IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX that pronounced and defined in the “Ineffabilis Deus,” the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This dogma states that the Blessed Virgin Mary, "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful".


On behalf of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, today we too proclaim a four-fold joy:

We proclaim that God is daringly loving, a God who freely and abundantly gives to his creation: his love - a love that represents the pure pleasure of giving. One should weigh Mary's Immaculate Conception not only in terms of a brilliant move in salvation history. God loves Mary for herself. True love is not utilitarian, but daring, because it is sure of itself and sure of the loved one.

We also proclaim the grandeur and nobility of Mary. She is full of Grace yet without merit, the Queen of Saints, yet remains the handmaid of the Lord. Mary's grandeur is with God and her true nobility is rooted in her poverty.


In proclaiming the Immaculate Conception we simultaneously proclaim the Immaculate Concept of the human person. What Mary is, we should have been, that is, the living embodiment of the un-corrupted concept of man or woman. This dogma is not only about Mary the exception, but also about us, each one of us, the unfortunate rule. The immaculate concept of the human person implies the original unity of creation and grace. And so what in Mary is reality becomes our destiny, meaning that in a very real way she, the Immaculate, will always be a challenge to our human and religious identity.


We also proclaim that sinless-ness and sanctity are "privileges of action" and not mere status symbols. All action in faith is love. Therefore, the Immaculate Conception is a perfection of love. We may rejoice because through sinless-ness and sanctity the Immaculate Conception becomes our ‘end,’ which means that she is our way to perfection, just as she herself had to go the way of Christ's perfecting love, all the way to the Cross and from there to the ever present, yet invisible, core of the Church.


The Immaculate Conception of Mary that served to underline the universality of sin in the past serves today to teach us about the universality of redemption. The same Christ whose love and obedience to the Father preserved Mary from sharing in the universal human disaster, this same Christ makes Himself available to the desperate world of today. The redemption that kept Mary sinless is still there to take away the sin and the failure and the aimlessness of every human being who is willing to accept it. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception implies the universality of original sin, but it also reflects the doctrine of the efficacy of Christ, of the universality of redemption.


Mary is the model of the Church, the one who is totally committed to Christ, His first and most pre-eminent follower, but follower none the less. We, too, profess a commitment to Christ, we, too, claim to be His followers. The original sin from which Mary was preserved is the original sin from which we, too, have been freed. The grace of Christ that was hers is the same grace of Christ that is ours. Mary is significant for us because the central factors in her life are the central factors in our own. The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary has served as a reminder of the need for redemption to a world that was smug and self-sufficient. The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary has also served as a sign of the accessibility of redemption to a world in despair. Perhaps the lesson is that, no matter in which direction we may be facing, we need Mary Immaculate in our lives in order to remember who Christ is and who we are ourselves


Let us remember that God not only endowed Mary with the necessary graces and dispositions to fulfil worthily the role of Mother of His Son, but also the role of the Mother of all mankind. Because of her fullness of grace her maternal heart burns intensely to bring all followers of her Son - more closely to Him still; and those who have wandered astray, she seek more than we can ever know, to bring them back into the fold.


Mary is our model of perfect redemptive suffering. She offered her own suffering as a mother for the sake of our salvation. What if you could offer up your temptations or sufferings for the sake of someone else’s salvation? Would you be willing to give up a certain sin or even bad habit if it could help someone else go to Heaven? What would those offerings be? Who would you offer them for? What were your “straws for the manger” yesterday? What will they be today?


There is a prose written in honour of the Blessed Mother in the 11th Century: 
“Inviolate, spotless and pure art thou, O Mary, who wast made the radiant gate of the King. Holy mother of Christ most dear, receive our devout hymn and praise. Our hearts and tongues now ask of thee that our souls and bodies may be pure. By thy holy prayers obtain for us forgiveness for ever, O gracious queen. O Mary, who alone among women art inviolate."

MADE FOR EACH OTHER

Marriage is as old as the world itself. However, the phenomenon of divorce is a recent one. Earlier, when a boy married a girl, the relation was understood not only as the union of two souls, but also two families. And the bond remained forever.  

In today’s globalized and technocratic world, people are so busy among themselves that they do not have enough time for the relations.  The family relations have become secondary. Though the parents and the children live under the same roof, eat the same food cooked in the same vessel, eat at the same dining table, yet far away from each other. In other words, the ‘friends’ living far away are more ‘closer’ than the people living ‘nearby.’ Members of the family  go to schools or to work and come back and glued to the internet, chatting, watching TV programmes or stick the ear-phone in ear and listen to the music as they wish. In such environment, where is the scope for family relationship?

In most of the time, reason for the cleavage of bond is because of the misunderstanding. One fails to understand the other. Husband thinks he is superior to wife and vice-versa. Children, as they grow older, think that the parents have no right over them. Recently I came across a few reflections of a house-wife who thinks that husbands should understand their wives better. The same applies to the wives too. Let me share these thoughts: 

"Love her … when she sips on your coffee or tea. She only wants to make sure it tastes just right for you.

Love her… when she "pushes" you to pray. She wants to be with you in Jannah (Paradise).

Love her… when she asks you to play with the kids. She did not "make" them on her own.

Love her... when she is jealous. Out of all the men she can have, she chose you

Love her… when she has annoying little habits that drives you nuts. You have them too.

Love her… when her cooking is bad. She tries.

Love her… when she looks disheveled in the morning. She always grooms herself up again.

Love her… when she asks to help with the kids homework. She only wants you to be part of the home.

Love her... when she asks if she looks fat. Your opinion counts,  so tell her she's beautiful.

Love her… when she looks beautiful. She's yours,  so appreciate her.

Love her...  when she spends hours to get ready. She only wants to look her best for you.

Love her… when she buys you gifts you don't like. Smile and tell her it's what you've always wanted.

Love her… when she has developed a bad habit. You have many more and with wisdom and politeness you have all the time to help her change.

Love her… when she cries for absolutely nothing. Don't ask, tell her it’s going to be okay

Love her… when she suffers from PMS. Buy chocolate, rub her feet and back and just chat to her

Love her… when whatever you do is not pleasing. It happens and will pass

Love her… when she stains your clothes. You needed a new thobe (kurta / suite) anyway

Love her…when she tells you how to drive. She only wants you to be safe.

Love her… when she argues. She only wants to make things right for both

Love her… she is yours. You don't need any other special reason!!!!

                                                                                                                Author unknown

Family is an integral part of the society we live. The family which stays together, prays together lives forever. Such families do not break. Each one has concern for the other. They have something to share and something to laugh at.  Mistakes are part of life. When one does mistake, the other corrects him/her. There is a mutual understanding.

“The Wasteland grows; woe to him who hides wastelands within”

Sometime ago one of my friends sent me a few photographs with a title, “Incredible India.” The photos were speaking the reality of India in a true sense. Some were about the beautiful gardens and flowers both natural and artificial, some were about huge buildings both modern and ancient with all its grandeur and some were about the garbage dumped in the middle of the city, the burnt houses and dilapidated condition of poor people. I am not enlisting all those clips here. What made me ponder over is not the incredible development we have achieved, but the incredible potentialities we failed to achieve.

These incredible potentialities I call ‘the wastelands.’ Phenomenologically speaking ‘waste’ is that thing which is unused. It may be a byproduct or left-over which is unused or used but not fully and therefore been discarded and thrown in a dumping slot. The waste can also said to be at time ‘dirt,’ which is nothing but ‘a right thing in a wrong place’ or ‘anything out of place.’ This is the reason, there are so many innovators who make use what is being rejected by people and become ‘men of grace.’

When tribals felt the need for plates to eat rice, they plucked the leaves from the trees, sewed them together with a stiff grass petiole and the plate came to be. To drink water or rice-beer they made cups out of the leaves. It was natural to them. Today, machines are being used to make echo-friendly cups and plates. Traditional Kerala people used Banana leaf for this purpose. Later, someone came up with an innovative idea, to make plates out of Areca nut leaves which sidelined the plastic plates.

‘Wastelands’ are there in every place. It is for us to identify them and make use of them.  The more we understand and realize the need for the time, the more we understand and realize that how less we know and realize.  The less we understand and realize, the more we will be in darkness as the master said, “Why didn’t you put the money in the bank so that I may get it with interest? Therefore, take out from him what he has, give it the one that has more and throw this lazy man in the dark.”

We are all blessed with power of reason: reason to judge what is good, better and best; and reason to judge what is bad and worse for us and for whole humanity. We are endowed with dominion: a dominion to care take the other as stewards and shepherds. Only we have the unbridled freedom to be what we ‘ought to be.’ It is only we humans have dogmatic and conceptual approach to reality may be philosophical or theological. But, are we responsibly using these ‘wastelands?’ There are some people who felt and are feeling the need to be used and hence we call them ‘prophets’ and indeed they are. Are not all called to be so?

For some people the issues like, poverty, development, literacy have become the ‘golden egg laying ducks' and therefore they nourish it. For some, though they are endowed with power of reason are unable to grasp the pulse of it. Take the example of new BPL strategy: those who earn 32 Rupees per day are ‘Above the Poverty Line.’ The question is, can those people who formulate such laws live with thousand rupees per month in any given situation?

We need to re-define ourselves, our priorities and potentialities. We need to convert the ‘wastelands’ with us into ‘Paradises’. Woe to him thousand times who hides his ‘wasteland’ within himself.



Fr. Raju Felix Crasta

The   Play   Children   Play

O

n a fine Spring day, sitting in my outhouse was watching my neighboring house children Tom, Dick, Harry, Aslam, Saleem, Pinky and Rinky, all below ten years of age, playing in the playground besides the lake. As I was watching them, Harry may be out of some misunderstanding kicked little Pinky, the youngest of all, on her back. Wreathing in pain, Pinky started weeping. I was curious to know not the reason of Harry’s misbehavior but the reaction of the other children. Something beautiful happened then. Forgetting their play, the roles they were performing, all rushed towards Pinky to console her. Then a miracle happened. Within a few minutes, the yelling, weeping, sobbing, gloomy faces vanished. All started smiling and laughing. Pinky forgot her pain. All began to play another game.

As I was watching this, I was reminded of the Commonwealth games which Delhi hosted sometimes back. Almost all the commonwealth countries partook in it. All these countries who took part were once ruled by the British. Now, therefore, is it to ‘Unite’ all the subjugated countries together or to wipe away the scars which produced the subjugation and hence to give a touch of ‘Freedom?’  One may say, “The main purpose of Commonwealth Games is to increase economic cooperation, sporting spirit and peaceful coexistence among the participating nations” (see, Anushka Roy, “Commonwealth Games 2010: A Panoramic Overview,” http://www.articlecity.com/articles/travel_and_leisure/article_4499.shtml). It is true, that Commonwealth has become ‘Common-wealth’ or ‘profit making’ endeavor for some. The Hospitality industry, the ‘Techno-industry’ gains a lot in today’s National and International games. My concern is not this. Does the ‘Game’ really brings the ‘game-spirit’ or does it bring ‘co-existence’ in the real sense in the game the elders play?

The purpose of the games is to ‘unite’ all the commonwealth countries, to forget all the untoward feeling they have each other, to bring all together, a peaceful co-existence…. A noble cause indeed!

Spectacular inauguration programme made me spell-bound. The cultural programme depicted the unique art-craft, technology and culture of people. This was followed by the welcoming of the players. Players along with the team managers and representatives represented their respective countries with the Flags marched into the ground to a common rhythm and tune. Most of them were busy with their cameras to shoot the finest memories, some were busy in shaking hands with players of other countries, making friendship. Yes, they have forgotten the difference now! All have become ‘One!’  Like Pinky, they have forgotten their past…  But, for how long?

A question popped in my mind. Is this real game? Is this the purpose of the play? Children at the bank of the lake played spontaneously without any prejudices. No one won, no one lost. All were winners. Their play, simply came from their within. Though Pinky was hurt, she was not hurt at the end. She neither forgave Harry, nor Harry said sorry. What a contrast the play children play and the play, the elders play?

My thoughts went further as the days went on at the commonwealth games. Inauguration is now over, the game has already started. The players who shook hands for friendship are playing against each other as if they are the arch rivals. The ‘other player’ is seen as a rival, an enemy to be conquered. Not to forget, the managers are stimulating their players to retaliate and to be aggressive. More so, they are planning to defeat the other. Was that shake-hand which the players shook before the game, a shake of friendship or a shake of rivalry?

Yes, the whole world is God’s play-ground. We are here to play. But not like the play elders play at any arena. We need to play as the innocent children Tom, Dick, Harry, Aslam, Saleem, Pinky and Rinky play, without any guile. Even though they hurt, they don’t hurt, but love unconditionally. They don’t rejoice over the defeat of the other. They rejoice as a loving mother who rejoices when her son or daughter wins a race as if it is the mother who ran that race.

There is no distinction among the children whether they belong to higher caste or lower, black or white, rich or poor. All are one, all play as one family, as children of one family. Tom, Dick, Harry, Aslam, Saleem, Pinky and Rinky are all from different families, from different religions, from different cultures. Yet all are one.

Family is a play-ground where the members play. Each one has one’s own role in the game. One is a judge, the other player, third his opponent, fourth fielder, fifth supporter or usher… the list follows. Sometimes same person plays a double role or triple roles according to the demand of the game. Here too, no winner, no loser, but all win together. Thus all together build a home, a home of love.

PRAYING AS UNITED IN BODY-MIND-SPIRT

T

he Vatican has published the new revised Missal preserving the original spirit of the Latin text. As this missal is already being introduced to us, it is better to some of the signs and symbols such as standing, kneeling, sitting, genuflecting, procession, sign of the Cross, bowing, orans, prostrating, singing, praying is Unison, silent prayer etc. we regularly in touch with during our Eucharistic and other liturgical Celebrations. All these gestures and signs points to us a deeper meaning, our creatureliness before our Creator and therefore, there is a need to express our singular devotion not only with our Spirit but also with whole Body besides it helping us in greater attentiveness.

Standing

We do not welcome our guests sitting in a comfortable posture, rather as they approach we stand and show our respect. In some cultures like our Tribal brethren, we wash the feet or hands and apply oil and or Tika on the forehead of the guest as a mark of our respect. Traditional dictum behind this treatment is self-explanatory, “athithidevobhava,” the guest is god indeed. Besides this, as we do perform these acts, what is assumed in still deeper sense is our humility or humble gratitude towards that person or the act which is to be done soon. All these things can be aptly applied to the Eucharistic or Liturgical celebration. The priest is our guest and Christ is our unseen guest to whom we pay our honour and devotion to. We acknowledge the gift of life we received from Christ during the Sacrament of Baptism and our respect to him in the beginning of any Sacramental Celebration is the acknowledgment of the same. 

Kneeling

It is rightly said, “The shortest distance between heaven and earth is between heart and knee.” Knee signifies penance. In the past this meaning was so much stressed that kneeling was prohibited on Sundays  and Easter seasons as they were the time of Joy and Thanksgiving. But in the Middle Ages, kneeling came to be a sign of homage and adoration. Today this meaning prevails.

Genuflecting

Genuflecting is done by bringing the right knee to the floor. It is done to adore the Lord. Some people make the sign of the Cross along with genuflecting. Usually it is done as we enter and leave the Church or come in front of the Consecrated Body of Christ.

Bowing

Bowing signifies reverence, respect and gratitude. There are several instances during the Eucharistic celebration we bow our head. Specially during the recitation of Creed (at the words that commemorate the Incarnation), before receiving Sacred Communion, priest before celebrating the mass at the altar as a symbol of Christ’s Sacrificial Table and even during our speech as we pronounce the name of Trinity.

Prostrating

Though this posture is rarely used in the Liturgy, it has a deeper meaning and significance. It shows deep humility and willingness to share in Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. It is done by the individual fully laying facing the ground. This is more Indian as we see the tradition which speaks of AstaangaPranayama in Yogic culture as a sign of Total Surrender. This is more meaningful during the Good Friday celebration and also during the ceremony of Sacred Ordination by the Ordinandi.

Sitting

In traditional Indian gurukul system, the student sits infront of Guru to learn and meditate the Word of God. In the similar way, as the Word is read and even broken to explain to us, we reflect and meditate the Word of God. Even the silent prayer and reflection also done in this posture.

Singing

“One who sings prays twice” says St. Jerome. By singing we not only raise our hearts and minds to God but also assist others to do the same. Thus it has both individual and communal aspect. Therefore it brings sacramental presence of God to his people. Singing is not only done in melodious songs but also in chants and dialogues as in the case of Holy Mass.

Orans

The priest frequently uses this ancient prayer posture, extending his hands to his sides, slightly elevated. Orans means “praying.” It invites people to pray along with the celebrant by surrendering themselves with uplifted hands to the Lord. It also gestures Christ’s outstretched arms as he offered himself on the Cross.

Silent Prayer

“Mary pondered over what ever happened in her heart (Lk 2:19).” In the similar way, we reflect and internalize whatever we heard and received. Therefore, there must be enough time in every Liturgical celebration for this. After every invitation to prayer, after the reading and sermon and or after receiving the communion there must be a time of silence.

Praying in Unison

During the Liturgical celebration, we answer to the prayers or invitation of Main Celebrant with proper answer in one voice. This is nothing but the communitarian aspect of Prayer.

Procession

Every Liturgical procession is a sign of the Pilgrim Church or a pilgrimage where we march towards our Heavenly Jerusalem. During the Eucharist we have several instances where we take procession: the Entrance rite, Liturgy of Word, Offertory and also the reception of Communion. Since it represents our Pilgrimage, the procession ought to be done with utmost devotion, attention and eagerness. It is an experience of being one with the Lord in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Sign of the Cross

The first sign of the cross is that which most people are familiar with, the gesture with which the Catholic faithful cross themselves. The symbolism of this gesture is twofold: first, the sign of the cross asserts the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity, and second, it affirms the doctrine of humanity's redemption through Christ's sacrifice. Catholics start the gesture their foreheads (In nominee Patris), touch their chests (et Filii), and then touch the left shoulder followed by the right (et Spiritus Sancti).This gesture is seen many times during Mass and in private prayer. It may have come from medieval practices, symbolizing Jesus' coming to earth from Heaven, His descent into Hell (the left being associated with evil) and Ascending to sit at the right side of God, the Father. The second sign of the cross is that which the priest uses to bless the congregation. This gesture is also large, and is inscribed in the air in the direction of the congregation. The priest makes this gesture several times during Mass and during other rituals of the church.

As Christians, our every action, work and prayer should begin with the Sign of Cross because on ‘this sign we find our goal.’ A sign of Cross made on the forehead, the lips and heart just before hearing the Gospel make our minds, lips and heart worthy to receive the Word. Just like a burning coal cleansed the lips of Prophet Jeremiah, so too a sign of Cross cleanses our mind, speech and heart from the impurities and make us worthy to receive the Lord’s Message. The Sign of Cross also remind us in physical way the Paschal Mystery we celebrate. Therefore, it is right and meaningful to make whenever we pass by any sacred shrines.

Conclusion

The Church fosters to preserve these signs and postures as a sign of unity. We are not free to change these postures to suit our own individual piety, rather these signs give unambiguous witness that we are all belong to one flock of Christ’ Body.

Reference:

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Poona Diocesan Life, Vol. XXVIII, No. 276.

PERFECT Vs IMPERFECT

This is a short anecdote with beautiful insights I came across recently and thought of sharing it with you. It gives a beautiful message for our life. We need to accept our life with all perfections and imperfections, with all joys and sorrows, with all good, uneven and narrow patches. This is our existential reality.

After a long day at work, my mother laid the table and put a plate of sausages and toasts that were very much burnt for my father. I remember waiting to see how he would react. My father, evidently, noticed it, but he took the burn out toasts and simply smiled at mom and asked me about school and the children.

I don’t remember what I actually said to him, but I did notice how he spread butter and marmalade generously and enjoyed the toasts. When I left the table that night, I remember overhearing my mother telling my father how sorry she was for burning the toasts so badly. I will never forget my father’s response:

“Darling, don’t worry about it; actually, now and then I enjoy toasts that are burned.”

Later that night, I went to kiss good night to my father and I asked him if it was true that he liked toasts that are over burned. He hugged me and gave me these reflections:

Mom had had a hard day at work, was very tired and, moreover, a little burned toast does not harm anyone. Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect persons; we must learn to accept the defects and be ready to celebrate the differences among people: it is the best way to build up healthy and lasting relationships.

Burn toasts should never break anyone’s heart. Understanding and tolerance are the foundation of any relationship. Always try to be more loving than what you think to be necessary, because every person, at this time, will be fighting some kind of battle. Everyone has problems and every one is learning to live; and probably life isn’t long enough for us to learn all we need to learn.

The road to happiness isn’t a straight one. There are many turns and twists called MISTAKES; there are traffic lights called FRIENDS, warning lights  called FAMILY, and everything can be achieved if you have: an extra tyre called DECISION, a powerful engine called LOVE, a good insurance called FAITH, in abundance; lots of fuel called PACIENCE, and, above all, an experienced driver called GOD.

Author not known

As I read this anecdote it questioned my own existence. We are created by God not as perfect being, but imperfect, marching towards the perfection. We are earthen vessels, brittle and feeble. Therefore, we need to accept others also as they are, just as we are. Mistakes are part of our journey. But there are traffic lights to light up when it is dark in our lives, warning signals when we are chilled, extra step in when our ‘going go’ punctures, extra-mile fuel in the form of love to speed up our velocity, guaranteed life insurance in the form of theological virtues, above all the experienced driver, Jesus.

LIVE THE WORD LIBERATE THE WORLD

There are thousands of youth who have not realized the worth of their life, lost in the world: do not know where to go or what to do. Yet they think they are in the right track. “Kao Pivo Maazaa Maro” (Eat, Drink, and Make merry) seems to be the motto of such people. What a tragedy! Some are ready to do something, but are unable, due to the circumstances. And some have the willingness to do or try to improve the quality of life of others, but they are seldom encouraged.  

“If you continue in my Word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:31-32). We need to liberate the youth who are enslaved by various clutches of bondages. To liberate, we need to be rooted in the Word, need to be true disciples of Truth.  

John Paul II addressed the youth of Switzerland he asked them this question: “Dear young people don’t ask the question what is the truth? It is clear that Jesus is the truth. Ask the question who is the truth for you?” Make Jesus as your truth.

Read the Word and your world will change. The word of God has the power to lift you up from your wretchedness, from the sin. He loves the sinner and hates the sin. Peter writes in his letter why the youth stumble? It’s because they disobey the Word and go in their own way. "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do” (1 Peter 2: 8).

Pope John Paul II again gave a call to the youth saying ‘do not be afraid to be the saints of third millennium.’

Today’s church & society needs young people who think positively. This world needs to be liberated from so many evils; on one side corruption, another side terrorism; communalism & casteism; environmental degradation & natural calamities; immoral acts such as abortion, homosexuality, lesbianism, fornication, adultery & suicides. All of these destroy the family values and the rich cultural heritage of our nation; as a matter of fact the human life & the world are in of great danger.

Lk 4:18 says “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, ...” He was very much clear in His Mission, God’s will of liberation.

Let us acclaim then,  “Here I am Lord, send me”

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH 'THE OTHER'

My relationship with 'THE other'

A relationship is normally viewed as a connection between two individuals or persons. It can be independent or dependant. The persons involved may be groups, people or congregations etc. When the persons are involved it is called interpersonal relationship. People involved in a relationship tend to influence each other, share their thoughts and feelings, and engage in activities together. Because of this interdependence, things change or  at least have some kind of impact on the other. If this does not happen then, that relation is shallow or can be said to lack some basic aspects. 

In the nature, we find several kinds of relationship. Let’s analyze them whether they have anything to offer us.  

Various Kinds of Relationships in the Nature           

a.  Neutralism: describes the relationship between two species which interact but do not affect each   other. My relationship with my neighbor does not have any effect. A kind of self centered relationship. I am Ok and you are Ok, no more than this. No extra effort to know the other. ‘Going extra’ implies, some responsibilities which ‘I don’t like.’

b.      Amensalism:  Amensalism is a relationship in which a product of one organism has a negative effect on another organism. An example could be when a sheep or cattle makes trails in grass that they trample on, and without realizing, they are killing the grass. Examples of bacterial interference: - The inhibition of growth, for example the attine ants (ants Belonging to a New World tribe) are able to take advantage of an amensalistic relationship between an Actinomycete and the parasitic fungi Escovopsis. Is my charterer or my way of life causing harm or destroying the life of others?  This kind of relationship lead us to  Social Sin.

c.      Necrocism or Synnecrocism: is a particular case in which the interaction is so mutually detrimental that it results in death. This can be the Drug addiction, alcoholism, Internet surfing, sexual aberration etc. Again, One need to think that what kind of relationship one is offering to the other – ‘life-relation’ or ‘death-relation.’

d.      Antagonism: In antagonistic interactions one species benefits at the expense of another Most of our business relationships can be grouped under this category.  

e.   Symbiotic Relationship:  Like Lichen – Algae and Fungus / this is Mutual Relationship. Both get enrichment. This is a healthy relationship. But still, it is not perfect one.  Observe the Law of the Lord (for your own good) and you will be the children of God. God gives us the power to be his children.

f.   Agapeic Relationship (I – Thou relationship): A total self surrender to God, without any reservations, any demands, and any benefits. You receive the benefit freely as you get, but don’t boast of it. As you get, share with others. Thank the one who gave you.

The last relationship seldom found in the nature. In my scientific study, I never come across a better relationship than symbiotic relation. But still, it is incomplete as it involves some sort of selfishness. In higher animals like Chimpanzees there is a sense of belongingness to the other where, the weaker ones totally surrender the stronger one. Or at least the child tightly clings on to the mother. It is here, I draw the sixth kind of relationship. Therefore, what I feel is, there is a need for us conscious human beings to transcend beyond previous five kinds of relationships exercised by unconscious beings.

KARMA FEAST: An Important Feast of Tribals of Chotanagpur

KARMA FEAST SOME LIGHTS....

Blessed Mother Teresa Adivasi Academy celebrated KARAM FESTIVAL on 17th September, 2011 at Papal Seminary. The celebration started with bringing Karam branch through procession, followed by puja by the Pahan at the beautiful Danda Katta picture. This was an occasion to learn the tribal culture and practice to all the students of different region.  As the ceremony was in progress, the master of the ceremony explained the significance of this Harvest feast. 

DANDA KATTA PICTURE

DANDAKATTA PICTURE

PAHAN (PRIEST) PERFORMING PUJA

AFTER THE PUJA

For the details on the significance of the feast of Karam kindly see the link.