miniZibaldone

From the homily “Today I want to emphasize only one thing,” the Pope concluded. “There is a moment where the attitude of sin, or a moment where our situation is so secure and we see well and we have so much power” that sin “stops” and becomes “corruption.” And “one of the ugliest things” about corruption is that the one who becomes corrupt thinks he has “no need for forgiveness.” [...]  “Today, let us offer a prayer for the Church, beginning with ourselves, for the Pope, for the Bishops, for the priests, for consecrated men and women, for the lay faithful: ‘Lord, save us, save us from corruption. We are sinners, yes, O Lord, all of us, but [let us] never [become] corrupt!’ Let us ask for this grace.”   [link] From the address Therefore, mercy constitutes the architrave that supports the life of the Church: the first truth of the Church, in fact, is the love of Christ. [...]  This attention to the works of mercy is important: they are not a devotion. It is the concr...

Inquirer  on Inquirer anniversary It was December 1985 and the rented office in the Port Area building was crowded with Eggie Apostol’s editors, reporters, photographers, other personnel—and an  overwhelming sense of purpose. [...]  Fast forward to 30 years later, and the Inquirer continues to deliver the news and commentary that make history. [...]  As the newspaper grew its readership, it built strength and stature. [full text] Sun.Star Cebu  about holiday cash incentive AT LEAST four councilors allied with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) are correct. The P30,000 across-the-board cash incentive for all officials and employees  is “too much.” [...]  Good work deserves to be recompensed. No question there. [...]  Councilor Dizon is right: to receive P30,000 when some of the City’s constituents continue to wait for urgent shelter assistance is insensitive, to say the least. [full text] Manila Bulletin   on Comelec and elec...

From an  address to youth in Kenya Life is full of difficulties, but there are two ways of looking at difficulties: either a person looks at them as something that blocks him, destroys him, stops him, or he looks at them as an opportunity. It is for you to choose. For me, is a difficulty a way of destruction or it is an opportunity to surmount my whole situation, that of my family, of my communities, of my country? Boys and girls, we don’t live in Heaven, we live on earth. [...]  And the earth is full of difficulties. The earth is full not only of difficulties but of invitations to deviate to evil. However, there is something that all of you young people have that lasts a time: the capacity to choose. [...]  [N]ot only in politics, in all institutions -- including in the Vatican -- there are cases of corruption <everywhere>. Corruption is something that gets inside us. It’s like sugar, we like it, it’s easy and then we end badly, we come to an awful end. Becaus...

Inquirer  on  Duterte and presidential elections For months on end, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte kept the public guessing, claiming a lack of interest in the No. 1 post as well as fatigue and a wish to retire. [...]  Now, barely a month later, he announces that he has “crossed the Rubicon” and is firmly in the running. He says he changed his mind as a matter of principle because he cannot stand the decision of the Senate Electoral Tribunal to junk the disqualification suit against presidential candidate Grace Poe. He invokes the law, saying that the Philippines under a president who is not a natural-born Filipino is a violation of the Constitution. [...]  That politicians continue to try the tricks in the books does not bode well for the nation’s future. And neither does the sight of voters lapping up the bombast and drama, the fireworks and swagger that politicians offer in lieu of a platform. The circus has truly come to town. [full page] Sun.Star Ce...

From the homily The people of God celebrated, they rejoiced because they had rekindled “their true identity”. The Pope explained that “those who indulge in worldliness do not know how to celebrate – they can’t celebrate! At most, the worldly spirit can provide amusement, it can provoke excitement, but true joy can only come from faith in the Covenant”. [...] “The Gospel says the chief priests and scribes had changed things. They had dishonored and compromised the Temple. They had dishonored the Temple! The Temple was a symbol of the Church. The Church will always – always! – be subject to the temptation of worldliness and power. Jesus did not say ‘No, do not do this inside. Go outside instead.’ He said ‘You have made it a den of thieves!’ And when the Church enters into such a state of decline, the end is bad. Very bad indeed.” [...] And where Jesus is, there is no room for worldliness. There is no room for corruption! This is a challenge for each and every one of us; this is ...