A SACRAMENTAL REINTERPRETATION OF SYRO-MALABAR CHRISTIAN IDENTITY IN DIALOGUE WITH LOUISMARIE CHAUVET

Abstract

The proposal for a sacramental reinterpretation of contemporary Syro-Malabar Christian identity in dialogue with Louis-Marie Chauvet’s theology requires an encompassing and dialogical engagement with the works of and on Chauvet as well as with the Syro-Malabar Church, its tradition, its self-understanding, and particularly its liturgy. To discern the elements that make one a SyroMalabar Christian in the contemporary context, I engaged with diverse views and sources pertaining to both Chauvet’s theology and the Syro-Malabar Church. In addition, the present study involved both Chauvet’s theology of Christian identity and an encompassing interpretation of St Thomas’ Christ-experience. At the same time, the present endeavor underlined the place of the sacraments of Christian initiation of the Syro-Malabar Church in the formation of the SyroMalabar Christian identity.