Benedict Rogers: My Easter in Myanmar, the land where I became a Catholic
Yangon ( AsiaNews) - "The symbolism of water" is an element that
unites Burmese Catholics and Buddhists who in 2014 celebrated the two most important events
of the liturgical year in the same week: the Christian Easter and "Thingyan",
the Buddhist New Year , better known as the "Festival of Water" . For
Catholics, "every time we make the sign of the cross with holy water"
we are reminded of the baptismal water, while for the followers of the Buddha water
represents "the purification of sins, washing away the mistakes made in
the previous year, rebirth". This
is what Benedict Rogers, a journalist and human rights activist born in London,
East Asia team leader for Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) tells
AsiaNews. Last year (pictured) in
Myanmar - on the occasion of Sunday Palm - he
was welcomed into the Catholic Church . "This
is an interesting element in common for Buddhists and Catholics - he adds -
albeit from different religious perspectives".
A
leading expert on Burmese affairs , he wanted the ceremony to take place in
Yangon and it was presided over by the local archbishop. In fact , it was Msgr. Charles
Bo who played a key role in his decision to become Catholic, a decision matured
over time after a long period of study and reflection. The
ceremony was attended by Catholics, Protestants, agnostics, atheists and
Buddhists , confirming the strong bond he has established with the local
population.
In
his years of mission in the various Asian countries, he has met prominent figures
from the Catholic world, including Shahbaz Bhatti, Minister for Religious
Minorities in Pakistan, assassinated by Islamic fundamentalists in March 2011 because
of his outspoken opposition to the notorious blasphemy laws. His
decision to convert to was also influenced by meditations and readings ,
including von Balthasar, de Lubac and the encyclicals of Pope Benedict XVI, in
particular Caritas in Veritate . His
story is concrete evidence of how a country that is still considered missionary
territory, instead becomes an opportunity to meet Christ, to proclaim the
Gospel, to a rediscover the Catholic faith that Europe and the West seem to
have abandoned .
In
these days of approaching Easter, Benedict Rogers wanted to return to Myanmar
to celebrate his first year as a Catholic and take part in a spiritual retreat
in preparation for the solemn rites of Holy Week. He
also said that the Burmese, like the faithful throughout the world, go to
confession, participate in Eucharistic Adoration, pray , fast and follow the Way
of the Cross . "What
strikes me - he says - is
that the Church's universality does not mean uniformity. I have been to Mass
all over the world in the past year, in the United Kingdom, France, Italy,
Sweden, Indonesia, the United States and Burma, and with my Missal I can follow
the Mass whatever language it is in, which I love, but at the same time, in
each corner of the world the local culture and language are also reflected in
the Mass. For example, in Burma when we exchange the sign of peace we don't
shake hands, as we do in Britain - instead we greet each other with our hands
together in an Asian sign of peace".
The
Burmese Church , he says, is a " is certainly a living Church- sometimes I joke that I am not so much a
'Roman' Catholic as a 'Burmese' Catholic".
"It makes a significant contribution to wider society, the Church's
contribution to speaking out for and providing practical humanitarian
assistance to the marginalized, the poor, the internally displaced, victims of
war and conflict and persecution, combined with catechesis and sharing and
practicing every aspect of the faith."
Easter
time, said the activist, is a privileged moment "to remember and reflect
on the pain and suffering ," but at the same time a source of
"hope" and joy. Together
with the " spiritual truths " contained in the death and resurrection
of Jesus, he recalls the "symbolism" that links the recent past of
Myanmar, marked by decades of dictatorship; a
" crucifixion " for the nation and the people, which seems projected towards
"a promise of resurrection". " There are fears emerging that these past two
years have been a false dawn",
says Benedict Rogers quoting
the Archbishop of Yangon , but "I hope that is not true, and that the promise
of 'resurrection' will be fulfilled for Burma". The activist concludes:"Easter will always be a time to
remember my journey of faith into the Catholic Church with special affection.
So Easter means a huge amount to me personally, at every level, and particularly
here in Burma".
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