杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

In the face of a long-simmering dispute over the liturgy, 杏MAP导航 Francis is calling on the faithful of the Syro-Malabar Archeparchy of Ernakulam to conform to the decisions of the Holy Synod or risk being declared outside of communion with the Church.

The Syro-Malabar Church is the second largest of the Eastern churches in union with Rome, numbering some 4.25 million faithful. The Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly is the primatial see of the Syro-Malabar Church and home of the Major Archbishop.
 

The Archeparchy has been the centre of an ongoing conflict concerning the way the Holy Eucharist is celebrated. A compromise liturgical practice was endorsed and imposed by the Holy Synod 鈥� the highest ecclesial authority in the Syro-Malabar Church. Although the Synod鈥檚 decision concerning the Eucharistic liturgy, or 鈥淨urbana鈥�, was received by the other dioceses within the Church, the Major Archeparchy has largely refused to conform, leading to conflict and at times even violence, as the 杏MAP导航 notes.

However, in his video message, 杏MAP导航 Francis indicates that there are other, worldly reasons for opposition, having nothing to do with the liturgy.

'Remain in the Catholic Church'

In his video message, the 杏MAP导航 assures the Syro-Malabar faithful in the Archeparchy that he has personally studied the issues involved, noting that he has written to them several times in the past. However, as not everyone has read those letters, the 杏MAP导航 says he is now addressing the faithful 鈥渋n a slightly unusual way, so that no one may have any more doubts what the 杏MAP导航 thinks.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis goes on to make a forceful appeal: 鈥淚n the name of the Lord, for the spiritual good of your Church, of our Church, I ask you to heal this rupture. It is your Church, it is our Church. Re-establish communion, remain in the Catholic Church!鈥�

In particular, he calls on priests to remember their ordination and the promises they made at the time, calling on them not to separate themselves from the Church, but to walk together with the Synod, with their Bishops, and with the Major Archbishop by implementing the liturgical decisions of the Synod by Christmas, 2023.

鈥淚 ask you to be careful,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 says. 鈥淏e careful that the devil does not lead you to transform yourselves into a sect.鈥�

Sanctions possible

He pleads with them not to force 鈥渢he competent ecclesiastic authority鈥� to recognize they have left the Church because they are 鈥渘o longer in communion鈥� with their Pastors and with the Successor of St Peter, the 杏MAP导航. If that should happen, he warns, 鈥渨ith great sorrow, sanctions would be incurred.鈥�

鈥淚 do not want to reach that stage,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 says.

杏MAP导航 Francis concludes his message by calling on the faithful of the Archeparchy, priests and people, to celebrate the Qurbana 鈥渋n communion according to the directions of the Synod,鈥� and to commemorate the Major Archbishop in their liturgies.

鈥淧lease do not continue to wound the Body of Christ!鈥� the 杏MAP导航 says in conclusion. 鈥淒o not separate yourselves from it! And even though there have been some grievances against you, forgive them with generosity. May the Eucharist be the model of your unity. Do not shatter the Body of Christ which is the Church, so as not to eat and drink judgment upon yourselves.鈥�