21st Asian Liturgy Forum
Penang, Malaysia
STATEMENT
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
We, the delegates to the 21st Asian Liturgy Forum from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Timor-Leste, gathered together at Stella Maris Retreat House in Penang, Malaysia on October 2-6, 2017 to share our reflections and pastoral experiences on the theme “Mary in the Liturgy”. Recalling the apparitions of Our Lady to the three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal one hundred years ago, we shared our experiences of celebrating, in Liturgy and in popular devotion, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s singular role in the redemptive mission of her Son and how we have experienced her company in our journey of faith and life as a Christian community in our various places.
We are happy to share some highlights of our enriching discussions.
- The “irreversible” liturgical reform of Vatican II establishes the authentic framework for Marian piety, that is, to see Mary in relation to and within the mystery of Christ and the Church (LG, chapter 8). Mariology, Marian piety and catechesis should thus be biblically based and rooted on sound and solid teachings of the Church. This conciliar perspective serves as a safeguard, on one hand, against any falsifying and exaggerated exaltation of Mary that goes beyond what “worship in spirit and truth” (Jn 4:24) allows, and, on the other hand, against excessive timidity limiting the dignity of Mary as Mother of God.
- The relationship between the Liturgy and popular piety in expressing love and veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is not one of “contradiction, equality, or of substitution” (Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy, n. 50). On one hand, the Church unflinchingly affirms the primacy of the Sacred Liturgy over forms of popular religiosity in expressing the singular affection and honor that the Church reserves for the Blessed Mother. On the other hand, she also recommends with great solicitude for the Christian faithful’s observance such popular forms of Marian piety that are in accord with the sacred Liturgy and in harmony with the liturgical seasons, for which they have been given ecclesiastical approval. Care should therefore be taken that expressions of Marian devotion be oriented to the liturgy which is the “summit toward which all the activities of the Church are directed and the fount from which all her power flows” (SC 10).
- So that both in Liturgy and in popular Marian Devotion, the commemoration and veneration of Mary may constitute a clear, accurate, and eloquent telling of the story of Jesus, a fruitful integration between Liturgy and popular religiosity is necessary. Responding to Pope Francis’ challenge to inculturation, the renewal of Marian piety demands assiduous study and careful discernment so that the integrity of the Christian faith and the essential structure and elements of liturgical worship may be respected and safeguarded. It also demands a profound knowledge of the cultural dimension of Marian popular religiosity, its contents, symbols, and language so that liturgical worship may be brought closer to the people by opening it up to the popular dimensions of Marian piety through which and within which context the faithful usually feel more free and at ease to express their faith as well as their religiosity.
- Consistent with the Asian cultural propensity for harmony, integration and communion, Marian piety should continue to be promoted in a way that fosters interfaith dialogue, ecumenism, and collaboration. Entrusted by the Crucified Lord to the human family as Mother of the New Creation, Mary is a positive and powerful forcein fulfilling the mission of the Church to be a “sign of intimate union with God, and of the unity of all mankind” (LG, n. 1).
- Because Mary is Mother of mercy who “attests that the mercy of the Son of God knows no bounds and extends to everyone without exception,” (Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus, 24) genuine devotion to her provides a powerful and real motivation for works of Christian charity, and a greater ardor in the pursuit of social justice. True devotion to Mary demands acceptance of her role in the humanity’s destiny, in the development of humanity to be a community of justice and peace. As Queen of Creation she teaches us how to care for the earth, our common home (cf. Laudato Si’ n. 241f).
- The message of Our Lady of Fatima is a moment of grace calling us to deeper faith and prayer for our conversionand the conversion of sinners, celebrated through the liturgy especially the sacraments of Penance and of the Eucharist. As the Lord on the Cross entrusted us to his Mother who never leaves us untended, let us also heed the call of the Lord to love his Mother and consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart and, following her example, “do whatever he tells” (Jn 2: 5) us.
We are grateful to His Excellency Most Rev. Sebastian Francis, D.D. of Penang, Malaysia, His Excellency Most Rev. Julian Leow, D.D.of Kuala Lumpur, and His Excellency Rt. Rev. Bernard Paul, D.D. of Melaka-Johor, with their clergy and lay collaborators, for having graciously hosted our meeting. The forum has been an occasion of enriching fellowship and sharing because of their most generous hospitality.
That in all things God may be glorified.
