Stations of the Cross (Class Notes)

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

When we make the Stations of the Cross, we think of the sufferings of Jesus for love of us. We accompany him from Jerusalem to Calvary.

Jesus suffered and died so that he may save us from sin and hell so that he may bring us to heaven. Let us make the Stations of the Cross with devotion. Let us think of Jesus and how much he loves us.

PREPARATORY PRAYER

Dear Jesus, you suffered so much for me. Help me to understand how much you love me. I want to love you too. I want to accept my cross for love of you. I am sorry for having offended you many times. I want to really good. Please help me.

First Station: The Last Supper

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Jesus multiplied the loaves of bread and fish to feed the hungry. He continues to feed us… with himself, in the Eucharist. May I frequently receive Him in Holy Communion.

Second Station: The Agony in Gethsemani

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Jesus accepted gladly the Father’s will as He prayed, “Father, not my will but let your will be done unto me.” May I also learn to entrust everything into God’s hands.

Third Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Jesus has accepted the death sentence from Pilate. He is going to die. But he does not defend himself. He is willing to die for me. Am I willing to do even difficult things for Jesus? My Jesus, mercy!

Fourth Station: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Jesus bears all the punishment and insults because He loves us so much in spite of who we are. May I also learn to sacrifice myself for others.

Fifth Station: Jesus Carries the Cross

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Jesus takes the cross upon his shoulder without complaining. I want to be like Jesus. I want to be brave when there is something to suffer. Lord, teach me how.

Sixth Station: Jesus Falls

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Jesus wants me to struggle and not to quit; to persevere and not to give up, just as He persevered even when completely drained to strength due to the burden of the cross.

Seventh Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Simon did not want to help you, Jesus. But now he does and feels happy. I feel the same Jesus. Sometimes I feel lazy to help my mother or my little sister. But when I fight against my laziness, I feel happy.

Eight Station: Jesus meets the Women of Jerusalem

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Jesus says to them: “Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me but for yourselves and for your children.”

Jesus, teach me to cry for my sins because the offend you whom I love very much.

Ninth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Jesus smells of blood, sweat, and heat. He is almost fainting. The clothes stick to his wounds. Now the soldiers roughly pull away his garments. The wounds open and begin to bleed again.

Jesus, I ask pardon for our sins. I pray for people who commit sin because of bad books and media.

Tenth Station: The Forgiven Thief

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Jesus forgets the dark spots in people’s lives, and forgives. May I imitate Him in forgiving those who have hurt me.

Eleventh Station: Mother Mary and the Beloved Disciple at the Foot of the Cross

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: At the sight of Mother Mary in pain, Jesus was hurt even more. May I love Mother Mary as much as Jesus loved her.

Twelfth Station: The Death of Jesus

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Jesus cries out and says: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Then he dies.

I adore you, Jesus. I thank you for your love. Let me live and die for you alone because you died for me.

Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: Sleep Jesus. You have finished suffering. On the third day, you will wake up. You will rise from the dead. You have conquered death. You are great. I believe in you. You are my hero. You are my God.

I want to tell others how much you love us all. They will believe me if I am good. They will know that it is you who makes me good. Help me to be good, Jesus.

Fourteenth Station: The Resurrection of Jesus

L: We adore you, O Christ, and bless you.

R: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

A: The resurrection of Jesus offered me the way to the Father by opening the gate of heaven. May I take this chance to be good so as to be with God in heaven someday.

(Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory Be, for the intentions of the Holy Father.)

Where Do I Go From Here

hmmmhhhhmmm....

Just finished my 2nd year of teaching but still I'm in a crossroads. It is a joy serving my alma mater and helping in the spiritual formation of the next generation whatever joys and frustrations it takes. But still, I am still thinking what would I do? What will be the next step that I'm going to take in my career life?

I wanted to stay and continue my vocation or calling (yes, it is a calling for even in my dreams signs that led me here guided me and confirmed it). But time and again, situations lead me to think back and decide. This year, 10 teachers resigned for greeneer pasture. Many of the former teachers are calling me to apply where they are. There are a lot of vacancy for me. The pay is better. Well, i still can teach my major.

But looking at the real situation, I'm still a neophyte. I'm still learning. The more teachers going out, the more I feel like staying out of loyalty to this school. And I'm already in my home base, I enjoy walking home if it is not raining. Materially speaking, the pay here would take me years to save for my hobbies: archery and photography, which requires a lot of money and even a dream to go out of the country?

At the end of the day, I am compelled to stay. I know that God have more in store for me. Better than my flawed plans in my life. He will guide me what to do. To stay, or when to leave....Or, am I being deaf? Baka naman sinasabi na ni Lord na "go, change your career and be an IT professional"....huh????

Fast proliferation of gangs and frats in Baguio (and nearby La Trinidad)

Even when I was a high school student, my teachers warned us against joining frats. That if we really become a member of a genuine frat, then better join KC (Knights of Columbus) or other parish based organizations because these are the real fraternities where they live truly to its namesake: "brotherhood". When I was a student, frats were a pain in the head of the administration and parents. Now that I am a teacher, it wasn't only the frats that we're trying to guard our students against. Here comes the 2nd evil: gangs.

Everybody knows already what frats (especially underground ones) do. But for gangs, it is the worst. They call themselves "terrorrists" and they are armed. Enticing many young people to join their group.

What could be the reasons or factors in the fast proliferation of gangs in our locality that they even have local chapters? Maybe these are the following:

• Rebellion

I have a student last year who is indifferent to her father. She is always being told as a bad girl and the black sheep in the family. Reading through her essays and themes, her teachers can say that she doesn't feel any love from her father. In fact, the way of discipline inside their house is through physical pain. She joined a frat/group. From the teachers, to the guidance office, to the family and even the DSWD, everybody tried their effort to win her back. The school gave her second chances. But in the middle of February, she cannot be found anywhere else in Baguio. We cannot do anything but wait. Pinaki-usapan na at lahat ang bata pero sumunod parin sa grupo na yun. On the June of that year, she was found in Pampanga but still has to be under the care of the local DSWD because of the trauma she experienced. Through her grandma, I heard that she finally realized her mistake. She wasted one year of her life just because of her rebellion. And what was worst, it was very hard for her to get away from that group.

• Teenager's need for a sense of belongingness

Most of the students enticed to join these groups are the children of OFW's or parents who doesn't have time for their child. They need a family where they can say they belong. They older role models that they would follow. But most of all, they need the love and affection of a so called "family". Man is a social animal. It is normal for us to long for kin and friends. And in the developmental stage of a teenager, they need this most: "family and friends". Here is where the Church can fill up the hole in these children's hearts. Make our Young People/Parish Youth groups strong. If they can't find it in their homes, then at least they can have this 'sense of belongingness' and 'love' that they are longing for in the Church.

• Fear

Some of the recruits are bullied to join the gang. There are even groups that follow the student even up to their doorstep. Then harm then later on. Maybe the solution here is a strong police vicibility in the locality with the help of the tanods. But it would be even more efficient if the whole community would cooperate, participate and collaborate with the local barangay. If there are malicious looking people around the neighborhood, whom they think would pose a harm not only to their children but even their neighbor's children, then the gang itself will realize that they are powerless against the community. Even if these gangs are armed. Wala naman siguro sa kanila ang may anthrax bomb or nuclear bomb. Or even if they are heavily armed, still peace and order is still stronger if the community would collaborate.

• the feel of Power

The feeling that one is powerful makes one good. Joining gangs would give them the power to retribute against anybody they hate. But again, it gives harmfull consequences if not handled well. It goes back to the home and the local Church. Even if it is a value taught to them many, many times, the application and strengthening of that values especially of humility, meekness and honesty is still in the home. If these three: school, Church and family would again collaborate to embed in our young the values taught to us by our faith, not even Satan himself can entice our young to join those bad groups.

I have students who strongly oppose and decline bravely these gangs and frats. If you look into their backgrounds, they have strong family ties. And even if their parents are OFW's they are members of parish youth groups or their relatives takes good care of them.

Again, our strong weapons against these modern social problems are: Family, Church and a collaborative Community.

A Dog of Flanders by Loise de la Ramee

The last time I shed tears because of this story was on a night I was watching tv, peeking through the book whenever there's a commercial. It made me shed tears in the middle of a romance-comedy show! Wow, made me realize how powerfull the story is.

I remember the fist time I watched a cartoon of this book. My brother, sister and me are always anticipating this show in the morning of one summer vacation. All of us are in the elementary grade that time. Crying or shedding tears was a taboo for the three of us else, one would be turtured through their teasing. The show was colorful, but little did we know that it has a tragic ending. But the most unfogetable of it was when all three of us can't stop crying. Well, we could just have turned off the tv but hey, how will we know how did it end! So all egos gone, we watched and fell silent even when the credits are already going up. Normally, we could have just teased one another.

There were older young people in the next house to ours. Only that day did I know they are also watching the show. I overheard their reactions and discussions about it. They also cried!

Second time I encountered this title was when a children's story book was on my palms. I read it and for the second time, I went to sleep crying, waking up the next day with eye bugs. Made one wonder what was my problem that i cried that much, huh....He he he...it was just a children's storybook.

Lately, it was just this April. Watching a Korean telenovela: "Lovers" while reading A Dog of Flanders for the 2nd time. Well, the effect was the same. Made me wonder if other people feel the same way whenever they read or watch about Nello and Patrasche.

I searched the internet and found my answer. Yes, it is really a tear-jerker both for old and young people especially when watched. There was even a website made for it and some video clip in youtube.

Just in case you never heard this children's classic, just click on the links below:

http://www.classicreader.com/read.php/bookid.1373/sec.1/

http://www.patrasche.net

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dog_of_Flanders

A simple reflection on the story: "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

I've heard about this tale even before. Through a comic book, cartoons and children's bedtime storybook. But this time it was different because i was reading it the old english way of narrating a story. I wonder if I was the original. But I think it is, becuase of the wit and wisdom in it. I saw this book in the old archives of our local school library donated by some european friends of the school long long time ago. Sadly I can't find the date of publication.

Anyway, I love the way it was told. At first, I had a hard time trying to understand the language. But in time, I was able to adjust and keep my imagination running while reading.

It tells about the an adventure with three spirits who visited Mr. Scrooge on one Christmas eve: Christmas past, Christmas present and Christmas future. Each one of them accompanied Scrooge according to their namesake.

With Christmas past, Scrooge was shown as a poor and lonely but handsome young man. Full of promise and though we don't know much about his father, he is with a gentle, kind and generous boss who played as a role model for him.He even has a sweetheart who is discribed as a fair lady. The reader wonders how come he is so cold, mean and bitter even in the present Christmas eve. He was so happy with his journey with Christmas past. But towards the end of their journey, it starts to answer the question of the reader. It was his own choice. He had an opportunity to love and to be loved but he just let go of it. He even shooed it away. She was a young and beautiful but he let go of her and focused too much on his career and how to get rich with no heart of generousity at all. He didn't even rewarded himself even with a little luxury.

Then came Christmas present. Together they journeyed from one home of an acquaintance to another. Scrooge saw the things that he missed because of his choice long ago. He is even made into a laughingstock in his nephew's home. He is indifferent and unaffected 'till they came into the home of his one and only employee. He is a father to a simple family and one of his sons is ill. With the character of Scrooge boing a stoic, I was glad that he showed some concern to the boy. He asked Christmas present if the boy will live but the spirit only gave him a vague answer.

And last is the spirit of the future. It showed how pitiful it will be. He is a rich man but nobody will give him some respect or any concern at all. The beggars would gladly divide upon his garments and people who knows him just shrugged their shoulder when they learned about his death. But what touched Scrooge the most was when he learned that in the future, the boy will die becuase of how hard life is. Of course it is not only because of Scrooge's doing but it will be a cummulative effect of the selfishness of man. But still Scrooge felt guilty because he is one of them. Scrooge cried and pleaded to the dreadfull spirit to help him undo the ugly things that will happen in the future.

Scrooge wakes up that Christmas day. Very glad and happy but most of all, gratefull that he was given the chance to undo the effects of his bitterness on the future. He didn't waste a second. He asked a boy to buy a huge turkey for his one and only employee and tipped the boy generously. He gave a surprise visit to his nephew not minding how they made fun of him the night before. In time, many people benefitted out of Scrooge's generousity and what made him the happiest most was that, the boy lived a long and fruitful life with Scrooge becoming a second father to him. Untinkable for a character like his but again, it is a choice. It was his choice to get out of his bitterness and savor life and it's sweetness.

Two classical truths comes out from this story:

1. materialism cannot give us genuine happiness and
2. sometimes, happiness is a matter of our day to day choices.

I will not expound on these two points anymore. I want my readers to think and reflect on it upon themselves.