3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

ONONAN BABASAEN Neh. 8:2-4,5-6,8-10

Babasaen ya inaon ed libro na propita Nehemias

Inala nen Esdras so libro na Ganggan, insan to inyakar ed nantitiponan na saray totoo-lalaki, bibii, tan ogogaw a nayarian da lay ontalus. Diad saman a plasa ed abay na puirta imbasa tod sikaray Ganggan manlapud palbangon ya anggad kaagwan, et marengerengel iray totoo.

Si Esdras nanalagey ed tapew na intabladon tabla ya impaalagey makasengeg ed saman ya agawa.

Atagey so panalalageyan nen Esdras, kanyan sankanengneng na amin a totoo. Ag da inyalis so mata rad sikato et kapangilokas tod libro inmalagey ya amin. Inkuanen Esdras, "Nadayew komun so Katawan, say matalonggaring a Dios!"

Amin a totoo inyatagey day lima ra tan kuanda, "Amen, Amen!" Insan ira dinmakmomon angigalang ya anggad dalin.

Impatalus dad salitan ikakana na saray totoo so Ganggan na Dios, insan da impaliwawa pian natalusan na saray totoo.

Saray mangipapaliwawa na Ganggan a di Nehemias a gobirnador, Esdras a pari tan iskriba, tan saray Levita, et inkuanda sirin ed amin a totoo, "Masanto yan agew ed Katawan a Dios yo, kanyan ag kayo nepeg a manermen odino onakis. Sempet ki la ta mampista kayo. Iyapag yod saray kulang so paraan iray kakanen tan alak yo. Masanto yan agew ed Katawan tayo, kanyan ag kayo maneermen. Pabiskegen kayo na liket ya iter ed sikayo na Katawan."

Salita na Katawan.

Ebat a Salmo

E. Ispiritu tan bilay, Katawan, iray salitam.

1. Ayadyari so ganggan na Katawan; papasimbaloen toy biskeg na too. Napanmatalkan iray ganggan na Katawan; mangiiter ira na kakabatan ed saray anggapoy amta. E.

2. Maptek iray ganggan na Katawan, tan pagagayagaen day puso. Matonung iray ganggan to, tan liliwawaan day pakatalus. E.

3. Maung so pangigalang ed Katawan; mansiansia ed anggad angga. Matonung so pananintinsiay Katawan, tan maptek lawas. E.

4. Makapaliket komun ed sika iray salitak tan saray kanunotan ko, O Katawan a salimbengan ko tan mananondon ko! E.

KUMADWAN BABASAEN 1 Cor. 12:12-30

Babasaen ya inaon ed ononan sulat nen Pablo ed saray taga Corinto

Si Cristo et singa sakey a laman ya amayamay so kabyangan to; anggaman a titibokeley nandoroman kabyangan, saksakey ni lamlamang yan laman. Ontan met ya amin tayo, Judio man o Hintil, aripen man o andi, bininyagan itayo na saksakey ya Ispiritu, tan nagmaliw itayon sakey a laman. Pinainom itayo met ya amin ed saksakey ya Ispiritu.

Ta say dilin laman et titibokeley amayamay a kabyangan, aliwan saksakey labat. No ibagay sali, "Aliwa ak a lima, kanyan aliwa ak a kabyangay laman" ag to kabaliksan ya aliwa lan kabyangay laman. No ibagay layag, "Aliwa ak a mata, kanyan aliwa ak a kabyangay laman," ag to kabaliksan ya aliwa lan kabyangay laman. No say intiron laman et mata labat, panoy pakadngel to? Tan no layag labat, panoy pakaangub to? Balet, onung ed labay na Dios, impasen tod laman iray nandoroman kabyangan. Anggapoy laman no saksakey so kabyangan to! Say katwaan to, amayamay so kabyangan balet saksakey so laman.

Kanyan sirin, ag nibaga na mata ed lima, "Ag ta ka nakaukolan!" Ag met nibaga na olo ed saray sali, "Ag ta kayo nakaukolan." Say katwaan to, saray singa anggapoy kanan kabyagay laman et sikara la laingey nakaukolan. Papagalangan tin maung iray kabyangay laman a nababaloan tayon andiay kagalangan. Paparakepen ti ray kabyangan a aliwliway nengneng da. Ag nakaukolan a gawaen tayo ya ed saray marakep a kabyangay laman. Nen inoksuy na Dios so laman tayo, pinagalangan to ray kabyangan a kulang so kagalangan da, pian anggapoy pansisian da ray kabyangay laman, no ag ingen manmamasakitan ira. No apasakitay sakey a kabyangan, nalikna ran amin. No apagalangay sakey a kabyangan, naliketan iran amin.

Amin yo sirin et saksakey a laman nen Cristo, tan balang sakey et kabyangan to. Impasen na Dios ed iglisia, onona, saray apostol; onkumadwa, saray propita; onkumatlo, saray bumabangat. Insan impasen to ray managgawa na milagro, saray walay pakayarin mamaabig na mansasakit, saray mananulong, saray inkargado na kimey, tan saray managsalitay nandoroman salita. Aliwan amin da et apostol, o propita, o bumabangat. Ag ira naitdan ya amin na pakayarin manggaway milagro, o mamaabig na mansasakit, o mansalitay nandoroman salita, odino mangipatalus ed sarayan salita.

Salita na Katawan.

Alleluia

E. Alleluia. Imbaki ak na Katawan a mangipulong na Maung a Balita ed saray mairap-bilay, tan kawayangan ed saray priso. E. Alleluia.

Ibanghilyo Luc. 1:1-4;4:14-21

+Say gapo na masanton ibanghilyo onung ed kinen Lucas

Amayamay la ray nanoksuy tan nansulat nipaakar ed saray bengatlan agawgawad pegley mi. Insulat da ray imbabalitad sikami na saray akakkaimatun nanlapud gapo ed sarayan agawgawa tan nampupulong na salitay Dios. Kasumpal kon inaral a maung yan agawgawa nanlapud inggapo ra, ninunot kon maabig ya isulat ko ran maoksuy para sika. Gawaen ko ya sirin, pian naamtaan moy katwaan da ray imbabangat dad sika.

Pinmawil ed Galilea si Jesus, tan walad sikatoy pakayari na Ispiritu Santo. Kinmayat ed amin a kaliber-liber a pasen so balitan nipaakar ed sikato. Nambabangat ed sinagoga ra, tan indadayew na amin a totoo.

Sinmempet si Jess ed Nazaret, say baley a binalegan to. Onung na kaogaliyan to, linmoob ed sinagoga nen Agew na Panagpainawa. Inmalagey a mambasay Masanton Sulat, tan say libro nen propita Isaias so inter dan basaen to. Binuskag tod pasen ya onyay akasulat: "Walad siak so Ispiritu na Katawan, ta pinili to ak a mampulong na Maung a Balita ed saray mairap-bilay. Imbaki to ak a mangibalitad saray apriso a nabolus la ra, tan saray bulag a makanengneng la ra. Imbaki to ak met a mangibalitad saray napapairap a nainawaan la ra, tan mangipakabat na manepeg a taon a pangilabay Katawan."

Nilokut nen Jesus imay nambasaan to, insan to inderew ed samay manlilingkur ed sinagoga. Inmirung, tan sankanengneng na amin a totoo. Inkuantod sikara, "Asumpal ed sayan agew so ibabaga to yan parti na Masanton Sulat a nadngel yo."

Ibanghilyo na Katawan.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

ONONAN BABASAEN Jer. 1:4-5, 17-19

Babasaen ya inaon ed libro na propita Jeremias
Inkuan na Katawan ed siak, “Kasakbayan ta kan initday bilay pinili ta ka la, tan kasakbayay inkianak mo, pinili ta kan magmaliw a propita ed saray bansa.”

Mamparaan ka, Jeremias; laka, ta ibagam ed sikaray amin ya ingganggan kod sikan salitaen mo. Ag ka la natan ontatakot ed sikara; ta no andi, pagmaliwen ta kan lalon ontakot no wadman ka lad sikara. Dengel ka, Jeremias! Onsumpad sika so balang sakey a too ed sayan dalin – saray arari ed Juda, saray opisyal, saray papari, tan saray totoo. Balet natan iitdan ta kay biskeg, pian nasumlang mo ra; magmaliw kan singa siudad ya aliber na padir, singa balatyang a lusek, tan singa gansan padir. Ag da ka natalo, ta wala ak ed sika a mangyagel ed sika. Siak, say Katawan, so nansalita.”

Salita na Katawan.

Ebat a Salmo
E. IKANTAK SO PANANGILABAN MO.

1. Katawan, sika so salimbengan ko; ag mo ak pan balut patatalo! Lapud matonung ka, tulongan tan iyagel mo ak pa. Dengel mo ak tan ilaban mo ak pa! E.

2. Sika pa so baton-dampay a salimbengan ko, tan mabiskeg a tirinsira a mangyagel ed siak, sikay salimbeng tan manangyagel ko. O Dios ko, iyagel moak pad saray totoon maoges. E.

3. Katawan a Dios, sikay paniilaloan ko; nanlapud impanbalolakik, sikay panmamatalkan ko. Sikay panmamatalkan ko legay bilay ko; iyaagel mo ak manlapu lad inkianak ko. E.

4. Ibawag koy inkatonung mo; tongtongen ko lawas so panangilaban mo. Nanlapud impanogaw ko ibabangat mo ak la, tan totongtongen ko ni ray makapakelkelaw a ginagawam. E.

KUMADWAN BABASAEN 1 Cor. 12:31-13:13

Babasaen ya ianon ed ononan sulat nen Pablo ed saray taga Corinto
Pampilalekan yo sirin iray lalon manonan langkap. Balet iparontal kod sikayo niy sangkaabigan ed amin.

Anggaman a nayarian koy mansalita na nandoroman salita da ray totoo tan saray anghil, no anggapo balet so arok, singa ak labat matalangatang a kampana tan makmaknul a piangpiang. Anggaman a naitdan ak na pakayarin mampulong na salitay Dios; anggaman a walad siak so kakabatan tan pakatalus ed amin da ray niamut a katwaan; anggaman a walay mabiskeg a pananisiak pian nayarian kon paekalen iray palandey ed kawalaan da, no anggapo balet so arok, anggapoy kakanaan kon too. Anggaman ya iter kod saray mairap-bilay iray amin ya kayaryan ko, o ibagat koy laman kon papoolan, no anggapo balet so arok, anggapoy kaabigan a niter to yad siak.

Say aro maanos tan mapangasi; aliwan maimon, o mapasirayew, o mapaatagey; say aro aliwan mabanday so kagagawa to, aliwan masiblet, o maipapasnuk; ag mamopokuk na sakit na linawa. Say aro ag manliliket ed kaogsan, no ag ingen manliliket ed katwaan. Say aro et ag balut onsuko, tan ag balut naandian na pananisia, ilalo, tan anos.

Walay pakayarin mampolung na salitay Dios, et ag mansiansia. Wala ray langkap na panagsalitay nandoroman salita, et ag ira mansiansia. Wala met so kakabatan, et ag mansiansia. Balet say aro mansiansiad anggad angga. Aliwa nin nagnap so kakabatan tayo tan say pakayari tayon mampolung na salitay Dios. Balet no onsabi lay ayadyari, naekal lay aliwan ayadyari.

Nen ogaw ak ni inoogaw so panagsalitak, panagliknak, tan panagisip ko. Balet natan ta matakken ak la, nilingwanan ko la ray inoogaw a kagagawa. Say nanengneng tayo natan et singa burarog a lupa ed salming; balet onsabiy agew a nanengneng tayo ed lupa-lupaan. Daiset niy amtak natan, balet onsabi’y agew a magmaliw ya ayadyari so pakaamtak, a singa ayadyarin pakapikabat na Dios ed siak.

Mansiansia ra yan talo: say pananisia, ilalo, tan aro; balet say aro so sangkabalgan ed saraya.

Salita na Katawan.

Alleluia
E. Alleluia. Siak so silew na sankamundoan, kuay Katawan; say ontombuk ed siak niwalad sikatoy silew a mangiiter na bilya ya andi-anggaan. E. Alleluia.

Ibanghilyo Luc. 4:21-30

+Babasaen ya inaon ed masanton ibanghilyo onung ed kinen Lucas
Walad sinagoga si Jesus tan inkuanto, “Asumpal ed sayan agew so ibabaga to yan parti na Masanton Sulat a nadngel yo.”

Indayew na amin a totoo, tan mankelaw irad saray mararakep a salita to. “Aliwa tan sikato ya may anak nen Jose?” tepet da.

Kanyan inkuantod sikara, “Andi-saew ya ibaga yod siak imay oliran: ‘Doktor, tambal moy laman mon dili!’ Ikuanyo met ni, ‘Gawam met ed dilin baley mo ray abalitaan min ginagawam ed Capernaum!’” Insan intuloy to, “Kuankod sikayo: anggapoy propitan naawat ed dilin baley to. Balet kuankod sikayo ya amayamay so balon bibii ed Israel nen panaon nen Elias. Diad saman, taloy taon tan kapaldua ya ag inmoran a balut, kanyan walay balbaleg ya eras ed lapag na saman a dalin. Balet ag nibakiy Elias ed anggan siopad sikara. Nibaki inged sakey a balon bii ed Sarepta, sakey a baley ed Sidon. Ontan met amayamay iray akating ed Israel nen panaon nen propita Eliseo, balet anggapoy inmabig ed sikara. Si Naaman labat a taga Siria so inmabig.”

Mapalaloy pasnuk na amin da ra may totoon wadmad sinagoga nen nadngel da ya. Inmalagey ira, insan da impaway ed siudad. Inyakar dad toktok na nipalandey a pasen ya angipaalageyan na siudad da, insan da ipepelag. Balet linmabas ed pegley da, tan linma la.

Ibanghilyo na Katawan.

Sto. Nino

ONONAN BABASAEN Isa. 9:1-7

Babasaen ya inaon ed libro na propita Isaias

Aminsan naplag ed kababaingan so dalin na saray tribu di Zabulon tan Neftali; balet diad arapen a panaon nitanduro yan lugar, manlapud Mediteraneo a mampabokig ya anggad dalin ed nibaliw na Jordan, tan nasakop to ya anggad Galilea a panaayaman na saray sangaili. Akanengneng na baleg a silew iray totoon nankukurang ed kabilongetan. Nanayam irad sakey a dalin ya ambilbilonget, balet natan onsisindag so silew ed sikara. Initdan mo ray baleg a gayaga Katawan; impagmaliw mo ran maliket. Magayaga ra lapud saray ginagawam; singa saray totoon maliket no manaani ra, odino singa ra saray manaapag na asamsam dan kayamanan. Maliket ira lapud pinoter moy pakon sasakbaten da tan say bastun a mamepekpek na saray takeb da. Tinalom so bansa ya amairap ed saray totoom, a singa samay impanalom nen saman ed saray sondalo na Madian. Oputen na apoy iray buta na ondodogpan sondalo tan amin a kawes dan ataltalagsikan na dala.

Diad sikatayo nianak so sakey ya ogaw! Niiter ed sikatayo so sakey ya anak a laki! Sikatoy magmaliw a manoley tayo. Natawag a “Makapakelaw a Mananimbawa,” “Makapanyarin Dios,” “Andi-anggaan ya Ama,” “Prinsipi na Kareenan.” Onlaknab lan onlaknab so pakaoley ton ari, mansiansian mareen so panarian to. Manoley a kasalat nen Ari David, tan iletneg tod kaptekan tan katonungan so pakayari to, manlapud natan ya anggad angga. Andi-saew a sumpalen ya amin na Makapanyarin-amin a Katawan.

Salita na Katawan.

Ebat a Salmo
E. DIAD SAYAN AGEW NIANAK ED BALEY NEN DAVID SO MANANGILABAN, SAY CRISTON KATAWAN!

1. Kantaan yoy balon kanta so Katawan! Kantaan yoy Katawan, amin yon katoowan ed tapew na dalin! Kantaan yoy Katawan, tan idayew yo! E.

2. Ibawag yon inagew-agew so maung a balita ya inlaban to itayo. Ibando yod saray bansa so kagalangan to, tan diad amin a katoowan iray makapakelaw a gawgawa to. E.

3. Manliket kayo, sikayon dalin tan tawen! Ungol kan dayat tan amin a pinalsa a manaayam ed sika; manggayaga kayon kaalogan tan amin a pinalsan manaayam ed sikayo. E.

4. Onsabiy Katawan a manoley ed sankamundoan. Maptek tan matonung so panoley tod amin a katoowan. E.

KUMADWAN BABASAEN Ef. 1:3-6,15-18

Babasaen ya inaon ed sulat nen Pablo ed saray taga Efeso

Nagalang komuy Dios tan Ama na Katawan tayon Jesu-Cristo, ta initdan to itayo na amin a maispiritun bindision ed katawenan, lapud pikakasakey tid Cristo. Diad sayan pikakasakey tid Cristo, say Dios pinili to itayo la, kasakbayan ya apalsay mundo, pian magmaliw itayon masanto tan anggapoy pakabalawan ed arap to. Lapud panangaroy Dios, inggana to itayo lan magmaliw ya anak to diad panamegley nen Jesu-Cristo. Sikato yay linawa tan getmay Dios. Igalang tayo lapud makapakelaw a panangaro ton inter tod sikatayo diad panamegley na inararo ton Anak!

Kanyan nanlapud impakabalitak ed pananisia yod Katawan a Jesus tan say panangaro yod amin da ray totooy Dios, andi-tondan misasalamat ak ed Dios lapud sikayo. Nununoten ta kayo ed saray pikakasik, tan kekerewen kod mapagalang tan makapanyarin Ama a Dios na Katawan tin Jesu-Cristo, ya itdan to kayo komuy Ispiritu. Sikatoy mangiter ed sikayoy kakabatan, tan ipaamta tod sikayoy Dios, pian nakabatan yo. Ipipikasik a naliwawaan komuy kanunotan yo pian naamtaan yo no antoy ilalon impanawagan tod sikayo, no panoy kayaman na makapakelaw iran bindision ya insipan ton ipatawir ed saray totoo to.

Salita na Katawan.

Alleluia
E. Alleluia. Nen saman nansalitay Dios ed saray lalaki tayo diad panamegley da ray propita. Amimpiga-piga to yan ginagawa, tan diad nandoroman pamaakaran. Balet diad sarayan kaonuran ya agew, say Dios nansalitad sikatayo diad panamegley na Anak to. E. Alleluia.

Ibanghilyo Luc. 2:41-52

Babasaen ya inaon ed masanton ibanghilyo onung ed kinen Lucas

Tinaon-taon, kapag Pistay Paskua, oonlad Jerusalem iray atateng nen Jesus. Nen mantaon na labindua si Jesus, linma rad pista onung na kaogaliyan na saray totoo. Kasumpal na pista, linma la ran onsempet. Balet si Jesus tinmilak ed Jerusalem ya ag amtay atateng to. Abaloan dan kaiba to ray arum a totoon onsesempet met la, kanyan sanagew la ran manaakar, insan da inanap ed saray kakanayon tan kabkabat da. Nen ag da naalmo, pinmawil irad Jerusalem a mananap ed sikato. Kayariy taloy agew, nalmo rad dalem na Timplo. Akayorung ed pegley da ray mamaistro, onderengel ed sikara tan tetepetan to ra. Mankelaw iray amin ya akadngel ed sikato, lapud kakabatan tan saray ebat to. Mankelaw met iray atateng to nen anengneng da. Inkuanen ina to, "Anak, akin et onyay ginawam ed sikami? Mapalaloy pagpaga mi nen amam diad panaanap mid sika."

Inmebat ed sikara, "Akin et inanap yo ak sirin a? Ag yo ta amtan nakaukolan a wala ak ed abung na Amak?" Balet ag da atalusan yan imbaga tod sikara.

Kaiba ran pinmawil si Jesus ed Nazaret, tan matoluk ed saray atateng to. Inyatol nen ina to ra yan amin ed puso to. Binmaleg si Jesus, binmaleg met so kakabatan to, tan say panangaroy Dios tan saray totoo ed sikato.

Ibanghilyo na Katawan.

Baptism of the Lord

ONONAN BABASAEN Isa. 42:1-4,6-7

Babasaen ya inaon ed libro na propita Isaias

Say Katawan kuanto, “Saya so aripen ko a pinabiskeg ko—sikatoy pinilik tan pakaliliketan ko. Pinanok na ispirituk, tan sikatoy mangyakar ed balang bansa na inkatonung. Ag to oneyag odino mangyatagey na bosis to; ag mambando ed saray dalan. Ag to poteren so pikewet a tanobung odino erepen so makuykuyep a lamparaan. Iyakar toy mansiansian inkatonung ed amin a katoowan. Ag naekalan na ilalo odino biskeg na linawa; iletneg tod mundo so inkatonung. Pampilalekan ya aalagaren na saray ararawin bansa so bangat to.”

“Siak, say Katawan, tinawag ta ka tan initdan ta kay pakayari a mangipakurang na inkatonung ed tapew na dalin. Diad panamegley mo misipanan ak ed amin da ray katoowan; diad panamegley mo mangyakar ak na silew ed saray bansa. Itdan moy pakanengneng iray bulag, tan ibolus mo ray akayorung ed ambilonget a prisowan.”

Salita na Katawan.

Ebat a Salmo

E. SAY KATAWAN IBINDISION TOD SARAY TOTOO TO SO KAREENAN.

1. Idayew yoy Katawan, sikayo ran anghil na Dios; idayew yoy kagalangan tan say pakayari to. Idayew yoy mapagalang a ngaray Katawan, no ompanengneng imay Masanto, dakmomo kayod arap to. E.

2. Narerengel so bosis na Katawan diad tapew da ray dayat; narerengel so bosis to ed saray danum. Narerengel so bosis na Katawan, say bosis ton makapanyari tan napnoy kagalangan. E.

3. Onkakarul so mapagalang a Dios, legan ya amin a totood Timplo to et oneeyag, “Nagalang so Dios!” Ooleyan na Katawan iray danudanum; manari ya anggad angga. E.

KUMADWAN BABASAEN Gaw. 10:34-38

Babasaen ya inaon ed Saray Gawgawa

da ray Apostol

Nampaliwaway Pedro: “Natan ko la atebek ya anggapoy lalabien na Dios. Pakaliketay Dios so siopaman a walay takot ed sikato tan manggaway inkatonung, anggan antoy bansa to. Saray Israelita so angiteray Dios na salita to. Sikaray angiteran toy Maung a Balita, a mangiter na kareenan diad panamegley nen Jesu-Cristo, a sikatoy Katawan na amin a katoowan! Kabat yoy agawad intiron Judea, a ginmapod Galilea, kasumpal na binyag ya impupulong nen Juan. Amta yo no panoy impangiter na Dios ed kinen Jesus a taga Nazaret na Ispiritu Santo tan say pakayari. Nililiber ton amiy pasen, nanggagaway kamaungan tan nampapaabig ed saray papairapey dimonyo, ta say Dios walad sikato.”

Salita na Katawan.

Alleluia

E. Alleluia. Linmokas iray katawenan tan nadngel so bosis na Ama: Sikato yay inararok ya Anak—dengel kayod sikato. E. Alleluia.

Ibanghilyo Luc. 3:15-16, 21-22

Babasaen ya inaon ed masanton ibanghilyo onung ed kinen Lucas

Binmiskeg so ilalo ray amin a totoo tan tinetepet dad sikaran dili no si Juan et sikato la kasiy Cristo ya aalagden da. Kanyan inkuanen Juan ed sikaran amin, “Siak bibinyagan ta kayo ed danum, balet walay manomtombuk ed siak. Sikatoy makapanyari nen siak tan ag ak manepeg ya anggan mangokbar na sandalya to. Sikato binyagan to kayo ed Ispiritu Santo tan apoy.”

Kasumpal ya abinyagan ya amin iray totoon dinmadago, abinyagan met si Jesus. Nen mampipikasi si Jesus, alokasay tawen tan dinmapod sikatoy Ispiritu Santo ed nengneng na laman a singa malapati. Insan walay bosis a nanlapud tawen a nankuan, “Sika so dilin Anak ko ya inararok; pakaliliketan ta ka.”

Ibanghilyo na Katawan.

“That Our Sacrifice may be Pleasing to God”

Saya man so fraternal letter nen FatherSOC ed sikatayo. Agla piga ya agyo ni abasa, in-post ko lad dia.

Fraternal Letter to my Brother Priests

My beloved brother priests:

On the day of our ordination as priests, the bishop asked us, “Do you resolve to celebrate faithfully and reverently, in accord with the Church’s tradition, the mysteries of Christ, especially the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation, for the glory of God and the sanctification of the Christian people?”

Although we have many duties and functions as priests, in the mind of the ordinary Catholic faithful, we are priests because we can preside at the Eucharist and absolve sins in the confessional. We are priests called to bring to the Lord the sacrifice of thanksgiving from His worshiping people. We are priests called to bring the blessings of God to His chosen people. We are caretakers of the mysteries of God.

The faithful, reverent, dignified and solemn celebration of the mysteries of Christ is a mandate imposed on us by ordination. It is a solemn duty.

Good liturgy does not just happen. It is made to happen. Good liturgy calls for fervent preparation and attentive care.

Within this spirit, I wish to raise some issues in our Catholic parishes and communities to help bring about a more inspiring and truly edifying liturgical worship.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. I encourage you to maintain the cleanliness of our sacred vessels particularly our chalices and ciboria. God deserves the best. Sacred vessels need regular metal plating to maintain their luster befitting the divine worship.

The altar linens—corporal, purificator and finger towel—are not interchangeable. The corporal is named such because it receives the “corpus” crumbs that may fall from the host when we break the Host at Lamb of God. The corporal must be laid out on the altar only at the presentation of bread and wine and folded back after the purification of the vessels. It must not be left on the altar. According to traditional practice, the corporal is “starched” after washing so that it will be stiff when used at the altar. The “starched stiffness” facilitates finding the crumbs that may fall on it during the Eucharist. The purificator is used to wipe the chalice for droplets of water and wine during the preparation of the gifts and for purifying the chalice, paten and ciborium after Communion. Traditionally, the purificator has an embroidered cross which rests on the mouth of the chalice or some liturgical symbols on the sides. The finger towel is used for drying the hands after washing. To distinguish it from the purificator, the embroidered cross of the finger towel is usually on the corner and not in the middle. Please instruct your sacristans and altar servers to observe the proper use of altar linens.

We must take special care that our Mass vestments are clean and dignified. Cleanliness and dignity need not be expensive. Dignity and cleanliness in the choice and use of liturgical vestments is not optional. It is imperative on account of the dignity of the liturgy we celebrate. Please dispose of old, tattered and faded vestments properly by burning them.

The church and its surroundings must be kept clean too from trash candy wrappers, soiled missalettes and even stuck chewing gums on the church flooring. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. The church must be the cleanest place in the community.

He who Sings Well Prays Twice. Singing is a form of worship. Singing together also promotes the spirit of unity and communion. Please encourage the choirs to undertake their task as a ministry and not as a performance for public adulation. It is important that the community is animated to join the choir in singing our songs during the liturgy. Secular love songs, even if they have religious themes, do not have any place in the divine liturgy. In obedience to the instructions of the Holy See and until the rules pertaining to dancing within the liturgy have been approved by the Episcopal Commission on Liturgy, please refrain from the practice of having children or young people dance in the parish sanctuary.

And the Greatest of These is Love. Love is best expressed in silence. Where silence is observed, fervor is maintained. Let me offer to you these words from Saint Charles Borromeo on whose feastday, I was installed as your pastor: “You must realize that for us churchmen, nothing is more necessary than meditation. We must meditate before, during and after everything we do. Would you like me to tell you how to give God more pleasing worship? Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter.”

Please teach the flock again about the Catholic practice of genuflecting before the tabernacle, the observance of prayerful silence in the church, modesty in dress and the discourtesy of chewing gum or using cell phones in the church.

Finally, liturgy is not just obedience to the rubrics and instructions. Good liturgy must make us more loving. Good liturgy cannot save. Only the power of love can bring us to heaven. As a fruit of the faithful and reverent celebration of the mysteries of Christ, we must become more caring and attentive to the needs of the least, the last and the lost. Good liturgy can sanctify only to the extent that it leads us to serve, imitating the example of Him who stooped down to wash the feet of His disciples. Sunday must not only be the dies Domini. May it become too our dies caritatis.

May Saint John, the Beloved Disciple, our patron, help us to grow in holiness and lead us to share the same gift of holiness to all those entrusted to our care.

From the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, December 31, 2009.

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan