The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India has imposed a deadline for resolving its long-standing liturgical disagreement.
Located in Kerala, the southern state of India, the church has called upon all non-compliant priests from the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese to adhere to the church synod’s endorsed Mass—where the celebrant faces the altar during the Eucharistic prayer—by July 4 or risk being expelled.
The ultimatum was issued in a pastoral letter on June 9 by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil together with Bishop Bosco Puthur, who is serving as the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese.
The letter also mandated the reading of the circular in all archdiocese’s parishes on June 16. The synod-approved Mass has been adopted by all 34 Syro-Malabar dioceses except for the key diocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, which also happens to be the Syro-Malabar Church’s central seat of authority.
A liturgy-centric controversy has engulfed the Indian Syro-Malabar Catholics, notably those within the dominant Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, for over twenty years. The debate has hinged on tradition, Latinization, and modernity.
Following the bishops’ synod in 1999, which aimed to establish uniform celebration guidelines to eliminate inconsistent practices, some priests have faced the congregation for the entire Mass, while others have faced the altar. According to the bishops, the celebrant should face the altar during the Eucharistic prayer but face the congregation during the Liturgy of the Word and after Communion.
Although most dioceses have complied with these instructions, the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese had been granted exemptions, which allowed its priests to continue facing the congregation throughout the Mass, as has been done since 1970. However, in November 2021, these exemptions were revoked, leading to disputes with groups in the archdiocese still advocating for the traditional Mass.
The significant majority of Syro-Malabar Catholics in the archdiocese, amounting to about 10% of the total 5-million-member community, prefer the celebrant to face the congregation throughout Mass.
In the statement issued on June 9, seminarians and deacons within the archdiocese were also instructed to agree to celebrate the synod-sanctioned Mass, with the condition that non-compliance would preclude them from ordination.
The church cautioned its faithful that attending any Mass other than the synod-approved version after July 3rd would be considered invalid and that these would not fulfill the Sunday obligation. Additionally, priests without episcopal consent would not be authorized to administer parishes or church-affiliated institutions.
Nonetheless, representatives of those opposing the synod-approved Mass have stated their refusal to accept it.
Riju Kanjookaran, a spokesperson of the Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency advocating for the preservation of the traditional Mass approach, has called the decision “arbitrary” and emphasized that it lacks input from priests and lay leaders, rendering it non-binding.
Kanjookaran challenged the issuance of the pastoral letter, especially in light of an upcoming extraordinary synod on June 14 intended to address the liturgical issues, suggesting that the synod is not interested in engaging with the priests or laity but rather in imposing its own preferences.
The parishes have demonstrated solidarity with the tradition by submitting resolutions in favor of the traditional Mass to both the synod and the Vatican. Out of roughly 470 priests in the archdiocese, 450 support the customary practice, he mentioned.
Pope Francis, in May, expressed that the division within the Indian Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is the devil’s work, emphasizing that the discord undermines the unity that Christ desired for his disciples.
UCA News, an autonomous Catholic news source focusing on East, South, and Southeast Asia, together with CNS Rome contributed to the preparation of this report.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the main issue in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church’s liturgical dispute?
A: The dispute revolves around the orientation of the priest during the Eucharistic liturgy. The synod-approved Mass requires priests to face the altar during the Eucharistic prayer and the congregation at other times, while some factions wish to maintain the tradition of the priest facing the congregation throughout the entire Mass.
Q: What will happen if the priests do not comply with the synod’s directives by July 4?
A: Those priests who do not comply with the synod-endorsed Mass may face expulsion from the Church.
Q: What does it mean for the laity if they attend a Mass that is not synod-approved after July 3?
A: Attending a non-synod-approved Mass will be considered invalid, and it will not fulfill the obligation of attending Sunday Mass.
Q: How many priests are in favor of maintaining the traditional form of the Mass in Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese?
A: Out of approximately 470 priests in the archdiocese, 450 are in support of the traditional Mass format.
Q: What is the stance of Pope Francis regarding the dispute?
A: Pope Francis described the divisions as the work of the devil and highlighted the need for unity among followers of Christ without divisions or a breach of communion.
