“Peace is My farewell to you. My peace is My gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace” --- John 14:27

The Imitation of Christ and St. Gaspar Bertoni

(The Notion to Obtain True Peace)

By Carlos 

 All human beings desire peace. We do a lot of things in this world, engaging ourselves to different kinds of activity to obtain peace in our heart and in our soul. Meditation, contemplation, painting, yoga, listening to the music, hiking, biking, swimming, etc. are some means that we usually do in order to obtain peace. But these activities that are mentioned can give only temporary peace to us, these are not really the true ways in order to obtain internal peace.

       One of the chapters of the book of Thomas Kemphis entitled “Imitation of Christ” offered four things that can bring a person to true peace and perfect liberty in this world. “(1) Do the will of another rather than your own; (2) Always choose to have fewer riches rather than more; (3) Always seek the lowest place and desire to be subject to all; (4) Always wish for and pray that the will of God be accomplished in you” (I.C. Bk. 3: 23). These points contain great perfection, they are few in words but full of meaning and abounding in virtue. Analyzing these points properly would end up with a very important virtue that is very similar to the spiritual life of St. Gaspar Bertoni, i.e. HUMILITY.

       We have studied the spiritual profile of St. Gaspar Bertoni, and I am certain that all of us would agree that these points in obtaining internal peace were lived by St. Gaspar during his time here on earth. He always made the will of God rather than his own will as a person; he chose to live in poverty even though he could imitate the work of his father as a businessman or his mother as an aristocrat; he always wished and prayed that the will of God be accomplished in him. Thus, because of these, all the prayers and wishes that St. Gaspar asked from God were fulfilled and bestowed on him as he continued with his journey here on earth.

       However, this is as far as the life of St. Gaspar Bertoni is concerned, and not our life. How about us? Are we ready to give up everything for the sake of God? Are we mature enough to think about others rather than our own self? This is a very big challenge for us to abandon our old ways of life and try to consider God in our heart. It is very difficult to sacrifice yourself for the sake of others because the people in this world always desire anything to an excessive degree. It is written “it is very difficult for the human beings to withdraw themselves from worldly desires when their spirits are still weak and inclined to the things of sense” (I.C. Bk. 1:6) meaning to say we cannot find peace if we continue to attach ourselves on the things of this world, but we find our peace only by resisting passions, not by giving in to them.

       The question that says “how can you remain in peace when you deliberately interfere in other people’s business and seek worldly occupation with seldom a thought to interior recollection?” (I.C. 1:11). Thus, in order to attain peace in our heart this question is somewhat giving us an idea to sought to abstain from worldly desires, to make ourselves free to give our whole heart to God. St. Gaspar was able to live his life here on earth doing his best to accomplish the things that would please God. He lived with total abandonment, thinking only the spiritual needs of others even though it would cause him to long years of suffering through sickness and tribulations. But still, we can say that in his life of radical poverty, he was very happy living in it and he was very at peace in God. Moreover, he was able to find peace in his self through accomplishing the things which would lead him to the way to Christ.

       If we will try to imagine it is very difficult to go against our natural desires and do the will of others instead of our own. We human persons, we think that it is impossible for us to obtain great peace because we always have an alternative plan; we let other people think that our intention is correct but deep in our hearts we only intend because we can benefit from it. In other words, we always work for the things that we can get something for our own interest. Like St. Gaspar let us face our problems with great zeal and positive understanding. Let us choose to live in great peace through doing the will of God for us.

REFLECTION ON THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

CHAPTER 17 ON THE RELIGIOUS LIFE

RELIGIOUS LIFE: A JOURNEY TOWARDS COMMUNION WITH CHRIST THROUGH OTHERS

       Novice Louie

Religious life is composed of diverse culture and personalities of individual. These differences of the member of the community are like flowers that beautify the institution and bring good example of unity in diversity to the outside vicinity of the institution. But sometimes conflict arises inside as well if the person is not willing to commit themselves to the way of life in the religious that is communion. Communion signifies love of another despite of what and who you are. Like the example of the first Christian community living with Jesus as their model. Communion among others demands a lot from the person who desires to live this way of life. Since, individuality is not the idea of religious life those who aspires this life need to have a deep humility.

The book 1 chapter 17 on the religious life no.1 suggested that if you want to get along with others, it is necessary to curb your own will in many things. It is not easy to live in a congregation, to remain there without complaint or reproof and to persevere in your vocation. If you wish to remain steadfast in grace and grow in virtue, consider yourself an exile and a pilgrim in this world.

To enter into a religious institution, one must remember that he entered in the institution to serve and not to be served and that you are called to suffer and to work no to waste your time in idleness and gossip. You will not last long unless with all your heart you are ready to humble yourself for the love of God.

Pondering on these thoughts, I remembered the first time that I lived in the seminary. I was astonished by the peaceful and holy atmosphere inside. Time passed by as I was a little bit acquainted with the people whom I lived with, I found irreconcilable dissent with the other seminarian to the extent that we quarrel about some nonsense things but not physically. We argued through words only. It turned out after some misunderstanding, we never conversed with another. We tried to go away from each other. But after some experience of misunderstanding, I gradually trimmed down those attitudes of immaturity. I learned to solve the problem by letting the person know that he is wrong instead of staying silent. I learned to listen as well to other’s opinion. In short, I become open for correction for improvement not only for myself but for the relationship with others. It’s hard to live inside the religious when we insist some of immature attitudes. We will never grow spiritually and we remain far from the rest. We can never build good relation inside if we remain from our immature attitudes. This is what the book 1 chapter 17 no. 1 said that in order to get along with others, it is necessary to curb you own your will. Since religious life is a communion that lived according to first Christian community, we need to remove the “I” mentality to “We”. Everything in religious is common not personal. Even the decision should be open to the community.

On the other hands, let us turn our mind to the motivation in entering the religious. This chapter also reminds me to have a clear motivation of joining this institution that is to serve and not to be served and to be humble for the love of God. “If you seek anything in religious life other than God and the good of your soul, you will find nothing but trouble and grief” (Chapter 17, no. 2).

This is already my second novitiate and my second chance in religious life. What happen to my first novitiate? Why I did not proceed? That time I was reflecting on the things outside – my family and to work. I really wanted to work and help my family that time. The Scripture says that if you want to follow me, renounce your family and deny yourself. I was not yet ready to embrace the vows that time. I did not proceed because I am too attached to my family and to my desire outside the seminary. So, I left and worked outside for almost 2 years.

Now, coming back to the formation again with good motivation, I feel happy within. Though there are still things to be purified but I’m happy to be back in this Institution, Stigmatine. This is where I found myself and my God.

I pray that all of us, my fellow novices will be worthy of this calling. And I ask Him, Jesus Christ, also to purify our intention of joining in this Institution.

St. Gaspar said “Humble yourself in all things.” Through humility inside the formation we will be able to get along with others and live according to the will of God not of ours. So, let us try to live humbly in our journey toward religious life. We also ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary that may God enlighten us and guide us always in our journey. Amen.

On the Joy of serving God and

Abandoning the world.

Thawatchai  Krasaesing

This chapter reminds me about gift of vocation. God had made me when I had no being and chose me as servant and called me by my name even before I was born so my vocation is a great gift that is given to me; to serve me and to love him. Even though I am weak and have many time sinned against him he still pour out his grace upon me and bring me back to him.

The vocation to be his disciple is not granted to all people. In his this chapter, it is not granted to all persons to abandon the word and to lead a solitary life in God’s services. In the Old Testament especially in the book of Genesis we see that in the beginning God created the world and he gives a special privilege to human beings. They are created in the image and listens of God with full freedom. Who are further me see God chose some men out of all human being to be his own people

“The Lord had said unto Abraham get there out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show there: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless   thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing” (Gen.12:1-3)

This was a call of God to Abram he had the free will either response positives or negatives to this special call. Once Abram responded positives to God’s call and he became the Father of a big nation.

Now coming to New Testament we see Jesus invites some men to be fishers of men. We know that in the Gospel of St. Matthew After that he chose first group of disciple at Sea of Galilee; he saw Simon and Andrew his brother and he said to them,

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.Suddenly, they       straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.” (Mt 4:18-21).

They too we can say respond to God’s call freely out of their free will.Another best example for responding to God’s call with free will is mother Mary who she led the invitation of God through angel Gabriel she responded out of the free will “behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Lk1:38).

To response to God’s call is our free choice it’s up to respond positively or negative to God’s call. But we must realize that special call is not granted to all but to some people. And it is a call to serve not to be serve. (Mark 10:45). It’s a call to be with Jesus and to live for him and for the kingdom of God.

BELIEVE AND TRUST IN GOD

Nidhin

To imitate Christ means to trust in him and follow him. When we follow the footsteps of Christ we must keep in mind the fact that we are following the crucified Christ. This fact gives us courage when we feel lonely or when we are humiliated or faces harsh words, because the one, whom we are imitating, was left alone in the midst of sufferings and was humiliated until death. We should not fear even if we are suffering, because he has given us the promise that he will be with us always to the end of the age (Mt. 28:20)

Contrary to this faith, many times we feel discouraged when we face with problems, misunderstandings and harsh words. Why is it? The answer that St Thomas A. Kempis gives in his “imitation of Christ” is that: we are still worldly. And we have not yet understand and trust in God fully (book.3, 46:1). The entire chapter (46) speaks about the need of putting our full trust in God even when Evil words are spoken against us. According to St. Thomas A. Kempis when we face with these kinds of harsh words we must gladly suffer this for the love of god. Then these words will not affect us. In saint’s words; “even if all the evils, which the worst human malice can invent, were said against you, what harm can they possibly do you if you pay no attention to them? They cannot take so much as one hair from your head, but” he continues, “if you do not keep your eyes fixed on God nor keep Him in your heart, then you will be easily upset by the slightest rebuke.” When we go through the life of St Gaspar we find an incident when a person showers harsh words of criticism and curse upon the saint in the street, he suffered all those words for the sake of imitating the Crucified Lord. The righteous persons are never dismayed by anything even if they be wrongly accused. It will not worry them much because, they trust in the true judge who judges the heart not the external appearance.

Many times we might feel that why only we are humiliated and avoided. These are the little ways of testing us on earth. Often people will say nice things about others but never a good word about us, others will be promoted to the positions of trust but we will be judged as unfit, others will be listened but people will pay no attention to what we say. Naturally these kinds of things go against our human understanding and reason but, if we bear them in silence we will advance in our spiritual life. These are the means by which the faithful servants of the Lord are tested, in order to determine how far they can deny and break their own will in all things (Cfr. 49:4-5)

Chapter 57 of book no.3 also speaks about the same idea. We, as religious many times are criticized when we begin to do something good. Those comments or criticisms must not disturb us; as St. Thomas A Kempis says, “It is not the first or anything new and it will not be the last. We will face them as long as we live.” Many people, with lot of problems comes to us for consolation and encouragement but if we ourselves are not courageous enough to face our problems how can we console others or if we don’t have such bad experiences and overcome them courageously how can we encourage them to overcome their difficulties. It is through experiences that we learn many things. As St. Thomas A Kempis continue to say, “Yet it is for your spiritual help that these and similar things are permitted to happen to you.” We might fail in facing them courageously but, it must not discourage us; rather it would help us to know our great frailty and it will lead us to trust fully on God and call upon Him. We must keep in mind that, all is not lost just because we find ourselves often in troubles and grievously tempted. We must remember that we are humans not God. Even the Angels and the first man in Eden had failed to continue in the same state of virtue. So trust in God when the times of difficulties come. He is, who rises up and supports those who mourn even lifting up to His Godhead those who know their own weaknesses. Learn to abandon ourselves fully to god and love the crosses that he gives to us; with lot of expatiations that we will bear them with him with joy and peace. He will encourage us in our troubles and anguish because it is He who called us. 

REFLCTIONS ON IMMITATION OF CHRIST BOOK

JOBIN THAYYIL.

In imitation of Christ book 4 chapter three and seven explained very well about the dignity of priesthood.Chapter 5 says that priest is higher than the purity of angels and the holiness f St. John the baptize. Because they were not granted the great dignity of priest. Only priest, validlyordained in the church, have the power of offering holy mass and consecrating the body of Christ. Priest stand in the place of Christ using God’s words according to His command and institution but God Himself is the principal author and unseen worker in this sacrament. So priest should offer this adorable sacrifice with great reverence and devotion and the life of a priest should be blameless. He is bound by a stricter self discipline and isobliged to strive for perfection. It is the obligation of a priest to lead a good life as a good example for others. His conversation must not be on the level of other local people in the world but rather, with the angels in heavenor with the holy people of perfect life on earth.

A priest, clothed in his sacred vestments, take the place of Christ, Offering humble prayers and supplications for his people. Before him and behind him he wears the cross of our Lord, that he may always be mindful of passion of Christ. He bears the cross before him that he may humbly suffer for God whatever injuries are done to him that he may have sorrow for his own sins and behind him that he may realize that he has been place between God and humankind in order to mourn over the sins of others with compassion.

 This chapter explained very well about priestly life and its dignity. Priesthood is a wonderful gift that we receive from God. It is not because we are worthy but it is because of his mercy and love He grand us this gift. The words of St. Paul are proving this. “Consider your own call brothers and sisters, not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, and not many were noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame thewise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong God chose what is low and despised in the world , things that are not to reduce to nothing things that are , so that no one might boast in thepresume of God ( I Cor.1:26).” So as followers of God we have to be humble and abandon ourselves in to the hands of God.

In chapter 7 it explains how a priest should do the celebration. He should handle and receive the sacrament with great humility and reverence of heart full of faith and loving intention of giving honor to God. He should examine his conscience carefully and to the best of his ability cleanse and purify it, by sincere contrition and humble confession. So that he may not be aware of anything to fill him with remorse or prevent his free approach to God. He has to ask sorry for all his sins. He should give his body and his soul in to Gods keeping that he may be found worthy to offer sacrifices to God and to receive sacraments of His body with profit.

These chapters really helped me to understand about the precious gift of God that is priesthood and how I have to be a good priest. It also gives me the knowledge how I have to make me worthy to do this ministry. It really encourages and advises me to live according to my call as St Paul says “however that may be let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned to which God called you.” (1 Cor. 7:7)