Spirituality

Priests and the religious men and women are in an advantageous position to offer CONTRIBUTION to the world and the community to which they belong because their whole life of commitment is geared towards contributing to the well-being of others. Down the centuries, priests and religious sisters have been contributing to the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions of people, and continue to do so, also in these times. However, in the present-day society, there are three specific areas in which priests and the religious need to contribute. These require our urgent attention today since our world is beset with major issues in relation to ecological dangers, digital abuses and lack of collaborative effort in helping the poor. There are two current issues to which the contribution of priests and religious sisters can have a significant impact. And they are:

1. 1. Ecological and Environmental Stewardship
   2. Constructive participation in Digital consumption and production

1. Ecological and Environmental Stewardship

            Environmental stewardship is the responsible use and care of the environment to ensure its preservation for future generations. In Pope Francis words, it is to care for our common home – a seminal idea that he so forcefully explained in Laudati Sì that climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all: “Environmental problems cannot be separated from…how individuals relate to themselves” (LS, 141).  Environmental stewardship is a sacred duty of every citizen of the world, much more so of priests and religious because they are the ones required to be most attuned to respect and cherish the richness that Nature offers us. Their renouncement of materialistic pulls in order that they may better witness to the creative magnificence of God, makes them worthy ambassadors who can care for the Earth wholeheartedly.

Fr. Dr. Joseph Jeyaraj, sdb

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St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) lived through the 16th and 17th centuries and made a lasting impact on the Church. Honoured as a patron in many dioceses, his spirituality continues to inspire even after four centuries. He was a son, student, priest, missionary, writer, and bishop. His feast is celebrated on 24^th January.

His spirituality is followed by many congregations and continues to attract young people today. In Sydney, the Maternal Heart of Mary Church hosts monthly sessions on his writings, attended by professionals and students. His simple, practical, and down-to-earth teachings remain accessible to all.

Human Spirituality

In his book Introduction to the Devout Life, translated into many languages, St. Francis de Sales, emphasized the universal call to holiness long before Vatican II. He wrote, “God commands Christians, the living plants of His Church, to produce the fruits of devotion according to each one’s ability and occupation.” He also highlighted that devotion should be adapted to an individual’s strength, life situation, and duties. His saying, “I am nothing but human,” underscores the dignity he places on being human.

Spirituality of Love

St. Francis de Sales’ spirituality emphasizes love: “Nothing by force. Everything by love.” His Treatise on the Love of God and Treatise on the Love of Neighbor reflect his deep focus on God’s love and love for others. Pope Francis, in Dilexit Nos, affirms that “the deepest part of us, created for love, will fulfill God’s plan only if we learn to love,” with the heart symbolizing this love. St. Francis highlights God’s personal love, which allows each believer to feel known and respected. His motto, “Live Jesus,” calls us to learn and live the love of Jesus.

Spirituality of Humility

St. Francis de Sales, despite his stature as a bishop, regarded humility as the greatest Christian virtue. He believed humility involved overcoming reactions in humiliating situations and responding gently, even to spiteful people. He encouraged embracing humility and humiliation, following Jesus’ example: “Come to me, all who are overburdened… for I am meek and humble of heart.” Known for guiding others with love and compassion, he earned the title of the “Gentleman Saint.”

Fr Vincy Samy MSFS

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Christmas has always held a special place in my heart. It’s a time for love, celebration, and reflection. I was born on Christmas Day, 25th December, to a simple and loving family. My parents, Marriayappa and Hellean Mary, worked hard to support us, and love was always at the center of our home. I wasn’t born alone—God sent me a twin, Jaswanth Christy, as my lifelong companion. Together, we grew up in a world full of warmth, with Christmas always being a magical time for us.

During our childhood in a boarding school in Mysore, Karnataka, Christmas meant more than just decorations and gifts—it was a time to reflect on the deeper meaning of love and connection. We wanted this Christmas to be different. We longed to surprise our parents with a meaningful gift to show our appreciation for their love and sacrifices. We discussed ideas and decided to create simple yet heartfelt gifts.

The plan was set. We pooled our resources, put our creativity to work, and prepared thoughtful presents. As the day to head home for the holidays approached, excitement filled the air. But in my haste to pull the gift from the bag, it slipped from my hand and fell to the floor. The beautiful glass menagerie, with a picture of our family, shattered.

I was devastated. Our heartfelt gift had broken, and our efforts seemed wasted. But when we presented the broken gift to our parents, their reaction was nothing like I expected. They hugged us tightly and kissed our foreheads, reassuring us that the love behind the gift was what mattered most. The gift was broken, but not the love that bound us. In that moment, I realized Christmas is truly about love—the love God showed us by sending His only Son and the love we share with those closest to us.

Sch Jayanth Christy SJ

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Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us), released on October 24, 2024, is Pope Francis’ fourth encyclical. Its incipit, or opening phrase, Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us) is drawn from Romans 8:37, where St. Paul proclaims that nothing can ever separate us from Christ’s love.

Since 1899, four papal encyclicals and numerous papal texts have been dedicated to the Sacred Heart, each ranging from 2,000 to 13,000 words. Comparatively, this 28,000-word encyclical is notably lengthy, with 227 footnotes not counting the numerous scripture references. Citing previous popes, authors, and saints like St. Ignatius, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Charles de Foucauld, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, it’s clear Pope Francis has done a thorough homework for this deeply significant topic.

In June this year, the month the Church traditionally dedicates to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Pope declared his intention to release a document on this devotion in the autumn hoping to “illuminate the path of ecclesial renewal but also to say something significant to a world that seems to have lost its heart.”

THE CLEVER TIMING OF ITS RELEASE

In a surprise move, Pope Francis released Dilexit Nos, his latest encyclical, just as the Synod on Synodality was drawing to a close. This timing is no coincidence. The Pope is urging us to grasp the deeper purpose behind the synodality conversations. Many Catholics, following the synod, have been asking, “What changes will this synod bring to the Church?” Yet, through Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis redirects the question back to us: it is OUR hearts that need transforming, aligning with the Sacred Heart of Jesus to become more like His.

At the encyclical’s unveiling on October 24, Archbishop Bruno Forte called the encyclical the ‘compendium’ and ‘key’ to understanding Pope Francis’ pontificate. While some critics argue that Pope Francis’ papacy has been too social, neglecting the theological thrust, Archbishop Forte emphasized that Dilexit Nos lays bare the spiritual core behind the Holy Father’s 12-year pontificate.

What follows are highlights of the encyclical’s five chapters.

Br Sunil Britto CFC

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From the moment we were born, the world began teaching us its rules. Rewards were given for ‘good’ behaviour, punishment for the rest. We made internal promises or ‘agreements’ about who we needed to be. We learned to chase the elusive approval of society: be beautiful, be smart, don’t cry, and excel. Love, it seemed, was conditional.

Now, as adults, we are still bound by those early agreements, believing that perfection will earn us love. But perfection is an illusion, and in its pursuit, we judge ourselves and others harshly.

In his bestselling book The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz invites us to courageously undo these false agreements. Instead, he offers four new agreements to free ourselves from the tyranny of perfection and return to the truth of who we really are.

FIRST AGREEMENT FIRST

Being ‘Impeccable with Your Word’ means: “Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.”

Impeccable comes from the Latin word ‘pecatus’ which means sin and ‘im’ means without. So, being impeccable means your words are without sin. The first agreement is the most important one and also the most difficult one to practice. If you would become conscious of what you say, you would become conscious. What we create with our Word reflects our state of consciousness and intent. “Show me how you speak, and I’ll reveal in what world you live!

To practice the first agreement, you’ll need to work hard at first to maintain awareness. Our ingrained habits often make us unaware of the words we use or their meaning, requiring a conscious practice of this ‘verbal hygiene.

Br. Sunil Britto CFC

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O Lord, author of my life,
The only love of my life,
You gave me the past, called childhood,
Which held both blessings and burdens.
Blessings were Your graces,
Burdens, my sinful embraces.

O Lord, Prince of Peace,
Now You have given me the present,
Which is called Youth,
Full of freedom and choice.
Freedom is Your generosity towards me,
Choice is my responsibility to You.

O Lord, ever-living, ever-loving,
By Your grace, grant me a future,
To be called old age,
Full of hope and anxiety.
Hope in Your fidelity,
Anxiety is my frailty.

Therefore, O Lord, my life,
Hear the prayer of my soul.
In regrets, help me hope;
In crisis, help me hope;
In anxiety, help me hope.
From then, now, and evermore,
Guide me as a pilgrim of hope.

Anish NSJ

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Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and thought, “Me, a saint? Yeah, right!”? I know I have. The idea of being created to be a saint can seem pretty far-fetched when you’re struggling to get through your day without losing your cool in traffic or gossiping about your coworker.

But here’s the thing: sainthood isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being fully human, with all our brokenness and weaknesses, and still striving to let a little more light into the world. It’s about progress, not perfection.

Think about it this way: remember that time you helped your elderly neighbour with their groceries? Or when you stayed up all night comforting a friend going through a tough time? Those moments, as small as they might seem, are glimpses of the saint you’re meant to be.

Fr Dr John Singarayar SVD

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October is the month of the Rosary, a time when Catholics around the world pause to reflect on this simple yet powerful prayer. Though it may seem like an ancient tradition, the Rosary continues to offer peace, hope, and connection in today’s busy, modern world. Whether whispered in solitude or recited in unison, the Rosary remains a timeless prayer, weaving together faith, devotion, and moments of grace in our everyday lives.

In a world buzzing with smartphones and social media, an ancient practice quietly endures, offering a moment of stillness amidst the chaos. The Rosary, a string of beads and a sequence of prayers, might seem like a relic from a bygone era. Yet, this centuries-old tradition continues to weave its way through the fabric of modern life, touching hearts and minds in surprising ways.

The Rosary in Everyday Life

Picture a bustling city street. Amid the honking horns and hurried footsteps, an elderly woman clutches a worn set of beads, her lips moving in silent prayer. In a college hostel room, a student takes a break from cramming for exams to close his eyes and run his fingers over a simple cord bracelet, each knot representing a prayer. Across the globe, in a refugee camp, a family huddled together, their voices joining in a familiar rhythm of “Hail Marys” that transcends their current hardships.

Fr Dr John Singarayar SVD

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As she sat alone in her room, she felt a gentle breeze whisper through the window. Suddenly, she sensed a familiar warmth beside her. It was as if He was there, His loving presence enveloping her like a soft blanket. She felt His gentle hand on her shoulder, His comforting smile, and His soothing voice whispering, “I’m here,” in her ear. Tears of joy and longing streamed down her face as the ache of His absence eased. She knew He may not have been physically present, but His love and spirit were always with her. As she breathed deeply, His presence grew stronger, filling the room with an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort. She knew she was never truly alone, for He was always there in her heart.

This short anecdote reflects my deep emotions about my encounter with God during my one-year preparation for the final commitment. The presence of God and His unconditional love overpowered the feeling of absence of those who care for me. I was deeply touched by the presence of the Lord and found my treasure in Him. His presence overtook me, and I treasured it within my heart.

The Presence of God as Treasure

One can never hold or constrain the presence of God. However, His presence is like a treasure hidden in a vessel. The world and everyone in it are like vessels carrying the precious presence of God in our lives. Though weak and fragile, we are chosen by God to be His dwelling place. This awareness of God’s presence in and around us can make our lives—and everyone’s lives—happy and beautiful. The knowledge that God has chosen to dwell in us, despite our human fragility, is an incredibly humbling and empowering truth.

The presence of God is something like being in a garden. When one enters, the fragrance of the flowers is unavoidable. The same is true of God’s presence: it cannot be fully comprehended but can only be felt and experienced deeply. His presence is sometimes subtle, like a breeze that refreshes, and at other times overwhelming, like the sun that illuminates everything. But when His presence is with us, the unknown becomes known, and ordinary people can do extraordinary things. This is evident in the lives of Abraham, the prophets and all right through to the Apostles, who had personal encounters with the Lord, who did incredible things, and experienced His presence most intimately. The effect of God’s presence transforms not only their lives but the entire course of human history.

Sr. Merly DPMT

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Religious life emerged after the legacy of Christian martyrs who followed no earthly law, only the highest, making them the most liberated. The origins of Religious life can be traced back to monastic hermits, for whom obedience to another person was of minimal importance. Hermits sought solitude, distancing themselves from society to focus solely on listening to God. Some would seek out wisdom from sages in their spiritual quest, but these encounters were brief.

As religious life evolved with time into cenobitic monasticism, the focus shifted to community living. The goal of community life was to seek God’s voice together. The early Benedictines though did not seek a childish dependency model of obedience, adopting instead a mature, communal discernment process.

In the following unpacking of the vow of obedience, we will delve into four of its distorted deviants (blind obedience, dependence, authoritarianism and individualism) and three of its essential elements (empowerment, discernment and collaboration)

BLIND OBEDIENCE

The cruel Inquisition by the Catholic Church, the Holocaust of Jews by the Nazis, religious terrorism and many such atrocities in modern history were often fueled by blind obedience as much as by authority. People unquestioningly followed orders, embraced inhumane ideologies, and committed unspeakable evils under the guise of obedience. When a group learns to ‘take orders’ without question, they can commit the most heinous of crimes with a clear conscience, as seen at Nuremberg and Auschwitz.

This prompts us to approach obedience with caution, realizing it is not inherently virtuous. Obedience, in fact, demands scrutiny. In a world where obedience often leads to harm, the vow itself becomes suspect.

Br. Sunil Britto CFC

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