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Her name is going to figure in the history of the Catholic Church. Years from now, they will say she was the first woman to vote in a Bishops Synod. She is a French nun, called Nathalie Becquart.

Born in Fontainebleau, France in 1969, Nathalie completed her graduate degree in Paris in 1992. She volunteered to do social work in Lebanon for a year. In 1995, when she was 26, she chose to become a Sister in the Congregation of Xavières, an order that practices Ignatian spirituality. She studied philosophy and theology at the Jesuit-run Centre Sèvres in Paris and sociology at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences.

Nathalie has a rich experience of working with youth. She started working for the Ignatian Youth Network, which is now called the Magis Network. “In France we collaborate a lot with the Jesuits. I have studied with the Jesuits and worked with them. I have many friends among them,” she said in an interview.

M.A. Joe Antony, SJ

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Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … And It’s All Small Stuff 🙁 1996)

-Richard Carlson

“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … And It’s All Small Stuff” (1996) by Richard Carlson presents 88 concise reflections, guiding readers on how to cultivate a positive attitude towards life’s inevitable challenges. The book encourages us to adopt a calmer approach, directing our focus away from trivial concerns. Carlson’s insights stem from his personal experiences and the wisdom of great minds like Pascal. He stresses the importance of controlling our thoughts and reactions in the midst of life’s frantic pace. Carlson encourages introspection, urging readers to envision themselves at their own funerals, prompting essential changes while there is still time. He emphasizes the significance of empathy, highlighting the realness of others’ struggles, and how a compassionate attitude can bring inner peace. The book underscores the value of effective communication, advocating for active listening and understanding others’ perspectives without interrupting. Carlson promotes finding joy in ordinary moments, nurturing the body and soul, managing finances, and seizing the present moment, given the uncertainty of life.

I Am a Christian: Authentic Accounts of Christian Martyrdom and Persecution from the Ancient Sources (2018) – Anthony P. Schiavo, Jr.

“I Am a Christian: Authentic Accounts of Christian Martyrdom and Persecution from the Ancient Sources” (2018) by Anthony P. Schiavo, Jr. counters modern skepticism toward Christianity by providing a well-researched historical account of the faith’s origins, focusing on early Church martyrs. The book draws on authentic sources, including eyewitness testimonies, legal proceedings, and historical records, shedding light on the trials and triumphs of early Christians in the Roman Empire. It highlights the steadfastness of these martyrs in the face of brutal persecution, as well as the profound impact of their unwavering faith on their persecutors. Moreover, it poignantly illustrates instances where the unyielding faith of these martyrs had a profound impact on their persecutors, often leading to conversions and the eventual spread of Christianity. Beyond its historical significance, “I Am a Christian” resonates as a testament to the enduring strength of faith, providing contemporary readers with a profound appreciation of the historical foundations and enduring resilience of the Christian tradition.

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How contented are you?
On a typical day, if you take a few moments in the evening to look back at the day that is nearly over, do you feel more content or discontented? Are there more things you are happy about and grateful for, or more relationships and events that you feel dissatisfied with?
Here is how that great teacher of life, St Paul, wrote about this to his disciple, the young bishop Timothy:
“Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of this world. But, if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into a temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (I Timothy 6: 6-10)
You will have known people who are deeply happy and positive, while possessing very little, and others who have much and are never content.

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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Many call Francis of Assisi the saint of our times, though it seems that his ideals go contrary to those of our world. However his influence on men and women down through eight hundred years is real. Often, however, he remains in the mind of many as a romantic or a pious figure, who could be taken with a pinch of salt. A critical look at his life will prove contrary to that image.

Search for a Pilgrim Spirituality

The late 12^th century was a time of experimentation in religious life. Several monks abandoned their monasteries to live individually as hermits or in smaller, isolated communities that rejected wealth, land and feudal privileges accumulated by their abbots. Simultaneously, the rise of lay poverty movements and independent preachers summoning people to penance and a reformed life led to serious consideration of precisely how one could live the Christian faith in the midst of a swiftly changing and suffering society. By the time Francis was born, the ordinary layman, by now almost completely alienated from the language and class of priests and monks, looked for a religious life that was neither clerical nor monastic in spirit and form. The spirituality of pilgrimage answered some of the needs of people seeking for God. Pilgrimages provided the laity a focus for their religious aspirations. Eventually, Francis of Assisi would hold the scriptural concept of being “pilgrims and strangers” in their world as the core value of life.

Gerry Lobo, OFM

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Every year, the Christian family (despite differences of denominations) unites worldwide in special prayer and action for the ‘Season of Creation’. The theme for this year is: “Let Justice and Peace Flow.” Season of Creation is a time to pray for nature, to act in small deeds, to commit oneself for the cause of creation and to advocate for a safe environment for generations to come. The “Season of Creation” came into existence when September 1 was established as an Annual Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The Season of Creation is observed throughout the Christian world from September 1 to October 4. The Season of Creation concludes every year on the feast day of the patron saint of ecology, St. Francis of Assisi.

When we think of terms like ‘justice’ and ‘peace’ we associate them with people, conflicts, and so on. However, we fail to realize that these terms are applicable for nature as well. Indeed, nature is yearning for justice and peace. Anthropocentric activities have abused nature and have shaken the very foundations of nature. It is high time we realized this, before anything worse than the previous pandemic relapses. Thus, we are to become agents of justice and ambassadors of peace for nature.

Sch. Denver A. Pushpam, SJ

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The celebration of the feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4th is relevant both to a person who likes to be deeply connected with the Divine and to a nation like India which claims to have a rich religious tradition. A life of simplicity, which emanated from embracing poverty, is one of the core teachings of St Francis. Since everyone needs to fall in love with the ‘poverty chosen’ (the poverty of spirit), and every religious community or nation needs to focus on the ‘poverty to be fought’ (unjust and imposed poverty), here we dwell on both these aspects. St Francis comments, “My dear and beloved Brother, the treasure of blessed poverty is so very precious and divine that we are not worthy to possess it in our vile bodies. For poverty is that heavenly virtue by which all earthly and transitory things are trodden under foot, and by which every obstacle is removed from the soul so that it may freely enter into union with the eternal Lord God.” In other words, God is in ‘online’ mode when our ‘inner system of being’ loves the ‘richness of the spirit of poverty’. Even though St Francis was born right into the lap of luxury, gradually he felt that there was something missing in his life. Therefore, slowly he moved away from the frivolity of mortal life and fun and joined the poor. History has witnessed a ‘spiritual revolution of detachment’ through the act of embracing poverty by St Francis. Embracing the spirit of poverty is the best way to be connected with the Divine and to initiate the steps to eradicate material poverty from the whole world, especially from our country.

Psychological Awakening

First and foremost, we are in need of a ‘psychological awakening’ to achieve the aforementioned two-fold goals – to embrace the spirit of poverty and to eradicate material poverty. Psychological awakening would mean to bring out and reframe some of our irrational beliefs in the unconscious mind regarding the phenomenon of poverty. Do we need to be ashamed of the poor people amidst us? Do we need to condemn material poverty? Unfortunately, the frames in our unconscious mind related to poverty are ugly! For a poor person, survival is a hard nut to crack. It is true that the poor people have scarcity of water to take daily bath, no nutritious food to look gorgeous, no chance to stay in a clean apartment with security measures, no money to buy suitable clothes according to the latest fashion trends or no money to splurge on shampoo, conditioners or skin creams. As a result, they can’t compete in looks with people who are well fed and well taken care of. Sometimes, even rich people hesitate to visit a slum, a squalid and overcrowded urban street or district inhabited by very poor people, due to its pathetic conditions. Recently, a ‘covering up of the poor’ tendency is surging in our country, for, some feel that the looks or the smell of the poor is not up to the standards of the rich in the country. Vasant Vihar is a diplomatic and residential sub-division of the South West Delhi in National Capital Territory of Delhi. There is a slum in the heart of Vasanth Vihar, just a stone’s throw away from huge buildings. Recently, when Delhi hosted the G20 summit, the slum was covered with green netting on scaffolding. The Coolie Camp fell on the travel route of the G20 leaders. It is reported by many media personnel that those green curtains were part of the beautification project of the central government ahead of the G20 summit in September 2023. The poor or the poverty scene was covered with a green veil, upon which the posters of G20 and national leaders were hung. ‘Denial’ of the existence of the poor is a kind of defense mechanism. Something is true, yet the person continues to deny its existence or truth because it is too uncomfortable to face. ‘Denial strategy’ keeps us away from addressing a problem or making the needed change. To eradicate poverty, we need to ‘reframe the ugly frame of the poor in the unconscious’ into a ‘beautiful frame.’ Acceptance of a reality is the beginning of a positive change. Let us accept the ‘beautiful poverty’, which many ‘gurus’ accept voluntarily, with the conscious and unconscious mind.

Fr Dr Binny Mary Das

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The National CRI team visited Manipur from August 22 to 28, 2023.
The Team members: Sr. Elsa Muttathu PBVM, (National Secretary); Sr. Mary Scaria SCJM, Sr. Subeshna SJC, Br. Sunil Britto CFC. The Archdiocese of Imphal facilitated the visit.
The purpose of the visit was to show support and solidarity to those affected by violence, understand their needs, and meet with members of religious communities who have endured pain and hardship and still continue to serve the affected people in the region. The National CRI team dedicated time to listen to their stories and share in their emotional pain. They visited some affected districts, parishes that were destroyed, various Kuki camps, two Meitei camps, and religious communities. They had the opportunity to witness the dire situation firsthand as they toured approximately nine different camps. What they found was a reality that is both heart-wrenching and alarming.
The Camps
The conditions in the Kuki camps for displaced individuals are deeply concerning, with over 200 people crammed into limited spaces and minimal privacy. The severe shortage of basic amenities like toilets is causing sanitation and dignity issues, leaving emotional scars on the inhabitants. Children are growing up in these harsh and uncertain conditions. Women have endured miscarriages because they had to walk and run long distances through the forest to reach safety.

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Did you read about the historic event that took place in a village called Markowa in Poland on 10 September 2023? For the first time in the history of the Catholic Church an entire family of nine was beatified on that day – the husband, the wife and their seven children. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, presided over the beatification Mass.

Józef Ulma, the head of the family, was born in 1900 in Markowa. As a teenager, he was active in the Catholic Youth Association. In 1935 Józef married Wiktoria Niemczak who was also from Markowa. She was a talented amateur actress.  During their nine years of marriage, the couple had six children. Józef loved to take pictures of his wife and children and the photographs show the deep emotional bonds among the members of the family.

The Ulmas were deeply religious and were active members of their parish. Their family Bible had two verses underlined. The first one was “For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” (Matthew 6:32). Then you see the title of chapter 10 of the Gospel of Luke underlined in red:“The Good Samaritan.” And next to it is a note with a single word: “Yes.”

M.A. Joe Antony, SJ

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As I have moved well into my sunset years, there are not many people left, great leaders who I still admire. But my long lasting admiration of Mahatma Gandhi made me, the other day, once again access the internet and search for little vignettes and incidents from his life, which make him seem not only a great leader who led the country into freedom but also one who was simple to the core, truthful to the end, a great agent of reconciliation, but also a fighter against injustice, who lived and worked in solidarity with common people and had a puckish sense of humour.

It is these few incidents in his life that I want to share in this article selected from the book: “Everyone’s Gandhi.”

All For A Stone

Many people know that instead of soap, Gandhiji used a stone to scrub himself. Very few people, however, know how precious this stone, given by Miraben, was to Gandhiji.
This happened during the Noakhali march, when Gandhiji and others halted at a village called Narayanpur. During the march, the responsibility of looking after this particular stone, along with other things, lay with Manuben. Unfortunately, though, she forgot the stone at the last halting place.
“I want you to go back and look for the stone,” said Bapu. “Only then will you not forget it the next time.” “May I take a volunteer with me?” she hesitantly asked.  “Why” he asked.”
Poor Manu did not have the courage to say that the way back lay through forests of coconut and supari, (betel nut) so dense that a stranger might easily lose his way. Moreover, it was the time of riots. How could she go back alone?

Janina Gomes

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The Power of Habit – Charles Duhigg (2012)
In Charles Duhigg’s book, “The Power of Habit” (2012), he emphasizes a key point: “You can’t extinguish a bad habit, you can only change it.” Duhigg highlights how humans and institutions are creatures of habit, whether the habits are good or bad. Bad habits can have a detrimental hold on us, but changing them can lead to greater self-discipline and control over time. Habits are powerful because they operate almost like autopilot in our lives, requiring minimal effort from our brains. They are a way for our brains to conserve energy. Habits are structured in a three-part loop: cue, routine, and reward, which accounts for about 40% of our daily actions. Changing habits is possible but requires willpower. The author goes on to expand:
Willpower, the key to change, can be strengthened in three ways:
Practice Discipline: Engage in challenging activities that require discipline, like a strict morning routine or diet. This practice in delaying gratification boosts your willpower for the day.
Anticipate Challenges: Prepare for challenging situations, like anticipating a difficult conversation with your boss. This mental preparation helps you maintain composure when these situations arise.
Protect Autonomy: Maintain your sense of individual autonomy, as it is crucial for happiness and willpower. Forcing yourself to do something against your willpower drains your mental energy faster and results in poorer outcomes.
Duhigg’s book is a rich blend of scientific research, personal experiences, and real-life anecdotes, making it engaging and enlightening.

Mary: The Complete Resource (2007) – Sarah Jane Boss (Ed)

“Mary: The Complete Resource” (2007), edited by Sarah Jane Boss, is a comprehensive 600-page book divided into five segments with 26 study articles. It serves as a valuable resource for both students and specialists interested in Marian theology. The book covers the history of Marian devotion from its beginnings in the primitive church through the Middle Ages and into the modern world. The segments include “Mariology,” “Traditions of Devotion,” and “Mary in Art and Literature.” Contributions from 16 experts in the field, along with original sources from the Bible and papal documents, provide a thorough understanding of Mary’s role in Christianity. The editor highlights that studying the cult of the Virgin Mary is essential for understanding Christianity as a whole. The book explores the diversity of Marian traditions among various Christian churches, emphasizing her role as a path to ecumenical understanding. The book includes essays, primary texts, and scholarly articles that cover topics ranging from the Virgin Mary in early Christianity to her role in art, literature, and film. It also delves into Islamic writings about Mary and addresses modern feminist perspectives and criticism. “Mary: The Complete Resource” offers a comprehensive exploration of Marian theology and its significance in Christianity, making it a valuable reference for scholars and students alike.

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