26th May 1996

Reflections of faith

By Renuka Sadanandan

The Catholic Church in this country traces its beginnings to the Portuguese conquest of the maritime provinces, but few records exist of the early churches built by those first converts who espoused what was then an alien faith. It was with the idea of having some pictorial record of the churches of the Archdiocese of Colombo that Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando asked wellknown author Manel Abhayaratna to put together an exhibition of photographs.

There are 125 parishes, within the 14 deaneries of the Archdiocese of Colombo which extends from Kochchikade to Negombo, along the coast to Aluthgama and inland to Giriulla, Avissawella and Meegahatenne. Visiting each one of them along with photographer Suresh de Silva, Manel was astonished to find some 340 churches, some tiny, some large, some magnificently maintained, others crumbling, yet all possessed of a distinctly individual character of their own.

Reflections of Faith is the book that has emerged from their travels and research. Due to be released in midJune, it provides not merely a pictorial record of the churches belonging to the Colombo Archdiocese but also an insight into how Catholicism was planted, nurtured, trampled underfoot and then grew into a living faith that sustains over 2 million people in this country.

Author Manel Abhayaratna, former Director of Information and presently Director General of the BMICH whose previous writings have been fiction and verse, describes the writing of the book as a spiritual adventure. For her part, she says, as a Catholic who adhered to all the rituals and regular Sunday mass, it was a humbling experience to see the depth of faith in many of the remote parishes where people have cherished their churches as a manifestation of their spirituality. The construction of these churches, she writes, is a gift of love to a love eternal.

It is this thought that runs through the book, that these are not just buildings, but holy places, that reflect man's innate yearning for a closer communion with God. The author notes how the church is inextricably linked with the Christian's life, from baptism when the infant is borne there in his mother's arms to first communion, confirmation, marriage and death. Describing her own personal experience, she writes, The Church was the link in my life from past generations to the future. My parents and those before them had sought solace within its precincts, they had shared

their griefs and joys, as even my children and theirs would kneel at the altar and ask of God the many joys they seek.

Responding to many requests and suggestions, Manel has while detailing the history and architectural features of the churches also added notes on the various saints the churches are dedicated to. Thoughtfully chosen quotations accompany the text, symbolising the particular quality attributed to each saint. St Anne's Church at Chekku Street, for instance, has as its quote, that beautiful Jewish saying, God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers."

Explaining the concept of saints, Manel likens them to friends who carry one's requests to a higher power. Thus it is that Our Lady Of Expectations is the church where women desperate to conceive, go in earnest supplication and to this day, tiny cots can be seen, placed there in fulfillment of a vow when a baby is born.

Amongst the interesting facts Manel mentions, is how church bells were first introduced by the Portuguese as a call to worship, to be different from the Buddhists who used the drums. In former times there also prevailed the quaint custom of christening church bells and Manel cannot resist telling me the tale of the bell of St Philip Neri's whose discordant notes so irritated the congregation that another church in Mutwal had to come to the rescue by lending them a bell, until one with a more harmonious chime could be procured.

In tracing the introduction and growth of Catholicism to Ceylon, the author not only documents the era of persecution under the Dutch and the subsequent period of religious tolerance of the British but also delve into some of the early myths and legends that spoke of the existence of Christianity thousands of years earlier. One of them has it that one of the Three Wise Men who came to worship the Baby Jesus was from here. This reference is from the Portuguese writer Maffei in his 'Historica Indica', where he says that of the Magi, Perumal is reckoned to be one of that number. Another legend has it that the Eunuch of Queen Candace whose conversion is recorded in the Book of Acts in the Bible, introduced Christianity to Ceylon. This story led to the belief that it was the footprint of a great saint that was found at Adam's Peak. Though unproven, they make interesting reading.

Reflections of Faith, though religious in content, does not aim to be a religious book. The author drew on early writings on the Catholic church, extensive interviews with people from the various parishes and the architecture faculty of the Katubedde university. In researching into the churches architectural design, Manel unearthed several facts that would fascinate the layman as well. That St Lucia's cathedral, was modelled on the Basilica of St Peter's in Rome or that among the relics enshrined here are the bones of St Lucy. How architecturally, the churches designs too changed from elaborate gothic, to even the Lankan octagonal concept. How stained glass and marble statues from France much favoured earlier, gave way to just a simple sanctuary with a concrete slab as an altar, a cross and a lamp to proclaim the presence of God.

The book extends to some 400 pages, 350 of them in colour. Its reference value apart, Manel Abhayaratna's eloquent writing and Suresh de Silva's inspiring photography evoke in the reader a rare appreciation of the Catholic faith. Says the author, My idea was essentially to make a book which was, at once, a work of art, but at the same time very readable, not just for Catholics, but for those of other faiths as well. Catholicism is part of our culture now, and this book is for anyone who seeks to understand that. lt is her hope that this will prompt others to document their places of worship as well. She would certainly love to continue this project which was completed in an amazing eight months, by documenting the rest of the churches, scattered throughout the island.

Reflections of Faith is published as a hard cover edition by the Craftman Press.

Christ's chromosomes: seek and you will find

by Thalitha Cherian Mathew

This is a response to the article we published some time back from the magazine New Statesman and Society

The article on Christ's chromosomes and the virgin birth (The Sunday times, Jan. 21) from "New Statesman and Society" concludes, "it seems impossible to escape the conclusion that the virgin birth and modern science are simply incompatible."

All that the article really demonstrated is that if you put the cart before the horse you won't get anywhere.

If we did have the chromosomes of the man called Jesus and if scientists examined them, we would then be able to conclude, scientifically, how or if at all, the virgin birth could have happened.

In the absence of the material required for scientific investigation, all that may rationally be concluded is that we just do not know. The writ of science does not run here, not because this phenomenon could not have occurred but because there is no evidence to examine.

People who have forgotten all the XXs and XYs they ever learnt at school or college, might have been a little dazzled by the genetic pyrotechnics in the article.

But if I may make a simple point about the process of sexual reproduction -- God (I hypothesize that there is a God and I refer to him anthropomorphically) -- if he were to be told about this XX and XY business, would doubtless yawn and say," What is all the fuss about? I already know all this stuff. Are you forgetting that it was my idea?"

People often do not realize that scientific discoveries though they may be news to the "faithful" (and "unfaithful" as well) is really no news to the Creator -- if He exists.

It seems impossible to escape the conclusion that He who created all the phenomena and laws that "modern" science investigates, could have found (and in fact did find) a simple way of "beating the system" if He found it necessary.

From the article it is clear that to know the facts is not always to understand the meaning.

I quote: "indeed it is not really clear why sex exists at all.

"After all, if the name of the game is to get as many of your genes into the next generation as possible, what is the point of sharing them with a partner and so halving your genetic contribution to your offspring?"

Since the writer of the article hasn't been able to answer these questions had has not been able to interpret the facts which are quite clear, may I attempt an answer?

There are at least two reasons for sexual reproduction as we find it in the human species. One is serious, the other is -- but I anticipate.

The serious reason is the improvement of the species or its increased adaptability, by combining characteristics from either parent in an excitingly random manner -- the resulting permutation - combinations generating a being identical in substance with the parent stock, yet so different from either as to be almost miraculous. It is a "miracle" so common and everyday that we are used to it. Birth itself, ordinary, run-of-the-mill birth, is such a marvel and yet it can be (can it?) wholly explained in scientific terms.

The name of the reproductive game among human beings is not and never has been (a questionable assumption there, New Statesman and Society) to get as many of your genes as possible into the next generation. The name of that game is cloning, which might be expressed in literary terms as "reproductive narcissism," into social terms as "infinite boredom" and into dramatic terms as an audience reaction," not the same old jokers in the new play!"

Of course the genetic pool is the same, but the combination of characteristics is synergistic -- somehow the child always seems, because of its differences to be a little "more" than either parent. (More doesn't always imply better any more than more adaptable means superior -- but perhaps the chances of survival are higher).

I hope that a scientist will concede that God (if He exists) is as interested in the human experiment as any of us could be.

Now to the second reason -- if the writer of the article on Christ's chromosomes could permit himself/herself so much casual blasphemy, (s) he will not mind my attributing to God a little holy frivolity.

Sex must have been given the "thumbs up" as a mode of ensuring reproduction simply because it is more fun (for us). After all, we could have been landed with binary fission like the amoebae, which would have very efficiently eliminated the need for two sexes and all the attendant misunderstandings!

But since we are stuck with sex, so crazy, beautiful, messy, wonderful, difficult to explain to children and so impossible to demonstrate, I for one am forced to the conclusion that sex was meant to inject some fun and even joy into human living.

As for all these references to rabbits, swans and turkeys, let's talk turkey for a bit.

Why all this hoo-ha about the virgin birth?

If you really want something which science can't explain, something really hard to swallow or digest, why not start at the other and -- an end which turned into a new beginning?

Why ignore the resurrection? How, if we exclude God from the picture, could a man rise from death? Surely this rising was more inexplicable than the birth of Jesus?

Why ignore the death of Christ on the Cross -- was it not a painful and ignominious way for an innocent man to die?

Why don't those who are so interested in His chromosomes closely examine the life of Christ, His words and actions which are well-documented?

Even in His lifetime, people were amazed, challenged, attracted to and antagonized by, this man who spoke with such unusual authority and clarity. Many came to fire questions at Him, many asked Him directly --

"Are you the Christ? or should we look for another?"

And the answer was, "Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind can see, the lame can walk, those who suffer from diseases are made clean, the deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the good news is preached to the poor." In short, the questioners were told to note what they had heard and seen and form their own conclusions.

Wherever Jesus went, miracles seemed to be drawn spontaneously from him by the needs of the people. (Some were healed merely by touching him, others by a word of command.) But whenever he was asked to "perform" a miracle, he refused categorically. On one such occasion he said," You can predict the weather by looking at the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. You ask for a miracle? No!"

There were several occasions on which Jesus spoke very plainly about who He was, even using with authority the great "I am" of God.

But on most occasions when He was asked to "stand and declare", he threw the question back on the questioner: "Whom say you that I am?" The answer was not required to enlighten Jesus as to His identity or mission. The answer was meant to make the questioner search himself/herself as to what (s) he thought Jesus was (and is) -- a man or more than a man? Just another wandering teacher or a man who knew from where He came and where He was going? a fraud: or truly the Son of God?

God, in Christ, was and is, consistent in His policy -- He came to "show", not to spoon-fed. He came to elicit a deep response, even recognition, from us, not to put words into our mouths. He came to invite us to join a new and exciting experiment -- the act of the re-creation of human lives, starting with our own.

Christ challenges us to faith but He understands doubt. When His followers were covering in fear in a closed room, after the traumatic experience of seeing their leader die, He appeared to them and asked, "Why are you afraid? Why are these doubts coming up in your minds?.... Looking at my hands and feet and see that it is I, myself. Feel me and you will know, for a ghost doesn't have flesh and bones, as you can see I have.'

It is a paradox that those who go in search of Christ's chromosomes should run away from the living Christ. You ask for chromosomes but why ask for so little? There are so many who have, even in this day and age, met the Man. Does the scientist sense that we can examine his chromosomes but the Man can examine us! We can control chromosomes but the Man is beyond our control.

If you search for the chromosomes of a man who did enter time and history but now stands outside it, you may search forever.

But if you search for the Man you will certainly find Him.

'Ask and you will receive,

Knock and the door will be opened to you,

Seek and you will find.'

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