Page 3 - Inter Nos 2021-11

DIOCESE OF TUTICORIN

INTER NOS

Vol. 67 November 2021 No. 11

I. Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions for the Month:

Universal : People who suffer from Depression
We pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will fine support and a light that opens
them up to life.

II. MESSAGE FROM OUR BISHOP:

Dear Fathers, Sisters, Brothers and friends,

Hearty greetings!

As we celebrate the feast of all saints, it is worthy that we reflect on them. Saints
achieve saintliness through suffering. Indeed saintliness consists of true suffering.
No one can think of a saint without suffering.

Jesus attained his God-head (saintliness) through his passion and death on the
Cross. Jesus looked at suffering as a pathway to holiness. Jesus‟ call, his preaching
and his life focus on suffering. He would say “If you want to follow me, deny
yourself, take up your cross and follow me” (Mk. 8:34). Anyone who chooses the
path of holiness must be ready to embrace suffering. There is an essential connection between
saintliness and suffering. They are inseparable.

The holy innocents are considered holy just because of the martyrdom they underwent without
committing any faults. Their very death is deemed as a sacrifice. The church celebrates their death as
holy for holiness means a daily martyrdom.

Very often we have heard, keep your thoughts, your deeds, your approaches pure. This entails a daily
struggle for a human being. A saint has to fight every day against evil. Through suffering he is
moulded into a noble being.

It is being said “suffering is not destructive power rather it is a transcendent gift from God” (Merton).
It is through the wounds that we are enlightened. Is it not on the cross that Jesus was raised above to
lift us up? Man is purified by suffering. Holiness of a man shines bright by the fire of suffering.
Sufferings teach us greater lessons.

Saints are God‟s people who would boldly face the conflicts, anguish and suffering of the world and
put up a brave fight to establish unity and peace in the society. They understand that their pain is a
great teacher. Physical and emotional, pain tell us that we are not ok.