- The institution of 19-Day Feast
- Responsibilities of Spiritual Assembly
- Influence of the “devotional character of a community”
- Limited to Baha’is
- Choice of language
- Choice of prayers and readings
- Factors contributing to quality improvement
- Participation of believers in the “conduct of the Nineteen Day Feast” is an aspect of the “collective undertakings of the Bahá’í community”
- The progressive unfoldment of the three components of the Feast
- The consultative portion of the Feast
- The “decentralization” of the Feast is “an inevitable consequence of the growth of the Faith”
- Neighborhood Feasts
- What to do if friends of the Faith appear unexpectedly, or the “Feast is celebrated in the home of a family with some members who are not Bahá’ís”
The continual aim of the institutions of the Bahá’í
community—whether it be through the operation of summer schools and training
institutes, through the development of the Nineteen Day Feasts and National Conventions,
or through day-to-day interaction among the friends—is to empower the
individual believers so that they will learn how to live their lives with
increasing knowledge, wisdom, unity and fruitfulness in conformity with the
Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. (From a letter dated 18 July 2000 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
Some of you have enquired about the Nineteen Day Feast, the
observance of which is ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in His Most Holy Book, the
Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Since the early days of the Faith, the Feast has been a
distinctive feature of your spiritual and social life, essential to the
development of the individual and the community, and it should continue to be observed
with wisdom and with consideration for local circumstances. Within the context
of the clear guidance regarding its nature and purpose, you have a wide degree
of latitude in which to organize and conduct such meetings. (The Universal House of Justice, from a message dated 19 May
2009 written to the Believers in the Cradle of the Faith, authorized
translation)
Responsibilities of Spiritual Assemblies
The observance of the Nineteen Day Feast has to be given due
weight…
(The Universal House of Justice, January 9, 2001, message to
the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors)
Attendance at gatherings to mark the Nineteen Day Feast and
Bahá’í Holy Days is being fostered by Local Spiritual Assemblies. (The Universal House of Justice, from a message dated 29 December
2015 addressed to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors)
The Assembly is also attentive to the need for new believers
to be nurtured sensitively, considering when and how various dimensions of
community life are to be introduced to them. By encouraging their involvement
in institute courses, it aims to ensure that from the very beginning they
regard themselves as protagonists in a noble endeavour to build the world anew.
It sees to it that gatherings for the Nineteen Day Feast, Holy Day
commemorations, and Bahá’í elections become opportunities to reinforce the high
ideals of the community, strengthen its shared sense of commitment, and fortify
its spiritual character. As numbers in the community grow larger, the Assembly
gives thought to when it could be beneficial to decentralize such meetings so
as to facilitate ever-greater participation on these important occasions. (The Universal House of Justice, from a message dated 29
December 2015 addressed to the Conference of the Continental Boards of
Counsellors)
Influence of the “devotional character of a community”
By convening a gathering for worship at which adults and
children of any background are welcome, the spirit of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is
evoked in any locality. The enhancement of the devotional character of a
community also has an effect on the Nineteen Day Feast and can be felt at other
times when the friends come together. (The Universal House of Justice, from a message dated 29
December 2015 addressed to the Conference of the Continental Boards of
Counsellors)
Limited to Baha’is
The Nineteen Day Feast is an institution of the Cause, which
serves, in part, as a means for the Bahá’í community to address its affairs in
a full and frank manner, without fear of creating misunderstandings among those
unfamiliar with its purpose. It is for this reason that participation is
limited to members of the Bahá’í community. (From a message dated 17 May 2009 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to all NSAs)
Choice of language
As a general principle, the Nineteen Day Feast and other
official Bahá’í gatherings should be conducted in the conventional language
spoken by the people of the locality. However, as social and economic
conditions throughout the world continue to change, it is not unreasonable to
assume that more and more people will be forced to migrate to urban centres,
forming pockets of minorities, each with a distinct language, as can already be
seen, for example, in the concentrations of Spanish-speaking populations in
North America or of certain tribal populations in Africa. In such instances,
when the Feast is decentralized, the question may well arise as to whether the
programme can be conducted in the language spoken by the minority population
most prevalent in a neighbourhood. At this stage, the House of Justice does not
wish to lay down any hard and fast rules, and it is left to the discretion of
the Local Spiritual Assembly concerned to decide, under the guidance of the
National Spiritual Assembly, how to address the matter, approaching it with
both flexibility and an attitude of learning. (From a message dated 17 May 2009 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to all NSAs)
Choice of prayers and readings
Concerning the choice of prayers and readings for the
devotional portion of the Nineteen Day Feast, the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the
Writings of other Manifestations of God, and the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá can
all be used. In a letter dated 11 April 1949 written on behalf of the Guardian
to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, it is explained that
in the East, prayers which were written by him were also used during the
spiritual part of the Feast; the reason for this is that some of his writings
in Persian are devotional in character and are written in a language and style
which are suitable for this part of the Feast, while his writings in English
are not of this type. The Nineteen Day Feast can start with prayers from
Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, or ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and continue with passages from the
Writings, quotations from the Holy Scriptures of the past, or the writings of
Shoghi Effendi. In other words, the writings of the Guardian should come after
the prayers and other readings. The writings of the Guardian could of course
also be used during the consultative portion of the Feast. (From a letter dated 7 April 2014 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
Factors contributing to quality improvement
As the spiritual foundations of the community are
fortified…the level of collective discourse is raised, social relations among
the friends take on new meaning, and a sense of common purpose inspires their
interactions. Little wonder, then, that a study carried out by the
International Teaching Centre shows that, in some fifty advanced clusters
surveyed, the quality of the Nineteen Day Feast has improved. (The Universal
House of Justice, 27 December 2005, message to the Conference of the
Continental Boards of Counsellors)
As teaching efforts and core activities have multiplied,
Local Assemblies have been thrilled to see the opportunities created for
serving the wider population... Yet beyond the increased capacity for outreach,
the positive effect on the quality of Bahá’í community life has also been
reported and is reflected in the enhanced quality of its internal processes.
These conclusions are drawn in part from a survey conducted by the
International Teaching Centre in about fifty advanced clusters throughout the
world. The study which assessed the impact of the process of growth on several
aspects of Bahá’í community life identified that 90 percent of the surveyed
clusters had experienced improvements in the Nineteen Day Feast, with nearly
two-thirds of them also recording a rise in participation levels. Insights
gained from conducting devotional gatherings are increasingly reflected in the
spiritual program of the Feast. According to the survey, even the consultative
processes at all levels in the community—including Assembly meetings—have
improved in efficacy, becoming more purposeful, united, and focused.
(The International Teaching Center, ‘Turning Point’)
Participation of believers in the “conduct of the Nineteen
Day Feast” is an aspect of the “collective undertakings of the Bahá’í community”
Acceptance of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings implies a commitment
on the part of the individual to strive for one’s own spiritual development, to
participate in the construction of a vibrant community, and to contribute to
the common good. The collective undertakings of the Bahá’í community include
the management of affairs related to personal status; the conduct of the
Nineteen Day Feast and other Bahá’í gatherings; the education of children,
youth and adults in spiritual and social matters, as well as in the arts and
sciences; and the creation of an environment among its members that encourages
mutual support in the pursuit of such activities and in service to the wider
society.
(The Universal House of Justice, from a message dated 26
March 2009 to the Believers in the Cradle of the Faith, authorized translation from
Persian)
The progressive unfoldment of the three components of the
Feast
In its Ridván message of 2008, the Universal House of
Justice referred to the widening impact of the dynamism flowing from the
interactions between the three participants in the Five Year Plan. The
celebration of the Nineteen Day Feast has not remained unaffected by this
growing dynamism. Everywhere the devotional portion of the Feast is enriched by
the sense of reverence cultivated through personal prayer and regular devotional
gatherings. The administrative portion is animated by reports on the progress
of the Cause, as well as insights contributed by eager believers drawn from
diverse populations, both newly enrolled and long-standing, engaged in Bahá’í
activity. The social portion transcends polite formalities, becoming the joyous
reunion of ardent lovers, of tested companions united in a common purpose,
whose conversations are elevated by spiritual themes. (From a message dated 17
May 2009 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to all NSAs)
The continued expansion of the Bahá’í community in the years
to come will surely give rise to a range of challenges that will affect how the
devotional, administrative, and social aspects of the Nineteen Day Feast are
conducted in diverse localities. Responsibility for addressing these challenges
will fall, in the first instance, on Local Spiritual Assemblies. Theirs is the
duty to remain alert to conditions in their communities, to consult with the
friends, to respond thoughtfully to a multiplicity of needs and circumstances,
and to remain flexible without compromising fundamental principles. In this
connection, they would naturally seek advice from the Auxiliary Board members.
National Spiritual Assemblies will, in collaboration with the Counsellors,
follow developments closely, familiarize themselves with approaches taken in
different localities, facilitate learning to determine which approaches prove
most effective over time, and offer guidance and encouragement. (From a message
dated 17 May 2009 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to all
NSAs)
The consultative portion of the Feast
Consultation at the Nineteen Day Feast creates a space for
the growing social consciousness of the community to find constructive
expression. Whatever the nature of activities undertaken, the Local Assembly
must be attentive to potential pitfalls and help the friends, if necessary, to
steer past them—the allurements of overly ambitious projects that would consume
energies and ultimately prove untenable, the temptation of financial grants
that would necessitate a departure from Bahá’í principle, the promises of
technologies deceptively packaged that would strip the village of its cultural
heritage and lead to fragmentation and dissonance. (The Universal House of
Justice, from a message dated 28 December 2010 addressed to the Conference of
the Continental Boards of Counsellors)
The “decentralization” of the Feast is “an inevitable
consequence of the growth of the Faith”
The decentralization of the Nineteen Day Feast in urban
centres, where a significant percentage of humanity currently resides, is an
inevitable consequence of the growth of the Faith, marking a significant stage
in the organic development of a local community. While care should be taken to
avoid instituting this practice precipitously when the number of believers in
the entire city is relatively small, a Local Spiritual Assembly should not feel
obliged to prolong the pattern of hosting a community-wide Feast if it is no
longer propitious. Such a change may be required when limited time or facilities
hamper the satisfactory observance of the three parts of the Feast in a single
location, most notably the portion devoted to consultation on community
affairs. Experience to date has demonstrated the salutary effect of
decentralizing the Feast on the quality of participation, on bonds of
fellowship, and on the overall process of growth. Although some believers may
yearn for the enthusiasm generated by large community gatherings, this need can
be met on other occasions arranged by the Assembly.
(From a message dated 17 May 2009 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to all NSAs)
Neighborhood Feasts
As communities expand, however, it is not unreasonable to
expect that cities will need to be divided into smaller areas-perhaps
ultimately into neighbourhoods-in each of which the Nineteen Day Feast is
conducted.
(The Universal House of Justice, 27 December 2005, message
to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors)
What to do if friends of the Faith appear unexpectedly, or
the “Feast is celebrated in the home of a family with some members who are not
Bahá’ís”
In general, the believers are discouraged from inviting
those who are not Bahá’ís to the commemoration of the Feast. However, friends
of the Faith do sometimes appear unexpectedly, and they are not to be turned
away. Courtesy and the spirit of fellowship require that they be warmly
received. In this light, unanticipated visitors, who were by and large
infrequent in the past, have been welcome to join the devotional and social
portions of the Feast, but either they were asked to absent themselves during
the administrative portion or that segment of the programme would be eliminated
entirely.
(From a message dated 17 May 2009 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to all NSAs)
Now, with the Plan’s framework for action well established
in so many places, growing numbers enjoy ready access to Bahá’í community life
through the core activities, and there is greatly increased likelihood that
those who are close to the Faith will learn about the Nineteen Day Feast and
appear at its celebration. The House of Justice has decided that, in such
instances, rather than eliminating the administrative portion completely or
asking the visitors to withdraw, those conducting the programme can modify this
part of the Feast to accommodate the guests. The sharing of local and national
news and information about social events, as well as consultation on topics of
general interest, such as the teaching work, service projects, the Fund, and so
on, can take place as usual, while discussion of sensitive or problematic
issues related to these or other topics can be set aside for another time when
the friends can express themselves freely without being inhibited by the
presence of visitors.
A similar approach to the administrative portion may be
adopted when the Feast is celebrated in the home of a family with some members
who are not Bahá’ís. As part of planning these occasions, careful thought must
be given, on the one hand, to the requisites of hospitality and love, and, on
the other, to those of confidentiality and unfettered discussion on important
and sensitive subjects. The Local Assembly, in consultation with the believers who
have such relatives, should endeavour to find a satisfactory way to resolve each
situation that arises.
(From a message dated 17 May 2009 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to all NSAs)
