|
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Pray for peace, freedom, cardinal asks flock
Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is urging Cebuanos to continue praying for peace, the same message that, according to Christian teaching, was said to the faithful during the first year of the Lord.
The prelate said on Christmas Eve that the message for peace was the same message that Angel Gabriel told Virgin Mary when the former appeared before her and told her she will bear the Son of God.
Cardinal Vidal also quoted Luke 2:10-14, with the Angel saying, “Dayegon ang Diyos sa kahitas-an, ug dinhi sa yuta kalinaw ug maayong kabubut-on alang sa tanang katawhan (Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!).”
Centuries later, that message of peace still rings true, said the archbishop.
“Naglanog-lanog lang gihapon, ug lab-as, ang maong balita sa kalinaw,” he said.
Cardinal Vidal also asked the faithful to pray hard and work harder, with Señor Sto. Niño and the Lady of Guadalupe beside them.
He also encouraged the people to “tell nothing but the truth, to seek justice for all, to love even our enemies and to respect every freedom that goes with responsibility.”
Cebu media liaison Officer Msgr. Achilles Dakay, for his part, said everybody should keep praying for peace.
He said it was what retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. sought for the country, and what Pope Benedict XVI wants for the world.
Prayers
For Cebu, though, we have a long way to go to achieve peace, said Dakay, since peace is embodied in four virtues — truth, justice, love and respect for freedom.
“The country is filled with people speaking only half-truths, and justice is nowhere when only the administration has it,” Dakay said.
He also brought up the issue on vigilante-style killings saying, “Where is freedom when people are getting killed without due process?”
The country’s top spiritual leaders led Christmas prayers Sunday for relief from war and turmoil.
“The power of love is stronger than the power of evil. No crisis is so great it cannot be solved with God,” said Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
President Arroyo devoted her annual Christmas message to the nation to acknowledge the eight million Filipinos working abroad, who are expected to send home a record $10.3 billion in remittances this year. (JGA/With AFP)
(December 27, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
