Note from the Editor

Dear Reader,

I recently reflected on the "Gift of Tears," a spiritual charism cherished by prophets and saints, including St. Augustine and his mother, St. Monica. St. Monica's life was marked by profound suffering. She endured a difficult marriage and wept constantly for her wayward son, Augustine. Despite this, her story teaches us that the tears we offer to God in faith, hope, and love are never in vain. While she prayed for the conversion of her husband and son, we now see that God's plans were far greater than her simple desires. What she received was far beyond what she could have imagined in her moments of sadness.

This month, we focus on the second Beatitude: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." This theme beautifully intertwines with the Catholic tradition of this month: remembering the Communion of Saints, honoring the dead, and praying for those in purgatory.

As we explore this issue, remember that moments of sadness is a common human experience, since we are imperfect and sinful. But we do not need to live in continual mourning. Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us that there is a time for mourning and a time for dancing, and our days of mourning can be turned into days of gladness by the Lord, if we allow Him.

In faith and fellowship,

Dr. Esther Tan
Editor, Catholic Reflexions Magazine

Interview with A Catholic: Rivo Christian Rakotonirina

Each month, we have an intimate chat with a practicing Catholic. We discuss why they believe what they believe, the difference Christ has made in their lives, and any lessons learned from their faith journey. For this month, we feature RIVO CHRISTIAN RAKOTONIRINA, who is currently a Press Officer at the United Nations. He works at the Department of Global Communications in the Meeting Coverage Section in New York. He is also one of the ten signatories of the founding document of the United Nations Catholic Club.

What does it mean to you that those who mourn are blessed? How have you experienced comfort in times of sorrow? The theme of mourning is undeniably somber, yet it holds profound significance in our lives. Reflecting on my own experiences of sorrow, I can trace my first encounter with loss to the death of my paternal grandfather when I was just three or four years old. This memory stands out as one of the earliest in my life, contrasting sharply with the joyful recollections of birthday parties and family gatherings that others might cherish. At that tender age, I can’t honestly say I felt sadness; rather, I remember my grandfather's almost smiling face as we gathered to bid farewell to our "Dadabe." I uttered my own version of goodbye, "veloma Dadabe," which translates not only as farewell but embodies the Malagasy belief in life after death, an idea that predated the arrival of Christianity in our country.

Fast forward to 2011, the very day of my birthday. As I awaited my mother’s customary morning call to celebrate with me, the hours passed without a word. At noon, concern crept in, but I refrained from calling her, hoping instead to savor the moment of her anticipated greeting. By 4 p.m., silence filled the air, and I began to think that perhaps she had grown distant since I chose not to join the family’s new religious sect. Then, around 8 or 9 o’clock in the evening, one of my brothers called, briefly wishing me a happy birthday before delivering the devastating news: “Courage, Mom is dead.”

In that instant, I couldn't feel my legs. My tears flowed like tap water as I clung to my wife and our boys, our grief entwined in a poignant embrace that lasted for half an hour. For two years following my mother's death, not a day went by without tears, whether in the shower, at the office, on the subway, in church, or even on the street. I eventually found a semblance of peace two years later, after I placed a flowerpot at her grave, fragrant with her favorite perfume, "Bien-Être" by Yves Rocher. To this day, I continue to pray for the repose of her soul, a practice that softens my sorrow, a reminder that blessings can emerge from profound sadness.

Can you share a bit about your upbringing and how your Catholic faith has played a role in your life? I was raised in a family of deep faith. My paternal grandfather was a close friend of the bishop in my hometown of Antsirabe during the 1960s, and it was the local priest who bestowed upon me my baptismal name, "Christian". However, it was my maternal grandmother and mother, both devout Lutherans, who truly inspired my piety. From a young age, I watched them prepare for Sunday worship, carefully selecting their finest dresses and Bibles the night before, rising early on Sunday mornings. This instilled in me a strong awareness of the importance of attending Mass. Yet, despite this foundation, I hadn’t received communion by the age of 13 or 14. Hence, I took it upon myself to prepare for my First Communion. Eventually confirmed and married in the Catholic Church, my faith has consistently guided my most significant life choices.

What are some significant moments or experiences that have deepened your faith journey? In 2011, after enduring prolonged unemployment, I faced the loss of my mother. Despite these challenges, I continued to do what I have always done since my teenage years, which was send my resume to various international newspapers and publications. I have always dreamed of having an international career. My efforts seemed futile until, in mid-2011, the United Nations posted job openings. I applied and, just a few months later, received an offer. In this long personal journey, I discerned the hand of God guiding me through these years.

During a 20-hour flight from Antananarivo to New York, I struggled to sleep. In a fleeting moment of light slumber, I envisioned angels cradling the plane on their wings. As a teenager, I had promised myself that one day I would travel with my wife and children in first class, although I had no idea how that dream would materialize. Miraculously, God allowed this aspiration to come to fruition through “home leave,” granting us the opportunity to experience first-class travel. For this, I am eternally grateful for God’s direct intervention in my life.

Have there been challenges or obstacles along your faith journey, and how have you overcome them? In my youth, I aspired to read the Bible from the book of Genesis to Revelation. I first attempted this at 15 or 16 but faltered after reaching the book of Jeremiah. This challenge lingered in my mind until 2019, when I resolved to fulfill that wish. Between 2019 and 2021, I read the entire Bible three times, completing it once a year. I utilized a Bible reading guide from my mother that I discovered among her belongings after her passing. In 2023, I embarked on the same journey once more, this time through audio. For years, I have longed to revisit catechism of the catholic church (CCC), beginning last Lent but ultimately setting it aside. I ask for your prayers as I seek to resume my studies of the CCC.

In what ways do you participate in the Catholic community outside of work, such as through church activities or volunteer work? Every three years, we participate in the Catholic Appeal of our diocese, where funds are raised to support migrants, Catholic education, and retired priests. Additionally, for the past three years, we have sponsored a young Colombian girl’s education. In Madagascar, my family contributes to financing the school canteen of a Catholic high school that serves around 3,000 students weekly. For a decade, we have also covered the school fees for my brothers’ children. Perhaps most importantly, for three years now, I engage in weekly Bible study and share insights with family, friends, and colleagues.

What advice would you give to fellow Catholics striving to integrate their faith into their professional lives? Show (off) your Catholic faith. This could mean wearing your rosary or displaying a parish pin on your jacket. I have on my desk a photo of me shaking hands with pope Francis. Visibility sends a powerful message, shaping the perceptions of your colleagues about you and your/their faith and about God. Always answer questions regarding your religious practices honestly— if you attend Mass every Sunday, say “yes” and affirm that it is the highlight of your week, a celebration of God’s love and mercy. Approach this with humility, serving others and living out the Gospel in your actions. Each person’s journey is unique, but we must remember that it is God who works through us. Embracing our role as co-workers with God should fill us with joy and fulfillment, reminding us that “Heaven (of God) is a Place on Earth.” I quoted Belinda Carlisle.

The Second Beatitude: Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Each month, we invite an original article or feature an existing article by a respected Catholic author.

By Kevin Aldrich

What do the words of this beatitude mean?

We want happiness, so we would say, blessed are those who rejoice. But all of us suffer, some almost constantly. There are countless ways to suffer here on earth and many degrees of suffering. Our suffering can be physical or mental. We can suffer by not having what we want or need or by having good things taken away. We can also suffer because we have done wrong. Additionally, there’s the prospect of death. Human suffering is unique because we can brood upon it as past, present, or future. Comfort in suffering need not mean deleting the suffering and replacing it with happiness. It can mean alleviating the suffering in some way, so it can be borne better. If Christ’s words are true and those who mourn are blessed, then the comfort the mourner will receive must be far greater than the pains borne.

How is this beatitude seen in the life of Christ?

This beatitude, like the others is a portrait of Our Lord. At the end of Jesus’ forty-day voluntary fasting in the desert, angels did comfort him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, after Christ asked his Father to allow the cup of suffering to pass him by—if possible—an angel strengthened him (Lk 22:43). Christ embraced suffering, agony, and finally death on the cross. He was the suffering servant Isaiah prophesied (Is 53 ff.). Christ’s suffering was infinitely valuable and has saved and sanctified us. In His human nature, Christ’s ultimate comfort is His victory and His glorified body.

Christ promises to be the comforter of all who turn to Him: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Mt 11:28-30)

How can we live this beatitude?

As disciples of Christ, how can we deal with suffering? Each of us shares in the universal priesthood of Christ. Priests offer sacrifices. When we suffer in any way, we can offer that suffering up to God. We can also offer up the sufferings of others. When we make a sacrifice of suffering, we immediately receive a share of Christ’s peace and love. Rather than leading to bitterness, this priestly suffering opens our hearts to forgiving, understanding, and feeling compassion for others. Give it a try. These positive values, which can be discovered by suffering, are another dimension of the comfort with which Christ endows mourning. They are also another example of how God only permits evil because He can draw something good out of it. Those who know how to suffer do not blame God or try to hurt those around them, nor do they try to compensate themselves by engaging in acts of gluttony or lust.

How should this beatitude apply to how I treat others?

The blessings which God gives to sorrow do not mean we should rejoice in the sufferings of others or tell them they are lucky. Instead, Christ’s disciples should take Our Lord’s place. We should provide the comforting look and words, and touch of Christ for them.

Thus, another beatitude is,

Blessed are those who comfort the mourners.

In fact, this is a spiritual work of mercy. The USCCB website offers this practical advice for comforting the sorrowful:

1. Be open to listening and comforting those who are dealing with grief.  Even if we aren’t sure of the right words to say, our presence can make a big difference.

2. Lend a listening ear to those going through a tough time.

3. Make a home cooked meal for a friend who is facing a difficult time.

4. Write a letter or send a card to someone who is suffering.

A few moments of your day may make a lifetime of difference to someone who is going through a difficult time.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Original article is available here.

Speaker Notes: Healing Our Inner Wounds: A Talk by Dr. Bob Schuchts

Each month, we summarize a talk previously presented to our members.

Dr. Bob Schuchts shared a talk with our UN Catholic Club members on 24 May 2024. Dr. Bob Schutz, a therapist and founder of the John Paul II Healing Center led a discussion on the healing of inner wounds, emphasizing the profound impact of encounters with Jesus. He encouraged participants to reflect on their favorite healing stories from the Gospels, highlighting that each encounter with Jesus embodies healing through love and compassion. Dr. Schutz noted that healing is not just physical but also spiritual and emotional, as seen in the stories shared such as the woman with the hemorrhage and the prodigal son.

He explained that wounds, or traumas, can be categorized into two types: Type A trauma, which arises from the absence of necessary love and support, and Type B trauma, which involves negative experiences. Dr. Schutz emphasized that everyone has experienced some form of trauma, whether severe or mild, and that these experiences create a need for healing. He stressed that healing comes from an encounter with Jesus who embodies truth and love and that this process can restore individuals to wholeness and communion.

As part of the talk, Dr. Schutz led a prayer exercise inviting participants to recall a moment when they felt deeply loved. He encouraged them to express gratitude for that love and to invite Jesus into their memories, particularly those moments where they felt a lack of love. This exercise aimed to help participants reconnect with their experiences of love and to allow Jesus to accompany them in their healing journey.

Dr. Schutz highlighted the importance of community and support in the healing process, encouraging attendees to pray together and support one another. He shared insights on the power of persistent prayer, emphasizing that when individuals gather in faith, they can witness significant changes in their lives and environments. He reminded participants that speaking truth with humility and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance are essential in their interactions, especially in challenging settings.

In closing, Dr. Schutz prayed for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all attendees, asking for healing and strength to be conduits of love and truth in their respective environments. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share and encouraged everyone to continue seeking healing and communion with God, reinforcing the belief that darkness cannot extinguish the light of love and truth.

The full talk is available here.

Spiritual Life Tips: Praying for the Soul of Our Departed Loved Ones

Each month, we offer practical advice and tips related to our Catholic faith and spirituality.

by Charissa Villamayor

November starts with All Saint’s Day celebrated on November 1 and All Soul’s Day on November 2. These 2-day celebration came from the early centuries of Christianity where we commemorate those who passed away. These are days of prayers and remembrance.  But these are not the only times when we pray for the souls of our departed loved ones. When a family member, relative or friend dies, Catholics pray not only because we grieve but we also pray for the soul to be cleansed of sins, to help them move to the state of heaven. We pray within three, nine, forty, or 365 days after they die and every year on November 2 when we intentionally remember them. From praying the rosary, lighting a candle, to offering a mass, our Catholic faith believes that praying for the soul of the dead helps expedite their purification process in Purgatory. As Revelation 21:27 says, “but nothing clean will enter it, nor anyone who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” When we ask for forgiveness before we die, our sins may be forgiven, but we still have impurities in us and may not be worthy of being with Jesus Christ in heaven. This is why we pray for the souls of the dead. When we pray the rosary, after completing a decade, the Fatima prayer (which was believed to be taught by the Virgin Mary in 1917) is said: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy.” This prayer is a powerful reflection of sin, forgiveness, mercy, heaven and hell. The Old Testament 2 Maccabees 12:46 says, “Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin.”

When we lose someone, we mourn. We miss them. We remember them. We cherish the memories that remain in our hearts. Prayers help and comfort us in our sorrow of losing someone we love. In line with our theme this month, one of the Beatitudes say, “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” 

My first real heartbreak was when my grandmother died in the Philippines in 2007. I was already living in the US and there was no question in my head and heart. I had to go home so I can pay respect, see her one last time and pray for her soul so I can help her go to heaven. But more so, that I can also be comforted. Every day for seven days, during her laying-in ceremony or funeral with beautiful white flowers, we had a mass, and we prayed the rosary. Our prayers ended with the Prayer for our Faithful Departed: “Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.” Then again, what does perpetual light mean? Perpetual meaning eternal and light is a representation of heaven and God’s forgiveness. I continuously light a candle and offer a prayer every November 2 and every time I visit her grave, including all our family who died so that the perpetual light shine upon them.

These prayers, these beliefs, these acts let us feel connected to our loved ones even after death. Let us continue expressing our love for our departed loved ones by praying for their souls, every time we remember them.

For inquiries, or potential contributions to the magazine, please contact unitednationscatholicclub@outlook.com