Reflection And Sharing

This article based on a recent presentation given to Jesuit Counsellors and Psychologists Forum, explores the multifaceted aspects of addictions, shedding light on the profound spiritual sickness that lies beneath the addictive cycle.

1.  Addictions around and within

Today, it is uncommon to find an individual or family whose life has not been directly or indirectly affected by some form of addiction.

Therapy is necessary not only for individuals struggling with addiction but also for family members who endure the associated trauma. Trauma due to addictive parent(s) falls under the category of ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences), mandating the need for healing and counselling; something novitiate programs need to take into account.

Irrespective of where we live, there will be no shortage of people trapped in severe addictions. Ministering to individuals and families grappling with addiction is undeniably a vital necessity within the Church today, even as new forms of addictive behaviours emerge.

2.  Cyber addictions and Workaholism

One of the rapidly expanding addictions in contemporary times is internet related addictive behaviours. And this concern extends to religious as well and very little is being done in formation (initial and ongoing) to address this concern.

A bigger concern or a false god among religious is workaholism or the preoccupation with work, even outside working hours. We worship work and feel unimportant if we are not working enough. Short questionnaires at the bottom here could reveal whether you could be an addict to work and/or the internet.

Br. Sunil Britto CFC

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On October 4th of this year, Pope Francis issued an Apostolic exhortation titled ‘Laudate Deum’ addressing the Climate Crisis. While Laudato Si’ served as a gentle invitation to care for creation, Laudate Deum stands as a clarion action call in response to the Climate Crisis.

So, what is an Apostolic exhortation? An Apostolic exhortation is a teaching document from the Pope, which intends to exhort (encourage) a particular value or action. In addition to Laudate Deum, Pope Francis has authored five such exhortations during his papacy. Notably, three of these exhortations were composed in response to Church Synods.

Here are ten aspects of this exhortation that leave me amazed.

THE TITLE ITSELF

Adopting an interesting literary style, Laudate Deum reveals its reason for being entitled “Praise God” only in its final paragraph, where Pope Francis states, “‘Praise God’ is the title of this letter.” He elaborates, “For when human beings claim to take God’s place, they
become their own worst enemies (LD 73).

I must admit that I initially felt enchanted by Pope Francis’ decision to write Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti in the vernacular Italian language. However disappointment surfaced when I learned of the Latin title for this exhortation. Yet, upon reading the explanation behind the title, my concerns were not only eased, I started to like the exhortation’s title.

Br. Sunil Britto CFC

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Continuing from the December issue on the Synod (which is about becoming a mutually listening and caring family of God) we listen to three more church members as they share their experience and views of the church, and their suggestions for becoming what we should be. We start with an educated layman.

1. “Church” for me means:

• The magisterium
• The hierarchy – Cardinals, Bishops, Priests
• The religious orders, including nuns
• Churches (Buildings), Catholic institutions – schools, hospitals, orphanages, homes for the old and infirm, etc.
• Catholic faithful

Desirable: The Kingdom of God as described in Revelations – Triune God, Mother Mary, saints, angels and the faithful in heaven and on earth.

2. My Experiences of Church:

A loving family of faith led by Christ-like leaders?

Yes, in the context of the Pope and teaching of the Church.

No, when it is dominated by pomp and majesty, huge edifices, outdated honorifics used for Cardinals (His Eminence), Archbishops (His Grace) and Bishops (Lordship). Even secular society has done away with most of these. The honorific for the Pope is just a plain ‘Holy Father’!

The hierarchy gives one the impression of pomp and ceremony. The emphasis appears to be on the upkeep of the monuments and church edifices; the spectacular rather than the mundane.

That explains why Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity were much appreciated as true examples of Christ’s teaching and vision of His church. But it was an exception, rather than the norm.

LARRY D’sOUZA

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1. The Church for me is…

The Church reminds me of a mystical body that continues to do the mission of Jesus here in this world. The visible structures of the Church facilitate the fulfillment of Christ’s mission effectively and tangibly. Of course, our members are both saints and sinners who journey together to the heavenly homeland.

2. Church Leadership

In the recent years, I see a big mentality shift from the part of the clergy. I think that top-down structure of the church is slowly beginning to dissolve. We see pastors trying their best to serve the flock. Especially after the sex abuse scandal for which the clergy were accused, Churchmen have become humbler, more authentic and human.

3. Are we what Jesus wanted us to be?

All that the Church does in order to establish the kingdom of God is really praiseworthy. The only one that disturbs me a bit is our division into various denominations. Christ desires one flock under one shepherd. But in general, the Church is discerning its way to understand what Christ wants it to be.

Sathish paul sdb

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1. When you hear or use the word “Church,” what image or idea do you have in your mind? Whom or what does it include?

The idea of family, because all Christ’s followers are children of the same God.

2. Your main experience of the church:

As a loving family of faith led by Christ-like servant leaders who seek the good of the least, and not power;

3. How do you see church leadership?

These two kinds of leadership are present in the Church. there is those who listen and those who want only to exercise power over the others.

I know a priest who used to listen carefully to the lay catechists before taking any decisions. Another priest would do everything by himself without taking in consideration the people around. Once this person told me the people around respect only those who have a big role in the community; to be a simple religious without a post (rector, administrator, etc.) means to be no one.

Edwar gobran sdb

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The following exercise will be more effective if the one doing it were to write down the answers, think and pray over it, and, if the community or a small group of friends is ready to share from the heart, to share with them whatever one feels comfortable sharing. In case there is a group meeting, it is important that no one be pressurized to share more than the person is comfortable sharing. No one has the right to force anyone to tell others what s/he does not want to share. Forcing or pressurizing puts off people and is a violation of personal dignity. People share best when they trust the person they are talking with. Confidence cannot be forced or demanded.

1. Am I living a joyful and passionate life full of enthusiasm / a reasonably satisfied life, but with no great zest / a rather bored and monotonous life / a somewhat unhappy life / a very unhappy life? (Please tick one)

2. Do I look forward to each new day, week, month and year, or is my mind more filled with negative images?

3. What are the main lessons I learnt (about myself, about others, about life, about God) in 2016?

4. What are the three most important things I want to achieve in 2017?

5. Who are the people I admire most, and want to learn from?

6. What are the main things I want to learn from them?

7. Which mistakes should I take special care to avoid?

8. What do I see as my personal mission in life? Can I summarize it in one sentence?

9. What am I doing to fulfil it?

10. I am blessed to be alive, and have health of body and mind and many other gifts. What is the best or most creative thing I can do this year that will make a real difference to me and to those around me?

– Fr. Joe Mannath SDB is the National Secretary of CRI and the editor of this magazine

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ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

Advent means ‘coming.’
Whose coming it is, we already know.
Are we simply pretending or being childish when we say or sing, “Oh come, oh come…” etc?
After all, Jesus is not going to be born again on December 25 (nor die again in March or April).
Is a religious feast simply a childish fantasy, which adults should give up?
No.
A feast has two levels of meaning: Recalling a past event and living its spiritual meaning.
The past event—the birth of a historical person called Jesus—is something that most people, of any faith, have no problem with. The Muslims, for instance, venerate Jesus as a prophet. (They also have high regard for Miriam, His mother.) Hindus revere Jesus. Many pray to Him and to Mary.
The religious meaning of the feast is what is more important.
To welcome God who comes to us today, who wants to be close to us.
Hence Advent (spiritual preparation) and the religious celebration of Christmas.
We need to put “Christ into Christmas,” lest four smaller c’s take up all our attention: crib, carols, cards and cakes.
And so…

A.) Letting Christ Come In:

1. Is my attention during Advent and Christmas mostly on Christ, or on the four small c’s?
2. What do we do to welcome Christ more fully into our personal and family life and into our public commitments?
3. None of us is fully Christian. There are areas of our heart where we have not let Christ come in, where we keep Him out.
4. Which are these areas in my life? Where do I need to change?
5. How would my life be if I were to welcome Jesus more fully into my life?
6. In what ways is Christ asking for shelter and welcome in the world today?

B.) Making Christmas Customs Meaningful:

1. What kind of Christmas cards do I send? Commercial ones with pictures of snow and reindeer, Santa Claus and pine trees, or with a picture of the Holy Family?
2. In writing to my dear ones, do I simply send (or forward by email) an impersonal card, or take time to write a few personal lines (so that we bring some warmth and goodness to the other person)?
3. In giving gifts, do we only think of those who give us gifts, or the truly needy?
4. Do we get reconciled with those we have hurt, or who have hurt us, so that gathering around the crib is truly a loving celebration?
5. Do we help our parishes to help the poorer members of the parish and other needy people to have at least a good meal on Christmas day?
6. Do I volunteer to bring such help to the needy?
7. Do I prepare myself and those in my care to prepare spiritually through prayer, a good confession and acts of generosity?
8. Do I explain to my children and to others who may not know the meaning of Christmas and the crib—God so loved the world that He sent His only Son; He came to us in poverty, not in wealth and power; the first persons to whom the angels announced the news were simple shepherds (thus showing the dignity of poorer people); that the wise men came from far, thus showing the universality of God’s love; that Jesus took our poverty and hardships on himself, ….

C.)  Examples we can learn from

1.  Parishes in which families “adopt” a poor family or person for Christmas, giving them gifts, including a shared meal.
2.  Spending Christmas in an orphanage or home for the destitute aged, serving the poor, and sharing their simple meals.
3.  Supporting shelter homes and orphanages that look after abandoned babies.
4. Speaking up for the right of the unborn and of infants—preventing the murder of babies either in the womb or after birth.
5. Writing a loving personal letter to one’s aged relatives or to a few sick or lonely persons. They will cherish it for years.

 YEAR END
How do you conclude the year?
Here are suggestions:
 Thank: Take time to thank God for the people in your life—especially those who love you and care for you. Appreciate the people who mean much to you. Don’t take goodness for granted.

Recall: Think of each person who entered your life this year. Thank God for them. See what you can learn from each of them. Write a personal note to them, or tell them what they have brought to your life.

 See the good: Think of the good you have done this year. See how you can improve on this in the coming year. Your capacity to do good is a wonderful gift from God.

 Apologize: Think of anyone you have hurt or disappointed or ignored. See what you need to do to set things right. Apologize. It shows greatness, not cowardice.

 Get healed: Think of any hurts you experienced. Don’t keep them in, lest they poison your life. Forgive, and move on. They are minor, compared to all the love you experienced. So, too, we can learn from our painful experiences. They too a part of our human journey, something we are meant to learn from.

 Clean up: It is a good idea to do a thorough cleaning of your house and office at least once a year. You will be surprised at the heap of useless things we accumulate, which no one has used for years.

 Manage your expenses: Check your income and expenses of the past year. Are you happy with the way you are spending money? Do you need to change anything?

 Give away: Each of us can give away some things to the needy: clothes, books, stationery, unused furniture, … You can either give them to some poor persons you know or donate them to centres that serve the poor. Another way is to give the nice things you want to spare as prizes for a raffle, with the money going to a deserving cause.

Check how used time and talents: Are you using your time and talents responsibly? Are you pursuing the truly important goals of life, or wasting energy on useless things?

 End the year with God: Spend an hour in prayer to conclude the year and to start the new year with God. Many churches have prayer vigils, adoration, a midnight Mass, opportunities for confession. Do join. End the year with the God who gave you life and everything else these 366 days, and who was with you every moment of every day, and gives you the new year to fill with love.

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