His Beatitude Mar George Cardinal Alencherry
In fact A cardinal is addressed as His Eminence ....... Cardinal .....
Recognizing the importance of the Syro-Malabar Church in the Universal Church scenario, His Holiness Mar Benedict XVI has elevated our Major Archbishop a Cardinal. It is a very pleasant news. At the same time, as far as the Syro-Malabarians are concerned, our Major Archbishop is elevated to that position. So we need not substitute the position of the Major Archbishop to Cardinal. We can continue to address him as His Beatitude. At the same time, in the common addresses we need to add this new position of Cardinal. Usually the title of Cardinal is used before the surname. Henceforth we can address our Major Archbishop, His Beatitude Mar George Cardinal Alencherry
6 comments:
Dear Father,
I have always wondered if the Cardinal position is higher than that of a Major Archbishop.
Major Archbishop is the Father and Head of a particular church. Cardinal is a member of the supreme council of the Roman Catholic Church. I think, Major Archbishop position is more important than that of a Cardinal. Then why we need to add that term also while addressing our Major Archbishop ? After all, he is only a Cardinal Priest!!
I remember, during the life time of our beloved Vithayathil Mar Giwargis I Bava, the Editors of the journal of the Archdiocese of Ernaculum, The Missam, consistently mentioned him as 'Cardinal' ignoring his status as the Father and Head of the See of Apostle Thomas ! I had sent e mails to them and also personally spoken to our Curia Bishop who agreed with me in principle, but it continued. To my shock, on the sad day of the demise of Mar Vithayathil Bava, the spokeperson of Syro Malabar Church was seen on the TV, announcing the news to the press and visual media that 'Our Cardinal' has been called to eternal life!!
Luckily, the media was not stupid enough to discuss about the election of the new Cardinal for Syro Malabar Church.
I think we should avoid this. We should educate ourselves to understand the value of the Major Archbishop status and the identity and induviduality of our Church rather than glorifying the status of the Cardinal .
Dear Rev. Father,
This is regarding the issue of addressing Major Metropolitan of Syro Malabar Church as Major Archbishop or Cardinal. I don't agree with the view point of Mr. Thomas Antony, since the position of Major Metropolitan of Syro Malabar Church is Father & Head of a particular Sui Juris Ecclesia. Major Archbishop as Successor of Apostle St. Thomas is valid alone for a particular church, but he has limited powers in matters regarding faith and other ecclesiastical matters, in Universal Church. But, when Major Archbishop is elevated as Cardinal, he becomes "Prince of Universal Church", Major Archbishop's stature is elevated from a particular Church to Universal Church. This makes him more responsible, since he would be handling International Affairs and he has a say in faith and other ecclesiastical matters. Moreover, it is good that Major Archbishop is a Cardinal as it will make aware of St. Thomas Christian Heritage to other Catholics. Since, Syro Malabar is a small church when compared to Latin Church in the Universal Church, Major Archbishop-Cardinal position is very much important to Syro Malabar Church. I just want to remind Mr. Antony, because Late Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithyathil was a Cardinal, he was able garner support with other Ecclesiastical Authorities and Cardinals of Universal Church to declare the 5th Marian Dogma which still which is in the process... If Major Archbishop Mar George Alencherry Bawa is not a Cardinal, then he cannot proceed further in fulfilling Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithyathil's dream. Now, Syro Malabar Church got a new prelate, His Beatitude Maran Mar George Cardinal Alencherry Bawa, he will have a say in fulfilling Mar Varkey's dream of declaring the 5th Marian Dogma by His Holiness, the Pope. More over not all heads of particular churches are elevated as Cardinal, the are many Patriarchs who rank above Major Archbishops are not elevated as Cardinals. It is a great honour and prestige when a prelate is elevated as Cardinal.
Dear Chris,
Consider a situation where a Major Archbishop is not a Cardinal while the Pope selected one of our Auxiliary Bishops to the college of Cardinals. Would you consider this Auxiliary Bishop superior than the Major Arch Bishop ? There is no guarantee that the Major Archbishop will only be selected to the college of Cardinals.
For a particular church, the Father and Head is the Supreme Pontiff, not a Cardinal.
I do not know who you are. Your name doesn't sound like a Syro Malabar Catholic's name. (You may be one, with a proxy name.) But you are so interested in the affairs of Syro Malabar Church.
I would not be surprised even if you are a Syro Malabar Catholic. The formation of clergy and laity in SMC has been in a Latinised environment for 400 years. For them, whatever from Rome is superior!
Even the leaders of SMC were in a dilemma at one time without any awareness of the identity or individuality of the Church. Eminent Roman Catholic Scholar and author, William Macomber has righty observed in 1970s that the 'hierarchy of Syro Malabar Church is trying to reform the liturgy in the name of Indianisation and heading towards a path of merging with the Latin rite in India, once they are also Indianised'.
I am happy that Mar Giwargis Alencherry has been elevated to a Cardinal. I consider this as a recognition of the See of Thomas by the See of Peter. It is a reflection of the Universality of the Catholic Church. I think Mar Giwargis II Bava has a role now, in Vatican, to influence the Roman authorities to get the status of the Church of Saint Thomas reinstated to its ancient glory. I pray the Lord to give him the courage and strength for this. My views of the elevation of Mar Giwargis Alencherry to a Cardinal can be read here. http://www.thomaschristians.blogspot.com/2012/01/major-archbishop-alencherril-mar.html
About your comment on fifth Marian dogma, is it something Mar Vithayathil proposed in Rome, or is it something Mar Vithayathil supported ? If it is something Mar Vithayathil proposed on behalf of the Syro Malabar Church, yes, we need a Cardinal definitely in Vatican to complete the mission.
Whatever is the decision about fifth Marian Dogma, we , as Catholics, accept that as true, as we believe that such decisions are made by the Church with the influence of the Holy Spirit and hence they are true. We accept and believe the influence of Holy Spirit in the Church. The Synod of the Syro Malabar Church has made such a decision in 1999 unanimously, with the initiative of Mar Vithayathil, about the celebration of the Holy Qurbana in a compromised way- the so called 50 : 50 formula. The Fathers, after prayers and reflections, made that decision, definitely with the influence of the Holy Spirit. How many Bishops and Priests obey that decision ?
In the UK, in a parish where the local Latin Rite church pilots ad orientum Mass where all the Masses celebrated is ad orientum, a Syro Malabar Chaplain appears every second Sunday, to celebrate Syro Malabar Qurbana completely as ad populum ! I consider this as publicly renouncing the Holy Synod of the Syro Malabar Church, and thereby publicly renouncing the Holy Spirit.
Dear Antony,
For your kind attention, His Holiness Pope is not so foolish to elevate a Titular Bishop (Sahaya Methran) to the position of Cardinal, if there's a Hierarch above him whose rank is equal to Patriarch. Moreover no Titular Bishop or Auxiliary Bishop is elevated as Cardinal, only Metropolitan Archbishops and important Diocesan Bishop of Hong Kong and Taiwan are elevated to College of Cardinals.
I think you are not well versed with the history, tradition and liturgy. I appreciate your interest in the Universal Catholic faith. For your kind attention the Father and Head of a Sui Juris Ecclesia may be a Metropolitan Archbishop or Major Metropolitan or Catholicose or Patriarch but not Supreme Pontiff. Since, the title Supreme Pontiff belongs only to His Holiness the Pope. Mar Papa is the only Supreme Pontiff of Universal Church. There cannot be two supreme pontiff in One Universal Church.
Why are you so interested about my identity, how can you undermine my Catholic Baptismal Name, What's there in my name? is it something pagan or anti catholic? I am not a person who would use a proxy name, to express my views.
You are biased, you are using the British Policy of Divide and rule. How can you discriminate and segregate a child of Mar Thoma Heritage. You don't teach me the Sacred Tradition and History of Church. Don't claim that you are the only sole authorized spokesperson for Syro Malabar Church, every child of Syro Malabar Church has the right to express their views.
You think that your expressed views are equivalent to the Code of Cannon for Eastern Churches, come out of your biased attitude, and build the church and not divide the Church. You want to split the Syro Malabar Church on the basis of celebration of liturgy. I know that your are from the Changanassery Syro Malabar rite, you want to Chaldeanise the liturgy. If you are so interested in Chaldean Liturgy,advocate for uniting both Chaldean Syriac Church and Syriac Malabar Church, into One Syriac Church.Please don't confuse the mind of our Syro Malabarese... You are not a Ordained Hierarch to speak on the matters of faith. Please forever do not say that, a Priest celebrating mass ad populum is renouncing of Holy Spirit. You need to equip your self with much more information and study before coming to defend the matters concerning faith. Only the Supreme Pastor, the Pope when sits Ex Cathedra has the power to speak on matters of faith for entire Universal Church.
Dear Antony I never intended to hurt you, but your expressed views made me to respond. Please.... in the name of liturgy don't split the Church, we need build our Church, we have responsibility to be role models for future generations. Our people are becoming more consumerist, we are losing precious souls of your youth to various worldly vices,it is our duty to bring them back to faith. Whether the Holy Qurbana is celebrated Ad Orientum or Ad Populum, the faith and reverence is more important than the way Qurbana is celebrated. Leave those things to the Holy Synod of Syro Malabar Church, to sort out the things which is concerning the faith and don't pre judge everything.
Dear Chris,
I can see your emotions through your words. You seem very angry indeed.
I am not at all an expert in this field. I know my skills and field of expertise and very well know my limitations. I considered commenting in this blog with one intensions only, to learn from others. Here, you have not given me any input to learn at all. So, I am so sad that I totally failed here.
You said, only Archbishops and prominent Bishops will be elevated to a Cardinal. As I understand, even a layman can be appointed as a Cardinal by theory. During the consistory of February 2012, there were at least 3 priests elevated to a Cardinal. Usually, when a priest or a layman is elevated to a Cardinal, they will be ordained and consecrated as a Bishop. But, one of the priests in this consistory decided to remain as a priest only. So, in the current college of Cardinals, there is at least one priest.
You accuse me that I am trying to divide. Not at all. You are just ignoring the history of the Syro Malabar Church in the last few decades. There were a serious divide about the way in which the Holy Qurbana is celebrated. From time immemorial, the Holy Qurbana was celebrated in Syro Malabar Church 'ad orietum'. After the Vatican council II, a section of SMC started celebrating the Holy Qurbana 'ad populum'just imitating the Latin rite. When Rome asked us to return to our litugical roots and remove all illegal and forceful latinisations of the colonial minded missionaries, one section just obeyed Rome and the other revolted. The revolted group continued 'ad populum'. There were also a lot of cheap politics among the clergy and even Bishops about the successor of Major Archbishop Antonius Bava, that ridiculed our church in the public. This was the situation where Rome intervened and appointed Vithayathil Mar Giwargis I Bava as a reconciler. He did his job well and the Almighty Lord called him to eternal life. It was Mar Vithayathil Bava who initiated for a compromise and the holy Synod unanimously decided for the compromise formula- the so called 50:50 formula in which initial prayers are celebrated 'ad populum', anaphora 'ad orientum' and the conclusion 'ad populum'. This decision was made by our Bishops in 1999, and as a Catholic, I believe that the Holy Spirit influences our Fathers when they meet after prayers and reflections to make decisions about our church. This compromise formula was for hampering the divide. Now, those who publicly disobey it are promoting the divide. Those who decided that until they die, they would not change, are the real promoters of division, not me. I believe that this attitude is a sin against the Holy Spirit.
You talked about Syro Malabar mindset. Could you explain who are Syro Malabarians ? What is the 'Syro' stands for ? Syro Malabar hierarchy was created for the Catholics of Syro Chaldaic rite in Malabar. The only liturgical identity of the Syro Malabarians is Syro Chaldeac. Our forefathers fought with all their efforts to preserve it, against the missionaries associated with the mighty colonial forces. Arch Bishop Ross had to write to his Jesuit General in 1619 “the Serra must be kept in its Chaldean form”. –date 21st Nov. 1619.
The colonialist missionaries wanted to rip the Syro Chaldean identity from us. When one of the documents from Rome used 'Syro Malabar' instead of 'Syro Chaldeac', our forefathers sent letters to Rome to correct it. As a result, when the diocese of Tellicherry was created, Rome used the term 'Syro Chaldaic'.
Sadly, our own native leaders, then tried to find an alternative identity for our church which Rome strictly discouraged from time to time. They wanted to exterminate the Syro Malabar church and dissolve us into Latin rite. William Macomber has observed this motive in 1970s itself. Rome wanted the Syro Chaldeac identity to be preserved to add richness to the Universality of Catholic Church. Those elements who tried to exterminate Syro Malabar church are resisting all the compromise efforts. Mar Vithayathil Bava passed away with this pain in his heart.
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