Here I Walk: An Ecumenical Pilgrimage

[qui_est_ce]

I read this in the paper the other day. I think it’s awesome.

A few years back my husband Andrew and I noticed the upcoming 500th anniversary of Luther’s 1510 pilgrimage to Rome. We thought it would be really cool to retrace his steps. But the questions of “how?” and even more “why?” (besides the coolness factor) remained unanswered. Now, however, we have answers, and we’re gonna do it… in just a few days. We leave August 22 from Erfurt.

The trek will take us 70 days to cross 1000+ miles—we’re not going as fast as Luther, who booked along at about 26 miles a day, not to mention in sandals, in winter, and during a fast—and we’ll arrive in Rome during the last days of October. Along the way we’ll be blogging at www.hereiwalk.org about our progress as well as offering select bites of Luther’s theology, Catholic theology, ecumenical documents, mini-lessons in Reformation history, as well as Facebook and Twitter updates: all with the hopes of generating some fresh interest in the midst of this “ecumenical winter” on the century-old effort to reconcile the broken pieces of Christ’s church.

Read more here

 

[Lutheranteach]

I read this in the paper the other day. I think it’s awesome.


Read more here

sounds like an awesome thing to do, regardless of religion. The history lesson alone would be worth it.

 

[The_Reginator]

I read this in the paper the other day. I think it’s awesome.


Read more here

… on the century-old effort to reconcile the broken pieces of Christ’s church.

There ARE no ‘broken pieces’ of Christ’s Church.

The one Church that Christ established is still one church.
From what I’ve read it sounds more destructive rather than constructive.
How could this walk possibly bring this couple and those who follow their walk back to the Catholic Church? It sounds more like, if anything, it will re-enforce the divide.
They are setting out to follow the steps of a man who thought that he knew the Truth better than Jesus’ Church.
It would be different if they were following a saint.

 

[qui_est_ce]

sounds like an awesome thing to do, regardless of religion. The history lesson alone would be worth it.

Religion has everything to do with it since Luther started the Reformation and the split. There were a lot of abuses in the Catholic Church that Luther was trying to address.

 

[DennisTate]

Speaking of broken pieces of the church I highly recommend that all of us do our research and meditate on how profoundly anti-Semitic Christian thought during the dark ages really was. We are living in a time period when it truly is possible to bring Christian - Jewish -Islamic relations up to a whole new level of love, humility and understanding.

Martin Luther: The Jews and Their Lies
(1543)

What shall we Christians do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews? Since they live among us, we dare not tolerate their conduct, now that we are aware of their lying and reviling and blaspheming. If we do, we become sharers in their lies, cursing and blasphemy. Thus we cannot extinguish the unquenchable fire of divine wrath, of which the prophets speak, nor can we convert the Jews. With prayer and the fear of God we must practice a sharp mercy to see whether we might save at least a few from the glowing flames. We dare not avenge ourselves. Vengeance a thousand times worse than we could wish them already has them by the throat. I shall give you my sincere advice:

First to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them. This is to be done in honor of our Lord and of Christendom, so that God might see that we are Christians, and do not condone or knowingly tolerate such public lying, cursing, and blaspheming of his Son and of his Christians. For whatever we tolerated in the past unknowingly * and I myself was unaware of it * will be pardoned by God. But if we, now that we are informed, were to protect and shield such a house for the Jews, existing right before our very nose, in which they lie about, blaspheme, curse, vilify, and defame Christ and us (as was heard above), it would be the same as if we were doing all this and even worse ourselves, as we very well know.

Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed. For they pursue in them the same aims as in their synagogues. Instead they might be lodged under a roof or in a barn, like the gypsies. This will bring home to them that they are not masters in our country, as they boast, but that they are living in exile and in captivity, as they incessantly wail and lament about us before God.

Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them

For the record my nation of Canada is just now realizing and admitting how we practiced ethnic cleansing in the province of Newfoundland. This same policy might have been used in my province of Nova Scotia were it not for the presence of the French community here. There is a tradition that Sephardic Jews fled from persecution in Spain, to France, and then to Nova Scotia. My last name is English, and we rewarded the French people with expulsion for preventing us from doing what we wanted to freely here in this province as well.

Isaias 2:11

The lofty eyes of man are humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be made to stoop: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

Isaias 2:12

Because the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and highminded, and upon every one that is arrogant, and he shall be humbled.

 

[Anita_K]

They are setting out to follow the steps of a man who thought that he knew the Truth better than Jesus’ Church.

Do you think their money would be better spent on buying an indulgence?

 

[StrawberryJam]

I read this in the paper the other day. I think it’s awesome.


Read more here

Wonderful idea, and they absolutely seem like the people who see the scriptures about the need for all to be one.

I have only one question after reading this. Is there a citation for the following?

Luther, who booked along at about 26 miles a day, not to mention in sandals, in winter, and during a fast

---

If anyone can find it for me, I would be very greatful.

 

[The_Reginator]

I read this in the paper the other day. I think it’s awesome.


Read more here

Do you think their money would be better spent on buying an indulgence?

I’m a little confused.
Both you, Anita, and the OP state your religion as Catholic.
This is an article celebrating a protestant activity.

The protestant activities to be most celebrated are those that lead people to Christ’s Church, not those that support their separation from His Church.

I can certainly see how protestants might see this as a good thing.
As Catholics, though, do you really think that this activity is building up Christ’s Body?

 

[benidict]

Do you think their money would be better spent on buying an indulgence?

i dont think its anybodies buisness what they do with their money. personally though, i would take a nice carribean cruise… thats just me though. peace

 

[benidict]

Wonderful idea, and they absolutely seem like the people who see the scriptures about the need for all to be one.

I have only one question after reading this. Is there a citation for the following?

Luther, who booked along at about 26 miles a day, not to mention in sandals, in winter, and during a fast

---

If anyone can find it for me, I would be very greatful.

yes. sounds like they should have called him “Super Luther!” lol!

 

[qui_est_ce]

I’m a little confused.
Both you, Anita, and the OP state your religion as Catholic.
This is an article celebrating a protestant activity.

The protestant activities to be most celebrated are those that lead people to Christ’s Church, not those that support their separation from His Church.

I can certainly see how protestants might see this as a good thing.
As Catholics, though, do you really think that this activity is building up Christ’s Body?

The impression I get is they are using Reformation Day to work for unity with Rome. Their are several Lutheran denominations who are actively working with Rome on this issue.

Let’s not forget, the Reformation came about because of sins by members of the Church, as well as Martin Luther.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Speaking of broken pieces of the church I highly recommend that all of us do our research and meditate on how profoundly anti-Semitic Christian thought during the dark ages really was. We are living in a time period when it truly is possible to bring Christian - Jewish -Islamic relations up to a whole new level of love, humility and understanding.

I don’t think meditating on past sins committed by others is helpful. But I do agree with the second part. We have a very active Hebrew Catholic community here. I’d like to go to one of their meetings. They meet every Wednesday at the Cathedral Basilica for study.

 

[The_Reginator]

The impression I get is they are using Reformation Day to work for unity with Rome. Their are several Lutheran denominations who are actively working with Rome on this issue.

Let’s not forget, the Reformation came about because of sins by members of the Church, as well as Martin Luther.

I’m starting to understand now Christine.
I may not have read the article too closely before (although I did give it a very quick scan later) and I am not really aware of Lutherans working with Rome.
Thanks for clearing this up.

 

[qui_est_ce]

I’m starting to understand now Christine.
I may not have read the article too closely before (although I did give it a very quick scan later) and I am not really aware of Lutherans working with Rome.
Thanks for clearing this up.

Go to the Lutheran threads on the non-Catholic Forum. There are many Lutherans who are extremely unhappy with the direction of the ELCA, but are unable to leave because it’s in their roots, part of who they are. Many who post there are very Catholic in their view of salvation. I find many don’t really adhere to their particular Confession.

The Lutheran threads are some of the most uplifting. I think a unification with Rome is imminent, just as some of the Anglicans have done.

 

[JonNC]

I read this in the paper the other day. I think it’s awesome.


Read more here

It seems to me that these folks are doing exactly what Lutherans should do; working hard for the unity that is desired at the end of the Augsburg Confession: *“Only those things have been recounted whereof we thought that it was necessary to speak, in order that it might be understood that in doctrine and ceremonies nothing has been received on our part against Scripture or the Church Catholic. For it is manifest that we have taken most diligent care that no new and ungodly doctrine should creep into our churches.” *

I think its awesome, too.
Jon

 

[JonNC]

I’m starting to understand now Christine.
I may not have read the article too closely before (although I did give it a very quick scan later) and I am not really aware of Lutherans working with Rome.
Thanks for clearing this up.

It might help to look at some of the following links regarding the thaw in relations between our two communions since Vatican II.

usccb.org/seia/lutheran.shtml

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html

prounione.urbe.it/dia-int/l-rc/e_lr-c-info.html

catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4152&Itemid=78

Jon

 

[JonNC]

Speaking of broken pieces of the church I highly recommend that all of us do our research and meditate on how profoundly anti-Semitic Christian thought during the dark ages really was. We are living in a time period when it truly is possible to bring Christian - Jewish -Islamic relations up to a whole new level of love, humility and understanding.

Martin Luther: The Jews and Their Lies
(1543)

Dennis,
I join my sentiments to yours that we become aware of the anti-judaism of the middle ages, be it Luther’s terrible rhetoric here, or that of others of his time, in order that we join our voices in condemnation of it. There is no place in Christ’s Church for this kind of hatred.

Jon

 

[qui_est_ce]

It might help to look at some of the following links regarding the thaw in relations between our two communions since Vatican II.

Jon

Your signature puts it in a nutshell.

Peace and blessings to you.