Daily News Online

DateLine Thursday, 12 June 2008

News Bar »

News: EU pledges impartial GSP+ review ...        Political: Keheliya regrets Ranil's remarks ...       Business: SLT targets Rs. 47 b turnover for 2008 ...        Sports: Lanka out of the final ...

Home

 | SHARE MARKET  | EXCHANGE RATE  | TRADING  | PICTURE GALLERY  | ARCHIVES | 

dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Christian perspectives

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Anthony was born in 1195 near Lisbon receiving the name of Ferdinand. His father was a revenue officer and knight at the court of Alfonso II, king of Portugal. Ferdinand was sent to the cathedral school in Lisbon.

At the age of fifteen, he joined the Canons Regular of St. Augustine. He stayed in the house in Lisbon. But he found the visits of his relatives too disturbing and so he asked to be transferred to Coimbra.

The Coimbra monastery had a renowned school of biblical studies which Ferdinand found a most congenial environment. He studied with intense application for eight years and became a profound theological and scriptural scholar.

One day, Ferdinand, in his capacity as guest-master, looked after five Franciscan friars, who were on their way to Morocco. Later he came to know that no sooner had they arrived at the mission than they were savagely butchered.

Their remains were brought back to Coimbra and given a State funeral. Ferdinand was completely unsettled by his fleeting acquaintance with the martyrs. He longed to give his life on some distant mission field. Fired with this new ambition, Ferdinand took the painful and unusual step of leaving the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in order to join the Franciscans.

They soon conceded him permission to go to Morocco. But the longed-for martyrdom was not for him. Illness supervened at once and he was ordered home.

On the return journey, his ship was driven out of its course by a storm and he had to land at Messina in Sicily. He then joined his Franciscan brethren in Italy. He was sent to a little hospice near Forli in Emilia where he was given some menial duties.

Within a year, Anthony's brilliant gifts were discovered. At an ordination ceremony at Forli, the special preacher engaged for the occasion failed to appear. None of the others present would agree to fill the gap and oblige with an extempore sermon.

To get out of his predicament, the Father Provincial briefly ordered Anthony to preach. His performance astonished the audience who saw at once that Anthony had all the gifts of a first-rate speaker: poise, delivery, conviction, personal charm, amazing memory, mastery of theology and scripture. Hence he was immediately appointed as the preacher to the whole of Italy.

The Froli hospice saw no more of Anthony. He was always on the road, travelling ceaselessly from the south of Italy to the north of France, devoting all his time, talents and energy to the work of preaching. The world became his cloister. The response of the people was too high.

The churches could not hold the crowds who came to hear him. A platform had to be set up for him out of doors. Soon the streets and squares could not accommodate the people and the platform had to be carried outside the town or city to a plain or hillside where twenty, thirty, forty thousand would gather to hear him. At the rumours of his coming, shops were shuttered up, markets suspended and law courts closed.

During the night before the sermon, the whole countryside became alive with flittering lights as people began to converge from all sides to the venue. It seemed that to those who had once come within the sphere of Anthony's influence, nothing whatsoever could rival the interest of his sermons. He came to be called 'The Hammer of Heretics' and 'The Ark of the Covenant.'

Anthony's favourite line was a virulent attack on the weakness of the secular clergy and on the prevalent sins of contemporary society: their greed, their luxurious living and their tyranny. Once he was invited to preach at a synod at Bourges, presided over by the Archbishop Simon de Sully. With the words Tibi loquor cornute ('as for you, there, with the mitre on your head'), he denounced the prelate who had invited him and petrified the audience.

Anthony preached his last Lent in Padua. It is long remembered for the furore it caused in the city. The Paduans could find neither food nor accommodation for the crowds who invaded them. After Easter, Anthony and his two companions went to a friend's country estate outside the city for a rest.

Walking through the woods, they were whimsically delighted with a giant walnut tree which had six branches growing upwards from the crown. They bound the branches together with woven willows and roofed them with rushes to make a cool, airy cell for the tired preacher.

Anthony was far from well. Ten years' preaching had taken all his physical reserves. He had developed dropsy, which made breathing difficult. He was finding it increasingly difficult to get about because his swollen body refused to respond. He had worn it out at the age of thirty six.

In this characteristic Franciscan retreat, Anthony had an intimation of death 13th June 1231. He told his companions to take him back to St. Mary's in Padua, because he did not want to be a trouble to their kind host.

They placed him on a peasant's cart drawn by an ox and began the doleful journey back to the city through the summer dust and heat.

Soon Anthony was beyond speech. So they halted at the convent of the Poor Ladies at Arcella. Here they placed him sitting upright again to help him to breath. He began to chant a Lauds hymn and so singing, he died. Shortly after Anthony's death, his fame shifted focus. He was canonized in less than a year after his death. It was because he lived a life larger than his life.

Fr. Don Anton Saman Hettiarachchi, St. Aloysius' Minor Seminary, Colombo 8, Sri Lanka.


Christianity: path of love and light

Man consists of mind and body. Most people ensure that their bodies are clean for good health and to prevent discomfort for others with whom one associates.

However, there is considerable neglect in the effort to maintain a clean mind. The mind is a flow of thought and though not visible to the human eye and its location cannot be determined has an important role to play in the practice of Christianity.

To build the confidence of the people, to instill into them a sense of well-being and to encourage them to actively participate in the fight against the elements of disorder Christianity is needed alongside other aspects which are applicable to our own situation in our country.

The Christian qualities of reconciliation and forgiveness would heal sorrow filled memories. We need Christianity as it conditions the people by instilling into them a spirit of compromise and tolerance. Christianity is also needed for the establishment of a just and righteous society.

These have been necessitated as a result of an evaluation of the root causes that have led to the interracial tension, conflict, distrust and suspicion which we are experiencing today. Christianity is more realistic of what is intended to be achieved, to reach, reconcile and renew hearts and minds.

The thoughts of the people who have understood the truth of Christianity are completely different from others. They are in a position to forget the things around them and most importantly they tend to forget themselves.

The thoughts of those who have understood the truth of Christianity care for the Lord whom they worship. They realise that God guides their souls. They believe that the Bible enlightens them.

They believe that Christianity could fulfil their life. With Christianity they sense of awakened justice within their inner self. Christianity fosters human brotherhood. Every Christian must do deeds of beneficence. Also Christianity has the real essence of all wisdom. In Christianity God is beyond the limitations of a symbol or name.

Christianity is needed as Christians walk through all their life in the path of love and light. Christians accept their life as given to them as they strongly believe the form of life they ought to lead is destined by him alone in perfect resignation. For Christian believers the sacredness of the name of God makes them strive to reach higher forms of faith.

Christians believe that the inspiration of knowledge and guidance is in the hands of God alone. The mature Christians soul that draws blessings from the heaven let God speak to them through the soul.

Although God is busy speaking through all things yet in order to speak to those deaf among us it is necessary for him to speak through the lips of man. God has done it all through the history of mankind. Every great teacher in the past has enjoyed the life as a guiding spirit living the life of God in human guise.

Christian guidance teaches those of who deserve among us to understand reality. It is the Christian approach that will enable us to change attitudes heal and build relationships on a foundation of the noble qualities of love, compassion, patience, and forgiveness which are the crystallized teachings of Christianity.

In order to reverse the trend of negativity and to reorient the thinking of the people towards more religious patterns of behaviour it will be necessary to be educated in the religion of Christianity. For this, we need a renewal of Christianity.

Where it should be spearheaded by religious leaders such as the Catholic clergy and selected members of the laity.

The emphasis should be on an experiential dimension of the basic tenets of Christianity. There should be a revival of Christian cultural values particularly those that would promote discipline, respect for authority and lifestyles that would be in keeping with Christian culture. There is a need for Christianity as all should understand what the spirit of guidance is and how the Christian guidance come to be practised.

The duty of every Christian is to follow the religion though each and everyone should have his own path. We should understand that every soul is for a specific purpose and the religious path leads all towards attainment of their ideal both worldly as well as heavenly.

The people who understand the word of wisdom would simply know which religion is clear for them to understand the spirit of truth. A peaceful harmonious life cannot be led until the sense of Christian justice has been awakened by self conscience.

Although different religions have acted harmoniously and peacefully their followers have a different perspective and we should not fail to understand that they all meet at one Zenith that is the real truth which is Christianity.


Feast of St. Anthony

The month of June is marked basically with the feast of St Anthony of Padua and Sri Lankan Catholics and non Catholics as well will celebrate the feast in several parishes in the country with the main feast on June 13th at the St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade, Colombo.

St. Anthony's Shrine, Kochchikade, Colombo: The feast of St. Anthony will be celebrated on 13th June 2008 at the Shrine of St. Anthony, Kochchikade, Colombo 13.

The Pontifical Vespers will be on June at 12 at 7 p.m. The Festival High Masses at 8 a.m. in Tamil, 10 a.m. in Sinhala and 12.00 noon in English. The other masses at 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Tamil, 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. in Sinhala. The procession will be on June 13 at 5.30 p.m. followed by Benediction.

Wahakotte: The National Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua at Wahakotte will celebrate the feast on Sunday, June 15 with a festive High Mass offered at 8.30 am by President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianny Fernando, Bishop of Kandy.

There will be Holy Masses in English at 5.30 am and 6.30 am in English, at 12.00 noon in Sinhala and a Holy Mass at 5.00 pm in Sinhala. The Vespers will be on Saturday at 7.00 pm.

Kadalana - Moratuwa: St. Anthony's Church will celebrate the 125th Jubilee of the Church on Friday June 13 with a festive High Mass offered by Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis as chief celebrant. Vespers on the previous day will be sung by Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo Diocese Rt. Rev. Dr. Marius Peiris.

There will be a procession at 4.00 pm taking the 460 year old Statue of St. Anthony and followed by a Holy Mass offered at 6.00 pm.

Kallarawa of Nilaweli Parish Church in Trincomalee: The feast of St. Anthony will be celebrated on Friday, June 13, at 8.00 am with a Festive Holy Mass offered by Rt. Rev. Dr. Norbert Andradi OMI, Bishop of Anuradhapura.

Kepungoda: Catholic community with the participation of those devoted to St. Anthony of Paduwa will celebrate the 162 feast of the Church on Sunday June 15 with a festive Holy Mass offered by Rev. Fr. Ananda Vithanage, Principal of Gonzalez Maha Vidyalaya, Pamunugama. On June 14 Vespers will be sung by Rev. Fr. Shanthi Kumar Welivita, Vice Rector, Aquinas. School of Higher Studies, Borella.

On Friday, June 13 there will be a procession of the Blessed Sacrament at 7.00 pm with the participation of Rev. Fr. Merl Shanthi, Adminidstrator of National Basilica of Our Lady of Sri Lanka, Ragama.

Muruthana - Thoppuwa: The Golden Jubilee celebration of the Church dedicated to St. Anthony will be celebrated on Sunday, June 15 with a Jubilee Holy Mass at 8.00 am offered by Colombo Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Oswald Gomis as chief celebrant.

There will be Holy Mass in Tamil at 6.30 am. The Vespers will be sung by the Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo Diocese Rt. Rev. Dr. Marius Peiris with Very Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, the Episcopal Vicar for Colombo North.

Weliveriya - Gampaha: St. Anthony's Church will celebrate on Sunday, June 15 with a festive High Mass at 8.00 am. There will be Holy Masses at 5. 30 am, 6.45 am and at 6.00 pm. Vespers service at 7.00 pm on Saturday, followed by a procession.

Nainamadama: St. Anthony's Church will celebrate the feast with a festive Holy Mass on June 15 at 7.30 am offered by Rev. Fr. Morris Anderson, the Parish Priest of the Mission.

After the Holy Mass the devotes will be blessed by the Relic of St. Anthony and in the evening after the procession there will be a Holy Mass and the Blessing from the Statue.

The procession will begin at 3.00 pm.

Thoduwawa: The Annual feast of St. Anthony will be celebrated on Sunday, June 22 with a festive Holy Mass at 7.00 am offered by Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Wijesinghe, Vicar General of the Chilaw Diocese. Vespers service will be presided over by the Conventual Prior of the OSB Very Rev. Fr. Leonard Ranasinghe.

Dalupotha: Feast of St. Anthony will be celebrated on Friday, June 13 at 11.00 am with a festive High Mass will be offered by a newly ordained Priest of the Parish Rev. Fr. Dinesh Tharanga.

There will be Holy Masses at 5.30 am and 6.30 am and 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm. Procession on the feast day will commence at 4.00 pm and there will be blessing from the Statue of St. Anthony after the procession. Vespers on June 12 , at 7.00 pm will be sung by Rev. Fr. Kalana Ishara Peiris.

119th annual feast of Batagama St. Anthony's Church: The Parish Priest and the Assistant Rev. Frs. Indra Ratnasiri and Deshan Lasantha together with Parish Council have made arrangements to celebrate the 119th annual feast of St. Anthony on June 13.

Rev. Fr. Nilantha Ediriwickrema will chant the Vespers, on June 12. The festival high mass is to be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Luxshman Anthony on June 13 at 8 a.m. Special masses are to be celebrated at 5.30, 6.30 and 11 in the morning, on the same day.

The chief celebrant of the final festive mass will be Rev. Fr. Derrington Subasinghe, which will be celebrated at 6.00 p.m. followed by the procession carrying the statue of St. Anthony wending its ways along decorated streets.


Vatican delegation visits Vietnam

A Vatican delegation arrived Monday for its annual visit to communist Vietnam, where Catholics have this year protested for the return of seized church lands, state media reported.

The delegation, led by Undersecretary of State Monsignor Pietro Parolin, was due to meet Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem during their week-long visit, said the Vietnam News Agency.

Italian priest Parolin and his group were also set to hold talks with religious affairs officials, the Episcopal Council of the Vietnam Catholic Church, and the Hanoi People's Committee, which is involved in the land dispute.

Vietnam has Southeast Asia's largest Roman Catholic community after the Philippines - about six million out of a population of 86 million. Hanoi, Friday, AFP


LBCS hosts South Asian session

Lanka Bible College and Seminary (LBCS) hosted the inaugural planning session for the South Asia Graduate School of Theology. The meeting was held on April 22nd - 23rd on the LBC Campus, Peradeniya. Dr. Theresa Lua, Presiding Dean-AGST, Chaired the proceedings.

LBCS Principal Lal Senanayake commenting on this significant meeting said "the setting up of the SAGST meets is a long felt need for faculty development in the South Asian Context".

LBC offers university validated degrees in Leadership and Education at Bachelors and Masters levels through its main campus and the Colombo based Centre for Graduate Studies (CGS).



The annual feast of St. Sebastian’s Shrine, Kandana was held on May 25. The chief celebrant at the festive high mass was Very Rev. Fr. Leonard Ranasinghe, prior of Sylvestro Benedictine Monks in Sri Lanka. A large number of devotees participated in the procession which was the main feature of the event. The feast was organised by the parishioners under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Mahendra Gunathilake, the Administrator. Here Fr. Leonard Ranasinghe being greeted on his arrival. Picture by Roshan Almeida



The Salasian Fathers and Brothers in the World held the 26th Chapter of the Congregation in Rome recently. Sri Lanka was represented by Very Rev. Fr. Anthony H. Pinto SDB, Country Director/Provincial Superior of Don Bosco Sri Lanka. Fr. Pinto is seen second from the left in the first row. Courtesy: ANS - Imagebank sdb

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

Gamin Gamata - Presidential Community & Welfare Service
www.stanthonyshrinekochchikade.org
www.lankanest.com
Ceylinco Banyan Villas
Mount View Residencies
www.hotelgangaaddara.com
www.news.lk
www.defence.lk
www.helpheroes.lk/
www.peaceinsrilanka.org
www.army.lk

| News | Editorial | Business | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2008 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor