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Recall an experience of receiving positive feedback from someone—about your gifts or character or accomplishments. How did you feel when you received it? How did it help you?

Now, recall an experience of receiving negative feedback—someone pointing out a defect or flaw of yours, or some not so pleasant aspect of your behaviour. Was it given with love and respect, or harshly, or in humiliating way? How did you feel then? Would you like to receive negative feedback in the way it was given?

Now, think of some positive feedback you gave someone else—a word of appreciation or encouragement, a sincere word of thanks for something the person did for you. What was the other person’s response? Did your relationship improve or deepen as a result?

Recall now a negative feedback you gave to someone. Was it a correction given to someone under your care—a son or daughter, a student, a formee, a member of your religious house where you were a superior? How did you give it? Calmly or in anger? After pointing out the person’s good qualities or without it? Did you give the other person a chance to explain himself or herself?

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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“Learning to stand in somebody else’s shoes, to see through their eyes, that’s how peace begins. And it’s up to you to make that happen. Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world.”

— Barack Obama.

Many years ago, I remember watching a Chinese movie in which a little boy, Doggie, is cruel to frogs. He ties a large stone on the back of a frog and laughs in glee when the frog is unable to jump or move about. The master, known as “Wang Bianlian” or “King of Masks,” who had taken the little boy under his wing to train him, decides to teach him a lesson. One night, when the boy was sleeping, the master ties a large rock on his back and when the boy wakes from sleep, he is unable to stand up nor move. He starts crying and begging the master to free him. This scene is significant in the movie as it highlights the master’s effort to teach the boy compassion and respect for all living beings.

One of the core principles that underlie the emotional dimension of the wholeness paradigm is when we embrace our emotions and nurture our own and others’ emotional well-being, we are well equipped to cultivate a sense of wholeness and lead a more fulfilling life. In this issue, we shall discuss the highest manifestation of the emotional dimension – Compassion in all its richness and its significance in life.

Fr. Dr. Joseph Jeyaraj, sdb

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This is the fifth article in this series, summarizing the contents of volume 5 of the Council Notebooks, which focuses on Sacred Scripture engaging in a dialogue beyond frontiers.

Sacred Scripture is the cornerstone of evangelization, guiding the Church to continuously renew and deepen her faith. As Pope Francis asserts in Evangelii Gaudium, the Word of God must be at the heart of all ecclesial activity, nurturing and strengthening Christians to bear authentic Gospel witness in daily life. Dei Verbum, with its six chapters and twenty-six paragraphs, particularly emphasizes this in Chapter VI, which focuses on Scripture. It highlights the unique nature of biblical revelation, where God reveals Himself through dialogue, inviting humanity into fellowship (DV 2).

1. From Dei Verbum to Verbum Domini: The Enduring Importance of Scripture

Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini builds on the foundations laid by Dei Verbum in 1965. Verbum Domini summarizes insights from the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church, continuing and deepening the theological and pastoral teachings of the Second Vatican Council. It emphasizes the crucial role of Scripture in the life of faith.

Sr Shalini Xavier CTC

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There is a wise sloka in Sanskrit about how we learn. Let me give a rough translation: “Our learning is partly from our teacher, partly from our own effort, partly from our companions and partly from the passage of time.” True, isn’t it?

How educated are you?

The answer is not found in your certificates or the names of the institutions where you studied. A much better check on your level of education is how you handle life—responsibilities, relationships, challenges, let-downs.

What is the use of having a Master’s degree or a Ph. D. if I cannot relate lovingly, build up people, handle the responsibilities entrusted to me and face the ups and downs of life with confidence and serenity?

Once a colleague and friend of mine at Madras University, who used to take students for exposure camps as part of the anthropology programme, told me what he learnt from so-called illiterate people. In our villages, there are many people who know the plants and herbs around and their medical properties. They can treat various diseases by using leaves and roots and fruits. And yet, officially, they are categorized as “illiterate.” They possess much more useful knowledge than our graduates and post-graduates.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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In the first three articles of this section, we explored Vatican II and its significance for the Church, the active role of the Word, and the dynamic nature of tradition. Now, in this fourth article, we delve into the theme of inspiration and interpretation of the Word of God. We also examine how Ekklesia, symbolizing the Church as a community of equals, influences this process. Ekklesia, or the Church, is compared to a ship, representing a shared journey undertaken by all its members.

Ekklesia & Dei Verbum:

Ekklesia reminds us of the Church’s close-knit community and its mission as a spiritual guide. In 1965, a ship named Ekklesia embarked on a journey, symbolizing unity, marked with the date – “DV 11-13,” representing Dei Verbum, the Council’s document on Divine Revelation. Dei Verbum paragraphs 11-13 explore how Sacred Scripture inspires and guides us. During the Council, there were tensions between those interpreting the Bible conservatively and those interpreting innovatively. Think of it like a lively debate! Spanish scholar Luis Alonso Schokel urged interpreting the Bible through creative lenses, stressing the need for spiritual insight. He showed how the Spirit’s wisdom transforms us, much like a great piece of art. Alonso illustrated the Spirit’s dynamic nature with stories from Genesis to Revelation. This message is relevant today: just as past disagreements led to growth, our current struggles can inspire spiritual depth and understanding. The Spirit encourages us to face challenges, growing in faith and wisdom along the way.

Sr Shalini Xavier CTC

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Christians draw their faith from the Word of God, which includes both Scripture and Tradition. Tradition, as explained in Dei Verbum 7-10, is not just a thing of the past—it is alive and dynamic. Volume three of the council notebooks emphasizes this understanding of tradition as a living participation. This means that it is continuously active and guided by the Holy Spirit, ensuring that the essence of Jesus Christ’s message is kept vibrant and relevant for each generation. Tradition isn’t just about remembering; it is about actively participating in the ongoing memory of Jesus, particularly His love and compassion for the marginalized and vulnerable. It is like a living stream that carries forth the teachings and actions of Jesus, keeping them fresh and impactful for all believers, especially those in need. Dei Verbum gives emphasis to this dynamic nature of tradition.

Tradition of the Living Truth

In the second chapter of volume 3 of the council notebooks titled “Transmitting the Truth in a Living Way,” we delve into the writings of early Church figures such as Saint Irenaeus and St. Basil. Irenaeus emphasizes the continuity of Gospel preaching and faith from the Apostles to their successors, which he calls the ‘Tradition of Truth.’ This highlights the ongoing connection between the Church’s teachings and the living memory of Jesus found in the Gospels. Importantly, Irenaeus also stresses that this transmission is not just about words but also about action—it involves actively participating in the love for the poor and downtrodden. He famously said, “The glory of God is man/woman fully alive,” underlining the vibrant relationship between the Holy Scriptures and the Apostolic tradition. This dynamic understanding of tradition underscores its authentic link between Christ and His Church.

Sr Shalini Xavier CTC

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What is culture?

“Culture is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups. Culture often originates from or is attributed to a specific region or location.” (Wikipedia)

“The written and spoken languages, food, lifestyle, dance forms, art, music, choice of clothing, talking to others, working style all come under the huge umbrella of culture. In India, with 28 states and 7 union territories, the culture differs from one region or state to another.”

Thus, we can speak of Indian or Chinese culture, Bengali or Tamil culture, Eastern and Western cultures, etc.

Some Truths We May Forget

No one chooses one’s own parents or mother tongue or place of birth. We find ourselves as Indians or Japanese, as having this or that mother tongue, or belonging to a particular ethnic group or nation. These are parts of who and what we are. They are neither merits nor demerits. A person cannot be praised or blamed for belonging to a particular culture. Someone from a particular culture has no right to look down upon another culture or despise its expressions.

To speak of superficial examples: A typical European is used to eating with cutlery. A typical Chinese or Korean eats with chopsticks. Most Indians eat with their hands.

So, too, with ways of dressing, ways of relating in the family, ways of expressing affection or anger. Thus, Italians and Spaniards are used to hugging and kissing. Not so in India or Sri Lanka.

Indian women wear the sari or churidar. The men wear kurta and pajamas or dhoti and shirts.

Arranged marriages as in India will sound absurd and unjust to a typical European or American. Parents in old age are looked after by the sons, or one son, in India, while a Western family has no such practice.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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Pope Francis urged Catholics around the globe to prepare themselves for the Jubilee year 2025 by studying the documents of the Second Vatican Council, especially its four Dogmatic constitutions. In this article, I will explore some groundbreaking themes from what is known as the most important Conciliar document on the Church itself – Lumen Gentium.

Light of the Nations

When Vatican II titled its document on the Church ‘Lumen Gentium,’ which means ‘Light of the Nations,’ it aimed to articulate the Church’s role and purpose. In the same way as Christ is the light for all nations, the Church is tasked with spreading that illuminating presence throughout the world. Instead of giving a name that would have the Church focused on itself, in a masterstroke move, the Council Fathers opted for a Christocentric title.

The Church is to Christ as John the Baptist was to Jesus. The Church is just as John the Baptist was not the Light itself, but rather a witness to the Light (Jn 1:7-9). Adopting a spiritual stance akin to that of John the Baptist, the Church echoes his words about Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

In what ways can you let Christ shine through your life and actions?

The Mystery Of The Church

God does not call us to go to church but to be his Church. The Council fathers encapsulated this understanding by introducing a chapter right at the outset titled as ‘The Mystery of the Church’. The essence of the Church extends beyond physical structures or hierarchical arrangements. Pope Paul VI, would say that the Church is a mystery or sacrament, meaning it is “a reality imbued with the hidden presence of God”.

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You have certainly heard that human beings are the image of God, right? What does this mean to you?

Let me tell you how one exceptionally brilliant man interpreted this Bible teaching. When I first heard it in a philosophy class in Rome decades ago, I was impressed. And it has remained in my mind.

I am referring to the interpretation given to this doctrine by Thomas Aquinas, an exceptional intellectual and a deep mystic.

We, humans, are the image of God.

You. Me. Everyone around.

What does it mean to be the image of God?

You can click a photo and see what someone looks like. We do not have a photo of God. How do we “picture” God?

This is where Aquinas applied his creative intelligence.

By “God” we mean the creator of all. This whole complex and beautiful universe is all God’s work. Far, far larger and more complex than what our small minds can grasp.

To be God’s image means this: To be like the supremely creative being.

In other words, the more creative you are, the more you are like God!

Just think!

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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What we religious can learn from the success of Alcoholics Anonymous

The inception of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) dates back to 1935 with a chance meeting between two recovering alcoholics Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. The pair since worked with other recovering alcoholics and in 1939 they published ‘The Big Book,’ where they detailed the 12 steps of the recovery program.

Since then, this model has evolved into the most extensively adopted approach, addressing not only alcoholism recovery but also extending its reach to various other forms of addiction. Examples include Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Gamblers Anonymous (GA), Overeaters Anonymous (OA) and Sexaholics Anonymous (SA), among numerous others. Additionally, Al-anon Family Groups and Alateen provide a program of recovery for the families and friends of alcoholics. Here is a brief overview of each of the twelve steps.

Br. Sunil Britto CFC

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