Page 64 - thesis_biby_tharayil

54
15
the family. The Knānite custom of Elders Bless the Couple and Receive
Hand-outs is a clear reminder of the vocation of the Christian family to be a
16
community of love. This custom is also an example of what the Second
Vatican Council stated about the activities of the family apostolate of the
Domestic Church: “Among the various activities of the family apostolate
may be enumerated the following: ... help to engaged couples in preparing
themselves better for marriage, catechetical work, support of married
couples and families involved in material and moral crises, help for the aged
not only by providing them with the necessities of life but also by obtaining
17
for them a fair share of the benefits of an expanding economy”.

To Be the Sign of Trinitarian Love: Pope John Paul II presented the
18
Holy Trinity as a model of the human family and the Church. The same
idea is underlined in CCC: “The Christian family is a communion of
persons, a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in
the Holy Spirit. In the procreation and education of children it reflects the
Father’s work of creation. It is called to partake of the prayer and sacrifice
of Christ. Daily prayer and reading of the Word of God strengthen it in
19
charity”. The Tying of the Thāli is the most significant moment of the
20
marriage rite. It proclaims the bride a married woman. For the tying of
Thāli, the Knānites use a thread made up of “seven” yarns from the bridal

15
Cf. VELLIAN, J., “Marriage Customs of the Kinanites”, in J. VELLIAN (ed.), Crown,
Veil, Cross, Syrian Church Series Vol. XV, Kottayam, 1990, p. 28. Cf. JOHN P. M.
PULLAPPALLY, “Socio-religious Customs of Knānites” (Malayalam), in J. VELLIAN
(ed.), Symposium on Knānites, The Syrian Church Series, Vol. XII, Kottayam, 1986, pp.
110-111. Cf. J. VELLIAN, Knānite Community History and Culture, Syrian Church Series
Vol. XVII, Jyothi Book House, Kottayam, 2001, pp. 30-31.

16
Cf. LUKAS, P. U., Malayālatte Suriyāni Kristyānikalute Purātanappāttukal (Ancient
songs of the Syrian Christians of Malayalam, 1910), 7 th Edition, Jyothi Book House,
Kottayam, 1992, pp. 213-214. Cf. J. VELLIAN, Knānite Community History and Culture,
Syrian Church Series Vol. XVII, Jyothi Book House, Kottayam, 2001, pp. 20-21. Cf.
JOHN P. M. PULLAPPALLY, “Socio-religious Customs of Knānites” (Malayalam), in J.
VELLIAN (ed.), Symposium on Knānites, The Syrian Church Series, Vol. XII, Kottayam,
1986, p. 109.
17 SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM OECUMENICUM VATICANUM II, Decretum de
apostolatu laicorum, Apostolicam Actuositatem, no. 11, 18 November, 1965, in AAS 58,
1966, pp. 837-864.
18
Cf. JOHN PAUL II, “Holy Trinity: Model for all Families”, in L’Osservatore Romano,
English Edition, June, 1998, p.1.
19
Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2205.
20 Cf. EDAKALATHUR, L., The Theology of Marriage in the East Syrian Tradition,
Pontificium Institutum Orientale, Roma, 1994, p. 154.

www.knanayology.org