Another development at school:
'Revival' of Linux movement... of sorts.
When i was a freshman, there was a pretty active community of Linux users. They're the ones who were responsible of hooking me to this good stuff! Anyway.. times have passed, the machines in Linux lab have grown old and the OS unkempt.. so it's been shut down and made into (of all things sacrilegeous!) a Microsoft library!!!!!
Now a group of firebrand Linux evangelists (mostly a year my junior) have taken up the torch again, and they wanted to build a new Linux lab, have a Linux installfest and start a new Linux community. I will not, sadly, be there since I will (hopefully) graduate this April. But before then, I hope to give this group some worthwhile contribution. Viva le Linux!
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
Ash Wednesday
I went to church today, with no expectation but to fulfil my duty as a good Catholic to go to Mass during Ash Wednesday, a day of obligation. And besides, I love to go Mass... But today's Mass another special blessing!
The choice of songs, the readings, and the liturgy were perfectly orchestrated. The effect was (yet another) mini-epiphany (well.. it may not be to a lot of people, but we must remember here that I'm a self-confessed lapsed, 'lay' Catholic) for me.
Lent marks the beginning of the season of penance and penitence. Its culmination takes place in the Passion of the Lord, followed by Easter. In the coming forty days or so we are expected to deny ourselves physical gratification, by practising fasting and abstinence, as well as doing special penance acts. Since I'm already mostly vegetarian in any other seasons, physical 'suffering' from not eating meat is no suffering at all. What suffering is to me right now, is completing the station of my life: last semester of college and it's never been so tough to pull through...
And today's Mass has revealed to me that suffering, is a way to get closer to God. Through suffering we identify with Christ, and we can understand and appreciate more the meaning of His Sacrifice for us. (Haven't watched Mel Gibson's Passion yet, it's not showing in Singapore until April!) Hence, it was truly a new source of inspiration: that by persevering and suffering through challenging times such as these, we will get closer to Him. And whatever it is I'm going through, it is not the ultimate suffering, for the ultimate suffering for any soul (I think..) is being denied the vision of God. So I'll persevere, I'll take up my cross, because I know with each step I am growing closer to see the face of God :)
To all Catholics out there: Have a blessed Lent!
I went to church today, with no expectation but to fulfil my duty as a good Catholic to go to Mass during Ash Wednesday, a day of obligation. And besides, I love to go Mass... But today's Mass another special blessing!
The choice of songs, the readings, and the liturgy were perfectly orchestrated. The effect was (yet another) mini-epiphany (well.. it may not be to a lot of people, but we must remember here that I'm a self-confessed lapsed, 'lay' Catholic) for me.
Lent marks the beginning of the season of penance and penitence. Its culmination takes place in the Passion of the Lord, followed by Easter. In the coming forty days or so we are expected to deny ourselves physical gratification, by practising fasting and abstinence, as well as doing special penance acts. Since I'm already mostly vegetarian in any other seasons, physical 'suffering' from not eating meat is no suffering at all. What suffering is to me right now, is completing the station of my life: last semester of college and it's never been so tough to pull through...
And today's Mass has revealed to me that suffering, is a way to get closer to God. Through suffering we identify with Christ, and we can understand and appreciate more the meaning of His Sacrifice for us. (Haven't watched Mel Gibson's Passion yet, it's not showing in Singapore until April!) Hence, it was truly a new source of inspiration: that by persevering and suffering through challenging times such as these, we will get closer to Him. And whatever it is I'm going through, it is not the ultimate suffering, for the ultimate suffering for any soul (I think..) is being denied the vision of God. So I'll persevere, I'll take up my cross, because I know with each step I am growing closer to see the face of God :)
To all Catholics out there: Have a blessed Lent!
Sunday, February 22, 2004
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
(by St. Augustine)
Breathe into me, Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.
(by St. Augustine)
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Prayer To The Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit, be with me today.
Be my teacher, my guide, my counselor, my friend.
Fill me with your gifts, especially the gifts of
wisdom, discernment, knowledge, understanding, compassion,
love, and awe in God's presence.
In all that I think, say, and do, let it be in accordance
with your most holy and perfect will.
I ask this in Jesus' name.
AMEN.
Holy Spirit, be with me today.
Be my teacher, my guide, my counselor, my friend.
Fill me with your gifts, especially the gifts of
wisdom, discernment, knowledge, understanding, compassion,
love, and awe in God's presence.
In all that I think, say, and do, let it be in accordance
with your most holy and perfect will.
I ask this in Jesus' name.
AMEN.
Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Last sunday's Mass readings held an epiphany for me. Isaiah, sometimes dubbed the 'fifth gospel', started out his works as God's prophet when he recognised his unworthiness. The angel of the Lord touched his lips with coal, in a way purged him of his iniquity, and here comes the epiphany: Isaiah said, "Here i am! Send me, Lord."
Similarly, Peter the Apostle first met Jesus while failing to catch any fish. He recognised Jesus as Lord and asked Him to 'depart', for he was unworthy. These two readings reverberates within, as I could identify very well with what they are feeling. Sinful, weak and unworthy of grace. Yet there was also a common thread of grace, warranted or not, in both men. They asked the Lord to show them their true vocation. They asked the Lord how to serve Him. They asked Him to make them better for Him.
The point is, they rose beyond their feeling of unworthiness, to embrace new lives (which may not seem to be pretty, nor more comfortable than before), one that is led by God.
Similarly, Peter the Apostle first met Jesus while failing to catch any fish. He recognised Jesus as Lord and asked Him to 'depart', for he was unworthy. These two readings reverberates within, as I could identify very well with what they are feeling. Sinful, weak and unworthy of grace. Yet there was also a common thread of grace, warranted or not, in both men. They asked the Lord to show them their true vocation. They asked the Lord how to serve Him. They asked Him to make them better for Him.
The point is, they rose beyond their feeling of unworthiness, to embrace new lives (which may not seem to be pretty, nor more comfortable than before), one that is led by God.
Monday, January 12, 2004
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Find your spirituality type here
Mine's the 'path of intellect'. Here's what it says:
PATH OF INTELLECT (Thomistic prayer): About 12 percent of the population follows this path, using the syllogistic method of Saint Thomas Aquinas known as Scholastic prayer. The main emphasis is on the orderly progression of thought from cause to effect. People of this prayer type prefer neat, orderly forms of the spiritual life, as opposed to the free-spirit, impulsive attitude of the Franciscan approach. Their spirituality is centered on the earnest pursuit of all the transcendental values: truth, goodness, beauty, unity, love, life, and spirit. Like Saint Teresa of Avila, they are willing to exert superhuman effort to achieve their goal. Because of their disdain for second best, they seek total truth and authenticity in their lives and work hard to reach the whole truth about themselves, about God, and about sanctity. This intense pursuit of truth colors their whole spiritual life. Books of prayer frequently call the Thomistic method of prayer 'discursive meditation.' In this type of prayer, one takes a virtue or fault or theological truth and studied it from every possible angle. Change of behavior is an essential part of this prayer--it doesn't stay at the intellectual level. There is generally a bias against this type of prayer today because it was so much in vogue before Vatican II.
Mine's the 'path of intellect'. Here's what it says:
PATH OF INTELLECT (Thomistic prayer): About 12 percent of the population follows this path, using the syllogistic method of Saint Thomas Aquinas known as Scholastic prayer. The main emphasis is on the orderly progression of thought from cause to effect. People of this prayer type prefer neat, orderly forms of the spiritual life, as opposed to the free-spirit, impulsive attitude of the Franciscan approach. Their spirituality is centered on the earnest pursuit of all the transcendental values: truth, goodness, beauty, unity, love, life, and spirit. Like Saint Teresa of Avila, they are willing to exert superhuman effort to achieve their goal. Because of their disdain for second best, they seek total truth and authenticity in their lives and work hard to reach the whole truth about themselves, about God, and about sanctity. This intense pursuit of truth colors their whole spiritual life. Books of prayer frequently call the Thomistic method of prayer 'discursive meditation.' In this type of prayer, one takes a virtue or fault or theological truth and studied it from every possible angle. Change of behavior is an essential part of this prayer--it doesn't stay at the intellectual level. There is generally a bias against this type of prayer today because it was so much in vogue before Vatican II.
Back from holiday. Back to work.
Not quite yet; today's spring cleaning of my room and then followed by "Return of the Kings". It was lovely! I can't remember when was the last time I was simply blown away by a movie. Its beauty moved me, its nobility takes my breath away, and the courage of the characters inspires me. Have you ever wondered what it would be like living in such times? But as Gandalf wisely remarked (in the movie), "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
Not quite yet; today's spring cleaning of my room and then followed by "Return of the Kings". It was lovely! I can't remember when was the last time I was simply blown away by a movie. Its beauty moved me, its nobility takes my breath away, and the courage of the characters inspires me. Have you ever wondered what it would be like living in such times? But as Gandalf wisely remarked (in the movie), "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
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