Wednesday, April 20, 2005

earlier chief godman's love for hindus

April 19th

so much christian love, i don't know if i can stand it.

also, note the 'please send money'

look at the dramatis personae involved, aka 'saints':
a. thomas, the fake, who never even came to india
b. francis xavier, the inquisition monster

and fifth column native clergy who live quietly. known these days as 'sleepers'.

expect this sort of stuff to be redoubled by the new godman.

forwarded by a friend.


AD EXTREMAS
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON
SEMINARIES FOR NATIVE CLERGY
"Converting thousands of Hindus from the myths and vile superstitions
of Brahmans"

Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, on the 24th day of June, in the year
1893, the sixteenth year of Our pontificate.

LEO XIII:

To Our Venerable Brothers, the Patriarchs, Archbishops and
Bishops and other Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Holy See.

Venerable Brothers, Health and Apostolic Benediction.

The Orient, courageously and successfully explored by the Portugese,
is coveted by many today for its lucrative trade. We, however, have a
more noble purpose in mind. We reflect upon those immense regions of
the Indies where for many centuries men of the Gospel have expended
their labor. Our thoughts turn first of all to the blessed Apostle
Thomas who is rightly called the founder of preaching the Gospel to
the Hindus. Then, there is Francis Xavier, who long afterwards
dedicated himself zealously to the same praiseworthy calling. Through
his extraordinary perseverence, he converted hundreds of thousands of
Hindus from the myths and vile superstitions of the Brahmans to the
true religion. In the footsteps of this holy man followed numerous
priests, secular and religious, who with the authority and permission
of the Holy See strove untiringly to preserve and promote the
Christian mysteries and institutions introduced by Thomas and renewed
by Xavier. To this day, they are continuing these noble efforts;
nevertheless, in the vast reaches of the earth, many are still
deprived of the truth, miserably imprisoned in the darkness of
superstition! How very great a field, especially in the north, lies
yet uncultivated to receive the seed of the Gospel!

2. Pondering these needs, We place our trust in Our Savior who alone
knows the exact circumstance and time to bestow his light; he is wont
to direct the mind and hearts of men by divine inspiration. But,
assuredly, We ought to exert every possible effort to convert such a
great part of the world. We have been searching for possible ways of
better organizing and expanding Christianity in the East Indies, we
have decided upon certain measures to help achieve Our goal.

New Dioceses

3. First of all, to be sure, with respect to the patronato of the
Portuguese people in the East Indies, We have concluded a formal pact
with the most faithful king of Portugal and Algerve. This agreement
has removed the causes of dissensions, which had disrupted Christians
for so long a time. These communities have been under obedience to
apostolic vicars and prefects. We have decided to form them into
dioceses with their own bishops to be administered by ordinary right.
Therefore, by the apostolic letter, Humanae salutis, given on the
first of September, 1886, a new hierarchy has been instituted in
those regions, consisting of eight church provinces, namely, Goa as
the patriarchal see, Agra, Bombay, Verapoly, Calcutta, Madras,
Pondichery and Colombo. Furthermore, through the Congregation of the
Propagation of the Faith, We will do whatever will be fruitful there
for salvation and for the increase of faith and piety.

Native Clergy

4. The preservation of the Christian faith among the Hindus will be
precarious and its propagation uncertain as long as there is not a
native clergy properly trained for priestly duties, not only to be of
assistance to foreign priests, but also to be in rightful charge of
the administration of the Christian Church in their cities. Tradition
tells us that Frances Xavier maintained this same opinion. They say
that he used to assert that the Christian cause in India could never
have firm roots without the continuing dedication of a pious and
zealous clergy native to India. It is clearly evident that he had a
keen understanding of the issue. Certainly the work of the
missionaries coming from Europe is beset with many obstacles. Most
especially, indeed, is their unfamiliarity with the vernacular, which
is very difficult to learn. There is also the remoteness of
institutions and customs which remain unfamiliar even after a long
period of time. Hence, the European clergy is forced to live there as
in a strange land. Since a foreign clergy, therefore, has difficulty
in winning the hearts of the people, it is plain that the work of a
native clergy would be far more fruitful. From experience, they know
the nature and customs of their people; they know when to speak and
when to keep silent. In fine, they live among Hindus as Hindus
without causing any suspicion and it is, indeed, difficult to say how
important this is especially in times of crisis.

5. Then, again, it is necessary to realize that the number of
missionaries abroad is far from adequate to serve the existing
Christian communities. This deficiency is plainly evident from the
mission statistics. The missionaries in India keep on imploring the
Sacred Congregation for more preachers of the Gospel. Now, if there
are not enough foreign priests to care for souls, what will happen in
the future when the number of Christians will have multiplied? Nor,
indeed, is there any reason to hope that the number of missionaries
will increase proportionately. Consequently, if we want to be
concerned for the salvation of India and the establishment of
Christianity in that immense region on a firm foundation, we will
have to select candidates from the native people, who after careful
training will assume priestly functions and duties.

6. Thirdly, we must not overlook an eventuality, even though at the
present time it is improbable. Such critical conditions could arise
in Europe or Asia that would compel foreign priests to leave the
Indies. In that event, how could religion survive without a native
clergy: with no one to administer the sacraments, no one to teach the
law of God? The history of the Chinese, Japanese, and Ethiopians
speaks clearly enough about this hazard. More than once, the
Christians in Japan and China had to suffer from hatred and calamity.
The hostile people in power exiled and executed alien priests, but
spared the native. Because they were completely familiar with the
language and customs of their native land and were sustained by
friends and relatives, they were allowed not only to remain unharmed
in their country, but also to administer the sacraments freely, and
perform pastoral duties in all the provinces. On the contrary, the
Ethiopia, where Christians already numbered 200,000, a sudden storm
of persecution completely destroyed the fruits of long labor because
there was no native clergy when the European missionaries were killed
or expelled.

7. Finally, there must be respect for antiquity; whatever we see
advantageously established in times past must be religiously
preserved. Now, it was the practice of the Apostles first to instruct
the multitude in Christian precepts, then to select several from the
people and initiate them into the sacred mysteries and even elevate
them to the episcopacy. This example was followed afterwards by the
Roman pontiffs. Their custom has always been to direct missionaries
to exert every means to select a native clergy wherever the Christian
community grew sufficiently large. To take care, therefore, of the
preservation and propagation of the Catholic religion among the
Hindus, a Hindu clergy has to be formed that could administer the
sacraments and govern the Christian people properly, no matter how
menacing the times.

Seminaries

8. For that reason, the prefects of the Congregation of the Indies,
with the advice and approval of the Holy See, have founded seminaries
for priests wherever possible. The Synods, moreover, of Colombo,
Bangalore and Allahabad, held at the beginning of 1887, have decreed
that every diocese should have its own seminary for the training of a
native clergy; if any of the suffragan bishops do not have the
financial means to do so, they are to have their seminarians trained
in the metropolitan seminary at their own expense. The bishops are
making every effort to implement these beneficial decrees, but their
most admirable willingness is hindered by lack of funds and by the
want of qualified priests to supervise instruction and direct
discipline judiciously. Hence, there are hardly any seminaries where
candidates are able to complete a prescribed course of studies-and
this is at a time when the civil government and Protestants, in large
numbers, are sparing no expense nor effort to offer young men a
judicious and refined education.

9. It is evident, therefore, how opportune it is and how consistent
with the public good to erect in the East Indies some seminaries
where the native youth, the hope of the Church, are educated in all
the refinements of doctrine and also in those virtues essential for
the pious and wholesome exercise of sacred functions. As the reasons
for dissensions have been removed by the pact agreed upon, and as the
diocesan administration had been erected by the hierarchy of the
Church, we would seem to have attained our goals if we could provide
a sound basis for the training of the clergy. For, as We have said,
once seminaries for the clergy have been founded, qualified priests
in great numbers would come forth, and in spreading the truth of the
Gospel, would skilfully utilize the important resources of their
studies.

Financial Contributions

fitting that Europeans make some financial contribution, especially
because We alone are not able to manage the vast cost of such an
enterprise. It is the mark of Christians to cherish all mankind as
brothers wherever they are, and to exclude no one from their love,
particularly in matters upon which the eternal salvation of their
neighbour depends. We, therefore, earnestly request that you will
fully support our undertaking. Be sure that the role of Christianity
in such remote regions becomes well known. Make your people
understand that something must be done for the Hindus. May they who
believe that works of mercy are the most perfect investment
especially realize this need.

11. We are convinced that we have not appealed in vain to the
generosity of your people. If the contributions should exceed the
expenditures for the seminaries which we have mentioned above, we
shall take care that the remaining funds will be used beneficially
and conscientiously on other projects.

12. In token of heavenly favors, and as a witness of Our good will,
most lovingly in the Lord, We bestow upon you, venerable brothers,
upon your clergy and your people the Apostolic Blessing.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rajeev,

Remember the Patoor Church incident last year? Someone had written 'VHP-RSS act' at the altar. All foolish marxist/minority journos accused RSS & VHP ..and see now who is the real culprit?
""
Man behind Pattoor Church attack arrested

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pascal, a resident from Goa, was held by the Crime Branch team probing the attack on the Pattoor Marthoma Church in the capital city. The altar of the Church was set on fire by Pascal which led to a big controversy with many social and political leaders blaming the Sangh Parivar for the attack.

Crime Branch sources said that Pascal is a habitual offender specialized in robbing churches. He stays in five star hotels from where he executes thefts in the churches.

Asianet News
""
-Ram

Anonymous said...

Ram,
I am sure similarity exists between this event & the one that happened in Dang,Gujarat & other parts of the country when the "poor" christian missionaries were "allegedly" attacked.

There's a pattern i have observed when it comes to news reporting by Indian media.

#1) Create enough cacophony so that there's no room for logical debate.

#2)Keep telling lies on & on & on. One day that lie will become the accepted truth (like in case of Modi)

#3)Once the damage is completely done, forget that event & black out that event from public memory.(Some nuns were raped & after the furore, no one wants to talk of that anymore. The objective of damaging Hindus was achieved, so why bother to find the truth?)

The Hindu,Indian Express,The Times of India,Outlook, The Hindustan Times,NDTV et al seem to have an unwritten understanding between themselves to carry out frontal attack on Hindus using such news items. Such items are strategically placed on front page with attention grabbing headlines.Only one side of the story is put in such a manner that it leaves very little room for counter argument.Most of the gullible readers miss the "spin" applied by these publications and take the news items on face value. Question is why would most of these publication & media houses want to damage Hindu reputation, when they themselves are run by Hindus?
No easy answers!

Anonymous said...

Just to back up my comments.. check this news item on front page of TOI today.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1083286.cms?headline=Pope~can~give~VHP,~RSS~business

Look at the news item carefully. Instead of underlining the fundamentalist attitude of the new pope, the TOI finds fault with the VHP & RSS instead. What's the relation between new pope & RSS one may ask? Well don't look further. Our very own 'masthead of India' has found one. It seems RSS is 'rattled' by new right-wing Pope. So now it will get fodder & "business" according to Toilet Paper of India. At the end the reader comes out with a feeling of how great this 'hardline' pope is & how insanely fundamentalist the RSS is. TOI is already preparing a background for it's next news item where it will come up with some fabricrated stuff on 'attack' on Christianity & then come up with 'WE-TOLD-YOU-SO' editorials.

Anonymous said...

From the first Anonymous post

The first link (and the letter) is an appeal for funds for creating new seminaries in India so that native clergy can be trained. (http://www.ewtn.com/library/encyc/l13nat.htm)

The second link http://www.justpeace.org/docu.htm is a collection of Catholic Social Justice documents. Incredibly it gives the official Church policy through the ages of rights of individuals and the state or workers and the state which is no different than http://hamsa.org/conservative.htm

The third link http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/p3subli.htm and the subsequent refer to Indians but the reference is actually to Native Americans.

So for all your quotes you proved that the Vatican worldview is no different than a staunchly (right-wing) Hindu worldview. :)

As for acd's comments above, the article mentioned RSS exactly ONCE - the rest of the article talked about the new Pope being "fundamentalist" and "out of touch with reality". Nowhere in the article is the Pope praised for his views.

nizhal yoddha said...

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