I Devoured these Saintly books voraciously.

Reading for Day 30

The Don Bosco magazines came to our home in Malaysia from, Matunga, Bombay, India. From the age of seven or eight I began to read each page religiously. I suddenly realised I was not reading them just for a sake of a read. I was absorbing the articles very seriously. I began to imitate some of the saints written about in the pages. I would read the books of these saints over and over again. They created such an impression in my life, that I wanted to talk like them, dress up like them and also to copy their spiritual activities. Their lifestyles was being ingrained into me. After reading these books I would spontaneously kneel down and pray. This is what the saints in the books did, so I followed their style. Then I moved on one degree further and began to read books about the compassionate heart of Jesus, about St. Dominic Saviour, St Therese of Liseux, St. Anthony of Padua. I found these books fascinating and their lifestyles compelling. like a magnet I had to find the key for spiritual growth! It was obvious these saints had a passionate love for Jesus.

When I arrived in London, in the middle of the 1970’s my spiritual growth moved on to another dimension. I decided to go on spiritual pilgrimages, revival meetings, camp meetings, prayer meetings and heard so many men and women of God preaching and proclaiming the Word of God powerfully. Every evening I would painstakingly go through my radio wave bands to scout for Christian religious programmes, any item that built my spiritual life, I would listen to.

I must confess that there are still some religious aspects experienced during my childhood days that till today affect me in an incredible way. An example being, when Our Lord’s Prayer is sung passionately and slowly in Latin. This singing just draws into me, the Presence of God.

Blessed Be The Name of Jesus Christ

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

In name of-Father and of-Son and of-Spirit Holy.

Pater noster, qui es in caelis,

Father our who are in Heaven

sanctificetur nomen tuum.

may-be-hallowed name Your

Adveniat regnum tuum.

may-come kingdom Your

Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra.

may-be-done will Your as in Heaven and in earth.

Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,

bread our daily give us today

et dimitte nobis debita nostra,

and forgive us debts our

sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.

as and we forgive debtors our

Et ne nos inducas in tentationem:

and don't us lead in temptation

sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

but free us from evil  Amen

Mark Chapter 8 verse 35

     Only those who throw away their lives for My Sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.