All Souls Day

All Souls Day. 

In memory of our dead, they are gone but they still lives on in our hearts and will continue to live in our memory till the day we die. 

Fondly remembering those who came and lived with us, giving up their families and everything for us. May their souls Rest in Peace. 

Remembering our dead. 

The November blue sky. The specialty of the time of the year. 

Not Knowledge but love.

 Knowledge alone will not change a man, the experience of love will.

Sunday with Mary and Meenakshi Amma

The rain was raging all through the week. Fortunately, on Sunday, at noon, the sky cleared for a long while and I could join those who visited Vallarpadam. There were quite a few though the church continued to remain closed. Meanwhile in the parish church behind the Basilica a local sweethearts were getting married and the whole event in the Corona safety settings became so novel an idea in its simplicity. 

Sometimes, I wonder, what is that make me go to Vallarapadam Basilica on every Sunday and whenever possible. Is it the service or the miracles or the grandeur of the church itself...

I guess its an emotion I feel, the carefree, happy, secured, peaceful...

A happy family who brought their newborn to Mary along with the grandparents were gratefully offering their gratitude for the blessing and the sight of them earnestly thanking God was very inspirational. The young mother beamed a hearty smile at me which warmed my heart and made me wish that all those childless couples who seek Mary's help would one day soon get an opportunity to visit here smiling with the happiness of their wish being fulfilled.  

On the way back rode quickly to the Lady of Hope at Vypeen before it started raining again just to have a look around. The pandemic has wrecked the small town of Vypeen just like any other town of the Pandemic hit world and as I rode back all I could think was when will this tragedy end and folks can go back to their work and means of bread, normally 

8th day of the Feast

I couldn't, due to my work, come to the church on the feast day. As usual, the church was crowded on the feast day and the week preceding and following it. Pilgrims & devotees from far and wide and all religious background continued to visit the church on these days. As we all know, Lady of Ransom has a special place in the hearts of those who work in the sea. Such communities make their annual pilgrimage to Vallarpadam on these days. This year too, many of them were there on the day I went to the church. 

The procession after the 11.30 am mass. It went around the Rosary Park and returned to the church. 

Though it looks like ants on the church during day time, the lights were beautiful at night. 

My blessing this year was to know more about the Saint Peter Nolasco. An year earlier I had a dream in which I saw Saint Peter Nolasco standing at the altar of the church. I didn't know the saint then, on enquiry the church staff had told me that we have a statue of the saint in the church. On this feast day, I found the statue beautifully decorated and his name written in bold letters at the bottom. More about the saint in a later post. 

The best drink to have at any time of the day. Sugar Cane Juice are nutritious and very organic, unless the vendor contaminates it. The latest machine and technology make the juice maker's job easy and the waiting less for the thirsty. 

The feast of Our Lady falls in the month of "Kanni" which is called the best month in our Malayalam Calendar. Neither rainy nor summer, just the mild weather of Kerala. 

The Unmistakeable icons of the feast, the status quo accompaniments of the Church and the feast.

One more year, My Lord, I have come to the feast with my grand mother, that is the first visit I could remember and to all the feasts after that when I was home and here in Kerala. 

My Lord and My God, I pray bless all those who seek you with the grace and knowledge to live by You and live in your peace and Joy. 

Amen. 

Feast

Retreat Prior to Mary's feast at Vallarpadam

Beautiful Gateway to Our Lady of Ransom Church

Evening Sun lighting up the Vallarpadam Sky

The new building near the highway lit by the evening's golden sun

With the annual retreat and the Marian pilgrimage this year's feast is just about starting at Vallarpadam. I was lucky to be there on a Monday evening.

The brooms

Following the tradition of Meenakshi Amma, visitors to the Basilica cleans the church yard with a broom. Today the evening sun had been just great. The spring equinox has changed the sun's position which is far more to the north now.

The windows..

to a beautiful world.

Cool breeze

One of the good things about Vallarpadam church is its ventillation. The wind from the sea keeps the church cool always, no matter how long we sit there especially while fasting, one wont feel tired. With beautiful canopies around the church which have added to the convenience certainly, has some how blocked the wind. We feel it instantly.

Monsoon Sunday

The Sunday after the feast of Holy Ghost. Vallarpadam Church was beautifully decorated. I did not take my camera. What a miss.

The blue pearls of serial lights glowed all over the main hall. The altar was decorated with more flowers and fresh covers over every table top.

The Portuguese image of Mary was placed in the middle of the main tower at the entrance. 

Since the festive mass on the 8th day of the feast was celebrated at length, the 11.30 am mass was at 12. Since the schools were opened the worshipers were less today.

Twice it rained, giving all of us the rich feel of the the strength and boldness of the monsoon at Vallarpadam. Sky cleared quickly both the times. 

Met a local committee member who gave me some information about Meenakshi Amma. There is a book available there now, written by Fr. Joseph Thottath, which has some history of the Church.

It is nice to see the Hindu family still has some connection with certain rituals of the church. I wish it continues that way forever. The symbol of our Kochi society's harmony and brotherhood.

The annual trolling ban started yesterday and there were many boats moored infront of the church. Another beautiful sight and a great photo opportunity.

Holy Ghost Feast day

The Holy Ghost Feast.

I spend my slave day today at Lady of Ransom.

9.30 am was the feast mass.

After the mass, the procession was complete with staff cross, banners, flags, band set and the pole bearers with canopy and celebrant priest carrying the Divine bread in a radiant monstrance.

But the feast was nothing like the main feast of Lady of Ransom in September. Few people and few everything except for the mass which was full and high.

Bubbles

Even though the summer is raging and the land is dry, there is no decrease in the blood thirsty mosquitoes. They roam around and pester as and when they wish.

The problem is, I have to keep the Good Knight stuff on, even though it keeps the mosquitoes away it make me so tired in the morning, I miss my usual wake up time to reach church for mass on time.A week now, my schedules are all screwed up.

The day I went to buy this drink from the local stall at Kochi, I banged my head on their tin roof. I guess my eye sight is failing. :) Thank God, I was hit right between my eyes on the curve of the nose bridge. Yes it bled too. Had it been a little this way or that way, I could have seriously damaged my eyes.

Yes, that is life, anything can happen any time, a life turner, a life stopper, a life saver.

In good and bad, give us the heart to praise you Lord. In you we find solace. Without you we are just the bubble in the lemonade. Bust, anytime.

 Mostly I have a bread roast and a banana fry along with a hot cup of tea from the small hotel near the last busstop on my way to the Seminary where I teach two commerce subjects for the young "would be" priests.  On hungry days, I eat two each.

Today was my last class there for the Academic year. 

Just like the classes, I have come to like this restaurant too. The staff there were very friendly and they always gave me their best in their hearts.
  

Thank you My Lord! for the wonderful opportunity. I tried my best, to give them, the students and everyone else, the best of the wonderful gift you have bestowed on me.

Missing already the morning trail and the hearts.

Lent Days

I Peter 1:3

"Let us give thanks to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Thank you Jesus for taking Us to Him, for being our Way to Him and teaching us how to love.

Thoughts on the start of the Lent days.

St. Sebastin's feast day

 St. Sebastin's Feast day, is celebrated all over the world with great devotion and festivity. The patron saint of many cities of the world is attributed with special powers of consolation at the times of Plague, famine and wars.

This year too, the parishoners at our local church celebrated the feast with everything they had. The roads were decorated with lights and colorful hangings to welcome the Saint as his great life as a faithful follower of Jesus was rememmbered to strengthen our own faith to live our lives staying close to THE WAY, to deal with the trouble and worries of our life. The procession announcing the faith and allegiance to the WAY was done with great passion.

Conviction

An early morning visit to Vallarpadam. When I got there, the morning mass was just about over, and the church goers already left. Few of the elderly parishoners stayed back and was finishing their rosary.

The church looked pristine and clean in the December morning sunlight. Its been a while since I have come to Vallarpadam. Took some pictures and stayed around for a while.

Returned with the conviction, that faith meant, keeping our harmony with God and believing Lords Will will prevail in our lives. Lord is always merciful and compassionate.

Later in the day, the same thought, I shared with a grieving heart and I could feel the way Lord was using my conviction, to console.

Thank you Jesus, the way I felt, the satisfaction from the effort to touch a heart positively is my offering for my GOD for the day. You gave me the heart to do it.

Channukh

Wishing all my friends who are celebrating Channukh this week (December 8th to 16th) in the true tradition of Mother Mary a wonderful celebration. Just like Judith (Yahudith) was inspired by Yael, may we all be inspired during this festival of light, to live The way and to do everything possible by us for who are In The Way.

My Fort and My Shield!

For a few months now, I have been talking spirituality and was laughed at behind my back by "my own". 

But GOD who saw my heart, gave me an opportunity to talk about the same subject to a wider range of folks who appreciates it very much and compliments me!

Who would have thought, one day, Americans, Israelites, Britishers and French would like me to tell them about Indian spirituality with references to Bible. Thank You Jesus, my Lord and my fort, you did not let me fall off and die when I was heart broken. Keep me Lord, in You 'n' Your ways, always!

The Dome, my eyes search for..

Usually, as soon as I get down at the bus stop in the highway at Vallarpadam, I can see the Lady of Ransom's dome, if my mind is free of worries, I will start praising the LORD in my heart as I walk upto the Church. But lately, peace is not what I have. 

My father was not highly educated, still he sent me to college. Though he was not capable of helping me with academics, he took care of the financial part and provided a home with good enough atmosphere for studies. I did not disappoint him as I went all the way to two masters. I recollect with a relish, how proud he used to be when my exam results came. I believe that was the best I could give my father. 

When life gave me a chance to bring someone back to life from the depth of worst, I gave it my best, just like my father. I prayed and dreamed that 'someone' would give the best, unfortunately even after enjoying the best for a while, that 'someone' did not had the heart to continue, to keep on walking THE WAY. I was broken hearted. 

Though, I have sidestepped from that 'someone's' life, for it to take its own natural course, the memories come up my mind often and destruct me. Today, I got an invitation to attend one of the Soorya classical musical festival. All through the evening rendering, I kept humming the psalms of worship and adoration, it took me to another level of spiritual heights. I had a similar experience during the fireworks of our local temple at Maradu, which is famous for its "vedi kettu". 

Thank you my LORD, for helping me convert my miserable situation into an opportunity to be one with you and find some peace.

Love

John 15:12
"This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you."

Oh! My God, Thank you for teaching me how to love, forgive me for the times I have hurt, I have let down those who have trusted my love. 

Help me Lord! Please help me, to forgive who deliberately booted my trust and enjoyed it like children playing in the mud.