Religious Studies “The Lord Is Truly Among Us.”
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Asian Journal of AUC Religious Studies “The Lord is truly among us.” November 2013 Vol 58/6 Contents Editorial: “Repairing My House” ...................................... 3 A Soft Heart and a Thick Skin: The Challenge of Working with the Youth ........................5 Cyril Desbruslais SJ The Miracle and Adventure of Understanding ...................8 Teresa Peter The Abiding Signifi cance Of Vatican II ...........................17 Kurien Kunnumpuram SJ Kurien Kunnumpuram:A Man for Others ........................29 Jose Thayil SJ “No More Words” ............................................................31 Ben Bose Papal News and Views .....................................................33 Homily Notes ...................................................................36 Asian Journal for AJRS 58/5 Sept 2013, ISSN 2249 –1503 3-4 AUC Religious Studies Editorial “The Lord is truly with us.” “Repairing My House” Asian Journal for Religious Studies (AJRS) is a pastoral journal for Christian leaders. It is a bimonthly published Pope Francis made a pilgrimage Friday to the hillside Italian town from the Papal Seminary, Pune 411014. Inspiring and of Assisi, following in the footsteps of his namesake, St. Francis, brief articles benefi cial for Christian leaders are wel- the 13th-century friar who renounced a wealthy, dissolute life- come. style to embrace a life of poverty and service to the poor. Editor: Kuruvilla Pandikattu SJ Associate Editor: Kurien Kunnumpuram According to tradition, St. Francis was famously told by God to Circulation: Stephen Jayard “repair my house.” In word and deed, the fi rst pope to name him- self after St. Francis has made clear how he wants to follow that Section Editors: command. Francis is trying to shape a church that is welcoming Pastoral Theology: V M Jose SJ Counselling: Vincent Crasta & Anil Gomes to all, but especially to the most marginalized, with a church hier- Homiletics: Nishant Irudayadason archy that is worthy of its 1.2 billion fl ock. Scripture: Paul Raj As noted by journalist Nicole Winfi eld, in Huffi ngton Post, here Systematic Theology: Prasad Lankapally SJ are some of the pope’s main goals as he attempts to remake the Moral Theology: Jose Thayil SJ church into the institution St. Francis would have wanted. Anthropology: James Ponnaiah A CHURCH ‘THAT IS POOR AND FOR THE POOR’ Printed at: Kunal Offset, Pune Typeset at: Papal Seminary Centenary Computer Pope Francis met with the poor in Assisi, demanding that the Centre faithful “strip” themselves of their worldly attachment to wealth, Publisher: Kuruvilla Pandikattu, Papal Seminary which he said was killing the church and its souls. He delivered Subscriptions may be sent either by M.O. or D.D. If sent that exhortation during the most evocative stop of the day, in the by cheque, please add Rs. 15 as bank commission. An- simple room where St. Francis stripped off his clothes, renounced nual Subscription Rate: Rs. 100 (in India); $ 5 (in Asia); his wealth and vowed to live a life of poverty. Since becoming $/Euro 12 (in Europe & America) pope in March, Francis has made it clear that one of his principal objectives is a church that is humble, looks out for the poorest Address all correspondence (incl. DD) to: and brings them hope. The “slum pope,” as he is known because The Editor AUC, Papal Seminary, Pune 411014, India of his work in Argentina’s shantytowns, recently denounced the Email: [email protected] or [email protected] “idolatry” of money and encouraged those without the “dignity” of work. † ISSN 2249-1503 Editorial 3 A CHURCH THAT WELCOMES EVERYONE, INCLUDING AJRS 58/6 Nov 2013, ISSN 2249 –1503 5-8 NONBELIEVERS At his fi rst public audience after his election, Francis made an unusual exception: In recognition that not all in the room were A Soft Heart and a Thick Skin: Christians or even believers, Francis offered a blessing without the traditional Catholic formula or gesture, saying he would bless The Challenge of Working each one in silence “respecting your conscience, but knowing with Youth that each one of you is a child of God.” That respect for people of Cyril Desbruslais SJ different faiths or no faith at all has become a hallmark of Fran- De Nobili College, Pune 411014 cis’ papacy as he actively seeks out atheists for dialogue. Assisi is known as a place of interfaith dialogue, drawing people of all I have often been asked the following question: “Cyril, based on faiths — and no faith — to visit the basilica dominating the hill your experience of working with, and among, College students and its magnifi cent frescos by Giotto. and working youngsters, for over 40 years, in and around Pune, A CHURCH THAT IS ‘MESSY’ AND GOES OUTSIDE THE what would you say are the most important qualities for a would- SACRISTY be youth animator?” My answer now comes pat: “A soft heart and a tough skin.” One needs a soft heart, to be able to feel with St. Francis was considered a radical disobedient for having re- youngsters the hurt, awkwardness and confusion they are going nounced everything and given himself entirely to his faith, but through – not to mention the shame, lack of confi dence and un- that’s just the type of radical witness Pope Francis wants for to- certainties that they often try to cover up with a rough or macho day’s Catholics. Francis told Argentine pilgrims during World exterior. And, at the same time, one must have a tough skin, so as Youth Day in July to make a “mess” in their dioceses and shake not be too easily discouraged when things don’t seem to go too things up, even if it meant irritating their bishops. He wanted to well, or when some young person, in a confused welter of feelings convey his hope the church would stop being so inward-looking, at being misunderstood, humiliated and rejected, hits out at the and instead go out to the peripheries to spread the faith, just like very person who’s trying to befriend or help him or her, the youth St. Francis. The pope’s fi rst trip outside Rome was to Lampe- animator, whom they sometimes (not very logically) identify with dusa, a southern Italian island closer to Africa than the Italian the oppressive Establishment. I have learned to swallow my pride mainland. His eulogy for all migrants lost at sea denounced a and recall what I imbibed, as a JDV Theology student, in those “globalization of indifference,” a prescient message given Thurs- famous Carkhuff Couselling sessions, ably chaired by Fr. Philip day’s shipwreck off Lampedusa that killed scores of migrants. As Terassa SJ: “Listen, not so much to the words spoken to you, but black ribbons hung from Assisi’s banners in mourning, Francis the feelings that lie behind the words and respond to those.” I have proclaimed Friday “a day of tears” for the dead. slowly come to listen and respond to the feelings of hurt and pain Let us hope and pray that together with the Pope, Christians and that lie behind the many rude and angry words that had been ad- people of good will can build such a Church. dressed to me, not letting myself be distracted into self-defensive arguments or trying to show the boy or girl that he or she that had The Editor very much exaggerated the situation. In more than a few cases, 4 AJRS 58/6 Nov 2013 C. Desbruslais: Soft Heart & Thick Skin 5 after a few sensitive non-judgmental responses from me, a very didn’t really understand the young person’s situation at all. In such burly and macho guy, or a bitingly sarcastic gal, was reduced to cases, young people, desperate for a listening ear or some kind tears and began to sob out a sad tale of rejection, misunderstanding of guidance, would turn to another young friend . who, more or false accusations. Only then was I able to guide the now less often than not, and with the best intentions in the world, would disturbed youth towards constructive action for self-healing. only complicate the setup even more with clumsy and misleading “advice” and “solutions”. And it is precisely these “hard nuts” or “tough cases” that we should be mainly involved with in our youth ministry. However, I realised that, if I wanted youngsters to confi de I me so that I my common experience is that – particularly in the youth aposto- could “help them to help themselves”, I had to win their friendship, late – we turn Jesus’ parable of the Good Shepherd upside down. in the fi rst place. I have long learned that nobody solves another’s The Master tells us how the true shepherd leaves the 99 just sheep problems; all you can do is help a person solve his or her own in the fold and goes off in search of the one who has wandered. problems and for that you have to listen a lot and talk little. You Well, today, the youth scene has changed somewhat: there is pro- help a person to better understand his or her own problem, by go- portionately only one “good sheep” left in the fold and 99 have ing critically, deeper into it and then you put him or her in touch gone a-wandering. And where all the “good” shepherds? Not out with the funds of strength and ability he or she has (often without hunting for the lost majority, but crowding round the solitary well- knowing it), and with which he or she can gradually work out his behaved youth who is much less of a challenge to their energy, time or her own solution. and ingenuity, loading him or her with the Sodality, the Legion of Now, one has to win the friendship and trust of young people.