Saturday Evening Post
Making of the Encyclopaedia
From the Horse’s own Mouth
George Menachery
Thirteen
As I mentioned earlier it was
Fr. M. M. Balaguer s.j. who under the energetic patronage of H. Em. Valerian
Cardinal Gracias organized the 38th International Bombay Congress.
As part of the Congress there were meetings of all international Catholic
organisations including the Pax Romana. The Newman Association of India , the
senior wing of Pax Romana in India also had its National Conference and General
Body meeting in Bombay during the Congress. I was elected national
vice-president of the Newman Association on this occasion. This post gave me the opportunity to visit
many Newman Circles in various cities of India which provided me with a greater
understanding of the Indian Church and especially its Unity in Variety.
This exposure proved to be of immense
value when I had to compile the Encyclopaedia with detailed and exhaustive
information on the Church in different States of the country.
May I give a few excerpts from
Fr. Balaguer’s articles in the Encyclopaedia on the Congress and the Papal
visit:
“The
visit of Pope Paul VI to Bombay on the occasion of the 38th International
Eucharistic Congress was unique on the following three counts: (1) It was the
first visit of a Pope to an International Eucharistic Congress, and after his
visit to the Holy Land, the first made to any country abroad; (2) It was the
first personal contact ever made by any Pope with millions and millions of
non-Christians; (3) It was the visit of a foreign dignitary to receive from the
people of India the wildest expressions of their deeply felt joyous welcome.
“Pope
Paul’s encounter with the people of India was described as “love at first sight
on both sides”. From the moment he appeared at the door of the aircraft, and
stretching out his hands in an embrace that excluded none he folded them in a
gracious Namaste, to the other moment of his departure when he declared “Here
We leave our heart! We feel Ourself to share in a moral citizenship with this
land, which We will ever love”, Pope and people felt mutually held in love and
deeply bound together, in their respect for God, concern for social justice,
and promotion of world peace.
“The
aims of the Pope’s visit were clearly revealed in his short speech at the
Fiumicino airport before emplaning for Bombay:
““Our
journey”, he said, “as it has been very well understood by all, has no other
aim than that of paying homage to Christ, Our Lord, the Immortal King of
centuries and of peoples, on the occasion of the International Eucharistic
Congress that gathers adoring crowds from the world over in the city of Bombay.
Ours is besides a journey of peace and of love, aiming at tighter bonds of
mutual understanding and friendship of all peoples....., again Ours is a
journey of friendship and brotherliness, that gives Us the longed-for occasion
of knowing from close quarters an immense people that enjoys Our great
esteem...” (From the article on the Papal Visit in the Encyclopaedia.)
Some excerpts from
Fr.Balaguer’s article in the Encyclopaedia on the Eucharstic Congress:
“The
38th International Eucharistic Congress was held in Bombay from November 28th
to December 6th 1964. Preceded by painstaking preparations of over two years,
controlled by an organization of more than 500 persons, and assisted by the
whole hearted co-operation of the Civil Authorities and the good will of the
Christian and non-Christian public, the Congress, held under the personal
direction and ultimate responsibility of Valerian Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop
of Bombay, was universally acclaimed
as
eminently successful and the most outstanding religious event in the recent
history of India.
“Three
facts made the Bombay Congress unique among such Congresses: (1) that it took
place during the period of the Second Vatican Council; (2) that it was held in
a country and city where the population was overwhelmingly non-Christian; and (3) that it was the first International
Eucharistic Congress ever attended in person by the Holy Father.
“Among
the Congress characteristics more generally admired one could mention the
following: the Sacramental structure into which the main liturgical services
were planned; the genuine piety of our Indian Catholics; the friendliness and
co-operation of the non-Christian authorities and public; and the happy blend
of efficient organization and deeply spiritual tone of the whole Congress.”
Some of the acquaintances I
made during the Congress were quite helpful in the Making of the Encyclopaedia
and my post as the National Vice-President of the Newman Association procured
me an invitation to the Bogota Eucharistic Congress of 1968 from the US Pax
Romana. I might also mention here that this 1968 invitation from the US which I
carried with me when I visited the States in 1972 served as an Open
Sesame on many occasions.
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