Catmon Church: Paradoxes of Evolution

                                          

CATMON CHURCH: PARADOXES OF EVOLUTION

Let us continue our educational endeavor without malice. Seeking for the truth does not and will not cause harm or injury to the greater public, but may bring a little discomfort to the person who is trying to conceal and continue to tell the tall tale. Asking nicely or rudely to stop the quest will never waiver and change the desire to search for it for I cannot in my conscience allow the future generations subsist in faith without having the choice and the privilege of knowing the obvious truth. Let us not be hypocrite and too scholarly, we should all speak in behalf of our sources and our sources must be legitimate, and accepted worldwide. Let us cover not your faith nor mine nor the bible nor your religious affiliation, let us merely discuss the oversights in the story written by our local historian about our Patron Saint Sr. San Guillermo.

First Paradox: The Naming of our Patron Saint:

It is said that little is known about the early life of our St. William.

Further the writer said that some sources point him out as St. William of Maleval, but his choice is St. William of Gellone also known as St. William of Aquitaine.

Most if not all books I came across with has one reliable source of their pieces that is the Acta Sanctorum in latin, the best compendium of Acta in English is the Lives of the Saints first published in London in 1756 by Rev. Fr. Alban Butler. Below are the life story of St. William of Maleval and St. William of Gellone taken from the book Lives of the Saints. Compare both stories and tell me whose early life falls to the category of “little is known”, having no known place of birth, no known date of birth, and no known parentage, in other words no known origin. 

 

       

Note: From Catholic Encyclopedia St. William of Gellone was born on 755 AD, France.

 

Second Paradox: The First Interpolation:

St. William of Gellone is said to have gone to pilgrimage in 1130 AD per advised of Pope Eugenius III. A friend Bernard of Clairvaux helped Him reconcile with the Church after He was excommunicated for supporting Anti Pope Anacletus against the rightful authority of Pope Innocent II in the same year 1130 AD.

The above story is taken from the life story of William X, also Duke of Aquitaine, but is not a Saint; he joined the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in 1137, but died during the trip. Please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_X,_Duke_of_Aquitaine.

 

3^rd Paradox: The Second Interpolation:

It is stipulated that “He was later received back into the Church and begged the pardon of the newly elected Pope Eugenius III who sent him to the Patriarch of Jerusalem.”

Check the life story of William of Maleval/Hermit, it was he who was encouraged by Pope Eugenius III to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land which he did in 1145.  

 

4^th Paradox: Characters from Different Eras: The Impossible Communing:

Facts: Dates of their Birth and Death: The Era of their Existence:

St. William of Gellone: _____(8th-9th Centuries)

Born: 755

Died: May 28, 812

Feast Day: May 28

Antipope Anacletus: _______(11th-12th Centuries)

Born: 1090

Died: January 25, 1138

Pope Innocent II: __________(11th-12th Centuries)

Born: ---

Died: September 23, 1143

Pope Eugenius III: _________(11th-12th Centuries)

Born: 1080

Died: July 8, 1153

St. Bernard of Clairvaux: ____(11th-12th Centuries)

Born: 1090

Died: August 20, 1153

William of Maleval/Hermit: ____(11th-12th Centuries)

Born: Unknown

Died: February 10, 1157

Feast Day: February 10

St. William of Gellone could not have defended the antipope Anacletus against the rightful authority of Pope Innocent II in 1130. St. Bernard of Clairvaux could not have helped St. William of Gellone to reunite himself with the Church, much more; Pope Eugenius III could not have convinced St. William of Gellone to do pilgrimage in Jerusalem for the forgiveness of his sins.

The two Popes, Bernard of Clairvaux who later became a Saint mentioned in the story including the Antipope Anacletus are more than three (3) centuries younger than St. William of Gellone, meaning more than three hundred (300) years younger. They were not born yet during the time of St. William of Gellone.

How can they commune with William of Gellone?

William of Gellone Duke of Aquitaine was Canonized a Saint by Pope Alexander II in 1066 and therefore was already a Saint during the era of Antipope Anacletus, Pope Innocent II, Pope Eugenius III, Bernard of Clairvaux, William of Maleval, and William X, also Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, and Count of Poitou from 1126 to 1137.

Saint William of Gellone who was born in 755 AD (8th Century) was 325 years older than Pope Eugenius III who was born in 1080 AD (11th Century). Pope Eugenius III was the youngest among the individuals mentioned in the story. All others were living during the time period, except for William of Gellone who was already with our Almighty God and a Saint.

5^th Paradox: Feast Day of our Sr. San Guillermo: Feast Day is the Day of their Death:

A saint’s feast day can be the day of their actual death or a day assigned by the Church. The Church only assigns a day when the day of death is unknown.

 

            St. William of Gellone           William of Maleval/Hermit

            Born: 755                                Born: Unknown

            Died: May 28, 812                  Died: February 10, 1157

            Feast Day: May 28                Feast Day: February 10

 

From above data whose Feast Day is celebrated every 10^th of February?

 

6^th Paradox: Our Patron Saint’s Epithet: Excerpt from the Book "Balaanong Bahandi"

“The Church of Saint William the Hermit in Catmon, Cebu was built in November 2, 1835 by the Augustinian-Recollects after Catmon became an independent parish from Danao. The site where the church stands was the third and final place chosen by its founder, the first one of which was in Catmondaan (Old Catmon) and the second one in Sitio Manobo, Barangay Maca-as. The walls were completed by Father Manuel Gimenez in 1868; the facade and belfry by Father Ramon Miramon in 1875; and the tile roof and altars by Father Francisco Bergasa in 1879.”

 

The book is an update to the 1886 publication Breve Reseña de lo que fue y de lo que es la Diocesis de Cebu en las Islas Filipinas (A Brief Account of What is and What was the Diocese of Cebu in the Philippine Islands) by Felipe Redondo, secretary to the Bishop Benito Romero de Madridejos. Redondo’s work is the most important source for those studying the history of the Diocese of Cebu during the Spanish Colonial period."

Our Patron Saint’s Epithet is “The Hermit” and neither “Of Gellone” nor “Of Aquitaine”.

 

7^th Paradox: St. William Parishes in the Philippines: A Spanish Era Faith Inspired by the Augustinian Recollects

So far I recorded nine (9) SAINT WILLIAM Parishes in the Philippines. Eight (8) of which are dedicated to St. William the Hermit (of Maleval), one (1) is named after St. William of Gellone which I truly believe is inadvertent in nature maybe out of confusion, haste research,  and lack of references.

Of all Saint William Churches in the Philippines, only Catmon Parish Church is dedicated to a different Patron Saint. The Story in the Jubilee Book was written by someone who doesn’t want to be identified for obvious reason, not sure of his piece. The writer is a ghost, the story is a sham, and our Patron Saint is muddled up. If this is not hypocrisy, I don’t know what is.

The following are the St. William the Hermit / of Maleval Parishes in the Philippines, Feast Day is observed every 10th of February:

1. Saint William's Cathedral, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

2. Saint William's Parish, Talisay, Batangas, Philippines.

3. Cathedral of Saint William the Hermit, San Fernando, La Union.

4. Saint William's Parish, Passi City, Iloilo, Philippines.

5. San Guillermo Paris, Buting, Pasig City

6. San Guillermo Parish, Iponan, 9000 Cagayan de Oro City.

7. San Guillermo de Aquitania, Dalaguete, Cebu

8. San Guillermo Parish Church, Catmon, Cebu

9. San Guillermo Parish Bacolor Pampanga 

8^th Paradox: One Parish Church One Patron Saint: Sr. San Guillermo: Catmon Parish San Guillermo has Three Epithets: Which Epithet is which?

One Epithet “De Catmon” describes Him as San Guillermo of our Parish; the two other Epithets describe Him as two different San Guillermos from different time periods.

Which One Was Revered And Inspired The Augustinian Recollects To Build The Catmon Parish Church In 1835?

The Stone Carving which says San Guillermo De Catmon, The book Balaanong Bahandi which says San Guillermo el Ermitanyo, or The Fiesta Souvenir Program which says San Guillermo De Aquitania (referring to De Gellone)?

Sa binisaya pa si San Guillermo sa Catmon ba, o’ si San Guillermo nga Ermitanyo ba, o’ si San Guillermo nga taga-Aquitania ba? Kinsa man kaha ang gisimba ug ang gipasidunggan sa gitukod nga simbahan sa mga Agustinos niadtong tuig 1835?

There maybe nothing wrong renaming our Church from San Guillermo el Ermitanyo to San Guillermo De Catmon, and currently, to San Guillermo De Aquitania. Both De Catmon and De Aquitania are hollow names, meaning, they are empty names and cannot logically stand on their own. You cannot find San Guillermo De Catmon in any history book nor can you find San Guillermo De Aquitania without association to a real person.

Dalaguete also renamed their Church, from San Guillermo el Ermitanyo to San Guillermo De Dalaguete, then to San Guillermo De Aquitania, but their Patron Saint is still San Guillermo el Ermitanyo, the saint revered by the Augustinian recollects who built their church. They believe that the saint is from Aquitania a soldier turned hermit in a cave in the valley of Maleval. They associate their San Guillermo De Aquitania Parish Church to San Guillermo el Ermitanyo their Patron Saint.

Catmon mimicking Dalaguete also renamed our Church, from San Guillermo el Ermitanyo to San Guillermo De Catmon, then to San Guillermo De Aquitania. The only difference is our San Guillermo De Aquitania is associated to a different Saint San Guillermo De Gellone as Patron Saint based on the Fiesta Souvenir Book written by our local historian with no name. Of 9 san Guillermo Parishes in the Philippines only Catmon Parish is having a different saint all the rest are under the patronage of San Guillermo el Ermitanyo. Why is that? Why don’t we mimick Dalaguete also by telling the truth that our Patron Saint is not De Gellone but De Maleval or The Hermit as always been.

To Err Is Human, To Right A Wrong Is a Moral Obligation, Forgiveness Is Divine Awaiting Your End. Whoever authored the life story of San Guillermo De Aquitania written in the Catmon Fiesta Souvenir Book, please have the courage to accept the mistake and be in harmony with the Christian faith.

By acknowledging the mistake, all nine San Guillermo Parishes in the Philippines will be under the Patronage of San Guillermo Ermitanyo the only soldier turned Hermit in a cave in the valley of Maleval in the 11^th to 12^th centuries. He is an Augustinian Saint revered by the Augustinian Recollects who built our Churh in Catmon.

Nine (9) San Guillermo Parish Churches in the Philippines with varied Epithet were built by the Augustinian Recollects around the country during the Spanish occupation all are dedicated to San GUILLERMO el ERMITANYO.

Catmon Church Through The Years: Revised

First posted on February 11, 2019

https://catmonanonsabako.blogspot.com/2019/02/catmon-church-through-years_86.html

Philippine-Spanish Architecture

The history of Philippine architecture under the Spanish regime begins with the arrival of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi’s expedition in February 13, 1565, in Cebu Island, together with the first batch of missionaries, The Augustinians. They built their first port in the country Fuerza de San Pedro now known as Fort San Pedro which became the Spanish trading outpost and stronghold for the region.

It was in the middle of 1580s the use of stones was introduced upon the discovery of stone quarries. The art of masonry was developed throughout the islands. Edifices began to be constructed of stone. Some were erected using shaped rocks and river stones. Bricks were also introduced. Different region uses different materials in building their Churches.

In Manila and central Luzon most of the buildings were made of a volcanic rock, mud and straw formed into rectangular blocks and dried in the sun. In northern Luzon brick was the essential building material; all the way down to Jolo, Sulu. Towns along the coasts of Luzon, especially from Zambales to Batangas, used roughly hewn blocks of coral stone. In the Bicol peninsula many construction took advantage of the abundant volcanic stone.

The craft of cutting stone or coral was virtually elevated into a fine art throughout the Visayas. Coral blocks fitted so accurately into each other not even a razor blade could be inserted between blocks, and was so durable that it did not have to be reinforced with anything.

More than three centuries of Spanish initiative, buildings of wood, stone, and brick were constructed all over the archipelago, from the Batanes Islands in the north to Tawi-Tawi in the south, from Palawan in the west to Samar in the east.

(Idea taken from http://nlpdl.nlp.gov.ph)

 

The 185 Years Old Church of Catmon

270 years later after Legaspi landed in Cebu, and 255 years after the stone quarry was discovered and made an integral part of the Spanish architectures, Catmon was separated from its mother parish Danao on November 2, 1835.

Cebu being part of the Visayas was known to be a place for these so-called fine crafters of cutting coral stones, no wonder Cebu’s Churches are mostly made of such precious stones, huge blocks of coral stones. When you see a church made out of this material, you can tell that this edifice is more than or a little less than 200 years old. These are the churches built by our ancestors during the Spanish era on which method no living creatures know, materials are near impossible to obtain, and skills no longer around.

Our Parish Church stands proudly and magnificently thriving above all odds brought about in 185 years of existence. The church was built with an adjacent convent, a school, and attached three-story belfry. The belfry, affording a good view of the surrounding land and sea, also used as watchtower. The bells performed many services for the community; the primary reason was to warn the parishioners of any impending danger, then, tolling the hours, calling the congregation to worship, and announcing important events. The School made of stone was called “Escuela Catolica”, remnants of this edifice can still be seen overlooking the sea and the provincial road. The old Spanish time convent was completely demolished to give way for the construction of a new rectory in 1956 during the time of Fr. Nicolas Navarro. It was also during his time that the first Church Altar renovation or perhaps the right word is destruction was implemented. The belfry remains standing superbly as it was 185 years ago.

The main longitudinal body of the church is the nave, the central part, and is 33 fathoms long, 8 fathoms wide and 9 fathoms tall up to the ridge of its roof. The main entrance is through the huge wooden doors in front of the Church and four other wooden doors two on each side. To the left, as you enter the main door was the baptistery, where newly born babies were baptized into the Christian faith. The placing of the baptistery close to the entrance was symbolic of one’s entry into the Christian community.

Windows, I believe were made from the translucent capiz clam, which allowed light to filter through while at the same time acting as a protective barrier before it was replaced. The replacements however, are stained glass windows with different religious designs speak of evolution to progress again out of necessity.

At the far end of the sanctuary is the main altar, with its elaborate but simple design (the former). Behind the main altar was the sacristy, where the priest and his assistants put on their vestments before celebrating mass. The priest delivered his sermon from the pulpit, an elevated structure located at the side of the altar near the steps. The interior of the church is furnished with side altars, paintings, and carvings and sculptures of religious subjects, but everything was intended to focus attention on the tabernacle at the center of the main altar. One notable painting is found on the left side of the main entrance door right above the entrance to baptistery directly below the Choir Loft is said to be painted by Ricardo Avila, San Nicolas, Cebu on Dec.1937.

Parish Choirs performed at the loft just over the main entrance. Adjacent to the baptistery is the only access to the loft and belfry. All these are characteristics of a Spanish colonial tradition, which remind us of the immeasurable aspirations and unparalleled artistry of long-ago.

The Revolution of our Church Altar

Human, Time, and Nature, continuously conspired to erase this memory. Today, the outside wall of our church is in its original form, while inside have been spoiled by numerous developments. Tasteless Renovation which was followed by a magnificent Restoration and Preservation project in 1984 in time for the Jubilee Year. In 2018, another Unsavory Renovation of the Altar Ceiling and Wall and followed by another excessive renovation in 2019. Physical developments which superimpose and supersede the original features of our Church, I call it No Renovation but Indecorous Destruction of the Catmonanons' Inimitable Treasure. Where can you find a Church like ours? Every Church is unique, every Church is different. And this Church of ours has a long history that no living parishioner can retell exactly what it was like yesteryears. The only clear-cut story that linger can be specifically traced from the remaining original features and those features wiped out by human failure now thrives only in our memory.

The Greatest Gift Ever

The greatest that ever gifted to us Catmonanons is our Church. I was and am very proud to talk about the amazing architectural feat of our Church. How the natives of Catmon along with the Spanish Augustinian Recollects built our Church 185 years ago. The materials used and the simple artistry applied outside and inside speaks of the Church itself, no need to elaborate. But sad to say, the idea of constant renovation already finds its way to the depths of the young generation minds and it will continue to grind until we see the last of these authentic features no more, gone forever. Our Church is the last one standing, all the rest are but remnants of those glorious moments of the distant past.