Chief Editor’s Desk

Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan was born In central Vietnam in a place called Phu on April 17, 1928. He endured a lot of suffering during the communist regime in Vietnam. While he was about to take leadership as the Archbishop of Saigon on August 15, 1975, he was arrested and held without ever being tried or sentenced, and was imprisoned for more than 13 years, nine of which were spent in solitary confinement. On February 21, 2001, he was elevated to the College of Cardinals by the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II.

The spiritual journey of Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan during his prison days was an eye-opener for everyone. He always believed that his vocation and life is the gift of God and related to the blood of the martyrs of the early church. His grandfather’s family was burned in a Church. His mother always told him, “it doesn’t matter whatever you do, every moment belongs to God.” Her advice kept him in union with God in prison. He always lived with a Ray of Hope. Cardinal Francis said, “…only one moment exists for you in all its beauty and that is the present moment. Live it completely in the love of God.” He kept his faith strong in the darkest moments of his jail life. According to him, the one who died on the cross gives us hope because this cross is a sign of hope for all humanity.

His mother always told him, “it doesn’t matter whatever you do, every moment belongs to God.” Her advice kept him in union with God in prison. He always lived with a Ray of Hope. Cardinal Francis said, “…only one moment exists for you in all its beauty and that is the present moment. Live it completely in the love of God.”

After the resurrection, Jesus greeted the disciples conveying the message of hope saying, “Do not be afraid, peace be with you” (Mt. 28:10). Let us entrust ourselves to the resurrected Lord. The season of Easter is a time to grow in the hope that gives us the strength to confront the difficult situations of life. We are living in a transition period from covid times to a new way of life. Covid taught us to live with masks, in isolation, and in moderation. And now we have overcome one of the most difficult moments of history. It gives us the message that there is a resurrection after the crucifixion, there is a shore after every sail. The girl trapped in the concrete slab got a small ray of light from outside and that gave her hope for life (testimony from the Gujarath earthquake in 2003).

“Do not be afraid, peace be with you” (Mt. 28:10).

Let us celebrate His feast of peace and hope that comes from the resurrected Christ. There is life even after every death. Let our sorrow become the joy of hope for the future. I am reminded of the Malayalam song “ഇല പൊഴിയും കാലങ്ങൾക്കപ്പുറം തളിരണിയും കാലമുണ്ടതോർക്കണം” (there is a budding spring after the winter ie. the season of falling leaves). When the tombstone is removed, the empty tomb is not a sign of emptiness, but it’s a sign of hope for all of us. Wish you all a Happy Easter.

“ഇല പൊഴിയും കാലങ്ങൾക്കപ്പുറം തളിരണിയും കാലമുണ്ടതോർക്കണം”

Chief Editor’s Desk