ONE VOICE

BEING A CATHOLIC NATION the Philippines observes the Christmas season in pure gaiety and Christian reverence – exemplified by the highlypopular “Simbang Gabi”.

Not so in more liberal states like those found in the USA where the practice of “Satanism” is often allowed as an “expression of the freedom of speech.” even during this Yuletide Season.

Practiced since the time of Admiral Miguel Lopez de Legaspi (who signed the famous “Blood Compact” with Boholano chieftain Rajah Sikatuna), the “Simbang Gabi” is a nine dawn mass celebrations culminating on Christmas Eve with the Misa de Aguinaldo. It is celebrated now at 4 AM or 5 AM dawn.

Lingayen Bishop Socrates Villegas waxed poetic when he praised the darkness of dawn as conducive for the faithful to see “the moon and the stars”. Not to associate darkness with just crime and ghouls.

Manila Auxiliary Archbishop Roderick Pabillo said the dawn masses bring together couples and families or even friends closer- by hearing the Mass together as in “where two or three are gathered in My Name, there I am in the midst of them.”

Suitors often go out of their way to wake up and accompany the objects of their love to church for nine consecutive dawns in an attempt to draw themselves closer to each other. Nothing essentially wrong with that. Except.

“Worship, not courtship”, the church officials warn the Catholic Adonises of what “Simbang Gabi” is truly all about.

“ Seek the Holy Spirit to come down upon thee”, Villegas says.

On the other side of the globe, however, especially in the United States, things are not the same as we see here, says John Horbat of “Back to Order” fame.

For instance, in Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose California, there is public devil worship amidst the Nativity. For the third consecutive year, their “Christmas in the Park” allows people to hang Satanic imagery including “ demonic goats, inverted crosses, skulls and gargoyles” among the other colorful decorations present in traditional Christmas pine trees.

“Freedom of speech” was all the Executive Director of the Park (Jason Minsky) would say of the abused Christmas tree.

There is the Black Mass being practice in Houston, Texas.

Definitely, Satanists are trying to seek public acceptance. For instance, they were able to wangle a once a month presentation of their “Satanic Release Program” to elementary students in Sterchi Elementary School to counter the Christian presentations often made there. They are competing over the impressionable minds of the very young.

One develops goose pumps just reading their vocation: “Satanic Children’s Ministry of Knoxville”.

Meanwhile, in Folly Theater in Kansas City was presented the so-called “Drag Queen Christmas” where “appalling performance will feature men dressed in scandalous “drag” outfits and performing immoral behavior”. All ages welcomed, of course.

Some of them had openly defied the First Commandment and create literal material gods like one called Baphomet which is an androgynous man-god who blurs the line between the sexes and between god and man to Mainstream Satanism.”

According to one account: “ The rise of Satanism is the result of a centuriesold process known as the Revolution- with anarchy and tribalism as the ultimate goals. This Revolution seeks to satisfy the tyrannical dictates of pride and sensuality.”

Perhaps the challenge for us Catholics in the Philippines is to bring back Christ to Christmas in more dramatic ways to counter their kind of satanic revolution.

We must remember that Christ was born during a time o great sin and vice, yet the Angels of Heaven spread the Good News of the coming of Our Savior Jesus Christ. We must see ourselves shining in this Light, in the same regard.

We can be Spokespersons of the True Christ when we celebrate the coming of the Messiah through the Missa de Gallo (Dawn Masses), the spirit of gift-giving and by simply being kinder in thoughts, words and deeds to all at least this season of Christmas.

Let us not lose by default to those who want to win the minds of men into sensuality, materialism and the worship of Satan. There is a lot of work to do, Gentlemen and Ladies.

Spread the word, Watson.

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