By M K George

Rome, June 20, 2023: Catholics, especially of South Indian origin, all over the world, are celebrating, whether it be birth, baptism, first communion, marriage or death.

No issues about the celebrations. After all, Jesus too is known for his joining celebrations of people. However, in recent times, the celebrations are increasingly becoming cinematic in style, scandalously extravagant, and definitely anti-Christ.

Marriages

Someone sent me recently a video clipping of a marriage ceremony. I could not make out whether I was watching a movie trailer or a real event. Yes, it was a real event with the bride and the bridegroom in gaudy, shining dresses, bridesmaid, man of honor, flower boys and flower girls in glittering dress dancing around.

Think of a typical marriage. The whole bash begins with the fixing of marriage. What used to be in olden days, a simple ceremony of a few members sitting together and deciding the details has now become a ceremony in a star hotel or a rented hall with backdrops colourful dresses and of course sumptuous food in plenty.

The engagement follows. Hundreds of people are invited. At times, thousands. It is as grand as a marriage, because as the custom goes, one party conducts the engagement and the other party organizes the marriage. Nobody seems to bother about the money spent on such events. At times professional artists sing and dance for the group after the marriage.

Even within the churches, during the ceremony, unless the priest is strict, the camera operators and event managers will decide the movements, the prayers and the whole ceremony. It is all a spectacular show. And the costs are limitless: the dresses, the gold, the decorations, the food, the partying and all.

Funerals managed by event managers

Surprisingly, even funerals have become events of celebration costing huge money. It has become a routine to use mobile mortuaries, recorded music, and at times even live choir, it is reported. The cost of flowers, church ornaments, the cost of the funeral space (a recent civil case over the increase of price for the burial space in Thrissur diocese had made notorious news), and now the use of funeral service agencies are coming into vogue. Live streaming of funeral services has become necessary because of the friends and relatives across the world who cannot attend the funeral.

The social impact

The poorer and the lower class Christians tend to imitate the trends set by the upper class and middle class Christians, landing them in debts for life. Specially noted are certain Christian communities like the fisher folk who borrow huge money and celebrate marriages ending up in debt traps.

On two counts, the increasing lavishness and prodigality of Christian celebrations are almost sinful. For one, would Jesus, humble and poor, the sole reason for Christian way of living accept this trend? Second, all these celebrations happen in a context where girls from economically poor families remain unmarried for lack of financial resources, children stop studying because they have no money for the fees and patients die due to lack of proper medication.

Church is mute

Either the parish priests and bishops do not have any persuasive power or they are not bothered. After all, they too are the beneficiaries. In my recent memory, the only strong stand taken on the celebrations was by Archbishop Soosai Packaim of Trivandrum when he discouraged more than one celebration around marriage. Whether his policy is still in force after his retirement is debatable.

Who will bell the cat?

Many of the Christian celebrations are becoming scandalous and anti-Christian. Who will have the courage and moral authority to say that in a world of so much poverty and want, it is unchristian to celebrate lavishly?

Self-discipline of Christians would be the real answer. But, someone has to start a movement calling for simple marriages, less expensive celebrations and sharing as part of culture of living as a Christian.

Deep behind the ‘conspicuous consumption’ (Thorstein Veblen) habits are the growing influence of consumerism that kills the human spirit.

Call for austerity and magnanimity

Pope Francis reminds us, ‘It is a terrible disease nowadays, consumerism. I am not saying all of us do it, no. But consumerism-excessive spending to buy more than we need- is lack of austerity in life. This the enemy of generosity. And material generosity – thinking about the poor…It enlarges the heart and helps us to be magnanimous.’ (2018).

Would Christians listen to the call of austerity and magnanimity while celebrating?

(Father M K George is a former head of the Kerala Jesuit province.)