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Get ready for the second war which is the restoring of the dignity and harmony among all men and women through reconciliation, love and peace", says Archbishop Most. Rev. Dr. Malcolm Ranjith at Padua.

The first of May has been, for the past 10 years, a special day for all the Sri Lankan migrants working in Italy as it has been the day on which all of them gather at Padua. This year too, around 15,000 Sri Lankans gathered to celebrate the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, one of the most popular saints in Sri Lanka and the world over. St. Anthony was born in Lisbon in 1195 and died on the 13th of June 1231 in Padua, Italy.

Native son

The entire world calls St. Anthony its own, but his home city of Lisbon, Portugal, delights to name him its most saintly native son. St. Anthony is considered to be the protector of souls in purgatory, propitiator of happy marriages, defender of animals, defender of lost property, and many other miraculous configurations of popular imagination. He was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on May 30th, 1232.

The celebration on the 1st of May was organized by Rev. Fr. Neville Joe Perera, the National Coordinator of the Italian Bishops' Conference for the Sri Lankan migrants. Organizing such a feast is not an easy task since it is now considered the biggest and the grandest Sri Lankan gathering of any nature outside Sri Lanka.

Eucharistic celebration

The main event was the Eucharistic celebration held in the main Basilica, built in the form of a Latin cross and immersed in semi-darkness, giving a harmonious blend of the imposing power of Romanesque architecture and soaring Gothic style.

One of the most treasured relics of the Basilica is the incorruptible tongue of the Saint (the instrument with which he had glorified God and sanctified His people), which is preserved in a splendid reliquary made by the goldsmith Giuliano of Firenze. The Most Rev. Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, the secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments was the main celebrant, while Most Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis, the President of the Commission for Migrants of the Sri Lankan Bishops' Conference and Monsignor Gian Romano, the National Director for Migrants of the Italian Bishops' Conference concelebrated together with nearly 30 priests from Sri Lanka and Italy. The Mass was celebrated and hymns were sung in both languages, Sinhala and Tamil, giving a national flavour to the whole service.

In his homily, preached in both Sinhala and Italian, His Grace the Archbishop explained the meaning of the universal call to holiness, a much spoken topic within the Church. "Holiness" the archbishop said "is the highest calling. All other things, however important and noble they might seem to be, must lead us and inspire us to this call to holiness which is fundamental to our catholic identity and vocation. Moreover, whatever we say or do must reflect this most noble vocation, which is the call to holiness."

Universality

He went on to explain as to how the very meaning of the word 'Catholic' (which is the same as the universality of the Church) is expressed and realized in the multitude of Her saints drawn from people of all walks of life. According to His Grace the Archbishop, this diversity is shown by having saints of various nationalities and cultures. In their numbers there are white saints and black saints, those who were rich and poor.

Being faithful

Even those in various crafts and professions like the saints, politicians, lawyers and ordinary labourers, priests and religious, and saints who were lay men and women, are all represented within this galaxy of the saints of the Catholic Church.

The archbishop said that much effort is called upon on being faithful in this task since man is often faced with all types of challenges and temptations.

Therefore, he called upon the Sri Lankan migrants to be wise in all what they choose for themselves. "Another aspect of this universal call to holiness", the Archbishop went on to explain, "is the challenge of accepting each other as brothers and sisters of the same Lord.

In the Church there are no strangers and no one is excluded from Her because in Her All have a place to stay. Hence our task as Christians is to rise above all forms of differences and divisions that fall short of our Catholic identity and calling."

Reconciliation and love

Most. Rev. Dr. Malcolm Ranjith delivering the homily

Referring to the situation which is prevailing in the country, the Archbishop said that the war is not the only solution to this crisis. "Now that the war is coming to an end, there is yet another war, a war after the war for which we have to prepare ourselves and which is far more difficult than the war which preceded it.

That is the war of restoring the dignity among all men and women of one Mother Lanka through building harmony and peace through reconciliation and love," His Grace the Archbishop stated.

He also noted that finally, true and lasting peace could only be achieved through respecting the diversity of all men and women of our country, restoring their dignity and building bridges of reconciliation and love.

According to him this is the greatest difficulty and the challenge which we must face in the future. The sermon in Tamil, which expressed the same sentiments, was delivered by Bishop, Most. Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis.

After mass, the relic of the Saint was taken in procession along the main road leading to the Basilica by the Sri Lankans. This was a traditional Sri Lankan procession which included Kandyan dancers. His Grace Archbishop Malcolm blessed the congregation with the sacred relic of the Saint bringing this memorable event to a close.

After this, everyone enjoyed the rest of the day in the company of friends and relatives as it was a welcome break from the tight schedule of work and labour.

It was with one wish and prayer that all Sri Lankans left the sacred place and that too, to come again next year and thank St. Anthony for the miracle of finding the brotherhood and harmony which was lost in Sri Lanka some 30 years ago.

Fr. Shamindra Jayawardena OSB,

in Rome.

Hiking in the footsteps of Jesus

American Linda Halel strains under the weight of her backpack but says she has gained spiritual strength walking in the footsteps of Jesus, Bible in hand and a smile on her face.

"This has taken my faith to a new level," she says as she recounts the past few days she spent walking from village to village along the rugged landscape of Israel's Galilee region where Jesus did much of his preaching.

Hikers climb down Mount Arbel in the Lower Galilee near the city of Tiberias on April 25. A 65-kilometre (41-mile) route is taking hikers from Jesus Christ’s boyhood town of Nazareth to the Mount of Beatitudes where he is believed to have delivered his seminal Sermon on the Mount. The Jesus Trail, a three- to four-day journey, is seen as an opportunity for Christians to feel connected to their faith and the life of Jesus. AFP

"I know I am walking where Himself and the apostles walked," she says as she looks down from the dramatic clifftop of Mount Arbel to the Sea of Galilee on whose waters Christ is said to have walked.

Halel, 43, is hiking the new Jesus Trail, a 65-kilometre (41-mile) route from Jesus's boyhood town of Nazareth to the Mount of Beatitudes where he is believed to have delivered his seminal Sermon on the Mount.

David Landis, a 26-year web designer from Philadelphia, hopes Pope Benedict XVI's May 14 visit to Nazareth will help promote the route he developed with Israeli Maoz Inon, a fellow trekking enthusiast about one year ago.

The two used satellite maps to find a way to walk from one religious site to another along existing footpaths and dirt roads.

Together with the Israeli Society for the Protection of Nature, they have put markers along the trail, and hikers can download the GPS coordinates from their website (www.jesustrail.com.)

Landis sees the three- to four-day journey as an opportunity for Christians to feel connected to their faith and the life of Jesus, but insists it is not designed just for the faithful.

In fact, he says, many non-Christians have done the hike just to enjoy the walk and see the historical sites along the route..

For Landis, who lives in Nazareth, the trail is not just about hiking in the footsteps of Jesus, but also about walking as he did, connecting with people along the way.

"Jesus spent a lot of time walking and meeting people. We hope people on the trail will do the same," says Landis, a soft-spoken Mennonite who has hiked hundreds of kilometres in dozens of countries around the world.

The first day of the trek takes hikers to the Arab town of Cana, the supposed site at which Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast, and a popular spot for Christian couples to renew their vows.

On a recent Saturday, middle-aged Filipino couples stood before a priest at the Cana Roman Catholic Wedding Church again pledging their undying love, and later holding up a certificate for the cameras of their fellow pilgrims. "That alone was worth our trip," Citas Magbopoy says, beaming after she renewed her vows. "It's always been my dream to visit the places where Jesus lived, where it all started."

On the street outside, a group of hymn-singing faithful march in procession past posters welcoming the pope to the Holy Land and souvenir stores that sell bottles of Cana Wedding Wine.

Another highlight of the trek is the hill known as the Horns of Hittin, the site of an 1187 battle when the Muslim armies under Saladin defeated the Crusaders, opening their way for the reconquest of Jerusalem.

From the top, hikers get their first views of the Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake along whose shores Jesus is said to have performed several miracles, including multiplying a few fishes and loaves of bread into enough to feed a multitude.

In early spring, before the rainless days that turn the earth brown, fields teem with daisies, yellow wildflowers, bright red poppies and multihued butterflies.

"Jesus spent a lot of time walking. He noticed the birds, the flowers, the scenery, as we can see from his parables," says Landis, pointing to the peaceful landscape..

Below the Horns of Hittin, nestled between the hills, the large mosque-like Nebi Shueib compound houses the traditional tomb of Jethro, father-in-law of Moses. MOUNT ARBEL, Israel, AFP

Literature and Christian life

The traditional song 'Ahasa-Polowa' composed by Rev. Gonsalves, Writer and Musician in the 17th century proclaims that the skies (Heaven) are free as the earth which emphasises for the buds of spiritual thoughts, to liberate our minds crowded with various thoughts as described in the commencement of the song. Rev. Gonsalves came here at the invitation of Rev. Joseph Vas to do some literal translations and writing. The development of printing techniques during the Dutch made way for the revival of major religions.

Sky and the earth

"The sky and the earth is supposed to be free," as described in the song 'The Poet' calls us to think how one could be accountable to his Creator (God) for his lifetime deeds at the last day of judgement. This is the message that is relevant to most people in our times of worldly life today. It was so as it was in the beginnings of mankind. People rush behind Moha and Thanha and face Dukka or Sorrow which is eternal and binding. He also emphasises the need for Dana to act as positive action to achieve the greatness of heavenly happiness. Dana is prescribed as a means of liberation of the soul or consciousness and making the mind free in the performance of meritorious acts. Buddhism teaches Dana, Seela and Samadhi as the way to the liberation of the self. There is no happiness than to offer arms to the less fortunate that will bring consolation at the jaws of Hell which is brought out in the second sonnet.

Love and compassion

It also emphasise the hopelessness one could have the mastering all sciences and disciplines without understanding love and the compassion of the Divine. One may have all the riches in the worldly possessions, but at the time of death like Christ one should not possess anything not even the clothes one wears. When Christ was put to death on the Cross He was almost naked and even his red cloak, what the mother would have given him was even auctioned for 30 pieces of gold by the Roman army soldiers.

The mission

He did not even have a permanent home or a pillow to his head, not even slippers for his foot or food to eat. All these were provided on his way in the mission.

Today people who have wealth give pain to others and have pleasure in robbing others' possessions and proclaim that they are victorious in the strategies for existence in the worldly systems. People by various schemey methods pull out the weak out of their habitations and homes and boast that they have achieved in the worldly. They have destroyed the clean atmosphere what was inherited by them by the Creator for generations by emitting gases to the sky and bring untold misery to life and plant. This is the main root cause of the present climate change. The poet has warned those engaged in such worldly actions and warn painful death which is final to them.

In Ahasa Polawa - II the second part of the song, the priest writer condemns the lusty society greed for wealth which brings sorrow and even death. One may have upstair houses, barns of cattle and poultry, tanks, the canals which are the symbols of wealth in the 17th century during the period the writer lived among the Canadian peasantry. These principles of the accumulation of wealth are somewhat even relevant even today. Then the poem contemplates on the Pilikul Bhavana on the hopelessness of artificial fashions and lifestyles of modern way of life. One penny allocated to helping someone brings eternal rest than all these fantacies could bring the happiness what man can achieve. Everything will be relinquished into the earth, dusty and decay.

Kindness and charity

The poem preached Anitya and Dukka to the sinners. All the efforts to accumulate wealth in protective bonds will decay and perish unless deposits of kindness and charity which can guarantee high interest in the heavens, describe the song.

The literal message is that one must be poor at heart to receive the greatness of the Divine which is reachable to anyone who has a free mind ready to unite with the Divine at the shortest possible notice.

The poem sounds on the greatness of simple living of the man some 2,000 years ago in Israel called Jesus. He did not have personal security or golden deposits in banks. He had no private media agency to database his stories. They were heard on the way and later others wrote what he preached. It is timely that the contribution of the late Rev. Gonsalves who made a lasting contribution in putting the teachings of Christianity into compendium of poems and songs which needs serious research by the academics as Professor Sunil Ariyaratne once observed in a lecture attending a Catholic literary festival in Colombo.

Bandula Nonis

Promise from the Word of God

You are special to Jesus. He died to save you. His death on the Cross was not easy. He sacrificed His position and stepped down and not only that He was willing to suffer immensely in order to redeem you from the clutches of sin and second death this would have destroyed you eternally.

A priest is blessed by Pope Benedict XVI during his consecration in a mass at St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on May 3. AFP

Instead, He gave you an eternal place in heaven in His presence, as His child. If you really grasp the truth of this matter, you will constantly praise Jesus and be so grateful for this wonderful gift. When your spiritual eyes are opened to see and understand the salvation plan, then, whatever you are undergoing in this life becomes bearable. In fact with the help of the Holy Spirit one can even be joyful in the circumstances, as the promise from the Word of God is that -

If you really understand how precious you are to Jesus your life on this earth does not take importance over, as you know there are better things to follow and thereby you are able to give the right priorities to the right things. This is very important to receive the peace that Jesus has to offer you.

Life is full of choices to a Christian. We must constantly discard the natural from the spiritual. We must learn to look at every situation through the eyes of God, as God is a spirit we must learn to think on a spiritual level, this very often means we have to trust in things we cannot see and act through faith.

Faith will have to be exhibited when God asks us to do something and when our common sense screams at us in disbelief. 'are you crazy to behave like this?'

The most obvious lessons on faith are seen when we read about Noah - God asks him to build this huge ark during clear nights and sun shinery days pending a great flood.

Did you know that Noah did not even know or had seen the rain come down as during his period, the word of God informs us in Genesis 2:5-6 -

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth and every Herb of the field before it grew for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth and there was not a man to till the ground.

But there went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life .... the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.

Unquestioningly Noah obeys God and I am sure you will agree that this required tremendous Faith on his part. He not only understood the power of God but believed in Him although many things spoke against in the natural realm - the weather at the time - the method by which the ark was to operate - if he had stopped to listen to the message from the natural realm he could not have performed what God instructed him to do.

Noah desired to live under the direction of God and he fully understood his place in Him.

Prayer:

Our Loving Heavenly Father, I thank you so much that I am recognised by you as a child of God. Thank you Jesus for all the suffering that you underwent to save me and to bring me to this position. Let me never forget this and help me to get my priorities right and make the right choices. Father I want so much to discern the natural from the spiritual so that I will receive this wonderful knowledge as to my place in you and the true peace you have promised to impart to your children will be mine. I come to you Jehovah Shaloam, The God of Peace, to receive this promise in Jesus name. Amen.

St. Anthony's feast celebrated in Padua