THE JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF LUBLIN FACULTY OF THEOLOGY Rev. Samuel Kanta Sakaba Index Number: 139987 Moral Implications of Divine Mercy in Individual, Ecclesial and Social Life of Nigerians Doctoral Thesis in Systematic Theology Written under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Dr hab. Sławomir Nowosad, Prof. KUL LUBLIN 2018 CONTENTS LIST OF ABREVIATI ONS ................................................................................................. 7 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER ONE 1. An Outline of the History of Christianity in Nigeria ................................................... 19 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 19 1.1. Geographical Location of Nigeria ................................................................................ 21 1.1.1. Geographical Composition .......................................................................................... 23 1.1.2. The Paradox of the North-Middle-Belt and South-Eastern Nigeria ............................. 24 1.1.3. A One Nigeria ............................................................................................................... 25 1.2. The Coming of Christianity to Nigeria ......................................................................... 29 1.2.1. Colonial Regime and Christianity ................................................................................ 31 1.2.2. Christian Missionary Activities .................................................................................... 33 1.2.3. Missionaries and Local Communities .......................................................................... 34 1.2.4. The Catholic Church in the Nigerian Society ............................................................... 35 1.3. African Traditional Religions and Islam as a Challenge .............................................. 37 1.3.1. African Traditional Religions ....................................................................................... 39 1.3.2. Conflicts and Resolutions Between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria ...................... 40 1.3.3. Holy Contradictions ...................................................................................................... 42 1.4. The History of the Divine Mercy Devotion in Nigeria ................................................ 44 1.4.1. The Activities of the Divine Mercy Devotion in Nigeria ............................................. 45 1.4.2. Man and the Divine Image of God ............................................................................... 50 1.4.3. Divine Mercy and the Attitude of God ......................................................................... 54 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 56 CHAPTER TWO 2. Theology of Divine Mercy and Nigerians .................................................................... 59 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 59 2.1. Divine Mercy in the Biblical Context and the Nigerian Context ................................. 64 2.1.1. Old Testament References and Nigerians .................................................................... 68 2 2.1.2. New Testament References and Nigerians .................................................................. 69 2.1.3. A Wake-up-call of Mercy ............................................................................................. 71 2.2. Mercy: An Attribute of God ......................................................................................... 73 2.2.1. The Attribution of Mercy to Nigerians ......................................................................... 75 2.2.2. The Meaning of Mercy to Nigerians ........................................................................... 76 2.2.3. Nigerians’ Moral Obligations ....................................................................................... 79 2.3. The Divine Mercy in the History of the Church ........................................................... 80 2.3.1. The Voice of Mercy from the Apostles to Vatican II ................................................... 81 2.3.2. Post conciliar Documents on Mercy ............................................................................. 86 2.3.3. Mercy as a Prerogative Nature of Man ......................................................................... 89 2.4. Divine Mercy and the Contemporary Ideologies ......................................................... 91 2.4.1. Politics of Mercy in Nigeria ......................................................................................... 92 2.4.2. Politics of Unfinished Business and the Nigerian factor .............................................. 95 2.4.3. Secularization of Mercy................................................................................................ 97 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 99 CHAPTER THREE 3. The Moral and Pastoral Message of Matthew 25:31-46 ........................................... 101 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 101 3.1. Divine Mercy: A Gift and a Task ............................................................................. 105 3.1.1. An Ontological Task on Families and Communities ................................................ 106 3.1.2. A Natural Task on Parents and Filial Obligations ................................................... 109 3.1.3. Mercy as a Universal Task ...................................................................................... 113 3.2. The Divine Mercy: From St. Faustina to Contemporary Popes .............................. 114 3.2.1. St. Faustina .............................................................................................................. 114 3.2.2. St. John Paul II: The Nigerian Experience .............................................................. 116 3.2.2.1. The Divine Mercy Legacies in Nigeria ................................................................... 117 3.2.2.2. Solid Structures of the Divine Mercy Devotion in Nigeria ..................................... 119 3.2.2.3. Establishing and On-going Formation of Solid Structures of the Divine Mercy Devotion in Nigeria: A Case Study in Minna Diocese ............................................ 119 3.2.2.4. Apostolic Journeys ................................................................................................... 120 3.2.2.5. An Icon of World Community ................................................................................. 122 3.2.2.6. A Theologian of the Divine Mercy .......................................................................... 123 3.2.3. Benedict XVI ........................................................................................................... 123 3 3.2.4. Francis ...................................................................................................................... 124 3.3. Education as a Task of the Church in Nigeria ......................................................... 125 3.3.1. Moral Education ...................................................................................................... 126 3.3.2. Religious Education ................................................................................................. 129 3.3.3. Integral Education .................................................................................................... 130 3.4. The Irony in Society ................................................................................................ 133 3.4.1. Talented Members of Society and Resources .......................................................... 134 3.4.2. The Poor Members of Society ................................................................................. 136 3.4.3. The Defenceless and Vulnerable Members of Society ............................................ 139 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 141 CHAPTER FOUR 4. The Transformation of Personal and Family Life in Nigeria in the Spirit of Divine Mercy ....................................................................................................................... 142 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 142 4.1. Corruption: The „Cancer” of All Generations ......................................................... 145 4.1.1. Self-transformation as Fundamental Principle of Transformation .......................... 147 4.1.2. Personal Transformation .......................................................................................... 149 4.1.3. Transformed Leadership as a Prerequisite of Change ............................................. 151 4.2. Domestication of Theological Virtues ..................................................................... 153 4.2.1. Personal Authentication of Faith ............................................................................. 155 4.2.2. Forgiveness Is Hope of Forgiveness .......................................................................