Response to sex, love, prostitute assertion by Vivian Orah

“If sex is to prove love that means that all prostitutes are angels” said by VIVIAN ORAH

Response:

We cannot state a definite fact positive or negative with probability to make it GOOD or RIGHT. This is because VIVIAN posited a moral statement which she did not make a categorical fact because of the “if” she used. In view of that we must not be so fast to condemn or see her as tending towards “prostitute are angels” she may not agree to have a categorical “yes they are angels”. This ought to be seen from philological cum moral ambient which will eventually lead to spiritual as well. Any time about sex and love is mentioned very many people become consciously awake and try to rationalize over the issue. It is good to see the philological meanings of the key words and then try to rationalize a bit over the statement knowing full well that the statement is not just a mere debating statement for its own sake. What is sex, love and prostitute in a philological original sense and the moral cum spiritual good. It seem that very many tend to say or agree that “love cannot exist without sex” hence their response of “sex is inevitable for the expression of love or sex spices love”. These are mere rhetoric expressions interwoven sex and love. Sex as carnal relationship is evitable for the expression of love, even in most extreme cases between legally and licitly married couples. It can never be a spice in this line of thought for love. Sex is never food that is why couples of legal and licit union ought to be prudent in expressing their love cfr. 1Cor.7:1-10, NOT ANY OTHER GROUP BOY-GIRL or MAN-WOMAN or ANY OTHER MISCELLAENOUS SETS OF FRIENDS. We are not condemning nor congratulating prostitutes or any of these groups either in this statement, because there may be any of these groups even married ones old and young as well who are worst then them if we try to condemn them because many things happen “behind closed doors” with these groups. We must not equate human being as food or taste of food, that will relegate us to mere sex maniac not even lower animals because lower animals especially the female agree to meet with the male only when they are in “heat period” which means ready to conceive for procreation, so where do we place human beings in this natural cause, which very many are found in these three major groups: legally and licitly married, prostitutes and other groups do not obey. From the ancient Greek words for love, we have eros, philos and AGAPE while in the modern Greek we have five: mania, which may be translated as “madness and beside yourself”, eros or erotas, philos, storgy and AGAPEO 1.Jn.3:8,16; Mtt.5:44; 1 Cor.13. The words that describes prostitute from the philological roots are Greek porne or porneian or amartolos Lk.7:37,39; Col.3:5; 1Thess.4:7 which describes prostitute or sexual immorality or fornication or akatharaian meaning indecency or impurity or pathos which is lust. My dearest friends let us reflect on these and make more search into the reality of human person. This is just the beginning of the rationalization.

SILENCE IN TRIDUUM (NO 2)

SILENCE IN TRIDUUM A SPIRITUAL-LITURGICAL COMMITMENT FROM THE HOLY WEEK (NO 2)

The apex and summary of Holy Week is experienced in the Triduum. This is evident in the word TRIDUUM:

T – TRINITARIAN Love gesture dramatized in a most solemn silent spiritual-liturgical way.

R – REDEMPTIVE role of the God-Man re-presented and re-enacted.

I – INSTITUTIONAL love shown in the sacramental forms.

U – UNION with the author of life through total surrender in form of man to make us divine.

U – URGE towards sincere sacramental familiarity.

M – MOMENTS of true and personal encounter with Christ in the liturgy through spiritual growth.

Therefore, the silence that shrouded the liturgy brings out in a most solemn way the spirituality that the mysteries represent. The spiritual cum liturgical quietude is governed by the Love intrinsic in Holy Thursday’s ...Hoc est corpus meum, quod pro vobis datur: Hoc facite in meam commemorationem...Hic est calix novum testamentum in sanguine meo, qui pro vobis fundetur Lk.22:19-20 and Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak-Vigilate et orate, ut non intretis in tentationem. Spiritus quidem promptus est, caro vero infirma Mk. 14:38. Therefore, the Liturgy of Holy Thursday which reminds us of the Chrism Mass and the Mass of the Last Supper, brings out the silent spirituality of:

 i) The silent breathing over the Oil of Chrism by the Bishop before the consecratory prayer.

ii) The silent prostration of the candidate for ordination.

iii) The silent imposition of hands on the head of an ordinand followed by an ordination prayer.

iv) The silent washing of feet of the twelve (12) Apostles in the Mass of the Last Supper Jn.13:1-17.

v) The silent dismissal of Mass without final blessing, with procession to the Altar of Repose.

vi) The silent denuding of the Altar after the Mass of the Last Supper.

vii) The silent adoration of Jesus Christ at the Altar of Repose liturgically re-presenting Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, who asked the Apostles why they could not watch for one hour in prayer. (cfr. Mk. 14:38)

Therefore, these sublimated and great silence observed in these different liturgical gestures is a tranquillity of sincere spiritual life inviting us all for the active participation of Christian life. Ipso facto, Holy Thursday is:

H – HOLY encounter with Christ through the Sacrament of Re-presentation.

O – OBSERVING attentively with silence prayer the mystery of divine service.

L – LETTING the mystery find a home in your heart.

Y – YEARNING towards sincere active participation in the sacerdotal service of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve.

T – TOTAL given of self or sacrifice towards love of neighbour shown in the washing of feet.

H – HAPPINESS in participating actively in the celebration of the Mystery of Love.

U – UNION with Christ always as not to be a betrayal at Gethsemane with a kiss.

R – RESISTING the worldly desire to act contradictorily towards our faith.

S – SURRENDER of ourselves as a positive response to our vocations.

D – DOING things with the intention of the eschatological values therein-the Beatific vision.

A – ARDENT faith in the sacramental life of the Church.

Y – YOU too are called in the vineyard so get prepared for this vocation.

Good Friday’s kenosis Phil.2:7-9 and Consummatum est- It is finished Jn.19:30 culminated the great silence of Christ, God-Man’s death on the cross at Golgotha. This deep spiritual silence is reenacted by the immediate prostration on reaching the foot of the Altar by the celebrants for the Good Friday Celebration of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ for few minutes recalling Christ’s death; and standing the chief celebrant introduces the celebration with an Opening Prayer without the Sign of the Cross. It is also worthy to note that the prayerful and devotional silent covering of the crucifix on the Saturday preceding 5^th Sunday of Lent and symbolic silent liturgical opening of the crucifix during the Celebration of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ with the liturgical crescendo of musical  trio-echoing of Ecce lignum crucis in quo salus mundi pependit... Venite adoremus, loudly and concretely indicates to us the great aphorism of In hoc signo vincis, that in this sign of the Cross we are victorious with Christ having followed Him together in the Via Crucis from the Praetorium to Calvary (Golgotha), there he saved humanity and pardon all our sins objectively and in a sacramental form too thus; Iesus autem dicebat: Pater, dimitte illis; non enim sciunt quid faciunt-Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing Lk.23:34. Furthermore, The three hours of silence and darkness in the whole country was broken by about three o’clock by Jesus’ loud divine question-cry: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? Deus meus, Deus meus, ut quid dereliquisti me? My God, My God. Why have You forsaken me? Mt.27:45-46; Mk.15:33-34. In spiritual life if we are left alone without the divine maternal care of Our Blessed Mother Mary, our silent meditation becomes arid and fruitless. In view of this, while still on the cross seeing the beloved disciple and his mother with other Mary, representing the Church, the Sacred Scripture said: Cum vidisset ergo Iesus matrem et discipulum stantem quem diligebat, dicit matri suae: Mulier, ecce filius tuus; deinde dicit discipulo: Ecce mater tua. Et ex illa hora accepit eam discipulus in sua-Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, Woman, behold your son, and to the disciple he said: Behold you mother, from that moment the disciple took her to live with her in his home Jn.19:26-27. Oh Our Blessed Mother Virgin Mary, pray for us who have recourse to you, Amen. Be it as it may then, in this salvific day, Good Friday calls to mind:

G – GOD is ever present among us even when we seem unconcerned.

O – OBEDIENCE of Christ brought us salvation.

O – OPENNES of Christ’s life is a great model to us who are his apostles, disciples and children.

D – DO to all what ordinarily you will love them do you Tobit 4:15.  

F – FASTING from sin is for our own spiritual good.

R – RESISTING from sin is the most excellent thing to be done by whoever that loves crucified Christ.

I – INSTITUTION of the Sacrament of Eternal or Infinite Love is evident in the Good Friday dramatic liturgy.

D – DEEP silent prayer ought to be experienced by all especially on this day.

A – ATTRACTION towards the suffering servant of Yahweh makes us to be drawn to Him as an example.

Y – YOU are not of the world though you are in the world.

These significance surrounding the Good Friday is clearly found in the Prophet Isaiah: He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly; he never said a word. Like a lamb about to be slaughtered, like a sheep about to be sheared, he never said a word 53:7.

Holy Saturday’s longest silence is broken by the Paschal or Easter Praeconium:  

Exsultet iam Angelica turba caelorum: exsultent divina mysteria: et pro tanti Regis victoria, tuba insonet salutaris.		Let the angelic choirs of Heaven now rejoice; let the divine Mysteries rejoice; and let the trumpet of salvation sound forth the victory of so great a King.
Gaudeat et tellus tantis irradiata fulgoribus: et aeterni Regis splendore illustrata, totius orbis se sentiat amisisse caliginem.		Let the earth also rejoice, made radiant by such splendor; and, enlightened with the brightness of the eternal King, let it know that the darkness of the whole world is scattered.

 By this Praeconium, the silent history of salvation is narrated and the Light of the world and King of kings rose triumphantly recalling once again the triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on Palm/Passion Sunday, but this time the Light dispelling the darkness of sin brings joy to the children of God and the world in general, rendering the devil powerless and upgrading Christians with spiritual fortitude.

Haec nox est, in qua primum patres nostros filios Israel eductos de Aegypto, mare Rubrum sicco vestigio transire fecisti.		This is the night in which Thou didst formerly cause our forefathers, the children of Israel, when brought out of Egypt, to pass through the Red Sea with dry foot.
Haec igitur nox est, quae peccatorum tenebras, columnae illuminatione purgavit.		This, therefore, is the night which dissipated the darkness of sinners by the light of the pillar.
Haec nox est, quae hodie per universum mundum, in Christo credentes, a vitiis saeculi, et caligine peccatorum segregatos, reddit gratiae, sociat sanctitati.		This is the night which at this time throughout the world restores to grace and unites in sanctity those that believe in Christ, and are separated from the vices of the world and the darkness of sinners.
Haec nox est, in qua destructus vinculis mortis, Christus ab inferis victor ascendit. Nihil enim nobis nasci profuit, nisi redimi profuisset.		This is the night in which, destroying the chains of death, Christ arose victorious from the grave. For it would have profited us nothing to have been born, unless redemption had also been bestowed upon us.

The darkness which was shrouded with mischievous silence is hereby turned into the clear brightness of silent beauty with heavenly aroma depicted with the symbolic Paschal candle.

O vere beata nox, quae sola meruit scire tempus et horam, in qua Christus ab inferis resurrexit! Haec nox est, de qua scriptum est: Et nox sicut dies illuminabitur: et nox illuminatio mea in deliciis meis.		O truly blessed night, which alone deserved to know the time and hour when Christ rose again from hell! This is the night of which it is written: And the night shall be as clear as the day; and the night is my light in my delights.
Huius igitur sanctificatio noctis fugat scelera, culpas lavat: et reddit innocentiam lapsis, et moestis laetitiam. Fugat odia, concordiam parat, et curvat imperia.		Therefore the hallowing of this night puts to flight all wickedness, cleanses sins, and restores innocence to the fallen, and gladness to the sorrowful. It drives forth hatreds, it prepares concord, and brings down haughtiness.
In huius igitur noctis gratia, suscipe, sancte Pater, incensi huius sacrificium vespertinum: quod tibi in hac Cerei oblatione solemni, per ministrorum manus de operibus apum, sacrosancta reddit Ecclesia.		Wherefore, in this sacred night, receive, O holy Father, the evening sacrifice of this incense, which holy Church renders to Thee by the hands of Thy ministers in the solemn offering of this wax candle, made out the work of bees.
Sed iam columnae huius praeconia novimus, quam in honorem Dei rutilans ignis accendit. Qui licet sit divisus in partes, mutuati tamen luminis detrimenta non novit. Alitur enim liquantibus ceris, quas in substantiam pretiosae huius lampadis, apis mater eduxit.		Now also we know the praises of this pillar, which the shining fire enkindles to the honor of God. Which fire, although divided into parts, suffers no loss from its light being borrowed. For it is nourished by the melting wax, which the mother bee produced for the substance of this precious light.
O vere beata nox, quae exspoiliavit Aegyptos, ditavit Hebraeos! Nox, in qua terrenis caelestia, humanis divina iunguntur.		O truly blessed night, which plundered the Egyptians and enriched the Hebrews! A night in which heavenly things are united to those of earth, and things divine to those which are of man.
Oramus ergo te, Domine: ut Cereus iste in honorem tui nominis consecratus, ad noctis huius caliginem destruendam, indeficiens perseveret. Et in odorem suavitatis acceptus, supernis luminaribus misceatur. Flammas eius lucifer matutinus inveniat. Ille, qui regressus ab inferis, humano generi serenus illuxit.		We beseech Thee, therefore, O Lord, that this wax candle hallowed in honor of Thy Name, may continue to burn to dissipate the darkness of this night. And being accepted as a sweet savor, may be united with the heavenly lights. Let the morning star find its flame alight. That star, I mean, which knows no setting. He Who returning from hell, serenely shone forth upon mankind.

From the mystery of the Paschal Vigil, one sees the involvement in the meaning of Holy Saturday thus:

H – HOLD firm the faith which makes us special as children of God.

O – OBTAIN the grace which God gives gratuitously by our going to Him.

L –LOVE God sincerely for through love He saved us all.

Y – YOU are obliged to remain with the Light of God.

S – SALVATION is for all, so work out yours with fear and trembling.

A – AVOID anything that takes you away from God.

T – TOUCH every life that you meet positively as to dispel the darkness of his or her life.

U – UPON the lives that seeks for light, help them to ignite the flame with love.

R – REMAIN always with truth for it will set you free.

D – DURING your life time, try to leave a spiritual legacy for the glory of God.

A -  ACCEPT other people in their limitedness or weakness and make them grow in virtues.

Y – YET, do not think that you have everything because if with your present condition you lack  Christ you are nothing.

In all these spiritual antidotes and antithesis we arrive at the last day of Triduum, breaking the magnum silentium with the Exsultet and three great Alleluia in a crescendo of sacred liturgical music.

HOLY WEEK SILENCE

SILENCE IN THE BIBLE A SPIRITUAL-LITURGICAL COMMITMENT FROM THE HOLY WEEK (NO. 1)

The betrayal kiss of Judas to Jesus was welcomed with humble silence by Jesus Christ, then He was arrested by the crowd armed with sword and clubs (cfr. Mk.14:43-52). In this situation and similar ones Jesus Christ remained silent (cfr. Mk.14:60-61a,65, even Peter’s denial vs.66-72; 15:3-5; Mt.26:69-75; 27:11-14) which ordinarily He would have said something. This is a Divine lesson which calls for Spiritual-Liturgical cognizance and profound reflections over our life and relationship with Him as God. Silence comes from the Latin word, silens- silentium, meaning to be still, quiet, or at rest. It may still mean: calm, peace, serenity, tranquility, poise, composure, noiselessness, hush, and solitude. Therefore, it is always good to stop and reflect over our lives personally or as a group for those who may find it extremely difficult to make a personal reflections of life or retreat throughout their life time as a way of prayer session that is directed by yourself as an individual. Spiritual silence entails alertness in the mind and heart so as not to sleep over the spiritual matters which governs the personality. If you are agile in silence you are able to overcome trials which creep into your spiritual-liturgical and moral life, for this will make the flesh to be fortified as not to succumb to the desires that draw us towards our weaknesses.

Christ calls us for consciousness of this silence and yet active in totality of life for He returned and found the three disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Weren’t you able to stay awake for even one hour? And He said to them, “Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak-Vigilate et orate, ut non intretis in tentationem. Spiritus quidem promptus est, caro vero infirma” Mk. 14: 37-38; Lk.22:46; Mt.26:40-46. In silence prayer we are able to meet or rather experience the presence of God in our lives as to say something to Him if not we remain without knowing what to say, this is evident here;  Then He came back to the disciples and found them asleep, they could not keep their eyes open. And they did not know what to say to Him... Mk.14:40-41.

The Holy Week ushers us into the Spiritual-Liturgical silence with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and a movement with Him to the Place of the skull- Calvary or Golgotha Mk.15:22; Jn.19:17. All the four Gospel account record that Jesus Christ was crucified at the Place of a Skull or The Skull Lk.23:32. The King James Version and New King James renders Skull in its Latin form Calvary in Luke 23:33. The Gospel of  Matthew, Mark and John tell us the name of the place where Jesus was crucified was Golgotha an Aramaic word translated into Greek as Place of a Skull, Greek: Cranion while Latin Calvariae and English cranium. The Aramaic word is taken from the Hebrew root or word that means, to roll which may denote the rolling shape of Golgotha that suggests a skull appearance. This place can as well show the spiritual quietness of the sepulcher or grave yard. Therefore, in this period the most greatest silence in the Bible shows itself in the Triduum. Be it as it may, we are reminded of these in Holy Week:

H – HOLINESS is the first thing ever that ought to preoccupy us all.

O – OBEDIENCE to God by keeping the commandments draws us near to God.

L – LEAVING the Will of God to surface prominently in our lives.

Y – YEARNING always for the deep sincere love of silent prayer.

W – WITH the constant following of Christ to the Cross we appreciate Him more in those who suffer unjustly from the hands of others.

E – EXPRESS an unconditional love to Him who is Love Himself, God-man.

E – EMPTY yourself for others in sincere silent life.

K – KNOW that Christ invites us all for the life of sacrifice for others. 

The reality of the Holy Week starts with the Palm or Passion Sunday celebration. It is Palm Sunday in the sense that the Triumphant entrance of Christ is welcomed by His Kingly nature whereby palms, olives branches and cloths are spread on the ground along the way in which He passes by with the donkey, a humble and laborious animal cfr. Mt.21:8-11, and people acclaiming His Sovereignty and saving nature by shouting Save us O Lord-Hosanna (acceperunt ramos palmarun et processerunt obviam ei et clamabant: Hosanna, benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini, re Israel)Jn.12:13 while as Passion Sunday, the Hosanna brings out the silent reality of His redeeming nature through scourges and suffering encountered; yet He was deeply SILENT as He accomplish his saving mission as a victim, oblation and gift pouring out His Blood, His Life, for our salvation on Calvary or Golgotha on the Cross; where He served and saved us as an Eternal and High Priest by His Love and Compassionate Words-Eucharistic Mk.14:24, Forgiveness Iesus autem dicebat vero: Pater, dimitte illis; non enim sciunt faciunt-Jesus said: Father forgive them for do not know what they are doing Lk.23:34 and eschatological promise – Et dixit illis Iesus: Amen, dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in Paradiso- Amen, I say unto you, today you will be with Me in Paradise Lk.23:43 to us all and symbolized also in the promise to the good thief. Breaking the great silence once again because everything s about to be realized as the Bible has it, Postea sciens Iesus quia omnia consummate sunt, ut consummaretur Scriptura, dixit: SITIO-Jesus knew that by now everything has been completed, and in order to make the Scripture come true, he said I AM THIRSTY Jn.19:28. The executioners gave him a cheap and sour wine Cum ergo accepisset Iesus acetum, dixit: Consummatum est. Et, inclinator capite, tradidit spiritum-Jesus therefore accepted and drank the wine and said: It is finished Jn.19:30 in great anguish he cried out and commended His Spirit to the Father, Et clamans voce magna Iesus ait: Pater, in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum-Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit Lk.23:46 this brought about the breaking of the temple’s curtain from top to hem Et ecce velum temple scissum est in duas partes a summon usque deorsum, et terra mota est, et petrae scissae sunt et monumenta aperta sunt, et multa corpra sanctorum qui dormierant surrexerunt-Then the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart, the graves broke open, and many of God’s people who had died were raised to life Mt.27:51 in silence spiritually and liturgically too.

ASH WEDNESDAY AND LENT SEASON

ASH WEDNESADY AND LENTEN SEASON!!!

From the social to the spiritual we try to model and prepare for the Lenten Season. The Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday usher us into the beginning of Lent from Ash Wednesday. The reason for Mardi Gras in social realm brings to limelight in the yesteryears, the raucous and hedonistic events which entered into the Christian calendar as the “last hurrah” before the Lent which starts actually on Ash Wednesday. In this social gathering, there is carnival feast, from the Latin etymology the words carne & vale, this imply “Farewell to the flesh”. The name came from the tradition of slaughtering and feasting upon fattened calf on the last day of carnival. This day is also known as Shrove Tuesday which means “to shrive” or hear confession. This day is still known as Pancake Tuesday and Fetter Dienstag. All things being equal the custom of making pancakes comes from the need to use up fat, eggs and diary before the fasting and abstinence of Lent begins looking forward to the celebration of the Resurrection or Easter. Therefore, this helps us to meditate most profoundly what are involved in the Ash Wednesday and Lent as a Holy Season. Therefore in Ash Wednesday we see these:

A – AVOID all forms of sinful relationship with the world from this season and onwards.

S – SHOW your nothingness before God that He may bring a change in your life.

H – HOLINESS is the key word throughout the season of Lent.

W – WITHOUT God in your life, your entire personality is spiritually vacuum.

E – EVACUATE your sinful old nature before God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation as to profit from this Season worthily.

D – DRESS yourself with spiritual armour so that the devil in the desert will be overcome with prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

N – NEVER take the devil for granted for he is planning on strategy to pull you down, “stand up to him strong in faith” 1Pet.5:9.

E – EMBRACE yourself in the things that increases virtue each moment in life.

S – SALVATION is all we ought to look and work for.

D – DO everything possible to win heaven.

A – ACCEPT the corrections available to you as to change for better.

Y – YOU are needed in heaven, so “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”.

As we know, Lent reminds us of unforgettable spirit of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving which are inter-connected with “to judge oneself”, “to bend knee in prayer because of Divine”, “to show pity, mercy, compassion, charity”, righteousness, kindness and justice. These three principal elements Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving of Lent are rightly summarized in Matt 6:2-4=Almsgiving; 5-15=Prayer; 16-18=Fasting. By these we combat the devil in the desert of our lives. Therefore Lent reminds us about these:

L – LEAVE off every pleasure or vice that draws you back from not increasing in virtue. Phil2:7-8; Joel 2:13; Mk.1:15

E – EMPTY yourself in prayers that the Spirit of God may take control of your life in this Holy Season. Ezk 18:21-23;Gen 3:19.

N – NEVER take the devil for granted, say NO to his prices and favours for they are detrimental to spiritual and moral lives. 1Pet 5:8-11; Gal 5:16-26.

T – TEMPTAION or TRIAL makes us ready and conscious to overcome the devil with the sincere spirit of preparedness. Sir 2; Jas 1: 22; 2:12-13.

THEOSAGAPE-GOD IS LOVE 1 JN4:8 VALENTINE FEAST AND FRIENDSHIP

THEOSAGAPE-GOD IS LOVE (1JN 4:8): GOD-LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF LOVE

“My dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Those who do not love have not known God, for God is love. How did the love of God appear among us?” 1John 4:7-9a

Today is 14^th February, the famous St. Valentine’s day, which liturgically has overshadow the celebration of memorial of SS Cyril (monk) and Methodius (Bishop). Looking at this Love and Valentine feast day, what eschatological implications regarding our spiritual and moral lives has it to each of us as we involve ourselves in the love manifestation in the social celebrations?. We are not only children of God but also friends of God, if only we demonstrate Him, who is Love through friendship to others not only by remembering and celebrating the feast of Valentine among lovers but showing Him in our lives every moment of our existence to all. How did the love of God appear among us? This appearance can be seen through the way we show and demonstrate Love and friendship in this Val’s day and beyond. By this act and certainty of Love and friendship which is imminent in God let us reflect concretely on the words Valentine and Friendship as we celebrate the Valentine week:

WHAT TRUE VALENTINE IS!!!

V – VALUE other people first, in this consists of true valentine.

A – APPRECIATE the positive and good qualities of others, this is true valentine.

L – LET goodness be associated with you in all your dealings with others, for this is true valentine.

E – EVERY moment with a true friend is Godly, this is true valentine.

N – NOTHING is too great or too small when it comes from a sincere heart for there you find true valentine.

T – TOTAL sacrifice from you to others, though may not be quantified depicts a true valentine.

I – INSERT your whole person into the heart of others for good, there you find a true valentine.

N – NEVER deceive others in the name of valentine for deceit is unequivocal to true valentine.

E – EMPTY yourself for the moral and spiritual growth of others, this is true valentine personified.

Therefore, Valentine is all that is well and vigorous, in the priestly or consecrated life it is a true martyrdom for the love of our apostolate, and as lay faithful following Christ with every amount of total trust in all his teachings. Let us bear in mind that we are all called to holiness of life. Happy Val to you all. St. Valentine, pray for us.

WHAT IS TRUE FRIENDSHIP?

Friendship in the real sense of it is a way towards sacrificing your time, talent, energy and the whole self for the goal and happiness of others, hence the word friendship implies:

F – FOCUSING your mind towards making others happy.

R – REACHING to others as to make them feel well always.

I – INSISTING on the things that glorifies God in your relationship with friends.

E – ENDURING things on behalf of others.

N – NEVER to give the devil opportunity between your relationships with friends as you celebrate the Valentine day with people cfr.1Peter 5:8-9.

D – DOING everything to bring nearer your friends to God.

S – SHAPING your personality from the virtues of your friends and they in return increasing their virtue s from yours.

H – HOLINESS of life is a key to true friendship.

I – INSTRUCT your friends well whenever they err.

P – PUT all efforts to help you grow positively for the sake of knowing others.

God bless you all on this friends’ and lovers’ day of Valentine. Be my Val.

MY BIRTHDAY REFLECTION ON, WITH AND TO MYSELF

BIRTHDAY REFLECTION ON MYSELF (IKECHUKWU-UGOCHI-OBERE[P] OGUN), FOR MYSELF, WITH MYSELF AND TO MYSELF ON MY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION TODAY, TUESDAY 7^TH FEBRUARY 2012

Stop, think, reflect, ponder and pray over yourself IKECHUKWU-UGOCHI-OBERE[P] OGUN this day Tuesday 7^th February 2012 on my birthday celebration. On the day of my birth there was war, hence many people were crying, grieving and were unsecured and unsure of themselves and what next to come. That possibly might have ignited their thoughts thereby trying to pose some questions why they should continue to live and be happy as well, on my birthday and its celebration that goes with the normal and usual happy birthday. This was the circumstance that brought and ushered me into the world as a child. I joined in crying UWAA for several minutes before my mother, PHILOMENA NWULU OGUJIOFFOR [NEE] EKEBUISI OGUAMA quenched my cry by breast feeding me. Did I ever knew that I was crying and for what reason was I crying then? In the midst of these the doctors and nurses that attended to my mother given birth to me at AGWU JOINT HOSPITAL were happy thanking God. My mother’s happiness knew no bound after her panting in pains of my birth. The news of my birth reaching my family home at UMUIHE AMALATO AKU OKIGWE, re-echoed yet another great joy and happiness, yet very many were still in agony of death news of their beloved ones.

Therefore, I ought to stop and think, reflect and ponder over my birthday celebration and the wishes that go along with it. Each year on 7^th February people will say happy birthday IKECHUKWU-UGOCHI-OBERE[P]. Have I been able to contemplate over MY BIRTHDAY and know that there is MY DEATH DAY in front of me. Certainly yes there is, therefore MAY THE SOUL OF IKECHUKWU-UGOCHI-OBERE[P] REST IN PERFECT PEACE AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE ON ME AMEN when it comes for I know not the time, hour, minute, second or moment of this MY DEATH DAY. To rest in perfect peace in eternity I must and ought to make others happy and be satisfied with my presence among them as I celebrate my birthday, as to call to mind my motto: SENTIAM CHRISTUS IN VITA MEAM. Have I been doing that so that when people say IKECHUKWU HAPPY BIRTHDAY it will really mean IKECHUKWU HAPPY DEATH DAY. I should try to remember that: The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, while the heart of the fool is in the feasting Qoholet [Ecclesiates] 7:4. IKECHUKWU each day draws you nearer to the grave hence; More fortunate are the dead for being dead, than the living who have to live, and even more fortunate than both is the one not yet born who has not seen the abuses under the sun Qoholet [Ecclesiates] 4:2-3.

Oh LORD my GOD forgive me all my sins which I have consciously or unconsciously committed all these years celebrating birthday, and the unhappiness and sadness which I have voluntarily or involuntarily caused to people even on my birthdays. Oh my Mother Blessed Virgin Mary intercede for me, my Patron Saint Paul and my guardian archangel Gabriel(Ikechukwu) help me to achieve well UGOCHI on my death day which starts from my birthday, AMEN.

TRUTHFULLNESS IN COMMUNICATION

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON TRUTH FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATIONS FOR RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF APOSTOLIC LETTER OF JOHN PAUL II

BY

PAUL IKECHUKWU OGUJIOFFOR

Introduction

     Christ is the Incarnate Word which was communicated to the world by the annunciation of Archangel Gabriel to our Blessed Virgin Mother of God and this message was received with a Fiat by Mary (cfr. Lk.1:26-38) and she communicated same Word by the birth of Christ (cfr. Lk.2:1-20) to the world for the salvation of all. Christ is communication par excellence, for He is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” Jn.14:6. We ought to know and accept Him before ever we are able to communicate Him to others.

 Communication devoid of Christ is unspiritual, unethical, unsocial, and un-educational. Therefore, such communication lacks basic informational content and is non-communicational, empty in mass media character and is a “junk message” in the spiritual, moral, social, cultural and academic world. Communication that is truthful is Trinitarian and Christ-like, loving, communal or community orientated. Communication of Christ is Eucharistic, pastoral, sanctifying, redemptive and paschal, because it is Incarnated Word and renews the life of man as many times as possible through the power of Word made flesh visible and concrete in an invisible sacramental signs of grace. This is spiritual enlightenment that dispels the darkness of lies and the father of liars. In this form we experience the ecclesial dimension of the truthful communication by the powerful media, whereby the Word is disseminated into the world for Christ commanded that we should “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” Mk.16:15. This is the pastoral and missionary dimension of truthful communication which brings about the positive development and responsible progress in the whole human person as a common good in form of re-orientation spiritually, morally, academically, socially, culturally and proper relationship which solves the fundamental options of formation, participation and dialogue governed by the communicative power of the Holy Spirit. Within this few pages we shall present a research theological reflection on truth for those responsible for communications for rapid development of Apostolic Letter of John Paul II.

 Truthfulness in communication a way to rapid development

     Communication is not just a mere word but a reality in the person of God. This is intrinsic in the nature of God. “Truth is in God’s intellect properly and first (proprie et primo); in human intellect it is present properly and derivatively (proprie quidem et secundario)”[1]. In conclusion we arrive at succinct formula, God is “ipsum summa et prima veritatis - truth itself, the sovereign and first truth”[2]. “This formula brings us close to what Jesus means when he speaks of truth, when he says that his purpose in coming into the world was to ‘bear witness to the truth’. Again and again in the world, truth and error, truth and untruth, are almost inseparably mixed together…Man becomes more true; he becomes himself, when he grows in God’s likeness. Then he attains to his proper nature.  God is the reality that gives being and intelligibility.  ‘Bearing witness to the truth’ means giving priority of God and to his will over against the interests of the world and its powers. God is the criterion of being. In this sense, truth is the real king that confers light and greatness upon all things. We may also say that bearing witness to the truth means making creation intelligible and its truth accessible from God’s perspective-the perspective of creative reason-in such a way that it can serve as a criterion and signpost in this world of ours, in such a way that the great and the mighty are exposed to the power of truth, the common law, the law of truth”[3]. In view of these, “besides denoting the epistemic validity of one’s knowledge and the intrinsic knowability of being, truth can also denote a property of one’s communicative expressions, the words, deeds, or products by which one purports to inform other persons of something. Communicational truth is the fidelity to one’s own knowledge that one intends for those expressions by which one both purports and aims to inform. The non-dialectical opposite of truth in this sense is communicational non-truth, the simple absence of intended fidelity to one’s own knowledge, the characteristic feature of those expressions by which one does not purport to inform. The dialectical opposite is communicational untruth or mendacity, the presence of intended infidelity to one’s own knowledge, the characteristic feature of those expressions by which one purports to inform but aims to deceive”[4]

 The ethics of communication

     Prof. JUAN RAMÓN AREITIO in discussing the ethics of communication sees it as a wide topic, ranging from the technological, political or social ambient but if it lacks spiritual and moral backing is nothing worth a communication. This is because public opinion many a time has accepted lying as a normal part of life. Many believed that nothing is wrong with lying since everyone lies. The world seems to function just fine with this state of affairs, this adds to the difficulty of teaching an ethics of communication. Information technology has added another realm that needs much attention. To live in the truth, brings another form of communication and testimony- testimony to the life of faith. A person who professes faith but does not live according to that faith is giving false communication, in a sense he is lying. One area that will need further research also is that of art. Truth in art effects not only the building of Churches but also all forms of art used in daily life such as advertising, games etc

     Furthermore, the Eucharist is the fuller presence of Christ in the Mass and should not be made to look equal to the Scripture for Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.  The morality of the Church is not merely, 'do not lie’; it is 'live in the truth'. The truth is not only something to protect but to promote and to live. Augustine based his theory on the Trinity. The Father speaks a Word and that Word is Christ and Christ is the Truth, the Way and the Life. We are made in the image of the God. The image of God in us is the Reason. If God speaks truth then we should speak truth. To lie would be to mar the image of God in us. The truth must be seen also as a self donation and not just as truth telling. According to the Catechism 2464-2513, the basis of the necessity of telling the truth is the dignity of God primarily and humans secondarily. Our lives must reflect the holiness of God; therefore we need to live in the truth. Man protects the truth and has a natural capacity for the truth.

     Telling a truth in order to embarrass someone in public is an evil in most cases. Communication is more than mere truth-telling. It must include also the communication of goodness and beauty. Telling the truth does not mean that one has to tell the whole world everything. The 'end' for which the truth is told is essential to the morality of the truth telling. The means of communication are developing so quickly that we can only speak of prudent principles. Issues: communicate of information, promotion of culture, communication-formation-and manipulation, Communication and the common good, friendship, moderation and discipline, relation between consumer and producer of mass communication.

     Art and Truthfulness: Beauty is another aspect of genuine and 'truthful' communication. Art itself most express truth and charity. The Good, True and Beautiful are not separable. Beauty indicates or can be used to convince of Truth and present things as Good. God is the author of beauty, truth and goodness. These three are constitutive of all reality. Art communicates the message of the artist. His intentions can be good or bad. It is not sufficient just to use the new media, and new language to express the Gospel but to think in a more profound manner in order to interpret more deeply the truths of the Good News.  

     Regarding Professionalism and Faith, the presence of the faith without a witness of the faith serves nothing. Faith and professionalism need to go together. The people’s faith should shine through by the quality of their work. The quality of communication should be a testimony itself to the faith. Professionalism without faith is just as problematic as faith without professionalism. We need solid lay catholic professionals in the field of communications. There has to be a respect for diversity of transmitting the message. There needs to be a transparency and coherence between the faith and the mediums of communication. The medium should not betray the message and the message should use the best mediums in the best way.

 Apostolic letter: The rapid development of the Holy Father John Paul II

     The call for sincerity in communication brought about truthful words and action in the developing world of communication. This is exactly the summary of the Apostolic Letter that communication based on mere human knowledge and his exposition of his ingenuity without finding any root in Christ in totally non-communicational matter, ipso facto a bundle of untruthful propositions.

 Conclusion

Communication is ever clear and distinct. For it s proper apostolate we need not to be afraid to communicate because Christ promised to be with us, “I am with you always till the end of the world” Mt.28:20. Therefore, the message of communication as an Incarnate Word is eschatological, sanctifying and love, which has its objective as salvific and redemptive. To communicate oneself for selfish motive is very bad. Prudence is mostly needed in the communication of ordinary truth be it to the world or an individual.

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[1] S.T., De Veritatis., q. 1, a. 4c.

[2] S.T., Summa Theologiae I, q. 16, a. 5c.

[3] BENEDICT XVI, Jesus of Nazareth.  Holy Week: From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2011 p.192-193.

[4] VERTIN M., “Truth” in KOMONCHAK J. A-COLLINS M-LANE D. A (eds.), The New Dictionary of Theology, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville-Minnesota, 1987 p.1063.