Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

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43On Prayer 85 86Quintessence of Religious Doctrinesa person of prayer, everything would be seen as amanifestation of God’s working or flowing out of theinfinitesmal wisdom of God. For St. Ephrem, the flight of adove was a reminder of the Cross of Jesus. As St.Thomas AKempis, the author of the classical devotional book ‘On theImitation of Christ’, writes, a man of prayer would pray asfollows: ‘If it is thy will to lead me to light, blessed art thou O!Lord; If it is thy will to keep me in darkness, yet, ye be blessedagain’. We must mainly pray for spiritual fortification. In prayerwe must offer thanks for all that we have received. There isno harm in praying for our material needs, for our sustenanceas well. That is why Jesus, in his teaching about prayer soughtthe daily bread. No wonder the prayers formulated by theSyrian Fathers for the seven hours of the day and seasonsof the year which are the periods of Annunciation - Nativity,Epiphany, Lent, Resurrection, Apostles, Growth of theChurch, Elijah-Cross-Moses and dedication of the Churchare modelled after the Lord’s prayer. The S.O.C.distinguishes between public and private prayers. The formerare those that are liturgically said by the congregation as awhole in the Church; the latter are prayers said personally.The S.O.C. says that even in private prayer the thrust be onthe spiritual aspect.1. Both these types of prayers are to be said with devotion andfaith.Ref: Jas. 1:6, 7, 8. But when you pray, you must believeand not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wavein the sea, that is driven and blown about by thewind. A person like that, unable to make up his mindand undecided in all he does, must not think that hewill receive anything from the Lord. (G.N.B.)CommentPublic and private prayers are to be said with meekness,devotion and acknowledging the greatness of God. For suchprayers are heard quickly by the Lord. The reading of theSermon on the Mount would convince us of the need forhumbleness and purity of heart. Be thou innocent as thenew-born babe, is a fitting direction for prayer.2. Public prayers generally are to be held in churches. If notpossible, in houses. It is extremely good and highlycommendable, that all those who can, shall assemble and saythe prayers together.Ref: (a) Acts. 3:1. One day Peter and John went to the templeat three O’Clock in the afternoon, the hour for prayer.(G.N.B.)(b) Mt. 18:20. For where two or three come together inmy name, I am there with them. (G.N.B.)CommentInstructions regarding public prayers are given. As far aspossible public or liturgical prayers are to be held in churches.If not possible, they are to be held in house congregations.The theology for congregational prayers is the saying of ourLord, that when two or more assemble in His name, He wouldbe in their midst.3. As decreed by our Lord, prescribed by the Canon Law andpermitted by Church practices, prayers are to be said standingwith intermittent genuflection as signs of worship. This is what isto be followed generally. Prayers of Confession, Holy Ordersand Pentecost etc., however are to be held to the regularaccompaniment of genuflection; but genuflection is prohibitedon Sundays, feast days and on days intervening Easter Sundayand the Day of the Pentecost.Ref: (a) Mk. 11:25. And when you stand and pray forgiveanything you may have against anyone so that yourfather in heaven will forgive the wrongs that youhave done. (G.N.B.)(b) Lk. 18: 10-13. “Once there were two men, who wentup to the temple to pray: one was a pharisee, theother a tax collector. The pharisee stood apart andprayed... I fast two days a week and I give you atenth of all my income”. (G.N.B.)
44On Prayer 87CommentThe prayers are to be said by the able bodied in the standingpose; with kneeling down or genuflexion, which is a reminderof the crucifixion and a symbol for venerating crucified Christ.Besides it is an exercise of penitence, rogation or repentance.The S.O.C., however, prohibits genuflexion on all Sundaysand the fifty days between Easter Day and the Day ofPentecost. The theology is that on these days more thanthe sorrow of crucifixion the Church rejoices in the resurrectionof Her Master. In short, instead of rogation, rejoicing is thedistinguishing mark of these days.Theme No: 15On FastsIntroductionFast was the initial decree enjoined by the Lord,1. On Adam.Ref: Gen. 2:17. But of the tree of the knowledge of goodand evil thou shalt not eat of it, for, in the day thatthou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (K.J.V.)CommentFasting is apparently the abstinence from food completelyor partially or from certain types of food. Of all the divine ordominical decrees to mankind, the instruction to Adam forfasting was the first one. In the Garden of Eden, the firstplace of habitation, God’s forbidding decree to keep awayfrom eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge was pronounced.In this context it may be construed that the Lord as thegreatest dietician, knew that certain prohibitions in the foodhabit are necessary for the good health of His creation.Realising the implication of the divine decree, the Church asa true mother prescribes periodical fasts to make her childrennot only physically strong but also spiritually fit.2. It was observed by the Jewish community, as per thecommandment of the Lord.Ref: (a) Joel 2:12. Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn yeeven to me with all your heart, and with fasting andwith weeping and with mourning. (K.J.V.)(b) Zech. 7:5. Tell the people of the land and the priestthat when they fasted and mourned in the fifth andthe seventh month during these seventy years...(G.N.B.)CommentAs per Mosaic Law, the Jews were forbidden from eating
Page 2 and 3: 1Quintessence of Religious Doctrine
Page 5 and 6: published in 1964. Since then we ha
Page 7 and 8: 6ThadathilMuttambalamKottayam - 686
Page 9 and 10: 8Translator’s NoteAs I sat down t
Page 11 and 12: 10Abbreviations19 20Quintessence of
Page 13 and 14: 1224Quintessence of Religious Doctr
Page 15 and 16: 14On the Blessed Trinity 27 28Quint
Page 17 and 18: 16On the Son 3132Quintessence of Re
Page 19 and 20: 18On the Son3536Quintessence of Rel
Page 21 and 22: 20On the Holy Spirit 39to be the di
Page 23 and 24: 22On the Holy Sacraments 43 44Quint
Page 25 and 26: 24On the Holy Baptism 47 48Quintess
Page 27 and 28: 26On the Holy Baptism 51can fulfil
Page 29 and 30: CommentThe results of receiving the
Page 31 and 32: 30On the Holy Eucharist 59 60Quinte
Page 33 and 34: 32On the Holy Confession 63 64Quint
Page 35 and 36: 34On the Holy Confession 67Ref.: (a
Page 37 and 38: 36On the Holy Orders 71 72Quintesse
Page 39 and 40: 38On the Holy Orders 75Ref: (a) Mt.
Page 41 and 42: 40On the Holy Matrimony 79CommentIt
Page 43: 42On Burial 833. Bishops, Priests,
Page 47 and 48: 46On Fasts 917. The Church has ther
Page 49 and 50: 48On the Feast of the Saints 95The
Page 51 and 52: 50On the Mother of God 99of the arc
Page 53 and 54: 52On the Prayer to the Saints 103 1
Page 55 and 56: 54On the Prayer to the Saints 107Co
Page 57 and 58: 56On the Prayer for the Departed 11
Page 59 and 60: 58On the Prayer for the Departed 11
Page 61 and 62: 60120Quintessence of Religious Doct
Page 63 and 64: 62On Signing oneself with the mark
Page 65 and 66: 64On Chastity 127way; others, becau
Page 67 and 68: 66On Human Soul 131CommentThe S.O.C
Page 69 and 70: 68On Sin 135 136Quintessence of Rel
Page 71 and 72: 70On Repentance 139140Quintessence
Page 77 and 78: 76On Independent Creation, Free wil
Page 79 and 80: 78On Independent Creation, Free wil
Page 83 and 84: 82AppendixNames of the Heritics who
Page 85 and 86: 84Heresies 167 168Quintessence of R

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