MUMBAI, OCTOBER 20, 2009: Archbishop of Mumbai, Cardinal Oswald Gracias reminded the people that only genuine love would lead us to a dialogue with religions, cultures and the poor.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Prabhu Yesu Mahotsav at the St. Pius College, Goregaon where he celebrated the Eucharist on Sunday, Cardinal Gracias said the Mahotsav, whose theme was ‘Let Your Light Shine’, was not just another seminar, training course or conference.“It was a deeply spiritual experience for all of us. It was almost like a retreat, spending four days in the presence of the Lord and hearing the story of Jesus’ presence in the Church in India,” he told the 1500 delegates that included the Pope’s representative to India Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, Archbishop of Ranchi Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, more than 100 bishops, hundreds of priests and nuns, and lay leaders from the 160 dioceses of India.
“And so, we go back, now strengthened, transformed, edified with a deeper commitment – with an urge to go out and make a difference for Jesus,” he added. “How we wish that we could carry the light of Jesus more to the far corners of our country. How we wish that we could give the good news to all – that God loves all men and women; that He sent His son Jesus to save the world; that the Gospel of Jesus preaches only love and service.”
Cardinal Gracias said it was his duty to clarify that the Church is not here in a numbers game.
“Political parties seek numbers for power. The Church is not a political party. She does not seek power and prestige. She does not seek an increase in numbers just for greater influence. She seeks only to serve, she seeks only to bring light, the light that enlightens the world and all men and women. We seek to become more and more like Jesus Christ, living according to His teachings, so that our lives become the message and that we become messengers – bearing good news,” he explained.
“We are aware that there is a fear of ‘conversions’. We have not addressed it directly at Prabhu Yesu Mahotsav. But there are some state governments who want to pass anti-conversion laws. They say that the purpose of it is to stop forced conversions. Our answer to them is that there is no need of your anti-conversion laws. The Catholic Church does not believe in forced conversions. The Vatican Council documents clearly speak against them. A forced conversion is meaningless, because conversion is a transformation of heart – a turning to God, for us Christians, a turning to Jesus Christ. And it would interest all to know that the Church has a long period of catechumenate to test the sincerity of any one desiring Baptism,” he emphasised.
Cardinal Gracias said the Church totally rejects forced conversions and it also insists that someone who sincerely wants to follow Jesus Christ as His disciple has the right to do so.
“This is a human right, a right enshrined in our Constitution, a human right recognized by countries across the globe. No civil authority has the right to enter into the sanctuary of one’s conscience, much less to decide what ones conscience should say. No government can enter my soul and lock my conscience saying, ‘you can no longer change your religion’,” he suggested.
Cardinal Gracias said Kandhamal in Orissa has been a bad dream. “The victims have forgiven those who inflicted harm on them. Christ teaches us to forgive. But to Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, representing all the Bishops of Orissa and the people of Orissa, we say we are with you. The Church of India is with you. We are truly inspired by the stories of heroic martyrdom in your Church. To the government of Orissa and elsewhere we say: do not forget your constitutional duty to protect all minorities – Christians, Muslims and where Hindus are a minority as well. That is your duty and that is why you have been elected.”
“And so, to all my fellow Indian brothers and sisters of other religions I would say – do not feel threatened. We seek only to serve, we seek only to do what Jesus told us, to live our lives according to His Beatitudes and to go out and love and serve all and make the world a better place. And we tell you that we serve because we were told to do so by Jesus who was sent by God to bring love, peace and harmony into the world,” he said.
In conclusion, Cardinal Gracias said the mission of the Church and its people was to go back to their diocese, religious congregations and seminaries to light the lamps of the lives of others.
The last day of the Prabhu Yesu Mahotsav also saw the release of The Kristapurana of Thomas Stephens, S.J, a critical edition of the original, with translation into modern Marathi, by Fr. Dr. Nelson Falocao, sdb, by Archbishop Cardinal Oswald Gracias. The Kristapurana was written by Jesuit missionary Thomas Stephens, one f the first Englishmen to have set foot in India. He mastered the local languages ok Konkani and Marathi and immersed himself in the Hindu Vaishnavite tradition to come out with his 11,000 verse Purana, which has been acknowledged as a genuine masterpiece of Marathi poetry. Dr. Falcao translates Stephens Sanskritized ancient Marathi into contemporary Marathi. This is the very first critical edition of the Kristapurana and also the very first translation.The Marathi translation has just been published and the English translation should be out within a few months. This is a book that will be appreciated and treasured not only by scholars but by a wide section of the general public.