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No other Pope has probably had the wide audience that Pope Francis has. Not only Catholics or Christians of other denominations, but also the world at large, including the highly secularized West, love to listen to this wonderful human being who speaks for humanity at large, with a credible and powerful voice. The world listens to him with respect, for two reasons: One: He speaks of issues that concern humanity deeply (e.g., ecology, economy, migration). Two: He has credibility. The world-famous (and highly secular) newspaper, The Washington Post, wrote: “We like to listen to this Pope, because he talks like Jesus, acts like Jesus, and is like Jesus.”

He is not only the supreme head of the Catholic church. His words reach every corner of the globe within hours or days. He is a humble, simple and intelligent man, whose humanity and spiritual depth shine through in his life and words. No wonder his words have weight. No wonder the world listens.

Here are two of his recent statements—one on ecology, the other on creating an inclusive world. Both display an intelligent grasp of today’s crucial issues and the concern of a truly caring world leader.–Editor

Care for Our Common Home

Pope Francis addressed the second Forum of the Laudato si’ Communities, held July 6, 2019, in Amatrice, Italy.

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The year 2016 marks my first close meeting with the Religious Sisters. It was when I decided to take up tailoring and embroidery. Following the advice of my paternal aunt, I joined a vocational training centre run by the Sisters.

After my “Tenth Standard” exams, I was in a dilemma. I did not know what to do next. My father was no more. After his death, my mother found it difficult to provide for us single-handedly. My elder brother had to complete his college studies. To solve half the problem, I wanted to begin to earn some money. I opted for vocational training, since I also have an inclination towards tailoring and embroidery. This way, I was introduced to the Sisters and the trainees in the centre.

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Julia Kharmujai

Introduction:

Fundamental rights are accorded to the people in general and to the citizens in particular vis-à-vis the State.  What happens if the all-powerful State invades the fundamental rights of people guaranteed to them under the Constitution?  Well, the Constitution provides an in-built remedy in the form of a fundamental right.  In such cases, for the enforcement of fundamental rights, Article 32 guarantees the right to move the Supreme Court by appropriate proceedings.  Article 226 also has a similar provision to move the respective High Court.  With regards to a writ petition, the jurisdiction of the High Court under article 226 is wider and extends to constitutional rights too.  Under the provisions of Article 32, the Supreme Court shall have the power to issue appropriate direction or orders or writs for the enforcement of any of the fundamental rights.  The right guaranteed by this Article shall not be suspended at any time except as otherwise provided for by the Constitution.  The Parliament by law can empower any other court to exercise within the local limits of its jurisdiction all or any of the powers exercisable by the Supreme Court.

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Fr Ravi Sagar SJ

CRYSTAL

A couple of months ago, my spiritual director asked me if I wanted to be a saint. Of course, my spontaneous answer was an enthusiastic “Yes!” He then went on to ask me if I really wanted to be a saint, enough so that I would still say ‘Yes” if he said sainthood would necessitate giving up something I really enjoy, such as drinking wine. How quickly my enthusiasm for sainthood faltered once I realized that sacrifice of a favorite beverage might be necessary.

Thankfully, that conversation was an exercise in determining my desire for holiness rather than an actual request for that particular sacrifice. But it spurred an internal, ongoing search for identifying whether I really wanted to be a saint, or simply ‘wanted to want’ to become a saint. It is humbling to realize how difficult it is to honestly answer that question. I can wholeheartedly agree that more than anything else, I want to be loved by God and others. I have also long believed that at the end of our lives, we will be judged on how well we have loved. So, the only link that must be made between the two is how fervently we are willing to put aside our natural inclinations for comfort and selfishness and pride, and focus instead on the desires God has for us. The big challenge is to keep alive in our minds and hearts the awareness that living truly holy lives is worth the cost.

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Crystal and Kevin Sullivan

The greatest problem lies in trying to integrate everything, to invest all with meaning, see it all as part of a larger, more meaningful life.
(Hildegard of Bingen)

An aged man is but a paltry thing,
A tattered coat upon a stick, unless
Soul claps its hands and sing, and louder sing
For every tatter in its mortal dress.
(W. B. Yeats)

Sr Felicia is in her late 80’s. She is physically frail and bedridden because of a debilitating illness. But her mind is sharp as it was in her twenties when she first came to India as a young missionary. She radiates joy and enjoys telling stories to her visitors – stories of her experiences. “When I first came to India, …” she would begin and go on a narrative of her missionary adventures. She would often repeat the same story. Those who have heard her many times, would tell her. “Sister, we have heard that one before. Tell us another.” She would then say, “This I think I have not told you.” And then start something different, but invariably after a while her narrative would go back to the oft-repeated stories.

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FR JOSE PARAPPULLY SDB

Ignoring his people’s manifold miseries caused by his misrule, Robert Mugabe managed to remain in power in Zimbabwe for forty years with the support of the military, until he was ousted in a coup in 2017. The miseries the people of Zimbabwe faced – poverty, unemployment, corruption, huge inflation, human rights abuses, and HIV/AIDS – seriously affected their mental health. They have been dogged by mental illnesses, depression and suicides for years.

One extraordinary individual, who understood the gravity of his people’s psychological burdens, decided to do something to reach out to them. Just like Jesus did.

Jesus sees ten men affected by leprosy, understands all the physical, psychological and social consequences of the dreaded disease and cures them immediately. He sees a tired, hungry crowd and tells his disciples what they should do for them. When they plead helplessness, he tells them what they could do. What he could do when combined with what they could do solves the problem. Multitudes are fed.

Holiness is following Jesus, isn’t it?

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M A Joe Antony SJ

OTHER DETAILS TO VERIFY:

5. Check the Topography of the land. Topography gives the physical features of the land, whether it is situated on an elevation, cliffs, mountains, slope, valleys, ravines, etc. As far as possible, it is best to avoid these.  We can check this with the help of Google Earth.  Here it is also worth checking if the said land is located in a flood zone, rain catchment area, etc., and avoid such locations.

6. Check if the Public Utilities are available:  If all the above conditions are favourable, then we have to check if the necessary public utilities are available close by.   Public utilities can be many, depending on the purpose of the intended usage of the land. Most common among them are access road and transport facility, electricity, water, sewage, gas, telephone, etc.  It is very important that the land under consideration has a common public access road, without which we may never be able to use the land for anything. In case of no access road, strategically, it will be wiser to buy the plot for the access road first and then buy the inside land for the intended purpose.  Other amenities, such as school, hospital, shops, etc. can also be considered.

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Fr Alex Gnanapragasam SJ

Faith like Potatoes
Director: Regardt van den Bergh. Cast: Frank Rautenbach, Jeanne Nielson & others. (2006. 116 minutes)

 The movie tells the story of the South African evangelist Angus Buchan. The young Buchan is a fiery tempered White African farmer.  Forced to give up his land in Zambia, he leaves it to his loyal African friends  and takes his family of three children and pregnant wife Jill  to South Africa in a trailer, buys a plot of land and has a hard struggle putting his life back on track. He builds a mud hut with his own hands.

Angus’s violent temper is made worse by the hardships he has to go through. His determination is unflagging, but he experiences personal tragedies and natural disasters that play havoc with his farming. His wife Jill is the gentle and powerful influence of his life. When her husband is devastated by the loss of his land and confined to a road trailer, she comforts him, saying that God would give them a farm. It is she who almost drags the unwilling husband to church.  His interactions with the local church community help him discover the value of faith.

Buchan surrenders to Christ. His life is now totally changed and he becomes a crowd-pulling preacher. His faith is put to the test when he makes a radical decision to plant potatoes where it had never been tried.  Experts warn him that, because of the drought, nothing will come up. But Buchan plants his potatoes in the dry dust and prays to God with full trust. A miracle happens! He is rewarded with a crop of giant potatoes. The potatoes in his case become a symbol of faith, which is like something planted in a wasteland in hope of a good harvest. The fruits of faith are made known only at harvest time because till that moment it is lying hidden underground.

Invictus
Director: Clint Eastwood. Cast: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Gorge, Adjoa Andoh, Julian Lewis Jones (2009; 133 minutes).

Invictus in Latin means ‘undefeated.’ This movie, based on a book by John Carlin, is about courageous and visionary leadership displayed by the late Nelson Mandela at a moment of grave national crisis and transformation in South Africa. Mandela inherits a deeply and violently divided country after half a century of struggle against Apartheid. He hopes to find redemption in Rugby football, the national passion of South Africans. ‘The Springboks,’ their  national team, is not expected to  perform remarkably. The team is made up of “Whites,” and the Africans do not support it.

When Mandela becomes President, he has to decide between the all black ANC cadres and the all white traditional Afrikaner Corps to take over the presidential security. But Mandela desires to have them work together, much against the will of both parties.

The world cup offers the opportunity to turn things around. National team captain Francois Pienaar (a White) has a memorable meeting with President Mandela when the President cites the famous poem ‘Invictus’ by W E Henley: “I am the master of my fate, / I am the captain of my soul,” recalling how it lifted up his spirits during the darkest days of his imprisonment on Robben Island. He tells Pienaar what people can do to be great beyond their own expectations. The players interact with their fans, especially the black children whom they train to play. The shared dream between the black President and the white Captain are justified. Team spirit unites the black and white officers of the President’s guard as they learn to respect and support each other. Euphoria runs high when the Springboks wins. Before the match, when the team visits the Robben Island prison where Mandela had spent twenty-seven years, they are touched by the nobility of the great man who could forgive his enemies after the terrible sufferings he had undergone.

The movie shows how a great human being (Mandela) can bring two warring and mutually suspicious races together, and build a nation.

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Dr Gigy Joseph

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This month we present two very readable and inspiring books, both related to our theme.

ALL SAINTS: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets and Witnesses for our Time
By Robert Ellsberg(Crossword, 1998)

Ellsberg is not just a good and award-winning writer. He walks the talk. He spent five years working with Dorothy Day among the poor, completed a doctorate at Harvard University, became a Catholic, and found that he learnt the gospel much better from the good people he met than from the study of theology.

In the present work, he presents a “saint” for everyday of the year. The saints include not only well-known canonized Catholic saints, but inspiring witnesses from elsewhere. Thus, we have: Brother Lawrence and Paul the Hermit, but also Galileo Galilei and Takashi Nagai (who survived the Hiroshima bombs), Martin Niemoeller, who challenged Nazi authorities. Thomas Aquinas rubs shoulders with Robert De Nobili and Mahatma Gandhi.

Meet Pedro Arrupe, who led the Jesuits to a faith that does justice; Dom Helder Camara, lover of the poor, whose love for all creation was proverbial; Hans and Sophie Scholl, in their twenties, who paid a heavy price for their courageous opposition to Nazi rule; Karl Rahner, leading theologian of the twentieth century; Johann Sebastian Bach, who composed exquisite music; Meister Eckhart, the well-known mystic and Oscaro Romero, who was shot dead while celebrating Mass.

Ellsberg writes of Martin Luther King, who fought for equal rights for African-Americans; Pandita Ramabhai, scholar and activist; Dietrich Bonhoeffer, hanged at age thirty-nine for his opposition to Nazism; Teilhard de Chardin, scientist and mystic, and Damien, who ministered to leprosy patients in Molokai, and died a leper himself; Oskar Schindler (of the “Schindler’s List” Movie) who saved thousands of Jews from certain death; Thomas a Kempis, who wrote The Imitation of Christ, and Julian of Norwich, who spoke of Christ as a mother.

There is not a dull moment in reading this well-written book. Ellsberg makes the persons come alive, whether it be Anthony De Mello SJ, known for Sadhana, or teenager Anne Frank, whose diary gripped the world.

Fr James Carney, an American Jesuit, became a chaplain to the poor in central America, was caught, tortured and hurled out, alive, from an army helicopter to die on the mountain below.

Dag Hammarskjold, brilliant banker and diplomat, who became the UN Secretary General, and died in a plane crash. Among his belongings was a diary he had kept. It showed that this apparently secular and famous man was a mystic. He had written, “I don’t know Who or what put the question, I don’t know when it was put. I don’t even remember answering. But at some moment I did answer YES to Someone (or Something) and from that hour I was certain that existence is meaningful and that, therefore, my life, in self-surrender, had a goal.”

Henri Nouwen, author of some forty books, left his academic career in famous universities, and spent the last ten years of his life looking after the physically and mentally challenged people in the communities set up by Jean Vanier.

Some are household names—Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross.

Other names turn up as surprises: Fyodor Dostoevsky, the famous Russian novelist; Raissa Maritain, wife of the great philosopher, Jacques Maritain; Albert Camus (atheist!), who wrote of the loneliness and desperation that many people face; Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago, admired by many, who was falsely accused of sexual abuse, and who forgave his accuser. As he lay dying of cancer, he wrote, “As a bishop I have tried…to shape a moral message about the unique value of human life and our common responsibilities for it. As my life slowly ebbs away, as my temporal destiny becomes clearer each hour and each day, I am not anxious, but rather reconfirmed in my conviction about the wonder of human life, a gift that flows from the very being of God and is entrusted to each of us.”

And the extraordinary Etty Hillesum, who died in a Nazi concentration camp at the age of twenty-nine, and who passed from a lonely life of fear and sexual escapades to becoming the source of strength for so many. She told God, “I shall try to spread some of my warmth, of my genuine love for others, wherever I go.” This she wrote in a place which was a human hell, where people went mad from fear.

Then we have Charles de Foucauld and Thomas Merton and Father Bede Griffiths.

A book worth reading and re-reading. Written for the contemporary reader. Ellsberg does make extraordinary men and women come alive in these pages. Meet them.

ONE MONTH TO LIVE: Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life
By Kerry and Chris Shook (Waterbook Press, 2008)

How would your life be if you found that you had just thirty days left to live?

This is what this book is about.

It challenges the “someday” syndrome that most people seem to suffer from: “Someday” we will live we really want, but not now.

As Rick Warren (author of the multi-million copy bestseller, A Purpose-Driven Life) writes in the Foreword, “The fear of death paralyzes most people…Kerry and Chris Shook want you to grasp an amazing insight: embracing your mortality sets you free to live a meaningful and satisfying life without regret.”

The thirty chapters of the book are organized into an Introduction (Living the Dash) and four parts: Live Passionately, Love Completely, Learn Humbly, Leave Boldly.

The introduction starts with this striking quote from Alan Sachs: “Death is more universal than life; everyone dies, but not everyone lives.”

It goes on to say: “Your time on earth is limited.” And further, “Embracing our time on earth as a limited resource has incredible power to liberate us.”

The book then goes on to explain how we can live a fuller and happier life, realizing how limited our time is.

Each chapter is meant for one day. Thirty days, thirty chapters.

In the part on “Love Completely,” we are looking at questions, such as: If you only had one month to live, whom would you want to spend the time with? Whom would you need to apologize to? Who needs to be assured today that you love them? What keeps you from spending the time and saying these words now?

Each chapter ends with suggestions on what to do. Example: “Choose someone you have hurt by your words, actions, or silence. Write a letter asking this person’s forgiveness and explaining everything you’d like to say before it is too late. Set the letter aside for a few days, and then re-read it and decide if you should send it.” (p. 70)

The book has suggestions on forgiveness, dealing with difficult people, gratitude, using our gifts, facing change, facing storms, facing loss, living with integrity, creating a lasting legacy, staying the course when life crashes, making a difference.

The main source of the explanations in the book is the Bible. (The authors, a couple, co-pastor a church in the US.). Using striking quotes from various authors and sharing what they learnt form their own life experiences, they provide practical tips on how to live more fully.

Words worth quoting from the last chapter: “You have been given an extraordinary life—your life. You have an exceptional calling—to be the very best you God created you to be. (p.221)

The author summarizes the book as a call to “ignite and restore the passion in your life.” Passion is the fuel that helps us live fully.

To live passionately, we need these four ingredients: Love, integrity, forgiveness and enthusiasm.

Going to the root meaning of “enthusiasm” (en+theos = in God), the authors insist on the need to live in God.

The book ends with looking at Jesus as the example of someone who knew how to live.

One of the authors adds the case of his mother who was diagnosed with cancer in mid-life and told she had one month to live. The beautiful thing is that she had nothing to change!

May your life be equally full and meaningful—a passionate life lived with love, integrity, forgiveness and enthusiasm.

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Fr Joe Mannath

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We really enjoy reading MAGNET. It’s truly an exceptional magazine attracting young and the old.  Thanks a lot for all the trouble you take to bring out your best.

Prioress,
Carmel Sisters, Mysore

Dear Editor,
I appreciate the views expressed in the article “Religious Leadership Today”. (Magnet, Nov. 2019). Superiors’ primary obligation is to build fraternal communities in Christ through their three‑fold functions of teaching, sanctifying and governing.  They exercise these three functions by breaking the Word of God and by sound spiritual and religious life, showing care and concern to the members by correcting, comforting and encouraging them. I was deeply moved by reading the “Six Things Leaders Should Do” in the article. Now a days, these qualities are followed by a very few leaders. In those days, our leaders were spiritually strong. But modernization of certain things in the society might have choked such qualities. Anyhow, we are all human. We are neither fully human nor fully divine. Our leaders need spiritual strength. Instead of blaming them for their mistakes let us start to pray for them.

Christon Gonsalves SJ
Dharwad, Karnataka.

Each time I pick the Magnet Magazine, I am excited to glance at random before I could ruminate the contents page by page. It’s a rich stuff of information of all types. I would rightly describe it as “Anthology of Knowledge.” I’m grateful to the team for the meticulous way of doing the service.
The article “Religious Leadership Today” is a very good one. It can be for  religious today a pointer at the crossroad. The qualities of a religious leader described in this article are worth reading. If these are followed, religious life would be heaven on earth.
God bless your endeavour dear Fr. Joe and the collaborators. Looking forward to the next issue of the magazine.

Sr Philina Kholar FMA
Rome, Italy

I am grateful to MAGNET for enriching me with varied knowledge on many topics. I first came across the Magnet Magazine with the November 2019 issue and I am really amazed how one monthly could contain many informative, creative and interesting articles which to me personally is like one big source which has helped  me to gather multiple information….. In particular, I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude to the writer of the article: EMAIL EFFICIENCY through which I have discovered many unfamiliar or even say, neglected facts about email. We cannot afford to lag behind the fast-growing digital world. Efficiency in whatever we do is the point and the article contains tips on how to use, maintain and response emails efficiently. It also serves as an instruction on how to handle virus attacked or hacked email account. I would also like to mention that the TWELVE LESSONS ON LEADERSHIP from POPE FRANCIS have enlightened me on how to develop and inculcate leadership traits… I am looking forward for many more interesting information and nourishment for the spiritual, social and educational perspectives.
Thanks to all who are part and parcel of Magnet.
Wishing you Success…

Meboreen Mary Thongni
Shillong, Meghalaya

Congratulations to the Magnet team! This monthly is a special blend of sources for personal, social and spiritual integration. This is the first time I have heard and seen this type of a magazine. The themes are well-chosen with apt topics. Each writer is evidently committed and diligent. Reading the magazine refreshes my mind, especially now that I am not in any active field since my retirement from teaching career. I find everything in it interesting and inspiring. I would like to subscribe to this magazine. Undoubtedly, the team behind it deserves our thanks and support.
My best wishes to the magnet team. God bless your endeavour.

Maitreyee Paul Choudhury Dey
Samajgarh, Kolkata.

I am glad to have come across a magazine MAGNET. Personally, I found it to be a valuable and an educational instrument. My heartfelt gratitude to the team for the magnificent work you are doing. Each article in this magazine is of great value and has a great lesson to offer to each one of us at different levels of life and across the world. I got inspired in a particular way with the article, “RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP TODAY: Eight essentials for a religious superior.” The elements emerging in this article are indeed powerful and, if they are applied, surely many things in our world today would change.

Sr. Caroline Chitenta FMA
AFM Province, Zambia