Active Faith and Missionary Activities

Active Faith

  • Charity is loving God above all and neighbors as ourselves, rooted in love for God (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1844).
  • The Church embodies Jesus's compassion by aiding the afflicted, sick, and sinners, uplifting them materially and spiritually.
  • Faith compels acts of charity.
  • St. Paul emphasizes "faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6).
  • Apostle James states, "faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17).
  • Charitable deeds involve commitment to a person's integral growth, beyond temporary aid.
  • Examples:
    • St. Vincent de Paul: Uplifting the poor.
    • St. Damien of Molokai: Caring for lepers on Molokai Island, eventually becoming a leper himself.
    • Mother Theresa of Calcutta: Caring for the dying and orphans.

Basis of Charitable Deeds

  • Jesus's teachings and example are the foundation.
  • He showed concern for sinners, the sick, and the suffering.
  • Invited the weary and burdened to find rest in Him (Matthew 11:28).
  • The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches that helping the needy makes one a good neighbor (Luke 10:25-37).
  • The parable of the rich man and Lazarus warns against ignoring the needy.
  • Early Church practiced charity (Acts 4:34-35).
    • They sold possessions and distributed proceeds to those in need.
    • Concerned with helping Church communities in need (Acts 11:28-30).

Educational Apostolate

  • Gravissimum educationis 1: Proper education forms individuals to contribute to society.
    • Aims at integral development, realizing values like love, truth, justice, fraternity, and peace.
    • Helps individuals avoid evil and address issues like poverty and exploitation.
  • Christian education trains in faith and morals (Gravissimum educationis 2).
    • Aims to attain perfection in accordance with Jesus.
    • The Church establishes/renews educational institutions to provide good education.
  • Parents' responsibility (Gravissimum educationis 3).
    • Primary educators who create a family atmosphere animated by love and respect for God and man.
    • Family is the first school of social virtues.

Media Apostolate

  • Media significantly influences the human mind.
  • Inter mirifica (Among the wonderful) (Second Vatican Council's decree on the Media of Social Communication) says media spreads the Kingdom of God (Inter mirifica 2).
  • The Church encourages the use of media for Gospel proclamation.
  • Inter mirifica 17: Church members should support Catholic media to spread truth and foster Christian influence.
  • Individuals and organizations with technical knowledge and economic power should support media for the apostolate.
  • The modern Church requires the use of technology.
  • Inter mirifica 10: Media users, especially the young, should practice moderation, self-control, and critical understanding.
  • Parents should guard children against harmful content.
  • Media can enable dialogue with those to whom God is unknown.

Protection of the Environment

  • We must maintain the balance of nature.
  • Created things are for the whole world.
  • We have a duty to use resources justly and protect them for the common good.
  • Laudato Si: Addresses the complex environmental and social crisis, stating that protecting nature also involves solutions that protect the vulnerable.

Missionary Character of Mar Thoma Nazranis

  • Practiced and bore witness to Christian faith among non-Christians.
  • Did not impose faith through violence or compulsion.
  • Respected community maintaining high moral standards.
  • Missionaries by life based on faith.
  • Religious faiths in India, tolerant attitude of Indian culture, and caste system weakened evangelical activities.
  • Missionary activities became alive with European missionaries in the 16th century.
  • Progressive growth in missionary vocations in the Syro-Malabar Church.
  • Mar Thoma Nazranis gave personnel and money to help the missionary attempts of the western Church.

Main Style of Mission Activities

  • Life witness is the first missionary activity.
  • A life of love proclaims Jesus.
  • Dialogue among religions.
  • Missionaries should be on good terms and help even opponents.
  • Christians, along with people of other religions should work for the social and economic welfare of the society, sharing our faith and God-experience through this.
  • Fasting, penance, and asceticism are important in Indian traditions.
  • Consecrated persons must instill zeal and piety in others (Document on the working of the Syro-Malabar Church 6:2-5).
  • Form local worshipping communities (Evangelii nuntiandi).
  • Communities should listen to the Word, meditate, receive sacraments, and share in love (Evangelii Nuntiandi 58).
  • The Church adopts a missionary style suited to the culture of each locality.

Family: A Missionary Community

  • Mission is to witness God’s love through Jesus.
  • Second Vatican Council teaches in Apostolicam actuositatem 11 that the divine mission of the family from God is "to be the first and vital cell of society".
  • Family is a temple of God through mutual love, worship, hospitality, justice, and help to those in need.
  • Mutual love and dedication draw couples close to each other and to their children.
  • Selfless love, loyalty, sacrifice, and good parental example inspire children.
  • Prayer sanctifies the family and strengthens marital relationships

Family: The School of Faith Formation

  • Family is the first school of Christian life and human values.
  • Parents are the primary teachers of the Christian faith.
  • Life of the parents and formation in the family exhibit concern for others.
  • Children grow in acceptance of one another through parental instructions.
  • Parents train children to treat everyone with respect and compassion.
  • Families growing in faith become models of Christian life.

Means of Missionary Activities of the Family

  • Married life based on love.
  • Christian formation of children.
  • Participation in sacraments and prayer.
  • Life of witness, charitable acts.
  • Deepen life in the Church by participating in Holy Qurbana and other sacraments.
  • Cooperate with parish activities.
  • Apostolicam actuositatem 1 lists activities: adoption of abandoned infants, hospitality, help in schools, advice for adolescents, help for engaged couples, catechetical work, support for families in crises, help for the aged.
  • Encouraging children to accept missionary vocations.
  • Each Christian family is missionary by nature.
  • We are called to partake in this mission and use God-given talents to solve modern Christian family problems.

Status and Duties of Priesthood

  • Ministerial priesthood: Jesus chose the priests (John 15:16).
  • The priest is called to offer himself completely to God through offering of his life, proclamation of the Word, the celebration of the Holy Qurbana, and guiding the flock entrusted to him by the Lord.
  • Hebrews 9:26: Jesus's sacrifice once and for all.
  • Hebrews 10:5: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.
  • The greatest missionary activity of priestly life is to sacrifice one's own life by proclaiming salvation through sacrifice on the cross.
  • All Christians are called to be disciples and join in Jesus’ priesthood through baptism and confirmation.
  • Called in a special way to the vocation of priesthood.
  • Lumen gentium 42: Religious life is a gift of divine grace.
  • Fullness of ministerial priesthood given by Jesus through apostles to bishops; priests are coworkers.
  • Priests are representatives of Jesus.
  • Missions: to teach, to sanctify, and to lead in building up the Church.
  • Fundamental mission: to build up the Church on earth into the people of God (Presbyterorum ordinis 1).
  • Priests act in the person of Christ through pastoral service

Through Pastoral Service

  • A priest is a shepherd who knows the people of God.
  • Called to be attentive and considerate.
  • Priests are called to work hard for the welfare and progress of the people God has put in their care, and to lead all to Christian communion, even those who have strayed from the faith.
  • Unite people through love.
  • Presbyterorum ordinis 6 emphasizes kindness, Christian doctrine and help men see God's will.
  • Priests have a special obligation to the poor and weak.
  • Attention to youth, married people, and parents.
  • Religious deserve special care.
  • Solicitous for the sick and dying (Presbyterorum ordinis 6).
  • Service at all stages of life.
  • Lead all people to Jesus.
  • Forgives sins and consoles people.
  • Works for societal development.
  • Enables all to experience the loving presence of Jesus (Presbyterorum ordinis 3).
  • Requires prudence for good leadership.
  • Evangelii Nuntiandi 68 lists priesthood dimensions:
    • Preaching the Word with authenticity.
    • Uniting the people and maintaining unity.
    • Nourishing people with sacraments.
    • Confirming them in the path of salvation.
    • Encouraging them to perform their duties.
    • Helping each one to live according to their vocation.
  • True evangelization involves awareness of limitations and dependence on God.

The Essence of Consecrated Life

  • Religious life has proved a help and support for the Church in the past but is also a precious and necessary gift for the present and future.
  • Vita Consecrata 3: Consecrated life remains an important factor in the mission of the Church revealing the interior character of the Christian call.
  • Consecrated life is the fundamental expression of the Church’s nature, holiness, and mission (Vita Consecrata 3).
  • Religious dedicate themselves totally to others for the love of God.
  • Willing to spend their lives giving others life and hope.
  • Reveal the paternal face of God and the maternal face of the Church.

Missionary Task of Religious Life

  • Life of love, giving one’s self to another
  • Tend to the distorted image of God in the face of our fellow beings.
  • Religious are a sign of total availability to God, the Church, and brethren (Evangelii Nuntiandi 69).
  • Dedicated to God and to His service and glory.
  • Points to the undivided relationship which Jesus has with his spouse, the Church (Lumen Gentium 44).
  • Main apostolic fields: prayer, parish, catechism, family, social service, and missionary activity.

Apostolate of Prayer

  • All Christians are called to practice a deep prayer life and to experience his presence in an intimate way.
  • Especially important for religious who proclaim infinite love.
  • The missionary activity of religious will be strengthened when they spend their time in meditative silence, listening to him.
  • Without deep experience of God in prayer will have very little spiritual influence and success.
  • Religious are obliged to pray for the whole world, for the conversion of sinners, the healing of the sick, for world peace and welfare.
  • Contemplative religious orders dedicate their entire existence to praying for the world.

Vows

  • Self-giving manifested through evangelical counsels.
  • Vow: covenant of love offered to God and received through the Church.
  • Not an end but a means to facilitate a relationship with Jesus.
  • Through vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, the religious dedicate themselves to love God and neighbor.
  • The most fundamental rule of religious life is to imitate Jesus in the Gospels (Perfectae caritatis 2).
  • Religious follow the example of Jesus (Perfectae caritatis 1).

Parish Apostolate

  • Religious houses should be always situated within the boundary of a parish
  • Cooperating with the parish priest they engage in various developmental activities of the parish.
  • The use of their creative power fully for the material and spiritual welfare of the parish.
  • Religious are also active along with the parish priest.

The Source and Nature of Holiness

  • Christian life is life in the Holy Trinity.
  • God is the source of holiness.
  • Baptized Christians participate in God's holiness.
  • 1 John 4:8: God is love, therefore God is holy.
  • God calls all to grow in holiness by loving God and neighbor.
  • Realization of sinfulness creates fear of God and persuades avoidance of sin.
  • Experience of Moses and Isaiah.
  • In the presence of God's holiness, man should become humble and repentant.
  • Compassion is the noblest form of love.
  • God showers blessings on all (Matthew 5:45).
  • Luke 1:50 & Isaiah 54:7: God shows mercy from age to age.
  • Pours out mercy on each and every sinner today (Luke 15:1-2, 11-24).

Being with Jesus

  • Experience God's utmost holiness in Jesus.
  • Just as the branch that is united to the vine grows strong and produces fruit (John 15:5), a life that is united to Jesus will produce the fruit of holiness.
  • Grow in deeper love of God and neighbor
  • Lumen Gentium 42: Love of God and neighbor points out the true disciple.
  • Receive sacraments frequently.
  • Practice self-denial.
  • Cooperate in parish and community activities.
  • Spend time in prayer.
  • Generous in time and money toward those who need help
  • Saints grew in holiness because they had the conviction that in everything they did, whether eating, sleeping, or working, they were with Jesus.
  • We are able to be united to Jesus today through personal prayer, the Word of God, sacraments, love for our neighbor, and a life of virtue based on the Word of God.

Love: The Touchstone of Holiness

  • Being with Jesus means obeying his commandments; his commandment is love.
  • John 15:12: Love one another as I have loved you.
  • The measuring rod of one's holiness is love.
  • Love will rule, enliven and lead to holiness.
  • Sign of a true Christian disciple is love for God and man (Lumen Gentium 42).
  • John 15:13: No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
  • Readiness to sacrifice anything for another is true.
  • 1 Corinthians 13:13: Love is above everything else.
  • Share talents, knowledge, health, time, kindness with others.
  • Share this without distinction of friend or foe.
  • Matthew 5:46 & Luke 6:27-28: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
  • Christian love is manifested when we do not return evil for evil but conquer evil with good.

Promoting Organized Activity

  • Organized activity is essential for a Christian influence in temporal affairs.
  • Apostolicam actuositatem 8: Those associations which pursue the apostolate by their combined efforts are especially recommended.
  • Groups must adapt themselves to circumstances.
  • Recognize the signs of the time.
  • Promote conditions that favor effective activity.
  • In the family, the apostolate should begin.
  • Groups work together to reveal Christian principles in the civic order (Apostolicam actuositatem 7).
  • The faithful must learn to examine everything in the light of Christian values.
  • The love which Christians show toward one another manifests the new commandment of love and builds up the body of Christ (Apostolicam actuositatem 11).
  • The common need of the faithful highlights the unity of the Church, referencing (Matthew 18:20).
  • (Apostolicam actuositatem 18) Common effort is necessary to exalt human dignity and values.
  • Christians should lead a life rooted in values.
  • World peace cannot be obtained without values like truth, justice, and love.
  • If we want to give these values to the world as Christians, we have to practice them.
  • Adults and children must also be trained in these values.
  • Missionaries should get special spiritual and moral discipline.
  • (Ad gentes 25) : He must have the readiness to take initiative suited to the circumstances, courage to complete the tasks he has already undertaken, strength to persevere in hardships, and patience to bear solitude, tiredness, and failure

Lay Missionary Associations

  • Little Flower Mission League (CML):
    • Largest lay missionary association in Asia.
    • Started in Bharananganam, India in 1947.
    • Aims to fulfill Jesus's mission (Mark 16:15) and develop a missionary spirit.
    • Helps missionary activities through prayer, contributions, vocations, and helping children grow in their faith.
    • Slogan: 'love, sacrifice, service, and suffering'.
  • Thirubalasakyam (The Holy Childhood):
    • Helps children grow in love for infant Jesus and form good values.
    • Participate in missionary activity through prayers and sacrifices.
    • Learn prayers, stories, songs, study the Word, and participate in the Holy Qurbana.
  • St. Thomas Diocesan Youth Apostolate (DYA):
    • Official youth organization of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago.
    • Unites youth in response to the Gospel.
    • Encourages formation of a deep interior life and service.
    • Led by Bishops and youth coordinators.
  • Syro Malabar Catholic Congress (SMCC):
    • Lay association giving leadership and presenting Christian conscience.
    • Office bearers are lay people; bishops and priests are spiritual directors.
    • Makes the voice of the Church clear in times of crises.
    • Sub-divisions work at parish and diocesan levels.
  • Association for Fathers and Mothers:
    • Sanctifying the family.
    • Known as 'Mathrujyothi' and 'Pithruvedi'.
    • Train parents to help families grow in love and prayer.
  • The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP):
    • Instituted by Bl. Frédéric Ozanam.
    • Collecting money to help those in need.
    • Helps with basic needs.
    • Society of St. Vincent de Paul for children.
  • Associations like Legion of Mary and Third Order of Franciscans also play a role in the formation of the members of the Church.
  • The Church also tries to give newness and life to prayer experience through renewal movements.