Catholic church in Kerala’s Alappuzha explores Christ’s teachings through literature this Lent

Unique Lenten initiative in Alappuzha Catholic church explores Jesus' teachings through literary classics, fostering spiritual reflection and discussion.

For Christians, Lent – the six-week period leading up to Easter – is a time of spiritual reflection and preparation, marked by prayer and fasting. In Alappuzha in Kerala, a Catholic church is embracing the sacred season in a unique way by dedicating Sundays to discussions on literary works, including world classics, that convey the messages of Jesus Christ or reflect his teachings.

On March 23, the third Sunday of the ongoing Lenten season, around 50 people from different faiths gathered at Holy Family Church, Kommady for a discussion on God’s Pauper: St Francis of Assisi by Nikos Kazantzakis. The session, which began with a presentation by Mariamma Panjikaran, former head of Department of English at SD College, Alappuzha, around 3 p.m., lasted for two hours.

In the previous two Sundays, The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy and The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot were discussed, with writer P.J.J. Antony and P.J. Thomas, former head of Department of English at St. Berchmans College, Changanassery presenting the topics respectively.

The initiative titled Darshan is spearheaded by Fr. Xavier Kudiamssery, vicar of Holy Family Church and Public Relations Officer of the Diocese of Alleppey.

“The Lenten season is traditionally a time for meditation, prayer and preaching. With this initiative, we aim to offer a fresh perspective and deeper insight. We have created a platform for discussions that deepen our understanding of Jesus through literature. The selected classic literary works convey his message, reflect his vision or explore him from different perspectives,” says Fr. Xavier.

In the next two Sundays, Aranazhikaneram by Parappurath (March 30) and Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse (April 6) will be discussed. On April 13, there will be a discussion on the topic Passion and Surrender: Christ and the Poet, based on religious poems by various poets.

Fr. Xavier says that in most of the selected works, Jesus is indirectly referenced. “For example, while The Death of Ivan Ilyich does not explicitly mention Jesus or convey his message in a traditional religious sense, many of its themes subtly reflect Christ’s teachings. Our attempt is to help people see Jesus from a broader perspective- not just through the Bible, but through various literary angles,” he adds.