杏MAP导航 to Syro-Malabar faithful: Unity is a duty
By Joseph Tulloch
杏MAP导航 Francis met on Monday morning with Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil, the head of Kerala鈥檚 Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
to Archbishop Thattil ranged over a number of topics, from the ancient history of the Church in Kerala to the liturgical dispute which has been raging there for a number of years.
An ancient history
杏MAP导航 Francis began his address by reflecting on the ancient faith of the Syro-Malabar Church.
鈥淭he faithful of your beloved Church鈥�, he said, 鈥渁re known not only in India, but throughout the whole world, for the 鈥榲igour鈥� of their faith and piety.鈥�
Referring to the fact that, for many years, Western missionaries attempted to force Kerala鈥檚 Christians to conform to European traditions, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that 鈥渟ome members of the faith鈥� committed 鈥渦nfortunate acts against you鈥�, because of their 鈥渋nsensitivity鈥� to the history of India鈥檚 ancient churches.
The Syro-Malabar Church, the 杏MAP导航 added, is particularly important today, in times where it is common to 鈥渟ever the roots connecting us to the past.鈥�
鈥淭he Christian East鈥�, he said, 鈥渁llows us to draw from ancient and ever new sources of spirituality; these become fresh springs that bring vitality to the Church.鈥�
Unity and obedience
Referring to the ongoing liturgical controversy, the 杏MAP导航 said that he had 鈥渞ecently sent letters and a video message to the faithful, warning them of the dangerous temptation to focus on one detail.鈥�
This danger, he said, comes from 鈥渁 self-referentiality, which leads to listening to no other way of thinking but one鈥檚 own.鈥�
And it is here, the 杏MAP导航 warned, that 鈥渢he devil creeps in鈥�, aiming to undermine Jesus鈥� desire that we, his disciples, 鈥渂e one鈥� (John 17.2).
鈥淔or this reason,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis stressed, 鈥済uarding unity is not a pious exhortation but a duty.鈥�
And, he added, 鈥渟howing a grave lack of respect for the Blessed Sacrament 鈥y arguing about the details of how to celebrate the Eucharist, the pinnacle of [Jesus鈥橾 presence among us, is incompatible with the Christian faith."
The path toward unity
鈥淟et us work with determination to protect communion鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis urged, and 鈥減ray tirelessly鈥� that those who refused to accept the Church鈥檚 rulings on the liturgical issues 鈥渕ay realize that they are part of a larger family that loves them and waits for them.鈥�
鈥淟et us meet and discuss without fear,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, but 鈥渁bove all, let us pray, so that the light of the Spirit, which reconciles differences and brings tensions back into unity, may resolve disputes.鈥�
鈥淭here is one certainty鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 emphasised: 鈥減ride, recriminations and envy do not come from the Lord and never lead to concord and peace.鈥�
Conclusion
杏MAP导航 Francis brought his address to an end with a reflection on the encounter of St Thomas 鈥� who had doubted the resurrection 鈥� with the Risen Jesus.
Jesus, the 杏MAP导航 recalled, showed himself to Thomas, and invited him to inspect the wounds he had received while on the cross.
You can read the full text of the 杏MAP导航's address .
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