A Jesuit Adventure

  October 3   The oldest son of the third duke of Gandía, Francis Borgia was born in the family castle in Valencia. Like other young nobles he too was trained for life at court. In 1529 he married Eleanor de Castro, who bore him eight children during the next ten years. They lived in great familiarity with Emperor Charles V and Empress Isabella until the Empress unexpectedly died May 1, 1539. Her death led directly to Borgia's conversion when he accompanied the funeral cortege to the burial place in the royal chapel in Granada. When the coffin was opened, he saw not the beautiful face of the 36-year-old queen but a face beyond recognition. Not wanting to serve another master who would die, he began to devote himself to prayer and penance. Francis became the fourth duke of Gandía after his father died in December 1542.  He returned to the family palace to manage his estates, but when his wife Leonor died March 27, 1546, he resolved to dedicate the rest of his life ...

  My dear friends, on this 2 nd Sunday of Lent Year A in the first reading taken from the book of Genesis we witness a reversal in the fortunes of humankind with the call of Abraham. From chapters 1 to 11 of Genesis we witness a disastrous history of humankind that includes the Original sin (chapter 3), the murder of Abel (4:1-16), the great Flood (chapters 6-8) and the tower of Babel (11:1-9). The reversal of fortunes in Chapter 12, however, doesn’t come easily. God asks Abram to do something incredibly difficult. He asks him to go away from his country, his extended family and his immediate family, to a new land that He will show him. For a moment put yourself in the shoes of Abram, imagine having to leave everything and everyone you know and go and settle down in a place you have never heard of. Not that easy after all. Abram has to let go of all the security on which he has depended all his life and trust God to provide for the future. Abram has to take a leap of faith....

On this First Sunday of Lent, the readings highlight the discord created by sin and how we are to respond to the temptations in our life. The book of Genesis in the Old Testament presents before us two creation narratives. The first narrative is found in the first chapter wherein we have the creation of the world in six days and God resting on the seventh day. The second narrative from which we have an extract as the first reading is found in the second and third chapters detailing the creation of humankind and the first sin by Adam and Eve. Being mindful of the fact that there are different literary styles employed in the Bible, we need to go beyond the literal, word-to-word meaning and look at the main message that the writer is trying to convey. The reading highlights the relationship between the land or earth and human beings. Humans are created from it; their job is to cultivate it and on death, they return to it. The text says “God breathed into his nostrils the breath of lif...

Yes, it’s true, Ash Wednesday is here and this means that the season of Lent has begun and I’m guessing that’s not something you look forward to. Let us have a look at what Lent is all about and if is there more to Lent than only giving up meat and alcohol for 40 days. First, a little bit about the history and symbolism associated with Ash Wednesday. The word Lent is from an Old English term meaning springtime, and by the second century the term was being used to describe the period of individual fasting, almsgiving and prayer in preparation for Easter. Why 40 days? The number 40 is very significant in the Bible. Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving instructions from God for 40 days and 40 nights; Noah and his entourage were on the Ark waiting for the rains to end for 40 days and 40 nights; and Elijah “walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb”. Mostly, though, the 40 days of Lent identifies with the time our Lord Jesus spent in the desert fasting, praying an...

 Though we may think that Holiness is reserved for those who have chosen religious life as priests and sisters, Pope Francis's Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete Et Exsultate presents a very different image. The following are key points from the document which appealed to me. 14. To be holy does not require being a bishop, a priest or a religious. We are frequently tempted to think that holiness is only for those who can withdraw from ordinary affairs to spend much time in prayer. That is not the case. We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves. Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out your commitment with joy. Are you married? Be holy by loving and caring for your husband or wife, as Christ does for the Church. Do you work for a living? Be holy by labouring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters. Are you a parent or grandparent? Be holy by patiently ...

  On the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A the readings address the theme of holiness and how we are called to live out this holiness in our life. The 1st reading taken from the book of Leviticus is part of what is known as the Holiness Code. Leviticus chapters 17-26 are commonly called the “Holiness Code” as these chapters are marked by a concern for holy living on the part of the people rather than a concern with sacrificial systems or ritual purity. In today’s reading we find the foundation for this call to holiness: “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” Their holiness is to mirror God’s holiness. And what does it mean to be holy? The idea behind the concept of holiness is "separation." It comes from a word meaning "to separate or cut off." God is separate, or cut off, from everything sinful and evil. God is separate from man and all creation. Yet because humans are made in the image of God, they can follow in His steps and also  be holy ....

My dear friends, on the sixth Sunday in ordinary time Year A the 1st reading is taken from the book of Sirach which is part of wisdom literature in the Old Testament. This reading addresses a very important aspect of our life – the role of free will to make choices and decisions. The readings are taken from chapter 15 which speaks about the pursuit of wisdom and the ensuing blessings. There is also a rejection of the idea that God causes sin and finally an emphasis on the point that God has given human beings the freedom to choose for themselves. We all have to choose between good and evil. The readings mention that ‘He has placed before you fire and water; stretch out your hand for whichever you choose’. Water and fire stand for reward and punishment indicating that our choices have their consequences. Before each of us is placed life and death and one will receive what one chooses. The choices that we have made or someone has made for us eventually shape us into who we are today....

  Marriages are made in heaven they say, but they have to be lived on earth. And for many youth, marriage becomes an automatic choice after they begin to settle down in their career. Unfortunately, over the past few years, marriages are failing at quite an alarming rate and this is no longer only a phenomenon in western countries. Although there are a variety of reasons for this, one important factor is that young couples get married without fully understanding the sacrament of matrimony and the teachings of the Church. The situation is similar to downloading an app on your phone – you just click I Accept for the terms and conditions without actually reading them. The views presented here are from the perspective of the Latin Rite referring to the 1983 CODE OF CANON LAW also called CIC. Although the Eastern Catholic Churches like the Syro Malabar and Syro Malankara follow a different code i.e. the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches i.e. CCEO, the essential elements are simil...