Saints

"Brother Andre's life shows us the power of faith and the importance of concern for the sick and others in need."

"Brother André was a holy man whose love of God and devotion to St. Joseph, our own diocese’s patron saint, continues to be an inspiration to millions of people. In reflecting on him, Pope John Paul II said, "In each age the Holy Spirit raises up such humble witnesses of the Gospel." Brother André was a man of his age, who carried forward Christ’s message of love."

"The beginning of prayer is the expulsion of distractions from the very start by a single thought; the middle stage is the concentration on what is being said or thought; its conclusion is rapture in the Lord.Prayer brings one sort of joy to those living in community, and another to those praying in stillness. Elation is sometimes characteristic of the former, but humility is always to be found in the latter."

"A shrewd hesychast requires no words. He is enlightened by deeds rather than by words.The start of stillness is the rejection of all noisiness as something that will trouble the depths of the soul. The final point is when one has no longer a fear of noisy disturbance, when one is immune to it. He who when he goes out does not go out in his intellect is gentle and wholly a house of love, rarely moyed to speech and never to anger. The opposite to all this is manifest.Strange as it may seem, the hesychast is a man who fights to keep his incorporeal self shut up in the house of the body."

"A monk is one who is conditioned by virtues as others are by pleasures."

"Drive away with the hand of humility every transitory joy, as being unworthy of it, lest by readily admitting it you receive a wolf instead of a shepherd."

"Baptism is the washing away of evils that were in us before, but sins committed after baptism are washed away by tears."

"I will not be silent about something which it is not right to leave in silence lest I should inhumanly keep to myself what ought to be made known."

"The man who associates with people of the world or approaches them after his renunciation will certainly either fall into their traps or will defile his heart by thinking about them; or if he is not defiled himself yet by condemning those who are defiled, he too will himself be defiled."

"Obedience is the tomb of the will and the resurrection of humility."

"He whose will and desire in conversation is to establish his own opinion, even though what he says is true, should recognize that he is sick with the devil's disease."

"In hastening to solitude and exile, do not wait for world-loving souls, because the thief comes unexpectedly. In trying to save the careless and indolent along with themselves, many perish with them, because in course of time the fire goes out. As soon as the flame is burning within you, run; for you do not know when it will go out and leave you in darkness. Not all of us are required to save others. The divine Apostle says, ... "Thou therefore who teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?" This is like saying: I do not know whether we must teach others; but teach yourselves at all costs."

"A monastery is an earthly heaven."

"Even if glory is God-given, yet it is excellent to divert it from oneself with the shield of humility."

"Constantly wrestle with your thought, and whenever it wanders call it back to you"

"Verdict (Futwa) Shamsuíd-Din Araki fully understood the phenomenon of infidelity, heresy, apostasy and zandaqa (proselytizing) of the people of this (Kashmir) land. He found that none from the lowest to the highest in this land was free from defilement and irreligiosity. Thus some of the ëulema and theologians of those times, who were above fault in their faith, piety and austerity, like Maulana Baseer, Qadi Muhammad Qudsi and others, enquired of Araki for a decree regarding the treatment to be meted out to the proselytes who had defied the principles of Islam. Many learned men, including the above- mentioned theologians, said with one voice that an injunction (futwa) be issued saying that the proselytes and renegades were directed by the Mohammedan law (sharia) to return to the Islamic fold. They should abide by the tenets of Islam; by doing so they will succeed in attaining the aim of their life. And if they do not do so, then the only other way is to put them to sword. No excuse will be entertained thereto nor will the poll tax (jizya) be accepted from them (for continuing as non-Muslims. They have only two options: either to accept Islam or death). With the help and support of Malik Musa Raina, Shamsuíd- Din Araki issued a decree that groups of infidels, worshippers of idols and the rest of people of other communities return to the fold of Islam, abandon proselytizing and heresy, give up all innovations and aberrations of the customary dark and ignorant ways and recite the kelima once again for the renewal of their faith in Islam. They should strengthen and rejuvenate their faith, and make their intentions clean. This order was promulgated throughout Kashmir whose lands extended from the borders of Maraj to those of the extremes of Kamaraj. People should give up customs of polytheists for good. They should be bold and strong and uphold Islamic faith and community and the law of the Prophet and ensure its full growth so that with their individual efforts the banner of Islamic faith is raised to the sky."

"Qadi Muhammad Qudsi composed an excellent mathnawi (ballad) in praise of Shamsuíd-Din Araki in which he has given the details of demolition of the temple, turning it into a mosque, and the efforts of the spiritual leader (Araki) in demolishing the temples. He has also recorded all that Araki had permitted him to do. The mathnavi is recorded here so that readers might enjoy it and send prayers for the soul of the Qadi. God Almighty bless his soul! Pre-Islamic Kashmir Kashmir in earlier times Had no tradition except that of infidelity For idol- houses and lots of idols It was famous among lands and climes. On all sides along the road stood a temple (kalisa) with a strong encirclement Of idol houses, along the road side existed Fireñtemples By every temple there were wicked persons Except them, there existed no other group of people But idols, idol worshipper and idol maker Each side (corner) was made of solid stone A large variety of colourful stone idols therein Every community was of threadñbearers Crowds of them everywhere by the road Would flock to the temple For merry-making and for pilgrimage After Shah-i-Hamadan Then owing to dissensions among communities Islam met with weakness day after day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Nobody cared to promulgate religious law Commandments of religion met with decay Infidelity of olden days was revived The bright sun of religious law illuminated it Once again, according to the prevalent custom Foundations of fire-temples and temples laid Islam got mixed up with infidelity Fundamentals of religion got disjointed. Monks and heretics with their wooden gong Sent flattering words high in the sky The groups of dissemblers Supported and agreed with heresy Wherever was found a shrewd and wise man He shared the heresy of a polytheist Together stood the idol house and hospice And a mosque and a temple If a husband offered namaz (prayer) His wife deliberated with the devil If a father proceeded to some mosque The son made full efforts to stick to heresy Despite the learned of the times Were always there amidst the people Each dignified and experienced Having read each manuscript repeatedly Yet not aware of the basics of faith Nobody was on the path of essence of faith . . . .. . . . . ? No body ever cared for religion They all had adopted the path of falsehood They remained unmindful of real task In the pursuit of perishable riches They were oblivious of perennial torture Arakiís arrival and achievements He raised the banner of faith high in the sky He effaced all idol houses and idols Within the confines of Kashmir territory Temples that had been erected He demolished them wholly with Godís grace He brought a new dispensation in the country He uprooted traces of temples wherever they were And laid the plan for a mosque instead Wherever he demolished a prayer house In short in this ancient valley With the efforts of this spiritual guide Every idol house that was laid waste Became the site for a hospice Today instead of each fire-temple There is either a garden or a paradise Demolition of Islampur idol house A temple in that land of infidels Was the object of their circumambulation From ancient times, nay from antiquity. This was the place where people Of opposite faith lay prostrate in front of idols At this place three times in a year Came together men and women of Kashmir Be they young or old in years Staunchly bound to the tradition of idolatry Some groups for fun and merry-making Used to come there regularly Nobody initiated discarding this custom. From the calendar brought by the revealed Prophet Passed nine hundred and thirteen years With Hindu community and crowds of kafirs There ensued a fighting for that place That supporter of faith and of truthful community Against the forces of rank heretics A great jihadfor the sake of Truth At which warriors would give three cheers For the propagation of the law of Islam He fought battles against the people of idols That with the grace of God the Great Cause The religious preceptor was so victorious Even the intellect failed to comprehend As it proved that small numbers shall prevail He uprooted the foundations of idol-worshippers He laid waste the whole structure of atheism He ordered construction of a building at that site Elegant, adorned and attractive But since this land from the very beginning Was defiled enormously by infidelity It asked definitely for purification By the decree of the Powerful Creator There came a flood and washed the earth And purified it absolutely of heretical impurity Thus it got a good washing and cleaning That no trace of infidelity was left in it"

"“…Baba Ûchah Ganai went for circumambulation of the two harms (Mecca and Medina)… in search of the perfect guide (Pir-i-Kamil). He prayed to God (to help) him when he heard a voice from the unknown that the ‘perfect guide’ was in Kashmir himself… Hazrat Shaikh, Baba Ûchah Ganai… returned to Kashmir… All of a sudden his eyes fell upon a place of worship, the temples of the Hindus. He smiled; when the devotees asked the cause of (his smile) he replied that the destruction and demolition of these places of worship and the destruction of the idols will take place at the hand of the high horn Shaikh Shams-ud-Din Irraqi. He will soon be coming from Iraq and shall turn the temples completely desolate, and most of the misled people will accept the path of guidance and Islam… So as was ordained Shaikh Shams-ud-Din reached Kashmir. He began destroying the places of worship and the temples of the Hindus and made an effort to achieve the objectives.”297"

"When Shamsuíd-Din Araki arrived in this land and demolished the temples of infidels and polytheists, the rulers of the time and the nobles entrusted him with the trusteeship of the Hamadaniyyeh hospice. The first thing he did was to expel the corrupt and faithless heretics from the complex."

"Amir Shamsof truthuíd-Din Araki mad a firm resolve to give a crushing defeat to the enemies of the people and the opponents of the religion of Islam in this land of mischief- mongers, and a hotbed of corrupt people. He determined to raise high the banner of Islam, demolish the customs and traditions of idol-worshippers, and eradicate all symptoms of infidelity and ignorance (about Islamic religion) from the misguided people of this land."

"One of the major commands of Amir Shamsud-Din Muhammad Iraqi carried out by him (Kaji Chak) was the massacre of the infidels and polytheists of this land."

"Tarikh-i-Kashmir, a historical account of Kashmir written by Haidar Malik Chadurah, who served in Sultan Yusuf Shah’s Court (1579–86), records: ‘Sheikh Shams-ud-Din reached Kashmir. He began destroying the places of worship and the temples of the Hindus and made an effort to achieve the objectives.’"

"Tarikh-i-Hasan Khuiihami notes of the conversion of Hindus to Islam by Shamsud-Din Iraqi that ‘twenty-four thousand Hindu families were converted to Iraqi’s faith by force and compulsion (qahran wa jabran).’"

"In Afzalul Favaid Nizimuddin Auliya has been cited as saying: “It would be the day of Resurrection (Qiamat) when women will ride horses or walk about in the streets... . Great harm would be done when women would get freedom’’."

"Fath Shãh ascended the throne in AH 894 (AD 1488-89)… In those days Mîr Shams, a disciple of Shãh Qãsim Anwar, reached Kashmir and people became his devotees. All endowments, imlãk, places of worship and temples were entrusted to his disciples. His Sûfîs used to destroy temples and no one could stop them…"

"Other prominent Sufis held even more orthodox views. The great Sufi saint Nasiruddin Chiragh, for example, purged and purified deviant aspects of the Sufi practices. According to Prof. KA Nizami, he prohibited all deviant (from Sharia) rituals and practices that had entered the Sufi community, saying, ‘‘Whatever Allah and His Prophet have ordered, do it and whatever Allah and His Prophet have forbidden you against, you should not do.’’ Nizami adds: ‘He brought Sufi institution in harmony with Sunnah. Wherever there was a slightest clash, he proclaimed the supremacy of the Sharia Laws.’"

"Shykh Nizãmu’d-Dîn Awliyã’s dargãh in Delhi continued to be and remains till today the most important centre of Islamic fundamentalism in India."

"In his khutba (sermon), Nizamuddin Auliya condemned the infidels as wicked, saying, ‘He (Allah) has created Paradise and Hell for believers and the infidels (respectively) in order to repay the wicked for what they have done.’"

"Auliya’s thought on Jihad against non-Muslims can be gleaned from his statement that Surah Fatihah, first chapter of the Quran, did not contain two of the ten cardinal articles of Islam, which were ‘‘warring with the unbelievers and observing the divine statutes...’’ He did not only believe in warring with the unbelievers or Jihad, he came to India with his followers to engage in it. He participated in a holy war commanded by Nasiruddin Qibacha in Multan. When Qibacha’s army was in distress facing defeat, Auliya rushed to him and gave him a magical arrow instructing: ‘‘Shoot this arrow at the direction of the infidel army.’ ...Qibacha did as he was told, and when daybreak came not one of the infidels was to be seen; they all had fled!’ 254 When Qazi Mughisuddin inquired about the prospect of victory in the Jihad launched in South India under the command of Malik Kafur, the Auliya uttered in effusive confidence: ‘What is this victory? I am waiting for further victories.’ 255"

"Nizamuddin Auliya (1238–1325), toeing the orthodox line, condemned the Hindus to the fire of hell, saying: ‘The unbelievers at the time of death will experience punishment. At that moment, they will profess belief (Islam) but it will not be reckoned to them as belief because it will not be faith in the Unseen... the faith of (an) unbeliever at death remains unacceptable.’ He asserted that ‘On the day of Resurrection when unbelievers will face punishment and affliction, they will embrace faith but faith will not benefit them... They will also go to Hell, despite the fact that they will go there as believers.’"

"Influenced by the unorthodox, controversial doctrines and practices of famous Arab-Spanish Sufi ideologue Ibn Arabi (d. 1240), Moinuddin Chisti and Nizamuddin Auliya were the most unorthodox and liberal amongst India’s Sufis. Annoying the orthodox, they had adopted musical sessions (sama) and dancing (raqs) in their rituals. However, when it came to the real question of Islam, they never took a stand against classical orthodoxy; they always put the Ulema ahead of them in religious matters. To the question of whether dancing and playing of musical instruments, as had been adopted by Sufi dervishes, were permissible, Auliya said, ‘‘What is forbidden by Law (Sharia) is not acceptable.’’ On the question of whether the controversial Sufi devotional practices were permissible or not, he said, ‘‘Concerning this controversy at present, whatever the judge (orthodox Ulema) decrees will be upheld.’’"

"The Auliya used to accept large gifts sent by Sultan Alauddin from the spoils plundered in Jihad expeditions and proudly displayed those at his khanqah (lodge)."

"The Sufis of India had no contradiction with the Ulema; both had a common goal—the interest of Islam, but to be achieved through different methods. Auliya used to say, ‘What the Ulema seekto achieve through speech, we achieve by our behavior.’ Jamal Qiwamu’d-din, a long-time associate of Auliya, never saw him miss a single Sunnah of the Prophet."

"Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya (fourteenth century) at many places admits that Hindus “do not embrace Islam”, and that “the heart of these people is not changed through sermons”."

"There is nothing either created or in servitude in the Trinity; nor anything superinduced, as if at some former period it was non-existent."

"Hail, thou that are highly favoured! The Lord is with you. No longer shall the devil be against you; for where of old that adversary inflicted the wound, there now first of all does the Physician apply the salve of deliverance. Where death came forth, there has life now prepared its entrance. By a woman came the flood of our ills, and by a woman also our blessings have their spring."

"For what purpose was she espoused? In order that the spoiler might not learn the mystery prematurely. For that the King was to come by a virgin, was a fact known to the wicked one. ... Wherefore the Lord came by an espoused virgin, in order to elude the notice of the wicked one."

"There is one God, the Father of the living Word, who is His subsistent Wisdom and Power and Eternal Image."

"For men who lie on earth there is but one salvation, that their souls acknowledge and wing their way to Him by whom they have been made."

"For the most part, righteousness of life leads a man to poverty."

"Since the hour when Christ despoiled Hades, men have danced in triumph over death."

"How great is the envy which follows a man from his neighbours, like the sting of a wicked spirit... he who receives it, and takes it as it were into his breast, has nothing else but to eat his own heart, and tear it, and consume both soul and body, finding inconsolable vexation in the good fortune of others."

"I put a poor youth, if he be wise, before an aged prince devoid of wisdom."

"The fool is proved above all things by his finding no satisfaction in any lust."

"If wisdom follows knowledge, so troubles attend on wisdom."

"As Goliath had his head cut off with his own sword, so also is the devil, who has been the father of death, put to rout through death (Heb 2:14); and he finds that the selfsame thing which he was wont to use as the ready weapon of his deceit, has become the mighty instrument of his own destruction. Yea, if we may so speak, casting his hook at the Godhead, and seizing the wonted enjoyment of the baited pleasure, he is himself manifestly caught while he deems himself the captor, and discovers that in place of the man he has touched the God."

"Since the second Adam has brought up the first Adam out of the deeps of Hades... and has set forth him who was deceived as a citizen of heaven to the shame of the deceiver, the gates of Hades have been shut, and the gates of heaven have been opened, so as to offer an unimpeded entrance to those who rise there in faith."

"Like some spark lighting upon our inmost soul, love was kindled and burst into flame within us—a love at once to the Holy Word, the most lovely object of all, who attracts all irresistibly toward Himself by His unutterable beauty, and to this man [Origen], His friend and advocate. And being most mightily smitten by this love, I was persuaded to give up all those objects or pursuits which seem to us befitting, and among others even my boasted jurisprudence,— yea, my very fatherland and friends... There arose but one object dear and worth desire—to wit, philosophy, and that master of philosophy, this inspired man."

"There is One Holy Spirit, having His subsistence from God, and being made manifest by the Son, to wit to men: Image of the Son, Perfect Image of the Perfect; Life, the Cause of the living; Holy Fount; Sanctity, the Supplier, or Leader, of Sanctification; in whom is manifested God the Father, who is above all and in all, and God the Son, who is through all."

"The soul is free, and cannot be coerced by any means, not even though one should confine it and keep guard over it in some secret prison-house. For wherever the intelligence is, there it is also of its own nature and by the first reason. And if it seems to you to be in a kind of prison-house, it is represented as there to you by a sort of second reason. But for all that, it is by no means precluded from subsisting anywhere according to its own determination."