 The Jewish Exile Diaspora to earlier Syrian Lands Mission – Thomas, to India As Jesus sent disciples out he taught, “Go first to the Lost Sheep of Israel,” [i] including ten-plus-two tribes spread outland at time of Exile – in Syria and Persia. Tradition says the Twelve drew lots for the known World and Thomas drew the Lot for India not pleasing, so they say, but clear And how, to India, should he go ? The Old Silk Road had most Lost Sheep, and Syria, above the Gallilean Sea, sent caravans where Thomas still could teach in Aramaic The trip for Thomas took some years, always East and South, step by step, learning and teaching, new methods from his path, Parthia, Medea, Persia, and more – to India From Syria came his Cross, design Nasrani, teaching with this tool he left a trail of stone-carved Crosses at each stay, with Christ revealed to crowds and kings along the way His Cross is supported by a Menorah   Malabar Coast on west tip of India, with seven churches of St. Thomas [i] Malabar Coast – The Song Christ said, “Go to the ends of the Earth,” [ii] so Thomas Eastward went from Indus’ mouth, bound to Socotra isle, Year 52 arrived in merchant ship at Malabar.... That western coast of India still had its Jews and Synagogue and, as each place before, after the Lost Sheep, then natives had their turn The Syrian Church at Malabar still has a Song of Thomas [iii] chanted in churches there for centuries, 1060 written down by Priest named Thomas A sample from this Song: “He built a church surmounted by a cross, first priest ordained was Rajah’s son-in-law next stop they plant a cross, baptize 2000, even more .” Departure was his Method, says the Song, “He started for another Tamil land, expecting no return. Impossible to tell his works at Malabar by Sign of Cross from Hand that touched the Wounds….” [i] Illustration: Map Showing the Seven Churches at Malabar : In the Steps of St. Thomas, main source for this poem. (Page number varies by edition. See Endnote 4 above). [ii] Acts 1:8-9, Jesus says – “ ‘But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.” [iii] In the Steps of St. Thomas, main source for this poem. (See Endnote 4 above), pp 17-19. His Cross rests in the Chalice of a Flower   Stone Cross of St. Thomas at Chennai, Large Mount Altar Martyrdom – Madras Eastward, deathward, still he goes with Jesus “till the end of the Age” [i] here earlier he had explored, now stays more years, this was his final Step and stop.... Mylapore – the city where he knew the King who welcomed him and preaching. He built a church and house of prayer and teaching, in Syrian called “Madrasth… Madrasa…” [ii] Small Mount – held his solitary Cave of Prayer with miracle Spring to quench the thirsting crowds, in later years, when Brahmins of the King made threat he hid for safety in this wilderness of brush and stone Large Mount – still forced to flee, nearby he climbed, Nature’s crude, rough Calvary, where Steps now aid. Again he knelt before his teaching Cross of stone, where thrust by spear, like Nature’s deer, he fell A sharp lance pierced his side, on his beloved Cross blood ran down.... His faithful, seeking, found his body and walked it home to his “Madras.” [i] Matt. 28:20, Jesus says, – “…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” [ii] In the Steps of St. Thomas, main source for this poem (See Endnote 4 above), p. 35. [iii] Of the Twelve Apostles to hold the title after Matthias' selection, Christian tradition has generally passed down that all except one were martyred, with only John surviving into old age. “Apostles in Christianity”. Wikipedia.org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles_in_Christianity#Deaths} (accessed December 1, 2021). His Cross has Arms for nearly equal Deaths [iii]   Roman Basilica Minor, St. Thomas Cathedral, Madras, planned 1606 and finished 1896 [i] Mylapore – the Tomb “Blessed they who have not seen”: [ii] from early years his Relics were enshrined Tip of Spear, some Bones, and Jar of Blooded Earth, sixteen feet deep, five layers each of sand and stone His Body was “translated” back to Syria, carried, they say, by Merchant Habban, whose trade ship brought him first to Malabar, Edessa’s churches sang him praise in Ephrem’s hymns. Year 1500 – Indians, Christians still, greet new ships as Portuguese arrive, and later famous Xavier, who stays four months at “old Madrassa house,” in order to “consult St. Thomas” for future paths. The new arrivals excavate, explore, and build: Small Mount, Large Mount, Mylapore, new churches fill, with miracles recorded – two hundred fifty years, the Bleeding Cross …. Then follow centuries more of pilgrims, feasts. communities build houses near Large Mount small Mylapore absorbed in modern, large “Madras.” all these around the altars and his Tomb. [i] Illustration: Basilica Minor, St. Thomas Cathedral, Madras, planned 1606 and finished 1896: (w:user:PlaneMad, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons). “Santhome Basilica.jpg”. {https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Santhome_Basilica.jpg} (accessed December 1, 2021). [ii] John, 20:29 – “Jesus said to him, ‘Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.’ ” His Cross tips bud as Syrian pomegranates   Old Silk Routes for North, West and East India, Malabar Coast shadowed on left side Mandate – Apostolic “On Peter’s Rock I build my Church” [i] this Thomas heard, carried in his heart that center’s gifts, the Mass and sacraments, the Cross, the Church as did all Twelve: Convert, Baptize, Confirm, Ordain The Song of Malabar says from Thomas came seven priests, two bishops, with churches built, and baptized over twenty thousand, confirmed for strength “Catholic” and “Apostolic.” [ii] From synagogue ruins at Palayur, through Malabar, and Virgin’s blessing shrine at Malleatur mount, [iii] formed old, strong links with Rome, the “Thomas Christians” of “Syro-Malankara Rite” Another branch grew strong in Mylapore-Madras where Portuguese brought Latin Rite – that Diocese, Year 1600, cathedral planned, two hundred years a-building, done 1896 [iv] Today the Indian Christians of Catholic faith, though fraction small, count high in millions [v] and India, who honors them with Stamps and studies, also named St Thomas’ Feast as India Christian Day. [i] Matt. 16:18, Jesus said – “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” [ii] In the Steps of St. Thomas, (See Endnote 4 above), p. 19. [iii] “St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Malayattoor”. Wikipedia.org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Thomas_Syro-Malabar_Church,_Malayattoor} (Accessed December 1, 2021). – shrine in Malabar – “The church here has been designated by the Vatican as one among the eight International shrines in the world.” [iv] In the Steps of St. Thomas, (See Endnote 4 above), pp. 41-42. [v] “Christianity in India”. Wikipedia.org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_India} (accessed December 1, 2021). “Christianity is India's third-largest religion after Hinduism and Islam, … with about 27.8 million adherents, constituting 2.3 percent of India's population. A Dove descends upon his Cross  A sharp lance pierced his side, on his beloved Cross blood ran down Thomas, True Apostle (2020s)  Indian stamp, St. Thomas 19th Centenary [i]
India Christian Day proclaimed in 2021 July 3, the Feast Day of St. Thomas [ii] [i] Illustration: Indian stamp, St. Thomas 19th Centenary : (Post of India, GODL-India, via Wikimedia Commons). “Stamp of India - 1973 - Colnect 372300 - 19th Death Centenary St Thomas - Stone Cross.jpeg”. Wikimedia.org. {https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stamp_of_India_-_1973_-_Colnect_372300_-_19th_Death_Centenary_St_Thomas_-_Stone_Cross.jpeg} (accessed December 1, 2021). [ii] “First India Christian Day”. asianews.it. PIME AsiaNews, 06/29/2021. {https://www.asianews.it/news-en/First-Indian-Christian-Day-on-3-July-53526.html} (accessed December 1, 2021).  “Invincible Ignorance,” [i] the Church’s phrase, for God’s permitting of Faith’s un-reason. Man’s perversity, the Spirit says, is our insisting out of season. How, against God’s Light, possible not to see? – perhaps as easy as, when called, to say, “Not me.” Our fallen race wanders in ancient blindness, our graced hearts chill, rejecting kindness. Why “Ignorance” should be “Invincible” we do not know – each culture’s thousand reasons make it so. Why man should be perverse we cannot say – each Will beyond the universe roams in its small way. Each person’s path, when we would name, in end result confuses us, though it may seem to blame. We can’t discern, for fellow creatures why God has been abandoned – but Heaven finds our Saving features, wheat mixed with tares, at random. [ii] In Incredible Innocence “the just man lives by faith” – by All and Any faith. In willful Non-Sense perhaps men hover near to death – mortal death. Forgive, forgive, the way we live. (1990s) [i] Romans 1:21-22 – English Standard Version Anglicised. {https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:20-22&version=ESVUK } (accessed December 1, 2021). “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools….” [ii] Matthew 13:24–25, Jesus speaking – “He proposed another parable to them. ‘The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.’ ”   One demon was cast out [i] the room then cleaned and scoured next seven devils further came, new occupancy ensured The owner, glad the devils left, And wishing to restore all purity and order had left it bare, without our Lord Ready-or-not, ordered-or-not, an entrance empty still invites, God would have chased those devils out had his Spirit claimed that spot (2010s) [i] Matt. 12: 43-45, Jesus says: “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order. Then it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first. Thus it will be with this evil generation.”   (Intra tua vulnera absconde me) [i] It is just so this flesh and no other of the whole body or whole hand, where nails pierce – you might call it circumstance, or accident, or Providence, that spot, where Flesh meets Cross, but I accept. It is just so, none other – as if for these cells only with wood-splinter only the Junction is “Thy will be done” – Exact, precise, where certain cosmic atoms in path or “crux” pinpoint their target – and our redemption [ii] (2010s) [i] “Anima Christi”. Wikipedia.org. {https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anima_Christi} (accessed December 1, 2021). – Authorship and Translations [ii] “Anima Christi”. Daily Companion”. Magnificat. us.magnificat.net. {https://us.magnificat.net/home/} (accessed December 1, 2021). repeated in each monthly edition, varying pages. See Line 7, below:
 We can open our hearts to God, but only with Divine help. [i] “Quaestiones de veritate disputatae q 24, art. 15, ad 2” Thomas Aquinas (died 1274) [i] “Thomas Aquinas”. en.wikiquote.org. {https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Aquinas} (accessed December 1, 2021). |
| von Gumppenberg | Meet me at the Passage |
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