SURVIVING MUMBAI

"But my feeling is that the Lord, for some reason, put His protective hands around me. I had little to do with my deliverance; He was and is in control, and that is fine with me."

This is the most touching of the survival stories that I have read about the Mumbai Massacre. As he writes, everything in life happens for good, though we may not realise it now. May be, it will make us more grateful for all those safe and peaceful moments we have always enjoyed in our life. I am deeply touched by this account of remarkable rescue. How gracious is our God! How powerful and protective is our Blessed Mother and the Angels and Saints!!! Please read on... You will not stop once you begin.

(Courtesy: Catholicmil.org)

Written by Peter OMalley Tuesday, 09 December 2008 18:14

Last Wednesday evening around 10pm, following a relaxing supper, my friend Eugene and I arrived at the check-out desk at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, as we have done together hundreds of times in our travels as New York investment bankers currently living in Hong Kong . As I placed my bag on the table I heard a loud gunshot, which I recognized from my years living in South Africa to be the distinctive snap of an AK-47 assault rifle. Hearing another shot a second later, I looked at Eugene and said, “Run, that’s AK!”

We streaked away from the gunfire toward the nearest exit as the terrorists were entering the hotel lobby from various points. I smashed through the doors toward the pool area and ducked into some bushes as the gunfire grew in intensity. I realized Eugene did not make it out of the lobby.

Five or six people had arrived in the bushes before me, all now paralyzed in fear. From the sound of things I realized that a Columbine-like shooting spree was taking place inside, with gunmen walking around methodically executing people. Mind racing, I concluded that being bunched up in the bushes in the corner of the pool area was not safe.

Surveying the scene brought the dispiriting conclusion that we were trapped, surrounded by dozen foot-high walls on all sides. I scanned the walls and then scrambled for a finger or toehold, but found none. I did, however, spy an air conditioning duct about nine feet above me. I leaped and was able to knock a cover away. I jumped again and grabbed onto the unit, but as I tried to pull myself up, I fell, causing the folks in the bushes to hush me to be quiet.

A quick aspiration to the Holy Spirit — “Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the heart of thy faithful!” — and then another leap upward. This time I was able to grab on and pull myself up over the wall where I flipped onto a lean-to roof of the pool shed. I laid low and quiet, partially concealing myself with tree branches.

Breathless, I thought to email my colleagues in London and apprise them of our plight. “Urgent: This is not a joke. At Taj Hotel in Mumbai. Gunmen on loose. People killed. Call police.” Then I turned off my phone, thinking a ring could give away my position and bring on a quick and violent death.

The minutes passed, while screams and sounds of gunfire continued. I began to pray to St. Michael the Archangel: “St. Michael the Archangel , defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.” I also prayed the first of many Rosaries to see my way through what had suddenly become the single most shocking and desperate experience of my life. I knew that if I was to get through this, it would be Our Lord’s doing.

An hour passed atop my poolside perch. The scene below was quieter now, but infinitely more creepy. Occasional bursts of gunfire would rip through the dark night, indicating that the evil men were still at their cruel business. At one stage, approaching the edge of panic, I prayed, “Thy will be done.” But then I hedged, adding, “I know your will be done, Lord, but I’m not gonna say that now because I fear that by doing so I will somehow be giving up. So here’s the deal: I will hand this situation over to Our Lady and let Her decide how to deal with it.”

Another hour passed. I spent the time spying the scene below, thinking, considering my next move, praying many more St. Michael prayers and Memorares, trying to keep my head clear. I also had to distract myself from my increasing need to go to the bathroom. But I wasn’t ready (yet) to possibly exchange my life for that relief.

Suddenly I noticed hotel busboys down below secreting people out of the pool area via a trap door on the deck. I decided — in hindsight with some regret — to join them. As I crawled to the edge to jump off, I realized the side of the shed from which I was jumping was about 25 feet off the ground. But I’d committed to the jump and only by some miracle was able to slow my momentum and claw onto the edge by my very fingertips. I stabilized myself but a moment later felt the shingles of the shed roof begin to crumble. So I grabbed for a nearby water pipe and somehow managed to inartfully shimmy my way down to the ground unhurt.

I joined the five or six people being ushered down into the hole, and followed them silently through a labyrinth of stairs and twists and turns that ultimately led out into the second floor business center of the hotel. We entered a room where about 70 other souls were huddled together in common terror. I immediately felt that this was not a good place to be: a very soft target with no command or control and no security on the four ingress/egress points. We were extremely vulnerable.

As the terrorists’ grenades, AKs and bombs periodically shook the walls and rattled our minds, I resumed my fervent — though distracted — prayers to Our Lady. With battery power (thankfully) remaining on my BlackBerry, I began praying the Glorious Mysteries with a friend in Mumbai via text, which proved a great comfort.

The scene around me was surreal. Some folks were drinking tea, seeming to ignore our plight. Others were crying and simmering just below the level of panic. My resolve was to keep my senses and continue praying for inner strength. It was possible this siege could last several days, so keeping my wits about me was imperative.

My eyes darted from one ingress point to another as I prayed. I recalled my high school football days when we’d doggedly practice vigilance in awaiting the snap, and quick response time in deciding which “hole to hit” in the activated offensive line. I readied myself thinking, “OK, if they enter through staircase A, I will head for Door B. If they enter through Door C, I will jump out Window D, etc.”

Thankfully, there was a bathroom in the business center. The one time I used it I found several men hiding in the stalls. I learned later through news articles that a number of them spent the entire 8-9 hours locked inside in those stalls.

As the hours passed, the mood inside the room remained tense but controlled. At one point the tiny red corner light on my Blackberry began to flutter. It was a colleague in my firm’s corporate security operation informing me that I should leave the premises immediately, as the terrorists were searching the hotel floor-by-floor looking for Americans and Brits to kill. I’m 6′4″ and an obvious Yank, particularly in a place like Bombay . Once spotted, I’d be a dead man for sure.
Just then a very loud bomb detonated and small arms fire rang out in one of the stairwells. I assumed the end was near.

I hurried off an email to my Mom and Dad, thanking them for my life and everything else they’d given me. Then I emailed my dear wife and sons: “Thank you, Celeste, for being my best friend and soul-mate. I love you!” I wracked my mind and heart for a few pearls of wisdom to leave my three small boys that would edify and sustain them in a life without their father. Asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, I explained to them that life was a gift, and that they should do their best to enjoy that gift. I urged them to take care of their mother, each other, and their community — and not to be afraid to discern their vocations. I counseled them to keep a daily prayer life and live the norms of piety we’d taught them. “Live life to the fullest, boys, and stay in a state of grace.”

My heartache (and heart-rate) increased as the AK fire drew closer. I approached the headwaiter and quietly asked him if I might slip out the back stairs, as my corporate security indicated I should leave the building immediately. The man assured me that we were secure, but the look on his face betrayed his fear and uncertainty. He then huddled with his two busboys while I positioned myself by the back stairs.

A moment later, the busboys announced that they would begin allowing some folks to slip out. This instantly created a mad rush toward the stairs. Though I was positioned near the doorway, a lovely Indian-accented chorus arose, saying, “Women and children first!” Ah, but of course! I gulped and stepped aside.

The women and children began exiting in groups of eight. After about a minute, men began cutting the line. After some dozen men had cut in front of me, at a point when most of the women had gotten out, I joined the outflow and was able to escape.

I am obviously very lucky — and very blessed. I learned later from our corporate security, who were monitoring my emails, that the business center was attacked by gunmen some five minutes after I was able to escape. I also learned that my friend Eugene had been shot in the lobby, but thankfully will make a full recovery. ( Eugene told me the next day that I’d sprinted right past the terrorist who leveled his gun and shot him in the hip. Fortunately he was dragged into a security room, from which point he was able to escape the hotel a few minutes later.)

Colleagues and friends have asked how I feel after experiencing such a trauma. I tell them I am fine — shaken but fine. At the end of the day, I am convinced that “bona omnia fecit” (all works for the good). I will forever be inspired by the staff of The Taj, who were polite, courteous and courageous throughout the ordeal. They saved hundreds of lives, many sacrificing their own in doing so.

Agnostic and atheist friends have told me that they’d be a wreck if such a thing had happened to them. But my feeling is that the Lord, for some reason, put His protective hands around me. I had little to do with my deliverance; He was and is in control, and that is fine with me.

What good can come out of this dreadful experience? Hopefully a more widespread recognition that the power of prayer and an unshakeable faith in God’s loving plan can get us through anything. That is why I am offering this account to Catholic Exchange. I want others to pray and draw closer to Christ and His Mother, especially in these uncertain times.

Why God has allowed me to live on? I have no idea. But at this point, the thought that will not leave my mind is, “From him to whom much is given, much is expected.”

I pray that I can live up to His expectations.

http://www.catholicmil.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1358:surviving-the-massacre-in-mumbai&catid=75:other&Itemid=252

Powe of Prayer

In themselves, as weak as worms,

How can poor believers stand;

When temptations, foes, and storms,

Press them close on every hand?

Weak, indeed, they feel they are,

But they know the throne of grace;

And the God, who answers prayer,

Helps them when they seek his face.

Though the Lord awhile delay,

Succor they at length obtain;

He who taught their hearts to pray,

Will not let them cry in vain.

Wrestling prayer can wonders do,

Bring relief in deepest straits;

Prayer can force a passage through

Iron bars and brazen gates.

Hezekiah on his knees

Proud Assyria’s host subdued;

And when smitten with disease,

Had his life by prayer renewed.

Peter, though confined and chained,

Prayer prevailed and brought him out;

When Elijah prayed, it rained,

After three long years of drought.

We can likewise witness bear,

That the LORD is still the same,

Though we feared he would not hear,

Suddenly deliverance came.

For the wonders he has wrought,

Let us now our praises give;

And, by sweet experience taught,

Call upon him while we live.

-John Newton

CHOICE IN ELECTION!!!

This election, perhaps poses the biggest challenge of choice for American Catholics. It is like being caught between the devil and the deep sea. Many Catholics, knowing that I have no voting rights in this country, asked my counsel in choosing a candidate. I would not, of course, like to propose any candidate, although I am one who followed the campaigns very closely.

On the one hand we have a candidate who calls himself a maverick, having many years of experience, fought for the country, suffered permanent injuries to his physique, and who of course, professes to be pro-life. If elected he will be the oldest first term president of the U.S. But he has picked a running mate who is totally ignorant and inexperienced of world affairs and economy, unprepared and under-prepared in case of an eventuality of assuming the office of the president and by default the leadership of the world.

On the other hand we have a candidate, who is young, energetic and vivacious, excellent in debates, creating history as the first African-American candidate, whose slogan is ‘change we can’. However, his pro-choice posture poses problems in the minds of so many Catholics. His running mate, a Catholic and tested politician, does not even know or pretends not to know when life begins in a fetus! The liberal agenda of this team makes them the untouchables for many.

Many Church leaders have appeared on the scene, calling for choosing the candidate with pro-life stand. According to them, choosing a candidate who supports abortion, which is an intrinsically evil action, is equal to bartering your salvation, inviting hell fire on you.

In this scenario, it is important to see what the issues of LIFE are. Abortion, an intrinsically evil action, nothing short of murder, of course is the most important issue here, but not the only issue. There are other killers like war, tobacco, guns, etc. which are equally lethal and dangerous. War in Iraq under the present president has not only killed millions so far, injured and maimed many more, permanently handicapped a nation, destroying its infrastructure, food supply, and financial recourses. This is done in the name of fighting Al Qaida, which is obviously non-existent in Iraq, but rooted in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan. Which candidate supports and gets campaign money from tobacco lobby which is another big killer in this country? Which candidate supports and protects the gun lobby, making deadly guns available to school children and criminals?

So where do we stand on issues of LIFE? The unborn is the most precious, yet vulnerable and innocent human being who needs our protection. But what about the millions of vulnerable, innocent and unarmed Iraqis and over 5000 US soldiers who lost their lives? Aren't they precious too? I am waiting to hear the views of the leaders of the Church on this issue. The Holy Father, of course, had spoken very strongly against Iraq war on many occasions. So if voting for abortion, which is equal to murder, is inviting judgment and hell fire, what about all those who voted four years ago for the present administration which happens to be one of the most destructive, murderous and intrinsically evil in history?

I am not in any way proposing or advising a choice between two candidates, but only posing some questions which many people have shared with me. My only advice to them is to follow your conscience in voting. Please pray, and reflect and follow your conscience and do not feel guilty for it. The voice of your conscience is the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Proclamation, Persecution and Growth

Catholic Church teaches that there is truth in every religion and we, through our missionary activity, help people first of all to live good and morally upright lives, following the tenets of their religion, which is but coming from the same God. We are also duty-bound to bring them the good news of Jesus, our only Savior. Making people accept Christ is not our job, but it is the work of the Spirit of God. If and when the Holy Spirit touches them and transforms them, they accept Jesus. Our duty is to proclaim the good news by our words and our witnessing. Persecution is part of Church's growth, as Christ himslef had told us: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours" (Jn 15:18-20).

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. Not a drop of blood shed by the simple, unknown Christans, the world over, even that of the unborn victims, will go unfruitful and unproductive. Wherever there is struggle, persecution and martyrdom, Church grows in leaps and bounds as the victims demonstrate their faith in the most powerful and courageous manner and as the Holy Spirti works there in miraculous ways. Let us keep praying so that their sufferings may be reduced, that they may have the courage to bear witness to Christ, and most importantly, that we may change our own lives and become better Christians, being inspired by them.

SAINT ALPHONSA
First Woman Saint from India

Blessed Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception from Kottayam, Kerala, India, was canonized on Oct. 12, 2008 at St. Peter’s Square, by Pope Benedict XVI.

Alphonsa, who was religious of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) is the first Indian woman to be canonized.

Born to Ouseph and Mariam on 19 August 1910, in Kerala, India.
She was Baptized as Anna, but her mother died when was only three months old. She was brought up by her aunt (mother’s sister).

Followed the example of Theresa of Lisieux and dedicated her entire life to Jesus.
Joined the Franciscan Calrist Congregation in 1928. Received the name Alphonsa at her first profession. Made her perpetual commitment on 12 August 1936.

She had many physical and spiritual sufferings, considered her entire life as living holocaust to God. Each suffering she offered as a beautiful flower in the wounds of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the end of her life, she was overwhelmed with great pain and frailty of the body, but in the midst of the excruciating pain she committed her soul to the heavenly bridegroom, peacefully reciting the names of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on 28 July 1946, at the age of 36.

Pope John Paul II had beatified Sister Alphonsa on February 8, 1986.

The first Indian saint is a Franciscan Brother, St Gonzalo Garcia, Born in Vasai, near Mumbai and canonized in 1862. He died a martyr’s death in 1597 at Nagasaki, Japan, along with St Paul Miki and other Jesuits.

***

The other three canonized on 12 October 2008 at St. Peter’s Square are:

1. Blessed Fr. Gaetano Errico, Italian priest and founder of the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (1791-1860).

2. Blessed Maria Bernarda Butler, Swiss foundress of the Congregation of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (1848-1924).

3. Blessed Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran, Ecuadorian lay woman (1833-1869)

Treasure in Clay - Beautiful Story

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him.

As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock . Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!

Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.

Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!

It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.

There is a treasure in each and every one of us . If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them.

I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with you. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.

NOVENA TO ABBA FATHER

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Method of praying the nine-day Novena to The Father:

Recite the Prayer “God is My Father”.
Read the Passage from Scripture.
Recite the Prayer for the day.
Thanksgiving Prayer.
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“Through Him, with Him, in Him”

GOD IS MY FATHER

My Father in Heaven, how sweet it is to know that You are my Father and that I am Your child! Especially when the skies of my soul are cloudy and my cross weighs more heavily, I feel the need to repeat to You: Father I believe in Your love for me!

Yes, I believe that You are a Father to me at every moment of my life and that I am Your child!

I believe that You love me with an infinite love!
I believe that You are watching over me night and day and that not a hair falls from my
head without Your permission!
I believe that in Your infinite wisdom, You know better than I what is good for me!
I believe that in Your infinite power, You can bring good even out of evil!
I believe that in Your infinite goodness, You make everything to the advantage of those
who love You; even under the hands of those who strike me, I kiss Your hand
which heals!
I believe, but increase in me faith, hope and love!

Teach me always to see Your love as my guide in every event of my life.
Teach me to surrender myself to You like a baby in its mother’s arms.

Father, You know everything, You see everything, You know me better than I know myself, You can do everything and You love me!

My Father, since it is Your wish that we should always turn to You, I come with confidence to ask You, together with Jesus and Mary … (here request the favour you desire)

For this intention, and uniting myself to their Most Sacred Hearts, I offer You all my prayers, my sacrifices and mortifications, all my actions and greater faithfulness to my duties.

Give me the light, the grace and the power of The Holy Spirit!
Strengthen me in this Spirit that I may never lose Him, never sadden Him, and never allow Him to become weaker in me.

My Father, I ask this in the Name of Jesus Your Son! And You Jesus, open Your Heart and place in It my own, and together with Mary’s, offer it to Our Divine Father! Obtain for me the grace that I need!

Divine Father, call all people to Yourself. Let all the world proclaim Your fatherly goodness and Your Divine Mercy! Be a tender Father to me and protect me wherever I am, like the apple of Your eye. Make me always a worthy son/daughter; have mercy on me!

Divine Father, sweet hope of our souls, may You be known, honoured and loved by all!

Divine Father, infinite goodness poured out on all peoples, may You be known, honoured and loved by all!

Divine Father, beneficent dew of humanity, may You be known, honoured and loved by all!


THANKSGIVING PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we thank You for having given us this opportunity to spend time in prayer and thanksgiving to You our Merciful God. We thank You for having given us the gift of life. We thank You for our families, our friends and all who constantly reflect Your love and mercy to us. We thank You for the infinite love You have shown to each one of us; Your love dear Father is our hope, it is due to this immense love that we were saved from the tyranny of the evil one. We thank You for Your unfathomable mercy, which has touched and melted the hearts of so many of us and changed us from souls hardened and embittered by the storms of life to souls burning with love for You. We thank You for the great care and concern You have for each one of us; You our Loving Father protect us so tenderly and keep us safe in the palm of Your Hand. We thank You good Father for answering all our prayers and providing for all our needs. May we never fail to praise You our Father and give You thanks, and may we always remember that Your love will follow us wherever we go and be our consolation in moment of grief.

Loving Father, Our Lord and Creator, we praise You, we adore You, we love You and we thank You.

Merciful Jesus, Only Begotten Son of the Father, we praise You, we adore You, we love You and we thank You.

Holy Spirit, Our Sanctifier and Guide, we praise You, we adore You, we love You and we thank You.

Our Lady, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, pray for us.

All angels and saints, pray for us.

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DAY 1: GOD THE CREATOR

“I am The Eternal One, and when I was alone, I had already thought of using all my power to create beings in My image. But material creation had to come first, so that these beings could find their means of sustenance; it was then that I created the world. I filled it with all the things I knew would be necessary to men; air, sun and rain, and many other things that I knew to be necessary for their life. In the end, man was created”. (from “The Father speaks to His children” the message given by The Father to Mother Eugenia)

Recite the Prayer “God is My Father”

Scripture Reading – Genesis 1:1-31, 2:1-4

Prayer for the day

O God, My Father, thank You for the world in which I live, for all the beautiful things in it, for all the interesting things in it, for all the useful things in it. Thank You for the life You have given me, for my body to act, my mind to think, my memory to remember, my heart to love. Thank You for giving me so many things to enjoy, so many things to do, so many people to love. Help me never to do anything that would make the world uglier or people sadder. Help me to always add something to the world’s beauty and the world’s joy.

Give me a sense of responsibility for Your world. Keep me away from doing things without thinking, from being carelessly or deliberately destructive, from failing to grasp the opportunities which are offered to me. Help me to always use my time and life wisely and productively. I make this prayer through Jesus Christ Your Son Our Lord. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer...


DAY 2 : THE FACE OF OUR FATHER

“My Son Jesus is in Me and I am in Him, in our interchanging love which is The Holy Spirit, Who keeps us united in this bond of love so as to make us ONE”. (from “The Father speaks to His children” the message given by The Father to Mother Eugenia)

Recite the Prayer “God is My Father”

Scripture Reading – John 14:5-14

Prayer for the day

We long to see Your Face, O Father, Your Glorious, Wondrous Face,
Your Loving, Merciful, Adorable Face Father,
You are Majesty Personified, Brilliant,
far more brilliant than a thousand suns lit up together.
Your Love shines brightly, driving away the shadows from our souls.
Eternal Father, Compassionate God, transform us
Into living reflectors of Your love to the world.
Let those who come in contact with us,
No longer see us, but You.
Give us the graces we need.
Shield and defend us from the foe malign. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer...


DAY 3 : GOD THE FATHER WHO DISCIPLINES

“The more evil grew, the more My goodness urged Me to communicate with just souls so that they could transmit My commands to those who were creating disorder. I was sometimes obliged to be strict in order to reprove them; not to punish them – that would only have done harm – but to take them away from vice and lead them to Their Father and Their Creator, whom they have forgotten and ignored in their ingratitude. Later evil overwhelmed men’s hearts to such an extent that I was compelled to send calamites upon the world to purify men through suffering, the destruction of their possessions, or even their death”. (from “The Father speaks to His children” the message given by The Father to Mother Eugenia)

Recite the Prayer “God is My Father”

Scripture Reading – Hebrews 12:5-11

Prayer for the day

O God, Eternal Source of all goodness
You desire perfection in everyone, and so permit us to go through
torments and sufferings in order that we be purified of all sin.
O Merciful Father, grant us the grace to remain true to You
And never give in to despair.
Let us remember that Your grace will sustain us
In the midst of trials and temptations.
Grant us O Master the grace to seek to please You.
By suffering with great love for You, by not complaining
When our burdens seem heavy and troubles pour down on us like rain.
Grant us the grace to love You in every circumstance
And to believe in Your infinite love for us. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer...


DAY 4 : GOD OUR PROVIDER

“I know your needs, your desires and everything in your hearts. But how happy and grateful I would be if I saw you coming to Me and confiding in Me your needs, like a son who has total trust in his father. How could I refuse the smallest or biggest thing if you asked Me?”.
(from “The Father speaks to His children” the message given by The Father to Mother Eugenia)

Recite the Prayer “God is My Father”

Scripture Reading – Psalm 65:9-13

Prayer for the day

O Merciful, Kind and Loving Father, You are so concerned about us
You look upon us with such infinite love,
You give us what we need unstintingly, unreservedly.
You are The Source of all goodness
We commend ourselves to You
You know what is best for us
We praise You and glorify You
We are Yours and Yours alone
Do with us what You will. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer...


DAY 5 : GOD THE LOVING FATHER

“A mother never forgets the little creature she has brought into the world. So if a mother loves the little being I gave her, I love him more than she does, because I created him. Even if it happens that a mother loves her child less because of some defect, I, on the contrary, will love him still more. I will always love him, and even if he no longer remembers Me, his Father and Creator, I will still remember him and love him”. (from “The Father speaks to His children” the message given by The Father to Mother Eugenia)

Recite the Prayer “God is My Father”

Scripture Reading – Hosea 11:1-4

Prayer for the day

Merciful God, Creator of all
We believe in Thee.
Thou art the Omnipotent, The Omniscient, The Omnipresent.
Thou hast created us all from nothing
Thou hast called us by name
Thou hast carved us on the palm of Thy Hand
Thou will not forget us
Thou hast consecrated us to Thyself
Thou lovest us all, each and everyone
Infinitely, unconditionally.
O Father in Heaven, keep us from all evil
Protect us from the snares of the tempter
And lead us into Thy Kingdom. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer...


DAY 6 : GOD THE EVER MERCIFUL FATHER

“As for you, souls in a state of sin, or who are ignorant of religious truth, I will not be able to enter you; however I will be close to you, because I never stop calling you, inviting you to desire to receive the benefits I bring you, so that you may see the light and be healed of sin. I spend days, sometimes years, close to some soul to be able to ensure their eternal happiness. They do not know that I am there waiting for them, calling them every moment of the day. However, I never become weary and I still feel joy in remaining close to you, always hoping that you will return to Your Father some day and that you will at least offer Me some act of love before you die”. (from :The Father speaks to His children” the message given by The Father to Mother Eugenia)

Recite the Prayer “God is My Father”

Scripture Reading – Luke 15:11-32

Prayer for the day

Let us never fail to praise the infinity of God’s mercy, From His Merciful Heart
flows torrents of love to flood the souls of us poor sinners.

O Merciful Father, O Majestic and Omnipotent One
Look at us wretched sinners with Thy merciful eyes
We come to Thee Our Loving Father trusting in Thy abundant mercy.
O Kind Eternal Father we have offended Thee ever so often
But now we come repentant humbly kneeling before Thee.
Forgive us we beg Thee O Father in Heaven
Be gracious to us we plead, our sins are as numerous as the stars in the sky
Our souls are stained and scarred by our transgressions
Still we look to Thee Dear Father and implore Thy mercy.
Eternal Father, pardon us and be merciful to us
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer...


DAY 7 : GOD OUR PROTECTOR

“I want to protect the young people as a tender Father. There is so much evil in the world! These poor inexperienced souls are letting themselves be seduced by the attraction of vice which, little by little, leads to total ruin. You who especially need someone to take care of you in life, so that you can avoid evil, come to Me! I am The Father WHO loves you more than any other creature will ever be able to do! Take refuge close, very close to Me, confide in Me your thoughts and your desires”. (from “The Father speaks to His children” the message given by The Father to Mother Eugenia)

Recite the Prayer “God is My Father”

Scripture Reading – Psalm 91:1-16

Prayer for the day

Dear Lord, You alone are my Strength
You alone are my Refuge, my Consoler, my Hope
My enemies have surrounded me, I have no one to cry out to but You
But I know that You will not forsake me, You will not abandon me
Your Presence is not just a ray, but a flood of light
Which drives away the shadows from my soul
In the darkest moments You are closest to me, You will not leave me
You will not let my enemies triumph over me
Instill in me a sense of serenity to accept with love all the trials ahead
Never allow bitterness and resentment to take over me
Let these trials change me for the better, not make me bitter.
O Father in Heaven I commend myself to You
Let Your will be done always. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer...


DAY 8 : GOD OUR CONSOLER

“Tell them to come to Me. I will help them, I will lighten their burden and sweeten their hard life. I will inebriate them with My Fatherly Love, to make them happy in time and eternity”.
(from “The Father speaks to His children” the message given by The Father to Mother Eugenia)

Recite the Prayer “God is My Father”

Scripture Reading – Lamentations 3:52-58

Prayer for the day

Lord, You are the Friend of a lonely heart
The comfort of a troubled soul, come to my rescue
Pull me out of this sea of despair
You are my Hope, my Comforter,
You will not fail me, You will not abandon me
I trust in You, I believe in Your love for me
Thank You My Father, for Your presence
For Your loving Hand that soothes and heals. Amen.


Thanksgiving Prayer....


DAY 9 : GOD THE WRITER OF OUR DESTINY

“I have great plans for you”. (from “The Father speaks to His children” the message given by The Father to Mother Eugenia)

Recite the Prayer “God is My Father”

Scripture Reading – Jeremiah 29:11-14

Prayer for the day

Teach me Your ways O Lord
Guide me along the path You have chosen me to tread
Teach me Your will, how I may please You daily
Show me the way I should go
Give me the grace Your plan to fulfill
Guide me, shield me, protect me now
And at the hour of my death. Amen.

Thanksgiving Prayer...

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Pope's Prayer at Ground Zero

O God of love, compassion, and healing,look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions, who gather today at this site, the scene of incredible violence and pain.

We ask you in your goodnessto give eternal light and peace to all who died here - the heroic first-responders:our fire fighters, police officers,emergency service workers, andPort Authority personnel, along with all the innocent men and women who were victims of this tragedy simply because their work or service brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassionto bring healing to those who, because of their presence here that day, suffer from injuries and illness.

Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.

Give them strength to continue their lives with courage and hope. We are mindful as well of those who suffered death, injury, and loss on the same day at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Our hearts are one with theirs as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the earth.

Turn to your way of lovethose whose hearts and minds are consumed with hatred.

God of understanding, overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy, we seek your light and guidance as we confront such terrible events.

Grant that those whose lives were spared may live so that the lives lost here may not have been lost in vain.

Comfort and console us, strengthen us in hope, and give us the wisdom and courageto work tirelessly for a world where true peace and love reign among nations and in the hearts of all.

HOLY FATHER ON EASTER TRIDUUM

Dear brothers and sisters ,
We have reached the eve of the Easter triduum. The next three days are commonly known as 'holy' because they allow us to relive the event central to our Redemption. They lead us to the nucleus of Christian faith: the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These three days could be considered one single day. They make up the heart and are the key to both the liturgical year and the life of the Church. At the end of Lent we also enter that climate which Christ himself experienced back then in Jerusalem.
We want to rekindle in ourselves the living memory of the suffering which our Lord endured for us and to joyously prepare ourselves for next Sunday “"the true Passover, which the Blood of Christ has covered with glory, the Passover on which the Church celebrates the Feast that is the origin of all feasts” as stated in the preface for Easter in the Ambrosian rite.
Tomorrow, Holy Thursday, the Church remembers the Last Supper during which our Lord, on the eve of his own passion and death, institutes the sacrament of the Eucharist and that of ministerial priesthood. On that same evening, Jesus gave us a new commandment, "mandatum novum," the commandment of brotherly love.
Tomorrow morning, before entering the Easter triduum, but very closely tied to it, the "Messa Crismale" will take place in every diocese during which the bishop and priests of the diocese renew their promises made at ordination.
Also, the oils used to celebrate the sacraments are blessed: the oil for the catechumen, the oil for the sick and the holy chrism. It is one of the most important moments in the life of every Christian diocese, which, gathered around it's pastor, strengthens it's unity and faith in Christ, the supreme and eternal priest.
In the evening during the "Cena Domini" Mass, we remember the Last Supper when Christ gave himself to all of us as the food of salvation, as the drug of immortality and the mystery of the Eucharist -- source and pinnacle of Christian life.
Through this sacrament of salvation the Lord offered and realized for all those who believe in him, the most intimate union possible between our lives and his. With the humble and most expressive gesture of washing someone's feet, we are reminded how much Christ did for his Apostles.
Washing their feet was a concrete way of exclaiming the primacy of his love, a love that serves even to the point of giving oneself, anticipating as well the supreme sacrifice of giving his life, which he was to do the following day on Calvary. According to a beautiful tradition, the faithful close on Holy Thursday for a vigil of prayer and Eucharistic adoration enabling them to relive the agonies that Christ suffered at Gethsemane more vividly.
On Good Friday we remember the passion, crucifixion and death of Christ. On this day the Church does not celebrate mass, but the Christian community gathers to consider the mystery of sin and evil that oppress humanity. They revisit, in the light of the word of God, the sufferings of Christ that atone for this evil.
After they have listened to the retelling of the passion of Christ, the congregation prays for all the necessities of the Church and of the world, they pay homage to the cross and take the consecrated bread and wine kept from the "Cena Domini" mass of the previous day.
By way of further invitation to consider the passion and death of the Redeemer, to express their love and to enable the faithful to participate in the suffering of Christ, Christian tradition has created popular processions and holy representations which aim to impress ever more deeply on the souls of the faithful a sense of having truly participated in the redemptive sacrifice of Christ.
The Via Crucis stands out among these. Over the years it has been enriched with many spiritual and artistic expressions linked to the sensitivities of the various cultures.
In many countries, sanctuaries with the name “Calvary” have been born which are accessible after a steep climb. In recalling the painful climb of the passion, it allows the faithful to participate in Jesus' climb toward the mount of the Cross, the mount of love offered right up to the end.
Holy Saturday is marked by a deep silence. The Churches are left undecorated and there are no particular liturgies set aside for this day. While waiting for the Resurrection, the faithful persevere in the wait with Mary by praying and meditating. A day of silence is necessary to ponder the reality of human life, the forces of evil and the enormous power of good unleashed by the passion and resurrection of Christ.
Great importance is given during this time to participation in the sacrament of reconciliation, indispensable for the purification of the heart and to prepare for the celebration of Easter completely renewed. We need to undertake this inner purification and renewal of ourselves at least once a year. This Saturday of silence, of meditation, of forgiveness, of reconciliation leads into the Easter Vigil, which introduces the most important Sunday in history, the Sunday that marks the Passover of Christ.
The Church holds vigil next to the newly blessed fire and meditates on the great promise contained in the Old and New Testaments, of the conclusive liberation from the ancient slavery to sin and death. In the darkness of the night, the Easter candle is lit from the new fire as a symbol of Christ who rises again in glory.
Christ, the light of humanity, dispels any shadows in the heart and the spirit and illuminates all men who come into the world. Together with the lighting of the Easter candle, the great Easter announcement reverberates throughout the Church: Christ has truly risen, death no longer has any power over him. With his death he defeats evil forever and makes man a gift of God's own life.
It is tradition that Christ's followers received the sacrament of baptism during the Easter Vigil. This was to underline the participation of Christians in the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ. The joy, the light and the peace of Christ spread from the shining Easter night to fill the lives of the faithful in every Christian community and reaches into every area of space and time.
Dear brothers and sisters, during these special days let us guide our lives definitively toward a complete and decisive adherence to the designs of our celestial Father; let us renew our “yes” to the divine will as Jesus did with his sacrifice on the cross. The rites suggested for Holy Thursday and Good Friday, the rich silence of prayer of Holy Saturday and the solemn Easter vigil provide us with the opportunity to deepen the feelings and the values of our Christian vocation unleashed by the Paschal mystery and to strengthen it by faithfully following Christ in all circumstances, just as he did, even to the point of giving up our own existence to him.
Remembering the mysteries of Christ also means a willing and complete adherence to the history of today, convinced that when we celebrate, it is reality. Let us include in our prayers the terrible facts and situations that afflict our brothers across the world. We know that hate, division and violence never have the last word in historical events. These holy days reawaken a great hope in us: Christ was crucified, yet he rose again and conquered the world.
Love is stronger than hate, it has triumphed and we should affiliate ourselves with this victory of love. We should therefore start again from Christ and work together with him for a world founded on peace, justice and love.
In this commitment that involves all of us, let us allow ourselves to be guided by Mary, who accompanied her divine son on the road to his passion and cross, and who participated with the strength of her faith in the realization of his plan of salvation.
With these thoughts I send you my best wishes for a happy and holy Easter to you, your loved ones and your communities. (courtesy: Zenit.com)

SAND & STONE

Sand and StoneA story tells that two friends were walking throughthe desert. During some point of the journey, theyhad an argument, and one friend slapped the otherone in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt,but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand:Today my best friend slapped me in the face.They kept on walking, until they found an oasis,where they decided to take a bath. The one who hadbeen slapped got stuck in the mire and starteddrowning, but his friend saved him. After herecovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:Today my best friend saved my life.The friend, who had slapped and saved his bestfriend, asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote inthe sand, and now, you write on a stone, why?"The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us,we should write it down in sand, where the winds offorgiveness can erase it away, but when someonedoes something good for us, we must engrave it instone where no wind can ever erase it.Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carveyour blessings in stone.

ST AUGUSTINE'S PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Dare to be different in all walks of your life.

Dare to stand-alone.

Dare to stand up for your convictions even if the crowd around you may move in another way. Dare to be a fool for the sake of Christ.

With the Word of God & power of the spirit, dare to be a Crusader for Christ.

Dare to follow the footsteps of our heavenly Father.

Dare to take up the cross and follow him wherever He leads you.

Dare to be a real Christian with a strong backbone.

Dare to say "no" to momentary pleasures that the world has to offer.

Dare to tell others about your Heavenly Dad.

Dare to stand for holiness, purity and sanctity as a dove, no matter what it takes.

(Judy Sara Mathew)

Slow, Slow, Slow Down!

Message of the ‘International Day of Slowness’.

By Joe Eruppakkatt (Originally published in The Teenager Youth Magazine

“Two of the most powerful warriors are patience and time.”
-- Leo Tolstoy

‘World day of Peace’, ‘World Day of the Sick’, ‘World day of Environment, ‘World Day of Rice’... the list of such World Days is endless and sometimes fascinating. However, have you heard of something called the ‘International Day of Slowness’?

Yes, here is another date to circle your calendar. A Milan-based group called L’Arte Del Vivere Con Lentezza’ (The Art of Living Slow) has assigned February 19 as the ‘International Day of Slowness’. It was observed for the first time in 2007. The group hopes that it would be a day of enjoyment, reflection, and pro-slow events, helping people everywhere to find ways to put on the brakes at work, at home, or wherever.

However, there already existed an ‘International Day of Slowness’, known as ‘Journee de la Lenteur’ declared by a group in Montreal, Canada and later taken up in other countries. This group had assigned June 21, the longest day of the year, as the International Day of Slowness.

We live in an age of fast foods, fast prayer, fast tracks, fast walking, fast growth, fast what not! We work fast, we eat fast and we pray fast. Recently I heard of a technique called fast reading. We read without going through each word and line, but read only in so far as you understand the meaning of the text as a whole. This is symbolic of the life we live in this post-modern time. We overlook many words and lines; many sounds and signs; many faces and expressions; many needs and cries in our rat race for success, achievement and result.

Hence, the movement towards slowing down the pace of life. The philosophy behind this movement intents to promote slow breathing, slow dance, slow music, slow eating, slow walking, slow praying, slow reading, slow thinking, slow singing and slow everything. The proverb ‘if you chew slowly, you can eat even a palm tree” is based on this philosophy.

According to this movement, a fast-paced life leaves no room for entertainment, relaxation, reflection, meaningful relationship and above all time for and with the creator God. Time saved through such accelerated life is often time wasted. Says William Rogers: “Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.” Long ago I had heard a wise man, Fr Thomas Cheruvil, the former Editor of The Teenager, cautioning youngsters: “Hurry leads to worry”. How true his advice is, if only we analyze many of our own speedy races and the troubles they land us in!

Slowness is not to be confused with laziness. It does not mean a compulsive procrastination of things needed to be done. It is not opposed to fast economic, educational and social development of a society or a country. It does not justify the indifference and apathy of officials to clear the files and help execute projects and clear citizen’s concerns. Nor does slowness justify backlog in disposing justice to the common man.

Positive slowness is productive and active and growth-oriented. It is a time to reconnect with our ‘inner tortoise’ in this stressful world. A recent report in the New York Times said that Pricewater Coopers, a well known accounting firm, has decided to close down its entire US operations twice a year to ensure that its employees slow down. Everything stops for 10 days over Christmas and five days around the 4th of July. During the year the company also sends electronic reminders to the staff who fail to take enough vacation time. Says one high ranking member of the firm: “We wanted to create an environment where people could walk away and not worry about missing a meeting, a conference call or 300 E-mails”. Not surprisingly, the company’s productivity is much higher since the innovative idea began to be put into practice.

A new quarterly magazine has been launched in the Netherlands called ‘Slow Management’. As the title suggests, it is all about applying the ‘Slow philosophy’ to the world of management: freeing companies and staff from the destructive obsession with speed, targets and short-term profits. The aim is to show why managers should manage with a light touch. It also gives lots of real-life examples of how to do so.

Slowness can be irritating for some. They always like to be one yard ahead of others in everything. They complain that their colleague or partner is too slow to the point of frustration. In our ‘speedaholic’ culture, we often hear the expressions, ‘there is no time’ and ‘how I wish the day had more than 24 hours’.

Nature has its on slow and steady pace. Nothing can force or induce nature to speed up the natural process of birth, growth and death. A seed sown in the field takes its time to sprout, produce its first leaf, grow and become a plant and produce flower and then fruit. The farmer waits day and night for its growth until he can harvest the fruit. A good lesson on how to ‘slow down’!

Slowing down can leave us enough time to connect with God, the source of all power and giver of all gifts. God is known, experienced, loved, and prayed to in stillness, gentleness and leisureliness. In our busy life it is possible that we forget God and his gifts. However, God patiently waits morning after morning, evening after evening, day after day for a moment of quiet and personal conversation with us. Experiencing the living God daily for a few moments can brighten up and energize our dull and sometimes chaotic lives. And God’s gentle touch and merciful love can be experienced only in stillness.

A business executive from Austria tells the story of how he found that prayer is the ultimate form of slowness: One day he arrived in Vatican to finalize a big business deal. He arrived from Vienna with a full day’s schedule of meetings, but instead of hurrying to the first of them, a priest escorted him to a chapel to pray for 45 minutes! And they stopped for further prayers after every meeting throughout the busy day. At first he was anxious and restless, but eventually he surrendered to the ritual and actually found the breaks quite soothing. He also found that the meetings were more relaxed and more efficient because he had time to reflect, recharge and even plan better.

The following excerpt from a poem, written by a terminally ill young girl who had just six months to live explains why we should slow down:

“You’d better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast, time is short.
The music won’t last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life is not a race, do take it slower
Hear the music before the song is over.

Carl Honore wrote the best-selling book, In Praise of Slow. He says: “Speed has helped us to remake our world in ways that are wonderful and liberating. But our obsession with speed has turned into an addiction….When you accelerate things that should not be accelerated, when you forget how to slow down, there is a price to pay”.

joessp@gmail.com

GOD WANTS ME TO TELL YOU....

Everything that is going wrong in your life today shall be well with you this year. You have been destined to make it and you shall surely achieve all your goals this year. For the remaining months of this year (2008), all your agonies will be diverted and victory and prosperity will be incoming in abundance. Today God has confirmed the end of your sufferings, sorrows, and pains because HE that sits on the throne has remembered you. He has taken away the hardships and given you JOY. He will never let you down. I knocked at heaven's door this morning, God asked me... My child! What can I do for you? And I said, 'Father, please protect and bless the person reading this message'... God smiled and answered... Request granted. If you believe this message, send it to others . By doing this you have succeeded in praying for many people today.

God Bless You!!!

THE JOY OF GIVING

Once, a student was walking back home in the evening, after the school hours. One of the teachers of his school joined him. This teacher was known for his exemplary dealings with everyone. He was gentle and kind. He was a friend of all the students.

As they walked along a field, they spotted a pair of shoes lying by the side of the path. It belonged to a poor farmer, working in the field nearby. The farmer had nearly finished his day's work and was almost getting ready to return home.

The student turned to the teacher and said:
"Let us play a cool prank with the poor man. Let us hide his shoes and then hide ourselves to see his panic and perplexity. I bet the poor man has only one pair of shoes and we will have some real fun watching him losing those shoes."

To this the teacher replied:
"My friend, we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of a poor person. You are from a rich family. Put a coin each in his shoes and let us hide ourselves. We will then watch how he reacts."

So the boy placed one coin each in the shoes and they hid themselves in the bush and waited for the farmer to return after work.

The farmer finished his work and came up to put on his shoes and coat.
As he put his first foot into the shoes, he felt something hard, bent down and looked for it and found a coin in it.

There was such a wonder and astonishment on his face. He did not know from where it came. He looked around and found no one.

Then he proceeded to put on the other shoe and found a coin in that too.

His surprise was doubled.
He was overcome with deep feelings of joy, wonder and excitement.

He fell on his knees, raised his eyes and hands to heaven and said a prayer of thanksgiving to God.

In that prayer he mentioned about his sick and helpless wife who stays home.
He mentioned about his children who have no bread to eat.
He thanked God for this timely help from some unknown hands which saved the whole family from starving and perishing.

The boy was deeply touched by this incident. His eyes were filled with tears. The teacher asked him how he felt now.

The boy said this has taught him a lesson which he would never forget:

IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.

Ash Wednesday and Beyond

I was celebrating Mass on an Ash Wednesday morning in a certain church in New York City. One person, who came late, missed the ceremony of the imposition of ashes. But when the time for Holy Communion came, he too lined up with others. I extended to him the precious body of Christ. Looking at me scornfully for a while and pointing his finger at me he said: “not that stuff, gi’mme the powder!”

He was one of those who visit the church once a year for obtaining the ‘powder stuff’. Although the man was desperate to get the ashes on Ash Wednesday, he missed the spirit and message of the celebration.

In most part of the world, Ash Wednesday attracts even the most unchurched Catholics to the church to collect some ashes for themselves. I have seen in some cities how elaborate arrangements are made to meet the demands for ashes. Those who can’t attend church service are given ashes at any convenient time and place, as a pinch of ashes contains some magic power.
The simple, yet powerful message of Ash Wednesday is contained in the twin formulae used for the imposition of ashes: “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return” and “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel”.

Ash Wednesday and the entire season of Lent is a reminder that we are made of dust and destined to return to the same at our death. It is a reminder of our frailty, corruptibility and mortality. We have no permanent home in this world. All of us have to face death sooner or later which is of course a passage to eternal life.

Ashes also remind us of our moral corruption caused by sin and the need for repentance. At the preaching of Prophet Jonah the king of Nineveh put on sack clothes and sat covered in ashes, calling for a national repentance (Jon 3:6).

Through Prophet Joel the Lord called the people to change their ways: “Come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn, turn to Yahweh your God again…” (Joel 2:12-13).

But there is this complementary truth we need to keep in mind: We may be dust, but we are dust that is destined for glory, dust that is to be changed, transfigured into God’s own likeness. True, sin has tarnished and disfigured this composition of dust that we are, but there is always a chance for cleansing, purification and re-creation. God can re-create us and breathe his spirit into us (Ezk 37). There awaits us an immortal, incorruptible and eternal destiny.

Ash Wednesday, therefore, is a day of honest and realistic assessment of our lives. It is the day when we humbly recognize the sinfulness of our nature, and ask God to create in us new and contrite hearts.

Ash Wednesday also calls us to be faithful to the Gospel. In the Gospel we have the good news of salvation. Ash Wednesday is a reminder that we need to enter into the spirit of this good news and make it the foundation of our life. Believing in the Gospel is, believing in Jesus Christ who brings us eternal life.

In the Gospel Jesus give us a set of values and standards different from that of the world. While the world considers the rich and the powerful as truly happy and blessed, the Lord calls the poor, the persecuted, the humble, the weeping, the mourning, the merciful truly happy (Mt 5:3-10). Ash Wednesday is a radical call to live by these values and standards of Jesus.

Ash Wednesday reminds us of the Gospel maxims of humble service, the need for walking the extra mile, for giving away the second tunic, for feeding the hungry, for caring for the sick and the needy, for forgiving the offender, for showing the other cheek, for living in faithfulness to our matrimonial covenant, for being a good Samaritan to our neighbour, for being compassionate and honest in our dealings with others.

A different Approach to Fasting

We have a tendency to make our fasting oriented towards things like giving up food or television. But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus’ healing touch. Here are some ways you may want to consider:

-- Fast from Anger and hatred

Give your family and extra dose of love each day.

-- Fast from judging others

before making any judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.

-- Fast from discouragement

Hold on to Jesus promise that he has a perfect plan for your life.

-- Fast from complaining

When you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some of the little moments of joy Jesus has given you.

-- Fast from resentment and bitterness

Work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.

-- Fast from spending too much money

Try to reduce your spending by 10 per cent and give those savings to the poor.