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Joy To Be Shared


Dearly beloved Brothers and Sisters,

On Christmas eve some of us went to visit an elderly woman of 82 whom we have not visited for quite some time. She lives close to the center part of the city of Rome. Even though she did not look too happy and did not welcome us very enthusiastically as she used to do at other times, we tried to remain calm, joyful and open to listen to her. We sat around the table and listened to her many sad and painful stories and experiences. At the end of our visit with her, she became more exuberant and joyous and said: “Now I can say that it is Christmas”.

This experience made me reflect on the real meaning and significance of the Christmas event, which is both spiritual and social at the same time. The feast of Christmas then has two essential and inseparable dimensions: the vertical and horizontal. God and neighbor. God and I and my neighbor.

Christmas is essentially a feast of sharing. In other words, there is no real Christmas if we do not share with those who have less or nothing. Where charity and love prevail, there is Emmanuel-God with us. Any authentic Christian life of sharing is an-ongoing Christmas.

Christmas is a feast of joy, a joy to be shared. On Christmas day I called one of my friends after a very long time. He lives many miles away. He and his family went through some serious trials. He was full to the brim. There was a downpour. At the endof a long conversation he said that it was the best Christmas gift I could ever give him. Just a telephone call can make someone’s yoke easy and the burdens of life lighter. There are so many in the world that are being crushed by loneliness, indifference, apathy and hatred. And then comes the voice of the angel from heaven: “Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to beshared by the whole people” (Lk 2, 10). The evangelist then gives us the content of the good news of this great joy: “ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born for you; he is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2, 11).

The world we live in is becoming more and more materialistic and atheistic and so joyless, sad and gloomy. Materialthings are ephemeral and transitory. Nothing except God can give us true joy and authentic happiness. There is no substitute for God. God cannot be exchanged or bought with money. Wealth and riches count but little and can even become an obstacle to true happiness. People are forgetting to smile. Many know how to laugh and often laugh at someone, instead of smiling. It is better to smile from the heart while you smile.

God is aware of all the anomalies of man taking place in every nook and corner of the world. His effort to substitute Godwith himself, wealth or power is a complete failure. God is the only one absolute. He cannot


be replaced with anyone or anything. He is our rock, our stronghold, our shield, our protector and redeemer. He is our refuge and our strength (cf. Ps 62). He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, i.e. he is all-powerful, all knowing and present everywhere.

Christmas is a feast of hope and joy. Even here mere superficial celebrations and social gatherings are not enough and willnot give us the real and profound spirit of Christmas. The celebration of Christmas must call us to contemplation. It is our birthright to go deeper and deeper into the mystery and reality of the In-carnation of the eternal Word who was in the bosom of the Father.The Word eternally contemplates the Father and loves him infinitely and immeasurably. His contemplation of the Father is at the same time his love for the Father. Jesus’ contemplation of the Father is identical with his love of the Father.

The Father on the other hand equally contemplates his beloved Son in absolute and unfathomable love. This contemplation of the Son by the Father is identical with the Father’s unfathomable and infinite love. From this intense love we have the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Holy Spirit is the subsisting love between the Father and the Son and vice versa. There is eternal contemplation in the heart of the Blessed Trinity. Our life of contemplation is rooted in the heart of the Holy Trinity. It is from the heart of the Trinity that we draw the waters of contemplation.

Love is contemplated and shared. The more we contemplate the mysteries of God, who is love, the more we want to share. Contemplation is our thirst for God and our thirst for souls who are created in the image and likeness of God. A real contemplative is also a real lover of creatures in profound freedom. Yearning for God increases in us to the extent that we contemplate him in love. “My heart cannot truly rest nor be entirely contented till it rests in God” (cf. St. Augustine)

St. John in his letters gives us the simplest definition of God when he says, “God is love”. We can also say that God is contemplation in absolute. God’s love is irresistible. A very simple example can make it clear. Take a piece of a magnet and a little piece of iron. In one sense we can say that the magnet is thirsty for iron. God’s thirst for us is his love for us. Christmas, which celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation, is a celebration of the thirst of God. God’s thirst for man is so irresistible that he sends his only Son. Jesus is the incarnation of the thirst of the Father for mankind. Jesus, the God-man, is the extended magnetic power of the Father. We are free to name this power as thirst, as love, as yearning. Because Jesus is God, his thirst is infinite.

Every time we celebrate the feast of Christmas we must not only realize but experience God’s thirst for us and for souls. I must know that Jesus, the second person of the Blessed Trinity, whom the Father contemplates eternally, is the concrete and human expression of his thirst.

The magnet has the power to attract the iron, and the iron has the disposition to be attracted by the magnet and has the capacity to receive the magnetic power as long as the iron is stuck to the magnet. To some extent we can say that the iron is thirsty for the magnet. This is true much more of God and human beings. God has the tremendous power to attract souls to him, because he is love and he is in love, and the human soul has the disposition to be irresistibly attracted by God. God is in thirst with man and man is in thirst with God. In other words God is in love with man and man is in love with God. “The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the

well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. ‘God thirsts that we may thirst for him’ (St. Augustine)” (C.C.C. N°. 2560).

The year two thousand and two has been a historical one. Many things have taken place around and across the globe, leaving behind many an unforgettable memory. These historical events have far reaching consequences both in our personal lives and in the life of the society as a whole. The more the world around us advances in science and technology, which are meant to make our lives easier, happier and more comfortable, the more insecure, fearful and unhappy we apparently become. Unless and until Christ is born in us again, recognized, loved, adored and served, mankind will continue to grope in darkness and thefundamental values of life will go into oblivion.

Here too, the recognition of the Emmanuel-God with us is the answer to all our vexing problems. Most of us are so easily ready to cast stones at others rather than seeing our own blunders, weaknesses, inadequacies and sins. Jesus’ words to those who came to stone the woman caught in adultery continue to resound in our day: “Let the one among you who is guiltless be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn 8, 7). Our antenna has to be attuned more to the voice of God than to the voice of the world. In all of us there is a divine antenna capable of absorbing the voice of God, assimilate, transform and transmit it to the world around and across us.

We were fortunate to come to know and live with some of the great saints of our time, such as St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Venerable Teresa of Calcutta etc., whose divine antennas worked twenty-four hours a day, for three hundred and sixty-five days a year. Mother Teresa, for example continually confessed the secret to her force and strength, her inspiring words, her magnetic power to draw people to God and God to people. The story of her vocation, the life of heroic virtues of faith, hope and charity and all other connected virtues were all due to her unbroken union with her Crucified Spouse in the Eucharist. Her antenna received the words of the Master in the silence of faith to give whole-hearted free service to the poorest of the poor, which she transmitted through her life of sacrifice, immolation and heroic Charity “until it hurt” her. She saw Jesus not only in the Bread of Life but also in the disguise of the broken bodies of the poorest of the poor. She loved and adored Jesus in the Bread of Life and loved and served him in the distressed disguise of the poorest of the poor. “And how could it be otherwise, since the Christ encountered in contemplation is the same who lives and suffers in the poor?” (V.C. 82 §3).

The General Chapters: The year 2002 for me was a year of many travels, meetings and giving spiritual exercises. The Brothers and the LMCs had their General Chapters held in Rome in the month of June and July respectively. Both were profound experiences of God, not only for the participants but also for our Society and for the Movement as well. All went home praisingGod in a loud voice. Once again thanks to all those who have worked very hard to make these events a great success. The reports of both Chapters, the Brothers’ and the LMCs’, are being prepared. Please have a little more patience with us. We will try our best to have them ready at the earliest possible moment.


Our house in Rome moves ahead with the new Administrative Body. As you know in the General Chapter of the Brothers held in Rome from 11 to 29th June there were elections of the Father General in the presence of the Vicar for Religious in the diocese of Rome, Msgr. Natalino Zagotto, on the morning of Wednesday 26th June. On the same day our Vicar General, Br. SubashM.C., and our General Secretary. Br. Ivan Marie M.C., were elected and appointed as such. The other two General Councilors, Br. Damien M.C. and Br. André Marie M.C., also were elected. Br. Subash is also our house Superior, assisted by Br. Jean Marie M.C. and the community.

From 6th to 14th July 2002 the Lay Missionaries of Charity held their third International Meeting and their first General Chapter in Rome. The theme was “The doctrinal, juridical and the M.C. Charism that are the basis of the Movement of the Lay Missionaries of Charity and its Role in the Church and in the contemporary world”. During the week of the Chapter there were various interesting and enriching events taking place. We also had the Holy Masses celebrated by three Cardinals on different days of the Chapter week: H. E. Cardinal Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity; Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, President of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints. Msgr. Natalino Zagotto was sent by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the cardinal Vicar of Rome, to represent him while in Loreto we had Holy Mass with H.E. Msgr. Angelo Comastri, Archbishop of Loreto, where the original Holy Family house rests.

On Friday 12th July evening the LMCs had their elections. Accordingly Mr. Antonio Serangeli Lmc from Rome, one of the first LMCs, was elected to be the third International LMC Link and Gianna Tommasi Lmc was reconfirmed as International General Secretary. They are to be assisted by three Vicars, representing three major language groups: English, Spanish and Italian. They are Mrs. Ann Burridge Lmc, Vancouver (Canada), Mrs. Tai Pearn Lmc, S.Diego (U.S.A.) helped by Yolanda Rodriguez Lmc, (Puerto Rico), and Anita De Orezzoli Lmc, (Perù), and Prof. Giuseppe Gandolfo Lmc, Rome. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit maydescent upon them, melt them, mould them, fill them and use them for the greater glory of God and for the salvation of souls.

Casa Serena, Rome, home for the homeless men: The majority of our Brothers in the Roman community are students either of philosophy or theology. Our life of prayer, study and works of mercy become heavy and even strained at times. Casa Serena, our night shelter for homeless men, keeps Br. Stephen M.C. and Br. Benedict M.C. quite busy, while Br. Jan Timo M.C. is involved in ordering things in the kitchen and feeding us all. Thanks to all our Brothers, to so many of our volunteers, LMCs and benefactors, without whom I wonder if we would ever be able to run Casa Serena.

Your heavenly bank: Dearly beloved Brothers, volunteers, LMCs and benefactors, when you come at the gate of Paradise, you will hear the consoling words of the Master: “Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you since thefoundation of the world, for I was hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, sick and in prison…As long as you did to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to Me” (cf. Mt 25, 31-46). Casa Serena has become your heavenly bank on earth. You will be repaid withinterest on the judgement day


whatever you put in it now. It can be a sigh, a look, or a little act of kindness, as long as they become acts of love divine. It is important that everything you do may always be done for the love of God. In other words, you may do ordinary things with extraordinary love, simple things with great love, even as simple as a cup of cold water (cf. Mt 10, 42). “It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in our doing that matters” (Mother Teresa).

Right now we have about fifty homeless men in Casa Serena, some of whom are disabled and handicapped. Paolo Santelia, our faithful gate keeper and hard worker, had a stroke, followed by an operation for brain tumor in C.T.O. hospital in Rome. Since it did not go too well, he is now admitted in San Raffaele hospital in Milan. Let us pray that Paolo may get better and regain his senses of sight and hearing. The Brothers in Rome also have other regular ministries, such as family visits, sick calls and communion services to elderly people, holy Mass and confessions in the prison, visiting the sick people in the hospitals, especially the AIDS patients, street ministry and periodic night apostolate on the streets.

The Brothers also have an intense prayer life. Praying for the living and the dead is one of the seven spiritual works of mercy. And we have almost six hours of community prayer a day.

In Albania: Our community is mainly busy with spiritual works of mercy. It is one of the seven spiritual works of mercy to help a person to turn away from his/her evil ways of life, to make his/her sacramental confession and thus amend his/her way of life. To teach children and adults the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the mysteries of our faith by word and example is another spiritual work of mercy. We also come across many that no longer even know what is sin and what is not. Some young couples think there is nothing wrong in the use of contraceptives and other forms of preventing conception. Some even are ignorant of the seriousness of procuring an abortion, especially in the very early stages of pregnancy. One of the main reasons they give is that because many are doing it, why can’t we also do it? There is also the unbelievable propaganda about all these things, which does brain wash and black mail their minds. There is so much to do everywhere.

For many, to miss Holy Mass on Sunday without a serious reason is no longer a sin to be confessed before one goes to Communion. People must be told the importance of making every effort to participate regularly and actively in the Sunday liturgy of the Mass. Sin of omission is a very serious one. There are so many daily neglects which not only we have to be sorry for, but we have to make up for the good we ought to have done. The priests, religious, LMCs and all practicing Catholics not only have the duty to live their authentic Christian lives but they are duty-bound to teach and preach the faithful of their obligations.

In the story of Lazarus and the rich man we see very clearly that the rich man was condemned to hell, not for any wrong he did, but for the good that he ought to have done, but neglected to do (cf. Lc 16, 19-31). Here we see very clearly the terrible sin of indifference, negligence and omission. God wants us all to be our brothers’ keepers. All of us may hear in the silence of our hearts “Where is your brother, sister, father, mother, husband or wife or children or parents”. Where are they? How are they? Are theyOK? Do they need your help, some of your time, your comforting presence, your sweet smile and consoling words or even your gentle and fraternal corrections and admonitions? Your love of God will open your eyes not only to see the necessities of


your neighbors but also to respond to them with generosity and enthusiasm. It is not enough to praise Mother Teresa’s heroic virtues and great works of Charity, and longing to participate in her beatification ceremony. It is absolutely necessary to understand and absorb her spirit of love for the poor in action, her heroic Charity, her blind and loving trust in the providence of God and his unfailing guidance, her love and devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist, her filial love and reverence to Our Lady, her spirit of prayer, her sacrifices, and her unwavering faith. She not only saw Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor, but instead of leaving them there alone to face many unborn tomorrows, she did whatever she could to help them as she would have done to Jesus: “You did it to Me” (Mt 24, 40).

Those who have much must give much and those who have less, give less. “Better practice almsgiving than hoard up gold. Almsgiving saves from death and purges every kind of sin” (Tobit 12, 9).

All of us go through various kinds of experiences in life, good and bad ones. All of us are in need of periodic physical help,psychological and moral assistance. There are so many sorrowful people who live among and around us. Consoling and comfortingthe sorrowful is another spiritual work of mercy, especially in Albania where the Old Testament law of retaliation is still so prevalent: Tooth for tooth, eye for eye, life for life. How many young people were shot dead for some serious wrong their ancestors did in the past? At times human life is taken so cheaply. In our day people no longer have the good will and the humility to forgive from the heart the past injuries, hurts and wounds. Instead, homicide and fratricide have become so spontaneous a response to any hurt or injury. Hardly anybody is willing to bear wrongs patiently. Only one who has understood the meaning of Christian forgiveness can also bear all the wrongs patiently as Jesus and Mary did. “Forgive them, Father, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23, 34).

It strikes me so much whenever I reflect on the attitude of Our Lady who stood beneath the Cross of her Son hangingbetween heaven and earth in agony and in excruciating pain. It is hard for us to understand how she could really accept such inhuman cruelty done to her innocent Son. And yet there was no anger or retaliation in her. Instead she let her heart be pierced with the sword of sorrow (cf. Lk 2, 35; Jn 19, 25).

Back in 1946 Jesus told Mother Teresa that his mother’s heart was drowned in sorrow, that Jesus and his Mother gave their all for souls. Here is the text: “Your heart was never drowned in sorrow as it was My Mother’s. We both gave our all for souls, andyou?” (M.F.G. p. 10). Instead of getting upset and angry our Lady understands and forgives and joins so closely with her Son’s redemptive suffering, thus making it a more effective and powerful means of salvation and sanctification for souls. It was not that the redemptive suffering of Jesus was insufficient to save mankind, but that his Mother’s understanding and acceptance of themeaning of his suffering, strengthened and consoled the human heart of Jesus.

In her second vision of the crowd in sorrow, our Lady told Mother Teresa: “Take care of themThey are mine – bring them to Jesus – carry Jesus to them. Fear not. Teach them to pray the Rosary, the family Rosary and all will be well. Fear not. Jesus and I will be with you and your children” (M.F.G. p. 19).

The seventh spiritual works of mercy is praying for the living and the dead. This too is very important and it is a bigmission. “When you and your daughter in law, Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer

before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you. When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, I was with you. So now God sent me toheal you and your daughter-in-law, Sarah. I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One (Tobit 12, 11-15). “Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving and righteousness” (Tobit 12, 8).

In the Albanian context there is much spiritual works of mercy to be done. As the country is becoming economically better off, there is the perennial danger of forgetting God, his blessings and benefits. However, we have our project ready to build the home for the homeless handicapped boys. The ground is ready to do the foundational work. Then, as the continuous rain and cold set in, the work was stopped until such time when the weather will be more favorable to begin the work again. Till then we keeppraying and gathering material for the construction. Please do keep the project in your prayers that it may be realized in God’s own time.

Deepashram, India: Home for the homeless handicapped boys. It was 3 July 1994, on the feast of St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of our Lord and the first apostle of India, that the Brothers began a tiny little community in Gurgaon, in the state of Haryana. It is about 15 km South of the International Airport in New Delhi. With the grace of God and with the help of so many, we have purchased some land, built a Church, a home for the homeless, orphaned handicapped boys and the house for the Brothers. Right now we have about seventy (70) boys, aging from five (5) to thirty-five (35). Not only are the boys homeless and orphans, but they are also handicapped in one form or another, i.e. either physically or psychologically or both. So many of our boys have gone through various kinds of treatments. Quite a few of them have undergone several surgeries, either to make them stand or to make them walk, even if some of them may never walk again properly. Thanks to the doctors and nurses of St. Stephen’s Hospital in Delhi who help us so much and do practically all the surgeries free of charge. Like our Casa Serena Bank in Rome, in India we have Deepashram bank. In this spiritual bank people are free to put any little things; but you must do it with humility and Charity. It will all be repaid in full with interest, if not in this life, in the life to come. What we may put in now can be extremely little, but what we may receive can be beyond any measure or calculations. Working for the Lord does not pay you much, but the retirement program is out of this world!

Some of our boys were unable to speak a word when they came to Deepashram. But through specialized and qualified speech therapists many of them started talking, which makes the boys’ lives happier and the future brighter.

Even though the boys are handicapped, they do grow in every sense of the word with growing problems. Deepashram looks very big and imposing. But with the present number of boys the space is becoming smaller. The boys are desperately in need of a bigger place and a rehabilitation center. The land nearby is almost impossible to purchase as its price has gone so high.

The children of Deepashram need tender love and care. Periodically we do have some volunteers, mainly from Italy. But we need more, especially trained nurses. Deepashram has a place for volunteers in the same compound. They do not have to lookfor accommodation outside. In the past up to twenty (20) volunteers


have stayed and have helped the boys. There was a retired nurse from Sweden who was able to obtain a visa to India for ten (10) years. She wanted to live and help our boys and then die in India. But the Lord had other plans for her. He could not wait too long. He called her to himself quite unexpectedly. Our children lost a real mother. She loved them and the children loved her. We think of her with gratitude.

I also would like to say a word of thanks to all our generous people who have enrolled themselves in our distant adoption programme. Thanks to your generosity and constancy. The children send you their love and regards, and wish you a very happy Christmas and a peace filled New Year 2003.

Some of the artistically minded children make Christmas cards, or Deepali cards (Hindu festival of lights, which is celebrated at the end of the month of October or in the beginning of November). Some others make candles and sell them. A few do mechanical works. Although handicapped we try to encourage them to do various activities, which in themselves are a real therapy for the handicapped boys. If you have any further suggestions, please feel free to do so.

Our children, though handicapped, pray much. They pray and sing before each meal; pray the daily Rosary together with the Brothers; and participate in the Sunday liturgy. Some of them also join in the Charismatic night vigil every second Saturday of the month conducted by Br. Mathew M.C. In all their prayers our children think of you, pray for you and thank God for you.

As I wish you all a very happy New Year 2003, I also impart upon you all the Lord’s blessing of peace

and joy:

“May he grant you unwavering faith, constant hope and love that endures to the end. May his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May he look upon you with kindness And give you his peace”.

May almighty God bless you.

 

Fr. Sebastian Vazhakala M.C.


Do Whatever He Tells You