Compassion Paster _ July 2009

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Transcript of Compassion Paster _ July 2009

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Managing Editor

Sr M Wilberta, BS

Chief Editor

Sr M Lillis, BS

MEMBERS

Rev Fr Joseph Martis

Mr Ivan Saldanha

Sr Miriam, BS

Sr M Theresine, BS

Sr M Lilitta, BS

Sr M Rose Celine, BS

Sr M Celine Vas, BS

Sr Mary Noulak, BS

Sr M Jessy Rita, BS

1. Message ............................. 3

2. Editorial ............................. 5

3. Inspiring sayings of The Servant ofGod RFC Mascarenhas ................ 6

4. Msgr Raymond Mascarenhasa Mystic of our Times

- Rev Fr Joseph Martis ............... 7

5. Servant of God – Msgr Raymond, thePioneer Pastor of Bendur

- Ivan Saldanha ......................... 19

6. Fr Mascarenhas and His Devotions

- The Late Sr M Violette, BS ...... 29

7. The Compassionate Pastor

- James D’ Souza ...................... 33

8. From the Letters of Fr RaymondMascarenhas ................................. 35

9. Favours Received Published inRaknno Konkani Weekly ................. 36

10. Favours Received ......................... 40

ContentsEditorial Board

THE COMPASSIONATE PASTORJULY 2009

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23.01.1875 Birth at Shimoga27.01.1875 Baptism at Sacred Heart Church, Shimoga

1885 First Holy Communion at Milagres Church, Mangalore26.09.1886 Received Confirmation23.02 1891 Joins St Joseph’s Apostolic Seminary, Mangalore04.03.1900 Ordained Priest at Rosario Cathedral, Mangalore11.03.1900 First Mass at Milagres Church, Mangalore1900 -1903 Asst Vicar of Milagres Church, Mangalore and Mount Rosary, Kalianpur1903 -1904 Parish Priest, St Francis Xavier Church, Udyavar

1904 Asst. Parish Priest, Borimar1904-1910 Parish Priest, Most Holy Saviour Church, Agrar1914-1931 First Parish Priest, Bendur, Mangalore

16-07-1921 Founded Bethany1921-1927 Director, Mangalore Roman Catholic Pioneer Fund1921-1927 Member, District Educational Council of South Kanara1923-1929 Municipal Councillor, Mangalore

04-03-1925 Sacerdotal Silver Jubilee1931-1941 Vicar General, Diocese of Mangalore1931-1941 President, Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK)1932-1941 Vice-President of Cath.Board of Ed. Diocese of Mangalore1932-1936 Diocesan Supervisor of Catholic Elementary and Secondary

Schools of the Diocese of Mangalore.1937 -1941 President, Mangalore R. Cath. Provident Fund (MRCP Fund)28-10-1935 Introduces Perpetual Adoration at Bethany Motherhouse.

1938 President, Konkani Catholic Truth Society (KCTS)27 -02- 1941 Retired to private life04- 03 -1950 Twin Jubilee (Golden Jubilee of his Ordination and Platinum

Jubilee of his life)1949 Translates from Latin into Konkani Novo Testament- Havn

Watt, Sath, Jeevith – Char Evangel Poilo Vanto1952 First Translation of New Testament from Latin (Vulgate Edition)

into Konkani – Amcha Somi Jesu Christacho Novo Testament1954 The Imitation of Mary1954 A Few Minutes with Mary on Saturdays and Feast Days (in Konkani)

20-06-1955 Receives the honour from Pope Pius XII as Domestic Prelateto the Pope

04-03-1960 Sacerdotal Diamond Jubilee23-12-1960 Passes on to the Lord ( at his residence at Bethany), buried at

St Sebastian’s Church, Bendur03-06-2008 Declared Servant of God

Milestones in the Life of the Servant of GodMilestones in the Life of the Servant of GodMilestones in the Life of the Servant of GodMilestones in the Life of the Servant of GodMilestones in the Life of the Servant of GodRaymond MascarenhasRaymond MascarenhasRaymond MascarenhasRaymond MascarenhasRaymond Mascarenhas

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Archbishop Vincent M. ConcessaoArchbishop of Delhi

Archbishop’s House1, Ashok Place

New Delhi - 110 001 (INDIA)Phone: 23343457, 23362958

E-mail : [email protected] : 91-011-23746575

Ref. No. BF/0429/2009 May 27, 2009

MESSAGE

+Vincent M. ConcessaoArchbishop of Delhi

I am very glad that Msgr Mascarenhas,the Founder of the Congregation of theSisters of the Little Flower of Bethany hasbeen declared a Servant of God by Rome. As far as I know,this is the first one to be so declared from the CatholicCommunity in Mangalore.

Msgr Mascarenhas was certainly a very dedicatedpastor, prayerful, with great devotion to our Blessed Mother,concerned for the uplift of the poor and deeply interestedin their education. It was to continue this apostolate that hefounded the Bethany Congregation. And if today theCongregation has spread to so many states in India and toother countries as well, it is a clear sign of his blessing onhis daughters and his intercessory power.

I have come across several instances when unexpectedfavours were received through his intercession. I am sureas the process of his beatification and canonization goes onmany more such instances will come to light for theedification of our people.

It is my ardent desire that the holiness of MsgrMascarenhas will be recognized and he will be raised to thealtar.

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Most Rev Vincent M. Concessao, the Archbishop ofDelhi hails from Puttur, in South Kanara District, inthe Diocese of Mangalore. Msgr Raymond Mascarenhasopened the first branch house of Bethany in the parishof Puttur, then a remote mission area. ArchbishopVincent’s aunt, the late Sr Tharsis and his sister,Sr Jerosa are pioneer members of BethanyCongregation.

Editor

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A Priest to be Remembered in the Yearof Priests

“Not your diocese alone, but the wholeChurch of India and particularly the IndianBishops and priests are proud of what you havedone and regard you as one of the outstandingpriests of the generation.” Thus read acongratulatory note of the late Bishop Raymondof the Diocese of Allahabad to the servant of God

Msgr. Raymond F.C Mascarenhas on his Golden Sacerdotal Jubileein 1950. On this occasion of the Year of the Priests it is indeed aptthat we try to fathom the life and spirituality of this great priest ofGod who considered priesthood as the greatest gift he received fromGod and lived it to the full.

The articles in this issue expound the mystical and propheticaspects of the spirituality of the Servant of God Msgr Raymond whoremained faithful and committed to his call and mission. His lifeexemplifies how one can be a prophetic mystic in the ordinarysituations of life. This will be of great interest to all of us who arecalled to witness Christ in our every day life. I would like to narratean example to illustrate how the Servant of God taught the BethanySisters to be contemplatives in action.

One sister named Bartholomea was put in charge of the kitchenand the compound. As such her mind was fully occupied with herwork. When she went for spiritual direction to Msgr. Raymond (ourFounder) he advised her with these words:

“Have you seen the picture of St. Anthony of Padua with theChild Jesus playing on his book? During your work, think that theInfant Jesus is playing on your pots and pans in the kitchen, in thestable and in the fields. Thereby you will keep the presence of God atall times during the day. This will be the best prayer you could offerto God.”

I invite you readers to journey into the interior life of this ordinarypriest of God who was perennially connected to God and thus didgreat things for the Church. The numerous favours reported in thisissue, I believe, are the proofs of his powerful intercession and thefame of holiness. Sr M Lillis BS

Editor

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Inspiring sayings ofInspiring sayings ofInspiring sayings ofInspiring sayings ofInspiring sayings ofTHE SERTHE SERTHE SERTHE SERTHE SERVVVVVANTANTANTANTANT OF GOD OF GOD OF GOD OF GOD OF GOD

RARARARARAYMOND FC MASCARENHASYMOND FC MASCARENHASYMOND FC MASCARENHASYMOND FC MASCARENHASYMOND FC MASCARENHAS

“Our Blessed Mother is with me; it may be Calvary. But that is whereour Lord and His Blessed Mother are; and I am content to be wherethey are.”

“Mary is the Queen and Mother of Bethany. Yes, you are a flower, aplant in Our Lady’s Garden.”

“Bethany is the garden of our Blessed Mother’s loving choice. OurMother loves Bethany- in all its poverty, in all its sufferings and crosses,trials and joys; she is “all in all” to Bethany- a Mother, nay, the fondestMother.”

“Without humility, we shall never be true religious; the deeper the humility,the greater the sanctity we will acquire.”

“Humility is the surest way to run in the way of perfection, whereaspride, self-love is the greatest obstacle to attain the love of God.”

“Our spiritual life will not be solid unless we build it on the rock ofhumility.”

“The merit of our work is not measured by the greatness of the actionbut by the purity of our intention.”

“Let us remember that the best preparation for communion does notconsist in the recitation of some set forms of prayer, often said withdistractions or out of habit, but in the faithful fulfillment of our dutiesaccepting and offering to the Lord, the trouble and opposition thatcomes our way with the intention of making all these acts of our servicesas a preparation for Holy Communion.”

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IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroduction

Bethany, the house which Jesus loved so much provokes me tothink of paradoxically two genres of mystics. One that of Mary, veryoften hailed and qualified as the mystic par excellence, for she “hadchosen the better part”, for she was listening to Jesus and paying utmostattention to every word that came from the mouth of the Master. Shewas so much aligned to the heart and mind of Jesus; she was so muchabsorbed in Him that nothing else would take away her attention. Shewas one with the Divine, with God himself. The other mystic, Martha,if you could call her a mystic at all was of a totally different type, adistracted mystic, a mystic busy with many things, a mystic worried oragitated about so many things, a mystic who would even complain abouther sister, a ‘non mystic mystic’. Both in my eyes were mystics but oftwo different kinds, two different orientations. If Mary could be qualifiedas a mystic of interiority, another could be termed as a mystic of‘common place’ or mystic of everyday life.

Jesus was very much fascinated with both the sisters of this houseof Bethany and the two different sorts of spiritualities that existed underthe same roof. That is the reason why he frequents this house and itbecomes for him a home of rest and leisure. Another spiritual man ofour times who loved this house and was captivated by the ‘Spirit ofBethany’ was Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas. Inspired by these twosisters he tried to create a new concept of mystical experience knittingtogether the spirituality of both Mary and Martha in his spirituality,outlook and ministry. Stirred by the life of Mary and Martha he says:“The Spirit of all Orders in the church whether contemplative or active,is built upon the spirit of Bethany – Prayer and work; contemplationand action. Let us imbibe that Spirit. Let us be other Martha’s and

Msgr Raymond MascarenhasMsgr Raymond MascarenhasMsgr Raymond MascarenhasMsgr Raymond MascarenhasMsgr Raymond Mascarenhasa Mystic of our Timesa Mystic of our Timesa Mystic of our Timesa Mystic of our Timesa Mystic of our Times

Rev Fr Joseph MartisRev Fr Joseph MartisRev Fr Joseph MartisRev Fr Joseph MartisRev Fr Joseph Martis M.A. M.Phil, Ph.D

Professor,St Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary

Mangalore

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Mary’s in this our Holy house of Bethany, and Jesus will come to usand stay with us.” 1. This dual spiritual vision of this servant of Godprompts me to explore on the possibility to read his life and mission asa manifestation of a spirituality of mystical life. Hence in this article, Ishall try to articulate a few aspects of the mystical characteristics of hisspiritual life.

1. Mystical Experience1. Mystical Experience1. Mystical Experience1. Mystical Experience1. Mystical Experience

It is not my interest here to excavate into the historical meaning ofthe word mysticism and its related terms. We must know that the wordmystical was connected with something hidden, that which was notaccessible to the common man. It was a sort of secret knowledge andexperience which was reserved only to a few who were initiated intosuch experiences. In the Greek understanding mystery was associatedwith cults and rituals not available for the common man. Although theChristian understanding of mystery was very closely linked with Greekusage, over the years however it was not simply taken as a sort ofsecretive knowledge, but as St Paul would understand it as the creamand apex of Christian experience of the risen Lord. According to him,in Christ alone are communicated to us those truths which arefoundations of our faith that is the final designs of God and his verynature. Over the years and with the reflection of so many theologiansmysticism in Christianity has been understood as the life of a personwho is deeply united and one with God. He is the one who experiencesthe extra-ordinary love of God and diffuses this love very powerfully inhis words and deeds. It is in this sense do I consider Msgr Raymond asa mystic for he experienced the love of God so deeply in the person ofChrist and diffused his experience in a prophetic manner. The followingpoints will show to us that his life and good works manifest strong andgenuine glimpses of an authentic mystic of our times.

2. 2. 2. 2. 2. AAAAA Prophetic Mystic Prophetic Mystic Prophetic Mystic Prophetic Mystic Prophetic Mystic

If mystic means a person totally closed to the world and itsanxieties and worries, then Msgr Raymond could never be captionedas a mystic, for he was a “man in the world”. He was a good pastorand thus the problems of the world were his problems and its needs his1 Sr Bertha , BS, (Ed), From the Lips of the Founder (Mangalore : Bethany Publications),1942,248

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needs. He could thus be called a prophetic mystic, the one who unitedhimself deeply with God and drew enormous energy from the EucharisticLord and spent this energy in his mission. A prophetic mystic is the onewho reads the signs of the times and challenges the existing unjust andinhuman socio-economic order and allows God to transform it 2. Thuswe see that Mystical experience is not against prophetic preaching; onthe contrary they go hand in hand, they are so connected to each other.This is so rightfully pointed out by Sr Kathleen Coyle where she says: “Mysticism needs prophecy, a mystical consciousness and a propheticlifestyle are meant to serve each other because every true prophet is amystic and every genuine mystic is a prophet” 3. The life and ministry ofMsgr Raymond show that he had two prominent dimensions in hisspirituality: contemplation and action. In his ministry as a pastor and adiocesan priest he read the “signs of the times” and pulsed the need totransform the existing social and economic situation particularly of thepoor girls and women. When his times saw the women and consideredthem almost as second class citizens, when they were not thebeneficiaries of education, when they were loaded with worries of socialsymbols such as dowry and so on, Msgr Raymond stood like anundaunted hero and put himself into action so as to transform the existingsituation and do something and thus create a socio-economic andreligious environment so as to liberate such an oppressivepredicament[4]. His compassionate outlook which resulted from hisdeep spiritual contact with God pushed him to redeem the sufferinghumankind and bring them the liberating touch of Christ thecompassionate pastor. Thus interiority and prophetic proclamationconstituted the hallmarks of his spiritual outlook.

3. 3. 3. 3. 3. AAAAA Man of God Man of God Man of God Man of God Man of God

“Your founder is a man of God – Homo Dei”, these were thewords of Msgr Pompeo Borgna, the Proto Notary Apostolic Domestic

2 Kathleen Coyle, SSC, “Prophetic Mysticism : The Call of Empowered Women Religious”,in In Christo, July, 2008, 133.3 Kathleen Coyle, SSC “Prophetic Mysticism : The Call to Live Prophetically”, in East AsianPastoral Review, Vol, 45, 2008, No, 2, 115.4 Sr M, Esperic, BS, My Joy and my Crown: My Memories of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas(Mangalore: Bethany Publications), 2003, 11.

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5 Quoted by Sr M. Esperie, B.S., My Joy and my Crown: My Memories of MsgrRFC Mascarenhas, 21.6 Sr Esperie, BS, My Joy and my Crown, 37.7 Sr Bertha, BS, (Ed), From the Lips of the Founder, 68

prelate of Pope 5. Yes, this I feel is the best and the complete definitionof who a mystic is. He is essentially linked to God, in him ‘Theos’ and‘anthropos’ are so joined together that although he lives in this world heis not a man ‘of this’ world, neither a man possessed by the powersand things of this world. On the contrary, he belongs to God; hisbelongingness is so linked to the divine that his umbilical cord isperennially attached to God. A man of God is by his very substance amystic in its true sense of the word.

Father Mascarenhas was a man deeply in touch with God andprayer constituted a major item of his life. He would spend hours inprayer or in contemplation. It is noted by one of the sisters that “everydayat 3.00 p.m. we found him in the choir loft above the chapel praying.On Maundy Thursday in particular during holy week, he used to spendthe whole day at the feet of our Lord, in the sanctuary...” 6

The desire for the divine constitutes the deepest inner urge of aspiritual person. This inner quest for God could be perceived in theprayer life of Msgr Raymond. He desired to be in intimate connectionwith God. He desired to be with God and relish His company. Heknew very well from the writings of great mystics the joy of inner Godexperience. For him, heaven was a deep experience of the divine, it isan experience as he says in his own words “of two lovers who wouldtalk to each other and share their happiness in silence, in solitude…they see each other, talk to each other…” 7. It is an experience whereinthe soul is almost dumbfounded and not able to explain. “The soul”,says our Spiritual Father, “enters into a sort of silence”. The silencehere is not just an empty stillness but pregnant with meaning and filledwith love. We find thus a typical characteristic of the mystical spiritualitywherein the soul allows God to act and remains a keen listener to hisvoice. It is a silence for no human language is able to comprehend andexpress this inner divine presence. Experience goes beyond anyexpression. As we often sing: “Lord you have touched my heart andleft me speechless, silence is all I need to sing your praise”. This mystical

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8 Sr Bertha, BS, (Ed.), From the Lips of the Founder, 69

silence becomes the inner force of every spiritual expression be it inwords or deeds. Msgr Raymond’s hymns, sermons and good worksare an expression of this deep inner spiritual experience.

Another characteristic of any mystical experience consists in innerpassivity. This passivity is in no way negative, on the contrary, it is avery positive experience of divine activity. By mystical passivity weunderstand, one allows God to act and move one’s life. It is God’sinitiative and God’s work. The mystic allows God to act on him andallows God to mould his very self. God becomes the very source oflife. Father Raymond had also similar experience which is so wellexpressed in his expression wherein he says: “As soon as you see andcontemplate the beauty of God, you fall in love with him. But the souldare not express its love... So it asks God to clothe itself with his ownbeauty and fill it with his divine love and thus adorned it will love Godperfectly” 8. The passivity of the soul is an expression of utmost humilityand total reverence. This allows God to be the sole master and allowshumans to be what one should be, a loving creature.

4. 4. 4. 4. 4. AAAAA Spirit of For Spirit of For Spirit of For Spirit of For Spirit of Forgivenessgivenessgivenessgivenessgiveness

The spiritual intensity of a person is gauged not much by the dailyreligious practices one follows, but in the capacity one has to forgive.To know whether a person is intensely spiritual is to know if he has theinner strength to forgive in particular his adversaries. This is so vibrantlyseen in the life of Christ. He was spiritual; he was mystic to the finestpoint for he had the capacity to forgive. He was ready to forgive hisenemies. We see this great quality in the life of Pope John Paul II whoset a tremendous example in forgiving his enemy and preachingforgiveness wherever he went. When we read the life of Msgr Raymond,one could see the capacity to forgive in this devout soul. Like any greatman or woman of every age, he too had his cup of misunderstandings,oppositions, negative sayings, but this man of God had tremendousstrength to forgive. When questioned whether he had forgiven all hisadversaries, he answered: “I have forgiven all. Everyday while I offerthe sacrifice of the Mass, when I say ‘Our Father’…. Forgive us ourtrespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’ – I forgive all.

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9 Sr Esperie, BS, My Joy and my Crown, 3010 Sr Esperie, BS, My Joy and my Crown, 34

I say this prayer everyday and I mean it. I have forgiven all of them.This insistence that he had forgiven could not be doubted. He insistsagain and again that he had forgiven. Towards the fag end of his life’sjourney he once again attests saying “I have forgiven them” 9.

5.5.5.5.5. Seeing the Presence of God in NatureSeeing the Presence of God in NatureSeeing the Presence of God in NatureSeeing the Presence of God in NatureSeeing the Presence of God in Nature

For a mystic everything in creation manifests something of the divine.This is so vividly seen among the Indian mystics. The entire creation isa song of God’s love. This mystical trend is so visible in the life of StFrancis of Assisi wherein he sings with the entire creation the glory ofGod. One thus needs spectacular eyes and ears to see and hear thevoice and glory of God in every creature and thus pulse the creativepresence of God. Msgr Raymond could see the divine presence sobeautifully expressed in nature. He was a man of the nature, who lovedtrees, animals and birds. He had the specific eyes and ears to discernthe presence of God in every living creature. “He saw the beauty of thecreator reflected in everything”. He loved trees and detested vehementlypeople who would cut the trees and destroy the nature so beautiful. AsSister Esperie remarks: “Fr Founder was a great lover of nature and healways encouraged people to love nature and conserve it. He knew agreat deal about every tree, every plant and he treated nature withgreat respect and care. His love was not only for humanity but also forall the works of the creator 10.

6.6.6.6.6. A Suffering DiscipleA Suffering DiscipleA Suffering DiscipleA Suffering DiscipleA Suffering Disciple

If you want to be a mystic you must carry your cross and followJesus of Nazareth. As a fish cannot live outside the water, so does amystic without suffering. There cannot be a disciple of Christ withoutthe cross and much less a mystic. Mystic in the true sense of the term isa suffering servant. To begin with Jesus himself, he suffered, physical,social, psychological and even spiritual abandonment. He felt lonely,insulted, beaten up. He felt helplessness and insecurity. He feltabandoned. This experience is so vividly seen in the lives of great mystics.Regarding sufferings St Theresa of Avila the Spanish mystic notes: “Ifind for myself that the Lord wishes that we be sickly; at least in my

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11 St Theresa of Avila, Way of Perfection, Ch. 10, para. 6. in Collected Works,trans. Kieran Kavanaugh & Otlio Rodrigues, Washington D.C: 198012 Edith Stein, Science of the Cross (Washington D.C : ICS Publications, 1999),2413 Sr Esperie, BS (Ed), My Joy and my Crown, 4114 Sr Bertha, BS (Ed), From the Lips of the Founder, 10615 Sr Bertha, BS (Ed), From the Lips of the Founder, 106

case, He granted me a great mercy in my being sick; for since I wouldhave looked after my comfort anyway, He desired that there be a reasonfor my doing so”11. St John of the Cross is another example wheresuffering was part and parcel of his spiritual experience. The very titleof his name “Of the Cross” indicates that Cross symbolized his life.Commenting on his life and suffering his admirer and beloved discipleEdith Stein writes, Cross for him was an experience, an experience ofthe divine presence amidst all trials and difficulties, it was an innerexperience of the presence of the divine, a painful experience,nevertheless a fecund experience of God and his sure presence andpower in his mystical life12.

Fr Raymond also had to drink the chalice of suffering in order toattain the refinement of mystical spirituality. He had sufferings of varioussorts: psychological and spiritual wherein he was misunderstood,misrepresented, misquoted. He was also having his physical sufferings.But the greatness of his person was that he had captured the point thata life without suffering was not worth living and this is so true in the lifeof a Christian and a disciple in particular. Thus his reactions towardssufferings were very positive. Sufferings in his eyes were necessaryingredients towards sanctity as he would say: “sine dolore non vivere”(without suffering, there is no living)13. “Suffering” he said “is a must inour lives” “In this valley of tears the cross is necessarily our portion”14.Spiritual life, much less mystical life cannot exist without suffering. Thushe says: “sanctity presupposes suffering … if the thermometer of sufferinggoes high our sanctity also rises likewise. To become a saint withoutsuffering is unthinkable”15. Sufferings should be seen positively and assupreme moments of spiritual elation. They are the spiritual springboardswhich propel us to reach higher towards Jesus himself. As he observes: “ physical pain, illness... failures, criticism, calumny, ridicule, mockeryall this we must bear willingly, be glad that some occasion is given to us

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16 Sr Bertha, BS (Ed), From the Lips of the Founder, 13017 Sr Esperie, BS, My Joy and my Crown, 4418 Sr Esperie, BS, My Joy and my Crown, 4419 Sr Bertha, BS(Ed), From the Lips of the Founder, 148

to become like him”16. He was so associated with a special devotionto Mother Mary that he found suffering was part and parcel of her lifeand by consequence was a share in the life of every one who comesclose to Christ. To this effect he writes: “Our blessed Mother is withme, it may be Calvary, but that is where our Lord and his BlessedMother are and I am content to be where they are”17.

Suffering goes along with obedience. For Jesus it was to do thewill of the Father and for this he was ready to bear at any time and costany amount of sufferings. For Mother Mary she would say fiat andthen bear all types of sufferings. Mystical spirituality is a spiritualitywherein one embraces the crosses as will of God and endures allsufferings in utter obedience. This characteristic is so well seen in thelives of all great mystics and St John of the Cross the Spanish Carmelitemystic is an example par excellence. Msgr Raymond is not an exceptionto this feature of the spiritual life. He was misunderstood by the churchauthorities, forbidden to exercise his duties some times, misunderstoodby his books and gestures, nevertheless he remained an obedient childto the Body of Christ, the Church. Even when “he was asked towithdraw all the copies of the booklets he had written…. It was a greathumiliation for a man of his prominence to go round, bag in hand askingback the booklets he had distributed. But he subjected himself to it inobedience to Holy Mother the Church with great dignity and fortitude”18.Obedience to the superiors was for him an external sign of inwardspiritual strength. The one who obeys, believes, trusts, and endorseshis whole self before the divine. Obedience is a surrender: “We mustobey all orders given by superiors. Obeying orders that are pleasing isnot a virtue. But when some hardship is entailed in obeying an order,there comes our supernatural spirit”19. Obedience in its pure form isnot just a lip service in order to please the superior according to ourauthor, for such obedience does not bear in-depth fruit. The real andgenuine obedience is as he says: “perfect” which denotes “obediencewith understanding and will” which means obedience with love and not

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20 Sr Bertha, BS(Ed), From the Lips of the Founder, 14921 Sr Bertha, BS(Ed), From the Lips of the Founder, 16322 St John of the Cross, Ascent of Mount Carmel, Bk, I, Chapter, 13, Para, 11, inCollected Works of St John of the Cross, trans. Kieran Kavanaugh & otlioRodrigues (Washington D.C : 1979), 103.

merely a duty with fear and trepidation. It is obedience with generosityas he rightfully quotes “God loves a cheerful giver”20.

7.7.7.7.7. TTTTTotal otal otal otal otal Abandonment Abandonment Abandonment Abandonment Abandonment

“Humility” according to Msgr Raymond “is the foundation of allvirtues. Our spiritual life will not be solid unless we build it on the rockof humility”21. These words flowing from the ink of our Father onlyattest that he considered humility as the base of spiritual life and in factit constitutes the foundation of any sort of mystical life and spirituality. Aproud and arrogant person can never be a saint. “Jesus” as Saint Paulrightfully says: “although he was in the form of God he ‘emptied’ himselfand took the form of a servant” (Phil 2: 4). Jesus stripped himself ofeverything. He empties so that he could be filled with divine grace. Heemptied so that God could come and abide in him. It is only when acup is empty can it be filled with something. Self emptiness, self denial,self abandonment constitutes one of the focal points of mysticalexperiences. St John of Cross expresses this experience of self denialso marvelously in his famous dictum “Todo Y nada” (Everything andnothing). He declares: “To reach satisfaction in all, desire its possessionin nothing. To come to possess all, desire the possession of nothing”22.When a person possesses what the world considers as everything, suchas: money, wealth, power, in fact such a person becomes an empty anda noisy gong. Whereas when a person has nothing, when he totallysurrenders, gives up fully, completely naked as Christ was on the crossthen only one conquers everything. Such a person has the power ofGod so high that he possesses everything. This emptiness, is not reallyempty, it is filled with joy and the bountiful graces of God. St Thereseof Avila had also understood and assimilated this aspect so well in hermystical experiences that she considered humility and self surrender ascondition sine qua non of any mystical experience. She cautions hersisters that one should never boast of extra-ordinary phenomena inmystical experiences. If they are given, they should be accepted in

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humility and used for the good and welfare of the Church. Besides, agenuine mystical experience can only be seen when a person is in utterhumility and accepts humility as the truth. For her, prayer and humilitygo hand in hand. She speaks of the mystical experience as the journeyof the soul into a castle with seven mansions and the key to enter thismansion is prayer, and the energy of the soul comes from humility. Thesouls in the First Mansion are in a state of grace, but are still very muchin love with the venomous creatures outside the castle and they need along and searching discipline before they can make any progress. Sothey stay for a long time in the Mansions of Humility so as to get spiritualheat and light from the divine master.

The life and ministry of Msgr Mascarenhas testifies to a life filledwith deep surrender to God and at the same time humility which hepracticed through the virtue of obedience and poverty. His biographypoints towards a life of simplicity and obedience to the superiors. Thegenuine acceptability and hospitality he practiced were external signsof a person filled with inner spiritual dynamism. He himself confesses:“Without humility we shall never be true religious; the deeper the humility,the greater the sanctity we will acquire”23. Humility facilitates a profoundand strengthened spiritual life. It is through humility that we can attainthe height of spiritual perfection. “Humility is the surest way to run in theway of perfection, whereas pride, self love is the greatest obstacle toattain perfect love of God”24.

ConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusionConclusion

According to Karl Rahner, every human person is essentiallymystical that is, one who is experientially drawn toward the God ofmystery, revelation and love. Whether he explicitly and directly advertsto it or not, whether he opens himself to it or not, his whole life isdirected to the God of mystery who has communicated himself as truthand love25. For this reason, Rahner does not emphasize a mysticism ofinteriority alone. He unhesitatingly says that every single facet of humanexistence contains an implicit experience of the triune God and the

23 Sr Bertha, BS(Ed), From the Lips of the Founder, 16424 Sr Bertha, BS(Ed), From the Lips of the Founder, 18325 Karl Rahner, “Mysticism” in Encyclopedia of Theology (Mumbai : St Paul’sPublications, 1975), 1010

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crucified and the risen Christ. Rahner’s mysticism of daily life is amysticism of joy in the world, therefore a faith that loves the earth.Richard Woods O.P. in one of his books predicts that mysticism of thefuture will be characterized by deeper relationship with the ordinary,integrity, sociality, science and technology, ecology and ecumenism26.Here one can see clearly that mysticism as a spiritual gift is available toall provided one remains faithful and committed to one’s call and mission.The mystical life of Fr Raymond could be seen as an attempt to establisha deeper relationship with God in ordinary situations of life, allowingGod to permeate all aspects of human life.

Genuine love for God entails at the same time a genuine love forthe neighbour, hence genuine mystical experience cannot ignore thelove of neighbour. Hence mystical experience need not include alwaysextra-ordinary or spectacular phenomena. A person in total selfsurrender to God and to the mission can experience in-depth experienceof God. Hence one could speak of mystical experience in an ordinarysense. It is here I feel we can speak of Msgr Raymond Mascarenhasas a genuine mystic, a mystic totally given to God and to his fellowhuman person in a spirit of self sacrifice and surrender. Mysticalspirituality is the need of our times. It consists in a profound contactwith God and a total self surrender to His holy will. Mystical life demandsthat a person does not value anything else than God as the uppermostdesire of one’s life.

I have elucidated only a few glimpses of the mystical dimension ofthe spirituality of Monsignor Raymond Mascarenhas. It goes withoutsaying that the more one discovers the life of this great spiritual leaderthe more one can unearth the spiritual depth of his life.

26 Richard Wood, O.P., Mysterion : An approach to Mystical Spirituality(Chicago : Thomas More Press, 1981), 357

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Bibliography

Bertha, BSBertha, BSBertha, BSBertha, BSBertha, BS, (Ed) From the Lips of the Founder. Mangalore: BethanyPublications, 1942.

Coyle, Kathleen.Coyle, Kathleen.Coyle, Kathleen.Coyle, Kathleen.Coyle, Kathleen. SSC,SSC,SSC,SSC,SSC, “Prophetic mysticism: the call of empoweredwomen religious”, in In Christo, July, 2008.

Coyle, Kathleen.Coyle, Kathleen.Coyle, Kathleen.Coyle, Kathleen.Coyle, Kathleen. SSC,SSC,SSC,SSC,SSC, “Prophetic Mysticism: The Call to LiveProphetically”, in East Asian Pastoral Review, Vol. 45 (2008),No, 2.

Esperie, M.,Esperie, M.,Esperie, M.,Esperie, M.,Esperie, M., BS,BS,BS,BS,BS, My Joy and my Crown: My Memories of MsgrR.F.C. Mascarenhas. Mangalore: Bethany Publications, 2003.

Fanning, SFanning, SFanning, SFanning, SFanning, Steventeventeventeventeven. Mystics of the Christian Tradition. London:Routledge, 2002.

Merton, Merton, Merton, Merton, Merton, ThomasThomasThomasThomasThomas. The Ascent of Truth. New York: Harcourt, Brace,1951.

Rahner Karl & Herbert Rahner Karl & Herbert Rahner Karl & Herbert Rahner Karl & Herbert Rahner Karl & Herbert VVVVVorororororgrimlergrimlergrimlergrimlergrimler. “Mysticism” in Dictionary ofTheology, N.Y., Crossroad, 1981.

SSSSStein, Edith.tein, Edith.tein, Edith.tein, Edith.tein, Edith. Science of the Cross. Washington D.C : ICS Publications,1999.

SSSSSt John of the Crosst John of the Crosst John of the Crosst John of the Crosst John of the Cross. Collected Works. trans. Kieran Kavanaugh &Otlio Rodrigues, Washington D.C. : 1979.

SSSSSt t t t t Theresa of Theresa of Theresa of Theresa of Theresa of AAAAAvilavilavilavilavila. Collected Works. trans. Kieran Kavanaugh &Otlio Rodrigues Washington D.C. : 1980.

Underhill, Evelyn.Underhill, Evelyn.Underhill, Evelyn.Underhill, Evelyn.Underhill, Evelyn. Mysticism. New York: Dutton, 1961.

WWWWWood, Richardood, Richardood, Richardood, Richardood, Richard, OPOPOPOPOP, Mysterion: An approach to mysticalspirituality. Chicago, Thomas

More Press, 1981.

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At this point in time, Mangalore is a well known ‘city’ all over theGlobe. Over many years our Catholic population has not only gained aunique identity, but has a visible presence in practically every nation ofthe world. Most Konkani Catholics, Mangaloreans as they are known,enquire of each other when they meet as to which Parish (Phirgez)they come from. Probably this form of identity has a high value basesince long, today “BENDUR” is often mentioned. St Sebastian Churchthe focus of the Parish has a reputed effect and brims over with acharisma and culture of its own. On 3rd June 2008, just about a yearago the pioneer and founding Parish Priest of Bendur - Msgr RaymondFC Mascarenhas was declared “Servant of God” SD – Servus Dei bythe Bishop of Mangalore Rt Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’ Souza, with the approval of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints, Rome. Thus thispioneer priest of Bendur, the illustrious worker for the glory of God,has within a relatively short span of half a century, commenced thesteep journey towards sainthood in the Catholic Church. Bendur earnsa special place not only in the Diocese but also all through India and theCatholic world.

The founding of a Parish in a full sense and its infrastructure is acolossal matter – the hand of God is an indispensable fact, a reality andall the rest that follows! SD Msgr Raymond, (Raiimond’ in localphonetics) was deputed to the newly carved out Parish, one part fromRosario Cathedral and the other part from Milagres, mostlyunderdeveloped and barren areas outside the Municipal town limits ofthe time. The ‘town’ was the area between Kodialbail and Mangaladevi,hugging the river shores. Bendur literally meant ‘Barren Village’ in thelingua franca,Tulu. SD Msgr Raymond came to be deputed on a demandof the people, by Bishop Paul Perini, SJ who constituted this parish on23 August 1914. It was indeed not by chance, but the design of God’sprovidence was visibly active from the very start. The unique personalityof this our “Compassionate Pastor” as SD Msgr Raymond can be

Servant of God – Msgr RaymondServant of God – Msgr RaymondServant of God – Msgr RaymondServant of God – Msgr RaymondServant of God – Msgr RaymondThe Pioneer Pastor of BendurThe Pioneer Pastor of BendurThe Pioneer Pastor of BendurThe Pioneer Pastor of BendurThe Pioneer Pastor of Bendur

Ivan SaldanhaIvan SaldanhaIvan SaldanhaIvan SaldanhaIvan Saldanha

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substantially called, would be seen from close quarters in the narrationsin this dedicated publication from time to time. Now it is of importancethat here we take a brief look at the times and issues that influenced theCatholic Church in Mangalore and Canara.

THE THE THE THE THE TIMES TIMES TIMES TIMES TIMES AND AND AND AND AND TIDESTIDESTIDESTIDESTIDES

Canara’s sea face on the West is the Arabian Sea, the region isblessed with flowing rivers and natural wealth. Mangalore is the primeancient port town. Historically, many powers have ruled and foughtover the area. Mangalore is also known as Mangalapura, Mangaluru,Kudla and Kodial. Since the early 16th century this place has beenlovingly adopted and populated by Konkani speaking ‘Sarasvats’ whowere respected and honoured by the Tuluvas. Many of these went onto accept the Catholic faith. In January 1568, the Vijayanagara Kingsconceded the area to the Portuguese who had Goa already. It isbelieved that the first Holy Mass in Latin was celebrated on Mangaloresoil in the area that is now Rosario at this time. In 1653 Ikkeris wonpossession of the Fort along the old Mangalore harbour; in 1763 thewhole Ikkeri Kingdom went under Hyder Ali of Mysore. There wassome exchange between Hyder and the British frequently, until it cameunder Hyder’s son Tippu Sultan in 1784. There are varying tales ofTippu’s mistrust of Canara Catholics, strangely motivating him to round-up the community from Mangalore Town and surroundings, on AshWednesday, 24 February 1784, identifying them by the ashes on theirforeheads, holding them captive at Srirangapatnam for 15 years. Onlyafter the British annihilated Tippu Sultan in 1799, the small sad band ofManagalorean survivors returned to their ancestral lands but found itvery difficult to retrieve lands, possessions and positions. There wasgradual improvement in the fortunes of Mangalore Catholics with timeand tide. SD Msgr Raymond’s ascendants too were known to becaptive at Srirangapatnam.

Mangalore spread out in time and included the areas bound byGurpur river to the North and Nethravati river to the south. The twooldest churches, Rosario and Milagres, were founded in 16th and 17th

centuries respectively. These two churches constituted the parishes andcovered the whole of Mangalore till late in the 19th century. Then divisionshad to be made so that they could be managed properly. Urwa was

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formed in 1866, Kulur in 1888, Cordel in 1904, Bijai in 1912,BENDUR in 1914, Bondel in 1923. Then three new parishes came in1935 Angelore, Cascia and Valencia, in 1939 Derebail, in 1944 Bajal,in 1951 Thannirbhavi and in 1981 Vamanjoor.

The present Bendur Parish was founded in 1914, and its pioneerVicar was none other than our illustrious Pastor SD Msgr RaymondFC Mascarenhas, who served for 17 years until 1931 when he wasmade the Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese.

BUILDING THE STRUCTURESBUILDING THE STRUCTURESBUILDING THE STRUCTURESBUILDING THE STRUCTURESBUILDING THE STRUCTURES

Ordained Priest for the Mangalore Diocese on 4 March 1900,the young Fr RFC Mascarenhas plunged into his loved labour for God.First as Assistant in Milagres- Mangalore, then Mount Rosary Kallianpur,1903 to 1910, his first stint as Parish Priest at Udyavar transformed thevery backward place into an active Parish with a church newly raised. In the midst of his work and worries the young Vicar found time toacquire lands for future churches like Siddakatte, Allipade and manymore. His God given gifts and flair surfaced in ample measure earninghim the reputation as a great builder! His qualities of head and heartedified the people; penance, prayer, compassion and love of his MasterJesus were a noticed nature. His next appointment from 1910 to 1914was Vicar of Agrar. In four years Fr Raymond laboured there his loftyname and fame was not only consolidated but also widened people’sconfidence in the God blessed abilities. All these blessings promptedthe people to demand that he be awarded the difficult work of settingup Bendur Parish in Mangalore, a challenging task in those difficulttimes.

August 1914, a time for Catholics of BENDUR to glorify the Lord!Those were the times of great deprivation in the area, no one wasprosperous as earning potential at home was very low. Literally, a hutwas the church, but Fr Raymond was full of zeal and plans on a pieceof barren land. He was never known to trouble the struggling people,his goodness brought the parishioners and well wishers to contribute inspite of difficulty. Larger temporary sheds were built for the churchliturgy, study of children and house for the vicar. In 1918, an area of 2acres and 90 cents was bought for Rs. 4,380/- and building the structuresbegan next to St Agnes School then. The sufferings and hardships that

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our saintly protagonistwent through arebeyond imagination intoday’s context;everything waslacking; poverty andsickness was rampant;development was atsnail pace. It isbeyond all imaginationthat today suchadvanced situationexists in this flourishing Bendur Parish with multifaceted spiritual service,a grace of the Most High. There is existing documentation of the manyresidents of the area who generously supported the establishment ofthe parish through hardships which will be impractical to list out here.In Jan 1919, the foundation was laid at the site and blessed. On 3January 1930, the first Mangalorean Bishop, Rt Rev. Valerian D’ Souzablessed the Bendur Church, dedicated to St Sebastian who saved thecity from serious pestilence. The next day the Bishop consecrated themarble altar. The activities in the parish grew tremendously, schools,vocational training, catechism classes, and associations for the piousand so on. But the singular and one closest to the heart of SD MsgrRaymond was the formation of the first and the only indigenous Congregation of nuns started by him as Founder, on the Feast Day ofOur Lady of Mount Carmel on 16 July 1921, “The Sisters of the LittleFlower of Bethany” commonly known as Bethany Sisters of Mangalore.It genuinely astonished people to see the spiritual and Christian spiritspringing up at Bendur! The original church and belfry has undergoneseveral makeovers and alterations on which there are views but it isbeyond the scope of this article for details. It is worthy for moderntimes to note that the sacred efforts and labour of love of our ancients,the likes of Msgr Raymond, that gave us and our city sacred spaceslike Bendur and the city of Mangalore the title “Rome of the East.”

In March 1930, marking the twin jubilees of Msgr. Mascarenhas(50 years as Priest and 75th Birthday) a leading catholic of MangaloreMr J.P. Rego felicitating the jubilarian fittingly said, “An Archbishop

PICTURE OF ORIGINAL BENDUR CHURCH

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admiring the institutions of Mangalore described them as magnificent;the work of great masters, Fr A. Muller founded the hospital andasylums, Msgr Colaco set up St Anthony’s Poor Homes for thedestitutes, Mother Aloysia established the expansion of the ApostolicCarmel, Fr U. Stein founded the Ursuline Sisters at Rosario, theillustrious Msgr Raymond the flourishing Parish like Bendur and theentirely local Bethany order for educating the people!” Putting it in thewords of Msgr Raymond, “Do well whatever you do; do it for Godand God alone, and your life will be a continual canticle of Praise, acontinual Gloria Patri…”.

SPIRITUAL MONUMENTSSPIRITUAL MONUMENTSSPIRITUAL MONUMENTSSPIRITUAL MONUMENTSSPIRITUAL MONUMENTS

The strength of a Christian community lies in its spiritual exercisesand orientation. SD Msgr RFC Mascarenhas was not only a man ofGod and prayer to the core as many can testify, he continually askedhis flock in the Parish to rise spiritually and resort to prayer at all times.There is ample evidence that even before the church was built withmortar and stone at this new parish, the Vicar raised spiritual groups inthe Catholic tradition of the times. The liturgy in those times, the Massin particular was said in Latin, which was hardly understood. Very soonour Fr Raymond set about translating the New Testament into Konkani,hymns and devotions into Konkani and/or English realizing the vitality.Asif to endose his efforts almost soon after his death, the II VaticanCouncil came out with initiating church liturgy in the local language; hisapproach was simply but prophetic, in this regard. Catholic prayer andaction was paramount in Bendur from the very outset- this gavemomentum to many graces to all. The services he has rendered toKonkani as a language are unforgettable.

No one can deny the fact that SD Msgr Mascarenhas’ historicand divine inspired gesture is the Founding of the Congregation of‘BETHANY SISTERS’ apart from his work in erecting the BendurParish from scratch. The words on record from Msgr’s nephew FrCharles Mascarenhas of Allahabad, for the Jubilee Souvenir in 1950,can be quoted to set this aspect at rest for now- “About his ‘MagnumOpus’, the Bethany Congregation, I shall say nothing, because moreable pens than mine will have a great deal to write about.”

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There is a long procession of the Pious Societies and AssociationsMsgr Raymond set up in the Parish from ‘day one’, a few prominentpoints can be reflected here for the benefit of the interested, furtherreading will figure in this publication in the future surely.

One of the first to commence at Bendur Parish was the Altar Boys’Society and Catechism classes for children followed by basic schoolingwhich was not easily available in those times. Msgr’s great love andconcern was for vocations and to this end he laboured a great deal andfor decades vocations from Bendur were a plenty before new trendstook over still vocations have always been a tradition in Bendur and ithad been an exemplary situation. By the way Rev. Fr Basil Peres, aspriest served for 4 months in 1952 and was then called to the Bishop’sHouse, he became Bishop of Mangalore in 1955. The St Vincent dePaul Society first invaded Mangalore through Bendur in 1926, withsome of the laity taking front roles. Now this Society is most active anddynamic in many spheres in this diocese. A talented choir under variousheads has existed since its inception. Legion of Mary in 1921, CatholicAction Group in 1934, Ladies Catholic Life Society in 1937, Soldiersof Jesus (for children), Ladies Social Service League in 1959, SecularFranciscan Sabha in 1963. With prominent members in the forefrontmajor projects such as in 1972 housing for the poor under ‘Prem NagarHousing’; Mass Marriage an annual feature under the banner of Vincentde Paul was a brain child of Msgr Raymond it seems. As Bendurapproaches its centenary year in August 2014, it is edifying that manyshining stars of the Konkani Catholics world-wide have their roots inand around BENDUR PARISH! Decades ago it was MsgrMascarenhas who set the tone for public services and gave primeexample himself. He organized several schools not only in Bendur butalso in far flung areas, through the Bethany Sisters this mission wasenlarged greatly. He was for several years a respected member of theCivil District Education Board and its spokesperson for vitalrepresentations to top government dignitaries. As a member of theMangalore Municipality, he has been of service to the Society and churchin tremendous ways. Thus he has given true meaning to prayer by actionin proportionate measure which was Christ’s main message of goodneighbourliness!

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EMOTIONS FROM EXPERIENCESEMOTIONS FROM EXPERIENCESEMOTIONS FROM EXPERIENCESEMOTIONS FROM EXPERIENCESEMOTIONS FROM EXPERIENCES

It is a well known fact that great people and saints just as JesusChrist did, touch hearts and continue to touch them towards good non-stop! Msgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas has not only done that all throughlife but also after his death on 23 December 1960- through the tinyplant henursed nowa huge tree-B e t h a n ya m o n gm a n yinstitutionsthat continuehis idealsand

inspirationsconsistently.An idealway toconclude is perhaps to recollect at what prominent people of old havesaid during the twin Jubilee in March 1950 (75 years of age and 50years of Priesthood) on the life and qualities of our great ‘Servant ofGod.’

L.C. Pais says, “Men are either knowers, sayers or doers as perEmerson - Msgr is really a great man, who is a knower, sayer and adoer.” Then, “It was however at Bendur that his work as Parish Priesthad its full significance. For 17 years, he was the Vicar of Bendur. Heacquired new sites, put up buildings and started schools.” He servedthe poor, founded convents and continued to even after he went asVicar General in 1931. Again he adds, “Fr Mascarenhas was a soundadministrator, a learned Canonist, a lucid writer, and a powerful Preacherin English and Konkani. He generates both heat and light. His retreatsbrought the fear of God into people.” Such were the deep sentimentsof people of those times.

Sr. Olinda Pereira, a grand niece and prominent personality: “Inearly childhood, our grand-uncle’s visits to our home were hailed with

TWIN JUBILEE IN MARCH 1950

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great joy. Something inexplicable radiated from that quiet figure whichspoke very gently and deliberately.” She adds, “I have had theopportunity of hearing Fr Mascarenhas preach only on two occasions.One, at a ceremony in a convent, has made an indelible impression inmy mind. I seem to hear his words even today.” This she wrote in1950.

From the address by the parishioners on his elevation as VicarGeneral before he left the Bendur Parish on 23 August 1931: “. . . Youdear Fr have given us so many graces in spiritual and material ways. . .Then this very big church building, the very beautiful marble altar, severalschools, the Bethany Congregation spread all over the district, how didall this come into existence from nothing, there is more thanRs. 75,000/- worth property! We admire after God how you haveworked these miracles like the multiplication of the loaves, we not onlyfeel indebted to you but tears flood our eyes as you are leaving us,”a lot more continues.

The great upright upholders of truth, integrity, ethics and the like,never fail to face controversies, trials and opposition akin to ChristJesus- for Satan never sleeps- Jesus’ story is proof enough! MsgrRaymond as it is known faced his share of trials and tribulations; hisfaith and personal piety anchored in prayer saw him through every stepof the way. His devotion to his Master in all things was heroic! Hisjournalistic prowess was famous, he was called the “Apostle of theMedia” in those early times of the press in Mangalore. He not only isassociated with several early publications, but is considered a prodigyof writing. He has authored more than a dozen books of prayer andmeditation and translated scores of Latin and English hymns into Konkanifor the good of the local people. He is also considered as a man widelytravelled in times when travel was very difficult. In June 1955 SD MsgrMascarenhas was conferred with the singular Papal honour of ”DomesticPrelate” by Pope Pius XII in recognition of heroic services to the Churchin general.

In conclusion it is of worth to glance at opinions expressed by wellknown people, the contemporaries of Msgr Raymond:

L.C. Pais, the famous legal luminary ended his address on theoccasion of the Twin Jubilee, March 1950 with weighty words of SirMirza Ismail, “Rich debtors to the poor, the educatedthe debtors to the

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ignorant, the happy and comfortable debtors to those who suffer. Well,if all such human debtors recognised and paid their debts, how swiftwould progress be?”

Fr Charles Mascarenhas, Msgr’s nephew recalls how the popularJames Saldanha, who no one can call a flatterer always held up MsgrRaymond as “Priest full of wisdom, of holiness and of the Holy Ghost.”

Key personalities of the then high profile Catholic Association ofSouth Canara (CASK) of which Msgr Raymond was President from1931 to 1941- at the special Twin Jubilee honour bestowed on Msgr,said as follows:

M.S. Sreshta, particularly referring to services to education, “Feware of the kind of Msgr., not satisfied with doing the mere commontasks and daily rounds, but continually see visions, plans and schemes.They are the salt of the earth.” He then continues, “In a letter to Rev.Fr Mascarenhas, the late Bishop Raymond of Allahabad has written,‘Not your diocese alone but the whole church of India and particularlythe Indian Bishops and priests are proud of what you have done, andregard you as an outstanding priest of the generation. . .” At the samecelebration: J.P. Rego: “The name of Fr Mascarenhas would loom largein the pages of the history of the Diocese of Mangalore as a priest andman of many achievements for the community and country.” Rao SahebA L Pinto too on continues the same note.

The people of Bendur in their felicitation address have recordedmany wonderful noteworthy services of Msgr to quote a small part,“Hundreds of dignitaries, archbishops, bishops, priests and people fromall parts of the world have greeted you on this great occasion indicatingyour fame and recognition wide. The Cardinal Prefect of the Societyfor the Propagation of Faith in the Vatican, Cardinal Fumasoni-Biondi,on behalf of the Papal palace, has sent you a letter of thanks recognizingthe great things you achieved. But, for us at Bendur the reality that youcreated something out of nothing, on a barren hill will stand for therepresentation of Christ and His works for all time.”

As a finale, please let me place before you, from the Book MsgrRaymond- A Mystic and a Prophet by Sr Bertha, BS, who knew theServant of God during her religious life for 30 years before his death,

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Ivan Saldanha, a lay person “Citizen Journalist” has often written onthe life of Msgr Mascarenhas. Having laboured in parts of India andoverseas, is now living in Mangalore. He regularly contributes articlesto News Papers, Magazines, Bulletines etc., on local community andhistrory. He feels ‘Hagiography’ the saintliness of people is significant,a Mangalorean bound for sainthood is long due and a benediction.

and even before as a parishioner of St Sebastian’s Church, Bendur ,part of a verse:

Our salutations to you, thou city of Mangalore,Revered as ‘Rome of the East’…Your illustrious priest-son,Raymond Francis Camillus MascarenhasOn July sixteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-oneWith childlike trust in GOD and Mother MarySowed just one little seed, O Mangalore!”

Finaly, it is fitting to glorify God and people quoting the first line ofthe ‘Laudate’ in Latin which was a favourite prayer of Msgr Raymondbe in joy, gladness or sorrow, and adopted by catholicsof old.

-: Laudate Dominus, Omnes Gentes, Omnes Populi : --: Laudate Dominus, Omnes Gentes, Omnes Populi : --: Laudate Dominus, Omnes Gentes, Omnes Populi : --: Laudate Dominus, Omnes Gentes, Omnes Populi : --: Laudate Dominus, Omnes Gentes, Omnes Populi : -

( Praise the Lord, Praise all nations, Praise all people)

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When Father Raymond Mascarenhas was ordained as a priest ofGod on 4 March 1900, his one determination was to spend his life forthe God who loved him and who had chosen him to be his son likeJesus whom he had sent into the world to bring salvation to every one. Those who knew him at that time describe him as unusually a ferventyoung man. He felt that this Jesus, the Son of the Eternal Father hadcalled him to work for His Abba as Jesus was. So, he kept before hismind’s eye, Jesus, the one sent by the Father, and from the very beginninghe worked with him, for him and like him.

My close contact with Father Founder convinced me from histalk, his actions and in his spiritual direction to me that the only reasonhe was doing what he did was because if Jesus was in Mangalore hewould have done so many things, borne so many hardships for us. Buthe has now given us the privilege to be in his place and to do what Hewould have done. He felt he could not let Him down.

Naturally, just as Jesus loved and worked as an ordinary carpenter,and worked as a member of a working man’s family, he too desired towork hard for whatever he achieved. Although he belonged to a middleclass professional family he valued and appreciated manual work,simplicity of life and lived like a poor man labouring for his daily breadlike all poor people of India. That was the spirit that animated him andit never left him even to his last days. Many of his problems stemmedfrom the fact that he thought everyone was like him animated with adesire to work, serve, and help others.

His Childlike Devotion to Our Lady:His Childlike Devotion to Our Lady:His Childlike Devotion to Our Lady:His Childlike Devotion to Our Lady:His Childlike Devotion to Our Lady:

In his desire to live a simple life like Jesus he looked for modelsthat he could emulate easily. He loved much Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

Fr Mascarenhas and His DevotionsFr Mascarenhas and His DevotionsFr Mascarenhas and His DevotionsFr Mascarenhas and His DevotionsFr Mascarenhas and His Devotions

The Late Sr M The Late Sr M The Late Sr M The Late Sr M The Late Sr M VVVVViolette, BSiolette, BSiolette, BSiolette, BSiolette, BSMA., PhD

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I was touched and was edified by his childlike and faith-filled devotionto Our Blessed Mother (whom he lovingly called “Mother” - “Mai”)and I wanted very much to imitate him. He had given Mary to theBethany Institute as its queen and mother and he was thoroughlyconvinced that Bethany was the work that Jesus, the great lover ofBethany had entrusted to her. He called Bethany, “Our Blessed Mother’sGarden.” He reminded the sisters in and out of season that she is“expert gardener” and she will not tolerate any rotten plants in hergarden; certainly she will weed them out. So, his frequent advice wasto listen to Mary and to “do whatever she tells you.”

The tell-tale marks of his love and devotion to the Holy Mother ofGod are all over Bethany. As we enter the Bethany parlour and climbthe first step we see the statue of our Blessed Mother ready to welcomeus- and the words from his favourite hymn “Ave Maris Stella”- “ShowThyself a Mother” (Monstra Te Esse Materem”). Commenting on thosewords he would say often “She will show herself to be your mother,but do you show yourself and behave as her child?”

It was his desire to show his love for her that all the importantworks of the Institute were undertaken or inaugurated on a MarianFeast Day or on a Saturday- a week - day dedicated to Mary. Whenhe served as Bethany Chaplain, every Marian Feast had to be celebratedwith love, devotion and due preparation. Preparations for all feastswere in the form of novenas or Mass to join us in praying the novenaprayers.

After receiving the Decree of Establishment of Bethany waspromulgated and the novitiate was inaugurated and the first batch ofnovices was to be admitted to it, it was customary at that time to changeour baptismal names to some religious name. He gave the novices- tobe, names from the Litany of Loreto- each name being a title of OurBlessed Mother. e.g., We had Sisters Potence, Consilia, Stella, Annaetc., and finally when he ran out of the invocation, of Litany of Loretoto choose names from, he had recourse to the Salve Regina- and thelast three sisters were called Sisters Clemence, Pia and Dulcise.

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At the end of the Marian year 1954, he had made a long list ofMarian feasts (major and minor, well known and little known). Heencouraged each sister to select a Marian feast and celebrate it as if itwas her own special day. When the II Vatican Council revised theLiturgical and sanctoral calendars some of these feasts were droppedand others were moved from their original date to another date. Nevertheless, it is still a sense of satisfaction for me to celebrate myown chosen feast day of Mary. It is something between Mary, myMother, and me, her child.

Every new house of the Congregation was not only opened onMary’s (Saturday) or on her feast day but was also named after someattributes of her. (e.g. Maryvale Convent) or a place made sacred byassociation with Mary- e.g. Massabielle Convent, Lourdes Convent,Genezzano Convent etc.,), the only exception was the first house whichwas dedicated to the second patroness (Lisieux Convent) because shewas to be canonized that year.

When new Marian devotions or older devotions with neweremphasis appeared in the Church calendars, he was sure to encourageand adopt it when and where possible these devotions. e.g., Devotionto the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was because of Our Lady’s requestto the three Fatima children to say the prayer she taught, Father Founderasked the Bethany Sisters to repeat it after each decade of the rosaryprayer - this prayer request by our Blessed Mother “O my God, forgiveus our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven,especially those who are in most need of your mercy.” Whatever ourBlessed Mother asked of anyone, he took it as accepted of himpersonally and he would try to oblige her in whatever way she could.

In order to make sure that Saturdays would remain definitely aday consecrated to our Blessed Mother, he asked the sisters to spenda few minutes with Mary by reading about her short excerpts from abook someone had sent to him.

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He prescribed the sisters to pray the five decades (each decadeof ten Hail Marys) of the Rosary, but recommended and encouragedthat we pray the entire fifteen decades whenever time permitted us. Toignite their fervour he gave them prayer to be prayed to obtain thegrace of each decade. How delighted he would have been if he wasalive to read the letter of Pope John Paul II on the Rosary and the fiveMysteries of Light! With what delight he would have planned and spentthis year of the Rosary!

Very often he would come to the chapel on the eve of MarianFeasts to give the sisters short exhortation on the mystery/feast wewere celebrating, to stir their fervour!

He installed the Via Matins (The Seven Stations to honour theSeven Sorrows of our Blessed Mother) at the rear end of the chapel.On Sundays and holidays, we the student sisters would pray thesestations after the noon angelus and the particular examine of conscience.He would come and join us.

His devotion to the Green Scapular of the Immaculate Heart ofMary and the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel werewell known. He encouraged these devotions without making a fetishout of them.

The date of the First and Second Chapter of Elections were fixedby the Bishop of our Diocese, who also was its President. However,when the Congregation was able to fix its own date, he encouraged thesuperiors to make sure the Election of the Superior General and herCouncillors would be held on April 26 (the Feast of Mother of GoodCounsel). He had great devotion to the Mother of God under this titleand made me often sing the hymn in her honour- while he quietly relaxedin his easy chair. Since the last line of every verse says, “Mother tell mewhat am I to do?” at the end, he would smile and say: “Now don’t say,“Mother, tell me what am I to do?” and then go and do whatever youwant to do.

(to be continued)

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The Compassionate PastorThe Compassionate PastorThe Compassionate PastorThe Compassionate PastorThe Compassionate Pastor

James D’ Souza, Bangalore James D’ Souza, Bangalore James D’ Souza, Bangalore James D’ Souza, Bangalore James D’ Souza, Bangalore

The word ‘Compassion’ I believe is derived from the Latin word,cum (with) + patior (to suffer). Compassion means to suffer with, toshare solidarity with, to show deep sympathy and real sorrow for thesuffering of another or others, accompanied by an urge to help and toshow mercy. The word ‘Compassion’ encompasses, among other things,poverty, ignorance, and illness- not necessarily in that order.

Triggered by the awareness of suffering people, compassionpropels a person into action on their behalf by offering all possiblecomfort, healing or empowerment within the confines of a particularsituation. Reaching out in compassion enables to understand otherswith deep empathy without condemnation. It moves a person intoconstructive action to alleviate their suffering.

Monsignor Raymond was moved with compassion to alleviatethe ignorance and poverty of his flock. Ignorance can be the off-shootto illiteracy or lack of education. For Msgr Raymond, from the veryoutset, education of his young parishioners in Bendore was a dream,which translated itself into reality, in the establishment of two schools inthe Parish, one each for boys and girls. Incidentally, St Sebastian’sHigher Elementary School, which he established, was my ‘Alma Mater’for 8 years (1934-1942). And, am I proud of it!

Education is the tool that nurtures and expands human intellect,which in turn, encourages higher learning, landing jobs, businesses, thuscreating more jobs, more opportunities.

Here is our great Servant of God, with his mighty vision of tacklingpoverty, a hundred years ago. It is a hard reality that we certainly needmoney for survival, and one has to earn it, taking good advantage ofany help that comes one’s way.

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The establishment of a handloom weaving industry in Bethany washis idea of scoring two objectives. First, it was part of his wiser visionof imparting training in a trade to aspiring youngsters, including inmatesof Bethany, in the art of handloom weaving. And second, to augmentthe finances for the Institution. My grandfather, the late Rozario DomingoD’Souza (1970-1956) and his three younger brothers were all handloomweavers. I remember, the youngest of them Marian D’Souza givingvoluntary service to the weaving establishment in Bethany, at timesconsulting my grandfather on some professional problems.

However, when this enterprise took a heavy toll on the delicatehealth of the inmates it was closed down.

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My dearest children in Our Lord,

Tomorrow is the Feast of Our Lady of Carmel and is the Seventh

Anniversary of the Foundation of Bethany, our dear Institute. On this

happy day my heart goes to each and every one of the dear Sisters

whom our dear Lord and His Blessed Mother have been pleased to

entrust to my care under the protection of His Little Flower. I cannot

but remember in a particular manner those who are far from me as to

place, but who are therefore all the closer to me in the Sacred Heart of

Our Lord.

Let us on this day my dear children thank Our Lord and His

Blessed Mother and their Little Flower for having taken care of us

during all this time, and for the numerous blessings which they have

been pleased to bestow upon us. Let us offer ourselves to their service

with still greater generosity to accomplish to the best of our power

whatever they may demand of us. Let us also pray with all possible

fervour that Our Lord may bless Bethany and make it permanently the

home which He loves and which loves Him.

My Blessing to each and everyone.

From the Letters ofFrom the Letters ofFrom the Letters ofFrom the Letters ofFrom the Letters ofFr Raymond MascarenhasFr Raymond MascarenhasFr Raymond MascarenhasFr Raymond MascarenhasFr Raymond Mascarenhas

July 15, 1928

Your father in Christ,

Sd/- (RFC Mascarenhas)

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1998/1 I have received back my health through the intercessionof Msgr RFC Mascarenhas. My heartfelt thanks to him.

- Mattilda Nazareth.

1998/2 Received favours through the intercession of MsgrRaymond Mascarenhas. Sincere thanks to him.

- Prakash D’ Souza, Permannur

1998/3 Through the intercession of Msgr RaymondMascarenhas, I have received a favour. My gratefulthanks to God. I continue to pray for still more favours.

- Anthony Dennis Monteiro

1998/4 Through the intercession of Msgr RaymondMascarenhas, I have received a favour. My gratefulthanks to God

- Pius D’ Souza, Mangalore

1998/5 Through the intercession of Msgr RaymondMascarenhas, I have received a favour. My heartfeltthanks to him. I continue to pray for still more favours.

- L D’ Souza, Attavar

1998/6 Thanks for the favours received through the intercessionof Msgr RFC Mascarenhas

- Pulimkkal Family, Chathencottunada, Calicut Dist

1998/7 Received a Favour through the intercession of MsgrRFC Mascarenhas. Sincere thanks to him. I am prayingfor still more favours.

- Anthony Dennis Monteriro, Kulur

1998/8 Received favours through the intercession of MsgrRaymond Mascarenhas. Sincere thanks to him.

- Sr Monica Rebello,BS and family, Puttur, Samathdka

Favours Received from 1998 to 1999 through theFavours Received from 1998 to 1999 through theFavours Received from 1998 to 1999 through theFavours Received from 1998 to 1999 through theFavours Received from 1998 to 1999 through theIntercession of the Servant of God Raymond FCIntercession of the Servant of God Raymond FCIntercession of the Servant of God Raymond FCIntercession of the Servant of God Raymond FCIntercession of the Servant of God Raymond FCMascarenhas Published in Mascarenhas Published in Mascarenhas Published in Mascarenhas Published in Mascarenhas Published in RaknnoRaknnoRaknnoRaknnoRaknno, the Konkani, the Konkani, the Konkani, the Konkani, the Konkani

WWWWWeekly of Mangalore Dioceseeekly of Mangalore Dioceseeekly of Mangalore Dioceseeekly of Mangalore Dioceseeekly of Mangalore Diocese

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1998/9 Through the intercession of Msgr RaymondMascarenhas, I have received a favour. My gratefulthanks to God. I continue to pray for still more favours.

- Meena D’ Souza, Pacchanady

1998/10 We have received several favours through theintercession of Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas. Oursincere thanks to him.

- Bethany Sisters, Maryvale Convent, Kinnigoly

1998/11 Received favours through the intercession of Msgr RFCMascarenhas and the Little Flower. My heartfelt thanksto him.

-Sr Lillybeth, BS

1998/12 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived.

- Melwyn Gonsalves, Bajjodi (Mascat)

1998/13 Through the intercession of Msgr RaymondMascarenhas better health is restored. My sincere thanksto him. Please for my complete recovery.

- Shrimati Lilly Gonsalves, Bajjodi

1998/14 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived

– Sr Azella, BS

1998/15 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived.

- A Bethany Sister

1998/16 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived.

– Sr. Gratian, BS

1998/17 Received favour through the intercession of Msgr RFCMascarenhas. Sincere thanks to him.

-Sr Victoria, BS

1998/18 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived.

– Sr Annie Francis, Kerala

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1998/19 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarrenhas for favours received.

- Sr Tara, BS, Ramdas, Punjab

1998/20 Through the intercession of Msgr RaymondMascarenhas, I have received a favour. My gratefulthanks to God

- William Castelino, Nakre

1998/21 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived.

- Sr Caroline, Kulshekar

1998/22 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived.

- Rudolph D’ Souza, Dubai

1998/23 Received favour through the intercession of MsgrRaymond Mascarenhas. Sincere thanks to him

- Marie Veigas, Munnur

1998/24 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived

- P.M. Mangalore

1998/25 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhs, Bethany founder forthe favours received.

- Sr Anseline, Rosa Mystica Novitiate

1998/26 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, Bethany founderfor the favours received

- Sr Cicilia Mendonca, Rosa Mystica Convent

1998/27 Through the intercession of Msgr Raymond we havereceived two favours. Our sincere thanks to him

- Sr Jeevitha, BS and Bethany Sisters, Kinnigoly

1998/28 Received favours. Sincere thanks to Msgr RFCMascarenhas.

- Praveen Vas, Hirebail

1998/29 Received favours through the intercession of MsgrRaymond Mascarenhas. Sincere thanks to him

– Sr Rosette, BS

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1998/30 Through the intercession of Msgr RaymondMascarenhas, I have received a favour. My gratefulthanks to God.

- Thomas D’Almeida & Family, Nakre

1998/31 Received two special favours through the intercessionof Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas. Sincere thanks to him.

- Sr Smitha and Bethany Sisters, Rome

1998/32 Thanks for the favours received through the intercessionof Msgr RFC Mascarenhas.

- Sr Esuria

1998/33 Sincere Thanks to Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas for thefavour received.

- Pushparaj Jogi, Gurpur

1998/34 My grateful thanks for the favours received through theintercession of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas.

- Sr Lilian, BS

1998/35 Received favours through the intercession of MsgrRaymond Mascarenhas. My heartfelt thanks to him.

- Insu Vas and Family, Muchhur

1998/36 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for receiving all thefavours. Sorry for the delay.

- Sr Felsy, BS, Bethany Convent, Bangalore

1998/37 Our grateful thanks to Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas forsaving us from an accident.

- Basrikatte Sisters

1998/38 Sincere Thanks to Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas for thefavour received.

- Sr Macrina, BS, Bethany, Mangalore

1998/39 Received favours through the intercession of MsgrRaymond Mascarenhas. Our heartfelt thanks to him

- Mr & Mrs. Shanthi D’ Souza, Deradka

1998/40 My heartfelt thanks to Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas forthe favour received.

- Sr Monica, Tacode

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Favours ReceivedFavours ReceivedFavours ReceivedFavours ReceivedFavours Received

A Baby through the Intercession of the Servant ofA Baby through the Intercession of the Servant ofA Baby through the Intercession of the Servant ofA Baby through the Intercession of the Servant ofA Baby through the Intercession of the Servant ofGod RaymondGod RaymondGod RaymondGod RaymondGod Raymond

We, Shaju and

Deepa native of Kerala

acknowledge the favour

received through the

intercession of

Fr Raymond FC

Mascarenhas, the Servant

of God. We were married

8 years ago and had no

children. We tried all medical aid and prayed to different sources. One

of our aunts Sr Ann Maria BS of Bethany Convent, Chevayur who is a

great devotee of the Servant of God Raymond Mascarenhas prayed

earnestly through the intercession of the Msgr Raymond. She also

prayed at the Bethany Founder’s cottage where his remains are kept.

We started praying through the intercession of the Servant of God

in January 2008. Deepa conceived in February 2008 and delivered a

baby boy in September.

We are very grateful to Fr Raymond for answering our prayers.

Shaju and DeepaKizhararakatt HouseKoombara P.OCalicut

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SSSSStress-free Medical Examinationtress-free Medical Examinationtress-free Medical Examinationtress-free Medical Examinationtress-free Medical Examination

When recently, my wife and I, applied for a temporary visa to visit

our daughter in a foreign country, both of us, being 75 and 80 years of

age respectively, were directed by the Embassy to undergo a health

checkup by that Country’s designated Medical Officer. Naturally, we

were a bit scared and apprehensive because few years earlier, we had

been put through a rigorous medical check for a similar purpose, without

any damage fortunately. And that was when we were both 5 years

younger!

In between, I, with a few of my family members, happened to visit

the local Provincial House of the Congregation of Bethany Sisters, whose

Founder, the Very Rev Msgr RFC Mascarenhas had recently been

declared a Servant of God. I was very close to Msgr. Mascarenhas for

a period of time at Mangalore. Entering the parolur of the Provincialate,

my eyes fell on the imposing photograph of this great man, adorning the

wall, and instantly, I felt I was standing in front of Msgr Mascarenhas,

in person, as I used to some sixty odd years ago. I could not take my

eyes off the photograph while talking to the Sr. provincial and other

sisters, when willy-nilly, the subject of our medicals scheduled for the

next day, came up.

The good nuns wished us well for our impending medicals and

assured us of their prayers for this intention through the intercession of

their beloved Founder. From that moment till we entered the doctor’s

chambers the next afternoon, we felt that our good “Father

Mascarenhas” who is now exalted Servant of God, was with us,

constantly saying “I am with you” and giving us the courage we needed

at that time.

What happened next was, as we definitely felt it, a ‘miracle’- so

to say it was just a surprise would be too mild for it, our good God

working through His great “servant” as assured by his beloved sisters

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the previous day. Instead of a few fire works, which we had expected,the doctor was so kind and considerate while examining us and finallysaying “Your few ailments are age related. Don’t worry about it andcarry on with the medication you are used to. Have a nice holiday withyour daughter and come back.”

We wish to put this on record, with the wish and hope that moreand more God’s people and followers/admirers of Msgr Mascarenhaswill be touched by him and report of bigger favours received from Godthrough his intercession and thus hasten the Cause of his Beatification

and Canonization.

Mr & Mrs J. D’ Souza

No. 2, C.K. Garden, St Thomas TownBangalore 560 084

Healing without OperationHealing without OperationHealing without OperationHealing without OperationHealing without Operation

My husband was suffering from Cancer ofthe tongue. He was operated for it. At that time hegot peri-anal abscess. That pain was unbearable.Doctor told him to undergo an operation, ifmedicines do not work. He also said that only Godcould heal him and gave strong medicines becauseit was difficult to undergo one more surgery in thesame month.

We asked everyone to pray for him. In the meantime a sister fromBethany Convent gave me the prayer for the Beatification of the Servantof God Raymond Mascarenhas. I started praying to him without fail.So after 10 days my husband was completely alright and doctor wassurprised and congratulated us

PRAISE THE LORD!

OCTAVIA LOBOFaridabad, Haryana

10 October 2008

22-1-2009

Lancy LoboLancy LoboLancy LoboLancy LoboLancy Lobo

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Miracles do HappenMiracles do HappenMiracles do HappenMiracles do HappenMiracles do Happen

If we have faith, miracles do happen. I am Mrs Sonia Talwar, a

teacher of St Theresa’s Convent School, Karnal, Haryana narrating

this incident that happened in my family. My six year old son Rajveer a

student of K.G. who was hale and hearty complained of stomach ache

one day. He was taken to the doctor and on examining him the doctor

said that it was cancer and hence advised us to shift him Rajeev Gandhi

Cancer Hospital, New Delhi. He was given chemotherapy and he lost

his hair and the luster of his face. Everything was frustrating. When we

were feeling very much discouraged and dejected we got a telephonic

call from Sister Reshmi, the Principal asking us to pray through the

intercession of Bethany Founder Msgr RFC Mascarenhas and the

prayer would be answered. So we started to pray to God through the

intercession of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, the Servant of God. The

Sisters too prayed, and lo and behold, though it was a high risked

surgery, when operated the doctors found the case very promising. My

child was completely cured and is now attending his class with his

friends. We thank the Founder Msgr RFC Mascarenhas who wrought

this miracle in our child’s life, gave him a new life, and increased our

faith.

Sonia TalwarSt Theresa’s Convent SchoolKarnal 132 001(HR)December 2008

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Sr M. Peace BSMadodnna Convent

Kolasib, Mizoram

Grace of CureGrace of CureGrace of CureGrace of CureGrace of Cure

From two years I have been suffering from

rheumatoid arthritis, which incapacitated me from

walking freely. I could not lift my hands either.

I prayed to our Founder, the Servant of God now,

to set me free from this trouble. I am happy to give this testimony to the

favour I have received. I am able to walk now and to lift my hands

since a month. I am 88 years old and I have known our Founder closely.

I thank God for granting me this favour through his intercession.

22-7-2008

The Vice-PostulatorCause of the Servant of God Raymond MascarenhasBethany ConventKankanady PostMangalore - 575 002Karnataka, India

Managing EditorManaging EditorManaging EditorManaging EditorManaging Editor

THE COMPASSIONATE PASTOR

Published twice a year in July and December. Nosubscription. Donations will be gratefully accepted to meetthe expenses of printing, mailing and the process ofCanonization. Donations and offerings may be sent to theaddress given below. Cheques/drafts may be made infavour of: Cause of Msgr Raymond FCMascarenhas. We invite your experiences for possibleinclusion in this bulletin.

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