Sunday, August 17, 2014

The Christian Foundation in Pondicherry

The Christian Foundation in Pondicherry

The French Invite the Capuchins
When Colbert formed the French India company in 1664, it was made obligatory on the part of the company to propagate Christ to the world.[1] The Royal Edict of Article xxx issued on August 27, 1664, the company had to make suitable arrangements for the establishment of the Roman Catholicism in all its territories. François Martin a staunch and practicing catholic was glad to invite the Capuchin fathers from Madras to assume their religious duties in Pondicherry. When the French were taking initial steps to acquirePondicherry from the Muslim governor in 1671, they had invited the Capuchins to care for their spiritual needs.[2]  According to Clemente de Terzorio, Fr. Cosmos de Gien went toPondicherry in 1671 and served as a chaplain to the French colony. Since it was not a permanent stay even for the French, whenever they left, he had to leave for Madras.

 Fr. Cosmos De Gien – Founder of the First Christian Mission in Pondicherry
The French established themselves at Pondicherry in 1673 and invited the French Capuchins of the Tourine province from Madras to be their chaplains and to do whatever missionary work was possible.[3] Fr. Cosmos de Gien who had been with the French atPondicherry in 1671 and he was now sent officially to establish a permanent Capuchin mission in Pondicherry.[4] Fr. Cosmos de Gien a true follower of St. Francis came toPondicherry and established the mission on January 15, 1674.[5] He was a man of great missionary zeal and his edified life of simplicity and poverty attracted many non-Christians to Christ. It is Fr. Cosmos de Gien who laid the foundation of the Christian community inPondicherry and he could be rightly honored as the founder of the Pondicherry mission. The Capuchins were given a small church in the Fort built by the French.[6]

City of Pondicherry in 1675

The Capuchin Missionaries from Madras
            Fr. Cosmos de Gien continued to be in Pondicherry till 1691. He worked tirelessly to fulfill the spiritual needs of the people.[7] Because of the increase in the Christian community, it was very difficult to serve them as a single person. Therefore Fr. Gien sought help from Fr. John Baptist of Aignant the superior of the Eastern Capuchin mission in Syriaand he directed him to the Capuchin missionaries in Madras.[8]They positively responded to his request and sent three missionaries Frs. Jacques of Bourges, Lawrence ofAngouleme and Spiritus of Tours to Pondicherry in 1686.[9] These four Capuchin missionaries looked after the spiritual needs of the French, the Portuguese, the Eurasians and Malabaris or the native Christians.[10]
            Pondicherry was under the diocese of Mylapore and the Capuchins subjected themselves to the Bishop of Padroado’s jurisdiction and acknowledged Portuguese patronage.[11] The Capuchins were very successful in their missionary activities. TheseMalabaris are not to be confused with the people of Malabar region in Kerala today but the Christians from Madurai, Mysore and Karnatic regions whom the Jesuit missionaries specially Fr. Robert de Nobili (+1656) allowed to retain certain Hindu practices and customs even after their conversion to Christianity.

 New Missionaries in Pondicherry
            At  the time of François Martin there were only three streets in the growing French township of Pondicherry and the residence of the Capuchins friars area was called the Capuchin street and today it is known as Roman Roland street.[12] The Capuchins since their first arrival in 1632 or rather since their establishment in 1674 were the only missionaries in Pondicherry and in the surrounding districts till 1688.[13] Therefore the Capuchins can be rightly called the first missionaries of Pondicherry.

 M.E.P Fathers
            A great revolution broke out in Siam (Today’s Thailand) in 1687 and the missionaries endured a lot of sufferings and many were expelled.[14]  In the same year Fr.De La Vigne, MEP (the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris), came and established a MEP procure in Pondicherry.

Jesuits
The mission of the French Jesuits failed in Siam and they came to Pondicherry for the first time in 1689.[15] Fr. Cosmos de Gien the mission superior of Pondicherry received them with great affection and Franciscan hospitality.[16] The Jesuits were honoured as dignified guests of Capuchins.[17] They continued to assist the Capuchins from 1686-1693 and lived in perfect harmony. The Capuchins used to invite the Jesuits from Madurai mission to Pondicherry to instruct the Tamil Catholics and administer the sacraments.[18] John deBritto the future martyr at Oriyur(XhpA+H), Marva(kwtehL) country came to Pondicherry at the invitation of the Capuchins. He baptized five adults, one child and blessed three marriages on July-August 1691.
During this time the governor François Martin reorganized the mission that the Capuchins to be in charge of the white and the mixed population, but the Jesuits to work exclusively among the natives.[19] The Jesuit missionaries who wee in-charge of the native Christians had built the church of the Immaculate Conception[20] in Black town, 1691 by the financial help obtained from King Louis XIV.[21] This church was demolished during the Dutch occupation in 1693[22]  and was rebuilt into a big structure in 1726-36.

[1] Here and the following, Yacobu, 17-19.
[2] Here and the following, Peter Celestine, 31-33.
[3] Here and the following,  Sampathkumar, 81.
[4] Hambye,183f.
[5] Here and the following, Peter Celestine, 26.
[6] Hambye, 324-326.
[7] Peter Celestine, 32f.
[8] Christopher O’Mahony, Church History A Summary, vol., ii, Alwaye: Pontifical Institute Publication, 1987, 294.
[9] Sampathkumar, 35.
[10] Peter Celestine, 34f.
[11] Joachim (ed.), 11.
[12] Here and the following, Clemens a Tezorio, 149f.
                                                                                 
                                                                                                               - Fr. A. Thainis, OFM. Cap.,
                                                                                 



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