Religious Life in Chavara’s Vision

Abstract

Paul Kalluveettil CMI reflects on religious life in the vision of Chavara. The lack of a house of penance (tapasbhavanam) in the land goaded him to desire for a house of vision (darsanavîdu). The tapasbhavanam and darsanavîdu have to be understood in a deeper spiritual sense. The persons of tapasbhavanam totally dedicate themselves in communion and communication with God and humans and make the darsanavîdu a holy abode, where the devotees see the celestial visions and divine dreams. There, the members abide in the love of Jesus, sit before his eyes, walk close to him and converse always with him. Religious life is a call to live in the Holy Family. In the presence of Jesus, Chavara dwelt in the metaphorical world considering himself Zacchaeus of Lk 19, the prodigal son of Lk 15 and many more. There the religious learn the art of seeing, the art of remembering and the art of venerating the divine and thus become a consecrated community. It is the ecclesial art of Chavara that prompted him to find refuge in the tapasbhavanam and darsanavîdu and subsequently to lead hundreds to serve the Mother Church.