In Love . . . Forever

I was speaking with my Psychology professor at college about the teaching on the Indissolubility of Marriage. Her initial reaction was to utterly reject it by saying that it was totally out of touch with reality, but I pressed her to consider it at leisure and give me some constructive feedback. She got back to me a week later and told me that she thought this was the most revolutionary thing she had heard and went on to give me a psychological explanation why the indissolubility of marriage should be retained and even encouraged. In fact she's even going to tell her son who's recently been engaged.

She reasoned that intimacy is directly proportional to trust, which is the result of commitment. In a Live-in Relationship, since the level of commitment is low, it will take a lot of effort to build the level of trust to a point where intimacy can really flourish. In a Married Relationship where the option to walk out is always looming like the Sword of Damocles, the level of intimacy won't be able to reach the heights that it could when compared to a relationship where the spousal commitment to each other was total and lifelong with an indissoluble bond. After all, why would one take the trouble to invest in opening up all the areas of oneself to share them with another person who may not even be there tomorrow, and who could in fact use the information to blackmail them later...for intimacy only grows in vulnerability. She went on to explain a Theory in which Commitment and Intimacy were two legs of a Tripod upholding a balanced Marriage, the third being Passion. If any of these three legs were unstable the marriage would suffer. For more information do read the Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_theory_of_love

Having the option to opt out of the marriage can also weaken the marriage bond; as at the first sign of difficulty, rather than take the trouble to work on the marriage, either partner throws in the towel immediately. An indissoluble marriage requires one to close every exit route; so that each partner will try their level best to work on their marriage, and if it still goes through a rough patch, they will do all in their power to save their marriage. This is just like the captain of a ship; who since he is required to go down with his ship, can therefore be trusted to navigate vigilantly, and in case of an accident to put his life on the line to save his ship from sinking. It can be contrasted with the attitude of the passengers who at the first sign of danger will abandon the ship for the life-boats.

Besides, how unromantic to be standing on one's Wedding Day committing to be there for each other only through the good times, in plenty and in health...but not when you need each other the most in bad times, poverty and sickness. Finally, the Lord is absolutely unambiguous that in the New Covenant, 'What God has joined together, man must not put asunder'.

However, weddings may - but marriages don’t just happen; they take working at. It includes a regular commitment to deal with issues, and repair and strengthen this most sacred bond, made once and forever before the altar of God. In cases where it really does become unworkable, the option is always there to live separately while leaving this bond undefiled. The greatest inspiration for me will always be my own parents who after 31 yrs of marriage are still together. It really is God’s grace...and I can see how difficult it still is at times; but I've learnt the greatest lessons in adjustment and giving one’s life for another from them.

May the good Lord grant the grace of Fidelity to all married couples, and to those contemplating marriage.

To God be all the glory.

The Ultimate Witness - In Blood

From the Apostolic Letter of John Paul II "Tertio Millennio Adveniente"

The Church of the first millennium was born of the blood of the
martyrs: "Sanguis martyrum - semen christianorum"(The blood of the
martyrs is the seed of christianity) ... At the end of the second
millennium, the Church has once again become a Church of martyrs. The
persecutions of believers - priests, religious and laity - has caused
a great sowing of martyrdom in different parts of the world. The
witness to Christ borne even to the shedding of blood has become a
common inheritance of Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and Protestants …
In our own century the martyrs have returned, many of them
nameless,"unknown soldiers" as it were of God's great cause. As far as
possible, their witness should not be lost to the Church. As was
recommended in the Consistory, the local Churches should do everything
possible to ensure that the memory of those who have suffered
martyrdom should be safeguarded, gathering the necessary
documentation. This gesture cannot fail to have an ecumenical
character and expression. Perhaps the most convincing form of
ecumenism is the ecumenism of the saints and of the martyrs.
------------------------------
From the Apostolic Letter of John Paul II "Novo Millennio Ineunte"

41. May the shining example of the many witnesses to the faith whom we
have remembered during the Jubilee sustain and guide us in this
confident, enterprising and creative sense of mission. For the Church,
the martyrs have always been a seed of life. Sanguis martyrum semen
christianorum:25 this famous "law" formulated by Tertullian has proved
true in all the trials of history. Will this not also be the case of
the century and millennium now beginning? Perhaps we were too used to
thinking of the martyrs in rather distant terms, as though they were a
category of the past, associated especially with the first centuries
of the Christian era. The Jubilee remembrance has presented us with a
surprising vista, showing us that our own time is particularly
prolific in witnesses, who in different ways were able to live the
Gospel in the midst of hostility and persecution, often to the point
of the supreme test of shedding their blood. In them the word of God,
sown in good soil, yielded a hundred fold (cf. Mt 13:8, 23). By their
example they have shown us, and made smooth for us, so to speak, the
path to the future. All that remains for us is, with God's grace, to
follow in their footsteps.
------------------------------
From the "Commemoration of the Witnesses of the Faith", at the
Colosseum, Rome, during the Great Jubilee 2000

A host of witnesses surrounds us. Before God and before the immolated
and glorious Lamb in the grace of the Holy Spirit we commemorate in
the Church and for the world the witnesses of the 20th century, the
many unknown soldiers for the cause of the Gospel. With gratitude and
hope, with a heart which remembers and forgives, we listen to the "act
et passa" of some of these brothers and sisters in the faith, their
acts of love and their suffering. They belong to all nations and to
all peoples, they are members of many different Christian Churches and
communities. They represent all ages and all vocations. Let us listen
and remember so that their courageous testimony of faith and love is
not forgotten.
-------------------------------
The Martyrology of the Church of the 21st century - 2001
Courtesy: AGENZIA FIDES

S. Dionitia Mary, India, Servites Mary Mother of Sorrows, Salem
diocese (India) – 21/1

Fr. Pietro De Franceschi, Italy, Sacred Heart Fathers. - Dehonian
Mocuba (Mozambique) – 1/2

Fr. Tom Manjaly, India, Diocesan, Manipur (India) – 2/2

Fr. Nazareno Lanciotti, Italy, Diocesan, Jaurù (Brazil) – 21/2

Fr. Jan Franzkevic, Poland, Diocesan, Iartzevo (Siberia) – 15/4

Sr. Barbara Ann Ford, USA, Sisters of Charity, Guatemala City – 5/5

Fr. Raymond Marie Gamache, Canada, Foreign Missions Soc. Quebec – PME
S.Isidro/dioc.di Ica (Peru) – 7/5

Fr. Raphael Paliakara, India, Soc. Don Bosco – SDB Imphal (India) – 15/5

Fr. Andreas Kindo, India, Soc. Don Bosco – SDB Imphal (India) – 15/5

Seminarian Joseph Shinu, India, Soc. Don Bosco – SDB Imphal (India) – 15/5

Fr. Henryk Dejneka, Poland, Oblate Missionaries Mary Immaculate OMI
Ngauoundéré (Cameroon) – 17/5

Sr. Claire Burundi, Disciples of Christ, Rumongi (Burundi) – 11/6

Fr. Leonardo A. Alzate, Colombia, Diocesan, Antioquia (Colombia) – 14/6

Fr. Martin Royackers, Canada, Jesuit – SJ, Annotto Bay (Jamaica) – 21/6

Fr. Fabian Thom, Australia, Franciscan – OFM Port Moresby (PNG) – 16/8

Fr. Galeano Buitrago, Colombia, Diocesan, Medellin (Colombia) – 27/8

Fr. Emil Jouret, Belgium, Jesuit – SJ, Kikwit (D. Congo) – 28/8

Fr. Rufus Halley, Ireland, St. Columban – SSCME,Malabang (Philippines) – 29/8

Fr. Héctor Fabio Vélez, Colombia, Diocesan, Cartago (Colombia) – 2/9

Fr. John Baptist Crasta, India, Diocesan, Jhakhand (India) – 6/9

Giuliano Berizzi, Italy, Lay volunteer, Kigali (Rwanda) – 6/10

Fr. Ettore Cunial, Italy, Giusep. Murialdo - CSI
Durazzo (Albania) – 8/10

Fr. Ernesto Martearena, Argentina, Diocesan, Salta (Argentina) – 8/10

Fr. Gopal, India, Diocesan, Puthkel (India) – 12/10

Fr. Celestino Digiovambattista, Italy, Camillian – MI
Ouagadougou (Burkina F.) 13/10

St. Lita Castillo, Peru, Dominicans, La Serena (Chile) – 29/10

Fr. Simeon Coly, Senegal, Diocesan, Ziguinchor (Senegal) – 7/11

Fr. Hubert Hofmans, Holland, Mariannhill - CMM Lae (PNG) – 23/11

Fr. Peter Obore, Sudán, Diocesan, Nimule (Uganda) – 24/11

Sarita Toppo, India, Consecrated lay woman Ambigapur (India) – 28/11

Fr. Michele D'Annucci, Italy, Stigmata Frs. – CSS Pretoria (South
Africa) – 8/12

Fr. Michael Mac, USA, Diocesan, Sandoval (N.Mexico/USA) – 8/12

Sr. Philomena Lyons, Ireland, Sacred Heart, Monaghan (Ireland) – 15/12

Precious Gift

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream.
The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him.
She did so without any hesitation.
The traveler left rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.
"I've been thinking," he said.
"I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

Sometimes it's not the wealth you have but what's inside you that others need.

Ecclesiology of Communio

The follow is all direct quotation from the closing address given by Father Ladislas Orsy, S.J., (Professor: Georgetown University Law School) at the annual Canadian Canon Law Society meeting in London, Canada in October 2003. (The treatise was eight typed pages in length: bold emphasis added.)

Vatican Council II presented a new vision and initiated new practices. It perceived the church as a communio of persons in the broadest sense of the term. The Spirit of Christ distributed his gifts directly to individual persons - for the welfare of the whole. In such communio oriented vision the task of the hierarchy was not to mediate gifts but to coordinate them for the good of the whole.

An "ecclesiology of communio:" a beautiful description of the church is found in the works of the German theologian, Heribert Muehlen: he describes it as "one person in many persons." The Spirit of Christ is holding the people together; the Spirit is the creator of their communio. The Spirit is undivided but he imparts his different gifts singularly - to each person. There is the source of unity in diversity. This is the theological meaning of communio.

Communio does not exclude authority, but it demands new manners in exercising it. Peremptory orders are alien to it because obedience is perceived as a virtue rooted in intelligence and freedom, a "reasonable sacrifice." It certainly demands firm laws and compliance but it honors the intelligence and responsibility of the people who must be consistently consulted. In such a climate the laws are well received and observed.

Communio postulates an "open government": a rigid wall of secrecy would destroy all partnership between the governed and the governors. In a climate of openness, the administrators cannot avoid reporting on their policies; nor can the people remain silent and indifferent. In a church of communio, the social manners ought to be simple: courtly titles or senatorial robes do not fit in well. The official language cannot be but straightforward - according to the Gospel your speech should consist in yes and no.

Does it mean that the church of communio is a democracy in the political sense? Absolutely not. The people of God believe that the mandate "feed my flock" comes from the Redeemer; it is a power from above: there should be no mistake about that. But they believe also that each person - justified and sanctified - is endowed with a sense of faith, intelligence, and responsibility. Accordingly, those in charge must honor the people by being open and transparent with them concerning the policies of the administration and the use of the church's material assets, and by providing swift justice in cases of distress.

Please note that I did not use the word laity: the charism that I am speaking of right now is invested in the ordained and non ordained. At this level, to speak of the charism of the "laity" as such would be incorrect: how could a charism emerge from the absence of "ordination?"

Yet, we know that the church is a "structured communio." Vatican Council II called it a "hierarchical communio," which is a venerable expression since it comes from a council but not self explanatory.

"Hierarchical" is an adjective: it indicates a structured organism where there is a fundamental equality among the members but there is a difference in the tasks allotted to each; some are called to be leaders and as such to nourish and lead the people, but, in the good order of divine dispensation, they, too, need to be nourished and supported by the same people. To speak of "hierarchical communio" is to tell the truth but not the full truth. The expression does not speak of "service." To call the church a "structured communio" might be a better way of speaking.

The communio of bishops and presbyters in the local churches. In the invisible world of charismata, the bishop and the presbyters are members of one organic "sacerdotal" body; it follows that on the external level there must be an organ representing this unity; hence, there must be an effectively functioning presbyterium presided by the bishop. To have a priests' council is not a concession; it is a theological necessity. Our canon law, as it is now, puts the emphasis more on a "superior - inferior relationship" between the bishop and the priests than on their communio, which is to say that a priority was given to what is "hierarchical" over what is "communio" - a reversing of the natural (that is, of the supernatural) order.
After the solemn Mass at St. Peter’s, Yves Congar, who contributed so much to the success of the Council, wrote in his diary: “Today, the church is sent to the world: ad gentes, ad populos. Incipiendo, non a Ierosolyma sed a Roma. The Council will have an explosive force [va éclater] in the world. The moment of Pentecost that John XXIII has foretold has become a reality today. “

Some forty years later, we look back. Was Congar right? Has the Council become an explosive force among the nations? Do the peoples of the earth see the church coming to them in a new robe and speaking a new message?

It seems, it appears, that the opposite happened. While in some ways the church became more visible than ever, in other ways it has revealed immense internal weaknesses and the nations are hardly listening. Has Congar misread the signs of the times and - in the exultation of last session of the Council - fell into a false prophecy?

Not so. Congar saw right. He had sharp sight and good perception. But - as it happened even to biblical prophets before him - he perceived well what was coming, but he misjudged the distance of the coming. He saw a far away distant event as if it were present.

Today the dynamics that dominated the debates of the Council II are active again in the universal church; the Council is replayed in the community at large. The currents from the second millennium favoring strong centralization are there and working, the currents promoting communio (for the third millennium?) are strong and operating.

At the Council a strong minority wanted no changes from the post Tridentine church: they found allies among the faithful after the Council. At the same Council a majority wanted to renew the church by taking their inspiration from biblical and patristic sources: they found dedicated followers after the great meeting. And - just as it happened forty years ago - the two currents keep colliding.
In our church of today, there is a fair amount of hidden dissent from the Council, mostly in the form of reinterpreting it to the point where it becomes insignificant and irrelevant. Yet, throughout the church, there is also an immense desire for the implementation of the Council.

How will it all end? The church is in God’s hand. But, while we try to look into the future and we ask, what is to come?, it is right and just to recall again the statement used by ecumenical councils placuit Spiritui sancto et nobis, it pleased the Holy Spirit and us. The key to the future is there.

Gregory VII is remembered for having initiated a movement toward a strong centralized government. Perhaps in a millennium from now, John XXIII will be remembered for having changed the course of events and set the church on the path for experiencing increasingly the goodness of communio. Blessed be his name.

Three Little Trees

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's way to the ocean", I want to be traveling mighty waters and caring powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world! The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.

Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful, It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shinning ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong, It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shinning ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me", he muttered. With a swoop of his shinning ax, the third tree fell.

The fist tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the one strong tree was hammered and awed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I cold make a cradle for him", her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful", she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She new she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through and angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hand to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of the "Saviour of the World". That was better than being the tallest tree on earth.

So, the next time you feel down because you didn't get what you wanted or planned for, 'rejoice and be glad' because God is thinking of something far better to give you.

A Chosen Vessel

The Master was searching for a vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many - which one would He choose?
Take me, cried the gold one, I'm shiny and bright,
I'm of great value and I do things just right.
My beauty and lustre will outshine the rest
And for someone like You, Master, gold would be the best!

The Master passed on with no word at all;
He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall;
I'll serve You, dear Master, I'll pour out Your wine
And I'll be at Your table whenever You dine,
My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,
And my silver will always compliment You.

Unheeding the Master passed on to the brass,
It was widemouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.
Here! Here! cried the vessel, I know I will do,
Place me on Your table for all men to view.

Look at me, called the goblet of crystal so clear,
My transparency shows my contents so dear,
Though fragile am I, I will serve You with pride,
And I'm sure I'll be happy in Your house to abide.
The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood.
You may use me, dear Master, the wooden bowl said,
But I'd rather You used me for fruit, not for bread!

Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.

Ah! This is the vessel I've been hoping to find,
I will mend and use it and make it all Mine.
I need not the vessel with pride of its self;
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on the shelf;
Nor the one who is bigmouthed and shallow and loud;
Nor one who displays his contents so proud;
Not the one who thinks he can do all things just right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled with My power and might.

Then gently He lifted the vessel of clay.
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly. There's work you must do,
Just pour out to others as I pour into you.

- Author Unknown

THE "U" IN JESUS

Before U were thought of or time had begun,
God even stuck U in the name of His Son.
And each time U pray, you'll see it's true
You can't spell out JesUs and not include U.

You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name,
For U, He was born; that's why He came.
And His great love for U is the reason He died.
It even takes U to spell crUcified.

Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand
He rose from the dead, with U in His plan.
The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,
and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.

When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension,
He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.
Go into the world and tell them it's true That I love them all -
Just like I love U.

So many great people are spelled with a U,
Don't they have a right to know JesUs too?
It all depends now on what U will do,
He'd like them to know
But it all starts with U.

Author Unknown