Syro-Malabar rite?

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Hello,

I am currently in California on business and was hoping to possibly attend daily mass while I was here. The closest church to my hotel is one that is called a Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. I want to ask a few questions. First, is this rite in communion with the Pope? Second, on their schedule every day it says “Holy Qurbana,” is this the same as mass or is this something else? Third, what is to expected from such a rite? How is it different from the Latin rite and is there anything I should know before going?
 
They are in communion with Rome and the Holy Qurbana is the Divine Liturgy or Mass. The fundamentals of the celebration are the same even if it could look quite different. I think that it would be a very good educational and spiritual experience for you.
 
A priest in my parish is both Latin and Syro-Malabar rite. He has celebrated the Syro-Malabar divine liturgy at our Chuch.

You can surely go. It might be prudent to call ahead or to get there a little early, let Father know that you are Latin rite and ask for assistance.

There are plenty of examples of Holy Qurbana on youtube from which you can get an idea of what you will see. It will surely not be in in English. Just make sure that you are watching Syro-Malabar Holy Qurbana.

-Tim-
 
Just to confirm what everyone else is saying, yes the Syro-Malabar Church is fully Catholic and “Holy Qurbana” is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (the word “Qurbana” means “Sacrifice.”)

In general a person’s native liturgical rite will be the most spiritually valuable to them, but there is certainly nothing wrong with visiting and receiving the sacraments at another variety of Catholic liturgy. As TimothyH suggested it may be a good idea to check ahead of time what the norms for receiving are and so forth.
 
Aelred_Minor said:
Just to confirm what everyone else is saying, yes the Syro-Malabar Church is fully Catholic and “Holy Qurbana” is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (the word “Qurbana” means “Sacrifice.”)
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Actually, it means “Offering” in Syriac. 🙂
 
malphono said:
Actually, it means “Offering” in Syriac. 🙂
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Same difference. 😉

Wikipedia gives both words as possible translations, and a quick Google search reveals these and several other possibilities, like gift and oblation. Since in English the typical word chosen to describe this aspect of the mass is “sacrifice” I figure it is the best choice as a translation for English-speaking Latin Catholics.

“Offering” does bring out the fact that it is a cognate with the Hebrew korban better, but as most Christians know the word korban from its negative context in Mark I would not think this would be a major consideration.
 
If you are in Los Angeles, there is a parish in North Hollywood.
 
Hi there, some things you need to know is that the whole Qurbana will be in Malayalam with some parts possibly in Syriac. Be sure to wear dress pants and a dress shirt, that is most likely what all the other men will be wearing, everything is very formal. There will be many bows during the Qurbana, basically whenever the priest bows you do as well. When it is time to give peace to your brothers and sisters, in the Syro Malabar Church we don’t shake hands, our hands are put together (like your praying) and then first you bow to Jesus and than you touch the tip of your hands with the person next to you. Also depending on what city your in you can probably find the churches website which should have the times for the Holy Qurbana. Let me know if you would like any more information 🙂

Thomas48
 
Sorry I was thinking of the Chaldean Church. There are two Syro Malabar rite parishes in Los Angeles, one in the San Fernando area, (I think they meet at the old Seminary in San Fernando) and one Down in the Southbay area. The archdiocese lists them on the website.
 
Thomas48 said:
Hi there, some things you need to know is that the whole Qurbana will be in Malayalam with some parts possibly in Syriac. Be sure to wear dress pants and a dress shirt, that is most likely what all the other men will be wearing, everything is very formal. There will be many bows during the Qurbana, basically whenever the priest bows you do as well. When it is time to give peace to your brothers and sisters, in the Syro Malabar Church we don’t shake hands, our hands are put together (like your praying) and then first you bow to Jesus and than you touch the tip of your hands with the person next to you. Also depending on what city your in you can probably find the churches website which should have the times for the Holy Qurbana. Let me know if you would like any more information 🙂

Thomas48
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Our priest from India, who celebrates both rites, does the most interesting thing at the sign of peace, which I am sure is quite Eastern.

He slowly backs up as he says “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.”

We reply “Amen” and then - this is the interesting part - he makes a profound bow as he begins to say, “The Peace of the Lord be with you always” and he moves forward, toward the altar and extends his hands as he finishes the sentance.

I noticed it only after I saw our Latin Rite priests not doing it and havn’t asked him about it, but I’m sure it is from the Holy Qurbana. I love it.

-Tim-
 
TimothyH said:
Our priest from India, who celebrates both rites, does the most interesting thing at the sign of peace, which I am sure is quite Eastern.

He slowly backs up as he says “Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.”

We reply “Amen” and then - this is the interesting part - he makes a profound bow as he begins to say, “The Peace of the Lord be with you always” and he moves forward, toward the altar and extends his hands as he finishes the sentance.

I noticed it only after I saw our Latin Rite priests not doing it and havn’t asked him about it, but I’m sure it is from the Holy Qurbana. I love it.

-Tim-
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Oh I would have to see it to know what your talking about but in this particular bow does the priest outstretch both hands in front of him?

Also after the election of our new Major Archbishop many Syriac elements of our Holy Qurbana were restored. This video would be a more current example of our Holy Qurbana.

youtube.com/watch?v=hIdwapPYsUM
 
Filioque said:
Sorry I was thinking of the Chaldean Church. There are two Syro Malabar rite parishes in Los Angeles, one in the San Fernando area, (I think they meet at the old Seminary in San Fernando) and one Down in the Southbay area. The archdiocese lists them on the website.
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Actually I am in the Bay area. The reason I was asking about this is because a Syro Malabar rite church is the closest Catholic Church to my hotel, within walking distance, so I wanted to ask these questions first before attending.

Thanks for the information everyone. I am trying to make faith the central part of my life, that is why I really like to work mass into my schedule if possible no matter where I am, on business or whatever.
 
CompSciGuy said:
Actually I am in the Bay area. The reason I was asking about this is because a Syro Malabar rite church is the closest Catholic Church to my hotel, within walking distance, so I wanted to ask these questions first before attending.

Thanks for the information everyone. I am trying to make faith the central part of my life, that is why I really like to work mass into my schedule if possible no matter where I am, on business or whatever.
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Wonderful to hear. And when we remember that the Infinite graces of our Lord’s sacrifice on Calvary are there for us at every Mass/Liturgy in any approved Rite of the Church. Then we can be more open to those graces.
 
Hi,
I am Catholic of the Syro Malabar rite but now reside in Singapore. It is unfortunate that there is no Syro Malabar Church or Parishes here. Though I fully understand that the essence and the value of Holy mass is same irrespective of the rites, I miss attending Syro Malabar Qurbana. Latin rite mass is too short and quick and simple for someone who was attending only Syro Malabar Qurbana for all his life.

I know my post don’t add much value to the reason for this post. Let me just say Hi to all those who know and like Syro-Malabr Qurbana ! 👍

Joe Antony.
 
CompSciGuy said:
How long is the Qurbana exactly?
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It depends. To give you some idea on the duration, at home in India during the weekdays it takes 45 mins. But on Sundays it takes from 1 hr 30 mins to 2 hrs 30 mins depending on how elaborate the singing and the homily are. But it may not be that long in USA. Mostly Sunday morning mass is minimum 2 hr in India if the mass is in syro malabar rite.
Joe
 
Thomas48 said:
Oh I would have to see it to know what your talking about but in this particular bow does the priest outstretch both hands in front of him?

Also after the election of our new Major Archbishop many Syriac elements of our Holy Qurbana were restored. This video would be a more current example of our Holy Qurbana.

youtube.com/watch?v=hIdwapPYsUM
Click to expand...
After the bow, yes. His hands are in a prayer position as he bows and then he moves forward to the altar and stretches out his hands to the faithul as he says, “…with you all.”

I’ve never seen this done by a Latin Rite priest.

-Tim-
 
Several things I have questions about… having skimmed the video at youtube.com/watch?v=hIdwapPYsUM …
  1. Is the use of a pair of altar tables normative?
  2. what’s with the pink bows on the servers and priests?
    2a. what is the purpose of the bow?
    2b. does the color matter (I notice one fellow in yellow… at 46:10)?
 
TimothyH said:
After the bow, yes. His hands are in a prayer position as he bows and then he moves forward to the altar and stretches out his hands to the faithul as he says, “…with you all.”

I’ve never seen this done by a Latin Rite priest.

-Tim-
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Hmm I would have to see it to confirm if it is a Syro Malabar form but yes it sounds like it :).
Aramis said:
Several things I have questions about… having skimmed the video at youtube.com/watch?v=hIdwapPYsUM …
  1. Is the use of a pair of altar tables normative?
  2. what’s with the pink bows on the servers and priests?
    2a. what is the purpose of the bow?
    2b. does the color matter (I notice one fellow in yellow… at 46:10)?
Click to expand...
The pink bow is a just a common part of the Syro Malabar vestments, yellow,pink,blue the color has no significance, though its commonly pink. Only one table is the altar (the one in the sanctuary) the other table is used more like a podium, and yes the two tables is normative though they usually look more like this (pictured). This Qurbana was taken in the Rome I believe, so the sanctuary has been make-shifted to look slightly Syro Malabar.
 
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