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Friday, November 18, 2011

ചാപ്പലില്‍ ക്രൂസിഫിക്സ് സ്ഥാപിച്ചു

Better late than never. നിര്‍മ്മാണം കഴിഞ്ഞു മൂന്നിലധികം വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞു ചിക്കാഗോ കത്തീദ്രല്‍ ദേവാലയത്തോടനുബന്ധിച്ചുള്ള ചാപ്പലില്‍ ക്രൂശിത രൂപം സ്ഥാപിച്ചു. അള്‍ത്താരയുടെ മധ്യഭാഗത്തായി, വി. സക്രാരിയുടെ മുകളിലായിട്ടാണ് രൂപം പ്രതിഷ്ടിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്.


ഇട ദിവസങ്ങളില്‍ ദിവ്യ ബലിക്കും, മറ്റു കര്‍മ്മങ്ങള്‍ക്കുമായി കഴിഞ്ഞ മൂന്നു വര്‍ഷങ്ങളായി ഉപയോഗിച്ചിരുന്ന ചാപ്പലിന്റെ അള്‍ത്താര ക്രൂശിത രൂപമോ, മറ്റു രൂപങ്ങളോ ഒന്നും ഇല്ലാതെ ഒഴിഞ്ഞു കിടക്കുകയായിരുന്നു. ക്രൂശിത രൂപം തൂക്കുന്നതിനു അധികാരികള്‍ക്ക് തീര്‍ച്ചയായും വൈമനസ്യമായിരുന്നു എന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കാം. എന്നാല്‍ അവിടെയും കൂടി ഒരു മാര്‍ തോമാ കുരിശു തൂക്കി ജനങ്ങളെ പ്രകോപിപ്പിക്കേണ്ട എന്ന് കരുതിയാകാം തല്‍ക്കാലം അവിടെ ഒന്നും വയ്ക്കാതിരുന്നത്.

ചാപ്പലില്‍ ക്രൂസിഫിക്സ് സ്ഥാപിക്കണം എന്ന ആവശ്യവുമായി ചില അല്‍മായ നേതാക്കള്‍ വികാരി ഫാ. ജോയിയെ കണ്ടിരുന്നു എന്നും അതിന്റെ ഫലമായി ആണ് ഇത് നടന്നതും എന്ന് പറയപ്പെടുന്നു. ചാപ്പലില്‍ മാത്രമല്ല, പ്രധാന ദേവാലയത്തില്‍ എവിടെയൊക്കെ മാര്‍ തോമാ കുരിശു വച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടോ അവിടെയൊക്കെ ക്രൂസിഫിക്സും കൂടി വയ്ക്കണമെന്ന ഡിമാണ്ട് ആണ് അവര്‍ ഫാ ജോയിക്ക് മുമ്പില്‍ വച്ചത്. അനുകൂലമായ പ്രതികരണമാണ് അച്ഛനില്‍ നിന്നും ഉണ്ടായത് എന്നാണു ഞങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് മനസ്സിലാക്കാന്‍ പറ്റിയത്. അതിനു അല്‍പ്പം സാവകാശം വേണമെന്നാണ് അച്ഛന്‍ പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നത്. (കത്തോലിക്കാ ദേവാലയത്തില്‍ ക്രൂസിഫിക്സ് സ്ഥാപിക്കാന്‍ സാവകാശത്തിന്റെ ആവശ്യം എന്തെന്ന് ഞങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് മനസ്സിലാകുന്നില്ല.)

ഏതായാലും ചാപ്പലില്‍ തന്നെയെങ്കിലും ഇങ്ങെയൊരു ക്രൂശിത രൂപം സ്ഥാപിച്ചത് വലിയ ഒരു നേട്ടമായി തന്നെ ഞങ്ങള്‍ കാണുന്നു. അതേസമയം അത് സ്ഥാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന രീതി കണ്ടിട്ട് ഞങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ചെറിയ ഒരു അരുതായ്ക തോന്നായ്കയില്ല.  ഒന്നാമതായി, അത് ഒത്തിരി പൊക്കത്തില്‍ ആണ് തൂക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നത്. ചാപ്പലില്‍ ഇരിക്കുന്ന ജനങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ കഷ്ടി കര്‍ത്താവിന്റെ മുട്ടിനു താഴെ വരെയേ കാണുവാന്‍ പറ്റുകയുള്ളൂ. എന്തുകൊണ്ട് അത് സക്രാരിയുടെ തൊട്ടു മുകളിലായി തൂക്കിയില്ല? എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് അവിടെ ഒരു ഗാപ്‌? ഭാവിയില്‍ സക്രാരി അല്‍പ്പം കൂടി താഴേക്കു ഇറക്കി സ്ഥാപിച്ചിട്ട് അതിനും, മുകളില്‍ തൂങ്ങുന്ന ക്രൂശിത രൂപത്തിനും മദ്ധ്യേ ഒരു ക്ലാവര്‍ കുരിശു തൂക്കാനുള്ള ഒരു സാധ്യതയില്ലേ എന്ന് ഞങ്ങള്‍ സംശയിക്കുന്നു. മുക്കാലിഞ്ച് വിടവ് കാണുന്നിടത്ത് മൂന്നാല് ക്ലാവര്‍ കുരിശു തിരുകിക്കയറ്റുന്ന കല്‍ദായ വട്ടന്മാര്‍ അള്‍ത്താരയുടെ നടുക്ക് തന്നെ നല്ലൊരിടം കിട്ടിയാല്‍ അത് വെറുതെ വിടുമോ? We keep our fingers crossed!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

john chacko , identyfy yourself

Anonymous said...

This is really good news from the cathedral authorities!

Installation of the crucifix in the chapel is a very positive decision from the cathedral vicars and this news is very encouraging. I hope the new vicar could unite the faithful through his meaningful dialogs and with proactive words into action to the remaining inconsolable issues within the cathedral altar. The selection of the crucifix is a perfect match and has well aligned to the wooden structure background of the chapel and at least now looks like a catholic worship house.


However the crucifix needs to be lowered at least half foot below its current fixing so that the congregation could see the full crucifix. Now the upper portion of the crucifix is visible only to the clergy and the stunning fact is that the crucifix is really missing the I.N.R.I. THE PARTIAL VIEW OF CRUCIFIX TO THE CONGREGATION IS A DISTRACTION TO THE FAITHFUL DURING THE HOLY MASS AND I HOPE THE CATHEDRAL AUTHORITIES WILL LOOK INTO THIS AND FIX THIS DISPROPORTION.

Anonymous said...

This is really good news from the cathedral authorities!

Installation of the crucifix in the chapel is a very positive decision from the cathedral vicars and this news is very encouraging. I hope the new vicar could unite the faithful through his meaningful dialogs and with proactive words into action to the remaining inconsolable issues within the cathedral altar. The selection of the crucifix is a perfect match and has well aligned to the wooden structure background of the chapel and at least now looks like a catholic worship house.


However the crucifix needs to be lowered at least half foot below its current fixing so that the congregation could see the full crucifix. Now the upper portion of the crucifix is visible only to the clergy and the stunning fact is that the crucifix is really missing the I.N.R.I. THE PARTIAL VIEW OF CRUCIFIX TO THE CONGREGATION IS A DISTRACTION TO THE FAITHFUL DURING THE HOLY MASS AND I HOPE THE CATHEDRAL AUTHORITIES WILL LOOK INTO THIS AND FIX THIS DISPROPORTION.

Anonymous said...

Marco Polo’s interesting comment

The cross on the tomb of St. Thomas near Madras, India,is known as the famous Nestorian Cross.

Anonymous said...

Mary "God-bearer" or "Christ-bearer" according to Nestorius, same philosophy by Jacobite rite not worthy to call Mary mother of God or have rosary in Mary's name..

Nestorius became bishop of Constantinople in 428.

He came from the Antioch school and was taught theology there by Theodore of Mopsuestia.

He opposed a relatively new theological and devotional slogan Theotokos - affirming that Mary was the "God-bearer" or "Mother of God."

Nestorius was concerned with the thought that God might be seen to have had a new beginning of some kind, or that he suffered or died.

None of these things could happen to the infinite God.

Therefore, instead of a God-man, he taught that there was the Logos and the "man who was assumed."

He favored the term "Christ-bearer" (Christotokos) as a summary of Mary's role, or perhaps that she should be called both "God-bearer" and "Man-bearer" to emphasize Christ's dual natures.

He was accused of teaching a double personality of Christ.

Two natures, and two persons.

He denied the charge, but the term Nestorianism has always been linked with such a teaching.

Anonymous said...

ആദ്യമായി സ്ലീവ എന്ന് പേര്‍ഷ്യന്‍ കുരിശിനെ വിളിച്ച വഴുതന്നപ്പള്ളി അച്ഛന്‍ പെണ്ണും കെട്ടി സുഗമായി ജീവിക്കുന്നു

Anonymous said...

ടെക്സാസിലെ ഗാര്‍ ലാന്‍ഡില്‍ പുതുതായി പണി തീര്‍ത്ത ദേവാലയത്തിന്റെ അള്‍ത്താരയുടെ മധ്യഭാഗത്ത്‌ നിന്നും വി. സ്ക്രാരി മാറ്റി പകരം മാര്‍ തോമാ കുരിശു

Anonymous said...

This Pope may be doing it (once a while). But no other Popes did it. Let the Pope do whatever he finds fit for him. Because, the position of the Celebrant in Holy Mass is not a fundamental dogma of the church that everyone needs to believe and follow.


In another words ,don't worry about what pope do or say , he dont know like me. is that you mean john chako?

Anonymous said...

ഇത് ഫിലഡലല്‍ഫിയയിലെ പള്ളിയില്‍, അങ്ങടിയത് പിതാവിണ്ടേ നിര്‍ബത്തിനു വഴങ്ങി ജോണ്‍ അച്ഛന്‍ വെച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന താമര കുരിസ്സു പോലെ ആണ് അല്ലോ.പള്ളിയില്‍ വരുന്ന സാദാരണക്കാര്‍ ആരും ഈ കുരിസ്സു കാണുകയില്ല .ഈ കുരിസ്സു കണ്ടിട്ടുള്ളവരുടെ കഴുത്ത് ഓടിഞ്ഞി ട്ടുണ്ടാകും അത്രയും പൊക്കത്തില്‍ ഏറ്റവും മുകളില്‍ ആണ് ഈ കുരിസ്സ് വച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്.

Tom Varkey said...

Taking Back Our Church: Is an “Occupy Wall-Street” Style Attack the Right Thing to Do? – Tom Varkey
As the December 17, 2011 deadline for the inauguration of the newly built Garland Syro-Malabar church fast approaches, one of the common questions being asked is: Is resorting to an “Occupy Wall Street-style” confrontation with the Chaldean group the right thing to do to take back our Syro-Malabar Church from the claver fanatics? The answer is not only “Yes” but also it is the urgency of the moment. The Bible gives us clear guidelines for protesting in ways more forceful than the Gandhian way when it comes to confronting those who destroy our faith. For example, we have the valuable examples set by Christ Himself when He twice cleaned up the Jerusalem Temple by driving out the coin-changers and those who were selling doves and cattle. While doing this, He was forceful by using whips to drive out such ungodly people who had no regard for the things of God. Our claver maniacs of today also have absolutely no regard for the things of God nor for the commandments of God. They have made a mockery of our faith through ways that are more appropriate for criminals than Christians such as committing perjury in a court of law and carrying out crimes against parishioners by installing their ‘Mar Thoma Cross’ idol in the darkness of the night.
They have been commanded to become the light of the world and the salt of the earth as we read in Phil. 2:15: “… by becoming blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life”. Instead they themselves have become the crooks. What does the Bible tell us to do in such circumstances? We can take a cue from Jesus who in Mt. 26:39 prays for His cup to pass from Him if it were possible. But then He added that it was the Will of the Father that should be done. As we are getting frustrated with the situation in Garland and other churches, we have to remember that Jesus did not compromise with the status quo even though He knew well that the Father was not going to take His chalice away. He prayed repeatedly for His wish to be granted not one time but three times. In fact He prayed for it so fervently that His sweat turned into drops of blood. This is a lesson for also. Just because we are not seeing the degree of success that we like to see in our fight for the Crucifix, that is no reason to give up or get discouraged.
In Num. 25, we read an incident about Phinehas who was full of zeal for the Lord and what he did to purge idolatry from the midst of Israel which was brought on by their committing sexual immorality with Moabite women. We read in Num. 25:4: “The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.” We are presently faced with a situation even more serious as Bishop Powathil, Bishop Alencherry and Bishop Angadiath are leading their flocks into idolatry by removing the Crucifix and replacing it with the idolatrous ‘Mar Thoma Cross’. It is high time that we also expose our leaders in a dramatic way. I am not saying that they should all be killed as God asked Moses to kill the leaders of Israel to purge idolatry from their midst. But it is high time that we also should take some drastic steps to stop our Syro-Malabar Church leaders from spreading idolatry in our churches.

Tom Varkey said...

Dear Blog Master, this is Part 2 of the Article "Taking Back Our Church: ..." By Tom Varkey

As Moses had gathered everyone in the Tent and as everyone was waiting for orders from Moses to carry out the slaughter of all their leaders, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest did something really drastic as we read in Num. 25:7. As they waited, one of his fellow Israelites brought a Midianite woman into the tent. Instantly, he was filled with holy indignation triggered by his fervor for the Lord. So much so that he drew his spear through both his fellow Israelite who brought the woman into the Tent and also through the Midianite woman. The Lord was pleased with what Phinehas did and therefore He instantly caused the plague to let up. Until that time, 24,000 Israelites had died in the plague that was caused by the anger of the Lord who was punishing the Israelites for spreading idol worship. We also read that God rewarded Phinehas greatly for doing what he did by making a “covenant of lasting priesthood” with him for defending the honor of God.
This is a great lesson for us who are the venerators of the Crucifix. We are also full of zeal for the Cross of our Savior which Christ has given us as an instrument for gaining forgiveness of our sins. According to the Bible, this is the only object that we have that we should be boasting about mentioned in the whole Bible (Gal. 6:14). The claver advocates not only want to eliminate it but they want to replace it with an idol. If there has been a time to take back our church, now is the time. If there ever was the need for a Phinehas, this is it. According to Jn. 3:14, the Crucifix has been given to us as our chief means of obtaining forgiveness of our sins when Jesus told us to lift up the Son of Man “just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent”. Had we been living in the Old Testament time, we will be perfectly justified in killing each and every Bishop or Cardinal or anyone else who is promoting the ‘Mar Thoma Cross’ in our Syro-Malabar churches. But here we are living in the New Testament era which is a period of grace and not of judgment. So we have been commanded to show grace and “to submit ourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority” as we read in 1 Pet. 2:13.
Therefore, let us show grace and respect towards them. But like Phinehas, we are to restore the honor of God and remove the Mar Thoma Cross from our churches in whatever peaceful way that is available to us as Jesus prayed to have the chalice be removed from Him. Thus, it is totally appropriate to peacefully protest both in and outside the church. We have to refrain from violence and any physical assaults in which case we will be breaking 1 Pet. 2:13. It is perfectly fine to protest on the streets just outside the Garland Church which is in fact less violent than Jesus driving out the merchants from the Jerusalem Temple. Therefore I am inviting the parishioners of Garland and all other Syro-Malabar members to conduct a protest rally and resort to any other peaceful actions that are available to us. Such protests and rallies should start beginning from December 17, 2011 the day the Garland church is scheduled to be consecrated. Sympathy rallies or other forms of protest should be conducted in other cities within the U.S. and in Kerala to put an end to the Gadhafi-style dictatorship of Bishop Alencherry and Bishop Angadiath to spread idols in our places of worship.

Tom Varkey said...

Dear Blog Master, this is Part 3 of the Article "Taking Back Our Church: ..." By Tom Varkey

We should continue this “Occupy Wall Street-style” form of protest in ways that are peaceful without violating civil laws so as not to get into trouble with civil law. In my opinion wearing Crucifix both in front and back and thus attending the Holy Mass as our priests wear the idolatrous ‘Mar Thoma Cross’ on the front and in the back is perfectly legal and peaceful. We must conduct protest rallies in front of American Bishops houses on certain feast days of the Catholic Calendar such as all Fridays of Lent, Easter, Christmas, etc. in ways that are effective such as conducting only one rally in a City on a certain day, etc. Based on the Word of God, I can assure you my fellow warriors that success will one day be ours. In Ps. 84:11 we read: “The LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” It is time for each of us to turn into a Phinehas to restore the honor of our God by ending the idolatry that has infiltrated into our Church through the so-called ‘Mar Thoma Cross’ idol. We must fight for our cause in our churches, in the streets, in front of Bishops’ Houses both in the U.S. and in Kerala, and in our courts of law. We will succeed because our God is an awesome God who will not withhold any good thing from us as He promises us in Ps. 84:11. “Occupy Wall Street” may or may not succeed. But “Occupy Garland” and “Occupy Syro-Malabar Church” will mark the beginning of a great battle that will take us to the end of idol worship within the Syro-Malabar Church by trashing the ‘Mar Thoma Cross’ idol from the landscape of the Syro-Malabar Church. We will not only make Bishop Alencherry and Bishop Angadiath shiver in their boots but also the multi-colored feathers of the peacocks that adorn their hats. They belong to Satan who is presently “masquerading as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). We have let him into our churches by allowing the ‘Mar Thoma Cross idol’ in our churches. It is time to get him out once for all. It is time to take back the Church of Jesus Christ from the clutches of Satan for the greater glory of God the Father and His most glorious Cross.

Anonymous said...

Good Job and a holy action. The commitment of the Cathedral Achan(s) and our Kaikarans efforts for this community is highly appreciated. We are confident that church authorities will install the table top crucifix on both Altar tables as well and that will be a happy ending of all issues and melt away all dirty gluts from our cathedral and unit the faithful in front of the Holy altar for the Holy Mass.



Many thank to the Achans and Kaikarans.

Anonymous said...

The actions of the cathedral vicar are really admirable and the efforts of our authorities to unite the faithful are outstanding.