St Thomas in India

SAINT THOMAS was one of the fishermen on the Lake of Galilee whom our Lord called to be His Apostles. He is best known for disbelieving Jesus’ resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming “My Lord and my God” on seeing Jesus in John 20:28. He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel. He crossed the largest area, which includes the Persian Empire to reach India in those days.

The indigenous church of Kerala has a tradition that St. Thomas sailed there to spread the Christian faith. He landed at the ancient port of Muziris (which became extinct in 1341 AD) near Kodungalloor. From there he is said to have preached the gospel throughout the Malabar coast, though the various churches he founded were located mainly on the Periyar River and its tributaries and along the coast, where there were Jewish colonies.

He reputedly preached to all classes of people and had about seventeen thousand converts, including members of the four principal castes. Later, stone crosses were erected at the places where churches were founded, and they became pilgrimage centres. In accordance with apostolic custom, Thomas ordained teachers and leaders or elders, who were reported to be the earliest ministry of the Malabar church.

He then went to Palayoor (near present-day Guruvayoor), which was a Hindu priestly community at that time. He left Palayoor in AD 52 for the southern part of Kerala State, where he established the Ezharappallikal, or “Seven and Half Churches”.

These churches are at Kodungallur, Kollam, Niranam, Nilackal (Chayal), Kokkamangalam, Kottakkayal (Paravoor), Palayoor (Chattukulangara) and Thiruvithancode Arappally - the half church. According to the Syriac version of the Acts of Thomas, Masdai, the local king at Mylapore, after questioning the apostle condemned him to death about the year A.D. 72.

Anxious to avoid popular excitement, “for many had believed in our Lord, including some of the nobles,”the king ordered Thomas conducted to a nearby mountain, where, after being allowed to pray, he was then stoned and stabbed to death with a lance wielded by an angry Brahmin.

A number of Christians were also persecuted at the same time; when they refused to apostatize, their property was confiscated, so some sixty-four families eventually fled to Malabar and joined that Christian community.

When the feast of Saint Thomas was inserted in the Roman calendar in the ninth century, it was assigned to 21 December, although the Martyrology of St Jerome had a mention of the Apostle on 3 July, the date to which the Roman celebration was transferred in 1969. 3 July was the day on which his relics were translated from Mylapore, Chennai in India to the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia.

Reflections: When Thomas recognized his Master, he believed and exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and truly God! The Holy Spirit reveals the Lord Jesus to us and helps us to grow in knowledge and understanding of God and his ways. Through the gift of faith, the Lord offers each of us new life in his Holy Spirit that we may know him personally and walk in this new way of life through the power of his resurrection.

Joel Osteen’s ‘Become a Better You’

Back Cover:

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN LIFE, YOU CAN BE BETTER!

“God is preparing you for greater things. He’s going to take you further than you thought was possible, so don’t be surprised when He asks you to think better of yourself and to act accordingly” - Joel Osteen

In this, his second book, Pastor Joel Osteen highlights 7 key principles designed to improve and better our lives, viz:

* Keep pressing forward
* Be positive toward yourself
* Develop better relationships
* Form better habits
* Embrace the place where you are
* Develop your inner life
* Stay passionate about life

It is a great tool for all those who want to better themselves in any way big or small. It is about accepting that while God will do His bit to make us grow, we also have a part to play in improving ourselves.

Written in the same easy & simple way that Pastor Joel Osteen preaches (in fact if you’ve heard him enough, it’s almost like reading transcribed sermons of his) it is nevertheless filled with great truths that if practiced, can change your life.

Most of it wasn’t new to me (and won’t be to most people who read self help books) but it not only served as a great reminder of these points, but was filled with real life examples & stories which drove his points home excellently.

This is not a book you can’t live without, but I’m sure you’ll love it anyway.

The Steady Work of Intercession

The title is not too appealing, nor is prayer when it gets tedious or boring.

But here is an allegory for steady prayer that came to me after a day of prayer, fasting, Holy Mass and Adoration. In the Gospel (Mt. 14:22) Jesus makes His disciples row across the Lake of Galilee while he himself would remain behind to pray alone.

They dutifully began their work of steadily rowing across that unpredictable Lake in obedience to the Master. Eventually, they met with such a strong wind that it took all their strength just to keep the boat afloat. This can be compared to the work of intercession. The steady, constant task of moving the oar against the pull of the waters is the prayer of faith pushing upon the forces of the world and evil itself.

Now, there are different kinds of prayers to be applied to this work, like different strokes and some calculations about the impending struggle ahead. Then, just as it seems the chaos, darkness, depression and hopeless fears are overwhelming our small work of prayer, the anointing comes.

Jesus appears to that little boat on the huge Lake to provide comfort and victory! We are so happy then we feel like Peter–ready even to walk on the waters because with our small seeds of faith pushing perseveringly against some worldly barrier we are, with Jesus, always victorious! “Nothing is impossible with God” (Lk. 1:37).

Continue to pray, fast, bend the knee and sweat until the Lord comes to reward your efforts with His very wonderful Presence! Row, Row, Row your boat even in the storm until you meet the Lord coming to you on the waters. It is a very exciting adventure, this intercession, after all!

“The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:5b-7)

Understanding the Vow of Chastity. It’s a Spiritual Romance.

We’re created for the love of God.  Some can do it directly - like these nuns.  Others like myself did not receive that special gift of celibate love.  I do it indirectly through married love.  The first one is like going up on a helicopter;  the latter on the stairway.  The spiritual love is obviously better but it does have it’s challenges.

September 2010

Would you please join us in saying just a one line prayer, every day of the month? Each prayer here is backed up with a special line from the Bible. We KNOW that prayer changes things, do join us in making a positive change in the world we live in!

Day/Date Interceding According to the Mind of Christ
Wed
1/9/2010 Ex 35: 30-34 See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel … And he has inspired him to teach
This month, as we celebrate Teachers Day, we lift up teachers – those in our schools, colleges and Sunday Schools, that they may be open to the dual wonder of their vocation – its God-given nature and its crucial role in developing the ‘whole person’ of the child in their care. We also pray this month for the work of Evangelization carried out through the ‘Proclamation Cell’ during the ‘Bandra Fair’–12th-19th Sept

Thu
2/9/2010 John 15:16 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last
Pray for Catholic Housing Societies in our city, that their members, specially the office-bearers, would be spared the greed of selling or redeveloping at exorbitant rates, at the cost of losing their Catholic identity and without demonstrating true Christian love for neighbour. May they make prudent choices combining development and the welfare of its members

Fri
3/9/2010 1 Tim 2:4 God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth
First Friday - Day of fast and prayer for our catholic teachers and priests, especially those involved in education. Pray also for the ‘Diocesan Estate Office’ administrator Fr. Elias D’Cunha, for wisdom and discernment in handling all matters related to church properties, that God would help us develop our properties for the community good and that no church property would fall into the hands of unscrupulous builders/developers or taken away unjustly., that people staying on church property may be grateful to the Lord for making available the accommodation provided and would strive to work in harmony with priests/administrators for the good of the community

Sat
4/9/2010 Matt 19:14 But Jesus said, Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven
We pray for our religious who are animators/teachers in schools, that they realize and cherish their responsibility as teachers of the faith. We pray for Christ-centered men/women in Parish Councils across our city that, equipped and guided by the Holy Spirit, they may have the pastoral welfare at heart, especially focusing on families, youth and poor - and work for the building of God’s Kingdom in our midst

Sun
5/9/2010 Prov 15:2 A wise teacher makes learning a joy; a rebellious teacher spouts foolishness
Teacher’s Day : Offer the Eucharist today in thanksgiving for every teacher who has come along our path and helped mould us into what we are today. For all they’ve sown in our lives, may they be rewarded with every blessing by our greatest Teacher- Jesus

Mon
6/9/2010 Luke 10:2b The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest
This week we focus our prayers on the mission and work of the ‘Proclamation Cell’ as they prepare for the work of evangelization at Mount Mary’s Basilica during the eight days of the Bandra Fair. Let us pray today to the Lord of the harvest to send many labourers to work in the vineyard of the Lord that they would cheerfully give of their time and the gifts the Lord has blessed them with

Tue
7/9/2010 Ps 133:3b For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life for evermore
We lift up the Proclamation Cell, its leaders, co-members, co-ordinators, volunteers and those helping out - who will be praying with those visiting the shrine during the eight days of the Bandra fair. We also lift up prayer group leaders and heads of other associations who will coordinate and support this work by encouraging their members to offer their assistance; may God bind them all in the love of Jesus so that as they look to Him, obstacles will vanish and they would work in harmony, allowing the commanded blessing of the Lord to flow

Wed
8/9/2010 Luke 1:45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and Mother of the Church. With gratitude let us thank God for the gift of Mary to each of us and the whole church; let us ask God to give us the grace to be thankful in every situation and to live a life of praise like Mary. Through her intercession let us ask God for a powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit on all those who will be ministering at the Basilica.
Day of the Girl Child – Pray for peoples across the nations, and in our own country, to change their attitude towards the girl child

Thu
9/9/2010 Ps 91:11 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways
We pray for all those involved in the ‘Proclamation Cell’ during the octave following the Feast Day, specially those ministering to people struggling with sickness, diseases, calamity, misfortune, hexes, occult forces, sin, areas of the flesh, ego, breakdown in relationships specially at home and all the wiles of the enemy. Pray that the Lord would send His angels to watch over them and their families

Fri
10/9/2010 Ps 67:1-2 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us that thy ways may be known upon earth, thy saving power …
Fast and pray for God favour to rest on this mission work of evangelization during the Bandra Fair so that it would bear much fruit for the Kingdom. Pray that the ministering room given to the Proclamation Cell would be cleansed in the Blood of the Lamb for God’s manifest presence and glory to be made known during those days. Also pray for protection against violence and any terrorist groups

Sat
11/9/2010 2 Cor 9:7 Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver
Pray for the smooth functioning and co-ordination of all the arrangements for the Outreach at the Mount, like co-ordination between groups to take up slots allotted to them, procurement/distribution of Bibles and tracts, counseling, etc.. Pray that people who have committed themselves to handle various tasks and duties would honour their commitment, be on time and do it with the joy of the Lord

Sun
12/9/2010 Ps 37:4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart
Today, Bandra celebrates the Feast in honour of Mary, our Mother, at the Basilica of Mount Mary popularly known as the ‘Bandra Fair’. The Bandra Fair is estimated to be around 300 years old. The fair started when a statue of Mother Mary was found floating in the Arabian Sea between 1700 and 1760, which, according to a legend, a Koli (local) fisherman had dreamt about a few years earlier. The Fair draws lakhs of devotees and pilgrims annually. Many faithful attest to the miraculous powers of the Mount. During the Fair, tens of thousands visit the shrine of Our Lady of the Mount. The shrine attracts people from all faiths who pray to the statue for thanksgiving or requesting of favours. (Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandra_Fair.) We pray for all those who will come up the Mount to honour our Lady, that they would not only have the desires of their heart met, but also that they would meet the Desire of all desires – a knowledge of and a relationship with Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God. Suggestion: Pray a rosary today that the outreach will be “fruit-bearing”

Mon
13/9/2010 Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me
Pray for openness to the Holy Spirit and His Word for all those who will come to be ministered to at the Mount, that all would experience the life transforming power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Suggestion: Pray a rosary today that the outreach will be “fruit-bearing”

Tue
14/9/2010 Isa 53:5a Upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed
‘We hail Thee’ let these words always echo from the lips and hearts of every Christian in our Archdiocese as the Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. As we pray for all those coming to the Mount to be prayed with, may the healing, delivering and saving power of the Cross flow into their lives and the lives of their families. May Mary lead them to the foot of the Cross where they will recognize Jesus Christ as their loving Saviour. Suggestion: Pray a rosary today that the outreach will be “fruit-bearing”

Wed
15/9/2010 Luke 2:35 And a sword will pierce through your own soul also
Feast of our ‘Lady of Sorrows’. Let us meditate on all the pain and sorrow Our Blessed Mother experienced and pray specially that those coming to the Mount seeking answers to their sorrows and sufferings, may be led lovingly by Mary to Jesus through the Proclamation Outreach team, that as they are ministered to, they would be set free from their burdens of pain and shackles of sorrow and experience the joy and peace of the risen Lord. Suggestion: Pray a rosary today that the outreach will be “fruit-bearing”

Thu
16/9/2010 Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful
Feasts of St. Cornelius (Pope) and St. Cyprian (Bishop); we ask God, through the intercession of these martyrs, for grace for the people of other faiths being ministered to by the Proclamation Cell team, that they may open their hearts and lives to Jesus as Lord and Saviour, thus coming to the knowledge of the true and living God. Suggestion: Pray a rosary today that the outreach will be “fruit-bearing”

Fri
17/9/2010 Isaiah 54:17, A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances
Fast and pray today for hardened sinners; pray especially for youth searching for the truth, those in bondage to sin, drugs, alcohol, sexual promiscuity, etc. that they would be drawn to the Proclamation team to be ministered to and through Christ they would experience forgiveness of sin and deliverance from evil. Suggestion: Pray a rosary today that the outreach will be “fruit-bearing”

Sat
18/9/2010 John 16:13-14 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth
Today we offer to the Father, the entire work of the Outreach and the fruit it has/will bear in the days to come. We cover it in the Blood of the Lamb so that none of this grace would be lost/stolen but that the Father would be glorified in Jesus. Suggestion: Pray a rosary today that the outreach will be “fruit-bearing”

Sun
19/9/2010 Rom 10:13 For, every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved
Today we offer the Eucharist in thanksgiving and bless God for all those who have freely given of their time to be part of the Proclamation Cell. As large crowds will attend, being the last day of the Fair, we pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all those coming and all the labourers in the Lord’s vineyard. Suggestion: Pray a rosary today that the outreach will be “fruit-bearing”

Mon
20/9/2010 Mark 4:8 And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, … and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundred fold
Pray that the seed which has been sown in the heart of every non-believer ministered unto, during the eight days of the Bandra fair at the Mount, may not be lost but would fall on good soil and would bear fruit, fruit in plenty

Tue
21/9/2010 John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life
We bring every person who was ministered to by the Proclamation Cell team, and has received a healing, deliverance, change of heart or a favour granted; may God give them grace to seek full communion with the Catholic Church in wanting to know more about the faith through RCIA programmes, culminating in Baptism, thereby becoming members of the Body of Christ

Wed
22/9/2010 Ps 40:11 Do not thou, O Lord, withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness ever preserve me
Through the Rosary today, pray that the dark powers of the occult/new age or any other religious spirit would set completely free those who encountered the Lord at the Mount / through the evangelization team

Thu
23/9/2010 Matt 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes
As the church today celebrates the feast of St. Pius of Pietreleina, better known as Padre Pio, may his prayer be ours for both our shepherds and the sheep and lambs who are God’s people - ‘Teach us, we ask you, humility of heart so we may be counted among the little ones of the Gospel, to whom the Father promised to reveal the mysteries of his Kingdom’

Fri
24/9/2010 Ps 53:2 God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any that are wise, that seek after God
A day of fast for the Night Vigil (25th September) at St. Andrew’s College Chapel, Bandra, where the focus of intercession is praying for our Catholic Teachers and good governances of church-related properties in our City. Pray for anointing and protection for those leading. Also pray for the pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Oct:17-28) organized by Fr. Byron Mendonca and supported by FBB, for God’s hand of favour on all the arrangements namely-flights departures on time, immigrations, travel, border crossings, hotel accommodation, guides, etc

Sat
25/9/2010 Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
We continue to lift up the Inner Healing Ministry that they are protected and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We also lift up ‘Joyful Noise’, a ministry focused on making young people aware about their music choices

Sun
26/9/2010 Ps 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions
Pray for families in our Archdiocese, especially those where love is missing, that the Lord’s Mercy will shine forth, bringing reconciliation

Mon
27/9/2010 Matt 5:48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect
Pray for youth in our Archdiocese; may the Holy Spirit enable those in leadership to make every effort to reach out to all youth as integral members of the Church, that no youth feel left out, inadequate or less qualified to be part of the life of Church and its activities

Tue
28/9/2010 Mt 19:21 If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven
Pray for the less fortunate and poor in our parishes, that the love of Christ may overflow from us as ‘neighbours’ into their lives and that we become ‘one body’ caring for each member, that all “will know we are Christians by our love” like the early Christian communities

Wed
29/9/2010 Tob 12:15 I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One
Feast of Holy Archangels - Michael, Gabriel and Raphael; through their intercession let this be our prayer for the church today –
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. Pray this prayer today specially for seminaries/formation houses throughout the world

Thu
30/9/2010 Rev 22:19 And if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book
Feast of St. Jerome, Doctor, a Catholic apologist and best known for translating the Vulgate, a widely popular Latin edition of the Bible. Through his intercession, may we fall deeper in love with the Bible and learn/defend our faith. Pray for the Apologetics work in our city

Holy Father’s Intentions for the Month (Pray for these intentions daily)
General Intention:That the proclamation of the Word of God may renew people’s hearts, encouraging them to work toward authentic social progress.
Missionary Intention: That by opening our hearts to love we may put an end to the wars and conflicts which continue to bloody our world.

—
This ‘Intercession Diary’ has the approval and blessings of the Bishops’ Team of the Archdiocese and contains intentions of the Cardinal and Bishops of Mumbai. Vetted by Fr Byron Mendonca, Assistant Parish Priest, Mt Carmel Church, Mumbai, India. All scripture passages are taken from Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition. Please contact Royston@Glorify-God.com for any feedback.

Remembering the Wonders

The Psalmist says, “Remember the wonders the Lord has done”. (Ps 105:5). Often we relate to this line as prompting us towards an ‘attitude of gratitude’, towards making us a thanksgiving people. And that is surely the case. But the Holy Spirit who guides the psalmist often has many layers of messages for His people. And in this letter the one we will focus on is the message of HOPE.

The past should encourage us to Hope; despite the present and even despite ourselves. What God has done for us should constantly spur us on from ‘one level of glory to the next’. And among the ‘wonders the Lord has done’, surely the greatest is His Saving Work on the Cross. The wood of the cross, the merciful raft that floats over the wrath of God, typified in the Ark that saved Noah and his household and creation. How desperate should we be to pull others onto the raft/ship?; especially those drowning in the cares of the world trying to battle with sin and the rigours of daily life in their own strength.

The love of Christ compels (constrains/impels) us (2 Cor 5:14). We cannot sit back and be content with our ‘own’ ‘personal’ salvation. The love of Christ needs to quicken our steps, direct our minds, control our actions to ‘bring the Good News’. (Rom 10:15)

This September as we celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Lady, whose openness to the grace of the Holy Spirit and whose ‘Yes’ brought the Good News to us ‘in flesh’ (in caro/in carnis), may we too play our role in the incarnation of the Word in our times and in our land. As we prepare for the Proclamation Outreach during the Octave of the Feast of Our Lady of the Mount, may prayer be the foundation, back-bone and bulwark of the entire effort. May the Lord who alone builds the house (Ps 127:1), provide the right builders and material to ensure the labour is not in vain (1 Cor 15:58) and bears ‘abundant fruit’ (Jn 15:5).

I recall with amazement how the Lord prepared the way over 2 years ago when Mount Mary’s Basilica premises was offered for the Proclamation effort.

I recall with amazement how so many persevered in prayer, including the members of the Sanctuary Intercessors of the FBB who organised Prayer Outreaches and would climb up the Mount praying along the way year after year, much like the servant who Elijah sent up the mountain repeatedly (and in faith) till finally he saw the cloud approaching. And what a mighty (latter) rain fell! (1 Kings 18).

I recall with amazement how two years ago we at the St Theresa’s Prayer Group sensed the need to fast and pray and prepare ourselves for evangelisation at the Mount, with no clarity on how we would go about it - where would we situate ourselves, what material we would use, etc. And then a week before the Octave we got a call from the Proclamation Cell saying that they had a room, material and infrastructure but needed ‘fisher folk’. How wonderful indeed are the Lord’s ways.

May the wonders the Lord has done spur us on in Hope. May Mary our Blessed Mother be with us along the way that leads to Jesus - the Way, the Truth and the Life.