Suggested Songs for the Corpus Christi Mass, June 10, 2012

June 10, 2012

Corpus Christi Sunday in Year B

Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of Christ) is a Latin Rite solemnity, now designated the solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). It is also celebrated in some Anglican, Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches. Like Trinity Sunday and the Solemnity of Christ the King, it does not commemorate a particular event in Jesus' life. Instead it celebrates the Body and Blood of Christ really present in the Eucharist. Its date is the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, but "where the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is not a Holy Day of Obligation, it is assigned to the Sunday after the Most Holy Trinity as its proper day".

At the end of the Mass, it is customary in many places to have a procession of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

This year, it was fall on the 7^th day of June but it was moved to the nearest Sunday, June 10.

Note:

If your parish is going to have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, whether before or after Mass, or sometimes after communion you may sing: 
1. Panis Angelicus (Bread of Angels) 
2. Tinapay ng Buhay (Atienza, Borres, & Francisco)

For your comments and suggestions about this blog you post it below or email us at dmecchoir@yahoo.com or text us at +639167222465. Please CLICK on the Ads at the sidebar... thank you :)

Entrance:

1.      Awit mga Binuhat

2.      Kon Magkatigum ta , sibo sa ebanghelyo diin nagkatigom sila sa usa ka lawak

3.      Himaya Kanimo, Kristo Jesus

4.      Sa Hapag ng Panginoon (Morano & Francisco) 

5.      Sa Piging na Handog (Carlos, Villaroman) 

6.      Sa Piging ng Panginoon (Tabuena, Hontivers) 

7.      Water of Life (Haas)

Kyrie:

1.      Kyrie 3^rd Mass (Villanueva)

2.      Kaloy-I Kami Ginoo (Fernandez)

3.      Panginoon Maawa Ka (Francisco)

4.      Lord, Have Mercy (Francisco-Reyes)

Gloria:

1.      Gloria 3^rd Mass (Villanueva)

2.      Himaya sa Dios II (Fernandez)

3.      Papuri sa Dios (Francisco-Reyes-Torres)

4.      Glory to God (Francisco-Agatep)

First Reading                                                                                     Ex 24:3-8

When Moses came to the people
and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD,
they all answered with one voice,
"We will do everything that the LORD has told us."
Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and,
rising early the next day,
he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar
and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites
to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls
as peace offerings to the LORD,
Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls;
the other half he splashed on the altar.
Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people,
who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do."
Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying,
"This is the blood of the covenant
that the LORD has made with you
in accordance with all these words of his."

Responsorial Psalm                                       Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18

R. (13) I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Second Reading                                                                     Heb 9:11-15

Brothers and sisters:
When Christ came as high priest
of the good things that have come to be,
passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle
not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,
he entered once for all into the sanctuary,
not with the blood of goats and calves
but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and bulls
and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes
can sanctify those who are defiled
so that their flesh is cleansed,
how much more will the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from dead works
to worship the living God.

For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant:
since a death has taken place for deliverance
from transgressions under the first covenant,
those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

Gospel Acclamation:

1.      Pangitaa ang Gingharian

2.      Aleluya, Daygon ang Dios

3.      Aleluya, Kami ay Gawin Mong Daan (Francisco)

4.      Thy Words

5.      Seek Ye First

Gospel                                                                        Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,
Jesus' disciples said to him,
"Where do you want us to go
and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
He sent two of his disciples and said to them,
"Go into the city and a man will meet you,
carrying a jar of water.
Follow him.
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house,
'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room
where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.
Make the preparations for us there."
The disciples then went off, entered the city,
and found it just as he had told them;
and they prepared the Passover.

While they were eating,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, gave it to them, and said,
"Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,
and they all drank from it.
He said to them,
"This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many.
Amen, I say to you,
I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine
until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Then, after singing a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Personal Readings Reflection:

                                                                     

Greetings my brothers and sisters in Christ. How appropriate it is to celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ with the opening of the Summer season when all the beauties of nature are in full bloom! For, as the Summer is the blooming season of the year, through the Body and Blood of Christ, we too are called to bloom.

Some of you may be asking yourselves, "What is our priest talking about?" Allow me to explain. First of all, what is the purpose of the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ? This special Feast is celebrated in remembrance of Jesus who gave His life for the salvation of many. It is a Feast in remembrance of Jesus' command to celebrate the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

As we heard during today's Gospel Reading, "While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, 'Take; this is my body.'" [Mt. 26:26: Mk. 14:22; Lk. 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:24] "Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" [Mt. 26:28; Mk. 14:24; Lk. 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:25] Jesus commanded us to celebrate the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, to eat His Body and to drink His Blood.

While Jesus was on earth, He stated, "I am the living bread that came down from Heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." [Jn. 6:51]

In the next passage, notice how Jesus began to speak with the words, "Very truly." "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink." [Jn. 6:53-5]

To some of you, those words may appear to contradict other inspired words of the Holy Bible. In the Gospel of John, again starting with the words "Very truly," Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit." [Jn. 3:5]

When Jesus used the words, "Very truly," such not being on too many occasions, He was pointing out to something that was extremely important, something that must not be overlooked.

In the last Bible passage that I read, Jesus was indicating that we must receive the Sacrament of Baptism in order to qualify for the Kingdom of God. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we receive our new creation as the first installment towards salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we received the forgiveness of the original sin and our sins that were committed prior to being baptized. At that moment, we became members of the Body of Christ. Through our free will, we were free to welcome Jesus in our lives in humility, obedience and servitude. We could have rejected God as the fallen angels have done.

Once we have received the Sacrament of Baptism through faith in Christ, we are called to maintain our state of grace at all time. How do we do that? It is by receiving the Sacrament of Confession! Then, being in a state of grace, we are called to receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ. 

As Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." [Jn. 6:53] Some may say, "I have faith in Jesus and so I am saved!" Other may say, "I have been baptized and have become a new creation. As such, I am saved."

Believe me, unless we receive the Body and Blood of Christ through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, we are not saved! We may have become a new creation by dying with Christ, being buried with Christ and having resurrected with Christ, but the soul has no life in it without the Body and Blood of Christ.

Faith alone does not save anyone! The Sacrament of Baptism alone does not save anyone! The Sacrament of Confession alone does not save anyone! Nor does the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist alone save anyone! Each of the aforementioned are required in the proper order for us to be saved and qualify to enjoy eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

In the Gospel of Luke, we read that Jesus said, "I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken way." [Lk. 19:26]

"From those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away." What a powerful statement! How can you take away something from someone when he has nothing? From those who refuse to shine in the love and the light of Christ by the grace of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, God's gift of the new creation that was received during the Sacrament of Baptism will be taken away. That person, without the Sacraments of Confession and the Holy Eucharist, is as good as dead! He will not qualify as a son or daughter of God to enjoy the eternal beatific vision of God in the Heavenly Kingdom.

When Christ anointed us by putting His seal on us, giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit in our hearts during the Sacrament of Baptism, that was the first instalment [2 Cor. 1:22] towards our salvation. If we do not walk our living faith in Christ and receive the Living Bread of life on a regular basis, by failing to obey the teachings of Jesus, we will not receive our final instalment. It is as simple as that!

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ. The gift of salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom of God comes from Christ and no one else. If Jesus is not good enough for us, we refusing to receive Him in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, what living hope do we have of receiving our salvation and inheritance in the eternal Kingdom of God? None! Without the Body and Blood of Christ, we are lost forever!

Through Moses, the people of the Old Testament were given the Old Covenant of the Law. Through the blood of the sacrifice of animals, they received the forgiveness of sins. These sacrifices were imperfect because they had to be repeated over and over. 

Now, through the New Covenant of grace that was implemented through Christ, the perfect sacrifice of the Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sins, we receive the salvation that the Heavenly Father promised to our forefathers in the Old Testament. As children of God, [1 Jn. 3:1], having died with Christ on the cross, having been buried with Him and having resurrected with Him, we have become new creations. Having become new creations, we must behave as new creations, as slaves of Christ who shine in love.

"Do you suppose that it is for nothing that the Scripture says, 'God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?'" [Jas. 4:4-5] Yes, God is jealous of the spirit that He has made to dwell in us. Through Christ, we have become living Temple of the Lord God.

As new creations, we are as blooming flowers, called to shine in the darkness of this world so the Spirit of Christ may manifest Himself through us. Having the light of Christ within us, it is not called to be hidden. It is called to shine forth through our thoughts, our words and our actions. It is called to be a living example.

Through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, we can receive our blessed hope, the assurance of our salvation. Through the Body and Blood of Christ, we find the necessary strength to persevere in this world. While we are in this world, we no longer belong to this world!

As we continue with the celebration of the Holy Mass, let us be thankful to the Lord Jesus for His Body and Blood that assures us our salvation. And let us remember throughout the week that as new creations, we are called to feed on the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist so the Body and Blood of Christ may transform us in His likeness.

Offertory:

1.      Daygon, Ikaw Ginoong Dios

2.      Diyutay Lang Kini

3.      Nagahalad Kami

4.      Uban ning Pan ug bino (Cubillas)

5.      Aniang Among Halad

6.      Unang Alay (Magnaye)

7.      Isang Pagkain, Isang Katawan, Isang Bayan (San Pedro) 

8.      Pag-aalay (Francisco)

9.      One Bread, One Body (Foley)

10.  Prayer for Generosity (Arboleda)

11.  Prayer of Rupert Mayer (Francisco)

12.  Take and Receive “Command and I obey” 

Sanctus:

1.      Sanctus 3^rd Mass (Villanueva)

2.      Sanctus Mass V (Villanueva)

3.      Santos I Chord of C F G

4.      Santo, Santo, Santo (Que)

5.      Holy, Holy, Holy (Benitez)

Acclamation:

1.      Si Kristo atong Handumon

2.      Among Gihandum

3.      Si Kristo ay Gunitain (Ramirez)

4.      Si Kristo’y Namatay (Hontiveros)

5.      Sa Krus mo at Pagkabuhay

6.      Christ Has Died (Bayogos)

7.      When We Eat This Bread

Amen:

1.      Amen (Fernandez)

2.      Amen C (GKK Nagaawit Nagadayeg Songbook)

3.      Dakilang Amen (Francisco)

4.      Amen (WYD 95)

Pater Noster:

As usual, choose the best Our Father, Ama Namin, Amahan Namo which everyone in the church can sing with you J

Agnus Dei:

1.      Agnus Dei 3^rd Mass (Villanueva)

2.      Kordero sa Dios (Fernandez)

3.      Kordero ng Diyos (Arboleda-Francisco)

4.      Lam of God (Folk)

Communion:

1.      Kini Maong Akong Lawas, best choice for the celebration. Sibo kaayo sa Ebanghelyo

2.      O Dios Ikaw Haduol

3.      Natawag ko Na Ikaw

4.      O Hesus, Hilumin Mo (Francisco)

5.      Pag-alabin Aming Puso (Francisco)

6.      Sa Dapit Hapon (Tabuena & Hontiveros) admittedly Lenten, but if you prioritize Stanza 3...

7.      Ito ang Aking Katawan (Isidro & Ramirez) best choice, stanzas 1 to 3

8.      Likhain Mong Muli (Alejo, Francisco)

9.      Anima Christi (Arboleda) 

10.  Empty Space (Go, Francisco) 

11.  The Presence of Jesus (Haas)

Recessional:

1.      Diocesan Shared Vision (if your parish have), we need to sing this so that the parishioners will know the parish vision

2.      Ang Tawag

3.      Ang Atong Tulubagon

4.      Tanda ng Kaharian ng Diyos (Moreno, Francisco)

5.      I am the Bread of Life (Toolan) Stanza 3 ang priority.

Have a blessed day everyone J

Suggested Songs for the Trinity Sunday Mass June 3, 2012

June 3, 2012

Trinity Sunday in Year B

Liturgical Color:          White

Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Western Christian liturgical calendar, and the Sunday of Pentecost in Eastern Christianity. Trinity Sunday celebrates the Christian dogma of the Trinity, the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In the Roman Catholic Church it is officially known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, it marked the end of a three-week period when church weddings were forbidden. The period began on Rogation Sunday, the fifth Sunday after Easter. Trinity Sunday was established as a Double of the Second Class by Pope John XXII to celebrate the Trinity. It was raised to the dignity of a Double of the First Class by Pope Pius X on 24 July 1911.

In the traditional Divine Office, the Athanasian Creed (Quicumque vult) is said on this day at Prime. Before 1960, it was said on all Sundays after Epiphany and Pentecost which do not fall within Octaves or on which a feast of Double rank or higher was celebrated or commemorated, as well as on Trinity Sunday. The 1960 reforms reduced it to once a year, on this Sunday.

In the 1962 Missal, the Mass for the First Sunday After Pentecost is not said or commemorated on Sunday (it is permanently impeded there by Trinity Sunday), but is used during the week if the ferial Mass is being said.

The Thursday after Trinity Sunday is observed as the Feast of Corpus Christi. In some countries, including the United States, Canada and Spain, it may be celebrated on the following Sunday, when parishioners are more likely to attend Mass and be able to celebrate the feast.

There will be no Regina Coeli anymore.

For comments and suggestions please email us at dmecchoir@yahoo.com or text us at +639167222465

Entrance:

·         Diosnong Magtutudlo

·         Diha sa Halaran

·         Himaya Kanimo

·         Lungsod nga Balaan

·         Purihi’t Pasalamatan (Esteban & Hontiveros). Make sure you complete all three stanzas. Never ever cut short this song. Best choice.

·         Magpasalamat Kayo sa Panginoon (Ramirez). Prioritize Stanza 2.

·         Pagmamahal sa Panginoon (Hontiveros)

·         Awit ng Pasasalamat (Hontiveros)

·         For You Are My God (Foley) 

·         Glory and Praise to Our God (Schutte) Stanzas 1 and 3 ang priority.

·         Let Heaven Rejoice (Dufford) Stanzas 3 and 4 ang priority.

Kyrie:

Ø  Kyrie Mass V (Villanueva)

Ø  Ginoo, Kaloy-I Kami

Ø  Maawa Ka (Francisco – Reyes)

Ø  As We Prepare

Gloria:

v  Gloria Mass VIII (Villanueva)

v  Himaya sa Dios II (Gloria)

v  Himaya sa Dios III (Fernandez)

v  Luwalhati sa Dios (Sengson)

v  Give Glory to God

First Reading                                                                         Dt 4:32-34, 39-40

Moses said to the people:
"Ask now of the days of old, before your time,
ever since God created man upon the earth;
ask from one end of the sky to the other:
Did anything so great ever happen before?
Was it ever heard of?
Did a people ever hear the voice of God
speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?
Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself
from the midst of another nation,
by testings, by signs and wonders, by war,
with strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors,
all of which the LORD, your God,
did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
This is why you must now know,
and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God
in the heavens above and on earth below,
and that there is no other.
You must keep his statutes and commandments that I enjoin on you today,
that you and your children after you may prosper,
and that you may have long life on the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever."

Responsorial Psalm                                       Ps 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22

R. (12b) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made;
by the breath of his mouth all their host.
For he spoke, and it was made;
he commanded, and it stood forth.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own..

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.

R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Second Reading                                                         Rom 8:14-17

Brothers and sisters:
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
but you received a Spirit of adoption,
through whom we cry, "Abba, Father!"
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs,
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,
if only we suffer with him
so that we may also be glorified with him.

Gospel Acclamation:

ü  Mag-awit Kita’g Aleluya

ü  Umari ka, O Espiritu Santo

ü  Aleluya Lamdag Ka

ü  Salamat Sa Dios (Hontiveros)

ü  Aleluya Wikain Mo (Francisco)

ü  Sing Alleluia (Marcelo)

Gospel                                                             Mt 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

Homily/Personal Reflections of the Readings:

My brothers and sisters in Christ, welcome to today's celebration of Trinity Sunday. This Feast commemorates the Three Divine Presences of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in the Blessed Trinity.

As we have heard during today's First Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy [Deut. 4:32-34. 39-40] in the Old Testament, God the Father is one of the Three Divine Presences of the Holy Trinity. During the Second Reading from the Letter to the Romans, [Rom. 8:14-17] we heard the reader speak of the Spirit of God, the third Divine Presence of the Holy Trinity. And during the Reading from the Holy Gospel of Matthew, [Mt. 28:16-20] we heard of the Second Divine Presence of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ, Who was the incarnation of God.

During the Gospel Reading, we heard Jesus commanding His disciples to baptize in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. These words are the same words that the ministers of God use when blessing people and objects or when administering the Sacraments. From this evidence and other Biblical passages that are found in the Holy Bible, it is very clear that there are Three Divine Presences in the Holy Trinity. Yet, there is One God.

Over the past two thousand years, many have tried to explain the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, how there could be Three Divine Presences but One God, all having done so without success. It appears that this mystery is the greatest of all mysteries within the Holy Catholic Church, the one that just cannot be penetrated. So how do we explain the Blessed Trinity?

I am sure that over the years, you have all heard of different explanations that were simple and acceptable. For example, for little children to understand the Blessed Trinity, we can use a sheet of white paper. We fold the sheet in three equal parts. Then, we indicate that while it is one sheet of paper, it has three parts to it. All three parts are equal and constitute the whole. If we were to cut one section away from the folded sheet of paper, it would no longer be a complete sheet of paper. Therefore, as there is One God, there is one sheet of paper. As there are Three Divine Presences in God, there are three parts to the sheet of paper.

Now, when we have to explain the Blessed Trinity to teenagers, we have to use a little more wisdom. To do so, instead of using a sheet of paper, we use an egg. We explain that while there is one egg, there are three parts to it, the shell, the egg white and the yolk. When we look at the egg, we know that it has an egg white and a yolk but we cannot see them. Comparing this to God, the egg represents God. The visible shell represents God incarnated through Jesus. The egg white represents the Holy Spirit and the yolk represents God the Father. Both, God the Father and the Holy Spirit are hidden from our sight just like the egg white and the yolk... unless of course, if we crack the egg. Then all are revealed. 

These kinds of explanations have been around for as long as we can remember. They are good and they are simple. But, the best explanation that I have ever heard was given to me from a middle aged man some time ago in the past. I would like to share with you how he explained the Blessed Trinity to me. To make it easier for me to relate his explanation to you, I will refer to this gentleman as Michael.

Michael started by indicating that North American statistics reveal that 20% of the people surveyed expressed having enjoyed an out- of-body experience sometime during their lives. These persons, having come close to death, often during surgery, found themselves hovering over their physical body while their doctor and nurses were doing all they could to revive them. Those who have been touched by this kind of experience have had their lives completely changed. They no longer fear death and they believe in life after death.

Now what happened to these people? What did they see? Most claim to have seen themselves in their spiritual form, their human spirit. The first question is, is this biblical? Does man have a human spirit? Michael pointed out that James 2:26 states, "The body without the spirit is dead." In John 6:63, Jesus said, "It is the spirit that gives life: the flesh is useless." In Luke 23:46, when Jesus died on the cross, He commended His Spirit into the hands of the Father. In verse 7:59 of the Act of the Apostles, when St. Stephen was being stoned, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." All these Bible passages tell us that we have a human spirit that departs from our body at the moment of death. There are many other Bible passages that refer to the human spirit such as: Job 32:8; Prov. 18:14, 20:27; Ecc. 3:21; Eze. 11:19, 36:26; Zech. 12:1; Mt. 26:41; Lk. 8:55; Jn. 3:6; Rom. 8:15; 1 Cor. 2:11.

Michael continued by explaining that the human spirit is but a spiritual form. As our physical body is a physical shell, our human spirit is a spiritual shell. There is something that is greater than the form of our human spirit. It is the soul.

Michael explained that the soul, formless in nature, is the "I" or the "me." It is the self-consciousness of the person. It is the free will that controls the physical body and the human spirit. None of these two forms, physical or spiritual, can move unless the soul commands them to do so.

He went on to explain that angels have a soul and a spiritual body. It is not the spiritual body of the angel that is the higher part of him... rather, it is the soul of the angel. The spiritual body is but a form through which the soul of the angel manifest itself. In the same way, the soul of man manifests itself through either the physical body or the human spirit.

[In virtue of its specific nature, the intellectual soul does not possess the body as a part of itself, but has only an aptitude for union with the body. Therefore it is numerically differentiated by its capacity for union with different bodies. And this remains the case with souls even after their bodies have been destroyed: they retain a capacity for union with different bodies even when they are not actually united to their respective bodies." (Extracted from: "The first part of 'LIGHT OF FAITH: THE COMPENDIUM OF THEOLOGY' by St. Thomas Aquinas"; # 85. Unity of the possible intellect.)]

Now, this conversation was getting interesting. Michael was telling me that man has two minds, a worldly mind and a spiritual mind. My first question was, where does it say that in the Bible? His immediate response was, "James 1:8 and 4:8." These passages state: "For the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord." [Jas. 1:8] "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

When I indicated that this may not necessarily mean that man has two minds, he referred me to St. Paul's comment in Romans 7:15, "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." He explained that St. Paul was fully aware of the inner battle within man. The spiritual mind of the new creation of the seed of God [1 Jn. 3:9] that is received during the Sacrament of Baptism when one is born again belongs to the new human spirit. Michael asked, "Why does it say in the Bible, '"God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us.'" [Jas. 4:5] By being born again during the Sacrament of Baptism, God gave us a new mind and a new human spirit of the godly seed. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, He protects it from Satan.

Now this was getting very interesting. Here I was learning that man has a formless soul, the "I" or the "me" as it is called. The soul is the part of man that manifests itself in the physical body and in the human spirit. The physical body is the part of man that we see. The human spirit is spiritual in nature, giving life to the body and if received during the Sacrament of Baptism, it is of the godly seed, seeking to please God.

Then finally, Michael said, "Why do you think Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, 'God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.'? [Jn. 4:24] Now my eyes were beginning to open. I could perceive hidden teachings in the Bible. It is by living our faith in Christ, by obeying the spiritual mind of our newly created human spirit of the godly seed that we are able to please God.

"But what about the mystery of the Holy Trinity?" I asked Michael. In return, he asked me, "What does Romans 1:20 say?" Opening my Holy Bible, I read, "Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse." The Holy Bible tells us that we are without excuse for not knowing the Divine nature of God because it is made known by what He has created. What a powerful statement! I asked Michael to explain how he viewed that passage.

He said, "Are we not created in the image of God?" [Gen. 1:26] My response was that "yes", this is the teaching of the Holy Bible and the Catholic Church. Then, he proceeded to explain the Trinity. 

As our soul is formless, God the Father is formless. As our human spirit gives life to our bodies, the Holy Spirit gave life to the body of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, He commended the Holy Spirit to the Father. As we have a physical body, Jesus is the incarnation of God, the physical body of God. In Jesus, the fullness of God was pleased to dwell bodily, [Col. 1:19, 2:9] Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Man has a soul, a human spirit and a physical body. God has a Divine Soul, a Holy Spirit and a physical body through Jesus Christ.

As the physical body and the human spirit of man each have life in themselves and a mind of their own, Jesus and the Holy Spirit also have life in Themselves and a mind of their own. John 5:26 states, "As the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son also to have life in Himself." Therefore, as there are three inseparable presences in man that constitute the whole of the human being, there are Three inseparable Presences in God that constitute the whole of One God.

Now, as if this was not enough for me to grasp, Michael asked me, "How do you explain bilocation? Was St. Francis not present in two places at the same time? Is it not claimed that Padre Pio was also two places at the same time? While they were in two places at the same time, one being the physical body, the other being the human spirit, both had a mind of their own so they could control their thoughts, their words and their actions in their respective body. Through the minds of the physical and spiritual bodies of St. Francis and Padre Pio, their souls were manifesting themselves." 

After hearing this, my question to Michael was, "Are you saying that while Jesus has life in Himself, whereas He had a free will through the mind of His body, His Soul would be God the Father?" 

To this, Michael answered, "Have you read the Third Letter of Cyril to Nestorius in The Council of Ephesus - 431 A.D.?" He proceeded to find the quote and read it to me.

"The manner of his (God) indwelling is not defined in the same way as he is said to dwell among the saints, he was united by nature and not turned into flesh and he made his indwelling in such a way as we may say that the soul of man does in his own body."

According to the teaching of the Council of Ephesus, the manner in which God the Father dwelled in Jesus was different than the way in which He dwells in us. While His Divine presence in us is spiritual in nature, in Jesus, the Father was said to dwell as the soul dwells in man. This passage affirmed that we are created in the image of God, soul, spirit and body. 

Michael concluded by asking me a question, "What is the name of the Father?" I responded by saying, "Father!" Then, he asked me, "What is the name of your soul, the name of your spirit and the name of your body?" I answered, "Well, they are all me. They all have the same name." Then Michael pointed out a Bible passage where Jesus said, "Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me... While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me..." [Jn. 17:11-2] God the Father has the same Name as Jesus because they are One. The Name of Jesus is the Most Holy Name of all Three Divine Presences of the Holy Trinity.

Since I have been able to view the Blessed Trinity according to Michael's presentation, I feel blessed because this has opened my eyes to many passages of the Holy Bible that were once mysterious to me. And I should state, using my doubtful worldly mind, I have done all I could to tear this presentation apart. But, to this date, I have not been able to find a flaw with it. As such, I felt it was appropriate to present it to you so you will all enjoy a greater perception of the Holy Trinity on this special Feast. May God be with you as you reflect on the nature of God and the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

For it is by understanding the mystery of bilocation that we come to perceive the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

Offertory:

·         Daygon Ikaw Ginoong Dios (Koro Viannista)

·         Diyutay Lang Kini

·         Ning Adlaw sa kalipay

·         Paghahandog ng Sarili (Ofrasio-Hontiveros, or Arboleda-Francisco)

·         Paghahandog (San Andres)

·         Dwelling Place (Foley)

·         Take our bread (Wise)

Sanctus:

Ø  Sanctus Mass XXI (Villanueva)

Ø  Sanctus Mass V (Villanueva)

Ø  Santos I Chord of C F G

Ø  Santo, Santo, Santo (Que)

Ø  Holy, Holy, Holy (Benitez)

Acclamation:

v  Si Kristo atong Handumon

v  Among Gihandum

v  Si Kristo ay Gunitain (Ramirez)

v  Si Kristo’y Namatay (Hontiveros)

v  Sa Krus mo at Pagkabuhay

v  Christ Has Died (Bayogos)

v  When We Eat This Bread

Amen:

ü  Amen (Fernandez)

ü  Amen C (GKK Nagaawit Nagadayeg Songbook)

ü  Dakilang Amen (Francisco)

ü  Amen (WYD 95)

Pater Noster:

            Your choice… Please choose the song that all parishioners can sing with you J

Agnus Dei:

·         Agnus Dei Mass VIII (Villanueva)

·         Kordero sa Dios (Fernandez)

·         Kordero ng Diyos (Arboleda-Francisco)

·         Lam of God (Folk)

Communion:

Ø  Kini Maong Akong Lawas

Ø  Way Sukod ang Pagmahal

Ø  Ako ang Kahayag

Ø  Hesus ng Aking Buhay (Aquino)

Ø  Ang Kaluluwa ko’y Nauuhaw (Isidro, Que)

Ø  Awit ng Pag-asam (Hangad)

Ø  In Him Alone (Francisco)

Ø  One More Gift (Francisco)

Ø  Sing of Him (Dufford)

Ø  The Cry of the Poor (Foley)

Recessional:

v  Ang Tawag

v  Diocesan Shared Vision

v  Ang Atong Tulubagon

v  Himaya Kanimo (if not used in Entrance)

v  Tanda ng Kaharian ng Diyos (Morano, Francisco) 

v  I Will Sing Forever (Francisco)

Thanks for visiting… J