THROUGH UNTRUE During Pope Francis's audience with the youth held at the University of Santo Tomas in 2015, a little girl asked him: “Why does God allow us children to suffer so much...?” She could not finish her question because she started crying. The Pope took the girl in his arms and...
THROUGH UNTRUE When Rajah Humabon and Queen Juana of Cebu embraced Christianity, Spanish missionaries gave them a 17th century image of the Child Jesus. The Santo Niño has since become a cherished devotion among Filipinos. Many find solace, inspiration, and a sense of cultural identity in this...
THROUGH UNTRUE The Vatican document “Fiducia Supplicans” has ignited a heated debate concerning the propriety of blessing couples in “irregular, illicit, or immoral unions.” Those who refuse to grant this blessing argue that doing so implies approval of and support for unions characterized...
THROUGH UNTRUE Every New Year, many of us turn to fortune tellers, feng shui experts, and tarot card readers to ease our worries and anxieties about the future. Their predictions somehow help us embrace the upcoming year with a sense of direction and purpose. However, it is crucial to approach this...
THROUGH UNTRUE When I was much younger, I believed that completing the Simbang Gabi novena, contributing to charity, and forsaking my favorite vices would guarantee a picture-perfect Christmas. I envisioned Christmas as a future event for which I had to prepare. Seeing Christmas as a hoped-for...
THROUGH UNTRUE Today is Gaudete Sunday, a time to smile, laugh, and rejoice. It reminds us that the best way to convey the joy of Christmas is to apply an effective strategy in advertising: "The medium is the message." You express joy by embodying it. Being joyful is particularly crucial...
THROUGH UNTRUE Christmas is traditionally a family day, but powerful forces and trends are undermining the family and the values that sustain it. For instance, an increasing number of couples choose to live together without marriage, convinced that their relationship will only endure as long as...
THROUGH UNTRUE The proliferation of beauty pageants underscores a fundamental shift in our understanding of beauty. To many people, beauty is no longer merely a desirable human quality or trait but something that can be bought or sold. Countless individuals spend valuable time and resources in...
THROUGH UNTRUE We often think of a king as a man who has the power to rule others by birthright and who absolutely controls the fate of his subjects. However, with the evolving ideals of leadership and society's growing emphasis on personal autonomy and self-determination, this notion is...
THROUGH UNTRUE Today’s Gospel reading narrates the parable of three servants who receive “talents” from their master before he embarks on a journey. In the time of Jesus, a “talent” represented a monetary unit, likely equivalent to the cumulative daily wage earned over 20 years....
THROUGH UNTRUE Our seemingly trivial decisions can trigger unforeseen consequences, ultimately leading to either success or failure. Often, it is only in retrospect that we come to comprehend this. As the poet George Herbert wrote: “For want of a nail, the shoe is lost. For want of a shoe, the...
THROUGH UNTRUE In our world that extols self-empowerment and self-assertion, many people consider humility as a quaint, cultural relic synonymous with a sickening lack of personal presence. They see it as a characteristic of people who lack vitality and a zest for life. Admittedly, humility...
