By Subhasis Chattopadhyay Ph.D. –
Celebrations cut across religious boundaries. And what greater celebration can be there than for someone to publicly witness the presence of God amidst us through perseverance in monastic life? Catholics call it Religious life; we Hindus call it Sannyasa. The practical challenge of monasticism was captured by Thomas à Kempis when he pointed out in his The Imitation of Christ, that it is tough indeed to persevere in a community all one’s life.
To put it in contemporary terms, the challenge is to live with one’s colleagues and bosses for a lifetime, 24*7. Tomorrow I go from Kolkata to join in this celebration of Sannyasa at Regina Mundi, Chicalim, Goa. There, Br. Maurice Baptist Finn cfc will celebrate 80 years as a fully professed Christian Brother following the charism of Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice. More than twenty younger Brothers will also renew their Religious vows tomorrow. Br. Finn took his final vows in Ireland and now he leads a quiet life in the Christian Brothers’ retirement home located at Chicalim — Shanti Niwas.
I have known Br. Finn since my childhood. He remains the same Br. Finn I knew more than thirty years ago — filled with life, optimism and joy. These are not ordinary qualities in our cooling and indifferent world. They are gifts from God. And God is beyond religion. God is neither Hindu, nor Catholic. God is. Either one has experienced God; or one has not. Either one knows God exists, or not. The experience and existence of God is not one of belief but one of epistemic certainty. Br. Finn’s certainty that God is, and all else is not, is going to be celebrated tomorrow.
Three priests will concelebrate Holy Mass tomorrow. There will be a large number of guests from outside Goa and many from within Goa, including some of his past students. I go there as his student, friend, a Hindu Shakta worshipper and as a man deputed by the editor of Indian Catholic Matters to cover the event in some detail. The fact that I am representing Indian Catholic Matters is dialogue in praxis. From my perspective, I go tomorrow to Goa to renew my faith in my religion that God truly is. I go there for satsang (being in the company of the holy). Finally, why is Indian Catholic Matters interested in an Irishman? Simply because Br. Finn cfc loves our nation more than many of us. This is something I had pointed out in ESamskriti where I also write. Br. Bap Finn cfc is more Indian than many Indians. Therefore, Indian Catholic Matters will report from Goa directly, once I return to Kolkata.
Incidentally tomorrow is Guru Purnima (a sacred festival dedicated to honoring spiritual mentors) and my first Guru is a Christian Brother, long gone to his Master. He cared a lot for Br. Finn. I go to Chicalim to represent my first Guru too.
Subhasis Chattopadhyay Ph.D. has been tasked by Indian Catholic Matters to cover the 80th anniversary of Br. Maurice Baptist Finn’s final profession as a Christian Brother at Regina Mundi school tomorrow. He is a Hindu Shakta devotee.