Catholics’ procession of faith today

Bihar sees them all. In the cycle of the year, people of different faiths come out on the streets to publicly profess their beliefs. Processions are ceremonial elements to be found in almost every form of religious worship. Processions form an important part of Sikh culture and religious celebrations and are taken out with much devotion and enthusiasm on the occasion of Baisakhi — a festival that marks the birth of Khalsa Panth.The Sikh’s most sacred scripture Granth Sahib is taken out with honour by traditionally dressed Panj Piaras or the five senior most members of the Sikh clergy. Processions form a part of the Ram Navami and Janmashtami where different Hindu sects celebrate the birth of their deities. Muharram is an annual feature along the streets of Patna.
This Sunday, Catholics celebrate the feast of Christ the King which marks the end of the liturgical year. The holy Eucharist that symbolizes the body of Christ will be carried through the streets along Digha — from XTTI to the Queen of Apostles Church — in a solemn procession. In this era of democratically elected governments and fading monarchies, the symbolism may seem a bit out of touch to the postmodern poets, but everyone loves a bit of tradition and basically religious rituals are all rooted in history.
“You see, before Jesus was painfully executed on the cross, the Roman governor asked him ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered ‘My kingdom is not of this world’. This was because he is the king of hearts, his message was that love and understanding can bring about the kingdom of heaven. Christ came to bring liberation to the poorest of the poor. Not through violent struggle, but by changing one’s mindset. This is the central theme of the annual procession. When they walk in the procession, the believers express the fact that the teachings of Christ are central to their lives,” says Church historian Patrick John.
Sunday also marks an eventful day for Indian Catholics as Pope Francis officially declares an Indian priest and a nun as saints. Blessed Chavara Elias Kuriakose (1805-1871) and Blessed Euphraisa of Sacred Heart of Jesus (1877-1952), both from the Syro-Malabar Church based in Kerala, are set to be canonized on Sunday, November 23. The canonizations come six years after the canonization of India’s first woman saint, Sister Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception. Both the ‘new’ saints are credited with spearheading a better spiritual and social awareness.
In the Catholic Church, ‘Saints’ are those people who have lived exemplary lives of faith, remembered and honoured by people for years after their death. The canonization process takes a long time, and is one of the highest honours of one’s piety.
“Mother Teresa of Calcutta was one such person; she was beatified (given the honorific ‘Blessed’) in 2013, which is one step away from being declared a saint. But the investigation process is a long one and we hope that she will be canonized soon,” says Clement Kujur, a devotee of Blessed Teresa.
Not everyone who will join the procession is a Christian, points out a Kurji resident. Many people, young and old, from different faiths also join to express their solidarity.