198th Foundation Day of the Stigmatines

198th Foundation Day of the Stigmatines (Congregation of the sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ)

Wattanasak welcomed and celebrates the 198^th Anniversary of the congregation, the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ or popularly known as the STIGMATINES. This said celebration also serves as a welcome remark to Fr. Paul Jumjan, the spiritual director of the novices. He was away for six months due to a mission appeal in United States, Holy Spouses Province.

The said celebration attended by some stigmatine priests from different provinces of Thailand. Fr. Raphael from Phangnga, Fr. Pakpoom from St. Joseph Church at Chaeng Talay, Laguna, Fr. Michael Jirasaak and Bro. Sujin from the other house, Dowroong Wittaya School. 

Veneration of the relics of St. St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II.

The novices together with Fr. Joseph, novice master, and Fr. Jim, assistant novice master, went to Krabi at St. Agnes church last September 20, 2014 for the veneration of the relics of the two newly canonized Pope, St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II.

The veneration of the relics started with a procession around the church led by Stigmatine priests and some diocesan priests. The mass started at 10:00 a.m in the morning presided by Fr. Nati. 

Spirituality and Sexuality

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19^th of September 2014, Friday, Mr. Bryan Crucis Shen Shuyliang, a Psychologist from Singapore, arrived in the Stigmatine Interprovincial-Novitiate, Phuket Thailand, to talk about Spirituality and Sexuality to the Novices. His talk started in the evening which was the Introduction to Psychology and afterwards followed by Psychology Test.  There were group sessions and also personal talks with the speaker. The personal talk started Sunday and finished Tuesday. After the personal talk, Mr. Bryan started the topics on Spirituality and Sexuality. 

  The topic on Spirituality started at 3:00 pm 23^rd of September. In this topic Mr. Bryan talked about spiritual realities such as God, angels, and fallen angels. He talked also about the temptations of Satan to man and how to overcome them. In the evening the topic on Sexuality began. In this topic Mr. Bryan talk about homosexuality, the causes of homosexuality, and the positive and negative characteristics of a homosexual. The two interesting topics gave the Novices more Knowledge about spiritual and physical realities.

In the following morning, Wednesday 24^th of September, Mr. Bryan asked the Novices if they wanted to talk to him for the second time. Majority of the Novices decided to talk with the speaker and the second personal talk ended at almost 10:00 am in the following day.

Before Mr. Bryan went back to Singapore, the Novitiate Community prepared a simple and memorable dinner and offered a song for him. In the following morning Friday, Mr. Bryan Crucis Shen Shuyliang went back to Singapore at 7:30 in the morning.

Stigmatine Interprovincial-Novitiate Monthly Recollection September 17, 2014

17^th September 2014 at 10:30 am, the Novices had their monthly recollection which was held in the Stigmatine Interprovincial-Novitiate Phuket Thailand. The Novice Master, Fr. Joseph Wattanasak, invited a couple to be the speakers namely Mr. Wutthikhai Cheewamaitneewong (Known as Mr. Roy) And Mrs. Julie Cheewamaineewong. The topic of the recollection was “God experience in life” which was shared by the couple. The recollection was ended in the same day at 11: 30 in the morning.

Brief information About Mr. Wutthikhai Cheewamaitneewong:

           

          Mr Mr. Wutthikhai Cheewamaitneewong was born in Thailand in a Chinese family. He studied college in the Philippines, during the time of President Marcos, in San Carlos University Cebu and finished Pharmacy. He went to Davao where he met Julie, a Filipina, who become his wife. From a Chinese Buddhist religion, he was converted to Catholicism and baptized in Davao. He went back to Thailand and started a business. He is presently living in Phuket Thailand together with his wife and their children.

The sharing:

Mr. Roy was the one who shared first his life to the Novices. He told them that God is very important in life. He said that if we have God, we have peace in the midst of trails and sufferings. Mr. Roy concluded his sharing with these words, “Serve the Lord with all your heart and everything will be good.” After his sharing, his wife took the last sharing. The first sentence that Mrs. Julie uttered was, “We can feel God through miracle and the first miracle is breath.” She shared to the novices that they pray the chaplet of the Divine Mercy every 3 o’clock in the afternoon. According to her, she can make God proud of her through doing good works; moreover she said, “We got good things from God, we should give good things too.” For her the greatest thing is to help people. She ended her sharing with the sign of the cross.

The Novices visits the Stigmatine Catholic Cemetery- Stigmatine Catholic cemetery Phuket

August 22, 2014 the novices together with their formators Fr. Joseph Wattanasak and Fr. Jim Pura made their first cemetery visit. The purpose of their visit is to offer prayers for all the souls in the purgatory especially the souls of their deceased confreres were three of them buried in that said cemetery.  

Bishop Joseph Prathan Srindarunsil SDB headed the mass celebration of the Feast Day of Our Lady of Assumption- Parish Church of Our Lady of Assumption Phuket

August 17, 2014 Bishop Joseph Prathan Srindarunsil SDB headed the mass celebration of the Feast Day of Our Lady of Assumption. Fr. Winai CSS the provincial superior of the Stigmatine and Fr. Apisit the provincial superior of the Redemptoris and other Stigmatine and diocesan priests also concelebrate during the mass.

Many parishioners of that said parish together with some visitors from the other parishes attend the celebration. The Stigmatine novices together with the other parishioners handled the songs in the mass that makes the celebration more solemn. The said celebration lasted for almost two hours and ended with community lunch.   

Tree Planting in Novitiate House

July 17, 2014

Fr. Joseph Wattanasak, CSS leads the novices in planting different kinds of fruit bearing trees.  They plant two rose apples, two mangoes, two black berries, avocado and orange. The space on the right side of the house accommodates the trees.

The procedure of putting the plant on the soil is not just a piece of cake the hole must have the radios of 50 centimeters and the same measure of its depth. A fertilized soil will be poured on the hole until half deep and put the tree and cover with another fertilized soil. Then put a brace to make the plant stand straight and watered it.

Activity adds beauty to the house. On the other hand, the novices don’t know if they can taste the fruits of these trees someday. Nevertheless, the presence of happiness among them, was founded on the day of sowing no less than the day of reaping.

Fr. Ferdinando Ronconi, CSS administers the novice’s recollection

July 15, 2014

The novices, as part of their spiritual activity, have their monthly recollection in the novitiate house. Fr. Joseph the novice master invited Fr. Ferdinando Ronconi CSS, an Italian missionary priest in Thailand, as the speaker. The recollection started at 9:00 o’clock in the morning with the beautiful reading taken from Ephesians 4: 11-16.

He shared about the Stigmatine congregation and the founder. First, he presented the history of the congregation followed by the Stigmatine way of life, the charism, the spirit of the congregation and the short family background of St. Gaspar Bertoni the founder of the congregation.

He asked many questions to the novices particularly about the congregation and about their vocation. Some querries were these: why we are called Stigmatines? Why do you enter the Stigmatine congregation and why St. Gaspar Bertoni chose Mary and Joseph as patron saints? and a like.  

The importance of Paschal Mystery was also discussed, which the solemnity of the Five Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ, follows.  This celebration is the radical reason why the congregation’s confreres are called Stigmatines(from latin word “stigmata” which means wound).

After the talk the novices went to the sacrament of confession having Fr. Ronconi as their confessor.   

Inauguration of St. Joseph's Church in Laguna, Phuket, Thailand

Phuket, Thailnad – Most Reverend Joseph Prathan Sridunsil, D.D. blessed the new church in Laguna.

The celebration starts with a short ceremony for the acknowledgement and giving of certificates and tokens to the persons who take the house of worship. The bishop of Surat Thani Diocese with Fr. Joseph Winai, CSS the provincial superior of Mary Morning Star Province and his counselor Fr. John Baptist Pipat, CSS hand the gifts of appreciation and gratitude to the people above. Immediately after the first part the holy mass follows.

His Excellency leads the inauguration of St. Joseph’s Church. Three diocesan priests and Stigmatine priests concelebrate with the assistance of the novices in the mass. About five-hundred faithful – form other parishes; the soon to be parishioners and; benefactors from different nations – join the blessing of the church.

The event was concluded by the bishop’s address. He declared the St. Joseph’s Church; a parish and appointed Fr. Jimado Pura, CSS as the first parish priest.

Friendly Match between Dawroong Wittaya School Soccer Varsity and Novitiate Community.

Phuket, Thailand – The Novitiate team won 2-1 against Dawroong Wittaya varsities, Monday 4:30 pm.

July 7, 2014 Fr. Michael Jerasak, CSS the director of the school sets up a game, held in the same school. The visitors headed by Fr. Joseph Wattanasak, CSS – with other Stigmatine priests; Fr. Jimado, Fr. Michael Jerasak and Fr. Peter Yutana and with the huge assistance of the novices – out witted the fastness, toughness and strong stamina of the young students.

The main purpose of the activity is to tune-up the skills of the selected players, who are participating a league and are the ones carrying the name of the school. It is in their performance that the legacy of their Alma Mater lies. They are the pride of the school.

On the other hand the invited team did not hesitate to accept the challenge because it is for the good of the institution. Moreover it is by the reason that Dawroong Wittaya School is Stigmatines.’ Thus, it is plausible to say that the bout is between the students and the owners. Further, both teams are aiming the same goal: the victory of the school.

Visiting of the old and sick.

July 4, 2014

Phuket, Thailand – The Inter-Provincial Novitiate in Asia community visits the old and sick in some places of the island.

Novice Master Fr. Joseph Wattanasak leads the apostolate. He gives Holy Communion to the visited individuals. On the other hand the novices bring guitar and sing joyful songs. They also offer goods and stay for a moment of blissful conversation.

This simple package of charity is part of the novitiate formation. It is scheduled in every first Friday of the month; in the morning and followed by the celebration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the evening.

The First Profession of the batch from the first Inter-Provincial Novitiate 2013-2014.

May 4, 2014

Phuket, Thailand – Two Stigmatine Provinces witness the first profession of the new confreres from the provinces of Our Lady of Hope and Mary Morning Star – who are the first batch of the Inter-Provincial Novitiate Formation 2013-2014.

Filipino candidates under the Province of Our Lady of Hope (South Italy) are Laudemer Aninion, Carlos Avenido. Indian candidates of the same province are Nithin Devassia and Jobin Thayyil. The Province of Mary Morning Star (Thailand) have Thawatchai Krasaesing. These five novices temporarily professed the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience before God and were cordially accepted with in the Mass by Rev. Fr. Joseph Winai, CSS Provincial Superior of the Thai province and Rev. Fr. Silvano Controne, CSS Provincial Superior of the Stigmatine Southern Province of Italy.

The Eucharistic celebrations were concelebrated by Fr. Abel Maglines, CSS, Jose Lasam, CSS, Marlon, CSS from the Philippines; Fr. Vincencio Sirignano, CSS and Ferdinando Ronconi, CSS from Italy. From Thailand are Fr. Michel Jerasak, CSS, Fr. Valentino Wasan, CSS, Fr. John Baptist Pipat, CSS, Fr. Peter Bancha, CSS, Fr. Dominic Phattharaphon, CSS and the novices’ retreat master Fr. Lawrence Chai, CSSR. Bros. Joseph Sujin, CSS and James Suphachai, CSS have their kind assistance to the novices in the celebration.

Parishioners led by Mrs. Margaret Ens happily joined the celebrations. They welcomed and expressed their gratitude to the superiors by giving flower bouquets, and garlands of congratulation to the newly professed brothers. The Formators of the candidates: Fr. Joseph Wattanasak, CSS the Novice Master (Thailand), Fr. Jimado, CSS the Assistant Novice Master (Philippines), and Fr. Paul Kritaphark, CSS (Thailand) the Spiritual Director – has served in the liturgy as well.

The celebration is one of the fruit of the Stigmatine’ endeavor.  It is the output of the so called “internationality,” where staunched connection in every Stigmatine community around the globe is found.

Our father and founder St. Gaspar Bertoni said “The grace of vocation is an immense series of grace.”

By: Novice Jerome L. Hermosada

The second batch of the Inter-Provincial Novices in Thailand

3^rd of May, 2014 at 7 o’clock in the evening, eight candidates from two different provinces were accepted as novices. These candidates are composed of six Filipinos and two Thais and they were accepted by Rev. Fr. Joseph Winai, CSS, Provincial Superior of Mary the Morning Star Province (Thailand) and Rev. Fr. Silvano Controne, CSS, Provincial Superior of the Our Lady of Hope Province (South Italy). The acceptance was held in the Stigmatine Interprovincial Novitiate House Phuket, Thailand, witnessed by other Stigmatine confreres, visitors, and former novices, who did their first profession on the following day.

           

The vespers created a very solemn atmosphere of the acceptance. The candidates while kneeling in front of the Provincial Superiors expressed their heartfelt desire and willingness of entering the novitiate through the words “Yes we are!” The clapping of hands from the witnesses, the singing of songs that were played, and the brotherly hug symbolize warmth welcome to each one of the newly accepted novices. The former novices gave roses to each one of the new novices as a sign of congratulation as they were moving ahead to the new formation level.

It was a very special event because of the presence of the different confreres from Italy, Philippines, and Thailand. Indeed it is a manifestation of strong unity. The purpose of the Inter-Provincial Novitiate is to create a strong bond and solidarity amidst diversity congregation. This is the beginning of the international collaboration of the different Stigmatine communities in the world. This program generates harmony among all the Stigmatine confreres for the better future of the congregation.

By: Novice Yolleces A. Amora

COMMUNITY DAY

Christian’s meditation: fab

Christian’s meditation

Christian meditation have many kinds we can practice it for example; Lectio  Divina, devotion to blessed sacrament, Rosary, Ignatius exercise etc. absolutely every kind of mediation have aims to God. It was the third time which I experienced different kinds of meditation. Our course began by Fr.Prasert, the Redemptorist priest who taught us his teaching based on Benedictine Monk Laurence Freemen OSB. According to his teaching I could understood “what is Christian’s meditation and how do I meditate?

On 25-26 January 2014, during the night we stared our Christian’s meditation course at Redemptorist seminary Sampran by Fr.Prasert. He said about “what is meditation? The word of meditation is like the word “medicine.” It has this prefix “med,” which is a Greek prefix that means “care” or “attention.” So when we meditate we are being careful, we are paying attention. And Christian mediation nowadays there are going back to the teaching of Jesus on contemplation which in the holy scripture was written by St. Luke whom he wrote his gospel that we called “the gospel of prayer because he shows us Jesus at prayer, he prayer as his baptism before he choose twelve (6:12) it is only St. Luke tells us Jesus prayer for Peter and only tell us the prayer parable of the Friend at midnight (11:5-13) also we must prayer before do important things as Jesus did in his life.

Fr.Prasert taught us how do we meditate?  He shortly summarized the practice in this simple way of Laurence Freemen OSB who was influenced by John Main his teacher as he said “Sit down. Sit still with your back straight. Close your eyes lightly. Then interiorly, silently begin to recite a single word – and a prayer word. We recommend the ancient Christian prayer-word "Maranatha". Say it as four equal syllables. Breathe normally and give your full attention to the word as you say it, silently, gently, faithfully and above all - simply. The essence of meditation is simplicity. Stay with the same word during the whole meditation and from day to day. Don't see but listen to the word as you say it. Let go of all thoughts (even good thoughts), images and other words. Don’t fight your distractions but let them go by saying your word faithfully, gently and attentively and returning to it immediately that you realize you have stopped saying or it or when your attention is wandering.

As I experienced Christian meditating which it’s not easy to get out from my worries, plans, desires and thoughts there are came to my mind and I could not focus well. Many kinds of meditation I like Ignatius style because it is comfortable to me. According to this course it inspires me to meditate each morning and evening .He said “as one day God will change our mind and heart." I certainly believes that he shows their lives through clips those who do meditate every day which change them some of them be clam down, pay attention well in studying, sleep well, and be close with God until they can show image of and be true son of God.  His conclude before we finished our course the way of meditation is to seek and to love God that will show image of God to each other 

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION: GUIDED BY HOLY SPIRIT by Nithin

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION: GUIDED BY HOLY SPIRIT

Nithin

The basis of Christianity is “the experience of God.” It is not an intellectual experience but experiencing His love with our hearts. Christian meditation is a method of prayer to experience God with our heart. In this method of prayer only our heart is used not our head. Be still and silent and invoke the Holy Spirit to guide us and slowly repeat the ‘manthra’ and be fully in the love of God. This is the egoless prayer and the perfect prayer. This is an ‘Affective’ method of prayer in which we are not seeking the help of our own intellect but rather we allow ourselves to be guided by Holy Spirit.

I remember when I was doing the first year of Philosophy we had a subject called ‘Spiritual Theology’. In that class the professor taught us about two kinds of prayer methods and the examples that he used to explain those methods gives the clear indication of how to do those prayers. In Sanskrit we call them: “markada marga” and “marjara marga”. The term markada means ‘monkey’ and the term marjara means ‘cat’. We know how these animals take care of their small ones. The small child of monkey has to take effort to hold tightly to its mother when she moves from one place to another but, the kitten, the small one of cat, doesn’t have any effort when it is moved from one place to another. It is taken in the mouth of the mother safely. The two methods of prayers are also same as the above examples. In the affective prayer we do not have much effort, we allow Holy Spirit to guide us but in the speculative method of prayer we must use our intellect and our imagination; it requires our efforts much. So the Christian Meditation is an affective prayer where we experience the love of god without much effort of our intellect.

Now going more deep into the Christian meditation we can see that it is an ‘ego less prayer’. So to make our meditation effective we must find our true self by denying the ego self. Denying the ego self is as painful as denying ourselves and taking our daily crosses. The means and end of Christian meditation is Renunciation; not possessing God. We find our true self in the Christian meditation. Our true self is the image of God and to know God we need the help of Holy Spirit. That is why we invoke the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the meditation and ask to guide us.  As a conclusion we can say that Christian meditation is all about our relationship with God not knowledge of Him. What actually happens is god seeks us not we seek him. He Himself helps us to understand our true self. It is a journey of spiritual life through Christ to the Father.

Vita Consecrata: A Burden or Ease?

Vita Consecrata: A Burden or Ease?

 Carlos Pezaña Avenido

In our world where a lot of schools of thought are started to dominate, where secularism and materialism are the superiors of every person, and where great existentialists are on track of changing the old ways of life. We can say that the sign value which emphasizes and highlights the importance of consecrated life has been acknowledged very little and is not the number one majority of the person anymore. This is the effect of the supremacy of the post modern period where everything is carried away by the advancement of modern technology and modern devices which will help the life of the human person very easy to live, but very easy to die also.

       For the majority of the Catholics around the world, to consecrate your life to God is not a great challenge anymore unlike before where you would experience so many challenges in line of preaching the Word of God. However in this period where everything is stable in terms of believing on Jesus Christ as God and Savior (except for those countries who are not catholic by faith), “… the passionate search for God’s will, for self giving, for unfailing communion in the church, for the practice of spiritual discernment and love of the truth…” (Vita Consecrate No. 84) are not anymore the main purpose of human’s existence but the search for new computers, new online games, new gadgets and the accumulation of all the material things are the main goals why they live their life with confidence and courage.

       Usually when we speak of consecrated life, we are speaking also of the three vows that a person is going to live if he wants to consecrate his entire life to God. These three vows (chastity, poverty, and obedience) are the passport of the person to live a life where everything is about evangelizations and spiritual experiences, and eventually, where he will be asked to “bear witness everywhere with the boldness of a prophet who is unafraid of risking even his life” (Vita Consecrate No. 85).

       The very reason that I notice why a person is not capable of living a consecrated life anymore is that he looks at the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience as major challenges which denied himself from enjoying the things of this world, to satisfy his hunger for power, and to humble himself from his fellows. As stated in the document of the church “the evangelical counsels should not be considered as a denial of the values inherent in sexuality, in the legitimate desire to possess material goods, or to make decisions for oneself” (Vita Consecrate No. 87). However, the problem is the person who does otherwise than following the rules living the consecrated life. Hence, to encourage a person to consecrate himself to God, he must be taught and injected well of the benefits that he might get in serving the Lord through the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. And finally, he must learn that the true satisfaction and happiness is not found here on earth but in the world after this world where those who are worthy can only enter and live for eternity.

       Honestly, at first I looked at this kind of life (consecrated life) as an obstacle to do my duties and inclinations in this world because everything must be done according to the norms of the Gospel. But when I started to learn the true meaning of this life, I was able to turn my focus on God and not on my personal interests anymore. It is different when you decided to live this life basing from your own personal interests than living a life forgetting your natural desires and do only the things that would please God. These two views are very opposite; we cannot say that they are the same because the end is still consecrating your life to God. No, in this kind of life, the intention is very important, we must learn and live the way the first Christians did. We must be ready to sacrifice everything not for our own sake but for the sake of our love to God.

       Aspiring to live a consecrated life of course need a lot of sacrifices and suffering, but what you can find in the end if you decided to consecrate yourself to God is the happiness and satisfaction that you always longed to acquire. It is true that it is very difficult but if you discover how God sacrificed himself because of his love for us then we will realized that living a consecrated life is nothing compare to the sufferings that God endured when he chose to save us from eternal damnation.

        

BENEFITS OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATION: Louie Aninion

BENEFITS OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

-        Louie Aninion

Peaceful mind, right decision, unlocking innate knowledge and reaching our inner self are some of the benefits that we can get from Christian Meditation as Fr. Prasert, a Redemptorist priest shared to us on January 25-26.

Christian meditation is simple and yet faith enriching. The objective is to connect with your true-self and find God within you. How to do this? First, you have to be still and calm yourself. When reaching the pinnacle of peace start reciting the mantra, ‘Maranatha’ or any simple thought you like, inviting the Lord to come unto you.

The first time I did this, I felt dizzy. My muscles stiffed. My mind wandered around. Fr. Prasert said if you are distracted just continue to say the mantra and always to go back to zero. Additionally, he shared that doing Christian meditation is, do not expect and do not compare yourself to other. This is a prayer from the heart not from the head.

Looking at our present time, I can say that it (the world) has transformed the lifestyle of many. The booming industry and technologies snatch out our serene life as it was. We become more anxious how to respond the demands of our world. Gradually, we forget to feed our spiritual life. We forget to connect with our true-self. Worst, we forget that there is God. This materialism and consumerism virus of our spiritual brings noise and block-out to our spiritual life. It consumes little by little our real identity as sons of God. This enslaves us.

This is not who we are. We need to find our way back to our true-self. We need to the stop this virus of our spiritual. We need to overcome this. Let us not allow that this defines us for the rest of our existence in this world. As the Scripture would say “Watch and pray.” We need to be vigilant and pray always.

This Christian Meditation experienced is very timely for me. This will surely drag away the materialism and consumerism virus in our life. This will help us to bring back our life into whole again which is not only body but a ‘body and soul’. It will aid us to be aware of our ‘ego’ which leads us to desire more, crave more for money, authority and fame and always jealous to other. Finally, be able to reach our true self and God within our life.

Thus, I would recommend to you reading this article to try Christian meditation at home first within 20 minutes and see for yourself how beautiful and worth to connect with our true-self and God than the world offers to us and how it will give you back your peace of mind, your very whole self.

It is true as majority said that not of this world alone that gives us peace, joy and contentment in our life, we therefore need to connect always to our true-self and God in our prayer like doing Christian meditation. In perfecting our life in this world through the aid of our Almighty God we can see and feel what is necessary and not necessary for our life while we are still continue living in this alluring world.

Reliving The Consecrated Life Makes God’s Presence Felt The More

Reliving The Consecrated Life Makes God’s Presence Felt The More

-        Nov. Louie Aninion

The common understanding of consecrated life is a holiness of life pattern to Jesus’ life on earth. In short, it is an imitation of Christ Life. It is following the way of Jesus.

The encyclical letter no. 84 states that consecrated life is a special form of sharing in Christ’s prophetic office which the Holy Spirit communicates to the whole of people of God. It is a radical nature of following of Christ.

So, I could say that consecrated is a very special gift from God given to the chosen people. The consecrated person embraced and commits themselves completely to God through which he/she becomes an ‘alter-Christ’ witnessing the truth of the Gospel.

Now the questions that come to my mind are; does consecrated life still important to this day? Does consecrated life has greatly influence the people of today?

To the first question, yes it is still very significant. The Vita Consecrata no. 85 exhorts that the sign of God’s presence has been lost, a convincing prophetic witness on the part of consecrated person is increasingly necessary.

Looking at the present time, human reason has predominantly prevails in every individuals. Faith has been neglected. And as we all know reason alone is vanity. We really need faith in God to guide us in every circumstance in life to arrive at the desired result where the value of human dignity is treasured. Abortion, civil wars and many forms of chaos are continuously happening everywhere. Many lives even innocent ones were claimed by inhuman act because of our own selfish reason.

We really need to relive the “consecrated life to defend all that is contrary to divine will” (Cf. Vita Consecrata no. 84) through consecrated person who commit to imitate the chaste, poor and obedient Christ.

Going to the second question, does consecrated life has greatly influence the people of today? I absolutely answer yes to this query. People have high regards to the priests and nuns who vowed themselves in chastity, poverty and obedience. They seek an advice from them (priests and nun) when they are in trouble. However, people think that consecrated life is for the priests and nuns alone to embrace. Yes, they partly correct in that matter. But if we look at it in deeper sense, this invites everyone whatever state of life we embrace. Since, we are God’s children created in his own image and likeness, thus, everyone is invited to live chaste, poor (charity) and obedience. We are called to live life prudently and to seek always God’s Will in our day to day life.

Allow me to quote the challenges that were discussed in Vita Consecrata on consecrated life. It was written in no. 88 the challenges of consecrated chastity. It states that “the first challenge is that of hedonistic culture which separates sexuality for all objective moral norms, justifying a kind of idolatry of sexual instinct. The reply of consecrated life is joyful living of perfect chastity as a witness to the power of God’s love manifested in the weakness of human condition.” It continues that “it is offered to everyone in order to show that power of God’s love can accomplish great things precisely within the context of human love.” No. 89 is about the challenge of poverty. It was written that “the challenge of poverty is materialism which craves possession, heedless of the needs and sufferings of the weakest and lacking any concern for the balance of natural resources. The reply of consecrated life is found in the profession of evangelical poverty which is expressed in solidarity and charity. It is attesting in imitating poor Christ that God is the true wealth of the human heart under the inspired principle of simplicity and hospitality.” Lastly, no. 91 talks about the challenge of freedom in obedience. It was said in this no. that “consecrated person testifies that there is no contradiction between obedience and freedom. Indeed, Jesus discloses the mystery of human freedom as the path of obedience to the Father’s will and the mystery of obedience as the path to the gradual conquest of true freedom. They intend to show their awareness of being children of the Father; as a result they take the Father’s will as their daily bread, as their rock, their joy, their shield and their fortress.”

It was indeed the invitation for those who vowed to consecrate themselves in chastity, poverty and obedience. But the priests and nuns are not only committing themselves to live the consecrated for their own advantage. As we remember that “consecrated person gives witness to the truth to the people of God.” So, they are made as instrument in order to lead us to the holiness of life which is for everyone. We are God’s children created in His own likeness. Thus, whatever state of life we embrace, we are encouraged by God to live the life that Jesus live that is to be chaste, be charitable and be obedient to God.

Truly, I personally felt afraid of the challenges that await me. It is not easy to be an example to someone who is already blinded by the world. It is not easy to be an example to someone who is sunk from the abyss of this world. Not only that, because many consecrated person failed to live faithfully their vows, they have biases already about priest and nuns. Others have put them (consecrated person) into the box labeled with ‘You are also the same with them and soon you too will leave.’ But as I try to get closer with Him while carrying all these worries, I remember the phrase of the song entitled, You Are Mine “Do not be afraid I am with you.” I regain back my confidence and said those are given challenges already that cannot stumble the person who ‘watch and pray.’ As long as I will not lost contact with my God like a child holding the hands of his/her father, putting all his/her trust and entrusting his/her life to the father, I will never be lost along the way.

We need to relive the consecrated life to make God’s presence felt in each one of us in this world. This means to give witness to the life of Jesus even if it costs our life.

EXPERIENCE OF GOD THROUGH CHRISTAN MEDITATION: JOBIN THAYYIL

EXPERIENCE OF GOD THROUGH CHRISTAN MEDITATION

JOBIN THAYYIL

There are different methods of prayer. Quietism, rationalism, speculative, apophatetic,  kathaphatic, pietism, encratism, affective, etc. The most important aim of prayer is to experience God. Christian meditation is one of the methods for experiencing God. Christian meditation is a silent prayer with a repeated Mantra. Meditation is a way of self-knowledge and self acceptance.

For Christian meditation there are there important things. First stillness which means keeping our mind always steady. Secondlysilence meaning to make our mind and body quiet and pay attention to God. Then lastlySimplicity, meansdo not use our head and our reasons. There are four important things to be kept in mind for good meditation. We should discipline ourselves do not evaluate the result of meditation because we are allowing God to work within us and He has His own time to work.  Then do not expect something before dong meditation and start with zero.

For me Christian meditation is easier than other methods of prayer. Because for other methods we are more inclined to use our intelligent and reason. But for Christian meditation Holy Spirit is guiding us and more than the head the heart is used. We are entrusting ourselves fully to the will of God. The means for doing that is denying ourselves. Jesus says in the gospel of Luke 9:23 “if you want to come with me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross every day, and follow me.” If we are not ready to deny ourselves Holy Spirit cannot work in us. To deny ourselves means to avoid our ego. The signs of our ego self are desire to dominate, desire to keep, desire to be advance , desire to hold on everything etc. so for doing the will of God we have to avoid our ego and deny ourselves even it is against our will.We can see this in the Holy Family. They did not do anything according to their will. But they deny themselves for the will of God. They always seek and act according to the will of God.

 Through Christian meditation we can find our true self. We are the image of God and this is our true self. Our duty is to avoid our false self that is ego and find our true self that is the image of God. Christian meditation is an egoless prayer. We do not desire to possessGod but to love Him and experience His love.

Christian meditation is the prayer of faith. Through this we are having a good relationship with God. It will increase our faith in God and encourage us to trust fully in God. we are the part of Jesusbody. That is our true self. Through meditation we can find our true self and become a good child of God.

REFLECTION PAPER ON VITA CONCECRATA.

JOBIN THAYYIL

  Consecrated life is a call to prophecy. In the history of the church along side other Christians there have been men and women consecrated to God who through a special grace of Holy Spirit have carried out a genuinely prophetic ministry speaking in the name of God to all even to the pastors of the church. True prophecy is born of God from friendship with Him, from attentive listening to his word in different circumstances. Prophets feel in their hearts a burning desire for the holiness of God  and having heard his  word in the dialogue of prayer , they proclaim that word with their lives , with their lips, and with their action becoming  people who speak for God against evil and sin. Prophetic witness requires the constant and passionate search for Gods will, for self giving for unfailing communion in the church for the practice of spiritual discernment and love of the truth.

It is necessary to show the witness of prophetic life in the modern world where the signs of God have been lost. For that firstly we have to entail the affirmation of the primacy of God and of eternal life. It should be through following of Jesus who consecrated His life for the glory of God and to the love of His brethren.  We can do this through fraternal life. A prophet should be ready to even sacrifice his life to bear witness. Secondlytheprophesy requires a consistency between proclamation and life.  Their life and teaching should go together. It is also needed that they should have the harmony with church’s magisterium and discipline.  A consecrated person should be faithful to his life even to the point of martyrdom. We have many examples of martyrs who kept their faith in the midst of persecution and sufferings in the history of the church. They enlighten us by their examples , they intercede that we may be faithful and they awaits us in glory. The church always inviting us to imitate them.

  The decree also explained about three major challenges of consecrated life.They are related directly to the evangelical councils of chastity, poverty and obedience. The consecratedlife really transforms the true human values.  The evangelical council should not be considered as a denial of the values inherent of sexuality, in the legitimate desire to poses material goods or to make decision for one self. But they are good in themselves. The profession of chastity, poverty, and obedience is a warning not to underestimate the wound of original sin and while affirming the value of created goods, it relativizes them by pointing to God as the absolute good.

  First challenge against chastity is the hedonistic culture which considers sexuality as a consumer good or treat it as a mere diversion. It justifies a kind of idolatry of sexual instinct and it causes psychic and moral problems in individuals and families.The reply of the consecrated life is above all in the joyful living of perfect chastity as a witness to the power of God’s love manifested in the weakness of human person.  They love God above all other things and love others with the same freedom of God with the grace of God. It is offered to every on – young people ,husband and wife, and Christen families -in order to show that the power of God’s love can accomplish great things precisely within the context of human love.it is also witness which also meet a growing need  for interior honesty in human relationship. The duty ofa religious is to present to today’s world an example of chastity showing balance, self maturity, an enterprising spirit and psychological maturity. Through this they offer a stablepoint of reference to human love that is the pure love which concerted person draw from contemplation of Trinitarian love. Because of this contemplation they feel that they are capable to have a radical and universal love which gives them the strength for the self master and discipline necessary in order not fall under the domination of the senses and instincts.

  The decree also explains about the challenges of poverty. The main challenge is materialism that is desire to poses things.it does not consider the people who are weak and it has no concern for the balance of natural resources. The reply of the consecrated life for this is the evangelical council of poverty. Evangelical poverty is a value in itself. Because it recalls the value of beatitudes in the imitation of the poor Christ.Its primary meaning is to testify that God is the true wealth of human heart. It is very necessary in this modern age where people are not concerning about the resources and its scarcity. So consecrated persons who understand the scarcity of recourses are leading a simple life and placing a break on desire so that they can respect and protect the creation.They are leading a life based on fraternity inspired by the principles of simplicity and hospitality. So they have to show concern and compassion to the poor. They are keeping a preferential love for the poor and they show it to those who live in a very poor condition. Many consecrated people areliving full their life hid with Christ in Lord (col 3.3) for the salvation of the world,freely giving themselves, and spending their life for causes which are little appreciated and even less extolled. Through this they are sharing the radical poverty embraced by the Lord.

 Bl. Pope John paul II  also explains very well about the challenges of obedience. The main challenge derived from the thought of freedom. Freedom means promotion of human value and it is connected with the respect of human person. But sometimes the freedom leads to injustice and even violence. The effective response to this problem is obedience. Consecrated person follow Christ through obedience who was very obedient to His father. So the obedience of consecrated life re-proposes the obedience of Christ to the father and taking this mystery as its point of departure testifies that there is no contradiction between obedience and freedom. Freedom is the path of obedience to the will of the father and mystery of obedience as the path to the gradual conquest of true freedom.  So the consecrated person proving that he is the son of the heavenly father through obeying of His will. 

The prophetic witness in the modern world

The prophetic witness in the modern world

Nidhin

 The consecrated life is the life of witness in this world.  It is the prophetic witness to the primacy which God and the truths of the gospel have in the Christian life. This prophetic witness is the special form of sharing in Christ’s Prophetic office. According to Bl. Pope John Paul II the true prophecy is born of god, from friendship with him, from attentive listening to his word in the different circumstances of history.

 The religious must feel in their hearts a burning desire for the holiness of god and, having heard his word in the dialogue of prayer, they proclaim that word with their lives, with their lips and with their actions, becoming people who speak for god against evil and sin (VC 84). This is how the religious are expected to do their prophetic witness.

This contemporary world demands a convincing prophetic witness because they seem to have lost the awareness god’s presence. The consecrated persons must give witness to the affirmation of God and eternal life. It is in this place the evangelical counsels become necessary for the consecrated persons to become witness in the world. They imitate the chaste, poor and obedient Christ. The living of these counsels itself is prophetic in this present society.

The prophetic character of the religious life demands the consistency between proclamation and living. The religious proclaim their vows publically and in order to fulfill their prophetic witness they must live them in its fullness. But, this modern world and its rationalistic thoughts raises many challenges to the consecrated life. To overcome these challenges the consecrated persons must have a courage and faithfulness of a martyr.  They must bear witness to Christ the lord with the gift of their lives.

Bl. Pope John Paul II speaks about three major challenges of religious life in ‘Vita Consecrata.’ They are directly related to the evangelical counsels of chastity poverty and obedience. The vows from the rationalistic point of view is misinterpreted as a denial of the values inherent in sexuality, in the legitimate desire to possess material goods or to make decision for oneself. But the real meaning of the evangelical counsels are far beyond these explanations. It is not the denial of the values of human life but it is the affirmation of the real values of the created goods and it relativize the created goods by pointing to God as the absolute Good. Thus they find the real value of everything and reject the idolatry of anything created.

 Now let us go little deep into the challenges of the consecrated life. The first challenge of the religious life is the challenge to the consecrated chastity. That arises from the Hedonic culture. We know what hedonism is. They have a different understanding of happiness. They consider bodily pleasures as the real happiness. And they separate the sexuality from all the objectives of moral norms. It is a kind of idolatry of sexual instinct. The consecrated persons through living the vow of chastity give witness to the world that it is possible to love God with whole heart, putting Him above every other love and thus love every creature with the freedom of god. It gives a witness to the interior honesty in human relationships. The vow of chastity does not limit the nature of man i.e. to love. But it gives a joyful liberating experience. It gives the freedom to love everyone in this world in a same way. Through this vow the consecrated persons are liberated from binding themselves to one person or one family.

 Another major challenge is the materialism. It is the challenge to the vow of poverty. Materialism is a desire for possession without considering the needs and sufferings of others especially of poor. And the result is; the rich becomes richer and richer and the poor becomes more poor and poorer. The profession of the evangelical poverty is the authentic witness or testimony against this materialism. It is expressed in an active involvement in the promotion of the solidarity and charity. Through deferent charitable works and educational institutes the consecrated persons fight to overcome the hunger and its cause. By living the poverty they learn more to give than take or possess. Thus they overcome the challenge of materialism. They attest that god is their true wealth and challenge the idolatry of money.  The consecrated persons live the poverty by respecting and conserving the creation. They do it through reducing the consumption, by living more simply and placing a necessary brake on their own needs. They show a preferential love for the poor by sharing their conditions of life through living and working among them.

The different understanding of the notion of freedom is another major challenge to consecrated life and it is the field where the religious through the vow of obedience give a prophetic witness to the world. Considering the obedience of Christ to the Father as the point of reference we can prove that there is no contradiction between obedience and freedom. Obedience is actually the gradual conquest of true freedom. We gain the freedom of the children of God through obedience so we can say that obedience makes us actually what we are. We find our true identity as children of God through obedience.

 As a conclusion we can say that the challenges that consecrated persons faces in their lives challenges them to show the world a true testimony with their lives. And the evangelical counsels are the means for giving witness to the world. The counsels makes them prophets and give them the courage of a prophet.