Simbang Gabi Announcement

SIMBANG GABI
Evening Novena Masses before Christmas

Ang Simbang Gabi po sa Parokya ng Santa Maria Magdalena ng Amadeo, Cavite ay gaganapin mula ika-15 hanggang ika-23 ng Disyembre 2008, tuwing ikawalo ng gabi (8:00NG)

Ang lahat po ay inaanyayahan na makiisa sa Siyam na Banal na Misa bilang paghahanda sa pagdiriwang ng Pagsilang ng Panginoon.

Ang mga talatakdaan para sa mga Misa sa Pasko at Bagong taon ay ipo-post sa susunod na pagkakataon.

Standing up for the Gospel of Life

Standing up for the Gospel of Life

CBCP Pastoral Statement on Reproductive Health Bill

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative power of God (CCC 2258). The Church carries out the mandate of the Lord to go and proclaim to all the nations the Gospel of Life. The protection and preservation of human life and the preservation of the integrity of the procreative act of parents are important elements of our mission from the Lord. It is our fidelity to the Gospel of Life and our pastoral charity for the poor that leads us your pastors to make this moral stand regarding Reproductive Health Bill 5043 that is the object of deliberation in Congress.

The Bill makes a number of good points. Some of the issues that it includes under reproductive health care, for instance, are the kind of things no humane institution would have any reason to oppose—maternal, infant and child health and nutrition, promotion of breastfeeding, adolescent and youth health, elimination of violence against women, etc.; but the Bill as it stands now contains fatal flaws which if not corrected will make the Bill unacceptable. It is our collective discernment that the Bill in its present form poses a serious threat to life of infants in the womb. It is a source of danger for the stability of the family. It places the dignity of womanhood at great risk.

The Church has always concerned itself with the poor. It has innumerable institutions and programs meant to help the poor. Our objection to this Bill is precisely due to our concern that in the long run this Bill will not uplift the poor. “The increase or decrease of population growth does not by itself spell development or underdevelopment”. (CBCP Statement, July 10, 1990)

Even as we recognize the right of the government to enact laws, we also reiterate that there must be no separation between God and Man. We appeal to our legislators to state in the Bill in clear categorical terms that human life from the moment of conception is sacred. We appeal to our legislators to insure that the Bill recognize, preserve and safeguard freedom of conscience and religion. The Bill must inspire parents not only to be responsible but to be heroic in their God-given and State-recognized duty of parenting. Without these conditions, the Bill if enacted into law will separate our nation from Almighty God.

Sacredness of Life from Conception. The current version of the Bill does not define clearly when the protection of life begins. Although it mentions that abortion is a crime it does not state explicitly that human life is to be protected upon conception as stated in the Constitution. This ambiguity can provide a loophole for contraceptives that prevent the implantation of the fertilized ovum. The prevention of implantation of the fertilized ovum is abortion. We cannot prevent overt abortions by doing hidden abortions. It is a fallacy to think that abortions can be prevented by promoting contraception. Contraception is intrinsically evil (CCC 2370, Humanae Vitae, 14).

Even in the case of doubt as to the precise moment of the beginning of human life, the mere probability that the fertilized ovum is already a human life renders it imperative that it be accorded the rights of a human person, the most basic of which is the right to life (Evangelium Vitae, #60; cfr. Declaration on Procured Abortion, Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, November 18, 1974). When there is doubt whether a human life is involved, it is immoral to kill it. This is not just specifically Catholic Church teaching but simply natural law ethics.

Freedom of Conscience. By mandating only one Reproductive Health Education Curriculum for public and private schools, the Bill could violate the consciences of educators who refuse to teach forms of family planning that violate their religious traditions. This provision also could violate the rights of parents to determine the education of their children if the proposed curriculum would contradict their religious beliefs.

The Bill mandates that employers should ensure the provision of an adequate quantity of reproductive health care services, supplies and devices for their employees. This provision could be a violation of the conscience of employers who do not wish to provide artificial means of contraception to their employees because of religious reasons.

The Bill’s provision that penalizes malicious disinformation against the intention and provisions of the Bill (without defining what malicious disinformation is) could restrict freedom of speech by discouraging legitimate dissent and hinder our mandate to teach morality according to our Catholic faith. The Bill does not mention any consultation with religious groups or churches which could be interpreted to mean that religious and moral beliefs of citizens are not significant factors in the formation of policies and programs involving reproductive health.

Heroic Parenting. Family health goes beyond a demographic target because it is principally about health and human rights. Gender equality and women empowerment are central elements of family health and family development. Since human resource is the principal asset of every country, effective family health care services must be given primacy to ensure the birth and care of healthy children and to promote responsible and heroic parenting. Respect for, protection and fulfillment of family health rights seek to promote not only the rights and welfare of adult individuals and couples but those of adolescents’ and children’s as well.

We admonish those who are promoting the Bill to consider these matters. It is the duty of every Catholic faithful to form and conform their consciences to the moral teaching of the Church. We call for a more widespread dialogue on this Bill.

As your Pastors we speak to you in the name of the Lord: Choose life and preserve it. Stand up for the Gospel of Life!

May Mary, Mother of Life, who carried in her womb Life Himself, guide us to the Truth of Life.

For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

+ANGEL LAGDAMEO, DD
Archbishop of Jaro
President, CBCP
November 14, 2008

Maligayang Pagdating, Virgen del Pilar!

Nuestra Señora Del Pilar

"Our Lady of the Pillar", a celebrated church and shrine, at Saragossa, Spain, containing a miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin, which is the object of very special devotion throughout the kingdom. The image, which is placed on a marble pillar, whence the name of the church, was crowned in 1905 with a crown designed by the Marquis of Griñi, and valued at 450,000 pesetas (£18,750, 1910). The present spacious church in Baroque style was begun in 1681. According to an ancient Spanish tradition, given in the Roman Breviary, the original shrine was built by St. James the Apostle at the wish of the Blessed Virgin, who appeared to him as he was praying by the banks of the Ebro at Saragossa. There has been much discussion as the truth of the tradition. Mgr L. Duchesne denies, as did Baronius, the coming of St. James to Spain, and reproduces arguments founded on the writings of the Twelfth Ecumenical Council, discovered by Loaisa, but rejected as spurious by the Jesuit academician Fita and many others. Those who defend the tradition adduce the testimony of St. Jerome (PL XXIV, 373) and that of the Mozarabic Office. The oldest written testimony of devotion to the Blessed Virgin in Saragossa usually quoted is that of Pedro Librana (1155). Fita has published data of two Christian tombs at Saragossa, dating from Roman days, on which the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is represented.

March, José María. "Nuestra Señora Del Pilar." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 21 Oct. 2008 .

Our Lady of the Rosary

Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii, ora pro nobis!

GTG

Parish Youth Festival
Fr. Luigi Caburlotto School
Maitim, Amadeo, Cavite

7:00am, October 25 to 8:00am, October 26, 2008
Things to bring
 PhP 75.00 registration fee (inclusive of Saturday’s dinner and Sunday’s breakfast)
 Packed lunch and snacks
 Small pillow, jacket or blanket
 Flashlight
 Scarf

Things NOT to be brought
× Alcoholic beverages
× Cigarettes
× Illegal drugs
× Pointed gadgets, firearms, and the like
× Gadgets for personal entertainment (e.g. MP3/MP4 player, iPod, PSP)

FYI
 You’re still part of the “youth” bracket if you are 13 to 30 years old.
 It will be a day (and more) of fun-filled and meaningful activities, games, talks, discussions, times for prayer (and more).
 You DON’T have to be a member of any religious youth association to be able to join.
 For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Parish Office.

Sign the Petition

As linked in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila's website, we also encourage faithful and devout Catholics to support the stand of the Holy Church as say No to Reproductive Health Bill (HB5043) by signing on this petition.


Here is an article in the said website. It is the CBCP President Angel Lagdameo's Homily during the Mass in 40th year on Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul Vi's encyclical on human life, specifically, the regulation of birth.

Celebration of Human Life
Homily of Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo
July 25, 2008



Nagpapasalamat tayo sa Diyos at ipinagdiriwang natin ngayon ang ika-apatnapung taon ng Sulat Ensiklika ni Papa Paulo VI tungkol sa “Human Life.”

Bakit natin ito ipinagdiriwang? Sapagkat sa kanila ng pag-atake sa buhay ng tao, lalo na sa sinapupunan ng ina (abortion), at laban sa ekspektasyon na luluwagan ng Simbahan ang tradisyonal na mga turo tungkol sa moralidad ng mag-asawa at moralidad ng pamilya, lalo pang pinagtibay ng Simbahan ang traditional na turo tungkol sa birth control at responsableng pagmamagulang.

Pinaaalala sa atin ngayon ang turo sa Sulat “Humanae Vitae” na ang buhay ng tao mula sa sinapupunan hanggang libingan, ay bigay, handog, alay ng Diyos. Walang sinumang may ari sa buhay ng tao, hindi ang tao mismo, hindi ang mga mambabatas, ni ang pamahalaan, kungdi ang Diyos lamang. – Ang bawat sanggol na isinisilang ay handog ng Diyos sa kanyang mga magulang at buong pamilya. – Ang pro-active na saloobin tungkol sa mga isinisilang sa lipunan: sila ay hindi basta pabigat lamang sa bulsa, kundi sila ay magiging puersa ng bayan para sa hinaharap na kaunlaran. – Samakatuwid ang karangalan, at ang kahalagahan ng buhay pantao ay dapat respetuhin at ipagsanggalang sa lahat ng paraan.

May mga kapatid tayo na nag-uumpisang mag-panic dahil sa mga babala ng mga ecologists at futurologists tungkol sa mabilis na pagdami ng tao: ang pagdami daw po ng populasyon ay baka hindi makayanan ng ekonomiya, sa pagdaming ito dadami ang mga pobre at mga squatters, sa pagdaming ito ang kalidad ng buhay ay mababawasan.

Kaya natin malampasan at malutas ang mga babalang ito kaugnay ng pagdami ng tao, kung ang lahat, lalo na ang mga dalubhasa, ay magkakatulungan at magkakaisa. Huwag lang po natin pakikialaman ang buhay na bigay ng Diyos. Tutulungan tayo ng Diyos ng buhay!

Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae and Pope John Paul II (March 25, 1995) have re-stated that the mission of the church is to celebrate human life, as the Gospel of life, that human life has a deeper meaning and beauty outside of what we see, that every human being must be respected, honored and loved, that we must praise and thank God for the gift of life.

Kasama sa mga lantaran at tagong pag-atake sa buhay ng tao sa sinapupunan at pag-atake sa moralidad ng mag-asawa at pamilya ang isang maling Konsepto ng Kalayaan (concept of freedom) na humahantong sa relativismo: ibig sabihin walang matibay na kabutihan at katotohanan na pumipigil sa tao. Ang lahat ay relative – puedeng mapag-usapan at matawaran . . . lakip na dito ang karapatan sa buhay . . . depende sa negotiation o bargaining ng mga tao . . . Nasaan ang Diyos sa tawarang ito?

Kailangang ibalik natin at pagtibayin sa lipunan ang sense of God, ang presensya at ang papel ng Diyos. Kung mawala ang sense of God, mawawala na rin ang sense of man’s dignity and life. Ang bunga nito ay materialismo, na nagbubunga ng individualismo, utilitarianismo … at hedonism (EV 21-22).

Hindi ipinagbabawal ng simbahan ang pag-family planning. Pahintulot po yan. Pero sa ngayon sa turo ng mga Ensiklika “Humanae Vitae” at “Evangelium Vitae” pinahinintulutan ng ating moralidad ay ang “natural family planning” bilang paraan sa responsableng pagmamagulang. Sa ganitong layunin ang sinusunod natin sa pagplano ng panganganak ay hindi artipisyal na metodo, gadget or instrumento na ginawa ng tao, kungdi ang batas na inilagay ng Diyos sa mismong naturaleza ng katawan ng ina.

Pinahihintulutan ng Simbahan ang “population management” (ang pagpapadami o pagbabawas ng panganganak), kung ang paraan nito ay hindi lumalabag sa kautusan o kalooban ng Diyos ng buhay at kung ang paraan nito ay may respeto sa consciensya, karapatan at kalayaan ng mag-asawa. [Ang batas ay para sa tao at hindi ang tao para sa batas.] Dapat igalang ang konsiyensiya at desisyon ng mag-asawa sa pagdedesiyon kung ilan ang magiging anak sang-ayon sa kalooban ng Diyos.

Ang “artificial birth control,” na ginagamitan ng mga contraceptives, gadgets at abortifacients, ay labag sa institusyon, at integridad ng pag-aasawa.

Our Philippine Constitution, in Article II, Section 12, specifies the function of the state: “The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of Government.”

Ang pamilya ay ang pundasyon ng lipunan. (As the family goes so goes the nation.) Kung ang Pilipinong pamilya ay masira o magiba, gayundin masisira at magigiba ang Pilipinong lipunan. Samakatuwid dapat pagkaabalahan hindi lamang ng Simbahan, kundi ng sangkalipunan at pamahalaan ang pangsasanggalang at pagpapatibay ng Pilipinong pamilya.

[The subtle attacks on family and conjugal morality through legislations that promote artificial methods of birth control, are couched in attractive but deceptive (double meaning) terminologies, like reproductive health care, population management, anti-discrimination of women and children, reproductive rights, patients’ rights.]

Na-predict, nahulaan at na-warningan na tayo ni Papa Paulo VI at ito’y pinatotohanan (confirmed) ni Papa Juan Pablo II na ang artificial methods of birth control ay magbubunga ng pagbaba ng moralidad ng mag-asawa, magbubunga ng pagkawala ng katapatan ng mag-asawa sa isa’t isa, magbubunga ng pagbaba o pagkawala ng respeto sa kababaihan . . . Isama na natin dito ang mga sakit sikological at pisikal na manggagaling dito sang-ayon sa mga dalubahsa.

Sinasabi po ng ilan na lumalawak ang kahirapan sa daigdig, padami ng padami ang mga pobre, na dapat daw pagbutihan pa ang kalidad ng buhay. Upang maganap ito ang mga pamilya ay dapat maging responsible at hindi hihigit sa dalawang anak lamang sa bawat mag-asawa.

Si Dr. Joseph Chamie ng United Nations Population Division ay naglahad noon pang 1998 na ang problema na ating hinaharap ay hindi “population explosion” (pagdami ng tao) kundi ang problema na ating hinaharap ay “population implosion,” (pag-unti ng tao). Sa mahigit na limampu’t isang bansa ang bilang ng mga ipinanganganak ay pababa ng pababa kung kaya’t magiging imposible na maulian ang bilang ng mga namamatay na bilang ng mga isinisilang.
Ang mga bansa na nagtagumpay sa polisiya na “dalawang anak lamang” ay nababahala na ngayon sa patuloy na pagbaba o pag-unti ng kanilang populasyon kung kaya’t napipilitan na sila ngayong tumanggap ng mga taga-ibang bansa (mga Asiatiko) para magtrabaho sa kanilang mga industriya at mag-alaga sa kanilang mga senior citizens.

Si Kofi Annan, ang dating sekretario general ng United Nations ay nagsabi nuong 2004 na ang daigdig natin ay patanda ng patanda (Europa at mga America). Sa darating na 2030 ang world population na nasa edad 45 patanda ay magiging mas madami kaysa mga kabataan na nasa edad 44 pababa. Paunti ng paunti ang mga kabataan at mga manggagawa na susuporta sa malaking populasyon na mga matatandang senior citizens. Ang resulta sa ibang bansa ay euthanasia.

At dito sa ating bansa? Sinasabi po ng ilan (mambabatas) na ang population growth rate natin ay 2.36%. Ang USAID at ang UN ay nagsasabi naman na mas mababa doon ang ratio ng ating pagdami. Noong 2004 Disiembre nag project ang National Statistics Office na ang ating population growth rate at magiging 1.99%,

Hindi natin nahahalata ang pag-unti ng ating population kung tututukan natin ay mga thickly populated na lungsod na maraming mga squatters at patung-patong na bahay, kahit sa ilalim ng mga tulay. Siyamnapung milyon na ang ating populasyon. At 10 milyon o mahigit pa sa bilang na ito ay nasa ibang mga bansa. Dinadala dito sa Pilipinas ang development ng ibang bansa; maganda ang mga bahay, at nakakapag-aral ang mga anak ng mga OFW.

Kung natatakot sa mabilis na pagdami ng tao … 90 milyon o mahigit pa … kontrolin ang pagdami pero sa moral at tamang paraan sang-ayon sa kalikasang inilagay ng Diyos. Iyan ang prinsipyong pinagtibay ng Humanae Vitae at Evangelium Vitae.

Sa pagsunod sa batas ng Diyos, sampu ng pagtitiwala sa tulong at awa ng Diyos, malulutas nating sama-sama ang problema ng populasyon at ekonomiya, ang problema ng karukhaan at kahirapan ng mahigit sa 80% ng mga mamamayan.

Hindi po yan malulutas ng rallying ito. Nandito tayo para ipagdasal ang bansa, liwanagan ng Diyos tayong lahat . . . para makatulong, makatulung-tulungan sa pag-unawa at paglutas sa mga problema natin.

.Kung ang lahat ng salapi na nililikum ng pamahalaan sa mga taong-bayan ay hindi napupunta sa kagarukan o katiwalian – graft and corruption at hindi nagagastos sa maling pagkakagastos – tiyak na malaking mababawas sa bilang ng mga pobre, magkakaroon tayo ng populasyon at ng progreso, magkakaroon tayo ng populasyon na siyang magiging puwersa at alituntunin ng kaunlaran.

Ang isyu po ngayon ay hindi lamang “pro-God” at “pro-life.” Tanungin po ninyo ako: Bakit? Bakit? Sapagkat kalakip ng issue ng “pro-life” ay “pro-poor,” Kung tayong lahat ay “pro-life” . . . dapat maging “pro-poor.” Bakit? Sapagkat dadami daw po ang mga pobre . . . hindi lang dadami . . . madami na! Pero yan ay hindi problema ng Diyos . . . . problema yan natin at ang mga mayayaman at ng pamahalaan!

Hindi ba sinabi natin kanina na tayo ay “pro-God?” Pwes, kung pro-God tayo . . . dapat ay pro-poor din, ibig sabihin lalabanan natin ang kahirapan! Ibig sabihin, susugpuin natin ang mga dahilan ng kahirapan . . . at lalabanan natin ang mga nagpapahirap sa kapwa.

Kung ikaw ay hindi “pro-poor,” hindi ka rin pro-God. Sapagkat ang Diyos ay nabibilang . . . kasama ng mga mahihirap . . . . mas pinili niya na maging mahirap sapagkat mas marami sila. Pro-God dapat pro-poor. 1 Jo. 3/17 “Kung ang isang tao ay maraming ari-arian (salapi) at nakita niya ang kanyang kapatid na nangangailangan, subalit hindi siya naawa, nahabag, tumulong, paano ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay mapapasa kanya?

Hindi dapat mangyari na controlahin ang pagdami ng dalawang bahagi ng populasyon para lamang makapagpatuloy magpasasa sa kanilang kayamanan ang menos sa isang bahagi ng mga mayayaman. Iyon ay mathematics of selfishness. Kung mangyayari ito, ang lupa at ang pribadong pagmamay-ari ay magiging potential na larangan ng digmaan ng mayayaman at mahihirap.

Kailangan natin ang “change of attitude.” Hindi pwedeng magpatuloy ang attitude na “What is mine is mine absolutely and I can do with it as I wish.,” o ang saloobin na “my money entitles me to consume or control on my own terms as much as my money will buy.”

Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that, "[T]he existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition."

Angels are pure, created spirits. The name angel means servant or messenger of God. Angels are celestial or heavenly beings, on a higher order than human beings. Angels have no bodies and do not depend on matter for their existence or activity. They are distinct from saints, which men can become. Angels have intellect and will, and are immortal. They are a vast multitude, but each is an individual person. Archangels are one of the nine choirs of angels listed in the Bible. In ascending order, the choirs or classes are 1) Angels, 2) Archangels, 3) Principalities, 4) Powers, 5) Virtues, 6) Dominations, 7) Thrones, 8) Cherubim, and 9) Seraphim. (Catholic Culture)

"Ang larawan ng Pitong Arkanghel na mahigit nang tatlong daang taon ay nakadambana sa kanang altar ng simbahan ng Indang, Cavite. Ang Pitong Arkanghel ay kinikilalang Pangalawang Patron ng mga bayan ng Indang (Parokya ng San Gregorio Magno), Mendez (Parokya ng San Agustin) at Alfonso (Parokya ng San Juan Nepomuceno), Cavite."

Ang mga Arkanghel
(Kaliwa Pakanan)

1. San Baraquiel
2. San Gabriel
3. San Rafael
4. San Miguel
5. San Selatiel
6. San Uriel
7. San Judiel

(mula sa Palagiang Nobena sa Pitong Arkanghel ni Msgr. Antero A. Sarmiento)


See All About Angels.

Harana kay Maria

In celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Kapisanan ng Flores de Mayo 2008-2009 Officers organized the "Harana kay Maria" last October 6, 2008 at Saint Mary Magdalene Parish Church. The event, well participated by various religious organizations and barangay groups and graced by a magnificent built-up shrine to Our Lady, is a night of songs from the traditional Filipino harana (singing in front of the house of a beloved to express one's affection).

Note: Here are some of the pictures. I'm still fixing this post.


































More to follow. Again, please send pictures of the said event, if you have any, to .

The Parish Church from the Outside

The Parish Church Interior

Note: I'm still fixing this up. If you have some or better photos of our parish church, please send it to . The text here is from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal from the Vatican website.



[288] For the celebration of the Eucharist, the people of God normally are gathered together in a church or, if there is no church or if it is too small, then in another respectable place that is nonetheless worthy of so great a mystery. Churches, therefore, and other places should be suitable for carrying out the sacred action and for ensuring the active participation of the faithful. Sacred buildings and requisites for divine worship should, moreover, be truly worthy and beautiful and be signs and symbols of heavenly realities.

The Sanctuary

[295] The sanctuary is the place where the altar stands, where the word of God is proclaimed, and where the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their offices. It should suitably be marked off from the body of the church either by its being somewhat elevated or by a particular structure and ornamentation. It should, however, be large enough to allow the Eucharist to be celebrated properly and easily seen



The Altar

[296] The altar on which the Sacrifice of the Cross is made present under sacramental signs is also the table of the Lord to which the People of God is called together to participate in the Mass, as well as the center of the thanksgiving that is accomplished through the Eucharist.



The Ambo

[309] The dignity of the word of God requires that the church have a place that is suitable for the proclamation of the word and toward which the attention of the whole congregation of the faithful naturally turns during the Liturgy of the Word.



The Chair of the Priest Celebrant

[310] The chair of the priest celebrant must signify his office of presiding over the gathering and of directing the prayer.


The Place of the Reservation of the Most Holy Eucharist

[314] In accordance with the structure of each church and legitimate local customs, the Most Blessed Sacrament should be reserved in a tabernacle in a part of the church that is truly noble, prominent, readily visible, beautifully decorated, and suitable for prayer.



The Places for the Faithful

[311] Places should be arranged with appropriate care for the faithful so that they are able to participate in the sacred celebrations visually and spiritually, in the proper manner. It is expedient for benches or seats usually to be provided for their use. The custom of reserving seats for private persons, however, is reprehensible. Moreover, benches or chairs should be arranged, especially in newly built churches, in such a way that the people can easily take up the postures required for the different parts of the celebration and can easily come forward to receive Holy Communion.




The Place for the Choir
[312] The choir should be positioned with respect to the design of each church so as to make clearly evident its character as a part of the gathered community of the faithful fulfilling a specific function. The location should also assist the choir to exercise its function more easily and conveniently allow each choir member full, sacramental participation in the Mass.


Saint Mary Magdalene

[318] [I]mages of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Saints, in accordance with the Church’s most ancient tradition, should be displayed for veneration by the faithful in sacred buildings.


Baptismal Font