• Printed at - The Mar Thoma Sleeha Press Alwaye- 1962
• Published on - 3rd July, 1962

Total pages - 67

Note :

This is a digital copy of the first edition (1962) of the vernacular thaksa (Missal) of the Syro Malabar Church. This edition will be a useful resource for researchers on the history of the liturgies in Kerala. The process of vernacularizing the East-Syriac liturgy into Malayalam started in the 1950s, much before the Second Vatican Council (1964). The Syro Malabar Church promulgated the vernacular version on 3 July 1962. Interestingly, the first edition was a bilingual (Malayalam and Syriac) one. The thaksa retained about 19 prayers from the Syriac Thaksa and printed them in Syriac script. These are mostly prayers that the priest recites in a low voice in private, and does not require the people to respond by Amen. One exception is the rite of dismissal that the deacon proclaims (p.17) before preparing gifts. The Institution Narrative appears only in Syriac (pp.32-32). The clergy at this period knew enough Syriac to celebrate Qurbana in Syriac. The congregation had a general sense of the content of these prayers. What is conspicuous by its absence is the hymn-version of such solemn prayers as the Trisagion and the Resurrection Hymn.

Even after the vernacularization, the solemn, sung celebration of Qurbana continued in Syriac for several years. Gradually, proficiency in the Syriac language became a non-requirement for the candidates to the priesthood and the celebration of Qurbana became entirely in Malayalam. Meanwhile, Fr. Abel Periyappuram, CMI and K. K. Antony Master created text and music for solemn celebration entirely in Malayalam.

In conclusion, In contrast to what happened in the Latin rite, the transition from Syriac to Malayalam was the result of a gradual process. The first edition of the thaksa is witness to that process. Hence the relevance of this document.

To get a complete copy, contact us at library @thecmsindia.org

Keywords : Thaksa 1962, Missel 1962, Thaksa in Malayalam 1962, Malayalam Missel 1962, Thaksa Missel of Syro Malabar Church, First Thaksa in Malayalam of Syro Malabar Church

Courtesy- Joseph T.P.