Both the Syro-Malabar Rite and the Syro-Malankara Rite now make use of the vernacular in their liturgies. This enables the faithful to actively and fully participate in the offering of the Holy Sacrifice, embodying the ideal of Pope Pius X for the “full participation of the laity in the liturgy of the Church.” This principle was further affirmed in the Decree on the Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council.
However, for this participation to be truly meaningful, it is essential for the faithful to understand the full significance of their role and the traditions of the rite to which they belong. Above all, they must recognize that the congregation assembling in church is a genuine assembly of the 'people of God', where each individual, through baptism, is endowed with a share in the priesthood of Christ.
Together, they constitute a holy priesthood, as described by St. Peter: they are called to “offer a spiritual sacrifice, which God accepts through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). The priest, ministers, and the people collectively form the Body of Christ, with each member performing their unique role in the offering of the Sacrifice. In this sacred act, Jesus Christ himself is present, offering himself in them and through them as the Head of the Body.