Maunday Thursday And The Visit To The Seven Churches of Calcutta

A VERY CALCUTTA CATHOLIC MILESTONE 

by MELVYN BROWN

We Catholics in Calcutta are truly blessed. Churches are within walking distance around the ‘City of Palaces’ (Pre-British), till Hollywood came along with their film ‘City of Joy’ (Post-British). Job Charnock must have a smile on his face.

Whatever, mystically Calcutta has nourished the Annual Seven-Churches Walk and visit (within) Maunday Thursday evening till Good Friday noon. Catholics have an unwritten vote to make the walk and visit penance an absolute must. Young, elderly or those in their dotage, walk (some barefeet) visiting churches (a few with walking sticks, I imagine not so much to lean on as to keep stray dogs away), all this helps in ‘street evangelization’, promoting admiration for the Faith.

This year, 2015 at the Chapel of Divine Mercy the footfall count of the faithful had gone up to nearly 400 odd visitors. The ‘City of Christ’ (for all the Christians and Anglo-Indians of Kolkata), I mean Calcutta, has an enduring spiritual life of its own splattered in every corner for all religions.

Catholic Archdiocese of Kolkata
http://www.archdioceseofcalcutta.in/

The 45 Kolkata Churches
http://www.ixigo.com/churches-in-kolkata-lp-1140455

Good Friday Meditation by Melvyn Brown

INVIGORATE YOUR FAITH THIS GOOD FRIDAY

In our preparation for Good Friday we take into account the Liturgical celebration of the Lord's Passion, which is divided into three parts: The Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross and the Holy Communion. 

The reading from the book of Isaiah 52:13-53: 12 is the First Reading. When you read the Word of God through the prophet, it becomes a profoundly meditative presentation of Christ, the Messiah, and the Divine plan is revealed for all generations to come. 

This Good Friday we recollect on Psalm 31. "Let your face shine on your servant". The Psalm enriches our Faith with the promise of the gift from God. We move on to the Second Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews 4:14-16: 5:7-9. I want you to read this letter, for I believe the Spirit will guide you and encourage you to know your faith better. "Christ became obedient unto death, even death on a cross". I have repeated this from my previous talk for Passion Week. Try to look down from the Cross and become as deeply involved as Christ in this salvific labour. Pause in your prayers. 

Our next way is to read the Gospel. The Passion of our Lord Jesus according to St. John 18:1-19:42. The second part is the Adoration of the Holy Cross. Part Three is Holy Communion. The incarnation "to live among us" is completed in the Eucharist. John. 1:14. When you receive Christ in Holy Communion it becomes a prelude to eternal life.

The Easter Season of Faith by Melvyn Brown

Have A Happy & Holy Easter

MEDITATIONS FOR PASSION WEEK

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!". This is in commemoration of the Lord's entrance into Jerusalem. Open your Bible to the Gospel of St.Mark and read 11:1-10. This is again a beautiful reading for Palm Sunday. "Hosanna in the highest!".

 On Maunday Thursday we should go to Church for the Mass of the Lord's Last Supper. The liturgy for this day is given to us in five installments: Liturgy of the Word; washing of the feet; the liturgy of the Eucharist; moving to the altar of repose and, finally, Adoration. 

Good Friday is the celebration of the Passion of the Christ. On this Holy Day we recall the liturgy of the Word, read the gospel of John 18:1-19:42. It is a unique diary on the Passion. In the Chapel of Divine Mercy I show the film Passion of the Christ. Many come, although they have seen it earlier. It is for the heart-breaking experience to relive the pain and the agony of Christ who sacrificed His life for our salvation. "Christ became obedient unto death, even death on a cross".(Phil 2: 8-9) Let us mediate on the suffering of Jesus, and let us both emotionally and physically (in prayer and penance) ask God for His mercy and love.

The Easter Resurrection by Melvyn Brown

Have a Happy and A Holy Easter

Easter Blessings to All Readers, Friends and Well-Wishers
From
Melvyn Brown

Courtesy: The Secular Citizen- 30 March 2015

WORLD STORY TELLING DAY- 20 MARCH 2015

Today is World Storytelling Day. This amazing idea (thanks to those who were responsible for initiating this Day) proves one pacifist dogma, that visions of world peace lie in the domains of a child's fantasy. Peace, in storytelling is synonymous with love, fellowship, kindness and happiness.

When my son, ‪#Warren informed me of Storytelling Day, I was elated - and rightly so, for I was known in Calcutta as "The Storyteller". It was the Indo-American Society who had introduced me to the city's children; and in their magazine, The Calcuttan, I became the Storyteller, telling my creative stories every weekend. 

The All-India Radio gave me a Sunday afternoon spot as "Uncle Melvyn Storyteller". I went on to narrate my creative stories to children in Loreto schools, one period in their school routine once-a-week, was the Story Hour. I taught English grammar, composition and pronunciation through the medium of my stories. 

Eventually, The Statesman (JS) under the direction of Desmond Doig initiated the World's First Storython: an original story had to be told for as long as anyone could, non-stop. The venue was St. Thomas' (Boys) School, Kidderpore. The other competitors could not go further than half-an-hour. I became the World's First Storython winner; I spoke for three hours, forty minutes. My creative story had a beginning, middle and end. It had twelve fairy tale characters. The International Herald Tribune (Paris edition) reported about it.

Those interested in wanting my book, "DRAGONS and DREAMS" for free please feel welcome to contact me at the Chapel of Divine Mercy, 3 Elliot Road, Calcutta - 700 016.

- Melvyn Brown

Links:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Chronicler-of-the-depleting-lot/articleshow/28568006.cms

http://mattersindia.com/kolkatas-man-for-all-seasons-and-reasons/

The Evil Men Do by Melvyn Brown

Advocates of evil and violence might claim their hate, anger and lust is a manifesto to wedge fear and submission, but we Christians know better. The gang-rape of a consecrated nun in this year of Consecrated Life is "Unspeakable".
The seven culprits who brutalised the 74 year old Catholic woman of God in a convent at Ranaghat, vandalised and desecrated the chapel, were peddling an openness of defiance. We wait for speedy action and assured security. Archbishop Thomas D'Souza in a pivotal role convinced the agitators to stop the blockade, which the others were not able to achieve.
A day later the Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta arranged a successful rally at Allen Park to condemn the disgusting and shocking gang-rape of the elderly nun.
In the year 2012 the country witnessed 2046 rapes. In the year 2013, crimes against women rose to 29,826. May the Mercy of Christ forgive our enemies.
The Ambassadors For Jesus will have an All-Night Vigil at the Chapel of Divine Mercy to protest against the gang-rape of the nun at Ranaghat.