Pentecost

Happy Feast of Pentecost to all! May the outpouring of the Holy Spirit renew each one of us and recreate the gifts in us, that we may give glory and praise to Him!

The Breath of God Within Us

When we speak about the Holy Spirit, we speak about the breath of God, breathing in us. The Greek word for "spirit" is pneuma, which means "breath." We are seldom aware of our breathing. It is so essential for life that we only think about it when something is wrong with it.

The Spirit of God is like our breath. God's spirit is more intimate to us than we are to ourselves. We might not often be aware of it, but without it we cannot live a "spiritual life." It is the Holy Spirit of God who prays in us, who offers us the gifts of love, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, peace, and joy. It is the Holy Spirit who offers us the life that death cannot destroy. Let us always pray: "Come, Holy Spirit, come."

(Henri Nouwen)

Children and the Media: A Challenge for Education

The theme of the 41st World Communications Day, invites us to reflect on two related topics of immense importance: the formation of children and the formation of the media.

The complex challenges facing education today are often linked to the pervasive influence of the media in our world. The relationship of children, media, and education can be considered from two perspectives: the formation of children by the media; and the formation of children to respond appropriately to the media. A kind of reciprocity emerges which points to the responsibilities of the media as an industry and to the need for active and critical participation of readers, viewers and listeners.

Parents have a right and duty to ensure the prudent use of the media by training the conscience of their children to express sound and objective judgments which will then guide them in choosing or rejecting programmes available.

Media education should be positive. Children exposed to what is aesthetically and morally excellent are helped to develop appreciation, prudence and the skills of discernment. It requires formation in the exercise of freedom. In the light of truth, authentic freedom is experienced as a definitive response to God’s ‘yes’ to humanity, calling us to choose, not indiscriminately but deliberately, all that is good, true and beautiful.

How could one explain this ‘entertainment’ to the countless innocent young people who actually suffer violence, exploitation and abuse? In this regard, all would do well to reflect on the contrast between Christ who “put his arms around [the children] laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing” (Mk 10:16) and the one who “leads astray … these little ones” for whom "it would be better … if a millstone were hung round his neck" (Lk 17:2).

The Church herself, in the light of the message of salvation entrusted to her, is also a teacher of humanity and welcomes the opportunity to offer assistance to parents, educators, communicators, and young people. Above all, the Church desires to share a vision of human dignity that is central to all worthy human communication. "Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave" (Deus Caritas Est, 18).

La presenza di Gesù

Ogni tristezza viene dalla lontananza del Signore. Per questo, i discepoli saranno tristi per un po', perché per qualche tempo non vedranno il volto del Signore, non lo sentiranno più vicino come loro compagno di viaggio. è il momento del buio, della notte che apre al Venerdì Santo, ma è la "notte necesaria". Senza la passione di Gesù, non avremmo compreso l'amore del Padre.

La soffrenza sembra il passaggio necessario per giungere alla gioia, così come un bimbo non può venire al mondo senza il travaglio del parto. Ogni crescita umana ha la sua fase di crisi, sembra che senza la crisi non si cresca. Così anche ogni nostra maturazione nella fede ha bisogno di passare per una sofferenza, per la croce di Gesù, ha bisogno di purificarsi nel suo sangue e nella sua-nostra morte perché si apra il mattino della gioia. Solo così lo Spirito Santo può distruggere l'uomo vecchio, prigioniero della tristezza, e dare alla luce l'uomo nuovo, libero e gioioso, in attesa del giorno senza tramonto in cui la nostra gioia sarà piena.

(Messa Meditazione)

Be God's Friends

To be prophets in today's world, women religious must cultivate an intimate friendship with God.

The Pope said that on May 7, in an audience with a group of 794 superiors-general of women's religious congregations, gathered in a plenary assembly for the week.

"The 'prophet' first listens and contemplates, then speaks, letting himself be totally infused with that love for God that fears nothing and is stronger than death."

"An authentic prophet, therefore, is not overly worried about doing works, which is undoubtedly important, but not essential. The prophet tries, above all, to be a witness of God's love, trying to live it in today's world, even if his presence is considered 'uncomfortable' to some, because it offers and incarnates alternative values. Only union with God can cause and strengthen the 'prophetic' role of your mission, which consists in the 'proclamation of the heavenly kingdom,' an indispensable proclamation in every age and society.

Benedict XVI encouraged the superiors to make their primary concern that of helping "your fellow sisters to search for Christ and place themselves in generous service to the Gospel."

"Do not give in to the temptation of distancing yourselves from intimacy with your heavenly Spouse by letting yourselves be captured by the concerns and problems of everyday life. Do not tire of making every possible effort for the human, cultural and spiritual formation of those entrusted to you, so that they will be able to respond to the modern cultural and social challenges."

(from Zenit)
ZE07050802

Remain in my love

As we celebrate the feast of St. Mathias, the gospel today reminds us once again: remain in my love.... love one another.

How can we find and remain in the love of Jesus? Observe His commands--To be faithful to the life of Jesus, the life which we have in us since the day of our baptism. The life of Jesus is love.

Blessed James Alberione

I started a new blog, dedicated to our Founder, Blessed James Alberione. I intend to post his writings, thoughts and those related to him and the Pauline Family. Tried putting it in my link but somehow it didn't work. Anyway, I hope that our Founder will be an inspiration for everyone in his love for God and zeals for the apostolates and souls. It will also be both English and Italian, of course, as this is the original. So, please help to spread the word around.

Blessed James Alberione

Vi Do Un Comandamento Nuovo -- A New Commandment I Give You

How to synthesize the whole Christian message in a sentence? What is indeed essential in our faith experience? In this time of Easter, he Risen Lord exhorts us: love. But to take me as example, to love with the love that I have given you, to love as I have loved you to the point of giving up my life for you. How beautiful! The Lord asks us to do exactly what we desire more than every other thing: to love. But only He knows how to love without possessing, without hurting, without lying. Our world strains to overcome the vision of love that reduces to emotions: Jesus teaches us to concretize the feeling in a choice of life that puts the Other at the center. (La Domenica, Paolo Curtaz)

Come sintetizzare l’intero messaggio cristiano in una frase? Cosa è davvero essenziale nella nostra esperienza di fede? In questo tempo pasquale il Risorto ci esorta: amate. Ma amate prendendo me come esempio, amatevi dell’amore che vi ho donato, amtevi come io vi ho amato, fino a dare la mia vita per voi. Che bello! Il Signore ci chiede di fare esattamente ciò che desideriamo più di ogni altra cosa: amare. Ma solo lui sa come si fa ad amare senza possedere, senza ferire, senza mentire. Il nostro mondo fatica a superare la visione dell’amore che si riduce ad emozione: Gesù ci insegna a concretizzare il sentimento in una scelta di vita che metta l’Altro al centro.

(La Domenica, Paolo Curtaz)

Happy 13th Anniversary, FSP Singapore

In most part of the world today, we celebrate Labour Day, Feast of St. Joseph... Silently, the Daughters of St. Paul in Singapore, together with many other communities over the world, celebrates her 13th year of foundation. Yes, 1994 our sisters began their mission in Singapore--Sr. Lorenzina, Sr. Agostina and Sr. Grace (first Singaporean DSP--1960). At the present moment, God has graced us with 5 local perpetual sisters and 2 novices, one of whom will be making her first profession this coming June. Together with my sisters, I thank God for calling us to share in this special mission, for all the marvellous works He has done and continue to do, in Singapore. Let us continue to pray for our sisters in the community, and that He will give us more good vocations to share in this great mission, to proclaim His marvellous love for all humanity through all the means of social communications.

Subiaco

View from the monastary

Last week, the Union for the Major Superior of Religious Institute (Unione Superiore Maggiore d'Italia) organized a trip to Subiaco for the religious in Rome. I had the grace to participate in this outing, which is both enriching and relaxing/refreshing. Altogether we were in 5 bus loads, which is about 150 of us. Imagine having all these nuns on the road....

Subiaco is a city in the south of Rome, mainly renowned as tourist and religious resort for its sacred grotto (Sacro Speco), in the St. Benedict's Abbey, and the Abbey of St. Scholastica. It is also famous as the first city in Italy where books were printed, in the 15th century. "Sacro Speco" - the cave where Saint Benedict (480 - 547 (67)) lived for three years, eating food lowered in a basket to him by the hermit monk Romanus.
At Santa Scholastica

For story of St. Benedict, about subiaco:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subiaco,_Italy
http://www.benedettini-subiaco.it/inglese/PAGINE/notizie.html

On our way back, we also stop by at St. Vittorina. There is a community of sisters, whose ministry includes praying for vocations, and also made known our Lady of Fatima. I can't rememeber the name of the congregation though, what a shame!

see if you can spot anyone you know!