4th Extraordinary Chapter of the Secular Institute of the Daughters of the Queenship of Mary

Salesian Family, Salesian News

4th Extraordinary Chapter of the Secular Institute of the Daughters of the Queenship of Mary ceteratolle Views 142 Comment 0 By Teresa Rawiwan Buakharn        Bangkok, Thailand, 4 March 2021 — From 25-28 February 2021, 35 members of the Secular Institute of the Daughters of the Queenship of Mary gathered for the 4th Extraordinary Chapter at the mother house of the Institute in Sathorn Road, Bangkok. The opening was graced by the presence of Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitwanich, the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bangkok. He presided at the opening liturgical service and gave a homily. This special chapter was called to improve the 2011 Constitutions and Regulations of the Institute. That book was approved by the local ordinary of the Diocese of Bangkok as temporary guideline for practice for 10 years. That would allow the members to live according to this law of the Church for the same length of time. And this experimenting period was about to end.        Mary Kesorn Chaikaew, the General Moderator, acting as the highest superior of the Institute announced the assembly of the 4th Extraordinary Chapter. This opened a new page to the history of the Institute, a moment of time to renew the spiritual life of the members. At the same time, this was an opportunity for the chapter members to study deeply and earnestly the Constitutions and Regulations in order to implant memories, revive the culture and beautiful customs of the Institute, allowing these to take roots in the life experiences and spirit of the Institute, trying to let this grow strong in the life of each member.... read more

St. Joseph: Our Patron Saint of a Happy & Holy Death

St. Joseph

  Intriguing, hidden, and silent, St. Joseph’s role in salvific history has been analyzed and philosophized for millennia. Also known as Terror of Demons, Light of Patriarchs, and Mirror of Patience, St. Joseph remains a powerful intercessor for many. Often invoked by those desperate to find gainful employment or patrons who find it impossible to sell […] Source: St. Joseph: Our Patron Saint of a Happy & Holy... read more

Our Compassionate Father

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WORD of the DAY  So he got up and went back to his father.While he was still a long way off,his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20) How shall I live this Word?   It has always been called the Parable of the Prodigal Son or, according to a new translation more suited to the new generations, the parable of the spendthrift son. But when we carefully read the story narrated by Jesus we understand that the protagonist of this page of the Gospel is not the son who goes away claiming to want everything he deserves. Nor is it the story of the brother who is all home and work. Instead, the father is at the center. A father ‘other’ than earthly fathers, “because he responds to the request of his younger son by letting him go, without admonishing him, without contradicting him, without warning him. “Is there such a father among us humans? No! We are therefore immediately led to see in this father the Father, that is, God Himself, the only one who leaves us free in the face of the evil we want to do, who does not stop us but is silent, allowing us to turn away from Him.”  But He is above all a father who does not forget, who stands on the threshold of the house waiting for His son. His life is consumed in waiting, until he catches a glimpse of him and: “When he was still far away, his father saw him and moved to... read more

JESUS is the Cornerstone

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FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD March 5, 2021  Second Friday of Lent WORD of the DAY  Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them.  (Matthew  21/42-43) How shall I live this Word?   Some exegetes identify this parable of the vineyard as a parable of human history. The history of men and women produces waste daily, which is eliminated along with human lives themselves. But that same garbage that is discarded is taken up by God as the cornerstone of a mysterious construction that is His kingdom. Humans throw everything away, to the point of throwing away God, throwing everything away and God recovers everything. It is the story that in some way each of us can experience, day after day. We often feel useless, incapable, discarded. Faced with the supremacy of success, we painfully perceive our inability, our failure. We feel excluded. But, contemplating the Gospel message, we feel that this same parable photographs the life of Jesus: misunderstanding, passion, death, hatred were painful elements in His existence. Yet there is hope. We too can become a ‘cornerstone’ like Jesus if we are able to live the Gospel message in this special time.   Pope Francis repeats, “No... read more

TRUST GOD ALONE

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FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD March 4, 2021  Second Thursday of Lent WORD of the DAY  I, the Lord, alone probe the mind and test the heart, To reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds. (Jer  17: 10) How shall I live this Word?   It is a Lenten homily by Pope Francis that we propose as a comment on the words of Jeremiah. Today’s first reading (Jeremiah 17: 5-10) begins with a curse: “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings.” Also “in other passages of the Bible there is the same curse, perhaps with other words”, such as: “Cursed is the man who trusts in himself”. The person who trusts only in his own strength is always defined as ‘cursed,’ because he carries a curse within himself. Instead, the Pope continued, remarking on the ‘the contrast’, “blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord”, because – as we read in Scripture – “He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes,  its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.”  Therefore, “the word of God today teaches us that only in the Lord is our sure trust: other trusts are useless, they do not save us, they do not give us life, they do not give us joy”. Indeed, “they give us death, drought.” Later, in the commentary, the Pope asked himself: “Why is the man cursed who trusts in human beings, in himself?... read more

Understanding Jesus

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FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD March 3, 2021  Second Wednesday of Lent WORD of the DAY  As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” (Matthew  20: 17- 19) How shall I live this Word?   Jesus and his disciples are going up to Jerusalem. It is an uphill road not only physically, but also spiritually. The hour of the Passion is approaching. The  discourse the Teacher has to give to His chosen ones is very difficult.  That is why he ‘takes them aside’ and speaks to them of the torture and death He will have to face in Jerusalem. But His very close and intimate followers do not understand what is happening. Suffering does not agree with their idea of ​​the Messiah. At this point, the request from the mother of Zebedee’s children rings out of tune and out of context. She wants to get the  first place in the Kingdom of God for James and John. Even the mother, like the disciples, not only does not understand the drama of Jesus’ message about His coming passion and death, but she speaks to the personal ambitions of her children. When Jesus insists on service and self-giving, they continue to ask for... read more

LIVE HIS WORD

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FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD March 2, 2021  Second Tuesday of Lent WORD of the DAY  “As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew  23: 8- 12) How shall I live this Word?   In the Gospel according to Matthew, after several clashes and disputes between the Teacher and the scribes, priests, Pharisees during His last stay in Jerusalem, Jesus gives a long discourse. It is a question of reproaches against those who have contradicted Him, undermined Him. Those who will persecute Him and make Him die by handing Him over to the pagans. The words of Jesus are very harsh and unusual. The Teacher, usually rich in mercy, this time speaks bluntly to those who proclaim the Lord’s commands, but act in the opposite way. Hence the grave warning: “Practice  and observe everything they tell you, but do not act according to their actions, because they speak but do not do what they preach.”  From these words we understand how these leaders of the people do not listen deeply to the Word of God, but only preach it, without experiencing the difficult realization of what it requires. However, these reproaches should not be applied in general, but should be repeated especially for those who perform a teaching role in... read more

Dear Parents: Be Diligent, Be Careful, Be Wise, & Be Holy

Parenting

  “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck…” So parents, be diligent, be careful, be wise, be holy. And be loving and faith filled, in the fullest sense of these words. Source: Dear Parents: Be Diligent, Be Careful, Be Wise, & Be... read more

FORGIVE!

Forgiveness, Pope Francis

FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD March 1, 2021  Second Monday of Lent WORD of the DAY  Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”    (Luke  6: 36- 38) How shall I live this Word?   Comment by Pope Francis of 21 September 2016 “I wonder: are Jesus’ words realistic? Is it really possible to love as God loves and be merciful like Him? We ask ourselves: What does it mean for disciples to be merciful? This is explained by Jesus with two verbs: ‘forgive’ and ‘ give’. In fact, forgiveness is the pillar that supports the life of the Christian community, because it shows the gratuitousness of the love with which God first loved us. The Christian must forgive! But why? Because he was forgiven. Forgiveness is the first pillar; giving is the second pillar. “Give and gifts will be given to you […] for the measure with which you measure, will in return be measured out to you.”  Merciful love is therefore the only way to go. How much we all need to be a little more merciful, not to gossip about others, not to judge, not to ‘pluck’ others with criticism, envy, jealousy. We must forgive, be merciful, live our life... read more

Jesus transfigures us

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FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD FEBRUARY 28, 2021  Second Sunday of Lent WORD of the DAY  Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.    (Mark  9: 2- 3) How shall I live this Word?   Jesus has recently communicated for the first time, the imminence of His passion and death. This announcement confused the minds of the disciples, especially of Peter who had reacted strongly enough to take a heavy reproach from the Teacher who had identified him with the tempter: “away from me, Satan”. The transfiguration of Jesus will help the disciples to overcome the trauma of the Cross. He climbs to a high mountain, together with Peter, James, and John. Up there, alone, and in silence, they see Moses and Elijah appear. The high mountain evokes Mount Sinai, where in the past, God had manifested His will to the people, handing over the law. The white robes remind us of Moses’ dazzling face when he talks to God on the Mountain and receives the law. Elijah and Moses, the two major authorities of the Old Testament, speak with Jesus. Moses represents the Law, Elijah, the prophecy. It is therefore clear that the Old Testament, both the Law and the prophecy, already taught that for the Servant Messiah, the path to glory had to pass through the cross.  But the disciples seem not to hear and not to see, they are afraid of the cross. Peter would like... read more