Tips For Superiors

“Giving, receiving and even witnessing gratitude can improve your well-being.” says Christina Caron in an article on the benefits of gratitude in the “New York Times.” In recent times there have been many studies on gratitude and research shows that it has many benefits for our life.

1. What is Gratitude?

            Robert A. Emmons who has done much research on gratitude says that gratitude is a two-step process: i) acknowledging that one has obtained something good is one’s life and ii) recognizing that the source or sources of this goodness are at least partly outside oneself.  The sources of this goodness could be other people, animals, nature, and/or God.  The American Psychological Association (APA Dictionary of Psychology) describes gratitude as “a sense of thankfulness and happiness in response to receiving a gift, either a tangible benefit (e.g., a present, favor) given by someone or a fortunate happenstance (e.g., a beautiful day).” Gratitude involves the intellect, will and emotions.  We recognise (intellectually), we acknowledge (willingly) and we appreciate (emotionally).  “Only when all three come together is gratitude complete.”  Gratitude implies humility – an acknowledgement that we are what we are or where we are because of the contributions of others.

Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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In order to improve our prayer life St Francis de Sales exhorts: “Examine yourself often; place yourself in the presence of God, and review your prayers to ensure they are devout and sincere.”   Reviewing one’s prayer through journaling (writing) can significantly enhance its depth and effectiveness.

1) Review of Prayer Through Journaling

            Review of prayer through journaling or Prayer Review Journaling is an introspective process focused on evaluating a specific prayer session.  Its purpose is to assess the quality, experiences and outcomes of the prayer.  It serves to foster spiritual growth and improve future prayers.

            In his book titled “The Life You’ve Always Wanted” John Ortberg describes Prayer Review in these words: “Think of this as what we might do after a visit with a good friend. We spend a few moments alone and think about our time together. We recall moments when we felt especially close or perhaps moments when there was conflict or confusion. We remember saying something that feels unfinished or needs to be resolved. We are grateful for the time we were able to spend with that friend.”

Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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Fr. Fabrice is a director of novices.  During a renewal course that he attended he was introduced to Spiritual Journaling.  He says, “The Journal is a very powerful instrument both for emotional and spiritual growth.  It helps me to enter deeply into my experiences, learn from them and become aware of how God is acting in my life.  It is only two weeks since I started doing it and I find it very useful.”

What is Spiritual Journaling?

            Spiritual Journaling is the practice of regularly recording your experiences, thoughts, reflections and prayers.  It can be done through writing, drawing, preparing a collage, or in other ways.  It includes exploring experiences, composing prayers, meditating on scripture, reflecting on spiritual texts, noting down perplexities, recording insights, etc.  Its purpose is to gain greater awareness of your emotions and thoughts, explore more in depth daily events, become conscious of new learning and insights, become attentive to how God is leading and guiding you, and to grow in your relationship with God.

            Spiritual Journaling is not a chronicle or a diary.  A chronicle is an objective account of what happened, e.g. “John came to meet me at 3.30 p.m.  We talked for twenty minutes.”  A diary is an informal and personal jotting down of events and thoughts of daily life, e.g. “Today John came for a chat and we had a meaningful discussion.  It would be good if I call him tomorrow.”  Spiritual Journaling is a reflective recording of experiences, feelings and thoughts, to gain deeper understanding of one’s inner life and deepen one’s relationship with God, e.g. “Today John came for guidance and listening to him I was deeply moved.  His situation reminded me of Jesus saying that he had compassion on the crowd because they were like sheep without a shepherd.”

Different Types of Journaling

            There are different types of Journaling.

• Gratitude journal – In the evening writing down some things that happened during the day for which you are grateful.
• Dream journal – Writing down your dreams and exploring what they reveal about you.
• Reflection journal – Writing down your reflections from a philosophical or psychological perspective with or without any reference to God.
• Intensive Journal – A structured/systematized form of journaling developed by Ira Progoff which uses specific exercises and prompts to help individuals explore their life experiences, emotions, and goals.
• Prayer Journal – Writing down and exploring what happens during your prayer. Its focus is prayer and not the other events of daily life.
• Spiritual Journal – Recording your spiritual journey.

While all forms of journaling help reflection and facilitate growth spiritual journaling focuses on life’s purpose, one’s spiritual journey and relationship with God.

Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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The Jubilee is “an event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church,” said Pope Francis in his letter which announced the Jubilee.  This yearlong celebration marks the 2,025-year anniversary of the Incarnation of the Lord.  It is indeed a time of grace.

Origins of the Jubilee

The Jubilee Year has its origins in the Old Testament, where it was instituted as a time of renewal, forgiveness, and liberation. According to the Book of Leviticus, every 50th year was to be a jubilee year, marked by the restoration of properties, the liberation of slaves, and the forgiveness of debts (Lev 25:8-13). It was a divine mandate intended to address economic disparities, restore equality, and ensure that society would remain grounded in justice and compassion.  The jubilee year was inaugurated by blowing a ram’s horn or trumpet, called yobel in Hebrew. The name jubilee is derived from the name of this instrument

The Jubilee was established for the first time in the Catholic Church by Pope Boniface VII in 1300.  He established it to promote spiritual renewal and pilgrimages to Rome.  Originally it was intended to be celebrated every 100 years.  However, due to the profound impact it had on the faithful, subsequent popes saw the value in holding it more frequently. In 1350, Pope Clement VI declared another Jubilee only 50 years after the first, and in 1475 Pope Paul II decided that Jubilees would occur every 25 years. This allowed more people to experience the blessings of a jubilee in their lifetime. This 25-year cycle remains the standard, although popes can and have declared “extraordinary” Jubilees outside of this schedule, in response to particular circumstances, as Pope Francis did with the Jubilee of Mercy in 2015.

The Main Elements of the Jubilee

The Jubilee serves as a time of spiritual rejuvenation, where the faithful are encouraged to seek forgiveness, renew their faith, and engage in acts of mercy.  Some of the main ways in which this is done is through pilgrimage, passing through the Holy Door, reconciliation, prayer, gaining of indulgences, penance, and acts of mercy.  These are not isolated acts but interrelated.

Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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Mother Teresa was one of the eminent guests at the Fortieth Anniversary Celebrations of the UN on 26 October 1985.  The UN Secretary General, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, presented her to all those attending the ceremony saying that she is “truly the most powerful woman on earth.”  To his words of esteem and appreciation Mother Teresa responded by showing her rosary and saying, “I am just a poor nun who prays.  By praying, Jesus puts his love in my heart and I go to give it to all the poor I meet on my way.”

            Pope Francis says that “Prayer is the breath of faith.”  Like breath which keeps us alive, prayer keeps our faith alive.  Faith is the virtue by which we believe in God, in all what God has revealed to us and in all what the Church proposes for our belief (CCC 1814). Faith is that which relates us to God.  Prayer keeps this relationship alive.  If there is no prayer, our relationship with God will die, and we will not be related to God.  That is why prayer is very important.

1. What is Prayer?

            St Teresa of Avila, a great teacher of prayer says that prayer is “an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.”  Prayer is spending time with our loving God and sharing with Him.  When we spend time and share with someone we enter into a relationship with that person.  So, prayer is entering into a relationship with God.  What do we do in sharing with God and spending time with God?  We do mainly these things: adoration, praise, thanksgiving, asking forgiveness, petition, intercession, and silent presence.

1. Prayer of adoration: In this we acknowledge and acclaim the love, goodness, greatness, immensity, omnipotence and holiness of God in whose presence we feel insignificant and small; and we surrender to God.
2. Prayer of praise: In this we spontaneously express our delight in God and the joy (rejoicing) in our hearts. We praise God because he exists, is good, loving, merciful.

• Prayer of thanksgiving: In this we express gratitude to God who is the giver of everything that we have. Paul asks: “What have you that you did not receive?” (1 Cor 4:7).  There is nothing which we have not received.  Everything that we have is a gift from God.  So, we thank God for everything.

Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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“Politics is necessary!” said Pope Francis in his address to the leaders present at the G7 Summit at Borgo Egnazia, Italy on 14 June 2024.  It is necessary for creating universal fraternity and social peace.  Therefore, we need to encourage and support the lay people in fulfilling their political responsibility.

Lay People and Politics

            The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches that “It is not the role of the Pastors of the Church to intervene directly in the political structuring and organization of social life. This task is part of the vocation of the lay faithful, acting on their own initiative with their fellow citizens” (n. 2442).  Pope Benedict XVI says that “The direct duty to work for a just ordering of society, … is proper to the lay faithful. As citizens of the State, they are called to take part in public life in a personal capacity. So they cannot relinquish their participation ‘in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural areas, which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good’.” (Deus Caritas Est, n. 29).

            We cannot say that we do not want to participate in politics or that we do not want to be involved in politics.  This is because politics in its most fundamental sense refers to the activity of a group of people discerning together the course of action to be taken to promote the common good. We cannot survive and achieve a truly human life all alone.  We need others, a group, a community to survive and to grow.  And in such a group we cannot only be receivers.  We have to be also givers.  This puts on us the obligation to make our specific contribution to the group, which will have a bearing on the good of all, on the common good.  This is why the CCC says, “It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good” (n. 1913).  Pope Francis states, “Not one of us can say: this doesn’t affect me, they are the ones who govern. No, I too am responsible for the way they govern and I must do what I can to help them govern well, by participating in politics when I can. Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good.” (Homily during the Holy Mass at Santa Marta, 16-09-2013).

JOSE KUTTIANIMATTATHIL, SDB

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In the recently held general elections in India I know of a community of eight religious of whom only three, that is 37.5%, exercised their right to vote. The overall voter turnout in India was 66.33%.  This election was considered by many as being crucially important for democracy in India.  And yet some of us chose not to fulfil our duty!

Participation in Politics – A Moral Obligation

            Human beings are born into a small group called a family.  To live, develop and attain their fulfilment they organize themselves into bigger groups.  That these groups may function smoothly they make laws for themselves according to which they live and act.  These laws also determine who will have authority and govern them.  Politics, in the broad sense, is the activity or process through which people make, preserve and modify the general rules under which they live to attain their maximum fulfilment. Since no human being can live and develop alone, and all need a group at least with minimum laws and organization, Aristotle, the Greek philosopher says that human being “is a political animal.”  Politics can also be described as “the art of government” or as “the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status.”

            Since politics aims at the development, fulfilment and happiness of all human beings and the enhancement of the quality of their life, it exists for the common good.  The common good refers to “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more fully and more easily.” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, n. 164). Pope Francis affirms that “Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good” (Evangelii Gaudium, n. 205).

Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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The unexpected result of the recent elections in India is the fruit of the hard work of numerous persons in the field and the relentless power of prayer of many.  One sister told me: “From the day the election dates were announced I have been keeping vigil regularly till midnight.”  In order that our country may remain a vibrant democracy it is important that we continue both to be active in the field and to pray.

Need for Constant Prayer for the Country

            St. Paul invites us to pray for our country and its leaders: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim 2:1-2).  The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that praying for the country is an obligation that derives from the fourth commandment (CCC 2238-2240).

            In her apparition at Fatima on 13 July 1917 to Francis, Jacinta and Lucy Our Lady asked that Russia be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart so that people would enjoy peace.  Through Blessed Alexandrina da Costa, in July 1935 Jesus asked that the entire world be consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary so that the world would be spared of calamities and wars and enjoy peace and prosperity.  These requests of Our Lady and Jesus show that we need to continue to pray entrusting the countries and the world to the Immaculate Heart so that peace and justice may reign everywhere.  Mary Assumed into Heaven is the patroness of India and India was entrusted to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on 25 March 2020.

Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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Venerable Mamma Margaret was the mother of St. John Bosco, popularly known as Don Bosco.  After the death of her husband, she had a tough time bringing up her stepson Anthony and her own two sons, John (later Don Bosco) and Joseph.  Anthony was hot-tempered and John was stubborn.  Anthony wanted John to work on the farm and John wanted to study.  There would be heated arguments and fights between them.  Wise and patient as she was, she would give them time to cool down.  At the end of the day when the ‘Our Father’ would be prayed during the family prayer, Mamma Margaret would stop Anthony and tell him not to say the words, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  In the dialogue that would inevitably follow she would ask him how he expected the Lord to forgive him when he had not forgiven his brothers.  Her words, uttered in a simple and loving way, would usually produce the desired effect with Anthony admitting, “I was wrong.  Forgive me.”

When Don Bosco began his work for the poor youth of Turin, Mamma Margaret left her native place and stayed with him to help him.  Although she was very gentle and patient, she often found it difficult to put up with the thoughtless and irresponsible behaviour of the boys.  One day, tired, very upset and determined to go back to her village she went and complained to Don Bosco: “Your boys are careless and irresponsible.  They throw their clothes around.  They carry away the utensils from the kitchen to use for their amusement.  Playing around they destroy my vegetable garden.  I can’t take it anymore. I want to go back to my village to spend my last days in peace.”

Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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It was the end of his term as superior of the community for Fr. Nirmal.  As expected, the provincial gave him a transfer.  But Fr. Nirmal was not ready to accept it.  He felt that if he were to leave, the various projects he had initiated in the place for the development of the poor would be gradually neglected.  Besides, over the years he had established good contact with several donors who he feared might stop or at least reduce their help.  However, the provincial felt that he had to stand by the rules of the Congregation and insisted on the transfer.  Eventually, after a few rounds of dialogue, taking into consideration the concerns of Fr. Tom the provincial offered to appoint a dynamic priest qualified in social work to replace him.  And Fr. Tom, respecting the motives of the provincial and true to his own religious commitment accepted the transfer.

            People follow different styles in dealing with conflicts.  These styles affect the outcome of conflicts.  Being aware of them can be a help provided there is a willingness on our part to resolve/transform a conflict.  Kenneth Wayne Thomas and Ralph H. Kilmann have identified five different styles people use when faced with a conflict.  A conflict style is “a patterned response” that people use or the usual way in which people behave in a conflict situation.  These five styles are based on the degree of assertiveness or cooperativeness manifested by a person.  Assertiveness refers to efforts to satisfy one’s own concerns while cooperativeness denotes attempts to meet the concerns of others.   The five conflict styles are i) avoidance, ii) competition, iii) accommodation, iv) compromise, and v) collaboration.   We shall briefly describe each of these styles and their advantages and disadvantages.

Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil, sdb

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