LOVING DEEDS OF THE JOLLY ‘JOLOU’ (printed in Cebu Daily News)
GOOD DEEDS OF A YOUNG BOY
“ ‘Jolou’, you were very good in Mathematics, thank you for helping me in my Math problems. ‘Jolou’, thank you for always sharing water from your jug everytime I was thirsty. ‘Jolou’ thank you for having been a good friend to me. ‘Jolou’ you were such a joyful companion to be with. ‘Jolou’ we are giving you this basketball with our signatures so that from now on you can play basketball anytime you want. ‘Jolou’, thank you for giving us the example of how to be joyful and happy always despite daily setbacks and problems in life”. These compliments can still go on and on...
The sincere compliments above were uttered by the students of II-yr Guanella section of Don Bosco Technology Center on the day they visited the wake of their beloved classmate ‘Jolou’ in the mortuary chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. Mr. Rolly Biong, the class adviser and Dr. Allan & Mabel Quirante, the parents of ‘Jolou’, were witnesses to these inspiring and good qualities they have heard about their eldest son who has returned to our Creator last August 8, 2003. Even in death, the loving deeds of ‘Jolou’ stood out.
EARLY DEATH
Jorg Louise Quirante or ‘Jolou’ as he was fondly called returned to our Creator last August 8, 2003 at the young age of fourteen (14). Though his death was sudden, his wake was visited by so many people, young and old alike, who were inspired by his intense life of love.
A few days before he died, ‘Jolou’ scribbled the following reflecton in his Christian Living journal as if having the premonition of his impending death: “I realized that it is better for us, the living, to offer many prayers to the Lord so that if we die, we will have a good place in heaven with God…and the way to heal a person who can’t be healed by medicine.”
Last Feb. 8, 2004, a Sunday, his classmates, family and friends gathered once more at Cempark cemetery in order to offer a Mass six (6) months after his death.
EPITOME OF JOY
‘Jolou’ was an epitome of joy. Ever since the day he was born last July 5, 1989, he has become a source of joy to those who knew him most especially to his relatives, his dear parents Dr. Allan & Mabel Quirante and to his younger brother Gerard. To many, his sweet and ready smile has been dearly missed. And despite his demise, his jolly and upbeat face has remained vividly etched in the memories of those who lives he has touched.
Incredibly, ‘Jolou’ has gained a lot of friends in his short stay in DBTC, the school he loved. He has acquired friends not only among his own classmates but from his schoolmates too. Perhaps, it was because ‘Jolou’ was a friendly boy, jolly, outgoing and always generous to help those in need. My personal recollection of ‘Jolou’ brings me back to the times I met him along the corridors of the school with his face aglow with joy holding a basketball on one hand and the other hand ready to make ‘mano’. He always loved to play his favorite game of basketball. In fact, on the day he died he was playing his favorite game with three of his classmates. St. John Bosco’s maxim for young people to “Run, jump, shout and do anything you like but not sin”… literally, became a reality in ‘Jolou’s young life. Though, he did not finish his last game on earth as he felt dizzy and complained of chest pains minutes before his last breath, yet he died happy playing his favorite game and not committing any sins as sadly experienced by other young people in our hedonistic times.
One of those who experienced ‘Jolou’s’ friendship was a Bosconian grader who took the school bus together with him. This small boy was a recipient of ‘Jolou’s’ greetings upon embarking into the school bus. In his usual friendly way, ‘Jolou’ would extend his hand to this grader for a ‘high five’ and then without fail, greet him every day with the soothing words “my friend”. But after ‘Jolou’s’ death, this grader friend of his has lost interest in riding the school bus all because he knows his good friend is now gone…gone for good!
‘Jolou’ was an outgoing jolly lad. His many friends in the school and in their neighborhood can attest to this good quality of his. In fact, he is one who was always ready to give them some encouraging words. In addition, he has learned to use basketball as a means to befriend others and then reach out to them. Later on, he expanded his interest into music and became a drummer in their class band.
Needless to say, ‘Jolou’ was generous to help his classmates in Mathematatics where he excelled and was very active where his parents rendered service like in the different projects of Cebu Rotary Club – South. Since ‘Jolou’ was in charge of the feeding program for the poor & malnourished kids, it comes as no surprise at all that many have missed his joyful disposition and loving presence.
WITH DON BOSCO FOREVER
It is my belief that ‘Jolou’ died very much prepared to face his Creator. The Salesian community in DBTC shares the same view. His class just had their school recollection where Fr. Anthony Gircour SDB, our 83 year old priest confessor recalled ‘Jolou’ and his classmates to have made a very serious confession. For one reason or another, the delay of his wake became coincidental or perhaps providential. Without knowing it, his family decided to have ‘Jolou’ buried on August 16 which turned out to be St. John Bosco’s birthday. Don Bosco, his father must have welcomed his son ‘Jolou’ with open arms. As a gesture of support, the BOSCO (or Brotherhood Of Servant- Campus Officers) student Council of DBTC awarded ‘Jolou’ with a beautiful banner with the caption: “Jolou Quirante, Bosconian Forever”. Even inside his coffin, ‘Jolou’ remained clad in his school uniform as a Bosconian. Since he died in school, his parents decided on this despite suggestions for ‘Jolou’ to wear barong or something more formal an attire. Indeed, as Fr. Lan Guiao, SDB, the school rector, put it in his homily during the funeral: “ ‘Jolou’ was prepared for his meeting with the Lord…his writings in his journal about being always prepared to die is not a mere coincidence. I see the hand of God…Dear ‘Jolou’, once a Bosconian, always a Bosconian”.
Another cousin of ‘Jolou’, Gr.5 pupil Jaryl Lee, was reminiscing about their bus number seat. On the day, they went to the administration office, Fr. Jim told them that they can choose any seat they like since they were the very first ones of all other bus- riders to get their seat number. True enough, with ‘Jolou’s’ death, he is now very much ahead of all others. Indeed, ‘Jolou’ has found his place early in Don Bosco. He felt so at home in Don Bosco that now he will be remembered in Don Bosco for ever. And as his parents confided to Fr. Lan… “Father, we brought our son ‘Jolou’ to Don Bosco so he will live”…now indeed with Jolou’s death, he truly lives forever!
SAVIO: MODEL SAINT FOR YOUTH
‘Jolou’s’ death seems to be a prelude to the coming 50 yrs anniversary of Dominic Savio’s canonization. Savio’s life was also an epitome of a life happily lived…declared by the Church as the model saint for all young people. He was born at Riva di Chieri, Italy, on April 2, 1842, into a family poor in this world's goods but rich in faith. His childhood was marked by the event of his first Communion, which he made with great devotion at the age of seven and by a constant endeavor to fulfill his ordinary duties to the best of his ability. At the age of twelve there came the decisive event when he met St. John Bosco who, as a father and secure guide, accepted him to his school for his secondary studies. There he discovered the higher perspectives of the life of a child of God in friendship with Christ and Mary. He soon embarked eagerly on the road to holiness --- understood as a complete self-donation to God through love and joy. The formula given to him was simple: do your ordinary duties extraordinarily well. The studies, his games, his activities and duties became the vehicles that brought him to holiness. With his driving motto: “Serve the Lord with joy,” he became an inspiration to his peers and other youngsters. Before reaching the age of fifteen he became seriously ill and died peacefully on 9 March 1857, happy to be going to meet his Lord. On June 12 1954, Pope Pius XII finally canonized him making him a giant in Sanctity!
Like ‘Jolou’ and St. Dominic Savio, let us always make the Lord our only treasure, friend, guide and our final reward as a way of preparing for our own death. Let us all pray in a special manner for the grace to always stay close to the Lord and live by the light of his Beatitudes. And as St. Dominic Savio’s 50 yrs anniversary approaches come June 12, 2004, may all young people see the light and live according to the teaching and example of Jesus in their daily lives.
Fr. Joseph ‘Jolan’ D. LANDERO, SDB
Spiritual Director/ Religious Education Head
5.15.2009
5.08.2009
TRUST IN A MOTHER'S LOVE (Published in Kerygma Magazine - One Last Story section last March 2003)
The air was still crisp and cool. After all, it was barely 6AM. And yet the energy of the boys was already palpable.
As the school's spiritual moderator, I wa accustomed to the routine of allowing the boys to enjoy breakfast and a short rest after the dawn festivities, right before the celebration of the Holy Mass. I hurried through my usual duties in the midst of the flurry, intent only on keeping to the schedule.
And then I bumped into our assistant principal who had an 11- year old boy in tow. She quietly explained that the boy, Ian Cortes, needed to go home right away - because his mother just passed away.
I was struck with sadness by the news. My heart went out to Ian who was surely too young to lose his mother. I watched the tears rolling down his face and went down on my haunches to be more on eye level with him. "We will pray for your mother, during our Mass," I said. "The priest will also offer a Mass for her and for you, and I promise to visit your mother's wake."
Ian merely nodded. And his serenity and composure inspite of the tears gripped me.
The next day, exhaustion had set in. Quite frankly, I wasn't too keen on going to the wake anymore. However, Ian's peaceful yet sad face haunted me, and I found myself talking to Ian's father not long after. I came to know how much the family had lost to medical and doctors' fees and how, inspite of their hardship, the family's faith kept them going. Ian's father said, "My wife died at 3AM, just before Ian was leaving for school. We were all grieving, Ian most of all, but he insisted that he had to attend the Dawn Rosary Rally in school. I did not understand why he wanted to do this, but I saw that he would persist and so I allowed him to go. Ian went to his dead mother to bid her farewell, and then his uncle saw him off."
When I heard this, I turned to Ian. "Why did you want to go to the rally, Ian? I asked. He didn't reply. But in his serene face I thought I saw the answer. "Was it because you wanted to pray for your mom and entrust her to our real Mother in heaven?" At once, Ian nodded. And smiled. In his smile, I read that his mother's love during her lifetime reassured him that she would not mind that he had left her to seek solace in his Mother Mary during his time of grief.
I found that I had no more questions to ask. I reached down to pat Ian's head and said goodbye.
That night, alone in my room, I thanked God for allowing me to know Ian and his family. I acknowledged that my wavering faith as a priest had needed a child's simple faith to reawaken it. And then I turned to Mary, our Mother, and asked her to take Ian's mother and lead her to Jesus, just as Ian had prayed. Thank you Mama Mary for loving us!
The air was still crisp and cool. After all, it was barely 6AM. And yet the energy of the boys was already palpable.
As the school's spiritual moderator, I wa accustomed to the routine of allowing the boys to enjoy breakfast and a short rest after the dawn festivities, right before the celebration of the Holy Mass. I hurried through my usual duties in the midst of the flurry, intent only on keeping to the schedule.
And then I bumped into our assistant principal who had an 11- year old boy in tow. She quietly explained that the boy, Ian Cortes, needed to go home right away - because his mother just passed away.
I was struck with sadness by the news. My heart went out to Ian who was surely too young to lose his mother. I watched the tears rolling down his face and went down on my haunches to be more on eye level with him. "We will pray for your mother, during our Mass," I said. "The priest will also offer a Mass for her and for you, and I promise to visit your mother's wake."
Ian merely nodded. And his serenity and composure inspite of the tears gripped me.
The next day, exhaustion had set in. Quite frankly, I wasn't too keen on going to the wake anymore. However, Ian's peaceful yet sad face haunted me, and I found myself talking to Ian's father not long after. I came to know how much the family had lost to medical and doctors' fees and how, inspite of their hardship, the family's faith kept them going. Ian's father said, "My wife died at 3AM, just before Ian was leaving for school. We were all grieving, Ian most of all, but he insisted that he had to attend the Dawn Rosary Rally in school. I did not understand why he wanted to do this, but I saw that he would persist and so I allowed him to go. Ian went to his dead mother to bid her farewell, and then his uncle saw him off."
When I heard this, I turned to Ian. "Why did you want to go to the rally, Ian? I asked. He didn't reply. But in his serene face I thought I saw the answer. "Was it because you wanted to pray for your mom and entrust her to our real Mother in heaven?" At once, Ian nodded. And smiled. In his smile, I read that his mother's love during her lifetime reassured him that she would not mind that he had left her to seek solace in his Mother Mary during his time of grief.
I found that I had no more questions to ask. I reached down to pat Ian's head and said goodbye.
That night, alone in my room, I thanked God for allowing me to know Ian and his family. I acknowledged that my wavering faith as a priest had needed a child's simple faith to reawaken it. And then I turned to Mary, our Mother, and asked her to take Ian's mother and lead her to Jesus, just as Ian had prayed. Thank you Mama Mary for loving us!
SPREADING THE EASTER JOY
SPREAD THE EASTER JOY! (This article was published in the Daily News- Faith Section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer last April 27, 2003)
Easter Fascination
Last Easter Sunday, I took a little respite from a very busy priestly ministry of confessions and religious celebrations in the seminary where I was assigned. I went to a department store to procure some office materials. At the counter, I noticed the gloomy face of the sales lady. When my turn came to pay, I decided to greet her “Happy Easter”. But to my surprise, she just looked at me, bewildered with my greeting. Good enough, the other sales girl saved me from an embarrassing situation. In a loud voice, she reciprocated my Easter greeting with a beautiful smile and a loud reply of “rebounds”. My intention was simply to spread joy – to spread the Easter fascination!
For us Christians, Easter should be the most important feast. It is the feast of all feasts because it is on this day when Christ, our Lord, triumph over sin and death. Thus, it is the central event of our Christian faith. In fact, Easter is even more significant than Christmas. For if Christ had not risen from the dead everything would haven been futile and devoid of meaning.
An evident characteristic of the New Testament writings is the early Christians’ irrepressible joy and fascination after Christ had risen from the dead. In fact, the first Easter Sunday was truly an extraordinary heavenly experience in the lives of the apostles that they could not hide. The joy and fascination which they experienced was so contagious it made them share the Good News to others. The risen Christ who had lived among them brought them a new found hope and life. The Christ Jesus whom they had seen placed in a tomb is now alive! On this basis Christianity is a religion of joy, hope and victory. According to St. Augustine, we Christians are “an Easter people and our song is Alleluia!” Are we fascinated with the risen Christ? Let us learn from an experience of a saint who has always made the risen Christ present in his everyday life.
An experience on Fascination
One time, St. John Bosco was on a trip and was busy working on some matters. In the afternoon, as he walked across the courtyard, he happened to meet a young boy. In his usual way, he smiled at the boy and whispered a few words. In an instant he sparked an explosion! The young boy started running around and shouting joyfully: “He is a saint, he is a saint.” The news spread like wildfire. The other boys came out of their classrooms. The school was turned upside down. They came flocking around St. John Bosco, wanting to see him and hear him. Finally, the school administrator had to request Don Bosco to leave; with him around they could not go back to their normal schedule. But the impact remained; months after that incident, several of the boys continued communicating with Don Bosco through letters. It was always so for this priest, who was raised up by the Spirit to be the joyful, cheerful and optimistic father and teacher of youth. Call it attraction, charisma, PR.; we can better call it fascination borne out of his personal relationship with the risen Christ!
Even adults became interested; many wanted to stay with him. St. John Bosco died in January 31, 1888 but his spirit could not be tied down, neither by boundaries of space nor time. Today, St. John Bosco remains alive! He continues to reach out to the young. The joy and fascination he experienced with the risen Christ continues to spread even up to this day!
“Fascination” is a powerful word; it attracts, transforms, unites and empowers people. In time, it gives birth to a movement of people. Meanwhile, a movement is defined as a group of people, united around the figure of a great man, the founder or leader, and around the key ideas of his spirit and spirituality. In a special way, this fascination of Don Bosco is catching the attention of more young people. In fact in 1988, one hundred years after the death of St. John Bosco, the youth who had come to know and love St. John Bosco themselves expressed the desire to be more significantly present in the Church as a movement of young people. These early stirrings account for the birth and growth of Salesian Youth Movement or SYM. It is Salesian: a way of life lived by St. John Bosco under the inspiration of St. Francis of Sales, and shared with the Salesians and young people alike. This spirituality is for the young and is St. John Bosco’s precious heritage for the Church and the world. It is the spirit that St. John Bosco lived and which is anchored on a relationship with the risen Christ.
This spirituality is the unifying force of the vast Salesian movement that now extends to over more than 130 countries in the world. It produces in young a common set of values, beliefs and attitudes, a similar style of living and acting.
Called to share this joy and fascination…
In the National level, the Salesian Youth Movement is organizing a Summer Leadership Camp for over 200 young people of the different Don Bosco presences in the Visayas and Mindanao regions during the last week of April in St. Louis- DB Dumaguete. Last year, the young delegates had a beautiful experience of visiting the old and sick priests residing in the Bishop’s residence. They were welcomed warmly by the bishop himself, Most. Rev. John Du, who had been gracious enough to give shelter to the sick priests of his Diocese. Aside from sharing the spirituality of St. John Bosco, the Camp also aims to form the young into Servant- leaders for their homes, schools and parishes. It is hoped that the Leadership Camp can be a good venue for the young participants to be able to share their personal experiences of the Easter joy and fascination that would eventually form into true servant- leaders of our society
Key elements of this Youthful Spirituality
St. John Bosco passed on to us a youthful spirituality with five key elements. First and foremost is the Spirituality of the Daily Life. Young people have a disposition which is both joyful and fundamental: "there is no need to detach yourselves from normal life in order to seek the Lord.' A basic place to meet God is in human reality: our own and that for others, daily and throughout our life. To accept the challenges, questions and tensions, to bear the heat of the sun, to do our ordinary duties, all these are part of the process necessary for discovering how to meet God and loving daily life. Second is the Spirituality of Joy and Optimism. We are an Easter people. Young people should learn this lesson so well to be able to say that "holiness consists in being very happy." Music, theatre, outings, sport, the joyful daily rough and tumble of the playground have always been important to young people. Of course all at their proper times. These activities give rise to a lot of energy for doing good, which will be channeled in due course into a commitment of service and charity. And the source of this joy is a life of grace. The third element in this youthful spirituality is “Friendship with the Lord Jesus and Mary”. We have many young saints whose personal stories can make other youngsters also follow a dynamic friendship with Christ without sounding "corny" or appearing to be a public "turn off." The personal touch of the relationship -- "Jesus & Mary are my best friends" said St. Dominic Savio -- is an encouragement for us to seek spiritual experiences with the Lord. The truth is, we can if we want to. The fourth element is “The Spirituality of Communion in the Church”. Sustained by a spirituality born of the relationship between persons who find in Christ a common friend, young people should feel a great need to be together. As friends we share and celebrate the joy of living, so as to help each other. A bond develops among us drawing its inspiration from the spiritual riches of our Church who asks us to hold an explicit love for our pastors, especially to the Pope and a convinced adherence to his teachings. The last element of this youthful spirituality is “The Spirituality of Responsible Service”. Service is a yardstick for the journey of spirituality. St. John Bosco exhorts young people to become "upright citizens and good Christians." This implies expressions of service to one’s country and church. Perhaps as young people, there is a felt need to be more aware of our social and political duties. Some situations are just too disturbing to let go. We must be sensitive to occasions that call us together with others to look for ways and means to bring about the necessary cultural and structural transformation in order to help those who are violently deprived of abundant life. Service prepares the young to become “maka- Bayan at maka- Diyos”. In modern parlance, this means becoming Servant- leaders. Key ideas to develop here are the following: generosity, solidarity, honesty, justice, peace, availability, life-commitment. Just like Christ who came not to be served but to serve us and to offer his life so we might live, we christians are asked to emulate him as we live. And as we live, we are called to truly share this Easter joy and fascination to our fellow Christians.
Easter Fascination
Last Easter Sunday, I took a little respite from a very busy priestly ministry of confessions and religious celebrations in the seminary where I was assigned. I went to a department store to procure some office materials. At the counter, I noticed the gloomy face of the sales lady. When my turn came to pay, I decided to greet her “Happy Easter”. But to my surprise, she just looked at me, bewildered with my greeting. Good enough, the other sales girl saved me from an embarrassing situation. In a loud voice, she reciprocated my Easter greeting with a beautiful smile and a loud reply of “rebounds”. My intention was simply to spread joy – to spread the Easter fascination!
For us Christians, Easter should be the most important feast. It is the feast of all feasts because it is on this day when Christ, our Lord, triumph over sin and death. Thus, it is the central event of our Christian faith. In fact, Easter is even more significant than Christmas. For if Christ had not risen from the dead everything would haven been futile and devoid of meaning.
An evident characteristic of the New Testament writings is the early Christians’ irrepressible joy and fascination after Christ had risen from the dead. In fact, the first Easter Sunday was truly an extraordinary heavenly experience in the lives of the apostles that they could not hide. The joy and fascination which they experienced was so contagious it made them share the Good News to others. The risen Christ who had lived among them brought them a new found hope and life. The Christ Jesus whom they had seen placed in a tomb is now alive! On this basis Christianity is a religion of joy, hope and victory. According to St. Augustine, we Christians are “an Easter people and our song is Alleluia!” Are we fascinated with the risen Christ? Let us learn from an experience of a saint who has always made the risen Christ present in his everyday life.
An experience on Fascination
One time, St. John Bosco was on a trip and was busy working on some matters. In the afternoon, as he walked across the courtyard, he happened to meet a young boy. In his usual way, he smiled at the boy and whispered a few words. In an instant he sparked an explosion! The young boy started running around and shouting joyfully: “He is a saint, he is a saint.” The news spread like wildfire. The other boys came out of their classrooms. The school was turned upside down. They came flocking around St. John Bosco, wanting to see him and hear him. Finally, the school administrator had to request Don Bosco to leave; with him around they could not go back to their normal schedule. But the impact remained; months after that incident, several of the boys continued communicating with Don Bosco through letters. It was always so for this priest, who was raised up by the Spirit to be the joyful, cheerful and optimistic father and teacher of youth. Call it attraction, charisma, PR.; we can better call it fascination borne out of his personal relationship with the risen Christ!
Even adults became interested; many wanted to stay with him. St. John Bosco died in January 31, 1888 but his spirit could not be tied down, neither by boundaries of space nor time. Today, St. John Bosco remains alive! He continues to reach out to the young. The joy and fascination he experienced with the risen Christ continues to spread even up to this day!
“Fascination” is a powerful word; it attracts, transforms, unites and empowers people. In time, it gives birth to a movement of people. Meanwhile, a movement is defined as a group of people, united around the figure of a great man, the founder or leader, and around the key ideas of his spirit and spirituality. In a special way, this fascination of Don Bosco is catching the attention of more young people. In fact in 1988, one hundred years after the death of St. John Bosco, the youth who had come to know and love St. John Bosco themselves expressed the desire to be more significantly present in the Church as a movement of young people. These early stirrings account for the birth and growth of Salesian Youth Movement or SYM. It is Salesian: a way of life lived by St. John Bosco under the inspiration of St. Francis of Sales, and shared with the Salesians and young people alike. This spirituality is for the young and is St. John Bosco’s precious heritage for the Church and the world. It is the spirit that St. John Bosco lived and which is anchored on a relationship with the risen Christ.
This spirituality is the unifying force of the vast Salesian movement that now extends to over more than 130 countries in the world. It produces in young a common set of values, beliefs and attitudes, a similar style of living and acting.
Called to share this joy and fascination…
In the National level, the Salesian Youth Movement is organizing a Summer Leadership Camp for over 200 young people of the different Don Bosco presences in the Visayas and Mindanao regions during the last week of April in St. Louis- DB Dumaguete. Last year, the young delegates had a beautiful experience of visiting the old and sick priests residing in the Bishop’s residence. They were welcomed warmly by the bishop himself, Most. Rev. John Du, who had been gracious enough to give shelter to the sick priests of his Diocese. Aside from sharing the spirituality of St. John Bosco, the Camp also aims to form the young into Servant- leaders for their homes, schools and parishes. It is hoped that the Leadership Camp can be a good venue for the young participants to be able to share their personal experiences of the Easter joy and fascination that would eventually form into true servant- leaders of our society
Key elements of this Youthful Spirituality
St. John Bosco passed on to us a youthful spirituality with five key elements. First and foremost is the Spirituality of the Daily Life. Young people have a disposition which is both joyful and fundamental: "there is no need to detach yourselves from normal life in order to seek the Lord.' A basic place to meet God is in human reality: our own and that for others, daily and throughout our life. To accept the challenges, questions and tensions, to bear the heat of the sun, to do our ordinary duties, all these are part of the process necessary for discovering how to meet God and loving daily life. Second is the Spirituality of Joy and Optimism. We are an Easter people. Young people should learn this lesson so well to be able to say that "holiness consists in being very happy." Music, theatre, outings, sport, the joyful daily rough and tumble of the playground have always been important to young people. Of course all at their proper times. These activities give rise to a lot of energy for doing good, which will be channeled in due course into a commitment of service and charity. And the source of this joy is a life of grace. The third element in this youthful spirituality is “Friendship with the Lord Jesus and Mary”. We have many young saints whose personal stories can make other youngsters also follow a dynamic friendship with Christ without sounding "corny" or appearing to be a public "turn off." The personal touch of the relationship -- "Jesus & Mary are my best friends" said St. Dominic Savio -- is an encouragement for us to seek spiritual experiences with the Lord. The truth is, we can if we want to. The fourth element is “The Spirituality of Communion in the Church”. Sustained by a spirituality born of the relationship between persons who find in Christ a common friend, young people should feel a great need to be together. As friends we share and celebrate the joy of living, so as to help each other. A bond develops among us drawing its inspiration from the spiritual riches of our Church who asks us to hold an explicit love for our pastors, especially to the Pope and a convinced adherence to his teachings. The last element of this youthful spirituality is “The Spirituality of Responsible Service”. Service is a yardstick for the journey of spirituality. St. John Bosco exhorts young people to become "upright citizens and good Christians." This implies expressions of service to one’s country and church. Perhaps as young people, there is a felt need to be more aware of our social and political duties. Some situations are just too disturbing to let go. We must be sensitive to occasions that call us together with others to look for ways and means to bring about the necessary cultural and structural transformation in order to help those who are violently deprived of abundant life. Service prepares the young to become “maka- Bayan at maka- Diyos”. In modern parlance, this means becoming Servant- leaders. Key ideas to develop here are the following: generosity, solidarity, honesty, justice, peace, availability, life-commitment. Just like Christ who came not to be served but to serve us and to offer his life so we might live, we christians are asked to emulate him as we live. And as we live, we are called to truly share this Easter joy and fascination to our fellow Christians.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
