Ad Orientem: Syro-Malankara and Syro-Malabar. Lessons for the Latin Rite.

TNIE | Burning Cardinals in Effigy

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Not pretending to understand all the intricacies of a major dispute in an ancient Easter Rite Catholic Church, i.e., the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, what does seem clear to this blogger is that there is much to be learned from a controversy in terms of how change for the sake of change can create tremendous upheaval and how well-intentioned "solutions" are then crushed beneath an entrenched ignorance.

The Syro-Malabar Church, a suri iuris Church in the Catholic communion, is experiencing liturgical upheaval.

suri iuris: a juridically distinct community of the faithful with its own hierarchy; suri iurus churches retain their patrimonial autonomous nature within the Catholic Church

By contrast, the Malankara communion seems to be enjoying liturgical peace. The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church celebrates Mass, the Holy Qurbana, ad orientem. The Syro-Malankara Church "employs the West Syriac Rite Divine Liturgy of St. James" (SMCC website). Whereas, the Malabars celebrate Mass according to the East Syriac Liturgy.

The Syro-Malabar Church is one of the 23 autonomous Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome. Based in the Indian state of Kerala, the Church has more than four million members worldwide, making it the second-largest Eastern Catholic Church after the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. - NCRegister/CNA

In former times, both Churches or Rites celebrated Mass ad orientem. Lately, however, the Malabar Church has become rife with conflict over the imposition of the ancient manner of celebrating Mass, or part thereof. Most of the priests and laity, at least the most vocal people, want versus populum worship to be retained.

Bear in mind, versus populum worship is an innovation that entered the Malabar Church much as it entered the Latin Rite only in the last 50 years or so. A 50-50 proposal has largely been rejected. That is, for the Liturgy of the Word, the priest would face the people (versus populum). Then during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest would celebrate ad orientem for the consecration.

A lot of people have forgotten their roots, and now claim that versus populum worship is, in a manner of speaking, the "traditional" way. One can't help think that if a 50-50 manner of celebrating the Novus Ordo Mass was imposed on Latin Rite Catholics that there would likely be considerable upheaval fueled by a similar sentiment, since versus populum worship is the only form that most Latin Rite Catholics have known for some 50 years.

Pope Francis dispatched a delegate to facilitate a resolution.

Hindustani Times reports as follows (August 24).

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/protests-erupt-in-kerala-churches-over-uniform-holy-mass-vatican-warns-of-disciplinary-action-101692559759143.html

What is the uniform mass row within the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala?

A controversy has been simmering within the Syro-Malabar Church ever since the Synod okayed a proposal in August 2021 to standardise the format of celebrating the holy mass across its parishes in the state. There was a stark division within the church between those who backed the uniform mass proposal and others who opposed it. The standardized format was a deviation from the traditional format as part of which the priest faced the people throughout the mass.

Who opposes the uniform mass format as approved by Church Synod?

The biggest opposition to the uniform mass proposal came from the priests and laity of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, one of the 35 archeparchies of the Syro-Malabar Church across the world. Spread across parts of Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kottayam, the archeparchy has nearly 5 lakh (hundred thousand) Catholic adherents and 220 parish churches.

What is the Vatican’s stand on the matter?

The Vatican has taken a firm stand on implementing the uniform mass format across all parishes of the Syro-Malabar Church and stated that any disobedience to the papal directive will result in canonical punishment for the priests. Pontifical Delegate Archbishop Cyril Vasil, who was appointed by the Vatican to address and resolve the ongoing conflict, said in a letter addressed to the priests of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, “It is hereby intimidated (?) to each of you personally that non-compliance with this direction will inevitably invite further disciplinary actions....I hereby warn you that any negligence to fulfil this order will invite canonical punishment as prescribed in the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.” At the same time, he said that if there were threats of intimidation, the Mass could be cancelled until the situation improves.

• See also: https://mattersindia.com/2023/08/pontifical-delegate-leaves-for-vatican-after-missions-first-phase/

Archbishop Vasil's letter was burned by priests and laity in an act of defiance. The New Indian Express reports that, in addition to laity burning cardinals in effigy, a forum of lay Catholics against the unified form of the Mass (50-50 Proposal) issued a challenge accusing

the Catholic Churches in India of pandering to the directives and power of the head of an alien nation as its supreme authority under the guise of canon law. According to the letter, (the) Syro Malabar Church, in a meeting held in June 2023 sought foreign intervention from the head of the State of Vatican City to intervene and appoint his representative to facilitate the administration of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. - The New Indian Express, Laity forum seeks deportation of Archbishop Cyril Vasil for violation of visa norms

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2023/aug/18/laity-forum-seeks-deportation-of-archbishop-cyril-vasil-for-violation-of-visa-norms-2606294.html 

The members of the lay forum opposing a partial restoration of ancient custom seem desperate in their attempt to retain an innovation (versus populum worship) that lacks any real foundation. The attempt to politicize the situation by calling into question the authority of the Pope's delegate, that is Archbishop Vasil's standing, which is to say the standing of the Holy Father in the Church, is not only a cheap tactic but an indication that they are aware their position is a weak one in light of who has a say - i.e., whose authority applies - in such an important matter.

Archbishop Vasil's task has been made very difficult by the intransigence and ill will demonstrated by the members of the lay forum.

The liturgy dispute started after the Second Vatican Council that advocated liturgical reforms. A traditionalist group sought to retain ancient traditions, while the other group wanted to modernize liturgy.

The traditionalists wanted priests to face the altar throughout the Eucharistic celebration, while the modernists wanted them to face the congregation throughout the Mass.

In 1999, the Church’s synod approved a Mass but it was not implemented in most dioceses until last year because of resistance and disputes. - UCANEWS

Sound vaguely familiar?

And what of the Latin Rite situation? The Novus Ordo Mass of the Latin Rite, as mentioned earlier, is commonly celebrated facing the people. Poor catechesis has enabled many problems to develop in the wake of the Second Vatican Council, not the least of which is the entrenchment of unfounded beliefs about the sacred Liturgy and a spirit of defiance that is now enabling actors in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church to behave badly.

It is far too easy to be indifferent when Catholic brethren are at odds with each other. Let us pray for the Syro-Malabar Church - that the current impasse can be resolved peacefully and that communion is preserved. May we also learn from our Eastern Catholic brethren, the Syro-Malankaras - who have faithfully preserved their ancient ways, and who by so doing provide us with a clear and unbroken witness to the Apostolic Faith and the unity and peace that comes through the preservation of the ancient patrimonies.