St.Augusitine writing Confessions
While remembering all his youthful follies, he remembers how God's unfarthomable grace has been a shield for him, how grace leads to discover his faith into Three in One God.
Divine Illumination
St: Augustine receive divine illumination from Jesus the Son of God and Mary, the mother of Jesus, enlightening him while he is writing his discourse.
St.MONICA and St.AUGUSTINE at Ecstacy at Ostia
Two saints, mother and son receive a vision of heaven at Ostia, near Rome. It was the last moment of the two being together, looking heaven ward, and later St.Monica died and was buried there.
Seminarians on the wall.
With co-seminarians, where trying to escape the scourging sunlight, sitting on the fence and keeping ourselves calm with jokes.
Rosary Garden at Tabor Hill, Talamban
A place of prayer and peace, a place of love and charity where being together with the mother of our Divine Lord, and recitation of Holy Rosary knocks the doors of Heaven.
27 May, 2014
23 May, 2014
This is the first, who will be the second?
EUROPE/ITALY – Beatification of Mario Vergara, PIME martyr and Isidoro Ngei Ko Lat, first Burmese Blessed
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – On Saturday, May 24, 2014, in the Cathedral of Aversa, Father Mario Vergara, missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) and his catechist Isidore Ngei Ko Lat will be beatified. They both died as martyrs in Burma in May 1950. Card. Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will preside at the beatification ceremony.At the end of the general audience on Wednesday 21 May, Pope Francis recalled the beatification with these words: " On 24 May, PIME missionary Fr Mario Vergara and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, his faithful catechist, will be beatified at Aversa. The two were killed in 1950 in Burma, out of hatred for the Christian faith. May their heroic fidelity to Christ be an encouragement and example to missionaries and especially catechists in mission lands who carry out important and irreplaceable apostolic work, for which the whole Church is grateful".
Father Mario Vergara was born in Frattamaggiore in 1910. Ordained a priest on August 28, 1934, at the end of September he left for Burma, he was entrusted the district Citaciò in the mountains and forests of Soku, one of the Kayin. With the help of catechists he faced countless hardships. During World War II, in 1941 he was interned, with all the Italian missionaries in British concentration camps in India, where he stayed for 4 years. After a period spent in Italy he returned to Burma, and went on a new mission among the Red Kayin, east of Loikaw, near the Salween River. After independence from England (1948), riots and civil war broke out between government and Kayin rebels. Father Vergara takes up the defense of the oppressed, and was very much hated by the rebels operating in that area. When on May 24, 1950 Father Vergara, together with the catechist Isidore went to demand the release of another catechist who had been arrested, he was faced by the rebel leader Richmond, after a tough interrogation, he orders their arrest. Both were massacred on the banks of the Salween River, probably in the early hours of May 25. Their bodies, sealed in a bag, were thrown into the river.
Not much is known about the life of the catechist Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, who is the first Burmese faithful to be beatified. Baptized on September 7, 1918, Isidoro belonged to a family of farmers, who converted to Catholicism. As a child he attended the missionaries and often went with them. He entered the minor seminary in Toungoo, demonstrating zeal and commitment, but because of poor health he had to return to his family . However, he decided to dedicate his life to the Lord, he did not get married and opened a private free school, where he held catechism classes. In 1948 he met Fr.Vergara, who invited him to carry out the service of catechist in Shadaw. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 23/05/2014)
22 May, 2014
A Saint, a Wife, a Mothe, a Nun...Rita was a help
I thought many times to get out of it, yet i said to myself, if i love Jesus why should i be weak. I knew love conquers everything. Then I was inspired to ask intercession of St Rita. I ask her fervently that i'like to remain in the seminary then become a priest, not for myself, not for my family but for all, that i want to serve people. I did pray for some time, not continuously yet it was quite effective. I unknowingly receive grace to continue, then later we were asked to continue to go to novitiate.
During novitiate also, i encountered many difficulties, especially dryness of living monastic life. I felt many times my prayers were not heard. I felt going home again. It was also st. Rita help me remain in the seminary again. I never realized that she is such a powerful intercessor, and our patroness. Because, i think, she experienced many life disturbances, to be obedient, to be chaste, to be humble, to be patient, to be loving, to be forgiving, all such ideal christian virtues. I am one, very happy to belong one of the Augustinian order serving the Lord and His church where we have saints as our living examples, loving the Lord with all our hearts.
I am grateful to God and people he allowed me to encounter, especially i appreciate their prayers offered so that we will continue to live in love, to serve. St. Rita was one of the many examples who is distinguished from the rest as her love, patience, charity, hope were above her self-love. She bowed until her forehead touch the ground yet she was raised by someone who is the author of Life. Thanks be to God. To God be the Glory, forever.
19 May, 2014
16 May, 2014
inconvenience
13 May, 2014
Tech
I even thank God for technology. Because it allows me to do what i am interested. But for a while i am so sunk into it. I feel restless. I do not know what to do and i wasn't sure of what i was doing at certain moments. Ok, i found something. I did not know that i needed rest from what i am doing. It was I needed to be disconnected. I needed my reflection over my day to day life.
It was a need to revive my tired spirit from too much information loaded in my head and left me heavy with so many ideas running across in the brain. I decided to leave for a while, if possible I will not continue over a span of year of so. I am revived, i felt so refreshed. I prayed, I read books, I do the services i need to finish. I sleep so well. I eat my food with good appetite. They all were the benefits of leaving myself disconnected from media and social networking.
I thank again, and prayed to God that "oh Lord, you are great, You have made me see the foolishness i was doing. And you gave me the courage to decide and do what i needed to do. Thank you for this opportunity to leave things became so close to us unnecessarily. So with this joy i would like to share a link to you. May God bless us in what we are doing and it may help our friendship strengthened with God and with our neighbour.
Slavery
For example, a drug doer is a slave to drugs and he would honestly admit it as well as a heavy smoker would do. I asked a heavy smoker that do you know that you are burning your lungs, she said, yes, i know, i am well aware of that. then she continued, why did you ask me? Don't do it. it is bad for you, never do it. Ok. thanks, i said. but i continued, you knew well that the danger of cigarettes and you still continue? She said, oh well, i don't know why i continue, i do not want , but i can't deny the thirst to smoke." Her answer would be plausible that she has incapacity to refuse and stop smoking but she can't. Otherwise she admits that she is a slave to it.
It was an example how objects enslave us. Out there are many other things that are enslaving us, like these days, pornography is one of the most addicted thing. Both teenagers male and female, adults male and female. It is gradually enslaving our human society. Driving the society to the edge of objectifying human sexuality. Sexual images are viewed as something intended for pleasure. In its very nature, human sexuality is always accompanied by its intimacy between a man and a woman of legal marriage. Nowadays, it has become an object of pleasure purpose only.
heavy drinking is always a form of slavery that enslave us. In this case is composed of majority of men. Some men would think that they might be freed from worries if they drink heavily, some think that when they are happy surrounded by friends they should drink. If reason really reigns in their heads, there shouldn't be as such.
Some are mildly enslaved, like facebook and other forms of social networking. Some said that they even forgot to eat while they are on facebook. and some even leave their facebook logged on 24/7.(i don't use facebook, i cancelled everything lately, i was one addicted to it, now i am free....Yeahhhhh)
In my simple opinion, we are free, and we should always be free from any bondage. We should know which are enslaving, drowning us into the deep. Unless we can't see these things no one can let us see. We have to open up our eyes to see what is inside us and what is happening with us. Most of us tried to undestand the universe talking about black-holes and about stares yet we still don't understand the real need of our heart. "In order to know ourselves, we need to go back into the heart" said St. Augustine. May the Lord bless us to find ourselves in a near future, discovering all that enslave us one way or another.
Now i feel more free to write in this blog than to post anything on facebook waiting that other would click LIKE! Now no more. Viva la libertà.
10 May, 2014
Disconnect to Reconnect
my desires in many areas of my interest. I love to help people too, and
since i love technology i am always on it. Reading, doing some kind of
research and sometime browsing or social networking. I am inclined to
study how does a computer work and carries out information we need. So I
do a form of self study. Learning something everyday and how to manage
them. By benefiting from these day to day experience i happen to know a
little more than normal users. I help people from my community when they
need computer service. Installing, formatting windows OS and
installation of other softwares and removing virus and adwares etc. When
i am successful i am so happy and proud to be doing it over and over
again. This is the reason i love it so deeply.
I even thank God
for technology. Because it allows me to do what i am interested. But for
a while i am so sunk into it. I feel restless. I do not know what to do
and i wasn't sure of what i was doing at certain moments. Ok, i found
something. I did not know that i needed rest from what i am doing. It
was I needed to be disconnected. I needed my reflection over my day to
day life.
It was a need to revive my tired spirit from too
much information loaded in my head and left me heavy with so many ideas
running across in the brain. I decided to leave for a while, if possible
I will not continue over a span of year of so. I am revived, i felt so
refreshed. I prayed, I read books, I do the services i need to finish. I
sleep so well. I eat my food with good appetite. They all were the
benefits of leaving myself disconnected from media and social
networking.
I thank again, and prayed to God that "oh Lord,
you are great, You have made me see the foolishness i was doing. And you
gave me the courage to decide and do what i needed to do. Thank you for
this opportunity to leave things became so close to us unnecessarily.
So with this joy i would like to share a link to you. May God bless us
in what we are doing and it may help our friendship strengthened with
God and with our neighbour.
09 May, 2014
Reason: most essential
Certainly, there is a need of defining what really is most beneficial way of exercising freedom. In regard to this, there will be further defining of its exercising. How shall we? We know that in every act we act there is always effect, even when we speak there is a result as an effect that one hears. And our intention is that we speak so that we will be heard. We move around that we will fulfill some outcome. Therefore, again we still need to refine our intention in regard to its effect both positive and negative. In as much as we have an intelligence by which we determine every particular event around us. We reason out by its potency. We judge by it saying certain things are good and some are not, some are beneficial and some are not.
So, then our intention is both beneficial when we act, meaning it may have the good of the agent, and outcome too is good. This is an example of an agent and the result of its action. Unless we understand implications of our actions when we act and the intention of why we act, and the possible immediate and remote effects of it we will be able to see the most positive results in every action.
Though we may knowledgeable of these realities there are certain circumstances that we normally choose are good to us but in the long run it might be harmful to the society. Indeed it has been a central point of our discussion here, and more on globalization of our age. There is a tendency to globalize customs and ways of reasoning. Our clear vision is sometimes blurred when we are confronted with much information in our day to day life. We think something is right when much information is forced into our heads. Like Hitler said to his men, Repeat our belief into the ears, not two times, but repeat until it is believed by the people." It clearly shows our weakness to reason. When information is repeatedly given way into our head, we no longer reason out things becoming familiar to us.
Rather we just believe it as if it is true. We don't critique anymore. We just close our eyes and believe what information gives us. So it is happening in our day. I know for sure that in Myanmar it is not a custom that ladies would wear revealing clothing. Especially pants so short leaving the whole leg open. And blouses leaving the chest open. These things were so recent. After seeing Korean films and Hollywood films girls tend to follow. However, this is never done before, but for me, what is the reason these women want their private bodies parts be seen? In the west, it is a custom that men wear decently covering everything, leaving only face and fingers be seen...this is a culture. Why women can leave open her body as if it an object to in the showcase?
It is a clear sign of influence which is left without reason in the minds of Myanmar ladies. Because in Myanmar it is understood indecent a woman who opens her legs and her chest to be seen. Women are given high respect, we always measure older women as our mother and younger as our sister. Which sane person would like to see his mother or sister chest open, legs and thighs are open? Western culture has destroyed partly our way of reasoning. Unless we realize what is going on in our thoughts, how is our ways of reasoning we cannot go against the flow of this world. I am sure that my opinions expressed here are not regressive ideas rather, i would be glad to be accepted as, normal, sane and a simple reminder for the current trend.
Every person understand the word sexy, meaning arousing sexual desire it refers to a provoking, revealing of a person to an opposite sex. Nowadays, it has been reduced from its original meaning to substitute the word 'beautiful' or 'pretty' which we usually use to describe to a woman. Personally for me is best, and i feel comfortable to compliment a woman as pretty or beautiful. I find it so difficult to compliment someone with oh you are sexy, since i am aware the meaning of the word, so clear in my mind. I always avoid to use the word. In my eyes, woman are precious, they are God given gift to man, by her man feels secure. Man and woman compliments each other. One is empty when there is no opposite to fulfill the other part.
As a Myanmar man, i am strongly convinced that my beliefs are right which stand on the cultural background where equality is given priority, no one is inferior to anyone, rather...we have a conviction that respect should be given to anyone and love is for all. This is our freedom to practice equality both beneficial to us and to the remote or immediate effects.
07 May, 2014
think twice for democracy
Even so called just, the UN is bias, in my opinion. The UN will force the third world countries with its power. America will block all the trade, forces international banks to stop operating in a particular sanctioned country. They did, yes, to our country. Who suffer in reality? Not the Dictator or his family or a single person from his trusted circle. In reality the citizens of Burma are the ones suffering immense troubles coming from different aspects of day to day struggle to live. Less education, less health care, less income, less ...less and everything is less.Then where is justice?
The dictator government feels easy, nothing to worry, while the citizens are bearing the troubles. We have suffered heavy yokes of dictatorship. The world is suffering the pains of democracy. If we follow as UN and the west suggesting to transform like them to democracy, what will then we expect. More pains?
They say, they want democracy in Burma? Well, would that be so easy? What do you expect when we have democracy? Peace? Economy? Justice? Human rights to its fullness? Nah, expect nothing. When there is democracy...the western companies will come inside freely and exploit, leave their uncultured customs and traditions. As we can hear now, people said, "there is no democracy in Burma in its fullness. Some people are still struggling for their rights." Yeah its true. Does that mean that "when there is democracy there is justice following its tail? Democracy would make the country more chaotic, I guess. I have completely lost my trust both democracy and dictatorship. Both have difficulties on attaining justice and peace.
In my understanding, practicing democracy in one's country is like cutting off all the fence of a household and saying we are open and we welcome everyone, we are free. But in reality, it becomes more chaotic by having accessed by all, known and unknown, good and bad. Nothing remain stable in such a house because of its structure. Everyone has full right to do what one wants. There is no more respect for anyone. Social norms became an extra thing. People discard the old traditions of the society and of course they loose them becoming more or less like the west where democracy originated. People became slave of absolute liberty where it doesn't exist in reality. People demanding a full freedom is not yet free, indeed.
While practicing dictator ship is enclosing one's household with a wall higher than the house. Everything is closed. House members are not in peace, they are forced to keep their mouth shut in respect to democracy in which everyone has every right to raise voice whether sensible or not, reasonable or not, right or wrong. With dictatorship people lose every dignity and right of theirs, so as does democracy. The world has journey through a lot of political struggle like Socialism, Nazism, Communism and finally democracy. What shall come next. Will the world be at an edge when all countries in the world become practicing democracy. Will peace be granted so as well justice? No, no one can grant such as peace and justice and well being of each individual? Then why should we pursue such idealism as democracy. Since before, Plato has warned the dangers of democracy. It will put the world into peace. A nation with greater power will annihilate a nation with lesser power. This is why B!@#€h America is trying its best to remain as the most powerful world in the world. Politically, ideologically, economically it tries its best to remain. Mostly thru political and entertainments. In entertainment it is trying its best to show itself as the savior of the world from wars, a nation which gives donations to disaster-hit nations. However, its nature can't be hidden, a wolf in under the skin of a sheep.
As a person, I love freedom and discipline. Not democracy, because democracy can only give a superficial freedom, a bitter medicine covered with sugar coating. A true freedom present in the heart of each individual together with responsibility and most importantly LOVE, which does not see faults and forgiving. Since Love rule its citizens without a sword. I long for that day and wish you do the same. We need to teach ourselves to love infinitely and others as we ourselves.
01 May, 2014
a prayer of a heart seeking the Lord
Each day, growing in spiritual life is really hard if there is no asking of help from divine. Our failures make us realize how we are weak and unstable in everything, from thinking to performing some little stuff. We might have offended someone without knowing, and we too can be offended by someone without intention. Our imperfect reasoning makes us to rely on the one who is mightier than us. We search always: for a place where we feel we are well protected, well guided and well preserved. There is only one secure place, where are satisfied from every desire. It is in the bosom of our Lord, whose heart is big enough to release us from every wrong we have done against him and against our neighbour. Lord, have Pity on us, Jesus.