Church Fathers’ & Saints Reflections

St Ireaneus 

St Athanasius 

Dated on 17th Jan 2026 

Church Fathers & Saints Reflections 

Jesus is the Word 

We can meditate on how our Church Fathers acknowledge the importance of the Living Word, who is Jesus Christ himself. Our community founding fathers Br Victor and Br Shaji brought the charism of treasuring the Word and living the life grounded in Holy Scriptures. 

St Irenaeus. explain about Jesus the Word of God. ‘No one can know the Father apart from God’s Word, that is, unless the Son reveals him, and no one can know the Son unless the Father so wills. Now the Son fulfils the Father’s good pleasure: the Father sends, the Son is sent, and he comes.’ According to Scriptures for Gospel of Mathew Jesus says: “Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 11:27, NJB)” God the Father has to reveal us about His Son, and the Son fulfill the Father’s will and He choose each one of us to reveal the Father, and this we know God the Father 

‘Knowledge of the Father consists in the self-revelation of the Son, for all is revealed through the Word.’ St Irenaeus

St Athanasius quote, in one of his treatise; Discourse Against Pagan wrote: ‘But if the world is founded on reason, wisdom and science, and is filled with orderly beauty, then it must owe its origin and order to none other than the Word of God.’ 

The Word is different from all created things: he is the unique Word belonging only to the good Father. ‘In the beginning was the Word: * the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him.’ (John 1:1–3, NJB) This is the Word that created this whole world and enlightens it by his loving wisdom. He who is the good Word of the good Father produced the order in all creation, joining opposites together, and forming from them one harmonious sound. He is God, one and only-begotten, who proceeds in goodness from the Father as from the fountain of goodness, and gives order, direction and unity to creation.’ St Athanasius 

Mary Mother of God

                                                               

                   

3rd Jan 2025 

The Word of Life

Virgin Mary

Mother of God

1st Jan Feast Day of Mary the Mother of God 

On 1st Jan 2026, I felt so blessed as I was attending a Mass in Chempumukku St Michael's Church in Ernakulam. The youth Choir of the parish sang so beautifully and was exemplarily outstanding. The songs were lifting the souls of the whole congregation. The priest conducted the mass in English, and very devotedly he did the Sacrifice of Holy Mass. I was so moved by his homily about Mother Mary as it was the feast of Mary the Mother of God. 

The priest discussed the significance of the Council of Ephesus, which created new dogma in the Catholic Church and other Apostalic churches and proclaimed Mother Mary to be the Mother of God(Theotokos). 

He was describing the Doctrinal Note released by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Mater Populi Fidelis from the Vatican. Father was describing how important the title of Mary the Mother of God is. The Council decided to install the Dogma. Declares Mary as the Mother of God(Theotokos in Greek) because she bore Jesus, who is truly God and truly man man (the Hypostatic Union)He explained this doctrine of faith by adding that, the Word became flesh in the womb of Virgin Mary, the Word is Jesus, in human nature and Divine nature of God and the Word is from God the Father. So she became the Word bearer, the mother of Jesus the Lord, so she became the Mother of God. Father said quoting St Augustine is, ‘Mary was so humble and pure the Word of God slipped into the womb of Virgin Mary and Word became flesh and she conceived Jesus, the Son of God’ 

He also said, according to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith, issued a major doctrinal note in late 2025 approved by Pope Leo XIV titled Mater Populi Fidelis(Mother of the Faithful People) to use the title Co-Redemptrix. He said the Church considers the devotion to Mother Mary as she is not a mediator and she cannot be called Co-Redemptrix, but we can ask for her intercession by praying Rosary or Novenas. The Church never declared or made any decree or Dogma about this kind of devotion to Mary. He said the Church cannot give equal divinity for  Mother Mary along with Jesus. Jesus is Lord and he is the only Redeemer in the mystery of salvation and no other fourth person in the Trinitarian God. 

I was just thinking about how humble she was going to receive God's message from the Archangel Gabriel: Luke 1:28–38, which states that even though she was a virgin, she would receive God's favour and bear a son who would be known as God's son. Without original sin, she is going to become pregnant by the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Mary believed this message in a very humble way even though the consequences were so harsh and she may get the death penalty. Her submission to her husband Joseph is another illustration of her humility. The Lord's angel appeared to Joseph in Matthew 2:13–14 and instructed him to send Mary and the infant Jesus to Egypt. This was a challenging voyage, but Mary followed Joseph's instructions without questioning him and spent time in Egypt. The angel Lord appeared to Joseph once more in Matthew 2:19–20, instructing him to return to Judaea with Mary and Child Jesus. Mary respectfully followed her husband Joseph's instructions and accompanied him to dwell in Nazareth. Mother Mary's humility is seen in the fact that she always paid attention to Joseph's instructions and followed them. She is the best example of humility and has received God's highest favour by giving birth to Jesus, His only Son. 

The Song of Nativity

 

Little Jesus in a Manger with Mother Mary, St Jospeh(Foster Father)her spouse 

Poem- 05

God, your Word came into this world

To bring salvation for all humanity

Stars of the heaven twinkling with joy

The choir of the angels welcomes the Little One

Lord, you chose the lowest comfort on earth

To become the poorest of the poor

This way to make yourself, you are for all

The rich and poor would find the way of truth in you

Am I worthy to receive Him under my roof

He looked into my heart with joy

I searched Him in the midst of stars

Then I saw a star shining brighter than other stars

In the silent night and in the chilling wind

I was walking where the star guided me 

 I saw the shepherds coming on my way

They all carried with best gifts they have

But I am the worthless one carry no gifts for my Lord

Woe to me, am not having any virtues

Lord, you never ask our wealth or virtues

But, You only asks our cheerful heart

  

We saw our Lord of lords in a manger

Mary and Joseph the poor mother and father

The most blessed parents on earth

A unique model to bear all the suffering, to have the child, the Son of God

MPI-CG

The Word of Life

 

Holy Innocents, a Tribute

 

Holy Innocents, a Tribute 

Oh Lord, the infants martyrdom was the true sign, that 

The King of Kings was born and glorified

God protected His own Son, handed him over to the 

Earthly father, holy Joseph to protect Jesus,

God’s angel told Joseph to take mother and child and flee from Judea to Egypt 

Holy Joseph, a just man took mother and Baby Jesus to Egypt

Thus God saved His own Son as the prophets told,

God has brought him out of Egypt

The furious King Herod killed the infants in Bethlehem and the surrounding places,

As the prophecy is fulfilled, ‘a voice is heard in Ramah, lamenting and weeping bitterly: 

it is Rachel weeping for her children, 

refusing to be comforted because they are no more.’ 

Oh, Holy Innocennts, you all were the witnesses for the Lord’s coming into this world

God has chosen you to be as oblations to show the love to the world

Your sacrifice became the lesson and sign to whole humanity,

To love life and give life to all unborns in wombs of mothers

Lord, the martyrdom of these all innocents were given us the hope

That no longer we will allow to kill our infants and unborns

The pain in the hearts of the mothers, fathers and their Guardian Angels,

became as prayers for the unborn and infants of all generations 

Wishing You all a Blessed Feast of Holy Innocents 

Word of Life

19th October 2025 

The Word of Life 

Words of Jesus 

Meditating the Words of Jesus from Holy Scriptures 

Again, you have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord. * 34 But I say this to you, do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne; 35 or by earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great King. * 36 Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. 37 All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the Evil One.  (Matthew 5:33–37, NJB)

We should not break our faith and oath with our Lord. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain Ex 20: 7. Taking the name of God unnecessarily or misuse His Name is against the Commandment of God.  We may repeat our profession of faith whenever we participate fully in the Holy Mass. Never swear an oath in vain by taking the name of the Lord, which may lead us to grievous sin. If we say yes to our faith means yes only, if say no means no only. Anything more than this in the matter of faith is from the Evil One. We cannot serve Jesus Christ and Evil together, we will be answerable for that on the Judgement Day. 

Let us pray pray to Jesus our Lord to increase our faith, as he prayed for the Apostles and his disciples. 

Oh Little Francis Happy Feast of St Francis of Assisi

 

Happy  Feast of St Francis Assisi 

Oh Francis, you sacrificed many things of this world, you embraced the way of littleness to approach eternal life! 

St Francis was influenced me so much in my conversion. The book I read about him was named,The first life of St Francis of Assisi written by Thomas Celano. I don’t remember the name of the translator to Malayalam. From that book I got to know about the powerful intervention of Mother Mary to bring back a soul of a Friar to return of his vocation of priesthood. Our Lady gave a special Rosary of seven decades to the friar to make him embrace the love of Jesus. Later the Franciscans made this rosary [called Franciscan Seraphic Rosary] to recite in their Monasteries and Convents of Poor Clares and many other Franciscan Congregations. 

This inspired me a lot, thought how much St Francis also loved Mother Mary. Since I read this book I started knowing about Mother Mary, same my love towards St Francis also increased. I started reciting Rosary and love towards increased.  Then after many interventions of Mother Mary and St Francis I decided to become a Catholic. My spiritual life I started in the Gulf was associated with Franciscans as the Catholic Churches in the Middle East are run by Franciscans Capuchins. 

Oh, Little Francis

Oh! Little Francis 

The poorest of the poor 

You imitated Christ 

In everything you have done

You made an example 

To the young and old

You are the humblest servant 

Chosen by God, to serve the flocks of Christ

You left all the wealth of this world

To gain the wealth of Heaven

You poured out the charity 

On all the Creatures of God

Your love is inspiring 

Still in the hearts of millions

You were the channel of peace

Peace that the Lord has endeavoured 

Lord has given a key to you 

To open the hearts of the wearied souls

Help us to seek the life in holiness

The peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

You have loved the nature ardently

You praised God’s creations by giving Him thanks

You love peace among the nations

You never wants to be loved but to love all