SAINTS AND SOULS

SAINTS AND SOULS

            One day, during a catechism class on All Saints’ Day, the teacher asked, “Who or what are the saints?”  One youngster stood up and happened to look at the stained glass window that had a saint portrayed, with the sunlight streaming through. The little fellow got a bright idea and answered, “The saints are those who let in the sunlight.” Splendid answer, the teacher thought. The saints let the light of Christ into our life by their prayer and example. But what happens when there is no sunlight, when the outside is dark and we are seated in a well lit church? That is when we send our light and prayer to our friends in the semi-darkness as they walk towards the pearly gates. They are grateful for our prayers and sacrifices that serve as so many points of light on their way to the perpetual light of the Heavenly Jerusalem. And as they march in they hear the words of the prophet Jeremiah, Chapter 31: “I have loved you. I will guard you as a shepherd guards his flock. They will come and sing for joy on Mt. Sion. I will turn their mourning into joy.”

During the Second World War, six million Jews, including many Catholics of Jewish descent, perished in the Nazi death camps. That number would have been greater, but happily, at least 500,000 were rescued or protected by ordinary people. They were quite ordinary people, in fact, for the most part, individualists  -  they did not usually do what society demanded, for example, to share in the almost universal hatred of the Jews. They just got into the habit of doing good, finding themselves responding first to a need and only second to the danger, and believing that the gift of goodness could be passed on.

That is the stuff of saints. “The Saints go marching in!”

PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

 Presentation of the Lord

Known originally as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a relatively ancient celebration. The Church at Jerusalem observed the feast as early as the first half of the fourth century, and likely earlier. The feast celebrates the presentation of Christ in the temple at Jerusalem on the 40th day after His birth.

Quick Facts:

• Date: February 2
• Type of Feast: Feast
• Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 (full text here)
• Prayers: Nunc Dimittis(Canticle of Simeon; Luke 2:29-32): "Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."
• Other Names for the Feast: Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, the Meeting of the Lord, the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

History:

According to Jewish law, the firstborn male child belonged to God, and the parents had to "buy him back" on the 40th day after his birth, by offering a sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons" (Luke 2:24) in the temple (thus the "presentation" of the child). On that same day, the mother would be ritually purified (thus the "purification").

Saint Mary and Saint Joseph kept this law, even though, since Saint Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Christ, she would not have had to go through ritual purification. In his gospel, Luke recounts the story (Luke 2:22-39).

Originally, the feast was celebrated on February 14, the 40th day after Epiphany (January 6), because Christmas wasn't yet celebrated as its own feast, and so the Nativity, Epiphany, theBaptism of the Lord (Theophany), and the feast celebrating Christ's first miracle at the wedding in Cana were all celebrated on the same day. By the last quarter of the fourth century, however, the Church at Rome had begun to celebrate the Nativity on December 25, so the Feast of the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days later.

When Christ was presented in the temple, "there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25) When Saint Mary and Saint Joseph brought Christ to the temple, Simeon embraced the Child and prayed the Canticle of Simeon: "Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).

Inspired the words of the canticle ("a light to the revelation of the Gentiles"), by the 11th century, the custom had developed in the West of blessing candles on the Feast of the Presentation. The candles were then lit, and a procession took place through the darkened church while the Canticle of Simeon was sung. Because of this, the feast also became known as Candlemas. While the procession and blessing of the candles is not often performed in the United States today, Candlemas is still an important feast in many European countries.

TEACHING VALUES TO CHILDREN

Teach Values to Your Children

Everybody is glad that Christ Church Girls’ High School has reopened after the horrific incidents of breakage and vandalism on September 12, 2013, that provoked the justifiable indignation of Archbishop Thomas D’Souza who berated the police for their total inaction. As it was observed that some guardians behaved irresponsibly, Governor N. K. Narayanan wondered: “If parents don’t  have discipline, what can you expect of children?” It is a truism that parents are the first teachers.

In a consumer-driven society that broadcasts values that do not reflect what you believe, how can fathers and mothers teach values to their kids? Here are ten ideas to help you:  

1.     Tell them your life stories and teach through your stories.
Kids love to hear stories about your childhood. Weave in some moral dilemmas and you’ve got great opportunities to teach values to them. It certainly beats lecturing the kids!

2.     Live your own life according to your values—walk the talk.
Kids learn by imitating, especially at a young age. They are very adept at seeing if what you say and what you do are matching up. Don’t give them confusing signals; follow your own values every moment.

3.     Expose them to your Christian faith. “God” and “Jesus” should come easily to your lips.
It seems especially important today to let them know that they are not alone. Providing children with a community of faith, for instance, the parish, will strengthen their values and provide parents some “leverage” or back up.

4.     Pay attention to who else might be teaching values to your kids.
Get to know your child’s teachers, coaches, relatives, etc.. Anyone who spends time with your kids may be influencing them. Know their values and beliefs as well.

5.     Ask your children questions that will stimulate dialogue about values.
Telling them what values they should have won’t always be effective, especially when your kids get older. Asking them “curious” questions will allow discussions that will eventually lead to values. “What did you think about that fight?” may be more effective than, “He shouldn’t have started that fight!”

6.     Talk to them about values in a relaxed and easy way.
Nothing will turn your kids off more than preaching values to them after they’ve messed up! Talk to them when everyone is relaxed, and do it in a light, conversational manner. They’ll be much more likely to be listening rather than tuning you out.

7.     Read them fairy tales when they are younger.
Fairy tales capture the imagination of the little ones and can easily lead to a discussion of value. Children will learn the most concerning values when they are excited about the topic.

8.     Involve your kids in art, activities, or helping others while limiting TV and video games.
Children learn values when they experience them. Allow them to experience helping others and involve them in activities that will expand their creativity.

9.     Have frequent conversations about values in your household.
This lets your kids know that it’s important and it’s not just something you talk about when they do something wrong.

10.                        Have high expectations for your kids’ value systems.
Youngsters will tend to rise to the level of expectations you have for them. Their value system will often reflect yours if the expectations are high.

MEDIA AND MODERNISM

MEDIA AND MODERNISM

Society’s  Disvalues

          Today’s values (or rather, disvalues) may well produce a warped appreciation of a woman’s self-identity. Women are in danger of developing an identity that simply does not include being a mother. It may include going through college, obtaining a degree, landing a good job, even getting married some day. But the sudden intrusion of pregnancy is perceived as a complete loss of control over their present and future selves. It shatters their sense of who they are and want to become. The alternatives for them in such a society-induced mentality are “my life is over” or “the life of this new child is over.” Such a mindset, lost in the wilderness of inept moral leaders, will almost invariably influence moral choices on the basis of a pragmatic calculus with disastrous consequences.

To quote Cardinal Basil Hume

          “The interest of society as a whole demands that we do all we can to foster a society in which every child is a wanted child, in which family life is protected and supported, in which sexual intimacy is reverenced as the point at which life and love meet, and in which each and every human life, from the moment of conception, is respected and protected.”

(cf. The Tablet, 27 March ‘99, pg. 452)

Modernization is only one aspect or dimension of the process of human development.

Human development is actually the object or target of this process which we hope that modernization will bring about. Modernization may benefit a large segment of humanity if it means the availability of material goods and appliances. But is human development restricted to the availability of new models of material goods? Does not the good or, rather, the betterment of man demand a greater appreciation of social, moral and spiritual values? It certainly does in my opinion. Here is where the media come in, for the media are the means of effective communication and dialogue from which no human being should be excluded. We hope that the means of communication will be made available to every world citizen in order that dialogue and the sharing of artistic, moral and religious values will effectively human well being. The media is an indispensable factor here. Use of the media will even help men and women to understand the very content, meaning and benefit of the concept of modernization.

Education plays an essential role here, and by that I mean the growth of a well formed and up and coming humanity competent to handle the challenges of a modernizing community. We hope that young minds will learn the art of dialogue in order to appreciate the history and culture of all peoples, and we hope that the means of communication (which includes travel) will play a large part in this. With the presupposition of open minds and willingness to learn, our young people will move out of the strictures of mere traditionalism in the adventure of discovery of other forms of human expression.

Westernisation need not be the model of development, but East and West, North and South can learn to interact for the enrichment of a common humanity. While maintaining their particular lifestyles and cultures they will accept that openness and appreciation is an integrating feature of every lifestyle.

My thesis, therefore the media is a great gift and also a task that can be brought to play towards a fuller, richer and healthier humanity. If this is modernization, then it is an ongoing task.

I have tried to prove my point by appealing to the basic dynamics of human nature, namely, the tendency for communication, forming relationships and expressing one’s needs and emotions in symbols, words and actions.

  

TRADITION

In the heart of man there is a nostalgia for God that man articulated through cultural forms and philosophy. To know the truth as it really is; no one wants to be deceived about the truth of things. The sign of maturity is to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Human progress depends on it. So it is essential to pursue values that are true, transcendent values. We need answers to questions of life and destiny, answers that are universal and ultimate, answers that no not fascinate but satisfy. In shaping their philosophies, traditions and systems, people are yearning to reach the certitude of truth, of absolute value. So the human being is defined as one who seeks the truth. The search for truth may be hampered, but is not vain or useless or beyond man’s capacity.

There are modes of truth  -  that arrived at by scientific research

                                             -  that arrived at by philosophy

                                             -  that arrived at by religion

Philosophy can shape a comprehensive vision for interpreting life. This includes critically evaluating human traditions and beliefs. Knowledge acquired through belief can be personalised but without breaking interpersonal relationship and trust. Seeking the truth must enhance the community of man.

33. “It is the nature of the human being to seek the truth. This search looks not only to the attainment of truths which are partial, empirical or scientific; nor is it only in individual acts of decision-making that people seek the true good. Their search looks towards an ulterior truth which would explain the meaning of life. And it therefore a search which can reach its end only by reaching the absolute. Thanks to the inherent capacities of thought, man is able to encounter and recognise a truth of this kind. Such a truth  -  vital and necessary as it is for life  - is attained not only by way of reason but also through trusting acquiescence to other persons who can guarantee the authenticity and certainty of the truth itself. There is no doubt that the capacity to entrust oneself and one’s life to another person and the decision to do so are among the most significant and expressive human acts.

It must not be forgotten that reason too needs to be sustained in all its searching by trusting dialogue and sincere friendship. A climate of suspicion and distrust, which can beset speculative research, ignores the teaching of the ancient philosophers who proposed friendship as one of the most appropriate contexts for sound philosophical enquiry. “

Christian faith comes to meet people on their way to the truth. More than simple believing, faith immerses them into the mystery of Christ. Divine truth does not oppose philosophical perceptions but combines towards the fullness of the unity of truth. The God of creation is also the God of salvation, giving intelligibility to science and philosophy as He reveals himself in Christ.

PRAYER BEFORE MASS

Prayer before Holy Mass

(the four ends of the Mass)

Eternal Father,

I unite myself to and offer this Holy Sacrifice,

which your beloved Son once made himself on the Cross

and now renews on this holy altar:

First, to adore you and give you the honour which is due to you,

confessing your supreme dominion over all things

and the absolute dependence of everything upon you.

Secondly, to thank you for the countless benefits received,

especially the gift of your own beloved Son, Jesus, the High Priest.

Thirdly, to restore the order of charity disturbed by so many sins

and to make satisfaction for them.

Fourthly, to implore your grace and mercy for myself,

for all the afflicted and sorrowing, for all poor sinners,

and for the departed souls on purgation.

                                    - Fr. Mervyn Carapiet

ULTIMATE GIFT

 
THE ULTIMATE GIFT


Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it
is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily
angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always
hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

What is love? Ask 100 people and you'll get 100 different examples.
You will probably get at least 10-20 definitions - affection,
devotion, attraction, caring, etc; Countless songs, books, movies,
poems, writings, and any other form of human communication address
love. Of course there are different kinds of love: the love between 2
people that are attracted to each other as partners, the love of
families, the love of people, places, things and activities that we
deem important in life. All these definitions and examples describe
love as a feeling, but the verse above describes love as an object.
According to the Bible, love has characteristics. Think about who or
what you love. How many of these characteristics fit the love you
experience? Chances are, you haven't experienced all of the above with
any relationship. Husbands and wives, parents and children, any 2
people or group have experienced a breakdown in one or more of these
many times.

You may get impatient with your spouse as you wait for them to get
ready to go out. You may, in the heat of an argument bring up
something that your parent or child did years ago that still hurts.
And, how many times is our love conditional? But there is one
situation where love meets all these criteria, and more. "For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John
3:16.) God doesn't just love those who love him - he loves the whole
world! Everlasting life awaits those who believe in His Son. He's
reaching out to all of us, promising the ultimate gift to those who
love him back. Will you?

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REFINER Malachi 3:3 says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'   This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.   One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.   That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work.  She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.   As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.  He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.   The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'    She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.   The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.  If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.   The woman was silent for a moment.  Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'   He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'   If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.