you.

Ad Iesum per Mariam,

The Latin Mass Committee, Baguio Cathedral

image borrowed from: http://inillotempore.com/blog/images/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=LineArt&id=annunciation

Catholic Women's Chapel Veils available at Baguio Cathedral

The growing number of faithful attending the Traditional Latin Mass in the Baguio Cathedral Oratory and Baptistery hasbrought about a demand for women's chapel veils. For the women, especially moms with their girls, it was a great sign of modesty most specially in the Act of Worshiping God in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is a great way of externally displaying piety and a good example to many of the youth who dress immodestly during Mass. Frequented with questions like "Where could I get the veil?" and "Is there a store selling veils here?" the Vicar-General Fr. Andres Cosalan, Jr. has recently announced that chapel veils are available at the Catechetical Office inside the Cathedral Rectory. As Fr. Andy always says, chapel veils to women are a great sign of purity and modesty before God especially in Mass. It also hinders any distractions men could befall during Mass because of women's hair and beauty. It is also a sign of humility and submission to God.

It is very well recommended that women who attend Traditional Latin Mass wear the proper attire like skirts that reach below the knee and tops with sleeves that are long enough. And the veil is a must!

The veils availbale at the Cathedral are priced depending on size and design. But surely these are at an affordable price. These veils are also great for gifts and is a great way of teaching our little girls modesty in the sanctuary, in imitation of the Blessed Virgin, our Mother.

Traditional Latin Mass in Baguio City

Since the month of April 2009, the Traditional Latin Mass (popularly known as the Tridentine Mass) is being regularly celebrated at the Cathedral Chapel Oratory and Baptistery at the back of Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral in Baguio City. These Traditional Latin Masses have been pushed through by the initiative of Msgr. Andres M. Cosalan, Jr. in accordance to the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum of His Holiness Benedict XVI. The Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. and at 3:30 p.m. in the same chapel by Msgr. Andres Cosalan himself.

With a steady growing number of regular attendees the Latin Masses have also reached the attention of many tourists coming to Baguio and are searching for the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Adding to this, the Dominican Convent of Santa Catalina in Marcos Highway, Baguio City has opened its doors to monthly Tridentine Masses also celebrated by Fr. Cosalan (as he is still the only priest in the locality that celebrates in the Extraordinary Form). Masses at the said convent are on every First Saturday of the Month at exactly 6:30 a.m. You can reach it by taxi cab and is readily seen and accessible through the highway. We are looking forward and praying fervently for more parishes and convents in the Diocese of Baguio to have the Traditional Latin Mass and for more people and priests to get interested in it.

Also, the Diocese of Baguio through the writing of Msgr. Cosalan has released a pamphlet (being the very first informative pamphlet on the TLM published by a Philippine diocese, according to the Rorate Coeli Blog*) entitled "An Introduction to the Traditional Latin Mass" that explains and promotes the Traditional Latin Mass. This has not only reached the faithful of Baguio City through the cooperation of many lovers of the TLM but also through the willingness of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters or Pinks Sisters to distribute copies in their convent chapel in Brentwood, Baguio City. God bless them all! Thankfully, these copies have not only reached the area of Baguio-Benguet but have even reached Metro Manila. Possibly more copies are to be published together with a new mass booklet (also by the good Monsignor) with the common prayers of the Mass for the consumption of the growing number of parishioners of the Tridentine Mass. (For inquiries about the Traditional Latin Mass in Baguio and about the "An Introduction to the Traditional Latin Mass" pamphlet please email mao.almadrones@ymail.com).

Being very hopeful, we in the Latin Mass Committee of the Diocese of Baguio are united with Msgr. Cosalan in praying and promoting the re-introduction of the Traditional Latin Mass in Baguio and Benguet and that in the coming months daily Masses in the Extraordinary Form may be celebrated. Also, we pray that the congregation in our little chapel may grow so that one day Baguio Cathedral itself may see the Tridentine Mass alive once again on its beautiful traditional marble high altar and sanctuary.

We ask for your fervent prayers in this advocacy in the greater glory of God and the Catholic Church. God bless you all.

Ad Iesum per Mariam,

The Traditional Latin Mass Committee of Baguio