CIS NEWSLETTER  No. 44 - June 2007 Complete Availability I went to the chemist to see the doctor. On leaving the place the assistant told me that there was a pharmacy fee to pay! Same thing happens if you go and see the bank manager - you are charged for the time he spends with you. Every service seems to be reduced to pounds, shillings and pence! We expect our friends and family members to be available and to give us their time. Yet we all know that, even with the best of friends and our family members, this is not always possible. Despite their willingness to oblige, they know that their time is limited and this makes it difficult for them to attend to all our needs. Yet, what friends do not always give us, Jesus is always ready to give. He stays silently in the tabernacle for hours on end. Jesus is silent so that we might talk to him. He listens -oh how we like being listened to! How few are the people who really listen to us, even among our best friends. Whatever our mood, he always welcomes us. Jesus is always available. He knows everything and he cares for us. Yet how few are those who go to see him, to talk to him and receive the light and comfort they are looking for. Jesus anticipated the disciples of Emmaus' request to stay with us (Lk24:29) by instituting the Eucharist, so that he might stay with us for ever. Roman Catholic churches are usually kept open even after the celebration of the Eucharist. Many churches now have small quiet prayer rooms or adoration chapels where one can meet Jesus in a tranquil setting. It is up to us to go and meet our Friend. His availability is complete. Reflection: In my busy life, do I "waste " enough time with Jesus in the Eucharist? Do I reciprocate his gift of presence, by being more present to him and to others? Have I had any memorable visit or adoration when I really experienced his presence or availability?   Paul Zammit S J   Book Review Do Not Be Afraid By Gerald O 'Mahony SJ First Published in 1999 by Kevin Matthew Ltd. Suffolk, UK. ISBN 1 84003 364 9   Terrorism is a lethal weapon used in conflicts. It is being made ample use of in a number of conflicts with the most devastating effects. We all dread terrorism. Yet how often are we victims of fear in our life. Fear as such is useful under certain circumstances. It helps us avoid certain real dangers, like traffic accidents, threatening environments, etc. Yet very often we harbour fear in our life with the result that it becomes paralyzing and a destructive force. "Do not be Afraid" is a wonderful remedy for this paralyzing fear. The author, Fr Gerald O'Mahony, invites us to delve in the Bible for the courage we need. As if it were necessary to fight this fear on a daily basis, the Bible repeats the invitation "Do not be afraid" approximately 365 times! Hence the author can offer us a short pertinent meditation based on a quotation from the Bible for every day of the year. This book can help us live more calmly and serenely as we trust more and more in God's all-powerful love for us. This book can be a most pleasant companion to our daily prayer for a whole year! It is highly recommended.   Paul Zammit SJ Prayer   A VISIT TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT by Alphonsus Mary Liguori The sparrow hath found herself a house, and the turtle a nest for herself where she may lay her young ones: Thy altars, 0 Lord of hosts, my king and my God"-Ps. 83:4 THE SPARROW, says David, finds a dwelling in houses, turtledoves in nests, but thou, my King and my God, hast made thyself a nest and found a dwelling on earth on our altars, that we might find thee, and that thou might dwell among us. Lord, we can only say that thou art too much enamoured of men; thou no longer knowest what to do to gain their love. But do, my most amiable Jesus, give us the grace that we also may be passionately enamoured of thee. It would indeed be unreasonable if we were cold in our love toward a God who loves us with such affection. Draw us to thee by the sweet attractions of thy love; make us understand the endearing claims which thou hast on our love.   From the CIS Programme Lulju 2007    Id-Djarju ta’ Ħajti (Intensive Journal) Ħafna minna nixtiequ nbiddlu xi drawwiet u attitudnijiet li għandna lejn il-ħajja għax ifixkluna fl-Izvilupp ta’ maturità u integrità, imma ftit li xejn jirnexxielna. Dan aktarx iseħħ għax xi esperjenzi importanti ta’ ħajjitna, li neħtiġuhom biex niżviluppaw bħala persuni, inkunu insejnihom. Permezz tad-Djarju Intensiv (Intensive Journal), aħna nkunu nistgħu niġu f’kuntatt mill-ġdid ma’ dawn l-esperjenzi. Id-Djarju Intensiv hu proċess li juża ġabra ta’ "techniques" kif huma żviluppati u ipprattikati mill-psikologu, Ira Progoff. L-għan tiegħu hu li joħloq ambjent ta’ kwiet u sigurtà flimkien, biex il-proċess li jintuża irawwem fina perspettivi ġodda u jibni fina ċerta dinamika li tgħinna nimxu ‘l quddiem fil-ħajja. L-istrateġija tad-Djarju tgħinna naħdmu b’mod speċifiku fuq diversi aspetti ta’ ħajjitna: personali, soċjali u spiritwali. Dan isir permezz ta’ djarju bil-miktub f’kuntest ta’ irtir-seminar u jsir f’atmosfera ta’ skiet. Min jixtieq jieħu sehem jeħtieġ li jkun ta’ ċerta maturità; ikun jaf jikteb u jifhem bl-Ingliż; ikun lest iżomm is - skiet matul l-erbat ijiem tad-djarju. Dati:     Mit-Tlieta 10 ta’ Lulju (filgħaxija) sal-Ħadd 15, wara nofs in-nhar) Post:     Mt. St. Joseph Retreat House, Mosta Imexxi: Fr. Reno Grech, S.J. Fr Edward Mercieca SJ, li jieħu ħsieb is-Segretarjat għall-Promozzjoni tal-Ispiritwalità Injazjana fil-Kurja tal-Ġiżwiti ġewwa Ruma, ser ikun hawn Malta biex imexxi tmint ijiem irtir li ser isir f’Mount St. Joseph, Mosta bejn l-20 fil-għaxija u 28 ta’ Lulju fil-għaxija. Dan l-irtir huwa miftuħ għal kulħadd. Min jixtieq jattendi dan l-irtir jikkuntattja lil Fr Reno Grech S.J. fuq 21416916 bejn it-8.30am u 1.00pm jew permezz ta’ l-email: director@cismalta.org.