Be Holy For I am Holy: The Seven Pillars of Holiness
Zacharias Mattam S D B (2018)
An erudite comprehensive work steeped in the scriptures offered by the author as a tribute on the occasion of his 50th year in priesthood, the book is a guide to the faithful in all walks of life on how to fulfill their call to holiness. It reflects a mind and soul that has travelled the path of learning contemplation and sacramental life. In the Preface he cites the Visitation episode from the Gospel as dear to him. It shows how Mary hastens to visit Elizabeth and how the Holy spirit manifests in them. Similar is the case with a priest on the occasion of his ordination which provides him the power to act in the person of Christ, enabling him to bring Him to everyone. The five part book begins with the ‘Universal Call to Holiness’ which involves the ‘Five Fundamental Truths about Holiness’. It helps to clear away the traditional notion that holiness is almost impossible for ordinary people. Holiness is to be understood as God’s project for all and is easy. The scripture speaks of God’s people in both the Exodus and in the letter of St Peter that His people are “the chosen”, “royal priests” and “a holy nation”. The fullness of the Holiness of Christ is offered to us as gift. The Second Part explains how Baptism unites us with Christ. The third and central part explains the Seven Pillars of holiness involving our participation with Christ in building the mansion of holiness. In the fourth Part, we glimpse at God’s ‘Work of Art Realised: Transformation into Christ.’ We are taken through the life of Christ in the Gospels and how the encounters with different people especially sinners transformed them into saints. The seven Pillars are the following: 1. Repentance and conversion of heart 2. Being led by the spirit 3. Being nourished by the Eucharist 4. Being sustained by the Word of God 5. Feasts that actualize the mystery of salvation in us. 6. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving 7. Devotion to Mary. “There is nothing more easy, more attainable, more within reach, and in the power of everyone, than sanctity.”
Run Baby Run
Nicky Cruz with Jamie Buckingham (1968)
Tim Dilena’s ‘Foreword’ says: “What makes Nicky’s story amazing is that God can take random events and original intentions and turn the whole situation into a providential masterpiece.” Nicky Cruz’s story of conversion from criminality to a missionary of peace proves this. Born into a large Puerto Rican family that practised sorcery, Nicky experienced brutality and victimization, growing up with fear and hate. His mother used to call him ‘Lucifer’. His father was punitive. Sent to his brother in New York, Nicky was thrown into the midst of school violence, drugs, prostitution and gang wars in the slums around. After a few encounters with the bullies of a gang self -styled the Mau Mau, he became their leader and plunged into a life of criminality. In 1958, Nicky, his girlfriend Lydia and a fellow gang member Israel stumbled into David Wilkerson, a young street preacher engaged in the mission of evangelizing street gangs. Sensing fear and alarm as he heard Wilkerson read the Gospel passage: “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,” Nicky mocked and threatened Wilkerson. Wilkerson’s patient response confused Nicky when the preacher said he loved Nicky – the first time anyone had ever said that to him! Wilkerson visited Nicky’s den, thereafter and told him that Jesus loved him. The hateful Nicky did not know how to respond; he could face up to a knife wielding enemy like himself, but this was different! Wilkerson’s words kept haunting him. Wilkerson convinced Nicky of his real condition and offered a possibility of redemption. Finally Nicky along with many of his friends are overwhelmed and gave up their life of hate and violence to follow Christ Jesus through Wilkerson’s efforts. He became one of the most famous preachers and missionaries of peace among the youth of America and an educator whose efforts have restored thousands of troubled youngsters from the path of violence and self destruction. “Run Baby Run is a thrilling story. Thousands of troubled young people have read this story and turned their lives over to Christ!” the co-author Jamie Buckingham writes.
Zacharias Mattam S D B | Nicky Cruz with Jamie Buckingham
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