Spirituality

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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The idea that being celibate is more spiritual or holy than being sexually active is becoming more questionable, especially in a world where many married people are deeply involved in important causes like peace, ecology, feminism, social justice, and Church ministries. For them, marriage enhances their commitment to these efforts rather than limiting it.

A RETHINK NEEDED

The vows of poverty and obedience seem relevant in today’s world. As environmental crises intensify, the call to live simply and sustainably becomes a rational choice. Amid political chaos, obedience underscores the urgent need for mutual collaboration.

In contrast, the vow of chastity or celibacy perplexes many today. In a world longing for love and intimacy, where healthy psychosexual expression is desperately needed, choosing to abstain can seem like a deeply irresponsible and bewildering choice.

 If chastity merely suppresses sexuality for its own sake, it’s not what the world needs. Suppression only hides simmering volcanoes, ready to erupt. Barbara Fiand opines, “Perhaps our celibate chastity has never been lived. It may have been avoided instead. Propriety rather than passion was our guiding principle.”

To this day, Mount Athos in Greece forbids female animals, fearing that their natural behaviours might provoke sexual responses among the monks within the Orthodox monastery. Historically, the discipline of chastity often caged individuals in systems that stifled love. The approach was to confine people until the hormones faded, leaving people as desiccated individuals.

If our lives are to serve as public witnesses, it’s time to have open conversations with the wider Church and society on living sexuality in a way that upholds human dignity. We also must thoughtfully engage with the expanding literature on human sexuality from all disciplines. To make religious life relevant today, we must rethink the vow entirely and even rename it to something more relevant – THE VOW FOR RELATEDNESS. Here are six touchstones of this revisited commitment.

Br. Sunil Britto CFC

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““Out of compassion, I destroy the darkness of their ignorance. From within them I light the lamp of wisdom and dispel all darkness from their lives.”

– Bhagavad Gita.

Reflecting on compassion seems like a never-ending process and so here we are, dedicating one more issue to this magnificent human quality. There are three specific aspects of compassion that are particularly important for priests and religious to consider. I am certain that each of these aspects will have something to tell us because they touch the sensitive and delicate layers of our humanness.  I dare say that these reflections may spark a ray of light and enkindle our consciousness.

1. Compassion Fatigue Affects those who Serve Others

Compassion comes from the Latin word ‘compati meaning ‘to suffer with’. The Italian translation is ‘compatire’, a word which according to my Italian friends, has taken a derogatory sense now, meaning an air of condescension and pity on a person who experiences suffering. But the original meaning of ‘compati’ signifies that there is so much resonance with the suffering person that the compassionate person too experiences the same emotions.

In my doctoral thesis on, ‘The Balance of Psychological Well-being among Diocesan Priests’ (2022), and again in the book, ‘Take care of Priests’ (2022), I had written saying that priests are required to fulfil numerous responsibilities such as being a preacher, teacher, administrator, counsellor, fundraiser, media-person and social worker. Religious sisters too are expected to fulfil such roles and are expected to be ready and ‘on call’ at any time of the day and night. The beneficiaries place such heavy demands on priests and religious that they end up experiencing ‘Compassion Fatigue’.

Fr. Dr. Joseph Jeyaraj, sdb

The Second Vatican Council brought significant changes to the Church, and one of its key documents, Sacrosanctum Concilium, is crucial for understanding liturgical reform. It highlights that “Sacred scripture is of the greatest importance in the celebration of the Liturgy” (SC 24). This article explores the role of Sacred Scripture in the liturgy and offers recommendations for enhancing its presence in worship.

The Essential Role of Holy Scripture in the Liturgy

In the liturgy, Holy Scripture plays a foundational role, serving as the thread that weaves together the history of salvation. From the Exodus Passover, where Israel celebrates its covenant with God, to the Last Supper, where Christ establishes the new covenant, Scripture is both a memory and a living reality. It links the past with the present, guiding the faithful through the mysteries of Redemption. By intertwining the Word of God with the Church’s rituals, the Liturgy becomes a dynamic encounter with God’s saving actions, deeply nourishing the spiritual life of believers.

Scripture and the Exodus Passover

In the Old Testament, the Exodus Passover is a central event that shapes Israel’s understanding of its history and identity. The annual Passover celebration helps Israel remember its special relationship with God. Through the Passover, Israel reaffirms its role as God’s chosen people and recalls God’s acts of creation and redemption. This deep connection between Scripture and Liturgy forms a single, unified story.

Sr Shalini Xavier CTC

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Have you ever prayed and felt as if your prayers weren’t answered? Did you fall on your knees, clasped your hands, prayed to God earnestly, with all your heart, perhaps also with tears and sighs and felt as if God simply didn’t hear you? Have you ever felt like you were just talking to yourself when you were praying—that God wasn’t paying attention? A lot of people think God doesn’t answer prayer because things don’t go their way.  Pope Francis says, ‘We pray, we ask, and yet sometimes our prayers seem to go unheard: what we have asked for, for ourselves or for others, is not fulfilled… We think, for example, of the heartfelt prayers we offer for our sick children, or for our friends who experience great pain. In our disappointment, we may feel that God is deaf to our pleas; we may even be tempted to stop praying.” Perhaps what we don’t realize is that God does answer our prayers, maybe he just says ‘No’, or ‘Wait’, or that he would show a better way, but we were not paying attention. Let us not lose heart. God does not forget us, He listens to us, He hears our cry, He understands us. He is interested in us. He loves us and cares for us; if it were not so, why should He have created us?

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