Friday, October 30, 2009

GROTTO OF MASSABIELLE, LOURDES: THE SPRING IN THE GROTTO

The Massabielle Grotto, Lourdes

On 25 February 1858, during the ninth apparition at the Grotto of Massabielle, the Virgin Mary told Bernadette Soubirous to go to the spring, drink and wash in it. At that instant, the spring did not exist. Unable to find the spring, Bernadette went to drink from the river nearby. She seemed to behave rather strangely that day as she crawled forwards and backwards into the cave, dug into the ground with her hands, tried to drink the muddy water of the spring and smeared her face with it. The crowd shouted and jeered at her. "The girl is mad," they said. According to Bernadette, "She told me to drink from the spring and wash myself in it. As I could not see anything, I went to drink at the nearby river. She then told me that it wasn't the place and pointing with her finger, she showed me where the spring was." That was how the story of the spring in the Grotto started.

The Spring in the Grotto

The first miraculous cures soon began to take place even while the apparitions were still going on. Those who were healed claimed that the water from the spring had healing properties. On the evening of 25 February 1858, Mr Louis Bouriette, a stonemason who has been blinded in his right eye by a stone splinter more than 20 years ago, washed his right eye a few times with the spring while praying to Our Lady. He regained his eyesight immediately and completely. On 28 February 1858, Mrs Blaisette Cazenave, who was suffering from a chronic infection of the eyes and was completely blind, was also completely healed when she bathed her eyes in the spring water for the second time. On 1 March 1858, Mrs Catherine Latapie, who was heavily pregnant, walked more than 4 miles from her home in Loubajac to the Grotto bringing her 2 children with her. She had dislocated her right arm and injured her hand when she fell from a tree 2 years ago and two fingers on her hand were paralyzed. Her hand was instantly healed when she bathed it in the miraculous spring water. During the first days of July 1858, Justin Bouhort's illness was becoming critical. This moribund terminally ill two-year-old boy was dunked in the icy cold spring water for a very long time by his mother, Croisine Bouhort. He recovered quickly, started to walk and was soon bursting with health. 

The spring in the Grotto has since become very popular because of the numerous miraculous healings associated with it. The good news is - the extraordinary healings in Lourdes have continued right up to this day. Although there are more than 8000 miraculous healing attributed to the Lourdes Shrine since 1858,  only 67 cases have been offcially approved by the Catholic Church as miraculous (as of 2007). 

Pilgrims waiting outside the Baths

The spring is now clearly visible on the left at the back of the grotto. It is covered with glass and illuminated so that the source of the spring can be seen clearly. The spring feeds the water taps on the left of the Grotto and the Baths on its right so that pilgrims can drink and wash themselves. There are 34 drinking taps and 17 baths, 6 for men and 11 for women. The Baths were built in 1955 and officially opened on 7 April 1955. Following Bernadette's example, millions of pilgrims, irrespective of whether they are sick or healthy, drink from the taps and / or immerse themselves in the Baths every year. However, none of them has ever contracted a disease. Immersion into the spring water sanctified by Our Lady is equivalent to the purification by water and and hence the renewal of baptism.

The spring water is not a magical liquid nor does it have any special curative or medicinal properties. It is just ordinary spring water but God has made use of this water as a healing instrument to indicate the realness of His presence in this place of holiness.

You may also like to read THE WONDERS OF LOURDES: 150 MIRACULOUS STORIESBERNADETTE RECOUNTS HER APPARITIONS and THE MESSAGE OF LOURDES. To view the content page of this blog, please click here.


References:
1.  Bernadette Recounts Her Apparitions. Doucet Publications.
2.  Lourdes & Bernadette. Publisher "il Calamo".
3.  Lourdes. Doucet Publications.



Friday, October 23, 2009

LOURDES PILGRIMAGE - GOING UP CALVARY HILL WITH JESUS

The photos below were taken on my way up the Hill of Espelugues, also known as Calvary Hill, in Lourdes on 29 May 2008. One of my dreams is to dress up as a bride and accompany Jerusalem's most eligible bachelor on His way to Calvary. That's why I like to relive again and again the last moments of our Lord's earthly life by meditating on the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary and watching Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ". During my stay in Lourdes, I went up Calvary Hill (The Way of the Cross on the Espelugues Hill) with Jesus almost everyday. One of the highlights of the Catholic pilgrimage site in Lourdes is walking the path of Jesus through the Way of the Cross. Participation in the Stations of the Cross is a practical response to Our Lady's message of penance, conversion and purification.

The 1500 metre Way of the Cross starts somewhere near the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and winds its way up the steep forested hill with its highest point at the Twelfth Station (the crucifixion) and then winds downward to the Fifteenth Station and finally back to the Basilica. There are altogether 115 figures made of brightly painted cast iron illustrating the various scenes of the Passion of Christ at the 15 Stations of the Cross. Unique to Lourdes, these slightly larger-than-life-size 2 metres high statues were constructed by the Parisian sculptor, Maison Raffl, between the years 1901 and 1912. The Way of the Cross was inaugurated on two separate days in September 1912. The first seven stations were inaugurated on 14 September 1912, the feast day of the Glorification of the Holy Cross. The next seven stations were inaugurated on 15 September 1912, the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows. The cross at the Thirteenth Station was brought from Jerusalem in the year 1885. The fifteenth and last station, the Resurrection of Jesus, was a recent addition.

Most of the stations have been donated by the French dioceses while some have been donated by foreign pilgrims. The Fourth Station and Tenth Station were gifts from the German Association of the Virgin of Lourdes and the Hungarian Catholic Association respectively. The Fourteenth Station was donated by the Italian National Committee for Pilgrimages to Lourdes and the Holy Land.

The Way of the Cross is a powerful prayer experience as it is a representation of the path that Jesus walked on His way to the crucifixion. Let us make a daily spiritual pilgrimage of prayer through the Way of the Cross as we meditate on the Passion of Christ. Prayers give us strength, courage, wisdom, comfort, guidance  and hope particularly during diffcult times.


LOURDES:  THE WAY OF THE CROSS

1st Station: Jesus is condemned to death. At this station, the statue of Pontius Pilate is missing because it was blown up by unknown persons on 13 August 1983, one day prior to Pope John Paul II's visit to Lourdes.

2nd Station: Jesus carries His cross.

3rd Station: Jesus falls for the first time

4th Station: Jesus meets his mother

5th Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His cross. In this photo, I missed out Simon, who was at the foot of the cross.

6th Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. In this photo, I missed out Veronica, who was standing in front of Jesus.

7th Station: Jesus falls for the second time

8th Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children" (Luke 23:28).

9th Station: Jesus falls for the third time

10th Station: Jesus is stripped of His garments

 11th Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross

12th Station: Jesus dies on the cross. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (Luke 23:46).

13th Station: Jesus is taken down from the cross

14th Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb

15th Station: Jesus rises from the death. On the rock in front of the tomb are the words (in Latin), "He has risen as He promised, Alleluia!" 

If you like this article, you may also like to read MURDER AT GOLGOTHA - REVISITING THE MOST FAMOUS CRIME SCENE IN HISTORY and THE PASSION OF THE CHRISTPlease click here to view the content page of this blog as there is a complete list of my articles about Lourdes on this page.


References:
1.  Lourdes. Doucet Publications.
2.  Lourdes: In Bernadette Footsteps. MSM.
3.  Lourdes & Bernadette. Publisher "il Calamo"
4.  Discover Lourdes. MSM.
5.  Lourdes: Apparitions, Message, Pilgrimage. MSM.
6.  The Bible: Authorized King James Version with Apocrypha. Oxford University Press.


Monday, October 19, 2009

FATHER OC LIM - OUR PRIEST LAWYER

I got the above photo from the Catholic Asian News dated June 1992. I framed it nicely and this photo has been on my bookshelf since then. And I am still keeping this issue of the CA News with me after 17 years. For 17 years, I've always wanted to write something about Father OC Lim but just didn't know where to write. Now that I've just started my own blog, I guess it's time I write something about our Priest Hero who relinquished this material world to serve God and humanity.

Father Lim Ooi Chai, better known as Father OC Lim is the eldest son of Datuk Lim Foo Yong (a well known businessman) and grew up in the midst of great material wealth. He completed his secondary education at St. Xavier's Institution in Penang and finished his Sixth Form at St. John's Institution in Kuala Lumpur. He spent a year at University Malaya doing his BA but opted out as he was more interested in law. He then went to London to pursue his dream to become a lawyer. Four years later, he returned to Kuala Lumpur and went into partnership with Chung and Huang Advocates & Solicitors. For fourteen years he worked as a lawyer enjoying a five figure monthly income at the height of his career. But instead of getting married and remaining in the legal profession, he gave up his luxurious life and became a Jesuit Priest.

Why did he give up his luxurious life to serve God and to serve us? According to him, "I enjoyed my life, but there came a time when I began to question whether there could be more to life than what I was experiencing. It has been a gradual realisation that the priesthood is my true vocation. The La Salle Brothers at St. Xaviers were instrumental in planting the seed of faith in me. And the spirit of God spoke to me through the Scriptures, prayers, people and events. One day at mass, it occurred to me that this was what I was looking for, and I shed tears of joy."

At 42, Father OC Lim joined the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order founded by Saint Ignatius Loyola. Known as the Jesuits, and designated by the initials SJ after the name, they are the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church, with 18815 members - 13305 priests, 2295 scholastic students, 1758 brothers and 827 novices - as of January 2008. They received official recognition as a new religious order from Pope Paul III on 27 September 1540. The headquarters of the society is in Rome. The Society is well known for its ministries in the fields of missionary work, human rights, social justice and higher education. When he was asked why he has chosen the Jesuits, he said, "A Jesuit priest is mobile, flexible and always available. He can be a man for all seasons. There're no permanent ties to people, places or posts. He is ready to get up and go when told. So he is able to dedicate himself totally to God's work, which is what I wanted to do." Yes, Father OC Lim has shown by his whole life that he is totally and absolutely given to God and we are very proud him. If only those who want to become priests could emulate him, then the Christian priesthood is not in mortal danger (You may also like to read Cardinal Robert Sarah: The Christian Priesthood Is in Mortal Danger).

Father OC Lim spent the next seven years studying the scriptures, two years as a novitiate at St. Francis Xavier and then five years in Manila studying theology and philosophy. At 49, he was ordained a Jesuit Priest on 1 May 1992 at St. Francis Xavier's Church, Petaling Jaya. "My seven years of intellectual and spiritual formation didn't end with my ordination. It is an ongoing process and will only stop when I die," he said. When asked how he felt after his ordination, Father OC Lim said:

 "It is one of the peaks of personal salvation history - one of the privileged moments of my life. It is still a mystery to me why I was chosen! There are so many better Catholics than I am, why me? But, I accept it with humility and in complete trust in the Lord. My feelings are just inexpressible. I am just overwhelmed by the call to my vocation to be a Jesuit.

My aspiration is to labor in the Lord's vineyard ... to be a channel of reconciliation between God and persons and between person and person ... to bring the peace of Christ to persons whom I will have the privilege to encounter in my pastoral ministry. My calling to be a Jesuit priest has given me a new impetus to my belief that faith would be meaningless without the promotion of justice. I see one aspect of my vocation as a continuation of my work in the legal profession in my 'past life', but charged with a faith dimension, defending the 'poor', the 'exploited' and the 'innocent' and promoting their rights while not forgetting that the well-to-do also have their rights.

My inspiration has been and always will be the ever-abiding presence of God in every moment of my life and also the confidence that our Blessed Mother will always be guardingly watching over me with her maternal care. Each time I overcome a 'difficulty' in my life, I reach a new ecstatical height of experiencing God's saving and loving power.

I know how to be poor and I know how to be rich too. I have been through my initiation and now I am ready for anything anywhere, full stomach or empty stomach, poverty or plenty, I can do all things in Him who strengthens me."

Father OC Lim has taken the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as a full acceptance of a life dedicated to God. According to him, "Poverty means no attachment to material things. For example, if the church were to stop me from using my car, I would revert to public transport. Practising chastity is a matter of channeling sexual energy into work and prayer. Obeying superiors is not difficult because instructions are given only after consultation and prayer."

In his coauthored book with Cardinal Robert Sarah entitled From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy, and the Crisis of the Catholic Church, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI clearly reaffirms the necessity of poverty and chastity. According to him, "The priesthood of Jesus Christ causes us to enter into a life that consists of becoming one with him and renouncing all that belongs only to us. For priests, this is the foundation of the necessity of celibacy but also of liturgical prayer, meditation on the word of God and the renunciation of material goods." The renunciation of material goods and sexual activity is a heroic task and only a true hero can fulfil his vows. 

To sum up his feelings, Father OC Lim said, "I live a simple life now but I'm happy. My inner joy is something beyond words. I regret that I didn't join the priesthood earlier. But there is a time for everything if one has faith. Those days, I learned the application of law. These days, it is the application of the holy scriptures to everyday life. For the most part, I spend time in prayer and reading the scriptures. Old and wintry as I am now, I have just entered the spring of my life! And I shall remain young and energetic in the service of the Lord by your prayers and supplications."

Throughout the years, Father OC Lim has given me a lot of inspiration. Sometimes I do ask myself whether I did the right thing in choosing the teaching profession instead of the legal profession. Then I will look at Father OC Lim's photo on my bookshelf and say, "I have no regrets with my life." It does not matter to me now whether I become a lawyer or not. The most important thing is how I live my life and I will live to serve Jesus as His perfect bride.

What makes me write about Father OC Lim tonight? Why is the story of his life indelibly printed on my memory? It is only once in a long, long time that we can encounter someone like Father OC Lim. Who on earth would give up his successful career for the priesthood? Who will exchange his imported car with a second-hand car owned by the church? Who will give up his five-figure monthly income in exchange for a monthly allowance of RM50? How many men would willingly give up material wealth and marriage to become a priest? How can I forget Father OC Lim's sacrifices?

Father OC Lim will always remain a source of inspiration not only for our priests and seminarians but for all Catholics throughout the world. I pray that he will always enjoy good health and live a long, long life. We all need him very much. How many people can live a holy life like him? He has given himself completely to God and to humanity, serving God and serving us with undivided attention. This is the kind of priest who makes us feel proud to be Catholic. I will honor and respect this great hero all the days of my life.

Let us pray that there will be more priests like Father OC Lim in the future. For those who are ready to live the life of Christ and walk in His footsteps, why not become a Catholic priest and save our Church? And for those who want to be a priest but are still unable to relinquish materialism and are busy pestering the Pope to allow them to get married even after the Pope said a big 'NO' to them, why not try to emulate Father OC Lim? (If you like this article, please click here to go to the contents page of this blog. You may also like to read FATHER OC LIM: AN IMAGE OF CHRIST THE PRIEST).


References:
1. Another priest for Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese. CA News June 1992.
2.  Lawyer who turned priest. Star Publications.
3. From the depths of our hearts: Priesthood. celibacy, and the crisis of the Catholic Church. Ignatius Press.
3.  Society of Jesus. Wikipedia.


Sunday, October 18, 2009

TAXI DRIVER WANTED TO BECOME A MARRIED CATHOLIC PRIEST


Some time back, a church member told me that life as a taxi driver was tough as competition was great and he found it rather difficult to make ends meet. He also said something else which I considered was a mockery to the Catholic Church. Guess what he said? He said that he would have become a priest if priests were allowed to get married. And what were his reasons for that? Well, he said that life would be much easier for him if he were a priest. As a priest, he would be respected and need not worry about food and lodging. But too bad, Catholic priests aren't allowed to marry and that was why he said a big 'NO' to priesthood. He said that if the Pope were to change the rules regarding priesthood celibacy and allow Catholic priests to get married, he would be the first in line to join the priesthood as he really cannot 'tahan' (tahan is a malay word meaning tolerate) being a taxi driver. He also said that if he could become a priest, his wife and children would be well taken care of by the church and they would have a better life.

I listened to all these with disgust. I wanted to scold him but refrained from doing so. It was no use talking to people like him. When I passed by Mid-Valley City that day, I saw the long taxi queue and I said to myself, "If Catholic priests were allowed to get married, then the taxi drivers alone would be more than enough to fill up all the vacancies." Not only taxi drivers but all those who are unable to find a proper job during this recession period would be competing with each other to join the priesthood as they would be guaranteed with a job and their wives and children would have a better life. But is this the kind of priest we want?

The priesthood is not a career option for people who are unable to find a proper job. Only people with deep faith can undertake this important mission. Being a priest means that he should always be ready to tend to his flock from the cradle to the grave and helping them in times of need. But would someone who joined the priesthood with the sole intention to secure a better future for himself and his family be able to be a good priest?

The priesthood is a vocation and a vocation is a calling from God. Only those whom God has chosen and those who are ready to live the life of Christ can become priests. It involves a lot of sacrifices to become another Christ. The taxi driver aforementioned is certainly not God's chosen one. Although there is a shortage of priests, the Catholic Church is still surviving and we shouldn't make priesthood a dumping ground just because we do not have enough priests. Let there be quality and not quantity in the priesthood. Who are those who really qualify to become priests? Those who give themselves entirely to God and to men. "When I chose you to represent Me as a priest in My House, you are not to make yourselves a common man, for you will not bring the souls into the Kingdom by joining them in their sin! Yours must be a pure and shining example! You must follow your vows of chastity and poverty." Jesus, August 14, 1974. Remember, you cannot have both. You will not have this world and the Kingdom of God! For those who cannot live the life of Christ and who want to become priests, why not try out their luck with other sects and groups which can accommodate their whims and desires?

As the saying goes, if the priest is a saint, the people will be fervent, if the priest is fervent, the people will be pious, if the priest is pious, the people will at least be decent. But if the priest is only decent, the people will be godless. What if we have priests who are only concerned with making a better life for himself, his wife and children and comes to church to bla... bla... bla... without meaning what he says? Then the church would crumble. No doubt they are 'ready and willing to serve' for the sake of securing a better job but can we respect this kind of priests?

"Continence, My Child, is the sacrifice asked by the Father. You cannot divide yourselves; there must be full dedication to the will of God." - Our Lady of the Roses, March 24, 1974.

"The heart of the priest, in order that it may be available for this service, must be free. Celibacy is a sign of freedom that exists for the sake of service." - Pope John Paul II, Letter to Priests, Holy Thursday 1979.

Three cheers to Pope Benedict XVI for upholding tradition and reaffirming the value of priestly celibacy.

Those who like this article may also want to read WHY POPE BENEDICT XVI CLARIFIES, REAFFIRMS, REINFORCES AND DEFENDS CELIBACY? and SHOULD CATHOLIC PRIESTS BE ALLOWED TO MARRY? You can also click here to view the contents page of this blog.


References:
1.  Cardinal Sarah: Ordaining Married Men Would Be a ‘Break’ with Apostolic Tradition...
2.  Pope Benedict reaffirms value of priestly celibacy, blocks move to allow Catholic priests to marry

Friday, October 16, 2009

INSIDE THE WAXWORKS MUSEUM - MUSEE DE CIRE, LOURDES

Musée de Cire (Lourdes) is devoted entirely to a religious theme. The museum, which is located at 87, rue de la Grotte, 65100 Lourdes, is one of the top tourist attractions of Lourdes. This waxworks museum is dedicated exclusively to the lives of Jesus and St' Bernadette. Here, you can see more than 100 life-size wax figures illustrating the main events of their lives. There are altogether 18 scenes representing several episodes in the Saint's life including her first apparition and the various scenes from the New Testament that tell the stories of the life of Jesus. The Last Supper scene, based on Leonardo da Vinci's famous 15th Century mural painting, is one of the museum's highlights.

On the first floor of the museum, visitors will be able to see the important scenes dedicated to Saint Bernadette's life such as her first apparition and death. The various biblical scenes about the life of Jesus from his birth to his ascension can be found on the second and third floorss of the museum. The fourth floor is dedicated to some of the major events in the Catholic Church such as the beautiful meeting of John Paul II and Mother Teresa. The museum exit is on the fifth floor where visitors can enjoy some magnificent views of the town of Lourdes and its fortified castle.

When I was in the museum, I couldn't help feeling that I was in another world - as though I was living during the time of our Lord as well as sharing the life of St' Bernadette. Everything seemed so real to me because these wax figures looked so lifelike as though they were actually alive. In this article, I would like to share some of the photos which I took in the wax museum during that wonderful moment. Musee de Cire is a museum that is really worth visiting and is a must-visit for any pilgrim to Lourdes. I am sure you will like this museum for its quality and authenticity. Believe me, the memories of this beautiful and amazing museum will be engraved in your mind forever. The museum is within walking distance from the town center and is easily accessible by the Little Train of Lourdes.

The Interrogation

Bernadette entered religious life

The death of Bernadette

The Nativity

Jesus entered Jerusalem

John the Baptist

The Last Supper

The Crucifixion

The burial of Jesus

The Resurrection

The Ascension

The Samaritan 

The Pope

On fifth floor terrace, visitors can see the splendid views of the town of Lourdes and its fortified castle. I stood there for a long time that day, just admiring the stunning views in front of me - the trip to the museum was indeed a pleasurable experience.

The fortified Castle of Lourdes as seen from Musee de Cire

A beautiful view of the town of Lourdes and the River Gave de Pau flowing through it as seen from Musee de Cire

The beautiful town of Lourdes as seen from Musee de Cire

Lourdes is well-known for its numerous museums. To find out more about the museums in Lourdes, you may also like to read The Museum of Lourdes. To read the complete list of my articles about Lourdes, please click here to view the content page of this blog.



Friday, October 9, 2009

FATHER DAMIEN - MY CHILDHOOD HERO


Before he became a priest, Father Damien's name was Joseph de Veuster. He was born on 3 January 1840 in Tremeloo, Belgium. He attended college at Braine-le-Comte in preparation for a commercial profession as his father had decided that he should take over the family business. However, the young Joseph decided to become a priest instead. He entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Leuven. He was ordained to the priesthood on 21 May 1864 at Honolulu.
During those days, lepers were placed under a government sanctioned medical quarantine in a settlement colony known as Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai. This village is situated in Kalawao County and is isolated from the rest of the island by a steep mountain ridge. The lepers were left there to die. Bishop Maigret knew that these lepers needed a priest to minister to their needs but he realized that this assignment could potentially be a death sentence. He spoke to the priests about it but did not order anyone to go. Four priests volunteered to take turns to visit the lepers. Father Damien was the first to leave on 10 May 1873. After seeing the desperate needs of the 816 lepers, he requested to remain there indefinitely. In a letter to his Provincial Superior he wrote, "I want to sacrifice myself for the poor lepers." Why did he accept his death sentence? Because he believed that he would discover life by accepting death.
Upon his arrival at Molokai, Bishop Maigret presented him to the lepers as "one who will be a father to you, and who loves you so much that he does not hesitate to become one of you, to live and die with you." He was greeted with the words, "In this land, there is no law." At Molokai, Father Damien had to bear with all the unpleasantness of leprosy. Since there were so many people with suppurating sores, the stench of rotting flesh pervaded the atmosphere. The lepers salivated and coughed constantly. They also spat on the ground. Earlier, Father Damien had been told not to touch the lepers and only to eat food that he prepared himself. However, he found that he couldn't minister to his patients that way. He began sharing their meals. Living in a situation of extreme deprivation both spiritually and materially, Father Damien wrote to his brother, Pamphile, that he was the happiest missionary in the world!
Due to insufficient resources and medical help, the lepers were forced to fight with each other to survive. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, "Drunken and lewd conduct prevailed. The easy-going, good-natured people seemed wholly changed." Rape and burglary were common occurrences of the day. The stronger lepers took advantage of the weaker ones. Corpses were thrown in a ravine or buried in shallow graves. The graves were so shallow that wild boars ravaged the corpses.
Father Damien's first course of action was to build a church. He was not only their priest, but their doctor, builder, carpenter and grave digger as well. He cleaned wounds, dressed their ulcers and even amputated gangrenous limbs. He helped the lepers to build their schools, homes, beds, coffins and dug their graves. It is estimated that he built more than 1600 coffins during his years at Molokai. As there was no proper water supply, he and those well enough lepers dug a trench and laid pipes to bring clean water from a lake. Basic laws were enforced under his leadership. For the first time, laughter was heard on this island of death.
In this lawless colony of death that had been abandoned by society and God, Father Damien brought life and restored their faith, pride and dignity irrespective of what the outside world may think of them. He brought a new breath of hope to these people without hope. He transformed the settlement from a place of death to a place of life. As what Father Damien said, "I am bent in devoting my life to the lepers. It is absolutely necessary for a priest to be there." He had truly lived out his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience by identifying himself with the lepers. One evening, in December 1884, Father Damien soaked his feet in boiling water and pinched himself but he could feel no pain. That day, when he delivered his sermon, he greeted the lepers as "My fellow lepers" instead of "My fellow believers". He wasn't afraid of death. According to him, "Our Lord will give me the graces I need to carry my cross and follow him, even to our special Calvary at Kalawao."
Knowing that he had contracted leprosy, he worked even harder to build as many homes as he could and enlarged his orphanages. He had to plan for the future of these lepers as he was worried about what may happen to them after his death. Despite his sickness, he was a happy man. The gift of self was his inspiration and happiness. He said, "I have no illusion as to what is in store for me with this dreaded disease, but if this is what the Good God wants for my sanctification then all I can say is: Thy will be done." In one of his last letters he wrote, "My face and my hands are already decomposing, but the good Lord is calling me to keep Easter with Himself."
On 28 March 1889, Father Damien became helpless and he died at Molokai at 8.00 a.m. on 15 April 1889 aged 49. He was beatified on 4 June 1995 by Pope John Paul II who said of him that, in his life he "showed forth Christ's tenderness and mercy for every human being, revealing the beauty of that person's inner self which no illness, no deformity, no weakness can totally disfigure. He offered the lepers, who were condemned to a slow death his very life ... he became a leper among the lepers; he became a leper for the lepers. He suffered and died like them, believing that he would rise again in Christ, for Christ is Lord!" Pope Benedict XVI will officially declare him a saint on 11 October 2009. Today, Father Damien is the patron of lepers, outcasts, HIV/AIDS and the State of Hawaii.
Father Damien's whole life as a hero of charity had deeply impressed me when I was still a little girl. I first read about him in the Children's Britannica that my parents bought for me. I've also done a lot of research on his life. In fact, I grew up with thoughts of Father Damien deeply engraved in my heart and soul. He has been a great inspiration to me especially during my growing up years. Now that I have started my own blog I would like to take this opportunity to write about my childhood hero and share his life and mission with the whole world. I am so glad that he would soon be honoured as a saint and I would like to thank Pope Benedict XVI for deciding to have Father Damien canonized. 11 October 2009 - this is the day that I have been waiting for since I was a little girl. Father Damien is really a saint. According to Pope Paul VI, "Saints have not only given of themselves, but they have given of themselves in the service of God and their brethren. Father Damien is certainly in that category. He lived his life of love in the most heroic yet unassuming way. He lived for others: those whose needs were the greatest." Those who read about him will be moved by his selfless example. And of course it is not possible not to cry when you read about him. I cried when I first read about him and now I am crying again as I am writing this article.
Not many people could love God and fellow humans as wholeheartedly as Father Damien did. Father Damien is truly one of the greatest heroes who ever lived. Instead of joining the 'Married Priests Now Organization' and pestering the Pope to allow him to get married, he devoted his whole life to the most wretched of his brothers and sisters. As what he wrote to his brother, Pamphile, six months after his arrival at the leper colony, "I make myself a leper with the lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ." He was more concerned with the lepers than with his own well-being. He had consecrated his entire life to lepers. He taught the world how to love by work and example. His life and work thus speak for themselves. His goal was to be another Christ. Like Christ, he gladly accepted his death sentence. He gave himself entirely to God and to men as he traveled the path that Christ had traveled.
The heart of a priest is the reflection of Christ's life. Jesus Christ our Saviour, sanctify thy priests. (Please click here to view the contents page of this blog)

Saturday, October 3, 2009

FATHER DR. SLAVKO BARBARIC, THE SAINT OF MEDJUGORJE

Father Dr. Slavko Barbaric

The above photo is the best photo of Father Slavko Barbaric that I could find in Medjugorje. I got this photo framed and it is now on my computer table. Although I have never met Father Slavko when he was alive, I will always remember him as one of the greatest heroes that ever lived. His dedication to his duties as a devoted Catholic priest would never be forgotten. And to be very frank, I really envy those who got the chance to meet him and to be with him in Medjugorje when he was still alive. When I went to Medjugorje in the year 2007, Father Slavko was already dead for seven years. If only I had been there seven years earlier... If only I could get the chance to help Father Slavko with his work... Oh, it seems that I am daydreaming again!

Who is Father Slavko Barbaric? Well, I'll write a short biography of him here. He was born on 11 March 1946 in Cerin, a town located in the municipality of Citluk, Bosnia and Herzegovina. His parents were Marko and Luca Barbaric. The young Slavko attended primary school in Cerin and high school in Dubrovnik. He joined the Franciscan order at the age of 19 on 14 July 1965 in Humac, a hamlet on the island of Hvar, Croatia. He professed his final vows on 17 September 1971 and was ordained a Franciscan priest on 19 December 1971 in Reutte, Austria. Father Slavko studied theology in Visoko, Sarajevo, Graz and Freiburg. In 1973, he obtained his master's degree in pastoral theology at the University of Graz, in the capital city of Styria, Austria. From 1973 to 1978, he was in Capljina. After 5 years of pastoral service in Capljina, he continued his studies in Freiburg in 1978. He obtained his degree Doctor of Philosophy in religious pedagogy (with the title of psychotherapist) at the University of Freiburg, Germany, in 1982. 

Father Slavko could speak many European languages and was fluent in Croatian, English, German, French and Spanish. He was officially transferred to Medjugorje in 1983 and became the spiritual director of the visionaries until his death in 2000. During his service in Medugorje, he was deeply involved with the visionaries and the apparitions and has always been a source of inspiration to the pilgrims. He has written many books about the messages of Medjugorje that have been translated into more than 20 languages and published numerous articles in various journals. He was the editor of the Bulletin of Saint Francis in Capljina. He also wrote for Glas Mira, the first official magazine  in Medjugorje, and Krsni Zavicaj, a local Catholic paper, and worked with Radio Station "Mir" Medjugorje. He organized conferences, seminars and annual meetings for priests, pilgrims and youths. He had travelled to many parts of the world to spread the messages of Our Lady of Medjugorje. He founded Mother's Village, a refuge for war orphans, children from broken homes, single moms and the elderly abandoned by family members. His expertise in psychotherapy also enabled him to help those who were addicted to drugs and / or alcohol in the Cenacolo Community.

The Resurrection Station on Mount Krizevac

When Father Slavko was still alive, he faithfully celebrated The Way of the Cross and led the parishioners and pilgrims to the top of Mount Krizevac every Friday. At 2.00 pm on 24 November 2000, he celebrated the Way of the Cross on Krizevac Mountain with about 70 parishioners / pilgrims. It has been drizzling all afternoon but when they reached the mountain top, the drizzle had stopped and they could see a beautiful rainbow near St. James Church.  As they were descending Mount Krizevac, Father Slavko stopped near the Resurrection Station and blessed all those who had celebrated the Way of the Cross with him that day. He sat upon a rock and then lay on the ground - that was where he lost consciousness and died of a heart attack.

The Spot Where Fr. Slavko Barbaric Died

In his short life span of 54 years, he has done a lot for Medjugorje and for the Catholic Church. He was a holy man who spent every moment of his life serving God and His people. He did not live for himself but for all of us because there was Jesus at the center of his life. He had left everything to serve the faithful and given us his own life as he walked in the footsteps of Jesus. Truly, he is one of the greatest heroes of our time and I thank God for giving us this great hero. I will always adore, respect and honour him as long as I live. To me, he is a saint - the saint of Medjugorje whom God has chosen to be his treasured possession. Each time I think of him, I feel very proud of the Catholic priesthood. Sometimes I light candles for him. Whenever I say the Croatian Rosary, I will look at Father Slavko's photo and ask him to join me in my rosary prayers. One of the reasons why I like to say the Croatian Rosary is because it reminds me of Father Slavko. And I am proud to say that I can say the Croatian Rosary very well now.

Priesthood is a precious gift from God won at the price of Christ's blood. It is not a career but a calling. The vocation to the priesthood is a personal calling from God on His chosen ones. And who are these chosen ones? Those who willingly give themselves completely to God and His people. Those who willingly devote all their time to Christ as His instrument of salvation. Father Slavko had willingly given himself completely to God and humanity and devoted all his time to continue the ministry of Christ. And that's why I am writing about him here - I want the whole world to know about our priest hero and the saint of Medjugorje. Those who know him would not deny the fact that he was an alter Christus, which means another Christ in Latin.

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Reference:
Dr. Fr. Slavko Barbaric, OFM, in Memoriam @ www.medjugorje.hr.