Friday, April 18, 2014

Solemn Profession Preparatory Course for CCMSI Friars at Kotagiri, Tamilnadu


 

 The CCMSI every year organizes intense one month Preparatory course for the brothers ready to make their perpetual vows. This course has been going on for many years and year by year it is getting better and better. Since last two years it is Br. Lawrence from Tamil Nadu South Province who is the organizer and he is doing extremely well. He has doctorate in Counseling from Milano, Italy. He is the darling of all the brothers. His fraternal and simple approach towards the brothers is well appreciated by one and all. This year the group is big including some other Franciscan families too have joined. They began on 30th March and its ending on 30th April. The brothers will then depart for their respective provinces to make their commitment. 
Following is my message to them:

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I am glad and happy to know that you are all going to prepare yourself for your final commitment. It is a great moment in your life as you are going to dedicate yourselves totally to all loving and compassionate God. The Church and Order has lot of expectations from you all as the demands and challenges of the modern world are too many but can be confronted with love and prayer. The Holy father Pope Francis has revolutionized the Catholic Church with simple and humble life style. He is evangelizing and preaching the good news not only with simple words but with his simple and humble life. The Order is looking up to you for the future mission of the Order by living your call as capuchins in simple and humble way. As you begin this intensive period of preparations, brothers make up your mind to make a difference with your life in the order, Church and society at large. The vows are going to be a great challenge in this modern world. The vow of chastity by which you are going to be consecrated to Christ, of poverty by which you will give everything to God and to others and obedience, often the hardest of the vows, by which your gifts are placed at the service of God.
The spirituality of the Capuchin Franciscans expresses these vows in a new and vibrant way.
Living the love of God in prayer and action in a life marked by the simplicity and humility of the Gospel.
Loving Jesus under the appearance of bread.
Serving him in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor, both materially and spiritually, recognizing in them and restoring to them the image and likeness of God.
In the face of a world in which there is almost total concentration on self, the beautiful charism of the Capuchin Franciscans is an opening up of that which will bring true happiness to those with whom we live and work, as well as to ourselves.
I would emphasize particularly Christ's words, "Take and eat, this is my body given up for you." By giving himself Jesus invites us to grow in the power of his love to do what he has done. Mother Teresa said, "By giving himself Jesus invites us to grow in the power of his love to do what he has done. Christ's love for us will give us strength and urges us to spend ourselves for him." And she makes the telling comment, "We have no right to refuse our life to others in whom we contact Christ."
'You have chosen me.' The prophet Isaiah said, "I will betroth you to me forever in steadfast love, in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness." (Hosea 19:20) The gift of religious life in the Church is esteemed because it teaches us the lesson that Jesus and Mary are real people. Our response to the call to religious life is indeed a response to God's choice, the fruit of his Holy Spirit working in us, and an immeasurable growth in the possibilities of what we see if we love Jesus. "Just as the seed is meant to be a tree, we are meant to grow into Jesus."
Chastity liberates us totally for the contemplation of God and the wholehearted service of the poorest of the poor. Poverty is our humble recognition of our sinfulness and need before God, turning to him in hope and an openness to receive all things from him as our Father. Obedience is submission for someone who is in love more than a duty - a blessedness. It is the most perfect act of love for God; I obey because I love Jesus. Wholehearted service to the poor is Christ's call through the Church, who in Jesus has drawn us to be souls of prayer.
As I conclude brothers, I would like to admonish you all to love your Capuchin Franciscan vocation and try to grow every moment in your calling as Capuchins. Love and read the Holy Constitutions, the Rule and Testament. If you would like to know who is the real capuchin and what is the mission and charism of capuchin, read and meditate on the Constitutions. They are a great help to live our calling as religious. They show and mark our journey towards the Father in heaven.
I wish all of you a fruitful preparations for the final commitment.
May the Lord bless and guide all the team members along with Br. Lawrence to lead you all to give yourself totally to the Lord and Capuchin Order.
I assure you my prayers and best wishes.
Wishing you all a Very Happy Easter

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