Msgr. Eric Benjamin Moktan and Maria Valtorta
Born in 1920 and died in 1994, Mgr Eric Benjamin Moktan was the first indigenous bishop of the Diocese of Darjeeling, created in 1962 following the initiatives of the Paris Foreign Missions, which evangelized the region. The diocese extends across the foothills of the Himalayas, covering West Bengal, the state of Sikkim and the kingdom of Bhutan.
The Diocese of Darjeeling
When Mgr Eric Benjamin took up his duties as Bishop of Darjeeling, he had only eleven diocesan priests at his disposal. By 2022, the diocese had 94 priests working across its various missions. In addition to local vocations, missionaries from Kerala and Mangalore also played an important role in the growth and development of the diocese. These ties explain why Mgr Eric Benjamin responded to the translation of Maria Valtorta's work into Malayalam, a local language spoken primarily in Kerala. During his thirty-two years of apostolate, Mgr Eric Benjamin fostered the establishment of numerous congregations in the fields of pastoral work, education, healthcare and social work.
Opinion on the Work of Maria Valtorta
I am informed that the book 'Poem of the Man-God'[1] is being translated into the Malayalam[2] language in view of its publication in the vernacular unto the inspiration and spiritual growth of a greater number of people. The venture is great but worthwhile, considering the inner worth and popularity of the book. I wish the efforts of Fr. Louis Koduppana and his collaborators God's blessing and every success in the wider dissemination of the book.† Eric Benjamin Bishop of Darjeeling
30th March 1992.
Notes and References
- ↑ Known today under the title The Gospel as Revealed to Me.
- ↑ Malayalam is a local language of India, spoken primarily in Kerala.