Maronite Tauditho Meal
The Maronite Tauditho Meal
A THANKSGIVING MEAL
By FR. ANTONIO GEORGES ELFEGHALI
__________________________________________
The items you need: Roses, thorns, bell, Bible, three small candles, four large candles, olive branches, bottles of wine, salt water, horseradish, cinnamon, chopped apples, dishes, bread, golden raisins, almonds, dried cherries, and nuts.
Place these items on the dining table:
1- Three small pieces of Lahmo (bread) on
each person’s plate.
2- Cups – Place one cup of wine for each
individual.
3- Wine – Place two bottles of wine on the
table (Non-alcoholic wine for children).
4- Salt water – Set out three dishes filled
with salt water.
5- Maurorae – Set out three dishes filled
with horseradish or bitter herbs.
6- Napkins – Place one napkin near each
plate.
7- One Large Candle- It represents Jesus
Christ; the Light of the World. Place it on
the table to the leader’s left.
8- Three Small Candles – They represent
the Faith, Hope, and Love of the
Maronites who were attacked during the
difficult times. Place them on the table to
the leader’s right.
9- Three Large Candles - They represent
the Faith, Hope, and Love of the
Maronites during the prosperous time of
their history. Place them on the table.
10- Bell – Place a bell on the table in front
of the leader.
Place these items on a small table accessible to the woman who will assist the leader:
1- Feereh– Prepare a large dish of
a mixture of chopped apples, golden
raisins, almonds, dried cherries, nuts,
cinnamon… (you can add any other kind
of fruit you can find in Lebanon).
2- Bible.
3- Roses – Place the roses surrounded by
thorns in a basket.
4- Olive Branches – Place them in another
basket.
During Lent 2004, in St. Maron’s Church in Detroit, I looked up at St. Maron’s picture on Good Friday, thinking of hundreds of thousands of Maronites scattered all over the world. On that day specifically, I first thought of a Maronite Tauditho Meal, which brings the Maronite family together, teaches the new generations the history of their Maronite ancestors, and draws lessons from itself.
Tauditho is a Syriac word that means Thanksgiving. The Maronite Tauditho Meal is a thanksgiving meal, in which we remember our story from its beginning up to today. The whole Maronite history is divided into three sections. In each section, we remember our ancestors’ experience of severe times, and our history’s prosperous moments. During the meal, which is filled with symbols of the Maronite History and inspired of the Last Supper or the Passover Meal, the Maronite family can experience what our ancestors had to go through to secure their faith, and to protect their freedom and independence. It also shows how God would bring good out of evil. Moreover, they can experience their ancestors' pain and joy through their senses (smell, taste, eating, sight, and touch) and through symbols (roses, olive branch, etc.).
On your Tauditho table, you will find candles, bread, wine, salt water, horseradish, fruit, roses, a Bible, olive branches, and napkins. Before starting the meal, it is important to explain the meaning of salt water, horseradish, fruit, bread, and wine in the Jewish Seder Meal, the Last Supper (how it relates to the Mass), and our Maronite Tauditho Meal. We will also shed light on the importance of the role of the woman and the main dish.
Salt water
In the Seder Meal, the Jewish family uses salt water to remember their ancestors’ tears shed when they were in slavery in Egypt.
At the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples would have used salt water to remember the chosen people’s tears shed in Egypt.
During Mass, we remember our tears shed while living in slavery to sins.
In our Maronite Tauditho Meal, we dip the bread in salt water to remember our ancestors’ tears shed when they had to abandon their lands in Syria and Lebanon.
Horseradish
In the Seder Meal, the Jewish family uses bitter herbs (horseradish) to remember the bitterness their ancestors experienced when enslaved in Egypt.
At the Last Supper, our Lord Jesus Christ dipped the bread in bitter herbs and gave it to Judas the Iscariot to make him taste his betrayal bitterness.
During Mass, we remember the bitterness we experienced while living in slavery to sins.
In our Maronite Tauditho Meal, we remember our ancestors’ bitterness when they were humiliated under occupation or divide.
Fruit
In the Seder Meal, the Jewish family eats fruit (charoses) to taste the sweetness of freedom as Jesus and his disciples did at the Last Supper.
Before or during Mass, Christians experience the sweetness of freedom each time they confess their sins.
In our Maronite Tauditho Meal, we eat fruit (Feereh) to taste the sweetness of Faith, Freedom, Independence, and Salvation.
Bread
In the Seder Meal, the Jewish family has three pieces of bread called Matzohs. According to some Jewish explanations, the three pieces of bread represent the three angels who visited Abraham. However, for Christians, the three angels represent the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the Seder Meal, the middle piece of Matzoh is broken into two. One piece is left with the other two Matzohs, and the second piece is wrapped in a cloth or napkin and set aside. After the dinner, the children search for that piece and bring it back to the table. In Christianity, Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, was broken on the Cross (crucified and died), wrapped in a shroud, and put in a tomb. On the third day, he rose again.
After dinner, at the Last Supper, Jesus brought the second piece of bread wrapped in a cloth and set aside, and said to his disciples: “Take it. This is my body.” (Mark 14:22).
During Mass, the priest breaks the bread and consumes it, saying: “The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ is given to me for the forgiveness of my sins and for eternal life.” Before Communion, the Maronites say or sing: “Ano Ano lahmo dhaaye emar Moraan khul dokhel lee bhaymonooto neerath haaye,” which means as our Lord said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever eats me in faith inherits life.”
In our Maronite Tauditho Meal, three pieces of bread (Lahmo) are used. The first one is broken into two pieces to remember Bet Moroon, which was ruined for the sake of Faith. One piece is eaten. The second piece of Lahmo is wrapped in a cloth or napkin and set aside. After dinner, the Maronites eat it in thanksgiving, remembering how they were being nourished throughout history with the bread of life given through Maron, Bet Moroon, and the Maronite Church.
Wine
In the Seder Meal, the Jewish family has four cups of wine:
1. The cup of Sanctification.
2. The cup of Deliverance.
3. The cup of Redemption.
4. The cup of Consummation.
At the Last Supper, our Lord Jesus Christ presented his disciples the third cup, the cup of Redemption, saying: “Drink from this, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28).
During Mass, the priest drinks from the cup, saying: “The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is given to me for the forgiveness of my sins and for eternal life.” Before Communion, the Maronites say or sing: “Honaw koso dmazge Moraan al reesh qaysoqroob moyoote weshtaw meneh lhoosoy hawbe”, which means, “This cup is the Blood of the Redeemer prepared on the Cross. Come forth and drink from it for it forgives sins and revives the dead.” In the United States, the priest says to all: “This is the cup which our Lord prepared on the cross. Come forth, O mortals, and drink from it for the forgiveness of sins.”
In our Maronite Tauditho Meal, we have four cups of wine:
1. The cup of Faithfulness.
2. The cup of Freedom.
3. The cup of Independence.
We remember the Maronite Martyrs whose blood shed for the sake of faith, freedom, and independence. After dinner, we take the fourth and last cup, the cup of salvation, to taste the joy of salvation.
The Role of the Woman
In the Maronite Tauditho Meal, the woman has a very important role. In the Seder Meal, the woman lights the candles. In the history of Salvation, Mary, the Woman or the New Eve, brought the Light, Jesus Christ, into this world by saying “Yes”. In the Maronite Tauditho Meal, the woman represents Mary. She lights the candles with the large candle, which represents our Lord, Jesus Christ; the Light of the World. The three small candles represent faith, hope, and love of the Maronites attacked throughout history. The three large candles represent faith, hope, and love of the Maronites that became stronger. The woman gives her children fruit (Feereh) to taste the sweetness of faith, freedom, independence, and salvation, the Bible to strengthen their faith, the rose to smell the Church, and the olive branches to remind them of their message of peace to the world.
The Main Dish
In the Maronite Tauditho Meal, the main dish for dinner is Hreesay:
Here is the recipe:
Here is the recipe:
4 lamb shanks
2 lb shelled wheat (soaked
overnight)
1 large onion
2 cinnamon sticks
3 bay leaves
Place the meat in a large pot full with water, boil, skim the foam, and add onions, cinnamon sticks, and bay leaves. Simmer for one hour adding water if needed, and then add wheat. After the wheat gets soft, add one large onion and four cloves of sautéed garlic. Then, add salt and spices to taste.
Sahtein
Sahtein
(-4 B.C.--- 30 A.D.)
All begin:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
All parents recite from Psalm 78:
Attend, my people, to my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in story, drawing lessons from of old. We have heard them, we know them; our ancestors have recited them to us. We do not keep them from our children; we recite them to the next generation, the praiseworthy and mighty deeds of the LORD, the wonders that he performed.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
A woman lights the large candle, saying:
Blessed are you Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen. You chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, the True Light of the World.
By the “Yes” of a woman and the power of the Holy Spirit, the Light came into this world.
The leader says:
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.”
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.”
The woman continues:
Jesus Christ suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day, he rose again.He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. His kingdom will have no end.
ANTIOCH
(30 A.D. --- 350 A.D.)
The leader says:
At Pentecost, after the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began proclaiming the good news.
Thousands accepted their message, were baptized, and joined the Church.
Between the years 37 A.D. and 62 A.D., the Early Church was persecuted in Jerusalem. Many who had been scattered went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word and proclaiming the LORD Jesus. The hand of the LORD was with them and a great number who believed turned to the LORD. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
The woman lights the three small candles: Faith, Hope, and Love.
(350 A.D. --- 452 A.D.)
The leader says:
Around 350 A.D., Maron “the little lord” was born in Cyrrhus, a small town near Antioch. When he grew up, Maron heard God’s call for holiness and perfection. His heart was burning within him.
A dialogue between God (the leader) and Maron
(a young man):
(a young man):
- Maron, Maron.
- Yes, LORD. Who are you?
- I Am the compassionate Father. I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I Am your Consoler and Comforter. You will be the father of a great people, a people who will bear your name. I, the Lord, will be their God and they will be my people. They will be persecuted for their faith, but persecutions will make them stronger. Their divisions will bring disasters and bitterness to them, because if they break the commandment of love, we will deliver them to their enemies and scatter them over the earth. However, their repentance will draw down my Grace and Mercy, and good will be brought out of evil.
- LORD, how can this be?
- “Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine and you are the branch. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”
- LORD, what do you want me to do now?
- Leave your town, and climb up to the mountain of Nabo. Remain in me in prayer, penance, and labor. I will protect you. I will be with you. I will bestow my gifts upon you. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
- Here I am, LORD. May your will be fulfilled in me.
All recite the ‘Our Father.’
The woman says:
Maron left the world and ascended to the top of Mount Nabo, near Antioch. He lived in the open air, converted a pagan temple into a church, and spent his time praying in solitude, fasting, and working.
The leader says:
“Maron did greater acts in order to reach perfect wisdom, for the militant soldier weighs between virtue and acts… And since God is very generous with his saints, he bestowed upon him the gifts of healing the sick. His fame spread to all the surrounding districts, so people flocked to him and witnessed the veracity of his virtues and miracles. He could heal the sick and exorcise the devil by mere prayer. Physicians prescribe a special medicine for each disease, but the prayer of the righteous is the remedy for all diseases. St. Maron not only healed the ailments of the body but also those of the soul, by curing the avarice of the covetous, the anger of the passionate, teaching some the wisdom of temperance, others the principles of justice, others the happiness of chastity, and others the love of labor.”
Maron attracted many disciples: James of Cyrrhus, Limnaeus, Domnina, Cyra, Marana, Abraham the hermit, the apostle of Mount Lebanon, and many others. Maron died around 410.
All recite a paragraph from the letter of St. John Chrysostom to St. Maron:
“[Dear Maron], we are bound to you by love and interior disposition, and see you here before us as if you were actually present. For such are the eyes of love; their vision is neither interrupted by distance nor dimmed by time… we address ourselves to your honor and assure you that we hold you constantly in our minds and carry you about in our souls wherever we may be… please pray for us.”
The leader says:
Following the request of Pope Leo I, Marcianus the Emperor built a great monastery near the Orontes River in 452 A.D. called Bet Moroon, or the House of Maron. For 500 years, the disciples of St. Maron gathered in this monastery supporting the teaching of the Catholic Church. The followers of Bet Moroon were the first to be called Maronites.
BET MOROON
THE CUP OF FAITHFULNESS
(452 A.D. --- 938 A.D.)
(452 A.D. --- 938 A.D.)
Ring the bell.
The leader blows out the first small candle.
A child asks:
What happened to the first Maronites?
The leader responds:
There were many attempts to impair their Faith:
1. In 517 A.D., 350 Maronite monks were killed for the sake of the teaching of the Council of Chalcedon.
2. In 694 A.D., 500 Maronites were killed by Justinian the Byzantine Emperor because the Maronites elected their first Patriarch John Maron. Bet Moroon was also damaged.
3. In 938 A.D., Bet Moroon and many
Maronite monasteries in Syria were completely destroyed by the Arabs. The Maronite Patriarch took refuge in the Mountains of Lebanon.
These three major persecutions left behind hundreds of martyrs and thousands of refugees. This resulted in many waves of migration from northern Syria to Mount Lebanon. The Maronites had to make the most difficult decision-to leave the rich plains of Syria, and take the rugged mountains of Lebanon as a refuge to protect their faith. The Aramean Syrian Maronites of Syria joined the Canaanite Phoenician Maronites of Lebanon and the Mardaites in Lebanon.
The child asks:
Where was the hand of God in all of these events?
The leader responds:
God brought the first Maronites out of Syria and led them into the mountains of Lebanon to form a Church with the Canaanite Phoenician Maronites of Lebanon and worship Him in freedom.
The leader takes bread, breaks it, dips the first piece in salt water and eats it, saying:
Take the Lahmo, break it, and dip the first piece in salt water, and eat it. Remember the tears our ancestors shed when they abandoned their lands.
Then he takes the second piece and wraps it in a cloth, saying:
Wrap the second piece of Lahmo and set it aside. Remember Bet Moroon, which was broken and destroyed for the sake of Faith.
All pray Psalm 79:
O God, the nations have invaded your heritage; they have defiled your holy temple, have laid [Bet Moroon] in ruins. They have left the corpses of your servants as food for the birds of the heavens, the flesh of your faithful for the beasts of the earth. They have spilled their blood like water all around the [monastery], and no one is left to bury them. We have become the reproach of our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your rage keep burning like fire? Do not hold past iniquities against us; may your compassion come quickly, for we have been brought very low. Help us, God our savior, for the glory of your name. Deliver us; pardon our sins for your name's sake.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
The leader takes the cup of wine, saying:
Take the cup of wine and drink from it. This is the cup of Faithfulness. Remember the martyrs whose blood shed for the sake of Faith.
After they drink, he says:
The LORD Jesus said, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” Pope Hormizdes described the Maronites as the soldiers of Christ and members of His Living Body. So be like your ancestors, faithful to the Church and her teaching, soldiers of Christ, and members of His Living Body.
The woman kisses the Holy Bible and passes it to all, saying:
This is the Holy Bible. Strengthen your Faith with the Word of God given to us. Do whatever He tells you.
(938 A.D. -1268 A.D.)
The leader says:
The Maronites, who were like sheep without a shepherd, elected their first Patriarch in 685 A.D.: St John Maron. Their Faith became stronger.
The woman lights the first large candle, the candle of Faith.
All recite the Act of Faith
O my God, we believe that you are one God in Three Divine Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We believe that your Divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that He will come again to judge the living and the dead. We believe these and all of the truths, which your Holy Catholic Church teaches, because you, who can neither deceive nor be deceived, have revealed them. Amen.
The leader says:
For 350 years, the Canaanite Phoenician Maronites, the Aramean Syrian Maronites, and the Mardaites have lived in complete isolation in the rugged mountains of Lebanon. They welcomed their brothers and sisters who had to abandon their lands and take refuge in the mountains. The Church started growing under the Cedars, in the deep valleys, protected by the white and rocky mountains. The Maronites tilled the land and made it fertile. They appreciated what God gave them and became attached to their Land and Church. They were ready to defend them and their Patriarch no matter how much it would cost them.
The woman brings the Feereh and gives to all (one spoon), saying:
Thank you, LORD, for everything you gave our ancestors: a Church, a Patriarch, and the mountains of Lebanon. Here is the sweetness of Faith, taste it.
They all eat and sing or say Psalm 23, the Lord is my Shepherd:
The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me; you restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name. Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage. You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
THE CUP OF FREEDOM
(1268 A.D. --- 1516 A.D.)
(1268 A.D. --- 1516 A.D.)
Ring the bell.
The leader blows out the second small candle.
The child asks:
What happened to the Maronites in the mountains of Lebanon?
The leader responds:
There were many attempts to hurt their Hope.
During the Crusades (1096 A.D.-1292 A.D.), the Maronites established strong relationships with France and the Pope of Rome. They were no longer isolated; but after the defeat of the crusaders:
1. Between 1268 A.D. and 1283 A.D., the Mamlooks attacked the strongholds of the Maronites, sowingdestruction in Ehden, Bsharre, Hadath el-Jibbet, Miefook, and other villages. They captured the Patriarch Daniel El Hadsheeti and sent him to his death.
2. Between 1291 A.D. and 1305 A.D., the Mamlooks destroyed Keserwan, killing thousands of people.
3. The Maronites had to learn how to survive and protect their freedom; but in 1357 A.D., they became divided against themselves: The Maronites of Byblos-Batroun against those of Bsharre.
The child says:
God says that when we are divided against ourselves and break the commandment of love, He will deliver us to our enemies and scatter us over the earth.
The leader says:
That’s exactly what happened. The Mamlooks invaded Byblos and Batroun, destroyed their villages, and burned their Patriarch, Gabriel Hejoula, alive in 1367 A.D. In that time, many people escaped to Cyprus, and the Maronites lost their freedom.
In 1440 A.D., the Maronite Patriarchate moved from Miefook to Wadi Qannoubine, also known as Wadi Qadisha or the Valley of the Saints.
The leader takes bread, breaks it, dips the first piece in salt water and eats it, saying:
Take the Lahmo, break it, and dip the first piece in salt water, and eat it. Remember the tears our ancestors shed when they abandoned their lands.
The leader takes the second piece, dips it in horseradish, and eats it, saying:
Dip the second piece in “Maurorae” and eat it. Remember the bitterness our ancestors experienced under humiliation.
All recite Psalm 85, Prayer for peace and justice:
You once favored, LORD, your land, restored the good fortune of [Maron]. You forgave the guilt of your people, pardoned all their sins. You withdrew all your wrath, turned back your burning anger. Restore us once more, God our savior; abandon your wrath against us. Will you be angry with us forever, drag out your anger for all generations? Please give us life again, that your people may rejoice in you. Show us, LORD, your love; grant us your salvation. I will listen for the word of God; surely the LORD will proclaim peace to his people, to the faithful, to those who trust in him. Near indeed is salvation for the loyal; prosperity will fill our land. Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss. Truth will spring from the earth; justice will look down from heaven. The LORD will surely grant abundance; our land will yield its increase. Prosperity will march before the Lord, and good fortune will follow behind.
You once favored, LORD, your land, restored the good fortune of [Maron]. You forgave the guilt of your people, pardoned all their sins. You withdrew all your wrath, turned back your burning anger. Restore us once more, God our savior; abandon your wrath against us. Will you be angry with us forever, drag out your anger for all generations? Please give us life again, that your people may rejoice in you. Show us, LORD, your love; grant us your salvation. I will listen for the word of God; surely the LORD will proclaim peace to his people, to the faithful, to those who trust in him. Near indeed is salvation for the loyal; prosperity will fill our land. Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss. Truth will spring from the earth; justice will look down from heaven. The LORD will surely grant abundance; our land will yield its increase. Prosperity will march before the Lord, and good fortune will follow behind.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
The leader takes the cup of wine, saying:
Take the cup of wine and drink from it. This is the cup of Freedom. Remember the martyrs who shed their blood for the sake of Freedom.
After they drink, he says:
Because of the many disasters happened in the world, especially in the Middle East, during that period of time (13th- 16th century), Pope Leo X described the Maronite Church as a rose among thorns, an impregnable rock in the sea, unshaken by the waves and fury of the thundering tempest.
The woman passes a rose surrounded by thorns, saying:
Take this Rose surrounded by thorns and smell it. It represents our Church in the midst of chaos.
(1516 A.D. -1842 A.D.)
The leader says:
God heard the Maronites’ cry for help. In 1516 A.D., the Mamlooks were defeated by the Ottomans, and the Maronites were granted protection by France. They expanded in Lebanon and mixed with other minorities. Their Hope became stronger.
The woman lights the second large candle, the candle of Hope.
All recite the Act of Hope
O my God, relying on your almighty power, infinite goodness, and promises, we hope to obtain pardon of all our sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Redeemer. Amen.
The leader says:
The Maronites built churches, founded religious orders, formed schools, and cultivated rough lands. The valleys and the mountains were filled with monks and hermits. Many families converted to Christianity, joined the Church, and participated in the table of the Lord.
The woman passes the dish of Feereh. All take from the dish (one spoon), and the woman says:
Thank you, LORD, for everything you gave our ancestors: a Church, a Patriarch, and the mountains of Lebanon. Here is the sweetness of Freedom, taste it.
They all eat and recite:
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the LORD.”
LEBANON
THE CUP OF INDEPENDENCE
(1842 A.D. --- 2005 A.D.)
(1842 A.D. --- 2005 A.D.)
Ring the bell.
The leader blows out the third small candle.
The child asks:
What happened to the Maronites in the mountains of Lebanon?
The leader responds:
There were many attempts to impair their love.
1. Between 1842 A.D. and 1860 A.D., a great conflict erupted in the mountains of Lebanon. In 1860 A.D., dozens of villages, churches, and monasteries were completely destroyed, incited by the Ottomans, who were trying to break the Maronites’ spirit of independence. Ten thousand Maronites were martyred. Among them were the Massabki brothers: Francis, Abed El-Moati, and Raphael. They were martyred in Damascus on July 10th, 1860 and beatified by Pope Pius XI on October 1st, 1926.
Many Maronites were displaced and others emigrated.
2. Between 1915 A.D. and 1918 A.D., the Ottomans blocked the roads to the mountains. One third of the Maronites perished because of the Great Famine and diseases, and many others emigrated.
2. Between 1915 A.D. and 1918 A.D., the Ottomans blocked the roads to the mountains. One third of the Maronites perished because of the Great Famine and diseases, and many others emigrated.
After the First World War, Lebanon won its independence.
However, peace did not last very long.
3. Between 1975 A.D. and 1990 A.D., Lebanon experienced a destructive war. Tens of thousands died in wars, and thousands emigrated.
These three major persecutions resulted in three waves of emigration from Lebanon to many countries, especially the Americas and Australia.
The Maronites defended their country with great courage, but in 1990 A.D., they were divided against each other and started fighting.
The child says:
God says that when we are divided against ourselves and break the commandment of love, He will deliver us to our enemies and scatter us over the earth.
The leader replies:
That’s exactly what happened. Their enemies invaded them, bombarded their cities and villages, sent their leaders into exile, and put others in jail. The Maronites lost their independence and hundreds of thousands left the mountains of Lebanon and emigrated. There was a need for reconciliation.
The leader takes bread, breaks it, dips the first piece in salt water and eats it, saying:
Take the Lahmo, break it, and dip the first piece in salt water, and eat it. Remember the tears our brothers and sisters shed when they abandoned their lands.
The leader takes the second piece, dips it in horseradish, and eats it, saying:
Dip the second piece in “Maurorae” and eat it. Remember the bitterness our brothers and sisters experienced under occupation and humiliation.
All recite a passage from the Book of Lamentations 5:1-22:
Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us, look, and see our disgrace: Our inherited lands have been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. We have become orphans, fatherless; widowed are our mothers. The water we drink we must buy, for our own wood we must pay. On our necks is the yoke of those who drive us; we are worn out, but allowed no rest. Our fathers, who sinned, are no more; but we bear their guilt. Slaves rule over us; there is no one to rescue us from their hands. At the peril of our lives we bring in our sustenance, in the face of the desert heat; our skin is shriveled up, as though by a furnace, with the searing blasts of famine. The joy of our hearts has ceased, our dance has turned into mourning; the garlands have fallen from our heads: woe to us, for we have sinned! Over this our hearts are sick, at this our eyes grow dim: That [Mount Lebanon] should be desolate, with jackals roaming there! You, O LORD, are enthroned forever; your throne stands from age to age. Why, then, should you forget us, abandon us so long a time? Lead us back to you, O LORD, that we may be restored: give us anew such days as we had of old. For now you have indeed rejected us, and in full measure turned your wrath against us.
Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us, look, and see our disgrace: Our inherited lands have been turned over to strangers, our homes to foreigners. We have become orphans, fatherless; widowed are our mothers. The water we drink we must buy, for our own wood we must pay. On our necks is the yoke of those who drive us; we are worn out, but allowed no rest. Our fathers, who sinned, are no more; but we bear their guilt. Slaves rule over us; there is no one to rescue us from their hands. At the peril of our lives we bring in our sustenance, in the face of the desert heat; our skin is shriveled up, as though by a furnace, with the searing blasts of famine. The joy of our hearts has ceased, our dance has turned into mourning; the garlands have fallen from our heads: woe to us, for we have sinned! Over this our hearts are sick, at this our eyes grow dim: That [Mount Lebanon] should be desolate, with jackals roaming there! You, O LORD, are enthroned forever; your throne stands from age to age. Why, then, should you forget us, abandon us so long a time? Lead us back to you, O LORD, that we may be restored: give us anew such days as we had of old. For now you have indeed rejected us, and in full measure turned your wrath against us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
The leader takes the cup of wine, saying:
Take the cup of wine and drink from it. This is the cup of Independence. Remember the martyrs who shed their blood for the sake of Independence.
The woman says to the sons:
The LORD Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.”
Therefore, he commanded us to love one another. He said, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”
The sons stand, holding each other’s hands, saying:
- Forgive me brother, for I have sinned against heaven and against you.
- I forgive you, brother. Peace be with you.
- And also with you.
The sons exchange hugs and kisses while the family members applaud as a sign of joy for reconciliation.
The woman continues, saying:
The LORD Jesus also taught us to love our enemies: He said, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father.”
The sons pray, saying:
O Father, we ask you to forgive our enemies, forgive them, they know not what they do.
The child asks:
Did God abandon his people?
The leader responds:
God did not abandon his people. He consoled the Maronites, giving them three saints: St. Sharbel, St. Rafqa, and St. Nimatullah Hardini.
In 1997 A.D., Pope John Paul II visited Lebanon to give hope to the Lebanese people and particularly to the Maronites. He said, “Lebanon is more than a country, it is a message.” The Pope gave them his Apostolic Exhortation “New Hope for Lebanon”.
The woman passes an olive branch to each individual, saying:
Take this olive branch. It represents your message of peace to the world.
(2005 A. D. --- … )
The leader says:
Due to the severe persecution of the Church in Lebanon, many were scattered throughout the world, which made the Church grow outside of Lebanon. That’s how the early Church grew outside of Jerusalem. The Maronites’ love became stronger.
The woman lights the third large candle, the candle of Love.
All recite the Act of Charity
O my God, we love you above all things, with our whole hearts and souls, because you are all good and worthy of all love. We love our neighbors as ourselves for the love of you. We forgive all who have injured us, and ask pardon of all whom we have injured.
The leader says:
The Maronite Church became international. She not only includes Canaanite Phoenician Maronites, Aramean Syrian Maronites, and Arab Maronites, but also American, Brazilian, Australian, European, and African Maronites.
The woman passes the dish of Feereh, saying:
Thank you, LORD, for everything you gave our brothers and sisters: a Church, a Patriarch, and the mountains of Lebanon. Here is the sweetness of Independence, taste it.
They all eat and pray from Zephaniah 3:14-20:
Shout for joy, O [Bet Moroon]!
Shout for joy, O [Bet Moroon]!
Sing joyfully, O [Lebanon]!
Be glad and exult with all your heart, O [Maronites]!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
He has turned away your enemies;
The King of [kings], the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to [the Church]: Fear not, O [Bet Moroon], be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love. He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals. I will remove disaster from among you, so that none may recount your disgrace. Yes, at that time I will deal with all who oppress you; I will save the lame, and assemble the outcasts; I will give them praise and renown in all the earth, when I bring about their restoration. At that time I will bring you home, and at that time I will gather you; for I will give you renown and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring about your restoration before your very eyes, says the LORD.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
After the dinner, the leader takes the second piece of bread, which was wrapped earlier, and eats it, saying:
Take the second piece of Lahmo wrapped in a cloth. For 1600 years, we were being nourished with the Bread of Life given to us through Maron, Bet Moroon, and the Maronite Church. Eat it in this “Thanksgiving”.
All recite:
Our Lady of Lebanon, pray for us.
St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Maron, pray for us.
350 Maronite Martyrs, pray for us.
St. John Maron, pray for us.
St. Sharbel, pray for us.
St. Rafqa, pray for us.
St. Nimatullah Hardini, pray for us.
Massabki brothers: Francis, Abed El-Moati, and Raphael, pray for us.
The leader takes the cup of wine, saying:
Take the cup of wine and drink from it. This is the cup of Salvation. Taste the joy of Salvation.
The woman brings the Feereh and gives to all (one spoon), saying:
Thank you, LORD, for everything you gave us: a Church, a Patriarch, and the mountains of Lebanon. Here is the sweetness of Salvation, taste it.
All conclude:
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
The family members applaud and greet each other, saying:
HAPPY TAUDITHO
HAPPY TAUDITHO
HAPPY TAUDITHO
Q. Was the Maronite Thanksgiving Meal a part of the Maronite Tradition?
(A) No, the Maronite Thanksgiving Meal is something new.
Q. When did it begin?
(A) During Lent 2004, Fr. Antonio Elfeghali had to explain on different occasions what would have happened at the Last Supper, and how Jesus would have celebrated the Passover meal.
On Good Friday, April 9, 2004, Fr. Antonio was at the Church of St. Maron in Detroit when he first thought of doing something for the Maronites based on their history and experience.
Q. Why do only parents start reciting Psalm 78?
(A) It is the responsibility of the parents to teach their children about their history and heritage. They need to pass it to the next generation.
Q. What does the large candle represent?
(A) It represents Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
Q. Why does the woman light the large candle?
(A) The woman represents Mary, the mother of God. Mary, by her “yes”, brought the Light (Jesus Christ) into the world. The woman lights the large candle that represents Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
Q. What is the role of the woman during the Maronite Thanksgiving Meal?
(A) During the Maronite Thanksgiving Meal, the woman takes the role of Mary, preparing the environment, bringing light to the family, strengthening the faith of her children, making them appreciate the Church, teaching them the importance of being peacemakers, and making them taste the sweetness of Faith, Freedom, and Independence.
Q. What do the three small candles represent?
(A) The three small candles represent the Faith, Hope, and Love of the first Christians in Antioch.
Q. Did the dialogue between God and Maron literally happen?
(A) No, it did not literally happen. But if you look back at the history of the Maronites and about who are we today, you realize the depth of Maron’s vocation and the importance of his charismatic mission.
Q. Why does God in some instances say “we” instead of “I”?
(A) “We” represents the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Q. Why does God in other instances say “I” instead of “we”?
(A) Each “I” represents a person of the Holy Trinity.
The “I” in “I Am the compassionate Father” represents the Father.
The “I” in “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” represents Jesus Christ, the Son.
The “I” in “I Am your Consoler and Comforter” represents the Holy Spirit.
The “I” in “I, the Lord, will be their God” represents the One God.
Q. I do not like the idea that God would deliver his people to their enemies. Why would God do this? Can you explain this to me?
(A) It is not God who would cause this to happen. God is Love. But it is our sins, our divisions, and our separation from God that bring disasters to us. We easily become vulnerable to our enemies, because we separate ourselves from the spirit of God. God allows our enemies to dominate us so that we may repent and turn our hearts back to the Lord.
Q. Why do we recite the Our Father after Maron’s dialogue with God?
(A) It is the beginning of God’s call and Maron’s vocation. It is the beginning of Maronite History. It is more than a prayer; rather it is St. Maron and the Maronites’ project of life. It is the beginning of a deep relationship between the Living God and Maron and the Maronites. God would be a Father who is in Heaven. St. Maron and the Maronites’ project would be: “Thy Kingdom come in the midst of the Maronites. Thy will be done throughout the history of the Maronites. Give the Maronites this day their daily bread. Forgive them their trespasses throughout their history as they forgive those who trespass against them. Lead them not into temptation, the temptation of divisions or separation from God, but deliver them from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are God’s forever.”
Q. What does the bell represent when the leader rings it?
(A) It represents a certain danger (an attack, a persecution).
Q. What does it mean to blow out the first candle, then the second and the third?
(A) The first candle is the candle of Faith. It represents the Faith of the Maronites. When the leader blows it out, it means that the Maronites’ Faith is attacked.
The second candle is the candle of Hope. It represents the Hope of the Maronites. When the leader blows it out, it means that the Maronites’ Hope is attacked.
The third candle is the candle of Love. It represents the Love of the Maronites. When the leader blows it out, it means that the Maronites’ Love is attacked.
Q. What does the salt water represent?
(A) It represents the tears of our ancestors. At the Last Supper, Jesus would have dipped the piece of bread into salt water to remember the tears of the people of God, which they shed in Egypt in slavery.
Q. Why is the second piece of bread wrapped in a cloth?
(A) At the Last Supper, the second piece of bread would have been broken, separated, wrapped up in a cloth, and hidden. After dinner, Jesus would have taken the hidden piece of bread, given it to his disciples, and said: “Take this and eat it. This is my Body.”
The piece of bread which was broken at the Last supper represented Jesus Christ, who was broken, separated, wrapped up in linen cloth, and hidden in a tomb. Jesus made the second piece of bread a real food, his holy body.
In the Maronite Tauditho Meal, the bread represents Bet Moroon, which was broken. After dinner, the Maronites take the hidden piece of bread wrapped in a cloth and eat it. It represents the spiritual food given to the Maronites through Maron, Bet Moroon, and the Maronite Church.
Q. Why do all pray Psalm 79, 23 in the first section of the Maronites’ history?
(A) Psalm 79 helps us understand the pain and sufferings our ancestors experienced in Syria.
Psalm 23 helps us understand the trust and confidence our ancestors had when they reached the mountains of Lebanon.
Q. What does the wine represent?
(A) It represents blood, sacrifice, and martyrdom. In the Maronite Tauditho Meal, wine represents the blood of our martyrs.
Q. Is there any similarity between the number of cups in the Maronite Tauditho Meal and the Passover meal?
(A) In the Passover Meal, there are four cups: The cup of sanctification, the cup of deliverance, the cup of redemption, and the cup of consummation.
In the Maronite Tauditho Meal, there are also four cups: The cup of faithfulness, the cup of freedom, the cup of independence, and the cup of salvation.
Q. What do these four cups represent?
(A) The first, second, and third cup represent the martyrs who died to defend the Maronites’ Faith, Freedom, and Independence. The three cups represent the suffering and pain of our ancestors for the sake of eternal salvation. The fourth cup represents the achievement of eternal salvation. It represents the joy of salvation.
Q. What does “the soldiers of Christ” mean?
(A) “The soldiers of Christ” certainly does not mean soldiers who proclaim Holy Wars, but it means Holy people, faithful to the Gospel and to the Church.
Q. What do the three large candles that the woman lights represent?
(A) They represent the Faith, Hope, and Love of the Maronites, which became stronger.
Q. Why does Feereh include these fruits?
(A) The apples, raisins, nuts, etc… can be found in Lebanon, the country which God gave to the Maronite Church as a refuge.
Q. What does “Maurorae” or horseradish represent?
(A) The horseradish is a bitter herb. It represents the bitterness our ancestors experienced under humiliation or occupation. At the Last Supper, Jesus dipped the piece of bread in bitter herbs and gave it to Judas to taste the bitterness of his betrayal. At the Last Supper, the disciples would have dipped the piece of bread in bitter herbs to remember the bitterness of slavery that the people of God experienced in Egypt.
Q. Why do all pray Psalm 85 and Luke 4:18-19 in the second section of the Maronites’ history?
(A) Psalm 85 helps us understand the pain and sufferings our ancestors experienced in the mountains of Lebanon under the Mamlooks’ oppression.
Luke 4:18-19 helps us understand the vocation and mission our ancestors had when they mixed with other minorities in the mountains of Lebanon.
Q. What does the rose surrounded by thorns represent?
(A) The rose represents the Maronite Church. The thorns represent the disasters that happened in the Middle East between the 13th and 16th centuries.
Q. Why do all pray from the book of Lamentations and Zephaniah in the third section of the Maronites history?
(A) The book of Lamentations helps us understand the pain and sufferings our ancestors experienced in Lebanon under the Ottoman, Syrian, and Israeli oppression.
The book of Zephaniah helps us understand the joy of the Maronites when they see their Church growing inside and outside of Lebanon.
Q. What does reconciliation mean in the Maronite history?
(A) After the Maronites’ last divisions (1990), Pope John Paul II called for a special Synod for Lebanon in 1993. That Synod prepared the Maronites for repentance and reconciliation.
Q. What does it mean to forgive enemies?
(A) Certainly it does not mean to remain passive. The Maronite Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir gave a wonderful example of how to love enemies: by being wise and meek at the same time, speaking the Truth as it is without attacking them.
Q. What does the olive branch represent?
(A) It represents peace.
Q. What day do we celebrate the Maronite Tauditho Meal?
(A) Most people, who experienced the Tauditho, would like to celebrate it on the night vigil before the Feast of St. Maron or on the Feast day of St. Maron, February 9th.
Listen O People and Open your eyes,
Observe and Contemplate the Lord’s Deeds and Prodigies engraved in your history,
Impart it to your sons and grandsons
So that they learn from their ancestors’ mistakes and avoid falling into them,
Gain knowledge of their predecessors’ virtues then seek them
So that they keep in mind God’s Mercies, Love and Visitation to His People
But rather trust the Living God and keep on establishing
The culture of Freedom in an environment favoring dictatorship,
The culture of truth-telling in an environment inclined to fear and the obliteration of truth
And the culture of Peace in an environment bending to aggression and revenge
For each People, its story,
For each nation, its history,
This book talks about the history of our Maronite nation
Since its establishment until the present-day
It tells us as well about the Lord’s Wonders and Might
This is the Maronite Passover
A Thanksgiving Meal
This is the “Tauditho” Meal
F. Antonio ElFeghali