Organizations I Am a Member Of

Knights of Columbus - 3rd Degree - Faith Program Directer, Council 6600 - Founded on the principles of charity, unity and fraternity, the Knights of Columbus was established in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney, assistant pastor of St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Conn., and a group of parishioners. Their intent? To bring financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled and needy members and their families. 

The Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary is an international association of the Catholic faithful established “to praise and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and to secure her patronage by the recitation of the Rosary for the mutual spiritual benefit of all the members throughout the world.” Each member of the Rosary Confraternity strives to pray the three Rosaries (15 decades) each week (Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries). 

America's Memorial Day

“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.” – James A. Garfield, May 30, 1868, Arlington National Cemetery

Let Us Pray: 

God of power and mercy,

you destroy war and put down earthly pride.

Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,

that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters.

Keep in your mercy those men and women

who have died in the cause of freedom

and bring them safely

into your kingdom of justice and peace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen. 

< from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, via USCCB.org>

 

Today is a day we set aside to remember our fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in cemeteries across our country. It's a day to be with the family and remember.

“Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay, but we can honor their sacrifice.” – President Barack Obama 

They did not forget their missing comrades, neither, ever, should we. We must always remember that peace is a fragile thing that needs constant vigilance. We owe them a promise to look at the world with a steady gaze and, perhaps, a resigned toughness, knowing that we have adversaries in the world and challenges and the only way to meet them and maintain the peace is by staying strong. As they were.

Their courage is contagious. I can tell you from my own experience, When a brave man takes a stand on the battlefield, the spines of others are often stiffened. The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.  And they who die for their country shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier’s tomb, and beauty weeps the brave.

Today, we honor our dead. We honor their memory and sacrifice. We honor them for the love they showed for their fellow Americans. What can we do to thank these souls for their service?

Together let us pray a Rosary for their heavenly homecoming. God alone knows who among these brave men and women are still waiting for complete union with Him in eternity. With our Rosary prayers, our Lord is giving us a great opportunity to storm Heaven on their behalf, as they stormed beaches, deserts, and all manner of terrain on our behalf.

Our Rosary today begins with a special prayer asking God to release the holy souls of our military into Heaven.  

With each decade of the rosary we will pray for a particular branch of service. Five branches, 5 decades. The rest of the rosary will be prayed in the usual fashion. 

On this Memorial Day, there will be an ending prayer of thanksgiving to God for hearing our prayers, and for His sovereignty and love for these dear souls.

Rosary opening prayer

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Heavenly Father, As Memorial Day approaches, our thoughts turn toward the many brave men and women of the Armed Forces who are now counted among the faithful dead, who gave of themselves to protect and serve the United States of America.

With this Rosary, we ask you to look with mercy upon all Holy Souls in Purgatory, especially those military souls. We ask you to complete the work of their purification, that they may soon enjoy total union with You and with the Saints in Heaven. For there is no greater human love than to lay down one’s life for a friend, and there is no greater Heavenly Love than to be united with You, Triune God, Who are Love, and the Source of all Love, in time and in eternity.

We pray especially for the souls of those who died in battle, that you will look kindly on the merits of their service “for God and country,” and that your mercy and justice would triumph, securing their purification and entrance into their Heavenly reward.

In praise and thanksgiving for your goodness and glory, we make this prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You, in union with the Holy Spirit, reigns as King of the Universe, now and forever.

Amen.

<Begin the Rosary> 

Begin with the First Mystery, and announce the following after the mystery: “With this decade, we remember the Holy Souls who served in the United States Army, especially those who have no one to pray for them.”

The Second Mystery: With this decade, we remember the Holy Souls who served in the United States Navy, especially those who have no one to pray for them.

The Third Mystery: With this decade, we remember the Holy Souls who served in the United States Air Force, especially those who have no one to pray for them.

The Fourth Mystery: With this decade, we remember the Holy Souls who served in the United States Marine Corps, especially those who have no one to pray for them.

The Fifth Mystery: With this decade, we remember the Holy Souls who served in the United States Coast Guard, especially those who have no one to pray for them.

Rosary closing prayer

Blessed are You, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his earthly life for us so that we may may have eternal life with You. We thank You for Jesus’ promise, that, “My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:29) By this word we have confidence in Your power to save all souls, knowing that those for whom we prayed this Rosary are securely in your hand. We humbly ask for the grace of a sign that they are now united with you, Saints among the Saints in Heaven, enjoying this Memorial Day as the ultimate celebration, praising you in Heaven for all eternity. In Jesus’ Name, we give you our praise and thanks.

Amen

 

Forty Years!

Opposites Do Attract Even After 40 Years

We met just after my 35th birthday, This year (2026) November 15 will be our 40th wedding anniversary. That means I have known Lolly for over 1/2 my life (I just turned 75). 

Every once in a while I get philosophical and look back on my life. I'm not looking for anything special, I just want to make sure that I'm going forward in the right direction, making the right choices. I have made many mistakes in my life, especially when I was younger. It seems that I learn more about life from my mistakes than from academics. I always pray that the lord will help me spot them and show me what I can learn from them. ... One thing that was not a mistake was stepping out one morning and buying a newspaper.  

We were complete opposites. We were born and raised on opposite sides of the planet. Different cultures, environments, societies, ways of life. There wasn't one common thread between us. 

The first thing I remember Lolita doing was, she made the sign of the cross. Not the habitual gesture that I see many Catholics make, Hers' was a prayer. She was going to have lunch with some old friends. When the afternoon was over, she had made a new one. 

The ugliness of war and the society I came home to had all but erased any memory I had of God, religion and church. It wasn't that God didn't exist, He existed, but I felt he just wasn't paying attention to me. I tried to quell the memories of a war that no one wanted with alcohol for almost 10 years. Doctors, pills, institutions, friends, nothing seemed to work, until that afternoon.

She was very well educated, she just received a Doctorate degree in education. I just barely made it out of high school, and I HATED school. She was very organized and meticulous, I was very unorganized and messy. 

Although we were opposites, I felt comfortable sitting across a table from her in a restaurant and walking around all the tourist spots in San Diego with her. Much later I felt more comfortable sitting next to her at Mass than I did sitting alone in a Protestant church. 

As I learned about Lolita, I also learned about myself. Ten years of sea-life and a war changed me. I had become very different than I was at age 18, and now because of Lolita, was becoming very different than when I was at 34. 

When I graduated from High School I enlisted in the Navy. The Navy sea-life turned me into an adult, the war ripped my soul from me. I was lost to God and lost to the world around me...Well, to everyone and everything except Lolita (although, she does get lost just backing out of the driveway).

Unknowingly at that time, I was learning about myself from Lolita. Through the way she lived her life I was learning what Jesus meant when he talked of "love." A lot of things go into love. Acceptance, respect and caring are all a part of the Love that Jesus talked about. Lolita and I were very different, from birth! But we accepted our differences and respected them, whether we agreed or disagreed with it, we accepted and respected each other's lives - totally. From acceptance and respect comes caring. I was beginning to feel Lolly caring for me (she was the ONLY woman...person to ever get me to go to a Dentist...TWICE!!!!). Being a part of Lolly's life, watching how she handles the good and the bad stuff of daily life helped me to gain my soul back. 

 “Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you've never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground.” ― Judith Thurman 

That statement is also true for places you go to only once in a while. For me, that place is the Philippines. It was the first place I went to that was "away-from-home" with a totally different culture and society. The first place where I really had to fend for myself. Its special because it was the "first." Just like my "first" ship, the Oriskany, which took me to the Philippines, again, "first." 

Today, I have a caring family there. They have accepted me the way I am, with all my faults and with all my prayers. Caring for someone forms a bond, a bond that is made from God's Love and can not be broken, even if one leaves. That "caring" is what maked leaving so hard this time.   

 "A true home is love. It is where you get love and give love, freely with no strings attached, no expectations. You can never leave true home, it goes with you everywhere you go." -- Pogi Americano

Every 5 years Lolly and I make a religious pilgrimage to somewhere to celebrate 5 more years of or wonderful marriage. Last year, we spent a few days in Washington DC and went to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  During our tour of the shrine I was surprised to find that the cornerstone of the shrine was a gift from Antipolo Philippines. While Lolly and I were trying to decide where to go this year ... our 40th,  I suggested a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Antipolo in her homeland. 

What is the origin of the devotion to Our Lady of Antipolo?

Once we got there, I remembered the Basilica from the early 70's when I went there with a friend. He called it the "gold" church. 

We decided to go on the first of October because that would be the best weather. It was a very long trip for both of us. Although it was very hot and humid, I enjoyed every minute of the trip. A big THANK YOU to all who made this trip so special. 

Today I thank God for every day I have with Lolly and I thank Lolly for all she has done for me.  ...I also thank the Gonzales family and all it's branches for 40 years of your caring, love and prayers. 

 

Five Rosary Mistakes That Most Catholics Don't Notice

You can pray the Rosary every day and still fall into habits that quietly make it harder to pray with real attention, faith, and love... Most of the time, it is not because we do not care. We are tired, distracted, rushed, or spiritually worn down. But recognizing these habits can completely change the way we pray.

Praying too fast

It is easy to rush through the Rosary like we are trying to finish a task instead of spending time with Jesus through Mary. But the Rosary is meant to draw our hearts into the mysteries of Christ’s life.

Fix: Slow down enough to actually mean the words. Let yourself remain with the mystery instead of racing toward the next decade.

Forgetting the mysteries

You can say every Hail Mary correctly while thinking about everything except Jesus. The Rosary is not only vocal prayer. It is also meditation. St. John Paul II called it a “compendium of the Gospel” because the mysteries lead us through the life of Christ.

Fix: Before each decade, pause. Picture the mystery. Think about what Jesus and Mary are experiencing. Ask Our Lady to help you enter into it.

Believing distractions ruined your Rosary

Your mind wandering does not mean your prayer was worthless. Distractions happen, especially when we are tired or stressed. What matters is that we keep returning our attention to God instead of giving up.

Fix: The moment you notice your mind wandering, gently come back to the mystery. No panic. No shame. Just return.

Praying without offering an intention

Sometimes we begin the Rosary out of habit and forget to place something specific into God’s hands. An intention can help make our prayer more personal and remind us why we are praying.

Fix: Offer your Rosary for someone or something before you begin: your family, your conversion, someone far from God, the souls in Purgatory, the sick, or a difficult situation you cannot control.

Praying while refusing to turn away from serious sin

The Rosary is powerful, but it is not magic. Our Lady always leads us toward Jesus, repentance, and the Sacraments. If you have fallen into serious sin, do not stop praying. Let the Rosary move you toward a sincere Confession and a real desire to change.

Fix: Ask Mary for the grace to be honest with God, repent, make a good Confession, and take the next faithful step.

The Rosary is not about praying perfectly. It is about staying close to Jesus with the help of His Mother. And when we keep returning to Him, even imperfectly, God can slowly change our hearts in ways we may not notice at first.

Can a Recorded Rosary Count as a Daily Rosary?

Have you ever been traveling and wanted to pray your Rosary?

Perhaps you put on a recorded Rosary through your phone, radio, cassette, YouTube, or earphones and began praying along.

But then a question came to your mind:

"Does this really count as me praying the Rosary, or am I only listening to someone else pray?"

This is especially common among Catholics who pray while travelling, driving, working, or doing household activities.

So, what should Catholics know?

First, You Can Pray the Rosary With a Recording.

There is nothing wrong with using a recorded Rosary to help you pray.

A recording can guide you through:

The Apostles' Creed.

The Our Father.

The Hail Marys.

The Glory Be.

And the mysteries of the Rosary.

The important question is not whether the voice you hear comes from a recording.

The important question is:

Are you actually joining in the prayer?

Second, There Is a Difference Between Listening and Praying Along.

Imagine that you play a recorded Rosary and simply listen to the entire thing without saying the prayers yourself.

You have listened to a Rosary.

But now imagine that the recording says:

"Hail Mary, full of grace..."

and you pray the Hail Mary yourself along with it.

You are not merely listening.

You are praying.

The recording is simply helping you keep the prayers and mysteries in order.

It is similar to praying with other people who are leading the Rosary.

Third, Does It Count as Your Rosary for the Day?.

If you actively pray along with the recording, saying the prayers yourself and meditating on the mysteries, you can genuinely say that you prayed the Rosary.

The Church does not require every Catholic to pray the Rosary using a particular physical Rosary in their hands.

The beads are a valuable aid that help us keep track of the prayers and mysteries, but the essence of the devotion is the prayer and meditation, not the object itself.

So if you are traveling and praying along with a recorded Rosary, you do not need to feel that your prayer was somehow "fake."

You were praying.

Fourth, What If You Are Driving?

This is where we need some common sense.

If you are driving, you can pray along with a Rosary through the radio or an audio recording provided that doing so does not distract you from driving safely.

Do not:

Handle your phone while driving.

Search for another Rosary recording while moving.

Hold the Rosary beads in a way that interferes with driving.

Close your eyes to meditate.

Allow the prayer to make you lose concentration on the road.

Your responsibility to drive safely remains.

A Rosary should never become a reason to endanger yourself or another person.

If the road becomes dangerous or your attention is needed, focus on driving.

God does not want us to pray in a way that puts other people's lives at risk.

Fifth, What If You Use Earphones While Traveling?

You can use an earpiece or earphones to listen to and pray along with a recorded Rosary.

For example, you may be:

Traveling on a bus.

Sitting in an airport.

Waiting at a station.

Flying on an airplane.

Walking somewhere.

Or simply sitting quietly.

If you are actively joining the prayers, the fact that the Rosary is coming through your earphones does not make the prayer less genuine.

You are still the one saying the prayers.

The recording is simply helping to lead you.

Sixth, You Don't Have to Hold Rosary Beads to Pray the Rosary.

This is another common misunderstanding.

The Rosary beads are a sacramental and a very useful aid for counting the prayers.

But the physical beads are not what makes the prayer a Rosary.

A person who loses their Rosary beads has not lost the ability to pray.

You can pray the Rosary:

With ordinary Rosary beads.

With a finger Rosary.

With your fingers.

With an app.

With a recorded Rosary.

Or even without any physical object at all.

What matters is that you are actually praying the prayers and meditating on the mysteries.

Seventh, Don't Turn the Rosary Into Background Noise.

There is, however, something we should be careful about.

The Rosary is not meant to become merely another piece of background audio.

If you put on a recorded Rosary while completely ignoring the prayers, the recording may still be spiritually beneficial to listen to, but you should not pretend that you actively prayed every prayer when you did not.

Try to participate.

When you hear the Hail Mary, pray it.

When the mystery is announced, reflect on it.

When the Our Father is prayed, pray it yourself.

When the Glory Be is said, join in.

The goal is not simply to have a Rosary playing.

The goal is to pray.

Eighth, What About Someone Who Cannot Easily Pray Out Loud?

Some Catholics may be unable to pray audibly because they are in public, traveling, sick, or otherwise unable to speak comfortably.

That does not mean they cannot pray.

Prayer can be made internally.

You can pray the words silently in your heart while listening to the recording.

The important thing is your genuine participation in the prayer.

God knows what is happening in your heart.

Finally, so, can a recorded Rosary count as your daily Rosary?

Yes, if you are genuinely praying along with it.

The recording does not pray instead of you.

It helps lead you while you pray.

If you are traveling and the Rosary comes through your radio, phone, earphones or another recording, don't feel guilty simply because you are not physically holding your Rosary beads.

If you are saying the prayers and meditating on the mysteries:

You are praying the Rosary.

But if you simply play a recording while doing something else and never actually participate in the prayers, it is more accurate to say that you listened to a Rosary, rather than that you personally prayed the entire Rosary.

And remember:

The purpose of the Rosary is not merely to finish a certain number of prayers. It is to meditate with Mary upon the mysteries of Christ.

So whether you are sitting in your room, traveling on a bus, flying across the country, or safely driving home:

Pray. Meditate. And let the Rosary lead you closer to Jesus.

In simple words, can I pray the Rosary with a recording?

Yes.

Can I use the radio or my phone?

Yes.

Can I use earphones while traveling?

Yes.

Do I have to hold physical Rosary beads?

No.

If I actively say the prayers along with the recording, have I prayed the Rosary?

Yes, you can genuinely participate in the Rosary this way.

What if I only listen without praying along?

Then you are listening to the Rosary rather than actively praying all of it yourself.

What if I am driving?

You may pray along if it does not distract you from driving safely. Never handle your phone or Rosary beads in a way that compromises your attention or control of the vehicle.

So the next time you are traveling and someone says:

"You cannot count that as your Rosary because it is recorded,"

remember:

The recording is not doing the praying instead of you.

It is helping you pray.

Now you know.

SOURCES:

Sacred Scripture (Catholic Translation):

Luke 1:28, Luke 1:42, Luke 2:19, Philippians 4:6

Catechism of the Catholic Church §§2558-2565 - Prayer

Catechism of the Catholic Church §§1667-1679 - Sacramentals

Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy §§197-202 - The Rosary

Rosarium Virginis Mariae, Pope St. John Paul II (2002)

When First Saturday is Also Holy Saturday

Can the First Saturdays devotion be fulfilled on Holy Saturday?

Since the First Saturday in April this year is Holy Saturday and there is no morning Mass, how can I fulfill all essential practices of the First Saturdays devotion?

There are four essential practices of the First Saturdays devotion. Each is to be done in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

1. Confession
2. Receive Holy Communion (Communion of Reparation)
3. 5 Decades of the Rosary
4. Keep Our Lady company with a separate and additional Meditation on the Mysteries of the Rosary for 15 minutes.

• One can go to Confession with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on another day as long as one receives Holy Communion in the state of grace. There should be one Confession for each First Saturday sometime in the month (cf. Jesus to Sr. Lucia, Feb. 15, 1926).
• Because of the special circumstance of Holy Saturday this year, it is acceptable to receive the Communion of Reparation either at the Saturday night Vigil Mass for Easter or on Easter Sunday. (Please note this is an extraordinary circumstance. Ordinarily, we recommend that if one goes to the Saturday Vigil to fulfill the First Saturdays devotion that one should go to Mass again on Sunday. However, because of the length of the Saturday Vigil on Holy Saturday, many may not be able to go to Mass on both days).
• The other 2 practices can be done on Holy Saturday.
• Remember: Each of the 4 practices is to be done with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

This is supported by the following quote from Sr. Lucia:

“And if one could not accomplish all those obligations on a Saturday, would Sunday not do? The practice of the devotion will be equally accepted on the Sunday following the first Saturday, when, for just motives, many priests will allow it” (Memorias e Cartas da Irma Lucia, Antonio Maria Martins, S.J., p. 411).

Another question is: On Holy Saturday, how can I fulfill the Rosary and the Meditation?

We encourage people to still gather together in the parish on Holy Saturday (with parish permission) to do these two practices, in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, using The Communal First Saturdays Devotional book (link provided below). If one cannot join with others, one may fulfill these 2 practices privately on this day.

If there is a Communal First Saturdays® with its inseparable devotional book in your parish:

We recommend that the leader of the Communal First Saturdays® ask the pastor/parish priest for permission to publicly gather in the church or other location in the parish on Holy Saturday. This is what we recommend you say or send to your pastor/parish priest to receive this permission:

Dear Fr.____,

On Holy Saturday, we want to say prayers and the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. We would also like to meditate on the Passion for 15 minutes with someone reading the Scriptures out loud.

May we have a designated place in the Church or somewhere else to do this at ___(list time).

Sincerely in Christ,

[add your name and contact details]

Once the leader receives pastor/parish priest permission for the 2 items above, the leader can then:

1. Advertise that for those who would like to fulfill the First Saturdays devotion, in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in April, you will have the Rosary and Scripture Meditation.
2. Can let people know that they can receive the Communion of Reparation at the Saturday night Vigil Mass for Easter or on Easter Sunday.
3. Can let people know they can go to Confession on another day as long as they receive Holy Communion in the state of grace and have the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (cf. Jesus to Lucia, Feb 15, 1926).

On the First Saturday, you can still use The Communal First Saturdays Devotional book and proceed as you normally do. The only exception is you would not be participating in Mass and receiving Holy Communion. In other words, you would start on p. 10 as usual and continue to p.23. You would then continue with p. 27 to do the Meditation (omit the parts that refer to the Holy Eucharist being within us since there would be no morning Mass on Holy Saturday). After the Meditation, you can proceed with the Litany and prayers for the Holy Father for any Indulgences.

For those who cannot join a public gathering on Holy Saturday, you could send them the card with the following link: First Saturdays and Fatima Card. You could also encourage them to use The Communal First Saturdays Devotional book for the intentions and prayers beginning on page 10, the Rosary, and the separate meditation.

Here is some additional information:

Support for the First Saturdays to be done on Holy Saturday

The following quote shows that devotion to Our Lady on Saturdays, including First Saturdays, has its theological foundation in Holy Saturday. “… to-day the memorial rightly emphasizes certain values “to which contemporary spirituality is more sensitive: it is a remembrance of the maternal example and discipleship of the Blessed Virgin Mary who, strengthened by faith and hope, on that great Saturday [Holy Saturday] on which Our Lord lay in the tomb, was the only one of the disciples to hold vigil in expectation of the Lord’s resurrection; it is a prelude and introduction to the celebration of Sunday, the weekly memorial of the Resurrection of Christ; it is a sign that the “Virgin Mary is continuously present and operative in the life of the Church” (bold and brackets are ours).[1]

“Indeed, as we can understand from this quotation, Our Lady alone preserved Faith within her Immaculate Heart on that Holy Saturday, believing that her Son would rise from the dead. We can exclaim once more, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Lk. 1:45). Yet, although Mary believed on that Holy Saturday, she also suffered in her Immaculate Heart the death of her Son as a consequence of our sins. We recall the words of Simeon inspired by the Holy Spirit, “(and) a sword will pierce through your own soul (also), that the thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed” (Lk. 2:35). Remembering Our Lady’s sorrows on [Holy Saturday] would be one special way to reveal our hearts to Jesus. He will not forget those sorrows of His Mother and the consolation we offer her.” (bold and brackets our ours) [2]

Support for the Request of the Rosary and Scripture Meditation

“Given the close relationship between Christ and Our Lady, the rosary can always be of assistance in giving prayer a Christological orientation, since it contains meditation of the Incarnation and the Redemption” (emphasis ours). [3]

“On Holy Saturday, the Church is, as it were, at the Lord’s tomb, meditating on his passion and death and on his descent into hell, awaiting his resurrection with prayer and fasting…there should be some celebration of the word of God or some act of devotion suited to the mystery celebrated this day.” [4]

“On certain occasions, the recitation of the Rosary could be made more solemn in tone “by introducing those Scriptural passages corresponding with the various mysteries…” [5]

“…the liturgical character of a given day takes precedence over the usual assignment of a mystery of the Rosary to a given day; the Rosary is such that, on particular days, it can appropriately substitute meditation on a mystery so as to harmonize this pious practice with the liturgical season.” [6]

References:

[1] Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, December 2001, §188, 2nd paragraph. (https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20020513_vers-direttorio_en.html)

[2] The Communal First Saturdays: Power in Prayer Together, 2017 (420 pages, with imprimatur). This book contains the theology of the First Saturdays devotion and the Church-approved Communal First Saturdays^® (https://communalfirstsaturdays.org/shop/the-communal-first-saturdays/)

[3] Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, § 165.

[4] Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Paschale Solemnitatis Circular Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts, January 16, 1988, § 73. (https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/Seasons/Documents/Paschale-Solemnitatis.pdf)

[5] Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, §199, 2nd paragraph.

[6] Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines, §200, 2nd paragraph.

Kartilya ng Katipunan (Code of Conduct)

The Kartilya ng Katipunan outlines principles for living according to Filipino beliefs and duties, and served as an oath for the Katipunan movement for independence. Similarly, Francis Magalona's song "Man from Manila" encourages Filipinos to have pride in their nationality and defend their homeland. Both pieces emphasize unity, nationalism, and resisting oppression to build a better Philippines.  

I found these inspiring words while chasing down some Filipino-American history. I thought it to be very close to the 10 commandments but written with words more in tune with the present time. These few paragraphs seem to summarize all the teachings of Jesus, the constitution (US & Filipino), and the Declaration of Independence (US & Filipino).

This code of conduct, seems so right and so simple, but in reality is so hard to follow. We let greed, pride and our individuality blind us from what being created ‘in his image’ really means.

Such a great work as this should not be hidden in a folder in a library, guarded as a valuable manuscript from an ancestor. It should be proclaimed throughout the world, shared over and over again so that we remember there is only one ‘I AM’ and that is God.

Emilio Jacinto’s address to the candidates at an initiation (Katipunan) in 1894. This address is known today as the Kartilya ng Katipunan. This is what I feel should be the aspirations of all men in all societies.

Kartilya ng Katipunan

“Doing good for personal profit, and not for the sake of the good itself, is not goodness. Charity is rational, as is the love we owe our neighbors, and so our attitude, deeds and words should ever conform to what is reasonable. Whether the complexion be dark or light, all men are equal. Superiority through knowledge, from riches and by beauty are all possible, but nature gives no other superiority.

The honest man prizes his honor above personal profit; rascals prefer profit to honor. Among men of honor the plighted word is sacred. The prudent man is sparing of his promises, and faithfully guards confidences. Don’t waste your time. Lost riches may be regained but lost time can never be recovered. Defend the abused and make complaint of, or war upon, the aggressor.

Along life’s thorny path the man should be the guide of his wife and children, and if the husband and father takes a route over precipices those whom he guides will also fall over.

Woman should not be regarded as a mere plaything but as the faithful companion that shares with man all the penalties of life. Her weakness should make her a special care when you remember that you were born of a woman and recall the mother that brought you up.

Whatever you would be unwilling to have done to your own wife, your own daughters and your own sisters, that do not you do to wives or daughters or sisters of your neighbors.

A man is of no more worth merely because he is a king, or has an aquiline nose, or is fair-skinned, nor because he is a priest, calling himself the minister of God, nor through enjoying great privileges among the fortunate of the earth. The real man is he who, of tried and trusty valor, does good, keeps his word, and is worthy and self-respecting. Such an one neither abuses others nor associates with those that abuse others. Although he may have been brought up in remote mountains and speaks no other language than his rude mother-tongue, real manhood will know how to love and cherish the native land.

When these rules of conduct shall be known to, and observed by all Filipinos, then the sun of our long longed-for liberty will shine brightly on this favored portion of the earth and its rays diffuse such inconceivable joy among the united brothers of the same race that the lives of those who fall anbd the fatigues and sufferings of those who survive will be well repaid.” – Emilio Jacinto 1894 

For more information about Katipunan: 

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katipunan - Supreme and Venerable Association of the Children of the Nation.
• http://www.efilarchives.org/exhibits/Philippine%20History%20Website%202025/katipunan.html - The Philippine History Site.
• https://www.philippinemasonry.org/the-katipunan-ideology.html - The Katipunan Ideology.
• https://kapampangan.org/the-katipunan-history-philippine-independence/ -
• The Katipunan – History, Significance, and People Leading to Philippine Independence. 

 

 For more information about Kartilya ng Katipunan:

• https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/history-lesson-5-6-kartilya-ng-katipunan-proclamation-of-philippine-independence/266665436  - History Lesson 5 & 6 KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN & PROCLAMATION OF

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartilya_ng_Katipunan - The Kartilya ng Katipunan
• https://www.philippinemasonry.org/kartilya-ng-katipunan.html - English Translation.

• https://www.scribd.com/document/539009153/The-Kartilya-ng-Katipunan Teachings of the Kartilya ng Katipunan.
  
  
  
  

Guard Duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

 

On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was, How many steps does the guard take during their walk across the Tomb of the Unknowns? ------ All three missed it ---

 

The Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is really an awesome sight to watch.

Guard Duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

1. How many steps does the guard take during their walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why? ...21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

 

2. How long do they hesitate after their about face to begin their return walk and why?...21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1,

 

3. Why are their gloves wet? ...Their gloves are moistened to prevent losing their grip on the rifle.

 

4. Do they carry their rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not, why not? ... They carry the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After their march across the path, they execute an about face and move the rifle to the outside shoulder.

 

5. How often are the guards changed? ... Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

 

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to? ... For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, they must be between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and their waist size cannot exceed 30.' Other requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty.

 

They cannot swear in public and cannot disgrace the uniform or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only a little over 600 presently worn.

 

The guard must obey these rules while serving as guards or for the rest of their lives if they choose.

 

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.

 

There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.

 

Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.

 

The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV.

 

All off-duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis (the boxer) and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, (the most decorated soldier of WWII) of Hollywood fame.

 

Every guard spends five hours a day getting their uniforms ready for guard duty.

 

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

 

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC , our US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. 

They respectfully declined the offer, 'No way, Sir!' Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a service person.

 

The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

 

God Bless and Keep the Guards of the Unknown Soldier.

We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

 

Duty - Honor - Country

 

IN GOD WE TRUST

 

 

In May 1864, one month prior to its establishment as a national cemetery, the first military burials took place at Arlington National Cemetery. The four burials took place in Section 27 (pictured), the oldest section of the cemetery:

 

  

 

Private William Henry Christman, 67th Pennsylvania Infantry: first military service member interred at Arlington.

 

Private William Reeves, 76th New York Infantry: first draftee.

 

Private William Blatt, 49th Pennsylvania Infantry: first battle casualty.

 

Private William H. McKinney, 17th Pennsylvania Cavalry: first to have family present at his funeral.

 

Learn more about the history of Arlington National Cemetery.

My First Date

My first date with my first girlfriend was my High School senior prom. There is one instrumental that I will never ever forget. I just heard it, after over 50 years I still remember where I was and who I was with when I first heard it. <sigh> I was wishing I knew how to dance at my High School prom. My date Barbra wanted to dance to this tune soooooo bad.  

I graduated Lincoln-Way High School in June of 1969. By July, I had enlisted in the Navy. It was either enlist in the military or be drafted, I chose enlistment. I ran track, the mile and 2-mile for all four years. ... I thought HS was boring. 

Hearing it again brought back that same feeling...Wish I could dance.

Harlem Nocturne long version by The Viscounts

"Harlem Nocturne" has been recorded by many diverse artists, but this version by the The Viscounts is by far the best.

 

“Harlem Nocturne”  - “Harlem Nocturne” is a saxophone-saturated song born in 1939 that has had a long shelf life –a song that found pop fame 20 years, and again nearly 50 years, after its first release.

 

A Symphony Of The City -  Duke Ellington‘s “Mr. Cotton Club” in Harlem connection to “Harlem Nocturne” is a fascinating tale of musical inspiration and cross-pollination in the jazz world. 

 

“Harlem Nocturne” (1940) Ray Noble and (1969) Ted Heath - Swing & Beyond

 

 ... Wonder if my Physics teacher remembers who he danced with while this played? 

 

Nights In White Satin by The Moody Blues

Another memory from <God, I can't believe it...> over 50 years ago <sigh> Am I REALLY THAT old? It's amazing what memories a song can bring back. I can't remember what I had for breakfast just a few hours ago, but a song from over 50 years ago can bring back a memory so vivid and clear that it could have just happened.

1969, one hell of a year...Graduated high school, scared stiff over the "draft", gained a "Love", enlisted in the Navy and had no idea of what to expect, went to a high school prom - that dress REALLY accented her bu...bre..."womanly" features - began a career that lasted almost 50 years...and lost a "love".  

Nights In White Satin by The Moody Blues, one of the few "popular" songs that made it into my "country music" era. The video above, consists of clips of Paris and the famous monuments there, and the band singing the song from a staircase to in front of what appears to be a statue and a patterned room. The video has over 63 million views since its upload in 2006.

Justin Hayward started writing the song after he was dumped by a girlfriend (I can relate to that). Remembering a gift a different girlfriend had given him he eventually wrote a song that became a multi million-selling, era-defining classic.

First released in November 1967, Nights In White Satin was a masterpiece that bridged pop and symphonic music, with a lyric ripped directly from Hayward’s personal life – it finds him caught between ecstasy and despair, between the end of one love affair while embarking on a new one.

“There was a lot of emotion that went into the song,” Hayward affirms. “I was nineteen or twenty at the time (like me), living in a two-room flat in Bayswater with Graeme [Edge, Moody Blues drummer] and our girlfriends. I came back from a gig one night, around four or five in the morning, when the birds were just twittering, I sat on the side of the bed and wrote a couple of verses. The only people writing in the Moodies then were [keyboard player] Mike Pinder and myself. He’d been working on a song called Dawn Is A Feeling, which I’d heard him fiddling around with, and I knew the other guys were expecting something from me at rehearsal the next day.”

Searching for some kind of metaphor for his emotional turmoil, Hayward remembered the recent gift he’d been given. “Another girlfriend, who was neither the one that had just dumped me or the one that I was then going with, had given me some white satin sheets. They just happened to be in my suitcase and I was trying them out in this place that Graeme and I lived in. They were very romantic-looking, but totally impractical.”

Shaped by producer Tony Clarke and arranger/conductor Peter Knight, Nights In White Satin became a sumptuous epic in the studio. It formed the centerpiece of the Moodies’ second album, Days Of Future Passed, a dawn-to-darkness song cycle that made full use of the Mellotron’s ability to simulate an orchestra. Topped off by a spoken-word poem, Late Lament, Hayward’s song clocked in at nearly seven and a half minutes. Nights was duly edited down as a single, although not everyone at Deram, Decca’s new subsidiary label, was convinced of its worth.

The song continues to enjoy a prolonged afterlife. South Carolina’s Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach has unveiled the Nights In White Satin: The Trip - theme park, a sensory experience based on Hayward’s tune, with on-board audio, digital effects and psychedelic imagery.

So, what's MY memory of a ROCK song invading my era of country and western music? Like it's writer, I felt as though I had been "dumped" by my then girlfriend. I remember I was in the Navy, just out of boot camp and just entered Electronic Technician "A" school at Great lakes, Ill. On a weekend liberty I went to my girlfriend's apartment in Chicago. When I left I kinda felt as if I had just gotten dumped. On the train ride back to Great Lakes I remember hearing the song and the "low and slow" "Oh I love you oh how I love you." Kinda had me down for a while.

The down feeling didn't last long, in a few months when I graduated, I was sent to California...I learned what "I wish they all could be California girls" meant (I later married one). The Moody Blues and hometown girls were quickly forgotten. It's good that when you are young you can just "push the past aside" and start over again. When you get older, it's harder to just "push stuff aside" and start over. Our character might say "forget it - move on" but our emotions, that only strengthen over the years, say "not yet, give it one more try, maybe something can be worked out". ... It's those strengthened emotions that let us smile and shake hands with one of those things that didn't go exactly the way we wanted it to. How we handle memories adds to those qualities that define our character. 

Now when I hear Nights in White Satan, I get nostalgic and remember home - New Lenox Ill., high school, the draft, a girl. Memories remind me that life changes, instead of being sad over lost loves, things that I did wrong or things I should have done or not done, I'm happy that I had an opportunity to just live and add strength to my emotions and build the qualities distinctive to the Pogi Americano. 

 The Moody Blues perform "Nights in White Satin" and "Late Lament" at the 2018 Ceremony