They say it in their language, "Raha tsy miaritra ny fohoriana isika, dia tsy hiditra ny Fanjakan'Andriamanitra," which means, "If we do not endure suffering, we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Malagasy people live and face the sufferings of daily life with great trust in God and with an inexplicable joy when one sees the misery in which many live.
Preparation for the Feast is preceded by serious spiritual preparation, the time of Lent. During Lent, Malagasy Christians organize retreats and preparation of catechumens for the sacraments, confessions, spiritual retreats, visits to prisons (the one for juveniles in Anjanamasina and many others), visits to the sick in hospitals, support for youth and school dropouts, sharing with the poor and, especially this year, with the victims of Cyclones Batsirai, Freddy and Cheneso.
"As a young Salesian priest, I spent the first four years of my priestly journey in the mission in Madagascar and remain positively marked by the fervor of the Malagasy people in faith, charity, and hope. I have never confessed and accompanied so many people (youth and adults) in my life as I have in Madagascar," testifies Fr. Florent Dembele, a Malian Salesian, now serving at Colle Don Bosco on the Salesian sites of Piedmont.
"Mission is abundant on this island and I feel that God is calling to open new horizons for this people and especially for the young people who make up two-thirds of the population. The enthusiasm and hospitality of the youth and adults have helped me to live my Salesian vocation, my mission and to be at the service of all."
The Malagasy Church is a Church that walks in faith in God, charity (toward its poor), and cultivates the hope of eternal life. It is because of this faith, charity, and hope that Easter is celebrated in Madagascar as a feast of hope, a feast of family. Easter is celebrated in the utmost simplicity, a generous simplicity that reflects the love and fraternity of the early Christian communities.
The Malagasy people are not in the habit of complaining, nor are they resigned beings. They accept life with optimism. For Malagasy people, there is no real separation between life and death. The cross (i.e., suffering, difficulties, etc.) is part of daily life. Physical death is only a temporary loss. This is why Malagasy people consider the dead as an integral part of the family of the living; they are never forgotten in the family. Trust in providence is the most important thing in the lives of Malagasy people. This does not mean that they are not forward-looking; on the contrary, they are hardworking, bold, and vigorous.
In the hope of resurrection, Madagascar celebrates the so-called "Famadihana," the veneration of the relics of deceased relatives. Every year, this celebration is organized from village to village and family to family. The celebration of Famadihana occurs after Easter, as if to testify to the desire to see one's deceased brothers and sisters share in the glory of Jesus.
Although the practice of this tradition is still archaic for many people, Malagasy Christians practice this ancestral tradition as a testimony to the close relationship between the Christian faith and their culture. It is in this sense that enculturation maintains its uniqueness.
