Grade 8 New Text

Lesson-15
MARY, THE MOTHER AND MODEL

OF THE CHURCH
Jesus completed his sacrificial
life on mount Calvary. Even as he
was hanging on the cross
between two notorious thieves
and being mocked by the soldiers
around, his eyes were on some of
his beloved ones, including his
mother Mary, down there.
There were, standing beneath

the cross, his own beloved
mother, Mary, the sister of his
mother and wife of Clopas, and
Mary Magdalene. Seeing his
mother and the disciple he loved,
Jesus told his mother, “Woman,
here is, your son!” Then he said to
the disciple, “Here is, your
mother!” (Jn. 19:25-27).
When Jesus entrusted his mother to the care of his beloved disciple and the
disciple to his mother, Jesus was entrusting all of us to his mother and Mary, his
mother, to us. For a Christian, the motherhood of Mary is a spiritual one. She became
our mother by participating in God's salvific plan with Jesus and by enduring the pain
and suffering associated with it.
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The Mother, who Received the Word
At the time of annunciation, when the angel

asked Mary to become the mother of the son of God,
she naturally had her own doubts. So she asked the
angel, “How shall this be, since I am a virgin?” Then
the angel disclosed God's plan to her. “The Holy Spirit
will come upon you, and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will
be holy, he will be called Son of God” (Lk. 1:35-36).
Mary said to the angel, “Here, am I the servant of the
Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Lk.
1:38). As Mary was prepared to fulfill God's will, she
became the mother of the son of God. In the Gospel,
Jesus extols his mother for her ability to listen to the
Word of God and obey it in her life (Lk. 11:28).
Mary, the Mother of the Church
After the death of Jesus, Mary gathered

together the disciples of Jesus and prayed with them.
“All these (the disciples) were constantly devoting
themselves to prayer, together with certain women,
including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his
brothers” (Act 1:14). Mary lived with them meditating
on the word of God. Thus Mary who gave birth to
Jesus, the head of the Church, also participated in
giving birth to the Church, which is the body of Christ.
Thus she became the mother not only of Jesus, its
head, but also of the Church, his body.
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Mary the Symbol and Model
of the Church
The Church is the community of believers who

are on their pilgrimage to heaven. Mary's own life was a
pilgrimage of faith. She started that pilgrimage when
she said to the angel “Here, am I the servant of the
Lord…” (Lk. 1:38). It was a journey filled with mixed
experiences of misunderstanding, various difficulties,
sacrifices, joys and satisfaction. In all these, she
believed in God's love and providence and moved
forward. Mary is the one who believed firmly that there
is nothing impossible with God. The generations
proclaim her name saying “Blessed is she who believed
that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to
her by the Lord” (Lk. 1:45).
Mary is the symbol of the Church, the faithful

bride of Christ. Mary is the model for the entire Church in
faith, charity and total fidelity to the Lord. The life of
Mary, who dedicated herself totally to God and carried
on her life in fidelity to His Word, is a symbol of the
Church who is called to dedicate herself in fidelity to the
Word of God. Mary who was taken up in body and soul
to heaven is the symbol of the Church to be glorified at
the end of time.
Mary's Intercession and Protection
Mother Mary sought the help of Jesus when

wine ran out at the marriage party in Cana. Though
Jesus responded to her saying that His time had not
come, Mary told the attendants, “Do what he says.”
Through this incident, Mary gives us an insight into her
own life which was rich in holiness. She became a
happy mother by bearing the Word of God in her heart
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and pondering over it. Like Mary we can become happy and successful as well, if we
do what Jesus wants us to do.
The Church has always been enthusiastic about seeking the intercession of
Mary our Mother. Think of the great number of churches all over the world dedicated to
her and the prayers composed and festivals celebrated in honour of her. Think of the
number of individuals in the Church who bear the name 'Mary' or “Maria'. It is worth
remembering how the Popes in the Church encouraged, from time to time, Marian
devotion.
The Different Forms of Marian Devotion
Marian devotion is seen in the Church starting from the very first century itself.
All those most significant devotional practices to Mother Mary have originated from the
liturgy or are integrated into liturgical celebrations both in the Oriental and Western
Churches. (Marian Devotion, No. 15). Marian devotion in expressed through the
recitation of the rosary, pilgrimage to Marian shrines, observation of fast and
abstinence, and celebration of Marian festivals.
The recitation of the rosary is a very significant and universally, practiced

Marian devotion. Pope John Paul II teaches on the importance and richness of the
holy rosary in the Apostlolic instruction “The Rosary of Holy Mother Mary.” He calls the
rosary 'an abridged form' of the Gospel.
The Mar Thomma Christians have always been eager to follow and advance in
Marin devotion along with their liturgical practices. Every Wednesday was set apart
for Marian devotion. In the Syro-Malabar liturgy 'Yama Prarthana' has a significant
place. And it is in this prayer that Marian devotion is officially reflected. In our Church,
the 'Yama Prarthana' of Wednesday is enriched with hymns anal prayers in honour of
Mary, our mother. All the festivals of Mary have been very faithfully observed and
celebrated in all our churches from the very beginning. It is particularly worth
remembering that Mar Thomma Christians observed fast and abstinence in
preparation for the important Marian Festivals. They observed fifteen day's
abstinence in preparation for the feast of Assumption and eight day's abstinence
before the feast of Mary's Nativity.
Marian devotion enhances our love for Jesus. Let us live in Marian devotion
and complete our pilgrimage to heaven along with Mary, our mother.
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The Important Feasts in Honour of Mary
1. The Feast of the Purification of Mary : February 2.

2. The Feast of the Annunciation : March 25
3. The Feast of Mother Carmel : July 16
4. The Feast of the Assumption of Mary : August 15
5. The Nativity of Mary : September 8.
6. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary : December 8
7. The Motherhood of Mary : The Sunday after
Christmas
8. The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Mary : The day after the
feast of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus
Word of God to Remember

Word of God “Blessed is she who believed that there
to Read and
would be a fulfillment of what was
Meditate
spoken to her by the Lord”
Lk. 1:39-56
(Lk: 1:45).
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus give us spiritual and physical My Resolution
health and protection through the prayers of I shall always seek the intercession
your Mother Mary. Make us share the of Mary, my heavenly Mother.
eternal banquet with your Mother.
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To Think with the Church
Mary has by grace been exalted above all angels and men to a place second
only to her Son, as the most holy mother of God who was involved in the
mysteries of Christ: she is rightly honoured by a special cult in the Church. From
the earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honoured under the title of Mother of
God, in whose protection the faithful take refuge together in prayer in all their
perils and needs. (Vat. II, The Church, No. 66.)
To Know the Mother Church

The Syro-Malabar Church was raised to the status of an Archiepiscopal Church in 1992, and
Mar Antony Padiyara was made the first Major Archbishop. A synod of Bishops of the Syro-
Malabar Church was held in 1993 to organize the activities of the Church in accordance with
the identity of the Church. The head office of the Syro-Malabar Church was inaugurated at
Mount St. Thomas in Kakkanad, in 1995. It was in 1999 the functioning of the diocese of
Belthangady initiated. The dioceses of Trichur and Tellicherry were made Archdioceses in
1995, and Kottayam was raised to the status of an Archdiocese in 2005. In keeping with the
Church's policy of taking care of the spiritual needs of the members of the Syro-Malabar
Church spread out in the world, a new diocese was created in Chicago, USA (2001), for the
members of the Church in America. The diocese as Melbourne in Australia (2013) and the
diocese in great Briton for the Syro – Malabar faithful in England (2016), An Apostolic Exarcate
in Missisaga (Canada) in 2015, Apostolic Visitation in New zealand and Europe for the
pastoral and spiritual upliftment of the Syro- Malabar faithful are in their ministries in the
respective places. In 2007 the diocese of Bhadravathi and in 2010 the Diocese of Mandya
were also erected. The Syro-Malabar Church which is blessed with innumerable vocations to
priesthood and religious life is actively engaged in the pastoral care of the faithful and
missionary activities in various parts of India and abroad.
Questions
1. What part did Mary play in the birth of the Church?
2. Explain, how Mary is the symbol and model of the Church.
3. What is the basis in Gospel for the Marian intercession?
4. Write a short note on the Marian Devotion of the Marthomma Nazranies.
5. Which are the important feasts of Mary?
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Lesson-14
THE CHURCH IS UNIVERSAL
Jesus said, “The Kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that
someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has
grown it is the greatest of all shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air
come and make nests in its branches.” (Mt. 13:31-32). This parable is applicable to the
Church.
The Church is Present Everywhere
On the day of Pentecost, when the Church was formed, there were people
who spoke different languages and belonged to different nations like the Parthians
and the Medes, … listening to the preaching of the apostles. (Act. 2:5-11). So, at the
very start of the Church, we can say, the Church reflected catholicity or universality.
The catholicity of the Church means that the Church is present everywhere in the
world and she becomes the way of salvation for all peoples of the world. 'Catholicity' or
'Universality' was the term used from the beginning to indicate this particular character
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of the Church. The English word, 'Catholic' was formed from the Greek word
'Katholikos'. This term means, 'open to all' or 'embracing all'. We apply this term
'Catholic' to the Church in the sense that the church 'embraces all.'
The Church Embraces all the People of the World
Keeping the whole of humanity in mind, God called Abraham the Father of
nations. Through the call of Abraham, God formed the people of Israel. But the
purpose of this call and choice was the salvation of the entire humanity. Jesus was
born as the Good News for all peoples and as the Saviour of the entire world. Jesus
through his life and words, gave the message of salvation for all. He commissioned the
apostles to go to the whole world and proclaim the Good News. Through them the
Church, the visible sign of the kingdom of God, was established and its universality
confirmed.
The Church Embraces all Cultures
The Church is to lead the whole world to salvation. She is bound to go into all
cultures and receive all cultures and sanctify all cultures, irrespective of religion, race
and caste. The universality of the Church is reflected in that fishing net that contained
153 large fish and yet was not torn. God wants that all people must know the truth and
be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). So the catholicity of the Church means that it contains all
peoples.
St. John Damascene speaks of the universality of the Church: “The Church is
universal because she has gathered into one salvific faith and the knowledge of God,
peoples who are diverse in tradition, language, culture and race.” St. Iraneus teaches
that, the diversity in tradition confirms the unity in faith. According to St. Augustine, the
diversity in tradition reflects the beauty of the Church.
Different Traditions and Universality
Pope John Paul II says, “In the Church, there is the Oriental Tradition and also
the Latin Tradition. The catholicity of the Church is not reflected in its totality through
one tradition alone. All should taste and know the universality of the Church that is
preserved and made to grow in the life of the oriental and western Churches, a legacy
that is divine and indivisible” (Kizhakkinte Velicham, No.1). Thus we see that the
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universality of the Church is reflected clearly when we preserve and live the oriental
and western traditions of the Church.
The Universal Councils of the Church
The Universal Councils of the Church play an all important role in expressing
the unity and universality of the Church. Twenty one Universal Councils have taken
place in the Church till now. Over and above we can speak of a council that took place
during the time of the apostles themselves, which was held in Jerusalem to discuss the
question of exempting the gentile Christians from the Jewish practice of circumcision.
God revealed through Peter, the head of the apostles, and Paul , the zealous apostle
of Christ, that circumcision was not needed. The councils are held in the Church to
interpret the mysteries of faith to the peoples, to bring about renewal in the Church,
and to find solutions to the various problems faced by the Church.
The Church is the sign of salvation for all peoples. God wills that all should
come into the Church through the proclamation of the gospel and the witnessing by
the members of the Church.

Word of God Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be
to Read and
proclaimed in his name to all nations,
Meditate
beginning from Jerusalem.
Acts: 4:32 – 5:11
(Lk. 24:47).
Let us Pray My Resolution

Jesus Christ, God of all peoples and Like the apostles who preached the
Lord of all things created, illuminate gospel everywhere, I shall pass on
the entire world by the light of the gospel message to all according
your gospel. to my state of life.
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The one People of God is accordingly present in all the nations of the earth, since its
citizens, who are taken from all nations, are of a kingdom whose nature is not
earthly but heavenly. All the faithful scattered throughout the world are in
communion with each other in the Holy Spirit so that 'he who dwells in Rome knows
those in most distant parts to be his members’
(Vat II, The Church No. 13)

Ernakulam was made an Archdiocese and Trichur, Changanacherry and Kottayam
as suffrogon dioceses by Pope Pius XI on 21st December 1923. The diocese of
Tellicherry was formed in 1953 for the emigrant Syro-Malabar Christians. The
boundaries of the diocese of Changanacherry were expanded towards the South till
Kanyakumari, spreading through the dioceses of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and
Kottayam. The diocese of Trichur was extended crossing over to the areas under the
diocese of Coimbatore. The diocese of Tellicherry was extended across the borders
of the dioceses of Mysore and Mangalapuram. In the same year the diocese of
Kottayam was expanded making it touch the borders of the entire Syro-Malabar
Church. Changanacherry was raised to the status of an Archdiocese in 1956.
Questions
1. What is meant by the Universality or Catholicity of the Church?
2. The Church includes all peoples and cultures: explain.
3. What is the teaching of St. John Damascene on the universality of the
Church?
4. When is the Catholicity of the Church expressed?
5. What is the purpose of the universal council of the Church?
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Lesson-13
THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC
One day Jesus went up the hill. He called to him those whom he desired; and
they came to him. “And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with
him, and to be sent out to proclaim and to have authority to cast out demons” (Mk.
3:13-17). Jesus built his Church on the foundation of the apostles and this is the
reason why we call the Church as Apostolic. St. Paul says: “…built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the corner stone,
in him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in
whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God” (Eph. 2:20-
22). The apostles who were called to be the eye-witnesses of the Christ event and
preachers of the salvific mission became his witnesses through the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit. It was the witnessing and the proclamation of the apostles that formed the
Church.
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The Faith Experience of the Apostles
The faith experience of the apostles is the basis of the Church. When Jesus
asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Messiah, the
Son of the living God.” Jesus was pleased with this answer and he said: “Blessed are
you, Simon son of Jonah!.. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my
Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
Church…” (Mt. 16:15-18). Representing all the apostles Peter made this proclamation
of faith in the divinity of Jesus. Remember St. Thomas, the Father of our faith, also
proclaimed his faith in the Lord Jesus saying “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28). The
apostles believed in Jesus as the Lord and God and proclaimed this faith with
boldness to others. And those who listened to the proclamation accepted this faith.
Thus the faith-experience of the apostles became the basis of the Church, the
community of believers.
The Missions of the Apostles
God wanted to liberate Israel from the slavery in Egypt and lead them to the
land of Canaan. He made plans to make them his own holy people. God realized this
plan by choosing some individuals and entrusting them with certain missions. They
were the prophets, the Priests and the Kings. The prophets spoke to the people in the
name of God and corrected them when they went wrong. The priests offered sacrifices
to God for the sanctification of the people. And the Kings gave leadership and
defended Israel against the enemies. This triple mission which provided a kind of
salvation – experience to Israel was fully realized in Jesus who was to come. Jesus
became a prophet, priest and King at the one and the same time. Jesus, by anointing
the apostles with the Holy Spirit, handed over this triple mission to them. The apostles
fulfilled their salvific mission, entrusted to them, through teaching the people, the
prophetic mission; through sanctifying, the priestly mission; and through shepherding,
the kingly mission. The Bishops, who derived their authority from the apostles, share
in the same mission.
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The Teachings of the Apostles
The apostles who were filled with the Holy Spirit preached the Good News of
salvation to all the people. They affirmed that Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Jews
crucified and killed, God raised from the dead and to which they were witnesses (Acts
3:15). Besides, they declared that Jesus, who, in the eyes of the Jews, had a very
humiliating death on a cross, was the expected saviour and God gave him a name
above every other name, making him Lord. The apostles made it clear that those who
believe in Jesus and confess his name will be saved. Even when they had to suffer
persecution on account of this teaching, they continued to proclaim him boldly. And
those who received the faith from the apostles also bore witness to him even in
adverse circumstances.
The Apostles and the Communities of Believers

The apostles who received the Holy Spirit went to various places proclaiming
the Gospel. Wherever they preached the Gospel, communities of faith, sprang up. St.
Thomas preached the Gospel in places like Persia and India. So the Churches in
these places consider St. Thomas as the Father of their faith.
The Apostolic Heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church

Our fore-fathers had the privilege of receiving the faith directly from St.
Thomas, the Apostle. We, the members of the Syro-Malabar Church inherit this faith
tradition. References like 'Mar Thomma Nazranikal' 'Mar Thomma Christians' are
indicatives of our apostolic tradition and heritage. It was St. Thomas who confessed
Jesus as Lord and God and expressed his readiness to go and die with him. The faith
experience that we have received through the apostle St. Thomas is the apostolic
foundation of the Syro-Malabar Church.
The Bishops
The Bishops in the Church are the successors of the apostles. They, through
the power of the Holy Spirit given to them, are the authentic teachers of faith, the high
priests and shepherds. They are the shepherds of the Lord's sheep entrusted to their
care (The Bishops, No. 2, 3). The Bishop is the head of the local Church, namely the
diocese. In union with the Pope, a Bishop teaches, leads and sanctifies the people
entrusted to his care in a diocese.
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The Major Archbishop
Patriarchal Churches are local Churches having

the self-governing power which is exercised in union
with the Pope. The head of a Patriarchal Church is
called a Patriarch. Besides the Patriarchal Churches
these are also Major Archiepiscopal Churches having
the same rights and powers as the patriarchal
Churches. The Head of a Major Archiepiscopal Church
is called a Major Archbishop. The Syro-Malabar Church
was raised to this status in 1992. Mar Antony Padiyara
became the first Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar
Church with its head quarters in the Archdiocese of
Ernakulam – Angamaly. In 1997 Mar Varkey Vithayathil
was appointed as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-
Malabar Church. It was in 2011 Mar George Cardinal
Alencherry was elected as the Major Archbishop by the
Syro- Malabar Bishops Synod.
The Primacy of the Pope
Jesus himself gave the first place to Simon Peter

among all the apostles chosen by him. Peter was a
witness to all the important events in Jesus life. Peter
who enjoyed the privilege of special consideration and
love of Jesus and who was also scolded by him on
certain occasions, was given the first place by Jesus in
founding the Church and in exercising the mission of the
Church. We can see the Primacy of Peter in the Gospel
of Mathew. Jesus promised that he would establish the
Church on Peter, the rock, and give him the Keys of the
Kingdom of God. (Mt. 16; 17-19). So we know that
Jesus appointed Peter as the first among the twelve
apostles. So we should say that the Pope is the first
among the Bishops in the Church as he is the successor
of Peter. The Pope is at the one and the same time the
Bishop of Rome and the head of the Universal Church.
He has the authority to lead, sanctify and teach the
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Universal Church. The first Vatican Council declared the Primacy of the Pope as a
fundamental truth. Through the encyclicals and apostolic instructions the Pope
exercises his teaching authority over the entire Church.
The Collegiality of Bishops
Just as St. Peter and the other eleven apostles had apostolic fellowship, the
Bishops who are the successors of the apostles and the Pope who is taking the place
of St. Peter, have an apostolic mission and fellowship which is exercised in the
leadership of the Church. The Pope is the Head of the council of Bishops. When the
Bishops of the Church exercise their apostolic authority in union with the Pope, we see
the collegiality of Bishops. The ecumenical councils also reflect the collegiality of
Bishops.
The Catholic Church is the Church that has received its faith from the apostles
and is led by the Bishops, the successors of the apostles. Let us be proud of being part
of this great Church and do our best to preserve, live and hand down this faith from
generation to generation.

Word of God “You are citizens with the saints and also members
to Read and of the hosehold of God, built upon the foundation

Meditate of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus
Eph : 2:17-22 himself as the cornerstone”
(Eph: 2:19-20).
Let us Pray
Lord, just as Moses led the Chosen people of
My Resolution
God to the Promised Land, bless the
I shall pray for my Parish
Shepherds of our Church so that they may
Priest and Bishop every day.
effectively lead your people towards the
heavenly Jerusalem.
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Just as, in accordance with the Lord's decree, St Peter and the rest of the
apostles constitute a unique apostolic college, so in like fashion the Roman
Pontiff, Peter's successor, and the bishops, the successors of the apostles, are
related with and united to one another. Indeed, the very ancient discipline
whereby the bishops installed throughout the whole world lived in communion
with one another and with the Roman Pontiff in a bond of unity,
charity and peace (Vat. II, The Church No. 22).

With a view to free the Mar Thomma Christians from the Latin jurisdiction, which
lasted for about four centuries, and restore its individuality, Pope Leo XIII
established a separate hierarchy for the Latin Catholics, in September 1886.
Thereafter, the Mar Thomma Christians were brought directly under Roman rule on
20th May 1887. Thus, Kottyam and Trichur Vicariates were established. Later for
better administration the Mar Thomma Christians were brought under three
Vicariates - Trichur, Changanacherry and Ernakulam, on 28th July 1896. For the first
time three sons of the soil were made Bishops by Rome: Mar Luis Pazheparambil in
Ernakulam, Mar John Menacherry in Trichur, and Mar Mathew Makkil in
Changanacherry. Further Changanacherry vicariate was divided in 1911 in order to
create the diocese of Kottayam, which was meant specifically for the Knanaya
Catholic Community.
Questions
1. How does the faith experience of the apostles become the foundation of the
Church?
2. What are the functions of the Bishops, the successors of the apostles?
3. Write a short note on the apostolicity of the Syro-Malabar Church.
4. When does the council of Bishops express itself in the Church?
5. What do you mean by the Primacy of the Pope?
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Lesson-12
THE CHURCH IS HOLY

Once prophet Isaiah was
praying in the temple and he
had a vision. He saw the Lord
seated on a throne. The hem of
his robe filled the entire temple.
Above him stood the seraphim;
each had six wings; with two he
covered his face and with two
he covered his feet and with two
he flew. And one called to
another and said: “Holy, holy,
holy is the Lord of hosts; the
whole earth is full of his glory.”
And the foundations of the
thresholds shook at the voice of
him who called, and the house
was filled with smoke (Is. 6:1-4).
This vision of Isaiah is one that
reveals God's holiness.
God is holy and it was to this

holiness that Israel was called.
Israel is the holy people of God. The same is true of the Church, the new Israel.
Holiness is the fundamental characteristic of the Church. Paul, the apostle, in his
letters often addresses Christians as those who are holy in the Lord or those who are
called to holiness in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:2, Rom 1:7).
All are Called to Holiness
It is God's will that we all become holy. We read in Leviticus: “Speak to all the
congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: you shall be holy, for I the Lord,
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your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2). Apostle Paul reminds us: “For God did not call us to
impurity, but in holiness” (1 Thess. 4:7). God created us to share in His holiness as we
read in Ephesians: “…..Just as He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the
world to be holy and blameless before him in love” (Eph 1:4). Again St. Peter reminds
Christians: “…Instead, as He who called is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct”
(1 Pet. 1:15); Hence we are all called to holiness and we should be so.
The Church is Holy, and yet to be Sanctified
The Church is at once holy and yet to be sanctified. She is constantly being
sanctified through repentance and conversion. (LG 8). The Church is a community
called by the most high God, who is Holy, and dedicated to His service. The holy one,
God, is dwelling in the Church. The Church is being led by the Holy Spirit. The Church
is also enriched by the presence of so many holy people in it. All these factors account
for the holiness of the Church. However we should not forget that members of the
Church are also sinners and weak mortals. In the letter to the Hebrews we read:
“Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs
up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled” (Heb. 12:14-15). This
word of God refers to the importance and need for keeping holiness in our lives.
Sanctification through Jesus
In the Old Testament, the Blood of the lamb that was sacrificed in expiation of
sins could sanctify the temple, the altar and the people. In the New Testament, Jesus,
the Lamb of God, purifies us through his blood. It was his sacrifice on the cross that
liberated us from the power of the evil one, sanctified us
from sin and made us God's children. It was to lead us to the
holiness and perfection of the Father that Jesus became
the sacrificial lamb.
Sanctification through the

Word of God
The Word of God has the power to sanctify us.

Jesus said: “You have already been cleansed by the word
that I have spoken to you.” (Jn. 15:3). A leper who came to
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Jesus for healing said: “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” Seeing his faith,
Jesus said to him: “Be made clean.” (Mt. 8:3). Any one who heard and paid heed to the
words of Jesus became clean both physically and spiritually. Before leaving this world
and going to the Father, Jesus prayed to his Father for all of us: “Sanctify them in the
truth; your word is truth.” (Jn 17:17).
“Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock
in pieces?” asks God (Jer. 23:29). Gold is purified in fire. The longer it melts in fire the
purer it becomes. In the same way when we receive the Word of God, which is like fire,
and carry it out in our lives, we become purified and clean. “All scripture is inspired by
God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for
every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The members of the Church can walk on the path
of holiness by reflecting on the Word of God prayerfully everyday and living it out
during the course of the day.
Sanctification through the Sacraments
Sacraments are the means for the

sanctification of the Church. They are the streams of
divine life established by Jesus. God sanctifies every
phase of human life through various sacraments. He
specially sanctifies our bodies and souls through the
holy sacrifice of the Qurbana everyday. The fathers of
the Church teach us that, just as God sanctified the
prophet Isaiah, who cried out to Him that he was
unworthy, with a burning coal taken from the altar, we
are sanctified by the burning coal that is the Holy
Eucharist. The Church Father St. Ephrem says:
“Those who receive the Holy Eucharist are filled with
the Holy Spirit and fire and consequently they are
sanctified.”
The Altar is the symbol of Holiness in a Church.

The priest, during the celebration of the Eucharistic
sacrifice, announces to the people, that the holy
Eucharist is meant for those who are holy themselves
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and the people in response affirm that only the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are
holy. This response of the worshiping community is indicative of the unworthiness of
the people on the one hand and on the other, their participation in the holiness of the
Triune God.
On occasions when we get away from God's holiness on account of our sins,
we should receive the sacrament of reconciliation and regain the divine life and the
strength to keep away from sins.
Sanctification through the Sacramentals
The Sacramentals help us to grow in holiness. They prepare us to receive

God's love and kindness and assist us in our growth in holiness. The sacramentals are
rituals that sanctify the members of the Church, in their varying states of life, situations,
places and things they use.
Sanctification through Prayer, Fasting and Abstinence
Prayer, fasting and abstinence are also means for sanctification. In prayer we
meet God; we come to know His will for us. Through prayer we can confess our
weaknesses and limitations before the Almighty God and gain strength and
confidence. Anyone who prays sincerely is greatly strengthened against falling into sin
or in case of failure, he gets back to the path of holiness quickly through repentance.
Through fasting and abstinence we make amends for our own as well as for others
sins. Fasting gives us the strength to keep away from the situations of sin.
Sanctification through Our Vocations
Perfection of love is attained and holiness is achieved, by fulfilling faithfully the

duties pertaining to each one's state of life. Any state of life in the Church is a divine
vocation. Whatever is the state of life, when one moves forward on the path of
perfection of love according to his / her state of life and inspire others to grow in
holiness, the holiness illuminates (LG 39). In a way the works entrusted to one's care
can also be seen as a divine call. Through this we get an opportunity to participate in
the creative, redeeming and sanctifying works of God. They become means of
holiness for us when we lovingly co-operate and creatively respond to the call of God
and the works entrusted to us.
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Thus we become holy when we are nourished by the Word of God, the
sacraments, the sacramentals, prayer, fasting and abstinence and live according to
our divine call.
Word of God Word of God to Remember

to Read and Instead, as he who called you is holy, be
Meditate holy yourselves in all your conduct;
Jn. 17:15-26 (1 Pet. 1:15).
Let us Pray
My Resolution
Jesus, you called us to holiness.
As I am called to holiness,
Now help us become
I shall do my best to be holy.
really holy.
It is therefore quite clear that all Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the
fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of love, and by this holiness a more human
manner of life is fostered also in earthly society. In order to reach this perfection the
faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ's gift, so that, following in his
footsteps and conformed to his image, doing the will of God in everything, they may
wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their
neighbour. Thus the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is
clearly shown in the history of the Church through the life of so many saints.
(Vat. II, The Church, No. 40)
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After the death of Kariyattil Ouseph Metropolitan, Paremmakal Thomma Kathanar

took over the administration of the Church as the Governador. During his
administration efforts were made to restore the identity of the Church. One of the
important steps in this direction was the gathering of eighty-four church men at
Angamaly on the 1st of February 1787. They prepared a document called
'Padiyola', in which they enumerated the entire sacrifices made by the Mar Thoma
Christians ever since the death of Mar Abraham.
Questions
1. Explain how God revealed his holiness to the prophet Isaiah?
2. Why do you say that the Church is holy?
3. What are the means of sanctification in the Church?
4. How do the vocations become the means of holiness?
5. How do abstinence, prayer and fasting help us grow in holiness?
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Lesson-11
THE CHURCH IS ONE

Jesus said, “ I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vinegrower,
He removes every branch in me
that bears no fruit. Every branch
that bears fruit he prunes to
make it bear more fruit. You have
already been cleansed by the
word that I have spoken to you.
Abide in me as I abide in you ....
Those who abide in me and I in
them bear much fruit, because
apart from me you can do
nothing” (Jn.15:1-5). Jesus wants
that those who believe in him
shall be close to him as branches
to a vine.
Jesus established the Church

on the foundation of the apostles.
Jesus wants that all those who
are redeemed by his blood should
remain one in this Church. Jesus
who laid down his life to gather
into one flock the scattered children of God, does not wish to sanctify and redeem
people individually, cut off from others of the same faith. He willed to make them into
one people so that they might know him in truth and serve him in holiness. (LG. 9). In
the priestly prayer he offered, he prayed to his Father that just as he and his Father are
one, those who believe in him should be one (Jn. 17:21). Jesus wants to unite us to his
Father and the Holy Spirit. It is his wish that all people should join the fellowship. It is for
this purpose that he established the Church. He says, “I have other sheep, that do not
68
belong to this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there
shall be one flock, one shepherd.” (Jn. 10:16).
Church, the Fellowship of the Believers
Fellowship was the distinguishing mark of those who responded to the

preaching of the apostles in the early Church. They participated joyfully, in the
preaching of the apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers. They
were also happy to share with others what they had. Fellowship is known in the Greek
language as 'Koinonia.'
Unity in Faith
Fundamentally, it is faith that makes the Church a fellowship. Our faith is in

Triune God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as revealed by Jesus. It is the faith
in the salvation, made real by the Son of God, who was sent by the Father, for the
redemption of the world and completed by the Holy Spirit. Thus all the believers are
united in one Spirit through one Lord, one faith and one baptism.
Unity in Sacraments
Having been made into one body with Jesus through baptism, we are
nourished by the Holy Eucharist and other sacraments. St. Paul says that the cup of
blessing that we share is a participation in the blood of Christ and the bread that we
break is a participation in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 10:16-17). The Church is the
fellowship of those who participate in the one and the same life by participating on the
same spiritual drink and the same spiritual food. Thus the members of the Church are
united through one baptism and one bread for all (1 Cor. 10:3-4).
Unity in Apostleship
Jesus formed the Church through the apostles whom he chose, anointed in
the Spirit and sent to preach and baptize. He wanted the Church to be led, sanctified
and instructed by the apostles and those who took their place after them, the Bishops.
Fellowship with the apostles and the Bishops is essential for maintaining the
fellowship of the believers in the Church. This is called unity in apostleship. The
believers who are united like this have one faith, one sacrament and one apostolic
leadership. In this way all the believers are made into one body in the Holy Spirit.
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Fellowship among the
Churches
The Church is the body of Christ. In

the Church, the members live out their
Christian life in individual Churches under
one common authority of the Pope. The
Catholic Church is the fellowship or
communion of these Individual Churches.
There exists a wonderful unity among these
Churches. Diversity does not affect the unity
of the Church, rather it enhances it and
reinforces it.
There are twenty-four individual

Churches in the Catholic Church which are different in liturgy, theology, spirituality and
discipline. Each of these Churches has sprung up in its own particular historical
context and is rooted in a particular culture. Each of them has its own life-style (CCEO
28:1). They, have all equal status in the Catholic Church.
These Individual Churches follow six liturgical traditions which are ancient. Of
these, Byzantine, Antiochian, Alexandrian, Assyrian and Armenian are of Oriental
liturgical traditions and Roman (Latin) tradition is Western.
Syro-Malabar Church
The Mar Thoma Christians of India received the light of faith from Thomas, the
apostle and became Christians in the very first century itself. The Syro-Malabar
Church has been following the Mar Thoma Tradition in an unbroken manner right from
the start. The Syro-Malabar Church follows the Oriental Syrian Liturgical Tradition with
certain adaptations to Indian culture. Both the Syro-Malabar Church and Chaldean
Church follow the Oriental-Syrian liturgical tradition. Though those Churches sprang
up and grew outside the Roman Empire, they have always maintained unity and
fellowship with the See of Peter. The Syro-Malabar Church, having its own
individuality and tradition, is united in fellowship with the Catholic Church through
Faith, Sacraments and Jurisdiction.
Let us be proud of being part of the Catholic Church, established by Jesus

himself. Let us work together in fellowship with one another for the unity and growth of
the Church.
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THE CHURCH
The Western Church (Roman) The Eastern Churches
Byzantine Antiochian Alexandrian Assyrian Armenian

Albanian Syrian Coptic Chaldean
Belarusian
Bulgarian Maronite Ethiopian Syro- Malabar
Croatian&Serbian
Greek Syro-Malankara Eritrean
Hungarian
Italo - Albanian
Macedonian
Melkite
Romanian
Russian
Ruthenian
Slovak
Ukrainian

Word of God As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may
to Read and
they also be in us, so that the world may
Meditate
believe that you have sent me
John : 17:20-26
( Jn. 17:21).
Let us Pray My Resolution

Lord, let all those who believe in you I shall work and pray for unity
become one in the Church. in the Church
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This is the sole Church of Christ which in the Creed we profess to be one,
holy, catholic and apostolic,which our Saviour, after his resurrection,
entrusted to Peter's pastoral care, commissioning him and the other
apostles to extend and rule it, and which he raised up for all ages as
"the pillar and mainstay of the truth" (Vat. II, The Church No. 8).
The difference of opinion among the Mar Thomma Nazranies after the 'Koonan
Cross Oath' gradually led to division among them. One section joined themselves to
the Antiochian Church and later came to be known as 'Puthenkoottukar'. Efforts for
unifying the divided Church began in all earnestness. It was led by Kariyattil Ouseph
Malpan and Paremmakal Thomma Kathanar. Infact these two leaders met the Pope
and submitted to him a request for the unification of the divided groups. The Pope
appointed Kariyattil Ouseph Malpan as the Metropolitan of the diocese of
th
Kodungallur on 17 February 1783, but unfortunately he died in Goa on his return
journey. 'Varthamana Pusthakam' by Paremmakal Thomma Kathanar is a
travelogue on their visit to Rome. The body of the Metropolitian was buried in Goa,
but later his mortal remains were transferred to St. Mary's Church, Alangad, and
buried there.
Questions
1. The Catholic Church is the fellowship of the individual Churches.Explain.
2. What are the factors that constitute the basis of the Church's fellowship
and unity?
3. Which are the main liturgical traditions in the Catholic Church?
4. To which liturgical tradition does the Syro-Malabar Church belong?
5. On what basis are the individual Churches formed?
72
Lesson-10
THE PILGRIM CHURCH
Israel set out from Egypt. Their minds were filled with the memory of God's
wonderful deeds that brought them liberation from slavery in Egypt. They ate the
Passover Meal in haste and started off to the Promised Land of Canon. In the midst of
the sea, the Lord prepared a way for them and they walked on the sea as on dry land.
God was with them all through, during the day take a pillar of cloud and during the night
like a pillar of fire. God looked after them during their journey providing them manna
and locusts to eat, and water to drink. Under the able leadership of Moses and Joshua
they journeyed like a pilgrim people to the promised land of Canon.
The Land of Canaan is a Symbol of the Kingdom of God
God had promised that He would give a land flowing with milk and honey to the
descendants of Abraham (Gen. 12:7). It is to this land of Promise that Moses was
leading God's people. They reached this land of promise at the end of a very painful
Journey. They journeyed through the desert bearing the heat of the day and the biting
cold of the night for forty long years. They had to face the attacks of the enemies,
hunger, starvation, sickness and death during this long journey. Yet they continued
their journey putting all these trust on God. The land of Canaan or the promised land
is a symbol of the kingdom of God.
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The Pilgrim Nature of the Church
Christian life is a pilgrimage; it is a journey from the slavery of sin leading to the
heavenly Canaan, a land of promise. A pilgrimage is a journey towards a holy place or
a place of religious significance. It is usually a journey undertaken with many
difficulties. But, by the end of the pilgrimage when we reach the holy place, it will be a
wonderful experience of joy and delight. In the same way our pilgrimage to heaven
involves many difficulties and trials but at the end, when we reach heaven we enjoy
eternally the bliss of the Paradise. Heaven is the real and perfect experience of
salvation towards which the entire humanity moves with eager longing. This salvation
is made possible through Jesus and in Jesus. Jesus revealed to us that there are
many rooms in His Father's house and that he would take us there. (John: 14:2-6).
Hence, Christians are a people who move forward with eager longing for heaven and
the bliss of Paradise. It is this hope of eternal life, which gives meaning to Christian
Life.
Christian Life is a Foretaste of Heaven
Christian Life means our union with Jesus Christ. It is a state in which we are in
Christ and He is in us. A complete and final realization of this union with Christ is
heaven. We will see God face to face in heaven and we will live in union with Him
eternally enjoying beatific vision. As Pascal the apostle says, “For now we see in a
mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know
fully, even as I have been fully known” (1 Cor. 13:12).
Life in heaven as something spiritual, having nothing to do with flesh and blood
or other material realities. There will be no desires of the flesh in heaven, as life in
heaven is spiritual. While here on earth, in real Christian life, we can have a fore taste
62
of heaven, provided we live according to the promptings of the Spirit. Peace and
happiness are the fruits of the Spirit which the presence of the Holy Spirit ensures in
our lives. Enjoying peace and happiness here on earth through the presence of the
Holy Spirit, is an experience of heavenly life – only in small measures here, but this is
full measure.
Death: The Gateway to Eternity
It is God's will that man must die and after death subject himself / herself to
God's judgment. The Old Testament presents death as the natural end of man (Job
5:26). Death is also depicted in the Old Testament as the power that takes away life. It
is the time when the soul returns to God, its source (Ecl. 12:7).
The New Testament takes a fresh look at death and gives it a new meaning. It
teaches us that we have gained eternal life through Jesus Christ who conquered
death. What we are concerned about here is not physical life, but spiritual life. In St.
Paul's view, death is a gain as it is a passage from the mortal nature of man to the
immortal, eternal glory. It is a Passover from what is corruptible to what is incorruptible,
from what is earthly to what is heavenly.
Individual Judgment and Final Judgment
The Church is clear in her teaching about life after death. It contains her views
on individual judgment and final judgment. The separation of the soul from the body is
death. The body gets decayed in the soil but the soul, at the very moment of death,
appears before God, to be judged individually, according to each one's life and
conduct. We call this the individual judgment.
The final judgment is the one in which the just and the unjust are going to be
separated finally and eternally. St. Mathew the Evangelist gives us a complete and
vivid depiction of the final judgment. “Before Him will be gathered all the nations and he
will separates them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the
goats…. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, come, a blessed of my father,
inherits the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world… Then He will
say to those at His life hand, depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared
for the devil and his angels… (Mt. 25:31-46).
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The Final Judgment is the Act by which God Glorifies the
Just and Punishes the Unjust
Conversion is impossible after death. If anyone speaks about preaching the

Good News to those who are dead, it is a wrong and superstitious teaching. It is wrong
to believe that the souls of the dead wander about restlessly or enter into the body of
the living hurting them and persecuting them. With death every individual passes into
a state of salvation (heaven) or punishment (hell) or purification (purgatory).
The Final Judgment and Glorification
It is the fundamental faith of every Christian that Jesus Christ, seated at the
right hand of God the Father ,will come to judge the living and the dead.
The Holy Scriptures teaches us about

the glorious second coming of Jesus and the
sole subsequent final judgment. Questioned
by the high priest, Jesus told him, “For now on
you will see the Son of Man seated at the right
hand of power and coming on the clouds of
heaven” (Mt. 26:64). On the question of the
rising of the dead, St. Paul tells us: “For the
Lord Himself, with a cry of command, with the
archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s
trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the
dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thes. 4:16). In
the Gospel of Mathew, we read again: “When
the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the
angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne
of his glory.” (Mt. 25:31).
Hell
The Church teaches that those who deliberately continue to live in mortal sin
and opt against God even at the last moment of their earthly life will be rejected. Those
64
who die in the state of serious sin will be subjected to eternal punishment. The word
'hell' means eternal punishment. Living away from God is hell. Heaven and hell are
eternal. There are many references about hell in the scriptures. Jesus tells us not to
fear those who can kill the body but can not kill the soul. He warns us to fear him who
can destroy both soul and body in hell (Mt. 3:12; 5:22, 29; 10:28).
Purgatory
Those who get converted to God at the last moment, but do not attain to the
completion of divine love at the time of their death, are given an opportunity to purify
themselves and achieve perfection. This is what we call purgatory. In Syrian language
it is called “Bess Purkana', meaning 'a house of salvation.' The souls in purgatory are
in the hope of experiencing the complete salvation and the fullness of divine love. This
is a time of purification for them before they are admitted to a face to face vision of God.
It is not to be regarded as a place, rather a state in which the souls are on their way
towards the beatific vision. When they complete their purification they will be in heaven
along with the just. The faithful who are on earth can assist the souls in purgatory,
through their prayers, particularly the Eucharist, alms giving and sacrifices.
The Holy Scripture gives us some indications about the purgatory. In the Book
of Maccabees we read that nothing unholy will enter the presence of God. It also
exhorts us to pray for the dead (2 Macc. 12:44-45). Mar Aprem, the Syrian Church
Father says, “My brothers, observe my memory thirty days after my death, for the dead
are helped through the sacrifices offered by the living.”
Heaven
Heaven is the final goal of every believer. It is the hope of heaven that gives
meaning to human sorrows and sufferings. Heaven is life with God in the house of
God. Jesus opened for us the doors of heaven and He will take us to heaven.
There are many indications about heaven in the New Testament. “No one has
ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of man”
(Jn. 3:13). “We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in the heavens…” (Heb. 8:1). Jesus is the way that leads us to
the inheritance of His heavenly reward, prepared for us from the foundation of the
65
world. Jesus said, “…no one comes to the Father, except through me.” (Jn. 14:6).
Anyone who lives in love can get a foretaste of heaven while here on earth. We can
reach heaven by doing good works moved by faith and love.
As members of the pilgrim Church, let us continue our pilgrimage and reach
our destination, heaven, by doing good to others moved by love.

to Read and If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
Meditate again and will take you to myself, so that where
Lk. 16:19-31. I am, there you may be also (Jn. 14:3).
Let us Pray
May the souls of the faithful departed,
My Resolution
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
I will pray for the departed
Eternal Father, for the sake of the
souls every day.
precious blood of your Son Jesus have
mercy on the departed souls.
Sitting at the right hand of the Father he is continually active in the world in order
to lead men to the Church and, through it, join them more closely to himself; and,
by nourishing them with his own Body and Blood, make them partakers of his
glorious life. The promise and hope for restoration, therefore, has already begun
in Christ. It is carried forward in the sending of the Holy Spirit and through him
continues in the Church in which, through our faith, we learn the meaning of our
earthly life, while we bring to term, with hope of future good, the task allotted to
us in the world by the Father, and so work out our salvation.
(Vat. II, The Church, No. 48).
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The Bishops who administered the Archdiocese of Angamaly wanted to put into
practice the canons of the Synod of Diamper (Udayamperur). This paved the way
towards division in the Church. In the mean time Bishop Ahathullah from Syria sent a
letter to the Archdeacon through some pilgrims. The letter contained the message
that he was being sent by the Pope with the power of shepherding the Malabar
Church and that the Archdeacon should make arrangements for him to take over the
administration of the Church. The Jesuits who were against this movement put him
in the ship for Portugal. Hearing this, the Archdeacon and thousands of faithful
rushed to the Cochin Port. They were not permitted to see the Bishop. Moreover
they sailed the Bishop off without touching the Cochin Port. Greatly disappointed at
the conduct of the Jesuits, the Archdeacon and his followers rushed to the church at
Mattancherry and tied a tug to the cross in front of the church and holding the tug
took an oath that they would not any longer remain under the Jesuit administration.
This is the well known ‘Koonan Cross Oath' (Koonan Kurisu Sathayam). This took
place on the 3rd January 1653..
Questions
1. What is the hope that gives meaning to Christian life?
2. How does the Christian life become a foretaste of life in heaven?
3. How can we help our departed faithful?
4. Explain, individual judgment and final judgment.
5. Write notes on : Heaven, Hell.
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Lesson-9
THE MISSIONARY CHURCH
After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus appeared to his disciples and said:
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (Jn. 20:21). “Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”
(Mt. 28:19-20). Jesus entrusted the Church with the mission to bear witness to him.
Therefore the Church, by her very nature, is missionary (Ad Gentes (AG) No. 2).
Jesus Christ; the One Sent by God
Jesus Christ came on a mission from the Father. He was the first Missionary.
God sent his Son into the world; so that the world might be saved through him (Jn.
3:17). To a humanity that had lost the divine life through sin, Jesus gave life again and
made them children of God. He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has
come near; repent, and believe in the good news” (Mk. 1:15). This is how Jesus began
55
his missionary life. He fulfilled his Father's will by his life, death and resurrection. In
order to make available the salvation, which Jesus achieved through his death and
resurrection, to the entire humanity till the end of the world he chose the apostles and
trained them for this specific work. He gave them the Holy Spirit and laid the foundation
for the Church.
The Mission of the Church for Evangelization
The Church's mission is to proclaim Christ and make him known as the only
Saviour of the world and lead all peoples to this path of salvation. It is the duty of every
Christian to proclaim Jesus Christ to others who do not know him yet. Likewise the
members of the Church are bound to deepen their own faith and confirm others in their
faith by their words and deeds. The Church performs this God given mission in three
ways (1) The Church proclaims Christ to those people who have not heard of him. (2)
She instructs those who are already in the Church through faith and baptism, so that
they may deepen their knowledge in the mystery of faith. (3) She re-evangelizes those
Christians who have became weak in their practice of faith.
The Missionary Work of the Apostles
Jesus chose, trained and commissioned the apostles for the mission of
proclaiming the Word of God. But they became really the proclaimers of Good News
when they received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. After receiving the Holy
Spirit the apostles became bold proclaimers of Jesus' death and resurrection. They
were no more afraid of the Jews. They spoke of Jesus to the people in the light of their
own experience of Jesus' resurrection and against the background of the Old
Testament prophesies concerning Jesus. They became courageous witnesses to
Jesus. They proclaimed that Jesus of Nazareth is Christ the Son of God and that he is
the Lord. Sufferings, persecutions and imprisonment could not stop them from
proclaiming Christ and bearing witness to him. Through the preaching of the Apostles,
the Church grew and became strong and spread to the other parts of the world.
The Evangelization Work of St. Thomas, the Apostle
The disciples of Jesus spread out to distant places for evangelization. It was
St. Thomas, the Apostle who came to India to proclaim Christ. He landed at
56
Kodungalloor in 52 A.D. During that time,
there were some Jewish settlers in South
India who spoke the Syrian language. St.
Thomas worked among them for some time.
Later he preached the gospel and
established Christian communities at
Palayoor, Kottakavu, Kokkamangalam,
Kollam, Niranam and Chayal (Nilakal).
He appointed priests to lead the

Church here, and moved on to Tamil Nadu
and went to Mylapore. Knowing that his life
was in danger at the hands of those who
opposed him at Chinnamala, near Mylapore,
he took refuge at Periyamala. But his
enemies pierced him with a trident and killed
him in 72 A.D. San Thome Cathedral is
constructed at the tomb of St. Thomas, the
Apostle. The mortal remains of St. Thomas
rd
were transferred to Edesa in the 3 centaury.
It was again transferred to Kiyos Islands in
Palayoor
1141 and to Orthona, in Italy, in 1257.
Eugene Cardinal Tissarang brought a piece
of his mortal remains and placedd it for Kodungallur Kottakavu
veneration at Azhikode Shrine in

Kodungallore in 1953.
Kokkamangalam
Evangelization by the Western

Missionaries Niranam
Nilackal
(Chayal)
A group of Portuguese navigators,

Kollam
under the leadership of Vasco da Gama
landed at Calicut on 21st May 1498. They
wanted to establish trade with India. The
Thiruvamkodu (Arapally)
Christian Missionaries, who came along with
57
them, contacted the Mar Thoma Christians and exercised their religious functions in
churches of the Mar Thoma Christians. Though the relationship with the local Church
was friendly at the start, it got strained later.
Among the western missionaries, who came to

India, St. Francis Xavier was filled with zeal for Christ.
Francis Xavier, the Jesuit priest, came as the Papal
Nuncio for India and Eastern countries on 6th May
1542. His policy was favourable to Mar Thoma
Christians. He proclaimed Gospel with great zeal in the
western coasts of India. He baptized many. He
breathed his last in the Sanchious Island off the coast
th
of China on the 8 of December 1552. His mortal
remains are at Bom Jesus Basilica in Goa.
The Missionary Spirit of the Syro-

Malabar Church and it's Growth
The Christians who received faith from St. Thomas, imbibed his missionary
zeal and faith. Many missionaries, both men and women, from the Syro-Malabar
Church are engaged in octane missionary work in different parts of India. To this day a
considerable member of Indian missionaries belong to the Syro-Malabar Church.
This Church has succeeded in maintaining and increasing the Christian faith among
the non-Christians.
In recognition of the missionary spirit and zeal of the Syro-Malabar Church and
its members, Pope John 23rd entrusted the care of Chanda Mission to the Syro-
Malabar Church. Later a number of dioceses in the north, such as Satna, Sagar,
Ujjain, Bignor, Rajkot, Jagadalpur, Ghorakpur were entrusted to the Syro-Malabar
Church by the Holy See. Diocese of Kalyan was established in 1988 to look after the
spiritual needs of the members of the Syro-Malabar Church who have settled in
Mumbai for job, and trade and commerce. The diocese of Thakkala in the South was
established in 1996 and in the North, the diocese of Balthangadi in 1999 comprising
the mission territories of Kerala. The diocese of Chanda was divided and the diocese
of Adilabad was formed. The diocese of Chicago in USA is a part of the Syro-Malabar
Church.
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Every Christian is a Missionary
One is called to participate in the mission of proclaiming Christ by virtue of his

baptism. To bear witness to Christ by leading a life in accordance with the gospel
values is the fundamental mission of every Christian. This mission is carried out
differently by the members of the Church depending on the state of life each one has
chosen. Those who are in the priesthood and those who are in religious life are set
apart exclusively for sharing the mission of the church. They have accepted a call and
are set apart to go to any part of the world to proclaim the gospel. The laity are also
called to participate in the mission of the Church. They bear witness to Jesus Christ by
their words and actions, particularly when they live out their lives in the midst of people
who are non-Christians.

to Read and Go into all the world and proclaim the
Meditate good news to the whole creation.
Mk. 16:14-20 (Mark 16:15)
Let us Pray
Jesus, who came on a mission from the
My Resolution
Father, we pray to you to give the gifts of the
I will help the missionary
Holy Spirit to all those who follow their
activities of the Church through
vocation in life so that they become the
my prayer and sharing.
missionaries of love and service
in the Church.
59
Mission" is the term usually given to those particular undertakings by which the
heralds of the Gospel, sent out by the Church and going forth into the whole
world, carry out the task of preaching the Gospel and planting the Church among
peoples or groups who do not yet believe in Christ. These undertakings are
brought to completion by missionary activity and are mostly exercised in certain
territories recognized by the Holy See (Vat. II, Ad Gentes, No 6).
The Synod of Diamper which began on 20th June 1599 was a decisive one for the
Mar Thomma Christians. After the Synod of Diamper the Angamaly Archdiocese of
the Mar Thomma Christians, which had the status of metropolitan diocese, was
reduced to the status of a diocese under the jurisdiction of Goa Archdiocese, and
later it was suppressed. The rights and the privileges of the Archdiocese of
Angamaly were also suppressed. This Synod also paved the way for the
westernization of the Church of the Mar Thomma Nazranies. Again, it caused many
changes in the administrative system of the Nazranies.
Questions
1. The Church is missionary by her very nature. Explain.

2. How does the Church perform her missionary function?
3. Every Christian is a missionary. Illustrate.
4. Write notes on : The missionary endeavors of the Syro-Malabar Church.
5. How can we participate in the mission of the Church as its members?
60
Lesson-8
CHURCH: THE PROPHETIC PEOPLE

Jeremiah was a
powerful prophet in Israel.
The call of God came to
Jeremiah like this: “Before I
formed you in the womb I
knew you, and before you
were born I consecrated you;
a prophet to the nations.”
Then Jeremiah
replied: “Ah, Lord God! Truly
I do not know how to speak,
for I am only a boy.” Then the
Lord said to Jeremiah: “Do
not say I am only a boy; for
you shall go to all to whom I
send you, and you shall
speak whatever I command
you, Do not afraid of them;
for I am with you to deliver
you, says the Lord.” Then the
Lord put forth his hand and
touched his mouth and said, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I
appoint you over nations and over kingdoms….” (Jer. 1:4-10)
God sent prophets to Israel from time to time to form the people of Israel as his
own people, to make them know His will and to lead them according to His will.
Leaders like Moses, Joshua and others performed particular functions in the history of
Israel. God gave His people Israel many prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel,
Amos, Hosea and others.
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The Uniqueness of a Prophet
A prophet is the one who communicates God's message to the people. He

speaks for God. He also bears witness to God's Word in his own life. As one chosen
and appointed by God to make his will known to the people, his life may be far from
happy. He may have to face rejection, Persecution or even death as he is called to
raise his finger against all kinds of wrong doings and abuses. However, as one led by
the Spirit of God, he stands firm and bears witness to the truth to the best of his ability.
The prophets of the Old Testament have shown great courage to walk into the royal
palaces and point out the injustice and misdeeds of the rulers.
The Prophetic Function of the

Members of the Church
The disciples of Jesus, on the day of

Pentecost, being filled by the Holy Spirit,
prophesied and spoke in various tongues. The
people who had gathered in Jerusalem from
different parts of the world, were filled with
wonder when they heard them. The early
Christian community, when they received the
Holy Spirit, turned out to be a prophetic people
(Acts 2:14-19).
The members of the Church who receive

the Holy Spirit through Baptism and Anointing
become a prophetic people. The prophetic
people are those who are anointed by the Holy
Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said: “But you will receive power

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts:
1:8). To become witnesses of Jesus Christ is the
mission of those who receive the Spirit and
become prophets in the Church.
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The Salt of the Earth and
Light of the World
Jesus said to his disciples, “You are the

salt of the earth.” He again said to them. “You are
the light of the world.” (Mt. 5:13-14). He also
warned us not to let salt lose its saltness and not
to let the light go out. Salt preserves edible
things; it also gives taste. In fulfilling their
prophetic function the members of the Church
should work for the elimination of evil in the
society and to add taste to life which they
experience deep within them. Wherever they are, the members of the Church are
called to bear witness to Christ through proclaiming the Word of God and by the
example of their lives. As a prophetic people, Christians are called to shed the light of
Christ on those who live in the darkness of immorality, deceitfulness and fraud.
The Leaven of the Kingdom of God
The Church is to be like leaven in the world and witness, like the prophets, to
the Will of God and the values of His Kingdom. A little leaven can leaven the entire flour
(Mt. 13:33). Likewise, Christians are leaven put in the world by Jesus to leaven the
entire society in which they live, by bearing witness to truth, love, and selfless service.
Bear Witness to Truth
Jesus said that “I came in to the world, to testify to the truth” (Jn. 18:37). Jesus
proved this through his words and actions. Our prophetic function in the world is to
bear witness to truth like Jesus. The Church should really become the conscience of
the world by fighting against untruth and injustice and by witnessing to truth, justice
and love. This is the prophetic function of the Church. John the Baptist was beheaded
because he raised his voice against untruth. St. Thomas More, who bore courageous
witness to truth became a martyr.
52
The Prophetic Function of the Laity
Like the priests and the religious, the lay people have a prophetic function.
Every one who becomes a member of the Church through baptism is called to be a
prophet. Jesus, the greatest of all prophets, has entrusted the Church with the mission
of continuing His prophetic mission in the world until His second coming. Every lay
person is called to be a witness and a prophet of Jesus (Church-35).
The lay persons are called to

fulfil their prophetic function in the
Church by strengthening themselves
through the reception of the
sacraments, by leading a life of faith
and by proclaiming the gospel through
their words and lives. Family life has a
central place in the prophetic function
of the laity. The husband and wife are
to be witnesses of faith and love of Jesus between them, before their children and in
the society in which they live. All Christians are bound to participate in the prophetic
function of the Church. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, let us fulfil our prophetic function
in today's world.

Word of God Let your light shine before others, so that
to Read and
they may see your good works and give
Meditate
glory to your Father in heaven
Is. 6:1-13
(Mt. 5:16).
Let us Pray
My Resolution
O God who gave prophets and leaders to the
I shall not call a lie
chosen people of God to guide and inspire
them, help us to become your witnesses with whatever be the
the zeal of Elijah and the courage of Moses. provocations
53
The holy People of God share in Christ's prophetic office

by a living witness to him, especially by a life of faith
and love and by offering to God a sacrifice of praise
glorifying his name (Vat. II, The Church, No. 12)
Mar Abraham, the last Metropolitan to be appointed by the Persian Patriarch, died
in 1597. With his death began the Latin jurisdiction over the Mar Thomma
Christians. Rome appointed Francis Rose, a Jesuit Priest, as the first Latin Bishop
for the Mar Thomma Christians. The Western Missionaries who considered the
Church as the community of people who follow the Latin rite, misunderstood the age
old traditions of the Mar Thomma Christians. With a mind to save this community,
they tried to Latinize the sacred traditions of the Mar Thomma Nazranies. The age
of Latin administration over the Mar Thomma Church was one which disrupted
many traditions in the faith life of the Mar Thomma Christians.
Questions
1. Who is a prophet? What are his functions?

2. What do you understand when we speak of the prophetic function of the
members of the Church?
3. A prophet is called to be the light of the world and salt to the earth: illustrate.
4. Write a short note on: A Christian is one who has to bear witness to truth.
5. How do the lay people fulfil their prophetic mission?
54
Lesson-7
CHURCH: THE COMMUNITY OF

PEOPLE WHO SHARE
One day Jesus went up a mountain, on the shore of the sea of Tiberius, and sat
down with his disciples. And a multitude come up to him. He felt compassion for them.
He taught them and healed the sick among them. When it was evening the disciples
asked Jesus to send the people away, so that they could go to the villages and buy
food for themselves. But Jesus told them : “They need not go away: you give them
something to eat.” They told him, “we have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.”
Jesus told them to make the people sit in rows. Thus Jesus took the loaves and fish
and blessed them and gave them to his disciples to be served among the people. All
the people ate and were satisfied and they gathered twelve baskets full of fragments
that were left over. (Jn. 6:1-13, Mt. 14:13-21).
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Sharing in Jesus' Life and Teaching
Jesus came for those who suffer hunger and

thirst, those who are afflicted by various diseases and
those who are over burdened by their sins. He gave
himself totally for them. He gave them his flesh and
blood and his entire life. The disciples of Jesus should
be marked by this quality of sharing.
John, the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus told

the people that those who had two coats should share
with those who had none and do the same with food.
(Lk. 3:11). The message of sharing shows clearly in
Jesus' teaching. He asked his disciples to give freely
what they had received as gifts. To the one who would
take away your coat, give your cloak as well. While
giving alms, the left hand should not know what the right
hand is doing. (Mt. 10:8; 5:40-42; 6:3-4). The same
message of sharing is brought home in the parable of
the Good Samaritan. Jesus multiplied bread in order to
share it with those who were hungry. The Church, called
to follow the example and teaching of Jesus, is bound to
be a sharing community.
The Example of the Early Church
The early Church lived in its fullness the

compassion of Jesus and His readiness to share. We
read in the Acts of the Apostles, the community of
believers was of one heart and one soul. Nobody
claimed anything as his own. Everything was held in
common and there was no one in want among them.
For, they sold everything they had and brought the
proceeds and laid it at the feet of the apostles and
distribution was made according to each one's need
45
(Acts 4:32-36). We read in the Acts, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles
teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). As they
continued to grow in their generosity and good will to share, there was no one who
suffered poverty or want among them.
The Teaching of the Early Church
We should grow in our generosity and readiness to share with others in

imitation of Jesus who though he was rich, became poor for our sake. St. Paul in his
letter to the Philippians teaches us on alms giving and charity (Phil. 4:15-18). God
loves those who give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7). Alms giving is an acceptable sacrifice to
God. Apostle James tells us that we should show our faith in action by helping those
who are in need. “If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you
says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill”, and yet you do not supply
their bodily needs, what is the good of that? so faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead”
(James 2:15-17). The disciples urged the early Christian community to share with
others through their teachings and examples with a generous heart.
The breaking of the bread in the early Church was an occasion of sharing with
the poor. St. Paul scolded the Church in Corinth for neglecting the poor during the
'agape' at the Lord's supper. Paul wanted to collect money to help the poor Church in
Judea. “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever
extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come” (1 Cor. 16:2).
The Hope of Resurrection as the Motive Force for Sharing
It was the hope of resurrection that motivated the early Christians to share
what they had, with the needy ones. Another motive force that prompted them to share
was the teaching of Jesus about the final Judgment at the end of time and how he
would address the just and say that when they did it to the least of his brethren, they did
it to him. Those who put all their trust in material things can never share. Only those
who put their trust in God and believe in resurrection and eternal life can share what
they have with others. The awareness that everything in the world is perishable and
nothing material can be carried away when one dies, prompts people to share what
they have with others. They are urged to engage themselves in charitable deeds and
46
sharing of material resources so that they may reap its fruit in eternal life.
The Eucharistic Sacrifice and Sharing
The Eucharistic sacrifice, which is at the very centre of Christian life, urges and
enables us to share. The bread that we break and the cup that we share at the
Eucharistic table is a strong invitation and call to the worshipping community, to share
what they have with the poor while living out their Christian lives. As believers, who
participate in the Eucharistic sacrifice, we should be prepared to share with others all
that we have. We really become witnesses of
sharing when we give our knowledge, our
time, our wealth and our health for the well
being of others, especially the poor, the sick,
the aged and the abandoned.
A Sharing Church
Sharing is the fundamental nature of

the Church which is the body of Christ. When
one member of the body suffers pain, it
affects the entire body and steps will be taken
to relieve that pain. In the same way, in the
body of Christ, the Church, we should
engage ourselves in charitable deeds to
relieve the sufferings of others.
The majority of the world population

who are poor, find their hope in the Charity
and sharing of the Church. The institutions
managed by the Catholic Church use their resources for the common good and not for
the individual benefit of those who run these institutions. We can see this spirit
reflected in the educational institutions, hospitals, orphanages, counseling centers,
hospitals for the mentally retarded, boys' homes, homes for the aged, centers for the
care of cancer patients and aids patients and rehabilitation centers for those who are
released from prisons.
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The Church is proud of Fr. Damien who lived and died for lepers, St. Vincent de
Paul who dedicated his total life for the care of the poor and the abandoned, and
Mother Teresa who became a model of Charity and love for the entire world. The
Church should be always at the beck and call of the poor, the abandoned and the
persecuted. The members of the Church should actively participate in works of charity
and become witnesses of a sharing Church in the world.

to Read and Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of
Meditate the least of these who are members
Acts 4:32-5:11 of my family, you did it to me
(Mt. 25:40).
Let us Pray
My Resolution
Jesus who gave yourself totally for us in
I shall use my time and
an act of sharing help us to share
energy to help my
with others all the gifts you
fellow-students.
have given us.
48
Similarly, the Church encompasses with her love all those who are
afflicted by human misery and she recognizes in those who are poor
and who suffer, the image of her poor and suffering founder.
She does all in her power to relieve their need and in them she strives
to serve Christ. (Vat. II, The Church, No. 8)
Mar Thomma Christians used to observe faithfully fasting, abstinence and

almsgiving. They observed abstinence on all Wednesdays and Fridays of the year.
Besides, they observed abstinence for 25 days in preparation for Christmas, that is
during the advent season, and 50 days, during the season of great lent. Over and
above they observed a three day's abstinence known as 'Moonnu Nompu', an eight
days' abstinence known as 'Ettu Nompu' and a fifteen days abstinence known as
'Pathinanchu Nompu'. On days of abstinence they ate only vegetarian food. The
days of fasting and abstinence were days of special prayers and almsgiving.
Questions
1. Christian sharing is rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus. Explain.
2. What was the life-style of the early Church?
3. What are the teachings of the early Church on sharing?
4. It is the hope of resurrection that urges one to share: illustrate.
5. Sharing is the fundamental nature of the Church. Explain.
49
Lesson-6
CHURCH: THE PRIESTLY PEOPLE

God chose Aaron and
his Sons with the mission to
offer sacrifice for the
sanctification of the people of
Israel. God ordered Moses to
anoint Aaron. As per God's
direction “Moses brought
Aaron and his sons forward,
and washed them with water.
He put the tunic on him,
fastened the sash around
him, clothed him with the
robe… Then Moses took the
anointing oil and anointed the
tabernacle and all that was in
it and consecrated them…
And he poured some of the
anointing oil on Aaron's head
and anointed him, to
consecrated him…” (Lev. 8:1-
13).
This is the beginning of Israel's history of Priesthood. A priest in the Old

Testament was set apart to offer worship to the Lord and as such, he was to be
blameless and holy. His primary function was to offer sacrifices, gifts and incense to
the Lord in the name of the people. He was to pray for the people and be a mediator
between God and his people. A priest was to be a witness of God's holiness before his
people. It was also his duty, as in Leviticus, “to teach the people of Israel all the statutes
that the Lord has spoken to them through Moses” (Lev. 10:11).
39
Israel, A priestly people
God called Israel out from slavery in order to make them a people who would
offer him worship and priestly service. For this purpose, he anointed Aaron and his
sons and priests. God told Moses while making covenant at Sinai: “Now therefore, if
you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out
of all peoples; Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly
kingdom and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:5-6).
The Priesthood of the Old Testament and

the Priesthood of Jesus
Aaron and his sons were specially chosen by God to minister unto the Lord by
offering worship and sacrifice… So priesthood was restricted to Aaron's family and his
descendants. But the worship and sacrifice, offered by him was incomplete. Jesus in
his talks with the woman of Samaria at the well of Jacob brought out the real
significance and meaning of worship. He said, “But the hour is coming, and is now
here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth…” (Jn. 4:23).
By this Jesus meant the sacrifice which he had to accomplish and the sacrifice that has
to be offered by the Church.
“And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again
the same sacrifices, that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all
time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God” (Heb. 10:11-12).
Jesus offered the real sacrifice to God on Calvary by laying down his life on the cross.
Thus he became the eternal high priest. We read in Hebrews: “….he entered once for
all into the Holy place, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood,
thus obtaining eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12).
The Priesthood of Jesus Christ
The Church offers worship to God through Jesus, the eternal priest. Jesus was
not born in the priestly tribe of Levi, but in the kingly tribe of Judea. Therefore He could
not be a priest according to his birth as he did not belong to the tribe of Levi. But Jesus
is a priest as he is the Son of God. Jesus the Son of God become an eternal priest
through His sacrifice on the cross. As the new people of God, the Church participates
in the eternal sacrifice Jesus offered in his own blood. Through this participation the
40
Church becomes a priestly people and a worshipping community. The members of the
Church become holy and redeemed and acceptable to God.
We are a Priestly People
By becoming members of the Church through baptism, we share in the royal

priesthood of Christ. St. Peter says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, God's own people…” (1 Pet. 2:9). Those who are chosen specially for the
service of the Church, participate in the ministerial priesthood. Those who are not
called to the ministerial priesthood in the Church
perform only the functions of royal priesthood.
They should perform this function in association
with their respective parish The Church, the
parish priest and the community of believers. The
document on the Church instructs us how
Christians should exercise their priestly function.
For all their works, prayers and apostolic

endeavors, their ordinary married and family life,
their daily occupations, their physical and mental
relaxation, if carried out in the Spirit, and even the
hardships of life, if patiently borne-all these
become "spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ"(199). Together with the
offering of the Lord's body, they are most fittingly
offered in the celebration of the Eucharist. Thus, as those everywhere who adore in
holy activity, the laity consecrate the world itself to God (The Church, No.34).
The Holy Qurbana: The Noblest of all Worships
The Holy Qurbana is the highest form of worship the Church can offer to God. It
is offered by Jesus Christ, the head, in association with the Church, his body, to the
Eternal Father. At the same time, it is also a worship offered by the Church, the body of
Christ, in union with Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Qurbana we participate in the life,
suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the eternal priest.
41
The Ministerial Priesthood
As Christians, we share the priesthood of Jesus through baptism. But some

are specially chosen and anointed by God in order to minister to the people of God and
to offer the sacrifice of sanctification. This is called the ministerial priesthood.
However, both the common priesthood and the ministerial
priesthood are participation in the one and the eternal
priesthood of Christ. The one who shares in the ministerial
priesthood serves, leads and sanctifies the community of
believers. He performs the holy sacrifice of Mass as a
representative of Christ and offers it to God in the name of all
the people (The Church, No. 10).
We should become a priestly people who offer real

worship to God by bearing patiently the sufferings and
sorrows of daily life and by offering our bodies to do good for
others.

to Read and “You are a chosen race, a royal
Meditate priesthood, a holy nation,
1 Pet. 2:1-10 God's own people” (1 Pet. 2:9).
Let us Pray
My Resolution
Jesus, our eternal high priest, help us to
I shall offer to God all the
offer with pure hearts the Eucharistic
difficulties I face in my life in
sacrifice, which you
union with the sacrifice
gave to the Church to be offered till
of Jesus.
the end of the world.
42
Though they differ in essence and not only in degree, the common
priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial or hierarchical priesthood
are none the less correlated one to another; each in its own proper way
shares in the one priesthood of Christ (Vat. II, The Church, No. 10).
In early days, there was no seminary training for priestly candidates as we have
today, among the Mar Thomma Christians. They were put under the care of
some priests who were known for their knowledge and ability, and they trained
these candidates. The priest who trained such candidates was known as 'Malpan'.
The training did not have any specific duration. Those who were judged worthy
for priestly ordination were raised to priesthood by the Bishop on the
recommendation of the 'Malpan' who trained him and taking into consideration to the
need for priests in the parish. Normally these ordained priests served in their own
parish.
Questions
1. What were the functions of the priesthood in the Old Testament?
2. Why did God liberate Israel from their slavery?
3. How does the Church, saved by the blood of Christ, become a
priestly people and a worshiping community?
4. The Sacrifice of the Holy Qurbana is the highest form of worship: Explain.
5. As a priestly people of God in the New Testament, how are we to
exercise our ministry of common priesthood?
43
Lesson-5
CHURCH: THE BODY OF CHRIST

Saul was a committed Pharisee.
He was educated under a well
known Rabbi named Gamaliel. And
he knew thoroughly the Jewish law
and traditions and practised them.
He could not accept Jesus and
wanted to blot out that name from
the face of the earth. One day he
was going to Damascus with
orders from the authorities in
Jerusalem to bind and bring to
Jerusalem anyone who followed
the teachings of Jesus. Suddenly,
he was struck by a lighting from the
sky and fell to the ground. He heard
a voice speaking to him, “Saul,
Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul said: “Who are you Lord?” He
was told, “I am Jesus, whom you
are persecuting; but get up and
enter the city, and you will be told
what you are to do.” When he got
up from the ground, he could see
nothing. He was led into Damascus
by his friends. (Acts 9:1-9).
Saul understood the

significance of the light that struck
34
him. He knew that it was Jesus of Nazareth whom the Jewish leaders crucified and
killed, calling him a blasphemer had risen and spoken to him. He is truly living. He lives
and acts through his followers, the Christians, the Church. This incident made him to
believe this.
Church : The Body of Christ
The Church is the body of Christ. This was a great insight of St. Paul. Jesus
made it clear to him that when he persecuted the Christians he was persecuting Christ
himself. Paul shares with us the same insight in his letter to the Romans: “For, as in one
body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we,
who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.”
(Rom. 12:4-5). Paul teaches us that Christ is the head of the body that is the Church (Col.
1:18). We are members of this body, the Church of which Christ is the Head.
It is from the head that power flows into the members. Likewise, from Christ, the
head, we the members of the Church receive power. As members, we remain subject to
the head. There exists an essential union between the head and the members in human
body. The same can be said of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Again
the head and the members participate in the one and the same life. In the same way we
the members of the Church, share the same life that is in the head, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Nourishes the Church
Jesus told his disciples that he would not leave them orphans (Jn, 14:18); that he
would be with them to the end of the age (Mt. 28:20). Jesus ensures his constant
presence in the Church through the Word of God, the sacraments and fellowship in the
Church. He leads us through this word and nourishes us day after day through the Holy
Eucharist. We become one with him by participating in his body and blood in the
Eucharist. At the same time we become united with one another by partaking of the one
bread and the one cup. Thus the fellowship in the Church is reinforced.
35
Various Ministers in the
Church
We read in 1Corinthians :
“For just as the body is one and has
many members, and all the members
of the body though many, are one
body, so it is with Christ.” (1Cor.
12:12). Though there are many CHURCH
THE BODY OF
members in the body, each member
CHRIST
has his own function to fulfil. There is
a complementary nature among the
members. This makes the
functioning of the body effective.
Thus each member of the Church
has different functions. God has
called each member to distinct and
various services
St. Paul says, “God has appointed in the Church first apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, then deeds of power, then gifts of healing forms of assistance, forms of
leadership, various kinds of tongues” (1 Cor 12:28). God gives necessary grace and
gifts to each so that each can minister to the Church.
As children of the holy mother, the Church, our duty is to acknowledge their gifts
and serve the Church according to the will of Jesus. We should use these gifts for the
glory of God and the growth of the Church. Do good to others and share with others
what you have, is the core of Biblical teaching, “It is more blessed to give than to
receive.” (Acts 20:35).
The One who Loves Jesus, Loves the Church
Just as we love Jesus, we should love His body, the Church. We cannot love
Jesus apart from the Church nor can we love the Church apart from Jesus. We can love
36
the Church only if we see in it Jesus himself. Jesus Christ lives in the Church and through
the Church He leads us, teaches us and sanctifies us.
Let us be aware of the fact that we are all members of the body of Christ and
have special love and concern for the poor, the afflicted, the sick, the orphans, the
widows, the aged and the children.

to Read and “Now you are the body of Christ,
Meditate and individually members of it”.
1 Cor 12:12-31 (1 Cor. 12:27).
Let us Pray
Jesus the Head and Protector of the My Resolution
Church, enable us to grow in you I will participate actively in the
and in turn make the various activities in my Parish.
Church grow through our efforts.
37
As all the members of the human body, though they are many, form one body, so
also are the faithful in Christ (1 Cor. 12:12). Also, in the building up of Christ's
body there is engaged a diversity of members and functions. There is only one
Spirit who, according to his own richness and the needs of the ministries, gives
his different gifts for the welfare of the Church
(Vat. II, The Church, No-7)
The Mar Thomma Christians were led by the Bishops appointed by Chaldaya
Patriarchs till the 17th Century. As they were foreigners, the practical governance
was carried out by the Archdeacon who was a native. The
Archdeacon was an unmarried priest. He was the leader both in the social and
ecclesiastical matters. He was the judge in the internal affairs of the Mar Thomma
Christians. He administered the Church in the absence of a Bishop, and arranged
the installation of a new Bishop. It was the office of the Archdeacon that unified the
Mar Thomma Christians. He was also known by names like 'Arkadiakon',
Jathikkukarthavyan.
Questions
1. How did St. Paul get the insight that the Church is the body of Christ?
2. How does Jesus continue his constant presence in the Church?
3. How does the Holy Eucharist unite us to Jesus and to one another?
4. How should we use the gifts given to us as members of the Church?
5. We cannot see Jesus apart from the Church nor can we see the Church
apart from Jesus. Explain.
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Lesson-4
CHURCH: THE COMMUNITY

LED BY THE SPIRIT
Jesus had ordered his disciples
not to leave the city until they receive
power from on high. So they all
remained together in prayer till the
day of the Pentecost. We read in the
Acts of the Apostles: “But you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you; and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and Samaria and to the
ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). These
words of Jesus were fulfilled on the
day of Pentecost. On that day Mary,
the mother of Jesus and all the
disciples were together. And
suddenly a sound came from
heaven like the rush of a mighty wind
and it filled all the house where they
were sitting. And there appeared to
them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance (Acts. 2:2-4).
Being filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in different tongues. There
were Jews from every part of the world dwelling in Jerusalem in those days. Hearing the
loud noise they all came out and to their surprise each one heard the apostles speaking
in his own language. But some mockingly said: “They are filled with new wine.”(Acts
28
2:13). But Peter standing with the eleven, addressed them, telling that they were not
drunk as some of them suspected. It was rather the fulfillment of the prophecy of God
that in the last days God will pour out His spirit on all flesh (Acts 2:1-17).
Those who listened to Peter on that day believed in Jesus and received
Baptism. There were about three thousand persons added to their group on that day.
Thus the Church was formed in Jerusalem. The Lord added to their number everyday,
people whom He wanted to be saved (Acts. 2:1-42). The disciples of the Lord, being
filled with the Holy Spirit went to every part of the world and proclaimed the Gospel.
The Work of the Spirit in the Early Christian Community
The community of the believers that was formed through the power and
indwelling of the Holy Spirit was led by the Spirit. Whenever they faced opposition and
persecution they prayed to the Lord. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and preached
the Gospel with courage.
The active presence of the Holy Spirit in the early Church can be clearly seen in
the activities of the apostles. We can see the Spirit directly leading the apostles, talking
to them and helping them to take proper decisions. It is the Spirit who gives them clear
instructions as to where they should go and what they should do (Acts 16:6). The Spirit
dwells with them, strengthens them and makes them enthusiastic and cheerful. “Now in
the Church at Antioch… while they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy
Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called
them. Then after fasting and praying they laid their
hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts. 13:1-3).
“So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit they went down
to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.”
(Acts : 13:4).
The non-Jews were accepted into the

Church for the first time after Peter had a vision
during his prayer. As he was pondering over the
meaning of his vision, the Spirit told him: “While
29
Peter was still thinking about the vision, the spirit said to him, Look, three men are
searching for you. Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have
sent them” (Acts 10:19-20). Being thus led by the Spirit, Peter reached the house of
Cornelius, a gentile. He preached the Gospel to the people who were gathered there.
While he was speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon them all and they all received
baptism and became members of the Church.
The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
The Church is the edifice built on Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit
builds it up by bestowing on it various gifts and fruits for its growth and fulfillment.
The gift of the Holy Spirit varies from person to person. “To each is given the
manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the
utterance of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same
Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit to another gifts of healing by the one spirit, to
another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of
Spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All
these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually Just
as the Spirit chooses” (1 Cor. 12: 7-11).
St. Paul names the fruits of the Holy Spirit distributed among the believers.
They are love, happiness, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, meekness,
self-control, endurance, chastity and moderation. All these are given by the Holy Spirit
in order to build up the Church and make it grow.
The Holy Spirit Leads the Churches in
Times of Persecution and Problems
The Holy Spirit empowered the Church when she had to face problems and
suffer persecution. Stephen, one full of faith and the Holy Spirit, was arrested by the
Jewish authorities because he boldly professed his faith in Jesus. Filled with the Holy
Spirit, Stephen dared to preach Jesus to the very authorities who ordered his arrest.
They decided to stone Stephen to death. It was the Holy Spirit who strengthened
Stephen to remain calm when those men rushed to him to stone him to death (Act: 7:54-
60). The same Spirit led Saul, the one who was intent on persecuting the Church, to the
30
conversion of heart (Acts 9). And he turned out to be
Paul, a zealous preacher of the Gospel and a martyr
for Christ.
The Temple of the Holy Spirit
The Second Vatican Council (The Church 4)

teaches us that the Holy Spirit dwells in the Church
and in the hearts of the faithful as in a temple. This
teaching is based on the words of St. Paul in the first
Corinthians: “Do you not know that you are God's
temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone
destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person.
For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Cor. 3:16-17). We are God's
temples, because, God's Spirit dwells in us. We read in the scriptures how the risen
Jesus gave his disciples the Holy Spirit by breathing on them (Jn. 20:22-23).
To be Led by the Spirit
To be led by the Spirit, we should live according to the promptings of the Holy
Spirit. We receive such promptings through the commandments of God, the laws of the
Church and the directions of our superiors. Our attitude to the Holy Spirit should be one
of submission and obedience. The Bible tells us that we should not grieve the Holy
Spirit. (1 Thes. 5:19). St. Paul, in the letter to the Romans, again speaks to us about the
Holy Spirit: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not
receive a Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a Spirit of
adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our
spirit that we are children of God…” (Rom. 8: 14-16)
The Spirit is Given through the Sacraments
We receive the Holy Spirit through every sacrament that the Church
administers. When we receive baptism, Gods' Spirit is poured into us and we become
God's children. Again, when we are anointed by the holy oil, the Holy Spirit is infused
31
into us in a special way and we are enabled to
preach the gospel and live it out in our lives.
We receive the Holy Spirit through the Holy
Eucharistic celebration and communion.
Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we
get back the divine life lost through our sins.
Through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the
sick, we receive healing, forgiveness of sins
and strength to endurance pains. Through the
Holy Orders the Holy Spirit gives the power to
participate in the Lord's kingly, prophetic and
priestly ministries and to minister to the people
of God. In Holy Matrimony, the Spirit gives the
gift to do the duties of married life.
The Church is the community of

believers who are born through the Holy Spirit
and constantly led by the Holy Spirit. We are being led by the Spirit when we listen to the
Word of God, obey the commandments of God and receive the sacraments.

Word of God “You did not receive a Spirit of slavery to
to Read and
fall back into fear, but you have received
Meditate
a Spirit of adoption”
Rom. 8:9-17
(Rom. 8:15).
32
Let us Pray
O Lord Jesus, who promised us the Holy My Resolution
Spirit to walk us on the path of truth, I will live by the promptings
help us to live by the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
of the Spirit.
The Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful, as in a temple.
Through them He prays and bears witness to their adoptive sonship. He guides
the Church to the fullness of all truth (Vat. II, The Church, No. 4).
The Nazranies lived a life that faithfully followed the traditions and life-style of the
community founded by St. Thomas. They called the sum total of their life-style 'Mar
Thomma Margam'. They believed that their Church possessed the authenticity,
equality and nobility like any other Churches.
Questions
1. How do we know that the early Church was led by the Holy Spirit?
2. How does the Holy Spirit build up the Church?
3. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed on the faithful?
4. How do we become the temples of the Holy Spirit?
5. What should we do that we may be led by the Spirit?
33
Lesson-3

OF THE BELIEVERS
When Jesus came to
Caesarea Philippi, he asked his
disciples, “Who do people say
that the Son of Man is?” They
replied to him: “Some say John
the Baptist, but others Elijah, and
still others Jeremiah or one of the
prophets”. Jesus asked them:
“But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter replied, “You are the
Messiah, the Son of the living
God.” Jesus told him, “Blessed
are you, Simon son of Jonah! For
flesh and blood has not revealed
this to you, but my Father in
heaven. I tell you, you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of Hades
will not prevail against it. I will give
you the keys of the Kingdom of
heaven…” (Mt. 16:13-19).
These words of Jesus can be seen as the indication of Jesus establishing the
Church. The most significant aspect is the confession of Peter that Jesus is Christ is the
Son of the living God. Highly pleased with Peter's divinely inspired statement, Jesus
established his Church on the foundation stone that is Peter. So the Church is the
22
community of those who believe and confess that Jesus is Christ and the Son of the
living God.
Faith is the Response to God's Call
Faith is man's response to the call of God, who reveals Himself. The expression of
this response is a loving surrender to God. The people who listened to the speech of the
Apostle Peter, on the day of the Pentecost, were so touched and moved that they asked
the apostles, “Brothers, what Should we do?” Peter said to them: “Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 2 : 37-38). Accepting this call, they
repented and received baptism. And they were added to the community of believers
who accepted, Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
The lives of our forefather Abraham and Mary, the blessed mother of Jesus, are
models of faith. Abraham believed the Promise of God, although his wife was past the
age of bearing and knew that, what was impossible with man was possible for God. The
same is true with Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, who believed the message of the
angel and submitted to the will of God.
Faith is founded on the belief that the Word of God will be done even if it is
unintelligible for the human mind. In the letter to the Hebrews we read: “Now faith is the
assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1). What
underlines this faith is a deep love-relationship with God. Moved by love we surrender
our mind, intelligence and heart to God in an act of faith.
The Community of the Believers in Jesus

Jesus is the revelation of God himself. In Jesus, God revealed Himself in a unique
way to humanity. And Jesus on his part, through his life, death and resurrection revealed
that He was the Son of God and as such, Lord and Saviour. God confirmed this
revelation by raising Jesus from the dead. In the letter to the Romans we read: “…if you
confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom 10:9). So the Church is the community of
people who accept Jesus, the revelation of God, and love Him and profess their faith in
23
Him. Jesus moved by love for his Father surrendered
his life to God on the cross. So faith consists in
surrendering ourselves to the Will of God.
The Basic Qualities of Faith

1. It is man's response to God who reveals
Himself.
2. It is the total acceptance of all that God has
revealed.
3. It is man's total obedience and self surrender.
4. It is the awareness that it is God who enables
us to believe and strengthens us in our faith.
5. It is the awareness that faith is both man's
response to God and a free gift of God.
The Proclamation of the Gospel

Leads to Faith
The proclamation of the gospel is the door

through which we came into faith. St. Paul asks, How
are they to call on one in whom they have not
believed? And how are they to believe in one of
whom they have never heard? And how are they to
hear without someone to proclaim him?” (Rom
10:14) So we know how essential it is to preach in
order to lead people to faith. The Proclamation of the
Good News is the mission entrusted to the Church by
the risen Saviour. He told his disciples, “Go into all
the world and proclaim the good news to the whole
creation. The one who believes and is baptized will
be saved…” (Mark 16:15-16) Having received this
24
mission from Jesus, the disciples went to
different parts of the world proclaiming his
Word. Their preaching and witnessing led
many to faith in Jesus.
Conversion, the Necessary

Element of Faith
Listening to the Word of God should lead

us to conversion of heart and faith in Jesus.
Jesus began his public life by calling people to
repentance. “The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God has come near; repent and
believe in the good news.” (Mk. 1:15)
Conversion means a change of heart. In Greek
language it is called “Metanoia'. It literally
means 'Return'. It is a call to return from the
wrong, sinful path of life to the right path paved
by this good news of salvation. Listening to the
word of God should lead to the change of heart
and faith in Jesus. Those who believe in him
and accept him as Lord and saviour will be
saved. In fact, Church is the community of people who are saved and moving towards
the fullness of this salvation.
Faith Makes us One
Christian faith has two realms: individual and social. Fundamentally, it is a

participation in the fellowship of the Church (Ch.9). Faith is our response to God's
revelation. This kind of response always leads to fellowship. “All who believed were
together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and
25
distribute the proceeds to all, as any had
need. Day by day as they spent much time
together in the temple, they broke bread at
home and ate their food with glad and
generous hearts.” (Acts 2: 44-46).
It is through baptism that one enters into

the fellowship of the Church. The other
sacraments enhance our growth in the
Church. Thus the Church is the community of
people who respond to God's call in faith and
live together in prayer and fellowship and
sharing, being nourished by the Word of God
and the sacraments.

Word of God If you confess with your lips that Jesus is
to Read and
Lord and believe in your heart that God raised
Meditate
him from the dead, you will be
Acts 2:1-47
saved. (Rom : 10:9).
26
Let us Pray
My Resolution
Lord, who gave us faith in the Church
I will not miss any
through baptism, help us to live in
opportunity to express
fellowship with others in the Church in
my faith in Jesus.
faith and love.

The holy People of God shares also in Christ's prophetic office: it spreads
abroad a living witness to him, especially by a life of faith and love and
by offering to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips
praising his name (Vat. II, The Church, No. 12).

The Mar Thoma Nazranies developed their faith, that they received from
St. Thomas, in keeping with the cultures of the time and place. They
developed a spirituality in accordance with Indian culture. The Oriental Syrian
liturgy, which they followed, was developed in adaptation with the Indian
culture. In course of time she lost many traditional values which were very
much in keeping with Indian cultures. Today our Church, who has been given
the status of a self governing Church (Sui juris Church), is trying to recover what we
have lost and to adapt according to the needs of the time and culture.
Questions
1. What do you mean by faith?
2. How is faith reflected in the lives of Abraham, our father in faith and Mary, the
Mother of Jesus?
3. Name the five attributes of faith.
4. The proclamation of the Gospel leads to faith. Explain.
5. Explain the community dimension of Christian faith.
27
Lesson-2

OF THE REDEEMED
God sent Moses and
Aaron to liberate the people
of Israel from their slavery
in Egypt. They went to the
Pharaoh and said: “Thus
says the Lord, the God of
Israel, 'Let my people go,
so that they may celebrate
a feastival to me in the
wilderness.” (Ex. 5:1). But,
Pharaoh did not allow the
Israelites to go. So God
sent nine calamities upon
the Egyptians one after the
other. After each calamity,
Pharaoh would call Moses
and request him to revoke
it. But when revoked,
Pharaoh changed his mind and refused to let the Israelites go. Therefore God decided
to slay all the firstborns of the Egyptians, both man and beast, beginning with the house
of the Pharaoh himself.
As the Lord commanded, they killed the Passover lamb and took some of its
blood and put it on the two door ports and the lintel of the house. That night the destroyer
passed though Egypt killing the first-born of both men and beast. A great cry arose from
the house of Pharaoh and the whole of Egypt as there was not a single house where
one was not dead. But God protected the houses of the Israelites. In the same night,
16
Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and told them: “Rise up, go away from my people,
both you and the Israelites!; Go, worship the Lord, as you said.” (Ex. 12:31). The
Israelites left Egypt the same night.
Thus the people of Israel were freed from their slavery in Egypt. From slavery,
they were led to an experience of freedom and salvation. For Israel, salvation meant
liberation. But salvation in the full sense means liberation from the slavery of sin. It is an
experience of living in freedom and love with God.
The liberation of Israel from their slavery in Egypt was a fore-taste of salvation
in Jesus that was to come. The Passover lamb of the Old Testament is a symbol of
Jesus, the lamb of God who removes the sin of the world. The blood of the lamb on the
door parts became a sign for the destroyer to spare the
Israelite houses and pass by them. It became for them a
sign of salvation. In the same way Jesus, the lamb of God
was destined to give salvation to the entire humanity
through his blood. So, we can say the blood of the only son
of God liberated humanity from their sin.
All are Called to Salvation
We were all under the power of sin on account of the sin of our first parents. But
God willed to bring salvation to all through His only son, Jesus. St. Paul makes it very
clear in the letter to the Romans that sin came into the world through one man (Adam)
and righteousness came through another man, Jesus (Rom 5:12-19). Again Paul Says:
“ There is no one who is righteous, not even one” (Rom: 3:10). St. Paul highlights the
universality of sin to show that the whole mankind was in need of salvation.
Obedience to the Commandments; the

Basic Condition for Salvation
God entered into a covenant with the liberated Israelites and made them His
own people (Ex. 19:4-6). He gave them commandments so that they may become a
redeemed people who are God's own. The commandments that God gave them
17
through Moses constituted a way of life that ensured salvation. “Now therefore, if you
obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all
the peoples.” (Ex. 19:5). The experience of salvation consists in being God's own
people and being united to Him. This experience of
union with God was lost to Israel through sin.
The Jews thought that mere observance of the

law would ensure their salvation and that belief made
them keep the law in a literal sense. However, they
failed in understanding the real meaning of God's law
and living it out. But God in His goodness willed to lead
this people on the path of salvation through an
inviolable covenant. The terms of this covenant will be
written in their hearts and not on tablets of stone. This
covenant was established through Jesus, the son of
God.
Jesus : The Saviour of the World
The promise that God gave to humankind that he would send a Saviour, was
fulfilled in Jesus. He was born to save us from the slavery of sin. This is depicted in the
words of the angel addressed to Joseph, asking him to call his name 'Jesus': “She will
bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he
will save his people from their sins.” (Mt. 1:21).
Announcing the glad tidings of Jesus' birth the
angels told the shepherds that a Saviour had been
born for them in the city of David. While Jesus was
presented at the Temple of Jerusalem Simeon
spoke with a prophetic vision: “….for mine eyes
have seen your salvation, which you have prepared
in the presence of all peoples…” (Lk 2:31). Jesus, through his suffering, death on the
cross and glorious resurrection saved humanity from the slavery of sin and fulfilled all
the prophecies that had been made about him.
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Jesus : The Only Saviour
Peter, the leader of the apostolic group, while

replying to the high priest and others in Jerusalem
said: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given among mortals by
which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). St. Paul in his
letter to Timothy says: “For there is one God, there is
also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human who gave himself a
ransom for all….” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). Jesus saved the
world through his death and resurrection. The
church is the community of those who profess this
faith. This is exactly what we pray towards the end of
the 'Epicletic Prayer' in the Eucharistic celebration:
“we praise you Lord, in the Church, redeemed by the
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This belief that the
Church is the community of the people, who were
redeemed by the blood of Christ, has been constant
and firm from the very beginning of the Church.
However salvation is not due to our merit but by
God's mercy.
In order to be Saved, Accept the

Word of God and Live it
If we want to be saved, we should believe

that Jesus is the Saviour of the world, and live
according to his words. Jesus says, “It is the spirit
that gives life…” (Jn. 6:63). Again we read in the Gospel of John, “Very, truly, I tell you,
any one who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.” (Jn. 5:24).
St. Paul says: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to
everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16).
19
As a covenant people, we are bound to live the Word of God. The covenant is that
you should keep My word and obey My commandments that you may be My own
people and My beloved ones. For Jesus says: “Those who love me, will keep my word;
and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
(Jn. 14:23). It is clear that, in order to belong to God and to the community of the
redeemed, we should keep the Word of God.
The Sacraments: Means of Salvation
The sacraments are the means to obtain the forgiveness of sins and salvation or
eternal life given by Jesus. By offering us forgiveness of sins and divine life, the
sacraments lead us to the experience of salvation, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Church can be seen as the custodian of the salvation achieved by Jesus and
she is the one who distributes it. It is this salvation that the Church ever proclaims. This
salvation becomes available to us through the Word of God and the sacraments
administered by the Church. The Church always invites and inspires people to come
into the salvation through conversion and baptism. Thus the Church, redeemed by
Jesus Christ, offers salvation for all and remains in the world as a sign and instrument of
salvation for all people.

Word of God
“Now therefore, if you obey my
to Read and
voice and keep my covenant, you shall
Meditate
be my treasure possession out of all
John 14: 15-24
the peoples.” (Ex. 19:5)
20
Let us Pray
My Resolution
God who made me a member of the
I shall always walk on the
Church, the sacrament of salvation,
path of salvation by reading
I praise you. Help me to walk through the
the word of God and living
path of your commandments and reach the
according to it.
glory of heaven.

All those, who in faith look towards Jesus, the author of salvation
and the principle of unity and peace, God has gathered together and
established as the Church, that it may be for each and everyone the
visible sacrament of this saving unity. (Vat. II, The Church, No. 9)

The Mar Thoma Christians who received their faith from St. Thomas, grew
in their faith in association with Churches in Edessa, Persia and Selucia,
who also received faith from St. Thomas, the Apostle. The immigrants
who came from Persia under the leadership of Kanai Thomman enhanced
our Church in its growth considerably. The Mar Thoma Christians were
Catholic in their faith, Oriental in their liturgy and Indian in their culture.
Questions
1. What does St. Paul say to show that all men are in need of salvation.
2. What is the experience of salvation?
3. Why do we say that obedience to the commandments is the
condition for salvation?
4. Jesus is the Saviour of the world, Explain.
5. How are salvation and the sacraments related?
21
Lesson-1
CHURCH: THE PEOPLE

CHOSEN BY GOD
The Lord said to Abram, “Go
from your country and your
kindred and your father's house to
the land that I will show you. I will
make of you a great nation, and I
will bless you, and make your
name great. So that you will be a
blessing. To your offspring I will
give this land.” (Gen: 12:1-2, 7).
And he brought him outside and
said, “Look toward heaven and
count the stars, if you are able to
count them.” Then he said to him,
“So shall your descendants be”
(Gen: 15:5). “And I will establish
my covenant between me and
you, and your offspring after you
throughout their generations for
an everlasting covenant, to be
God to you and to your offspring
after you. And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are
now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their
God.”(Gen.17:7-8) This covenant was the beginning of God's redemptive action to unite
all the nations on earth into one family.
9
The Call of Abraham and the Promises
As a result of the sin of man, the children of God

were degraded and scattered. But, God wanted to
gather them into one flock and lead them on the path of
salvation and raise them to the dignity of the children of
God. The call of Abraham came in this context as God
wanted to give rise to a new generation through him.
Through faith and obedience Abraham responded to
God's call.
God's promises came to Abraham at a time

when he had no children, and Sarah, his wife had long
advanced in years. Trusting in the promises of God,
Abraham ventured to leave behind his dear native land
and go to the place God had shown him. God was
greatly pleased with Abraham's faith and obedience
and he blessed him with a son named Isaac, fulfilling
His promise.
The Children of Jacob: Israel
God continued to keep His promises with Isaac

and then Jacob, the son of Isaac. Jacob, who became
the father of twelve tribes, was called Israel (Gen:
32:28), subsequently all the descendants of Jacob
came to be called Israel. God made them his chosen
people and they became heirs to his promises and
blessings. The Bible tells us that the Children of Israel
went and dwelt in Egypt when Joseph, one of Jacob's
sons, was the administrator there. In the course of time
they grew greatly in number.
10
The Call of Moses and the
Liberation of Israel
The authorities in Egypt became increasingly

jealous and suspicious of the people of Israel as they made
steady progress numerically and economically. Gradually
the Egyptians began to pressurize and persecute the
Israelites. They treated them like slaves and made them
work like slaves. God called Moses to liberate the people of
Israel from slavery and persecution under the Egyptian
authorities and to make them once again God's own people
in accordance with the promises he had made to Abraham
and his descendants.
God said to Moses, I am the God of your father, the

God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob…
I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt, I
have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters.
Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to
deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of
that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk
and honey…” (Ex. 3:6-8)
God's People being Formed
God liberated the Children of Jacob from their

slavery in Egypt and led them through the deserts to the
promised land. While they were being led under the
leadership of Moses, God made a covenant with them on
Mount Sinai: Moses went up to God and the Lord called him
out of the mountain saying, “Thus you shall say to the
house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: You have seen what I
11
did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself.
Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured
possession out of all the peoples; Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for
me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.” (Ex: 19:3-6).
God liberated Israel from Egypt and made covenant with them in order to make
them God's own people. It is clear from what God told Moses. In the old Testament, the
word 'Kahal' (in Hebrew) or 'Ecclesia' (in Greek) is used to mean a people called into
one flock by God and who were made God's own people. Literally, the word 'Kahal' or
'Ecclesia' means the 'assembly of those who are called together. This word received a
religious significance when it was used in the Bible (Deut. 4:10, 9:10, 15:10). The word
'Ecclesia' means three things in the context of Israel's history.
1. The people of Israel constitute an assembly called by God.

2. They were called together for a special purpose. (To worship the Lord, their God
and to keep His covenant was the purpose for which they were called.)
3. Through this election, Israel became God's own people.
A New Covenant and a New People of God
Israel failed miserably to keep the terms of the covenant with God. They were
unfaithful to God and worshiped the gods of the gentiles. Yet, God on His part remained
faithful and remembered His covenant. God decided to make a new covenant with his
people, a covenant that is inviolable in which He will be their God and they will be His
people. We read in the book of the prophet Jeremiah: “But this is the covenant that I will
12
make with the house of Israel after those days,
says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I
will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people” (Jer 31:33).
In the fullness of time, Jesus, the Son of

God, through his life, death and resurrection
realized this covenant. Jesus established a new
covenant of love by giving the transformed bread
and wine as his own body and blood at the last
supper. This covenant was sealed with his
sacrificial death on the cross. Thus God forgave
the sins of humanity through the death of His own
son on the cross. God remembers our sins no
more (Jer. 31:34). As Paul, the Apostle says, “For
our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21). St. Paul in
Ephesians says: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought
near in the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13).
Church: The Chosen People of God
The Church is the assembly of the chosen people of God, gathered together by
God Himself for the completion of His salvific work. Jesus established this Church on
the foundation of the apostles. Paul the apostle tells us that “God chose us in Christ
before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love” (Eph.
1:4). Paul urges us to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience
as we are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved. (Col. 3:12)
St. Peter also highlights our election by God. He reminds us in these words: “But
you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people.” (1Pet. 2:9).
13
Therefore the Church is the assembly of God's people chosen and brought
together by God Himself. God has called us to salvation and sonship with him and we
who are God's people should realize this in our lives.

Word of God
God chose us in Christ before
to Read and
the foundation of the world
Meditate
to be holy and blameless
Eph. 1: 3-14
before him in love (Eph. 1:4).
Let us Pray
O God, who united us all into our My Resolution
people, give us the good will to think I shall always be thankful to
with the church, to love the church God for making me a member
and to participate in her work to the of the Church.
best of our ability.

Christ instituted the new covenant gathering Jews and Gentiles
to be united, not only according to the flesh, but in the Spirit, and to
be the new People of God. (Vat. II, The Church, No. 9)
14
The people who received their Christian faith from St. Thomas, the apostle,
are known as Mar Thoma Nazranies. The name Nazrani has been derived
after the name Jesus of Nazareth, meaning the followers of Jesus of
Nazareth. The Nazranies dwelt on the Malabar coast in the south western
part of India. Later this community was called the Malabar Church. The
attribute 'Syro' was also added to them as this community had their
liturgical celebration in Syriac Language. Today the Church is known as
the Syro-Malabar Church.
Questions
1. How did Abraham respond to God's call?

2. Why did God call Moses?
3. What do we mean when we call the people of Israel “Kahal' or 'Ecclesia'?
4. Write two verses from the Bible that indicates that we, the Christians, are
God's own people.
5. How did Jesus establish the new covenant?
15

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Lesson-15

MARY, THE MOTHER AND MODEL

There were, standing beneath

At the time of annunciation, when the angel

Mary, the Mother of the Church

After the death of Jesus, Mary gathered

The Church is the community of believers who

Mary is the symbol of the Church, the faithful

Mary's Intercession and Protection

Mother Mary sought the help of Jesus when

The Different Forms of Marian Devotion

The recitation of the rosary is a very significant and universally, practiced

1. The Feast of the Purification of Mary : February 2.

Word of God to Remember

To Know the Mother Church

THE CHURCH IS UNIVERSAL

The Church is Present Everywhere

The Church Embraces all the People of the World

The Church Embraces all Cultures

Different Traditions and Universality

The Universal Councils of the Church

Word of God to Remember

Let us Pray My Resolution

To Know the Mother Church

THE CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC

The Missions of the Apostles

The Apostles and the Communities of Believers

The Apostolic Heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church

Patriarchal Churches are local Churches having

The Primacy of the Pope

Jesus himself gave the first place to Simon Peter

Word of God to Remember

to Read and of the hosehold of God, built upon the foundation

To Know the Mother Church

THE CHURCH IS HOLY

God is holy and it was to this

All are Called to Holiness

The Church is Holy, and yet to be Sanctified

Sanctification through Jesus

Sanctification through the

The Word of God has the power to sanctify us.

Sanctification through the Sacraments

Sacraments are the means for the

The Altar is the symbol of Holiness in a Church.

Sanctification through the Sacramentals

The Sacramentals help us to grow in holiness. They prepare us to receive

Sanctification through Prayer, Fasting and Abstinence

Sanctification through Our Vocations

Perfection of love is attained and holiness is achieved, by fulfilling faithfully the

Word of God Word of God to Remember

To Think with the Church

After the death of Kariyattil Ouseph Metropolitan, Paremmakal Thomma Kathanar

THE CHURCH IS ONE

Jesus established the Church

Church, the Fellowship of the Believers

Fellowship was the distinguishing mark of those who responded to the

Fundamentally, it is faith that makes the Church a fellowship. Our faith is in

The Church is the body of Christ. In

There are twenty-four individual

Let us be proud of being part of the Catholic Church, established by Jesus

Byzantine Antiochian Alexandrian Assyrian Armenian

Word of God to Remember

Let us Pray My Resolution

To Know the Mother Church