Nuptial Mass in Advent!

Loving greetings! Hope and pray that this letter finds you fine. Quite often you have seemingly treated me as an irritant! However, certain things I can’t but tell you for the betterment of the archdiocese, of course to my knowledge.

You are aware of the plight of Gladin in our parish! He was not even allowed to concelebrate the nuptial Mass of his own nephew, let alone the blessing of the marriage. He is not welcome there either! You know the incident behind that! The question of nuptial Mass in Advent!

Just today I went for a marriage in one of our parishes. I reached while the Gospel was being proclamed and remained there till the end. The Mass was concelebrated by five priests – two from our archdiocese, two from one of our neighbouring dioceses and one from a religious congregation! It was in no way different than the Masses of other days, though it is advent and that too after 17th.

I think that it is not the case with our neighbouring Kottar or the neighbouring Verapoly Province! To my understanding Trivandrum province alone is advocating it and that too for the poor and the weak! The mighty doesn’t care at all! That is the message, loud and clear, emanating from the marriage I referred above!

Though I can’t still understand the theology behind not offering Mass, I am here not to advocate for the repeal of any law decreed by you! However, I do question the inequality being meted out to the poor in our archdiocese! Equality before law is the basic right of anyone in this country and I don’t think that it is different in the church!

Laws may be violated, but not so blatantly as here in our archdiocese and that too with the knowledge and support of priests! The violators are violators and they should be treated so. Do we have a system of enforcing laws and booking the offenders? Do we really consult people concerned other than the ‘yes men,’ before enacting such laws, especially when it is seemingly contrary to what was practiced and provided in guides like the Ecclesiastical Calendar or so?

Let us ensure support of all concerned, and take everyone possible into confidence before enacting such laws so hurriedly and then helplessly witnessing violations!

If you don’t mind, I shall send to such comments as and when situations demand and would love to know your mind.