Bøger af Nihal Abeyasingha

This book seeks to trace the emergence of the traditional concept of a sacrament in the Christian and especially the Catholic, tradition. It goes on to analyze the keys suggested for the understanding and interpretation of the liturgy articulated by lecturers at the Pontifical Institute of Liturgical Studies, Rome. This book suggests how these keys can be rooted in the tradition of Thomas Aquinas and can be further developed in the context of Teilhard de Chardin to envision a cosmic liturgy. Finally, the book insists that sacraments are not a concept, but always a celebration in the community.

Most Christians are taken aback when they witness a Syro-Malabar liturgy or Syro-Malankara liturgy in India or an Ukranian liturgy in Europe or a Greek Orthodox liturgy in the United States. But these are traditions embodied into Christianity - ways in which the early Christians organized themselves, prayed and worshipped. Unfortunately, most are family with the Roman liturgy and its background of Roman law. But these can be enriched by the the more philosophical and mystical traditions of the Eastern Churches. The present book, CHURCHES: EAST AND WEST serves as an introduction to the beginnings of these Churches and the differing emphases and spirit of this variety of ways to follow Christ, bringing people to a realization that the Church is Catholic - universal.

Too many chiefs and not enough Indians is a saying that refers to a situation with too many managers and not enough people to do the work. And perhaps this may be the situation in a church that has come to be too dependent on priests both for their sacramental as well as administrative functions. Sometimes the latter function takes more time and energy than the former. The vocation of both the ordained minister and the lay person derives from Christ, who has called each by name. The first person called to bear witness to the resurrect ion was the woman who came to the tomb. On her message, the apostles ran to the tomb and later awaited his appearances to them. A study of the role of lay people in the church through history underlines their importance in the spreading of the gospel. Perhaps the best known case is the Church in Korea where the laity has been present and active from the very origin of the Church in the country. With the present shortage of priests, the present author raises the question whether in the context of history, this is the hour for the laity to play the role of priest, prophet and king, to which they have been consecrated at baptism. Formation at several levels - human, spiritual, pastoral, social - can be provided. But they are the ground troops, who will ultimately ensure victory for the Kingdom of Christ.

Greed, the craving of pleasure, the idolatry of power, the triple concupiscence which marks history, is at the root of past and present evils. Baptism and the following of Christ is one response to that situation. Other religious traditions have their own responses. Religious are persons who live their baptismal commitment as intensely as they can. So, consecrated persons - monks and nuns, contemplatives, religious dedicated to the works of the apostolate, members of Secular Institutes and Societies of Apostolic life, hermits and consecrated virgins - are models and exemplars for all the baptized. The charismatic dimension of the diverse forms of consecrated life, while always in progress, is never finished. New needs, which could not even have been imagined earlier, are emerging in the 21st century. The numbers of those committed to religious life is declining in the West, while increasing in the East. Basic issues still need to be addressed - the originality and uniqueness of a charism, its purpose. The third millennium is witnessing the emergence of associations of the laity, and of ecclesial movements. Is the charismatic dimension still operative in religious life? Religious need to remain open to the Spirit who works in accord with the Father's will, praising the grace which has been given to them in Jesus the Christ. The Church needs to re-think its own traditional positions. A new type of communion and collaboration within the various vocations and states of life especially among consecrated persons and laity is beginning. The present collection of articles written is not systematic, but is meant to provoke thinking.

Preaching during the celebration of the Eucharist has been a tradition in the Church from the earliest times, as witnessed to by the Acts of the Apostles. But the form of preaching has changed over the years. Pope Francis now considers it a genre of its own and this book tries to outline what he means by that. In addition, the present work also enters into the process of composing and delivering a homily, providing an outline of how to compose a homily, how to deliver it and how to enhance one's voice production for the purposes of oral proclamation of the Word. It is hoped that this contribution will make for better homilies that are a proclamation of the Word in the context of a celebration and lead to deep commitment in life and witness, Go in peace glorifying the Lord by your life. The authors of this work have been involved in pastoral ministry of all types for almost half a century. They have also contributed homilies to various journals in several countries.

CHRISTIAN SACRAMENTS focuses on three areas in regard to the sacraments. First, it traces the history of the concept of a sacrament. Second, it tries to insert this history into the context of theological reflection in the second part of the 20th century and after the Second Vatican Council. The writer is influenced by Pope Francis who states, "e;Indeed the Eucharist is itself an act of cosmic love: 'Yes, cosmic! Because even when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a country church, the Eucharist is always in some way celebrated on the altar of the world.' The Eucharist joins heaven and earth; it embraces and penetrates all creation. The world which came forth from God's hands returns to him in blessed and undivided adoration."e; Thus, the Eucharist is also "e;a source of light and motivation for our concerns for the environment, directing us to be stewards of all creation"e; [Laudato si' #236]. This provides a key to understanding non-Christian rites and sincere human efforts in the context of a cosmic liturgy of which the Eucharist is the climax. Thirdly, the book emphasizes that the sacraments are not a concept, but a celebration in community, which touches and changes lives.