When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. (Matthew 14:13)

Sunday August 2, 2020 Vol 151 No 30 16 Pages Rs: 50.00 Registered as a newspaper

“ R E G I S T E R E D I N T H E D E PA RT M E N T O F P O S T S O F S R I L A N K A” U N D E R N O. Q D / 7 4 / N E W S / 2 0 2 0“ R E G I S T E R E D I N T H E D E PA RT M E N T O F P O S T S O F S R I L A N K A” U N D E R N O. Q D / 7 4 / N E W S / 2 0 2 0

THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY OF SRI LANKA

True Catholics Cannot Act Against Sacrifi cial Love at Home

Holy Mass - Sign of Supreme Sacri�ice and Sublime Love

One does not be-come merely a Catholic since his/

her name is registered in the Church registry. Nor does he/she become a Catholic by merely going to church. If one is a true Catholic and lives up to the spirit of what it means to be a Catholic, then, he/she cannot act contrary to, after taking part in the Sublime Sacri�ice of Jesus on the Cross

with the utmost love re-enacted on the Altar. One has to live in love, peace and harmony with the members of one’s own family and with his/her neighbours and re-spect each and everyone he/she moves with, man-ifesting one’s readiness to sacri�ice one's self for his/her neighbour. That is the irreversible sign of a Catholic.

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, Arch-bishop of Colombo gave expressions to those

thoughts delivering his homily presiding over as Chief Celebrant at the Holy Mass offered at the Welihena Church dedi-cated to St. Cajetan last week, where His Emi-nence blessed the newly constructed repository of the Blessed Sacrament and the holy sepulchre. The event was organized by Rev. Fr. Anton Premalal, Parish Priest of Welihena.

We should not treat our fellow human beings living along with us on

by T. Sunil Fernando, Roshan Pradeep

St. Thomas’ Catholic International College,

Seeduwa declared open an Advanced level Unit

and modern digital library fully equipped with e-books, latest library, and reading devices which are

a rare facility in Sri Lanka.Very Rev. Fr. Ciswan de

Croos, Episcopal Vicar of Negombo Region, and Mr.

Ranjan Gomez were the Chief Guests and the priests of the deanery were pres-ent to grace the occasion.

Modern Digital Library and A/L unit for STICBishop Pabillo needs your prayers

Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the Apos-tolic Administrator

of Manila requests your prayers.

Bishop Broderick Pa-billo is the Apostolic Ad-ministrator of Manila Archdiocese in the Phil-ippines at present. He has been tested positive for COVID-19, making him the most prominent

churchman in the Philip-pines to contract the dis-ease.

He has been part of the FABC of�ice of Evan-gelization under whose Chairmanship I was able to organize three semi-nars for Bishops of Asia in Bangkok.

Bishop Pabillo who is very spiritual, intellectual and a pastoral prelate of the Philippines church, needs our prayers for his speedy recovery.

Fr. Camillus Fernando Executive Secretary

FABC Of�ice of Evangelization

Holy Father pens preface to book on hope in the Covid-19 pandemic

VATICAN NEWS - In a book preface released on Tuesday, His Holiness Pope Francis re�lected on the

lessons Christians have learned from the Covid-19 pan-demic.

“Communion and Hope” was prepared by Cardinal Walter Kasper and Father George Augustin, and con-

tains theological re�lections from various authors about “witnessing the faith in times of coronavirus”.

Pope Francis writes the preface to a new book en-titled “Communion and Hope”, and encourageeveryone to rediscover solidarity amid the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic.

➢ CONTD ON PG. 2

In today's fractured society, with communities, increasingly pitted against one another Saint Catherine of Siena, an Apostle of reconciliation

reminds us of the need for forgiveness, reconcilia-tion, and communion.

Saint Catherine of Siena, was "a unique phenom-enon… among the sweetest, most original and great-est (saints) history has ever recorded". Those are the words Saint Pope Paul VI used to describe the 14th-century Italian Saint during a general audience held in April 1969. (Read Centre page for more informa-tion about the Saint and her lifetime events)

➢ CONTD ON PG. 2

Feast of St. Anne's Shrine � alawila today

The Annual Feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim falls today.

2 The Messenger August 2, 20202 Messenger August 2, 2020

The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. (Matthew 14:13)

The Chilaw Cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, last week celebrated its 169th Annual Feast with the participation of His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis, Bishop of Chilaw as the Chief Celebrant at the Vespers and the Festive High Mass. “Let us Pray under God’s protection” was the theme of the Vespers.His Lordship in his homily underscored the fact that the Holy Eucharist, is the symbol of God’s protection. Rev. Fr. Dilan Marius Fernando, Parish Priest dedicated the village to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and blessed the devotees present at the ceremony.

Pic. A. Priyadharshana

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Feast of St. James’ Church Madampella

Tree planting campaign

The Annual Feast of St. James’ Church, Pahala Madampella was held last week adhering to corona health guidelines.Rev. Fr. William Evans Liyanarachchi, of iciated at

the Festive High Mass along with Rev. Fr. Clarence Dilran Peiris, Parish Priest with the participation of a limited number of faithful. H. A. Caldera

A Catholic Youth Guild was formed by the youth of Sacred Heart Chapel at ‘Seth Sarana’ housing complex in Madampella under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Dilran Peiris, Parish Priest, St. James’ Church recently.

Simultaneously they carried out a tree planting campaign with the participation of the Parish Priest. Mr. Lalith Kumara and Ms. Shenali Daniel of ‘Seth Sarana’ were also present on the occasion.

Madampella Correspondent

New Chapel dedicated to St. Joseph VazA new Chapel dedicated to St. Joseph Vaz in the Bishop’s House of Ratnapura was blessed and consecrated by His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Cletus Chandrasiri Perera OSB, Bishop of Ratnapura recently. In the Picture His Lordship blesses the new chapel accompanied by Priests.

Joe A. Sakarius

Christian activist passes away in Australia

Mr. Hugo Jerome de Alwis, a Catholic Writer who was residing at the Housing Scheme, Raddoluwa has passed away in Australia recently. He held various positions as an activist of Christian Labour Movements including Young Christian Workers’ Movement and Christian Workers’ Movement (CWM). He was appointed the International President of the World Movement of Christian Workers (WMCW) for two consecutive sessions (1988 - 1996). He has authored a book on Mother Mary in Sinhala and was a regular contributor to the Gnanartha Pradeepaya.

Shiran Maithri

The Catholic community in Kurunegala celebrated the 200th Jubilee Feast recently of St. Anne’s Church

St. Anne’s Church now Cathedral of the Kurunegala Diocese celebrates 200th Feast

established in the year 1820, and now the Cathedral of the Kurunegala Diocese created 33 years ago, on May 15, 1987. Prior to the creation as a separate diocese, with the late His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Raymond Peiris as the First Bishop of Kurunegala, was a part of the Diocese of Chilaw. His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera presided over the Jubilee Holy Mass. Rev. Fr. Basil Rohan Fernando, National Director of the Ponti ical MissionSocieties and Rev. Fr. Christy Leonard, Administrator of the Cathedral joined with His Lordship in celebrating the Festive High Mass. The event was organized by the Parish Priest and Rev. Fr. Himishka Roshan, Assistant Parish Priest and Parish Council.

Pic by Asika Priyadharshana

the basis of his/her ethnicity, caste, creed, or the language they speak. It is well to keep in mind that God created all humans in His own image. Each one has an unique identity and a personality. God has already destined and designed plans as to what we should be, even before we were conceived in our mothers’ womb. It is our duty, to understand the plan of God for each one of us and live up to the expectation of the divine will and live a holy life.Thiswasthe irstpastoralvisitofHisEminenceto

the parish that comes under his Administration after the relaxing of the lockdown that was in force owing to the corona-virus catastrophe.

Rev. Fr. Ravin Sandasiri, Dean of the Katana Deanery, was present at the ceremony along with parishioners representing Welihena, Ethgaala, and Asikkandiya (Welihena South)

Contd. from Pg. 1

True Catholics Cannot...

“Like a sudden breaking storm, the coronavirus cri-sis has caught us all by surprise, abruptly changing on a global level our personal, public, family and working lives,” he wrote.

Many people, he lamented, have lost loved ones, as wellastheirjobsand inancialstability.Inmanyplaces,even Easter was celebrated in an unusual and solitary manner,andpeoplewere leftunable to indsolace inthe Sacraments.

“This dramatic situation,” wrote Pope Francis, “highlights the vulnerable nature of our human condi-tion, limited as it is by time and contingency.”

The pandemic has also forced us to question the roots of our happiness and to rediscover the treasure of our Christian faith, he added.

“It reminds us that we have forgotten or simply de-layed attending to some of the key issues in life. It is making us evaluate what is really important and neces-sary,andwhat isof secondaryoronlysuper icial im-portance.”

The Pope called this “a time of trial” which gives us the chance to reorient our lives toward God.

“The crisis,” he said, “has shown us that, especially in times of need, we depend on our solidarity with oth-ers. In a new way, it is inviting us to place our lives at the service of others. It should make us aware of global injustice and wake us up to the cry of the poor and of our gravely diseased planet.” PopeFranciswentontore lectonthemeaningof

the unique Easter that many Christians were forced to celebrate alone.

The Easter message of Christ’s victory over death, he said, showed Christians that we cannot remain para-lyzed in the face of the pandemic.

“Easter brings us hope, trust and encouragement. It strengthens our sense of solidarity,” said the Pope. “It speaks to us of overcoming past rivalries so that we may see each other, above and beyond any differences, as members of one large family, where we bear each others’ burdens.”

The risk of contagion from a virus, added the Pope, should teach us how the “contagion” of love passes from one heart to another.

“I am grateful,” he said, “for the spontaneous acts of altruism and heroic dedication shown by carers, by doctors and priests. In these past weeks we have felt the strength which comes from faith.”

Pope Francis said the initial phase of the pandemic forced governments to ban public Masses, leaving many Catholics to undergo a “time of painful Eucharistic fast.”

“Many found the presence of the Lord wherever two or three gathered in His name.”

He said livestreamed Masses were an “emergency measure” for which many were grateful. “But virtual transmission is no substitute for the living presence of the Lord in the celebration of the Eucharist.”

The Pope expressed his gratitude that Catholics in many parts of the world can return to a normal liturgi-cal life.

“The presence of the Risen Lord in His Word and through the celebration of the Eucharist will give us the strengthwe need to resolve the dif iculties and chal-lenges that we will face after the coronavirus crisis.”

Pope Francis concluded the preface expressing his hopes that the book will help people discover “a new sense of hope and solidarity.”

“Just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Lord will also accompany us in future through His word and through the breaking of bread in the Eucharist. And He will say to us: “Do not be afraid! For I have overcome death.’”

“Communion and Hope” was published by the Vati-can Publishing House (LEV) in the original German in June. The Italian version was released last week.

Cardinal Walter Kasper is the president emeritus of thePonti icalCouncilforPromotingChristianUnity.

In 2005, Fr Augustin founded the Walter Kasper In-stitute, which is part of the Philosophical-Theological UniversityofthePallottinesatVallendar.Healsoservesas a consultant for the Ponti ical Council for Promot-ingChristianUnity,aswellastheCongregationfortheClergy.

Contd. from Pg. 1

Holy Father pens preface to...

3 August 2, 2020 Messenger

Further to what we wrote regarding the false impression among many of our compatriots that the Catholic community in this country always shared the views of the Portuguese, we wish to present further evidence that disproves it.

One of the best bits of evidence in this regard is the attitude of the Sinhala community in Malwana at the very commencement of the Portuguese occupation.

Having assumed control of the Maritime Provinces of the Island after the death of King Dharmapala in 1597, the Portuguese intended to turn these regions into a little Portugal. With this intention, Captain General Azevedo organized a Convention and summoned the Sinhala Catholic leaders to advise them that they should now adopt Portuguese culture and customs, just as they had embraced their Christian religion.

However, much to the disappointment of the Captain General the Sinhala Catholic leaders spoke out and protested vehemently that they were not preparedtodoso.Theyaf irmedthattheyacceptedChristianity voluntarily, and of their own free accord, and would therefore remain Christians; but they were not prepared to forsake the culture and traditions of their ancestors. They further added that even in the matter of religion, no one should be forced to embrace Christianity. (S. G. Perera – Historical Sketches – Pg 18)

Accordingly it must be remembered that the Catholics had no option than to accept the king, because the last Sinhala king died leaving his kingdom in the hands of the Portuguese, with no Sinhala successor. But for the rest of it, they did not agree. They did not agree to forced conversions, rejection of their culture and religion.

Besides this, there were several instances when Sinhala Catholics rebelled against the atrocities of the Portuguese against the people. As mentioned earlier, several missionaries have written to the King of Portugal against these Portuguese soldiers and rulers demanding strict punishment. These letters are still in existence and could be examined by anyone.

The role played by the Christian community during the Buddhist – Muslim riots, the struggle for Independence and similar incidents speak for themselves. We have written about some of them, but we hope to write further in due time. This suf icesforthetimebeing.

Samaritan would also have asked the same questions in his mind. Eventually the question he responded to was, “If I do not go to help that dying enemy what will happen to him?”. The focus shifted from “me” to “him”

So the Lord Jesus told the religious leader, “Go and do likewise”. He was emphasizing the fact that God is absolutely and all the time other-centred while most of us most of the time are self-centred though we often put on a SundayMass igurativelywhile now,due to the Covid-19 pandemic we have to literally wear masks. The Lord Jesus drew the parallel of the Holy Trinity. God is a community with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit living for each other being other- centred and not self- centred and always ready to serve each other even die for each other.

That is why Jesus tells us that to make progress in our relationship and journey which we need to be gradually liberated from sel ishness and becomesel less,sincereandsacri icial.

This is immortalized in the beautiful hymn which goes like this: “Deep within my heart, I feel voices whispering to me, words that I can’t understand, meanings I can’t clearly hear, calling me to follow close, lest I leave myself behind, calling me to walking into evening shadows one more time: I leave my boats behind, leave them on familiar shores, set my heart upon the deep, follow you again, my Lord: In my memories, I know how you send familiar rain falling gently on my days, dancing patterns on my pain, and I need to learn once more in the fortress of my mind, to believe in falling rain as I travel deserts dry”.

Indeed as the Gospels say, Jesus will tell us on Judgement Day, “ whatever you did to the least of my brothers or sisters, that you did unto me.”

WE LIVE IN VERY INTERESTING AND FUNNY TIMES

We live in times where we seemany humans, but not humanity.

We live in times where the richhave more rooms than children and

the poor have more children than rooms.

We live in times where smart phones bring you closer to those who are far, but

distance you from those who are closer.

We live in times where we open Facebook, more than Holy Book.

EDITORIAL

Email:ccpmessenger@yahoo.comWebsite:colomboarchdiocesancatholicpress.com Telephone: 011 2695984 Fax: 2692586 / 2670100

August 2, 2020

SINCEFEBRUARY1869

Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis

Archbishop Emeritus

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. (Matthew 14:14)

Let us leave our boats behind, leave them on

familiar shoresIn a widely quoted verse of St. John’s Gospel says, for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). That means God loves the whole world and all the people. It may be the reason why South Africa’s famous Bishop Desmond Tutu wrote a famous book titled “God is not a Christian”. Many were startled or shocked when they read the title but in the introduction Archbishop Tutu quotes John 3:16, “ God so loved the world……”. In the Sermon on the Mount--widely considered to be the centre-piece of Christianity the Lord Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Maththew 5:43-48).

These and related scripture versus would have cometomindwhenweco-operatedwiththeUnitedNations on July 30 in marking the World Day Against Traf icking in People. In a statement, the UN saysthat it is now working on the frontline to end human traf icking.This year, the UN will highlight the role of irst

responders to human traf icking. These are thepeople who work in different sectors - identifying, supporting, counselling and seeking justice for victimsoftraf icking,andchallengingtheimpunityofthetraf ickers.

According to theUNDuring theCOVID-19crisis,the essential role of irst responders has becomeeven more important, particularly as the restrictions havemadetheirworkevenmoredif icult.Still,theircontribution is often overlooked and not recognised. Through stories from irst responders describingtheir practical work in assisting victims the UNintends to spotlight their contribution and that of their function, institution, organization, team or communityanditsimpacton ightingtraf icking.

The key messages focus on the positive, recognizing the importanceof theworkdoneby irst responders.They seek support and raise awareness of these actions that need to be sustained and replicated. The stories will also highlight how irst responders remainedcommitted during the pandemic. Humantraf ickinghasmajorconsequences,mainly

sexual exploitation, forced labour and slavery. The UN says people traf icking is a serious crime and agrave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traf ickers. This happens in their own countries andabroad. Almost everycountryisaffectedbytraf icking,whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims. The United Nations Of ice on Drugs andCrimes(UNODC), as guardian of the United NationsConvention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols thereto, assists States intheir efforts to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Traf icking in people. It de inespeople traf icking as the recruitment, transportation,transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of fraud. These include deception, the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or bene its to achieve the consent of a personhavingcontrol over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

These stories remind us of the Parable of the Good Samaritan--one of the most important of more than 40 parables told by the Lord Jesus. He used this method of teaching which was in line with the Jewish tradition of a story telling culture.

In this Parable, the Lord is asked by a religious leader, what is the way to eternal life? This question is important because the parable the Lord Jesus relates is the way to eternal life. The Samaritans were despised by the Jews because many other Samaritans had married non-Jews and therefore were considered to be unclean. According to the Parable a Jew was attacked by robbers and left to die on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. While they were going that way, a priest and a Levite saw the dying man. Many questions would have run through their minds. The robbers may still be around and attack them also. They would have to go to the law-enforcement authorities and also to courts after taking the dying man to hospital. What is more they would be late for their prayer meeting or teaching in the Synagogue.Sothe inalquestiontheyrespondedtowas,“if I go to help that dying Jew and fellow citizen what would happen to me?” The focus and the centre-piece of their question was “me”. On the other hand the despised

CATHOLICS AS PATRIOTIC CITIZENS Find the Pearl within ourselves“Thekingdomofheaven is likea treasureburied ina ield.”Matthew 44:1. The men sold everything they possesed to acquire the treasure or the pearl. Searching for Jesus and the kingdom of heaven means we have to face choices and to make decisions, sometimes it may require us to make harsh decisions that we would prefer not to make. There will be passing treasures that in the short-term might be tempting but fails to offer us the happiness we truly desire.

In our First Reading, Solomon gave up so much treasure, so he could have God’s wisdom in order to discern between good and evil. There is real treasure in Jesus, for whom we mustcarryourcrossinorderto indHim.Whatisthetreasurethat gives us real happiness? If we carry our cross we will discover a pearl inside of us, that pearl is Jesus. When we face adif icultcircumstance, itmay feel likeadisasterbutafterawhile,thatcrossturnsouttobeabene it.St.Paultellsus,‘Weknow that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love Him’. We will face passing treasure in the short-term which would be tempting but would not give us the happiness we really want. There is the real treasure, Jesus, for whom we sometimes carry our crosses in order to indHim.Whatisthetreasurethatgivesusrealhappiness?Bycarryingourcrosswewill indthereal treasure, thepearlofimmense value that is inside of us, Jesus.Howdowe ind this pearl? it is by journeying into our

own hearts, by praying and receiving the Sacraments and getting to know the Bible. Let us pray more, and receive the Sacraments and get to know the Bible. So the pearl, Jesus, may grow within us, a treasure that will not let us down. Then we can go off happy like the man in the parable.

Chris Silva

3 The Messenger August 2, 20202 Messenger August 2, 2020

The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. (Matthew 14:13)

The Chilaw Cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, last week celebrated its 169th Annual Feast with the participation of His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis, Bishop of Chilaw as the Chief Celebrant at the Vespers and the Festive High Mass. “Let us Pray under God’s protection” was the theme of the Vespers.His Lordship in his homily underscored the fact that the Holy Eucharist, is the symbol of God’s protection. Rev. Fr. Dilan Marius Fernando, Parish Priest dedicated the village to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and blessed the devotees present at the ceremony.

Pic. A. Priyadharshana

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Feast of St. James’ Church Madampella

Tree planting campaign

The Annual Feast of St. James’ Church, Pahala Madampella was held last week adhering to corona health guidelines.Rev. Fr. William Evans Liyanarachchi, of iciated at

the Festive High Mass along with Rev. Fr. Clarence Dilran Peiris, Parish Priest with the participation of a limited number of faithful. H. A. Caldera

A Catholic Youth Guild was formed by the youth of Sacred Heart Chapel at ‘Seth Sarana’ housing complex in Madampella under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Dilran Peiris, Parish Priest, St. James’ Church recently.

Simultaneously they carried out a tree planting campaign with the participation of the Parish Priest. Mr. Lalith Kumara and Ms. Shenali Daniel of ‘Seth Sarana’ were also present on the occasion.

Madampella Correspondent

New Chapel dedicated to St. Joseph VazA new Chapel dedicated to St. Joseph Vaz in the Bishop’s House of Ratnapura was blessed and consecrated by His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Cletus Chandrasiri Perera OSB, Bishop of Ratnapura recently. In the Picture His Lordship blesses the new chapel accompanied by Priests.

Joe A. Sakarius

Christian activist passes away in Australia

Mr. Hugo Jerome de Alwis, a Catholic Writer who was residing at the Housing Scheme, Raddoluwa has passed away in Australia recently. He held various positions as an activist of Christian Labour Movements including Young Christian Workers’ Movement and Christian Workers’ Movement (CWM). He was appointed the International President of the World Movement of Christian Workers (WMCW) for two consecutive sessions (1988 - 1996). He has authored a book on Mother Mary in Sinhala and was a regular contributor to the Gnanartha Pradeepaya.

Shiran Maithri

The Catholic community in Kurunegala celebrated the 200th Jubilee Feast recently of St. Anne’s Church

St. Anne’s Church now Cathedral of the Kurunegala Diocese celebrates 200th Feast

established in the year 1820, and now the Cathedral of the Kurunegala Diocese created 33 years ago, on May 15, 1987. Prior to the creation as a separate diocese, with the late His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Raymond Peiris as the First Bishop of Kurunegala, was a part of the Diocese of Chilaw. His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Harold Anthony Perera presided over the Jubilee Holy Mass. Rev. Fr. Basil Rohan Fernando, National Director of the Ponti ical MissionSocieties and Rev. Fr. Christy Leonard, Administrator of the Cathedral joined with His Lordship in celebrating the Festive High Mass. The event was organized by the Parish Priest and Rev. Fr. Himishka Roshan, Assistant Parish Priest and Parish Council.

Pic by Asika Priyadharshana

the basis of his/her ethnicity, caste, creed, or the language they speak. It is well to keep in mind that God created all humans in His own image. Each one has an unique identity and a personality. God has already destined and designed plans as to what we should be, even before we were conceived in our mothers’ womb. It is our duty, to understand the plan of God for each one of us and live up to the expectation of the divine will and live a holy life.Thiswasthe irstpastoralvisitofHisEminenceto

the parish that comes under his Administration after the relaxing of the lockdown that was in force owing to the corona-virus catastrophe.

Rev. Fr. Ravin Sandasiri, Dean of the Katana Deanery, was present at the ceremony along with parishioners representing Welihena, Ethgaala, and Asikkandiya (Welihena South)

Contd. from Pg. 1

True Catholics Cannot...

“Like a sudden breaking storm, the coronavirus cri-sis has caught us all by surprise, abruptly changing on a global level our personal, public, family and working lives,” he wrote.

Many people, he lamented, have lost loved ones, as wellastheirjobsand inancialstability.Inmanyplaces,even Easter was celebrated in an unusual and solitary manner,andpeoplewere leftunable to indsolace inthe Sacraments.

“This dramatic situation,” wrote Pope Francis, “highlights the vulnerable nature of our human condi-tion, limited as it is by time and contingency.”

The pandemic has also forced us to question the roots of our happiness and to rediscover the treasure of our Christian faith, he added.

“It reminds us that we have forgotten or simply de-layed attending to some of the key issues in life. It is making us evaluate what is really important and neces-sary,andwhat isof secondaryoronlysuper icial im-portance.”

The Pope called this “a time of trial” which gives us the chance to reorient our lives toward God.

“The crisis,” he said, “has shown us that, especially in times of need, we depend on our solidarity with oth-ers. In a new way, it is inviting us to place our lives at the service of others. It should make us aware of global injustice and wake us up to the cry of the poor and of our gravely diseased planet.” PopeFranciswentontore lectonthemeaningof

the unique Easter that many Christians were forced to celebrate alone.

The Easter message of Christ’s victory over death, he said, showed Christians that we cannot remain para-lyzed in the face of the pandemic.

“Easter brings us hope, trust and encouragement. It strengthens our sense of solidarity,” said the Pope. “It speaks to us of overcoming past rivalries so that we may see each other, above and beyond any differences, as members of one large family, where we bear each others’ burdens.”

The risk of contagion from a virus, added the Pope, should teach us how the “contagion” of love passes from one heart to another.

“I am grateful,” he said, “for the spontaneous acts of altruism and heroic dedication shown by carers, by doctors and priests. In these past weeks we have felt the strength which comes from faith.”

Pope Francis said the initial phase of the pandemic forced governments to ban public Masses, leaving many Catholics to undergo a “time of painful Eucharistic fast.”

“Many found the presence of the Lord wherever two or three gathered in His name.”

He said livestreamed Masses were an “emergency measure” for which many were grateful. “But virtual transmission is no substitute for the living presence of the Lord in the celebration of the Eucharist.”

The Pope expressed his gratitude that Catholics in many parts of the world can return to a normal liturgi-cal life.

“The presence of the Risen Lord in His Word and through the celebration of the Eucharist will give us the strengthwe need to resolve the dif iculties and chal-lenges that we will face after the coronavirus crisis.”

Pope Francis concluded the preface expressing his hopes that the book will help people discover “a new sense of hope and solidarity.”

“Just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Lord will also accompany us in future through His word and through the breaking of bread in the Eucharist. And He will say to us: “Do not be afraid! For I have overcome death.’”

“Communion and Hope” was published by the Vati-can Publishing House (LEV) in the original German in June. The Italian version was released last week.

Cardinal Walter Kasper is the president emeritus of thePonti icalCouncilforPromotingChristianUnity.

In 2005, Fr Augustin founded the Walter Kasper In-stitute, which is part of the Philosophical-Theological UniversityofthePallottinesatVallendar.Healsoservesas a consultant for the Ponti ical Council for Promot-ingChristianUnity,aswellastheCongregationfortheClergy.

Contd. from Pg. 1

Holy Father pens preface to...

3 August 2, 2020 Messenger

Further to what we wrote regarding the false impression among many of our compatriots that the Catholic community in this country always shared the views of the Portuguese, we wish to present further evidence that disproves it.

One of the best bits of evidence in this regard is the attitude of the Sinhala community in Malwana at the very commencement of the Portuguese occupation.

Having assumed control of the Maritime Provinces of the Island after the death of King Dharmapala in 1597, the Portuguese intended to turn these regions into a little Portugal. With this intention, Captain General Azevedo organized a Convention and summoned the Sinhala Catholic leaders to advise them that they should now adopt Portuguese culture and customs, just as they had embraced their Christian religion.

However, much to the disappointment of the Captain General the Sinhala Catholic leaders spoke out and protested vehemently that they were not preparedtodoso.Theyaf irmedthattheyacceptedChristianity voluntarily, and of their own free accord, and would therefore remain Christians; but they were not prepared to forsake the culture and traditions of their ancestors. They further added that even in the matter of religion, no one should be forced to embrace Christianity. (S. G. Perera – Historical Sketches – Pg 18)

Accordingly it must be remembered that the Catholics had no option than to accept the king, because the last Sinhala king died leaving his kingdom in the hands of the Portuguese, with no Sinhala successor. But for the rest of it, they did not agree. They did not agree to forced conversions, rejection of their culture and religion.

Besides this, there were several instances when Sinhala Catholics rebelled against the atrocities of the Portuguese against the people. As mentioned earlier, several missionaries have written to the King of Portugal against these Portuguese soldiers and rulers demanding strict punishment. These letters are still in existence and could be examined by anyone.

The role played by the Christian community during the Buddhist – Muslim riots, the struggle for Independence and similar incidents speak for themselves. We have written about some of them, but we hope to write further in due time. This suf icesforthetimebeing.

Samaritan would also have asked the same questions in his mind. Eventually the question he responded to was, “If I do not go to help that dying enemy what will happen to him?”. The focus shifted from “me” to “him”

So the Lord Jesus told the religious leader, “Go and do likewise”. He was emphasizing the fact that God is absolutely and all the time other-centred while most of us most of the time are self-centred though we often put on a SundayMass igurativelywhile now,due to the Covid-19 pandemic we have to literally wear masks. The Lord Jesus drew the parallel of the Holy Trinity. God is a community with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit living for each other being other- centred and not self- centred and always ready to serve each other even die for each other.

That is why Jesus tells us that to make progress in our relationship and journey which we need to be gradually liberated from sel ishness and becomesel less,sincereandsacri icial.

This is immortalized in the beautiful hymn which goes like this: “Deep within my heart, I feel voices whispering to me, words that I can’t understand, meanings I can’t clearly hear, calling me to follow close, lest I leave myself behind, calling me to walking into evening shadows one more time: I leave my boats behind, leave them on familiar shores, set my heart upon the deep, follow you again, my Lord: In my memories, I know how you send familiar rain falling gently on my days, dancing patterns on my pain, and I need to learn once more in the fortress of my mind, to believe in falling rain as I travel deserts dry”.

Indeed as the Gospels say, Jesus will tell us on Judgement Day, “ whatever you did to the least of my brothers or sisters, that you did unto me.”

WE LIVE IN VERY INTERESTING AND FUNNY TIMES

We live in times where we seemany humans, but not humanity.

We live in times where the richhave more rooms than children and

the poor have more children than rooms.

We live in times where smart phones bring you closer to those who are far, but

distance you from those who are closer.

We live in times where we open Facebook, more than Holy Book.

EDITORIAL

Email:ccpmessenger@yahoo.comWebsite:colomboarchdiocesancatholicpress.com Telephone: 011 2695984 Fax: 2692586 / 2670100

August 2, 2020

SINCEFEBRUARY1869

Most Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis

Archbishop Emeritus

When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. (Matthew 14:14)

Let us leave our boats behind, leave them on

familiar shoresIn a widely quoted verse of St. John’s Gospel says, for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). That means God loves the whole world and all the people. It may be the reason why South Africa’s famous Bishop Desmond Tutu wrote a famous book titled “God is not a Christian”. Many were startled or shocked when they read the title but in the introduction Archbishop Tutu quotes John 3:16, “ God so loved the world……”. In the Sermon on the Mount--widely considered to be the centre-piece of Christianity the Lord Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Maththew 5:43-48).

These and related scripture versus would have cometomindwhenweco-operatedwiththeUnitedNations on July 30 in marking the World Day Against Traf icking in People. In a statement, the UN saysthat it is now working on the frontline to end human traf icking.This year, the UN will highlight the role of irst

responders to human traf icking. These are thepeople who work in different sectors - identifying, supporting, counselling and seeking justice for victimsoftraf icking,andchallengingtheimpunityofthetraf ickers.

According to theUNDuring theCOVID-19crisis,the essential role of irst responders has becomeeven more important, particularly as the restrictions havemadetheirworkevenmoredif icult.Still,theircontribution is often overlooked and not recognised. Through stories from irst responders describingtheir practical work in assisting victims the UNintends to spotlight their contribution and that of their function, institution, organization, team or communityanditsimpacton ightingtraf icking.

The key messages focus on the positive, recognizing the importanceof theworkdoneby irst responders.They seek support and raise awareness of these actions that need to be sustained and replicated. The stories will also highlight how irst responders remainedcommitted during the pandemic. Humantraf ickinghasmajorconsequences,mainly

sexual exploitation, forced labour and slavery. The UN says people traf icking is a serious crime and agrave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall into the hands of traf ickers. This happens in their own countries andabroad. Almost everycountryisaffectedbytraf icking,whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims. The United Nations Of ice on Drugs andCrimes(UNODC), as guardian of the United NationsConvention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols thereto, assists States intheir efforts to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Traf icking in people. It de inespeople traf icking as the recruitment, transportation,transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of threat or use of force or other forms of fraud. These include deception, the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or bene its to achieve the consent of a personhavingcontrol over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.

These stories remind us of the Parable of the Good Samaritan--one of the most important of more than 40 parables told by the Lord Jesus. He used this method of teaching which was in line with the Jewish tradition of a story telling culture.

In this Parable, the Lord is asked by a religious leader, what is the way to eternal life? This question is important because the parable the Lord Jesus relates is the way to eternal life. The Samaritans were despised by the Jews because many other Samaritans had married non-Jews and therefore were considered to be unclean. According to the Parable a Jew was attacked by robbers and left to die on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. While they were going that way, a priest and a Levite saw the dying man. Many questions would have run through their minds. The robbers may still be around and attack them also. They would have to go to the law-enforcement authorities and also to courts after taking the dying man to hospital. What is more they would be late for their prayer meeting or teaching in the Synagogue.Sothe inalquestiontheyrespondedtowas,“if I go to help that dying Jew and fellow citizen what would happen to me?” The focus and the centre-piece of their question was “me”. On the other hand the despised

CATHOLICS AS PATRIOTIC CITIZENS Find the Pearl within ourselves“Thekingdomofheaven is likea treasureburied ina ield.”Matthew 44:1. The men sold everything they possesed to acquire the treasure or the pearl. Searching for Jesus and the kingdom of heaven means we have to face choices and to make decisions, sometimes it may require us to make harsh decisions that we would prefer not to make. There will be passing treasures that in the short-term might be tempting but fails to offer us the happiness we truly desire.

In our First Reading, Solomon gave up so much treasure, so he could have God’s wisdom in order to discern between good and evil. There is real treasure in Jesus, for whom we mustcarryourcrossinorderto indHim.Whatisthetreasurethat gives us real happiness? If we carry our cross we will discover a pearl inside of us, that pearl is Jesus. When we face adif icultcircumstance, itmay feel likeadisasterbutafterawhile,thatcrossturnsouttobeabene it.St.Paultellsus,‘Weknow that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love Him’. We will face passing treasure in the short-term which would be tempting but would not give us the happiness we really want. There is the real treasure, Jesus, for whom we sometimes carry our crosses in order to indHim.Whatisthetreasurethatgivesusrealhappiness?Bycarryingourcrosswewill indthereal treasure, thepearlofimmense value that is inside of us, Jesus.Howdowe ind this pearl? it is by journeying into our

own hearts, by praying and receiving the Sacraments and getting to know the Bible. Let us pray more, and receive the Sacraments and get to know the Bible. So the pearl, Jesus, may grow within us, a treasure that will not let us down. Then we can go off happy like the man in the parable.

Chris Silva

4 The Messenger August 2, 2020 5 August 2, 2020 Messenger

First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-3Prophet Isaiah consoles

the people in exile. He refers to the banquet. He tells the people that they should hope in the Lord only and not have hopes on outsiders.

Second Reading: Romans 8: 35, 37-39

No power in this world can separate the Lord from His people.

Gospel: Matthew 14: 13-21Carried away by the

preaching of Jesus; they follow Him. He is least concerned about the place where He is preaching. They are interested only in listening to Him. The miracle of the multiplication of loaves occurred in a place away from the town. The Lord is compassionate. He feeds them not only with His words even with actual food.

Re lectionWe often drift away from

the Lord at the slightest distraction because of our weak faith. But the Lord’s love for us is very strong. No power, however invincible it is, can separate the Lord from His people. The Incarnation alone is ample proof to grasp the depth of the love the Lord has for us. Godsacri icedHisonlySonfor us. What more could we expect from Him as proof of His love? Therefore nothing should take us away from the love of God. No trouble or spell should come between us. The Son, in all His life was faithful to the Father.

That is why the First Reading tells us not to look for consolation from outside. The comfort provided by the world is short-lived. The Lord works all things for our salvation and that at no cost. He gives everything to His people out of His out-pouring love and compassion. Those who received them in faith are saved.In the Gospel we ind

that people are interested in Christ’s teaching. They came in numbers to listen to Him quite unconcerned about its duration and location. They had been even unconcerned about food. They did not feel the time passing. This was because they were so united with the Lord in His word. Nothing could separate them from the love of Lord. What was poured out later in the form of food was the love of the Lord. It proves that the Lord’s love for His people is total and full. He was not only concerned about the spiritual food, the message or the Word of God but also physical food. Therefore He asked His Apostles who reminded Him about food to feed them. There were no food and it proves that they had not even been concerned about food when it comes to listening to the Lord. The Lord who saw their faith in Him multiplied bread and fed them all. Such is the Love of the Lord. It is total and, inseparable also spiritual and even temporal it is everlasting.

Aid Story 1A tourist visited the

magni icent Cathedral ofDiakevar in Croatia and coming out met a ragged beggar. The tourist who did not care much for the Church asked, “Listen, what do you think of all the luxury inside the temple?” The poor man gave him this beautiful answer, “ah my good friend, I very often pray for our Bishop who built this beautiful Church for us. This gives me an idea on earth of how beautiful everything will be in heaven.”

Aid Story 2A mother was telling

her six year old about the Golden Rule. “Always remember,” she said, “that we are here to help others.” “Well, what are the others here for?” asked the little girl.

OurLadyreplied:“Ihavealreadyprepareda loodofgraces for all the children who listen to my words and keep them in their hearts”. She assured Pierina that she would return at a suitable time when the Secret entrusted to her, would be made public through the Ecclesiastical authority. Our Lady then said ‘good bye’. Pierina withdrew to a convent where, hidden from the world, she served in the kitchen and where she waited in silence for the hour which, as promised, came after 19 years, on White Sunday (Sunday after Easter), 17th April, 1966, in Fontanelle, a settlement of only a few houses spread around and situated about 2.3 km outside Montichiari. Our Blessed Lady kept her promise.

Miraculous Healing During this ApparitionParents brought in the church a boy of about

iveorsixyearswhowassuffering frompolioandcould not stand or walk. Other parents brought their daughter, about twenty-six years old, who suffered since she was twelve years old from severe tuberculosis. She had not been able to utter a single word for the last nine years. In the same moment both were completely healed. The girl who had not been able to speak a word for the past nine years now sang with a full voice a song of praise. Since then she has been able to sing and speak without anydif iculty.

The parents of the boy carried him in their arms into the church, now he could stand and walk. Later on he was shown in public from a balcony to the rejoicing crowd in the big square in front of the church. The whole crowd was deeply stirred when they saw the child jump up and down. He declared, “I have seen Our Lady in the church and she smiled at me benevolently”. Since that time both have been in good health. The boy married some years ago and the girl has become a pious God-fearing nun who is living only to expiate for the religious orders and priests.

A Third MiracleThe third miracle happened during the time of

the appearance of Our Lady, not in the church of Montichiari, but in a private home of the town. A girl of about thirty-six years was healed at home during the time of the apparition. From childhood on she was not normal but also not completely mentally disturbed. She could not speak, but the worst thing was that she had no control over her bodily functions. Her sister-in-law had to stay with her at home while her father went to the cathedral to the anticipated appearance of Our Lady. Her sister-in-law prayed the holy Rosary at the time of the appearance and exclaimed spontaneously, “Our dear Lady, if you are really present in the Church of Montichiari, please heal this poor sick girl!” In the same moment the sick person was healed completely. She was healed forever! Loud and full of joy she prayed with her sister-in-law the holy Rosary to the end. When the father came home from the church, he was astonished and full of joy upon seeing his daughter healed.

This miracle especially caused a sensation and was later on declared to be the most important one by several physicians. As in this case, any mass suggestion had to be excluded. The healing was lasting. The girl died some years later, but one of her brothers is still alive and can witness to all this.

Pierina GilliSECOND PHASE OF THE APPARITIONS IN FONTANELLE

By order of the Reverend Bishop of the Diocese of Brescia, Monsignore Giacinto Tredici, Pierina spent several years in Brescia helping in a convent. The respected Father Giustino Carpin, who lived in the Franciscan monastery there, became her confessor and is still her spiritual director. In 1966 a new and second phase of the apparitions of St. Mary began. In February, 1966, Pierina was praying in her room in front of the altar of Our Lady when she had the great joy of seeing the Madonna again. Our Lady gave her consolation, a new courage, and predicted that there would be a new apparition at Fontanelle on the following Sunday after Easter, April 17, 1966.

Fontanelle is a part of Montichiari, some kilometres away from the church. Pierina had spent her childhood nearby, and so she knew Fontanelle very well. In Fontanelle there is a well and an old staircase that leads down to it. The Bishop of Brescia was informed about the predicted apparition of

St. Mary in Fontanelle. He ordered Pierina to speak to nobody about it. Accompanied only by a girl-friend, she went to Fontanelle.

First Apparition in FontanelleFirst Apparition: White Sunday 17th April 1966

On the Sunday after Easter, April 17, 1966, Pierina went up and down on the path above the well and prayed the Holy Rosary. About noon, after the Angelus, the dear Mother of the Lord appeared to her and said, “My Divine Son is total love, and He is sending me to give miraculous powers to this spring…..Asasignofpenanceandpuri icationkissthe top step”. Steps made of stone lead down from the path to the spring. “Then descend a few steps and kiss the stone again”.

Our Lady followed the seer. “Now, for a third time,kissthebottomstepandhaveacruci ixplacedthere”. With Her left hand Our Lady indicated the spot. “The sick and all my children must kiss the cruci ix and ask my Divine Son for forgiveness before they take the water, or drink from it”. Our Lady approached the spring and said: “Take mud into your hands. Wash yourself with water! This is to teach the sinners that sin makes the soul dirty, yet the soul will be cleansed again through the water of grace. Thus, the sinner will once more be pleasing to God.” What a clear symbol of the sacramental grace of God! Our Lady bowed down and touched the water from the spring in two places. She added the following words: “The wishes expressed by my Son Jesus in 1947, are to be made known to all my children. Then I gave you His messages and mine in the Basilica (Montichiari).

It is my wish, and I repeat: the sick should come to this miraculous spring and many of my children should come with them”. I wish you further to tell the faithfultheyhave irsttogotothechurchandadoremy Divine Son Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Afterwards they are to come here. First they are to give thanks to the Lord who is so benignant and merciful, and who gave so much love and grace to Montichiari”. With these words she rose in the air, openedherarmsandher cloak,which illedanimmense space in the universe. From her arm hung a white Rosary. Below on the right side of her cloak one could see the Church of Montichiari where the apparitions in 1947 had occurred. On the right side of the cloak one saw also the ‘Castle of St. Mary’, a castle built in the Middle Ages on a hill near Montichiari.

This castle has now become by Divine Providence a centre and home for the sick, the suffering, and old people. Sometime ago it was for sale and an interested party wanted to transform it into an evil nightclub. When the parish priest of Montichiari learned about these plans, he tried to check then by all means. People prayed a lot, especially to the ‘Rosa Mystica’. The idea of buying the castle for the purpose of charity was an inspiration from heaven. For this idea a well known apostle of charity, who had already founded several homes for the sick, the suffering, and old people in Italy, was found. It was Monsignore Luigi Novarese. He purchased the castle and transformed it into a home with a house-chapel for old and sick priests. The Parish Priest of Montichiari, Monsignore Rossi, invited also the Bishop of Fatima, Monsignore Joao Pereira Venancio, for the solemn inauguration. The Bishop was immensely interested in the apparition of the ‘Rosa Mystica’. Some priests were already spending their last years in the castle of St. Mary. Sometimes retreats are held for the movement of Monsignore Luigi Novarese. The former Parish Priest of Montichiari (1945-1971), Monsignore Abate Francesco Rossi, declared, “For me this is a visible and very great miracle of the ‘Rosa Mystica’, because the old Castle of St. Mary has now become a place of prayer, penitence and love, instead of a place of sin”.

On the left side, under the cloak of the Virgin, which seemed immensely wide, Pierina saw a large complex of buildings. These were the future Homes of Charity, which will be erected around the fountain. The Mother of God said, “I wish and repeat that the sick and all my children are to come here to the ‘spring of grace’”. With a wonderful smile she disappeared towards heaven. During this irstapparition in Fontanelle, some children were playing near the well who later said at home, “Pierina Gilli has seen the Madonna near the well”.

Liturgical Calendar Year A - 2nd August - 9th August 2020Sun: 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time Is. 55: 1-3; Rom. 8: 35, 37-39; Mt. 14: 13-21Mon: Jer. 28: 1-17; Mt. 14: 22-36Tue: Memorial of St. John Vianney, Priest Jer. 30: 1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Mt. 15: 1-2, 10-14Wed: Memorial of Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major Jer. 31: 1-7; Mt. 15: 21-28 or Rev. 21: 1-5a; Lk. 11: 27-28Thu: FeastofTrans igurationoftheLord Dan. 7: 9-10, 13-14 or 2 Pet. 1: 16-19; Lk. 9: 28b-36Fri: Memorials of Ss. Xystus II, Pope and Companions, Martyrs & St. Cajetan, Priest Nah. 2: 1, 3; 3: 1-3, 6-7; Mt. 16: 24-28Sat: Memorial of St. Dominic, Priest Hab. 1: 12-2: 4; Mt. 17: 14-20Sun: 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time 1 Kgs. 19: 9a, 11-13a; Rom. 9: 1-5; Mt. 14: 22-33

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeBy Very Rev. Fr. Ciswan De Croos

... dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” (Matthew 14:15)

Rosa MysticaShrine of Our Lady .... By Gerard Perera

Contd. from last week..

To be continued next week

When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; .... (Matthew 14:15)

Church in the Modern World

Cover image of “Strong in the Face of Tribulation”

VATICAN NEWS - As a sign of his closeness to those who were ill, under quar-antine, or for whatever reason, were unable to leave their homes, Pope Francis began transmitting his daily morning Mass as Italy went into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. From 9 March to 18 May, the Mass Pope Francis celebrated every morning was transmit-ted throughout the world. Thousands of people, re-gardless of religious af�ili-ation, watched or listened through the various Vati-can Media channels, and other radio and televisions stations or digital plat-forms that picked up the transmission. For many, Pope Francis’s Mass be-

Vatican publishes book containing Pope Francis’s “lockdown” homilies

came a staple for coping with the adverse effects of the Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown. Playbacks of the Mass and summaries of Pope Francis’s homi-lies were made acces-sible through the Vatican News’sYouTube channel and web portal. The com-plete texts of his homilies

were available as a down-loadable digital �ile, kept up-to-date as English trans-lations became available. Entitled Strong in the Face of Tribulation: The Church in Communion – A Sure Support in Time of Trial, the text also contains blessings and prayers, in-cluding the prayer used during the extraordinary

moment of prayer with Pope Francis on 27 March; as well as the decrees of the Apostolic Penitentiary regarding the special in-dulgences granted because of the special circumstanc-es created by the coronavi-rus pandemic. Father Giulio Ce-sareo, editorial director of Libreria Editrice Vaticana

(the Vatican Publishing House), underlined how important Pope Francis’s homilies were. “He is a fa-ther,” Father Giulio said, “a spiritual guide who ac-companied us as we lived that period. His homilies are precious because they are not only valid for back then. We still experience con�licts, shame, dif�icul-ties in praying. We were perhaps more receptive and attentive to what he told us back then. But it is important to keep his words with us so as to al-low ourselves to be con-tinually nourished by the beautiful things he said that concern life”. Since the suspen-

sion of the daily transmis-sion of the Pope’s Mass, the feedback received from many readers was that the .pdf edition be made avail-able in print. Thus, the booklet that “accompanied them as they lived through faith the �irst phase of the coronavirus pandemic” could also be a concrete keepsake of the closeness of both Pope Francis and our Lord at this devastat-ing time. The digital edi-tion of Strong in the Face of Tribulation is no longer available. The printed edi-tion is available through Amazon.com and through other publishers who ob-tain the rights to publish it.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE - Italy’s bishops will need to help their communities participate more in parish life and return to taking part in the sacraments in ways that continue to respect evolving measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, according to their conference leadership. After summer vacations end and autumn begins, the bishops are invited to “work together in order to create the conditions for being open to new forms of the church’s presence,” said a letter sent to the nation’s bishops. The letter was drafted by the leadership com-mittee of the Italian bishops’ conference, and excerpts were published on its website July 23. When Masses were once again open to the pub-lic starting May 18, there was a noted lack of attendance by families with young children, teenagers and older pa-rishioners, the letter said. Parishes will need to “listen” in order to under-stand what has contributed to their absence, it said.

After lockdown, Italy’s bishops to seek new ways to engage parishioners

With dif�iculties caused by the pandemic, there are also new opportunities, it added, praising all the priests and catechists who worked hard to maintain contact with parishioners and young people, particu-larly online. But now it is urgent they start planning new ways that respect precautions to bring people back onto a journey toward renewed community and parish life, particularly Sunday Mass, it said. There is still a sense of people feeling a great deal of uncertainty and apprehension connected with a fear of an economic collapse later in the year and with the stress or “fatigue of active participation.” “The question is, what contribution can we make to the nation? How to approach women and men who are more afraid, poorer and alone?” Starting up parish activities in the fall after the summer break “will necessarily have to be gradual and still limited by measures to protect the public’s health,” it said.

VATICAN NEWS _ Alvaro Calvente, a 15-year-old with a mental health con-dition from Malaga, Spain, completed the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage last week.He was accompanied by a family friend and his fa-ther, who documented the journey of faith on Twitter (@CaminodeAlvaro).Alvaro’s bio says he has “capabilities that you can’t even imagine.” He also says his dream is “to meet the Pope.”Pope Francis went some way to making that dream a reality, with a letter dat-ed 20 July which was pub-lished on the Diocese of Malaga’s website.“Dear Alvaro,” wrote the Pope, “I received a letter from your father in which he told me that you have �inished the Camino de

Holy Father encourages boy with disabilities on Camino de Santiago pilgrimage

Santiago and that, in your backpack, you carried not only your intentions, but also those of the many people who ‘joined you’ on the pilgrimage and asked you for prayers.”The Holy Father admired the young man’s courage in undertaking the journey during the Covid-19 crisis. “Thank you for daring to walk and for in-viting many others to walk with you,” Pope Francis wrote. “In the midst of the pandemic we are forced

to live with, you succeed-ed – with your sincerity, joy, and cheerfulness – to spark hope in the many people you met along the way or through social me-dia.”Pope Francis said Alvaro’s pilgrimage taught others “not to be afraid and to re-discover their joy, because we never walk alone.” “The Lord,” he added, “always walks be-side us. Thank you for your witness and prayers.”Finally, the Holy Father

blessed Alvaro and asked Our Lady of Mount Carmel to watch over him.“Give my greetings to your parents and brothers and sisters,” concluded Pope Francis. “And please do not forget to pray for me.” According to the Diocese of Malaga, Alvaro Calvente is the seventh of ten children, and belongs to the Neocatechumenal Way of St. Patrick’s Parish.“His intellectual disability is not an impediment to participating actively in parish life, and his joyful experience of faith is a wit-ness to all who know him,” wrote the Diocese. Along with the pil-grimage, Alvaro also start-ed a crowdfunding cam-paign to support the poor through the Cottolengo de Malaga charity.

VATICAN CITY — His Holiness Pope Francis says he is “deeply pained” over the decision by Turkey’s President to change the status of Hagia Sophia — which was origi-nally built in Istanbul as a Christian cathedral — from a museum to a mosque.In a brief improvised remark, the Pope noted that the Roman Catholic Church marked Sunday as Internation-al Day of the Sea. “And the sea brings me a little far away with my thought, to Istanbul,” the Pontiff said, speaking from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square. “I am thinking of St. Sophia and I am deeply pained.”Pope Francis said no more but was clearly referring to the move by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to formally convert the monumental building back into a mosque.The colossal Santa Sophia Cathedral, an iconic struc-ture that now attracts visitors from the world over, was turned from a place of Christian worship into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453. The Turkish secular government in 1934 decided to make it a museum.The European Union also criticized the decision to turn the building into a mosque. “When I see now what is happening with Hagia Sophia, that is a blow,” Luxem-bourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said at a meeting Monday of the bloc’s top diplomats.The Pope and the EU added their voices to strong objections by the head of the Geneva-based World Coun-cil of Churches. That organization described its “grief and dismay” in noting that Hagia Sophia has been “a place of openness, encounter and inspiration for people from all nations.” The council’s membership comprises Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican churches.Erdogan, who counts many observant Muslims as sup-porters, declared the monument open for Muslim wor-ship last Friday after a high court annulled the 1934 government decision.

Pope ‘deeply pained’ over Turkey’s conversion of

former Christian Cathedral to mosque

5 The Messenger August 2, 2020 5 August 2, 2020 Messenger

First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-3Prophet Isaiah consoles

the people in exile. He refers to the banquet. He tells the people that they should hope in the Lord only and not have hopes on outsiders.

Second Reading: Romans 8: 35, 37-39

No power in this world can separate the Lord from His people.

Gospel: Matthew 14: 13-21Carried away by the

preaching of Jesus; they follow Him. He is least concerned about the place where He is preaching. They are interested only in listening to Him. The miracle of the multiplication of loaves occurred in a place away from the town. The Lord is compassionate. He feeds them not only with His words even with actual food.

Re lectionWe often drift away from

the Lord at the slightest distraction because of our weak faith. But the Lord’s love for us is very strong. No power, however invincible it is, can separate the Lord from His people. The Incarnation alone is ample proof to grasp the depth of the love the Lord has for us. Godsacri icedHisonlySonfor us. What more could we expect from Him as proof of His love? Therefore nothing should take us away from the love of God. No trouble or spell should come between us. The Son, in all His life was faithful to the Father.

That is why the First Reading tells us not to look for consolation from outside. The comfort provided by the world is short-lived. The Lord works all things for our salvation and that at no cost. He gives everything to His people out of His out-pouring love and compassion. Those who received them in faith are saved.In the Gospel we ind

that people are interested in Christ’s teaching. They came in numbers to listen to Him quite unconcerned about its duration and location. They had been even unconcerned about food. They did not feel the time passing. This was because they were so united with the Lord in His word. Nothing could separate them from the love of Lord. What was poured out later in the form of food was the love of the Lord. It proves that the Lord’s love for His people is total and full. He was not only concerned about the spiritual food, the message or the Word of God but also physical food. Therefore He asked His Apostles who reminded Him about food to feed them. There were no food and it proves that they had not even been concerned about food when it comes to listening to the Lord. The Lord who saw their faith in Him multiplied bread and fed them all. Such is the Love of the Lord. It is total and, inseparable also spiritual and even temporal it is everlasting.

Aid Story 1A tourist visited the

magni icent Cathedral ofDiakevar in Croatia and coming out met a ragged beggar. The tourist who did not care much for the Church asked, “Listen, what do you think of all the luxury inside the temple?” The poor man gave him this beautiful answer, “ah my good friend, I very often pray for our Bishop who built this beautiful Church for us. This gives me an idea on earth of how beautiful everything will be in heaven.”

Aid Story 2A mother was telling

her six year old about the Golden Rule. “Always remember,” she said, “that we are here to help others.” “Well, what are the others here for?” asked the little girl.

OurLadyreplied:“Ihavealreadyprepareda loodofgraces for all the children who listen to my words and keep them in their hearts”. She assured Pierina that she would return at a suitable time when the Secret entrusted to her, would be made public through the Ecclesiastical authority. Our Lady then said ‘good bye’. Pierina withdrew to a convent where, hidden from the world, she served in the kitchen and where she waited in silence for the hour which, as promised, came after 19 years, on White Sunday (Sunday after Easter), 17th April, 1966, in Fontanelle, a settlement of only a few houses spread around and situated about 2.3 km outside Montichiari. Our Blessed Lady kept her promise.

Miraculous Healing During this ApparitionParents brought in the church a boy of about

iveorsixyearswhowassuffering frompolioandcould not stand or walk. Other parents brought their daughter, about twenty-six years old, who suffered since she was twelve years old from severe tuberculosis. She had not been able to utter a single word for the last nine years. In the same moment both were completely healed. The girl who had not been able to speak a word for the past nine years now sang with a full voice a song of praise. Since then she has been able to sing and speak without anydif iculty.

The parents of the boy carried him in their arms into the church, now he could stand and walk. Later on he was shown in public from a balcony to the rejoicing crowd in the big square in front of the church. The whole crowd was deeply stirred when they saw the child jump up and down. He declared, “I have seen Our Lady in the church and she smiled at me benevolently”. Since that time both have been in good health. The boy married some years ago and the girl has become a pious God-fearing nun who is living only to expiate for the religious orders and priests.

A Third MiracleThe third miracle happened during the time of

the appearance of Our Lady, not in the church of Montichiari, but in a private home of the town. A girl of about thirty-six years was healed at home during the time of the apparition. From childhood on she was not normal but also not completely mentally disturbed. She could not speak, but the worst thing was that she had no control over her bodily functions. Her sister-in-law had to stay with her at home while her father went to the cathedral to the anticipated appearance of Our Lady. Her sister-in-law prayed the holy Rosary at the time of the appearance and exclaimed spontaneously, “Our dear Lady, if you are really present in the Church of Montichiari, please heal this poor sick girl!” In the same moment the sick person was healed completely. She was healed forever! Loud and full of joy she prayed with her sister-in-law the holy Rosary to the end. When the father came home from the church, he was astonished and full of joy upon seeing his daughter healed.

This miracle especially caused a sensation and was later on declared to be the most important one by several physicians. As in this case, any mass suggestion had to be excluded. The healing was lasting. The girl died some years later, but one of her brothers is still alive and can witness to all this.

Pierina GilliSECOND PHASE OF THE APPARITIONS IN FONTANELLE

By order of the Reverend Bishop of the Diocese of Brescia, Monsignore Giacinto Tredici, Pierina spent several years in Brescia helping in a convent. The respected Father Giustino Carpin, who lived in the Franciscan monastery there, became her confessor and is still her spiritual director. In 1966 a new and second phase of the apparitions of St. Mary began. In February, 1966, Pierina was praying in her room in front of the altar of Our Lady when she had the great joy of seeing the Madonna again. Our Lady gave her consolation, a new courage, and predicted that there would be a new apparition at Fontanelle on the following Sunday after Easter, April 17, 1966.

Fontanelle is a part of Montichiari, some kilometres away from the church. Pierina had spent her childhood nearby, and so she knew Fontanelle very well. In Fontanelle there is a well and an old staircase that leads down to it. The Bishop of Brescia was informed about the predicted apparition of

St. Mary in Fontanelle. He ordered Pierina to speak to nobody about it. Accompanied only by a girl-friend, she went to Fontanelle.

First Apparition in FontanelleFirst Apparition: White Sunday 17th April 1966

On the Sunday after Easter, April 17, 1966, Pierina went up and down on the path above the well and prayed the Holy Rosary. About noon, after the Angelus, the dear Mother of the Lord appeared to her and said, “My Divine Son is total love, and He is sending me to give miraculous powers to this spring…..Asasignofpenanceandpuri icationkissthe top step”. Steps made of stone lead down from the path to the spring. “Then descend a few steps and kiss the stone again”.

Our Lady followed the seer. “Now, for a third time,kissthebottomstepandhaveacruci ixplacedthere”. With Her left hand Our Lady indicated the spot. “The sick and all my children must kiss the cruci ix and ask my Divine Son for forgiveness before they take the water, or drink from it”. Our Lady approached the spring and said: “Take mud into your hands. Wash yourself with water! This is to teach the sinners that sin makes the soul dirty, yet the soul will be cleansed again through the water of grace. Thus, the sinner will once more be pleasing to God.” What a clear symbol of the sacramental grace of God! Our Lady bowed down and touched the water from the spring in two places. She added the following words: “The wishes expressed by my Son Jesus in 1947, are to be made known to all my children. Then I gave you His messages and mine in the Basilica (Montichiari).

It is my wish, and I repeat: the sick should come to this miraculous spring and many of my children should come with them”. I wish you further to tell the faithfultheyhave irsttogotothechurchandadoremy Divine Son Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Afterwards they are to come here. First they are to give thanks to the Lord who is so benignant and merciful, and who gave so much love and grace to Montichiari”. With these words she rose in the air, openedherarmsandher cloak,which illedanimmense space in the universe. From her arm hung a white Rosary. Below on the right side of her cloak one could see the Church of Montichiari where the apparitions in 1947 had occurred. On the right side of the cloak one saw also the ‘Castle of St. Mary’, a castle built in the Middle Ages on a hill near Montichiari.

This castle has now become by Divine Providence a centre and home for the sick, the suffering, and old people. Sometime ago it was for sale and an interested party wanted to transform it into an evil nightclub. When the parish priest of Montichiari learned about these plans, he tried to check then by all means. People prayed a lot, especially to the ‘Rosa Mystica’. The idea of buying the castle for the purpose of charity was an inspiration from heaven. For this idea a well known apostle of charity, who had already founded several homes for the sick, the suffering, and old people in Italy, was found. It was Monsignore Luigi Novarese. He purchased the castle and transformed it into a home with a house-chapel for old and sick priests. The Parish Priest of Montichiari, Monsignore Rossi, invited also the Bishop of Fatima, Monsignore Joao Pereira Venancio, for the solemn inauguration. The Bishop was immensely interested in the apparition of the ‘Rosa Mystica’. Some priests were already spending their last years in the castle of St. Mary. Sometimes retreats are held for the movement of Monsignore Luigi Novarese. The former Parish Priest of Montichiari (1945-1971), Monsignore Abate Francesco Rossi, declared, “For me this is a visible and very great miracle of the ‘Rosa Mystica’, because the old Castle of St. Mary has now become a place of prayer, penitence and love, instead of a place of sin”.

On the left side, under the cloak of the Virgin, which seemed immensely wide, Pierina saw a large complex of buildings. These were the future Homes of Charity, which will be erected around the fountain. The Mother of God said, “I wish and repeat that the sick and all my children are to come here to the ‘spring of grace’”. With a wonderful smile she disappeared towards heaven. During this irstapparition in Fontanelle, some children were playing near the well who later said at home, “Pierina Gilli has seen the Madonna near the well”.

Liturgical Calendar Year A - 2nd August - 9th August 2020Sun: 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time Is. 55: 1-3; Rom. 8: 35, 37-39; Mt. 14: 13-21Mon: Jer. 28: 1-17; Mt. 14: 22-36Tue: Memorial of St. John Vianney, Priest Jer. 30: 1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Mt. 15: 1-2, 10-14Wed: Memorial of Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major Jer. 31: 1-7; Mt. 15: 21-28 or Rev. 21: 1-5a; Lk. 11: 27-28Thu: FeastofTrans igurationoftheLord Dan. 7: 9-10, 13-14 or 2 Pet. 1: 16-19; Lk. 9: 28b-36Fri: Memorials of Ss. Xystus II, Pope and Companions, Martyrs & St. Cajetan, Priest Nah. 2: 1, 3; 3: 1-3, 6-7; Mt. 16: 24-28Sat: Memorial of St. Dominic, Priest Hab. 1: 12-2: 4; Mt. 17: 14-20Sun: 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time 1 Kgs. 19: 9a, 11-13a; Rom. 9: 1-5; Mt. 14: 22-33

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeBy Very Rev. Fr. Ciswan De Croos

... dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” (Matthew 14:15)

Rosa MysticaShrine of Our Lady .... By Gerard Perera

Contd. from last week..

To be continued next week

6 The Messenger August 2, 2020

(Jesus) said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” (Matthew 14:16)

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time– Meditation (Matthew 14:13-21) – Year A

The Choice Paradox

Rev. Fr. Nilindra Gunesekera

In our meditation we place ourselves at the scene of the Gospel, to re-live it, and to be nourished and challenged by it, today. Jesus is at Nazareth when

news reaches us that John the Baptist has been be-headed. As the Gospel narrates, Jesus having heard the news, withdraws from Nazareth in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds come to know about it, they follow Him on foot from the towns (Matthew 14:13-14). Picture in your mind that we are among the crowd.

The Gospel narrates that as Jesus goes ashore He sees a great throng; and He has compassion on them, and begins to heal their sick.

When it is evening, we, His disciples come to Jesus and now picture in your mind that it is Philip who says, ‘This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves’. To our amazement Jesus replies, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat’. Pic-ture in your mind that it is Philip who protests on be-half of the rest saying, ‘We have only �ive loaves here, and two �ish’. Piture in your mind Jesus commanding us saying, ‘Bring them here to me’. We do so (Matthew 14:13-18).

Now, picture in your mind Philip standing next to Jesus holding the basket containing the �ive loaves and two �ish. Then as the Gospel narrates Jesus orders the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the �ive loaves and the two �ish, looks up to heaven, and blesses, and breaks and gives the loaves to us, His disciples, and we give them to the crowds (Matthew 14:19).

Now, in this meditation, picture in your mind once again, how we hand over the basket of food to the per-

son nearest us, and then ask him to pass it on to others. As the people pass the basket around and take their share of bread and �ish, I see that the basket need not be replenished with food. Though the people keep on passing the basket around and take their share of bread and �ish, the contents of the basket do not diminish. We watch with our mouths agape.

Now, picture in your mind the quick-thinking Mat-thew bringing along another basket and �illing it with bread and �ish from the �irst one, which he hands over to another group. Even as they pass it around, the same phenomenon takes place; the bread and the �ish do not diminish in quantity even as the people take their re-quirement.

Then, Peter says to the other apostles, ‘Bring a bas-ket each’. One by one the rest of the apostles bring along an empty basket. Peter �ills each with the bread and the �ish from the �irst basket. The �irst basket of food con-taining the �ive loaves and two �ish which Jesus blessed does not empty. I watch in amazement. In turn, each apostle carries away a basket full of food containing bread and �ish, which is handed over to people to pass around among themselves.

Picture in your mind that we, the disciples of Jesus, walk amidst the crowd overseeing the distribution of food. The more food people take out of each basket, the more food remains in it. This is a miracle. None of the baskets seem to be emptied. As the holy Gospel states they all ate and were satis�ied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who ate were about �ive thousand men, besides women and children (Matthew 14:20-21).

We continue our meditation, as we picture in our minds Jesus saying to us, ‘You will understand the full signi�icance of this miracle only at the Last Supper.

This miracle will reinforce your conviction that the bread of the Last Supper will never run out. All nations will come and eat of this bread’. As we continue our meditation, picture in your mind Peter saying to Jesus, ‘John the Baptist’s beheading was plotted at a banquet in Herod’s palace. In contrast, here in a desert place, you O Lord have fed �ive thousand. At Herod’s banquet there was pride, human manipulation, conspiracy and murder. At your banquet, O Master, there is simplic-ity, trust, and the sustenance of life. O Lord, you are a prophet greater than Elisha who fed a hundred men with twenty barley loaves (cf. 2 Kings 4:42-44). You are the awaited ̀ Eschatological Prophetˊ awaited at the end times, about whom Moses spoke about during Israel’s years in the wilderness (cf. Deuteronomy 18:15). Yet, you have brought salvation through forgiveness, for you are Emmanuel, God with us whose sole intent is to save always and everywhere. You have inaugurated times of salvation, not damnation. For God has revealed His face of mercy in you. Yet, it will be at the cost of the cruci�ix-ion. So, you have said that anyone who does not take up the cross and follow you is unworthy of you (Matthew 10:38). Yet, salvation hinges upon divine forgiveness, and not human effort which is salutary only because we must co-operate with prevenient (undeserved) grace’. Picture in your mind Jesus replying saying, ‘This miracle of loaves points to the Eschatological Banquet’ that awaits those who are saved when the kingdom of God is realized in full. But before all this takes place, the Last Supper must also be celebrated in my memory. This miracle of loaves is immediate preparation for the Last Supper at which I shall leave you my ‘real pres-ence’ to dispel all your doubts and fears, and a sign that I give you my very body in an everlasting covenant so that none of you will be lost’.

Choices and free willThe will is that aspect of the human person by

which we choose to take certain actions. Every day we make decisions using our free will and when our choic-es prove right they strengthen us to stick to them.

Of course, the will cannot know what these choices are unless thinking and re�lection on the various pos-sibilities take place �irst. We cannot choose something without having known the alternatives beforehand. Our minds take in information on the possibilities in front of us.

Afterwards, our reasoning power analyzes each possibility, asking, “What will work? Why will it work? Can I do this? Is this the best way of doing it?” We go through this process every time we go to a store to buy something, pick which movie to watch, choose which course to study, or decide what to eat for lunch.

On all levels of life, we try to learn what our options are, and we rationally think about each one. Without the use of our reason, we could not weigh the advan-tages and disadvantages of each option.

Certainly, some people want to be spontaneous and simply “go with the �low” without a lot of thought be-forehand. They subscribe to the Nike slogan, “Just Do It.” But the fact is that the intellect, not spontaneous gut feel, is what makes free will possible. Each person can know and understand the available choices in life. Then that person can make a choice and with it a com-mitment. Good decision making is the core of human freedom.

However, freedom of the will is not the be-all and end-all of life. Various existentialist philosophers de-nied that life had any meaning except for the ability to make free choices. This could cause havoc in our per-sonal lives and society at large. Freedom does not con-sist in choosing or having multiple choices but rather in

the manner we make decisions, meaning in whether we choose what is right and what is good.

“We Christians have heard the incredibly good news that God not only exists but that He loves each person and invites each person to choose to accept that love." Everyone can study Scripture and Church teaching, and everyone can weigh the merits of faith by thinking and re�lecting on it. However, at some point, we exercise our free will by accepting God's grace of faith. We not only believe His truths in our minds, but we also make a commitment to Him and choose to be faithful to Him.

“This means that simply being free and having free will is not the highest good of human existence,” Fr. Mitch Pacwa adds. “Rather, the highest choice of our will is to choose to love God and follow Him throughout this life and into eternal life. It leads not to meaning-lessness but to eternal life in heaven, loving and being loved for all eternity.”

Paradox: more choices, less happiness Barry Schwartz is a professor at Swarthmore Col-

lege, and he argues that the freedom to choose we so longed for 50 years ago is one of the main roots of our unhappiness today.

In his book, The Paradox Of Choice, Schwartz says that “the more options you have, the harder it gets to decide and to decide well. Secondly, the more options you have, the less happy you will be, no matter what you decide on. Thirdly, good enough is the best: become a satis�icer.

The book admits you cannot argue that we do not have enough choice nowadays. Between 1975 and 2008, the average number of products in a supermar-ket has risen from under 9,000 to over 47,000.

When trying to combine speakers, a tuner, an am-pli�ier, a compact disc player, and a bunch of other com-

ponents into a stereo system, just one electronics store will give you a massive 6.5 million different combina-tions. This is just to set up a stereo system!

We always claim we want freedom, but Barry Schwartz suggests it might have gotten a little too much. For two reasons: �irst, “having so much choice makes it extremely hard to choose at all”; second, “hav-ing so much choice makes it extremely likely you’ll make a mistake.”

The research necessary to buy a pair of shoes these days is mind-boggling and could easily be a full-time job. While researching a lot might just be a waste of time for shoes, for health insurance or retirement plans, it is necessary.

Similarly, this study showed that when students have to choose from an array of snacks three weeks in advance, they will make wrong assumptions about the future, and therefore choose snacks they end up don’t like.

Pandemic paradoxesWe probably agree that the coronavirus pandemic

brought with it a host of paradoxes. Fr. Henry observes, “We all practice social distancing, but we close ranks and show human solidarity more than ever. Public wor-ship came to a halt, but homes have become domestic churches. The �low of income is almost nil, but people spend much less. We do not get to meet our friends, yet we are interconnected online like never before. We may be deprived of the many things we like to do, but it sets us free from useless attachments. Social life is curtailed, only to give us quality time with our family. Sedentary con�inement makes us gain weight? Living rooms have become instant gyms.” We cannot go out to buy our fa-vourite cake but we can bake one.

Contd on Pg 15

7 The Messenger August 2, 2020

But they said to him, “Five loaves and two �ish are all we have here.” Then he said,... (Matthew 14:17-18)

‘Feeding the hungry’- � e Seed Corn of

Miracles“When you give, you lose …Am I correct Little Bird?”“What did you lose? ”“Some say when you give… you receive…But I think I lose when I give. What’s your take on this?”“I agree with the former.”“That means you too believe that when you give you receive?”“Yea..”“But it sounds stupid Little Bird! That is bad logic.”“Well, miracles do not come under Logic”“There’s no miracle there. When you add, it becomes bigger. 5+5 = 10. When you deduct it becomes less. 5-3 = 2. That’s simple arithmetic. So, how come that you too are misled badly?”“My friend .. that’s the biggest mistake some people do..”“What’s the mistake?...You mean my calculations are wrong?”“No…what I mean is, trying to categorize miracles under logic or mathematics is a big mistake. People are trying to understand and explain everything from a logical point of view. That’s absurd. We live in a miraculous universe. But some don’t understand it because of their inebriated capacity to think, and some others don’t understand because of their per-verse pride."“Ok …explain to me how it happens…How can we receive when we give?”“Not only you’ll receive…you’ll get it back multiplied many times over..”“W.H.A.T..??...how can that be?…If I have a hundred rupees and give ten rupees away, I am left with nine-ty rupees…Any fool knows that the money is gone…you say it is multiplied…how silly!”“A miracle is some unbelievable unexpected sur-prise. We experience miracles with our own senses, but we don’t know how it happens. ”“Examples?”"Don’t ask for examples… From the �irst cry of the newborn to the last gasp of life, all what you use for survival is a miracle and is a gift from God..The air we breathe, the water we drink, the fra-grance of a �lower, the smile of a child, the taste of a fruit ….I can’t �inish the list. All these are miracles. They are not made by man. These are operating un-der the Laws of God.Take water from a well. It doesn’t lose water. The following morning it will be �illed with pure water. Put one grain of paddy into the soil. You will get bushels of grain… Same rules apply for ‘giving’…Give a smile. You will get smiles back. Help someone in need. You will get help from unexpected sourc-es. Give money for a deserving person. You will get money multiplied many times over. Feed the hun-gry. You will never go hungry.Did you hear about how Jesus fed 5000 with just �ive loves and two �ish?”“Yes…That of course is a miracle?”“There you are!..Trust Jesus and imitate Him. People are hungry for a loving word, a shoulder to cry, money or food for survival. “Feed” them. Give. The more you give, the more will be yours to give.Give like Jesus, believing that it will multiply.It certainly will!

Michael Angelo Fernando

Angeljune2@hotmail.com

Meeting Religious needs through comparative Media

There is a demand today for the social media to be responsible for meeting religious needs among other things. To promote peace among

religions and to be the protagonist of truth carries with it a number of challenges. While the various tools of social communication in comparative media facilitate the exchange of religious information ideas and mutual understanding among religious groups, they are also, tainted by ambiguity. Side by side with the provision of a great opportunity for religious dialogue certain ten-dencies within the religious media engender a kind of monoculture that reduce creative genius, de�lates the subtlety of complex thought and undervalues the speci-�icity of cultural practices and the particularity of reli-gious belief.

In our country Sri Lanka, much of the media is reli-giously, ethnically and politically polarised in the same manner that the larger society is. The main line of di-vision in religious media is linguistic with little cross fertilization between the language streams. Those who are monolingual in the national languages face a high dif�iculty in obtaining a comprehensive view of religious programmes as there is no Tamil medium religious media. What they are most likely to obtain are partial programmes in which the vision and pre conceptions of only one segment of the country's multi religious and multi ethnic population re�lects. In this context it is the quality of being self critical that informs us that we are not in possession of the whole truth however sincere may be our intentions.

Modern technology places at our disposal unprec-edented possibilities for good, for spreading the truth of our salvation in Jesus Christ and for fostering harmo-ny and reconciliation. The speed with which religious information travels today naturally increases the pos-sibility for timely practical measures designed to offer maximum exposure. In this way the religious media can

achieve an immense amount of good.Religious media has the tremendous power to mo-

bilize and gather the masses and could create problems too in society. Some media with ulterior motives exploit their privileges to proliferate their whims and fancies in myths, rituals, superstitions and false beliefs. Some of the Box of�ice success of �ilms such as 'The Exorcist' for example show apparently how the media could carry weight with evil all over the world particularly among the youth.

The promotion of dialogue through the exchange of education, the expression of solidarity and the espousal of religious peace offers a tremendous opportunity for the mass media which must be recognized and exer-cised. In this particular way they become in�luential and appreciated resources for building the civilization of love for which all peoples yearn. Religious journalism and media enterprise are worthy professions and they do immense service to social spheres by exposing the violations of the human rights of people exposing cor-ruption by the powers that be and upholding the rule of law. We must all pray for all the men and women of our media that they will play their part in breaking down the dividing walls of hostility that separate our people from one another and act as a watch dog of our funda-mental rights and religious freedom. Pope Pius xiii in 1959 issued an encyclical 'Miranda Pores' in which his holiness pointed out that Media is a gift from God. Simi-larly the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council in 1962 is-sued a Decree on the means of Social Communication, Inter Miri�ica which in particular recognized the power of the Media to in�luence the whole of human society. The need to harness that power for the bene�it of all mankind has prompted all to re�lect on the idea of the media as a network facilitating communication, com-munion and cooperation on religious matters.

Miran Perera

God gives us a bumper harvest. Are we ready?

This is a well-known Parable, where Jesus uses the experience of the Galilean farmer to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven. This Parable could

be understood in two ways. One is, contained within the Parable itself. It describes the different threats to the seed, which represents the Word of God. There is rocky ground, the weeds choking the growth of the seed, the birds eating some of the seed, and the heat of the sun. Despite it, all God ensures is a bumper harvest, even though there are threats to His Word taking root. The Parable gives each one of us and the Church encourage-ment when we feel overwhelmed by many threats to the growth of the seed, the Word. We are called to place our trust in God, the Lord of the harvest.

The second part of the Parable gives us an explana-tion. The emphasis shifts from God's activity in ensur-ing a bumper harvest to each one of us, THE DIFFER-ENT WAYS IN WHICH WE MAY RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD. The Parable which began with encouragement now becomes a parable of warning. the two approaches are necessary.

Are we so consumed by our daily cares that we choke the Word of God? Our heavenly Father has given us the freedom to place in the background of our lives if it suits us or the freedom to shut Him out altogether. It is easy to be an enthusiastic Christian when no de-mands are made of us. Sometimes our commitment can be lukewarm; it cannot withstand the �ire of tempta-tions and the opposition of persecution. It is when the going gets tough in following Jesus that our lukewarm commitment will curl and die.

The birds of the air that eat the seed, what of them? They represent all the in�luences that undermine our faith- the secular values of our world that constantly

undermine our faith, the bad company, unpalatable ma-terial on TV or the internet, or the material we choose to read. All of these can prevent the Word of God from taking hold of our lives. If we want the Word of God to be fruitful in our lives it has to be sown in good, recep-tive soil.

The Parable should not make us gloomy instead it is meant to give us encouragement. The latter part of the explanation is a warning when we �ind the going is hard and dif�icult to persevere and be con�ident that with the help of God we can overcome and surmount the dif�i-culties to be apart of the harvest of the Kingdom. This can only happen if we do not take God and our salvation for granted. Jesus gives a warning of the consequences of not being receptive to the Word of God.

We are called to examine our attitude and approach to the Word of God. We are called to draw encourage-ment from God's power and desire to overcome all the obstacles to a successful harvest. We can do this if we let Him in. He can make our barren lives fruitful. We can also prevent this happy outcome. Jesus can protect us from the weeds which can threaten to choke our Chris-tian commitment and to destroy the Good News of the Kingdom. Let us then, con�idently seek the kingdom of God and allow nothing to undermine our growth as fol-lowers of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Rev. Fr. Christopher Silva

8 The Messenger August 2, 2020Messenger8 9 Messenger August 2, 2020 August 2, 2020

Introduction

1. The ecclesiological re lection of theSecond Vatican Council, togetherwith theconsiderable social and cultural changesof recent decades, has resulted in variousParticular Churches having to reorganizethe manner in which the pastoral careof Parish communities are assigned.This has made it possible to initiate newexperiences, enhancing the dimensionof communion and implementing, underthe guidance of pastors, a harmonioussynthesisofcharismsandvocationsattheservice of the proclamation of theGospel,whichbetter corresponds to thedemandsofevangelizationtoday.

Pope Francis, at the beginning of hisPetrineministry,recalledtheimportanceof“creativity”,meaningthereby“seekingnewways”,thatis“seekinghowbesttoproclaimthe Gospel”; in respect of this, the HolyFather concluded by saying, “the Church,and also the Code of Canon Law, gives usinnumerablepossibilities,muchfreedomtoseekthesethings”[1].

2. The situations outlined in the followingInstruction, represent a valuableopportunityforpastoralconversionthatisessentiallymissionary.Parishcommunitieswill indhereinacalltogooutofthemselves,offering instruments for reform, evenstructural, in a spirit of communion andcollaboration, of encounter and closeness,ofmercyandsolicitudefortheproclamationoftheGospel.

I. Pastoral Conversion 3. Pastoral conversion is one of thecentral themes in the “new phase ofevangelization”[2] that the Church iscalled to foster today, whereby Christiancommunities be ever more centresconducivetoanencounterwithChrist.

TheHolyFather,inthisregard,recommendsthat:“Ifsomethingshouldrightlydisturbusand trouble our consciences, it is the factthat so many of our brothers and sistersare living without the strength, light andconsolation born of friendship with JesusChrist, without a community of faith tosupportthem,withoutmeaningandagoalinlife.Morethanbyfearofgoingastray,myhopeisthatwewillbemovedbythefearofremainingshutupwithinstructureswhichgiveusafalsesenseofsecurity,withinruleswhichmakeusharshjudges,withinhabitswhichmakeusfeelsafe,whileatourdoorpeoplearestarvingandJesusdoesnottireof saying to us: “Give them something toeat”(Mk6:37)”[3].

4. Urged on by this concern, the Church“faithfultoherowntraditionandatthesametimeconsciousofheruniversalmission,shecanenterintocommunionwiththevariouscivilizations, to their enrichment and theenrichmentof theChurchherself”[4].Thefruitful and creative encounter betweenthe Gospel and the culture leads to trueprogress: on the one hand, the Word ofGodisincarnateinthehistoryofmen,thusrenews it; on the otherhand, “theChurch[…] can and ought to be enriched by thedevelopment of human social life”[5],enhancing thereby, inourpresentage, themissionentrustedtoherbyChrist.

5. The Church proclaims that the Word,“became leshandlivedamongus”(Jn1:14).This Word of God, who loves to dwell inourmidst,inhisinexhaustiblerichness[6],was received the world over by diversepeoples,inspiringinthemthemostnobleof

aspirations,suchasthedesireforGod,thedignityofeveryhumanlife,equalityamongmen and respect for differencewithin thesingle human family, dialogue as ameansto participation, a longing for peace,welcomeasanexpressionoffraternityandsolidarity,togetherwitharesponsiblecareforcreation[7].

It is unthinkable, therefore, that suchnewness, whose propagation to the endsof the earth remains incomplete, abatesor, worse still, disappears[8]. In orderfor the journey of the Word to continue,the Christian community must make adeterminedmissionarydecision“capableoftransformingeverything,sothattheChurch’scustoms, ways of doing things, times andschedules, language and structures can besuitably channelled for the evangelizationof today’s world rather than for her self-preservation”[9].

II. The Parish in a contemporary context

6. Theaforesaidmissionaryconversion,whichnaturally leads to a reform of structures,concerns the Parish in particular, namelythatcommunitygatheredaroundtheTableoftheWordandtheEucharist.

TheParishhasalonghistoryandfromtheoutset, ithasplayedafundamentalrole inthelifeofChristiansandinthedevelopmentandpastoralworkoftheChurch.WecanseethisinthewritingsofSaintPaul.SeveralofthePaulinetextsshowustheformationofsmall communities as domestic churches,which the Apostle simply calls a “house”(cf.,forexample,Rm16:3-5;1Co16:19-20;Phil 4:22). With these “houses”, we get aforetasteofthebirthofthe irst“Parishes”.

7. Sinceitsinception,theParishisenvisionedas a response to a precise pastoral need,namely that of bringing the Gospel to thePeople through the proclamation of thefaithandthecelebrationoftheSacraments.Theetymologyofthewordmakesclearthemeaning of the institution: the Parish is ahouseamonghouses[10]andisaresponsetothelogicoftheIncarnationofJesusChrist,alive and active among the community. Itis visibly characterized then, as a place ofworship,asignofthepermanentpresenceoftheRisenLordinthemidstofhisPeople.

8. The territorial con iguration of theParish, however,must confront a peculiarcharacteristic of our contemporaryworld,wherebyincreasedmobilityandthedigitalculture have expanded the con ines ofexistence. On the one hand, people areless associated today with a de inite andimmutable geographical context, livinginstead in “a global and pluralist village”;on the other hand, the digital culturehas inevitably altered the concept ofspace, together with people’s languageand behaviour, especially in youngergenerations.

Moreover, it is quite easy to hypothesizeabout how the continuous developmentof technology will ultimately changeour way of thinking, together with theunderstanding of self and of social living.The speed of change, successive culturalmodels, the ease of movement, and thespeed of communication are transformingtheperceptionofspaceandtime.

9. As a living community of believers, theParish inds itself in a context wherebythe territorial af iliation is increasinglyless evident, where places of associationare multiplied and where interpersonalrelationships risk being dissolved into a

virtualworldwithout any commitment orresponsibilitytowardsone’sneighbour.

10.ItisnoteworthyhowsuchculturalchangesandtheevolvingterritorialtiesarefosteringwithintheChurch,throughthegraceoftheHoly Spirit, a new discernment aroundcommunity, “which consists in seeingreality with the eyes of God, with a viewtounityandcommunion” [11].ThewholePeople of Godmust urgently embrace theHolySpirit’sinvitationtobegintheprocessof“renewing”thefaceoftheChurch.

III. The value of the Parish today 11.In virtue of this discernment, the Parishis called upon to read the signs of thetimes, while adapting both to the needsof the faithful and tohistorical changes.ArenewedvitalityisrequiredthatfavourstherediscoveryofthevocationofthebaptizedasadiscipleofJesusChristandamissionaryoftheGospel,inlightoftheSecondVaticanCouncilandsubsequentMagisterium.

12.The Council Fathers were prescient inwriting: “the care of souls should alwaysbe infused with a missionary spirit”[12].In continuity with this teaching, SaintJohn Paul II speci ied that: “Whilst theParish is perfected and integrated in avariety of forms, it nevertheless remainsan indispensable organism of primaryimportance in the visible structure of theChurch”, whereby “evangelization is thecornerstone of all pastoral action, thedemandsofwhichareprimary,preeminentand preferential”[13]. Subsequently,BenedictXVItaught,“theparishisabeaconthat radiates the light of the faith andthus responds to the deepest and truestdesiresofthehumanheart,givingmeaningand hope to the lives of individuals andfamilies”[14]. Lastly, PopeFrancis recalledhow “theparish encourages and trains itsmemberstobeevangelizers”[15].

13.In order to promote the centrality of themissionary presence of the Christiancommunityintheworld[16],itisimportantnot only to think about a new experienceof Parish, but also about theministry andmissionof priests,who, togetherwith thelayfaithful,havethetaskofbeing“saltandlightoftheworld”(cf.Mt5:13-14),a“lampon a lamp-stand” (cf. Mk 4:21), showingforththefaceofanevangelizingcommunity,capable of an adequate reading of thesignsofthetimesandofgivingwitnesstocoherentevangelicalliving.

14.Beginningwithaconsiderationofthesignsof the times, it is necessary, in listeningto the Spirit, to produce new signs. Withthe Parish no longer being the primarygathering and social centre, as in formerdays,itisthusnecessaryto indnewformsofaccompanimentandcloseness.Ataskofthiskindoughtnottobeseenasaburden,but rather as a challenge to be embracedwithenthusiasm.

15.ImitatingtheirMaster,theLord’sdisciples,in the school of Saints and shepherds,learned, not without suffering, how toawait the times and ways of God, thusnurturing the certainty thatHe is presentuntil the end of time, and that the HolySpirit– thebeatingheart in the lifeof theChurch– gathers together the children ofGoddispersed throughout theworld.As aresult,theChristiancommunityshouldnotbeafraidtobeginandaccompanyprocesseswithin territories that are host to diversecultures, in the sure and certain hopethat, for the disciples of Christ, “nothinggenuinely human fails to raise an echo intheirhearts”[17].

To be continued next week

... “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. (Matthew 14: 18-19)

ZENIT: How did you irst get toknow Monsignor Georg Ratzinger?

Dr. Michael Hesemann: In2009, when the attacks on PopeBenedictXVIstarted,wefoundedanassociationtodefendhimandcalledit“GermanyproPapa”.OurRegensburgrepresentative, Roswitha Biersack,keptGeorgRatzingerinformedaboutall our activities and eventually, inDecember 2010, introduced me tohim.IcansaythatIlovedhimfromthevery irstmoment:Hewasthewise,gentle,humorouselderlygentlemanweallwishedtoknow.Ibroughthimsomeofmybooks,he checkedwithhisbrotherandeventuallyhetrustedme.WhenIrealizedwhatabrilliantmemory he had and how good hewas in telling stories fromhis life, Isaidtomyself:Thisissomethingwehave to preserve for the world, forthefuture.Thisishowtheprojectofour commonbook “MyBrother, thePope” was born. He was 86 at thattime,inrathergoodhealthandbestspirits,andthetimewasjustripe.

ZENIT: What struck you most about him?

Dr. Michael Hesemann: Hewas a man who hid his brillianceand greatness behind his evengreater humility. A kind soul, atrue gentleman, so warm-heartedand friendly to everyone, witha wonderful, charming, typicalBavarian mischievous sense ofhumor. At the same time, he wasdown to Earth and much moreextroverted than his rather shybrother. He loved to have peoplearound him, his house sometimesresembled a beehive, with visitorsinthemorningandafternoon.Manyof his formerRegensburgCathedralChoir Boys (“RegensburgerDomspatzen”)stayedincontactwithhimfordecades,visitedhimregularlyas if he became a member of theirfamilyandcametohelphimwhenhewasnearlyblindandunabletowalk.Theyreadbooksforhim,theywroteletters for him or just came to talkandenjoyacoffee,teaandapieceofcakewhichwasalwaysofferedinhishouse.He really changed their livesand became an inspiration for somany.So,heindeedleftabigfamilyoffriendsandstudentsbehind.

ZENIT: Dr. Hesemann, please tell us a little bit about Msgr. Georg Ratzinger. For instance, what were some of his hobbies, favorites, priorities, hopes…Dr.MichaelHesemann:Although

hewasnearlyblind,hewasextremelywell-informed about so many newbooks and publications, becausehe had his volunteer readers and abrilliant memory. You could reallytalk with him about everything,from Church-matters over policyup to football. But his great love, ofcourse, was music. I think the bestbirthdaygiftIevermadetohimwaswhen I invited a good friend, theworld-famous pianist AnastassiyaDranchuk, to play for him. Werepeatedthatonhisnextnamesdayand his last birthday. His weaknesswere sweets and I always broughthimcookiesandcakes,butmosthe

liked Christmas cookies. Generally,Christmas was very important forhim and I once, in a laudatio givenon his 90th birthday which wecelebratedintheVatican,Icalledhim“achristmassyperson”.HewasbornonJanuary15,which

was still in the Christmas seasonand as we all know, Christmas wasthebirthnotonlyofChrist,butalsoof the Church music: It was whenthe angels sung their “Hallelujah”in Bethlehem. So, the “spirit ofChristmas” in luenced his life,work and vocation and it was nocoincidencethathismostsuccessfulCD with the “RegensburgerDomspatzen” was the one withGerman Christmas Chorales; nearlyeveryGermanfamilyhasitathome.This also re lected his upbringingin a very pious family which reallycelebrated the feasts of the Churchin the most solemn way, whichprayedtherosarytogethereveryday,kneeling on the hard kitchen loorand,since itprayedtogetheralwaysstayed together in good and in badtimes.

ZENIT: What was his relationship with his brother, Joseph Ratzinger, who, if I may, refer to as Benedict?

Dr. Michael Hesemann:Adeep,brotherly love. The Ratzingerswere always a very close, loving,caring family. Thesiblingsgotevencloser when their parents died inthe 1960s; their older sister Mariabecame the housekeeper, secretaryand assistant of Joseph Ratzingerand Georg went to Regensburg asMusical Director of the RegensburgCathedral, “Domkapellmeister”.But they regularly met, celebratedthe feasts together and visited theparent’sgravewhichtheytransferredtoRegensburg.In1969,whenJosephRatzinger received the call fromRegensburgUniversityandfromnowontaughtdogmaticsthere,begunthehappiesttimeoftheiradultlife,sinceall three siblingswereunitedagain.Unfortunately, the Lord had otherplans. In 1977, Joseph Ratzingerbecame Archbishop of Munich andFreising and had to move, and in1983,PopeJohnPaulIIcalledhimtoRomeasprefectoftheCongregationfor the Doctrine of Faith. In 1991,MariaRatzingerpassedaway,whichonlystrengthenedthebondbetweenthetwosiblingswhoremained.Theywere so much looking forward tobeing together again after JosephCard. Ratzinger’s retirement.Cardinal Ratzinger kept his housein Regensburg for all those years,tocomethereforvacations,tomeethis brother and to have a place tostayafterretirementfromRome.Butonceagain,theLordhadotherplans.

InstructionThe pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of

the evangelizing mission of the Church Saint Catherine of Siena was"a unique phenomenon…among the sweetest, most

original and greatest (saints)historyhaseverrecorded".Those are the words Pope

PaulVIusedtodescribethe14th-century Italian saint during ageneralaudienceinApril1969.Itmustbesaidthatinher33years

of existence, this Sienese woman waslike a living whirlwind, sweeping upthehumbleandgreatofthisworldandturningthemtoChrist.Catherinewasbornin1347atatime

whenEuropewas in constant turmoil.FranceandEnglandweremired intheHundredYears'War.Thecitiesinwhatis now Italy were opposed to eachother.Andthepope,whowasinstalledinAvignon,couldnolongersetfootonRomansoil.The Republic of Siena, where

Catherine grew up, was not spared,with the ruling families tearing eachotherapart.The divisions and opposition that

marked the mid-14th century canremind us of certain aspects in ourown21st century... Catherine saw thisviolentfragmentationasintolerable.Yetnothingcouldhavepreparedthis

young girl from a simple background- she was almost illiterate - to indherself in a position to help bring thequarrelsome factions to peace. It wasnothing other than a luminous faith,nourished by mystical visions from averyyoungage.

"An extraordinarily modernconcept of mercy"At a time when Christianity was

disintegrating,inparticular,becauseofthe necessarily contradictory politicalinterests of princes, Catherine hadthemcallouttooneanother."Catherine was an irrepressible

young woman, extraordinarilycourageous," says Christiane Rancé,authorofabookdedicatedtothesaint."She did not submit to the

authorities who wanted to constrainher vocation: she disobeyed herparents, in her time, she expressedherdisagreementwiththePopewhenhe failed in his mission. But she wasalwaysintotalobediencetotheGospelsand the spirit of Christ," Rancé pointsout.Mother Marie des Anges Cayeux,

a Dominican who wrote her doctoralthesis on Catherine of Siena, says thesaint "is very topical because of herfreedomofspeechwithalltheelementsof society, from the highest princes tosimpleneighbors".Thus,strengthenedbyherevangeli-

cal certainty, the young womanchallenged everyone, even the Pope,whom she did not hesitate to remindwith the frankness of his duties. Inparticular, she urged him to leaveAvignonandreturntoRome-somethingthepopewouldeventuallydo,con irmedinhisintuitionbythemystic.Rancé says Catherine "understood

thedangersofdislocationandspenthertimereconcilingcitieswitheachother".She believes that the future saints

call for an end to this permanent warshows she "had an extraordinarilymodernconceptionofmercy, calling forforgiveness and the abandonment ofvengeanceoverthegenerationstocome".

Preserving Europe's Christian spirit"In today's fractured society, with

communitiesincreasinglypittedagainstone another, Catherine reminds us oftheneedforforgiveness,reconciliation,andcommunion,"Rancésays.Thewriter argues that the Sienese

saintisallthemorerelevantnow"sincetoday,inthenameoftheirancestors,weseeindividualsaskingforreparationforfaultsofwhichtheyarenotthevictims,fromgroupsofindividualswhodidnotcommit these crimes. It is awarof allagainstall".Jean-Louis Fradon, another

biographer, says: "Catherine metpeople, she spoke frankly anddirectly,goingstraighttotheheartofthemattertourgepeopletolovemore.""Todaywemustfollowherexample

tospeaktooneanother,asPopeFrancisurgesustodo,"heinsists.Mother Marie des Anges agrees

thatCatherinofSienacanstillprovideinspirationfortoday.Butshewarnsthatwemust not take her life and actionscompletely out of their historicalcontext."There was always a spiritual

dimension in Catherine's actions.Thus, she wanted to put an end todivisions because they were harmfulto Christianity, and therefore, for her,

tothehighergoodoftheChurchandofsouls,"theDominicansays."Herwillwastopreservethespirit

oftheGospelsinEurope,whichwantedthe political powers to be there todeliver the justice of Christ, forwhichtheyweretheguarantorsonthisearth,"con irmsChristianeRancé.

"A lover of the Church"So must we relegate Catherine to a

Christianagethatisnowde initivelyover?CertainlynotaccordingtoJohnPaul

II who, in 1999, proclaimed her "co-patroness of Europe" alongside SaintsBrigitteofSwedenandEdithStein.Benedict XVI explained ten years

laterthatJohnPaulmadethisdecision"so that the Old Continent will neverforgettheChristianrootsthatareattheoriginsof itsprogressandcontinue todrawfromtheGospelthefundamentalvaluesthatensurejusticeandharmony".Catherine of Siena, therefore, is

a help in the age-old debate on theChristianrootsofEurope.

Inreality,behindthecommitmenttoWestern Christianity, Catherine's truedesirewasthatoftheChurch,theBodyofChrist.Hergreatfearwastheschism,whichshecalled"heresy"."ShewasaloveroftheChurch,and

yetGodknowsthatshelivedinaleperChurchwithprelateswhodidnotsetanexample,"explainsJean-LouisFradon.Unfortunately, her tireless action

did not prevent the Great Schism oftheWestin1378,twoyearsbeforeherdeath.Here again, the biographer asserts,

Catherine was supported since theChurchseemedonceagaintobegoingthrough "fractures such that onewondersifaschismmightnotoccur".

A iery, audacious example fortoday"Catherine put nothing above the

unity of the Church, and though shecalled the prelates to order, she neverdoubted the mission that had beengiventoher,"hecontinues.This is just as in the beginning of

thisthirdmillennium,therefore,withawindofreformthatisblowingthroughthe Church and the mystic do nothesitatetoparticipate."For her, Church reform did not

consist of institutional upheavals, butinaninteriorconversion,withareturntothepaschalmysteryandapersonalattachmenttoChrist,"Fradonargues.Catherine's concern thus comes

intoharmonywithPopeFranciswhenhe states in Evangelii Gaudium that"the renewal of structures demandedby pastoral conversion can only beunderstood in this light: as part of aneffort to make them more mission-oriented"."As Pope Francis would say,

Catherine wants a more spiritual andlessworldlyChurch,"Fradonexplains.It is a challenge, therefore, that is

stillrelevantsevencenturieslater."With ire, audacity, and freedom,

Catherine exhorted the men andwomen of her time to embark on thepathofperfectionanddidnothesitatetoremindtheprelatesof theirduty tosetanexample,"explainsMotherMariedesAngesCayeux.And to think that Catherine, who

was a third-order lay Dominican didthiswithouthavinganyresponsibilitiesinaconventoramonastery.Thatalaywomancouldgeneratethe

windsofconversionintotheChurchisstillanaspirationfortoday!

Apro ileofoneoftheChristianChurch'smostoutstandingspiritual igures

Catherine of Siena, an Apostle of reconciliationCatherine wants a more

spiritual and less worldly Church

- PopeFrancis

In today's fractured society, with communities,

increasingly pitted against one another,

Catherine reminds us of the need for forgiveness,

reconciliation and communion,"

Courtesy: LA CROIX - The World's premier Independent Catholic Daily

Msgr. George Ratzinger - A Man of God down to Earth with a sense of Humour

To be continued next week

9 The Messenger August 2, 2020Messenger8 9 Messenger August 2, 2020 August 2, 2020

Introduction

1. The ecclesiological re lection of theSecond Vatican Council, togetherwith theconsiderable social and cultural changesof recent decades, has resulted in variousParticular Churches having to reorganizethe manner in which the pastoral careof Parish communities are assigned.This has made it possible to initiate newexperiences, enhancing the dimensionof communion and implementing, underthe guidance of pastors, a harmonioussynthesisofcharismsandvocationsattheservice of the proclamation of theGospel,whichbetter corresponds to thedemandsofevangelizationtoday.

Pope Francis, at the beginning of hisPetrineministry,recalledtheimportanceof“creativity”,meaningthereby“seekingnewways”,thatis“seekinghowbesttoproclaimthe Gospel”; in respect of this, the HolyFather concluded by saying, “the Church,and also the Code of Canon Law, gives usinnumerablepossibilities,muchfreedomtoseekthesethings”[1].

2. The situations outlined in the followingInstruction, represent a valuableopportunityforpastoralconversionthatisessentiallymissionary.Parishcommunitieswill indhereinacalltogooutofthemselves,offering instruments for reform, evenstructural, in a spirit of communion andcollaboration, of encounter and closeness,ofmercyandsolicitudefortheproclamationoftheGospel.

I. Pastoral Conversion 3. Pastoral conversion is one of thecentral themes in the “new phase ofevangelization”[2] that the Church iscalled to foster today, whereby Christiancommunities be ever more centresconducivetoanencounterwithChrist.

TheHolyFather,inthisregard,recommendsthat:“Ifsomethingshouldrightlydisturbusand trouble our consciences, it is the factthat so many of our brothers and sistersare living without the strength, light andconsolation born of friendship with JesusChrist, without a community of faith tosupportthem,withoutmeaningandagoalinlife.Morethanbyfearofgoingastray,myhopeisthatwewillbemovedbythefearofremainingshutupwithinstructureswhichgiveusafalsesenseofsecurity,withinruleswhichmakeusharshjudges,withinhabitswhichmakeusfeelsafe,whileatourdoorpeoplearestarvingandJesusdoesnottireof saying to us: “Give them something toeat”(Mk6:37)”[3].

4. Urged on by this concern, the Church“faithfultoherowntraditionandatthesametimeconsciousofheruniversalmission,shecanenterintocommunionwiththevariouscivilizations, to their enrichment and theenrichmentof theChurchherself”[4].Thefruitful and creative encounter betweenthe Gospel and the culture leads to trueprogress: on the one hand, the Word ofGodisincarnateinthehistoryofmen,thusrenews it; on the otherhand, “theChurch[…] can and ought to be enriched by thedevelopment of human social life”[5],enhancing thereby, inourpresentage, themissionentrustedtoherbyChrist.

5. The Church proclaims that the Word,“became leshandlivedamongus”(Jn1:14).This Word of God, who loves to dwell inourmidst,inhisinexhaustiblerichness[6],was received the world over by diversepeoples,inspiringinthemthemostnobleof

aspirations,suchasthedesireforGod,thedignityofeveryhumanlife,equalityamongmen and respect for differencewithin thesingle human family, dialogue as ameansto participation, a longing for peace,welcomeasanexpressionoffraternityandsolidarity,togetherwitharesponsiblecareforcreation[7].

It is unthinkable, therefore, that suchnewness, whose propagation to the endsof the earth remains incomplete, abatesor, worse still, disappears[8]. In orderfor the journey of the Word to continue,the Christian community must make adeterminedmissionarydecision“capableoftransformingeverything,sothattheChurch’scustoms, ways of doing things, times andschedules, language and structures can besuitably channelled for the evangelizationof today’s world rather than for her self-preservation”[9].

II. The Parish in a contemporary context

6. Theaforesaidmissionaryconversion,whichnaturally leads to a reform of structures,concerns the Parish in particular, namelythatcommunitygatheredaroundtheTableoftheWordandtheEucharist.

TheParishhasalonghistoryandfromtheoutset, ithasplayedafundamentalrole inthelifeofChristiansandinthedevelopmentandpastoralworkoftheChurch.WecanseethisinthewritingsofSaintPaul.SeveralofthePaulinetextsshowustheformationofsmall communities as domestic churches,which the Apostle simply calls a “house”(cf.,forexample,Rm16:3-5;1Co16:19-20;Phil 4:22). With these “houses”, we get aforetasteofthebirthofthe irst“Parishes”.

7. Sinceitsinception,theParishisenvisionedas a response to a precise pastoral need,namely that of bringing the Gospel to thePeople through the proclamation of thefaithandthecelebrationoftheSacraments.Theetymologyofthewordmakesclearthemeaning of the institution: the Parish is ahouseamonghouses[10]andisaresponsetothelogicoftheIncarnationofJesusChrist,alive and active among the community. Itis visibly characterized then, as a place ofworship,asignofthepermanentpresenceoftheRisenLordinthemidstofhisPeople.

8. The territorial con iguration of theParish, however,must confront a peculiarcharacteristic of our contemporaryworld,wherebyincreasedmobilityandthedigitalculture have expanded the con ines ofexistence. On the one hand, people areless associated today with a de inite andimmutable geographical context, livinginstead in “a global and pluralist village”;on the other hand, the digital culturehas inevitably altered the concept ofspace, together with people’s languageand behaviour, especially in youngergenerations.

Moreover, it is quite easy to hypothesizeabout how the continuous developmentof technology will ultimately changeour way of thinking, together with theunderstanding of self and of social living.The speed of change, successive culturalmodels, the ease of movement, and thespeed of communication are transformingtheperceptionofspaceandtime.

9. As a living community of believers, theParish inds itself in a context wherebythe territorial af iliation is increasinglyless evident, where places of associationare multiplied and where interpersonalrelationships risk being dissolved into a

virtualworldwithout any commitment orresponsibilitytowardsone’sneighbour.

10.ItisnoteworthyhowsuchculturalchangesandtheevolvingterritorialtiesarefosteringwithintheChurch,throughthegraceoftheHoly Spirit, a new discernment aroundcommunity, “which consists in seeingreality with the eyes of God, with a viewtounityandcommunion” [11].ThewholePeople of Godmust urgently embrace theHolySpirit’sinvitationtobegintheprocessof“renewing”thefaceoftheChurch.

III. The value of the Parish today 11.In virtue of this discernment, the Parishis called upon to read the signs of thetimes, while adapting both to the needsof the faithful and tohistorical changes.ArenewedvitalityisrequiredthatfavourstherediscoveryofthevocationofthebaptizedasadiscipleofJesusChristandamissionaryoftheGospel,inlightoftheSecondVaticanCouncilandsubsequentMagisterium.

12.The Council Fathers were prescient inwriting: “the care of souls should alwaysbe infused with a missionary spirit”[12].In continuity with this teaching, SaintJohn Paul II speci ied that: “Whilst theParish is perfected and integrated in avariety of forms, it nevertheless remainsan indispensable organism of primaryimportance in the visible structure of theChurch”, whereby “evangelization is thecornerstone of all pastoral action, thedemandsofwhichareprimary,preeminentand preferential”[13]. Subsequently,BenedictXVItaught,“theparishisabeaconthat radiates the light of the faith andthus responds to the deepest and truestdesiresofthehumanheart,givingmeaningand hope to the lives of individuals andfamilies”[14]. Lastly, PopeFrancis recalledhow “theparish encourages and trains itsmemberstobeevangelizers”[15].

13.In order to promote the centrality of themissionary presence of the Christiancommunityintheworld[16],itisimportantnot only to think about a new experienceof Parish, but also about theministry andmissionof priests,who, togetherwith thelayfaithful,havethetaskofbeing“saltandlightoftheworld”(cf.Mt5:13-14),a“lampon a lamp-stand” (cf. Mk 4:21), showingforththefaceofanevangelizingcommunity,capable of an adequate reading of thesignsofthetimesandofgivingwitnesstocoherentevangelicalliving.

14.Beginningwithaconsiderationofthesignsof the times, it is necessary, in listeningto the Spirit, to produce new signs. Withthe Parish no longer being the primarygathering and social centre, as in formerdays,itisthusnecessaryto indnewformsofaccompanimentandcloseness.Ataskofthiskindoughtnottobeseenasaburden,but rather as a challenge to be embracedwithenthusiasm.

15.ImitatingtheirMaster,theLord’sdisciples,in the school of Saints and shepherds,learned, not without suffering, how toawait the times and ways of God, thusnurturing the certainty thatHe is presentuntil the end of time, and that the HolySpirit– thebeatingheart in the lifeof theChurch– gathers together the children ofGoddispersed throughout theworld.As aresult,theChristiancommunityshouldnotbeafraidtobeginandaccompanyprocesseswithin territories that are host to diversecultures, in the sure and certain hopethat, for the disciples of Christ, “nothinggenuinely human fails to raise an echo intheirhearts”[17].

To be continued next week

... “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. (Matthew 14: 18-19)

ZENIT: How did you irst get toknow Monsignor Georg Ratzinger?

Dr. Michael Hesemann: In2009, when the attacks on PopeBenedictXVIstarted,wefoundedanassociationtodefendhimandcalledit“GermanyproPapa”.OurRegensburgrepresentative, Roswitha Biersack,keptGeorgRatzingerinformedaboutall our activities and eventually, inDecember 2010, introduced me tohim.IcansaythatIlovedhimfromthevery irstmoment:Hewasthewise,gentle,humorouselderlygentlemanweallwishedtoknow.Ibroughthimsomeofmybooks,he checkedwithhisbrotherandeventuallyhetrustedme.WhenIrealizedwhatabrilliantmemory he had and how good hewas in telling stories fromhis life, Isaidtomyself:Thisissomethingwehave to preserve for the world, forthefuture.Thisishowtheprojectofour commonbook “MyBrother, thePope” was born. He was 86 at thattime,inrathergoodhealthandbestspirits,andthetimewasjustripe.

ZENIT: What struck you most about him?

Dr. Michael Hesemann: Hewas a man who hid his brillianceand greatness behind his evengreater humility. A kind soul, atrue gentleman, so warm-heartedand friendly to everyone, witha wonderful, charming, typicalBavarian mischievous sense ofhumor. At the same time, he wasdown to Earth and much moreextroverted than his rather shybrother. He loved to have peoplearound him, his house sometimesresembled a beehive, with visitorsinthemorningandafternoon.Manyof his formerRegensburgCathedralChoir Boys (“RegensburgerDomspatzen”)stayedincontactwithhimfordecades,visitedhimregularlyas if he became a member of theirfamilyandcametohelphimwhenhewasnearlyblindandunabletowalk.Theyreadbooksforhim,theywroteletters for him or just came to talkandenjoyacoffee,teaandapieceofcakewhichwasalwaysofferedinhishouse.He really changed their livesand became an inspiration for somany.So,heindeedleftabigfamilyoffriendsandstudentsbehind.

ZENIT: Dr. Hesemann, please tell us a little bit about Msgr. Georg Ratzinger. For instance, what were some of his hobbies, favorites, priorities, hopes…Dr.MichaelHesemann:Although

hewasnearlyblind,hewasextremelywell-informed about so many newbooks and publications, becausehe had his volunteer readers and abrilliant memory. You could reallytalk with him about everything,from Church-matters over policyup to football. But his great love, ofcourse, was music. I think the bestbirthdaygiftIevermadetohimwaswhen I invited a good friend, theworld-famous pianist AnastassiyaDranchuk, to play for him. Werepeatedthatonhisnextnamesdayand his last birthday. His weaknesswere sweets and I always broughthimcookiesandcakes,butmosthe

liked Christmas cookies. Generally,Christmas was very important forhim and I once, in a laudatio givenon his 90th birthday which wecelebratedintheVatican,Icalledhim“achristmassyperson”.HewasbornonJanuary15,which

was still in the Christmas seasonand as we all know, Christmas wasthebirthnotonlyofChrist,butalsoof the Church music: It was whenthe angels sung their “Hallelujah”in Bethlehem. So, the “spirit ofChristmas” in luenced his life,work and vocation and it was nocoincidencethathismostsuccessfulCD with the “RegensburgerDomspatzen” was the one withGerman Christmas Chorales; nearlyeveryGermanfamilyhasitathome.This also re lected his upbringingin a very pious family which reallycelebrated the feasts of the Churchin the most solemn way, whichprayedtherosarytogethereveryday,kneeling on the hard kitchen loorand,since itprayedtogetheralwaysstayed together in good and in badtimes.

ZENIT: What was his relationship with his brother, Joseph Ratzinger, who, if I may, refer to as Benedict?

Dr. Michael Hesemann:Adeep,brotherly love. The Ratzingerswere always a very close, loving,caring family. Thesiblingsgotevencloser when their parents died inthe 1960s; their older sister Mariabecame the housekeeper, secretaryand assistant of Joseph Ratzingerand Georg went to Regensburg asMusical Director of the RegensburgCathedral, “Domkapellmeister”.But they regularly met, celebratedthe feasts together and visited theparent’sgravewhichtheytransferredtoRegensburg.In1969,whenJosephRatzinger received the call fromRegensburgUniversityandfromnowontaughtdogmaticsthere,begunthehappiesttimeoftheiradultlife,sinceall three siblingswereunitedagain.Unfortunately, the Lord had otherplans. In 1977, Joseph Ratzingerbecame Archbishop of Munich andFreising and had to move, and in1983,PopeJohnPaulIIcalledhimtoRomeasprefectoftheCongregationfor the Doctrine of Faith. In 1991,MariaRatzingerpassedaway,whichonlystrengthenedthebondbetweenthetwosiblingswhoremained.Theywere so much looking forward tobeing together again after JosephCard. Ratzinger’s retirement.Cardinal Ratzinger kept his housein Regensburg for all those years,tocomethereforvacations,tomeethis brother and to have a place tostayafterretirementfromRome.Butonceagain,theLordhadotherplans.

InstructionThe pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of

the evangelizing mission of the Church Saint Catherine of Siena was"a unique phenomenon…among the sweetest, most

original and greatest (saints)historyhaseverrecorded".Those are the words Pope

PaulVIusedtodescribethe14th-century Italian saint during ageneralaudienceinApril1969.Itmustbesaidthatinher33years

of existence, this Sienese woman waslike a living whirlwind, sweeping upthehumbleandgreatofthisworldandturningthemtoChrist.Catherinewasbornin1347atatime

whenEuropewas in constant turmoil.FranceandEnglandweremired intheHundredYears'War.Thecitiesinwhatis now Italy were opposed to eachother.Andthepope,whowasinstalledinAvignon,couldnolongersetfootonRomansoil.The Republic of Siena, where

Catherine grew up, was not spared,with the ruling families tearing eachotherapart.The divisions and opposition that

marked the mid-14th century canremind us of certain aspects in ourown21st century... Catherine saw thisviolentfragmentationasintolerable.Yetnothingcouldhavepreparedthis

young girl from a simple background- she was almost illiterate - to indherself in a position to help bring thequarrelsome factions to peace. It wasnothing other than a luminous faith,nourished by mystical visions from averyyoungage.

"An extraordinarily modernconcept of mercy"At a time when Christianity was

disintegrating,inparticular,becauseofthe necessarily contradictory politicalinterests of princes, Catherine hadthemcallouttooneanother."Catherine was an irrepressible

young woman, extraordinarilycourageous," says Christiane Rancé,authorofabookdedicatedtothesaint."She did not submit to the

authorities who wanted to constrainher vocation: she disobeyed herparents, in her time, she expressedherdisagreementwiththePopewhenhe failed in his mission. But she wasalwaysintotalobediencetotheGospelsand the spirit of Christ," Rancé pointsout.Mother Marie des Anges Cayeux,

a Dominican who wrote her doctoralthesis on Catherine of Siena, says thesaint "is very topical because of herfreedomofspeechwithalltheelementsof society, from the highest princes tosimpleneighbors".Thus,strengthenedbyherevangeli-

cal certainty, the young womanchallenged everyone, even the Pope,whom she did not hesitate to remindwith the frankness of his duties. Inparticular, she urged him to leaveAvignonandreturntoRome-somethingthepopewouldeventuallydo,con irmedinhisintuitionbythemystic.Rancé says Catherine "understood

thedangersofdislocationandspenthertimereconcilingcitieswitheachother".She believes that the future saints

call for an end to this permanent warshows she "had an extraordinarilymodernconceptionofmercy, calling forforgiveness and the abandonment ofvengeanceoverthegenerationstocome".

Preserving Europe's Christian spirit"In today's fractured society, with

communitiesincreasinglypittedagainstone another, Catherine reminds us oftheneedforforgiveness,reconciliation,andcommunion,"Rancésays.Thewriter argues that the Sienese

saintisallthemorerelevantnow"sincetoday,inthenameoftheirancestors,weseeindividualsaskingforreparationforfaultsofwhichtheyarenotthevictims,fromgroupsofindividualswhodidnotcommit these crimes. It is awarof allagainstall".Jean-Louis Fradon, another

biographer, says: "Catherine metpeople, she spoke frankly anddirectly,goingstraighttotheheartofthemattertourgepeopletolovemore.""Todaywemustfollowherexample

tospeaktooneanother,asPopeFrancisurgesustodo,"heinsists.Mother Marie des Anges agrees

thatCatherinofSienacanstillprovideinspirationfortoday.Butshewarnsthatwemust not take her life and actionscompletely out of their historicalcontext."There was always a spiritual

dimension in Catherine's actions.Thus, she wanted to put an end todivisions because they were harmfulto Christianity, and therefore, for her,

tothehighergoodoftheChurchandofsouls,"theDominicansays."Herwillwastopreservethespirit

oftheGospelsinEurope,whichwantedthe political powers to be there todeliver the justice of Christ, forwhichtheyweretheguarantorsonthisearth,"con irmsChristianeRancé.

"A lover of the Church"So must we relegate Catherine to a

Christianagethatisnowde initivelyover?CertainlynotaccordingtoJohnPaul

II who, in 1999, proclaimed her "co-patroness of Europe" alongside SaintsBrigitteofSwedenandEdithStein.Benedict XVI explained ten years

laterthatJohnPaulmadethisdecision"so that the Old Continent will neverforgettheChristianrootsthatareattheoriginsof itsprogressandcontinue todrawfromtheGospelthefundamentalvaluesthatensurejusticeandharmony".Catherine of Siena, therefore, is

a help in the age-old debate on theChristianrootsofEurope.

Inreality,behindthecommitmenttoWestern Christianity, Catherine's truedesirewasthatoftheChurch,theBodyofChrist.Hergreatfearwastheschism,whichshecalled"heresy"."ShewasaloveroftheChurch,and

yetGodknowsthatshelivedinaleperChurchwithprelateswhodidnotsetanexample,"explainsJean-LouisFradon.Unfortunately, her tireless action

did not prevent the Great Schism oftheWestin1378,twoyearsbeforeherdeath.Here again, the biographer asserts,

Catherine was supported since theChurchseemedonceagaintobegoingthrough "fractures such that onewondersifaschismmightnotoccur".

A iery, audacious example fortoday"Catherine put nothing above the

unity of the Church, and though shecalled the prelates to order, she neverdoubted the mission that had beengiventoher,"hecontinues.This is just as in the beginning of

thisthirdmillennium,therefore,withawindofreformthatisblowingthroughthe Church and the mystic do nothesitatetoparticipate."For her, Church reform did not

consist of institutional upheavals, butinaninteriorconversion,withareturntothepaschalmysteryandapersonalattachmenttoChrist,"Fradonargues.Catherine's concern thus comes

intoharmonywithPopeFranciswhenhe states in Evangelii Gaudium that"the renewal of structures demandedby pastoral conversion can only beunderstood in this light: as part of aneffort to make them more mission-oriented"."As Pope Francis would say,

Catherine wants a more spiritual andlessworldlyChurch,"Fradonexplains.It is a challenge, therefore, that is

stillrelevantsevencenturieslater."With ire, audacity, and freedom,

Catherine exhorted the men andwomen of her time to embark on thepathofperfectionanddidnothesitatetoremindtheprelatesof theirduty tosetanexample,"explainsMotherMariedesAngesCayeux.And to think that Catherine, who

was a third-order lay Dominican didthiswithouthavinganyresponsibilitiesinaconventoramonastery.Thatalaywomancouldgeneratethe

windsofconversionintotheChurchisstillanaspirationfortoday!

Apro ileofoneoftheChristianChurch'smostoutstandingspiritual igures

Catherine of Siena, an Apostle of reconciliationCatherine wants a more

spiritual and less worldly Church

- PopeFrancis

In today's fractured society, with communities,

increasingly pitted against one another,

Catherine reminds us of the need for forgiveness,

reconciliation and communion,"

Courtesy: LA CROIX - The World's premier Independent Catholic Daily

Msgr. George Ratzinger - A Man of God down to Earth with a sense of Humour

To be continued next week

10 The Messenger August 2, 2020

Taking the �ive loaves and the two �ish, and looking upto heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves,... (Matthew 14:19)

Compiled by Rev. Fr. Shelton Dias

� is time of pandemic presents excellent ‘Me time’

In Sri Lanka, we have a beautiful quality of putting the needs of others before ourselves. It is our tradi-tion to attend to our families and visitors no matter

the time and place. Amidst this culture of community we have forgotten to allocate time for ourselves. How-ever, the pandemic along with a lot of other things have changed our behaviour to having time for ourselves.

The term ‘me time’ is one that stands for relaxation in our own company. If you looked at the Gospels, you would notice that Jesus had a lot of ‘me time’. Our Lord started His public ministry after having a lot of ‘me time’. Have you ever wondered why? Was Jesus tired of people? Did Jesus see people as a challenge in His jour-ney of spirituality? The answer to all these questions, is No. Silence and Isolation have been all too often con-sidered the ‘lack of doing’ and hence, ‘useless’ or ‘lazy’. But how wonderful is it that the Gospels thought it was important to mention the time Jesus spent by Himself! Jesus saw great value in having ‘me time’ everyday, but do we?

If you look at the world around you, it is full of cha-os and noise. These affect our mindset when we deal with them. For an example, have you found yourself snapping at someone in the morning for no reason? If you wonder about it later, you will think ‘why had I re-acted like that?’. We are the worst when we step into the world without thinking. When we do not ‘separate’ time for contemplating our lives. Obligations and other con�licts along the way, take a toll on us when we do not reserve some of our time to spend in silence. We feel

pressured, think of calling it quits or do things for the sake of �inishing them.

People look at all the chaos happening around the world, the restlessness in their own lives and decide that is all there is to the world. But it is obvious is it not? The beauty of the world cannot be found if you stand in the middle of it all. You need to step back and look at it.

Stepping back and taking it in is ‘me time’. The ‘me time’ of Christians is Prayer and meditation. Now prayer and meditation do seem bland due to rigid speech that often comes to our mind when we think of ‘prayer’. However, to many including myself, anything we do during ‘me time’ for our self-growth, is prayer. This self-growth obviously does not mean education or work responsibilities but refreshing the spirit with which we deal about things in our life.

During this time, we set our thoughts on the ever present Creator and let our soul drift from all that is worldly. We let the Spirit guide us. We look at the world and thank Him for all that He has given us. We pause to contemplate our feelings and present to His hands our troubles. We acknowledge our sins. We praise Him for His mercy to redeem us, his children who strayed and fell apart. We glorify Him, the only God in our lives we should ever let ourselves surrender to. We pray for ev-ery person who needs His touch. We read the Holy Bible, let our guard down and be vulnerable to the truth God wants to say to us. We sing with emotion in our hearts. We say our Lord’s prayer, Hail Mary and other repeti-tive prayers to gain strength and willpower due to the fact that God never went back on His promises. When we come out of the ‘me time’, despite all our problems we know we are loved beyond what our body and mind can comprehend, and this pours out from us to others and all that we do.

The modern culture has made us so used to getting distracted every second that no more can we even have a meal without watching TV. No wonder prayer is for-gettable and boring to you. And no wonder at all that you are pessimistic and tired for no reason. You feel the emptiness within you due to the lack of prayer in your life. Now you have been given the opportunity to take time for yourself more than ever. Do you feel the need to make a habit of having 'me time’?

By Rashmi Benhur

Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception Virgin (+ 1946) Feast: July 28

A native of Kerala, India, Anna was orphaned at a young age. Her aunt planned a great marriage for her, but Anne wanted to be Christ’s bride. At length, her aunt yielded, and Anne went to the Clarist Sisters, becoming Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception. The Clarists were teachers, but Alphonsa taught for only one full school term, because of repeated serious illness: hemorrhages, sores, typhoid fever, pneumonia. When a thief entered her room one night, she suffered a severe shock and lost her memory for several months. In the midst of wisdom to these trials, Alphonsa suffered gladly. She spoke words of wisdom to those who visited her. Sometimes overcome by the burden she was on her community, she wished that her suffering would end. Yet she af�irmed, “When I think of the many indignities Our Lord suffers at the hands of His own chosen people, I wish to suffer not only this, but far more until the end of the world… A day without suffering is a day lost.” Alphonsa died at the age of thirty-�ive, and her tomb quickly became a place of prayer and miracles. Saint John Paul II said of her: “She came to love suffer-ing because she loved the suffering Christ. She learned to love the cross through her love of the cruci�ied Lord.”

Loving Father, through the intercession of Saint Al-phonsa of the Immaculate Conception, let my sufferings contribute to the salvation of the world.

Do it anyway

People are often unreasonable and self-centered,Forgive them anyway.If you are kind, people may accuse you of sel�ish mo-tives,Be kind anyway.If you are honest, people may cheat you,Be honest anyway.If you �ind happiness, people may be jealous,Be happy anyway.The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow, Do good anyway.Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough,Give your best anyway.For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.It was never between you and them anyway.

- Mother Teresa

All praise to Almighty God, for blessing me immensely. All praise to Almighty God, for watching over me all day and night.All praise to Almighty God, for protecting me from all danger. All praise to Almighty God, for never abandoning me.

All praise to Almighty God, for guiding me at every mo-ment. All praise to Almighty God, for consoling me. All praise to Almighty God, for raising me up whenever I fall. All praise to Almighty God, for giving me this wonderful gift of life �illed with wonders.

Almighty Father, I will speak about the miracles you have done for me and I will praise your Holy name for-ever.

"Let them all praise the Lord's name, for his name alone is exalted, His majesty above earth and heaven.” - Psalms 148 :13

All Praise To the AlmightyBy Chrishalle Augustin

11 The Messenger August 2, 2020

... and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. (Matthew 14:19)

Health relatedIssues in Sri Lanka

By Dr. Maxie FernandopulleEmail: maxiefernandopulle@gmail.com

EATING DISORDERS Eating disorders can be considered as a group

of disorders ranging from anorexia nervosa to bulimia nervosa and binge eating. There can be

overlapping but the two main speci�ic disorders to un-derstand the problem of eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia. Eating disorder is an illness of the mind affecting the physical health.

Anorexia Nervosa is a state of self induced starvation resulting in marked weight loss.

Bulimia is a condition in which the patient binges (a short period of uncontrolled eating or drinking) and then induces vomiting.

One to two per cent of women and 0.1% of men suf-fer from this disorder. The average age is around 20 years. Both conditions are seen in previously healthy young women. In a study in Sweden women suffer-ing from anorexia nervosa and bulimia are four times more likely to be convicted of theft – often petty theft like shop lifting compared to normal. In Sri Lanka it was revealed that they have poor inhibitory control of the emotional aspect of eating.

Anorexia Nervosa It is a disease of the mind and not an illness originating in the body. But the condition af-fects the function of the different physical organs in the body very drastically which can even end in death. It is dif�icult to spot them early as they eat normally with others in public and with the family but eat very little or nothing at all when they are alone. They complain of being too fat and unattractive. People suffering from this disorder try to control their body shape and weight which affect their lives extremely. The patient has the clini-cal picture of severe acute malnutrition with severe weight loss. They are cachec-tic with skin and bone only with hardly any fat or muscle. There is constipation and dehydration. There is low blood pressure. There is intolerance to cold. The effects on the endocrine system are prominent. Very characteris-tically there is an absence of monthly menstrual peri-ods. There is a decrease in release of thyroid hormones, which manifests as cold intolerance, slow heart rate, constipation, thickened rough skin. There is giddiness and fainting, tiredness and inability to sleep. They are addicted to strenuous exercise. Electrolyte levels (so-dium potassium etc.) are abnormal. Body hair may be increased but usually �ine and pale. Bone density is de-creased resulting in weak bones. Their oestrogen levels are low. They suffer from severe malnutrition, anaemia, decreased number of white blood cells, and low serum albumin levels. A major complication of anorexia ner-vosa is disturbance in the rhythm of the heart leading to sudden death.

There are two types of anorexia nervosa. First one is the binge/ purging type. There is binge eating with purging, along with periods of restrictive food intake. There is associated vomiting, use of laxatives to purge, over exercise, use of water tablets (extra urine produc-ing diuretics). The second type is the pure restrictive

type with pronged periods of restrictive consumption of food. As mentioned at the beginning there is some overlap in the spectrum of eating disorders.

One per cent of women in the U.S.A. are suffering from anorexia nervosa. It is one of the most common psychiatric diagnosis in the young females and a deadli-est one.

Bulimia Nervosa In this disorder binge eating is the norm. Huge amounts of food, principally carbohydrates are consumed, only to be followed by induced vomit-ing and purging induced by laxatives. Large amounts

of food specially car-bohydrates are con-sumed within a short period of time. The food consumed is got rid of by induced vomiting. Although menstrual irregulari-ties are common, ab-sence of periods are seen only in 50% of cases, probably be-cause weight and sex hormone levels are maintained near nor-mal. The major medi-

cal complications are related to continual induced vom-iting and chronic use of laxatives and urine producing (diuretic) drugs. These include low potassium levels in the blood, which leads to heart rhythm changes, aspi-ration of stomach contents into the lungs by induced vomiting, rupture of oesophagus (gullet) and the stom-ach. Stimulant drugs are taken and water fasting and strenuous exercises are practiced. Most of these pa-tients are of normal weight. They can have thickened skin or knuckles and easily broken teeth. They are often associated with mental disorders like depression, anxi-ety, addiction to alcohol and drugs and a higher risk of self-harm and suicide. There are no very speci�ic exter-nal manifestations and the diagnosis is by comprehen-sive psychological assessment of the patient.

There is a family history in 30% to 80% cases of bu-limia. Other risk factors include, psychological stresses cultural pressures to attain a certain body type, poor self-esteem and obsession.

Message to the parents of our adolescent childrenEating disorders are getting very common in our

country, in your children. It is a treatable condition and identifying that your child has acquired this dreadful disorder is very important. Be aware of your child’s eating habits and patterns, their undue concern about calories. Their purging behaviour may go unnoticed. Being attentive to your child’s emotional behaviour is essential. This is the time for emotional upheavals. Set apart one hour a day only for your child with no other distractions. Show him/her your love and concern. Eat together. Pray together. But do not be over attentive and restrictive. Let them experience life with you to guide them.

Wisdom - Freedom - SeldomLoving, God, is a shining Model, of wisdomPerfect vision is beyond questionActs and lives, upto every one's satisfactionWho can perform, such a situation.Only God, can rectify, anything mistakenGod within, speaks against objectionLive with God, to know this, prediction.Your life turns, to be truly God's intervention

Down on knees, we thank our gracious GodLooking after us, as our Good Shepherd.Flock of sheep in your care forever.What a Call and Blessing, so unworthyTo understand we behold as a mystery

Alleluia

Francis Irugalbandara

by Sirohmi Gunesekera

Knife

“When you think of it, a knife can be used to chop carrots or to hurt a person, Have you thought of that?” asked Nimal.“I know, when I am cutting onions I often have bad thoughts of how my mother scolds me and then I want to hurt myself” said Lorna.“You must be careful because kitchen accidents are very common, Why do you want to hurt yourself just because your Mum scolds you?” asked Nimal.“Oh, I don’t know. Sometimes I want to cry when Mummy is in a bad mood. I want to help her to cook but she is often cross with me,” said Lorna.“Why don’t you catch her in a good mood and ex-plain to her that you get upset when she scolds you? You can even tell her that you feel like cutting yourself with the knife. Maybe then she will real-ize how her actions trouble you,” said Nimal.“Who would have thought that a humble knife can wield so much power in a relationship? My moth-er and I have so many problems maybe because she is divorced. I am her only child and I think sometimes that she expects too much from me” explained Lorna.“So why don’t you tell her frankly what you feel? You are now old enough to have your own opin-ions even if they are different from your Mom’s. It is better than trying to kill yourself which can even happen in an accident! Why don’t you pray about it and then approach your Mom? You can then give yourself some time to calm down and marshal your thoughts and feelings ” suggested Nimal.“Thank you for your advice. I’ll do as you say” said Lorna.

12 The Messenger August 2, 2020

many as sixty languages. In the year 1762 when Alphonsus was sixty-six in age, Pope Clement XIII appointed him, the Bishop of Saint Agatha, and Alphonsus reluctantly accepted the bishopric simply because of his obedience to the Pope. The Diocese of St. Agatha was a small diocese with just 34,000 souls in 30 parishes, with 400 priests and 17 religious houses. After having set up his modest house-hold, he zealously began to reform the clergy, started charitable works for his �lock, established missions in many of the parishes.

Towards the end of his life, he was suffering from various ailments including blindness. Due to his blind-ness, he was tricked to put his signature for Royal Ap-proval of his Congregation. The result was a vertical split of the Redemptorist Order and as a result, he was stripped of all of his portfolios in his Congregation. The split was solved only after his death, unity was restored and the Order spread throughout the world.

Alphonsus cause for Can-onization was introduced nine years after his death, by Pope Pius VI in the year 1796 and he was Beati�ied in the year 1816, Can-onized in the year 1839, and was declared the Doctor of the Church in the year 1871. He was the 19th Saint to receive this special title of the Doctor of the Church, immedi-ately after St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure.

Words of Pope Pius VII: “Alphonsus was in God’s hands, a sharp arrow, which discharged against vice, strikes now in one place, now in another, in order to promote the honour of God and the salvation of souls”.

They all ate and were satisfi ed, and they picked up the fragments left over-twelve wicker baskets full. (Matthew 14:20)

Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor - 1696 - 1787

by Rev. Fr. Athanasius Samarasinghe

Alphonsus Liguori (1696 – 1787) born

near Naples in Italy in the year 1696 to the family of Don Giuseppe de Liguori, Captain of the Royal Gal-leys and Donna Cavalier, and his parents recog-nized the special gift of the child early and ar-ranged for tutors to teach him privately at home.

At the age of six-teen he received his Doctorate in Law and at the age of twenty-�ive, he was one of the eminent lawyers at Nea-politan Bar. As a lawyer, he was credited with the dis-tinction of never losing a case in the span of eight years of his practice. Since he won all the cases, he was nick-named “Legal Eagle.”

A shameful defeat in a case triggered his conversion. One day he was arguing a case for the Duke of Gravina against the Duke of Tuscany regarding a valuable es-tate. He lost the case because he got confused with the Neapolitan and the Lombard law. When he was enthu-siastically and brilliantly arguing the case his opponent lawyer pointed out his simple mistake. Alphonsus was struck dumb at his own stupidity, and the whole court laughed at him. He seemed to have said, “O courts, you shall never see me again”.

Alphonsus Liguori a multifaceted personality, be-sides being an eminent lawyer, he was an expert horse rider and a perfect dancer. Although a brilliant career in the world was assured for him, God had other plans for him. When he lost the above-mentioned case for the

�irst time in his life as a lawyer, he thought it was God’s signal for him to abandon the world and turn towards Him. From then onwards he surrendered himself com-plicity to God. He refused to practice the law again or to take a wife as suggested by his father.

He often visited a hospital for the terminally ill patients and served the patients as a male nurse. While he was serving in the hospital, twice he heard his in-ner voice saying: “Leave the world and give yourself to me”. He went to the church dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy and placed his gentleman’s sword at the feet of the statue of Our Lady.

Opting for the priesthood Alphonsus completed his studies in theology and was ordained a priest in 1726. He concentrated his pastoral efforts on popular mis-sions and forming Christian groups. In the year 1732 he founded the Congregation of the Redemptorists. It was a combination of Priests and Brothers, working mainly in popular missions. His great pastoral reforms were from the pulpit and in the confessional. His instructed priests to avoid high-�lown oratory and theory in preaching and devote themselves to practice devotional sermons. Also, they were warmed against Jansemistic heresies. For twenty years he traveled through the Province of Naples, gaining numerous conversions through preach-ing. From the year 1752 Alphonsus devoted himself to writing in the �ield of Moral Theology and he followed the golden mean, to be neither excessively strict nor lenient. Hence he has been given the title, “ Prince of Moral Theologians ”. He had a remarkable devotion to the Blessed Virgin. His book “The Glories of Mary” is a classic on Mariology. He ardently believed in the Eu-charistic Lord and he has written books and booklets on the Blessed Sacrament. We have altogether III books from his pen. Many of them have been translated into as

It is more than one year, since you had received your ‘Dia-conate’. All the other Deacons of your batch had already be-come priests. Tell me sincere-ly, why are you delaying your priesthood? Have you given up your intention? “ Mother queried Bro. Siemon Praxede in the year 1971. “Amme, I’ll de�initely become a priest. Before be-coming a priest, I requested from His Lordship for an-other extra year to work in a parish and gain some train-ing. It might help me to make a �irm decision to become a truly dedicated priest.” It was his humble reply to his mother. It was how he obtained permission from then Bishop of Chilaw late Rt. Rev. Dr. Frank Marcus Fernan-do. His preliminary parish experience and meditation helped Fr. Siemon Praxede Fernando to arrive at a �irm decision to become a truly dedicated, humble apostle of Jesus. Siemon Praxede born on 21st July 1944 as the second to the family of Mr. M. A. Zacharias Manuel Fernando and Mrs. Mary Theresa Fernando at Pitipana Veediya -Negombo, a family of �ive brothers and young-er sister. Siemon had his primary education attending Roman Catholic school, Pitipana, and at St. Mary’s Col-lege, Negombo. Late Rev. Fr. Viswasam, the then Parish Priest of Puttalam known to Siemon’s father had his in�luence on this young lad and under his guidance, Siemon en-tered to St. Paul’s Seminary, Marawila for his secondary education. Thereafter he proceeded to Major Seminary-Ampitiya for his studies in Philosophy and Theology and at the end the ecclesiastical studies received his Diaconate in 1971. It is a very very rare coincidence that occurred in the life of Siemon. He was ordained to the priesthood on July 21st in 1972, the day happened to be his birthday as well. After Ordination he received �irst obedience in 1972, to serve as the Assistant Parish Priest of Put-talam Parish and served in the same capacity in Bola-watta, Marawila, Thalgahapitiya (Hiripokuna) for three

years. Then he was sent to serve as the Parish Priest of Angunawila, Bakmeegolla, Nainamadama, Marawila Ra-jakadaluwa within a period of 18 years from 1975 to 1993. Fr. Siemon also had served as the resident priest at Dematapitiya and Pankulawa churches until the year 2017 and peacefully passed away while resid-ing at the ‘Nissansala’ Home for the Elderly Priests at Marawila on 29th July 2019. His Lordship Rt. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis, Bishop of Chilaw presided at the funer-al service. Fr. Siemon a humble priest, a symbol of St. Jo-seph Vaz and very �ittingly representing the poor, he dressed in a poor cassock and a hacha bag hanging from his shoulder had a small umbrella, six-inch cross, rosary, small notebook, pen, his small black antique phone, in it. He did his priestly ministry faithfully, walk-ing almost bare-foot as he never wore shoes but had only two-strap slippers. He suffered from an incurable wound in his right foot from the year 2003, which he bore patiently and walk limping with a bandaged foot, until his last breath. He helped hundreds of people with his limping walk miles and miles through thorny jungles and stony lands barefeet to feel the touch of the sur-faces, to provide them, fountains of drinking water with divine power praying the rosary in his right hand. The bandaged foot was no burden for his task of quenching thirst of people. Whatever the parish he served, Fr. Siemon was immensely dedicated to Catechism classes and Bible studies of the children, He had made special efforts and effective techniques to pour Biblical and catechist knowledge in children’s minds. It so happened that his children, who participated in Diocesan Bible competi-tions were successful in achieving superior goals. While serving as the Parish Priest at Bak-meegolla, he found the small community at Moroththa village, a place designed to offer Sunday Mass, and he took steps to set up a small cadjan hut and celebrated Sunday Mass. The cadjan hut was set on �ire the follow-ing day. Trusting in the Divine Power, he negotiated with people of the area, and a permanent shelter was put up with voluntary participation of everybody in the vil-lage. That small cadjan shelter with the passage of time turned out to be the great Shrine of Our Lady of Moro-

ththa, today. Devotees of all walks of life come in large numbers to the Shrine with miraculous power on July 2nd every year to celebrate the Annual Feast. The State has lavishly provided with spacious land and given its recognition calling it, Shrine of Our Lady of Moroththa. Father Siemon a well-known tennis player and talented long-distance runner had been very suc-cessful in securing either 1st or 2nd places in one mile and half-mile events in Sports held at the National Seminary, Ampitiya. The Ampitiya Seminary Professors Frs- Dalston Forbes (Rector), Jim Cooke (Vice Rector), Father Quere (Lecturer) were very fond of playing with their favourite partner. Once he had been informed by parishioners, that a gang of unruly men had harassed an innocent beggar at Holy Cross Church, Marawila. Father sudden-ly arrived at the scene and attempted to settle the issue peacefully and justi�iably. But with no response, when the gang became arrogant, when father had no means of solving the matter, he chased them away, exhibiting his self-defensive techniques he had mastered on his own. There was a well-�lourishing, full-scale Gro-cery Stores functioning opposite the Angunawila Par-ish church. The owner, the mudalali, was the leading �igure in festive time making all arrangements for the bene�it of himself. Fr. Siemon, modi�ied arrangements to suit the requirement of the pilgrims to bene�it them. The Mudalali, staged a protest with a gang of villagers over the programme of the new Parish priest. Using de-fensive techniques, Father advised them to realize what was most important. It was justice and unity of all pa-rishioners, he told them and they having realized the good intentions of Fr. Siemon, they assured their whole-hearted corporation towards the success of the Feast. Fr. Siemon visited the land of St. Joseph Vaz, his beloved example of life and that was all and never en-joyed the opportunities he was given to travel overseas, by his family members and relatives, as he was dedicat-ed only to his motherland-Sri Lanka. He had ful�illed in great obedience to God living a very simple-poor life serving the Vineyard, in accordance with the life St. Jo-seph Vaz, May he rest in peace.

Rohan FernandoMarawila

Appreciation - Fr. Siemon Praxede - Symbol of Poverty and Simplicity

13 The Messenger August 2, 2020

We hail from a large family and remember the good times we enjoyed together and I being the youngest feel the loss of family members leaving me. Hazel, born on 04th August 1935 left us on the 30th of April 2020. Being the daughter of the late Ernest & Agnes Rodrigo, she was the sister of Thelma Stronach, Maurice and myself Lorraine Comester Perera (and the late Walton, Bertie Freddy, Doris Lobendhan, Jacky & Benny.) Having had her education at Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena she worked in the Convent as Librar-ian and later joined the Of�ice where she worked for 27 years. She was a strict disciplinarian and very outspo-ken – sometimes hurtful. Had a very good heart and would go out of her way to help people of any calibre.Thereafter she joined Someswaram, Jayewickrema & Manthri’s and later Lawrie Muthukrishna’s where she served for a couple of years. Being very religious she joined the Legion of

was loved and respected by all – family members, rela-tives, colleagues, friends & neighbours. She had taught English to many Postulants and almost everybody who was known to her condoled with me and spoke of her good deeds. We the family members are proud of her. She lived with my family for almost 55 years and although we had our ups and downs, she was concerned about me and my health until the last days of her life. She was a good sister, sister-in-law, aunt and great aunt. She is missed by one and all.

TO A DEAR SISTER For happy times shared through the years For the loyalty, love, laughter and tears, For the special things only you can do For all of these .... WE THANK YOU. May your soul rest in peace.

Lorraine

A TRIBUTE TO A DEAR SISTER - HAZELMary at a very early age and served for over 60 years. She was a Senior Member of the Praesidium of Our Lady of the Mystical Rose of Mutwal. Whilst being in this Praesidium she took an active role in the Kotahena Curia and later in the Colombo Comitisium of the Legion of Mary. She took a leading role in almost all functions organized by the Legion of Mary, ensuring that such functions were lively and eventful. She was also a Lay Eucharistic Minister, active Member of the Good Shepherd, Convent Past Pupils’ As-sociation and the Past Teachers Association. Very good entertainer - organizer of games, en-sured that all were occupied at the functions, serving food & drinks and keeping everybody happy. Could handle the kids very well. Sometimes they were scared, but yet liked her. At most functions her famous game was Tombola and she would �ind the gifts. Even when families visit us with kids, she always has some item to give them. Despite her being strict and outspoken, she

“We are forced out of work, but our hands are full of house chores and long-delayed tasks. We stop exploring the outside world, but it gives us the rare chance to look into our inner selves. And if you think that people are losing faith amidst the global crisis, there is an unprec-edented rise in religious piety imploring God's help.

One last thing: thousands have died and no one wants more deaths, but a multitude of babies will prob-ably be conceived during the quarantine period.” Girls

will perhaps be christened “Maria Corona” or simply “Corona” after St. Corona, the sixteen-year-old mar-tyr whose relics are venerated in the basilica in Anzu, northern Italy. The word Corona is the Latin word for a crown. Ironically, St. Corona is considered as one of the patron saints of pandemics.

Those months of churches closed for public wor-ship resulted in a hunger for the Word of God and the Holy Eucharist. Many people could attest to the fact that those months of forced inactivity also allowed them to get in touch and reconnect with those people whom they have not had dealings for years. When we

see beneath the surface of things, we realize we have so many reasons to hope and so many things to thank God for thanks to the forced con�inement.

Our choices indeed were narrowed down to the bare minimum yet experience proved that having few-er choices does not necessarily mean being less happy. Freedom does not consist in the number of choices but in the way we choose, whether we choose the right options or not. As St. John Paul II said, freedom is the power to choose what is good. The highest exercise of freedom is therefore the choice to love God and others for the love of God.

Contd. from Pg. 6The Choice ...