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

The Imitation of Christ and St. Gaspar Bertoni

(The Notion to Obtain True Peace)

By Carlos 

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

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

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

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

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

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

REFLECTION ON THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

CHAPTER 17 ON THE RELIGIOUS LIFE

RELIGIOUS LIFE: A JOURNEY TOWARDS COMMUNION WITH CHRIST THROUGH OTHERS

       Novice Louie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

On the Joy of serving God and

Abandoning the world.

Thawatchai  Krasaesing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BELIEVE AND TRUST IN GOD

Nidhin

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

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

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

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

REFLCTIONS ON IMMITATION OF CHRIST BOOK

JOBIN THAYYIL.

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

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

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

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

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

“Honey and Vinegar”

       Novice Louie

Fr. Romolo left us with profound lessons on Christology, commentary on some Psalms and the characteristics of our Founder, St. Gaspar Bertoni. 17 days living with him is a continual recollection for me. Through his talks and of course his humble presence gave me a vividly vision on the way of life that I will embrace soon if granted that is Stigmatine religious life.

These two substances “honey and vinegar” came from the Fr. Romolo’s mouth when he shared to us.  He said that a drop of honey is better than a spoon of vinegar. It is true because honey is sweet which is of course tasty even if we eat it without bread or anything. But we find distasteful the vinegar if eaten purely because its characteristic is sour. We cannot enjoy eating it purely.

I would like to borrow these- honey and vinegar for my reflection on the class of Fr. Romolo. Jesus is the honey and the vinegar is our world that is centered in selfishness.

Jesus Christ’s temptation in the Gospel of Mark and the more detailed one is the Gospel of Matthew 4: 1-11. Jesus was tempted by Satan in the dessert with these three things which are also the very common hunger of man. The first temptation was turning the stone into bread.  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ (Matthew 4:4). Second temptation ispopularity or fame. The third temptation is power. Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only (Matthew 4:10).

These things power, materialism and fame are all centered on selfishness. These make the world bitter like of the vinegar. We cannot really take this world with one sided view alone that is purely pleasure. If this is how we look at life in the world then we surely feel the sourness of life. Why? Because people will be against each other in terms of popularity, power and materialism. There will be no unity if each of us has self-centered reason in living our life here on earth.

So, the Father in heaven sent Jesus Christ into our world to destroy this self-centered mentality and to guide us to the truth. Jesus lived with the poor and emerged with them. He was accused by the Pharisees and scribe for this act. But Jesus exclaimed, “Good people does not need a doctor, sick people do.”  The Gospel of John revealed how Jesus showed His compassion and mercy to the adulterous woman whom was about to be stoned to death. But He exclaimed, “let the man among you who has no sin to cast a stone at her” (John 8:7). Another is the parable of the prodigal son. The Father welcomed him dearly and gave him a party for his son was dead and now was back to life. The summit of the life of Jesus that teaches about great mercy and compassion was His triumph on the cross where He said, “Father forgive them for they did not know what they are doing.”

Through this act of love of Jesus, the door of heaven was opened again for the whole human race. Jesus fulfilled as the new Adam the salvific plan of His Father in heaven. People have great chance to receive eternal life because of this act of unconditional love through the death of Jesus; our relationship with God has been restored.

The way Jesus lived is like a honey. He showed sweet and tender character to the sinner and to the handicap that were considered a sinner. Even if Jesus received some harsh words from the Pharisees and the Scribes but He continue doing the things that were essential for the sake of the salvific plan of God to save us from the doomed of sin.

That is why many people followed Him. Where ever Jesus goes people flocked together with him. But sad thing to know only few of them has a right intention of following Him. Some followed Him because of physical healing alone. But Jesus did not come for this outside incapabilities but being crippled within our souls.

Knowing Jesus with only for the sake of our selfish reason is useless. In long run we will surely feel tired of following Him. Fr. Romolo said “knowledge of Jesus should not only remain in our mind but should reach in our heart and in our hands.” The total knowledge of Jesus should bring us to love Him more by loving our self and of our neighbor as Fr. Romolo shared to us “if love does not reach to the point of willing to sacrifice for the sake of God is not yet a true love.”

To look and study the life of Jesus is indeed like a honey. But to live and apply the teachings of Jesus into our life is like vinegar once we do not understand the purpose of our life. We come to know our purpose of life in this earth by knowing Jesus. And to know Jesus is to live in accordance with His life which is to go against the current of our time as Pope Francis said. 

The Psalter and Christ

Carlos PezaňaAvenido

 For me, Christology and the Psalter are very interesting subjects. We cannot say that they are distinct from each other because even though the Book of Psalms in the Bible can be found in the Old Testament, and the life of Jesus is written in the New Testament, particularly in the four Gospels, nevertheless, if we read and understand properly each psalm we can say that they are manifestations of the persons of God, who is Jesus, the King of the universe.

This is my personal realization after experiencing more than two weeks of tutelage from Fr. Romolo Bertoni, CSS. After learning the meaning and the interpretation of some of the psalms, I was able to connect them to the reality that some interpretations pertain to the character of Jesus. Thus in this paper I will write piece by piece the things that I have grasped and learned from the teachings of Fr. Romolo about Christology and the Psalter.

The Book of Psalms in the Bible, composed of five sections, hence, I have learned that these sections are divided with the criterion that only some knows, but most probably something connected in honor of the Pentateuch in the Old Testament. Moreover, the psalms are prayers way back in the ancient times that were sung by the faithful, and so, if possible in praying the psalter it must always be sung so that the intention and the origin of the prayer might not be forgotten. When we read the psalms we are not speaking about God, but we speak to God, e.g. “have mercy on me God in your kindness, in your compassion blot out my offense..., or Preserve me God I take refuge in you..., etc.” thus these are acts of our personal dialogue with the Lord, and in speaking to God, we are not only two but three: God, the bad me, and the good me. In other words, the psalms express the need of intimacy or intimate relationship with God.

 There are a lot of categories of the psalms that Fr. Romolo discussed with us. First, there are psalms that speak of trust and confidence in God, or psalms of total abandonment, e.g. the Psalm 23 “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want, He has put me to green pastures...” this psalm is one of the popular psalms in the psalter, this is considered as the “real precious pearl in the Psalter”. Second, there are psalms that speak of the need of intimacy with the Lord, e.g. the Psalm 63 “O God you are my God for you I long, for you my soul is thirsting, my body pines for you, like a dry weary land without water, so I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory...”this intimacy with the Lord is meant to be eternal as stated in the whole of Psalm 63. Third, there are psalms that speak about his passion, death and resurrection. Furthermore, these psalms are also called “Messianic Psalms” which the objects or topics are kings. The psalms that are recited in honor of the King can be interpreted also in honor of God. Even though the psalmists do not know about Christ but there are psalms which if you try to understand pertain to the coming of Christ; his passion, death, and resurrection.

       On the other hand, Christology teaches us all the things about Christ, from the words and its nominal definition “Christus” and “Logos” which means “study of Christ”. Fr. Romolo said to us that in studying Christology, it is not enough to know only who Jesus is, or to learn only who Jesus is, but it is also important to follow and learn His will. The best and easy way to know and learn the life of Jesus is to read the Gospels. The Gospels are the expressways to know Jesus; his childhood, his adolescence years, his ministries, his passion, his death and his resurrection from the dead are concretely stated in them.

After all the discussions of Fr. Romolo about Christology, I was able to summarize and interpret the life of Jesus in one word, i.e. LOVE. Jesus is love. Jesus is the answer of God to human longings.  Moreover, only Jesus can fill our heart’s desire; only Jesus can give us complete joy, complete love, etc.

       

Reflection paper about the classes of fr. Romolo

Nidhin

The classes of fr. Romolo were really inspiring and full of knowledge. The classes on Christology, according to fr. Romolo should be an encounter with Jesus. We really start to love a thing only when our intellect presents it as something good. So the intellectual knowledge about Jesus is very important. In our encounter with Jesus we must encounter with the total Jesus that is  Jesus as fully human and fully divine. The human nature of Jesus we understand from the description of the evangelists. On our journey of encountering with Jesus we would have to go through different levels more specifically three levels. The first level is the level of reason. Here we try to understand Jesus with our intellect. The second level is the affective knowledge that is the knowledge of Jesus as our friend. Then the third and the most important level the knowledge that Jesus is the groom of our soul. This process of knowing Jesus is a life long process. We can never say that we have known Jesus fully. We must know Jesus with our experience. The knowing of Jesus must be implemented in following Jesus. Following Jesus demands more sacrifices and these sacrifices must come out of our love towards Jesus, the love that doesn’t reach in personal sacrifice is not good love.

Fr. Romolo had also given us some trust worthy sources of knowing Jesus: They are “Gospels, Creed, Church teachings and our personal experience of Jesus. Since the OT is fulfilled in NT we can say that the Old Testament gives us the testimonies that Jesus is God, because in Jesus we get the knowledge of the true god, the salvific will of the God is fulfilled in Jesus and the mediation is fulfilled and summarized in Jesus.

Most important knowledge I got through the Christology class of the fr. Romolo is that the hidden life of Jesus is a proof that he was fully a human being. He had really undergone all the life situations that I have in my life and he had also many trials and miseries in his life too. These knowledge gives me courage and more assurance that Jesus can really understand my feelings and troubles as a human being with limitations. Jesus public life also encourages me to do many missions for the people of god as He had done and loved them and lived only for them.

Another important knowledge I had received from sharing of fr. Romolo is about the special devotion of our congregation; the devotion to Five Wounds and the devotion to the Holy spouses. They always go together. The five wound are the signs of love of god towards the human kind. We are saved through these wounds. This is a mark or seal of the Nuptial union of Jesus with man. The holy spouses are the models of the nuptial union of man to Jesus. The stigmata are the signs of union in the midst of sufferings. In the life of holy souses also we find these sufferings. They also abandoned themselves and their all dreams for the fulfillment of the will of God. In the life of Jesus also we see this sufferings and abandonment of his will for the fulfillment of the will of God the Father, “Yet not what I want but what you want” (mk. 14:36).

Fr. Romolo’s classes on the psalms were also inspiring and rich in knowledge and devotion. Those classes helped me to understand the meaning and the importance of the liturgical prayers that we do every day. The psalms don’t speak about god but these are the dialogue to god. When we pray the psalm we speak to god. These are not simply inspired ideas but inspired prayers. The psalms include all the feelings and emotions of man so it can be considered as the best prayers. The symbols that are used in the psalms are the beauty of the psalms. The whole creation joins together with us when we pray the psalms. There would be always a triangle form of god, man and creation in all the psalms. The last one that is the creation is changeable and it can be replaced with our feeling or our enemies. Psalms are also giving us some hints about Jesus Christ. Therefore we can conclude that the subjects that fr. Romolo had chosen for us are interconnected and leads to the knowledge of Christ and the necessity of following him.

REFELCTION ON THE CLASSES OF FR. ROMOLO

NOVICE JOBIN THAYYIL

In the class of Christology Fr. Romolo explained very well about Christ. He explained deeply about the life of Jesus. It really helps me to understand well about Christ and increase my personal relationship with god. Iam trying to bring out the main points. Christology will help us to improve our personal encounter with Jesus. I cannot get things those are above my understanding. Faith is basically knowledge.  The personal love to Jesus is a life long process. Man is unhappy until he reach God. Christ is the son, image of God, redeemer, savior, one who gives us spirit, and mediator etc. we can find Jesus through the teaching of the church. God’s plan of salvation is fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament. God reveled himself that is Jesus. The OT book remained the privilege of the hope of salvation. All prophesies are fulfilled in Jesus. There was a hidden life of Jesus because the evangelists reported only some about the infancy of Jesus. Jesus was a good teacher, a God who forgives sins, performer of miracle and a judge. Christ had a personal relationship with God the father. He felt an eternal relationship with God that he is the son of the Father. Jesus called God with name father. He used the word Abba. It is a kind of intimate relationship. Jesus never fails to trust. We were saved through this trust and love.  Jesus also had a good relationship with human. He was a friend of everybody or he loved everybody with out any discrimination. He loved children. He forgave the sins. He was a man of compassion. He was a man of extra ordinary intelligence. He was a man of prayer and activity. His life was his message. God is the answer for all our questions.Man is not happy without God.

Fr.Romolo also explained very well about psalms. Through psalms we speak to god. They are not only beautiful concepts but inspired idea. There are psalms of praise, repentance,praise of kings and community etc. psalms are the micro cosmos of human kind. According to Calvin they are the anatomy of the soul. They are the light of faith. We contemplate our faith through psalm. They were composed of different stages of theological age.  Theology of psalm is that discovery of God can be done through personal prayer and personal knowledge. We can find God through personal prayer and personal knowledge. Psalms are celebrations of the law. Through the psalm we get an image of God who is a close friend walking with us. Sin in psalms is breaking of relationship. Psalms are also reminding us the need of intimacy to God. Psalms are inviting us to be communion with god. Some of the psalms were composed in the temple or for the use of the temple. We also remember God’s graces and secrets through psalms. Psalms are also uses to glorify God. There is a mutual possession in psalms. I posses God and God posses me.

              Fr.Romolo also shared well about the ministries that are done by St Gasper. There were many ministries those were done by St Gasperin his time. St Gasper was the spiritual director of the seminarians. He was also spiritual director of mother Neopoldina Nudet and Magdalena de Canossa who were the founderess of two congregations. He was helping in the parish.   He was also doing preaching. Another main ministry of St. Gasper was the prison ministry. There were Marian oratories established by St. Gasper for the formation of the youth. There was also a school run by the saint. He was doing many ministries. These classes really help me to understand about the ministries. It was also inspired me and help me to understand how I have to be in the future. 

Reflection on Psalm

Thawatchai  Krasaesing

In the course Fr. Romolo which there are two lessons, the first he teach about Christology that said the life of Jesus. The second period, it Psalms which I’m impressed the Psalms. Because he shared the important ideas such as Background Material on the Psalms, Psalm forms, The Authors of The Psalms and The Arrangement of the Psalms. He emphasized Psalms in the Catholic life especially prays to make time each day sacred. It is a time that calls us to praise God and meditate in prayer to honor that is filled with mercy and love of God in the midst of His Church.

Fr. Romolo’s class that I’m understand in the Psalm and the value of psalms But and I know the prayers of the people of Israel in the Old Testament to become children of God who have been inspired to write the text conversation with him through the history of salvation that happened to them in various forms such as praise, rejoicing in the greatness of His mercy toward him, the tribute in the creation. And the prayer in private and public for them who help them during they faced with difficulties. Moreover, he explain the psalm in life our founder who show a close relationship with God in his life.

After I finished class of Fr.Romolo which the Psalms instruct me in the most important way; the psalm leads me into this relationship with a God who wants us to interact with him honestly in all our circumstances. Absolutely our lives will end up praising him, because in doing so we stay in that right relation to our Maker and heavenly Father.  

Twenty second week Tuesday

                                                                                                                                     Novice JobinThayyil

It is a normal rule that if we want to order or to give a command to another person we need authority or power over that person. People will obey a person who has power over them. Here in the gospel we can see that Jesus is casting out demon from a person with authority. it really proves his power over evil.

We know that the followers of Jesus also need power over evils. From where we get this power? We can find the answer for this question in the gospel of mk9:4 onwards. There also Jesus is casting out a demon from a boy who was first referred to disciples. The disciple was not able to do that. So they brought the boy to Jesus and He cast out the evil from the boy. After disciple asked to Him that why they were not able to cast out the evil? Jesus answered them, “this kind can come out only through prayer.”(mk: 9 ;28) .

Through these words we can understand that the prayer is the real source of power and authority. When we go through the gospel we can see that many times Jesus is going in a lonely place and pray there.

We are called to be the disciples of Jesus. In Mk 3:14, we read that he appointed the twelve whom He named apostles to be with Him , and to be sent out to proclaim the message and to have authority to cast out demons. So to fulfill His mission we have to acquire power and authority through our prayer and personal relationship with god. The message of the gospel is to be constant in prayer.

August 28, 2013, Wednesday: Socialization time!

August 28, 2013, Wednesday: Socialization time!

Today they had their socialization. They started the events after their recreation around 6 pm. It was also the birthday of Fr. Paul Kritapart. On this occasion, Fr. Romolo, Fr. Michael, Fr. Rafael joined the celebration. This was the 3^rd time that they had their socialization and this time they presented their country’s tourist destination. The main purpose of this event was to get acquainted to its culture and nature of their countries of origin. The presentation of its country lasted about 5-10 minutes. The presentation brought awareness of the beauty of its country to everybody who was present. And of course, the novices made a presentation for the birthday celebrant with the background music of Happy Birthday song. They compiled the photos of Fr. Paul doing his ministries, manual work and leisure time. They called it "the behind the scenes of Fr. Paul’s life." 

The second part of the event was the sharing in the table with fish-grilled food and the stories of one another. They enjoyed eating and conversing with one another outside Novitiate house. The novices grilled the fish with the supervision of Fr. Paul and Fr. Jim. This event reminds them of the teaching of St. Gaspar Bertoni their founder; “to value the community life through common food and conversation.”

Fr. Joseph led the group to have a wine tossed for the birthday celebrant. Then, everyone shouted “happy birthday Fr. Paul!”

The event lasted until 10:30 in the evening. It was not only successful because of the good food that was served in the table but also the atmosphere of fraternal relationship as our founder taught his confreres during his time.

“Through constant communication, fraternal relationship grows”

Foreigner and Thai join their praises on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Foreigner and Thai join their praises on the Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Bishop Werak of Cheng Mai together the con-celebrating priests officiated the mass on the Feast of Assumption Church around 10:00 am on August 18, Sunday.

The Stigmatine Priests who attended the celebration were Fr. Winai, Fr. Michael, Fr. Watanasak, Fr. Paul and Fr. Jim. The novices who witnessed the celebration were Nov. Carlos, Nov. Nidhin, Nov. Jobin, Nov. Fab and Nov. Louie.

A good number of parishioner gave life to the solemn mass. It composed of foreigners and Thai parishioners. Though came from different country, they were joined together by their belief. The unity and diversity of culture was very evident on that occasion.

Bishop Werak thanked the people who were there in the celebration for making the event more solemn and special.

The rite of Communion and confirmation followed after the homily. Several children received gladly the sacraments.

Bishop together with the priests and the parishioner offered prayer to Mary before the final blessing. While singing the recessional hymn, all offered roses to Mary as a sign of their gratitude.

Lunch was served to the people after the Eucharistic celebration.

Gospel of Saint John 1:45-51 (Reflection of Fr. Watanasak, CSS)

Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth."
But Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him."
Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree."
Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."
Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this."
And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Reflection (Fr. Watanasak, CSS)

Today’s Gospel tells of Nathanael’s call, but he is usually known as Bartholomew. In John’s Gospel he is always called Nathanael. The others use the name Bartholomew.

Bartholomew received one of the most beautiful compliments from Jesus. “He is a true Israelite.” There is no guile or duplicity in him. Jesus could read the hearts of people; he saw the honesty and integrity of Bartholomew. He is real and true. What about us, are we transparent before God and others?

Bartholomew also combined two attitudes which are ideal for a person who searches for the truth. He was both critical and open-minded. He was critical when he reacted to the claim of Philip that he found the Messaih. He said “Can anything be good from Nazareth?” Therefore, we can say that was very frank person too. He was also open-minded when he followed the suggestion of Philip to come and see for himself. Honesty and critical open-mindedness are still the best attitudes for anyone interested in finding the truth.

If we want to be truly honest and sincere then we should imitate St. Bartholomew in his readiness to express what is truly in his mind and heart.

3rd Monthly Recollection (09 August, 2013)

The atmosphere is more quite than the normal days. In the morning around 8:30, the Novitiate house filled with silence. The melodies of the song of the birds and the sounds of the insects were very audible. The sound of the backhoe engine and the Myanmar conversation of the workers at the back of the chapel can be heard but very little.

The novices has an inner peace and good atmosphere for their 3^rd monthly recollection. They started their recollection with a Taize song. Then the Gospel of Matthew 16: 24-28 was read by Jobin. Again, the Taize song was played. Then few minute of reflection and meditation followed. They also prayed the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin.

At 10 am, the talked begun. Their speaker was lay man. He was a former General Manager of a renowned hotels in Phuket. He has 3 children and a beautiful wife named Maria. His name was Mr. Supachard. He used to be a seminarian for 6 years.

The reflection of Mrs. Supachard revolved around his life experiences. He stressed this 3 important notes in his life journey with God.

1. “God’s company never terminates anybody”, He said. Anyone is welcome to work in God’s company. No need of resume and application letter. The only requirement is this: “Whoever wishes to follow me must deny his very self, take up his cross and follow me.”

“In the corporate world, my boss never understood me. My boss always pushes me to work hard. But God always understand.” He said.

2. “Let His will be done.” He shared that he used to be a seminarian for 6 years but because of being too materialistic he left the seminary. He work hard outside to provide his capricious wants in his life – car, house. He started from the low position in a hotel before he reached the higher position. But because of his vain motive he failed many times. He lost his job. Worst thing was, he lost his father. This mark the turning of his life. This incident made him realized that “life should not be accumulating material things” but “let God’s will be done.”

3.”The best thing is to get closer to God.” He said. Until now Mr. Supachard has remaining debt but he is happy now with his family. For him what matter most if their relationship in the family and with God. He said, “I see how much God loves me through my family.”

Though he never became a priest as he desired early in his life but he was able to send someone to the Holy Order. One Singaporean businessman who is his friend was ordained last month of this year.

Whatever areas we are going to spend our life, we will be successful and happy if we allow Him to be the center of that of our quest in life. “Let His will be done not our own.”

      

PERFECTAE CARITATIS: No.20-25 Novice Jobin Joseph thayyil

The 21^st number says  that if some communities and monasteries which the holy see after consulting the interesting local ordinaries will judge not to posses reasonable hope for further development they have to combine with other more flourishing communities and monasteries whose scope and spirit are similar.

No. 22 .says about the independent institutes and monasteries. They should form federation if they can be considered as belonging to the same religious family.   Others when they have too few members should unite with others. But they should have identical constitutions and rules under common spirit.

No. 23. It explains the necessity of the council of major superiors. The synod also favored conference or councils of major superiors established by the Holy See. This can be contribute very much to achieve the purposes of each institutes to encourage more effective cooperation for the welfare of the church, to ensure a more just distribution of ministries of the Gospel in a given area, and finally to conduct affairs of interest to all religious.. Similar conferences should also be established for secular institutes.

No.24 says about the duty of priest and Christian educators that is to foster vocations. The candidate should be suitably and carefully chosen. In ordinary preaching the life of evangelical councils those are chastity, poverty and obedience should be explained well. Parents also should prepare their children to accept vocations by installing Christian virtues in their hearts. Religious communities have the right to make themselves known in order to foster vocations. In doing this they should observe the norms lay down by Holy See and the local ordinary. There life is a better example for foster vocation.

No.25says that religious institutes should respond generously to the specific vocation God gave them as well as their work in the church today. The Sacred synod highly esteems their way of life in chastity, poverty and obedience and Christ himself is their example. That all the religious therefore rooted in faith and filled with love for God and their neighbor, love of the cross and the hope of future glory, spread the Good News of Christ throughout the whole world. Through this our Father in heaven will be glorified. Let them also beseech Mary the Mother of God, who is a mode for all that their number maybe increase daily and their works become more effective.

REFLECTION ON PERFECT CHARITY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI 1-5 NOVICE LOUIE

The pacing of changes of the world today is very quick. Sometimes it is unnoticeable. And Because of this, it brings annoyance to us sometimes especially to some who are not open to changes. But world continues to grow and to modernize. It will always continue to change. Moreover, this change is not only applicable to a certain things of this world but it applies to all of us here either living or non-living things. We all undergo changes.

But for me a change is not fearsome. It only brings enhancement in order to cope up with the demands of time. And it will never diminish our very own origin. Let us take this as our example. Supposed, you are in the other country. And so you will not insist your own country laws but follow the existing law of the country you are in.  But it does not mean that you are one of them and you will forget your own origin. You just only apply it to yourself what is accepted in that place. This makes you more effective and accepted in that country.

This is the idea of perfect charity proclaimed by His Holiness Pope Paul VI. It intends to treat life and discipline of those institutes who make a profession of the evangelical counsel, in order to be more effective in current time. It does not have a purpose of threatening the existing institutes before the Vatican II or to extinguish their origin and special characteristics.

In fact the church as it was stated in this document, Perfect Charity, is very glad to welcome those religious families that existed long time ago and have set about following Christ with greater freedom. Because of these variety of religious communities which has made it easier for the Church to be equipped for every good work and ready for the work of the ministry-build up of the Body of Christ.

The church saw that some of the old discipline of following Christ does not anymore applicable to the present time. As the Scripture says, “the new wine cannot be poured into old wine skin. And an old wine cannot be contained to new wine skin.”

Sticking to an old way of life and discipline on following Christ does not guarantee more effective for the new members to be more united with God. Perfect Charity aims to help the members become more united and more effective in following Christ the Lord. And of course, with regards to ministry it should also be update to keep a pace with present time.

Thus, perfect charity aims only of updating the different existing institutes in order to be more effective in their ministry and of following Christ. It does not have any threat of diminishing their characteristics and its origin but only enhancing their way of life and discipline.

PERFECTAE CARITATIS: No.11-15 Novice Nidhin

       No. 11 of the decree speaks about the secular institutes. According to the council their profession of the evangelical counsels are recognized by the church. Their chief aim should be charity and they should preserve their secular character.

       No. 12, 13, 14 speaks about the three evangelical counsels. First the council speaks about the Chastity. It is an outstanding gift of grace. Council gives a definition for chastity; “it is the dedication to the service of god with an undivided heart”. The religious must have a heart inflamed with love for God and for all men. In order to observe the chastity the religious must practice mortification and custody of senses. According to the council chastity is guarded more securely when true brotherly love flourishes in the common life of the community. Through this decree the council strictly prohibits the admittance of a candidate to the vow of chastity unless he has shown to possess the required psychological and emotional maturity. They must learn that celibacy binds them to God.

       Voluntary Povertyaccording to the council is an expression of the following of Christ because Christ himself became poor for our sake. Poverty doesn’t mean starving. It means “trust ourselves to the providential care of our Father in Heaven”. Council exhortsthe religious communities to witness the poverty and gladly use their own goods for supporting poor. Though the religious by professing the vow of poverty trust fully in the providence of God, the church permits the religious communities to possess whatever is required for their temporary life and work, but they should avoid every appearance of luxury, excessive wealth and the accumulation of goods 

       Obedience according to the council means “full surrender of our own will as a sacrifice of ourselves to God”, and thus the religious are united permanently and securely to God’s Salvific Will. Council teaches that the superiors hold the place of God and the members must subject themselves to the superiors. They should humbly obey them. Under their guidance the members are led to the service of their brothers in Christ. Council also explains about the duty of the superiors. They should fulfill their office in a way responsive to God’s Will. They should exercise their authority out of a spirit of service to the brethren. They should be careful to respect the liberty of their subjects in matters of sacramental confession.

       No.15 explains meaning of the Common Life.  According to the teaching of the council it is a model of Early Churchwhich was the body of the believers united in heart and soul. It was love that bound them together in perfect unity. 

Perfectae Caritatis Nos. 6 – 10 Novice Carlos PezañaAvenido

Based from the Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life, PerfectaeCaritatisProclaimed by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965

       After the declaration of the new Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church in the contemporary period, Pope Paul VI wasted no time for building a new era of the Church guiding all religious institutions and lay people to a sublime and sequential participation in the Church.

       The calling of all religious institutions to the pursuit of perfect charity had certainly emphasized in the document (PerfectaeCaritatis), “... intends to treat of the life and disciple of those institutes whose members make profession of chastity, poverty, and obedience and to provide for their needs in our time”. Thus, many had witnessed the development of the individual institution which vary and grounded on this calling.

       The call for those who make profession of the evangelical counsel “to strive to foster in all circumstances a life hidden with Christ in God” is the key to focus a more vivid symbol of Christianity which is to cultivate both the spirit and practice of prayer.Community which are entirely dedicated to contemplation should “be revised according to the principles and criteria of adaptation and renewal mentioned in the preceded numbers”. In addition, both clerical and lay institutions which devote themselves to various apostolic tasks should “be inspired by an apostolic spirit and all their apostolic activity formed by the spirit of religion”.

       The monastic life should “be preserved with care and its authentic spirit permitted to shine forth ever more splendidly”. Moreover, they should “revived their ancient traditions of service and so adapt them to the needs of today that monasteries will become institutions dedicated to the edification of the Christian people”.Lastly, religious life undertaken by lay people are called and urged “to the pastoral mission of the church in educating youth, caring for the sick and carrying out its other ministries”.

       All in all, these tasks that were defined for all religious institutions are concrete and perennial that will not be erased even though the secular world is constantly changing. Pope Paul VI had very good vision for the Catholic Church, nevertheless the problem that I have seen in the first place is the actuality of all the tasks that were mentioned. There are many institutions in the Church nowadays who are facing a lot of issues especially in terms of sexual abuse and flaws of the administration of the Church in Vatican.

       The message of this document is very clear, however, a lot of intellectuals interpret this message base on their fields and expertise. For instance, one religious institution might decipher this document base on the nature or charism of their institution. That is why we must find the very reason of all these, and for me, the very reason is clear, the document says that “all institutions should seek and love above all else God who has first loved us and let them strive to foster in all circumstances a life hidden with Christ in God... this love of God both excites and energizes that love of one’s neighbor which contributes to salvation of the world and the building up of the Church”. Hence, if the charisms of all religious institutions grounded on the love of God, the unity between these institutions may be achieved, and the gratification of the goals of the Catholic Church will be surely fulfilled.