It was one fine Friday, where my class visits the Jamiyah Home for the Aged. There was this parent of a schoolmate named Sebastian. Actually supposed to talk to this old lady who was of a Peranakan origin, but turned out this parent actually talked to me about Faith. She was from the Bethesda church. In fact, she doesn't even know what denomination of Protestantism she was from.

Oh! yea something struck my mind: Roman Catholicism is not a denomination. It has all along been the Christianity we knew in the early times, until the PROTESTANT REFORMATION. She was saying things like why should Catholic pray to Mary. Well, when we talk to someone who is of heavenly status, we uses the term pray. But in actual fact, we ask Mother Mary and the Saints to PRAY for US. That is something which many misunderstood about our faith. Mary and saints are closer to God than we are. We, as HOMOSAPIENS, ask them to INTERCEDE for us.

She says this strongly: "Catholics don't read the bible". This is Nonsense. Bible may be one of the means in which we "interact" with God. But remember, the Catholic faith is not based on "SOLA SCRIPTURA" or " SOLA FIDE ". Protestants don't take tradition into an account. They don't know the importance of Oral Tradition from the Apostles. Bible.. True it comes from God. But it is written by MAN, inspired by GOD. FACT: Bible comes from the Catholic Church. Protestants even removes some epistles/books right?.

She said something about FALLEN ANGEL. Ya, i know for sure Satan is fallen angel. She's hinting me that Catholics are influenced by the fallen angel? Ha! Funny. Who broke away from the Church? The protestants. Fallen angel indeed! We must know that the bible also states that the Holy Ghost will guide the church. What church? of cause the Catholic Church since early.

I just don't understand. Protestant, since they are all Bible, bible and again Bible, then why so many denominations?



Anyway there is this hymn written by St. Thomas Aquinas. the PANGE LINGUA. It is so nice that i can't stop listening to it. Especially the part of Tantum Ergo.

Pange, lingua, gloriosi         Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory,
Corporis mysterium,             of His flesh the mystery sing;
Sanguinisque pretiosi,          of the Blood, all price exceeding,
quem in mundi pretium           shed by our immortal King,
fructus ventris generosi        destined, for the world's redemption,
Rex effudit Gentium.            from a noble womb to spring.

Nobis datus, nobis natus        Of a pure and spotless Virgin
ex intacta Virgine,             born for us on earth below,
et in mundo conversatus,        He, as Man, with man conversing,
sparso verbi semine,            stayed, the seeds of truth to sow;
sui moras incolatus             then He closed in solemn order
miro clausit ordine.            wondrously His life of woe.

In supremae nocte coenae        On the night of that Last Supper,
recumbens cum fratribus         seated with His chosen band,
observata lege plene            He the Pascal victim eating,
cibis in legalibus,             first fulfills the Law's command;
cibum turbae duodenae           then as Food to His Apostles
se dat suis manibus.            gives Himself with His own hand.

Verbum caro, panem verum        Word-made-Flesh, the bread of nature
verbo carnem efficit:           by His word to Flesh He turns;
fitque sanguis Christi merum,   wine into His Blood He changes;
et si sensus deficit,           what though sense no change discerns?
ad firmandum cor sincerum       Only be the heart in earnest,
sola fides sufficit.            faith her lesson quickly learns.

Tantum ergo Sacramentum         Down in adoration falling,
veneremur cernui:               Lo! the sacred Host we hail;
et antiquum documentum          Lo! o'er ancient forms departing,
novo cedat ritui:               newer rites of grace prevail;
praestet fides supplementum     faith for all defects supplying,
sensuum defectui.               where the feeble senses fail.

Genitori, Genitoque             To the everlasting Father,
laus et jubilatio,              and the Son who reigns on high,
salus, honor, virtus quoque     with the Holy Ghost proceeding
sit et benedictio:              forth from Each eternally,
procedenti ab utroque           be salvation, honor, blessing,
compar sit laudatio.            might and endless majesty.

Amen. Alleluja.                 Amen. Alleluia. 

Adapted from Wikipedia.