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 published: 2005-12-21

Because we love the world…

Mission of India (3): To proclaim the love of God to all men

Rosa y Edgardo Aymerich en el Santuario en Bangalore, India

Rosa and Edgardo Aymerich in the Shrine in Bangalore, India

Rosa und Edgardo Aymerich im Heiligtum in Bangalore, Indien

Foto: Aymerich © 2005

 

Día de Alianza

Covenant Day

Bündnistag

Foto: Wosny © 2005

 
 

18 de octubre en India

October 18 in India

18. Oktober in Indien

Foto: Wosny © 2005

 
 

La pobreze tiene cara...

Poverty has a face...

Armut hat ein Gesicht...

 
 

Porque amamos al mundo...

Because we love the world...

Weil wir diese Welt und ihre Menschen lieben…

 
 

Impresiones

Moments

Momentaufnahme

Fotos: Aymerich © 2005

 
 

 

 

INDIA, Edgardo and Rosa Aymerich. It is urgent to build a Schoenstatt that is filled by God in all its dimensions, a Schoenstatt that is capable of going into the Church- a Church that is called to turn the world towards God. To understand our work here and even more to understand the challenges which Schoenstatt faces in this country it would be good to present a short profile of religion in India, since this is a fundamental element and of great influence in India’s culture and society.

The three most important religions in India are Hindu, Islam, and Christianity. Furthermore, there are many different beliefs, which can be encountered. Hindu, after Christianity and Islam, is the religion with the greatest number of faithful in the world. It surged several thousands of years ago from one of its primitive beliefs, which centered on the sun and fire, fertility, the power of natural forces and the need to dominate them. It was not started by a single founder and it does not have a central authority. It is not very structured and there are many differences within it. Many Gods are venerated, for example, Brahma ("The Creator"), Vishnu ("He who maintains order"), and Shiva ("The Destroyer"). It has been difficult for us to obtain a response among the Hindus about the belief in the existence of the many gods, or the possibility that they are simply manifestations of only one supreme god. There is no unity among them rather; there is confusion in this respect.

A culture based on Hinduism

It could be said that Hinduism has molded the Indian culture just as Christianity has left a clear mark on the European culture. An example of this can be observed in the structure of castes that divide society in different social classes. There is a great variety of castes. Generally, they could be classified in the following four: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaihyas and Sudras. The untouchables, associated with misery, uncleanness, and death are considered without caste and as such, they are beneath all others.

Although the structure of castes has its origin in the Hindu religion, sometimes it is also found among Catholics and other religions. This caste system clashes fully with one of the basic principles of Christianity in which all of us are equal as we are all children of God. In the majority of the cases (including Catholics), the people marry someone of their caste. Although the Constitution of India prohibits this division, it is rooted in the culture and that makes it very difficult to eliminate it.

For love of the Church, for love of the world

On the other hand, the Arabian traders who landed in the states of Kerala and Karnataka at the turn of the VII century introduced Islam, which has the most members after Hinduism, in India. About 10% of the population is Muslim. There are between 25 and 30 million Christians in the whole country, mainly concentrated in the south. The majority are Catholics, although there are also Orthodox, Protestants and members of other faiths.

In this cultural context of religious plurality, Schoenstatt tries to open the way in an original form, and in accordance with the culture of the people, but without losing the force of the mission to which it is called.

Schoenstatt is called to renew the Church in such a way that it will change the world and the direction of its history. Schoenstatt is called to extend itself throughout all the nations. It should tug at the deepest part of the culture of a country, assume it, and elevate it in the Covenant of Love. Because we love the Church, we want a Church that belongs more to God and to Mary. Because we love the world, we want to make the love of Christ known to all regardless of nationality, culture, or race. All are sons and daughters of God.

This is a great mission, that surpasses all human capability, but it is real. It is real for those who experience their own smallness and the mercy of the good God allowing them to act. It is real for those who consecrate their life to the Blessed Mother allowing her to transform their lives to the point that only Christ lives in them. It is also real for those who live Inscriptio in silence each day, close to the Cross of God, nourished in the Shrine and sent out in apostolic mission to the place, which corresponds to the function of their condition, and personal mission. This is our ideal and our responsibility. That is what Schoenstatt is called to do.


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