AmericanPapist Comments
I suppose one doesn't have to toss holy water around and use the Sign of the Cross to sanctify a place.
The same goes for the Hagia Sofia. There's something really silly about a crowd of Muslims watching closely for the Pope to make the Sign, when a silent prayer is enough to reconsecrate the place.
Ummm ... its lens not lense!
I agree wholeheartedly with Thom. I would add that one can pray wherever one wants, so whats the big deal about praying in a Mosque. I am sure that many faithful Catholic have prayed in more unworthy venues. Secondly, it is not as if that Muslims believe in a different God or gods. In fact I recently met a gentleman of the Islamic faith. I had a wonderful conversation with him and I really realized how much we have in common. I would consider him a worthy ally in the battle against secularism. Let us pray that the Pope's prayer for brotherhood may bear fruit, "So that all might be one".
Yes, I have gone to pray many times at abortion mills. As a member of His Body, I bring Christ to that despicable place. It is an incarnational act.
Be very careful. Muslims basically believe in the same God, yes, but they have an entirely different description of Him in mind. You can talk to one for hours and not guess that the words you use mean something entirely different to him, even as you seem for all the world to agree, and it's reciprocal.
It's sort of like talking to a Mormon, if you've ever had that experience....talking past each other is the best way perhaps to describe it.
Indeed, it's part of a layperson's vocation to take God into the world with us, every where we go. Also incarnational.
They don't teach it anymore, but it's still true that when you are baptised, God takes up residence in your soul in a special way and you carry him with you.
I am currently reading [then Cardinal Ratzinger's] _Truth and Tolerance_. If anyone is wondering how best to understand the Holy Father's actions in Istanbul -- whether in his participation in the Orthodox Divine Liturgy or briefly praying in a mosque while facing in the same direction as his hosts --, one has only to read this book.
"There's something really silly about a crowd of Muslims watching closely for the Pope to make the Sign, when a silent prayer is enough to reconsecrate the place."
Excellent observation, Kevin.
I saw it as a gesture of syncretism at first, and I want to state that I now see things differently, and that I repent for the sin of rash judgement that I believe I commited.
I think it is both holy and astute that Papa Benny did this. And I believe that God is sovereign, whatever we may think or know about the different vocabularies used by Catholic and Muslim.
For a brief moment, the light of Jesus shone into that dark hole which is Islam.
I'm sure B16 was silently praying for the conversion of all Muslems through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima & Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Throughout this pilgrimage, the Pope has repeatedly spoken of the esteem Catholics hold for Muslims. We worship the same God. The difference is our relationship to God. Islam means "submission to God." As Christians our relationship is more familial. Jesus is our brother and the Holy Spirit dwells within each of us. We have intimacy with God.
Christ came into the mist of our humanity and wherever we go, we take God with us. How awesome is our God!
Deborah has said it correctly. The relationship with God is different for the Muslim.
Yes, they can be great allies in the fight against secularism. In Germany, I have a Muslim friend who came out to demonstrate with all her veiled ladies against "The Last Temptation of Christ" which was being put on as a play. 80 Muslims, 20 protestants and 3 Catholics on that praticular demonstration. She also complained to the authorities about the scurilous 3 meter high ads with a topless woman which were plastered all over town. The Catholics whom I asked to help were all unwilling and too fearful to even make a phone call. "We can't do anything about it" was their answer. Also, the Muslims have great sympathy for parental rights to oversee the upbringing and education of their children. Christians in Germany are deprived of their rights to oversee the education of their children, as well as Muslims.
I was withholding permission for various school activities and instruction just like the conscientious Muslims do. She was really impressed with the teachings of the Catholic Church in these areas, but she wasn't impressed with the witness of Catholics there. She even had her ladies attend an introduction to NFP lecture taught by a CCL teacher.
So reach out to Muslims to fight with us and in the process they will hopefully see the light of Christ and at least respect the Christian view.
May I suggest a caption for the photo?
"Sweet Jesus, get me outta here."
From Istanbul, when one turns to face Mecca, the places of our Lord Jesus Christ's birth, death and resurrection stand in the way of Mecca.
And don't underestimate the significance of the fact that The Cross was so openly displayed in that Mosque. A miracle indeed.
Notice, he's touching his cross. :)
Muslims can definitely be our allies..... most that I have heard speak or have met are strongly opposed to abortion. The other day i was having quite an intense argument with a table of my friends, one of whom was Muslim. out of the 8 people there, only she and I were the ones opposing abortion, even though a few were Catholic and most were Christian. it was a really difficult argument and she was the only one on my side. and her religious beliefs were the impetus behind that.
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