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.

Psychology course on maturity and interpersonal relationship

Psychology course on maturity and interpersonal relationship

We had our two days course on inter-personal relationship and maturity at the pastoral center of Surathanni Diocese by Fr. Sompong. He is the diocesan priest of that diocese. He gave us talk on maturity in the first session.

In the second session Fr. Sompong taught us about interpersonal relationship and personality development. Since we live in the community the mature interpersonal relationship is very necessary. He also taught us about different kinds of personalities in our live.

The classes were really helpful for us to grow mature in our relationship with one another.

FEAST OF HOLY SPOUSES AND CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

FEAST OF HOLY SPOUSES AND CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

On January 19^th at 5 O’ clock am we started our journey to Sampran to attend the feast of Holy Spouses and for our course on Christian Meditation. Before arriving there we stopped by Hua Hin floating market and farm.  We really enjoyed there for some times. The market was not functioning that time. But we had our good times in the farm. From there we went to Zonta, the place of Fr. Dominic and stayed overnight there. Then on next day we went around Ratha Buri to see the beauty of the place. We went to the Scenery Vintage Farm. It was really beautiful. We saw a lot of sheep there and we had a lot of fun there with different games like shooting, basketball, throw ball, archery and so on. We really enjoyed there.

We reached at Sampran on 20^th of January. We helped the seminarians there to do some cleaning as part of preparation for feast. Then we had our interesting football match against seminarians. Though they defeated us in some games we all enjoyed them and the seminarians too. 

On 21^st we hanged around Sampran to see some interesting places like Ban Puan (pastoral centre of Bangkok arch diocese), St. Joseph school, and Blessed John Paul II memorial hall. We went also to the cemetery and visited the tomb of Fr. John Bosco and br. Paul Arthit and prayed for the eternal repose of their souls. Then we went to see the Sangtham College or Lux Mundi. It is the only collage of Philosophy and theology in Thailand. Seminarians from all the dioceses and religious congregations are studying there.

On 25^th of January was the celebration of the Holy Spouses Mary and Joseph. All the benefactors of our Congregation in Thailand came to attend the feast. It was a big and holy celebration. At 10.30 Am we had our Holy Mass. Fr. Winai was the main celebrant. He was assisted by ten of our confreres. After the celebration of the Eucharist there was special prayer to Holy Spouses and all those who attended Mass offered flowers to them. After the Mass there was grant lunch and some programs. Fr. PeterBancha andFr. Dominic were the masters of the ceremony. In the afternoon there was a big foot ball match between the Stigmatine seminarians and those who left the seminary before. Most of them had come to attend the feast.Our minor seminarians won the game.

On that same day evening at 7.30 pm we started our course on Christian meditation with Fr. Presert from Redemptorist fathers. We went to their house and attended the course. It was 5 session course. We completed the course in two days. Christian meditation is an “affective” method of prayer in which we pray with our heart. We learned a lot about it and practiced it at the end of all the sessions.  

Reflections on the 

Spiritual Excercice in Chiangmai

By Jobin Thayyil

For me the retreat in Chiangmai was very helpful. The place itself was very calm and quite. That surrounding helped me to think deeply. Since there was also a lot of time I was able to think more deeply about my vocation. The biblical passages given by the retreat master for contemplation were also related to vocation.

In the first day our retreat masters Rev. Fr. Paul asked us to pray three times. He gave two bible passages those were ex. 2:23 – 3: 12 and 1 Samuel 3--. 1-10. He also gave us the pictures related to these passages. First I meditated on ex2:23. It was about calling of Moses. God called Moses when he went closer to God. He approached the burning bush out of curiosity. When he approach it God talked to him. So in order to hear and respond to Gods call I should also go closer to him. Moses was also asked to take off his sandals. This means that we have to detach from world. We have to take off the impure things to approach God. To approach the holy place we have to remove everything which are hindrance to holiness. The detachment from the world will help me more to attach to God. God always listen the cry of his people. He is a God who is having compassion to his people. He chose Moses to save Israel from the slavery of Egypt. Thus we can say that every vocation is the answer for the cry of God’s people. I am also called by God to wipe the tears of his people and bring them to him. Moses was a person who could not speak well. When Moses said this to God he said that I am with you. I am also very weak but God can make me strong.

I received the same message when I reflect on the book of Samuel. God called Samuel when he was sleeping in the temple. He was very close to God. Samuel was able to respond well to His call with the help of Eli.   He said that Lord speak your servant is listening. I also have to respond to God’s call and submit myself fully to God like Samuel. In the thirds prayer period   I reflected on Luke 10. 11-12. this passage was about the choosing and sending of 72 disciples by Jesus. They were sent by Jesus to preach. It is the duty of the disciples to preach. Whether people accept or reject they must to preach the good news trusting fully in God.

The second day Fr. Paul taught us two methods of prayer; contemplation and Lectio Divina. We were asked to pray three times. I used the method of contemplation for two prayer periods. In this method there are three preludes. 1. Read and understand the history. 2. Imagine the place, the characters and the events. 3. Ask our God what I want and desire. First I reflect upon Jn .1. 34- 42.it says about the first disciples of Jesus. I also tried to put myself in the gospel. At first I found it very hard to concentrate because I was very distracted.  But after wards I was able to do that. I reflect on this gospel in the garden of seven foundens. Jesus was asking the disciples to come and see where he was living. They went and stayed with him. They were able to understand and proclaim about him. They brought Simeon to Him. Since I am also called to proclaim Christ I must know Him first. So at the end of the meditation I asked the intercession of Mary the mother of God and concluded the meditation with an Our father.

In the second section I reflected on john. 1 .43- 53using the same method. This says about the calling of Philip. Jesus called Philip and said. “Follow me.” He followed him suddenly. He was also able to bring Nathaniel to Jesus.

 When he reached Jesus told that Jesus had seen him before when he was sitting under the fig tree. He also believed in him. During the time of contemplation I was very peaceful and I was able to complete my meditation and imagine the gospel. At the end I asked the intercession of mother Mary to pray for me to increase my faith. I concluded my prayer with an our father.

In the third section I use the method of Lectio Divimna. I reflected on Jn. 1 1-18. I read the scripter passage slowly slower than usual without pausing. After that I read the passage again used word by word and phrase by phrase. When I came to know that a phrase touched me I tried to reflect on it. The phrase which touched me was Jn 1. 8, “he himself was not the light but he came to testify the light.” It was said about john The Baptize. He was sent by God and his duty was to testify Jesus. The duty of the disciples of Jesus is also same that is to show or introduce Him to the people. That is the duty of all who received the call of discipleship. I am also called to be the disciple of Jesus so that it is also my duty to lead the people to Him. This is the massage I received from this prayer section. I found this method is easier and comfortable because we reflect word by word and phrase by phrase. So if it is started to distract we can continue the reading and go to other phrases or words. So it is more helpful to avoid distractions. I found it more peaceful and comfortable. 

The last day also we were asked to pray three times. The first section I used the passage of Luke 17- 11.19. It was about the ten leopards. I used the method of contemplation. The message of the gospel was to thank God for all the blessings. I went to the main chapel and did it and gave thanks for all the graces that he gave to me.

In the second section we were asked to sing psalms of thanks giving. We were asked to do it without disturbing others. So I went to the hut at the corner of the garden and did this. I used the canticle of Daniel. I tried to remember all the blessing she had showered upon me and thanked him.

In the next prayer section I went to the Labyrinth.  I reflect on Jn. 2.5 That the words of mother Mary “do whatever he tells you.” I reflected this words and walks slowly through that .the message I received from the prayer section was to do all things according to the will of God. For doing the will of God I have to listen the word of God and to live according to the word of God.

So for me the retreat was very helpful. It really helped me to increase my spiritual life. It helped me to acquire knowledge about knew mew methods of prayer. So the retreat was very useful.

Journey through the Labyrinth

(Experiencing God through Ignatian Spiritual Exercises)

By Carlos Pezaña Avenido

      

 The Labyrinth has been known since the civilization started in every habitation around the world. In Greek Mythology, labyrinth has been described as a passage going through the different kingdoms of the gods and goddesses, including that of Hades which is the underworld, and going to the Olympus where most of the gods resided.

       According to Fr. Paul Pullock SJ our retreat director, the labyrinth has been the place of worship used by the Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians, for meditations to obtain inner peace and enlightenment. To have a firsthand experienced in the labyrinth during our three day retreat at the Seven Fountains Spirituality Center run by the Jesuits in Chiang Mai was very inspiring and faith enriching. For three days I prayed in the labyrinth many times, and there was a day that I prayed three times with different styles of prayer.

       As I go through with this reflection, I will be writing here the development of my prayers in the labyrinth and as a whole in the Seven Fountains Spirituality Center, since from the beginning until the end of our retreat.

       I was really amazed after experiencing praying in the Labyrinth many times because it is just like the story of yourself journeying towards God which is at the center of the Labyrinth, sometimes you feel that God is very near to you but you could not touch Him because it is not the end of your journey yet, sometimes you would feel that God is very far from you because you are walking at the very side of the Labyrinth. While continuing your journey you would think a lot of things and many distractions would try to trouble you. Sometimes you would lose your consciousness as regards to what you do and sometimes you would feel very tired because of thinking that you are walking too far already. And then, when you feel very tired but you still want to continue to walk, it would be the time that you would reach God at the center of the labyrinth which means that would be the end of your journey. It was really an amazing experienced!

      

On the first day of the retreat, there were a lot of things troubled and distracted my attention especially during prayers. The feeling that I just wanted to walk and walk until the day would be over. At that time I had no destination, I had no goals, and I could not concentrate on the things that I must supposed to do. I have a lot of questions in my mind such as, how much time did I spend eating? How much time I spent at the chapel? How much time did I spend walking around the spirituality center? And how much time did I spend praying at the labyrinth? The time runs very slow for me at the moment, I have completed the three prayers that should be prayed for the day, I have prayed the rosary three times already, I walked around many times and I prayed at the labyrinth twice already but still these were not enough to end the day immediately. On the other hand, my experienced in the labyrinth during that day was not so good because of the distractions that troubled me a lot, but just like the other days it should have ending and so, I ended the day not so perfect and waited for the next day to come.

       On the second day, I started to love the place, the ambiance of the environment, the trees, the plants and flowers at the surroundings. At least unlike the first day, I have plans and goals already to be achieved at the end of the retreat, in other words I knew already what to do. In my prayers in the chapel and in the labyrinth, I have accomplished and made them without too much distractions. I was able to talk to the Lord deep inside me without minding all the disturbances that were trying to control my consciousness. And unlike the previous day, I did accept the place wholeheartedly.

       The only thing that for me made my day incomplete is that, I was not able to talk to my retreat director because of overstaying at the chapel for my first prayer period. I did not really notice the time and so when I finished my prayer period without knowing that I have overstayed at the chapel, then when I went to the main building it was already 11:15 am and I supposed to meet my retreat director 10:50 am. Thus I have no choice but to wait for another day to have a chance to talk to him. However, all in all, the day was good for me and I felt the gladness and joy in my heart through reading and understanding some scripture passage in the New Testament.

       On the third day, I have realized so many things especially the things that I have in myself. Through accomplishing all the recommendations of the retreat director I have realized that I have a lot of reasons to thank God for all the good and bad things that happened in my life which lead me to develop my skills and talents that I believed will be used in the future for His greater glory. The achievements that I have gained, the skills and talents that I have developed, the unique personality that I have inherited from His wonders, and even the small things that I have received from Him are some of the reasons that I should thank God. God is really all good and all powerful because whatever we ask from Him surely He would give it to us through different ways and manner. Hence, in every grace that we receive from God we should also do our part to thank Him. God does not need our ‘thank you’ but if we did thank Him we would receive more consolation from Him just like the leper who came back to Jesus to thank Him for healing him of his disease.

       For me, the retreat was successful, I have reached my objectives, and my goals in the first place were actualized. Experiencing this kind of retreat is very effective to a person who is finding answers from his/her questions. This kind of spirituality is really faith enriching because you don’t always find the answers to your questions through discussions and sharing from the spiritual director. Sometimes discussions should be set aside, and you only have to look deep within yourself through continuous silence and meditations to find the answers you are looking for.

       I can say that I have really understood definitely this kind of retreat which is very effective by which I have experienced it firsthand. For three days I was looking up to heaven to find the peace I was looking for, eventually I have found it and it was not in the sky but it was deep inside me.

ADDENDUM:

The two days of traveling going to Chiang Mai and the four days of travelling going back here including the visit to some Stigmatine confreres here in Thailand were the longest land travel that I experienced since then. It was very tiring but it’s worth experiencing because of the inspirations that the individual Stigmatine Thai Confrere shown to us through their ministries and characters in their assign areas. For me personally, I got many things from them though the visits were very quick, I have thought a lot of things that I must do also in the future, if it is the will of God for me. Those were 10 days out of the novitiate house memorable experience, and thanks be to God that we were able to come back home safe and sound.

Christmas Party 2013

Our gifts for our Christmas buddy.

Novice Jobin
receives his gifts from Fr. Jim

Novice Louie receives
his gift from Novice Carlos

Fr. Paul and Mr. John Marzelli
(an American Lay Stigmatine)

     

Fr. Michael is giving his gift to 
Mr . John

Novice Fab sang a song for all of us

     



                Last December 22, 2013 we had our Christmas party together with Fr. Michael the Superior in Phuket community and Mr. John Marzelli an American Lay Stigmatine Associate.

         It was a very simple celebration of Christmas but we had a lot of fun especially during the giving of gifts. Our way of giving the gift to our specific buddy was unique because the audience would have to guess first the buddy of the person before revealing his buddy, thus we consume more time in guessing than opening the gift.

         We had also other visitors that night, they were children from our neighbors. They also joined and participated the celebration with all the singing, dancing, playing, etc. and they also received gifts from us.

      The foods that we prepared were simple foods, there was beef steak, rice, and some Thai foods that were very delicious. After perhaps 2 hours of fun, we ended our celebration with big smiles in our faces and of course we were also tired because of the preparation and everything, but all in all our Christmas celebration in the community was very good and through the participation of each one of us we felt the presence and message of Christ this Christmas season, i.e. to become united in His name. Merry Christmas to everyone!

Lectio Divina with Bishop Joseph Prathan

On 05 December 2013 at 2.00-4.00 p.m. Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil, S.D.B. of the Diocese of Surat Thani.He present lecture of the Lectio Divina for novices and formators. 

He explained how to understand the word of God that could be represented with the image of ladders his ladder had five steps. These can be called first stage is lectio (reading) where we read the Word of God,  The second stage is meditatio (reflection) where we think about the text we have chosen, 

The third stage is oratio (response) where we leave our thinking aside and simply let our hearts speak to God. The final stage of Lectio Divina is contemplatio (rest) where we let go not only of our own ideas, plans and meditations but also of our holy words and thoughts. We rest in the Word 

Retreat in Chiengmai

On November 11, at 5 am we started our journey to chiang mai for our spiritual exercise and to see the Stigmatine mission areas. We traveled from the south of Thailand to the north of Thailand.

On the way to chiang mai we stopped by Zonta the mission area of Stigmatinesin ratcha buri. We have a parish there named St. Angela. Fr. Dominic Patharapon is the parish priest there. We reached there by 6 pm on November 11 and we stayed ther over night. We had really good and enjoyable night there. Next day morning by 7.30 am we continued our journey to chiang mai.

After traveling the whole day on November 12 by 9. 30 pm we reached at seven fountain spirituality center of Jesuit fathers. We had the spiritual exercise, the Ignatian way of retreat, there for three days under the guidance of fr. Paul lock SJ from Poland. We really enjoyed the retreat and it was spiritually enriching. It was a self-meditation and contemplative way of retreat. No long sharing or speeches. Every day in the morning at 9. Am fr. Paul will give the biblical passages for our meditation and contemplation. We had to find three prayer periods a day with enough time gap. The method that fr. Paul used for our retreat was really more helpful and fruitful. We could really make use of our prayer periods very well. On 15^th November we finished our retreat.

On 16^th we went around Chiang Mai to see and enjoy the beauty of Chiang Mai province. We went up on the mountain to see the place called Doi Poi. It was really a beautiful place. It is a village of a group of tribes with a special and colorful dress and with a beautiful flower garden. This place is famous for the silk and for the handicraft items. After spending a certain time there for site viewing and shopping we went to see the palace of the king and queen. Unfortunately we were not allowed to enter inside the palace, but we went around it and enjoyed the beauty of the garden around palace. There were many wonders waiting for us. We saw the giant bamboo there.

Acceptance; 5 novices on May,02, 2013

A plan of having an international novitiate had been realized and officially started on May 1, 2013.

5 young men come from 3 different countries in Asia had publicly asked to be admitted as Novices in the Congregation of Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ during the Lauds around 7 am. Rev. Fr. Joseph Winai Pleinbumrung had accepted their request in the Novitiate Chapel, DowroongWittaya, Phuket Thailand.

Carlos Avenido, 22, years old and Laudemer Aninion, 26 years old are coming from the Philippines from the Province of Our Lady of Hope. Jobin Joseph Thayyil, 24, years and Nidhin Devassia, 23 years old are coming from India and also from the Province of Our Lady of Hope Province. Thawatchai Krasaesing, 23, years old is coming from Thailand from the Province of Our Lady of the Morning Star.

All the Stigmatines Confreres who were present embraced the newly admitted novices as sign of welcoming them into their Congregation. 

Rev. Fr. Jose Lasam and     Fr. Jimado Pura who are Filipinos and representatives from the Our Lady of Hope Province witnessed the event.

The acceptance though simple in itself, but through the presence of a good number of Thai-Priests, Brothers and seminarians this made the celebration holy and solemn.

St. Gaspar Bertoni, our founder is indeed much happy to see that everyone is living the camaraderie and fraternal support that long time ago he himself had practiced.