Flying Fest

In the state of Maharastra, the month of January is the best season of flying kites. Everybody irrespective of their age, sex, status fly the kites with utmost enthusiasm and happiness. While flying the kites, everyone tries to soar high. However, high the kite is, the master of the Kite never loses the sight of kite. The kite is always under his/her control. The kite soars high, directed by purpose as long as it is the hands of the master. It enjoys real freedom within the hands of its master. The moment it is by itself, it flies without direction. It is not sure, where it is soaring and when it reaches its end.

Flying kite is not just a game. It reflects for me human life. Thus, a life game. In order to soar high in life, we need to place ourselves in the hands of people who can be a light for us in the moment of darkness. These people may be either friends, teaches, spiritual director, or even life partner. However high we reach in life, we should never lose the sight of our destination, our goal. Consequently, we should never forget the roots where we came from. Once we forget, we reach nowhere although it appears to be reaching somewhere.

The Options

Human life is set on earth in such a way that it has no choice except to live with options. In other words, human life is characterized by options. According to me, there are two options: Fundamental and Spontaneous Options. The former is an option chosen out of reason and will which will eventually lead to happiness. This option does not make life a bed of roses. Rather, it is a mixture of good and bad, joy and sorrow, love and hate, life and death. The fundamental option helps one to live within these tensions so that it will contribute to the holistic and healthy development of the individual. The later is chosen out of instinct. It is seeking for momentary pleasures, temporary happiness. It guarantees happiness but for a short time. This option makes human being always to crave for something more in life just as animals and birds.

There is good and bad, superior and inferior in the above options. Interestingly, human being has the capacity and power to choose either of the options as per mood, mode and context of life. In other words, human life is a mixture of fundamental and spontaneous options. As for me, this is healthy. The real danger is when a person solely opts for the spontaneous option all the time no matter what the context demands. 

Old and New

Every reality that comes into the world, in the course of time, undergoes change in its being, functioning and relating. Every reality is made up of matter and form. The new becomes old in the course of its existence. The newness loses its value if it does not become old. No reality can escape from becoming old. In other words, the moment reality enters the world; it is already in the process of becoming old. When the being becomes old, it becomes new again taking different form but matter remaining the same. It is form that makes something new. For example, a new born child is new. The child is new because of the form he/she had taken but matter is of the parents. His parents are old. In the course of time, the child becomes old.

There is always a conflict between old and new; the older times, people, generation was good and always blame the new. The old has no capacity to fit into the new whereas new has capacity to fit into the world. For example, the computer science is growing rapidly. Every year, there are new softwares coming into the market. The 2007 windows cannot be functioning in 2003 windows but it can function vice-versa. New is actually the modification and renovation of the old. The real fun is when old is able to fit into the new and when the new craves for the old.

What is seriously going on here? I am simply saying that which is new becomes old and that which old becomes new. It is circular and continuous flow in the world. 

Mission of Life

God, the creator and life-giver, sends every human being into the world with a unique and specific mission. Thus, every human being has a mission in this world. The greatness of human being lies in the realization of his/her own mission. The task of every human being is to accomplish his/her mission irrespective of weakness, obstacles and infirmities. It is the greatest realization to come into knowledge that no human being is perfect and they in turn become perfect in the course of accomplishing their mission. A physically challenged person proves to the world that when God closes one door, He opens another door. A sinful person shows to the world that God takes to the deep waters not to drown but to purify.  A perfect human being brings to the world, the goodness of God.

Everyday we wake up with a mission; mission to be sensitive, compassionate, generous, loving, happy, bringing joy to others … These missions are unending. 

Few Make Difference

Many are born, only few become saints

Many people live life, only few live with difference

Many love, only few become love

Many talk, only few speak and listen

Many are happy, only few know the meaning of happiness

Many are dead, only few are remembered after death

Many make mistakes; only few realize and accept their mistakes

Many laugh at other, only few laugh at themselves

Many help, only few help without acceptation

Many dream, only few achieve their dreams

Many act, only few reflect

Many know, only few become wise

WHY DON’T I DARE TO BE IN THAT ‘FEW.’

Jesus

It is a name. Just a name. But, reflecting deeply on that name ‘Jesus,’ I discovered that this name is caught up in the chain of words. It signifies life, death, suffering, persecution, wonder, happiness, compassion, mercy, love, wonder, source of inspiration, service, justice, dedication, discrimination, contentment and it goes unending. Never in the history of the world, no name has inspired so many thousands of people to offer their lives for the marginalized and is still in the process of motivating and continues till the end of the world.

The world indeed was very fortunate to have person called ‘Jesus’ for thirty three years on this earth, two thousand years ago. It is this name that still urges people of different ages, races, classes to serve people of the world in spite of persecution and suffering. The name ‘Jesus’ will never wipe out from the heart of the world and especially from the human heart. As long as human race exists, the name ‘Jesus’ lives on…………..

The Story of Jacques Derrida

Jacques Derrida, a marginal Jew, experienced in his life exclusion, marginalization, oppression and rejection. Primarily, his philosophy of deconstruction aimed to give concrete solution to his own personal political problems. From his own personal experiences, his philosophy gave hope to redeem the humanity from the clutches of the evil hunting the society. It is earthy philosophy as it interacts and interrupts with the everyday happenings. It starts rooting out evils from the heart of human being. It is for this very reason that it proceeds with love. Derrida, through his deconstruction commenced the journey of reality from the rigidity of the structures to the flexibility within the structures and from abstract to concrete to prove that philosophy is an autonomous discipline as it deals with everyday experiences. Human beings are always on the move to discover the truth and validity of their experiences. In this sense, deconstruction is another name for the infinite openness to affirm the dynamism and evolutionary nature of every reality. In other words, it is the constant uncovering of the different layers constructed by human thinking.

The Story of Philosophy

Philosophy from a deconstruction point of view is the story of evolution, a story of reality as mysterious, a story of reform, a story of new order, a story of small narratives, a story of small philosophies, a story of knowledge as process and a story for the Other. The best example of deconstruction in Greek philosophy is found in the philosophy of Plato. Plato, through his philosophy deconstructed the Parmenidian view of ‘permanence’ and Heraclutian view of ‘change’. On the one hand, Parmenides held the view that being is and all things are, all the differences between the things exist. Thus, everything is permanent. On the other hand, Heraclitus held the view that everything is in the constant flux of change. Thus, for him nothing remains permanent. Plato deconstructs both the views by arguing that they both exist in every being through his theory of truth and opinion. For him Being is and Being becomes. 

The Story of Christianity

Christianity from deconstruction point of view Christianity from postmodern point of view is the story of marginal people, a story of sinners, a story of disbelief in God, a story of suffering humanity, a story of fleeing from God, a story of infidelity, a story of decentralization of power, a story of service, a story of Poor God and Rich People, a story of victims, a story of concern for the other, a story of faith, a story of commitment and a story of life-giving. I would like to supplement the above with two examples of deconstruction one taken from Old Testament (Deconstruction of Ethics) while the other is from New Testament (Deconstruction of Justice). The Old Testament portrays clearly Abraham as the father of Christian faith. The act of Abraham sacrificing his own son is paradoxical because it is guided neither by reason nor by an ethics justifiable before human beings or before the law of some universal tribunal.In other words, it is the deconstruction of morality and immorality and responsibility and irresponsibility.It is the absolute duty which demands that one should behave in an irresponsible manner while still recognizing, confirming and reaffirming the very thing one sacrifices, namely the order of human ethics and responsibility. In a word, ethics must be sacrificed in the name of duty. In other words, he went beyond the laws and ethics of his time in sacrificing his own son and his only son for God In the Gospel of St Mark, Jesus deconstructs justice by affirming that the laws are meant to enhance and further human life. The statement of Jesus ‘The Sabbath was made for human being and not human being for Sabbath,’ is a clear deconstruction of the law which will pave way to justice in the world. The Pharisees obeyed the law blindly and expected an identical response to the law from others as well. Jesus claims to the autonomy of human being to invoke the law as the context requires it. In other words, Jesus desires unstoppable creative efforts to interpret the law.

Cultural Quotient

According to philosophy of existentialism, human being is thrown in the world to create his own self. I would go further and affirm that human being is thrown into the culture and is brought and shaped by that culture. The culture of the person influences every aspect such as attitudes, behaviour, dealings, relationship, language, reasoning and so on. In other words, there is no particular trait that is not touched by culture. What a person is or makes him/her self of is due to cultural background. What is acquired through culture, according to me, is always natural. As for example, if a person is brought up in a culture where there are thieves, for such a person stealing is natural.

                Thinking differently, culture is the dominant narrative in the life and existence of human being. No human being can escape culture. In other words, the way we are now, the way we were, the way we will be is all determined by culture. For example, if a Pumpkin at its inception is put in a bottle, it will grow to the length and breadth of the size of that bottle.

            All human beings are without exception are culturally determined beings. It is a gift that each one of us received no matter where we are and what we are. On the other way around, no one desires a particular culture, but my birth in a particular culture will with me until my death.  What is important for me is that each of us has a culture and a capacity to addict to different cultures to survive in order to create human self. 

Method or/and Mission of Philosophy

The purpose of philosophical enquiry is to pursue and understand life and life situations. As such, it stems from the experience with/in the world. Further, it attempts to understand the fundamental and most significant human activities by inquiring into their very nature and essence. Thus, philosophy is an activity that aims at understanding the principles that lie behind various aspects of life. It is then, a human task and responsibility. It develops in each age ideas and values, based on the preceding age, sometimes by way of rejection and change, and sometimes by conformity and development.  The philosophies and philosophers of every age consider the problems that are important and relevant to human being directly or indirectly by taking a critical approach towards reality. It is in this framework, every age has produced a philosophy and a philosopher that is relevant to the age: Ancient philosophers started their quest for discovering the cause for the origin of the universe, medieval philosophers turned their attention to God, the modern philosopher focused on reason and human person and contemporary philosophers paid attention to the Self.

            The Question that struck me was, Do we need a method to Philosophize? Is it possible to do philosophy spontaneously without any method? It is no doubt that arriving at philosophy through a particular and specific method will make philosophy rich and handy. Hence, through a method, philosophy can be made contextual. According to me the task of philosophy does not end here.

            But, going a step further, as a budding philosopher I believe that my concern should be how to influence the lives of the other with the particular philosophy. In other words, philosophy is a mission to be taken to the people who do not value philosophy although they are bound by particular philosophies. 

Conscious and Unconscious

The psychology did not emerge as a separate science until the late 1800s, although its earliest history can be traced back to the time of early Greeks. Psychology as a separate science utilizes scientific methodologies to study and draw conclusions about human thought and behaviour which are conscious and unconscious. In other words, the psychologists are at war between conscious and unconscious pattern of behaviour.

                Some psychologists especially William James agree that the human being is what he/she is due to his conscious action. Then, it involves always a choice and negation. When human being is conscious, he/she chooses the convinced behaviour to behave in such and such a way. In other words, I know what I am doing when I am doing. But psychology adds to it a little further and says how a mind works in the living of actual desired behaviour.

                While other psychologists especially Sigmund Freud hold that ‘Today’s human being is the cause of Yesterday’s action.’ In other words, it is the unconscious mind that dictates how a person behaves because they hold that unconscious motives are central in present behaviour patterns and actions.

                In conclusion, what I believe is, it is ultimately human being who creates his/her life consciously and thus it is always a choice of desired needs. In as much as the choices in life are made consciously, the behaviour of human being is convinced behaviour springing from the heart but in combination with the head. At the end, I believe in a psychology that makes human being aware of his/her own actions.

Understanding is an Art

A piece of art ongoingly unfolds meanings. From this perspective, every time one looks at the work of art, it gives different shades of meanings and opens itself to other meanings without restriction and enclosing itself. In order to understand and to arrive at the famous figures in the history, we cannot follow a set of fixed principles through which we can conclude that person is such and such. In other words, there cannot be absolutized understanding and interpretation of the person.

In my opinion, and going along with Schleiermacher, the person of history is better known through the art than science. It means that a person’s life is opened to varied variety of interpretations, understanding and meaning as per the context and culture of interpretor, meaning-giver and understander. In other words, no interpretor can claim that his/her interpretation and understanding is absolute and it alone is true. It can be possible that one intepretor may not accept or agree with the interpretation of the other. But, what must be remembered is that every interpretation unfolds a new meaning and reveals a degree of truth. In other words, it only reveals a partial truth and not comprehensive truth.

I am also aware and acknowledge that art suffers from many pitfalls such as; no guiding rules, relativism, individualistic opinion, and so on. But what is interesting in understanding from the perspective of art is that it gives freedom to arrive at meaning as per the needs and demands of the context. 

Immaculate Conception and Significance for the Saliesian

The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception was declared on December 8, 1854 by Pope Pius XII. Immaculate Conception is a doctrine that affirms that God preserved the Virgin Mary from the taint of original sin from the moment she was conceived.

Immaculate Mary and Her Significance for Don Bosco

           Don Bosco honored Mary under two titles: Mary as Immaculate and Help of Christians. For Don Bosco, Mary was more than an object of veneration.  Mary was for him a living person.  He felt her presence in every moment of his life. He emulated in her the virtue of sensitivity, her obedience to the will of God, and her commitment and fidelity at the hour of the cross. From the very beginning of his life, she showed him the way, inspired his actions, sustained his strength and helped him to obtain his purpose, even in extraordinary ways.  In his Spiritual Testament to his Salesians, Don Bosco wrote, “The Blessed Virgin will certainly continue to protect our congregation and our Salesian works if we maintain our trust in her and promote devotion to her.”

           He had a deep devotion to Immaculate Mary so much so that one of the issues of “The Catholic Reading” edited by him was devoted to writings on Her. In this booklet he summed up his devotion to the Immaculate Conception under three points; 1) Mary is the Holiest of all creatures 2) Mary is the mother of God 3) Mary is our mother

Mary is the Holiest of all creatures: In the gospel of St Luke, Angel Gabriel calls her ‘Full of grace.’ From the first moment of her existence she was without original sin and she remained so to her last breath. Being full of grace her heart was pure and without flaw, nor was there a single virtue which Mary did not possess. The Catholic Church proclaims the holiness of Mary by maintaining that she has always been free of sin. Thus, we are invited to call her: O Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.

Mary is the Mother of God: Mary was adorned with all the imaginable virtues and enriched by God with grace above any other creature on earth. Because of these qualities, she was chosen above all other women to be raised to the dignity of Mother of God. Christians greet her everyday as echoed by St Elizabeth when visited by the Holy Virgin: Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us. At the sound of the glorious title, ‘Mother of God’ we know that there is no one endowed with greater glory, and therefore there is no one who has more influence with god than Mary.

Mary is our Mother: If the title ‘Mother of God’ is so glorious for Mary, it is all the more glorious and beneficial for us who redeemed by Jesus Christ, become her children and brothers of her divine son. Hence, having become the mother of Jesus, true God and true man, she also became our mother. The gospel confirms that Jesus Christ in his great mercy wanted to call us his brothers and make us the adopted children of Mary. When the divine saviour nailed to the cross, suffered the most painful agony, this most Holy Mother and the apostle John were at His feet in deepest sorrow: Jesus opened his eyes, perhaps for the last time, saw the beloved disciple and his loving mother. Dying, he said to Mary: Woman, behold your son. Then he spoke to John, ‘Behold your mother.”

The Significance of Immaculate Conception for the Salesian Today

            In the case of our mothers, we don’t imitate but we literally follow them. It should be the same with Mother Mary. Like Don Bosco we firmly believe that Mary is present in all our activities as a Mother, that She always comes to our aid when deeply in trouble and especially in times of discouragement. In many of his dreams, Mary appeared to Don Bosco as a loving mother. She is a mother who looks after the needs of all works and provides us with financial and spiritual help. Mary takes care of all the boys in the community and protects them from all the dangers of life. As an example, we see Mary’s care for the boys of Don Bosco in his Dream of the Elephant.  There is an elephant in the playground and the boys are unaware of the danger.  Mary notices it and she shouts to the boys to come under her mantle – Mary not only calls the boys, she shouts, she is exhausted from shouting, she is red in the face and out of breath, says the dream.

            I would like to conclude with the encouraging advice of Don Bosco to us Salesians, ‘The God of mercy and his Holy Mother came to our help in our needs.  This was especially true when it was a case of providing for poor and abandoned boys, and even more when their souls were in danger.’  As we place our trust in Mary, our Mother, the Immaculate Help of Christians, we pray for her continued protection always.

The Real Freedom

      A great philosopher once said, human being is born free but is chained everywhere. Every human being from the depth of heart desires to be free. The freedom is often thought to choose or do what one feels and wants. But freedom is to come to realization of one ’s self and at the same time accept ones own limitations as much as strengths. In other words, “Freedom is enjoyed within the limits’.

Freedom From: Human beings in some situation become the subjects of unusual restrains. They do something out of force and not out of love. People become free once the unusual restrains are removed. For example, during the British rule, India fought for freedom because we were under unusual restrains.

Freedom To: It is the capacity of a person to act according to his wishes and carry out duties and responsibilities. Here, one may or may not fulfill the obligations expected of him. If the person wishes to take drugs is free to take. It is out of one’s choice but may lead to bad consequences.

Freedom For: This is an important aspect of freedom. It is committing oneself totally and wholly to the purpose and also works to make that purpose a reality. It is fully flows from the love for oneself and to the whole society.

Freedom With: The act of freedom is not an independent act. My actions out of freedom affect another as we are living in society. I become free and my freedom is accepted as long as I respect the other. Thus, human being becomes free when he is able to work in harmony with other human beings. 

Don Bosco and Preventive System

St John Bosco commonly known as Don Bosco belongs to 19^th century epoch educationalist. I call him educationist because he had introduced a new system of education called the Preventive System into pattern of education basing on the Christian principles but the system as such can be used irrespective of religion and creed because of magnanimity and essence of system. The preventive system of Don Bosco is based on three pillars namely, Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness. Let me attempt to explain each of the principle in gist. The whole aim of the system is to produce, ‘Honest Human Beings and Good Citizens’.

Reason: The educator in educating the young to life, must not loose the sight of rationality. It is with the help of reason, that the student develops a good and integrated personality. In everything that educator does, the student must see the proper reason. If the teacher punishes, the boy must happily accept knowing his/her weakness. In other words, the constant presence of the educator keeps the student away from evil.

Religion: India is a land of diverse religions and faiths. Whatever religion, the students may belong, there is in each of them, a consciousness that directs life. It constantly pricks the student to choose good and avoid bad. In simple words, ‘ I am the captain of myself’ and so education must help student to follow his conscience.

Loving Kindness: Don Bosco said, ‘Love what the young loves and then make them love what you love’.  It is constant outpouring of love from the side of educator and at same time being firm in making the student to follow the rules and laws of the institute. The preventive system becomes blind in the absence of love.

The preventive system thrives and becomes powerful when there is the constant presence of educator, individuals decision to follow his own conscience and constant outpour of love from the part of educator.

Don Bosco and Holiness

            During the canonization process of Don Bosco, a cardinal objected saying, ‘When did Don Bosco pray?  The answer of the pope was a counter question, When did he not Pray? Most people know Don Bosco as a ‘Man of Activity’. The mere look at the life of Don Bosco reveals one side that he did always work. But, the fact is that there is the other side ‘Holiness’ to Don Bosco. The holiness of Don Bosco was characterized by his perfect example of contemplative in action, apostolic interior life, pastoral zeal and loving kindness. The holiness of Don Bosco became crystal clear in his undertaking of works, in his zeal for winning souls for Christ, in his sprit of sacrifice, humility, simplicity, love for purity and poverty, continuous union with God and in his unlimited service to the poor and abandoned youngsters. The holiness of Don Bosco is certain because many of his pupils reached the height of sanctity. The words of Philip Rinaldi, proves the above point, “Let the Holiness of sons be the proof of the holiness of their father.” His oratories had become factories of saints. Don Bosco started a school of sanctity, he created in Valdocco an environment where sanctity could blossom. It started with Saint Dominic Savio and there were numerous other members and boys. Don Bosco is holy not because of the practice of the way of life through consecration but spirit with which he lived his consecration. The holiness of Don Bosco is marked by; 1) holiness sprang from his ordinary life 2) holiness sprang from his consecration 3) holiness sprang from his union with God.

Holiness Sprang from His Ordinary Life

            Don Bosco was an ordinary, simple but profound person. He never did anything extraordinary in his life but he did everything with extraordinary zeal. The incident of Don Bosco with Dominic Savio is worth remembering. Dominic Savio desired to become a saint. He was mortifying himself with all the extraordinary means to become a saint. Don Bosco knew it and summoned for Dominic Savio. Don Bosco gave him a golden advice to become saint, ‘Do ordinary things of life in an extraordinary way.’ This advice brought about a total transformation in the life of Dominic Savio. Don Bosco was an ordinary priest who himself a full-time priest, even in his dreams and in his sleep, a priest in the confessional and when he celebrates mass, a priest with his boys in the playground and at his desk when he writes books or answers his correspondence, a priest when he travels or preaches or sits at the table of a benefactor.  He is above all a priest with intimate conviction that he is an instrument in the hands of God. He distinguished himself by his zealous apostolate among the poor young with the motto, “Give me Souls and take away the rest.” In whole of his life, he never worked for his own glory, popularity and self-love but did everything for the love of God. It is this motivation that pushed him to practice brotherly charity by working for the salvation of the young.  In a word, ‘He did everything for the glory of God.’

Holiness Sprang from His Consecration

            Don Bosco was fully convinced that his consecration was a response to the call of God. Through the consecration he willingly dedicated himself totally to him and he sacrificed his whole life. His consecration was not to command but to practice charity towards neighbour for love of God, not to live in comfort and ease but to be poor with Jesus Christ, to suffer with Him on earth and to become worthy of his glory in heaven. He made the world of the young his own through his consecration. He placed himself totally in the hands of God and worked totally for the salvation of the whole world. He lived a simple yet a profound life as a sign of poverty, committed and worked always to fulfil the will of God as a sign of obedience, manifested unconditional love to all as a sign of Chastity. His consecration can be summarized in the statement, “He said no word, and he took up no task that was not directed to Salvation of Youth.”He was a consecrated person through his work and union with God.

Holiness Sprang from His Union with God

            Don Bosco was attracted to God as iron is attracted to the magnet. He cultivated this aspect of holiness from his childhood. In other words, holiness was his childhood dream. The words of Mamma Margaret to Johnny Bosco ‘God Sees You’ left an indelible impression in the whole life of Don Bosco. Although, Don Bosco was devoured by the flame of external activity, he rooted himself in the source of that activity. Even in the inexhaustible activity, he always longed for prayer and for conversation with God. He strongly believed that he was always in continuous union with God. The whole life of Don Bosco was marked, dominated and possessed by God. God has conquered the soul of Don Bosco to accomplish his own work on earth. In a word, “Union with God is the breath of the life of Don Bosco.”

            Don Bosco, the saint- that is what should inspire us. He is no more with us but he left a great legacy; a legacy of love, a legacy of apostolic zeal, a legacy of fidelity to God, and a legacy of contemplative in action, a legacy of working for the Salvation of Souls. Thus, Don Bosco becomes a model of holiness.

Don Bosco and Mary

           In his Spiritual Testament to his Salesians, Don Bosco wrote, “The Blessed Virgin will certainly continue to protect our congregation and our Salesian works if we maintain our trust in her and promote devotion to her.” For Don Bosco, Mary was more than an object of veneration.  Mary was for him a living person.  He felt her presence in every moment of his life. He emulated in her the virtue of sensitivity, her obedience to the will of God, and her commitment and fidelity at the hour of the cross. From the very beginning of his life, she showed him the way, inspired his actions, sustained his strength and helped him to obtain his purpose, even in extraordinary ways.  For Don Bosco ‘Mary did it all!’  Don Bosco’s mother Mamma Margaret cultivated in him devotion Mother Mary from his childhood. I quote the words of Mamma Margaret to Johnny Bosco on the occasion of his vestition, “When you were born, I consecrated you to the Blessed Virgin; when you began your studies, I advised you to have devotion to this good Mother.  At this point I recommend you to be totally hers.  Love companions who are devoted to her, and if you become a priest, always recom­mend and propagate devotion to Mary.  John, after listening to his mother, in tears, thanked his mother and said: These words will not be said for nothing, I will treasure them all my life. Don Bosco

First Encounter with Mary

            The first meeting of Johnny Bosco with Mary happened in his dream at the age of nine.  It was Jesus himself who tells him that Mary is to be his guide: “I will give you a Teacher, he said, un­der her guidance you can become wise; without her all wisdom is foolishness.”  At this juncture, Don Bosco narrates: “At that moment I saw a Lady standing near Him… she took me kindly by the hand.  ‘This is the field of your work.  Make yourself humble, strong and robust… What you see hap­pening to these animals is what you must do to my children’ (the wild animals then turned into lambs). At that point I began to cry.  I begged the Lady to speak so that I could understand.  She placed her hand on my head and said: ‘In good time you will understand everything.’ “

            It is this dream that made him realize the importance of Mary in his life as a Mother, Teacher and Guide. From then on, Don Bosco never left Mary and Mary too, never left him.

Mary as Mother

            Don Bosco firmly believed that Mary is present in all the activities as a Mother. She always came to the aid of Don Bosco when he was deeply in trouble and infused a ray of hope in times of discouragement. In many of his dreams, Mary appeared as a loving mother. She was a mother who looked after the needs of all his works. She provided him with financial and spiritual help. In all his problems, he felt her presence concretely. Mary took care of all the boys in the oratory. She protected them from all the dangers of all life. As an example, we see Mary’s care for the boys of Don Bosco in his dream of the elephant.  There is an elephant in the playground and the boys are unaware of the danger.  Mary notices it and she shouts to the boys to come under her mantle – Mary not just calls the boys, she shouts, she is exhausted from shouting, she is red in the face and out of breath, says the dream. Don Bosco acknowledges it in his testament when he said, ‘The God of mercy and his Holy Mother came to our help in our needs.  This was especially true when it was a case of providing for poor and abandoned boys, and even more when their souls were in danger.’  He also believed that, Mary takes special care of every youngster on entering the Salesian house and provides them with bread and means to study, by endless graces and wonders. Whoever came to Don Bosco with any kind of problem, he just directed them to the loving mother and whoever came to her in the name of Don Bosco she never refused to be their caring mother.

Mary as Guide

            Don Bosco was a man of dreams. In other words, he saw the vision of his life in his dreams. He saw Mary in all his dreams. It is a mistake to think that Don Bosco easily believed his dreams. But, he started believing when one by one he saw them being realized in his real life.  He also asked guidance from Father Cafasso, but later on he will say: “The Virgin Mary had in dreams indicated the field in which I was to work.  I therefore had the design of a complete, pre-studied plan from which I did not wish to depart.  I was made totally responsible for the success of this plan.  I had a clear idea of the lines I had to follow, and therefore I would not risk to spoil the plan by submitting it to the judgment and will of others” (MB III).  Thus, Don Bosco became a firm believer in the guidance of Mary and the two worked together.  At times Mary took the initiative; at times it was Don Bosco that had recourse to her for help – it is impossible to keep an account of all the favors Don Bosco received as a consequence of his prayers. But, he was convinced that “Mary was always his guide,” and “She is his protector and treasurer.” He was absolutely sure of her help, even when the Government threatened to close the Oratory.  “Poor people, said Don Bosco, they are mistaken.  They will not succeed.  They think they are dealing with Don Bosco only, they don’t know that they have to do with one much more powerful, with the Blessed Virgin, even with God himself who will shatter their plans.  No, they will not succeed to close the Oratory!” Indeed, they never succeed in closing any of the works of Don Bosco.

Response of Don Bosco to Infinite Love of Mary

            Don Bosco responded to the Love of Mary by spreading devotion to her. One of his main devotions to the Our Lady was recitation of the rosary daily in the oratory. On one occasion, minister Ratazzi demanded him to stop the recitation of the rosary in the oratory. His answer was a firm ‘No’. He was even ready to undergo any problem and suffering in spreading devotion to Mary. He exhibited an extraordinary love for Mother Mary all his life. He made sure that the Marian feasts are celebrated with due solemnity and reverence in the oratory. His whole aim was to cultivate in the heart of every youngster the love, respect and admiration towards Mother Mary.

            Why this predilection of Mary for Don Bosco? First and foremost it was not a predilection for Don Bosco: rather, it was Jesus’ and Mary’s predilection for the young.  Mary took pity on her children far from home, abandoned in the big city, marginalized, hungry, without employment and in danger of corruption.  A mother cannot see this misery.  What Don Bosco did was the work of Mary, it was her initiative, he was told to do it with her method of gentleness and kindness. The first article of our Constitutions affirms: ‘Through the motherly intervention of Mary, the Holy Spirit raised up Saint John Bosco to contribute to the salvation of youth.’  Don Bosco himself tells us that every youngster that enters our houses is sent to us by Mary.  If we keep this in mind, if we give ourselves at Mary'’ disposal to do her work, then we too can count on her special help.  The time of miracles is not yet over!

Don Bosco and Prayer

Introduction

            Don Bosco was a man of prayer. He felt the need of God in his apostolic initiatives and commitments. His whole life though characterized by enormous activity was made holy by constant and continuous prayer (Article 85). To speak metaphorically, till the day mankind succeeded in going to the moon, we only knew one face of it, the face tuned towards the earth; the other face remained unseen and unknown.  Something similar can be said about our knowledge of Don Bosco.  Till Don Bosco was declared a Saint we know him as a man of activity.  We did not know him as a Saint. We did not realise that all this activity was the outcome of his intimate union with God. His much-admired activity was the result of a life of prayer. Thus, Don Bosco and prayer form one unity in his life. It is indeed a mistake to differentiate the activity of Don Bosco and Prayerful moments of Don Bosco. It is because, Don Bosco, docile to the Holy Spirit, lived an experience of humble, trusting and apostolic prayer in which prayer and living were spontaneously united (Art 86).

 

Don Bosco and Prayer

     The secret of Don Bosco’s success is his constant union with God.  Other saints, united to God, would go into ecstasy, a state that takes them out of the world and immerses them into the things of God.  Don Bosco’s ecstasy consists in immersing himself in work for the glory of God and for the good of his boys.  His union with God in prayer does not suffer because of his work, but it remains uninterrupted and continuous as it is the outcome of his participation in the divine love. Every act even microscopic impressed and energized the heart of every Salesian and youngster. The nearer people came to Don Bosco, the more they had a chance to peep into his personal life, and the greater veneration they had for his person.  In the bold testament of Don Rua, “I lived at Don Bosco’s side for more than 37 years.  To observe even the minutest actions of Don Bosco made a greater impression on me, did me more good, than to read or meditate any pious book.”

Don Bosco- A Man Continually in Prayer

     Don Bosco’s enormous activity and continual union with God never ceased till the end of his life. They were intertwined each with the other and made him a perfect blend of nature and grace. A man who was constantly at work is likely to be agitated, tense, impatient and nervous, especially when disturbed.  Nothing like that in Don Bosco: ‘He had peace in his mind and in his heart for anyone who was to come to him, at any time, when busy with any work.’  Pius XI admired his ‘supreme composure, a mastery of time, by which he gave his attention to all who came, with such a calm tranquillity as if he had nothing else at hand.’ It is to be noted that Don Bosco’s calm did not leave him even in the most difficult moments, when he had no bread for his boys, when the building that had cost him so much collapsed, when for 10 long years he lived in conflict with his Bishop and even when there was no enough money to build the Sacred Heart Basilica.  Never a bitter word or an expression of rebellion – at times one could notice that he felt the blow but immediately he recovered his calm, and more than that, his joy and cheerfulness. While not denying the fact that Don Bosco lost his serenity, calm and peace. He lost his calm, became serious, when he was confronted with an offence of God.  Don Bosco is personally affected by sin.  The man who is so patient, so calm and indulgent, always the master of himself, that same man feels his blood boil when he is faced with sin and scandal.

Characteristics of Don Bosco’s Prayer

                  Article 86 of Salesian constitutions says that “Salesian prayer is joyful and creative, simple and profound.  It lends itself to community participation, is drawn from life and flows back to it”. It clearly expresses the attitude and the characteristics of Don Bosco’s own prayer. Thus, Don Bosco’s Prayer is characterized by: 1) A Prayer of Easter Joy 2) A Creative Prayer that sprang from his Commitment 3) A Profound Sacramental Prayer 4) A Simple Prayer 5) A Marian Prayer.

A Prayer of Easter Joy

What I want to say is this:  Don Bosco’s prayer is steeped in Easter joy – the joy of ‘serve the Lord in gladness unconditionally’.  Don Bosco was convinced that it is good to be near the Lord, that true joy is found in Him, that prayer is a source of inspiration and happiness.

Evidently, the joy of the Christian, just be­cause it is a participation in the joy of Easter, proceeds from the participation in the suffering and death of Jesus. In this sense, Don Bosco was an Easter man who was never afraid of the crosses that life gave him but willing carried them even not counting his death.   

A Creative Prayer that Sprang from His Commitment

            Prayer for Don Bosco was not a show of emotions but an outflow of his creative commitment to God. ‘Here is a life’ said the Pope Pius XI ‘that we have been able to admire from nearby, a life that was a true and great martyrdom, a life spent in such a colossal activity that anyone else would be discouraged just by seeing it.’ Don Bosco prayed everywhere as he was not bound by place and time. For him, ‘Everything was Prayer.’

A Profound Sacramental Prayer

            Don Bosco’s prayer is sacramental because his enormous work, activity and union with God aimed at saving souls. In this context, the words of Piux XI are very touching, “There is indeed a secret, and Don Bosco revealed it continually, maybe without noticing it himself.  It is the motto which he so often repeated in his words and in his writings: Give me souls – take away the rest!  Not a programme or a slogan, but an ever-present desire, a constant invocation, a continuous prayer – a prayer immediately translated into action, in work!

            Don Bosco was at the same time priest and educator: a priest who found in education the possibility of fulfilling his priestly mission, and an edu­cator who found in his priestly ministry a help towards education. Don Bosco’s educational system was founded on the ‘Frequent confes­sion and frequent communion and daily mass. Through this he brought his boys into contact with God, and that is what the sacraments achieve.

A Simple Prayer

Don Bosco’s prayer is simple. It does not mean that it is superficial. His simplicity in prayer emerged from his outpouring simplicity in life. He learnt this from his mother Mamma Margaret who told to little Johnny “God Sees You”. This statement of his mother made him to be always in union with God. He never sat in the church for long time but he always spoke of prayer to his boys. His whole system of education is geared to giving the boys a taste for prayer; he looks for favourable occasions to pro­mote prayer, he speaks of the importance and value of prayer, but he makes sure that everything is done with the utmost liberty and spontaneity.

Don Bosco did not want to prescribe special prayers for the Salesian, nothing but the ‘ordinary prayers of a good Christian.’ They were Simple in number: not too many, not too long, not tiring or boring. He firmly believed that nobody must go to prayer unwillingly, those who are fervent can al­ways do more. Simple in style: not the prayers of an elite, not also a prayer that fuels the emotions, but ‘easy things, done with perseverance.’

A Marian Prayer

Don Bosco entrusted himself totally to Mary. He never did and said anything without invoking Mary. Mary as a mother holds a unique place in the life of Don Bosco (Art 8). She was always present in the life if Don Bosco. It all began with a dream that he had at the age of nine. In is first dream Johnny Bosco received Mary as his teacher: under her guidance he would be wise, and without her all wisdom turns to foolishness. Don Bosco had immense trust and faith in Mary. Don Bosco saw the in Mary a model of prayer and pastoral love and the teacher of wisdom. Mary is not just one element of our Don Bosco’s spiritu­ality: she is at the heart of his spirituality.

Conclusion

            The first monks called prayer the ‘work’ of prayer, because they undertook the labour of prayer as a contribution to the salvation of the world.  In today’s busy world, a religious or a priest cannot have a satisfactory spiritual life unless he gives a long time to prayer. We must learn from the world around us. In our very busy world, people give importance to the week-end, far away from their business, to have a day of rest and recreation. It is also same be with the prayer. We easily understand that focusing on work can distract us from attention to God – but it is the same with prayer.  Many people just recite formulas with their attention elsewhere or value their prayer according to the emotions they experience, but their prayer does not influence their life.  Prayer should feed our piety, but our union with God (Don Bosco called it ‘piety’) is not measured by the length of our prayer.  What is essential is not that we spend a lot of time in church, but that our prayer makes us ready for sacrifice and for work, ready to do our duty.  I conclude with the words of Don Bosco: ‘Prayer that does not help us to correct our defects is not pleasing to God’.

Valuable Education

The world of today runs on education. No education is equal to no bright future. The bright and enlightening future depends on the education of the child. Nothing can be attained in future with out an element of education present in the veins of the body. Then the questions that flashed through my mind are: What is the purpose of education? Why educating children? Is education merely a means to settle in the future? Can education become valuable?

The education of the child can happen in the two stages and both the stages go simultaneously. Both the stages begin at the inception of education. The two stages of education are Information and Formation. Education becomes information when the teacher’s sole aim is only to impart the lessons just for the sake of imparting. The mind of the child is constantly filled with different subjects, knowledge and consequently burdens the mind of the child. Education becomes Formation when teacher is able to impart and pass on the moral values trough the subject. Here, the teachers aim is to inform and form the child. It is in formation, that the two stages are given importance. Education becomes valuable when education is formation. It becomes valuable when education is able to make the child aware, the importance of inculcating moral values in the school days i.e. their prime age.

Both the stages of education, information and formation are important. The education should not just be satisfied with informing the child but rather rise above and form the child.