» 12/04/2006 15:41 PHILIPPINES “Charity and prayer for Advent”, says Cardinal Rosales The archbishop of Manila tells Filipino Catholics that Christmas should not be experienced as a commercial festivity. It is instead a time to prepare one’s heart and conscience for the arrival of the Messiah.
Manila (AsiaNews) – Charity is “the best gift to offer at Christmas”, a time when “giving has become a tradition, but which acquires a new value if done without expecting anything in exchange”. For this reason, Advent should be experienced “preparing one’s heart and conscience for the birth of Christ”.Card Gaudencio Rosales, archbishop of Manila, made some recommendations to his fellow Catholics on the occasion of the mass that begins Advent. “We are traditionally obliged to give something to our dear ones,” he said. “I am not saying this is wrong, but it is better to give from the heart without expecting something in return.He added that “donating to charitable institutions or helping the poor could be the best ways to celebrate Christmas”. The success of "Pondo ng Pinoy" (Funds of Filipinos), a charity project organised by the Archdiocese of Manila, is one example. Funds raised this way have gone into building housing and providing food for the poor. And “it is a miracle every time we succeed in doing this”.Beside charity, the prelate said that there “are other very important things to do during Advent such as prayer and reading the Scriptures, preparing oneself by cleansing our heart and conscience to welcome the birth of Christ.”“It is one of the most important moments for Catholics the world over,” he said. “It is the best time to remember that our world is waiting for the return of the Messiah and that we must be ready for His return”.
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