Mense Maio: Madonna of the Magnificat

I saw this painting, by Sandro Botticelli,  at the Uffizi, during my visit to Florence.



Happy feast of the Visitation! Magnificat anima mea Dominum. For great in our midst is the Holy One of Israel! (Isaiah 12:6)

Chuckle chuckle

From a lawn in Atlanta via CMR.

Maturity

Yesterday's circle (a weekly talk on the spiritual life) at the Opus Dei was very useful. It was titled 'Forging the Character: educating the sentiments'. Maturity is what we call the harmonic set of many virtues - many virtues in the right balance, complementing each other. It is the optimum, the goal we should endeavour after.

We sometimes tend to think that our characters are static - we're born this way and there's nothing we can do about it. But that's not true. Our temperaments are inherited, physiological, organic. But our character is free and conscious. It is the set of virtues that we build on top of our temperament - and we can mould it.


Pablo, who gives our circle, gave us some points on maturity which we could use to examine ourselves.

1. A right balance between reason and affectivity, i.e. between the head and the heart. There must be a combination of both, but the final decision should be measured against reason. Feelings are important - they can be likened to a water current upon which our boat is travelling. Many times, our feelings lead us where we should go. But there are times when they pull in the wrong direction, and these are occasions when we must decide to not rely on the current, but row against it.

2. Unity of freedom and responsibility. Everything we do must be done freely. We're not forced to behave in any way. People might advice us, the Church might tell us what is right and wrong. But in the end we must do it because we want to: 'I will do the right thing because that's my decision, because it's my responsibility to do the right thing.'

3. Education of the imagination. Where is my head? Is it in the clouds? Am I living in a fantasy? We need imagination - to be creative in our work, to enrich our prayer life (imagining the scenes of the Gospels, the Rosary, etc), but imagination cannot predominate. We must live in the present, real world. It is here that we must struggle and it is here that we can be victorious.

4. Education of the impulses. Learn to master our reactions. Don't react wildly to good or bad news. Act without rushing, but also without excessive fear.

5. Acceptance of one's reality. Know that we have defects and that we make mistakes. And also be able to ask for forgiveness. The ability to sincerely ask for forgiveness is a great sign of maturity. We must also be able to accept the mistakes of other people.

6. Coherence and integrity. Do not change your behaviour and principles depending on which crowd you are in. Do not be so attentive to what other people think that you engage in pretences just to fit in. Have your own principles, try to explain and transmit them to those around you. 'I am one and the same, no matter where I am.' Our Lord was the same person with the disciples, with the crowds, on the cross.


A tough list! But we were reminded that we can rely on grace. And it's reassuring to know that absolutely everything serves God's plan. If we have a certain temperament, or we've been exposed to certain circumstances, these are in God's plan. In fact difficulties, and suffering, builds character and are opportunities to test our virtues. If we are docile and generous, we can develop all the virtues necessary to the kind of person that Jesus Christ was - a person of great character.

Nailed!

I'm a fan of Stephen Colbert. Sometimes I'm a bit unsure about his Catholicism - but here he allows the Catholic (catechist) in him loose. A brilliant catechism lesson in the end.

The Colbert Report
Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Ouch Dr. Zimbardo!

Jesus, Help Me!

In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust, saying,
Jesus, help me!

In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations,
Jesus, help me!

In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials,
Jesus, help me!

In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles and sorrows,
Jesus, help me!

When my heart is cast down by failure, at seeing no good come from my efforts,
Jesus, help me!

When others fail me, and Thy grace alone can assist me,
Jesus, help me!

When I throw myself on Thy tender love as Father and Savior,
Jesus, help me!

When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me,
Jesus, help me!

When sickness and loneliness overcome me,
Jesus, help me!

Always, in weakness, falls and shortcomings of every kind,
Jesus, help me and never forsake me.

On Marxists

Can it be true that I am alone in finding tiresome the impertinence of these Marxists? They complain of neglect, and they take it as evidence of the degeneration of the intellectual standards that we do not give ourselves wholly to the study of their writings. They insinuate themselves as persons to be taken seriously because people whom we respect recommend them (this turns our to be the usual mixture of truth and falsehood, but it gets them into the conversation). Here they reveal themselves as pertinacious bores: if there is anything worse than their whining complain that they are always misunderstood by those who do not agree with them, it is their self-important demand to be refuted. But when their muddles and equivocations are exposed they complain that this is merely 'academic' criticism and takes no account of the noise they have made in the world. Can what millions of Russian proletarians and several British scientist believe be false?

What happened to these Marxists? They used to have some semblance of pride, the cloudy dignity of fanaticism. They used to be as certain of themselves as the man who holds the ace of trumps for the last trick. But now the best of them are like broken-down dissemblers who have failed so often that they go through the formalities of deception with a tired determination and when, once again, the wrong card is turned up, they mumble with clown-like pathos: 'Oh, well, I knew it wouldn't work' - and nobody has the heart to ask for his money back.

- Michael Oakeshott, 'Marxism and the Open Mind' in The Vocabulary of the Modern European State, p. 137.

Boring

I saw this sign while walking to Old Town White Coffee to work on my thesis. It's a bit blurred because I didn't want to look intrusive peering into a construction site taking photos. I've been working on my thesis for too long already...it's getting stale. I need enthusiasm and inspiration. And I need to finish SOON!

Protest

Savage Chickens.

Feel-good video :)

"The Grand Rapids LipDub Video was filmed May 22nd, with 5,000 people, and involved a major shutdown of downtown Grand Rapids, which was filled with marching bands, parades, weddings, motorcades, bridges on fire, and helicopter take offs. It is the largest and longest LipDub video, to date.

This video was created as an official response to the Newsweek article calling Grand Rapids a "dying city." We disagreed strongly, and wanted to create a video that encompasses the passion and energy we all feel is growing exponentially, in this great city. We felt Don McLean's "American Pie," a song about death, was in the end, triumphant and filled to the brim with life and hope." - Rob Bliss, Director & Executive Producer(Source)

Such fun! Via LarryD

Gallantness

'Indeed, it is a character which actually appears in Hobbes's writings, and is recognized as a just character. "That which gives to human actions the relish of justice," he says, "is a certain Nobleness or Gallantness of courage (rarely found), by which a man scorns to be beholden for the contentment of life, to fraud or breach of promise. This justice of Manners, is that which is meant, where justice is called a virtue." He recognizes that a man may keep his word, not merely because he fears the consequences of breaking it, but from a "glory of pride in appearing not to need to break it." He identified magnanimity with just conduct that springs from "contempt" of injustice, and recognized that men are sometimes prepared to lose their lives than suffer some sorts of shame.'

- Michael Oakeshott, 'The Moral Life in the Writings of Thomas Hobbes' in RP 340-341.

The Future

‎"A baby may be a mouth to feed today, but it's two hands and a brain tomorrow." 

- George von Winternitz

We massacred a generation of future world leaders in World Wars I and II. Don't let's destroy the next generation through abortion and contraception.

Somehow,

Mr. Ping, in Kung Fu Panda, reminded me of a recently popular politician. ;-)

Nice movie, good company. Took my mind away from stuff for a while. :)

Inner peace...that's the key. Haha. :D

The Incredibles :D

A nice family-related post from Frank Weathers. I shall copy the whole post, but do go over and visit the blog - it's one of the best out there. :)

Credit: Mark Gormus/Richmond Times Dispatch

Ordinarily, this isn't the kind of post I write. But this is no ordinary photograph. This is family, fun, baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. It's also too good not to share. Life doesn't end when you have children. It begins! And you have some cool people to share experiences with too.

FYI, Dad called the ball. Just sayin'. See the video clip at the link here.

Memories

I had posted this a couple of weeks ago, but for some reason the post has disappeared - must be Blogger acting up again.

Take some time to enjoy this beautiful Beethoven sonata. Of the many pieces I've heard our friend Imma perform this is my favourite.

More yodeling

I remember my grandpa singing the second one - the English version - sans the yodeling.

The Thing That Used to Be Conservatism

This is good.



'Maybe we're being governed by lying sociopaths, and maybe my instincts to defend everything they do abroad has sucked me into making moral statements that are morally atrocious, that no civilized person should be making....Be a real conservative who believes in real standards of morality, and not just shouting "USA! USA!" with your fists pumped in the air - a position that would have embarrassed the civilized founders of American Conservatism.'

Via Mark Shea:

The Empire will end, whether through voluntary recall of the troops and abandonment of our faith in building the Great Society abroad--or through the collapse of our economy and civilization. If you will not obey the law of God and common sense--you will obey the law of gravity.

On a related note, let me say that Catholics are not bereft of guidance if they turn away from the leadership provided by the disk jockeys and Machiavellians who have taken over the Thing That Used to Be Conservatism. It turns out the Church still has some rather good teachers who not only conserve what should be conserved, but give us help in applying it in sensible ways that put human beings, rather than party or ideology, first. If one is an X-Con who has not connection to history and has been living in the Talk Radio Echo Chamber, one good way of escaping that stultifying and fetid cell is to get in contact with a Tradition that has roots going back 4000 years.

Another good one

Soaring...

...blasting through the clouds: the last launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour:



Space Shuttle Rising
Credit: NASA

Here's the view from the ground:

Credit: NASA

Cheer up. :)

More Savage Chickens here.

My pilgrimage to visit Don Bosco, Dominic Savio and the Lady they loved

Yesterday was the feast of Mary Help of Christians. A bit less than an year ago I visited the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians - the magnificent church built by St John Bosco, and in which lie the relics of my patron saint Dominic Savio.

Turin is so different from Rome, Florence, Assisi and Siena. It isn't a tourist city, not is it really a site of pilgrimage. It's industrial - the home of FIAT. Getting around isn't as easy. And I got lost once.

The journey from Milan (where I met my friend Clara for half a day - she took a train down from Luasanne, Switzerland) was horrible. The train had no air conditioning and it was sweltering hot. Took a cab from the station (Porta Nuova I think). Hotel San Paolo, where I stayed, was quite luxurious- a huge room and two beds. I had a restful evening, with dinner and a book at the pizzeria next door (I miss Italian pizza!).

The next morning, after a big breakfast - I miss the Italian breakfasts too! - I took the tram to the city centre and made my way to the Turin Cathedral, dedicated to St John the Baptist, patron of the city. It wasn't very easy finding the place, but I managed.

The famous Shroud of Turin wasn't on display, but I prayed a while in front of it after Mass:

I wandered about the city, visited a beautiful church dedicated to St Lorenzo (I didn't enter the main church because Mass was being celebrated) and the Royal Palace of the House of Savoy.

I also came across a nice market, which sold cheese, meats, etc.

After walking around (and going about in circles a bit) I head towards the Basilica di Maria Ausiliatrice. It was a long walk, but I finally caught sight of the dome:

Along the road there was a statue of St Joseph Cafaso, Don Bosco's spiritual director. Pope Benedict had talked about him at the Wednesday Audience I attended on my last day in Rome.

 

 

An angel holding a crown of laurel leaves above Mary's head, and the statue of St Francis de Sales, patron of the Salesian order, below.

Aren't the domes beautiful? Since we were little kids, our parents subscribed to the Salesian publication Don Bosco's Madonna - I suspect that it is from this magazine that my parents were inspired to name me Dominic. They used to send us a calendar every year. My mum used to request Mass offered for our O Level and A Level exams. So I've grown up seeing pictures of Mary Help of Christians, and a few of images of the church as well.

Outside the basilica were bronze statues of the early Salesians, as well as some Salesian martyrs.

 

Blessed Michael Rua was one of Don Bosco's closest friends, and was the first rector of the Salesians. The last of nine children, he entered Don Bosco’s Oratory in 1852. One day Don Bosco told him: “We two will go halves in everything”.

I squeezed into the basilica but they were closing for lunch (as do most churches in Italy) - but I did manage to get a first glance at the incorrupt body of Don Bosco:

 

But I had to leave soon. Decided to have lunch and kill some time until the church reopened at 230 - but there were no restaurants in sight outside the compound. I then discovered a canteen/cafe within the church: named after my patron. :D

Had microwaved lasagne while reading Forty Dreams of Don Bosco.

There was still a long wait until the church doors reopened so I wandered about in the church compound. I met an Indian Salesian who had just arrived in Turin for studies. He thought I was a Salesian too. I had made the mistake of wearing black pants and a grey shirt - so I was mistaken for a priest a couple of times that day.

 

Margherita Occhiena, John Bosco's mother, who provided for the family after her husband Francis died when John was only 2 years old. It was she who taught John the catechism and brought him up to love God. When she heard about John’s dream at the age of nine, she alone could interpret it in the light of the Lord: “Who knows, but maybe you should become a priest”. She encouraged his vocation, and years later became an important part of the his apostolate. When asked to go with him in this work she said: “ If you believe this to be the will of the Lord, I am ready to go”. Mamma Margaret’s presence turned the Oratory into a family. For ten years her life became entwined with that of her son and with the beginnings of Salesian work: She was the first and principal Cooperator of Don Bosco’s; she became the maternal elements in the Preventive System; without realising it, she was the "co-foundress" of the Salesian Family.

 

 There are two historic chapels in the compound. One of them is the Cappella Pinardi - the place given to Don Bosco by a generous man after Don Bosco and his boys had been sent packing from their original residence. It is from here that Don Bosco's great work took off.

It is now a chapel dedicated to the Resurrection:

The second building is the Chapel of St Francis de Sales - build when the Pinardi Chapel became too small for the increasing number of children. This little church is full of memories:

From 1852 to 1856 the old and tired Mamma Margherita came to pray saying the rosary in its last rows of pews.

8th December, 1854, Dominic Savio entered this church, knelt in front of the altar of the Immaculate and consecrated himself to the Virgin Mary with this short prayer (that for a long time, the Salesian boys learnt by memory and made their own):
"Mary, I give you my heart, make it always yours. Jesus and Mary, You are always my friends, but for pity's sake, make me die rather than let me suffer the disgrace of committing a single sin".

The altar of Our Lady where Dominic Savio consecrated himself to her is the work that recalls the foundation of the Society of the Immaculate, the 8th December, 1854. Two years later, Dominic Savio returned to kneel before this altar, no longer alone, but accompanied by the best boys from the oratory. He had founded the "Society of the Immaculate". He had asked himself: "Why must we try to do good to others alone? Why don't we - all the most kind-hearted young people - unite and become a "secret society" of little apostles among the others?". Don Bosco approved of his proposal. Dominic did not know that he had only 9 more months to live but he created a masterpiece.

In this same church, behind the main altar, Dominic Savio had a state of ecstasy in front of the tabernacle that lasted more than six hours.

Father Michael Rua, one of the very earliest Salesians (January 26, 1854), celebrated his first Mass in this church in 1860, assisted by Don Bosco himself.


http://www.donbosco-torino.it/eng/page13.html

I prayed for a while in both chapels - and finally it was 2:30 and I could enter the main basilica once again.

And there was Don Bosco - he looks like he's resting. How wonderful to be here!

 

Altar of Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello, co-founder of the Daughters of Mary Auxiliatrix, which was under the spiritual direction of Saint John Bosco. First Salesian Sister, and superior of the order:

Her body is incorrupt too:

And - what I've long wanted to visit - the remains of St Dominic Savio!

Expectant mothers pray to St Dominic Savio for a safe delivery. These are thanksgiving tokens next to the altar.

The beautiful motto of the Salesians - Da Mihi Animas Caetera Tolle - Give me souls, take away the rest.

And a depiction of a famous dream of Don Bosco's:

The famous painting of Mary, Help of Christians:

I spent some time in prayer before this beautiful statue of Our Lady. Ferninda had given me a letter for Mother Mary, and I had kept it with me to deliver it to Our Lady at her shrine in Turin. Wrote the names of my family and friends on the back of the letter and dropped it in the offertory box along with some money Chithra had asked me to offer for her sometime on my journey. It was an honour to carry my friends' intentions with me. :)

I wanted to offer a couple of Masses too - it was a bit of a comedy trying to mime this intention to the secretary. But eventually I met an old priest - Fr Joseph Giaime. You can read about it here.

Here's a last look at the church. Beautiful isn't it?

After this, I explored a museum dedicated to Don Bosco:

Don Bosco's habit

Don Bosco celebrated his last Mass here on December 11, 1887


Don Bosco's last room

On the bed that can bee seen here below, Don Bosco spent his final days. He was not ill. He died slowly, just like a candle burning till the end. During his last journey to France, made with the aim of finding money for all his works, a famous doctor from Marseilles, Dr Combai, visited him and said:


"You are like a worn-out suit that has been worn during the week and at week-ends. To still keep it, it has to be put away in the wardrobe. You understand that I am advising you to rest completely."

"Thank you doctor" he replied, "but that is the only medicine I cannot take."

He died at dawn on January 31, 1888.

To the Salesians watching over him at his bedside, he murmured his last words:

"Love each other as brothers . Do good to everyone, harm no-one... Tell my children that I await them all in heaven".

http://www.donbosco-torino.it/eng/page15.html

A final glance at the basilica.

The bookshop was closed on Sunday, and I entertained the thought of dropping by the next day before heading to Milan - but I wasn't able to in the end.

I had read about the iconic Mole Antonelliana in my guidebook (actually I remember reading about it at the Burger King at the Arts Canteen!) but hadn't a sure plan to visit it. I had noted down the directions though. And I found my way there, though I was afraid I was getting lost. The place locality seemed a little deserted, but the Mole Antonelliana itself was quite busy with visitors.

The view was quite worth the detour. I read that on a clear day, one can glimpse the Alps. I like to think that I did see the Alps. :D

It was on the way back to the hotel that I got a bit lost. I contemplated stopping at a shop and asking for a phone to call the hotel. And I tried not to look lost. Eventually though, through instinct and prayer, I found that the surroundings were looking more familiar. And indeed they were - thank God, I was back at my hotel. I rested a bit and went to a nearby restaurant to buy dinner. I took away a rather rich chicken dish (it's a pity I can't remember the names of the dishes I tried) and some lemon pie which I ate at my hotel room (I had to trouble the person at the front desk for a fork and knife from the breakfast room).

There - that was how I spent my time in Torino - the city of the Bull:

Mense Maio: When in danger, anguish, or in doubt

When in danger, anguish, or in doubt, think about Mary, invoke Mary. 

Let Mary always be on your lips, may she never be absent from your heart. 

To obtain her help and intercession, always follow the example of her virtues. 

You will not go astray if you follow her. 

You will not despair if you call to her. 

You will not get lost if you think about her. 

If she is holding you by the hand, you will not fall. 

If she is protecting you, you have nothing to fear. 

You will not grow weary if she is your guide. 

You will reach port safely if she is looking after you.

– St Bernard

 Photo source: CNS

People take pictures of the Our Lady of the New Millennium statue outside St. John the Evangelist Church as dark storm clouds roll through St. John, Ind., May 22. The 33-foot-tall stainless steel statue of Mary found a permanent home at the church after being carted from parish to parish around the Chicago area for more than a decade. A dedication service planned for the outdoors had to be moved inside because of the weather. (CNS photo/Michael McArdle, Northwest Indiana Catholic)