For our summer camp this year we went to Bicol. We wanted our Postnovices to see the sights of Bicol and at the same time to visit our two Don Bosco training ce
nters in Carolina (Naga) and in Bangkerohan (Legazpi). As they say, we wanted to shoot two birds with one stone.
After staying in Carolina for a couple of days, it was time to go to Bangkerohan. As we approached Albay from Cam Sur I asked the Postnovices to be on the lookout for Mayon Volcano. I didn’t say why yet. But once they caught sight of it for the first time, I told them of a belief that was told to me many years ago. I was told then that when you look at the Mayon Volcano for the first time and you are able to see its peak, then it means that you are a virgin. If not, then you’re not!
I won’t tell you if they saw the peak or not. But this I can reveal. It was only at the airport on the way back to Manila when we were able to see a bigger portion of the volcano. Even then some parts were kept hidden by the clouds.
Today let me say something about being a virgin.
I looked up the meaning of the word "Fräulein" in Yahoo! Answers and I found this entry: “It means ‘young woman’ or ‘young lady’ and is no longer used in modern German.” And I think I know why.
When I was in Switzerland to help in the Holy Week religious services of the Filipino communities in the German-speaking cantons, one of the Filipinos who took good care of us (I was with two other Filipino priests who were also studying in Rome) said in passing that young women would consider it an insult to be addressed as "Fräulein". I was curious and so I asked “why?” And she with a mischievous grin answered: “Because it means they are still virgins.” To be called “Miss” with the implication of being still (!) a virgin, an insult? Grabe! How the Western world has changed!
But maybe it’s not only in the Western world. I have a feeling that many young Filipino males might find it embarrassing to admit they are still (!) virgins.
Let them hear from Raymund and Sally who were interviewed over IBC-13. They are a young couple.
Raymund: "When you surrender your virginity to your bride on your wedding night, you give a tremendous boost to her sense of security. Because she'd know that, if you were able to control yourself when you were single, you'd definitely be able to resist temptation now that you're already married."
Sally: "Adding to my sense of security is the certainty that my husband loves me a hundred percent. His virginity was very precious to him and he gave it to me."
Let Josette (also in the same Channel 13 program) have the last word. Josette declares: "The first night was the most exciting experience. It was really worth the wait. The knowledge that it was the first time for both of us heightened our shared joy. It was a mutual giving and receiving of love." Perhaps it is in this context that we should understand the meaning of the lyrics of a song: “True Love Waits”.
Do Raymund, Sally and Josette make sense to you?
Ok. Ok. Let me have the last word because I can’t help but add: If you are someone who is going to make a vow of chastity, will that vow make any sense if there is no virginity to offer up to God? And once you offer it up to God, will it not be a great act of sacrilege for you to take it back from him by committing unchastity?
Doesn’t this make sense, too?
After staying in Carolina for a couple of days, it was time to go to Bangkerohan. As we approached Albay from Cam Sur I asked the Postnovices to be on the lookout for Mayon Volcano. I didn’t say why yet. But once they caught sight of it for the first time, I told them of a belief that was told to me many years ago. I was told then that when you look at the Mayon Volcano for the first time and you are able to see its peak, then it means that you are a virgin. If not, then you’re not!
I won’t tell you if they saw the peak or not. But this I can reveal. It was only at the airport on the way back to Manila when we were able to see a bigger portion of the volcano. Even then some parts were kept hidden by the clouds.
Today let me say something about being a virgin.
I looked up the meaning of the word "Fräulein" in Yahoo! Answers and I found this entry: “It means ‘young woman’ or ‘young lady’ and is no longer used in modern German.” And I think I know why.
When I was in Switzerland to help in the Holy Week religious services of the Filipino communities in the German-speaking cantons, one of the Filipinos who took good care of us (I was with two other Filipino priests who were also studying in Rome) said in passing that young women would consider it an insult to be addressed as "Fräulein". I was curious and so I asked “why?” And she with a mischievous grin answered: “Because it means they are still virgins.” To be called “Miss” with the implication of being still (!) a virgin, an insult? Grabe! How the Western world has changed!
But maybe it’s not only in the Western world. I have a feeling that many young Filipino males might find it embarrassing to admit they are still (!) virgins.
Let them hear from Raymund and Sally who were interviewed over IBC-13. They are a young couple.
Raymund: "When you surrender your virginity to your bride on your wedding night, you give a tremendous boost to her sense of security. Because she'd know that, if you were able to control yourself when you were single, you'd definitely be able to resist temptation now that you're already married."
Sally: "Adding to my sense of security is the certainty that my husband loves me a hundred percent. His virginity was very precious to him and he gave it to me."
Let Josette (also in the same Channel 13 program) have the last word. Josette declares: "The first night was the most exciting experience. It was really worth the wait. The knowledge that it was the first time for both of us heightened our shared joy. It was a mutual giving and receiving of love." Perhaps it is in this context that we should understand the meaning of the lyrics of a song: “True Love Waits”.
Do Raymund, Sally and Josette make sense to you?
Ok. Ok. Let me have the last word because I can’t help but add: If you are someone who is going to make a vow of chastity, will that vow make any sense if there is no virginity to offer up to God? And once you offer it up to God, will it not be a great act of sacrilege for you to take it back from him by committing unchastity?
Doesn’t this make sense, too?
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