Kolkata: Two mainline Churches in West Bengal on January 12 urged people to follow the message of Swami Vivekananda on his 158th birth anniversary.
The Catholic Church and Church of North India hail the 18th century spiritual leader for transcending “the borders of religion to lead everyone to attain oneness through their commitment to serve mankind.”
Vivekananda’s birth anniversary is celebrated as Youth Day in India.
“In difficult times like these we need spiritual guidance to help us move forward and when we surrender completely to that guidance, miracles happen. One such guide who we can turn to in our daily lives is Swami Vivekananda,” the Churches say.
Parish priests of the two Churches were asked to remind their people that the Swami’s vision of a strong country is the only path forward.
Catholic Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta took time off from retreat to send a prayer message for the occasion. Vivekananda “treated humanity like his brothers and sisters and the Chicago lecture remains a landmark to this day. Unity in diversity is the essence of Indian culture and Swamiji led us on this path. I urge the youth of the country to once again, arise and awake to the clarion call of Swamiji.”
Archdiocesan vicar general Father Dominic Gomess message is available on YouTube. “Swami Vivekananda believed that youth are the strongest innovators and can drive social change through muscles of iron and nerves of steel. You can imagine the deep realization of this ascetic when you go through his saying, ‘you will be nearer to heaven through football than through the study of Gita’,” Father Gomes said.
Urging the youth of the country to read more of Vivekananda’s writings and to emulate what he practiced, Church of North India Bishop Paritosh Canning drew attention to Vivekananda’s concept of “Advaita.”
“The last word in religion and thought is ‘Advaita,’ and so, in this country, we are able to accept people of all religions and communities,” the Protestant prelate said.
Source: The Times of India