A November Sunday

Kneeling in gratitude after a long week at Lady of Ransom, Vallarpadam. The peace and joy one feels while being there inspite of life and circumstances are priceless and for that one travels miles. 

Candles. The few on the  lower right is mine. I was not particular in lighting candles at Vallarpadam till a few months ago. I thought lighting oil lamps at home was good enough. Then I got an advice from a spiritually elderly person, when one is specific about certain intentions one has to follow certain rituals and tune the mind and prayers accordingly.

Thanks giving for being able to build a house. Expressiin of gratitude and thanks for the blessings received is a great motivation for others who are in difficult situations to stay strong in their prayers. 

"There is no better prayer than having a grateful mind."

 A note of gratefulness. The best I have read on this Sunday. These are always left by the devotees in front of the Sub Altar of the church. They are deeply enriching and brings peace and joy to mind. It is also a social history of how families grow and how noble some of them are in their aspirations. I found this note very enlightening, their request for peace and harmony in the family and general well being of everyone finishing off with a request to be able to to write a note of gratitude every time they visit the Basilica. The writer probably is a piligrims who might have come from far. 

A summer Sunday

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry.” - Jn 6: 35

Coming to Lady of Ransom after a month.

The Altar is still under maintenance, dome above is glistening like a sky. The clouds of centuries ago.

This is the Lady of Ransom I goes to at Kanyakumari. Probably built by the same missionary fathers of the Mercedarian Order who was involved with our Vallarpadam too.

And, strange though it may sound, deep and abiding faith does result in every kind of hunger being met. Christ is indeed the bread of life!

Summer months are tough. Those who work in the sea find it difficult with the heat and phases of no wind and patches of "Cat Paws". The catch is few.

Some unlucky among us find themselves let down by their mates in these tough months.

Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

Acts 7:60

Forgiveness comes easier when we blame the sin, and not the sinner.