This article can be found and read in my Friendster, Facebook and Blogspot, June 24,2009...
I can’t sleep, and it’s almost near the hour of two in the morning, I just want to recall what happened to my day, what have I done and what I forgot to do. This may sound hurtful in the middle but, “bato bato sa langit,tama-an huwag magalit.”
I am a Catholic, and I am proud to be one though others may find it filthy or whatsoever, I don’t care, as long as I live out my faith. I was born to be one and I will die as one. I was raised to be and that’s the only thing that my parent’s could give that will not be taken away, aside from education.
We celebrated the Red Mass or the Mass of the Holy Spirit this morning, I arrived on time but of course all seats are taken, especially that the freshmen in our department were high in number. Luckily, my friends reserved seats for us. The program began with the procession of the faculties and lastly of the Agustinian friars.
The mass began, I was concentrating because it is the highest form of prayer and it is our practice to keep silent during this time. Then, my classmates came in late, and they shared seats with us, I was just annoyed by the fact that, they came in late and they talk a lot. Could they not hear and see that the mass has started?
I felt so bad because some of them are catholics like me. I was really wondering if they know what’s the real meaning of the mass, the parts of it and stuffs alike. I was also wondering if they are going to church with their families or if their parents are telling them of the proper behavior during this time? I wonder!
The priest is reading the Gospel, and my classmates are talking loudly to each other, of course, your concentration will evaporate, no matter what you tell them, they keep on repeating what they are doing. So never mind them. I really hate to think that they are just there because of attendance. “Tani, kung mag gahod man lang sila kag mag pa gutok-gutok, didto na lang sila danay sa gwa, kag mag chikka to sila asta gusto nila, indi sila mag disturbo sa mga gusto mag simba.” I just can’t take it anymore, since first year, that’s the thing they are doing, if not talking, texting,listening to their iPods or mp3 players. Oh come on... a little respect please.
Then, one thing, just because you are not catholics, you don’t have the right to sabotage or disturb others. You enrolled in a Catholic institution and you know you need to follow rules and attend mass. Also, you don’t have the right to condemn our religion because we are not condemning yours, in fact whatever religion you may have, it is not an assurance that you will go to heaven, it is thy faith that can save you. I don’t care if you memorize the Bible, but the question is, are you practicing what you’ve read and memorize? I am not pointing anybody, I am just stating what my heart feels. Yes, some catholics may be a “salot ng lipunan” for your eyes, yet not all of us are the same. Please don’t generalized, we were raised differently and we were given different values to live by. Before you judge, think! Are all the members of your community are saints???
Another observation I had was, some of the people inside the gym don’t know what to answer or to speak a prayer or a statement. Have they experienced Flores de Mayo or what happened to the 6 semesters in Theology? Did their parents taught them anything about God or about their faith? It is really a shame, because I thought that all of us knows how to pray yet some don’t, in fact that they are studying and learning theology and enrolled in a catholic institution.
I know, that not all of us have the same outlook towards faith,mass and religion, yet all we need is respect. Especially to my fellow catholics who happened to have a faith that can be blown by the wind, no direction, no foundation. Maybe, I expect a lot since then, and I am really proud that my family are going to the mass together, and we had a good foundation. And I really hate to say this, but when I was back in high school, when we have an institutional mass, everyone is silent, everyone listens, everyone is in right behavior even if the seating arrangement maybe uncomfortable.
Okay, I am ready for the backfire comments, if you would ask me if, I am not doing all that I have mention, I will say no. The only thing that you can say is, “you are sleeping during the mass sometimes”, yes I do admit that sometimes I am sleeping, yet I am not disturbing anyone who might be listening, and if I am sleeping, it the lesser evil, I am just sleeping if the audio is not audible. I don’t compete with the speaker. Yeah, I am not perfect but in my little way to show that I care about my religion and my faith is bigger than I am, I want to see a difference in this world before I die. No one is perfect, by the way, unless you consider yourself to be one. I am trying my best to be good and live my life in a Christ’s like way, but if you think it is just another hypocrisy I don’t care what you think at all.
Maybe a little discipline and respect would do. I am just hurt by what other catholics are doing. That is why, sometimes I prefer to attend mass by myself, in that way I will have a date with the Lord without disturbances and with all my heart and attention.
I am sorry to those whom I hurt by posting this, yet I don’t know how you feel. You may be asking your conscience what have you done or your pride will prevail at its peak and just consider this post as a rubbish,a crap or whatever. I am really pleading that next time will be a lot more different especially now, that we are in our senior year.
Maybe sooner, you will know that faith can move mountains, I already experienced it, not once but all my life. I live because of miracle,faith, prayers,devotions and angels. If my life was taken way by PDA, it was PDA that restores it. Prayers,devotions and angels- that’s how I live the second time around.
“I love the Lord, He is filled with compassion, He turned to me on the day that I call. From the snares of the dark, Lord be my guide,be my strength.”
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