As the vehicle decorated with a brilliant display of electric
illumination and the procession of hundreds of faithfuls wound their way up the
hill, it was a sight to be seen. Many of the faithfuls were reciting the rosary.
While many others just walked sombrely, some youngsters were chatting
away to glory on their mobile phones, most likely WhatsApp. When the
procession, concomitant with a band set, was about to enter the church, a
brilliant display of fireworks started and the sky was lit up with a multitude
of colours. The church and the shamiana were embellished with colourful flowers
and fancy clothes. After the church services, there was dinner for
everyone.
They were celebrating the feast of St Sebastian, who was martyred during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians around 288 AD.
"Your celebration should not be restricted to grand display of procession, band set and fireworks. Celebration of feasts should be an occasion for our sanctification. They gave up their lives to proclaim their total faith in Jesus Christ," the priest reminded the believers. In short, he was referring to the outward show of splendour and opulence, and the ignorance of what saints like St Sebastian stood for and why they died for Jesus. Celebration of feasts has become a superficial spiritual trapping.
They were celebrating the feast of St Sebastian, who was martyred during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians around 288 AD.
"Your celebration should not be restricted to grand display of procession, band set and fireworks. Celebration of feasts should be an occasion for our sanctification. They gave up their lives to proclaim their total faith in Jesus Christ," the priest reminded the believers. In short, he was referring to the outward show of splendour and opulence, and the ignorance of what saints like St Sebastian stood for and why they died for Jesus. Celebration of feasts has become a superficial spiritual trapping.
Hey,
what’s going on? People in Syria
and Iraq
are being persecuted and killed for proclaiming their faith in Jesus Christ. When
terrorists come with guns and bombs, do we have the courage and conviction to
say, “I’m a Christian, I will die for Him.”
Celebration of the feasts of saints is very common in Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India, one of the Eastern churches under Vatican. Feasts of St Sebastian and St George are celebrated with much fanfare and cacophony. In many places, priests and even bishops tried to make such occasions a solemn and sombre affair and bring down the superficial grandeur. They tried to add more spiritual dimension, but the faithful didn't budge. St Mary's Church, Nakapuzha, which is under the Kothamangalam diocese of Syro Malabar Church in Kerala, India, celebrated the feast of St Mary four months ago. While the five-day charismatic renewal service by reputed preachers drew only less than 300-400 people daily, the grand procession on the penultimate day of the feast was attended by 15,000 people.
In many places, celebration of feasts has become an occasion for the public display of wealth and influence. It's a field day for those seeking to be seen as successfully organising and managing affairs. Many of the faithful even forget the fact that they are supposed to ask the saints for mediation but they pray directly to these saints for favours and blessings. They forget the universal and fundamental fact that all blessings and grace come from God. Saints can only intercede for us before God.
There's also a delusion among some people that if you don't please the saints with gifts or offerings some mishap will occur. "Some people present fowls to church during the feast of St Antony out of fear that the saint will send a snake to bite them otherwise," said a priest.
Why do we celebrate the feasts of saints? Should we celebrate the feasts of saints? Yes, celebration of a saint's feast is perfectly fine. Vatican's official book Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) says, "by keeping the memorials of the saints -- first of all the holy Mother of God, then the apostles, the martyrs, and other saints -- on fixed days of the liturgical year, the Church on earth shows that she is united with the liturgy of heaven. She gives glory to Christ for having accomplished his salvation in his glorified members; their example encourages her on her way to the Father."
According to CCC, when the Church keeps the memorials of martyrs and other saints during the annual cycle, she proclaims the Paschal mystery in those "who have suffered and have been glorified with Christ. "She proposes them to the faithful as examples who draw all men to the Father through Christ, and through their merits she begs for God's favours," CCC says.
That said, we prove again and again that we're not behind anyone in diluting the faith a la the firends of Eleazor in Maccabees. The story of Eleazor in 2 Maccabees 6:18-31 should be an eye-opener to all those who are wavering in their faith. There was an elderly and highly respected teacher of the Law by the name of Eleazar, whose mouth was being forced open to make him eat pork. But he preferred an honorable death rather than a life of disgrace. So he spit out the meat and went willingly to the place of torture, showing how people should have courage to refuse unclean food, even if it costs them their lives. Those in charge of the sacrifice had been friends of Eleazar for a long time, and because of this friendship they told him privately to bring meat that was lawful for him to eat. He need only pretend to eat the pork, they said, and in this way he would not be put to death. But he refused any deception and was killed. Will we stand firm like Eleazor?
“Let us assimilate the intense faith that saints proclaimed. Even if we have to become martyrs like many saints, we must have a firm conviction that we won’t lose our uncompromising faith,” said Rev Fr Shibu Pulickal in his message at a feast celebration in a Mumbai church.
Celebration of the feasts of saints is very common in Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India, one of the Eastern churches under Vatican. Feasts of St Sebastian and St George are celebrated with much fanfare and cacophony. In many places, priests and even bishops tried to make such occasions a solemn and sombre affair and bring down the superficial grandeur. They tried to add more spiritual dimension, but the faithful didn't budge. St Mary's Church, Nakapuzha, which is under the Kothamangalam diocese of Syro Malabar Church in Kerala, India, celebrated the feast of St Mary four months ago. While the five-day charismatic renewal service by reputed preachers drew only less than 300-400 people daily, the grand procession on the penultimate day of the feast was attended by 15,000 people.
In many places, celebration of feasts has become an occasion for the public display of wealth and influence. It's a field day for those seeking to be seen as successfully organising and managing affairs. Many of the faithful even forget the fact that they are supposed to ask the saints for mediation but they pray directly to these saints for favours and blessings. They forget the universal and fundamental fact that all blessings and grace come from God. Saints can only intercede for us before God.
There's also a delusion among some people that if you don't please the saints with gifts or offerings some mishap will occur. "Some people present fowls to church during the feast of St Antony out of fear that the saint will send a snake to bite them otherwise," said a priest.
Why do we celebrate the feasts of saints? Should we celebrate the feasts of saints? Yes, celebration of a saint's feast is perfectly fine. Vatican's official book Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) says, "by keeping the memorials of the saints -- first of all the holy Mother of God, then the apostles, the martyrs, and other saints -- on fixed days of the liturgical year, the Church on earth shows that she is united with the liturgy of heaven. She gives glory to Christ for having accomplished his salvation in his glorified members; their example encourages her on her way to the Father."
According to CCC, when the Church keeps the memorials of martyrs and other saints during the annual cycle, she proclaims the Paschal mystery in those "who have suffered and have been glorified with Christ. "She proposes them to the faithful as examples who draw all men to the Father through Christ, and through their merits she begs for God's favours," CCC says.
That said, we prove again and again that we're not behind anyone in diluting the faith a la the firends of Eleazor in Maccabees. The story of Eleazor in 2 Maccabees 6:18-31 should be an eye-opener to all those who are wavering in their faith. There was an elderly and highly respected teacher of the Law by the name of Eleazar, whose mouth was being forced open to make him eat pork. But he preferred an honorable death rather than a life of disgrace. So he spit out the meat and went willingly to the place of torture, showing how people should have courage to refuse unclean food, even if it costs them their lives. Those in charge of the sacrifice had been friends of Eleazar for a long time, and because of this friendship they told him privately to bring meat that was lawful for him to eat. He need only pretend to eat the pork, they said, and in this way he would not be put to death. But he refused any deception and was killed. Will we stand firm like Eleazor?
“Let us assimilate the intense faith that saints proclaimed. Even if we have to become martyrs like many saints, we must have a firm conviction that we won’t lose our uncompromising faith,” said Rev Fr Shibu Pulickal in his message at a feast celebration in a Mumbai church.
We must venerate saints, but don't worship
them. When we venerate saints, we can't go overboard. Let it be a proclamation
of the Paschal mystery.
