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21 January 2025

Too much money

In 1871 Don Bosco sent professor Don Paolo Albera, who was later to become his second successor, to found the Morassi house in Genoa. 

Don Albera had accepted a few gifts of money from friends and acquaintances because he knew he would need funds to set up the new house. Before he departure, Don Bosco asked him if he needed anything. 

"No, thank you, Don Bosco! I already have five hundred lire." (500 lire then would be approximately INR 35 today!)
"But that is too much money," protested Don Bosco. "You will find Providence in Genoa as well as in Turin." 

The saint took a few lire from a drawer, handed them to Don Albera and took the five hundred lire bill. 

When this became known, everyone laughed, and Don Bosco chuckled: "It would be an insult to Providence to put away a fund for future needs." 

Such was Don Bosco's trust in Divine Providence.  While he struggled for funds all his life, even as a boy, he never doubted the maxim 'God provides', no matter how big or small his initiatives were. I think a major source of this confidence comes from the realisation that all he did was actually God's work, not his! 
When Don Bosco was being photographed (photography a rare novelty then) he chose to be photographed hearing confessions; and the boy making his confession is young Paul Albera.

20 January 2025

Inverse of values and roles

I’m beginning to notice a very strange but sure trend in movies. A growing subtle shift in preferences of negative personalities over persons with honest and value-based priorities is quite disheartening. The worst is that we very unconsciously side by the former, even to the extent of going against the latter (leave alone, mere preference for the former). So one finds oneself rooting and exalting for the hero who is actually doing evil; and the honest civilian or police officer or forest guard becomes the villain. A typical example of this is the ongoing blockbuster telugu movie Pushpa. 
In the movie Pushpa, a sandalwood smuggler is the hero and the forest guard (even though equally egoistical) is the villain. When I watched part one of this movie, I never felt anything odd. It is only when I watched part two of the same (which wasn’t as well made as the previous one) did it suddenly strike me that the whole movie is an exaltation of a smuggler!

Another blockbuster, Salaar, again is of a mercenary! The other recently successful movie, Lucky Bhaskar, is of a bank employee who scams the public fund. Each of these movies shows intelligent men successfully get away with illegal activities and are blatantly portrayed as ‘success stories’.

Salesian Youth Movement (SYM)

Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) is an apt name. And I think we Salesians should not lose sight of the meaning of this very name... a movement. Not an event, a mere celebration or an achievement. But a movement. A process. 

The greatest challenge we face is to regularly ask ourselves (and subsequently, the youth) as to what is the PURPOSE of this movement. Without a clarity and consensus about this purpose and goal, our youth groups, fests, gatherings and other such events are scattered mount Tabor experiences – leading to a good and nice feeling at the moment, but of no real use in the long run. 

The greatest risk is that we make our youth dumb and superficial. By nature, the youth are a dynamite; but if they are not challenged well beyond their capacity, they become hollow and settle for the least of standards and capacities.

Spread the good

 One of my favourite anecdotes: 

There once was a farmer who grew award-winning ‘corn’ (maize). Each year he entered his corn in the fair-competition conducted at the state-level, where it won a prize. 

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him. Among the many great practices that this farmer had adopted, the reporter also learned something highly interesting about how this farmer grew corn… … and which made him to win a prize every year. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn… his best variety seed… with his neighbouring farmers! 

“How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbours when they are also entering into competition with you?” enquired the bewildered reporter. “Why sir,” replied back the farmer, “didn’t you know one of the important realities of life? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. 

If my neighbours grow inferior variety of corn, the cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn as well. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbours grow good corn. 


This is the reality of life that I have realized: In order to get the best out of life, I need to give my best to the other!”

19 January 2025

Cancelling a wrong call

 The other day I received a call and before I could answer it, the call got cut. Within a couple of minutes my phone rang. It was the same number that had called earlier. This time it rang long enough and when I answered it, the person at the other end politely apologised and said it was a wrong call!!! He had called the second time to say to me that the first call was a wrong call!! 

This incident reminded me of an incident while at Karunapuram. Nagothu Balakishore was appointed the bell ringer for that month.  One morning when he rang the rising bell I, as the assistant, realised that he had rang the bell one hour early (instead of 5.45 am, he had rang the electric bell at 4.45 am). By the time I realised that he had mistaken the time, nearly half of those who had woken up were already in the wash area brushing their teeth.  They had now clue that it was only 4.45 am.  I met a very confused Kishore near the bell, who was surrounded by a few of his companions, some not so happy!! Anyway, as I made a round of the wash areas informing the brothers that there was a mistake and that they could get back to bed for another hour, I suddenly heard the bell ring again!! 

When I rushed to the bell switch I see Kishore ringing the bell again. Shocked, I asked him why the second bell. He sheepishly replied, "To cancel the first bell."  Now those who had not woken up at the first wrong bell were also awake!! 

Definition of sanctity

Perhaps the best definition of sanctity is what was said by St Francis de Sales: 

Doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way!

For us Salesians and for our young people, I don't think there can be a better way of putting across the notion of sanctity than this. 


18 January 2025

A stranger, yet not unknown

This morning I was glad that I could make it for the Memorial Mass of Mr Anthony Noronha, the dad of Mario, a long time family friend.  It was nice to meet very many of the family members, most of whom I last met when I was a little.  Papa and Mummy always had/have a high regard for this particular family and from my little interaction with Mario I can sense why so.  

I distinctly remember when Papa passed away and I was overseas. By the time I came home, all the arrangements for the Mass and funeral were done; mostly by Baly and Santiagu. But I also became aware that there were some family friends who had also chipped in.  With Mario, it was particularly evident.  He did not come to the limelight or make himself prominent. But he did greatly help at home.  At one particular moment, after we returned home from the burial ground, we were serving meals for all at home.  There were quite a few, with many from Mangalore.  And Mario was helping out in serving.  When I offered him the plate and invited him to have his meal he said, "Those of the family eat last, after serving the guests!" And he continued serving the 'guests' with a smile! 

Today as I sat in the Church praying for the family, I repeated to myself what I had shared at Fr Maliekal's mum's funeral: I did not know her. I never spoke to her or met her. Yet as the saying goes, 'The tree is known by its fruits' I am happy and convinced to say that she was a very loving, hardworking and principled woman... all because I know two of her sons. And both of them are exemplary in their way of life.  I therefore believe that it is more than grace that has made them what they are... which I attribute to her upbringing. 

Hence my admiration and appreciation of the man whose Memorial Mass I was attending - a total stranger to me personally, yet not someone about whom I knew nothing! 

Whistle before the Hail Mary

Don Bosco's passion of working for the abandoned and vagabonds of Turin gets going in the sacristy of the church, on 8 December 1841. Don Bosco, while vesting for Mass, hears the sacristian chasing out a poor frightened boy who had sneaked into the sacristy to stay warm.  He calls the boy back and initiates a conversation, only to get single word terrified answers, until the question, "Do you know to whistle?"


I can imagine the joy on the face of this boy when he hears a question to which he has a joyful answer!!  I'm sure Don Bosco too would have whistled with him (although it is not recorded anywhere!).  But it is only after the whistle did they pray the Hail Mary (with Bartholomeo Garelli, reciting after Don Bosco). 


Wonder if Don Bosco had insisted on beginning everything with a prayer, where would we Salesians be - if at all, we did come to be! 

17 January 2025

Flying kites... with children!

I've realised one thing about flying kites... 

Flying kites all by myself, with the whole terrace free and peaceful is a great joy.  But flying kites with children, that's an adventure!! 

The last couple of days I've been flying kites with a couple of our resident staff and their children... gosh, it is all confusion. Forget about the kites swooping down from up above, of the neighbours, coming down to clash with mine, there are a hundred other kites and threads running all across. While I managed to cut half-a-dozen of the kites in the skies, I lost two (the only two I lost) ... thanks to the kids around me who keep running around with the kites in hand and entangling every bit of thread. 

Then there are some of these whom you have to constantly keep an eye on. Take your eye off them for a millisecond and you'll see them next on a ladder climber higher on the water tank, or trying to reach for the branch of a tree from the parapet of the terrace or scaling the solar panels!!! 

Then there are kids who, while flying one kite, see another cut one flying kilometers away happily leave this kite in hand and run (mind you, we're on the terrace of a building!) to try and catch that cut kite! 

By the time it is dark and we get off the terrace, there are nearly two dozen kites that we need to pick up from the terrace... not one of which will be intact!  Not to say anything of the thread (brought in earlier or gathered from the cut kites)... it is all bundled as if one were rolling a mat after a night cap on the roof! 

Nonetheless, of the two options of flying kites alone or with others, I'd still prefer the latter! 

Flying kites

 The last I flew a kite was when I was studying in Divyadaan, Nashik... way back in 1999. It is after 25 years that I again had the joy of flying kites the other day at Mothinagar.  For the last three years I have kept telling myself that I need to again fly kites, but never managed to get to the terrace to actually fly one. Even though I collected some kites every year!! 


So when the opportunity presented itself while at Mothinagar, I did not hesitate or feel shy! The next day, back in the Provincial house I walked to the nearest shop and purchased a charka and thread, since I had a good collection of kites which I had gathered from the terrace for the last couple of days.   


Last Sunday had the joy of flying one with Willy and Anet.  However, Anet couldn't get her head around the notion and act of standing in the sun and holding on to a thread!  So, while flying the kite, she sat down in the shade and asked, 'How long do I have to do this?'  I guess likes and preferences differ. Perhaps I'd have asked the same question if I were riding a horse, and she'd be dumb-founded at that question!!!

16 January 2025

God as a living person

 In the book Mister God, this is Anna, there is an interesting episode - among the many - where Fynn tucks little Anna into bed and ...

"Ain't you gonna say your prayers?" she asked. "Well, yes," I replied, "when I get to bed." "I want say mine now with you," she said. So we both god down on our knees and she talked while I listened. 

I've been to church many times, and heard many prayers, but none like this. I can't remember much about her prayer except that it started off with, "Dear Mister God, this is Anna talking," and she went on in such a familiar way of talking to Mister God that I had the creepy feeling that if I dared look behind me he would be standing there.

It is that familiarity and closeness with which Anna 'speaks' to God that caught my attention.  God, for her, was not a distant reality or a supernatural being to be adored.  For her, God was alive and present, in person, for real and therefore addressed and spoken to as if present here and now. 


I wonder how many of us will ever reach this stage of life, this personal experience of God.  

15 January 2025

Leading others

 In one of Don Bosco's dreams he sees a shepherdess leading a pack of wolves and wild animals towards the Church and eventually the lot of wild animals turns into meek lambs. This was read by Don Bosco as a sign of what he was to do.  

When I heard of this dream, I asked myself, as a Salesian, all the more in my present role, if I look back and see those following me, whom would I find?  


I once used to tell the Brothers at Kondadaba that when going to the villages for the oratory, they have an opportunity not just to 'do something' but to 'inspire and sow the seed'.  The analogy I had in mind was that of the octopus and our ministry as leaders to not limit ourselves to be one of the tentacles, but the head of the octopus.  Therefore, as I turn back and see as to who is following me now, I really don't expect to see many - or any, for that matter!  Nonetheless, I know for sure of this: that I am being watched; I am being observed.  The thoughts, plans, decisions and most especially my witness will challenge, inspire and perhaps help others, in due time.  Because it is not for them that I be and do what I do, but because that is how God wants me to be and do and I concur with what is His plan. 

14 January 2025

Shut up and keep quiet

Hearing today's gospel reading I was reminded of one of Papa's quotes, which we still fondly use at home: Shut up and keep quiet!


Jesus preached to the people with authority.  If so why did he have to give the demon a double command: Be quiet and get out!  He could have either told it to be silent or asked it to get out all together. Either way, the person would have been healed - at least mostly.  But from experience of Papa's use of this statement, I think, unless the demon left and left silently, the harm done would be equally bad, if it were only silent and still plaguing the person from within. 

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