CIS NEWSLETTER  No. 48 - November 2007 The Hope to which we are called St Paul reminds his Christian community at Ephesus what the hope of their basic calling is. He prays that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory” may give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, so that they will have the eyes of their heart enlightened, that they “may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints”. St Paul reminds the recipients of this letter about the Father’s great power in those who believe, and the great might accomplished in His raising Christ from the dead and sitting Him at His right hand. Christ’s dominion now is not only for this age but also for that which is to come. Christ is the head over all things for the Church. (Eph 1: 17-23) These encouraging reflections were meant to lead the Ephesians and other Christian communities through life and be their road star, their reference point: their hope in Christ will have its fullness in Him beyond this life. We all need a reference point and it is towards that which a living hope encourages us to direct ourselves, no matter what the hardships and difficulties, beside the joys, of life are. This “hope” keeps us focused. We need focus: focus of mind; focus of heart; focus of purpose; focus of activity. One of the dangers, which we often fall into, is fragmentation. We have a thousand and one things to do: care of the family, work, social life, care for one’s elderly parents, involvement in group or parish activities,the apostolate, prayer, community life. Fragmentation is a reality which we – whether single, married, consecrated in priestly or religious life - are all condemned, it seems, to live nowadays. We tend to accept all requests which come our way, whether purely secular or, in the case of clergy and religious, the demands of the apostolate. However, what sort of discernment, “discrimination”, do we do in order to sift that which is truly connected with “our calling” as different from that which, though good in itself is not exactly in tune with God’s will for us here and now? There are so many examples of activities which seem so enticing: a prayer group meeting rather than being at home with a husband who is dead tired after work; a conference on how to be “fulfilled” rather than listening to a teenage son/daughter who is starting to show signs of rebellion; giving pastoral counselling rather than preparing a good Sunday homily or sitting for long hours at one’s desk preparing for the next set of lectures; going to the parish meeting rather than cook a much deserved evening meal for my religious community. Do we accept all offers which come our way? And yet, we are called to focus upon that one hope which is our true calling: Christ and His will for us. Do we have time to sit and think and weigh our activities and “offers” in prayer? What is the result of our lack of “discriminate acceptances” of the demands put to us? A perpetual rush and fight against time! A gradual diminishing of our physical and spiritual forces; an openness to the temptation of feeling inadequate and not exactly rising up to our and other’s expectations. And this is done all in the name of God; all in the name of “the good to be done” and “the apostolate”. Doing is the opposite of what our inner self is crying out for: being. The “hope to which we are called” indicates to us something else, another dimension of our reality: Eternity. Since we are bogged down by so much of the here and now, we can easily obscure the transcendent dimension of our life - even while doing all in its name. The month of November nudges us to focus more on what is really important, not merely urgent. It is arduous work to integrate into our lifestyle that which really matters. This month recalls to us sharply what the Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius teaches us: Human beings are created to praise, reverence and serve God our Lord, and by this means, to save their souls. The other things on the face of the earth are created for the human beings, to help them in the pursuit of the end for which they are created. We ought to desire and choose only that which is more conducive to the end for which we are created. Sp. Ex. § 23. The first sentence of the Prologue to the Catechism succinctly states that: God, infinitely perfect and blessed in Himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in His own blessed life. § 1. The activities involving our whole being-ness could be the bridges of hope, the stepping stones of “focus” which link our present to our future. So many before us, whether the community of Ephesus or our dear departed ones, have lived this “hope.” If we have such a witnessing of those who have gone before us into the fullness of life, why should we not imitate them? The Father’s house is prepared for us – let us focus on the path to it. Fr Konrad Grech sj   Book Review Pedro Arrupe Twent-Eighth General of the Society of Jesus By Dr George Bishop ISBN 81-87886-08-0   This book is a biography about an exceptional person who, in the words of the author, was, “A Basque by birth, a Japanese by adoption and a Jesuit by vocation.” This man was Fr Pedro Arrupe, S.J. As a university student he studied medicine at the University of Madrid from where he graduated in 1926. As a medical doctor he went to Lourdes to investigate exceptional physical cures that could not be explained scientifically. Fr Pedro claimed that he owed his priestly vocation to three ‘miraculous’ cures which he witnessed in Lourdes. The author goes over Fr Arrupe’s life in some detail, dwelling particularly on his life before entering the Society, the 26 years he spent in Japan, and his 26 years as General of the Society of Jesus. While in Japan, he witnessed and suffered from the ordeal and devastation caused by the atom bomb dropped over Hiroshima in August 1945. He described that event as, “a permanent experience outside of history, engraved on my memory”. Dr George Bishop had done a lot of research in the compilation of his book and consulted several distinguished Jesuits who knew Fr Arrupe personally and worked closely with him. One particular issue that is dealt with frequently in this biography is that of social justice. Fr Arrupe had this Christian value very much to his heart. In fact, his generalate was characterised by the struggle for faith, of which justice is an essential element. He had to pay a heavy price for his social justice endeavours by the suffering and humiliations he went through because he was misunderstood or misinterpreted by people both inside and outside the Society of Jesus. Fr Arrupe was the “voice of those who had no voice” until he himself became silent when he was struck down by a stroke in 1981. This book speaks about a person who dedicated his whole life at the service of others, both in his medical and religious professions. He practised Jesus’ words: “I have not come to be served but to serve”. It is an inspirational book which helps the reader to experience the achievements, struggles, inner conflicts, humiliations and the Spirit which moved Fr Pedro Arrupe during his journey in this life. Fr Reno Grech, S.J.   Prayer Prayer of Surrender to God by Thomas A Kempis Lord, You know what is best; let this be done or that be done as You please. Give what You will, as much as You will, when You will. Do with me as You know best, as will most please You, and will be for Your greater honor. Place me where You will and deal with me freely in all things. I am in Your hand; turn me about whichever way You will. Behold, I am Your servant, ready to obey in all things. Not for myself do I desire to live, but for You - would that I could do this worthily and perfectly!   From the CIS Programme Novembru Nersqu lejn Kristu u nsiru nafuH aħjar permezz ta’ San Ġorġ Preca. Żgur li għandna ħafna x’nitgħallmu mill-persuna u l-ispirtu ta’ San Ġorġ Preca, bniedem li għex ħajja tant intima mal-Mulej. Matul dan l-irtir fis-silenzju nisimgħu fuq aspetti u karatteristiċi partikulari ta’ l-ispiritwalità ta’ dan is-saċerdot qaddis u li jgħinuna nidħlu f’relazzjoni intima ta’ talb. Data:       Mill-Ġimgħa, 2 ta’ Novembru, 2007 fis-7.00 ta’ filgħaxija, sal-Ħadd, 4 ta’ Novembru wara l-pranzu. Imexxu:  Is-Sur John Formosa, Superjur tas-Soċjeta’ tal-MUSEUM,                u s-Sur Natalino Camilleri, soċju tas-Soċjetà tal-MUSEUM. Post:       Dar Manresa, Victoria, Għawdex. Introduzzjoni għall-Vanġeli Gnostiċi mill-Professur Anthony J. Frendo Il-Gnostiċiżmu kien l-aktar magħruf permezz tas-Santi Padri bħal Ġustinu u Irinew. Iżda fl-1945 bibljoteka sħiħa tas-setta Gnostika kienet misjuba ġo Nagd-Ħammadi fl-Eġittu. Din is-sejba inkludiet dokumenti importanti bħall-Vanġeli Gnostiċi, per eżempju l-Vanġelu tal-Verità u l-Vanġelu ta’ Tumas fost oħrajn. Dan l-aħħar, id-Da Vinci Code qajjem interess f’dawn il-kitbiet iżda mingħajr distinzjoni bejn dak li huwa fattwali u dak li huwa fittizju. F’dan il-‘weekend seminar’, il-Professur Frendo, jagħti introduzzjoni għall-Vanġeli Gnostiċi u jiddiskuti wkoll il-problema tal-Kanoni tal-Bibbja. Ikun hemm ħin għad-diskussjoni fi gruppi żgħar ukoll. Il-Professur Anthony J. Frendo, Kap tad-Dipartiment ta’ l-Għarbi u ta’ l-Istudji ta’ Lvant Qarib fl-Università ta’ Malta, jgħallem l-Istudji ta’ l-Lvant Qarib. L-oqsma li l-aktar jikkonċentra fuqhom huma l-Lhudi Klassiku, il-Bibbja, u l-Arkejoloġija tal-Lvant Qarib (l-aktar l-Arkejoloġija Bibblika). Data:       Mill-Ġimgħa 9 ta’ Novembru fis-6.30 pm sal-Ħadd 11 ta’ Novembru fil-5.00 pm Imexxi:    Prof. Anthony J. Frendo (Professur tal-Iskrittura u Arkejoloġija Bibblika) Post:       Mt St Joseph Retreat House, Tarġa Gap, Mosta Irtir ta’ Weekend għall-Miżżewġin Dan il-Weekend huwa okkażjoni għall-dawk il-koppji miżżewġa li jixtiequ jġeddu u jiċċelebraw il-wegħdiet taż-żwieġ tagħhom. Din hija esperjenza spiritwali b’differenza. Il-Weekend huwa mfassal li jkun kreattiv fejn il-partners jirriflettu u jitolbu flimkien. Ikun hemm ħin ta’ sharing fi grupp magħmul minn 8 koppji. Dan il-Weekend joffri opportunità lill-koppji parteċipanti sabiex jiskopru dejjem aktar l-imħabba li Alla għandu għall-miżżewġin u l-familji tagħhom. Data:           Mill-Ġimgħa 23 ta’ Novembru, fis-6.00pm sal-Ħadd 25 ta’ Novembru, fil-5.00pm Jiffaċilitaw: Il-Koppja Carmen u Karm Conti u Fr. Vince Magri S.J. Post:           Mount St. Joseph Retreat House, Mosta   Diċembru   Nitolbu bl-Evanġelju (erba’ Ħdud tal-Avvent) Dati:           2, 9, 16, 23 ta’ Diċembru 2007 mis-7.00pm sat-8.15pm Imexxi;       Fr Paul Sciberras Post:          Mount St Joseph Retreat House, Mosta BODY - MIND – SPIRIT A Psycho-spiritual workshop This workshop will consist mostly in learning a series of bodily, mental and spiritual exercises which you can then practise in your daily life. These exercises include: awareness, centering, breathing, focusing, guided fantasy, visualisation, bio-energetics, sub-personalities within you, and relaxation. A few short inputs will be given to help participants integrate body, mind and spirit in a holistic way. The workshop will be conducted in Maltese by Fr Alfred Darmanin sj, a clinical psychologist. Date:          Thursday 13th December Time:          9.00 am – 1.00 pm (+ lunch, optional) Venue:        Mount St Joseph Retreat House, Mosta Inħejju ruħna biex nilqgħu lil Dak li ġej biex isalvana flimkien ma’ ommu Marija. L-Avvent hu żmien ta’ stennija u preparazzjoni għall-miġja tal-Mulej Ġesù. Dan iż-żmien liturġiku huwa wkoll żmien marjan, għaliex ħadd daqs il-Verġni Marija ma jista’ jgħallimna kif għandna nħejju ruħna biex nilqgħu lill-Mulej. Dan nagħmluh billi nirriflettu fuq l-ikona marjana ‘Pana ghia’ jew kif ħafna jsejħulha l-‘Ikona tas-Sienja’. Dan għaliex Marija hija għalina s-sinjal tal-preżenza ta’ Alla fostna. Data:          Mill-Ġimgħa, 14 ta’ Diċembru, 2007 fis-7.00 pm, sal-Ħadd, 16 ta’ Diċembru wara l-pranzu. Imexxi:       Fr. Gerard Buhagiar, SThD, Dip Lit, Dip Arch Post:          Dar Manresa, Victoria, Għawdex.