For peace of soul

Armando Baltazar was a Jesuit for ten years. That was long ago. Since then he has lived a rich, full life. Now, when he is no longer a spring chicken, he has written a book, called: "Illuminations."

It is a beautiful book. He says: "This book is what remains of the Jesuit in me – what God has implanted in me during and after those ten years." It is a revelation of his soul. Or, better, a revelation of what he wants his soul to be. It is all the wisdom that God has whispered to him through the long years.

The pictures, all photographs, are magnificent. They were done by Franco Patriarca. I would guess that the pictures are a revelation of his soul. They are all very simple, about things we see every day, but reveal the beauty of God in people. And the beauty of God in all of God’s creation.

O. Henry, the Daddy of all story tellers, called his first book of short stories "The Four Million". This was because New York City at that time had four million people living in it, streaming through the streets, sleeping in tenement houses, working, playing, falling in love, suffering, dying. He believed that every one of these four million, if you could portray his soul, what he really thought and felt inside – would be a best seller.

Armando pours out his soul in this book. Franco pours out his soul in the photographs. As a priest who has to deliver the Word of God regularly, I know that when I tell people what God wants us to be, I am also talking to myself. I wish that I could be half as close to God as I am encouraging them to be.

So I suppose it was much that way with Armando and Franco. They are presenting, in "Illuminations," not only what they are in heart and mind and soul, but also what they hope and dream they will be.

Still, the effect on the reader is a deep sense of peace. A realization that this is God’s world, and all of it is beautiful, including the children whom he has created, all the people with whom we live and work each day. I can not reproduce the images, but just some of the thoughts, chosen almost at random.

On children:

"Children’s souls are like clean containers

to be filled with the wine of His abundance

And their eyes are as wide windows

That let in the sunshine of His grace.

And their faces are open faces, waiting

For the kiss of the Holy Spirit."

On love:

"In true love, the good of the beloved is paramount.

If a choice is to be made between what is for the

good of the Lover

and what is for the good of the Beloved,

the time lover will prefer the good of the beloved".

On Man and Woman:

"God made man first

the prototype?

God made woman second

the improved version?

God made man longing for a companion.

God made woman to fulfill his longing.

Man works.

Woman makes it all worthwhile"

On listening:

"Friendship is a brew of wonderful things.

But it is first of all listening to one another.

Listening is accepting without judging.

Listening is understanding where each other

is "coming from".

Sometimes from far, far away in one’s childhood.

Listening is holding back, sometimes for a long while,

On what one wants to say in reply.

Listening is entering into the mind and heart of another."

On Happiness:

"Happiness is not something you get.

It is something you give."

All it sometimes takes -

To say "Yes, I love you" -

Is to reach over,

To touch,

To say yes with the eyes.

To spend time with.

To listen.

To understand.

If we only knew how many hearts break

for want of an answer,

We would answer".

On feelings:

"Whoever said: ‘feelings are only feelings

and so easy to forget’

has never sailed the seas of Passion"

On learning:

"The greatest thing

You’ll ever learn

Is just to love

And be loved in return."

New Year’s Message:

"First of all, thanks, thanks, thanks! To all that has been.

Everything that has happened has happened for my good.

Everything. The seeming "good" and the seeming "bad".

I know it all has been for a purpose because sent by God,

and God loves me.

And yes! To all that will be because all that will happen

will happen with the permission of God Who loves me.

If I can put my absolute trust in God, all shall be well.

All shall be well."

Good and Ready:

Always He is with me.

When I am lost, he takes me upon his shoulders–

like grain He winnows me from the chaff,

like the vine He prunes me,

like the grain fallen into the ground,

He waits for my hundredfold.

And then, at the end of the day, He gives me my wages,

Full measure, pressed down, and running over.

When I am good and ready,

He will come to me as my Friend."

Armando says: "This book is not a commercial enterprise. The net proceeds from the sale will all go to one beneficiary – Ang Arko ng Pilipinas – which runs two homes for God’s special children, the mentally handicapped.

Jean Vanier, who founded "L’Arche Internationale" years ago, in France, believes that the mentally handicapped teach us even more than we teach them.

"In our world, with its divisions and

hardness, often full of hate and strife,

people with mental handicaps teach

men and women the way to trust,

to simplicity, to love and to unity.

We have so much to learn from

those who though stripped of power

and knowledge, are so rich in their

hearts and in their simplicity."

"Illuminations" is available at the Jesuit Communications Office on the Loyola Campus of the Ateneo de Manila:

Telephone: 426-5971, local 113

Also in Makati at the EPCI Bank Head Office.

Telephone: 840-7000, local 2630

For further information please call the MCO Foundation

Secretariat at 878-4359 or 840-7000, local 2650.

Or e-mail Armando Baltazar: [email protected]

Most of all, it is a good book, for a good cause.

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