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by Dr. Baptist Cross F.S.C.

Humility was his forte. Mental discipline and a rigourous spirituality modeled after the heart of Jesus who said, "Learn of me because I am meek and humble of heart," (Mt. 11:29) characterized his entire career.

Well versed in the Holy Scriptures and in the art of prayer and penance, Rev., Fr. B. A. Thomas O.M.I. was a role model to all who came in contact with him. His towering spiritual personality attracted many admirers and his profound simplicity endeared him to all.

Leading an austere life practically all his life time, he implanted his footsteps firmly on the sands of time, never to be obliterated. Many letters of gratitude that come pouring in to the provincialate of the Rosarian Fathers, acknowledging the extraordinary favours granted through his powerful intercession are ample proof of his unquestionable sanctity. Fr. B. A. Thomas O. M. I. was born on 7th of March and breathed his last on 26th January 1964.

Rev. Fr. Thomas had a great love for Jesus, his master. Imitating his hidden life, he shunned all publicity and wanted to follow Jesus very closely. Spending hours in prayer, meditation, contemplation and penance, he gradually formed his congregation setting out the monastic rules in a pragmatic style.

Wishing to be Christ-like, Fr. Thomas would have exclaimed with St. Paul, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me," (gall 2:20) Jesus was his Lord and all. He practised the sermon on the Mount literally and influenced his disciples by his exemplary life, holding aloft the noble virtues in Jesus' hidden life.

Being a very loyal and faithful member of the Oblate, he was constantly invoking Mary, the mother of Christ under whose mantle he sought protection from the evil one. With the Rosary as his constant companion, he used to devotionally finger through the beads, invoking the blessed name of Mary who won him a lot of favours from heaven, specially a happy and serene life.

Mary was his beloved mother. The months of May and October were very special to him. He made it a point to speak eloquently of Mary's virtues and took pride in propagating her devotion. Gradually he laid a very solid foundation for his own Congregation urging the members to have a special love for the most blessed virgin Mary.

Wishing to die a good and holy death, he redoubled his devotion to St. Joseph, admired and imitated St. Joseph in his modesty, forbearance, simplicity and humility and like him he too was dedicated to the humble and obscure chores of the house. Imitating St. Joseph Fr. J. B. Thomas worked tirelessly during the time set apart for manual labour.

Thus giving dignity to the worker and artisans. In order to help the working class and the poor, he had a chain of workshops built in the premises of monastery, where the children, especially the school-drop outs, could learn some useful trades such as carpentry, masonry, and motor mechanics. Although well versed in spirituality he was mindful of the material needs of the society, in particular, the marginalised and the less-fortunate.

Mental discipline

Prayer, meditation and contemplation, enabled Fr. Thomas to be disciplined mentally. Therefore it was quite natural for him to practise the three disciplines of religious life, namely, prayer, penance and simplicity of life, because he was determined to follow the path of holiness.

He was fully aware of Christ's words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit because theirs is the Kingdom of God". (Mt. 5:1) St. Paul's words also challenged him, "I chastise by body and living it under subjection; lest, having preached unto others I myself become a castaway" (1 Cor. 9:27) Having laid the foundation for his version of monastism, prayer combined with penance and manual labour, he made sure that he practised those disciplines rigourously, and faithfully before he could preach to his followers.

Being an enthusiastic lover of nature, he was very close to mother earth. Painstakingly he tilled the soil, planted different types of vegetables, and fruit trees which almost assured self-sufficiency, as far as the daily needs were concerned. The Rosarian monks delicious "nelli crush" became very famous, not only in Jaffna, but in other parts of Sri Lanka as well.

Values

Frequently meditating on the Holy scriptures, specially the kingdom values of love, unity, peace, justice and reconciliation, he formed his congregation according to these norms. There was nothing spectacular or ostentatious about his personality he was austere, but affable and understanding. He was convinced of the kingdom values which gave him his moral rectitude.

Whenever religious dignitaries and laymen came to seek his spiritual advice, they went away spiritually refreshed and with the sense of inner joy of having met a deeply spiritual person, a holy man. Persons of this nature usually have a few enemies, calumniators and detractors, like Jesus the son of God did, but Fr. Thomas, in his magnanimity and graciousness forgave them all.

Eschewing all transient glory and the fleeting pleasures of the world Rev. Fr. Thomas voluntarily embraced a monastic form of life and spent years in prayer, meditation contemplation, often attaining the heights of mysticism. Physically frail and emaciated, he emerged as a spiritual giant of our times, ever ready to encourage and console fellow priest and laymen, in fact anyone who sought his spiritual advice.

He was a beacon of light, shining brightly in darkness, showing the way to wayward and weary pilgrims of life. Now in heaven he continues to dispense innumerable favours, lightening our burden and strengthening our spirit.

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