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Report of the Syro-Malabar Commission for Liturgy

           

The following report of the Commission for Liturgy is from December 2005 to August 2006.  The Commission is assisted as usual by the Syro Malabar Central Liturgical Committee and hence the report deals also with the deliberations of the Central Liturgical Committee in which the Commission members also participate.

 

I. Meeting of the Committee to scrutinize the language perfection and the textual authenticity of the liturgical texts approved by the Synod.

 

The XIII Synod (August 2005) appointed a committee of Bishops including the members of the Commission for Liturgy (Bishops Paul Chittilapilly, Thomas Elavanal and Abp Mathew Moolakkatt), Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy, Bishops George Punnakottil, Mathew Anikuzhikattil, Joseph Perumthottam, Sebastian Adayanthrath and Jose Porunnedom to scrutinize the language perfection and the textual authenticity of the liturgical texts approved by the Synod. The committee met from 2006 March 2, 6PM to March 3, 1PM and scrutinized the language perfection and the textual authority of the following Liturgical Texts.

1.      The text of the Penitential Rite.

2.      The Rite of the Ordination to Karoya, Heupdiakna, M’samsana.

3.      The Rite of the Blessing of the Oil.

II. Request for recognitio of the Holy See to promulgate them for liturgical celebrations in the Syro-Malabar Church

 

The Commission for Liturgy submitted with the modifications of the Synod to the Major Archbishop on May 5, 2006 the following Liturgical Texts which are approved unanimously by the Fathers of the Synod of the Syro – Malabar Church to request the recognitio of the Holy See to promulgate them for liturgical celebrations in the Syro-Malabar Church.

1.      The Rite of the Installation of the Major Archbishop (XI Synod 2003).

2.      The Rite of the Episcopal Ordination (XI Synod 2003).

3.      The Rite of the Installation of the Archbishop/Bishop (XI Synod 2003).

4.      The Rite of the Priestly Ordination (XI Synod (2003).

5.      The Rite of the Ordination to Karoya, Heupdiakna, M’samsana (XIII Synod (2005).

6.      The Rite of the Blessing of the Oil (XIV Synod, Session 1 (2006).

III. Th III. Synodal Committee Meeting to study the translation of the Psalms

 

The synodal committee, consisting of Bishop Paul Chittilapilly (Convener), Bishop George Punnakottil, Bishop George Alencherry, Bishop Thomas Elavanal, Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt, Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt to study and evaluate the Psalms was held on 28-30 March 2006; 23-25 May 2006; 12-14 July 2006 at Mount St. Thomas and has made a detailed study on 46-97 Psalms and finalized the text with certain modifications.  Fr Paul Kalluveettil and Fr Pauly Kannookadan have also attended the meeting.

 

IV. The Synodal Committee to evaluate the hymns in the propria and to incorporate all the observations received from the Holy See regarding the propria.

 

The Synodal committee including the members of the commission for liturgy (Bishops Paul Chittilapilly, Thomas Elavanal and Abp Mathew Moolakkatt) and Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy, Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath and Bishop Joseph Perumthottam to evaluate the hymns in the propria and to incorporate all the observations received from the Holy See regarding the propria met several times and finalized the 4 volumes of Propria.  The hymns of the Propria are prepared by Professor Mathew Ullakanthara, Professor Thomas Kannyamplavan and Rev. Dr Cherian Kunniyanthodath. Besides them Fr Antony Nariculam, Fr Pauly Kannookadan, Fr Joby Koottumkal, Sr Tessy SABS, Sr Alphonsa SABS and Sr Jiss Maria SABS attended the meetings. The secretariat incorporated the suggestions and finalized the text of the four volumes.

 

V. Publication of the  propria of the Holy Qurbana in 4 Volumes

 

The text of the propria of the Holy Qurbana for the various periods of the Liturgical Year, for immovable feast days of our Lord, our Lady and the saints, and for special occasions promulgated the Major Archbishop on 1 November 2005 was published by the Commission for Liturgy in four Volumes.  A separate booklet of the general index of these four volumes is also published.  The four volumes are the following

  1. The periods of Annunciation, Nativity and Epiphany (Vol. I) published on 15th November 2005

  2. The Periods of Great Lent and Resurrection (Vol. II) published on on February 2, 2006.

  3. The Periods of Apostles and Summer (Vol. III) published on May 1, 2006.

  4. The Periods of Elijah - Cross - Moses and Dedication of the Church (Vol. IV) published on 15 August 2006.

VI. The Meeting of the Second Anaphora Committee

 

The Anaphora committee consisted of Fr Paul Kalluveettil CMI, Fr Antony Nariculam, Fr Jacob Vadakel, Fr Jose Kochuparambil, Fr Varghese Manavalan and Fr Pauly Kannookadan (convener) with the Commission for Liturgy met from Thursday 4th to Friday 5th May 2006 and from Saturday 29th to Monday 31st July 2006 at Mount St.Thomas and suggested necessary literal modifications in the prayers of the second anaphora, and prepared a shortened form of the second anaphora and drafted a new version of the second anaphora on the basis of it.  The committee will present the draft texts with reasonable arguments of their findings in the next SMCLC meeting. The draft texts will be sent to the diocesan committees for discussion only after this meeting of the interaction of SMCLC with the committee.

 

VII. English Translation of the Text of the Sacraments.

 

The secretariat had prepared the English translation of the text of the Sacraments in collaboration with Rev. Dr Philips Wadakekalam and Rev. Dr Antony Nariculam.   English Translation was sent to the Fathers of the Synod for observation before the approval in the coming session of the Synod in August 2006.

 

VIII. Reprinting of the Liturgical Books of the Syro-Malabar Church

 

The following Liturgical books were reprinted in 2006 as per request of the dioceses for copies:

  1. Taksa of the Holy Qurbana Simple and Solemn form (1500 copies)

  2. Taksa of the Holy Qurbana Most Solemn  form (1000 copies)

  3. Text of the English Translation of the Holy Qurbana for the common use (1000 copies).

VIII. Liturgical Books of the Syro-Malabar Church in preparation for publication

 

The following Liturgical Books are in preparation for publication:

  1. The Rite of Reconciliation for communitarian Service (Hussayya)

  2. The Syro-Malabar Panchangam and Sheet Calendar in Malayalam

  3. The Syro-Malabar Panchangam and Sheet Calendar in English

IX. The Present Status of the Revision of the Liturgical Books of the Syro-Malabar Church

 

A. Newly Promulgated Liturgical Texts of the Syro-Malabar Church

1.      Holy Qurbana (Raza 1986)

2.      Holy Qurbana (Ordinary and Solemn 1989)

3.      Holy Sacraments (2004)

4.      Propria of the Holy Qurbana (ad experimentum 2005)

5.      Divine Office (ad experimentum)

6.      Calendar and Lectionary (ad experimentum)

B. The texts sent for recognitio of the Holy See

1.      The Rite of the Installation of the Major Archbishop

2.      The Rite of the Episcopal Ordination

3.      The Rite of the Installation of the Archbishop/Bishop

4.      The Rite of the Priestly Ordination

5.      The Rite of the Ordination to Karoya, Heupdiakna, M’samsana

6.      The Rite of the Blessing of the Oil

C.  The Texts approved by Synod for publication

1.      The Rite of Reconciliation for communitarian Service (Hussayya)

D. The Synod needs to finalize the following texts, which were sent to the Eparchies for their suggestions.

1.      Holy Week Liturgy – Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Passion Friday, Holy
         Saturday and Easter Sunday.

2.      Christmas liturgy

3.      Vibhoodi Liturgy

E. The Central Liturgical Committee had already prepared the final drafts of the following Liturgical Texts for the Synodal discussion.

1.      Dedication of the Church

2.      Profession of the Religious

3.      Dedication of the members of the Secular Institute and Apostolic Life

4.      Blessing of the Deppa

5.      Rededication of the Churches

6.      Blessing of the Sacred Vessels

7.      Translation of the Sacraments

F. Texts in preparation

1.      Second Anaphora

2.      Translation of the Psalms

3.      Divine Office

G.      Draft to be prepared for the discussion

1.      Revision of the Sacramentals

2.      Third Anaphora

3.      Second set of Lectionary

4.      New Anaphorae

5.      Revision of the Holy Qurbana

6.      General Guidelines for the Liturgical Celebrations

IX. A Word of Thanks

 

First of all the Commission for Liturgy thank God for His loving protection and wise guidance. The Chairman and members of the Commission with the secretariat take this opportunity to place on record our gratitude to the Major Archbishop, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, to all the members of the Synod of Bishops, to all members of the Syro-Malabar Central Liturgical Committee and to all the members of the Curia and the whole staff at Mount St. Thomas for their love and concern towards the activities of the Commission for Liturgy. With deep gratitude to all, who helped us in our different activities, the commission for Liturgy presents this report.
 

Fr Pauly Kannookadan

Secretary
 

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