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.

“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.