Monday, November 29, 2010

Enculturation in Colombo: Cardinal Ranjith Returns

The only time I have ever met the now Cardinal Malcolm Rajith he was speaking about "enculturation", saying that it was important in Asia to get away from western concepts and that bowing and prostration even crawling on one's hands and knees were very much part of many Asian cultures. He was also suggested bishop's using cds and tapes, in the US even videos, for pastoral letters was seriously unliturgical!

Therefore I was delighted to see this marvellous piece of eculturation  to welcome him back to Colombo, I would have preferred a scarlet elephant, but I am just a trad.
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14 comments:

leutgeb said...

Maybe the elephant is underneath the 'valence.'

Oneupmanship? said...

His Eminence's Cardinalmobile is a bit more extravagant than the Popemobile.

Just another mad Catholic said...

is that a converted tank?

peregrinus.sg said...

It's funny how some of the folks over at PrayTell were disturbed by this display of welcome and honour from the Sri Lankan people.

When the supposed champions of inculturation fail to recognise inculturation for what it is, you know just the level of the quality resting between their shoulders. Empty vessels do make quite loud noises.

Ma Tucker said...

How great is that! Good old Colombo did a great job for him. Love the hat at the top. Lovely, sweet and terrible all at the same time, now that's quite Catholic I would say!

Mhairi said...

Amusing but OTT. It's certainly not how the Lord Himself entered the city.

Michael Clifton said...

I think that when eventually Archbishop Nichols becomes a Cardinal we should have a multicultural procession from Heathrow to Westminster with the new Cardinal in a vehicle just like the one in the picture.

Noble simplicity said...

Sacrosanctum Concilium 116:

“Ordinaries, by the encouragement and favor they show to art which is truly sacred, should strive after noble beauty rather than mere sumptuous display. This principle is to apply also in the matter of sacred vestments and ornaments.” (SC 124)

From Christus Dominus:

“(Bishops) should also be mindful of their obligation to give an example of holiness in charity, humility, and simplicity of life.” (15)

“In exercising their office of father and pastor, bishops should stand in the midst of their people as those who serve.” (16).

More, Please said...

I think people who carp should remember the problems these people in Sri Lanka have suffered in recent years. Not only the long and destructive civil war but also the terrible sunami that took thousands of lives. I think it is a tribute to Cardinal Ranjith, and the esteem in which he is held, that the people of his homeland have let their hair down and given him such a wonderful welcome on his return home.
It is a wonderful and joyful display of true Catholic exhuberance. In all honesty, I cannot see such a wonderful welcome for any English prelate returning from Rome.

Didi Dasouza said...

Noble Simplicity,
I think in the case of Card. Ranjith it must have taken a great deal of humility to travel on that vehicle.

Et Expecto said...

Cardinal Ranjith needs this practice for when he is elected Pope, as he surely will be.

Adulio said...

It's a sad there was no cappa magna to boot, but one step at a time. I hope many liturgically liberal people see these photos and are overwhelmed.

Crux Fidelis said...

As a Scot, I was delighted to see some kilted pipers in the parade. Inculturation works both ways, it would seem.

Der Herr Alipius said...

"It's certainly not how the Lord Himself entered the city." Which is strange indeed, considering they had such a variety of beautiful cars back then.

What strikes me as odd is that on blogs like Pray Tell you find so many people who lost the ability to tune in to the joy of others because they spent too much time in front of a mirror, practicing 'serious' faces, 'devout' posture and lifted fingers.

The Lord’s descent into the underworld

At Matins/the Office of Readings on Holy Saturday the Church gives us this 'ancient homily', I find it incredibly moving, it is abou...