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In this insightful piece, the author takes us on a transformative journey through four stages of healing, framing the experience of suffering and loss as a pathway to hope. The term ‘hope hormones’ is used as a metaphor for the spiritual and emotional strength we cultivate when we face life’s challenges with faith. Just as our bodies produce certain hormones to cope with stress, we too can generate hope through a process of catharsis, connection, transformation, and altruism. Fr Binny invites us to explore the ways in which we can awaken these ‘hope hormones’ to foster resilience and a deeper union with God.

In life, we all experience spiritual and worldly desolations. In those moments, we need to make sure that God accompanies us and we need to accompany others with a compassionate closeness so that they encounter God. Here we present four stages through which the reality of suffering is transformed into Christian hope.

I. CATHARSIS STAGE

a. Experience the Reality

Once we understand that sufferings due to various types of loss are part of our life, we do not radically contest the suffering. Understanding the reality and inevitability of suffering makes a person not want to run away from occasions of sorrow. Instead of worrying about minimizing the sorrows, we need to go through the pains of life and experience them.

b. Cry Out

Psychological studies show that crying has a direct, self-soothing effect on people and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps people relax. When we have painful experiences of loss, there is nothing wrong with crying out. More than an emotional outpouring, crying has a relationship with the divine. It makes sense to cry out when we understand that our cries do not stagnate down here; they rise up to God, who has the heart of a Father.

Fr Dr Binny Mary Das

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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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Before passing away from cancer, world-famous fashion designer, blogger, and author Kirzida Rodriguez penned a poignant reflection on her life. She had built a career that revolved around wealth, luxury, and glamour, but in her final days, she realized the stark contrast between the life she had and the life she now faced.

“My house is full of designer clothes, shoes, and expensive things, but my body is covered in a small sheet provided by the hospital. My home, a grand castle, but I now lay in a twin-size bed. I went from one five-star hotel to another, yet today, I spend my days moving from one hospital lab to another. I had seven beauticians to style my hair—today, I have not a single strand on my head.”

Rodriguez’s note is a striking reminder that life, when stripped down to its essentials, is about more than wealth and possessions. Her final reflections resonate deeply with the words of Matthew 16:26: “For what will it profit a person if she/he gains the whole world and forfeits her/his soul? Or what shall a person give in return for her/his soul?” In her moment of vulnerability, Kirzida realized the futility of material success and the ultimate importance of love, relationships, and faith.

Jithin Joseph

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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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            Our discussion of the social dimension offers a glimpse into the manner of our every-day life. In the previous issue, we noted that social dimension refers to the interpersonal relationships and interactions between individuals within a society or community. We also discussed the manner in which sociability of a person impacts their community life, ministerial output and their personal well-being. At this juncture, the question we need to ask ourselves is this: does this social dimension impact all individuals equally or does this quality of sociability vary from person to person? Does this mean that all priests and religious are equally sociable? Surely, not. The example of two people whom I had known may help to explain this reality.

Fr. Maxwell, an intelligent and enterprising young priest is highly successful as the principal of a reputed school in the city. Everyone agrees that Fr. Maxwell works tirelessly and self-sacrificingly for the betterment of the school. His enterprising efforts and his organizational skills have made the school as one of the most important schools in the city. Although a talented and successful principal, he is also a private and lonely person. Except a few, he avoids talking to people or engaging in any conversation. In the community too, he prefers the company of his room and gadgets than the confreres. As a result, people find him unapproachable, distant and disinterested in what happens around him.

Fr. Dr. Joseph Jeyaraj, sdb

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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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A Man Escaped (1956):  102 minutes

Director: Robert Bresson

Cast:   Francois Leterrier, Charles Le Clainche, Maurice Beerblock, Roland Monod, Jacques Ertaud, Jean Paul Delhumeau, et al.

Robert Bresson’s, A Man Escaped, is a gripping French film based on the memoir of André Devigny, a French soldier and Resistance fighter who narrowly escaped execution in a Nazi prison. Bresson, who had his own traumatic experiences in a Nazi prison during the German occupation of France, crafted a story that transcends the typical escape thriller, focusing instead on the mental and spiritual struggle of a man facing certain death.

The film follows Fontaine, a French Resistance fighter captured by the Nazis. After a failed escape attempt en route to Montluc prison, Fontaine is tortured and placed in solitary confinement. The prison is a place of despair, with regular gunfire signalling the execution of fellow prisoners. Despite the overwhelming odds and the constant threat of death, Fontaine refuses to give up hope. He begins to carefully examine his surroundings, slowly formulating a plan to break out.

With the help of fellow prisoners like Terry, who smuggles him a safety pin, Fontaine unlocks his handcuffs and uses a spoon to chisel away at the door of his cell. Over time, he constructs a makeshift rope from linens and hooks from lighting fixtures, preparing for his escape.

As his execution date draws near, Fontaine is placed in a cell with a young boy, Jost. Initially suspicious that Jost may be a spy, Fontaine ultimately decides to trust him, and the two join forces. On the eve of his execution, Fontaine and Jost put the escape plan into action, killing a guard, scaling the prison walls, and making their way to freedom.

Bresson’s film is a powerful meditation on perseverance, faith, and the triumph of the human spirit against seemingly impossible odds.

12 Mighty Orphans (2012): 118 minutes

Director: Ty Roberts

Cast: Luke Wilson, Vinessa Shaw, Wayne Knight, Martin Sheen, Jake Walker, Scott Haze, Jacob Lofland, Treat Williams, Jacob Pine.

12 Mighty Orphans is an inspirational sports film based on Jim Dent’s novel, telling the true story of Rusty Russell, a legendary football coach who transformed a group of orphans into Texas football champions during the 1930s. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, Russell, himself an orphan and World War I veteran, takes a bold step by moving to the Masonic Home, an orphanage in Fort Worth, Texas, to coach football.

The boys at the orphanage, known as the “Mighty Mites,” live in harsh conditions under the cruel Warden Frank Wynn. Initially humiliated by stronger rival teams, the undernourished and undertrained orphans seem unlikely to succeed in football. However, Russell believes in their potential. Using his ingenuity, he creates a new strategy, the spread offense, that compensates for their lack of physical strength and transforms their playing style.

Despite opposition from Warden Wynn and the disheartening attitude of Doctor Hall, Russell receives support from his wife, Juanita, and benefactor Mason Hawk. His careful mentoring and discipline, particularly of troubled player Hardy Brown, leads to remarkable progress. Brown eventually becomes the star player of the team.

Through Russell’s determination and the boys’ resilience, the Mighty Mites defy the odds and rise to play in the 1938 Texas State Championship. Russell’s innovative coaching techniques, especially the spread offense, leave a lasting legacy in football. From 1927 to 1941, Rusty Russell’s leadership and belief in his team turned a group of downtrodden orphans into a symbol of hope and perseverance.

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Recently, I happened to watch a short video on oxytocin, a hormone I had heard of in passing, but never truly understood. What started as a fleeting curiosity quickly grew into fascination. As I delved deeper, I stumbled upon a TED-Ed talk by Paul Zak, a neuroeconomist who refers to oxytocin as the “moral molecule.” According to Zak, this chemical is responsible for the trust, empathy, and other warm feelings that are the glue of human society. That talk ignited something within me, compelling me to explore oxytocin not from a scientific viewpoint, but in a way that aims to motivate and inspire.

Oxytocin: The Bonding Molecule

Oxytocin is a hormone we all possess, and it plays a crucial role in our emotional well-being and social interactions. It’s responsible for those “warm and fuzzy” feelings that make us feel connected to others. Whether it’s the rush of love a mother feels for her newborn, the deep trust between friends, or the quiet comfort of companionship, oxytocin is the invisible force binding us all. Think about the last time you did something kind for someone, perhaps a small gesture like holding a door open or offering a genuine smile. Didn’t you feel a subtle lift in your spirits? That’s oxytocin at work, but the magic of this hormone doesn’t stop with just you; the person on the receiving end feels it too. The beauty of oxytocin is its ripple effect. A single act of kindness can have a domino effect, spreading warmth and positivity far beyond the initial exchange.

Fr. Jayaseelan Savariarpitchai SDB

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A few months later I moved back to San Diego. Within a month I was back doing crystal meth and gang banging. On February 17, 2001 I was at a barbecue, I started drinking alcohol, smoking weed, and meth since 8.30 am. Later that evening around 9 or 10 pm I was picked up and was told that my little brothers had some problems at the pool hall. I ran back into the barbecue and armed myself with a 9mm handgun. On my way there, I took some drugs out of my glass pipe loaded with meth, to what I considered was sobering up. Upon arrival seeing my brother Dinh parked at a nearby laundromat, I asked what happened, He told me that Phuc Nguyen made some remarks, “F*&k Vietnamese that want to be Lao, f*&k Vietnamese from Laos gang.” This enraged me and I sought vengeance. I sent my other little brother and his friend home with my friend, and told my other brother to point out this Phuc guy. Circling the café’s parking lot twice, he wasn’t there. I told my brother to pull up on his friends. I asked, “who’s the one talking s*&t?” They denied knowing. This went back and forth for less than a minute, when I challenged them to a fight down the street. Some walked up to the car and I pointed the gun out of the window and pulled the trigger. The gun was on safety. I pulled it back and took it off safety. By that time Dat Nguyen, Nhan Tran, Hoang Le, Binh Vu, Anh Nguyen, Nam Bui and Khac Tuan were running for cover or ducking behind vehicles. I shot 9 times trying to end their lives. Me and my brother drove off and I told him to drive to Jimmy’s house. I asked him to hold the gun, but he refused. We left and I told my brothers to go into an alley near a dumpster. I wiped down the gun and threw it away.

Br Carmel Duca MC

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The Apex Court of India, in its landmark judgment on 24th September 2024 in the case Just Rights for Children vs. Harish and Ors, addressed this issue. Before going into the case details, let us first understand what child pornography means.

What is Child pornography or CSEM? (Child Sexual Exploitative & Abuse Material)

Any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child includes photographs, videos, or digital images that are indistinguishable from an actual child, as well as images created, adapted, or modified to appear to depict a child. Child pornography is a crime that involves the sexual solicitation of a child under the age of 18 or the production of pornographic material involving a minor, luring children into online sexual relations, and then having sex with them. Additionally, recording sexual activities, creating MMS, and sharing such content with others are included in this definition.

Facts of the case

The All-Women’s Police Station in Ambattur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, received a letter dated 29 January 2020 from the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Against Women and Children Branch). The letter stated that, according to the Cyber Tipline Report from the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB), respondent no. 1 is an active consumer of pornography and has allegedly downloaded child pornography on his mobile phone. Accordingly, in view of the aforesaid letter an FIR was registered against the respondent no. 1 on the very same day i.e., 29.01.2020 at the All- Women’s Police Station Ambattur, Chennai, and Tamil Naidu as Crime No. 03 of 2020 for the offence punishable under Section(s) 67B of the IT Act and 14(1) of the POCSO. During the course of the investigation, the mobile phone belonging to the respondent no. 1 was seized and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis. The respondent no. 1 was also questioned whether he had ever viewed any pornographic content, to which the respondent no. 1 admitted that he used to regularly view pornography while he was in college. As per the Computer Forensic Analysis Report dated 22.08.2020 it was found that the mobile phone of the respondent no. 1 contained two video files relating to child pornography depicting two underage boys involved in sexual activity with an adult woman. The Computer Forensic Analysis Report further stated that more than hundred other pornographic video files were downloaded and stored in the said mobile phone.

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