Priestly Prayer

 Parce, Domine

A Priestly Reflection

O Lord, I have no words strong or beautiful enough
To convey my heart’s joy, my love, my gratitude.
I can only echo the words of Your great servant, Thomas Aquinas:
Laus et jubilatio — praise and joy.

The path I chose was marked by strain and denial,
Yet through those days of formation, of self-deprivation,
You guided me to a place of joy and peace.
In times of darkness and confusion,
You showed me the right path.

I remember Your call as I walked home after Mass,
Alone, my rosary beads slipping through my fingers.
To work for You and preach Your message
Became a silent mission within my heart.

Your call came decisively on that quiet walk from church.
I was sixteen; the world was opening lightly and brightly before me.
My friends planned for college and bright futures,
But You were already within me, strong and insistent.
I did not think of academic life or a prosperous career,
Though academically I was well-placed.

Yet You worked wonders in my life,
Granting me the grace to study both in India and abroad.
Your kindness and generosity defy words.

My years as a teacher, my time as a college president —
These were Your gifts, enabling me
To touch and guide the lives of many young people.
Countless were the chances You gave me
To help them blossom and bear fruit.
Seeing their growth and achievements,
My heart overflows with joy.

I knew the priestly life would demand sacrifice,
But You were always there — my support, my guide.
Through every phase of my priesthood,
I felt Your presence shining within me,
A radiant light revealing Your will.

Through storms and tribulations,
Through thick clouds and thunder,
Your light never ceased to shine.
You were my lodestar on this priestly journey.

Your words have made me gentle and compassionate.
Your walk upon the sea, and the words, “Do not be afraid” —
These have been the rock upon which I stand.

I remember, too, my failures and lapses,
My sins and falls.
Yet You were always there to lift me,
To set me on my feet again.
In those dark moments, Your words —
“I came to call sinners, not the righteous” —
Brought me courage and peace.

Is a priest’s life a gift or a mystery?
As the great evangelizer, Pope John Paul II, once asked.
I have seen, O Lord, Your hands stretched out upon the cross —
Hands not of wrath, but of caress,
Drawing me into the embrace of Your love.

Now, as the evening of my life
Approaches the shores of eternity,
I see red and orange rays
Breaking across the horizon of my days.
Friends depart. Conversations grow fewer.
The urge to labor fades.

And so I can only pray:

Parce, Domine, parce populo tuo;
Ne in aeternum irascaris nobis.

Spare, O Lord, spare Your people;
Be not angry with us forever.

 

Fr.Mathew Mepreth

 Fr. Mathew Mepreth

O Father, you were a true priest—
encouraging, loving, and inspiring.
Even in illness, when your eyes could no longer see,
your heart still reached out to others.

You spent your days asking about friends and colleagues,
their health, their ministry, their work.
With warm congratulations, gentle thoughts,
and kind words, you lifted spirits.

My own efforts in building academic institutions
were strengthened by your encouragement,
guided by your inspiring voice.
Your words, your calls, your greetings—
they remain fresh in my heart.

I often visited you,
and now those familiar places
feel distant, silent, and far away.

Yet you live on in my thoughts.
The memory of our friendship
will always stay with me.

Goodbye, dear Father.
May the Lord welcome you
into His eternal joy and peace

Goodbye, Sister

How can I ever describe you?
Your love, your humor, your gentle jokes remain with me.
Wherever I go, with whomever I speak,
your presence lingers—quiet, unseen, yet real.

Years have passed, days have rolled by,
but memories stay fresh, alive in my heart.
We never thought this day would come,
yet the Lord has called you home,
to share His eternal joy.

We thought your voice would always greet us
at the close of every day.
Your laughter and your playful words
soothed our hurts, lightened our burdens.
We dreamed our walks together
would never end.

But now your voice is stilled.
Your eyes no longer behold
the beauty of God’s creation.
Still, your laughter, your kindness,
your warmth remain with us.

No longer can we clasp your hand,
nor hear your cheerful welcome.
Goodbye, beloved Sister.
You rest with the Lord.

We, still on the way,
struggle to overcome our sins,
seeking to be purified,
that one day we may also rejoice
in the radiant sunshine of His love.

Goodbye—yet not forever.
We will hold fast to the memory
of those beautiful days and years,
until we meet again.

 

 

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundathy Roy

 

“Mother Mary Comes to Me” by Arundhati Roy

This book is a biography of Mary Roy, written by her daughter Arundhati Roy. Yet, in many ways, it also becomes Arundhati’s own autobiography, since the lives of mother and daughter are deeply intertwined—sometimes even beyond her conscious awareness. As Arundhati recounts her mother’s struggles and triumphs, she simultaneously reveals the shaping of her own life.

Arundhati’s worldview, often marked by defiance of traditional moral codes, was shaped by the difficult treatment her mother endured in her youth. Despite rejection and harsh words, she maintained a bond with her mother, keeping the lines of communication open.

In this narrative, Arundhati reveals the pain of growing up deprived of her mother’s affection, the absence of her father, her struggles with identity, her rebellious choices, and her unconventional relationships. Eager to escape, she longed to leave her mother’s school in Kottayam and begin anew at an architecture college in Delhi. Though she worked part-time as an architect, she willingly abandoned it to take part in a documentary on village life—an early sign of her adventurous spirit and her fearless resilience in facing ordeals.

What surprises the reader is the unbroken thread of family ties, especially with her mother. Even though Mary Roy often used harsh and abusive words toward her, Arundhati kept a small flame of love alive—visiting her, and ultimately caring for her in her final days.

Mary Roy herself was a formidable figure. Her landmark legal battle at the Supreme Court of India against the Travancore Christian Succession Act secured equal inheritance rights for women, though it left her estranged from her family and community. She boldly started a school in Kottayam that grew into one of Kerala’s most respected institutions. Her courage, boldness, and uncompromising willpower were traits her daughter also carried forward.

Arundhati, drawing from her mother’s spirit, threw herself into rebellious movements, lending her voice and pen to the marginalized. She lived modestly in a single-room apartment, but with the publication of her first novel, The God of Small Things, her life transformed. The book’s worldwide success brought her wealth, fame, and the means to support social causes close to her heart.

What makes Mother Mary Comes to Me remarkable is how beautifully Arundhati integrates personal experience with literary expression. With fearless honesty, vivid imagery, and flawless diction, she crafts not just a biography of her mother, but also a testament to resilience, rebellion, and the unbreakable bond of love. It is, without doubt, a literary masterpiece.

My Reflections on Priesthood

 

The Priesthood: A Life of Service and Gratitude

Introduction

In today’s world, the relevance of priesthood is often questioned. Some dismiss it as outdated, while others feel disillusioned by priests who fail to reflect the compassion of Christ. Yet, priesthood remains a sacred calling—a life rooted in love for Jesus and sustained by His grace. My own journey as a priest has been shaped by this love, expressed in teaching, pastoral ministry, and daily encounters with people.

The Heart of Priesthood

At its core, priesthood is not about titles, projects, or positions. As Cardinal Walter Kasper reminds us, what truly matters is reflecting Christ’s compassion. Henri Nouwen described priests as “wounded healers,” reminding us that imperfection is not a barrier but a channel for God’s mercy. Archbishop Fulton Sheen put it simply: the difference between a priest and a prisoner is only that the former was not caught.

Priests must always return to their identity: to be, above all, priests of Jesus Christ. Administrative roles may come, but their mission remains the same—to make Christ present in the world.

Qualities of a Priest Today

Fr. Peter Stravinskas identifies essential qualities for priests in modern times:

• Courage of conviction in faith

• Confidence without arrogance

• Enthusiasm and passion for Christ

• Joy grounded in eternity

• Scholarship and ongoing learning

• Prudence, courtesy, and dignity

These qualities rest on timeless foundations: prayer, obedience, and chastity.

A Teacher and Guide

Some of my happiest memories are of guiding students. On several occasions, I was able to support gifted young people who faced financial difficulties. Many went on to become doctors, engineers, and leaders in their fields. These experiences showed me that priesthood is not only about preaching but also about opening doors for others and nurturing their God-given potential.

Pastoral Ministry in the U.S.

After retiring from college teaching, I served in parish ministry in the United States. These years were deeply fulfilling. Preaching the Word of God and celebrating the Eucharist gave me great joy. Parishioners encouraged me, and on one occasion, a congregation even applauded after my homily—a rare and humbling experience.

Such moments confirmed my belief that the priest’s task is to make Christ present through word and sacrament. For this grace, I remain profoundly grateful.

Celibacy: A Gift and Challenge

Celibacy is both a demanding challenge and a profound gift. Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa observes that celibacy without deep love for Christ becomes a burden, but lived in love, it becomes spiritually fruitful. It requires humility, discipline, companionship, and constant reliance on God’s grace.

The joyful witness of a priest who lives celibacy authentically is itself one of the strongest invitations to new vocations.

Weakness and Mercy

Like all people, priests carry weakness and sin. I often feel unworthy of my calling. Yet, as Thomas Merton writes, our poverty is the soil in which God plants His desire. Henri Nouwen’s vision of priests as “wounded healers” is deeply consoling: our brokenness can become the very place where God’s mercy shines.

Companions on the Journey

Spiritual writers like Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen have been great companions in my priesthood. Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain first inspired me in seminary, and visiting his grave at Gethsemane Abbey was a moving experience. Nouwen’s The Wounded Healer affirmed that priests minister out of their own woundedness. These writers remind us that the priestly life, though fragile, is always carried by grace.

Gratitude and the Eucharist

Ultimately, the priestly life is one of gratitude. Every day is a gift; every act of ministry is grace. Gratitude finds its highest expression in the Eucharist, the supreme act of thanksgiving. In celebrating it, the priest unites himself to Christ’s self-offering and becomes a living witness of God’s love.

Conclusion

Priesthood is not a profession but a vocation—a life lived close to Jesus, rooted in gratitude, and sustained by His mercy. It is a call to reflect His love and compassion, even in weakness. To be a priest is to stand as a sign of Christ’s presence in the world, a task beyond human strength but made possible through God’s unfailing grace.

Walker Percy-A brief glance at his work and message.

 Walker Percy: Life and Thought

It was through a casual event that I came across the name of Walker Percy. As I was browsing through the back issues of "Saturday Review", I  saw a book review of Percy's "Lancelot" which was published a few months ago. The review inspired me to read all the novels and collections of essays published until that time. One of the happiest moments of my life was when I had the chance to be in the audience when he delivered the Jefferson lecture at the National Museum of History in 1989. After the talk, I met him and showed him a copy of my book, "Prophecy in American Fiction." Excitedly, he called me by my name and signed my book.

Walker Percy was born on May 28, 1916. He was orphaned at an early age when his father, LeRoy Percy, committed suicide, and his mother was later killed in an automobile accident. He and his brothers were adopted by their uncle, William Alexander Percy, under whose guidance they grew up.

William Alexander Percy was a lawyer, a well-known planter in the South, and an accomplished author. His home was a gathering place for great writers, including William Faulkner. Unsurprisingly, Percy’s early college essays revealed the influence of Faulkner’s prose style. After completing his undergraduate studies, Percy pursued a career in medicine. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University and began his residency at Bellevue Hospital in 1941. The following year, however, he contracted tuberculosis and was forced to leave his medical career behind. Percy spent a long period of convalescence in a sanatorium at Lake Saranac in the Adirondacks.

This slow recovery gave him ample time for reading and reflection. It was during this period that Percy encountered the works of Søren Kierkegaard, whose writings prompted him to question the limitations of the scientific method, particularly when applied to human beings and the human spirit. He later wrote, “I gradually began to realize that as a scientist—a doctor, a pathologist—I knew very much about man but had little idea of what man is.”

Following his recovery, Percy returned to the South and immersed himself in the works of philosophers such as Gabriel Marcel, Martin Heidegger, Karl Jaspers, and Jean-Paul Sartre. Among them, however, it was Kierkegaard who had the most profound influence on him. Percy credited Kierkegaard—especially the essay “The Difference Between a Genius and an Apostle”—with leading him to Catholicism. Kierkegaard distinguished between the genius, who seeks knowledge, and the apostle, who is willing to sacrifice his life for the truth he bears. For Kierkegaard, the Christian message is transmitted through apostles rather than geniuses, and this insight deeply shaped Percy’s faith.

The most striking feature of Percy’s fiction is his ability to integrate philosophy, religion, and modernity. His experimentation with narrative form in novels such as Love in the Ruins, Lancelot, and The Second Coming places him among the most innovative contemporary American novelists. At the same time, Percy belongs to the small circle of successful Catholic novelists whose works are profoundly informed by faith without being overtly doctrinal.

Rather than presenting theological arguments, Percy’s novels explore the human need for intersubjectivity—that is, authentic interpersonal relationships—as the foundation of genuine human existence. His fiction embodies the hallmarks of contemporary literature: sharp wit, irony, and linguistic experimentation. Yet beneath these features lies a serious critique of modern secular life.

Percy believed that the secular spirit exercised an overwhelming influence on the modern mind, often leading to a condition of malaise or spiritual lethargy. Through his novels, he diagnosed this condition with the precision of a physician and, like a prophet, pointed toward renewal through spiritual regeneration and openness to the divine.

Malcolm Muggeridge: A Restless Pilgrim

 Malcolm Muggeridge: A Restless Pilgrim

Malcolm Muggeridge was a man who never quite fit neatly into any box. Journalist, BBC commentator, war correspondent, editor, author—he lived a life as colourful as it was unpredictable. Born in 1903, he witnessed most of the turbulent twentieth century first-hand, and he passed away on 14 November 1990 at the age of 87.

When he died, American writer William F. Buckley Jr. paid tribute in The Washington Post, calling him “a wonderful, wonderful man, a great wit, and a brilliant, brilliant analyst.” It was praise well-earned. Muggeridge was known for his razor-sharp mind, his piercing wit, and his refusal to swim with the tide simply for the sake of conformity. As he once quipped, “Only dead fish swim with the stream.”

In his younger years, Muggeridge flirted with communism, drawn by its ideals. But life has a way of rearranging convictions. A posting to Russia exposed him to the brutal realities of Soviet rule, including the man-made famine that devastated Ukraine. Disillusioned, he became one of communism’s fiercest critics.

Perhaps his most enduring legacy came from a book. In 1971, he published Something Beautiful for God, the first biography of a then-little-known Albanian nun working in the slums of Calcutta—Mother Teresa. That book introduced her to the world, and the world has not forgotten.

After the Second World War, Muggeridge embraced Christianity, a faith that would deepen and sharpen his moral vision. In the late 20th century, he became a prophetic voice warning against the moral drift of Western society. His verdict on the media was characteristically blunt:

“The media today—press, television, and radio—are largely in the hands of those who favour the present Gadarene slide into decadence and godlessness.”

In 1988, at the age of 85, he entered the Catholic Church along with his family. His final book, Conversion, traced his life as a spiritual pilgrimage—one that led him from youthful ideologies to the hard-earned peace of faith.

India, too, had its brief chapter in his life. Muggeridge once taught at U.C. College, Alwaye, in Kerala, and later served as editor of The Statesman in Calcutta. These years left him with a lasting affection for the country, even as his restless spirit kept moving on.

In the end, Malcolm Muggeridge was never merely a journalist or commentator. He was a seeker—a man who wrestled with ideas, stood apart from the crowd, and kept looking for the truth until he found it..

I have come to know his works  closely when I got the chance to read his biography of Mother Theresa.In that book, he mentions how he became a changed man because of the time he spent with her for the short movie he made on her.I have often been  dazzled by his observations on contemporary mores and his critical reflections.

Some of his observations on faith, morals and contemporary times are the following:

"Enormous gratitude to my creator overwhelms me often.Life is a blessed gift.the spirit which animates it is one of love, not hate or indifference.Death is part of a larger pattern;it fits into a larger, eternal scale.

Faith tells me it is possible to to establish with this loving Creator  a living and loving relationship.

For me the notion of God comes from a series of the oneness of life...my past, failure , universe...It is inconceivable  to me that there could be this oneness without a One : a unitary spirit behind it.

I see in the world, this phenomenal world, in nature...this mysterious connection, this oneness which to me presupposes one being, a oneness behind all life.

Every happening, great and small ,that is to say , is a parable whereby god speaks to us and the art of life is to get that message.

 (After winter, spring will come..) Now I turn my glance from the window into my own heart,seeing there the litter and the dust of wasted years...this too--the interior of my heart seems a dead landscape.Yet faith tells me that it, likewise, can have a spring  in the rebirth promi budding with holy love;the old lusts burning with spiritual appetite...in the bright radiance of God's universal love.

for myself, i consider in all sincerity  that I have been an abysmal failure.Even qualities i consider admirable I have but poorly , if at all,exemplified."

St.Edith Stein,Revd

Life in a Jewish Family is the autobiography of Edith Stein—a deeply moving and compelling work that reads like an engaging novel, never dull or tiresome. Knowing how her life ended and how unwavering her faith remained, we come to appreciate the profound magnitude of the sacrifice she made out of love for Christ.

She was born on Oc.12 October 1891 at Breslaw, Germany(now Wroclaw, Poland).Gassed on Aug.9,1942 at Auschwitz, Poland.Canonized on Oc.11,1998 by Pope John Paul ll.

Born and raised in a large Jewish family under the care of a wise, talented, and loving mother, Edith made the courageous decision to convert to Catholicism after completing her studies. Deeply inspired by the life of St. Teresa of Avila, she chose to enter the Carmelite convent, where she took the religious name Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.

The autobiography offers insight into her intellectual nature—her dedication to learning, mastery of various subjects, and rigorous preparation for demanding examinations. She eventually pursued a career in philosophy, becoming a phenomenologist and one of the most brilliant disciples of Edmund Husserl. At a time when few women pursued doctoral studies in philosophy, she stood out as a pioneer. Despite her qualifications, it was difficult for her to secure a university position, so she went on lecture circuits and was frequently invited to speak at Catholic organizations.

As she completed her doctoral studies, Hitler rose to power, and Jews were systematically excluded from professional life. Edith entered the Carmelite convent in Cologne, later transferring to a convent in the Netherlands. Plans were made to send her to Switzerland, and she hoped to take her sister Rosa with her. However, when accommodations for both were not available, the trip was delayed. Tragically, around that time, the Dutch bishops issued a pastoral letter denouncing Hitler’s regime. In retaliation, the Nazis began targeting Jews who had converted to Christianity. As a result, Edith Stein was seized from the convent.

Her autobiography also paints a tender and respectful portrait of her mother, who, after the early death of her husband, raised eight children with strength, dignity, and discipline. Edith, the youngest, was her favorite. Edith’s decision to convert to Catholicism broke her mother’s heart, as it meant turning away from the Jewish faith that had shaped their lives so deeply.

Some of the famous quotes from Edith Stein are the following:

And when night comes and you look back over thev day and see how fragmentary everything has been...just take everything exactly as it is,put it in God's hands and leave it with Him.

When you seek truth,you seek God whether you know it or not.

Let go of your plans.The first hour of your morning belongs to God.Tackle the day's work that He charges you with, and he will give you the promise to accomplish it.Just take everything exactly as it is,put in God's hands and leave it with Him.

The deeper one is drawn into God, the more one must go out of oneself; that is,one must go to the world in order to carry the divine life into it.

One cannot desire freedom from the cross when one is especially chosen for thr cross.

The entire educational process must be carried out with love...most effective educational method is the living example without which all words remain useless.

The prayer of Edith Stein:

"O my God,fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me  along the next stretch of the road before me.I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down , a new prospect will open before me, and I shall meet it with peace."

Learn from St. Therese to depend on God alone and serve Him with a wholly pure and detached heart.then, like her, you will be able to say. "I do not regret that I have given myself up to Love."