Fr Antony Christy –
We have arrived at the final and the zenith of icons presented to the young in the Biblical History: Jesus Christ. Not only because Jesus died a youth (he did not cross the 35 year mark, hence was still a young man), but because we have a beautiful image of Jesus as an adolescent.
Not much of Jesus’ boyhood is known to us from the Gospels, though there are writings not recognised as Gospels, which have some quite interesting information. But strictly remaining within the orthodox Gospels, we have Luke presenting to us two important characteristics of the boy Jesus, which challenge the youth of today.
The first is the clarity that Jesus had, even though he was just a little boy of 12. We can be certain that Jesus knew nothing of what God wanted of him, but he was sure of one thing: that he wanted to do only what God willed. That is why when his parents Mary and Joseph asked him why he left them so alarmed, Jesus replies with a mysterious calm that he was at his Father’s business. That is the exceptional clarity that distinguishes him and naturally the scribes and the doctors at the temple had been amazed at it!
The second characteristic feature is what Luke says just after this event at Jerusalem: “then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.” Though he was so clear about his call and mission, he chose to remain home and prepare himself for the all important task, submitting himself in humility to Mary and Joseph his parents. His self-emptying that began at incarnation and would climax at Calvary, was lived daily by him in his obedience.
Dear Young Friends,
- How convinced are you that God calls you, keeps calling you and has a plan for you?
- How easy is it for you to obey your parents? Are you prepared enough to submit to them even when you feel you are more informed than they?
YOU CAT
OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS (Questions 272-278).
Section Two of Part II is a detailed description of the Seven Sacraments of the Church, and its fourth chapter deals with celebrations other than the sacraments that have strong roots in the sacraments: Firstly, Sacramentals which are sacred signs, sacred things (e.g. holy water, blessed palms, Easter candle etc) and sacred actions (e.g. blessing of utilities, blessing of persons, imposition of ashes etc.) through which a blessing is conferred on persons or on a faith community.
Secondly, the practice of Exorcism that does exist in the Church. But one should not get confused with the kind of exorcism that is dramatised in various movies. Jesus fought the principalities and powers of evil and gave the same power to the apostles. The Church carries out that faculty given by Christ, only in rare cases and only after much prayer and discernment. There are possibilities of psychological and psychiatric conditions which should not be denied and which have to be left to the professional experts to deal with. However, exorcism is challenging the evil powers or tendencies that are found oppressing a child of God.
Thirdly, Forms of Popular piety which are expressions of faith, carried out with a cultural flavour – pilgrimages, processions, veneration of relics and so on. Relics are signs of God’s marvellous deeds in and through admirable saints who have gone before us and a veneration of it is truly giving praise and adoration to God. A pilgrimage or a procession is a meaningful piety that reminds us of the fact that we are all pilgrims, eternal pilgrims walking towards that beatific union with God. The Stations of the Cross, a wide spread devotion practiced mainly, not exclusively, in Lent, is a walk with Jesus on his way to Calvary reminding ourselves of what he endured for our sake. Finally, a Christian Funeral is celebrated, for death though it causes grief to the living, it underlines the Paschal character of our Christian life.
Which of the practices of popular piety or sacramentals you find very meaningful and close to your heart?
KNOW YOUR CHURCH:
Are you aware of the Four Major Papal Basilicas of the Catholic Church?
After the basilicas of Mary Major and St. Peter, let us get to know the ARCHBASILICA OF ST. JOHN AT THE LATERANS, which is the oldest, not only among the four, but among all the Churches in the West. And this is the most important of all Catholic Churches, even more than St. Peter’s because it is the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, that is the Pope’s Cathedral. That is why it is called the Archbasilica and it is known as the Mother of all Churches.
When a Pope is elected and consecrated, he takes possession of this Holy Seat at a formal occasion, making himself the Bishop of Rome. The Basilica is named so, because it was originally the palace of the Laterans, a family of Royal Administrators. It was confiscated from them during the rule of Nero. But when Emperor Constantine married Fausta, the sister of Marcus Aurelius, the Domus Faustae (Fausta’s Palace) came into Constantine’s hands who in turn gave it to the Bishop of Rome.
Later in 324 CE, Pope Silvester I transformed it into the Cathedral of Rome and dedicated it to Jesus Christ the Saviour. Later in 10th century it was rededicated to St. John the Baptist and once again in 12th century rededicated to St. John the Evangelist. Thus the Church has a principal patron Jesus Christ the Saviour, and two additional patrons, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. Hence the name, Archbasilica of St. John at the Laterans. We celebrate the dedication of this Basilica on the 9th of November.
DO CAT
ONE WORLD – ONE HUMANITY (Questions 241 – 247) – Still speaking of the International Community and need for International collaboration, it is observed that it is global solidarity that inspires persons towards this. However, when that global common good does not work as an inspiration, it is not wrong to appeal to people’s self interest, making them aware of the good that it can do to them as individuals and as communities.
The Church insistently advocates the idea of building up of the international community because only in it the unity of human family can be felt in concrete. It cannot be a reality that is forced on individuals or societies but should arise out of conviction.
The United Nations Organisation, initiated in the 1940s, is considered by the Church at as the first step towards this dream. Human rights, justice, solidarity and freedom are the ethical principles on which this International community should be built, ensuring equal opportunities to all and a worldwide development that is shared by all. This is not a need only of the developing countries or that of only the developed countries. It cannot become yet another pretext to justify and create new dependencies and exploitations, juxtaposing the rich and the poor countries.
The World Trade Organisation, formed in the 1990s can also be seen as an initiative towards this end and should be used for more just global governance. The Catholic Church as a global entity, thus has political functions to perform too in the worldwide scenario, with an objective of promoting the cooperation of the international community, towards greater common good of the human family, human rights and human dignity of all and justice and peace in the world.
– As members of the local Church, have you participated in community building in your locality? Which are the civil bodies that you are part of?
Fr Antony Christy is a Salesian Priest from 2005, who has a Masters in Philosophy (specialisation in Religion) and a Masters in Theology (Specialisation in Catechetics). He is currently pursuing his doctoral research in Theology at Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. Walking with the Young towards a World of Peace and Dialogue is the passion that fires him on.