SHIFTS IN BRAIN DRAIN IN THE 21ST CENTURY

The skyrocketing demand and shortages in professional fields today can be attributed to the inordinate desire by developed countries to boost their professional fields, innovations and productivity. This has perhaps dimmed technological and professional advancement thereby depriving underdeveloped countries steady progress. Such a practice is technically referred to as Brain Drain. In a succinct way, Brain Drain is the emigration or flux of the smartest, educated people, scientists and technocrats from their native countries to work abroad motivated by promising high salary provisions and job security.

In 2000 almost 175 million people: approximately 2.9% of the world’s population was said to be outside their countries of birth for work (Maureen Gitate: 2013, 23). This “Human Capital Flight” poses a threat to the progress of countries which lose human resources, rich technical skills or knowledge. It has increased disparities in the economic and social prospects of countries across the world. The rich and developed countries on the contrary, grow richer and prosperous at the expense of developing countries which continue to stagger or stay backward. The disadvantageous part of brain drain in this millennium is felt in the economic costs which particular developing countries incur in training or educational funding of the future emigrant-skilled personnel who fail to do justice to the resources invested in their education by their native countries. Thus the countries which experience the drain of skilled resources face the getaway of financial capital and in turn, the GDP of developing countries keep fluctuating due to outflow of skilled human capital reciprocated with inflow of hired personnel in governments’ effort to replace the flown human capital.

Of recent, we have globally experienced new shifts in the problem. The once held outcry in various third world countries about theoretical studies with their inability to produce self-sustaining and job creating entrepreneurs has aggravated the menace of unemployment. It’s on record today that the lack of prior knowledge of the employer in a given labor market will tantamount into long years of unemployment. Moreover, in some places, it necessitates a job seeker to offer a bribe to attain a job, yet the female due to the lack of working ethics, the male employers have victimized the women turning them into objects of sexual gratification for their lust.

Technocrats on the other hand, being deprived of proper working environment, low salary enumeration, sabotage of their research and innovations, pressure and poor working conditions, many have resorted to fleeing their native countries in search for greener pastures. They have perfectly done well in various fields abroad. As incentives for work, their salaries are ever increased and both insurance and assurance are incontestable wherever they are.

The 21st century with its provisions has created a shift in the traditional conception of brain drain. Today we hear less of skilled personnel fleeing their countries. Companies in developed countries, taking advantage of the creeping economies of poor nations, have advertised demand for casual workers. The most heartbreaking fact of this is that poor people sell off their precious properties to secure a contract for two or more years hoping to elevate their economic standards. Many even after the sale, they still fail to secure a contract yet those who get such contracts work in dehumanizing conditions characterized by long hours of work, low payments, mistreatment, sexual harassment for the females and to the extreme, some have culminated into death due to the work load which is not in extension to their bodily strain or murdered by their employers. Thus I no longer consider “Brain Drain,” but rather; “Strain Drain”- a modern form of slavery.

Due to the heavy yoke laid upon humanity in this century, it’s no longer a problem to be dealt by individuals alone. There is a need for collective consciousness to remedy the situation. The individualistic, capitalistic and egoistic tendencies for personal enrichment at the expense of others need to be wiped out.

We need to remember that the existential inability of the other person to pursuit his living in a humanized manner simultaneously depict our spiritual immaturity. We mirror each other! Egoism which lure us into inhibiting our true selves is but for a little while. All religions therefore, ought to awaken the ethical and moral integrity of persons in their exhortations.

Owing to the globalism of the challenges brought about by brain drain and strain drain, particular countries ought to alleviate and nurse the situation. In the first place, education system which is predominately theoretical in nature need to be revised and more emphasis given to practical skills to equip nationals with skills of self-sustenance through job creation. Secondly, governments should strongly offer checks and balances in various sectors to mitigate against corruption and its manifestations. Finally governments should develop centers for scientific research and high tech entrepreneurship together with tax holidays for local entrepreneurs as a way of encouraging influx of national working abroad to invest in the economic and technological advancements of their nations.

 

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TRANSFORMING SUBJECTIVISM INTO OBJECTIVISM: A NEW LOOK ABOUT THE SELF

    Pope Francis in his Post-Synodal Exhortation Christus Vivit says: “often in life, we waste time asking ourselves ‘who I am?’ You can keep asking, ‘whoam I?’ for the rest of your life. But the real question is ‘for whom am I?”(Christus Vivit. 286). In this particular article: 286, the pope implicitly invites the entire People of God to have a new look at the “self.” Humanly speaking, the purposes of human existence is to build a good relationship with other human beings and helping others in various aspect of life towards an authentic attainment of the goal of life. In other words that there is a need for transformation from subjectivism to objectivism. 

     But first of all, what is subjectivism and objectivism? Before going any further, it’s right and just first of all understand the terminologies used to give a better understanding of the discretion entirely. Subjectivism and objectivism are actually the philosophical concepts though in this modern time due to lack of the proper understanding of whatever is entailed in them, problems more than solutions have arisen. Subjectivism in the first place is the doctrine that all knowledge is limited to experiences by the self, and that transcendent knowledge is impossible. Such a mentality hinder the reception of other ideas or exhortations from other people, which to the psychologists it’s termed as “wild ego” (Sigmund Freud; 1923, 56). 

     On the other hand is its opposite that is Objectivism. This theory is in contrast with the theory of subjectivism. It is the philosophical doctrine which emphasizes the belief that certain things, especially moral truths, exist independently of human knowledge or perception of them (Richard Bernstein; 1983, 8). It goes beyond the nose perception, that is looking at things one’s own way but through the openness of the mind to various reflections beyond the self. Hence, it does not take the presence of other realities for granted. So, this theory recognizes and values the existence of other beings. The famous saying “I am because you are” (Ubuntu: African Philosophy), will suit this theory. This theory is very important for human life because it focuses on a “beyond-oneself”. The importance of objectivism will be really felt in life, when the theory does not remain as a philosophical notion as such. It means there must be an application part taken by every human being. The theory will not bring positive impacts for life, unless it is being practiced. And this requires fully human understanding that objectivism yields great knowledge if we deeply contemplation about self and its relation to the truth. In fact, subjectivism has been dominating objectivism. This domination is clearly seen in today’s world, where human beings give more priority to individualism, egoism and selfishness.

    The world in which we live is one where everyone is for his own interests and this makes it a broken world; it is a broken world because it is characterized by instability, crime, war and ethnic intolerance which will prevent the world from developing or making progress (Gabriel Marcel: 1913). One of the reason sthat causes these unwanted events which stated by Gabriel Marcel is the subjectivism that some people still hold. They only think about themselves. In responding to those problems, Gabriel Marcel suggested to us to have a deep reflection about the being and open up to each other through communication and communion. 

    A relationship which is built by a communication and communion is really needed today. It shows the very nature of human that is social being. A good communion and an effective communication will also surely help every human being to have a good life. It brings people to a right understanding about the self. The self that is not selfishness or egoism. But a magnanimousness towards others: Being available for others. Therefore, transforming subjectivism into objectivism is necessary to be put into practice. Looking at today’s reality where there are many sufferings, poverty, and slavery, and dehumanizing relationships. Humanity is demanded to have a new way of understanding about self. It is to move from asking ‘who am I?’ which is ontological to a real question eschatological and existential question of ‘for whom am I?’ As the Christian family, it is essential for us to continue reflecting on the invitation of Pope Francis in his exhortation Christus Vivit article 286. It is an invitation that will definitely bring a big transformation for oneself and even the world in general.

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GOD IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING

 In this modern world we are too busy. If a beggar asks for any alms we place some money and escape from the situation as early as possible. We don’t think why he or she struggles, what makes him or her to beg. We don’t find whether there are any other ways to help the person in need than dropping some money or giving some things to satiate their hunger or thirst. Moreover due to the Covid-19 pandemic panics and worries have affected indiscriminately both the rich and poor in same manner. All are quarantined in the four walls of their residents. 

 

A while past, I was put to task by friends of mine who pestered me with a traditional philosophical query of the Existence of God. One seemed to be affluent in strong arguments against God’s existence whereas another on the contrary, argued in defense of God’s existence as he said; ‘My God is a loving God, a caring God, and non-punishing God. Actually the second person is not educated or learned, but an enlightened ordinary faithful Christian. I was taken up while listening to it. So a question appeared in my mind: how are we to talk about God at this time of global suffering. This focus is very fruitful one to express the faith in the existence of God. 

The study of Theology talks about God, it says God is a Mystery and thus beyond our comprehension. St. Thomas Aquinas a great Theologian would state in his Summa Theologiae that “we cannot know what God is, but only what is not.” It is understood that the suffering is a massive reality and inevitable, but crucial to be more prudent while responding to the disquieting situations. In the Bible, we find Job who never wavered in his faith. He was with all the material facilities, comforts, and properties and had a good family leading a happy life. But due to the test, one after the other: his dear ones distanced from him and all his material possessions were taken away from him. He however at the moment of unjust suffering kept his head on the side of God, witnessed God alone saying, God has given, He has taken up ( Jb.1.21). 

The basic entry points for our situational reflection should be; how are we talking about God who is revealed as love? How are we proclaiming God of Life to men and women who die daily and everyday due to this COVID-19 globally? How do we approach and respect the people who are affected with this pandemic? These are some of the existential questions appearing in my heart thinking of God in the time of suffering.  

The Church is our mother who teaches the Christian faith. Theologically speaking it is the sacrament of Christ. Saint Augustine puts it in a very reflective way which suites our adherence to the Church as spiritual home and heritage, he contends; “He who does not have the church as his mother does not have God as his Father.” Our Catholic Church asserts our identity as Christian. We Christians are called to live in love and fraternity. In a situation like today we need to manifest the compassionate and merciful love of God. Pope Francis shows his compassionate heart to the world, with various gestures of love including praying to Mother Mary and Eucharistic Lord to bring an end to this suffering. He is asking the Christians to pray to God for the expiration of COVID-19 and solicits solidarity with the suffering people. 

As Jesus moved towards the people with compassion, thereby, healing them, strengthening them in the time of fear, he similarly hears the grieving of the many now. There are many compassionate people at the service, sacrificing their days and nights for the good of the others. We need to express our compassionate hearts wherever we are, because when we show compassion to others we show the compassionate love of God and tell the world that God continues to love hence, giving true witness to His existence in world which many have failed to comprehend.

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“Pilgrimage with Mother Mary”

Journey in responding to God’s call without Mother Mary’s accompaniment leads to emptiness and vain. Of course, Mother Mary doesn’t take the place of the Holy Spirit, but she helps me, forms me, protects me, and guides me to follow Her Son’s footsteps. I could say that without Mother Mary I might not able to be so far as who am I now in this pilgrimage of this life. I believe that she always helps me a lot by her intercessions me her poor child in responding to God’s special call. She has an important role in my life. 

While I was small, my parents and school teachers forced me to participate in Marian Devotions likes recitation of the Rosary in the small Christian Community. Just simply I attended without understanding what is it? Those practices in childhood simply I did without grasping the meaning them. The Marian Spirituality in myself started to grow in Novitiate, especially after having class or presentation about Mother Mary in the Claretian Congregation, particularly the topic of ‘The Immaculate Heart of Mary’, which Claretian adopts its Cordimarian Sonship. 

Mother Mary’s heart is special for me to reflect about love for God and human beings. Mary who formed Jesus physically by the love and pure blood of her heart also forms me to become a missionary who may able to proclaim the Kingdom of God for the transformation of the world. That my personal devotion is always be done in a meaningful manner to be closer to her and as one of the means to grow in this vocation to love God and neighbour in and through the Claretian Congregation. 

Mother Mary as the chosen one of God the Father to bear Jesus Christ in this world is an example for all of us the Christians in our pilgrimage as God’s people. She had many good qualities or values to be followed. For me personally, I emphasize it into faith/obedience, tenderness and loyalty. Though there are many good qualities other than these three, but these are the three main qualities which touch me personally in reflecting about Mother Mary. 

a. Obedience 

“I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done according to your will” (Luke 1:38)

In this annunciation statement, I understand her deep faith and it expressed in the attitudes of humility, listening, dialoguing, accepting and obeying to God’ s Divine plan. Her ‘yes’ to God through Angel Gabriel shows that she expressed her faith and self-surrender to God’s will. It is the starting point of her life as the Mother of Jesus Christ the Son and Redeemer of the world.

She accepted the will of God, even though she knew that she had to journey through many challenges because of the social custom existed at that time, that she would be condemned and stoned to death for she conceives before her marriage ties, but still she accepted it.

Mother Mary’s obedience helps me to see my Christian vocation to grow faith in God that is the key to my vocation. By obeying to God’s will, I am able to set my life by the grace of the Holy Spirit. As a Christian I am called to live out my vocation to bring the Kingdom of God: hope, peace, justice, Love, joy, harmony etc., for the transformation of the world into God’s love. 

b. Tenderness 

“They have no wine” (Jn2:4). 

This action of Mary indicates that she always looks at everyone with mercy and compassion to those who are in need especially neglected and abandoned ones. Mary was not asked to help the master of that feast but she couldn’t bear or deny her maternal love, compassion and mercy towards others. She felt that the suffering of others also was her, too. She is connected with society. 

Humility helps her to please God, so her tender love helps her to please or connect with society. Through her, I can come to her Son, Jesus Christ that her Son never let His mother’s hope goes in vain. 

Mary’s response the ‘tender love’ to the need of the people at the wedding at Cana helps me to see my inner self that I am a social being who naturally need others and who is always related to the society. As a Christian, I am for everyone that the needs or feelings of others are mines, too. So, I need to be touched by heart to help, share hope, joy, love and also sorrows in solidarity with others in God’s grace. 

c. Fidelity/loyalty 

“Near the Cross of Jesus, stood His mother……” (John 19:25) 

True love is showed through fidelity either in joy or sorrow situation, even though the person doesn’t understand the situation, but has hope that God’s love is sure. Mary at the foot of Jesus on the Cross shows she is the mother of all either in joy or sorrow. Even she at the moment of undergoing death spiritually/psychologically, but I believe that she had hope and faith to the mystery of the Love of God. That God would give/had prepared a wonderful mystery behind the suffering. 

Mary’s fidelity to God helps me to see my life (faith to God) in any situation. Life is hard but GOD is good. God’s love is always be with us. The only thing is how I am able to be in His presence for the transformation of the world to God’s Will. 

#In Corde Matris 

Stu. Domi Lanang, CMF 

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“He asked me whether I would be so good as to hear his confession”

“He asked me whether I would be so good as to hear his confession”St. Claret’s Autobiography-319

Confession is very necessary for all the Christians who believe in the forgiveness of God almighty. From the time we as Christians prepare ourselves to receive the Eucharistic Lord for the first time into our hearts, we begin to surrender totally to God asking forgiveness to our sins. In the case of Claretian living last few years, I have experienced the importance given to confession at least once a month help the individuals to be relieved from sins and to regain the joy of being Christian. In this 2020s in my overall understanding, confession has lost its importance. There are differences among Christians; there are people questioning themselves whether confession gives us total peace? Or does really forgiveness come from confession? There are some halfhearted, confessing for some failures and not revealing the whole self to the priest out of unreliability on priests. There are some who were baptized and forgotten that they are Christians because of worldly involvements. Amidst these confusing society How a Claretian would move forward in his vocation to save souls from sins and to bring glory to God by making the Christians to have trust on forgiveness of God through the sacrament of reconciliation? Fr. Claret in his autobiography number 85 says “always made my weekly confession” and so, it is an invitation for all Claretians to reconcile with oneself and with others. At the same time, we read in Fr. Claret’s autobiography number 180 “I was so busy hearing confessions” this symbolizes that we must also be the instruments of peace to others. Either as a Claretian priest, deacon, student or lay all of us have the necessary responsibility to invite Christians, who live with us, for peace and reconciliation with themselves and with others through the sacrament of confession.

A friend of mine one day he said that he confessed all his sins and only one sin that he could not confess and that he would confess later with a priest whom he will not meet in his lifetime. In return, I asked him why you want to choose a priest whom you would not see anymore. “I don’t believe -he said- the native priest who will be around the country and with them after confessing cannot move closely because they are not reliable”.

Based on this experience I was reflecting about our founder Fr. Claret. How much he would have been a person of reliability, so many hours he spent in hearing confession it was all for the peace among people. In the autobiography of Claret numbers 827-830, we read the best confession experiences of Claret. What does all these examples from the life of Claret has to say to us? We as Claretians called to save the souls of our fellow brothers and sisters in our communities as well as in the society; we are called to be aware of the state of being lost. Let’s share our life experience which brought and still bringing peace by the forgiveness of Christ in the sacrament of confession. The only peace we have in our hearts is alive because of the continuous forgiveness of God. Every time we go astray without holding Jesus’ hands; he embraces us through only act we make with him by reconciliation. The only example we can give to the world is our personal life. Keep growing in the faith of the Lord out of His forgiving mercy.

Br. Kingsley Suresh Patrick CMF

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Last Seven Words of Jesus from the Cross - in Tamil

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Domestic Violence: A mistaken idea on the side of women alone……..

Introduction

It is quite painful that the couple who promise to love and care for one another from the very beginning of their meeting till death, fail to do so after some period of time. A number of men and women have been crippled or wounded as a result of being beaten or mistreated by their spouses. They live in serious hostility as if they were forced to marry one another. One puzzling thing is that those spouses who beat one another do not inherit this habit from their parents. This is because both the rich and poor people have been undergoing this painful experience from time immemorial. The victims reveal some of these cases to their neighbours while others do not reveal them because that would result in more painful experiences. In fact neither the young nor the old men have been left out of this menace. Domestic violence can either be verbal or non-verbal, financial abuse, spiritual abuse or stalking. The first section of this article will discuss about the causes of domestic violence, and the second section will give the Church’s stand on this issue. Section three will give some possible solutions to this problem and section four will hair out some possible challenges to these suggestions.

Causes of Domestic Violence

A number of reasons for the occurrence of this bad omen in the society have been queued. Some of them come from the partners themselves while the rest come from either the family members or from the society in which they live.

Abandonment of the traditional system of marriage is one of the contributing factors. It is absurd that men who have the responsibility of making the introduction of marriage to women according to the traditions are the very first people to abandon this. They only meet a girl for the first time and for the second time, after some inadequate agreements, the two finds themselves staying together as a husband and a wife. In this case, the two may not have had the necessary understanding about themselves. On the other hand, forced marriage witnessed as a result of the negligence from the traditional marriage is another contributing. Women who keep their high emotions as a result of being forced to marry a given man may decide to release their emotions through beating up their husbands and vice versa. This leads to the failure to handle even minor issues within the family.

Unemployment is another cause of domestic violence against men. Women have a mentality that it is the responsibility of men to provide for them the basic needs in the family. A reverse of this has resulted in bitterness among some women who end up beating up their husbands. They beat them while claiming that they are pushing their husbands to play their roles of providing food and other basic necessities in the family. A person cannot force himself to be employed if there is no job which conforms to his area of specialisation.

Another cause of domestic violence is child abuse. Women who were abused when they were still young, particularly by their male parents would dare to punish their husbands. This would be as a matter of compensating them. Their memory still remembers what had happened to them at birth but since their parents who might have violated their rights might be away, they resort to abusing their husbands instead and vice versa.

Drug abuse is another cause of domestic violence. Many partners who over drink alcohol or misuse other drugs resort to abusing themselves. This is because these drugs interfere with their reasoning capacity. The rest of the partners who do not misuse drugs also take the advantage of their partners who misuse the drugs. For example a man who is drunk and fails to fulfil his manly duties in the house like providing food to his family members are subjected to beating by their wives.

Mental health is another contributor towards domestic violence. A man who is mentally ill can be beaten by his wife and vice versa. On the other hand, a woman who is mentally ill may beat her husband since her reasoning capacity has been interfered with.

The acute rate of poverty which is prevalent across the globe has also aided the increased rate of domestic violence. The inaccessibility to the basic human needs brings in bitterness in people and the only possible way to express out this bitterness in women is to beat or stalk their husbands. Some women also hold it that their husbands are too lazy to provide for the family when their fellow men are working too hard to maintain their families.

Social Teaching of the Church on Domestic Violence

During matrimony, one of the prayers of the faithful reads, ‘may their house be a small church and their family a good foundation for the nation.’ (Tanzania Episcopal Conference, Misale Ya Waumini, 1978, p. 999). Hence the church begins at home making it to be a small domestic church and not a place of domestic violence. The Church as such is Christ cantered and Christ came purposely to save us. (Fr. Israel, J., 2001, p.5). Our salvation entails the bringing peace which is a necessary tool for eternity. In this case, domestic violence is against the peace which Christ brought us.

According to St, John Chrysostom, peace in the couples’ families should flourish from their respective parents. The parents should teach their children to be good, meek and forgiving making them to adorn the image of the King of Kings as they grow. Husbands and wives should trust and love one another. A husband should use gentle words and his examples to teach his wife to be virtuous. This begins with the husband telling his wife how much he loves her and enjoying being at home with her. (Roth, P., and Anderson, D., 1986, pp.18-56).

On the piled up anger by the married couples, St. John Paul II in his massage for the celebration of the world day of peace (2002, pp.8-9) says that forgiveness is not a proposal that can be immediately understood or easily accepted. It involves a real and permanent loss. It may look like a weakness but demands a great spiritual strength and moral courage. It leads to a fuller and richer humanity, more radiant with splendour of the Creator. 

According to Murray, D., (1983, p.89), God saw it in the book of Genesis (2:18) that a man should not be alone creating a demand for the need of a woman and the institution of marriage which is the origin of the human family. Adam’s partner was created in the image and likeness of God and hence with equal dignity with him. Adam was then happy for someone from his own bones and flesh and come out from him. They were to live together as companions and become one something which would give rise to interpersonal dialogue because man by his very nature is a social being. Unless he relates to others, he can neither live nor develop his potentials. Domestic violence is therefore opposed to this development and the social nature of man.

The plan of action

A number of measures can be taken to curb this illegal act in marriage. Some of them are institutional based and some others individual based. Thus they come from an individual.

Social engagement is one of the measures. The couples should engage themselves in the activities such as swimming, dancing and taking of a nature walk together. This would help in reducing the stress that the couple could be having. The poor couples should at least find any social engagement which could be bearable to them such as taking a nature walk together. While doing this, they should be free to talk together while walking.

Counselling the couples is another measure. This calls for a personal dialogue between either the family members with the couples or friends to the couples with the couples. Thus it calls for a brotherly concern from our neighbours. One should not get into this dialogue with an aim of looking for fame or money but to help in bringing peace to these couples. There are also professional counsellors who can be engaged in this aspect. A special attention should be given to them and not just taking their words for granted.

Prosecution of women who beat their husbands can also help in curbing this menace. Women, from the creation story in the book of Genesis are to be men’s helpers and not men’s beaters. They should be humble and caring to their husbands. Those who go against this teaching should be rendered some punishments in the prisons. There should be varied punishments or jail terms such that those who beat up their husbands and even chop off some of their body parts should be given severe punishment than those who just give their husbands the normal stress.

The government policies should also be revised. There are certain countries that still hold it that when a man beats his wife it is unlawful but when the wife beats the husband then it is normal. Such women who beat up their husbands cannot be persecuted in any way.  The reason behind this is that men are stronger than women. A man who has been beaten up by his wife could be having some psychological problems or weak and does not deserve to marry and be called a husband. Therefore these policies should be revised to allow men to become free from these tortures from their wives.

Evaluating Action

In as much as the above solutions could be put into practice, there could be some barriers towards their success. Most of these are based on the old mentalities from the various traditions. Some people would find it hard to leave their old way of abusing their husbands while fearing that their husbands would turn against them and start revenging on them. Others who might have used a lot of money in buying some medicine from the witchdoctors making their husbands not to reveal they are being beaten would prefer to remain quiet. This is because witches are highly discouraged in the contemporary societies.

Some poor couples would also find it expensive to afford paying for the trained counsellor. They would therefore resort to people who are untrained in this aspect resulting into being misled. This would attribute to the increase in the rate of domestic violence. Some people are also ignorant and would not value the guidance provided by the psychologists. Moreover, the social engagements are also expensive on the side of some families. This makes the couples to pile up their emotions and release them later on through domestic violence.

There are some men who would not allow their wives to be imprisoned. They fear the burden of taking over their wives’ responsibilities after they shall have been imprisoned. Some women are also tortured in the prisons making their lives to deteriorate. They can die after finishing their jail terms. The result of this therefore is to persevere while tolerating all the beatings and stalking from their wives.

Conclusion

Domestic violence is a sin. It opposes the love portrayed in both the Old and New Testaments which give a Christian family a domestic church. The church fathers also emphasized on the couples being hospitable to one another. Pope Benedict XVI for example emphasized in his Encyclical, Deus Caritas est (2005, p.17) that a husband and a wife should love one another just like our monotheistic God also loves us. This objects any elements of violence within the family. I believe that the recurrent cases of domestic violence can be curbed. The only problem which is there is that people wants to handle all of them at once. They should be handled one at a time and those who have benefitted from its solutions should share with the other people who are still having problems with it. Each person is a messenger of peace. Therefore we are called to preach this peace to all the married couples in order to solve this satanic act.

    

Compiled by: Ken Omondi

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Look! Stop! Listen! And Discern!

We all have pleasant memories to cherish. We opt to keep on recalling events that express positively about us, excites our emotion, elevates our thinking, and qualifies the state of our life. Our experience is not just a series of events but a bearer of folded and unfolded meaning of our life. Our memories have always something to reveal who we are. Unfortunately, we sometimes take for granted our experiences, which deprives us to look upon the message that lies behind them. Once we fail to look back to our past, we become blind to our future. We are all products of our past; who we are today is the result of our previous life happenings.

   Our experiences have, indeed, special role in our life as to our vocational discernment. Our life evolves in the kind of experience that we have. We create our identity based on the way we deal with ourselves, with other people, with the surroundings and with the world, which constitute all to our experience. The way we look at things and the way the things come to us build our character and attitude. Thus, the fruits of our interactions between ourselves and with the world in which God manifests Himself are the objects of our vocational discernment. We discern the kind of life we prefer to live basing upon our reflections on our past.

In the sharing of many priests, sisters and brothers, they often times recall their past experiences as the common ground of their vocation stories. Most of them begin their stories with the phrase “When I was…” and follow, “that is why I have chosen to be here”. They don’t simply narrate their stories and mention a series of events; they actually draw the message of their experiences that awaits to be unveiled by their reflections. It is a moment of “seeing” beyond what our eyes can see. The same invitation is given to us in doing the proper discernment: we need to see the soul of our experiences in which the presence of God is seated.

  The proper discernment comes when we think that things are interconnected. In every single day of our life, we have always fresh experience and yet they will become a part of our memories which will soon be a part of our future. We need to stop for a while and see the connections of the events of our life; and we need to listen how they are going to affect our future. If God is always present in our life, then He is always a part of our experience. Discernment is perfectly done when we allow our experiences to speak to us. 

by: Harold Tan, cmf
email: hrtan94@gmail.com

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The Fact and the Mode of Institution of the Seven Sacraments by Jesus Christ

“The seven sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ”. Church did not institute the Sacraments. And “Jesus Christ is the Sacrament of God”, Church is the Sacrament of Jesus Christ”. So seven Sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ.

The Reformers of the 16^th century, Luther, Calvin, and Zwingly negated saying that all the Sacraments were not instituted by Jesus Christ. They argued that Jesus Christ established only three of the seven sacraments, namely Baptism, Eucharist and penitence. Later they said that only two sacraments could truly be considered by Jesus Christ. According to the Reformers Jesus Christ did not expressly established the rite or He did not explicitly promise the Sacramental grace to be conferred or both of the above. The fact of the institution of the Sacraments Martin Luther claimed that seven Sacraments do not have the scriptural warrant.

In Syncretistic Hypothesis the Rationalists at the end of the 19^th and the beginning of the 20^th centuries brought about the theory of “syncretism”. Certain things borrowed from Eastern rites. Some similarities in words adopted in Christianity. They accepted that: (I) Christianity depends more on the Judaic institution rather than on pagan ones. (II) The pagan mysteries are based on myths whereas the sacraments are based on history. (III) For pagan, purification is external but for the Christians it is internal.

St. Thomas Aquinas says Sacraments are encounters with Jesus Christ in which He reveals, offers and communicates His divine life to men. In certain sacraments, we do not have explicitly, we have implicitly. Therefore, with regards to the institution of sacraments we must consider not only what Jesus Christ said, but also everything that happened in and around him, what He did, what He spoke and what He ordered the Apostles to do. Further St. Thomas Aquinas says that Jesus Christ instituted the church. Now the pillars of the church are the sacraments. As Jesus Christ instituted the Church, the Sacraments are also instituted by Jesus Christ.

Institution of sacraments are older than scriptures. Because scriptures were written after the death of Jesus Christ, but sacraments were practice during the time of Jesus, and carried out by the Apostles. Apostles knew that the seven sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ. As the followers of Jesus Christ they believed and propagated the sacraments and thus now they are existing in the Church. So no one cannot deny the fact the Sacramental were instituted by Jesus Christ. Therefore, there has been indeed considerable difference of language about the manner in which Jesus Christ instituted the Sacraments but about fact of institution by. Jesus Christ there has been no doubt in the teachings of the Catholic Church.

                                                 

  

C.Desmenraj

desmenraj@gmail.com  

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