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Pope Francis urged Catholics around the globe to prepare themselves for the Jubilee year 2025 by studying the documents of the Second Vatican Council, especially its four Dogmatic constitutions. In this article, I will explore some groundbreaking themes from what is known as the most important Conciliar document on the Church itself – Lumen Gentium.

Light of the Nations

When Vatican II titled its document on the Church ‘Lumen Gentium,’ which means ‘Light of the Nations,’ it aimed to articulate the Church’s role and purpose. In the same way as Christ is the light for all nations, the Church is tasked with spreading that illuminating presence throughout the world. Instead of giving a name that would have the Church focused on itself, in a masterstroke move, the Council Fathers opted for a Christocentric title.

The Church is to Christ as John the Baptist was to Jesus. The Church is just as John the Baptist was not the Light itself, but rather a witness to the Light (Jn 1:7-9). Adopting a spiritual stance akin to that of John the Baptist, the Church echoes his words about Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

In what ways can you let Christ shine through your life and actions?

The Mystery Of The Church

God does not call us to go to church but to be his Church. The Council fathers encapsulated this understanding by introducing a chapter right at the outset titled as ‘The Mystery of the Church’. The essence of the Church extends beyond physical structures or hierarchical arrangements. Pope Paul VI, would say that the Church is a mystery or sacrament, meaning it is “a reality imbued with the hidden presence of God”.

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You have certainly heard that human beings are the image of God, right? What does this mean to you?

Let me tell you how one exceptionally brilliant man interpreted this Bible teaching. When I first heard it in a philosophy class in Rome decades ago, I was impressed. And it has remained in my mind.

I am referring to the interpretation given to this doctrine by Thomas Aquinas, an exceptional intellectual and a deep mystic.

We, humans, are the image of God.

You. Me. Everyone around.

What does it mean to be the image of God?

You can click a photo and see what someone looks like. We do not have a photo of God. How do we “picture” God?

This is where Aquinas applied his creative intelligence.

By “God” we mean the creator of all. This whole complex and beautiful universe is all God’s work. Far, far larger and more complex than what our small minds can grasp.

To be God’s image means this: To be like the supremely creative being.

In other words, the more creative you are, the more you are like God!

Just think!

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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What we religious can learn from the success of Alcoholics Anonymous

The inception of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) dates back to 1935 with a chance meeting between two recovering alcoholics Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. The pair since worked with other recovering alcoholics and in 1939 they published ‘The Big Book,’ where they detailed the 12 steps of the recovery program.

Since then, this model has evolved into the most extensively adopted approach, addressing not only alcoholism recovery but also extending its reach to various other forms of addiction. Examples include Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Gamblers Anonymous (GA), Overeaters Anonymous (OA) and Sexaholics Anonymous (SA), among numerous others. Additionally, Al-anon Family Groups and Alateen provide a program of recovery for the families and friends of alcoholics. Here is a brief overview of each of the twelve steps.

Br. Sunil Britto CFC

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The process of synodality has gained significant attention within the Catholic Church today. According to the Instrumentum Laboris, the working document for the first synod assembly, the main objective of the first session was to outline paths of in-depth study to be carried out in a synodal style, indicating the relevant people to be involved and ways to ensure a fruitful process in service to the discernment to be completed in the second session in October 2024. Therefore, consecrated people should be first transformed so as to make synodality happen in reality. Synodality, rooted in the Greek word synodos, meaning ‘journeying together,’ emphasizes the importance of communal discernment, dialogue, and shared decision-making within the Church. This inclusive approach promotes a deeper connection to spirituality among the consecrated people – those who have taken religious vows or promises and live a life of dedication to their faith. In this article, we will explore the significance of synodality in enhancing the spirituality of consecrated individuals, offering practical tips to facilitate this process. To make the process of synodality alive among consecrated people and community leaders, I would like to suggest the following tips for spiritual growth in a synodal context.

1. Spirituality of Listening: One of the fundamental aspects of synodality is active listening. Encouraging consecrated people to listen attentively to one another, as well as to the voices of the laity and those on the peripheries of society, can deepen their spirituality. In listening, consecrated individuals become more attuned to the needs and concerns of others, enhancing their empathy and compassion, which are essential elements of spiritual growth.

Fr. Sanjit Kumar Kujur, SDB

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“Life is a matter of perspective. No matter what the weather, no matter what the situation we are in, if we have the right perspective in life, life will always be beautiful.” – Joel Randymar

How does Perspective-taking Impact the Cognitive Dimension?

Perspective-taking questionnaire that was presented in the last issue is a very useful tool that could surprise especially those who think that they are broadminded and unbiased. Those who had responded to the 7 statements mentioned therein would have discovered that we are not so open-minded after all. If you’re feeling uneasy about not scoring higher on that questionnaire, it could be a clear sign that you need to do more to develop the perspective-taking capacity.

Come to think of it, are we not often culpable of harbouring prejudices against individuals with whom we have never personally interacted? Haven’t there been times when we have hastily judged someone initially, only to regret later on for making a quick or hurtful remark? I found it both amusing and poignant when Fr. Stanislaus Swamikannu, our former provincial of the Salesian province of Chennai, shared his thoughts on the events surrounding transfers. He expressed that much like how dowry is sent ahead to the in-law’s house before the bride arrives, members of the previous community transmit biases, opinions, and judgments (the ‘dowry’ of religious life) about the incoming priest or sister to the new community even before his or her arrival.

Fr. Dr. Joseph Jeyaraj, sdb

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“Your perception creates your reality. You can look at life and see scarcity or abundance. It depends on your mindset.” – Joe Vitale

We ended the previous article with a promise to discuss a very special quality namely, PERSPECTIVE-TAKING, which I believe, is the highest manifestation of the cognitive dimension. This is the second important and essential quality in the wholeness paradigm. It is good to remember the first important quality in our paradigm is CONSISTENCY, which is the highest manifestation of the physical dimension.

Steven Covey’s concept of Vision 

The whole-person paradigm of Stephen Covey considered Vision as the highest manifestation of the mind. In his book, The 8^th Habit, Covey suggested that vision is, “seeing a future state with the mind’s eye. Vision is applied imagination.” (p. 70). He continued to claim that we create all things twice: first in the mind and then in reality. It’s like having a blueprint of the house in hand before setting out to construct the house. For him, the cognitive faculty of a person finds its highest manifestation when that person is able to envision in one’s mind the future course of action. He claimed that the most important vision of all is to “develop a sense of your own destiny, a sense of your own unique mission and role in life, sense of purpose and meaning” (p. 72).

According to Covey, vision is a futuristic quality, something that prepares you for the future, a special capacity to achieve great things in life. Of course, for Covey, vision is not only achieving something or accomplishing a task. It is something more than that: it is about discovering one’s inner potential, expanding one’s capabilities and ultimately, realizing one’s full potential. Therefore, to summarise Stephen Covey’s concept of vision, we can say that those who possess vision, they also possess clarity and farsightedness about what they want to do in life.

Fr. Dr. Joseph Jeyaraj, sdb

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“It’s impossible! It’s useless! It’s a Herculean task!” These were the repeated sentiments expressed by teachers, parents, and Abhinav’s classmates. The consensus was that Abhinav couldn’t change, improve, or behave differently—he was deemed a hard nut to crack. On a particular Monday, the class teachers collected Rs. ten thousand for assisting cancer patients. I placed the money on my office table with the intention of passing it on to the office staff. However, upon returning at noon, the money had mysteriously vanished. Reluctant to accuse anyone at the school, I felt a sense of shame and requested my superior to adjust and provide the missing amount. To my surprise, the following morning brought a revelation about Abhinav’s character from the students of Class IX-B. They were bubbling with excitement to share the news of Abhinav’s generous gesture. He had treated his classmates to ice cream, noodles, hot dogs, and patties without any apparent reason, showcasing a newfound quality that contradicted the earlier skepticism.

As the students excitedly recounted Abhinav’s unusual behavior, my thoughts turned to the missing amount from my office table. During the break, I decided to have a heart-to-heart talk with Abhinav. I commended him for the surprise treat he had given his friends, without any apparent reason for celebration like a birthday, good result, or a special family event. In a candid manner, Abhinav responded without hesitation, “I love my friends, but I never get the chance to enjoy with them. Even on my birthday, I have to settle for sweets like éclairs. Yesterday, I came looking for you, but you were away for supervision, and I saw the money on your table… without a second thought, I took it and used it.”

Sr Mariella CTC

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In 2025, the Catholic Church will observe a significant milestone, as it marks the Jubilee Year, a sacred period with the inspiring theme “Pilgrims of Hope” bestowed by Pope Francis. In the following article, Sister Celine contemplates the profound spiritual significance of this upcoming event and delves into the spiritual journey that the Church is summoned to embark upon.

Fruitful Memories of two Jubilees:

GREAT JUBILEE 2000 called by Pope John Paul II, held from December 1999 to January 6, 2001, as a celebration of the Mercy of God, prepared for it with a three-year intense preparation. It ushered the Church into the third millennium of her history. Putting aside all historical divisions the Church celebrated the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ, as a special time of grace of God.

Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy

We celebrated the extraordinary jubilee of Mercy from December 8, 2015 to November 20,2016.   In calling for this Jubilee year, Pope Francis encouraged us

• to grow ever more convinced of God’s Mercy,
• to discover the face of God’s Mercy,
• to show that face of mercy to the world through our words and actions,
• to put aside all fear and dread, and
• encounter that grace which transforms all things.

Sr. Celine D’Cunha FMA

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Even before the invention of thermometers, people knew when they or someone else had fever. Don’t you remember your mother putting her hand on your neck and saying, “You have fever”?

Similarly, what we today call “counselling” (or psychotherapy or whatever) did not start with the new academic pursuit called psychology. People faced emotional distress—depression, jealousy, anger, fear, worry, broken relationships, stress, confusion, despair, feelings of rejection or inferiority. It is normal to talk about such disturbing or stressful events or feelings with someone we trust. We have all done it. Most of us have listened to others who spoke to us about their distress. Many find relief when they pour out their disturbing or confusing feelings.

Today, we probably have a more systematic understanding of mental and emotional struggles, and of how help can be given. We have all heard this word, “counselling.” Let me make ten simple and basic statements about it—hoping this helps the reader to clarify issues and also to seek and give help when needed.

1. Everyone needs it: During my initial training in counselling, Carlos Welch, a wonderfully effective counsellor from the US who worked in India, told us one day that everybody needs counselling. I raised this objection: “Carlos, you told us the other day that, as adults, we need to stand on our own feet. Today, you are telling us that we need counselling.” He gave me a wise and practical answer: “Joe, standing on one’s own feet means that there are times when we realize and admit that we need help.”

Fr Joe Mannath SDB

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Synodality is journeying together as the People of God listening to each person as a member of the Church to understand how God might be speaking to all of us. The three words in the logo in itself speaks for the ultimate aim for which the synod was called, “communion, participation, and mission.” The Holy Father wanted this synod to be participative and universal as our Church is in dire need of listening to her people who are yearning to pour their hearts out. As Dr. Richard Declue notes, “The aim of this synod, then, is more practical than doctrinal.”

Crafted by the Holy Spirit

The ongoing synod unfolds under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. With two phases completed the diocesan phase focused on gathering insights from local dioceses, and the continental phase fostering dialogue among bishops – the synod now enters its crucial third and final universal phase. This stage underscores the collaborative journey of discovery, propelled by the essence of the Holy Spirit’s direction. Currently, the first session of the third and final universal phase is in progress, emphasizing collaborative exploration, attentive listening, and discernment with the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

           Emmanuel Akilan SJ

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