Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Crisis Time
Cochin Diocese is under great Crisis. I think, lack of proper direction creates more problems. In the Church exists lot of administrative techniques to sort out these problems. I would like to request all persons concerned to sort out the related issues without making it bigger. In the church, there are possibilities for corrections, forgiveness, open discussions, silence and even punishments. I think the first thing to be done by the Bishop and the Priests is to avoid public statements. Let the responsible body enquire about what is happening and take a decision. Till then a lots of patience is required as we look forward for the good of the Church.
Proving Themselves Again
The Orissa state government shows who they are with much more clarity. They denied the possibility of paying for the re-construction of the destroyed institutions. Their reasoning and positions are not acceptable. I think, the Supreme Court has to be mediated to enforce it. The supreme court has to start a new administration of justice. Those who destroyed should be made responsibile for the re-construction. Not only the parties or governments should pay but also those who were involved should pay from their pockets. Indian politicians and their followers are to be treated with a different type of administration of justice which could be a lession for all the parties, leaders and their followers. By all means the destruction mentality should be curtailed.
Friday, 17 October 2008
Kuruvilangad School
It is a really sad news on burning the Kuruvilangad School. What is happening to our God's own country, to our own Kerala? I condemn the activities, no matter who is behind the curtain. May it be anyone, but should be brought to the light of justice and be punished as per the Law. What is there in our head and in our heart? Did the Church, with all its streangth in the field of education, taught others to hate others or to detroy everything? A case should be filed against those who did it, asking to restitute the damage done. Such destruction should never happen especially against the school going children who were to study in this school.
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
SAINT ALPHONSA – First Woman Saint from India
Blessed Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception from Kottayam, Kerala, India is being raised a saint on Oct. 12, 2008 at St. peter's Square, by Pope Benedict XVI. Alphonsa, who was religious of the Franscican Clarist Congregation (FCC) is the first Indian woman to be raised to the status of a saint.
Annakutty Muttathupadath, who later received the religious name Alphonsa, was born on 19 August 1910 as the fourth child of Muttathupadath Ouseph and Mariam at Kudamaloor, in the Archdiocese of Changanacherry, in the southern state of Kerala. She lost her mother when she was only three months' old. Her aunt (mother's sister) brought her up as a beautiful young lady and wanted to marry her off to a well-to-do family. However, Alphonsa wanted to dedicate her entire life to Jesus Christ like Little Therese of Lisiuex. As a culmination of her desire to dedicate her entire life to the Lord, she jointed the Franciscan Clarist Convent at Bharananganam on 2 August 1928.Even though her poor health was a great hurdle to her progress in her religious life for which the superiors wanted to send her home, she persevered in her commitment and earnest desire. After many ordeals, she took her perpetual vows on 12 August 1936. She considered her entire life as a holocaust to the Lord in which the victim would be burning slowly and steadily. Each suffering she offered as a beautiful flower in the wounds of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the end of her life, she was overwhelmed with great pain and frailty of the body, but in the midst of the excruciating pain she committed her soul to the heavenly bridegroom, peacefully reciting the names of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on 28 July 1946.
For the faithful of India, this marks a historic first, for Blessed Alphonsa will become the first Indian woman to be declared a saint.. Pope John Paul II had declared Sister Alphonsa as Blessed on February 8, 1986, along with Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara, also from Kottayam, Kerala. Her tomb at Bharananganam, near Kottaym is visited by large crowds of faithful, throughout the year.
The first Indian saint is a Jesuit, St Gonzalo Garcia, Born in Vasai, near Mumbai and canonized in 1862. He died a martyr's death in 1597 at Nagasaki, Japan, along with St Paul Miki and other Jesuits.
Annakutty Muttathupadath, who later received the religious name Alphonsa, was born on 19 August 1910 as the fourth child of Muttathupadath Ouseph and Mariam at Kudamaloor, in the Archdiocese of Changanacherry, in the southern state of Kerala. She lost her mother when she was only three months' old. Her aunt (mother's sister) brought her up as a beautiful young lady and wanted to marry her off to a well-to-do family. However, Alphonsa wanted to dedicate her entire life to Jesus Christ like Little Therese of Lisiuex. As a culmination of her desire to dedicate her entire life to the Lord, she jointed the Franciscan Clarist Convent at Bharananganam on 2 August 1928.Even though her poor health was a great hurdle to her progress in her religious life for which the superiors wanted to send her home, she persevered in her commitment and earnest desire. After many ordeals, she took her perpetual vows on 12 August 1936. She considered her entire life as a holocaust to the Lord in which the victim would be burning slowly and steadily. Each suffering she offered as a beautiful flower in the wounds of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the end of her life, she was overwhelmed with great pain and frailty of the body, but in the midst of the excruciating pain she committed her soul to the heavenly bridegroom, peacefully reciting the names of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on 28 July 1946.
For the faithful of India, this marks a historic first, for Blessed Alphonsa will become the first Indian woman to be declared a saint.. Pope John Paul II had declared Sister Alphonsa as Blessed on February 8, 1986, along with Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara, also from Kottayam, Kerala. Her tomb at Bharananganam, near Kottaym is visited by large crowds of faithful, throughout the year.
The first Indian saint is a Jesuit, St Gonzalo Garcia, Born in Vasai, near Mumbai and canonized in 1862. He died a martyr's death in 1597 at Nagasaki, Japan, along with St Paul Miki and other Jesuits.
Monday, 13 October 2008
Canonical Age of Resignation
What is the canonical age of resignation? Is it mandatory? Or vice versa?.. i.e. He can only resign once he reached that age.
Response
The Canonical Age is something seen in the Canon Law. The Law is suggesting to the various eccelsiastical persons to retire or resign from the office once they have reached a certain age. As the question is general I find difficult to give a proper answser. There is no common age for all ecclesiastical persons. Pope, Patriarchs and Major Archbishops, Bishops of the dioceses or Archdioceses, parish priests, processors of the seminaries, and other offices of the churches have to follow the age prescribed by the Law according to the Law applicable to them. As we know, the Pope, Patriarch and Major Archbishops have no canonical age to retire. For the bishops it is 75 years.
More about resignation
Canon 44 §2. If it should happen that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office (munus), it is required for validity that he makes the resignation freely and that it be duly manifested, but not that it be accepted by anyone.
Canon 126 - §1. The patriarchal see becomes vacant at the death or resignation of the patriarch.
Canon 126 - §2. The synod of bishops of the patriarchal Church is competent to accept the resignation of the patriarch, having consulted with the Roman Pontiff, unless the patriarch approaches the Roman Pontiff directly.
Canon 210 - §1. An eparchial bishop who has completed his seventy-fifth year of age or who, due to ill health or to another serious reason, has become less able to fulfill his office, is requested to present his resignation from office.
Canon 297 - §2. When a pastor (parish priest) has completed his seventy-fifth year of age he is asked to submit his resignation from office to the eparchial bishop, who, after considering all the circumstances of person and place, is to decide whether to accept or defer the resignation.
Canon 444 - §3. Superiors (of a monastery sui iuris) who have completed the seventy-fifth year of age, or who have become less capable of fulfilling the duties of their office because of failing health or some other grave cause, shall submit a resignation from office to the synaxis, which is to accept it.The above said are the canons from the CCEO. But there are also canons in Particular Law and the statutes of the institutes. E.g. about the professors in the seminaries, it is having their statutes. So it depends on what to do you want to know.
About Retirement:
It is possible at any time. The higher authority can demand for retirement for serious reasons. Or for serious reasons, any one can apporach the higher authority for retirement. Only thing is, the resignation should be accepted by the authority.
Response
The Canonical Age is something seen in the Canon Law. The Law is suggesting to the various eccelsiastical persons to retire or resign from the office once they have reached a certain age. As the question is general I find difficult to give a proper answser. There is no common age for all ecclesiastical persons. Pope, Patriarchs and Major Archbishops, Bishops of the dioceses or Archdioceses, parish priests, processors of the seminaries, and other offices of the churches have to follow the age prescribed by the Law according to the Law applicable to them. As we know, the Pope, Patriarch and Major Archbishops have no canonical age to retire. For the bishops it is 75 years.
More about resignation
Canon 44 §2. If it should happen that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office (munus), it is required for validity that he makes the resignation freely and that it be duly manifested, but not that it be accepted by anyone.
Canon 126 - §1. The patriarchal see becomes vacant at the death or resignation of the patriarch.
Canon 126 - §2. The synod of bishops of the patriarchal Church is competent to accept the resignation of the patriarch, having consulted with the Roman Pontiff, unless the patriarch approaches the Roman Pontiff directly.
Canon 210 - §1. An eparchial bishop who has completed his seventy-fifth year of age or who, due to ill health or to another serious reason, has become less able to fulfill his office, is requested to present his resignation from office.
Canon 297 - §2. When a pastor (parish priest) has completed his seventy-fifth year of age he is asked to submit his resignation from office to the eparchial bishop, who, after considering all the circumstances of person and place, is to decide whether to accept or defer the resignation.
Canon 444 - §3. Superiors (of a monastery sui iuris) who have completed the seventy-fifth year of age, or who have become less capable of fulfilling the duties of their office because of failing health or some other grave cause, shall submit a resignation from office to the synaxis, which is to accept it.The above said are the canons from the CCEO. But there are also canons in Particular Law and the statutes of the institutes. E.g. about the professors in the seminaries, it is having their statutes. So it depends on what to do you want to know.
About Retirement:
It is possible at any time. The higher authority can demand for retirement for serious reasons. Or for serious reasons, any one can apporach the higher authority for retirement. Only thing is, the resignation should be accepted by the authority.
Live-in Relations
Maharashtra Government has taken a move towards a new law legalizing the live-in relations which means giving the status of husband and wife to those who have lived together as husband and wife for a certain period of time. It can not be acceptable to the Christians as it challenges the whole definition, goals of marriage. However a better idea about the proposal is necessary to reflect more about it.
St. Alphonsa - A Saint of All Times
Sufferings are part of human life. She accepted the suffereings not as crosses of life but joy of life that brings a person closer to God and Human persons in love. A person needs deep spirituality and conviction to take life as St. Alphonsa. It is a moment of joy as she is the first one from the Syro-Malabar Church and a woman saint of Indian Church. It is a recognition that the Universal Church gives to the 2000 years Syro-Malabar Church as one of her daughter is elavated for the Universal veneration.
Vision & Mission
Vision: Be actively part of the Common Vision of the Catholic Church
and the Particular Mission of the Syro-Malabar Church.
and the Particular Mission of the Syro-Malabar Church.
Mission Targets:
1. Know Jesus better, having His heart and mind, grow into the perfection of the Heavenly Father and be guided by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Learn deeply the teachings of the Catholic Church and profess and propagate them as faithfully as possible.
3. Understand and appreciate profoundly the Catholic communion of Churches especially my Mother Syro-Malabar Church.
4. Commit fully in the Global Mission of the Syro-Malabar Church especially involving in the Pastoral Care, Evangelization and the formation of the better human beings.
5. Take part in various activities with a broader outlook of the growth of the humanity with love which is the nature of God himself.
1. Know Jesus better, having His heart and mind, grow into the perfection of the Heavenly Father and be guided by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Learn deeply the teachings of the Catholic Church and profess and propagate them as faithfully as possible.
3. Understand and appreciate profoundly the Catholic communion of Churches especially my Mother Syro-Malabar Church.
4. Commit fully in the Global Mission of the Syro-Malabar Church especially involving in the Pastoral Care, Evangelization and the formation of the better human beings.
5. Take part in various activities with a broader outlook of the growth of the humanity with love which is the nature of God himself.
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