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Liturgy in the life of the Church is
of paramount importance. According
to the Second Vatican Council it is
the “summit toward which the
activity of the Church is directed
and it is also the fount from which
all her power flows” (SC, N.10). In
order that the Christian people may
more certainly derive an abundance
of graces from the sacred liturgy
the Council wanted “to undertake
with great care a general
restoration of the liturgy itself.
For the liturgy is made up of
unchangeable elements divinely
instituted, and of elements subject
to change. These latter not only may
be changed but ought to be changed
with the passage of time, if they
have suffered from the intrusions of
anything out of harmony with the
inner nature of the liturgy or have
become less suitable” (SC, N. 21).
At the same time the “Council has
set out to impart an ever increasing
vigour to the Christian life of the
faithful; to adapt more closely to
the needs of our age those
institutions which are subject to
change; to foster whatever can
promote union among all who believe
in Christ; to strengthen whatever
can help to call all mankind into
the Church’s fold. Accordingly it
sees particularly cogent reasons for
undertaking the reform and promotion
of the liturgy” (SC, N. 1). The
Council wanted to preserve all
legitimate rites in future and to
foster them in every way. The
Council also prescribed that, where
necessary, the rites be revised
carefully in the light of sound
tradition, and they be given new
vigour to meet present-day
circumstances and needs (SC, N. 4).
In order to achieve this aim the
Council laid down norms which can
and should be applied to both the
Roman and also to all other rites
(SC, N. 3).
Closely following the directives of
the Council the Syro-Malabar Church
has ever been pursuing this matter,
but has not yet been able to reach
the goal set out by the Council
because of various reasons. The
absence of objective research and
study in this field undertaken with
a view to promote mainly and
directly the good of the Church has
been identified as one of the major
reasons. For the Council says, “in
order that sound tradition be
retained, and yet the way remain
open to legitimate progress, a
careful investigation – theological,
historical and pastoral – should
always be made into each part of the
liturgy which is to be revised” (SC,
N. 23). Accordingly the synod
bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church
held in Rome in January 1996 decided
to erect a Liturgical Research
Centre at the Major Archiepiscopal
Curia of the Syro-Malabar Church at
Mount St Thomas for promoting
research and study in these aspects
of the liturgy with special
reference to the Syro-Malabar Church
and for the benefit of the same
Church. The synod in its session
held from 3 to 14 November 1998 at
Mount St Thomas wishing to execute
its earlier decision, nominated two
of its members, one as chairman and
the other as member, of the Board of
Directors of the proposed Centre.
The Synod also requested the
Apostolic Administrator to erect the
Centre canonically and to appoint
the Executive Director as well as
two more members to the Board with
the consent of the Permanent Synod.
Therefore, in conformity with the
above mentioned decision and request
of the Synod the undersigned, Mar
Varkey Vithayathil, C.Ss.R.,
Apostolic Administrator Sede vacante
et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the
Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal
Church, after mature consideration
and due consultations, hereby
canonically erects a
Liturgical Research Centre
and declare it as erected at the
Major Archiepiscopal Curia of the
Syro-Malabar Church at Mount St
Thomas.
The Centre in all matters is under
the jurisdiction of the Syro-Malabar
Major Archbishop. The internal
administration of the Centre,
however, will be according to the
Statutes approved by the Synod of
Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church
and amended from time to time by the
same Synod and promulgated by the
Major Archbishop.
All Contrary dispositions
notwithstanding.
Given from the Major Archiepiscopal
Curia of the Syro-Malabar Church at
Mount St Thomas on 10th April 1999.
Sd/-
+ Varkey Vithayathil, C.Ss.R.
Apostolic Administrator
Sd/-
Fr. Jose Porunnedom
Chancellor |
