By Rev. Dr. John Kalathil

Dedication

To all, especially, the anointed, who abide in prayerful union with
the Holy Mother

Who ever remained close in co-operation with
the Lord, Jesus Christ,

In His redemptive efforts at the salvation of souls!

Preface

What the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi remarked apropos on the loftiness of the Scriptures is worth remembering. It is to be sweet-scented rose bloom that he has likened the Gospel. Through rose never delivers any self-extolling discourses, the very wafting of the fragrance keeps all spellbound. The rosy Scriptures have the same effect. Their innate eminence enchants every one! Nay, according to Mahathmaji, the Good News that Jesus conveyed has the greater spiritual scent and more alluring appeal than the fabulous fragrance of rose in nature.

The most enticing appeal of the Gospel is that service to mankind, especially to the destitute and the deserving, is considered oblation real and true to the Almighty. Absorbing this sublime ideal, missionaries from different climes reached several countries across the globe. They lived among the people and worked for the upliftment of the less fortunate, enslaved to inequality, alienation and denial of rights and privileges and very status as humans! Regarding the rich with respect and treating such as humans and hence high in societies and considering those of less circumstances meanly, unscrupulously looking down upon the less privileged and maliciously casting the poor and the humble into the contemptible corner of indifference like animals were trends that existed in several countries before the Good News spread across the world.

History has this unpleasant but undeniable fact that the deprived and the destitute among the populace in several regions used to be subjected to ruthless and heinous practices like mean and narrow nature worship, slavery, polygamy, child marriage and inhumane indifference to the sick and suffering. It is the elevation of such hapless and helpless in the societies to the exalted position of humans that the missionaries could accomplish through their selfless sacrifices and services in the field of education, medical and health care and endeavors at charity wherever the missionaries reached! Thus, it is not religious conversion but change of mind of the haves in their approach and attitude towards the have-nots that they have achieved all over the world including India. This animation of human spirit has instilled hope about the advancement of mankind even in others.

The bright dawn of firm faith in the paternity of God and fraternity of man, pretty Warm with the love of God shared from the lavish tenderness that gushed from Jesus is the reason behind this revolution. That is why St. Mathew quoted the revelation of Isiah concerning the coming of Jesus Christ. " The people that abode in darkness have seen a great light; for, men abiding in a land where death overshadowed them, light has dawned (Mt. 4:16)." Yes, for the people of the world who dwelt in darkness and superstitions, a new flame of fraternal co-operation was beginning to beam through the propagation of the Good News. Only a brief sketch outlining the magnificent human progress achieved throughout the globe as a result of the unstinted efforts of the missionaries, the envoys of Christian messages, is attempted here. Quite so this does not depict any detailed drawing. However, it is a simple fact the world is immensely indebted to the missionaries, the propagators of the Good News, who have achieved so much integration for the advancement of mankind. If the readers get more or less convinced of this reality, I may rest assured this my humble attempt has been of some use, some effect.

I have has genuine encouragement, real help and sincere support in my endeavors and am indebted to many for the privilege of seeing the efforts in this shape of volume. It is with explicit expression of much joy and satisfaction that Rev. Fr. Adappoor has penned his introduction to this work. The Shepherd of our Diocese, His Excellency, Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Athippozhi, having taken keen interest in personally going through the work, has kindly graced it with a felicitous message. So has Prof. M.K. Sanu, who holds a unique position in Malayalam literature, made the book exquisite with such a pertinent message? Prof. Abraham Arackal, former Principal of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam did kindly go through the manuscript and enriched it with suitable and relevant instructions. Besides, the warm encouragement of Rev. Fr. Vijay Isac, much valuable help with the language from Mrs. Nirmala Raphel, kind co-operation form the Reverent Fathers and Seminarians in ever so many ways have been of great blessing. It was Msgr. Boniface Kalathil, also classmate, who kindly undertook the painstaking task of proof reading and correction while printing. At last the work has come out so beautifully due to the unstinted efforts and co-operation of the management and staff of St. Antony's Press, Alleppey. Gratefully remembering each and every one who chipped in one way or other to make this attempt a reality, I offer my prayerful thanks!

- Fr. John Klalathil.