Who is to be Blamed... or May be Something More?

This posting is never to offend the spirit of the protesters in Delhi and all those who are campaigning not only for a speedy justice to the victim, but also for a better tomorrow where women will be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. This is rather with regards to a poster that I happened to notice on the internet and the newspaper held by a protester with the message "Don't tell me how to dress, tell them not to rape".

I had no problem agreeing to the point made by the reporters / bloggers regarding the tendency of blaming the victim for the rape. But I found the message was overlooking some points that we need to seriously ponder upon.

There are two questions here.

1. Who is at fault? Rapist or the 'modern' youth (male/female) who believes nobody should question the kind of costumes of his/her choice? (The word modern is in quotes, as it may represent a majority, but not all the youth of today)
2. Can I do something to ensure the security of mine and my loved ones from a sexual assault?

I am trying to address these questions one by one.

1. Who is at fault? Rapist or the 'modern' youth who believes nobody should question one's choice of costumes

There are different types of people who end up becoming a rapist. For e.g.

1. One who things he is above law, and no one will dare to question them. Even if they get booked, they use their influence and finally manage to get away.
2. One who fears being caught, but is so overcome by lust that he things more of gratification than the consequences.
3. One who have had sexual encounters before, and thinks that the victim may cooperate in the course of the attack.
4. ...
5. One is tempted by the immodest dressing of the woman and thinks that the she is inviting a sexual encounter, and he uses force when she objects.

There could be varying degree of gravity, but no one can escape saying that he raped someone because he was forced into it. Either he did it by a clear choice, or he was so weak at will to make the right choice even if he knew in heart that it was gravely wrong. So, rapist is surely at fault.

I see many women (and even men) getting men wrong. They think that men are typically very strong morally. When they find that they aren't, they brand those men as bad. Your brother, father, your most trusted male friend or colleague have generally something in common - they are by nature attracted to an attractive person of the opposite sex of visual appeal. It need not be lust. Whether it is lust or not depends upon the way he deals with this attraction. If the man responds with selfless love, and treats the person with respect, he wins over lust. It requires the grace of God to be pure at heart. But if one sees her as an object to be used, he gives in to lust. Jesus forbids lust in heart (and branded it as adultery already committed), but the advocates of "freedom" thinks that it doesn't matter what goes in your mind as long as you do not harm anyone. The 'modern' youth, who thinks he/she has the right to choose any attire when appearing in public, also feels that it is OK to wear revealing costumes and a flirting attitude, and that at the same time has the right to be protected by the civil authorities from any attack or sexual advances from a potential harasser/rapist.

What's the big deal? Can you not stop at harboring lust (I don't care if you do) and refrain from making any sexual advances?

Well, the truth is, one who has indulged in lust has already lost self control. Do not expect them to exercise any further self-control if they get an opportunity to harm you.

But how about the cases where the victim was dressed modestly, and fought valiantly against the assaulter? How can you accuse the victim in this case and sympathize with the rapist?

I think it is pretty clear that I am in no way defending the rapist. It is an irony that the rapist feeds his lust with pornography, dance bars, "intimate scenes" from new generation Bollywood & Indian movies (not to mention Hollywood that was 3 generations ahead of us in this) and from the careless ways some of the 'modern' youth dress up in public (I am sad to see such specimens during CHRISTIAN WEDDINGS here in Mumbai). Anyone who willingly allowed oneself, one's loved ones, or one's models or artists to be instrumental in feeding the lust of the onlookers in public is badly in need of repentance and healing from the merciful God. And then, the rapist may end up venting out their lust with an attack upon an innocent victim, who never in her life entertained lustful eyes.

Do you know that out of the active internet users (old, young, adolescents and all), majority have seen porn videos - many of them very frequently, and a few of them stumble into it once in a while accidentally or purposely. (See any statistics on the net, for e.g. this). Feeding lust with inappropriate content, live or through media has a huge impact on human behavior  In India and in most countries, there are strict laws to curb Drug abuse and trafficking. But sadly, we legitimize lustful behavior by allowing inappropriate movies with A Certificates. Whether 18+ or below, consuming the depiction of sexually arousing images is not healthy. Media is all set to promote fashions that are not healthy. And our 'modern' youth is all after imitating their favorite celebrities in the name of freedom of choice.

To conclude, the rapist is clearly at fault. But equally at fault is a culture that encourages and entertains lust in any form. Hanging rapists in public can scare the potential rapists to some extent, but cannot correct their attitude towards women. What we need is a change in behavior and a healing of lust through selfless love.

2) Can I do something to ensure the security of mine and my loved ones from a sexual assault?

Immodest dressing clearly sends a wrong signal to others. There is no end to a debate to define what is immodest. I believe that we should properly cover our bodies. The dress should be long enough, loose enough. One can look beautiful without compromising modesty, and such people earn respect and love from others. They will have healthy friendships, and will meet genuine people who want to enter into a meaningful relationship with them. According to Pope John Paul II, the opposite of love is not always hatred, but many a times lust. And love is the antidote to lust. I fully agree to this from my experience.

This does not guarantee 100% safety as an individual. As mentioned before, an innocent person could be a victim. But at least one does not invite danger due to own mistake. I hope most of you can relate to what I have said, and especially women know better than me how to avoid attacks, such as avoiding to venture out alone in odd hours in unsafe places and so on. These hold good regardless of how one dresses up.

I keep the shoe-rack in the drawing room, and bank documents in cupboard. But if I have gold or money of substantial value, I keep most of my money in the Bank account, Gold in the Bank locker or at least in a Safe Locker at home in a safe room. I do carry with me valuable items like laptop and smartphone to public places, but I pay a lot of attention to guard them from a potential theft. I can't walk careless about my possessions and then lament with a board saying "Do not ask me where to keep my gold, but ask them not to steal" in the event of losing them. We should do our best to guard the gold, and then only expect police or authorities to help. At least for some time I cannot expect thieves to stop their job, though I would love to see their conversions. It's no longer the thief's problem, but mine. I have my vested interest to protect my assets.

Similarly, our safety is our concern, and not of the rapist. Rather than looking at modesty as a moral police's preaching, or male chauvinist's blame-game or trivialization of the issue, but rather as a safety measure; safety from a potential assaulter and also from causing anyone's fall that leads to risking eternal life.

Articles About 2 Jesus Youth Leaders in a Malayalam Weekly Publication

Please go through the articles published in Sunday Shalom about two of the Jesus Youth leaders. It is very much inspiring

Spiritual Tune of the Youth - On Adv. Raiju Varghese, the International Coordinator of Jesus Youth

The Advertiser for Christ - On Shelton Pinheiro, the Coordinator of Rex Band, Jesus Youth's Music & Audio Visual Outreach Ministry

TOB Reflection - Sexual Attraction vs. Lust

We'll have some music to start with...

Now a brief intro to the Theology of the Body and Christopher West's mission. (From a short interview)

Now, let me share something from that I learnt from my experiences in the light of the Theology of the Body (TOB) taught by (soon to be declared Blessed) Pope John Paul II (JP2). This is about the way we clothe ourselves. I mean 'clothe' in its literal sense, and not spiritual, such as clothe in salvation, purity, poverty etc.

With a highly broken and abused sexuality, it was very difficult for me to confidently confront women. Having for so long considered the beauty of woman as something to be looked upon with lust, I faced difficulty in the initial days of my Christian walk. It was through the loving motherly & sisterly care and love of the prayer group members that God used to teach the value and strengths of a woman. Personalities with a healed sexuality or those growing towards it are among the things that charmed me when I read the biographies of saints, that gave me the confidence that it is possible.

These days it is very common to see girls wearing mini skirts and very less clothes; and guys wearing transparent clothes. It is not because they can't afford more clothes, because they appear to be as expensive as or even more expensive than normal clothes. In the last two years, we were finding it difficult to get a high waist or even medium waist jeans for my wife, since in most shops only low-waists are available. We are also often forced to dig up T-shirts and tops with a decent neck, finding only a small percentage satisfying even our moderate needs. This givens a clear indication of something:- our culture has easily accepted the fashions promoted by the media. Things that used to make us raise our eyebrows two years back are now well-accepted.

TOB is the first teaching that I have seen that narrated in detail about "nakedness without shame". The Pope points to our Guru Jesus who invites us to look at the situation "in the beginning". In the beginning, man and woman were naked, but they did not feel shame. Had they not sinned, we all would have today looked at each other with the same freedom that our first parents then had. So parents would have been comfortable before their adolescent kids appearing as they are; naked, so would be young men and women studying in the college. We would have seen the image and likeness of God imprinted in our souls that is made visible by our bodies. Without the corruption of sin, our bodies would have been even more beautiful, not requiring any make-up, hair dyes, deodorants, anti-ageing creams etc., for they would not have suffered any wrinkle or spot. That was the power of original innocence. Dress was not in God's original plan. Imagine how much expenditure would have been avoided!! Today itself I had to shell out around 5K during the tempting end of season sale.

And then the sin entered the human dimension. First consequence was that their eyes were opened; and they realized that they were naked. They covered they body members with fig leaves weaved together. Then they went hiding for the fear of facing God.

The simplicity of the Scriptures often 'deceives' the proud hearted. They think that they know these 'books' very well. That was why I always wondered why opening of eyes is such a bad thing. Afterall what was their fault? They were seeking the knowledge of good and evil. Was not Solomon blessed for asking this same favour from the same God? Why in the first place did God forbid the fruit? Was he afraid of man knowing right and wrong and thus become like Him?

With TOB as well as the traditional interpretation of the Church, one comes to the understanding that the forbidden fruit is the temptation to disobey God and in some sense to play God by deciding what is good (and right) and what is evil (and wrong). (You can see that this same problem is the heart of all the evils today prevalent in the world where Church faces the greatest challenge - Relativism, Atheism, Abortion, Contraception, Homosexuality, Radical Feminism, Liberation Theology, Marxism etc. Rather than discerning what is good and evil as Solomon prayed, we tend to decide what is evil and what is good.) It is a denial of the revealed truth or revelation from God. It is not only disobedience of God, but also a lack of faith and trust in God. It is a faith in the father of all lies that God is someone who wants to hold something for Himself, and if you get hold of that you can be like God and does not need to depend on Himself (need not submit to His authority). It has no comparison to Solomon's prayer. They didn't desire any good. They wanted "to be like God" apart from God. Little did they remember that God created them in His image and likeness, that they were the crown of creations. They didn't know that their foolishness to get hold of "something that God withheld from them" would one day be cancelled by sending His only begotten son for us to be the sacrificial victim. "He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?" - Rom 8:32

TOB teaches that man and woman knew that their bodies revealed a nuptial meaning of their existence. ie. they were created to be a gift to each other. This was clear with Adam's first love song - "here is at last, the bone of my bone, and the flesh of my flesh". But with sin, their vision became corrupted by "lust". They "opened their eyes" to see each other as things to be [ab]used rather than as gifts to each other. They knew that a terrible corruption has occurred. "Ah... what have we done to ourselves??" To save each other from lustful vision, they decided to protect themselves by wearing their ameteaurly made clothes. God later on gave them a professionally made clothe (with animal skin). Pope JP2 says that though shame was not in the original scheme of things, it nevertheless gave the awareness to protect themselves from lust, and hence in the current scheme of things (after the original sin) shame helps.

Though TOB is a lot more than all this, this is the point which I wish to highlight in this reflection.

• The first point is that we all need to acknowledge the inclination all human beings have towards lust. We should not be shocked to find ourselves or our neighbors being troubled by lust. When we love ourselves and also our neighbors as ourselves, we should love as we/they are.
• When we present ourselves before others, we must be charitable to the fact that my appearance must not trouble our neighbors in the area of lust.
• Lust dominates when we look at a person as a thing, and not as a gift. If we look at a person as God's gift, we are filled with gratitude towards God and love towards the person. This way we can grow in dominion over lust.
• Lust should not be confused with sexual desire. The former is a capital sin, and the latter is a gift from God. Sexual desire is planted by God in man and woman as they are created to be a gift to one another.
• Our sexual desire needs to be liberated from lust, and to be directed towards the purpose that it is meant for. Lust leads to [ab]using oneself as well as the other[s].

We knowingly or unknowingly do our part to enhance our sexual attraction. There are a number of factors that contribute to this attraction. For example, Face, Figure, Color, Shape, Smell, Movements, other attributes such as Courteousness, Pleasing Personality etc. We almost know what it takes to improve the sexual attraction of man as well as woman. (Well the examples I am citing are common perceptions prevalent in the society, and I am not generalizing or trying to impose stereotypes.) For example

• If a woman uses lipsticks we say it is quite normal. But when a man uses it (unless he is about to show up before the camera) we find it a bit bizarre. One might suspect him to be a gay. (Sorry if I sound prejudiced)
• A woman typically is confident wearing a skirt only if her skin is not hairy, otherwise she would try to remove the hair from her legs before wearing it. Same is the case with a woman with mustache. On the contrary, a grown-up man with less hair on his legs is typically less confident to show up his legs for the fear of being mocked by others for looking feminine. Rather than showing his hardly-growing-mustache, he would rather want to appear clean shaven.
• A woman with similar looking lips or eyes of Aishwarya Rai will get compliments for that, but a man having the same features may not get a similar treatment. Similarly a woman who has a muscular built similar to that of John Abraham may get appreciation in the body-building circles, but may not be appreciated in terms of sexual attraction.

(Some people don't like such comparisons for various reasons. But I share it only since I felt this is relevant to this topic.)

The point I was trying to make that you cannot separate our physical attraction from sexual attraction, because what is attractive for one gender may not be so for the opposite gender. So, when you shave your face or when you shape your eye-brows, you are enhancing not only your attraction, but also sexual attraction. That does not mean that it is done with the sole purpose of attracting the opposite sex, but rather to look attractive with respect to one's own gender. Hope I have made my point clear.

Man and woman have clear differences in the body. Even in the common members such as face, hands or feet a sensible person can make out that the LORD has designed man and woman physically different, yet beautiful in one's own rite. It is these differences that primarily invoke sexual attraction between man and woman. (Of course a lot of other attributes and traits also work together. Again sexual orientation of a person also matters, which is beyond the scope of this reflection.)

Now when sexual attraction is corrupted by lust, both self and the other become objects of pleasure. Man/woman cannot cultivate lust in himself/herself without driving out love for self and other, and before that, God. That's why even the most neatly-dressed woman may be looked with covetousness by a man when filled with lust. For the same man, it is possible that he is not troubled when he looks at his daughter or sister in short night-dress, because he loves them. (It is pitiful in the case of a man who harbors lust towards those even at home.) So let me upfront admit that lust cannot be justified by the problem with the way others dress up.

Having said that, it is very important to express your love for your neighbor by not giving him/her any chance to be look at us with lust. The usual prescription we all hear is "dress modestly". Well, that is included in my list too, but it's not on the top.

1. Our body reveals the mystery of God. God is love. Love drives out lust. Love washes many sins. Remember that God loves and honors us. Remember that God loves and honors your neighbor. Love and honor ourselves and our neighbors, and we will see love replacing lust from all the gazes upon us. It is difficult for even the most dreadful sinners to look at Jesus and Mother Mary with lust. The more we look at them the more we are set free from lust.
2. Those who look proud, interact only in small circles and keep themselves aloof from the rest are more likely to attract lustful gazes, for they do not entertain loving gaze.
3. Of course, those who want to be looked at with desire will obviously get what they look for. Immodest dressing just the opposite of treating oneself with love and honor. It also offends love and respect to the neighbor, because it provokes the inclination of the neighbor towards lustful passions.
4. Immodest behavior too attracts lust. A husband and wife showing affection publicly by intimate activities provoke lustful desires in an onlooker.

(The list goes on...)

To summarize, I have experienced that the truth that God gifted me through TOB is one that sets me free. Just setting my vision right brings enormous healing to my body, mind and spirit, and TOB is doing just that. It teaches the meaning in finding me and those I look around created in a certain way. As God said at the end of each day of creation - "It is good". It is also good to thank God for making me exposed to this truth.

Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!
God, heal us in the area of sexuality!

MTV's 'No Easy Decision' Gives Living Siblings 'No Chance to Decide' for Life

MTV's 'No Easy Decision' gives Living Siblings 'No Chance to Decide' for Life

http://www.catholic.org/ae/tv/review.php?id=39866

By His Fruits You Shall Know Him: A Defense of Christopher West

Here is a recent article about someone who was instrumental in transforming the lives of many through what sounds like a radically different message - Christopher West.

http://www.headlinebistro.com/en/news/pinto_west.html

http://thetheologyofthebody.com/

Happy New Year to all!!

Bishop Thomas Tobin Sends 'An Open Letter to Inactive Catholics'

Recently, I wrote about a letter the Bishop sent to all in his Diocese in US whom he appropriately called "inactive Catholics" rather than "fallen away." The letter was an example of the heart of a true shepherd. It would be a great template for Bishops around the country. This Bishop's leadership as a successor of the Apostles reflects his Episcopal motto, "strong, loving, wise," which is taken from Paul's admonition to his young disciple Timothy in his second letter.

- Deacon Keith Fournier

http://www.catholiconline.com/national/national_story.php?id=39581

It's worth reading!!!

Lessons Learnt During Praise & Worship Ministry - II

Dear all,

(Continuation of the previous posting with the subject "Lessons Learnt During Praise & Worship Ministry - I")

• (Not a real incident. This is for example only)
  In the Indo-Pak border the Army captain was pressing on hard to contain the infiltration problem. He had two companies of army posted at two key locations. The captain instructed the commanders of the 2 groups (each with 10 members) to shout "Vande Mataram" when they need to charge towards the enemy. When the time came, the commander of the 1st group thought - "Why should I waste my energy in shouting 'Vande Mataram'. No one in my group doubts my patriotism. So he said the slogan "Vande Mataram" but with an average voice. The group members felt that the commander is less confident, eventhough the enemy group were only 8 soldiers. Though they did their best, they got terribly assaluted by the enemy who charged upon them with full josh. Meanwhile the other commander was facing an enemy group of 15 people. He shouted "VANDE MAATARAM" with all of his heart, mind, spirit and strength. The group members could feel patriotism in the air... they were all set to lay their lives for their MOTHERLAND. It look less than 5 minutes only to finish all the 15 of the enemies without losing even 1 soldier, managing with minor injuries only. Thus everyone realized that the command to shout VANDE MAATARAM was not jusst meant to give honour to the country, but also to give strength and victory to themseslves.
• Some people think that Christian life is one that is very peaceful. NO.... It's the fiercest battlefield, in which you are not going to get enough rest until you finish the race. Here the enemy doesn't sleep. But the good news is that our Heavenly Father is always at work, and so is Jesus (John 5:17). To keep going, we should frequently confess with our lips our God, the name of Jesus and the salvation that He brought us. This confession of faith reassures our faith and the faith of the community. The voice of the world is loud, with the enemy ready to deceive us with his lies, and to be in focus we need to raise our voices uttering the truth.
• In fact praising our Creator is far more meaningful and fitting than to shout slogans for the motherland. "The HOLY ONE of Israel inhabits within the praises of His people." (Psalm 22:3). How much more it re-vitalizes those who utter His praises!! How much more it scares and scatters the enemy!!
• A good time of Praise and Worship prepares the way for the WORD OF GOD to produce 100 fold fruits - repentence, healings, deliverance, decision makings, reception of spiritual gifts/charisms etc.
• Two things that the Worship Leader/Team should go after - Presence of the LORD, Anointing. One is not independent of another, one brings the other.
• Music Ministry plays an important role here. Though people call it Music Ministry, it is or rather should be in fact Worship Ministry. Music in itself does no good here if it does not lead one to Praise and to Worship. A well known worship song puts it most beautifully - "I bring you more than a song, for a song in itself is not what you have required... You search much deeper within, through the way things appear... You're looking into my heart. I'm coming back to the 'heart of worship' that is all about YOU... all about you, JESUS"
• If a song is sung just as a song rather than as a praise/worship, it does not help much to experience the Presence of the LORD and his Anointing.
• You can't command Anointing of the LORD by the choice of your words and songs, but your humility and thirst for it can. "Water flows only towards the low-lying area."
• What is the role of the Music Ministry?
  
  • Is it to sing/play songs? No
  • Is it to sing praises? Yes, but that's not enough!
  • It is to lead people to praise and worship the LORD. They must not only praise & worship, but should help the entire congregation to do so
• So, their role is to complement the Worship Leader's job to help the congregation sing praises and offer worship to the LORD, with apt songs.
• Worship leader with his words declares "ABOUT THE LORD", His works, His nature and qualities that encourage the congregation to praise the LORD; Music Ministry complements with songs of praise.
• Worship leader with his words helps the congregation to utter words of love, honour and worship "TO THE LORD"; Music Ministry does the same with songs of worship.
• Until recently I thought that songs of praise are fast numbers and songs of worship are slow and soothing songs. I was not clear the difference between praise and worship, until I saw this link http://www.reference.com/motif/Society/difference-between-praise-worship.
  
  "The difference between praise and worship is that the praise is usually comprised of songs that talk about the goodness of God. The songs also sing about what the Lord has done for us and what the promises of God are. The songs talk about how good the Lord is. Worship are songs that are singing directly to God. You are singing about how you adore Him, thank him, trust him, admire him, exalt him, etc. Another way to show that you are worshiping God is to do what the word of God says that you are supposed to do. A great example of someone showing that they are worshiping God is when the Lord says in the bible to love your neighbors as yourselves. When a person begins to love someone that is unlovable you are worshiping God with your actions."

(More to come in the next edition)

Lessons Learnt During Praise & Worship Ministry - I

Dear all,

"Let us give thanks to the LORD our God.... It is right to give Him thanks and praise" (Roman Missal)

I am back here to share what I've learnt while being in the team leading worship ministry.

In the initial years, when I was in MA College of Engg, whenever I had to lead the Praise & Worship, it was almost entirely spontaneous. I was not even sure whether it is right to plan things (I was of the opinion that there is no need to plan and everything will be revealed on time.) At that time I was a little careless about how the group responded to the way I was leading. Sometimes it was good, sometimes it was not. I was a little avert to using tips and tricks in order to make the session interesting. To me it was like interfering with the work of the Holy Spirit.

It was when I came to Mumbai and started ministering to a youth prayer group in Mulund (sometime in 2002-03) that I realized that leading a P & W session needs a lot of preparation. Years with Jesus Youth Mumbai taught me a few lessons on this which I wish to share with you all. I hope that this will be of some use to the new Jesus Youth leaders, those in the parish choirs, the new leadership in KEY Army and so on.

I don't attempt to present a research paper on Praise & Worship. You will find detailed presentation on the net. As in my earlier posts on "Lessons Learnt .." series, you will find several things doubtful or inconsistent, and so feel free to disagree with my views.

• Praise and Worship is a beautiful way of responding to God's infinite love, glory, providence, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and all that He really is, with all the superlative qualities.
• The praises that we offer is something that cannot match what He rightly deserves.
• A layperson who is not used to Praise & Worship may find it awkward. One might wonder if any god would require his creation to shout praises to him; and if so, how praise-hungry god he is!! But things are a bit different...
• All the heavenly beings (Angels and Saints) constantly see the beatific vision of the One Almighty God!!! They can't help constantly praising Him whose glory and goodness has no measure!! Nobody compels them. They do so because they are really know what they are doing!
• "God so loved this world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not persish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) "To those who accepted Him, to those who believe in his name, he gave power to become children of God" (John 1:12). By praising and worshipping God who made all this possible, we are already doing what we will be doing in heaven for eternity.
• Our praises & worship do not add anything to the "intrinsic glory" of God or subtract anything from this glory by not doing it. But the "extrinsic glory" (glory that needs to be duly acknowledged by the creation) is not perfect; rather it's minimal compared to what He deserves. By way of our Praise & Worship, we are privileged to participate in increasing the extrinsic glory of God.
• The last person who is benefited by hearing our shouts of praise or the seeing the moments of worship will be God. Our praises confirms our faith and that of the congregation. Our worship brings us closer in intimacy with the LORD. It renders our enemy powerless. The power of God is released abundantly that breaks the bondages and set ourselves free.

(To be continued)

A Jubilee Decision

In this Jubilee Year, I am making a decision very special to me. My patron saint is St. Martin de Porres (http://magnificat.ca/cal/engl/11-03.htm). His story is worth said, that can move the heart of the hardest nature. I am known by my saint's name only in my Mulund circles only, where I got baptized in the year 2002. It sometimes pricks my conscience that even I remember him very rarely. But in these days of real blessings of the Jubilee, I have decided to remind myself and others that I am born again as "Martin", with great deal of his intercession, and above all the intercession of Mary our mother. I will be glad if anyone starts addressing me as Martin. I am sure that if someone calls me Martin when I am in the state of sin, that itself would make me run to the confessional.

The biggest detail I've ever got about St Martin was a book I read on him which is not more than 100 pages. But as I read it sometime in 1999, I knew that he is going to be my patron saint if I ever get baptized. One small book was enough to build a strong bond between us!! I received baptism on 8th September 2002 (solemnity of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary, and also a Sunday), an on the same year I received my first Sacrament of Penance, First Holy Communion and Holy Confirmation. Our Bishop was coming on November 10th to give the First Holy Communion and Confirmation to the children. Since I was receiving both, Fr. Joju the parish priest said that Confirmation is generally given after Communion. But in the Solemn Celebration, Communion is at the last and Confirmation is in the middle. Since I am receiving both, I was advised to receive Communion in the previous Sunday itself. That was November 3rd 2002 Sunday, which was also the Feast of St. Martin de Porres!!!! Praise God!

Before I disclosed that I wanted to have my name as Martin, some of my prayer group members got a message that Martin is the name shown to them. That was a joyful confirmation.

This is thus my first mail with the changed signature, through which I want to proclaim to myself and to the world about what I am called to be.

Some Lessons on Celebrating the Mass

Dear all,

In the past couple of weeks, I could experience a sudden turn of events that really helped to renew my walk with the LORD. I got the grace to celebrate Mass daily, and to spent good amount of time in rosary, personal prayer, Word of God reading, writing etc. etc. I attribute all this revival to the most generous graces showered by our Father in the name of Jesus through His Spirit. This happened through the motivation & prayers of multiple people, not as a group but in individual personal interactions, but all working together in proper order for the salvation of my poor soul. Another reiteration/affirmation of God's constant love and concern for me.

At this juncture, to start with my own response to my "Jubilee Thoughts", I am sharing a few lessons I learnt in my struggle to celebrate Holy Mass in a worthy manner. These are not general rules, but things I felt really apply to me. I am sharing this to myself grow in this fellowship, but if anyone finds this useful, it's a bonus!

In this span of 14 years since I first started celebrating Mass, I have gone through my ups and downs in the way I celebrate the Mass. I notice that in my beginning years, I used to see God's presence with the whole heavenly hosts upon the altar, but many a times in the years later, I had to struggle with lots of wandering thoughts during the celebration. I found that though my faith in the Real Presence never reduced, the devotion to it varied. I used to wonder what was wrong, and wanted to figure out how to deal with the problem.

As I introspected, I could find out the following things:

• When I was not regularly spending time in personal prayers, there were distractions during the Mass.
  The connection? I meditate/contemplate a lot during my prayer time. If I am not spending time in prayer, I would instead spend time in contemplation during the Holy Mass. Thus, instead of watching closely the Holy Mass and its mysteries, I would do my contemplation, which I came to as "not healthy", though contemplation was something good.
• When I am not using my Liturgy Book, I tend to get distracted.
  When I shared my difficulty to some of my friends and to some religious sisters, they recommended me to use the Liturgy Book. I could not first accept this suggestion, because I though that I will lose spontaneity if "read" prayers from a book. But I was amazed to see that their suggestion was full of wisdom, and it worked. I learnt that almost all the religious sisters daily use the Mass book, eventhough they know the prayers by-heart much more than we do. Why? One of the reasons is this: If you are not using the book, you'll need to put some effort to remember the prayers, however small that effort is. Our focus might shift to saying the prayers correctly from our memory "by-heart" rather than saying the prayers "from heart". Again, we may also tend to feel the pride in "knowing it fully" especially when you see your 'poor' neighbor "needs a book". (All this may not be true for you, but it is for me)
• When I get distracted for some part of the Mass, I would get discouraged for the rest of the Mass.
  Even with my best efforts, it was (and is) common that distractions happen. At times I even "miss" the most important parts such as "Words of Institution" and the "Invocation of the Holy Spirit". Till some time back, if I got distracted for some portion of the Eucharist, I used to get discouraged till the end scolding myself for the same. But when God convicted me that though I need to set high standards for myself (according to the gospel values), I need not put high expectations from myself, that too so soon. God made me realize how poor I am and how He still loves me. The times when I was walking triumphantly with Him did not point to my greatness but to His ability to cover my inability. So what if I got distracted for a few minutes, I can humble myself and with ten times zeal try to open myself to the infinite graces of the Most Holy Eucharist by giving my best in the remaining moments, even if I come to my senses only during the Final Blessing.

That's all for now. I hope to continue my sharings as and when inspired to do so. I pray that I may be inspired all the time. ;-) If this inspires you in anyway to share your experiences, let that add glory to HIM.

On Contemplative Prayer

Dear all,

In the trail I have pasted a chapter from the well known book "The Way to Perfection" written by St. Teresa of Jesus. If you are interested in reading the e-book, you access it here - http://www.ccel.org/ccel/teresa/way.html

This book is very helpful for those who want to grow in intimate friendship with Jesus in prayer.

---

Taken from The Way to Perfection (St Teresa of Jesus, Avila)

CHAPTER 17
How not all souls are fitted for contemplation and how some take long to attain it. True humility will walk happily along the road by which the Lord leads it.

I seem now to be beginning my treatment of prayer, but there still remains a little for me to say, which is of great importance because it has to do with humility, and in this house that is necessary.

For humility is the principal virtue which must be practised by those who pray, and, as I have said, it is very fitting that you should try to learn how to practise it often: that is one of the chief things to remember about it and it is very necessary that it should be known by all who practise prayer. How can anyone who is truly humble think herself as good as those who become contemplatives? God, it is true, by His goodness and mercy, can make her so; but my advice is that she should always sit down in the lowest place, for that is what the Lord instructed us to do and taught us by His own example. Let such a one make herself ready for God to lead her by this road if He so wills; if He does not, the whole point of true humility is that she should consider herself happy in serving the servants of the Lord and in praising Him. For she deserves to be a slave of the devils in hell; yet His Majesty has brought her here to live among His servants.

I do not say this without good reason, for, as I have said, it is very important for us to realize that God does not lead us all by the same road, and perhaps she who believes herself to be going along the lowest of roads is the highest in the Lord’s eyes. So it does not follow that, because all of us in this house practise prayer, we are all perforce to be contemplatives. That is impossible; and those of us who are not would be greatly discouraged if we did not grasp the truth that contemplation is something given by God, and, as it is not necessary for salvation and God does not ask it of us before He gives us our reward, we must not suppose that anyone else will require it of us. We shall not fail to attain perfection if we do what has been said here; we may, in fact, gain much more merit, because what we do will cost us more labour; the Lord will be treating us like those who are strong and will be laying up for us all that we cannot enjoy in this life. Let us not be discouraged, then, and give up prayer or cease doing what the rest do; for the Lord sometimes tarries long, and gives us as great rewards all at once as He has been giving to others over many years.

I myself spent over fourteen years without ever being able to meditate except while reading. There must be many people like this, and others who cannot meditate even after reading, but can only recite vocal prayers, in which they chiefly occupy themselves and take a certain pleasure. Some find their thoughts wandering so much that they cannot concentrate upon the same thing, but are always restless, to such an extent that, if they try to fix their thoughts upon God, they are attacked by a thousand foolish ideas and scruples and doubts concerning the Faith.

I know a very old woman, leading a most excellent life—I wish mine were like hers—a penitent and a great servant of God, who for many years has been spending hours and hours in vocal prayer, but from mental prayer can get no help at all; the most she can do is to dwell upon each of her vocal prayers as she says them.

There are a great many other people just like this; if they are humble, they will not, I think, be any the worse off in the end, but very much in the same state as those who enjoy numerous consolations. In one way they may feel safer, for we cannot tell if consolations come from God or are sent by the devil. If they are not of God, they are the more dangerous; for the chief object of the devil’s work on earth is to fill us with pride. If they are of God, there is no reason for fear, for they bring humility with them, as I explained in my other book at great length. Others 53walk in humility, and always suspect that if they fail to receive consolations the fault is theirs, and are always most anxious to make progress. They never see a person shedding a tear without thinking themselves very backward in God’s service unless they are doing the same, whereas they may perhaps be much more advanced. For tears, though good, are not invariably signs of perfection; there is always greater safety in humility, mortification, detachment and other virtues.

There is no reason for fear, and you must not be afraid that you will fail to attain the perfection of the greatest contemplatives. Saint Martha was holy, but we are not told that she was a contemplative. What more do you want than to be able to grow to be like that blessed woman, who was worthy to receive Christ our Lord so often in her house, and to prepare meals for Him, and to serve Him and perhaps to eat at table with Him? If she had been absorbed in devotion [all the time], as the Magdalen was, there would have been no one to prepare a meal for this Divine Guest. Now remember that this little community is Saint Martha’s house and that there must be people of all kinds here. Nuns who are called to the active life must not murmur at others who are very much absorbed in contemplation, for contemplatives know that, though they themselves may be silent, the Lord will speak for them, and this, as a rule, makes them forget themselves and everything else.

Remember that there must be someone to cook the meals and count yourselves happy in being able to serve like Martha. Reflect that true humility consists to a great extent in being ready for what the Lord desires to do with you and happy that He should do it, and in always considering yourselves unworthy to be called His servants. If contemplation and mental and vocal prayer and tending the sick and serving in the house and working at even the lowliest tasks are of service to the Guest who comes to stay with us and to eat and take His recreation with us, what should it matter to us if we do one of these things rather than another?

I do not mean that it is for us to say what we shall do, but that we must do our best in everything, for the choice is not ours but the Lord’s. If after many years He is pleased to give each of us her office, it will be a curious kind of humility for you to wish to choose; let the Lord of the house do that, for He is wise and powerful and knows what is fitting for you and for Himself as well. Be sure that, if you do what lies in your power and prepare yourself for high contemplation with the perfection aforementioned, then, if He does not grant it you (and I think He will not fail to do so if you have true detachment and humility), it will be because He has laid up this joy for you so as to give it you in Heaven, and because, as I have said elsewhere, He is pleased to treat you like people who are strong and give you a cross to bear on earth like that which His Majesty Himself always bore. What better sign of friendship is there than for Him to give you what He gave Himself? It might well be that you would not have had so great a reward from contemplation. His judgments are His own; we must not meddle in them.

It is indeed a good thing that the choice is not ours; for, if it were, we should think it the more restful life and all become great contemplatives. Oh, how much we gain if we have no desire to gain what seems to us best and so have no fear of losing, since God never permits a truly mortified person to lose anything except when such loss will bring him greater gain!

Testimony of a Woman who Underwent Abortion

http://www.lovematters.com/women.htm

"Two weeks after the abortion, I went into labor. I staggered into the bathroom. And there, with my husband beside me, I delivered a part of my baby the doctor had missed. It was the head of my baby..." "I'll wake up in the middle of the night, thinking I hear a baby crying. And I still have nightmares in which I am forced to watch my baby being ripped apart in front of me. I simply miss my baby. I constantly wake up wanting to nurse my child, wanting to hold my child. And that's something the doctor never told me I would experience."

LORI NERAD - former national president of Women Exploited by Abortion

Change is Possible for Gays - Says Catholic Psychologist

Change is possible... men and women can come out of homosexuality.

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=33842&page=1

Sin, Righteousness and Condemnation - Part 2

(See Part 1)

If my article inspires at least one person to approach God with confidence in spite of all unworthiness and sinfulness, I would regard that this mission of mine is fruitful.

The final words of a leader, a prophet or a saint are considered precious by the followers and those who regard him, and thus carry special significance. Though every single Word uttered by Jesus were precious, inspired and inspiring, the last things that he did were of very high importance. For example, He cried out to the Father commending His spirit unto Him. Similarly, the mutual entrusting of His mother (the woman) and the disciple whom he loved most, forgiveness offered to those who persecuted and mocked at Him etc. etc. So also is the final discourse that he gave to the disciples during the Passover meal.

It is very much noticeable that it was the first time we see in the Scriptures where Jesus spent so much time talking about the Holy Spirit and the way He was going to guide the Church. The promise of the Spirit was given not with any reservations, since Jesus knew and clearly foretold that a few moments from then that he was going to be betrayed, handed over, left alone and denied by the disciples. Instead, the Spirit was promised based on the infinite merits He himself earned for them (and us) being born as a man in flesh like us, endured temptations as we do (well, in its highest form), and living a life pleasing His Father in perfect and uncompromising obedience that even cost him his own life, offering it as a perfect sacrifice in atonement of all the sins of the entire mankind.

Point 1: The Holy Spirit was promised to the disciples at a time when they were not so strong in faith; rather, they were to receive strength and power through faith once they would receive the same Spirit (Acts 1:8). So don't worry if you are stumbling often in the walk with God. The promise of the Spirit is still with you as long as you are a disciple (a person who has made a choice / decision to answer to His call, to be disciplined, trained and enabled by the Master). Your discipline is not going to earn you the Spirit, but the Spirit who has been given to you will enable you to become his perfect disciple.

When I first read the passage of our discussion (John 16:7-13), I was a little surprised about the 3 things that the Spirit would convict the world of - Sin, Righteousness and Condemnation. Well, what's so big deal about these 3 things? Aren't they obvious? I thought I had already known well about these subjects. But being a neophyte, recently converted into this new faith from a totally different background, I knew one thing then; that there are so many things beyond my understanding. All those first 20 odd years of my life, I lived in total ignorance about God. It had never seemed obvious to me that someone like God ever existed. Then on one fine evening in the premises of St. George's Cathederal sitting with my classmate, I saw with fearful surprise that my friend is talking to Jesus in plain coloquial Malayalam language, as casually as he talks with me, with hardly any doubt that he is being heard. He was interceding for me, and I could experience the consoling presence of God who was lifting the burden gradually from my heavy laden heart. Weeks later, I was hearing more and more about this Jesus Christ from a few of my friends who too have experienced the manifest presence and power of Jesus, even through physical and mental healing. Again later, CAMPUS MEET '96 helped me walk a few steps ahead. And I cannot forget that evening when 3 of us were praying together in the class room Vimalagiri school when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now I knew that I am just at the doorstep of a whole new and exciting world of which I had very little idea.

Thus, I was sure that there must be a lot of misconceptions I had (and the world has) about the above mentioned 3 things, which can be cleared only in the light of the wisdom that God grants through the Spirit. God gave me a thirst to explore the truth with all my strength right in the beginning of my walk with the him. "Seek, and you shall find...", I was certain that so will be it. If God is ready to reveal himself, then will he not be ready to share his wisdom? more so when he has encouraged us to seek him, his kingdom and his righteousness? So this thirst made me read the Bible, which I think I could read entirely in the span of a few months, along with a few wonderful books that helped me a lot to get me familiar with the exciting truths of this new world, which I came to know as being called "the Kingdom of God". It took me several years to understand what I am attempting to comment on, about the above 3 things; and I know that my understanding is very small. This is a humble attempt, and I hope to do so gradually in the upcoming mails, as and when the time permits. I invite all of you to read these, benefit from them if they are from God, correct them whenever it is from my ignorance or pride. I am sure that if not others, at least I will be benefited from this exercise. I hope to research on this more than ever before.

- To be Continued

Sin, Righteousness and Condemnation

As we read in John 16, Jesus tells the disciples in His discourse on the eve of the Passover:

7. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
8. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation:
9. sin, because they do not believe in me;
10. righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me;
11. condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.
12. "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
13. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.

I have always wanted to write about these verses, coz not only that I've always drawn inspirations from them, but also got a few insights, which so far have been deep within me in an unorganized manner. My effort with this attempt to pen them down is to bring the unorganized into an organized one. May God's Spirit guide me, for in the beginning God uttered His Word, and the order was established in the previously orderless world.

My personal God experience began around 12 years back. It was marked by a radical conversion and a total transformation. When I look back, I always envy myself for the abundant grace I was showered upon, to overcome the challenges I had to face in my initial years. When I see myself off-late struggling hard even on the basic things of personal renewal, I once again long to go through a radical conversion and transformation.

With my experience regarding sin and grace, God has taught me a lot over these years. Those were really tough lessons though. When I read the Word of God - the Mirror that can show our true image, as St. James put - I see my ugly face (made ugly due to sin) getting beautiful and bright when the divine cosmetic - grace - is applied.

I know that I am not presenting anything new to those who have experienced God in the variety of unique ways that God alone can think and comprehend of. For it's an eternal truth that we are experiencing salvation by grace, received through faith, and expressed in good works. But it's still awe-inspiring every moment, and never ceases to marvel the ones who seek God's mysterious ways. How can a man who trod a long way into the path of sin be able to stand in the righteousness of God without walking the entire way back home? But it's still true, for the ways and measures of God are totally different from those of man, as we read in the book of Isaiah 55.

6. Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near.
7. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked man his thoughts; Let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
9. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.

- To be Continued

On Sharing My Faith

I generally have a tendency to shy away from the responsibility of sharing my faith with my friends. The reasons, or rather, excuses are quite usual – They may feel that I am trying to convert them, or, their impression about me may be lost, they may think that I am offending their sentiments. I always wonder what the right thing I must start with is.

There have been occasions when I was involved in discussion with a (secular) set of friends on some burning issue, say sexual morality, and some of them completely disagree with my views. Now whatever argument I put forward to them, either they have a counter-argument, or they simply disagree. Most of the time it boils down to the same question - "Who decides/defines what is right and wrong?"

Have you ever been in such a situation? If so, I don’t know how you must have handled the situation. But I have mixed success in conveying my views. I notice one thing in general. Without bringing God into any discussion on moral issues, the arguments look weak and empty according to me. Had there been no God, many things I consider illegitimate today could be considered legitimate, and many values I stand for would be absolutely foolish. And it's very difficult to prove to an atheist that God exists, no matter how logical my attempt is in putting my views.

I used to wonder why is it that God who is so real and present to me is a matter of foolishness for others. Well the answer is very clear. Even I did not come to faith because I heard someone explaining about God logically (though today I realize that all logic applied objectively and in unbiased manner proves the existence of God). Yeah… I have heard people sharing about God, and his unfathomable and unconditional love. I have heard them sharing their testimonies of how God shows his providence in their daily life. I have witnessed the power of God working through them, when the cancers and AIDS get healed, blind people see, the deaf ones hear, and the lame walk. Their sharings and witnessing life have invited me to try this faith myself, when I could myself truly experience that awesome love that transformed my whole life. I have experienced the hand of God working on me for the past 11 years. Instead of sharing experiences, if they had tried to convince me with logical conclusions, I don’t think I could have ever experienced God and his love.

So… it requires experience to believe in God. And one can experience God only when He reveals himself to him or her. Bible says – "Because he is found by those who test him not, and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him." (Wisdom 1:2)

What makes someone seek God? Well, every man experiences in his soul, a deep craving for God. He can sense it, but may not understand what this craving is for, or may not acknowledge it. It usually happens that the soul is unable to find God, and his pride may tend to give up this search after some time. Pride works, saying – "I will not accept anyone or any idea which I could not experience in my whole life." A theist (a person who believes that God exists) may not necessarily have experienced God. If his soul manages to triumph over pride, and accepts that there could be many things that is beyond its understanding, and hopes that the One whom it craves for really exists. And when it ultimately experiences God personally and intimately, faith is built up on the experience, and not on logical explanations.

The state of a soul that has not experienced God is like a man who is shut in a big dark room for years, and craves for freedom. One day he hears someone shouting from outside the room that the door is unlocked and it opens to outside world where he will find freedom and light. He is filled with hope, but he suddenly experieces the presence of a tall dark creature beside him, saying that the messenger is trying to fool him, and it’s better not to reach to the door and try to open it, for the fear of disappointment.

Here, the captive man is the soul of the person, the dark creature is his pride, and the messenger is a person who had experienced God and shares his testimony with him. The soul will be naturally drawn to God and respond to Him. To reach to the door of faith and to open it, one has to defeat his pride. But it is always wise according to me, to do so by hope, even if you are not so sure whether the door will open. For you have nothing to lose. If the door will not open, you may get disappointed, that’s all. Nothing worse will happen, and you are losing nothing. But if it does open, you have used your only option to see freedom and light.

Paul says in the letter to Romans chapter 8

19. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God;
20. for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope
21. that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;
23. and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

So, what God has taught me is very simple:- Don't spend too much time in arguments with my friends. I must trust in God and use words of wisdom whenever required, but that's not enough. I must share my experience of Jesus with them and invite them to experience the same. I must pray fervently for them so that God may open the doors of opportunities in their life where they become more receptive to the Word of God and welcome him into their lives.

Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

My dear friend, in Jesus' never-failing name I invite you his beautiful kingdom, and I can assure you that you will not get disappointed. He is the answer to all our needs - spiritual, psychological, physical, material. He is a loving Father, who sent His only begotten son Jesus Christ into this world to wash our sins with his precious blood, so that we may be worthy to enter the Kingdom of God, where we will live forever. I know what I am saying, if you are feeling right now how crazy I am. He is the One whom your soul craves for. He knows the deepest desires of your heart. He is Love Unlimited, and for a seeking heart, He is just a simple prayer away.

For the scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." (Romans 10:11)

God bless you!!!

Cardinal Supports Proposed "Improvement" of Abortion Law

But Affirms Sacredness of All Human Life

LONDON, OCT. 28, 2007 (Zenit.org).- As British Parliament considers lowering the age limit for abortions, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor weighed in, supporting any vote that ushers in what he called incremental improvements to an unjust law.

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, archbishop of Westminster, noted his support for a lowering of the age limit in a statement published today by the Telegraph newspaper.

The Abortion Act of 1967 originally set at 28 weeks the legal limit for abortions. Then, in 1990, Parliament agreed to lower the time limit to 24 weeks. An inquiry into the age limits commenced Oct. 15 by the House of Commons committee on science and technology. Improvements in survival rates for babies born prematurely have led to pressure for the limit to be lowered.

Read more on the article here: http://www.zenit.org/article-20856?l=english

I loved the way the article ends.

"The Catholic Church does not oppose abortion because it opposes human progress or fails to understand the struggles and difficulties that people have to cope with," he said. "How could the Church not believe in humanity when its whole faith is cantered on God becoming human? The Church's 'no' to abortion is simply the reflection of its unconditional 'yes' to all human life, its 'yes' to a society in which the innocent and vulnerable growing life in the womb is cherished and protected. A society that protects all its children, especially the fragile child in the womb, is a society in which we can all feel at home.

If abortion is to become a thing of the past, it will not be because the Catholic Church has succeeded in imposing its views on anyone. It will be because people, of their own volition, have come to see that there is a better way. This gives me reason for hope. We can say 'yes' to life."

On the Feast of Corpus Christi (ZENIT)

Pontifical Household Preacher Comments on Sunday's Readings

ROME, JUNE 9, 2007 (Zenit) - Here is a translation of a commentary by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, on the readings from this Sunday's liturgy.

* * *

Do This in Memory of Me
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Genesis 14:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Luke 9:11b-17

In the second reading of this feast, St. Paul presents us with the most ancient account we have of the institution of the Eucharist, written no more than about 20 years after the fact. Let us try to find something new in the Eucharistic mystery, using the concept of memorial: "Do this in memory of me."

Memory is one of the most mysterious and greatest powers of the human spirit. Everything seen, heard and done from early childhood is conserved in this immense womb, ready to reawaken and to dance into the light either by an external stimulus or by our own will.

Without memory we will cease to be ourselves, we will lose our identity. Those who are struck by total amnesia, wander lost on the streets, without knowing their own name or where they live.

A memory, once it has come to mind, has the power to catalyze our whole interior world and route everything toward its object, especially if this is not a thing or a fact, but a living person.

When a mother remembers her child, who was born a few days ago and is left at home, everything inside her flies toward her baby, a movement of tenderness rises from her maternal depths and perhaps brings tears to her eyes.

Not just the individual has memory; human groups -- family, tribe, nation -- also have a collective memory. The wealth of a people is not so much measured by the reserves of gold it holds in its vaults, but rather by how many memories it holds in its collective consciousness. It is the sharing of many memories that cements the unity of a group. To keep such memories alive, they are linked to a place, to a holiday.

Americans have Memorial Day, the day in which they remember those who fell in all the wars; the Indians have the Gandhi Memorial, a green park in New Delhi that is supposed to remind the nation who he was and what he did. We Italians also have our memorials: The civil holidays recall the most important events in our recent history, and streets, piazzas and airports are dedicated to our most eminent people.

This very rich human background in regard to memory should help us better understand what the Eucharist is for the Christian people. It is a memorial because it recalls the event to which all of humanity now owes its existence as redeemed humanity: the death of the Lord.

But the Eucharist has something that distinguishes it from every other memorial. It is memorial and presence together, even if hidden under the signs of bread and wine. Memorial Day cannot bring those who have fallen back to life; the Gandhi Memorial cannot make Gandhi alive again. In a sense, the Eucharistic memorial, however, according to the faith of Christians, does do this in regard to Christ.

But together with all the beautiful things that we have said about memory, we must mention a danger that is inherent to it. Memory can be easily transformed into sterile and paralyzing nostalgia. This happens when a person becomes the prisoner of his own memories and ends up living in the past.

Indeed, the Eucharistic memorial does not pertain to this type of memory. On the contrary, it projects us forward; after the consecration the people say: "We proclaim your death, O Lord, and confess your resurrection, until you come." (In the Lain Rite)

An antiphon attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas ("O sacrum convivium") defines the Eucharist as the sacred feast in which "Christ is received, the memory of his passion is celebrated, the soul is filled with grace, and we are given the pledge of future glory."

Discussion on Penance - JOYnet Posting

Q. What exactly is penance? Why should we do it? Actually I was never aware of the requirement of doing penance. When I was small (8-9 standard in school) I used to do small penances like sacrificing some food, subjecting myself to small physical pains. etc..

But when I grew up and came to JY some how I got an idea it is not correct and we should not do it. Because christ has died for all my sins - for all that I have done and those I am yet to do. He has paid the price for me.

But these days when I am reading about many saints I see that all of them has done a lot of penances. Also the church asks us to do some penance on fridays. Also during the sacrement of confession the priest asks us to do some penance. But why should we pay the price of our sins if christ has already paid it in full. Is it our participation in the salvation process?

Can someone throw some light to this? Can you tell me what the church teaches about it?

A.

A very good teaching on penance by His Holiness Pope John XXIII is found here.

1. What is penance?

Penance is the practical expression of our repentance and the will to confirm to the Holy will of God.

Penance is generally expressed in the following ways.
______________________________________________________

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (1424 - '39)

V. THE MANY FORMS OF PENANCE IN CHRISTIAN LIFE

1434 The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: effort at reconciliation with one's neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the salvation of one's neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of charity "which covers a multitude of sins."

1435 Conversion is accomplished in daily life by gestures of reconciliation, concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the admission of faults to one's brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life, examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering, endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Taking up one's cross each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance.

1436 Eucharist and Penance. Daily conversion and penance find their source and nourishment in the Eucharist, for in it is made present the sacrifice of Christ which has reconciled us with God. Through the Eucharist those who live from the life of Christ are fed and strengthened. "It is a remedy to free us from our daily faults and to preserve us from mortal sins."

1437 Reading Sacred Scripture, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and the Our Father - every sincere act of worship or devotion revives the spirit of conversion and repentance within us and contributes to the forgiveness of our sins.

1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice. These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).

1439 The process of conversion and repentance was described by Jesus in the parable of the prodigal son, the center of which is the merciful father: the fascination of illusory freedom, the abandonment of the father's house; the extreme misery in which the son finds himself after squandering his fortune; his deep humiliation at finding himself obliged to feed swine, and still worse, at wanting to feed on the husks the pigs ate; his reflection on all he has lost; his repentance and decision to declare himself guilty before his father; the journey back; the father's generous welcome; the father's joy - all these are characteristic of the process of conversion. The beautiful robe, the ring, and the festive banquet are symbols of that new life - pure worthy, and joyful - of anyone who returns to God and to the bosom of his family, which is the Church. Only the heart Of Christ Who knows the depths of his Father's love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy in so simple and beautiful a way.
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2. Why should we do it?

We frail human beings cannot do atonement for our sins ourselves. We have no other option but to believe in the One Sacrifice that Jesus Christ did for us. So our penance cannot save us. But doing penance, we can repair the damages caused by our sin (of owr on soul, of a neighbour who is affected) and Jesus expects us to do it. Remember what happenned when Zacchaeus decides to do penance.

(Luke 19:5-9)

5 When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house."

6 And he came down quickly and received him with joy.

7 When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."

8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over."

9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
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CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (1459 - '60)

Satisfaction

1459 Many sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm (e.g., return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, pay compensation for injuries). Simple justice requires as much. But sin also injures and weakens the sinner himself, as well as his relationships with God and neighbor. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused. Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must "make satisfaction for" or "expiate" his sins. This satisfaction is also called "penance."

1460 The penance the confessor imposes must take into account the penitent's personal situation and must seek his spiritual good. It must correspond as far as possible with the gravity and nature of the sins committed. It can consist of prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service of neighbor, voluntary self-denial, sacrifices, and above all the patient acceptance of the cross we must bear. Such penances help configure us to Christ, who alone expiated our sins once for all. They allow us to become co-heirs with the risen Christ, "provided we suffer with him."

The satisfaction that we make for our sins, however, is not so much ours as though it were not done through Jesus Christ. We who can do nothing ourselves, as if just by ourselves, can do all things with the cooperation of "him who strengthens" us. Thus man has nothing of which to boast, but all our boasting is in Christ... in whom we make satisfaction by bringing forth "fruits that befit repentance." These fruits have their efficacy from him, by him they are offered to the Father, and through him they are accepted by the Father.
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Many non-Catholic brethren have objection with this doctrine. But see, this is quite Scriptural. We see Jesus doing penance in the wilderness. It was not for His own sake, but for our sins and also to show us an example.

By following the desires of the flesh, we forget the well-being of our spirit. It is quite justified that we control the passions of the body and keep the body subject to the spirit, which is in turn subject to the Spirit of God. See Galationa 5

16 I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.

17 For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want.

18 But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

...... fruits of body and spirit explained .......

24 Now those who belong to Christ (Jesus) have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Rom 8:4)

Well I once again request you to read His Holiness Pope John XXIII's Encyclical. It contains so many Scriptural references.

Some ROSARY Tips

(This posting is more relevant for those who are familiar with this beautiful form of prayer. For more details about rosary, visit http://www.rosary-center.org/howto.htm)

I want to share some tips while praying rosary, or rather, it applies to any prayer we make. It need not be taken as authentic, coz it is a result of my reflection during my prayer time. The "some people" I refer below very much include me too, as I look back at 9 years of my walk with the Lord.

1. What should be the speed of saying a prayer?

a. Some people say vocal prayers as if in tongues. It is so fast that Mother Mary and God the Father (I assume) find it very difficult to follow it, and fall in utter confusion. ;)

b. Some are better. They say the prayer fairly fast, but as they say it their mind try to follow the words. It helps, but still it is very likely that we miss the meaning.

c. Some people are very slow; probably because of the bad experiences (a) and (b) they go to the other extreme. They think that praying slowly pleases God. In this attempt they even distract the others who are praying with them. The mind has to wait for some time before the words follow it. Mind finds it difficult to connect the beginnning to end of a sentence.

d. To my understanding and experience, words should go hand in hand with the mind. Words are to help our mind, and not to distract it. Words cannot gauarantee to express the true state of the mind. If mind wanders in between, words must wait. By practising this, "words get aware of its importance and will wait for its dear friend mind, and vice versa." The Lord who looks at the heart takes delight in such a prayer, and in the one who prays. This benefits us and we grow in His relationship and in love towards God and Mother Mary.

It is true that when we pray as a group, words cannot wait for the mind. But the sincere prayer of type (d) by others will help our minds not to wander. Also, the above said kind of prayer must be practised during personal prayer time.

2. What about intentions, mysteries during rosary?

a. When we meditate about a mystery, we must truly spend some time in meditation. All the mysteries are Word of God Himself (I like to say Himself rather than itelf). They do have relevance in our personal and community life. I experience His healing, consolation and power during this excercise.

b. It is a good practice to offer our prayer intentions during each mystery. Our Mother too prays with us for all these intentions. But be careful... out of zeal many a time our mind is so engrossed in "pushing" those intentions to Heaven even when we say "Our Father" and "Hail Mary".

c. When we say "Our Father", we are speaking to Our Father, and nothing else. It is not a time of meditating the mysteries or raising our intentions. Let the mysteries (though they are Word of God) not distract us from our personal, intimate talk with the Father. Mean it every word, for it is the prayer taught by God.... it is the greatest prayer we can ever make to God. We don't know better words to express our love for Him, seek His kingdom and righteousness, raise our petitions, receive deliverance, healing and protection, and to declare that all kingdom, authority, praise and glory belongs to Him. Let the intentions "offered" in the beginning, stay as "offering" and not as endless cycle of "offering at His feet, taking back in hand and again offering."

Same is the case with "Hail Mary". It is your time and prayer with our Beloved Mother. She knows how to add to our intentions her Powerful Intercession. Take that time to grow in her love and care rather than worry about our needs.

I thank God for rosary and other prayers recommended by the Church. Even those who do not know how to use beautiful and eloquent words to pray can get benefited. When we do it contemplatively and meaningfully, it is new every time, we find the fresh streams of Living Waters flowing to us.

+ Hail Jesus + ... + Ave Maria +

Prayerfully yours......

Binu Asokan.