Analysis of the religious practices of Hindus at Saint Joseph's Oratory : transmission of Christian faith after the Second Vatican Council
From the beginning of Christianity, the transmission of Christian faith constituted the essential mission of the Church. With the evolution of multi-religious and multicultural social milieu in many parts of the world, the Second Vatican Council recognized the importance of opening the door of the Church to all people. Basile Moreau (1799 - 1873), founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, insisted that members of his order be educators in Christian faith, and sent missionaries to Quebec since the founding of his community in 1837. For the latter, among other pastoral commitments, Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, founded by Alfred Bessette (Brother André, 1845 - 1937), became the privileged place for the transmission of Christian faith even after the Quiet Revolution of the 1960s. Saint Joseph’s Oratory welcomes thousands of immigrants from around the world each year, including many Hindus. For many of them, the Oratory becomes a second home where they spend time in prayer and find peace. Some of them experience healing and miracles. The sharing of sacred space with Hindus is a new phenomenon at the Oratory. Hindus at the Oratory participate in catholic devotional activities. Among many other paths to achieve moksha or liberation, bhakti, an intense devotion to a personal God in Hinduism, influences Hindus who participate in Sacraments and Sacramentals at the Oratory. Based on my analysis of the religious practices of Hindus at the Oratory – especially the practices of the use of Holy Water and the lighting of candles – I recommend certain guidelines for the Oratory to nourish the piety and devotion of Hindus who adapt themselves to a Christian environment. I elaborate how the Catholic educators in faith can better establish themselves in serving an increasingly diverse and multicultural population. My study is based on a series of qualitative interviews with the educators in faith and members of Hindu religious tradition. This study helps to discover the meeting point between Christians and Hindus at the Oratory, and throws light on the transmission of Christian faith in the current setting at Saint Joseph’s Oratory, including the presence of Hindus.
ārtī avatāra bhakti Dīpavali moksha pūjā satchitānanda tīrtha catholicism and non-christian religions congregation of holy cross educators in faith hindu philosophy hinduism and Québec hindus and Oratory holy water at the Oratory pastoral praxeology popular piety and devotions at the Oratory practice of lighting of candles at the Oratory sacraments sacramental Saint Joseph’s Oratory second vatican council sharing of sacred space theology of religions transmission of christian faith