Are Seder Meals Proper for Catholics?

[shocktrooper]

There is a thread that deals with this but I wanted to bring the topic over to the Apologetics forum so that more can contribute.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=550897

No one on that thread seemed to address the reason for a Catholic to participate in such a meal, other than learning more about how Jesus would have celebrated the meal. However, it seems that the current Seder Meal was not practiced by Christ since it was not instituted until after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. Is the Seder Meal the same Passover Celebration that Christ partook in, and if so, why should we continue to use it anyway since Christ made it obvious that the Passover Meal was forever changed in the New Covenant. Why go backwards? I can understand why we would want to know the history behind it, but that does not mean we should celebrate it. If we can celebrate it and not be in violation of the 1st Commandment, then how can we fore go any of the other OT ceremonial rituals?

Can someone please respond with proper Church teachings that would allow for a Catholic to celebrate a Jewish ritual that looks forward to the coming of the messiah, denying that Jesus is he. I don’t see how you can make Christian a Seder Meal that has already been perfectly Christianized in the Eucharist. You would basically be arguing that the Eucharist is not sufficient, correct?

Also, wouldn’t this be a form of Judaizing?

Pax Christi.

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

This issue is of particular importance to me as one of my closest friends is an Orthodox Jew and I’m invited over to Jewish events. It’s my position that l as long as I’m not doing anything to compromise Catholic dogma and doctrine and my faith, then participation is acceptable. There is always the risk, however, that I may be swayed toward Jewish conversion.

 

[shocktrooper]

This issue is of particular importance to me as one of my closest friends is an Orthodox Jew and I’m invited over to Jewish events. It’s my position that l as long as I’m not doing anything to compromise Catholic dogma and doctrine and my faith, then participation is acceptable. There is always the risk, however, that I may be swayed toward Jewish conversion.

By doing so, though, it seems that your “charity” is not real charity since it is confirming your friend in a state where there is no “ordinary” form of salvation since he/she is outside the Church. I just don’t know why one can conclude that it would be a good idea to partake in a Seder meal, whether it be a Jewish one or a Christianized one. Maybe others can help out.

Pax Christi.

 

[WiscConvert]

There’s nothing wrong with attending a Jewish seder if you go because you wish to spend time with friends or family, or even just to learn about the Jewish faith. There is no prohibition on going to Protestant services, or synagogues or mosques or Hindu temples, to support loved ones or for the purposes of education, and a seder is no different. Going to a seder does not imply any type of spiritual weakness or support for Judaism, so long as you observe rather than actively participating in any specifically Jewish rituals or prayers. And the danger of conversion is less than it would be at a Protestant or Muslim celebration, since Jews do not traditionally evangelize.

I have no opinion about Catholics themselves hosting Catholic-flavored seders – I would have no interest in doing this myself but I would be happy to attend if invited to one.

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

By doing so, though, it seems that your “charity” is not real charity since it is confirming your friend in a state where there is no “ordinary” form of salvation since he/she is outside the Church.

I’m unclear by what you mean by this statement. Would you elaborate?

 

[George_Pierson]

I am a 41-year-old Catholic and I have been studying what the Church teaches for some years now. The Catholic Church prohibits Catholics from actively participating in liturgical functions outside of canonical norms. For example, you could go to a Protestant Wedding, but you would not be allowed to participate in the Liturgy. However, you could go to, and participate, in an ecumenical prayer service. As far as going to a Seder meal, since it is not in a Jewish Liturgy like the one you would see at a synagogue, I do not believe that there would be any harm in participating in it. On Holy Thursday, the scripture readings for Passover are read, and the Seder meal is a recalling and participation of the Passover meal. Now, unless a holy ordained minister or theologian says otherwise, I think that it would be ok.

 

[shocktrooper]

I am a 41-year-old Catholic and I have been studying what the Church teaches for some years now. The Catholic Church prohibits Catholics from actively participating in liturgical functions outside of canonical norms. For example, you could go to a Protestant Wedding, but you would not be allowed to participate in the Liturgy. However, you could go to, and participate, in an ecumenical prayer service. As far as going to a Seder meal, since it is not in a Jewish Liturgy like the one you would see at a synagogue, I do not believe that there would be any harm in participating in it. On Holy Thursday, the scripture readings for Passover are read, and the Seder meal is a recalling and participation of the Passover meal. Now, unless a holy ordained minister or theologian says otherwise, I think that it would be ok.

Thank you.

 

[shocktrooper]

I’m unclear by what you mean by this statement. Would you elaborate?

Sorry for being unclear. I am just making the point, and maybe one that does not apply, that sometimes we do things for people because we “love” them but the action we do only prevents them from ultimately receiving true love or Truth. For example, my kid decides he does not want to go to Mass with his family and wants to go to the Sunday morning entertainment meetup at the local new age warehouse with his friends. He would “love” to do this since Mass is so “boring”. Most parents these days would allow their child to venture off the farm and into the hands of wolves because they “love” their child and just want him to be “happy”. The parents are just happy that he is still going to something in Jesus’ name. Now, is that true love. No it is not. I know the situation is different between you and your friend since he is not directly under your stewardship, which is why I stated above that this point was not necessary since it does not apply here.

I apologize for calling into question your charity or intentions. I am sure you try to evangelize your friend with the Truth of the Gospel and do not pretend that he has some hope of salvation outside the Church. I am sure you pray for your friends conversion whether it be now or in the unknown future.

Pax Christi.

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

I apologize for calling into question your charity or intentions. I am sure you try to evangelize your friend with the Truth of the Gospel and do not pretend that he has some hope of salvation outside the Church. I am sure you pray for your friends conversion whether it be now or in the unknown future.

Thank-you for clarifying. No offense was taken on my part. As for my friend, I do want him to appreciate the revealed Truth that I have as a Catholic. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult as he is well immersed into his Judiac faith and is quite guarded against Christian evangelizing. In fact, he does work for a couple of orthodox rabbis. However, I do correct him on his misunderstandings of Catholicisms and try (with great delicacy) to show how Christianity (and Catholicism) is the fulfilment of Jewish prophecy.