Page 58 - thesis_biby_tharayil

48

Conclusion
This chapter studied the moral and cultural traditions of the Southist
family in the Archdiocese of Kottayam and their theological significance.
This was preparation for the next chapter, which has the goal of finding
conformity between these ceremonies and the teaching of Pope John Paul II
on family as a Sanctuary of Life. In preparation for that, Part One analysed
the cultural milieu of the Syro-Malabar Church as a whole and the factors
that influenced the liturgical and cultural tradition of it. A cultural
assimilation on the part of the St. Thomas Christians, as they were a
minority, was necessary and essential. It is evident from this chapter that,
for the Knānāya community, the family signifies a communion of persons,
where each and every member of the family has special duties and
responsibilities to protect and safeguard the unity of marriage and family.
These customs show how this community, in the context of family, responds
to God’s call. For example, the ceremony of “Elders blessing and receiving
hand-outs (Kachathazzhukal)” expresses the Knānite understanding of the
identity of family as a “Community of Love” and “Mutual respect”. It
remains to examine possible concurrence of these traditions with the
teaching of Pope John Paul II on the Domestic Church as a Sanctuary of
Life.

www.knanayology.org