EMHC- Sta. Clara de Montefalco, PC

06/12/2025

BE IN THE KNOW | Why everything is purple during Advent?

“Historically, purple has been amongst the rarest of colors. In the ancient world, the only way to produce purple dye was through a specific type of snail in a small region of the Levant.

Thousands of these snails would be needed to produce even a small amount of purple dye.”

This, of course, made purple cloth extremely expensive, so only
Royalty could afford it.

This is why the Romans dressed Jesus in a purple robe, to mock Him as “King of the Jews”.

Purple, therefore, began not only to signify royalty, but suffering as well. If an ancient Roman walked into a Catholic Church today and saw the purple vestments, candles, and cloth without any further context, they would think this place was prepared for a King. And so it is.

This Advent, we are called to likewise prepare our hearts for the coming of the King of kings through repentance for our sins that caused such great suffering to Jesus Christ our King.

Source: CatholicTV

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Fr. AC Perez, SchP God bless!🙏

05/12/2025

BE IN THE KNOW | Five truths to know why should Catholics come to church early before Mass.

Catholics are encouraged to arrive early for Mass to prepare their hearts and minds to fully participate in the sacred liturgy. This practice is deeply rooted in the Church’s teaching on reverence, active participation, and interior disposition.

1. To Prepare Spiritually and Interiorly

Arriving early allows time for silent prayer, recollection, and offering one’s intentions before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass begins.

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 2711:
“Entering into contemplative prayer is like entering into the Eucharistic liturgy: we ‘gather up’ the heart, recollect our whole being under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, dwell in the dwelling place of the Lord…”

This interior preparation helps Catholics unite their hearts with Christ and be more receptive to the graces offered during Mass.

2. To Show Reverence and Respect to God

Being early is a visible expression of reverence for the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

CCC 1387:
“To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast… Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.”

Being early helps dispose oneself reverently before the sacred mysteries begin.

3. To Participate Fully, Consciously, and Actively

Sacrosanctum Concilium (Vatican II, 1963), no. 14:
“Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful be led to that full, conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations…”

By arriving early, one can better enter into the rhythm of the liturgy from the very beginning (e.g., Sign of the Cross, Penitential Act, etc.), rather than being distracted or rushing.

4. To Avoid Disrupting Others and the Liturgy

Entering late can be disruptive to the prayerful atmosphere and the sacred flow of the Mass.

General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), no. 42:
“The gestures and bodily posture of the faithful must be conducive to the common spiritual good of the People of God, rather than private inclination or personal taste.”

Timeliness contributes to the unity and solemnity of the celebration.

5. Jesus Invites Us to Be Watchful and Ready

Matthew 25:13:
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Coming early is an act of watchfulness, readiness, and love—being there not just to fulfill an obligation but to meet Christ with a prepared and joyful heart.

Therefore, coming early to Mass is not just about punctuality—it’s about preparing the soul to meet Christ, participating fully in the liturgy, and showing reverence for the sacred mysteries. It’s an act of love and devotion, rooted in the teachings of the Church and Sacred Scripture.

Let us practice this small gesture of love whenever we go to church.

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Fr. AC Perez, SchP God bless!🙏

04/12/2025

🇱🇧 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 🌿


When you think of the Middle East, you often imagine lands shaped by Islam or Judaism. But right beside Israel, embraced by mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, stands Lebanon — the only country in the region where Catholics form the largest Christian community. 🌟

At the center of this beautiful spiritual tapestry is the Maronite Catholic Church, one of the oldest Eastern Catholic communities, whose roots reach deep into the first centuries of Christianity.

🕊️ 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙣: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙩. 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙣

The Maronite story begins with St. Maron, a 4th-century monk known for his holiness, miracles, and deep love for God. ✨

His followers settled in the mountains of Syria and Lebanon, forming strong Christian communities that survived invasions, empires, and persecution.

What makes them unique?

✝️ The Maronites never broke communion with the Holy See.

Even during centuries of isolation in the rugged Lebanese mountains, the Maronites kept their unity with Rome — a remarkable testimony of fidelity. Because of this, they are fully Eastern Catholics, not Orthodox, and have always recognized the Pope as the successor of St. Peter.

📜 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙮𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙘 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 & 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙖 𝘽𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚

The Maronite Church preserves the ancient West Syriac liturgical tradition, one of the oldest liturgies in Christianity.

Their prayers echo the language Jesus Himself spoke — Aramaic — and they traditionally used the Pesh*tta, the Syriac version of the Scriptures, in their worship. 📖

When you hear Maronites chant their liturgy, you are listening to the echoes of early Christianity.

🇱🇧 𝙇𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙣: 𝘼 𝘽𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙

The Bible mentions Lebanon over 70 times — its mountains, its snow, and especially its majestic cedars, used in Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 5). 🌲

It is a land symbolizing beauty, strength, and divine blessing.

Lebanon is literally the biblical neighbor of Israel, woven into the story of God’s people.

🏛️ 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨: 𝘼 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙡𝙚 𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙩

Lebanon is the only Arab country where the head of state must be a Catholic — specifically, a Maronite Catholic.

This is written into the National Pact and later the Lebanese Constitution, ensuring representation in a nation of many religions.

This makes Lebanon the only Middle Eastern nation with a Catholic president, symbolizing coexistence despite all challenges.

☦️ 𝘼 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜… 𝙔𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜

Lebanon has endured civil war, economic collapse, political turmoil, and devastating tragedies. Yet its people remain resilient, clinging to faith and hoping for peace. 🇱🇧💔

In this context, the visit of Pope Leo XIV carries deep meaning:

✅A father visiting his suffering children

✅A call for peace in a divided land

✅A reminder that Lebanon’s Christian heritage is precious

✅A message that the world must not abandon Lebanon

✅A prayer that coexistence may triumph over conflict

His presence is a light in a nation longing for stability and healing.

🌟 𝙇𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙣: 𝘼 𝙈𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙

St. John Paul II once said,

“𝘓𝘦𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 — 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦.”

A message of dialogue.
A message of coexistence.
A message of ancient Christian witness.

The Catholic faith in Lebanon — especially through the Maronites — has survived centuries of storms, just like the mighty cedar trees that symbolize the nation.

Today, as Lebanon dreams of peace, the world joins its prayer. 🙏

And the Maronites, with their Syriac chants, ancient traditions, and unwavering communion with Rome, continue to shine as a beacon of Christianity in the Middle East.

03/12/2025

03/12/2025

The Cardinal told me once, “If you are busy, you should pray for one hour. If you are very busy, you should pray for two hours.”

03/12/2025

Slot 12
“In the World you will have tribulation “

02/12/2025

Eucharistic Congress

02/12/2025

Showing in 30 SM Cinemas

01/12/2025

30/11/2025

"Anyone who goes to Mary and prays the Rosary cannot be touched by Satan."

~ Fr. Gabriel Amorth
Chief Exorcist of the Vatican

Fr. Gabriel Amorth became one of the most widely recognized voices in the modern Catholic world on the subject of spiritual warfare. His statement, “Anyone who goes to Mary and prays the Rosary cannot be touched by Satan,” captures the heart of centuries-old Catholic spirituality: the belief that sincere devotion to Mary is a powerful shield in the struggle against evil.

This statement is not a magical formula, nor a superstition. Amorth's point is direct—evil loses its influence when a person consistently turns toward God through prayer. The Rosary is more than a string of beads; it is a meditation on the life of Christ. Each mystery pulls the mind out of fear and disorder and roots it in truth, clarity, and divine presence. Evil thrives in confusion, isolation, and spiritual emptiness; the Rosary counters all three.

Devotion to Mary is not about placing her above God. It is about recognizing her role as the one who said “yes” to God with total freedom. In Catholic theology, Mary is the perfect disciple, the one who leads believers directly to Christ. To “go to Mary” is simply to ask for the support of someone who has already walked the path of faith and obedience more completely than any other human being.

Fr. Amorth often emphasized that spiritual protection is not passive. A person must actively choose a life that rejects sin, seeks God, and nurtures prayer. The Rosary is one of the simplest and most structured ways to do this. Its repetitive rhythm steadies the mind, calms the body, and opens space for grace. If a person prays it regularly and sincerely, the pattern of their interior life changes. Fear loses oxygen. Temptation loses its appeal. Darkness loses its leverage.

Amorth’s statement is ultimately a challenge—not just a reassurance. It demands consistency, intentionality, and humility. It invites a believer into a rhythm where faith is not occasional but habitual. And in that rhythm, evil cannot gain a foothold.

The heart of his message is straightforward: turn toward Mary, pray the Rosary, and you place yourself firmly in the light of Christ. Whatever opposes that light cannot endure.