Advent (4): Christmas Is God's Response to the Drama of Humankind

In a world where much has gone wrong over the years, and in and around Bethlehem in particular, which has seen so much violence.... a new message of its importance rings out from Pope Benedict in his message on the 4th Sunday of Advent.

Full report from EWTN below:


EWTN.com - Christmas Is God's Response to the Drama of Humankind

Advent (3): From CatholicTV

Amidst all the usual hassle and bustle of the Christmas season, take a break, have a kit-kat... better still watch this Christmas Under The Stars, a performance by All Saints Choir courtesy of Catholic TV:

Catch it here: CatholicTV

Advent (2): Mary's Christmas Dream

Just what is Christmas?

It wasn't December yet when I happened to see a TV ad for a "Christmas in Disneyland" complete with snowmen, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and friends. A few close buddies who happened to catch that ad started wondering what a wonderful thing it would be to celebrate Christmas there. Nothing wrong with Disneyland, I was thinking to myself... "heck....... just what has Mickey and Donald and Goofy got to do with Christmas anyway"?!

Last Sunday, we were at the mall and smack in the lobby was a giant snow-house with Santa, reindeer, sleds, and all things merry and bright with the theme "A Candy Christmas" - with lots of yep, you guessed it, candy of all shapes and sizes!

Then I found this story in my Sunday bulletin:

Mary's Christmas Dream

I had a dream, Joseph.

I don’t understand it, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our son.

The people in my dream had been preparing for about six weeks.

They had decorated the house and bought new clothes.

They’d gone shopping many times and bought many elaborate gifts.

It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren’t for our son.

They wrapped them in beautiful paper and stacked them under a tree.

Yes, a tree, Joseph, right inside their homes! They’d decorated the tree with sparkling ornaments.

There was a figure like an angel on the top of the tree.

Everyone was laughing and happy.

They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our son.

I don’t think they even knew him.

They never mentioned his name.

I had the strangest feeling that, if our Jesus had gone to this celebration he would have been intruding.

How sad for someone not to be wanted at his own birthday party!

I’m glad it was only a dream. How terrible Joseph, if it had been real!’

Author Unknown.

================================================================

My wife made a wry comment.... "looking at how we celebrate Christmas today... it was NOT really a dream, was it?!

Advent (1): Whose birthday is it, anyway?

We live at a point in time when our lives seem to be dictated by two exceptional forces - sheer speed and precious time.

Hence, we think on our feet, take quick showers, gulp down instant coffees and sprint to the train stations and multi-task at work. Satellite television brings us the news as it's unfolding anywhere in the world in real time. It is indeed a rare breed who can say he or she is either happily "offline", out of the rat race or actually stops to smell the roses!

For many of us I suspect, Christmas is also subject to the same conditioning - cleaning, changing, cooking, decorating, shopping, buying, giving and etc. Even our priests can vouch it's one of the busiest times of the year. There's the liturgy, homilies, confessions, carols, social outreach programs, home visitation for the sick and home bound to cater for among others.

We tend to get caught up in the frenetic rush toward Christmas that often we miss the opportunity of Advent - a whole 4 weeks - as a time for slowing down, taking stock of what's happening in our lives and the world around us, and pondering upon the coming of the Christ - back then, now and in the future.

It may be true that the world we live in today doesn't really afford us the time and space to do so. However, by the same token, it would also seem very lame to simply follow the crowd, plead ignorance or remain apathetic - especially when we feel something's not quite right with the present scenario.

Maybe the following story by the Rev. Fred Henry of Calgary can help illustrate the whole meaning of "missing" Christmas a little better:

In the land of puzzling tales there lived an eight-year-old boy named Jason. Now in this land and in the neighbourhood where Jason lived, the unexpected always happened.

Instead of football, they played knee ball; instead of children going to school, the teachers went to homes. In the summer time, it was not uncommon to see the water freeze, in the wintertime, leaves grew on the trees. It was a strange place.

One incident in the land of puzzling tales stands out - Jason's ninth birthday. As usual, the unusual happened. Jason's grandparents came from their home across the province to help celebrate. When they got to Jason's neighbourhood, they went to the Brown's house down the street and stayed there.

When Jason's mother baked a birthday cake, she gave it to the letter carrier to eat.

When the neighbourhood kids heard it was Jason's birthday, they exchanged gifts with one another and, of course, Jason got none.

There was a blizzard of birthday cards. The post office had to hire extra workers to handle the deluge of cards. Of course, in the land of puzzling tales the expected was unexpected, and all the kids, the moms and dads, the grandparents, and even a couple of dogs and a parakeet got cards, while poor Jason got none.

Finally, about nine o'clock that night, in a fit of frustration and anger, Jason went out and borrowed the school cheerleader's megaphone, rode up and down the street on his unicycle and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Whose birthday is it, anyway?"

The night was so silent that the echoes bounced for hours off the mountainsides: "Whose birthday is it, anyway?"

Year For Priests (4): Answering The Call

An article by Dan Luby which appeared in the Catholic Herald Malaysia's 25 October 2009 issue began like this:

The movie opens. A man sips beer at the kitchen table, surrounded by the happy choreography of holiday meal preparation. "So," someone asks him,"what's up in your world these days?" In the midst of chopping and washing and cleaning, ears cock. "Actually," he says after a pause and another sip,"I've been talking to my pastor about going to the seminary." The screen splits to show two reactions. In one, his brother laughs dismissively and says,"No, seriously dude,"... His college friend frowns and says,"Why are on are you doing that?" and his mother looks disapprovingly and says nothing.

On a parallel screen, his brother laughs and says, "That'd be great man, man,"....His college friend smiles and says,"It's about time," and his mom hugs him tight, saying nothing.

Luby then goes on to share his priest friends' answers to the same question, including what makes it either easy or difficult to say "yes" to the call of the priesthood.

I remember a few years ago in my previous parish when the priest surprised many of us with his opening statement of his homily: "Parents, please don't pray for vocations." Then he went on to ask, "How many of you parents have sat down with your children and talked to them about vocations? How many of you have talked about the possibilities of one of your sons joining the seminary? How many of you have discussed with your daughters about becoming a religious?"

His point was simple. It's no use just praying for vocations without doing something about it. I remember when I was young, we were always reminded of that, like it or not! In the end, two of my brothers entered the Seminary. One later left to marry to a girl he met during one of his pastoral stints, the other is quite happy being a monk in his religious order. I'd like to think that both of them found their vocations.

My 8 year old son has not been spared the same queries either. His reply: " I don't think I want to be a priest right now, because that would mean I can't become a train driver!"

I remember when he was born, we went to the chapel just before being discharged and on an impulse, put him on the altar table, and both his mother and I thanked God for the gift he had given us, and in return we gave him back to God, as a thanksgiving. As we left the chapel, we bumped into the chaplain who blessed him and asked in his French accent, "When he's older, come back and give him to me, eh?" I remember that both of us nodded our heads.

I think it's too easy to read into situations and jump to conclusions, but as parents, we are open to God's plan for our son, and would indeed be very happy if he so gets the "call". Fast forward to last week, he came back from school with a form that required us to fill out a few details including his future "ambition". I think he must be one of the few in his school to pen "train driver" in the column!!

Year for Priests (3): Pastors With Guts

Looking at our world today, there is no doubt that religious persecution is very much in vogue. Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and peoples of other faiths are routinely persecuted partly by those who govern them and wherever people of these religions form the minority. Sometimes these persecutions are carried out in the cover of darkness. At other times, it's done with the collusion of powerful individuals and government.

Today, the UCAN (Union of Catholic Asian News) website reported that the Religion and Peace Academy Nepal (RAPAN), an Inter Religious body, has warned that "people forcing political goals on religion are hampering the already peace process in Nepal." Closer to home, especially in recent times, we have seen unruly mobs threaten, make fun and belittle the beliefs and rights of the religious minorities.

Sometime ago, I received this particular email "A Pastor With Guts" on three different occasions. No doubt, many others would have received it too. What stands out about this story is how one pastor decided to stand up for what he believed in, irrespective of what others thought. His stance brought about the wrath of many who stood opposed to his position. Conversely, it also brought about many new believers, renewed the floundering faith of others and affirmed those who believed.

For no particular reason, my thoughts turned toward China and the trials and tribulations of the Church there over the years. I learned about Ignatius Kung (pic above). The Christian History Timeline website tells us that:

On the night of September 8, 1955, the Communists arrested Bishop Kung and about 320 other Roman Catholics. Many of these would suffer long years in prison, known no longer by their names, but by numbers. For 5 years, Kung was held in prison without a trial. Finally, he was convicted of treason and sentenced to life imprisonment. To go free, all he had to do was to renounce the pope and accept the Communist puppet church. He refused to do either.

And so, for thirty years, he had to live the Christian life, relying directly on the Spirit of Jesus, because he was denied letters, books or the Bible. Much of his thirty years was spent in such strict isolation that the guards were not permitted to speak to him. He was not even allowed eye contact with another human being!"

The Cardinal Fung Foundation has more on his life and work.

Check out also a 1993 Interview by Kung on the Persecution of the Church in China.

Catholic News Service has a one page brief history of the Catholic Church in China.

Although Kung was released in 1985, he remained under house arrest until 1988. In 1979 he was secretly ordained Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. By the time his election as cardinal was published, he had already turned 80 and had lost the right to participate in the papal conclave - the meeting of cardinals who gather to elect the pope whenever there's a vacancy. He died on March 12, 2000 and is buried at the Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, California.

During this Year of Priests, we might want to think about all those whose religious freedoms are curtailed everywhere in the world, irrespective of our religious beliefs. We could also spend a little bit more time praying for those exemplary priests like Ignatius Kung who suffered greatly to remain faithful to the Catholic Church.

SOS Appeal for Sarawak Children

Haris Ibrahim who blogs at The People's Parliament has highlighted the urgent appeal in The Star Online today of Sarawakian children facing acute food shortage in the interior of Kapit division.

In his latest update at 5.05pm, he mentions he has just come off the phone with Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ding of the Miri Catholic Church who's also coordinating the aid relief. Fr. Ding has asked all donations to be sent c/o:

Account holder : St Francis Centre Belaga

Bank : Maybank, Bintulu branch, Sarawak

Account No. : 011065307834

Please forward this appeal. In Jesus' own words:

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Mt. 25:40)

Thank you and God bless.

Year for Priests (2)

(With material taken from the New Advent and Catholic Online websites)

Today, 4 August is the feast of St. John Mary Vianney, patron saint of parish priests.

His background story is an incredible one, arguably one made for Hollywood! He was a young man who had more than his share of problems. For while he was acknowledged as an average student and had been found to have a genuine vocation toward priesthood, nevertheless he found learning exceptionally difficult, things maybe some of us and our young people in school can identify with.

Being a Frenchman, and with France at war with Spain at the time, Vianney was conscripted to the front lines only to find that his fellow soldier friends had left him behind while he had gone to pray in the chapel! He was now a "deserter" from the army.

Somehow, with the help of the mayor and family, he survived by teaching at a remote village under an assumed name. His younger brother then substituted for him in the army, leaving Vianney free to continue his studies and enter seminary. But true to form, his woes did not end there. He found it increasingly difficult to follow the studies, he flunked his seminary entrance exams, had to re-sit and finally succeeded some time later.

After more ups and downs than a roller coaster, he finally became parish priest at Ars, a remote hamlet. It was here that he began to get known as the "cure d'ars" throughout France and then the Christian world. His "fame" spread. He founded an orphanage for destitute girls which became the model for other similar institutions in France and began teaching Catechism. His classes soon became very popular with the population although later he had to close them down due to severe opposition from some of the people.

His most important contribution though, was the "direction of souls" - people began coming to him from all over France and abroad. During the last 10 years of his life he was spending 16-18 hours a day in the confessional. He was sought out for advice by people from all walks of life - bishops, priests, young men and women, sinners, sick persons, and etc. It is said that his direction was characterized by common sense, remarkable insight and supernatural knowledge. His instructions were known to be simple in language, full of imagery drawn from daily life.

Biographers have attributed 3 miracles to him:

• obtaining funds for his charities and food for his orphans;
• supernatural knowledge of the past and future; and
• healing the sick, especially children.
  

But perhaps, the greatest miracle of all was his life. He practised mortification, and had insufficient food and sleep for 40 years even to sustain himself. And yet, he laboured without ceasing, with humility, gentleness, patience and cheerfulness until he was 73 and more.

On 3 October 1874, Pope Pius IX proclaimed him Venerable and on 8 June 1905 he was enrolled "Blessed". Later, Pope Pius X proposed him as model for the secular clergy. In 1925, Pope Pius XI canonised him. His feast day is today, 4th August.

Fast forwarding and looking at the tremendous challenges that parish priests face today, maybe now I can understand the significance of John Mary Vianney as patron. It's interesting also to note that Pope Benedict XVI has declared Vianney himself as the model for the "Year for Priests". The pope has also called for the relevance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which in recent times has fallen out of favour with many of us. Yet, it is the one thing more than anything else that brought the people of Ars back to God - Confessions.

Many of us have probably expressed concern at one time or another about the state of the world today, where there seems to be no place for God in our lives. But, just as it was relevant in Ars a hundred and fifty years ago, in the same context the Holy Father is urging us to use this next 12 months as a God-given opportunity to reconcile with ourselves and one another, the environment we live in and ultimately, Himself.

Even though now we know otherwise, we live in a world that at times glorifies academic excellence at the expense of other types of intelligences. Here, John Vianney goes against the grain. Like him, our parish priests may not be the high flying superstars that we expect them to be. But just like him, they may be the very ones to save our souls by giving simple but effective direction, advice, counseling, and healing. Maybe, in a sense, that's all that we really need.

It would be good too if not everyday, then on and off, during the next one year, we take time out and pray for our priests either in our own words or like the following prayer which was submitted by my granduncle, himself a Capuchin monk in India:

A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

Keep them, I pray thee, dearest Lord,
Keep them, for they are Thine,
Thy priests whose lives burn out before,

Thy consecrated shrine.

Keep them thou knowest, dearest Lord,
The world, the flesh are strong
And, Satan spreads a thousand snares,
To lead them into wrong.

Keep them for they are in the world,
Though from the world apart,
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure,
Shelter them in Thy heart.

Keep them and comfort them in hours
Of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice
For souls seems but in vain,

Keep them and O remember Lord,
They have no one but thee

Yet they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.

Keep them as spotless as the host, that
Daily they caress,
Their every thought and word and deed,
Deign, dearest Lord to bless.

Amen.

Imprimatur:
Henry Joseph O'Leary, D.D..
Archbishop of Edmonton.

St. Anne's Feast (Final)

Now that the remnants of last week's crazy schedule have been finally put to rest, I will try and put my thoughts on the last installment of the “St. Anne trilogy".....

What is it then that makes people return year after year from far and near?

“Build it and they will come” – so goes a line from the movie Field of Dreams. 10 years ago, it would have been accurate to say that the feast resembled more of a carnival than a religious celebration. People came for all sorts of “questionable” reasons. In recent times though, that picture has changed a little. That may partly be due to the building of the new church in 2002. With the advent of the new building, there is now a proper place for pilgrims to worship. The “carnival” atmosphere now is largely reduced to outside the premises of the church. Even then, there is less blaring of loud popular music, less noise, less commotion.

To answer the question though, for some, it could be a chance to recharge the spiritual batteries. It may be a time to chill out by soaking in - the Word of God and listening to the sermons and come away a little soothed and invigorated spiritually. Traditionally there has always been a good response for Confessions through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, although I don't know how many actually took up the opportunity this time out. Many more come in the days before the main feast days and spend quiet time alone - praying and meditating.

Outside the church compound though, it's a different scene. For BM generally, it's a mini economic boom. Hotels are sold out months in advance. Restaurants witness a huge increase in diners during the week. Illegal parking spaces sprout up along the access roads, residential areas not being spared either, charging a hefty parking fee. Rubbish becomes gold. The town council obligingly cleans up the vast sea of rubbish - at a price. Traders and peddlers hawk their merchandise everywhere, their music blaring from loudspeakers.

Mingling among them are the many the many physically handicapped persons who line the street begging for alms. A couple of years ago, there were the Rohingya refugees from Burma. I also remember seeing some women from India. I heard from one local seller this year how the town council only allowed the hawkers to open their stalls for the last 3 days of the feast compared to the usual 7. She alleged that the FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) police also gave them a tough time. There have been allegations too that these police forces raided some of these stalls for contravening the terms and subsequently disposing off their ware back to them at a profit...

Still others make their annual trek for the candle-light procession on Saturday evening - the eve of the main day, the obligatory hike up St. Anne's hill and the petitioning of prayers to St. Anne. Many grateful pilgrims who have had their prayers answered return in turn to hand out free food to other pilgrims as an alms giving and thanksgiving. Interestingly, most are non Catholics and people of other faith.

Finally, there are the organizations that set up stalls seeking to promote their work and raise funds. Over the last few years, the Daughters of St. Paul's has become my favourite place to get my annual "quota" of reading materials at low prices. During the past 12 months especially, these have unintentionally become of great help to others who have found some solace in them. They happen to make great gifts too.

I can't help thinking it must have been like this too whenever Mary, Joseph and Jesus went to Jerusalem on their annual pilgrimages so many years ago. Just like now, there must have been plenty of noise and hassle that permeated the holiness of the occasion. Just like now, they would have journeyed with others who made theirs for all sorts of reasons - searching for answers, looking for healing, praying and being in need of prayers, fulfilling vows made previously, etc. etc. And just like now, the holy family too would have been caught up with the many distractions that came their way. They must have some great moments too - families and relatives traveling together, enjoying the company - just like the so many who throng St.Anne's today.

On one of these journeys though, the boy Jesus chose to stay back in the temple, to the great distress of his unknowing parents, to "discuss" and "debate" with the religious scholars and elders. Mary and Joseph, already halfway back on the journey home and worried sick, chose to leave everything behind and tracked back to Jerusalem in search of their son, who nonchalantly asked them, "Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:41-42)

The wordofgod website has this to say:

My mother Mary, and Joseph my foster father, experienced my absence during three days, something symbolic about the three days that would happen after my death, and also the separation from God that every human being experiences. My coming into the world was to build the temple of God....Everyone who listens to me receives a call to holiness. I am the perfection that God expects, that's why I invite the soul to recollection, prayer, meditation, so that by these means he may enter the interior temple where God listens and speaks...It is through these visitations to the altar of the interior temple that the soul receives my blessings and my light; it is there that the Holy Spirit grants his gifts. It is there that I am always doing the work of my Father, who has sent me to raise this humanity from dust and darkness to light, from sin to grace, from ailments and fragilities of human life to the glory and joy prepared for eternal life.

For me, these are the words which linger long after St. Anne’s over: That God is constantly inviting us to experience Him in our own journey of life. St. Anne’s feast then, becomes one such occasion. There have been, are and will be many more such opportunities in our lifetimes. Are we ready and willing to take God up on the offer?

If we look at the world today, there are so many areas of concern that need attention. At times, the troubles that plague us seem so insurmountable. One of the greatest worries of parents today is the future of our children.

Many of us are or will be parents one day, others may be grandparents already. Whether single or married, we may have nephews and nieces in our extended families. We may be in charge of children in our kindergartens, schools, playing fields, clubs, youth groups, catechism classes, hospitals, etc. etc. In a world which is seemingly becoming more and more difficult and dangerous for kids, we have a responsibility to protect, educate, correct and guide them so they can become the persons they are born to be.

In this context, the examples of Mary and Joseph, who left everything and tracked back to Jerusalem in search of Jesus and the attention of Joachim and Anne to Mary – how they nurtured her for her eventual role in salvation history may help us in our own life situations. May the intercessions of Sts. Anne and Joachim continue to be a powerful testament for all of us.

St. Anne's Feast (2): Reminiscences

My annual "dates" with St. Anne go back some 30 over years when I was a much younger fellow.....

I can't remember exactly how or when it actually started but it seems now that I was always "eager" to make the annual nine day novena from where I lived at Prai to Bukit Mertajam (BM) about 16 km away due south. I remember that I'd put all my "appointments" on hold from 5-8 p.m. during that time. Which was not something that came easily - I was football mad those days, and nothing could stop me from the daily kickabouts with my friends. Except for that particular week in July.

In the beginning, I usually went with my parents - those were the days before I "graduated" to hanging out with friends. We didn't have a car then and so had to rely on the good old Central Province Wellesley Transport Company's yellow and red bus No. 60 for our rides to BM. Somehow, I didn't really mind the inconvenience or the ordinary condition of the buses (they didn't have air-conditioned buses then). In fact, I think that made the journey so much more interesting. Looking back now, it's funny to see how so many things have changed, and not necessarily for the better either.

The journey itself though was always interesting. As the bus made its complimentary stops and starts, it gave me time to watch the landscape change from an urban setting to a more austure kampung scene. Like many of those things from the 70's, even those old buses don't exist anymore. Many of the traditional houses that lined Jalan Baru (the main road to BM) have long gone too, replaced with spanking new, modern housing estates, all of which look like each other! Gone are the individual quirks and traits that those village homes possessed. Gone too are the vast green paddy fields that provided a soothing sight for the eyes. In its place now stand rows of low-rise apartments housing mainly UITM students.

The old bus-stop in BM is now a vacant plot. Where the Summit Hotel and Store supermarket now stand, was a huge football field. That too is gone. We had to walk from there to the then "new" St. Anne's church - now St. Joachim Centre, past the shops and the old BM Supermarket, the first major one in the area, near the main market. Next came the district hospital and the IJ Convent school. As we neared the church, I remember walking on the old road-bridge over the railway tracks next to the Convent. That was some scene. That bridge is also gone, replaced by a more wider one, but without a pedestrian walkway. Not that you can see many people walking along there nowadays! The price of progress I guess.

Entering the church, if you were lucky you could find a place inside or else had to prop up on long benches outside under the shady trees or along the 5 foot way of the church. The singing by the choir was always something I looked forward too. I can still recall the sounds of the lone guitarist strumming his acoustic guitar. The highpoint for me though were the homilies. As was and still is custom, there were always visiting priests from other parts of the diocese and country who broke the Word of God to those present. I remember being impressed very much and touched by the sermons. Which in later years, became the main reason to keep this annual "date" with St. Anne. It's not so much as the "Feast" in itself, or the candle light procession, or the crowds, or the good time with friends. It was more like going for my own "semi-directed" retreat. A time-out for a little bit of reflection and a time to recharge my batteries.

As I look back over the years, over all that's happened, I sense also how much time has passed me by. When once I used to come with my father and mother, then friends, and then much later alone, I now am now going back as a husband and father, with my own family, with an 8 year old kid in tow. That kid now seems to be happy tagging along with me, (at least for now!), as did I with my own father some four decades ago. Yesterday at the 3rd day of the novena masses, for the first time I saw and heard him singing away loudly, trying to follow the words on the large screen. It made me think. I've come full circle it seems. Somehow, I would never have imagined it all those years ago. Such is Life - strange, mysterious even.

St. Anne's Feast

Last Friday, the 19th of July marked the beginning of the 9 day Novena in Bukit Mertajam where I live, in honour of St.Anne, the maternal grandmother of Jesus. The theme permeating this year's celebration is: "Deepening our Discipleship through Spirituality of Communion".

It also marked the Diocesan level launching of the "Year of the Priest", the main celebrant being Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam together with a host of priests from the diocese. In his homily, Bishop Anthony touched on the reasons for the jubilee year for priests as espoused by Pope Benedict the VIV. The pope explains his reasons here.

The feast of St. Anne has always had a special significance for people - not only Catholics but also a large number of non-Christians from the region. The official website of St. Anne's Church sheds more light on its history. Tens of thousands make this annual pilgrimage from neighbouring countries as well as all over the country. Check the full schedule of the novena and feast. Click MyCen for a map and location of St. Anne's.

Read also the details of the times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, mass offerings and other information.

From what I observed, the Church was packed to capacity during the first two days (Friday and Saturday). The number of pilgrims usually level off in the next few days before peaking on the night of the eve of the feast on the 25th and climaxing on Sunday the 26th.

My hope and prayer? That in a difficult time in Malaysia, where many have been hit by personal tragedies, health issues, economic uncertainty, family and marital problems, increasing religious insensitivity and intolerance, this year's theme which calls for a deepening of our discipleship through a spirituality of communion, will help all of us appreciate all the blessings we have been bestowed, and strive to grow that little bit more in faith, stature and wisdom.

Year of the Priests: 19 June 2009 - June 2010

Earlier this June, Pope Benedict XVI declared the next 12 months as the "Year of the Priests".

Looking back now - as an almost middle aged Catholic, I see how I have been blessed by the presence of so many priests - both those who have been there fleetingly and those whom I have had the opportunity to work with for some 15 years when I was a much younger adult.

I remember one time when I was about 11, came our French MEP priest to our house and asked my father to send me to join the altar servers group in the parish. That simple act started my own journey as an active Catholic, first as an altar boy, then later as youth group member and so on.....

I also have had the privilege to be a part of their lives, see them struggle with their vocation and calling, enjoy their successes and witness their pain to a certain extent, their dedication to their ministry and - learn from them. I owe much to these exceptional men. For these reasons and more, I thought I'd run a series of posts dedicated to them over the next 12 months, both from a personal experience and others gathered from the world wide web.

And so, as to begin this rather hopeful task, I start with the end - of one priest's life:

Brave Catholic Army chaplain dies from injuries suffered in Iraq

I wasn't aware of Fr. Tim Vakoc, parish priest turned army chaplain, or the injuries he suffered in a roadside bomb attack while returning from Mass in Mosul, Iraq in 2004 until I read about his death on Sunday, 21st June 2009 at age 49. He was just a year older than me. Sometimes, it seems that only during deaths and in obituaries, we come to learn of such ordinary lives lived rather extraordinarily.

May his story inspire us and others, whether we may be priests or ordinary laypersons - to go the distance, in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. May the words of Fr. Tim echo in our ears and hearts: “The safest place for me to be is in the center of God’s will, and if that is in the line of fire, that is where I will be.”

It would be good too, if we take time today to:

• Remember all priests who have died, especially those who have walked with us and through our lives and made it that little bit better.

• Visit Catholic Doors for more letters of appreciations of Catholic priests in action.

• Read why Pope Benedict XVI created the Year for Priests.

A Different Kind of Litany

From The Word Among Us, available at: www.wau.org

Jacqueline Vromans-McCoy writes in the June edition of TWAU, about "A Different Kind of Litany", - one which struck a chord deep inside me.

Briefly, Jacqueline tells about being "recruited" to a one hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in her parish. As she makes her first visit she finds herself being distracted, lost and unable to concentrate. But as she perseveres, she senses a shift. The real miracle happens when she begins to praise God for ALL things - both the blessings and the darkest moments in her life.

You can say it seems diabolical. But it does also makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure about others, but I too have been caught up by the "feel good" syndrome type of prayer - one that praises God for all good things, but not the bad or the ugly. Even though I'm not one to give up easily or lose hope quickly, and almost always one "looking on the bright side of things", and "the silver lining in the cloud", I can't ever remember praising God for all the mistakes I've made, the many times I've fallen down and remained stuck in the mud, and the so many "failures" I've encountered - both self made and otherwise.

For Jacqueline, what began as a reluctant visit slowly evolves into a profound experience of meeting God in a very personal way. And as she surrenders all her joys and sorrows to Him, she finds her life being blessed by"grace upon grace".

It's now 7 years since she started. In her own words, she invites us to try the same: "Is the Lord inviting you to meet him in a weekly hour of adoration? Or is there something else that he’s asking you to consider? Just try it! You’ll discover that God will reward your little efforts with a peace, joy, and fruitfulness that far exceed your expectations".

Like me, you too can start here.

Married On A Crucifix

Imagine a world without divorce, Imagine families without divorce, Imagine families without separation, Imagine no children or hearts torn apart.....

A little too incredible to believe? Well, not if you are in the town of Siroki-Brijeg in Herzegovina.

Michael Mullan, writes in the Catholic Net how those who marry in this town of 13,ooo inhabitants are literally "Married on A Crucifix".

Pope2You now on Facebook!

The Pope comes to Facebook today.

The news from www.zenit.org:

VATICAN CITY, MAY 20, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican is set to unveil its newest Web page this week. Called Pope2You.net, the site aims to bring the words and messages of Benedict XVI to the youth.

The reasons for the site? According to Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Vatican Council for Social Communications, it's chief aims are to:

• Get the youth to read the Pope's message addressed to them on the responsible use of new technologies, like Facebook, etc, etc.

• Allow young people to do many of the things they can do on other sites, but with a twist.

• Enable young people to send virtual cards to friends, cards with an attractive image of the Pope and a quote taken from one of his addresses.
  

• To take advantage of this means of communication so that the message of the Gospel is known by the youth of today's world.

Viva! to the new media!

Media Culture & Compromise Undermining Christian Life

Quite a few blogs have picked up this story:

7 May. CNA (Catholic News Agency) quotes Archbishop of Denver, Charles J. Chaput as saying that "Catholics are losing the habits on which they have traditionally relied because of “vanity and compromise”.

The archbishop had mentioned this in a speech at the American Bible Society in New York the day before.

A few points that caught my eye:

• “The American news and entertainment media, which now so often overlap, are the largest catechetical syndicate in history,”.

• ..."the media has helped create a culture based on “immediacy, brevity, visual stimulation, celebrity and self-absorption,” he warned this has great implications for the Christian’s place in American society.

• “The more sensory, immediate and emotional our culture becomes, the farther it gets from the habits of serious thought that sustain its ideals.”

• As a remedy, he advised Catholics to give up computers, televisions, cell phones, and iPods for “just one night” a week.

• “One night a week spent reading, talking with each other, listening to each other and praying over Scripture. We can at least do that much. And if we do, we’ll discover that eventually we’re sober again and not drunk on technology and our own overheated appetites.”

Full text at CNA.

It may have been an American archbishop talking primarily about an American problem in an American city to an American crowd but, thanks to rapid globalization, this is a real concern in many places, including back home here in Malaysia.

Talking about vanity and compromise, the 1997 thriller/horror movie "The Devil's Advocate" starring Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino throws up an intriguing plot in which the Devil's character, John Milton, played by Pacino mentions: "Vanity...definitely my favorite sin".

Wikipedia defines "Vanity" as: "The excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others. In many religions vanity is considered a form of self idolatry, in which one rejects God for the sake of one's own image, and thereby becomes divorced from the graces of God.

Whereas, in his seminal book "Jesus Today - A Spirituality of Radical Freedom", Dominican priest Fr. Albert Nolan analyzes contemporary culture and the challenges that face us in the new millennium. His unerring "reading" of the signs of our times today, leading to an in-depth exploration of Jesus' spirituality which calls for a personal transformation and culminating in being able to live radically free with God, ourselves, others and the Universe is a fitting explanation of all that's gone wrong with us and how things can be put right again.

After the first few pages, it had me hooked....all the jigsaw puzzles seem to fall into place, the questions that have been bothering me answered. You would have to read it to appreciate its sheer beauty.

Fr. Nolan's book is available at most Catholic bookstores and online, here.

Closer to home, I overheard this remark a few years ago: "At one time our Catholic homes had altars up on the walls, now they've come down to the display cabinet - in the shape of the TV and its sidekick - the satellite dish!" Couldn't be more true - just take a look around! Maybe it's time we gave Archbishop Chaput's urge to give up TV one day a week a real go.

Finally, I read this somewhere on the Internet:

A stranger knocks upon a parent's house and asks:

"Could I spend some time alone with your child?"

"No way", comes the immediate reply.

"Why not?" asks the man.

"Because I don't know you and wouldn't yet trust your intentions".

Well said.

We do that because we know what is right for the child. Yet curiously, we let another kind of stranger - the TV - with its unknown intentions, on a hundred channels, with all kinds of conflicting messages, to come into our homes everyday, every week, every year, year after year, and let it influence our childrens' lives without so much as batting an eye!

I hope Archbishop Chaput's message gets broadcast everywhere. It's a timely reminder for all of us.

Breaking News: The Conversion of Ali Agca

According to Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, moderator of the What Does The Prayer Really Say (WDTPRS) blog forum, Mehmet Ali Agca, the same one who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, has converted to Catholicism.

Read the full story here.

How To Lead A Focussed Life

Story of my life, really?! Maybe even so for many of us.

How many of us have complained that there simply isn't enough time in the 24 hours we have each day to fulfill all our obligations? I know I certainly have.

And, we all know that if we're not careful with our priorities and time management, the probability of getting stressed out from all these "important" activities is high.

Taking myself as an example, these past few weeks has seen me up to my eyeballs literally with one commitment or another - every one of which seems ridiculously "important"! Which is one reason that I've not updated this blog for some time....

But then, as dumb as it may sound, how does one figure out how much enough or isn't? Where does one draw the line? It seems only a thin line divides these two extremes.

Then, as seems to be the norm in my life, I stumble upon something that makes sense. I got this email from the Daily Good website. It talked about this book review by David Myers, on the book "Rapt" by Winifred Gallagher.

According to David, the author has some answers on how to live a "focussed life" today, with all its complications. This statement caught my attention:

Quote: "She cites Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, at Claremont Graduate University, who argues that between the anxiety of being overwhelmed (and stressed) and the apathy of being underwhelmed (and bored) lies a zone of engagement in which people experience "flow." He arrived at the flow concept after studying artists who spent hour after hour painting or sculpting, working as if nothing else mattered".

Just these couple of lines tell me how much the book is worth. But hey, don't take my word for it!

Read the complete review here.

To get the book, go here.

Stay with me, Lord

A friend sent me this prayer via email. I'd like to share it here:

Stay with me, Lord
Prayer of St. Pio of Pietrelcina after Holy Communion

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You.
You know how easily I abandon You.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without fervor.

Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.

Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes; death, judgment, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!

Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all it’s dangers. I need You.
Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by communion, at least by grace and love.

Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it, but the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!
Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen

Death on a Friday Afternoon

This is an excerpt from the book Death on a Friday Afternoon: Meditations on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross by Richard John Neuhaus, who passed away on January 8, 2009. He was the founding father of the online journal, First Things.

Start here.

Easter: Hope for the World

An Easter message from Brother Alois of the Taize community. Simple yet profound.

Read it here.

Above is a glass stained window of the Easter Resurrection by Bro. Alois.

To know more about Taize, go here.

Could We Start Again, Please?

It's time between the darkness of the tomb of Good Friday and the dawn of the resurrection of Easter.

From Jesus Christ Superstar: "Could we start again, please?"

The song, in my mind, captures the disciples finally coming to realize as to who Jesus really was, his mission and his purpose. Which leaves them bewildered, lost and feeling utterly hopeless. And wanting to start all over again with him.

Gethsamane

From Jesus Christ Superstar (1973).

The song: Gethsamane.

24 Reasons for Spending a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament

From the Catholic News Agency, a reminder of the importance of the Holy Hour.

1. You are greatly needed!
"The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic Adoration." (Pope John Paul II, Dominicae Cenae).

To read the rest, go here.

Remembering Oscar Romero (2)

Click here for the Stations of the Cross from El Salvador.

The Stations of the Cross in the chapel at the University of Central America, a Jesuit college in San Salvador, El Salvador, are especially graphic. They portray in unflinching detail, the torture visited upon Salvadorans by right wing death squads and the U. S. backed government during that country's civil war in the 1980s. These stations serve as a reminder that many people walk the way of the cross every day, denied justice and dignity as Christ was, by powerful political forces.

(For other mediations on the Stations go here or here.)

Heaven On Their Minds

From Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

Heaven On Their Minds

He saved You. Now You can save Others.

Here's an interesting site that I just found: 40 Prayers for 40 Days, run by the Catholic Medical Mission Board, since 1928. In their own words:

Easter is a time of renewal and celebration for people around the world. Sadly though, many children, women, and men in developing nations have little reason to celebrate. They are dying from preventable and treatable diseases simply because healthcare is a luxury that few can access. That’s why CMMB’s work is so critical. Please take a moment to explore the lifesaving work that CMMB does around the world, and consider supporting this vital work with a generous gift. With your help, people will be healed and made whole. That’s a remarkable way to commemorate this Easter.

Remembering Oscar Romero (1)

Today March 24, marks the 29th. anniversary of the assassination of the late bishop of El Savador, Oscar Romero by unknown assailants.

US Catholic reports here:

On this 29th anniversary of his death, the people will march through the streets carrying that promise printed on thousands of banners. Mothers will make pupusas (thick tortillas with beans) at 5 a.m., pack them, and prepare the children for a two-to-four hour ride or walk to the city to remember the gentle man they called Monseñor.

Read the whole story here.

Today too, all over the world, we continue to witness violence being perpetrated by governments and their agencies, drug lords, mafia and crime syndicates, people traffickers, etc. etc. against ordinary citizens.

Back home here, we too continue to see all kinds of threats, counter-threats, arbitrary arrests being forced on the common people.

It is only appropriate then that we ever more heed the words of Archbishop Romero. In a book of collected sermons, "The Violence of Love", Romero had this to say on December 5, 1977:

"To be a Christian now means to have the courage to preach the true teaching of Christ, and not be afraid of it, not be silent out of fear, and preach something easy that won't cause problems. To be a Christian in this hour means to have the courage that the Holy Spirit gives in the sacrament of Confirmation, to be valiant soldiers of Christ the King, to make his teaching prevail, to reach hearts and proclaim the courage that one must have to defend God's law."

His words still ring true even now. During these times of uncertainty, especially wherever justice and peace are being held ransom, many times by those forces which are supposed to uphold these principles, it's imperative that we do not lose hope, and that in spite and despite everything that is happening all around us, we continue to take heart and live in hope.

In his own words, Let's not curse the darkness, rather light a candle.

For more on Romero's life, go here.

To download a free copy of the e-book The Violence of Love, (231 pages, 963 kb) go here.

Purpose Driven Life

A friend sent in this message via email. I think it's appropriate especially during this time of Lent, to reflect on these words:

People ask me, What is the purpose of life?

And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity.

This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.

We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness. This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.

I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for..

You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems: If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her- It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people. You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before.. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease..

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit.. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments, SEEK GOD. Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD

The above insights are from Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church and author of a number of best selling books. His book, The Purpose Driven Life, sold over 30 million copies. In January 2009, Rick also (somewhat controversially), led the prayer during Barrack Obama's inauguration ceremony.

Access Rick's website here.

Feasting and Fasting

I first posted this in my other blog in 2007. In the light of all that's going on around us and maybe within us too, it might be a good idea to revisit these thoughts:

Today is Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, denoting the forty days' preceding Easter in the Catholic liturgical calendar. The traditional Lent practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving are interposed here with the Lenten Rule of the late Bishop Arthur C. Lichtenberg, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, 1959-1962:

May this season of Lent be a time to:

Fast from criticism, and feast on praise;
Fast from self-pity, and feast on joy;
Fast from ill temper, and feast on peace;
Fast from resentment, and feast on contentment;
Fast from jealousy, and feast on humility;
Fast from pride, and feast on love;
Fast from selfishness, and feast on service;
Fast from fear, and feast on faith.

Valentine Day Special! - 3

I saw this message on a website: "The purpose of Valentine's Day is to let those we care about know that we love them". There's also another way to look at it: How much God himself loves us. I like to think that if God himself were to write a Valentine card for us, it could sound something like this: Part 3 here:

Ten Guidelines From God

Effective Immediately,
Please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience,
but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. Please, follow these 10 guidelines

1. QUIT WORRYING:
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all... God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME:
Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of
all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE:
Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME:
I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH:
I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE:
You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry.. Share your faith
with those who have none.

8. BE PATIENT:
I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle
something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in
only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. BE KIND:
Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.

10. LOVE YOURSELF:
As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget.......


HAPPY VALENTINE!