The Church and Catholics

<<Philippine Edition>>

The environment of a Chapel/ Church/ House of worship must have peace and harmony, must have orderliness between the worshipers and the environment itself, must be quiet inside for the worshipers have a concentration in the worship services... In short, Chapels are sacred and holy and must be treated with great respect! In the part of the worshipers, they must value and give importance to the chapel, like what I've said they should give a great respect to it! They must also show that they are disciplined one especially entering the church and during the worship services. (RIGHT? who's here to disagree?!)

Let us examine one by one if we can say that the catholic churches can be called "houses of worship" or a place where worship services can be held... and if the worshipers of the catholic church or the "catholics" are discipline and gives value in their worship services...

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

Most of the catholic churches i saw were like this, especially when there's a holiday, especial occasion on the catholic faith, fiesta's and etc. Most churches like this are here in Manila, while people attending mass inside the chapel, the environment outside is not in proper order... Vendors are selling different kind of items, foods and so forth. Just a question, Is this a house of worship or a public market?

Most of the time, this were also the place for people who begs or asks for charity especially when Christmas comes, those churches can be describe as "a meeting place" for the beggars (sorry for the word) but i think it is not right for the chapels have these because it is holy and sacred. Note: I have no problem or bad impression to the beggars but i think the catholic church should provide someone who will take the responsibility for the security of the church and for the orderliness of the surroundings OUTSIDE the church.

The MASS:Every Filipino Catholic aware that there were noise surrounding the chapel coming from the people attending the mass. And like Catholics say that they have the FREEDOM, yes they have! While in mass, others are texting, talking to others, and etc. And the fun part is, the mass is a "leave if you want to" event. If you are bored and want to go home even if the mass is not yet finished, you can do it, no one will hurdle you on your way to the doors. wonderful right? tsk tsk



The Shooting of Films, and etc.:
The shooting of movies, soap operas, commercial and etc. using the house of worship for their sake is showing disrespectful and undisciplined act. Taking scenes in a chapel is excuse if it will be used for the church's activities and other forms related to the church. How then the church will be categorize as "holy" and intended for the worship of god if it is using to other activities unrelated to the church?



The Attire:
Again, like what they say and have, Catholics have a FREEDOM. They have a freedom to wear whatever type of clothes they want! IN ENTERING THE CHURCH AND DURING THE MASS. We put so much effort thinking what we will wear for example in an especial occasion, celebration, and everything.. and spending too much what we will wear for that event, but in time of worship services, most worshipers are not wearing properly. (Filipino Catholics are aware of those) In boys, others are wearing shorts, sandos, t-shirt, step ins and many other... In girls, others are wearing strapless, spaghetti, mini skirt, tube and many other... Is it a good practice? a proper attire for the "worship of god" huh?? A sign of not giving value for the worship services!



A (catholic) writer of Phil. star Ngayon said:

PANAGINIP LANG Ni Nixon T. Kua
Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon 01/02/2007

...Kakaiba kasi ang disiplinang pinakikita nila lalo na sa kanilang
pagsasamba na isang malaking halimbawa ng pag-rerespeto nila sa DIYOS.
Nakailang sama na tayo sa paanyaya ng ilan nating kaibigang mga INC sa
kanilang pagsasamba at hindi natin maiwasan ikumpara unang una ang
kalinisan sa loob ng kanilang kapilya. Ilang local na ho ang napasyalan
natin at pare-pareho ho ito.

Hindi ho kagaya ng ugali nating mga Katoliko na kanyang kanyang
puwesto na kadalasan tuloy ay naiiwang bakante ang maraming silya sa
gitna, sa mga kapatid ho natin sa INC ay pupunuin ang bawat silya mula
sa harap hanggang makarating sa likod.

Wala rin hong social status ang sistema ng kanilang pag-okupa at first
come first serve lahat. Kahit sino ka man, kahit sikat ka, walang
reservation at kung mahuhuli ka ay sa likod ka uupo.

Bawal rin sa kanila ang mga damit na masyadong maiksi na suot minsan
ng ilan nating mga kapatid na Katolikong kababaihan na siya namang
aaminin nating nakakadistract ng attention. Hiwalay rin ho ang puwesto
ng mga babae at lalaki at walang batang nagtatakbo sa loob na mistulang
ginagawang playground.

Ang mga song book nila ay nakalagay sa kaliwang bahagi ng mahabang
bangko at isa isang kinukuha at pagkatapos ng kanilang pagsasamba ay isa
isa rin nilang binabalik. Kung ginagalang ho kasi natin ang PANGINOON
bakit natin kinakalat na lamang ang mga misalette o anumang papel sa
simbahan na napakarumi tingnan.

Wala rin hong nag-bubulungan sa kanila habang sumasamba at lalong
walang kalabitan na madalas ring gawin ng ilan nating mga kasamahan sa
simbahang Katoliko.

Ultimo sa katapusan ng kanilang pagsasamba, row by row silang
lumalabas at hindi nagkakagulo at naguunahan. Muli lang natin naalala
ito lalo na nung panahon ng holidays kung saan dumalaw naman tayo sa
ilang simbahan upang magpasalamat sa PANGINOON sa lahat ng biyayang
nakukuha natin. Lahat ho tayo ay dapat mag-count ng blessings natin na
bigay sa atin ng DIYOS.

Tunay na kahanga hanga at karapat dapat tularan hindi lamang sa paraan
ng pagsasamba o pagsisimba kung hindi sa lahat ng antas ng lipunan dahil
isa sa pinakamalaking suliraning kinakaharap natin ngayon ay ang
kakulangan sa disiplina at palakasan system na laganap.

At komo unang column natin ito ngayong taong 2007, sana kahit sa
maliit na paraan ay maantig natin ang ating mga kababayan at ma-adopt
natin ang disiplinang pinaiiral ng mga INC upang kahit paano naman ay
maibsan ang problema ng bayan...

We, as followers to the religion we belong, knows that every one of us should give respect in the gatherings especially related to god. How? We must be a disciplined one! But the great factor here is that the church itself have the power to give a command or an advise to its followers what would be the perfect attire for the activities related to the church... We must also remember that we are using chapels/ houses of worship for the worship of God. We also must take good care of it... We give so much importance in other building establishments like hotels, and etc. and put so much effort in cleaning and beautifying it. But it must also be done in our houses of worship, because it is a place where god dwells, and a place for we to worship him, so we must respect it! :-)