"FEEDING THE SHEEP"

Jaime E. Masagca

#advocatusdiaboli

#chasinglightschasingdreams

Bass relief on a Cathedral's Puerta Mayor

Many were sickened by the recent photographs wherein priests and nuns using the sacramentals and holy rituals endorsing a Presidential candidate that from the faithful’s perspective are manifestly uncalled for, if not outrageous for bordering on sacrilege. 

 

One is the unamusing pictures and videos circulating is of this Bicolana aspiring to be President, being covered with the manto of the image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. 

 

Not all may have watched the video of the cultist-like rite which speaks more of insensitivity to the faithful outside of politics. It was said that even some of this Presidentiable’s supporters, and non-Catholics, were shocked by the rite performed, and this political absurdity has certainly left our faith to the ridicule of other Christian denominations. 

 

While the supposed pray over with the use of the manto is going on, a priest is seen bowing before her and there was this singing of the Bikol version of “Himno A Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia” or the "Resuene Vibrante" which is the official hymn to the Our Lady of Peñafrancia since 1924.

 

Isn’t that Hymn reserved to Our Lady as the Patroness of Bicol, that many have asked if the Bicolana candidate was being elevated to sainthood?

 

Tradition is that the fluvial procession in honor of Ina, is an all-male event to focus attention on the Queen of Heaven and Earth. But now look at what these nuns and priests are doing.

 

Years ago, the annual beauty pageant in Naga City was initially called Search for Miss Peñafrancia. But it was changed to Ms. Bicolandia in the context that there is only one Lady of Peñafrancia.

 

Appalling, revolting, to honor (?) someone in the level that we venerate Our Lady of Peñafrancia? Many share the sentiment.

 

One social media writer justifies that the "PAGMAMANTO", about the cape of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary being placed over the head of somebody "takes root from the ancient Catholic supplication to Mary, sub tuum praesidium, which means beneath thy protection."

 

That solicitation for intercession we do too on our own, with the mantle of Our Lady of Lindogon in Simala Shrine in Sibonga, Cebu, and as we kiss or touch the manto of Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje shrine in Antipolo City, as the faithful’s external expression of placing oneself under "Our Lady's mantle of maternal protection". 

 

But the tradition to be conveyed ceremoniously as a special privilege is disgusting. Granting its acceptability in the practice of religion, public sentiments, sensibility as perceived by the faithful is still the gauge for its propriety.

 

The most recent aggravation is a church's interiors where photos of the same candidate were conspicuously displayed near the main altar of the church, alleged by the author of the post, to be that in Malabon, Rizal. The most recent shocking event is the political meeting being held inside a church in Fairview, Quezon City.

I do not wish to be critical nor intrude in other religious groups, sects, or denominations of which I am not a member, endorsing a candidate as they have their Articles of Faith or practices as their beliefs or traditions decree.

 

But the Church and God is neither owned personally by the clergy that they have no right to desecrate nor offend the sacred sensibilities of the faithful if its hierarchy does not want to see that one day our magnificent church buildings are deserted and reduced into mere tourist attractions. 

 

Man is essentially possessed with intellect, or the human capacity to distinguish, as well as with a free will, which the human motivational capacity "that moves man to do as his intellect had identified what alternatives for action are possible and desirable, or to act in certain situations independently of natural, social, or divine restraints".

 

"Free will is every person's natural birthright to make their own decisions and choose their path. Freedom is the physical and mental ability to exercise that free will, and is also a person's birthright".

 

Agreeably with St. Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologiae, "Human beings have free will and are masters of themselves through their free will. However, free will can be impeded "by obstacles or ignorance", as intellect and will have command over free will.

 

The role of the Church then is confined only to removing these perceived "obstacles or ignorance that impede free will", that is, to impartially guide a voter to have an intelligent choice as being dictated by conscience, independent of the Cleric's personal choice or political leanings. 

 

Catholics are instructed to participate in the political process, be informed voters, and encourage elected officials to act on behalf of the common good in this aspect the Church steps in as a shepherd would to his sheep. There are, however, limits to official Church political activity, that it is not moral for the Church to impose on nor wrongly influence any man’s choice by its supposed moral or religious predominance.

 

"Gaudium et Spes", the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World promulgated by Pope Paul VI on December 7, 1965, "reminds all that the church does not have a mission in the political, economic, or social order. Its mission is spiritual, even though, when the need arises, the church is ready and willing to contribute whatever it can to advance human well-being".

 

With all this political turmoil rocking the Church, it may be just lucky to have a congregation that is strong in faith that won't "trade Jesus for some Judases".

 

 #chasinglightschasingdreams

#advocatusdiaboli

March 1, 2022