The World War Pope and the Holocaust

The Holocaust saw the death of some 6 million Jews. This was probably one of the most gruesome events in our history, when untold suffering was unleashed on the hapless Jews - a systematic and organized extermination fueled by Hitler's madness. Could something have been done to stop this? What about the Pope? Did he do enough? There is a rumour that Pius XII, the then Pontiff, did nothing to save them. Here's a video with newspapers and significant people of that time revealing some truth about this man's life:

As the video shows, the myth that the Pope remained quiet did not start until years after the death of the Pontiff. The play called "The Deputy" tried to spread this fabricated story, with no basis in facts. Today, decades later, such myths propound as much, if not more than facts. This does not do justice to the real person of Eugenio Pacelli, the Pope during the Second World War.

Myths about this historical icon, who defied Hitler are in fact just lies. This man, as a true disciple of Jesus, extended his hand and his heart to the Jews as if they were his own people. This is a witness of love of God and love of neighbour. Pope Pius XII rose to the great challenge for our world - to follow the Truth and live it out in one's concrete life. Not without reason did Israel Zolli, Chief Jewish Rabbi take the name Eugenio, the first name of this Pope, showing his deep respect for this great man.

The Crusades and their Interpretation

A Sketchy Image

I used to play the game "Age of Empires" years back. In one of the episodes, you get to play Saladin, a general who fought the Crusaders. As you play the game (you are controlling the Persians), you see peasants crying "The Crusaders are attacking our caravans" and "The Crusaders are attacking our trade routes".

Few of us today have studied the historical facts of the Crusades. History tells us that Saladin won the war he was involved in with the Crusaders. It turns out that most of the Crusades after the First failed to achieve their objective - to free Jerusalem from the Muslims and making it available to Christian pilgrims.

Brief Background of the Crusades

Mohamed founded the Muslim religion by preaching about the one God, Allah. He claimed divine revelation from the angel Gabriel. After his death in 632, there was disagreement about succession. The Shia and Sunni divisions we have till today are based on two lines of succession - Ali, nephew of Mohamed and Abr Bakr, one of his closest disciples.

Military conquest expanded Muslim influence. They took Jerusalem in 638 A.D. By 700 they had North Africa and Middle East. Then, they took modern day Turkey. What was then Nicaea is now called Istanbul. So they covered areas all around the Mediterranean, entering Spain and the Iberian Peninsula in 711. By 846, a Muslim raiding party sacked St Pauls outside the walls and St Peter's Basilica. So there was a century long conquest without response.

In 1009 A.D, the church of the Holy Sepulchre, considered the holy shrine, where Jesus is believed to have been buried, was destroyed completely. It was not until 1095, that the First Crusade was dispatched to recapture Jerusalem.

Meet the Crusaders

Leaders all over Europe unanimously agreed that they needed to free Jerusalem for pilgrims to the Holy Land. People from all over Europe gathered and went East via Constantinople fighting different armies on their way to Jerusalem. The Holy City was captured by 1099.

Military historians agree that if the Crusaders went further, they could have dealt a blow to the communication center of the Muslim world and prevented them from recuperating, ensuring holding Jerusalem for long. But their objective was to make it possible for pilgrims to visit they holy places in Jerusalem, so they stopped there. Successive Crusades hardly achieved their desired goals. Saladin successfully defended Jerusalem and sent back the armies from Europe.

The Muslims expanded further in the centuries after the First Crusade, capturing Bulgaria and Serbia by 1390. Constantinople was next, captured in 1453. In 1492 they were beaten back from Spain, but they advanced from the Eastern side of Europe. After the lands around Black Sea, their land and sea assault challenged many lands. Their pirates sacked towns in Great Britain and Iceland about 1500. They laid Vienna to siege in 1529. In 1571 in the there was a great naval battle of Lepanto near Italy, where a a fleet of hundreds of ships fought on either side. Eventually, the Holy League defeated the Ottoman Turks, bringing lasting security.

Regensberg Speech - Pope Benedict XVI

The history of military conflict goes on, but the above summary of history between the 7th and 16th centuries, suffices for our context - the conversation quoted by Pope Benedict XVI in his speech at Regensberg, Germany. The Pope quoted a conversation between the Byzantine emperor and an educated Persian. The emperor spoke about a verse in the Koran, sura 2:256. He spoke about the differences between Christianity and Islam.

During those days, the language was more brusque than it is today. The emperor spoke with the background of the violent history of Islam and said that violence is not needed to spread religion. At Regensberg, Pope Benedict XVII was speaking about this conversation in an academic setting. The intent was not to attack Muslims by any means. However, the media quoted what the Byzantine emperor said as if the Pope himself said it. Put plainly, it is an instance of something taken right out of context. This is the cause for misinterpretation that we know, leading to much violence.

The Evolution Debate

When the topic of Evolution comes up, there are two extreme opinions. One side says that no evolution could have happened because everything was created by God in 6 days. So Evolution is completely impossible. The other side regards Evolution as established truth. For people in this second category, Evolution has conclusively proved the Bible wrong. It seems that one has to choose between the two views. I beg to differ.

Evolution and the existence of God

There is a major confusion about the connection between Evolution and the existence of God. I say that Evolution need not exclude the possibility of God's existence. Rather, it is completely compatible with the existence of God, the Creator. It is not Evolutionists, rather materialists that take the extreme view that Evolution has proved the Creationist claim false.

There is an interesting point that is worthy of note about the compatibility between the so called book religions or Western religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and Evolution. In both, there is a progression from simple forms to more complex creatures, not the other way around. Only one stream of evolution, a materialistic evolution that happens ultimately by chance is incompatible with belief in a Creator. But evolution is not limited to that interpretation.

Insufficient data

The survival of the fittest presumes the arrival of the fit. Natural selection gives a reasonable explanation about why animals with particular characteristics like moths of a given colour, give way to those having a different colour over a period of time. This much can and has if I'm not mistaken, been measured and observed. But for one species to lead to another is quite another matter - it is a giant leap to take, not backed by sufficient data. And to conclude that this "Origin of Species" happens by complete chance, just on its own? Someone explain the rationale behind this kind of assumption.

We are speaking as if Evolution is established fact. This is not completely true. The test of any scientific theory is empirical data. Anthropologists have found some fossil records of species with different levels of development. However, they have not found sufficient intermediate species to show a clear progression from simple to complex life forms. When the relationships between different elements was expressed as the periodic table, there was some data to show it possible. Later, when missing elements were found, it corroborated what was earlier a possible and plausible explanation. Honest examination of the data for Evolution does not yield the same clarity and prove it indisputable.

Mind over matter?

Here's a mock dialogue with a blind chance Evolutionist:

Evolutionist: Evolution has proved the Bible wrong

Rebel: So you're convinced Evolution is proven fact. You say we all came from apes?

Evolutionist: Yes, we are all products of Evolution. Accept defeat.

Rebel: Why should I?

Evolutionist: You ought to be convinced. My mind sees it clearly? Can't you.

Rebel: Ah, so you trust your mind, and expect me to trust mine? And you say these evolved by blind chance?

Almost every sane person (in fact even every insane person) trusts his mind. So we believe our minds have a positive ability to understand and know truth chance. It begs the acceptance of deliberate intentional design to direct a possible Evolution to yield our human species.

The Galileo Controversy

Many people believe that the Catholic Church persecuted Galileo for his heliocentric theory, forcing him to recant. I recently read an excellent article about the Commons - software, literary and artistic products here. While praising the sharing of ideas, and intellectual freedom, the author writes:

Scientists learn from very early in their training the faults of suppressing information, perhaps most iconically in the person of Galileo Galilei, who published evidence supporting the Copernican theory that the planets orbited the Sun (primarily his observations of Jupiter’s satellites), and was proscribed and forced to recant his beliefs by the Catholic Church.

Scientists view Galileo in heroic terms, and the Church’s resistance to the Copernican theory was ultimately futile. Without the Copernican theory, we’d have never made it to the Moon. So it is fitting that Galileo’s famous hammer and feather experiment was actually demonstrated by Cmdr. Dave Scott at the Apollo 15 landing site on the Moon.

Galileo is presented as the person who proved the Copernican theory, and the Church as anti-scientific and out-dated. Since neither you nor I were present then, we can only understand about the facts if we delve a little deeper.

Myth #1: The Catholic Church hates science

Scientific discoveries require funding to be sustainable. The Church funded many scientific discoveries over the centuries and many eminent scientists where priests, for example, Georges Lemaitre, who proposed the big bang theory; or religious or sponsored by the Catholic Church. Nicholas Copernicus, who proposed the heliocentric theory was a canon of a Cathedral, and dedicated his work to Pope Paul III. These are just a couple of examples from a whole list of priest scientists.

Myth #2: The Church was afraid that science would prove the Bible wrong

The Church did not immediately endorse Copernicus theory, because She decided to proceed with caution until things were proved conclusively. This is because the Church believes She has been entrusted with the mission by Jesus Christ, to safeguard the truth, so that people may not be misled. So proceeding with prudence, She did not change her stance before time.

The Church does not say that the Bible is a scientific or historical book. Though it contains these aspects, it was written with the intention of showing God's creative, redemptive and salvific action in human history, containing stories, wisdom and lessons to teach people. So interpretation of Scripture should be in the context of what it was written.

Myth #3: Though scientists knew that heliocentric theory was true, the Church rejected it

The accepted theory, not within the Catholic Church at the time, but among scientists, was towards geocentricism. Even Copernicus delayed the publication of his work because he feared ridicule from his colleagues. The Church did not interfere with science first. It was Galileo who interfered with religion first. He said that on the basis of his theory, the Bible is wrong. This was what the Church officials took exception to, not the theory itself. Even so, his trial and arrest were unwarranted.

Myth #4: Galileo was attacked though he did not provoke anyone

Galileo went to Rome to get Church approval, since this would guarantee good publicity for his work. The then pope, Urban VIII, was a friend of Galileo, and agreed.

Galileo placed a character of his making, called Simplicio in the book, who was a kind of joker and fool, and had Simplicio speak the Pope's words. The Pope felt mocked and insulted and Galileo was tried by a court.

Myth #5: The Pope's reaction contradicts papal infallibility

First, papal infallibility is applicable when the Pope is speaking in his public and official capacity as spiritual head of the Universal Church. This happens rarely, for example in the case on a canonization or the promulgation of a dogma. It is not applicable outside this realm, and certainly not in Galileo's case.

Second, the subject of the proclamation should be with regard to faith and morals, which was certainly not true in this case.

Also, the Pope should make a solemn proclamation to be held by all the faithful, and there are well defined, unambiguous formulas in which such teachings are made.

Finally, Papal infallibility is a charisma, personal to the Pope, not communicated to another. But in Galileo's case, the Pope did not personally conduct the trial, rather a certain Cardinal Bellarmine conducted it.

Myth #6: Galileo was tortured into submission by the Church

The reason matters went to such a stage was because of the personal reaction of Pope Urban to what he perceived as Galileo's mockery. Yet, quite contrary to belief, Galileo was treated very well when under house arrest, and was well provided for. The Church does not deny that Galileo's case should not have resulted in arrest and recently, Pope John Paul II apologised for the mistreatment of Galileo, though it was just a personal overreaction of a previous Pope, acting on his own, and outside the scope of his role as pastor of the Church.

Read more at Catholic Answers

What's your philosophy?

Everyone has a philosophy of life - things one believes and makes decisions by - things which guide one's point of view of people, reactions to people, handling pressure situations, dealing with personal losses, success/failure at work, financial losses, death of a near relative, and so on. People may or may not call it philosophy, but everyone has ways of drawing opinions and conclusions.

A good philosophy comes from a good mind - a mind which thinks rationally. One's ideas and opinions may change over the course of one's life, especially when coming across other ideas, exploring other horizons. So the question is:

Does philosophy make a difference?

Philosophy does make a difference. The holocaust was a negative and dark chapter of our history. The murderous ideas that caused these killings and tortures ware the fruits of an evil tree that grew in evil soil - the mind of Adolf Hitler. After the takeover of the government of Germany, Hitler executed his idea that "only Arian's should live" on all those Jews, infirm, aged, with the cost of so many lives. To some, the holocaust is a chapter of history, a thing of the past. For some, who lost their relatives under the Nazis, it is a gruesome and evil memory and experience. But the pains and sufferings borne during that time will leave a permanent scar.

It is much easier, it must be said, to speak of an event so long ago, and learn lessons from it. So what lessons can be learned then?

It matters what one thinks about life

It matters what one thinks about keeping promises

It matters what one thinks about time

It matters what one thinks about morality

It matters what one thinks about "is my life my own"

It matters what one thinks about God

It matters what one thinks about death and after

But when the lessons apply to one's own life, introspection can reveal that under pressure or pain, one struggles to live up to one's philosophy. Socrates was one man who deserves great respect. He said "the unexamined life is not worth living". He believed that virtue was essential and sufficient for happiness. The crowning glory of his life, is that he died for his convictions.

Christmas tree for children

On the Sunday before Christmas, we the animators at Sunday school together with the children organized a Christmas tree celebration with cultural events. The day started with Holy Mass, with the reading from the Bible about the angel announcing the good news to Mary that she would bear a Son, Jesus, who will save people from their sins. The choir, composed of children led us to sing lively hymns as we celebrated the mysteries of the sacrifice of Christ together. I especially love the words of the final blessing, when we ask God that we may be ready when Jesus comes.

My class of First Communicant children prepared a play. It was the first time I (co-)directed a play. I got help with the script and with direction from fellow parish youth. It went off better than I hoped, what with scrambling in practices where I could find scraps of time on Saturdays and the rare holiday in between. The photos are uploaded and I thought I'd share them:

A side view of the play. Dialogue between father and daughter (seated) played by Alton and Megan. My co-animator and co-director for the skit, Devin and children in the background (not visible from where the audience is seated)

The voice-overs doing their part: (L-R) Naomi, Ayushi, Sunil and Freddy (second row)

Joseph and Mary (played by Jude and Diana) look for a place for Jesus to be born

Joseph and Mary with the baby Jesus. Angels (Daniel, Aquilla and Suzanna) are behind. Rag-pickers (Leonard, Rahul and John) come to see Him.

Colours of the season

It's been many months and it is this time of the year again, the time of joy. For years the people of Israel waited for the fulfillment of God's promise of a Saviour. The promise that was made to Adam and Eve. The prophesies that were made by Isaiah, of a suffering servant, who would bear the suffering of the people. The promise to King David, that his descendant will rule forever.

The Church recalls the joyful mysteries leading up to the birth of our Lord Jesus, starting with the Annunciation - angel Gabriel announcing to the Blessed Virgin Mary, saying:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High overshadow you. Therefore the son to be born will be called holy, the Son of God"

- the Gospel according to Luke, 1:28,31-33,35

This is read on the Sunday before Christmas (21st December this year). It is indeed Mary's response to this, that makes Christmas possible:

"Behold, I am the handmaid or the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

- Luke 1:38

Mary was given to us as our Mother by Jesus, and She intercedes for our needs. Who would not run to a mother when in need, especially a mother so loving, patient and kind, so holy and clothed in virtue? I have always much to thank her for, and to ask her for.

Marian blue and white

Much has Mary helped me and much is the love in Her immaculate heart. Last week, I visited the shrine of Our Lady of Health, Vailankanni, in the state Tamil Nadu, South India. As the bus approached the place, little children from the seat behind cried in excitement "we've reaced Vailankanni". I had been to Vailankanni as a child, and my memory of that visit is very faint. But it was a blessing to be there at this time, in penitential prayerful preparation for the coming of Jesus. There I beheld the beautiful, heavenly Shrine of our Lady in all white, like heaven. It is a beautiful piece of Gothic architecture, built by Portuguese merchants, in gratitude to the Virgin Mary, to whom they prayed in a storm at sea, and were saved.

Christmas red and green

Now, back home, it is time to decorate the house for Christmas. Time to cover the house with red and green. The evergreen tree remains in the winter, while other trees wither. Green symbolizes eternal life, promised by Jesus. Red symbolizes the Precious blood Jesus came to shed for our sins, which is the reason God came to be born as a child.

In our house we have put up a tree, crib and star. The crib is a re-creation of the stable of Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Statues of Mary and Joseph, with cows, donkeys, sheep are placed inside. On Christmas day, the statue of the baby Jesus is placed. A statue of an angel is placed singing "Gloria to God in the Highest". There are statues of shepherds who hear from angels that Jesus is born and go to see him.

Hail Priest, Prophet and King

The famous Christmas carol "We three kings of Orient are" helps us remember the Magi or Wise men, who came to visit Jesus. Actually, we do not know how many were there, but we know that they brought three gifts. Traditionally, they are called Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar. They brought gifts of gold, which is for a king, frankincense, which is for a priest and myrrh, which is a symbol of death.

Click here to see my poem for Christ the King.