Pope Francis: In death, as in life

The choice of Pope Francis to have a simple burial, without any fanfare or frills, an ordinary wooden coffin, to be kept on the ground rather than elevated above the floor, to be buried in a place where he spent his time in prayer and among a locale which is inhabited by the poor and migrants... he continues to be himself in death, as he was in his life. 

The secret according to me, of his simplicity, humility and balanced outlook towards everything, was that he never stopped being Jorge Maria Bergoglio.  His election as Pope only made his life and choices more radical as Jorge Bergoglio. What characterised his term as Pope was not the title of being the 'Pope' or the 'head of the Church' but the name he chose 'Francis'.  To the already existing nature of Jorge Bergoglio, he added the qualities of St Francis. 

I wish and pray that the Church continues to elect and appoint such leaders who live and lead by example, rather than doctrine alone or empty pulpit advice. 

Those without grandmothers...

Most academic philosophers never had grandmothers!  Nor did they ever have any good relationship with their own mothers!  Of this I'm sure!  If they did have grandmothers and lived with them even if for a little while in their grown up years, they'd never have become what most of them are: jargon monsters! 

It is said that comprehension of an idea, however complex it may be, is tested when you can explain it to your grandma and she'll understand.  Don Bosco had his mother.  And the first time he wrote a verbose sermon, she almost tore it up!  Then there is the Salesian tradition of goodnight thoughts.  Again, Mamma Margaret offering the boys some good piece of advice before they hit bed for the night.  I really prefer that. 

I'm not against grand and complex ideas and thoughts.  I certainly deem them very essential for growth and progress.  However, that's what we do within ourselves or at the most with like minded people.  We don't experiment those thoughts in their epistemological and metaphysical laden jargon with everyone.  And if we can't or don't want to, break it down so that all benefit from the richness of the thought, without the burden of academic jargon, then there is something wrong with us!  

Simple Jubilee

Today was the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Ordination of Fr Peter Burns at Farnborough.  I thought it would be a rather pompous event with many in attendance.  It turned out to be a simple ordinary Mass and lunch.  Among the guests there was the Provincial, the former provincial and a couple of confreres from Bolton.  There were only three ladies for Mass: the two cooks of the house and another lady whom I did not know.  There were no natural flowers on the altar, no flexis printed or notice board or backdrops.  No gloria or solemn blessing at the end.  The Mass was in the school chapel.  In all we would have been about 25 of us in all.  Not even one each for the number of years he has been ordained!  I found it quite odd.  I really thought there'd be many many people.  Perhaps they were not invited!

More interesting was the person of Fr Peter himself.  Neither did he preside over the Mass, nor did he preach the sermon.  He was at one end of the altar as the rector of the community presided and preached during the Mass.  The Provincial was just another con-celebrant.

No pomp or glamour. But every bit of the Mass was well prepared.  A booklet for each participant with the readings, hymns and some photos of his.  The Missal was marked and ready.  Fr Pat accompanied the music with a box guitar.  The prayer of the faithful was printed out.  No grand felicitation or talks about Fr Peter.  After lunch the Rector handed him an envelope (with the 'Queens' picture, I guess!) and Fr Gerry too handed an envelope and said a few words.

Br Michael Delmer with his crutches listening to Fr Peter

Fr Peter broke into a jig when they sang as he cut the cake!

Fr Gerry spoke a few words...

Most hilarious was Fr Peter's "speech" - lasted no more than 3 minutes.  He concluded: "Do unto others, before they do to you!" 

At Pisana, Rome

Reached our Generalate (international headquarters) in Rome last night for a workshop/seminar on the revision of the Manual of the Salesian Rector.  My first impressions of the house itself:

• The first thing that struck me was the simplicity of the house.  The building is old but in the name of modernising it they have not made it posh!  It certainly has a very rustic feel about it.  No frills, no extravagance!  
• The Chapel is very beautiful.  Perhaps the only place that looks 'rich'.  Rooms are frugal and functional.  Reminded me very much of our guest rooms back in India. 
• The dining hall is just tables and chairs, a TV set.  That's it!  The community room has some drinks and snacks, with expresso machines for coffee and tea.  Again, nothing extravagant or posh. 
• The room tags on the keys are hand written and simple ordinary plastic tags. 
• The building itself is old and has several patches and sections broken and needed repair, but nothing needing desperate reconstruction... and therefore a typical house, in use.  

I know not to whom should the credit of it all go to:  of keeping the standard of the house functional and neat rather than posh and elegant... personally, I found it a very good balance of the poor and rich parts of the congregation!

A decent km drive around the building

Found several peacocks... am told there are white ones too.
This particular one walked straight into the foyer. 

Chapel (from the adjoining terrace)

Remembering the deceased

Today, the 1st of February, immediately after the day we celebrate the feast of Don Bosco, we Salesians commemorate the memory of our deceased confreres.  We remember with gratitude and pray for those gone before us who, in their lifetime, added to the charism of Don Bosco and made the Salesian work more dynamic, meaningful and contextual.

And in the morning the first names that I remembered were that of Fr John Lens, Fr Ronald Menezes and surprisingly, Fr Mauro Casarotti.  Fr Lens is someone whom I knew since my childhood.  He was in the school where I studied, then when I was an aspirant, he was my rector and then all the subsequent years, while he was in the novitiate, I kept in touch with him.  Initially through letters and then in person.  Never knew anyone as down-to-earth as him.  His joyful and perfect detachment from all material things was amazing... made it look so simple.  Also liked his simple way of interacting with anyone, just anyone!

Fr Ronny, was my rector during my one year stay at Don Bosco School, Matunga.  I was a studying media and communications and he was of great help and inspiration.  I liked him for his straight-forward attitude and simplicity of life.  He also had a good way of relating to people and making everyone feel comfortable and good about themselves.

Fr Casa, was someone I first met while studying M.Ph. in Nashik. He used to come from Mumbai and spend a few days with us, helping out as the confessor.  Around him it was all fun and laughter.  He was the heart of any gathering and corridor talk.  In spite of the fact that in the early days he was provincial of two diverse provinces (Mumbai and Guwahati), he carried himself with such simplicity that a casual interaction would mislead one to think of him as a simple 'old man'. Later too while at Matunga, I would meet him often, and he was the same. Still at that ripe old age, he would be consistent with his work in the propaganda office.  Always kind, gentle, smiling and friendly.  He loved people.  One always felt comfortable being oneself with him. He had no pretensions and neither did anyone feel like putting on a mask in his presence. 

At Mother Teresa's tomb

While in Kolkata and especially visiting the tomb of Mother Teresa there are a couple of things that truly fascinated me:

• Her personal room... barely able to contain her 'liliputian' bed and a table. Nothing else of any worth.  That too right above the community kitchen, and the room did not have a fan.  
• The tomb itself is kept simple. No frills, lights, tapestry... nothing.  In fact one the of the Brothers asked me, later during the day: "Why is her tomb so 'common'? Unlike other saints, there is hardly anything special about the place!" I replied, anything other than how it is now will be a mockery of her principles and life itself.  
• The house where Mother is buried is still used as a house.  It has not become a market of CD-DVD shops, flower stalls, media house, candle vendors... When there, we saw Sisters going about cleaning the house, washing clothes, arranging the place, writing Chronicles, and of course... praying. 
• There were no CCTV cameras, no guards and high level security, no long queues for entry fees and such! 

Thank you dear MC Sisters for keeping alive Mother's legacy. I sincerely did pray for you all at the Mother's tomb. 

Bocha Ravi, an epitome of determination

This evening the youngster, Bocha Ravi, a simple yet very determined boy from one of the neighbouring villages (Cheepruvalasa), about whom I had written an article for the website last year visited the Seminary. In fact he came here to show to Fr KT, his appointment/invitation letter from a couple of reputed companies in India... thus gratefully acknowledge the assistance that Fr KT had once offered him when he was still in his school days. Talking to me personally he broke down a couple of times, narrating how Fr KT supported him and how his generous help, prevented him from being a 'nobody'. He is now determined that this job at IOC which he now taking up, is not the end of his dreams. His greatest dream, which he is determined to live out, is to become an IAS officer and serve in Vizag or Vizianagaram. Why IAS? That is the way I can really bring about a change and help the rural sector.

What I admired in him, was his simplicity. He was really humble and sober. No airs whatsoever. Secondly, here is a young man, clear about what he wants to achieve in life. When asked, if he had any plans to go abroad, where there are better prospects given his field of study, he was immediate in responding, "I've no interest in accumulating money." Now that's the clear headedness and determination that makes life worth living... I hope and pray that more and more of us, who have dedicated our lives exactly for this purpose, begin to live it.