golden jubilee bells

Golden Beats for My College
My College (Dharmaram College) celebrated her Golden Jubilee (fifty years of glorious existence and service) in 2007. It goes without saying that the sum total of the magnificent services she rendered to humanity through Dharmaram and the allied institutions shine forth as a landmark in the history and growth of CMI Congregation.
Dharmaram has every reason to boast for the present heights she has reached through her allied institutions on the campus whose excellent service reaches out to more than fifteen thousand students.
Dharmaram Vidaya Kshetram, the Pontifical Athenaeum established by the Congregation for Catholic Education, Vatican as an independent institute empowered to grant degrees, including licentiate and doctorate in Philosophy and Theology, Licentiate in Oriental Canon Law and Master’ Degree in formative spirituality is nearing its goal to become an ecclesiastical University.
Similarly Christ College autonomous, one of the outstanding colleges of India has the first catholic College of Technology and Management in Bangalore, is expected to be a university shortly. Its phenomenal growth and progress reveals the creative and initiative of the CMI priest of Dharmaram. Christ English medium school and Christa Vidlyalaya, the Kannada medium school, is in the out come of the spirit of hard work and team spirit among the members working in these institutions.
The priests and brothers working in the seven Syro-Malabar parishes and many other centres are the clear proof of the zeal and enthusiasm of the members to get the Syro-Malabar Church rooted and flourished in Bangalore which plays a vital role in nurturing the spiritual life of the faithful belonging to the Syro-Malabar Apostolic Church.
Let Dharmaram, the central formation house of the CMI congregation along with all the allied institutions prosper and become the haven of peace, harmony and national integration making the clarion call for a spiritual revolution not only among the Syro-Malabarians but among all people of God.
My campus
Situated in the salubrious climate of Bangalore, the garden city of India, Dharmaram campus is so planned and laid out as to make it conducive to theological and philosophical education. The campus provides academic facilities for about 800 seminarians, including 250 residential students (CMIs), 7000 college students and 4200shool children. Well planned buildings, up-to-date library, spacious grounds, sport facilities, beautiful gardens and a centrally situated chapel which dominates the whole scene- all these add up to make Dharmaram an ideal seat of prayer, conducive to spiritual and intellectual pursuits.

ST. THOMAS CROSS (MARTHOMA SLIBA)

MAR THOMMA SLIBA (ST THOMAS CROSS)
Mar Thomma sliba is the emblem of Mar Thomma Margam (the way of St. Thomas). Ancient documents testify that this typical cross was venerated in all the churches and chapels of the St. Thomas Christians. The original model of it we come across in the chapel on Periyamala, Madras [Chennai]. It is the cross carved on granite stone. When I celebrated the feast of St. Thomas Cross on 18th of this month, I thought of writing a few things about St. Thomas Cross. Being a St. Thomas Christian it is my great pleasure to introduce this Miraculous Cross of our tradition.
TRADITION
According to an ancient local tradition, St. Thomas the apostle fell dead as a martyr on this particular granite stone. The faithful kept it sacred and at a later stage the typical cross was engraved on it. Modern scholars fix the date of engraving somewhere around 650 A.D.
FINDING THE TREASURE
In the 16th century, as the western missionaries were digging the ground to reconstruct the chapel on Periyamala they happened to come across this special Cross. When the construction of the chapel was over, they fixed it to the rear wall of the main altar. It remains there today.
MIRACLE
On the 18th of December 1558 during the Gospel reading at the Holy Qurbana (Holy Mass), this Cross sweated blood. According to the testimony of the missionaries, the miracle was repeated for many years on the same date and in the same manner. They informed the Pope, of this miracle and obtained permission from him to celebrate December 18th as the feast of Mylapore Cross’ Apparition
December 18th is a big feast day for the Mar Thomma Nazranees (St. Thomas Christians). It is the feast of Mar Thomma Margam (the way of St. Thomas), their special Christian lifestyle. They ought to celebrate this feast most solemnly wherever they are.

SYMBOLISM
Mar Thomma Sliba (St. Thomas Cross) is the dynamic symbol of the death and resurrection of Jesus in the Indian context. It proclaims the Theological, Christological, Pneumatologica and Ecclesiologica specifications of Christian faith.
EMPTY CROSS
Mar Thomma Sliba is an empty cross, namely a cross without the dying figure of Jesus Christ. In imitation of the empty tomb, the empty cross symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus.
BLOOMING BUDS
The four tips of the Mar Thomma Sliba are designed like blooming buds. Bud is a symbol of new life. New life is restored to man in Jesus’ resurrection. Thus the shape of this cross itself proclaims the resurrection of Jesus.
DESCENDING DOVE
The Holy Spirit that descends upon the Mar Thomma Sliba is yet another symbol of resurrection. As St. Paul teaches, Holy Spirit transforms Jesus’ flesh-body into Spirit-body and thus vivifies the dead Jesus Christ (Rom 8, 11).
LOTUS SYMBOLISM
According to several scholars this particular Cross is erected upon lotus. Although it is not proved beyond doubt, a Chinese cross, erected on a lotus flower, coming from the same era, is a very good substantiation for the assumption to the scholars. Lotus is India’s own symbol because of the influence of Buddhism in India during and immediately after the reign of the great Emperor Asoka. Thus the Sliba erected on lotus, is a living symbol of faith in the risen Jesus, established in India.
THREE STEPS
The lotus in the Mar Thomma Sliba remains over three steps. The symbolism of steps is evolved in connection with liturgical tradition. The three steps signify either heaven or Calvary. In our case the stress is on Calvary and thus they signify the death of Jesus.
Thus Mar Thomma Sliba remains a unique symbol that proclaims the acceptance of Jesus Christ, who accomplished the human salvation through his death and resurrection, in India

ANCIENT MODELS
Ancient models of Mar Thomma Sliba are also found in the Jacobite churches of Kottayam and Kadamattam, and adjacent to the Syro-Malabar churches of Muttuchira and Alangad, all in Kerala. According to the famous western historian Antonio de Gouvea, this typical cross was venerated in all the Thomas Christians churches and chapels before the arrival of European missionaries in India.

Source
Kochappilly, Paulachan. editor. The Folly of the Cross: a Festschrift in Honour of Prof. Dr. Varghese Pathikulangara, CMI. Bangalore: Dharmaram Publications, 2000.