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End or Beginning of a New Life?

In today’s society, much of the suffering associated with death stems from our denial of it and the lack of a positive vision for life’s end. Many people believe that death marks the absolute cessation of human existence, and a final termination of life. However, this perspective is not shared by Christians. For us, death is not an end, but a new beginning. It is viewed as a transition to another existence, much like sleep is temporary and does not signify the person’s total disappearance. The Christian understanding is rooted in the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ, which provides believers with a hope-filled vision for what comes after this earthly life. The Catholic Church emphasizes that every human life has inherent dignity and value. Living and dying with full awareness and grace is considered a path to upholding that dignity. While secular culture may often encourage a fear of death or an avoidance of its reality, the Church urges its faithful to approach death with a sense of wonder and faith, rather than with fear and anxiety.

As Christians, we also understand death as “a return to the dust,” reflecting the biblical teaching that since the fall of Adam and Eve, humanity has been subject to mortality (Gen 3:19). Yet, this does not imply the total cessation of life. While the physical body may decay and return to the earth, the soul, which is immortal, continues to exist. Losing a loved one is undeniably painful, regardless of their age. However, Christians find comfort in believing that death is not the final chapter. Expressions like “endlessness of eternity,” “threshold of eternity,” and “glimpse into the other side” suggest that there is more to life than what we experience here on earth. In Christian faith, death marks the end of this present life, but signals the beginning of another.

Fr Arnald Mahesh SDB

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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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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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This cover story outlines the profound and transformative journey of surrender as explored through the lives of some influential spiritual figures. The narrative bridges historical examples with contemporary relevance, offering readers a pathway to understanding and living the sacred act of surrender in today’s world. The art of surrender in the modern world represents a paradigm shift from control to acceptance, highlighting its relevance in today’s high-pressure society. It delineates a five-step process of surrender: metacognitive awareness, radical acceptance, cultivating trust, non-attachment to outcomes, and transcending ego-driven imperatives. Surrender is framed as a transformative praxis, facilitating equanimity and transcendence amidst existential complexities and quotidian stressors.

1. SURRENDERING IN A WORLD OF CONTROL

In a climate dominated by power dynamics, self-assertion, and the pursuit of control, the notion of surrender can appear counterintuitive. Yet, it is precisely within this paradox that profound spiritual truths often reside. The path of surrender is not one of defeat or resignation but of profound spiritual liberation and transformative praxis. This essay invites readers to explore the spiritual significance of surrender as a means of accessing holiness, freedom, and holistic transformation in today’s complex and often tumultuous world.

2. EXEMPLARS OF SURRENDER

 Fr. Tony Marshall OFM

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‘Lord, teach us to pray,’ with this motto Pope Francis inaugurated the Year of Prayer 2024. He is inviting all of us to discover the value of daily prayer in our lives, encouraging us to pray that this Holy Year will have an impact on the whole Church and on the holiness of Christians. We are almost at the threshold of the Jubilee Year 2025. Pope Francis will solemnly open the Holy Door and inaugurate the Jubilee Year 2025, on December 24, 2024 at St. Peter’s Basilica. Therefore, I thought of dedicating this article on the first petition of the disciples to Jesus: ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’

‘One day, Jesus was praying in a certain place and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Lk 11:1). From the Gospel of Luke, we can discover the prayer life of Jesus. ‘Jesus would often withdraw to solitary places to pray’ (Lk 5:16). The choice of the twelve apostles is preceded, by Jesus going ‘up a hill to pray. He spent the whole night in prayer with God’ (Lk 6. 12-13). Before the transfiguration, Jesus ‘went up on the mountain to pray…’ (Lk 9:28-29). At His baptism, ‘as He was praying the heavens opened…’ (Lk 3:21). Mark tells us that Jesus ‘got up when it was still dark and went out and withdrew to a deserted place and there he prayed’ (Mk 1: 35). Jesus prayed and He asked His disciples to pray and sustain Him in His moments of trial (cf. Lk 22: 39-46).

Sr. CELINE D’CUNHA FMA

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Stuti Sharma—the name echoed across our school campus and was on everyone’s lips: students, teachers, co-workers, parents, and even drivers. Who was Stuti Sharma? What had she done to become so famous?

One day, a parent walked into the office and handed me some money. “This is for Stuti Sharma,” he said. “Please make sure she gets it.” I looked at him, seeing the firm, confident expression of a middle-aged man, with a hidden contentment as if he had given from a widow’s mite. I took the money with shivering hands and nodded in affirmation. My mind wandered off, sinking silently into thoughts of the past. It all started just one month before when four young people – two boys and two girls—rushed into the office. After I invited them to take a seat, one of them said, “Stuti Sharma, a class ten student at your school and our cousin, has been diagnosed with cancer. She needs to undergo surgery soon. Her parents, in utter shock and despair, are in a hospital in Lucknow with her, and they need help – both financially and emotionally.”

Stuti Sharma was a fresh, budding student of class ten who was suddenly diagnosed with cancer, which had developed after a neglected boil under her left arm. Her class teacher mentioned that she had been absent for many days without submitting a leave application. I assured her cousins that we would willingly help and support them, though I had no idea how it would be possible. Stuti Sharma unknowingly became our priority as her name was announced during the morning assembly. She became a constant topic of discussion, and many prayers were offered by our students, who stood with folded hands, imploring God, the Creator, to save her from..

SR POONAM CJ

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In 1975, when Saigon fell into the hands of the Communists, Hoang, a fisherman from Vung Tau who also fought against the Viet Cong, was living with his wife, Trang. At that time, they already had their first son, Long. Hoang was twenty-four years old, and his wife was four years younger. Both Buddhists, Hoang and Trang envisioned and hoped for a better future for their family especially when their second son, Quang, was born in 1979. It was then that they decided, along with their brothers, sisters and other village members, to risk their lives and escape from the clutches of the Viet Cong. They managed to reach a boat off the shore while the Communists were hot on their trail. Unfortunately, Hoang’s sister and sister-in-law, and other villagers were captured and held in the Communist work camps. The boat they embarked on had three tiers. Tragedy struck when eight-month-old Quang fell from the second tier into the water and nearly died. Upon reaching Hong Kong, Quang was hospitalized.  Sometime later, the whole family was relocated to Savannah, Georgia in the USA. Twenty-four years later, I happened to read Quang’s story in one of the programs offered by PREP to incarcerated men and women (see Magnet June 2024). I was captivated by its depth, honesty and insight, so much so that I contacted Quang and asked him whether I could reproduce excerpts of his 38-page work. He promptly agreed.

I need not comment further. Listen to Quang as he relates his journey of hope.

(All names of people and places are changed. The text has been left as Quang wrote it. Only minimal editing has been done)

My family and I are refugees from Vietnam. We arrived in America (parents, uncles, and older brother) in 1980, residing in Savannah, where my two younger brothers [Dinh and Dung] were born. We lived there for about four years. One of the few memories I have was when I got physically disciplined for accidently spilling a pot of scalding hot noodles on my younger brother’s leg. I first got beaten by my older brother Long then after coming back from the hospital, my mom whipped me with the handle of a metal fly swatter and while the welts and bruises and cuts were still fresh, I had to kneel on the metal grate of the floor vent while holding up phone books for a couple of hours. I was four years old and clearly remember the day because I learned what it was to be a man. As I cried out in pain, and tried to block and move away from the fly swatter, I got whipped harder and told “to shut up, a man don’t cry” I must endure. I also learned my physical well-being didn’t matter. I am a horrible son and brother, and accidents are punishable to the highest degree. From that day on I began to suppress my emotions, built tolerance to pain and started having anger and resentment towards my family.

Br Carmel Duca MC

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