SIGNS and SYMBOLS Necessary Or
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R volume 6 no. 4 – december 2013 svd_brothersphil@yahoo.com ∙ lanyi.svd@gmail.com external SIGNS and SYMBOLS: necessary or not? vol. 6 no. 4 December contents EDITOR’s NOTE Br. Bela Lanyi (Editor in Chief)_02 Br. Roberto Duarte (Brother’s Coordinator)_03 CONTRIBUTIONS SYMBOLS and SIGNS: NECESSARY, it is! E D I T O R I A L S T A F F Br. Harut Yoskot_10 Br. Gaby Wangak_10 Editors Br. Zbigniew Toczek_10 Br. Arturo Manuel_11 Br. Bela Lanyi, SVD Br. Franco Luige Camasura,SVD Br. Joel Divinagracia, SVD Br. Mark Paglicawan, SVD Br. Roselo Alagase, SVD Br. Samuel Joseph de Guzman,SVD Translators Fr. Nico Espinosa, SVD (Spanish) Br. Hubertus Guru, SVD (Indonesian) Br. Bela Lanyi, SVD (German & Polish) Proofreaders Br. Mark Paglicawan, SVD (English) Fr. Nico Espinosa, SVD (Spanish) Lay-out artist Ms. Joeriza A. Lim Theologian from the SVD Seminary 2 in Pune (INM)_21 external SIGNS and SYMBOLS: necessary or not? vol. 6 no. 4 December editor’s note Our previous issue focused on our personal experiences on SVD Interculturality. However, the question is: How does this become tangible to and/or for all? According to Wikipedia, culture is the "evolved human capacity to classify and represent experiences with symbols". In interculturality, an interaction of cultures, the representation of ideas also plays a similarly significant role. Through the questions for this issue regarding external signs of the SVD Brother vocation, we were hoping that the contributions will demonstrate various aspects of our interculturality. We asked the confreres: 1. Do you feel the need to express the identity of SVD Brothers through EXTERNAL SYMBOLS and SIGNS (like cassock, soutane, cross, etc.)? 2. Do you use such external symbols? In fact, plenty of short responses reached us. To our great satisfaction, there were many SVD Fathers among the respondents, too. They were correct when they felt included in the questions. We believe that they saw in these questions a common challenge which rather strengthens the unity of our Society. Today's secular life presents a dominant trend towards external symbols and signs. Day and night, advertising artists produce symbols, logos, emblems, and the like. Companies employ fashion designers because they want all their employees look in the same, inspiring way - all over the world. What about our project – i.e., the prophetic dialogue? Could it be expressed and underlined through external signs? Local or global signs? To end, I wish to quote Pope Francis. He wrote: "In order to dialogue, it is necessary to know how to lower the defenses, open the doors of the house, and offer human warmth." Br. Bela Lanyi, SVD 3 Editor-in-Chief external SIGNS and SYMBOLS: necessary or not? vol. 6 no. 4 December Generalate’s coordinator of Brother formation Personally, I think that our main external distinction is our "being-a-Brother" itself. In other words, it is our presence which inspires an evangelical fraternity, especially among the poorest. A simple way to dress according to the culture of the place is also important. I believe that the use of habit rather than being a help, sometimes alienates us from the people and shows us as beings more special than others. I always carry a wooden cross on my chest which identifies me with Jesus. I also often use the SVD logo on my clothes, especially in festive occasions. Br. Roberto Duarte, SVD Brothers' Coordinator 4 external SIGNS and SYMBOLS: necessary or not? vol. 6 no. 4 December SYMBOLS and SIGNS: NECESSARY , it is! 5 external SIGNS and SYMBOLS: necessary or not? vol. 6 no. 4 December a TRADITIONALIST’s POINT Br. Stephen Bonsu, SVD (GHA) feel the need to express the identity of SVD they wear the cassock publicly, they feel that they are not Brothers through external symbols and signs (like free to move around in recreational places and social I cassock, soutane and cross) and l use such external functions. They do not want to wear the cassock or hang symbols. the cross in front of their chest because of one or two scandals they know and they try to hide themselves by The use of a cassock, an ankle-length garment worn by not wearing those symbols in public. Some SVD Brothers clerics and religious, remains common in some parts of do not wear the cassock regularly. They use it for Sunday the world; while in others, it has almost disappeared or is masses only and not for weekday masses. reserved for liturgical functions. After getting these negative reasons, I was discouraged to According to canon law (Canon 284) the clergy are wear my cassock. Later on, I realized that even if an SVD required to don some form of worthy ecclesiastical dress Brother does not wear the cassock, the faithful still know according to the norms of the Bishops' Conference and who an SVD Brother is. Sometimes, a Brother finds legitimate local customs. Thus, while there is an ample himself in certain areas where he feels nobody knows scope for different forms of clerical garb, an SVD Brother him. Then suddenly, somebody will call him by the title should be readily identifiable by his external Brother or Father. presentation, unless some grave external circumstances (e.g., legal prohibition of religious dress) make the I quite remember some experiences when l was in the ecclesiastical law impossible to practice. mission. Every time I would go to the out station for communion services, I would hang the mission cross in In Ghana, the official norms ask that priests and religious front of my chest as a sign of Christ’s protection. I would generally use the white cassock. There are some SVD also hang a small cross on my shirt. But now, that spirit is Brothers who wear their cassock on Sundays, but do not no more there. The cross, as a Christian symbol or "seal", wear it in public. Why is this? Are there guidelines that came into use at least as early as the second century. The SVD Brothers have to wear a cassock in church but not marking of a cross upon the forehead and the chest were outside? regarded as a talisman against the powers of demons. After my first vows, l used to wear my cassock regularly. The Christian Cross, seen as a representation of the As a "traditionalist" [Old] Catholic Brother, I wear my instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best- cassock on a fairly regular basis. I wear it when I attend known religious symbol of Christianity. It is related to the masses, funerals, SVD functions, and other "occasional" crucifix (a cross that includes a usually three-dimensional services like leading youth groups and pilgrimages. In representation of Jesus' body) and to the more general Ghana, the sight of a Brother in cassock is still quite family of cross symbols. In contemporary Christianity, the common. For me, the cassock is a sign of an SVD cross is a symbol of the atonement and reminds Brother’s consecration and dedication. Its use during the Christians of God's love in sacrificing His own son for liturgy is not restricted to religious. Socially, it easily humanity. It represents Jesus' victory over sin and death, identifies one as a Brother or Priest. Likewise, more often since it is believed that through His death and than not, due respect and assistance are given to the resurrection He conquered death itself. "Having disarmed ones wearing their cassocks. the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."(Colossians 2:15) Even after the final profession, l used to wear the cassock on a regular basis, especially when I attend Sunday and Some religious orders have some form of garb for daily weekday masses. However, there was a time that my wear. Some hang the cross on their chest. Some sisters confreres teased me, “Haa haa, you like wearing cassock wear the habit every day for Sunday and Weekday assess always.” So, I decided to make a research to find out why and for all social functions. Maybe, it is time that we SVDs they do not like wearing their cassocks. I learned that if be given some symbols we could also wear daily. 6 external SIGNS and SYMBOLS: necessary or not? vol. 6 no. 4 December the CONSTITUTION SPEAKS JUST like OTHERS Br. Stephan Theobald, SVD (GER) Fr. Tadeusz Grenda, SVD (ZIM) I think it is important that we Divine Word We are not going to meet as a Mission before the end of this missionaries, whether priests or Brothers, let month. Therefore, the answer to your question will not reflect ourselves be recognized. In my opinion, the way the opinions of all the confreres (though they may have to do this is clearly regulated in Const. 303, 8. It different ideas about it). reads: “In order to render our unity and consecration visible we wear the ecclesiastical I based our view on the opinion of the confreres that I dress laid down by the norms of the bishops’ contacted who are in town. They feel that the SVD Brothers conference and by the legitimate customs of the should have some identifications just like all (Priests and country concerned (see can 284 and 669.2). We Brothers) religious. This should be the ones that are accepted by also wear a distinctive SVD emblem.“ all SVDs in any particular province/region/mission. The customs may differ from province to province. Hence, if wearing a cassock is common in the country where the Brother is working, then he At present, our idea (on the request of our local Zimbabwean should wear it.