Month: March 2024

✝️💜 REFLECTION CAPSULE – Mar 05, 2024: Tuesday

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

“Having forgiveness as an essential ingredient in our living together!”

(Based on Dan 3:25, 34-43 and Mt 18:21-35 – Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Lent)

Mary and Susan – neighbours – had a heated argument over some issue about their backyard fence.

The next day, Susan however, found Mary knocking on her door…
… with a plate of freshly baked cookies.

Bewildered, Susan asked, “I thought, the way we fought yesterday, we were done!”

Mary chuckled, as she handed over the cookies, and said, “As neighbours, I realised…
… that forgiveness always needs to be an essential ingredient, in our living together!”

How about us?

Is forgiveness an essential ingredient in our living together?

The Gospel of the Day is an exhibition of this aspect of the Lord going beyond all boundaries…
… in dealing with the beautiful virtue of forgiveness.

The passage begins with the Lord’s chief and one-of-the-first apostles Peter, raising a query to his Master, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” (Mt 18: 21)

It was probably a genuine doubt of Peter, which arose from his own personal experiences.

He must have had some difficulties in forgiving, out of his wavering temperament, perhaps!

But he now puts forward to Jesus a doubt as to what should be the limit of one’s forgiveness.

Peter sought to know the exact boundaries that one must limit oneself, while forgiving.

He wanted clear-cut rules to define the maximum threshold and frontiers of generosity in pardoning.

But the Lord replies firmly, “I say to you, not seven times, but seventy seven times” (Mt 18:22)

The Lord does away with the mathematical rules in forgiveness!

“Seventy seven times” would refer a number, unlimited and uncountable!

The frontiers for how many times to forgive are done away with…!

As the Lord spoke these words to Peter, the apostle would himself have recalled…
“Once beside the sea of Galilee, when I encountered the Holy Master, I realized that I was drowning in the waters of sin… and I had asked pardon from the Lord.

Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man (Lk 5:8)”

These words of the Lord would have again echoed in the ears of Peter, later on, after the resurrection of Jesus….

Once again, beside a Sea… this time, the Sea of Tiberius, Peter experienced the forgiving power of the Lord in accepting back, though he had betrayed Him three times (Jn 21: 15-18)

Many times he had sinned against the Lord…

Many times he had caused pain and ache to the Lord…
But every time, the Lord forgave, wholeheartedly!

The Lord was truly the Master, “who practised what He preached”

This Lord, today seeks to impress on us too, this same attitude of forgiveness.

The teaching on forgiveness, is most certainly easy said than done!

To forgive… especially to forgive repeatedly…
… is certainly no easy task!

But it would require a deeper experience of the unconditional Love of the Lord and our own determination…
… along with His Grace, to reach out in forgiveness and pardon to our constantly erring brothers and sisters!

Let’s learn to “have forgiveness an essential ingredient in our living together!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
LIFE IN CHRIST – PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE – THE COMMON GOOD

By common good is to be understood “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals…

… to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily!” (CCC # 1906)

⏩ CATHOLIC CARTRIDGE – A series to learn, revive, love and be faithful…to our Catholic Faith!

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

12 THE HOLY MASS: A DIRECT ENCOUNTER, WITH THE DIVINE

❇️ WHAT IS IT?

THE HOLY MASS stands at the heart of Catholic worship, representing the re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross and offering believers an intimate encounter with the divine.

It is a sacred and communal act of worship where the faithful gather to offer praise, thanksgiving, and participate in the Paschal Mystery.

As St. John Paul II expressed, “The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.

The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it.”

Archbishop Fulton Sheen beautifully says, “the greatest Love Story of the entire world is found in the Tiny White Host!”

🌀 HISTORY

💡 Institution by Christ: The Holy Mass finds its roots in the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Eucharist, commanding His disciples to “do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19).

The institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper is explicitly described in the Gospels, emphasizing its Divine origin (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20).

💡 Early Christian Worship: The early Christians continued the practice of gathering for the breaking of the bread, as seen in Acts 2:42-46, reflecting the essential role of the Mass in their worship.

💡 Development of the Liturgy: Over centuries, guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church developed the Liturgical structure of the Mass, incorporating prayers, rituals, and readings.

💡 Councils and Liturgical Reforms: Church councils, such as the Council of Trent, played a vital role in articulating the Church’s teachings on the Mass, and the Second Vatican Council brought about Liturgical reforms that emphasized active participation of the laity.

📜 LEARN FROM SAINTS & TEACHINGS

St. Justin Martyr: “No one may share the Eucharist with us unless he believes that what we teach is true, unless he is washed in the regenerating waters of baptism for the remission of his sins, and unless he lives in accordance with the principles given us by Christ.”

St. John Chrysostom: “When we have been to Holy Communion, the balm of love envelops the soul as the flower envelops the bee.”

St. Teresa of Calcutta: “If we really understand the Eucharist; if we really participate in Mass, we would offer our lives in sacrifice with Jesus on the Cross.”

St. Padre Pio: “It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass.”

St. Pope John Paul II: “The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the Church and to the whole world.”

St. Augustine: “Christ is both the Priest, offering Himself, and Himself the Victim. He willed that the sacramental sign of this should be the daily Sacrifice of the Church.”

🙏🏻 SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

🔷 Real Presence of Christ: The Holy Mass is the moment when, through Transubstantiation, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ – making alive, His Real Presence among the faithful.

🔷 Paschal Mystery: By participating in the Mass, believers enter into the Paschal Mystery—Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection—making present the salvific work of Jesus.

🔷 Communal Worship: The Mass is a communal act of worship where the Church, both on earth and in heaven, unites in praising and offering gratitude to God.

🔷 Sacrament of Unity: The Eucharist is a powerful symbol of unity, bringing together the diverse members of the Church into one body, the Body of Christ.

🔷 Historical Consistency: The consistency of the Mass throughout the Church’s history, despite cultural and linguistic differences, underscores its divine origin.

🔷 Source of Grace: Through the Mass, believers receive Sacramental Grace, nourishing their souls and empowering them to live according to Christ’s teachings.

🔷 Heaven on Earth: The Holy Mass is described as “Heaven on Earth,” where heaven and earth meet in a mystical union, and believers have a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.

🌐 PRACTICAL TIPS

💠 Active Participation: Engage actively in the Mass by understanding the Liturgical elements, following the prayers, and participating in hymns and responses.

💠 Regular Attendance: Make attending Mass a priority, recognizing it as a central act of worship and a source of spiritual nourishment.

💠 Eucharistic Adoration: Complement Mass attendance with moments of Eucharistic Adoration, deepening your personal connection with the Real Presence.

💠 Receive the Eucharist Worthily: Approach the Holy Communion with a disposition of humility, repentance, and love, recognizing the profound encounter with Christ.

💠 Share the Faith: Share the beauty and significance of the Mass with others, helping them understand its transformative power and spiritual richness.

May The Holy Mass be a profound encounter with the divine, drawing believers into the mystery of Christ’s love and sacrifice.

❇️ Keep the faith!
✅ Live in love!
✳️ Deepen your hope!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

  • Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
    Bengaluru, India
    reflectioncapsules@gmail.com

✝️💜 REFLECTION CAPSULE – Mar 04, 2024: Monday

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

“Learning from the Gentle and Humble ways of the Lord, and becoming persons, who are open to the workings of the Holy Spirit!”

(Based on 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab and Lk 4:24-30 – Monday of the 3rd Week in Lent)

Muhammad Ali, the former world heavyweight boxing champ, is considered to among the greatest sportsmen of all time.

Also known as Cassius Clay, he was also infamous for bragging – “I am the Greatest!”

Once, before the take-off on an airline flight, the stewardess reminded Ali to fasten his seatbelt. “Superman don’t need no seatbelt,” Ali told her with pride.

The stewardess was unwilling to compromise….

So she retorted, “Superman don’t need no airplane, either.”

Ali was discomfited in his pride.

In shame, he fastened his seatbelt without saying an extra word.

Pride can block a person from being open to the views, trends and wavelengths of other people and situations.

This is much more true, when it comes to spiritual matters

A proud mind…

rejects the plans and workings of God in one’s life…
… and makes one to say, “I can manage my life by myself!”

A haughty spirit…

opposes any movements that causes one to get out of one’s comfort zones…
… and makes one to say, “I know what’s best for me! None need to teach me!”

The Gospel of the Day presents the rejection of Jesus, in the Synagogue at Nazareth, by the people, who displayed a proud mentality, a haughty spirit and an arrogant heart.

Jesus, is in His hometown.

He entered the synagogue and began to teach.

Though initially, there was a wave of excitement…
… the words of Jesus caused a major setback to the people.

This caused the people to reject Jesus…
… they even try to kill Him ( Lk 4: 29-30)

St Luke uses a very strong word to describe the feelings of the people…
“When the people in the synagogue heard, they were all FILLED WITH FURY”

Or another translation… “… they were all FILLED WITH WRATH”

When one’s pride is hurt…
…. One tends to become angry and hurt

When one is made to get out of one’s comfort zones…
… one tends to become restless and agitated.

This is what happened to the people in the Synagogue.

Their pride was hurt..
… because Jesus spoke to them on the need to be humble, and accept the “all-embracing” love of the Lord!

They were made to get out of the comfortable zones…
… because Jesus spoke to them on the need to change their closed ways of thought-pattern, and to accept the “all-merciful” invitation to the Kingdom of God!

This “instigation” can happen in our life too…

When we are challenged to move out of our “traditional” style of thinking…
…. and accept instead, the merciful and compassionate ways of God

When we are forced to change our crippling attitudes of rejecting people on the basis of caste, creed, colour, language etc…
… and accept instead, the “all-welcoming” style of the Kingdom of God

Human tendency it is, to sometimes “get used to” comfortable situations…
… even if they are fruitless or unproductive and useless

In 2 Kings 5:1-15, Naaman’s initial pride and resistance to Elisha’s simple solution reflects the human tendency…
… to “resist change and to move out of the comfort zone!”

The Lord today, invites and challenges us in our proud mentality, a haughty spirit and an arrogant heart.

There is a constant invitation by Jesus:
“Learn from Me.. for I am gentle and humble in heart”

Let us learn from the Gentle and Humble ways of the Lord, and become persons, who are open to the workings of the Holy Spirit.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
LIFE IN CHRIST – PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE – THE COMMON GOOD

Do not live entirely isolated, having retreated into yourselves…
as if you were already justified

… but gather instead to seek the common good together. (CCC # 1905)

✝️💜 REFLECTION CAPSULE – Mar 03, 2024: Sunday

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

“Enthroning the Lord – the King of kings and the Lord of lords – in the most prominent place in our hearts, in our lives and in our families!”

(Based on Exod 20:1-17, 1 Cor 1:22-25 and Jn 2:13-25 – 3rd Sunday in Lent)

This story is told in a particular kingdom, wherein a famous Christian artist – known for his paintings and art…
… once drew a beautiful painting of Christ Crucified – with the caption – “The King reigns on the Throne of the Cross. Is He reigning also on the throne of your lives?”

This painting was gifted to the king on his birthday, with a grand unveiling ceremony…
… with a request by the painter, to place the painting in a prominent place in the palace.

Seeing the painting, many of the court officials including the ministers were dumbfounded and bewildered…
… along with being apprehensive on what would be the reaction of the king.

But the king arose from his throne…
… commanded that his throne be removed from the regular place.

And holding up the spectacular painting, the king placed it right in the place where his throne was – the most prominent place in the palace – as he announced:
“There is no greater King than the Lord Himself! He deserves the most prominent place – in our hearts, in this kingdom and in this palace!”

Realization of the greatness of the Lord and giving Him His due honour and priority in our lives…
… is indeed one of the most vital aspect of our life

And this top prioritization alone can ensure the upholding of the “Sense of the Sacred” in our lives!

God is Holy.

And all matters pertaining to God, has a “Sense of the Sacred.”

Worship becomes meaningful…
… when one becomes aware of this Sense of the Sacred.

Preaching becomes powerful…
… when one is convinced of this Sense of the Sacred.
Liturgy becomes heart-touching…
… when one acknowledges this Sense of the Sacred.

Today we need to make an examination…

Is my Worship of God becoming merely external, and losing its inner values?
Is my Liturgy more a ritualistic and obligatory exercise, than truly an experiential one?
Is my Preaching of God reduced to great talks, but devoid of conviction and passion?

If the answer to any of the above questions is a Yes…
… then we are perhaps losing the Sense of the Sacred.

The Gospel of the day presents a classic case of this loss of the Sacred Sense.

The Temple of Jerusalem is desecrated by a loss of the Sacred Sense and Jesus seeks to restore it by cleansing the temple.
“In the temple, Jesus found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.

Making a whip of cords, He drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” (Jn 2:14-15)

The Jerusalem Temple was very dear to the faith of the people of Israel.

Worshipping in this temple was the ultimate for the Israelites, in their honouring of God.

At the Passover, Jews from around the world came to the temple to sacrifice to the Lord (Ex. 12:1-28; Lev 23:4-8).

It was highly impractical to bring sacrificial animals long distances.

So they were made available in the Jerusalem Temple!

Most Jews also paid the temple tax during the Passover.

Since, they came from various places and bore pagan Roman seals, money-changers were there in the temple, to convert the Roman coinage into appropriate currency.
Pagan symbols on Roman money made it unacceptable for Yahweh’s house.

Where there is money, corruption slowly creeps in…!

Pilgrims had to pay exorbitant rates to change money, and sellers exploited those in poverty, overcharging for the poor man’s offering of pigeons and doves (Lev. 5:7).

To make things worse, these merchants set up shop in the Court of the Gentiles, making it useless as a place of prayer due to the hustle and bustle of the buying and the selling of goods.

Though not inherently evil, these practices became occasions for sin.

What started for a noble cause, led to immense corruption.
There began the loss of the “Sense of the Sacred”…

And this is so true in our own lives…
The beginning of the loss of the Sense of the Sacred begins with trivial things.

I allow little delays and some relaxations in my prayer life…

And suddenly, I find no excitement in spending time in prayer.

I allow laxity and silence and indifference in my relationships…

And suddenly, I find no meaning in many of my relations…

I allow unpreparedness and disinterest to walk into my celebration and participation of Mass…

And suddenly, I find not meaning in the Holy Eucharist.

The loss of the Sense of the Sacred happens in a very subtle and quiet way.

And unless, we remain vigilant and careful, we can lose our way in spiritual warfare.

It is this reminder and warning that the Lord delivers today, by cleansing the Jerusalem Temple
“Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” (Jn 2:16b)

Today we have converted many of the places into “marketplaces”…
Today we have badly defiled the “Sense of the Sacred” in many places…

Cinemas and movies have a heavy stench of vulgarity and indecency.

They rob the society of its ethical culture and moral innocence.

Posters, hoardings and advertisements have become mediums of immorality and offensiveness

They rob its viewers of their principles and convictions in life.

The Internet and new media are badly misused to become snares of promoting life-threatening and life-abusing activities.

They rob its users of their proper purposes & instead addict them to many compulsions & cravings which are hard to be given up.

Families and communities often become places lacking in genuine love, unity and peace

They rob one of the chance to grow in a spirit of sharing and understanding.

Our bodies are often manipulated with many addictions, improper practices and ungodly behaviours.

They rob the person of the purity and holiness that is engraved deep within.

The Cleansing of the Jerusalem Temple is a strong reminder for us, to check the areas and the manner in which we have lost the Sense of the Sacred…

We complain that the world is becoming more materialistic and less spiritual.
We complain that the Church is becoming more “worldly” and less inspiring.

One of the root problems lies in the fact, that we perhaps losing the “Sense of the Sacred”

Unless I am in awe of the God who has created this beautiful and majestic world…
… I will continue to abuse and misuse the world.

Unless I am in wonder of the God who has gifted the Church with life-saving sacraments…
… I will continue to blame the Church and lose precious graces that I can obtain through her.

We are called to ensure – just as God commanded the people of Israel – to have our God, as the only God…
… and to give Him the highest priority in our lives!

“I am the Lord your God…. you shall have no other gods before Me!” (Cf. Exod 20:2-3)

Let us – without any compromise – follow Christ Crucified…
… just as St Paul declares: “… we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles..” (1 Cor 1:23)

The clarion call today is to revive the “Sense of the Sacred”.
… cleanse anything which diminishes this “Sense of the Sacred”
… and become people, who radiate – with joy and enthusiasm – the “Sense of the Sacred”

Yes, we are exhorted to enthrone and accord the Lord – the King of kings and the Lord of lords…
… the most prominent place in our hearts, in our lives and in our families!

Let us always offer an optimistic answer to the question: “The King reigns on the Throne of the Cross.

Is He reigning also on the throne of your lives?”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
LIFE IN CHRIST – PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE

In keeping with the social nature of man, the good of each individual is necessarily related to the common good…

… which in turn can be defined only in reference to the human person. (CCC # 1905)

⏩ CATHOLIC CARTRIDGE – A series to learn, revive, love, and be faithful…to our Catholic Faith!

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

11 THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR: A SOURCE OF FAITH AND UNITY

❇️ WHAT IS IT?

THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR is a sacred Catholic practice that organizes the Church’s worship and commemorates key events in the life of Christ, providing a framework for spiritual growth and communal unity.

It invites believers to participate actively in the mysteries of salvation throughout the liturgical year.

Pope Francis tells us, “the Liturgical Calendar is a catechetical tool par excellence. It teaches us to live in communion with the Church, to contemplate Jesus, and to follow him.”

🌀 HISTORY

💡 Biblical Roots: Rooted in Biblical events, the Liturgical Calendar reflects the divine plan of salvation, beginning with Advent as a preparation for the birth of Christ and culminating in the celebration of Christ the King.

💡 Apostolic Tradition: The early Christians, inspired by the Holy Apostles, developed the Liturgical Calendar to guide the rhythm of worship, emphasizing the centrality of Christ in the life of the Church.

💡 Development of Liturgical Seasons: The Liturgical Calendar has evolved with distinct liturgical seasons, fostering a deepened understanding of the mysteries of faith.

In the Church, there are six Liturgical seasons:

  1. Advent: Prepares hearts for God’s ‘incarnational’ presence in our lives.
  2. Christmas: Celebrates God’s intervention and deepens our understanding of Emmanuel—God with us.
  3. Lent: Focuses on repentance and confronting the reality of sin, and the Mercy of God
  4. Holy Triduum: Centres on the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Blessed Lord.
  5. Easter: Highlights God’s mighty power through Resurrection and the promise of new life with the coming of the Holy Spirit
  6. Ordinary Time: Encourages reflection on Jesus’ daily life and teachings for practical insights.

💡 Feast Days and Solemnities: The inclusion of feast days and solemnities, honouring saints and significant events, enriches the spiritual journey, fostering devotion and unity among believers.

💡 Second Vatican Council: The Council affirmed the significance of the Liturgical Calendar, encouraging active participation in the Liturgy as a means of encountering the living Christ.

📜 LEARN FROM SAINTS & TEACHINGS

🔶 St. Augustine: “The Church celebrates the mystery of its Lord throughout the course of the year. This mystery embraces the birth, the Passion, the Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ.”

🔶 St. Thomas Aquinas: “The celebration of feasts is a profession of the Christian faith, which teaches the great mysteries of Christ.”

🙏🏻 SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

🔷 Faith Formation: The Liturgical Calendar serves as a structured curriculum for the faithful, guiding them through the essential doctrines and mysteries of the Christian faith.

🔷 Communal Unity: By following the Liturgical Calendar, the Church collectively enters into the sacred mysteries…
… fostering a sense of unity and shared spiritual journey among believers worldwide.

🔷 Living the Gospel: Each Liturgical season invites believers to immerse themselves in the Gospel message, providing opportunities for personal and communal conversion.

🔷 Mystical Participation: The Liturgical Calendar allows believers to mystically participate in the redemptive events of Christ’s life, fostering a deeper connection with the divine.

🔷 Sacramental Grace: Liturgical seasons and celebrations are accompanied by specific graces, enriching the sacramental life of the Church and aiding in the sanctification of the faithful.

🔷 Lectionary: The Church’s Liturgical Calendar includes a Lectionary – a curated selection of Scripture readings for each liturgical season and occasion.

The Sunday readings are arranged into 3 Cycles: Cycle A (with most readings taken from St Mathew), Cycle B (with most readings taken from St Mark) and Cycle C (with most readings taken from St Luke). The Easter Season primarily has readings from St John.
The weekday readings are classified as Year 1 (for odd years: Eg 2023, 2025) and Year 2 (for even years: Eg 2024, 2026)

This arrangement ensures that as a People of God, we complete reading the entire Bible (major portions) over a three year period.

🌐 PRACTICAL TIPS

💠 Active Participation: Actively engage in liturgical celebrations and follow the Liturgical Calendar to deepen your understanding of the faith.

💠 Educate and Share: Educate fellow Catholics about the spiritual richness of the Liturgical Calendar, emphasizing its role in nurturing faith and unity.

💠 Liturgical Devotions: Incorporate Liturgical devotions into your personal prayer life, aligning your spiritual journey with the rhythms of the Church.

💠 Celebrate Feast Days: Embrace the celebration of feast days and solemnities, recognizing them as opportunities for joy, devotion, and communal worship.

💠 Seasonal Reflection: Use each Liturgical season as a time for spiritual reflection, allowing the themes of the season to guide your personal and communal prayer.

May The Liturgical Calendar be a source of spiritual nourishment and communal unity, guiding us to live the Catholic faith with deeper conviction and commitment.

❇️ Keep the faith!
✅ Live in love!
✳️ Deepen your hope!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

  • Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
    Bengaluru, India
    reflectioncapsules@gmail.com

✝️💜 REFLECTION CAPSULE – Mar 02, 2024: Saturday

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

“Staying true and good, in faithfulness and obedience!”

(Based on Mic 7:14-15, 18-20 and Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 – Saturday of the 2nd Week in Lent)

A group of teenagers were enjoying a party…
… and someone suggested that they go to a certain restaurant-cum-bar for a “more enjoyable” time.

“I’d rather go home,” said Jeffrey, to his friends, “My parents don’t approve of that place.”

“Haha! Are you afraid your father will hurt you?” one of the girls said sarcastically to him.

“No,” Jeffrey replied, “I’m afraid I might hurt my Father.”

The young boy understood the true meaning of staying true and good…
… not because of fear of punishment
… rather, for fear of hurting the one who loves you!

When you love someone, you remain true to the person…
… in faithfulness and obedience
… in sincerity and respect

The Gospel of the Day – the Parable of the Prodigal Son – is the beautiful exposition of the “lost son” realising the true meaning of Love…
… as He experienced the Unconditionally True Love of the Heavenly Father!

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is surely one of the most popular, the most loved and the most touching parables of Jesus.

This parable has three main characters and we could view any of them as playing the main role in the story:

  1. The Prodigal Son

He went away from the love of his father

Inheritance was given to children only after the death of the father

In asking the inheritance, therefore, alluded to the fact that the Prodigal son considered his father to be dead!

But having spent his life in useless living, he realised the emptiness and vacuum that filled his heart.

And so he decided to turn back.. and go to his father

  1. The Elder Son

He remained the faithful “servant” of the house

But when he saw, that his brother – who had wasted away the inheritance, was received with so much warmth, his temper rose!

He couldn’t digest the fact that his brother who lived a “wasted life” was honoured….
… whereas he was never given the chance to “enjoy with his friends”

The context of the parable is Jesus speaking to the “Pharisees and scribes” who were “complaining that Jesus always accepted sinners” (Lk 15: 1-2)

In this context, the character of the Elder Son portrayed the attitude of the Pharisees and Scribes.

But beyond these two characters towers high the Image of the Father – the Father who loved and accepted his lost son!

He suffered a deep pain when his younger son went away
He underwent immense pain waiting for the son to come back
He went through moments of dilemma when his elder son was opposing the welcome of the younger one

Yet through all this, the Character of the Father towers high!

He is the Father of Mercies – Who accepts all, just as they are
He is the Father of Love – Who loves everyone, unconditionally
He is the Father of Compassion – Who receives all to His loving embrace

In our life, often as children – like the Prodigal Son – we go away.

We try to do something good…
… but our life turns into a mess!

Our student life gets messed up with lack of commitment and failures
Our marriage hits the rocks with misunderstandings and lack of acceptance
Our family life gets into a crisis with lack of unity and peace of mind

We feel our life is all in a mess…

We find ourselves lost, frustrated and upset!

But in all such situations, we need to look up…
… and see how the Loving Father is waiting to embrace us…. And love us!

Yes, the Merciful Father is waiting for each one of us…
… Whatever be the mess, that my life may be in!

Let us run into His embrace of Love… with a sincere repentance and contrition of heart…

And pledge to live for Him, and with Him…
… forever!

Let us stay true and good…
… not because of fear of punishment
… rather, for fear of hurting the One Who loves us the most!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
LIFE IN CHRIST – PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL LIFE

“It is preferable that each power be balanced by other powers and by other spheres of responsibility which keep it within proper bounds.

This is the principle of the ‘rule of law,’ in which the law is sovereign and not the arbitrary will of men.” (CCC # 1904)

⏩ CATHOLIC CARTRIDGE – A series to learn, revive, love and be faithful…to our Catholic Faith!

Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFSLeave a comment

10 DEVOTION AND PRAYERS FOR THE DEPARTED

❇️ WHAT IS IT?

DEVOTION AND PRAYERS FOR THE DEPARTED is a sacred Catholic practice involving prayers and supplications for the souls of the deceased.

It encourages believers to recognize the importance of praying for those who have passed away, seeking God’s mercy and grace for them.

🌀 HISTORY

💡 Scriptural Foundation: Grounded in the Scriptural understanding of the importance of prayers for the dead, found in passages like 2 Maccabees 12:46: “Therefore, [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.”

This underscores the Christian responsibility to pray for the souls of the departed.

When a person dies, his/her existence ceases only in our sight.

They still continue to live in God’s sight.
The dead are not dead for God.
This is what Jesus says in Luke 20:38, “…he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him, all are alive”
Therefore, it is logical and reasonable that we pray for the faithful departed.

💡 Early Christian Witness: Early Christians, following the example of the Apostles, _engaged in prayers for the departed,& recognizing the Church as a living body that extends beyond physical death.

💡 Development of Liturgies: The establishment of liturgical practices, including requiem Masses and annual commemorations of the faithful departed, reflects the Church’s commitment to praying for the souls in purgatory.

💡 Teachings of the Church Fathers: Church Fathers such as St. Augustine affirmed the practice of offering prayers for the dead, emphasizing the transformative power of intercessory prayers.

💡 Second Vatican Council: The Council reiterated the importance of prayers for the dead, emphasizing the Church’s understanding of purgatory and the purification process after death.

📜 LEARN FROM THE TEACHINGS

St. John Chrysostom: “Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation?”

St. Ambrose: “We have loved them during life; let us not abandon them in death, until we have conducted them by our prayers into the house of the Lord.”

St. Catherine of Genoa: “I believe no happiness can be found worthy to be compared with that of a soul in Purgatory except that of the saints in Paradise.”

St. Padre Pio: “It is a duty of every man to render to the departed, as far as possible, the same service as he would wish to be done to himself.”

St. Faustina Kowalska: “Today bring to Me the Souls who are in the prison of Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames.”

🙏🏻 SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE

🔷 Purgatorial Process: The practice underscores the belief in purgatory, a state of purification for souls destined for heaven, emphasizing the Church’s responsibility to aid them through prayers.

Praying for the departed reflects Christian charity and a commitment to the well-being of the entire Body of Christ.

🔷 God’s Mercy: Devotion and prayers for the departed acknowledge God’s infinite mercy, trusting in His compassion to grant solace and ultimate union with Him to the souls in purgatory.

This practice highlights the transformative nature of divine mercy and the hopeful journey towards eternal communion with God.

🔷 Intercession for the Departed: Believers become intercessors for the souls in purgatory, petitioning God on behalf of those who cannot pray for themselves.

This reflects the communal nature of prayer and the interconnectedness of the Church, both on earth and beyond (the Communion of Saints)

🔷 Continued Communion: The practice reinforces the concept of the Communion of Saints, illustrating that our relationship with fellow believers transcends death, and our prayers can still impact their spiritual journey.

It fosters a sense of solidarity, compassion, and hope within the Christian community.

🔷 Final Rest in God: Through prayers for the departed, believers express a longing for the souls to find eternal rest in God, acknowledging the ultimate destination of every faithful soul.

This practice aligns with the Christian understanding of death not as an end but as a transition to eternal life in God’s presence.

🔷 Reminder to live in hope and faith: Death is frightening for the faithless, but for the faithful, it is the doorway to the Fountain of Faith!

Death is a reality. Sometimes, in such situations, silence is the only answer that we can provide. But this silence ought to be a silence of hope, a silence of trust and a silence of faith.
When we have an unshakable hope and strong faith in God, the anguish of death subsides

🌐 PRACTICAL TIPS

💠 Offering Mass for the Departed: Participate in or request Masses dedicated to the souls in purgatory, recognizing the efficacy of the Eucharist in aiding the departed on their journey.

We are also reminded about offering the “Gregorian Mass” – an ancient tradition of offering thirty consecutive Masses said in thirty days for the soul of a deceased person, to release the from the pains of Purgatory

💠 Personal Prayers: Incorporate prayers for the departed into personal devotions, asking God’s mercy and grace for specific individuals or souls in general.

💠 Annual Remembrances: Observe annual commemorations like All Souls’ Day where the Church collectively prays for the faithful departed or Death Anniversaries, fostering a sense of community in remembering loved ones.

💠 Acts of Charity: Engage in acts of charity and kindness in memory of the departed, recognizing that such acts can be offered for the benefit of their souls.

💠 Educate Others: Share the scriptural and theological foundations of praying for the departed with fellow Catholics and offer explanations to those who may not be familiar with the practice.

May Devotion and Prayers for the Departed be a compassionate and hopeful journey, affirming the Christian commitment to the well-being of souls beyond this earthly life.

❇️ Keep the faith!
✅ Live in love!
✳️ Deepen your hope!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

  • Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
    Bengaluru, India
    reflectioncapsules@gmail.com