WORRYING ( Poem)

WORRYING

There are only two things to worry about either

You are well or sick.

If you are well,

Then there is nothing to worry about.

If you are sick,

There are two things to worry about either

You will get well or you will die.

If you get well,

There is nothing to worry about.

If you die,

There are two things to worry about

Either you will go to heaven or hell.

If you go to heaven,

There is nothing to worry about.

But if you go to hell,

You will be so damn busy shaking hands with your friends,

You will not have time to worry!!!

                                                            

                                           

By - R.Ajanthan culas

rajanthanculas@gmail.com

Read More

Pope Francis: Advent calls us to enlarge our horizons

2016-11-27 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis marked the beginning of the new liturgical year at the Angelus for the First Sunday of Advent.

On this Sunday, he said, the Gospel introduces us to one of the most “evocative” themes of the Advent season: the visit of the Lord to humanity. Pope Francis pointed out three visits of the Lord: the first, in the past, with the Incarnation, and Birth of Jesus at Christmas; the second, in the present, as Jesus visits us continually, every day; and the final visit, in the future, when Jesus “will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.”

Advent encourages us to reflect on the contrast between our daily routine and the unexpected coming of the Lord. The Gospel, the Pope said, is not trying to frighten us, but “to open our horizons” to further dimensions, giving meaning even to everyday occurrences.

This perspective, he continued, is also an invitation to “sobriety, to not be dominated by the things of this world” but rather to keep them in their proper place. If, on the other hand, we allow ourselves to be overpowered by a concern for material things, we will not be able to perceive what is much more important: our final encounter with the Lord. And so, the Pope said, Advent is “an invitation to vigilance, because, not knowing when He will come, we must always be ready to depart.”

During Advent, Pope Francis concluded, “we are called to enlarge the horizons of our hearts, to be surprised by the life that is presented each day with its newness. In order to do this we need to learn to not depend on our own securities, our own established plans, because the Lord comes in the hour which we don’t imagine.”

( From - www.  news.va)

Read More

Vatican announces themes for upcoming World Youth Days

2016-11-22 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) The Dicastery for Laity, the Family, and Life issued a communiqué on Tuesday listing the themes for the next three World Youth Days (WYD).

The press release notes that the themes were chosen by Pope Francis “for the three-year World Youth Day journey that will culminate at the international celebration of the event to be held in Panama in 2019.”  World Youth Day is celebrated at the diocesan level each year on Palm Sunday, with an international gathering every two to three years. The most recent international Day was celebrated in August, 2016, in Krakow, Poland.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is at the heart of the themes for the upcoming WYDs, which are taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke:

32nd World Youth Day, 2017: “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His Name” (Lk 1:49)

33rd World Youth Day, 2018: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” (Lk 1:30)

34th World Youth Day, 2019: “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38)

The themes are a continuation of the reflections begun by Pope Francis for the last three World Youth Days, which focused on the Beatitudes. The Dicastery’s press release recalled Pope Francis’ remarks at World Youth Day in Krakow, when he invited young people to have “memory of the past, courage for the present and to have/be hope for the future.” The themes “are intended to give a clear Marian tone to the spiritual journey of the next three WYDs” and at the same time “give a picture of young people on a journey between the past (2017), present (2018), and future (2019), inspired by the three theological virtues of faith, charity, and hope.”

The Dicastery noted that the “path that is being proposed to young people can also be seen to be in harmony with the reflection that Pope Francis has entrusted to the next Synod of Bishops: Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment.”

(from Vatican Radio)

Read More

SEASON OF ADVENT

           We celebrate Advent before Christmas and Epiphany. Yet, this season actually developed a little later in history. When we understand what the Church was celebrating in Christmas and Epiphany we are better able to appreciate the reasons to have a worthy preparation for this season this season. In Christmas and Epiphany we celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus to the world and this season of Advent is primarily to prepare for the celebration of Christmas and Epiphany. Yet this season of Advent is not limited to the preparation for the celebration of Lord’s birth. It is rather a season reminding us of our redemption and of the second coming of the Lord Jesus in power and majesty as judge of all. From the beginning, Advent has been eschatological, looking forward to the day of the Lord.

         The Church understands Advent as the season of hope and expectation where the Old Testament prophecy of Messiah and the New Testament second coming of Christ is put in the one season of four weeks.

         John the Baptist is considered as the patron saint of Advent who prepared the people for the first coming of the Lord and the role of the John the Baptist is seen as important in this this time. Thus we can say the season of Advent is the season of preparation of Lord’s coming. This season is not penitential in tone as the season of Lent but the main concern of Advent is to help the Christian community to banish preoccupations in order to prepare for a fuller celebration of Christmas and for a deeper awareness of the second coming of the Lord.

         This season is also important as the season of expectation of the Messiah, especially the messianic time where God will do good things to bad people. In this sense the great portion of Advent is rather reflected on the role of Mary who was physically expecting the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world and she is considered as the patroness of this season.

          As we begin our new liturgical year let us prepare ourselves spiritually with hope and expectation to celebrate this season and to have a fruitful Christmas celebration this time.

By - Dilan Rojan

jdrojan@gmail.com

Read More

Encountering the merciful face of the father

   Christians all over the world are well aware about the closing of the Extra Ordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, in which we were called to reflect on the significant Christian aspect of mercy. Everyone was to encounter the merciful face of the Father, by entering through the holy door of mercy in order to reach its fullest richness. The completion of the year of mercy or the closing of the door of mercy does not mean that now we are exempted or can choose to be mercy in our endeavors. Whether the door is opened or closed, for Christians it is something essential to practice this important aspect of mercy following our Creator.

    God moved with compassion towards the humanity, so that he sent His only son to redeem in order to re-unite the whole people to Himself, “But when the time had fully come, God sent His son born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons and daughters.”(Gal 4, 4-5). By sending his only son to the world God continues to manifest his mission of mercy and love towards his people. This very act or the plan of God not only shows that we are abundantly gifted with His mercy but also assures the unceasing process of the salvific plan of God to the whole humanity. This ongoing Project of God clearly defines about him that mercy is not something that he has but He is (being).

As we are to welcome a new and fresh liturgical year, that begins with the “Advent -a season of grace”, preparation to commemorate the historical birth of the savior, Jesus Christ and to make ourselves ready to face His second coming, through our acts of charity make a place within our hearts for Jesus to dwell in.  When our hearts are filled with mercy and compassion towards one another, fearlessly we can find Christ not as a judge but as a friend, father and the savior of our lives.

   Steve Jobs, the co-founder of the Apple Company, states that, “If we live each day as our last day we would be certainly alright”. This is an appropriate saying, which can be applied to this context. The same kind of invitation is given to each of us. Considering that we are in our last days to meet Christ, our Lord, so let us prepare our hearts and minds with the acts of charity in order to experience Jesus, who is the fullness of redemption and the visible face of the invisible Father. 

By. Ann Roy 
annroycmf@gmail.com  

Read More

1st Sunday of Advent

1^st Reading – Is 2: 1 – 5

2^nd Reading – Rom 13: 11 – 14

Gospel – Mt 24: 37 - 44

Our Mother Church graciously dedicates a period of four weeks time in her Liturgical calendar immediately after the last Sunday of the Ordinary time and names it the Advent season.  With the first Sunday of the Advent begins also the new liturgical year.  The word advent comes from the Latin word “advenio” meaning “coming”. It is a time of expectant prayerful waiting and joyful preparation for the celebration of the Birth of Jesus at Christmas as well as a season that reminds and directs our hearts and minds to await for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Coming of a special guest to our families is an added joy and we prepare ourselves to receive him with due preparation; so also the Church bids us prepare and gives us special guidance especially for the meaningful celebration of the sacred liturgy.  The readings for the Holy Mass during this Advent season are chosen from the Sacred book in such a way they call our attention to “stay awake” and to be “prepared” to receive the Lord who would come at a time or day which is not known to anyone. 

Our Roman Missal gives the direction that to mark the difference during Advent the floral decoration of the altar and the use of musical instruments should be moderate suiting to the character of this time of year, without expressing in anticipation the full joy of the Nativity of the Lord.

Advent is a time to renew and deepen our relationship with God with deeper and regular prayer. It is a time of turning to the Lord and calling Him, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Our turning to the Lord should be manifested in our turning to our brothers in need, need of our consoling and gracious presence with them, need of some concrete kind actions of charity like buying some clothing, giving a good food and so on.  Undoubtedly this will demand some sacrifice from our part turning less and less or even to say ‘no’ to the market with alluring products.

Questions that everyone should pose at the time of Advent are:

During this season of grace, how do I plan to prepare myself to receive the Lord personally in my heart and collectively in our biological or religious families? Am I really listening to the voice of God in the Scriptures and take necessary steps to do more in my personal relationship with the Lord and with my sisters and brothers in need? Am I prepared to see my sisters and brothers in need and forgo some of my personal needs?

“Come Lord Jesus” my heart and my home is ready.

                                 

       By - Rev. Fr. Maria Arul CMF                                                                            arulcmf@gmail.com                                                         

Read More

JESUS CHRIST, THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE (Reflection)

1^st Reading - 2 Sam 5:1-3

Ps – 121:1-2, 4-5

2^nd Reading – Col 1:12-20

Gospel – Lk 23:35-43

             Has the word ‘king’  got  still  any  relevance  for today’s  world?  When  we  glance  at  the  universal  panorama  we notice  easily  that  it  is  not  a  term  dead and  gone. Here  and  there  in  the  world  people  still  cling  on  to  ‘Kings’  and  ‘Queens’.  The  Entertainment  World  still  makes  use  of beauty   queens  and  kings  of  various  categories.  Some  magazines  are   fully  dedicated  to bring  colourful  news  about  kings,  queens,  princes  and  princesses  even  with their  excesses and scandal  stories.  In  a  country  like  India  where  hundreds  of  small and  big  kingdoms  existed,  people  have  to  satisfy themselves  now  by visiting  palaces  as  museums  which  are  remaining  as  signs  of  a  bygone  era  of  glory  and pomp. England,  Scandinavian  Countries,  Japan,  Thailand  and  some  Tribes of  Africa  still hold  on  to  Queen,  Kings,  Kaiser  and  Chieftains  and  cannot  do away with  all  these  as  that would be then  unheard  and  still they  all  belong  to the  deep  characteristics  of  their  popular  psyche.

                In  such  a  context  we   still  celebrate  at  the  end  of  the Liturgical  Cycle  the  Solemnity  of  Christ,  the  King  of  the  Universe.  It  was  Pope  Pius  XI  who   introduced  the  Solemnity  of  Jesus  Christ, the  Universal  King  to  the  liturgy  90  years  ago  when  he got  alarmed  at  the coming  of  Bolshewism,  National Socialism and  other  totalitarian  forces and  saw  the Kingdoms  losing their  moral and  social  power devoid of  great  values like  peace   and   justice. He  established  this  Solemnity to  counteract  the  erosion  of values  and  virtues  in  the  modern  world  presenting  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Eternal  Priest  and  King  of  the  Universe.  As  Priest he  offered  his  life  on  the  altar  of  the  Cross  and  redeemed  the  human  race  by   his  perfect  sacrifice  of  peace.  As  King  he  claims  dominion  over  all creation and  presents  to  the  Father  an  eternal  and  universal  kingdom  of  holiness  and  grace,  a  kingdom  of  justice, love and  peace.  This  is  the  contrast  of Christ’s  Kingdom  comparing to other  Kingdoms  existed  and still existing  in our world.

                St. Luke presents  in  his  Gospel  23:35-43  the  King  of  the  Jews  in  utter  helplessness  and  failure  whom  the  Leaders,  soldiers and even  one of  the  criminals  hanging  with  him jeer, mock  and  abuse.  But  the  King  of  the  Jews  on  the  cross, abandoned  by  all  is  the  King  who  promises eternal Kingdom  and  Paradise  to  the  other  criminal with  a repentant  heart  hanging  with  him.

                St. Paul  in  the hymn  in  his  letter  to  the  Colossians  describes  theologically  the  greatness,  supremacy  of  this  great  King  of  the  Universe  as  the  Image  of the  invisible  God, First-born  of  all  creation,  for  in  him  were  created  all  things  in  heaven  and  on   earth, everything  visible  and  invisible.  Thrones,  Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers – all things  were created  through  him  and  for  him. Before  anything  was  created,  he  existed  and  he  holds  all things  in  unity… that is the  language of  his  Letter  to  the  Colossians.

                Jesus  Christ is  the  King  of  the  Universe  -  what  about my   situation ?  Is  He the  King of my  heart, my  life  and  existence ?  This  mighty  King  of  the  Universe  is  our  inner  light,  a  King  who  is  humble  and meek and  wants  to  be  King  in the  heart  of  each  one  of us.   The  nearness  of  this  great King  to  each  one  of  us  is  not  of  our  making  but  grace  of  God.  He  has  chosen  to be  one  among  us,  with us. He  should  be  First  in  every  way – the Hymn  stresses.  Do  I  give  preference to  his  Reign  in  me  above  everything  -  this  is  the  question  everyone  of  us  has  to  ask  today  as  we  celebrate  the  Solemnity  of Jesus  Christ,  the  Universal  King.

                                                                                                         

By - Rev. Fr. Cyriac  Njayarkulam  CMF

                                                                                                 criaccn@gmail.com

Read More

THEOLOGY OF CHARISM

                                               
                                                   

The word “CHARISM” comes from the Greek word “Charisma or Charismata”, which means “free gifts or graces”. Every charism is given by the Holy Spirit, who is the fount of life and the fountain of all charisms. Charism in its original sense is not a natural gift, rather it is a supernatural gift from the spirit, just like the human personality.

                                                The charisms of the Holy Spirit have been shared to the humanity. Especially every Christian has been entrusted with different charisms, in order to answer the special need of the Church and of the society.

                                                The birth or the foundation of the different congregations in various centuries is the obvious evidence for the response to the charisms, which had been and still be the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. A charism must be discerned and approved by the Church, since the charisms are mainly given for the utility of the church, which concerns and carries out the mission of God in the world. The charisms that have been shared must have an impact on the sanctification of the every individual in the world. No charism should be personalized and shortened within oneself.            
 

The Charism of our congregation                

• We are missionaries 

MISSION   OUR IDENTITY 

• We are consecrated for the kingdom of  God
• We share the communion of life in the community 
• To announce the good news to the poor 
• To be open to the spirit 
• To be constant listeners 
• To be men on fire with God’s love 
• We become servants of the Word following our foundress Mother Mary 
• By sharing and giving ourselves fully for the mission of God we take part in the transformation act of the spirit with the Church 

  

Apostolates of the Claretians, that responded to the need of the time in Srilanka  

CLASIKA  

                                                      The name of the apostolate “CLASIKA” stands for “Claret Siruvar Kathambam” (Tamil), which aims to contribute in the integral growth of the children, especially of the Northern Province, where most of the children underwent a pathetic and unbearable situation of the civil war in the recent past in Sri Lanka. Though the war is over but the effects of the war are still carried out by the little ones, who are to become the leaders of tomorrow.

                                                       This unbearable tragedy was the root course,    which created unimaginable problems in the future of many children. There was a great need to take care of the children and their growth. This became a great responsibility for the Claretians, who were present at Claret Aham in Jaffna, and which later became an effective apostolate still today. This apostolate, which is directed and taken care by the Claretians, empowers not only in various areas of emotional, academical, psychological and physical development of the children but also helps them beyond that in forming them in leadership, discipline, and in various skills etc.

                                                   This apostolate continues to help the affected Children to come out from the tragic- experiences of the unfortunate past. There is no doubt that this apostolate will meet its aim of strengthening and guiding the little ones for a bright future.

“My Spirit is for the Whole world”   - St. Anthony Claret 



VAROD 
             

 The apostolate “VAROD” stands for ‘Vanni Rehabilitation Organization for the differently abled’. This apostolate was started in the month of May in 2009, just at the end of the severe war. This apostolate visualizes the empowerment of the differently able people, through a wide range of specially arranged and organized medical, economical and      educational programs for those people, who had been victimized directly or indirectly by the civil war in SriLanka.

                 This apostolate was a response to the need of the people, who were severely affected by the unfortunate war. In spite of so many difficulties the Claretians came forward to render hands to the victims of the war. With the assistance of catholic organizations from the international communities, Varod supported the people; those were affected, especially to care for those, who became fully or partially handicaps. The extended vision of this organization became a reliable support for those, who were finding difficulties to proceed with their life.

                    The contributions of the people of good will have been a great strength and support for this unique apostolate, which promotes life for many of the innocent victims of the post war. The well organized projects, proper guidance of the Claretians, the dedication of the directors and the staff continues to be the mystery of the success of this apostolate.
                                                 


CLARETIAN PUBLICATION 
                                                   
                       

Publication ministry is one of the significant ministries that is done by the Claretians in Sri Lanka, which aims to build an effective spirituality and morality in the life of the people in Sri Lanka. It is appropriate to note that this ministry of the Claretians had directly emerged from the life and the instruction of St. Antony Mary Claret, the founder of the Claretian missionaries.

                         As St. Antony Mary Claret says that “If you cannot send missionaries to a particular place at least send some books to that place”, considering these words of their founder, Claretians are doing a marvelous service to the people in SriLanka. The Ministry of the “Bible diary”, which carries the readings with daily reflections, has become a great aid to the people to be closer and be familier with the word of God.

                          It is believed that the spirituality of the Catholics in SriLanka has been growing more and more through this ministry. The creative ideas and dedication of the Claretians continue to be a great strength and secret of success of this publication apostolate over 20 years.              

   

By. Ann Roy 

annroycmf@gmail.com

Read More