Yes, We can - Yes, It is Possible - A new Direction

Obama became very famous and became the president of the USA with the slogan Yes We can. The slogan was used differently in different countries. Modi used the same slogan on August 12, in Hyderabad. Obama was seen as a new president who will give a new direction to the policies of the united states. Recently his initiative to take military action against Syria has shown that the US presidents are not different at all - Obama is no different from Bush. The US Presidents' cry have been to establish peace only through war. They claim to be peace makers of the world by initiating more violence and more conflict. 

[taken on 07/09/2013 at 6.45pm]

The contemporary world needs another direction with regard to the issues of conflicts both within countries and between countries. Pope Francis raised his voice very strongly to change the direction. On the 1^st Sunday of this month, the Pope expressed his concern for peace in the world, particularly in Syria. The pope said that ‘war begets war and violence begets violence.’ The pope spoke from his heart. I can only admire the sincerity and the openness with which he spoke and invited everyone to fast and pray for peace in the world on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Queen of Peace.

Today millions of people, united with Pope Francis, prayed for peace in the World. The pope said that we are as human beings have to care for others. Our indifference towards others and the acts of violence only indicate that we bring back to life Cain who murdered his own brother.  He also said that war is the language of death and not of peace.one can only break the language of death only through forgiveness, dialogue and reconciliation.

The Pope said: "I ask myself: Is it possible to change direction? Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace? Invoking the help of God, under the maternal gaze of the Salus Populi Romani, Queen of Peace, I say: Yes, it is possible for everyone! From every corner of the world tonight, I would like to hear us cry out: Yes, it is possible for everyone! Or even better, I would like for each one of us, from the least to the greatest, including those called to govern nations, to respond: Yes, we want it!"

The politicians need to change their attitude – military action can only worsen the situation. One cannot bring about unity through guns and tanks.

PAPA - POPE

Church on Fire

A church, near our living quarters, was burnt leaving only the external walls and Ashes...
I have been coming to this city for three years residing here more than three months.
I had the desire to visit that church, but never made an attempt to enter it.

This morning hearing that the Church was burnt, I went at last but I saw nothing but ashes...
the smoke is still on

Don't postpone anything... Visit something or somebody when you want to do so...

Pantheon, Pentecost and Petals

On the Pentecost day one witnesses showers of rose petals passing through the eye of Pantheon. Pantheon itself a wonderful pieces of architecture and petals come down it seems wonderful. I have heard of them but did not see them. Today I happen to be close by although without a good camera...

My cellphone captured at least the three firemen on the top of Pantheon who were thrwing petals....

Publications: Knowledge - Business 2

Publications - Knowledge - Business 1 continued...

This attitude of the publishing companies tells us that it has become a very good business like the pharmaceutical industry. One of the flourishing and money making businesses is the pharmaceutical industry which claims to the safeguard the health of the people and makes money. Publication has become an unavoidable business in capitalistic societies. When societies were warring societies the business was, let us assume that it was certainly – iron tools. When the societies were civilized, the costliest business still is something connected with ammunitions, but they have become all the more become business behind the scenes. Every country spends millions of dollars on the buying, ammunition, maintaining its mechanisms for the military. But it has become business among the states – the governments. They either sell them or create opportunities that the buyer may continue to buy ammunition from them etc. This leaves the citizens of the country to deal with other business that does not involve the bullets, missiles, bombs. Because physical power is not considered to be worthy in civilized societies, we think of another power, a worthy power that one can attain – ‘Knowledge is Power.’

Once one cannot use any more nuclear bombs, no markets can have profit over it. If it creates other ways of using it then it can have life. Hence apart from the military then one could think of the atomic power energy etc. The same idea is found among the publications. One makes it a business. Once physical power is replaced by the intellectual power what do we do? We want to establish that we are more talented in writing. Some use argumentative skills like the soldiers using the sword. Some use the guns to destroy the whole arguments and some use the bombs in order to destroy the whole school of thought. We have different schools of thought, different philosophers, some followers of philosophers, followers of followers, and everyone thinks that we have the final word on the issues and probles of the human world. the universities, the grades, researches augment the writing and publishing… it has become impossible to have a comprehensive view not on a very big issue but a very narrow and particular issue as well.

We have millions and millions of books – thousands and thousands of publications.  Whether we have elevated ourselves from the warring societies to peace loving societies or not, but what we can say is that the publications established themselves as unavoidable profit making firms. One example to show that this is a business and only a ‘business’ one can think of the e-books. The cost of the e-books should be less compared to printing books. If the cost of printing is included in selling the printed books, the e-books should cost less compared to the printed books. But one can check the price list and see the difference between the e-book and the printed book is almost nothing. The printed book and the e-book are the same. I am not ready to believe that the publishers do not include the cost of the printing in selling the printed books and therefore the price of the e-books are the original price of a book.

Think of another example: If one wishes to buy a single article published in a journal – to download an article from the publishers, one pays minimum twenty dollars, sometimes thirty, while the price of the whole printed journal may be less than that.  Let the publishers flourish, the book sellers grow, because knowledge is power and the publishers help to grow in knowledge. By only seeing the number of books available on a particular subject I am only reminded of my ignorance… everybody is ignorant – some learned ignorant – some specialist ignorant –.

What are books if not profit making?

Difference between Christmas and Easter

We had a break in the library. Four of us came out and discussed about the Church, Documents, Pope, Festivals. In the course of the discussion, one of my friends was sharing with us about his conversation with an altar boy during the season of Christmas.

He asked the boy what is Christmas? The boy seemed to have answered - "Christmas means that Child Jesus is risen ."

If that is so what is the meaning of Easter? - one could very well say - "Easter means that Adult Jesus is risen."

My friend was very sad and angry and said how badly we transfer our faith to the younger generation. We don't really pass on the faith narratives to the kids well.

Could any theologian tell me whether that kid, who said Christmas is the celebration of the resurrection of Child Jesus, expressed an important truth about God?
If Jesus as God died to his Godhood and was born to a woman - Could this be considered as resurrection? If Resurrection is dying to one life and being born to a new life, can the birth of Jesus be considered as resurrection?

I am trying to rescue the baby who said that Christmas is the celebration of the resurrection of child Jesus? Do I blaspheme?

THOMAS' DOUBT

St. Thomas is often seen to be doubting Thomas as though all other apostles never doubted. However Thomas has become the figure of the doubt of the apostles themselves. He is seen to be the personification of the 'doubt and suspicion' of our own.

Why did St. Thomas doubt? One could see St. Thomas to be a representative of the empiricist tradition of philosophy - unless I see and touch I will not believe. This seems to be as simple as that. But there is something more to it. When does one believe what someone says? Think of a situation in which you have witnessed something spectacular in your life. You convey this wonderful news to your colleagues that you had witnessed something great without any felicity, gladness as though you are a news reader. Do you expect the other to believe that you had witnessed something spectacular?

This is what happened with Thomas. He sees his own friends in the same way as he left them after the death of Jesus. Thomas was like all others in a closed room. In his absence Jesus appears and all the other apostles were present and Thomas was missing. When Thomas returned to join the company of his own colleagues, he did not see anything different in the room. The room was still closed. There was no enthusiasm. The fear that surrounded them still seems to be there. And they tell him that they had seen the master. Would anyone believe that they had seen the master?

Think of another situation where the room is wide open. The other apostles are very happy. They have become courageous. They want to go out and preach the truth about the Master. They want to go to the streets. Thomas enters and wonders what had happened in his absence. They tell him that they had seen the Master. Would anyone doubt that they had seen the master? Do you think that Thomas would doubt it?

This is the situation that happens with the apparition of Jesus again – when he asks Thomas to touch him. Not only the doubt of Thomas disappears but also that of all other apostles. They open the doors – go to the streets. Thomas can be seen to be the one who transformed the life of the apostles by his doubt.

It is not enough that one witness something wonderful and extraordinary, but it should touch you, it should transform you. It is not enough that it transforms one’s life but he shares this wonderful joy with others.
It means  that it is not enough that you see Jesus but you should allow him to touch you, to transform your fear into courage, courage to proclaim the truth.

POPE FRANCIS

The Catholic Church has a new Pope – Pope Francis. I was having fever and I could not go out of my room for three days. These days I was telling myself that I should be there in St. Peter’s Square when the new Pope makes his appearance. The privilege to be there in the basilica is not given to everyone. Many who want to be there cannot be there. I was motivating myself that everything will be allright. The white smoke appeared on 13.3.13 around 7.05pm. 

It was raining and I had cold and fever therefore I was in a dilemma. Would not it be better to watch the whole event clearly in T.V. rather than being in the piazza without getting able to go any way near the pope - I asked myself. I was hesitant to go out but I should say that I was almost drawn towards the Basilica. The motivation came from a priest. We reached the Basilica around 7.35pm. We found a place at the center of the Piazza.

The drizzling slowed down as though helping the people to gather in peace. The piazza and the street were full…around 8.10 the senior cardinal announced the good news that we have the Pope – Cardinal George Bergoglio who will take the name of Francesco. I was amazed – I am sure others too. His name did not make an appearance in the newspapers and television. I was thinking that he is from Italy, the name suggested it. Somewhere from the crowd someone said – Argentina.

The Pope appeared – the crowd shouted – the Pope stood still – unmoved, at least I thought he was. When he started speaking I was moved literally. He said: “My cardinal brothers have found one from the other end of the earth to be the bishop of Rome” – He laughed and we too. He then called everyone to pray for the Pope Emeritus. The most important and moving part was this: he said: before I give my blessing, please pray for me that lord bless me. I was astonished to see him bowing his head – No wonder he chose the name Francis.

I am sure that the Church has a very humble, simple pope who will be a living witness to many. He seems to be the ‘first’ in many ways – I hope it continues.

Prayers for You Always – Viva il Papa.

Courageous, Inspiring and an act of Humility – The Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

Courageous, Inspiring and an act of Humility – The Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI

The letter of the Pope Benedict XVI who announced his resignation this morning shows that he has made this difficult decision after contemplation and prayer.

Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is. Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.
From the Vatican, 10 February 2013
BENEDICTUS PP XVI[1]

No one would disagree that this is an act of courage that inspiries milions of the followers who will recognise his act of humility. His resignation, although not unprecedented in history, is unprecedented in the courageous act of the present pope. Six hundred years ago, Pope Gregory XII resigned to end schism in the Church however the new pope was not elected till his death.[2] When Pope Benedict XVI was elected the Pope in April 2005, He chose the name 'Benedict' to the surprise of many. He was said to be too old to be the spiritual leader of th Church. But many also thought he would resign when he will not be able to continue his office. He has come out with that courageous act. His resignation has surprised many. The seven years [almost 8 years however since it is not completed we could say only   seven years: it reminds me of the Biblical significance of the number seven] have been the most difficult time for him, but he has withstood them with courage.

His acknowledgment of his defects and seeking pardon [in the letter] is the highest expression of a true Christian and a disciple of Christ. He will be remembered not only in Church History, but also in World History but also in the hearts of many faithful of different religions and denominations.

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[1] http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-benedict-xvi-announces-his-resignation-at-end

[2] Pope Celestine V would have been the first to make such a decision of courage. Cf. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/02/11/pope-resignations/1908819/But he was imprisoned by the new Pope.