| Mangalore: “Tolerance is the true virtue of a Christian By observing this day, without protesting, with adoration, prayers and fasting. Christians have truly shown that they follow Christ in letter and spirit, said Most Rev. Aloysius Paul D`Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese, here on Monday.
He was speaking after celebrating the Holy Mass in remembrance of the anniversary of attacks on prayer halls and churches in the district at Holy Cross church, Cordel in Kulshekar here.
The bishop said there were calls for protest to mark this day. “But we wanted to be with Christ with his teachings, which is love thy enemies. This is the best response a Christian can give to his attackers, he said. “Some may call us cowards for not protesting. But remember retaliation is easy, but tolerance is a virtue which is not easily achieved. The whole world is watching us. All the parishioners in the Diocese observed fast and spend their day in adoration. Christians have truly shown we have plenty of tolerance and in it lay our true strength, he noted. D`Souza also said the best fall out of this incident was it had united all sects of Christians.
In the morning, the bishop visited Adoration Monastery, where the first attack took place. Later he tool part in prayers at St Sebastian’s Church, Permannur, where police had brutally attacked devotees inside the church. Kulshekar was another place where Christians had to face the wrath of the police.
The Bishop said, last year`s incident had pained all Christians.
These trials and tribulations will bear greater fruit during the Day of Judgement, “he added. Later the parishioners were given bread to break their fast. The meet was attended by Corporator Mariamma Thomas, leaders Ivan D`Souza, Susheel Noronha, M.P Noronha among others. |
