MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS-150 - NOVENA-Day 8

2018 - is a very special year! It is 150 years since the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin was consecrated, in 1868. We shall pray the Novena together this year... as loving children of the Help of Christians, and grow closer to our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ. 

22nd May, 2018 - Day 8

Glorious Lady, more brilliant than the sun, at your breast you nourished the God who created thee.

BIBLE READING:

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he says to his mother: Woman, behold your son. After that, he says to the disciple: Behold your mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.” (John 19: 25-27)

We can never forget the words of the dying Jesus, “Mother, behold thy son. Son, behold thy Mother." Before dying, he entrusted his mother Mary to his disciple so that the faithful might have such a Mother present in their last agony. 

PRAYER: 

O Mary, the Church's spiritual pillar and Help of Christians, I beseech you to keep me firm in the Divine Faith, and safeguard in me the freedom and dignity of God's children.

For my part I promise you never to stain my soul with sin, nor be a part of any society condemned by the Holy See. I promise you to obey the perennial teachings of the Church, since I want to live and die within the bosom of the Catholic Religion, the only one in which I can expect with certainty my eternal salvation. Amen 

(Remember your Intentions here)

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be... Hail Holy Queen.
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us. 

The Battle Within

Tuesday, 7th week in Ordinary Time

22nd May, 2018: Jam 4: 1-10; Mk 9: 30-37

Both James and Jesus through the Word today, speak to us of the important battle that is waging within us, which determines much of the battles around us. The self seeking, self centered and self focused egoism, twists and twirls all our priorities and thus wrongly motivates our choices. 

The worst of the conditions that we find today is the way the society prioritises. What is wrong if one thinks of one's own self fulfillment? The justification in terms of God-given capabilities and bringing them to their perfection is another rationalisation of this ego feeding. The Self or the Ego is being enshrined at the centre of human life as the most sacred thing that has to be preserved, promoted and pleased! If this is not idolatry, what is? Some are so worried about use of images and icons as being idolatrous, while they make of themselves saviours, mouth pieces of God, indispensable dispensers of the god-element, the doorways to god and so on...

The question is clear today: have you compromised on the place given to God in your life? Is God the first priority in your life? Is God, God's plan and God's will the most important criterion in all the choices you make? If it is so, then you are on a winning streak in the battle within... Kudos! March on! 

மே 22: உனக்குள் நடக்கும் யுத்தம்

முடிவுகள் எடுக்கும் போது மேலோங்கி நிற்பது எது? 

யாக். 4: 1-10; மாற் 9: 30-37

இன்று யாக்கோபும் இயேசுவும் நமக்குள் நடக்கும் ஒரு தொடர் யுத்தத்தை குறித்து நம்மிடம் பேசுகிறார்கள். நமக்குள் நடக்கும் இந்த யுத்தமே நம்மை சுற்றி நடக்கும் பல யுத்தங்களை நிர்ணயிக்கின்றது. தன்னலத்தையும் தன்மையப்படுத்துதலையும் முதன்மையாய் கொண்டு இயங்கும் மனநிலையால் வரும் யுத்தம் அது! தவறான முக்கியத்துவங்களினால் எடுக்கப்படும் தவறான முடிவுகளில் பிறக்கும் யுத்தம் அது. 

இன்றைய சமூகத்தின் முக்கியத்துவங்களை அலசினால் நமது வாழ்வின் அவலம் புரியும். தனது மகிழ்ச்சியையும் தன்னிறைவையும் முன்னிறுத்துவதால் ஒருவர் என்ன தவறு செய்கிறார்? அதில் என்ன பெருங்குற்றம் இருக்கிறது?, என்று தெளிவாய் கேட்கிறது இன்றைய உலகம். கடவுள் நமக்கு கொடுத்த கொடைகளை பயன்படுத்தி நாம் வளர்கிறோம், நிறைவு காண்கிறோம் - இது குற்றமா? என்று கேட்கும் உலகம், கடவுள் கொடுத்ததை எல்லாம் எனக்காக மட்டுமா கொடுத்தார்... நான் மகிழ, நான் உயர, நான் நிறைவு பெற மட்டுமே கொடுத்தாரா? என்று கேட்க மறந்துவிடுகிறது! நான் என்ற எண்ணத்திற்கும், தான் என்ற அகந்தைக்கும் உரமிட்டு வளர்த்து தன்னையே உலகம் என்னும் கோவிலின் மூலஸ்தானத்திலே (மையத்தில்) தெய்வமாக்கிக்கொள்கிறது இன்றைய மனிதம். இதைவிட பெரிய உருவ வழிபாடு எது இருக்க முடியும்? உருவவழிபாடு இருக்கக்கூடாது என்று கூக்குரலிடும் பலரும் கூட இன்று தங்களையே தனி மனித வழிபாட்டுக்குரியவர்களாக்கி கொண்டு, தாங்களே கடவுளை ஏலத்திற்கு எடுத்துவிட்டவர்களை போல் பிதற்றும் மடமை இன்று அதிகம் ஆகிக்கொண்டே வருகிறது. 

இன்று இறைவார்த்தை நம்மை கேட்கும் கேள்வி ஒன்று தான்: கடவுளுக்கு கொடுக்க வேண்டிய முதன்மை இடத்தை நான் வேறு ஏதாவது ஒன்றிற்கு தந்திருக்கின்றேனா? என்னை பொறுத்தவரை கடவுளன்றி வேறு யாரும் வேறு எதுவும் முதல் இடத்தை எடுக்க முடியாது என்பதில் நான் உறுதியாய் உள்ளேனா? அப்படி உறுதியாய் இருந்தால், தொடர்ந்து முன்செல்லுங்கள், இந்த உலகம் உங்களை திரும்பி பார்க்கும்!

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS-150 - NOVENA-Day 7

2018 - is a very special year! It is 150 years since the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin was consecrated, in 1868. We shall pray the Novena together this year... as loving children of the Help of Christians, and grow closer to our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ. 

21st May, 2018 - Day 7

Praise be to God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.

BIBLE READING:

“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, within a Sabbath day's journey. And when they had come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, Simon Zelotes, and Jude, the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” (Acts 1: 12-14)

O Mary, teach us to pray, trust and persevere.

PRAYER: 

O Mary, Mother of mercy, who so often saved Christians from the plague and other bodily scourges by your powerful intercession, help them and deliver them now from the plague of impiety and irreligion, which insinuates itself in a thousand ways into their souls keeping them from the Church and pious practices, especially through sects, the press and perverse schools. I humbly ask you to help the good, that they may persevere; strengthen the weak; call the wayward and sinners to repentance, so that the Truth and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may triumph here on earth, thus increasing your glory and that of your Son, and saving souls.  Amen 

(Remember your Intentions here)

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be... Hail Holy Queen.
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us. 

MARY - The Mother of the Church

A New Feast in the Family

Monday after the Pentecost - 21st May, 2018

Acts 1:12-14; Jn 19: 25-34

We celebrate a new memorial today in the Church, to be celebrated on the day following the Pentecost Sunday hereon - the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church! The positioning of the feast is very crucial: the day after the Pentecost, to prolong the celebration of the Pentecost and to remain with the extraordinary event that took place, resulting in the genesis of the Church! 

Mary is indisputably the Mother of the Church for the following three reasons:

1. Mary bore Jesus, the head of the Church: As the mother of the head of the Church, she naturally becomes the mother of the body of Christ - the Church. As she gave birth to Jesus and nourished him, so does she nourish each of us in our faith in Christ her son. As she brought up Jesus in wisdom and grace, so does she watch us mature in our faith and hope. As she cared for Jesus and protected him from all worldly perils (be it fleeing to Egypt or going in search of Jesus at Jerusalem), so does she care for us and protect us. THE PATRONESS AND PROTECTORESS OF THE CHURCH.

2. Jesus nominated her as the mother of his followers: While Jesus was about to culminate his divine moment of sacrifice to the Father, on the Cross, he deliberately nominated Mary as the mother of his followers! He looked at Johh, the beloved disciple who represented every beloved of Christ who would form his Church, and said, Behold your Mother! That was a parting gift, a final gesture of love and care towards his loved ones on earth. As Mary went home with John that day, so does she come home with everyone who accepts this gift from Jesus, she is there to guide us and accompany us. THE GUIDE AND MODEL OF THE CHURCH.

3. Mary was there holding the Apostles together, at the descent of the Spirit: Mary was one of the first members of the Church, right at its origin. Just yesterday we celebrated the birthday of the Church - I wonder how some conveniently forget one important person who was at the centre of it all. How can there be the Church without Mary! She was united, in fact she united the disciples in prayer until the Spirit came! The Holy Spirit was no stranger to Mary. Her faith journey began with the rendezvous with the Spirit. Mary unites us as one of us and as a person filled with the Spirit! A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH AND A SPIRIT-FILLED PERSON. 

Note that the three reasons that we just saw, are all from the Word of God, so faithfully cherished by the Tradition of the Church. The Feast that is instituted this year is not merely an invention of fantasy - but a profound reflection of the Word and its impact on our faith. Let us cherish out Blessed Mother, the Mother of God, Our Mother and the Mother of the Church!

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS-150 - NOVENA-Day 6

2018 - is a very special year! It is 150 years since the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin was consecrated, in 1868. We shall pray the Novena together this year... as loving children of the Help of Christians, and grow closer to our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ. 

20th May, 2018 - Day 6

Keep our life all spotless, make our way secure till we find in Jesus, joy for evermore.

BIBLE READING:

The Lord “is your praise, and your God, that has done for you these great and terrible things, which your eyes have seen.” (Deut. 10:21)

In fact, God, gazing at the humility of his faithful servant, Mary Most Holy, gave us through her the Savior of all men, Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

"O Mary, grant us the grace to imitate thy love of God and neighbor."

PRAYER: 

O Mary, Queen of the Apostles, take under thy precious protection the Sacred Ministers and all the faithful of the Catholic Church, obtain for them the spirit of unity, and fervent zeal for the salvation of souls; particularly extend your loving help to missionaries, so they may lead all peoples of the earth to the true faith. Thus may the world become one fold under the guidance of only one Shepherd, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 

(Remember your Intentions here)

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be... Hail Holy Queen.
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us. 

Come Holy Spirit

Fire, Fruits and Friendship

Pentecost Sunday - 20th May 2018

Acts 2:1-11; Gal 5: 16-25; Jn 20: 19-23

Welcome to the Birthday bash of the One Holy Apostolic Church! Thousands of small communities of the people of God chosen by God, saved by the Word and animated by the Spirit might exist in the world today - the origin is the One Holy Spirit, the One Spirit of communion and courage, the One Spirit of conviction and consolation who underlies every good thing that comes from God. Hence...let us wish each other today a happy birthday, because we were reborn in the Spirit as the people of God. When Jesus said, unless one is born again in the Spirit of God, one cannot enter the Reign of God - this is what the Lord meant: to receive the Spirit - the fire, the fruits and the friendship that comes from the Spirit. 

We need the holy Spirit, now more than ever! Look around us...

Injustice, inhumanity, cruelties, insensitivities, insincerity, exploitation, corruption, dehumanisation, abuse, sexual perversion, self seeking, money mindedness, materialism, relativism, consumerism, egoism, fundamentalism, fanaticism... every thing working against Truth and Justice! Sinfulness has become the order of the day and every day the level of sinfulness keeps rising and nothing matters anymore than the capacity to fend for oneself. 

We need the FIRE of the Holy Spirit to convict each of us and give us the courage to face the Truth! The fire that burns the evil away and the fire that lights up the true Christian way! The fire that was set in our hearts at our baptism, the fire that we were commissioned to keep burning till we return to the Lord, that we may see our way and show it to our brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours.

We need the holy Spirit, now more than ever! What difference can we make...

When selfishness is justified and glorified as success mindset, when violence is looked upon as a way to make one's dreams come true, when money and wealth come before humanity and peace, when politics means nothing but dominating the masses in whichever inhuman means possible, when happiness means pleasure and excitement at the cost of anything and anyone, when love means possessing and marriage means a contract, what difference are we called to make today as people of the Spirit?

We need the FRUITS of the Holy Spirit, that we may live true love and teach it to the world, that we may have the inner joy and show it to those around, that we may spread peace that creates heaven where we are, that we may have the patience to endure the evils holding firm to the good, that we may possess the kindness to see beyond the failures of people, that we may have the generosity to give of ourselves for the good of the other and the entire humanity, that we may ever be faithful to the One who has called us and commissioned us, that we may challenge the violent world with our gentleness, that we may possess the self control that puts us in control of everything else - this is the difference we are called to make - can we?

We need the holy Spirit, now more than ever! How do we picture ourselves...

As people of the Spirit, people of God, people of Redemption, our identity has to be different from that of the world. The world identifies itself with power, possession and prestige. Persons are ready to do anything to have power - power over others, power over means of wealth, power over systems and power over everyone else! The craze to possess, ruins any humanity that could be. To possess things and to possess persons have come to mean the same and the world differentiates no more one from the other. Prestige and ego, seem to rule everything and the society seems ready to sacrifice anything for it. 

We need the FRIENDSHIP of the Holy Spirit, to understand the true identity that we have. We are friends - friends of God, friends to each other, friends to the needy and broken! It is the Spirit that gives us the heart and the capacity it takes to be friends... the Spirit unites, makes us understood by each other, synchronises our thoughts, synergises our capacities and moulds us together as One People of God. Where there is division and hatred, there is no Spirit because the Spirit of God, is the Spirit of love and wisdom, communion and friendship.

Yes, let us pray together this day:

Come Holy Spirit, we need thee!

We need your Fire to burn and light up,

We need your Fruits to raise this world up,

We need your Friendship to truly grow up!

Come Holy Spirit, we need thee!

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS-150 - NOVENA-Day 5

2018 - is a very special year! It is 150 years since the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin was consecrated, in 1868. We shall pray the Novena together this year... as loving children of the Help of Christians, and grow closer to our Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ. 

19th May, 2018 - Day 5

O Virgin unexcelled and most gentle, make us meek and pure and preserve us from evil.

BIBLE READING:

“And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there.” (John 2:1)

And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. Realizing that the wedding feast lacked wine, Jesus performed a miracle upon the trusting entreaty of his mother. She invites us to also obey Jesus in a special way, saying:

"Whatsoever he shall say to you, do it." (John 2:5)

"Happy are those that hear the Word of God and keep it" (Luke 11:28).

PRAYER: 

Mary, beloved Mother, who showed your precious Patronage in the triumph of Pope Pius VII, extend your holy mantle over Holy Mother Church, especially over her august head, against the assaults of so many enemies; deliver him from temporal sufferings and assist him always that he may securely steer the barque of Peter in Truth, and overcome the proud waves attempting to sink it. Amen 

(Remember your Intentions here)

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be... Hail Holy Queen.
Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us. 

மே 19: நாம் சென்றிட நம்மில் வரும் ஆவியார்

வருவதும் போவதும் இருப்பதும் இழப்பதும் 

தி ப. 28:16-20, 30-31; யோ 21: 20-25

இன்று வாசகங்களை உணர்ந்து தியானித்தால், ஒரு கதை முடிவின் தருணம் நம் கண்முன் தெரியும்... பவுலடிகளார் வீட்டுக்காவலிலே இருக்க தன்னையே தயாரிக்கிறார், இயேசுவோ தன் சீடர்களை விட்டு அகல தயாரிக்கிறார். யோவானின் நற்செய்தியும் நிறைவுக்கு வருகிறது... பழைய திரைப்படங்களின் முடிவிலே "சுபம்" என்று எழுதுவார்கள் அது போன்றதொரு தருணம். ஆனால்... முடிந்துவிட்டது என்று எண்ணாதீர்கள்... முடிந்தது தான் ஆனால் தொடங்குவதற்காகவே! தொடர்வதற்காகவே! இங்கு நாம் காண்பது 'சுபம்' அல்ல, 'தொடரும்...'

நான் உங்களை விட்டு செல்கிறேன் என்று கவலை படாதீர்கள், உண்மையில் நீங்கள் மகிழ்ச்சி கொள்ள வேண்டும், ஏனெனில் நான் செல்லாவிடில் என் தந்தையிடமிருந்து உங்கள் வழிகாட்டியாம் ஆவியானவர் எப்படி வருவார், என்று தன் சீடர்களிடம் ஏற்கனவே கிறிஸ்து விளக்கியிருந்தார். வருவதும் போவதும், இருப்பதும், இழப்பதும்,  சிறைப்படுவதும், விடுதலையாவதும், உண்பதும், குடிப்பதும், வாழ்வதும், இறப்பதும்... அனைத்தும் ஒரே இலக்கை நோக்கியது தானே: கிறிஸ்துவை பின்செல்வது! இதை நமக்கு சாத்தியமாக்குபவர் தூய ஆவியே!

நற்செய்தி அறிவிக்கப்படவேண்டும், இறையாட்சி நிறுவப்படவேண்டும்... இதற்காக அனைத்தையும் நம்மில் சாத்தியமாக்குபவர் தூய ஆவியார்! இந்த  இலக்கை நோக்கி நாம் துணிந்து விரைந்து செல்ல நம்மிலே வருபவர் தூய ஆவி. அன்னையோடும், சீடர்களோடும், இந்த ஆவிக்காக காத்திருந்து செபிப்போம், அவரிலே நிறைவடைவோம்!

The Spirit comes that we may Go

Saturday, 7th week in Eastertide

19th May,  2018: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; Jn 21: 20-25

Don't you find a sense of winding up in the readings today? A type of 'and-they-lived-happily-thereafter' narration! Paul seems to settle down for good in Rome as an honoured guest in house arrest,  while Jesus seems to be bidding his final bye as the book of John comes to an end. The end is for a new beginning. 

The Church awaits the all important feast of the Pentecost tomorrow,  an outpouring of the Spirit that led to a renewed life and radical witness. This is what Jesus said -you should in fact be happy that I am going away, he said, because unless I go you will not receive the Advocate that I shall be sending you from the Father.

I remember an elderly confrere whom we had with us some years ago, he was beyond his 90. Especially after a chat over a cup of tea in the evening, he would say, 'so my dear people, I have to go.' And we would say, 'Oh no...do you really have to go?' He would reply with a wit in his eyes, 'how can I come back, if I dont go?' Coming and going are part of life...but what they are for, is that which matters truly.

The message today is our call to 'follow Christ' in season and out of season,  whether we are free or captive,  whether we live or die, whether we eat or drink, whether we go or we came! The Spirit prepares us for that... that we may be at the task given to us, ever on the move! The Spirit comes that we may Go! 

Good news has to be announced by all means and the responsibility is ours,  irrespective of our state of life or situation at present. How prepared and willing am I?