The round forest with four corners

06 Apr 2020

#Christ, #community, #prayer, art

Reading the title of this article what do you think, is there such a forest? How do you imagine it? Who would live in a place like this? Now I invite you to stop for a moment and imagine.

The round forest with four corners is the title of a collection of fairy tales by a Hungarian writer, Ervin Lazar. At the beginning of the story we don’t find a description of this forest. The writer leaves this point open and immediately begins to introduce the characters. The place is created through their connections. The protagonist is called “Mikkamakka”, a cat who invites several marginalized characters to the forest: Siegfried Bruckner, an old artist lion, Serafin Horse, a blue steed, Aromo, the smart rabbit that failed the running test, “Vacskamati”, the wild cat, Big Zoard, the pine tree that can walk, Beast Louis, who is good-hearted with a heart of gold and finally Domdodom, who can say no other word but this: domdodom.

What an interesting group! It seems that all of them have some flaws, but in this forest they can live with joy, in peace and being themselves. Seeing us novices, we are not very different from these characters. We too have our flaws, our weaknesses and the need to feel at home where we can be ourselves.

In this period of covid-epidemia we in the novitiate are living in a privileged state. That is, every day we encounter Jesus through the Eucharist. Something very similar happens during Mass as in Ervin Lazar’s forest: on the square altar Jesus will be visible in the round host and invites us to union. At this moment our chapel becomes a round forest where we meet in the love of Jesus, who helps us to love and accept ourselves and our companions. By meeting this love we are also invited to share it. Using the same words of the Hungarian writer, we become “Mikkamakka”, that is, apostle of love.

For the majority of people this kind of encounter is not possible now. Therefore I would like to invite all those who wish to meet Jesus in the Eucharist to imagine this sacred forest.

Let us begin our contemplation in this way: Where is this forest? Big or small? What kind of trees do I see? I can stop at every little detail. Once I have created the place I continue to put on the scene all the people living around me, I look at them with their shortcomings, weaknesses and even their talents. Then I continue to imagine a square altar that can also be that of my parish. And finally I put in this image the round host. Then I contemplate this scene: the physical space, the people, the Eucharist. Now I have the possibility of remaining on this moment. I can stay for long minutes, which is not possible during Mass.

Contemplating this scene, I slowly open my heart and before I begin to speak with Jesus, I remain silent. I let Him talk to me first. I leave room for Him. I let Him enter into my heart. Now in this intimate and sacred moment comes the moment of conversation. I talk to Jesus as I would talk to someone who whispers in my ear. Perhaps I hear Jesus inviting me into his heart. I continue the conversation with the help of the Spirit and remain with Jesus. If I want, I can ask Him to stay with me all day long.

After this meeting I am no longer alone. With a thankful heart I continue my day and share the grace with all those I meet by inviting them to this round-square forest as Mikkamakka did.

Dániel Tímár, first years novice

Sullo stesso argomento

All in the field…for a full life!

by Daniele Angiuli

Community life is like a big soccer game. That’s the image that flashed through my mind while playing on the field with my teammates, amidst the running and the shortness of breath, the falls and the sweat. Each in his own position and at the same time in close relationship with the others: those in attack, ready to run toward the goal and score for the team; those in midfield to retrieve balls and act as “bridges” between players; those in defense to prevent opponents from advancing; those in goal to catch the ball and avoid the net.

There is no one role more eminent than another but all are necessary for the success of the game, just as in the community everyone is important and everyone can contribute. It is essential that each person does his part without declining to others, knowing, however, that he can count on the help of teammates. All called, as Luciano Ligabue says in “Una vita da mediano,”” to cover certain areas, to play generous” to be “there in the middle” of life.

I believe that in the field the only valid personal pronoun subject is “We.” Even in community life it is necessary to move from the ‘individualism of the “I” to the communion of the “we,” to think and act in the plural as Pope Francis often reminds us. If every player on the field started to go it alone, to run like a loose cannon, he would fail in his goal and even if he managed to score a goal, he would not achieve the real “goal”: teamwork, full communion with his teammates. So too in community life in the novitiate: it is necessary to look beyond the tip of one’s nose, to notice who is beside us, his need, to have the courage to step back and pass the ball to the other, always for the true good of all.

Every team has its own coach: he is responsible for preparation and game strategies. He is the first one who cheers for his team, trusts each person and insists that they give their best, according to their abilities. I like to think of the figure of Jesus as the real coach, as Carlo Nesti had already guessed in his book “My Coach’s Name is Jesus.” He encourages, spurs, believes, hopes in each of us and in the work of the whole team; he wants our “joy to be full” (Jn. 15:11).

It is difficult at times to live according to the demanding proposal of this great Coach, but not impossible. We need to put ourselves in the school of the Gospel, which prepares us to be athletes as the apostle Paul tells us: “Do you not know that in the stadium races all run, but only one wins the prize? You also run so as to conquer it! However, every athlete is disciplined in everything; they do so in order to obtain a crown that withers away, we, on the other hand, one that lasts forever. ” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

By living on “Jesus’ team,” our community, like every Christian community, will truly experience, in the midst of difficulties, the taste of a full existence, the flavor of true communion.