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Intervention of Mons. William Hanna SHOMALI, Titular Bishop of Lydda, Auxiliary Bishop of Jerusalem of the Latins (JERUSALEM) |
The Church breathes with two lungs, John Paul II wrote: the Eastern and the Latin Catholic Churches. These two traditions met in a joyful way in the East.
The Latin Church of the East is not Western, even it includes many westerners. An Arabic Christian who belongs to this Church feels 100% Eastern and 100% of Latin Rite.
Most of the liturgical books on the Latin Liturgy have been translated into Arabic.
The liturgical songs went from the phase of imitation to the phase of creativity. In the first phase, our ancestors borrowed from Gregorian chant, from the repertoires of European chants and the Syrian Maronite liturgy. In the second phase we became creative. Our musicians, knowing the genius of the Latin liturgy with regards to precision, concision and clarity, composed valuable chants. They even mixed the Gregorian tradition with Eastern music, for example, in the chanting of the psalms.
Throughout Latin liturgy, our faithful feel bound to the great Church that uses this rite on a world scale. When they travel or emigrate, they find it easy to insert themselves in the country and in the welcoming parishes. And, the pilgrims that visit the Holy Land and participate in our Sunday liturgy recognize their own liturgy in it and find it easy and joyful to participate in.
This liturgy is for us a place, par excellence, for catechesis and sanctification. During the recent periods, we rejoiced over the beatification of two Palestinian religious women: a Carmelite and the founder of the Sisters of the Rosary.
Despite what has been achieved in liturgical matters, there is a need for a long and thoughtful inculturation especially as regards the sacrament of marriage and the rites of baptism and funerals. This inculturation must respect the Latin geni and the Eastern culture.
We truly hope for the unification of the Easter holiday with the Orthodox Churches. This implies also the unification of the period of Lent and, why not, also the way of living abstinence and fasting. Just as fasting is a respected aspect of Islam and Judaism, we hope that Catholics of the Eastern and Latin Rites unify their way of fasting. This would be a positive sign for Christians and also for non-Christians.
The mission of evangelization and sanctification requires liturgy. The Latin liturgy in the Middle East has a role to play in complete respect with the Eastern liturgies which are noteworthy also, with the catechization and sanctification of their faithful.
[00070-02.03] [IN047] [Original text: French]
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Intervention of Mons. Louis SAKO, Archbishop of Kerkuk of the Chaldeans, Patriarchal Administrator of Sulaimaniya of the Chaldeans (IRAQ) |
Liturgical reformation based upon sacred scripture, but also the patristics and pastoral demands of today. Otherwise our faithful will go looking for other churches as has already happened in some cases. The development of leaders must be a priority. At times, churches are in need of staff, and it is the duty of the universal church to assist in the preparation of a clergy which is up to the tasks of its mission.
The relationship between the different churches in every country in the Middle East and the relationship with the Holy See as well. How to live, at the same time, in communion in the particularity? We will remain divided if we continue to look at the past and we do not seek to find, rather, that which today might unite us. The Eastern Churches make up part of the universal church and any study undertaken by the universal Church must also take into consideration the situations of the particular churches. At times we are disappointed.
A serious commitment to dialogue with Muslims. Without dialogue with them there will be no peace nor stability. Together we can do away with wars and all forms of violence. We must join our voices in denouncing together this great business of the arms trade. A genuine threat of war in our region, where Pope John Paul II’s words were tragically fulfilled: “War is an adventure with no return”. Without dialogue and a true and concrete commitment there will not be peace.
The fatal exodus afflicting our churches cannot be avoided, emigration is the biggest challenge which threatens our presence. The data is worrying. The Eastern Churches, and even the universal Church, must take on their responsibilities and with the international community and local authorities find common choices which respect the dignity of the human person. Choices which are based on equality and full citizenship, with efforts towards partnership and protection. The strength of a state must be based upon its credibility in the application of its laws at the service of its citizens, without discrimination between the majority and the minority. We want to live in peace and freedom instead of merely surviving.
[00033-02.03] [IN011] [Original text: Italian]
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Intervention of Mons. Kyrillos WILLIAM, Bishop of Assiut, Lycopolis of the Copts (EGYPT) |
The liturgy, according to the Instrumentum Laboris, is a deeply rooted feature of Eastern culture, thus one cannot lessen its strength in order to preserve the intensity of the faith today. History asserts that in our Middle Eastern countries, the liturgy has always been a school for education in the faith and Christian morality, especially when one considers our population, simple and for the most part illiterate, thanks to numerous biblical readings (six daily readings in our Coptic liturgy, even more on feast days and on certain celebrations) and to prayers composed of juxtaposed biblical quotations.
For this reason we must maintain it with reverence according to the text of Eastern canons law (cfr canon 39 of CCEO).
In the Constitution, Sacrosanctum Concilium, paragraph four, Vatican II affirms the equality of all rites with regard to rights and dignity. In the conciliar decree Orientalium Ecclesiarum, the Council fathers affirm a special regard for the patrimony of Eastern churches, and emphasize their kind deeds towards the Universal Church, quoting Leo XIII’s apostolic letter of November 30, 1894, “Orientalium Ecclesiarum”.
The Conciliar Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches likewise urges all Westerners who are in contact with these Churches, to apply themselves in learning and respecting Eastern liturgies... and it refers to the Motu Proprio “Orientis Catholici” of Benedict XV of October 15, 1917 and Pius XI’s Encyclical of September 8, 1926, “Rerum Orientalium”.
Canon 41 of the CCEO confirms this and requires them to know these liturgies precisely and to practice them.
Now, we can see that quite a few Latin religious persons translate the Latin liturgy into Arabic and they celebrate it for our Eastern faithful helping them thus to separate from their churches and to weaken their belonging to them.
With regards to the liturgical language (Instrumentum Laboris 72), we did not wait for Vatican II to translate our liturgical texts into the current language of our people. Since its origins, our Coptic liturgy was celebrated in the different dialects in Upper Egypt, and in the larger cities in Greek, the language of culture and of daily life. Since the beginning of the tenth century, we an find everything in Arabic. One factor which has helped to preserve the faith, and if we compare with other neighboring countries such as North Africa, we observe that several centuries later, Christianity, which flourished at the outset, has vanished; because a foreign liturgy in a little-known language had been imposed upon them.
I have an explanation to ask for and a wish to hope for: In a country such as ours, Egypt, where all (Catholics, non-Catholics and even non-Christians) are Copts, what is the purpose of the Latin liturgy in Arabic? If there are Latins, it is their right to celebrate the Latin Mass, but in a language other than Arabic, because this attracts our faithful and helps in their dispersal.
[00026-02.03] [IN004] [Original text: French]
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Ռատիովատիկան - Միջին Արեւելքի Եպիսկոպոսներու Սիւնոդոսիարտակարգ Ժողով
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