Tản mạn: TÌNH NGƯỜI SAU CƠN BÃO

 Xin hãy nhìn đến hoàn cảnh khốn khó của bà con 

Sau cơn bão số 10 (Bualoi) vừa hoành hành. 

Giữa những khó khăn bộn bề của cuộc sống,

chúng con xin được làm kênh chuyển nhỏ bé,

nối những tấm lòng đến cùng nhau. 

Một câu chuyện làm tôi nhớ mãi... 

Một ngày nọ, một em thiếu nhi cầm trên tay một phong thư, ngoài bì thư ghi "Con..... xin đóng góp xây nhà thờ." Em đưa phong thư cho tôi, rồi nói:

-"Thầy ơi! Con có ba nghìn đồng (3.000 VNĐ), muốn gửi để đóng góp xây dựng nhà thờ..."

Tôi phân vân mãi, không dám nhận vì hẳn 3000 VNĐ với người lớn thì quá ít ỏi, nhưng với trẻ con thì đó là một gia tài. Tôi hỏi thăm về số tiền, em đáp:

-"Mẹ cho con 25.000 VNĐ để đi grab tới nhà thờ. Con đi hết 22.000 VNĐ. Còn lại con xin gửi nhà thờ ạ!"

Tôi chợt nhớ tới đồng tiền bà góa trong Kinh Thánh mà Chúa Giê-su đã nói. Vâng! Vấn đề không phải là 3.000 VNĐ hay nhiều hơn... Nhưng vấn đề hệ tại tấm lòng.

Cám ơn em nhỏ đã nhắc tôi về bài học của Chúa Giê-su. Vâng! Em ạ! Hôm em đã góp 1 hạt xi-măng, 1 giọt sơn và 1...1....1....1....1....1.... cho Chúa. 

Tác giả: Little Stream

Nguồn ảnh: Sưu tầm (Cơn bão Bualoi tại Việt Nam)

Suy tư: BROTHERS & SISTERS OF THE CONFÉRENCES SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL

On the feast day of Saint Vincent de Paul, there are some pleasant memories of Brothers and Sisters who belong to His Spirituality. 

My first apostolic place happened in a tuberculosis hospital, and I had chances to work with the sisters of the Daughters of Charity (belonging to the Conférences saint Vincent de Paul). Generosity and kindness are meaningful lessons through the example of serving those sisters. They woke up early for morning prayer at 2 a.m.; after that, they moved to the hospital before 3 a.m. to prepare charcoal stoves and began cooking soups for patients and their relatives. My brothers and I often come to the hospital at 5 a.m., and all was available for us to provide breakfast for patients. Day by day, the charity kitchen of the sisters changes the dish to something different; all doctors, nurses, patients, and their families were excited to have breakfast from the sisters. Surely, all people who receive food from sisters remember the optimism and delight of the sisters. 

The next impression was the pastoral activities in a highland village of the Xo-dang ethnic minority. My brothers and I also have the opportunity to meet and work with brothers of the Congregation of the Mission (also belonging to the Conférences saint Vincent de Paul). Recognizing the complex lives of people and the profound desire for faith among Christians, the congregation appointed some brothers to establish missions in this land. Supporting people to improve their intellectual level from the obsolete customs to the new ones. The Gospel of the Lord is the light for all people through daily Mass; besides, the brothers also provide food, clothes, and shoes for the inhabitants. My impressions of the pastoral activities of the brothers were their concern for life and their efforts to renew the faith of each Christian in the village. 

May God bless all brothers and sisters of the Conférences Saint Vincent de Paul, through the intercession of Saint Vincent de Paul. 

Author: Little Stream

Photos at Dak Ngo Village, Kon Plong District, Kon Tum Province, Vietnam 

Suy tư: SAD HYMN

A well-known Vietnamese song associated with Christmas is "Sad Hymn" by Nguyen Vu, the composer who just passed away in Vietnam. Many people certainly know and sing this song, but it is seldom the case that they pause to discover the context in which Nguyen Vu wrote "Sad Hymn".

A brief overview of a popular work by Nguyen Vu can be summarized in five key questions: What, Where, When, How, and Why.

1. WHAT? 

The hymn referenced in the song is "Silent Night", translated into Vietnamese from the original English version. Connecting to personal situation (explain in How?), this song inadvertently inspired Nguyen Vu during the Christmas atmosphere. 

2. WHERE?

Dalat was the original context of "Sad Hymn," and Nguyen Vu wrote this song based on his sad memories of his family's time there. Specifically, most of those memories took place at St. Nicholas Cathedral (also known as Dalat Cathedral).

3. WHEN?

"Sad Hymn" was written when the composer was 28 years old (September 1972). However, this song was cherished in the composer's heart for 14 years before leaving Dalat in 1958.

4. HOW? & WHY?

It was a beautiful memory and also a sad story about Nguyen Vu's first love (one-sided love). He met a lovely girl at daily mass in Dalat Cathedral and fell in love with her. However, this love lasted for a short time, and his family moved to Saigon. Since then, Nguyen Vu has remembered this memory when he hears the "Silent Night" song each Christmas. "Sad Hymn" was written in this context and sung every year at Christmas. 

Although "Sad Hymn" is not enough to be a "Magnum opus", it is the best option for Vietnamese on Christmas occasion. In the case we want to choose a few songs that are popular among both older and younger audiences, "Sad Hymn" is one of the best options. 

Thank you, Nguyen Vu, for a meaningful song that connects both Christians and non-Christians. Yes! We are the sons and daughters of Heavenly God. Pray for his soul!!!

Author: Little Stream

Source: Compiled from various sources

Photo: St. Nicholas Cathedral (Dalat Cathedral) by Little Stream

Suy tư: FIGHTING FOR GOOD AND EVIL

How do you think about the idea that it is necessary to realize the distinction between good and evil, which are based on moral models of contemporary society? Recently, Vietnam has experienced some negative phenomena that have affected children and young people of Vietnam: Apathy, Educational Violence, and Arrogance. 

+ Apathy: Remind the sad story, which happened at An Khanh Village, Hanoi, Vietnam, that two boys slipped into the lake and called for S.O.S., while their friend, another boy, still stood at the lake shore and hummed a nonsensical song. What is the issue here? Blaming the apathetic attitude of the boy? Education!!! Social skills and Life skills are most significant in that they enable individuals to distinguish between "real" and "fake" contexts.

+ Educational Violence: A scandal in recent days is the clip, which was recorded of a grade 7 student (studying at a high school in Hanoi, Vietnam) pulling his teacher's hair and committing acts of violence. Netizens are buzzing before the principal's explanation: "The student pulls the teacher's hand as a normal behavior of other students." Digging deeper into the problem, there is no need to discuss the morality of the issue (the law will address it), but rather to reconsider the educational aims: humanistic and intellectual education. Both are equally and extremely important.

+ Arrogance: "Know who my father is?" is a popular slang phrase of young groups in Vietnamese society. The catalepsy of this phrase refers to the adverse reaction of someone who wants to dominate or control a situation, show their family status, or social status, despite acknowledging their own faults. However, they often receive criticism from many people in society due to being perceived as arrogant.

....

Without concluding the above problems, what we need to focus on is how Christians can contribute to fight for a holy life. 

What can we do, Christians? Hospitality; Humanistic and Intellectual Education; Humility... 

Author & Photo: Little Stream

Suy tư: FROM "STATUES OF GOD" TO "A REAL GOD"

Recognizing God from below was a special message that my professor discussed in class. The purpose of this viewpoint is to keep Christians away from Deism (one-sided consideration of the super-nature of God) or Rationalism (one-sided consideration of God based on experimental sciences). Indeed, Deism methodology is straightforward to make Christians doubt about "the real person" of Jesus. Otherwise, Rationalism can lead them to misunderstand Almighty God if they do not thoroughly examine it. Therefore, the experiences of seeing God from below do not deny the "super-nature" of God, absolutely not deny the practicality of science faculties.

Reflecting on my own experiences with God, "broken" has been the word that best describes my faith. In fact, the transition from "statues of God" to "a real God" through training in vocation, missions, and apostolic life is a long process that I must acquire on my own. Words can not describe the happiness when I break the "fake God", which I built by my personal illusion, in spiritual life! 

Touching the poor, the sick, and the suffering has given a practical meaning to my faith, as I strive to see the Face of God in Incarnation, Suffering, Death, and Resurrection. As "ADDRESS OF POPE PAUL VI TO THE POOR, THE SICK AND THE SUFFERING" on 8 December 1965 wrote that: "But we have something deeper and more valuable to give you, the only truth capable of answering the mystery of suffering and of bringing you relief without illusion, and that is faith and union with the Man of Sorrows, with Christ the Son of God, nailed to the cross for our sins and for our salvation." (1)

The primary and perfect motivation for my vocation is to recognize the Face of God in my everyday life through spiritual practices and missions. Prayers and Others are mirrors that I can find God and my own day by day. 

Author: Little Stream

NoteS: 

(1) Messages of the Council: To all the poor, the sick and the suffering (December 8, 1965)

(2) Image: the appearance of Christ's face on a consecrated host in Vilakkannur on November 15, 2013. After a 12-year investigation, the Vatican declared this event a supernatural miracle on May 31, 2025, with Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli presiding over a ceremony at Christ the King Church.

Thơ: THE SOWER

Once upon a time

There was a sower who worked hard 

He went to every corner of the street

sowed the seeds along his journey.

Someone said that this sower was a waste man.

Others, however, saw his actions differently. 

They saw a man of incredible generosity, 

scattering his seeds without reservation, 

hoping for a bountiful harvest.

And you and I, we think, 'Who is he?'

Nowadays, we are sowers who imitate the sower in the Gospel:

"Trọn đời con là đời mang sứ điệp Tin Mừng, là dòng sông mang đến cho nhân trần phù sa chứa chan hồng ân." 

(Temporary translation: Gospel messages are all of my life's mission, which bring God's grace to all people as an alluvial river)

Author and Photo: Little Stream

Thơ: LOVE

 When God asks me, "Do you love me?"

I answer Him: "I love you so much!"...

When God looks into my daily activities and requests proof,

I scratch my head and think....

Suddenly, I recognize that...

I cannot show any proof except my life... 

Like Pheo and No....🥰🥰🥰

Author & Photo: Little Stream

Suy tư: SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE - THE ART OF DYING WELL

Saint Robert Bellarmine, S.J. (1542-1621), is a renowned saint in the Society of Jesus. He was an Italian Cardinal who served in several capacities: as a humanities professor (1563-1567), in an academic position resolving theological controversies (1576), and as a Spiritual Director (1580s).

His last writing was "The Art of Dying Well", which was written two years before his death. Robert wrote that: "Truly "blessed" is the death of the saints, which by the command of the Heavenly King frees the soul from the prison of the flesh, and conducts her to a celestial Kingdom;..."

Therefore, the persons who want to die well, he/ she must live well. Robert Bellarmine clarified two parts: "in the first | shall speak of the precepts we must follow whilst in good health; in the other of those we should observe when we are dangerously ill, or near death's door." However, Christians must remember that they die to the world before they die in their body because "we cannot in any way begin to live to God, unless we first die to the world."

Actually, Christians are called to prepare for our death at any time. Saint Robert Bellarmine was a brilliant Christian when he chose to think deeply about death. The last time comes to us surprisingly, and we cannot rely on our knowledge, talents, or anything else outside of ourselves. Therefore, we understand that death is a fantastic art or the worst result of human limitation. 

Wishing we could understand the meaning of Saint Francis Assisi: "And in dying that we are born to eternal life"...

Author: Little Stream

Photo: Moon

Tin ảnh: SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD

The concept of "servant of servants" inspires admiration for the life and vocation of Peter Claver, S.J. (1580-1654). He was a Spanish Jesuit priest and missionary born in Spain, who devoted whole life and vocation to serving enslaved people in Cartagena. In particular, he visited, consoled, protected oppressed persons, and taught Catechism to enslaved people. During his life, Peter Claver fought for human rights and became a peaceful inspiration for many people around the world.

A formal title for the Pope, used in papal documents like papal bulls, "servant of the servants of God" also shows the humility of servant. Orders in the Church have no missions without imitating Jesus Christ and serving all people as Christ's manners.

Writer: Little Stream

Photo: https://jesuit.org.au/wp-content/uploads/claver-1024x770.jpg

Thơ: NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

 A perfect woman in my heart,

You are Mother of God,

Blessed art thou amongst women;

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

You are a perfect example of obedience,

"Fiat" is your attitude before God's Will,

“Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; 

let this happen to me according to your word.”

You are Mother of God,

You are our Mother.

As Jesus, your Son, said:

"Behold your mother."

Author & Photo: Little Stream

Photo at Hoa Thanh Parish, Ca Mau City.

Tin Ảnh: CARLO ACUTIS & PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI

Sunday, Sept 7, 2025 - tremendous happiness of the Church in the canonization of two young blessed: Carlo Acutis & Pier Giorgio Frassati. Two of them are fantastic examples in life and faith. 

St. Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) became involved in social justice issues, serving the poor and less fortunate. The success of Pier Giorgio was not "material works", but "spiritual works": happiness, mercy, consolation, hospitality, and faith. Pope John Paul II dubbed him "Man of the Eight Beatitudes". 

Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) was the first saint of the millennial generation. The examples of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Theresa of Calcutta inspired him. According to Carlo's mother, he loved daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration after daily Mass, and rosary prayers. All of this spiritual motivation led him to make an effort to introduce God through his favorite subject - computer science.

Many young men, at present, think that the faith is "outdated" or "obsolete"!!! Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis exemplified this perspective through their heroic lives. Today, their canonization is compelling evidence for us.

Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati - Pray for us!

Saint Carlo Acutis - Pray for us!

Author: Little Stream

Photo: https://catholiconline.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Carlo-Acutis-and-Pier-Giorgio-Frassati.jpg

Thơ: NGỌN ĐÈN DẦU...

(Viết cho những ngày cuối đời của Ngoại)

Khi ngọn đèn sắp hết dầu,

Ánh tia leo lét, chẳng lâu tắt dần.

Thuở nào đèn sống dấn thân,

Dầu tràn, bấc mới muôn phần sáng tươi.

Rày đèn hớn hở reo cười,

Bấc tàn, dầu hết vẫn tươi cõi lòng.

Một đời đèn đã cậy trông,

Khẩn nài ơn Chúa cho dầu trung trinh,

Ước mong cho bấc lung linh,

Phúc ân "vơi - tắt" - công trình tay Cha.  

Tác giả và Ảnh: Little Stream

Ảnh chụp tại Đan Viện Xi-tô Đơn Dương - Đà Lạt