Pope Hailed for Praying toward Mecca Like Muslims

[vern_humphrey]

Want to stay in a bad mood? Here is a quote from Pope Benedicts book"The Sacramental reason for Christian Existence" Here he denies God is present in the Eucharist:
“Eucharistic devotion such as is noted in the silent visit by the devout in church must not be thought of as a conversation with God. This would assume that God was present there locally and in a confined way. To justify such an assertion shows a lack of understanding of the Christological mysteries of the very concept of God. This is repugnant to the serious thinking of the man who knows about the omnipresence of God. To go to church on the ground that one can visit God Who is present there is a senseless act which the modern man rightfully rejects” The Pope has some explaining to do!

He has no explaining to do at all. He is absolutely correct.

First of all, he did not deny God is present in the Eucharist – that’s your interpretation of what he said.

God is uniquely present in the Eucharist** when we take the sacrement**. Beyond that, He is present everywhere – not confined to the host!

 

[tequilamac]

No one especially the Pope should pray in a place of false worship. Here is St Thomas Aquinas and his 2 cents. From his “Summa Theologica”: “if anyone were to worship at the tomb of Mohomet, he would be deemed an apostate”

That would mean we couldn’t pray anywhere. We are surrounded by false worship.

 

[jman507]

I can use my judgement to say if this was or was not a good move, but one thing I am more sure of is I trust Pope Benedict’s judgement on this one. I’m sure he knows what he was doing. He probably has spent lots of time on this issue especially in his last office, with an added perspective of being the Pope. Not only is the Holy Spirit is with him, but also his back ground with issues surrounding this. Could it be a bad move, yes, but I doubt anyone is more conscious of what his actions mean.

 

[tequilamac]

Want to stay in a bad mood? Here is a quote from Pope Benedicts book"The Sacramental reason for Christian Existence" Here he denies God is present in the Eucharist:
“Eucharistic devotion such as is noted in the silent visit by the devout in church must not be thought of as a conversation with God. This would assume that God was present there locally and in a confined way. To justify such an assertion shows a lack of understanding of the Christological mysteries of the very concept of God. This is repugnant to the serious thinking of the man who knows about the omnipresence of God. To go to church on the ground that one can visit God Who is present there is a senseless act which the modern man rightfully rejects” The Pope has some explaining to do!

Is this a reading disability you have or are you even aware that your statement is false?

Where does the Pope say God is not present in the Eucharist. I read your paragraph three times and couldn’t find it. Where is it?

 

[Kendy]

He has no explaining to do at all. He is absolutely correct.

First of all, he did not deny God is present in the Eucharist – that’s your interpretation of what he said.

God is uniquely present in the Eucharist** when we take the sacrement**. Beyond that, He is present everywhere – not confined to the host!

I thought he was kidding.

 

[vern_humphrey]

Originally Posted by genotob
No one especially the Pope should pray in a place of false worship. Here is St Thomas Aquinas and his 2 cents. From his “Summa Theologica”: “if anyone were to worship at the tomb of Mohomet, he would be deemed an apostate”

I’ll give a dollar to anyone who can tell me where “the tomb of Mohomet” is.

 

[Kendy]

That would mean we couldn’t pray anywhere. We are surrounded by false worship.

I don’t doubt that the pope does not believe in the teachings of Muhammed. However, there is increasing pressure on Christian’s today to resist proclaiming that their faith is the true faith. The popular faith today is universalism— there are many path, and many will interpret the pope’s actions as, Islam is just one of the many paths. That’s what concerns me.

Kendy

 

[bigee]

I want to cast my vote of support for the Pope. I certainly don’t think that what the Pope did was anything but good and right. I thought it was laughable when someone stated that the “protestant” sects might be disturbed by his actions.

 

[bones_IV]

I’ll give a dollar to anyone who can tell me where “the tomb of Mohomet” is.

I know he’s buried somewhere i forget what city though.

 

[tequilamac]

I don’t doubt that the pope does not believe in the teachings of Muhammed. However, there is increasing pressure on Christian’s today to resist proclaiming that their faith is the true faith. The popular faith today is universalism— there are many path, and many will interpret the pope’s actions as, Islam is just one of the many paths. That’s what concerns me.

Kendy

What concerns me is the knee jerking reactors will force us to tear down our churches and rebuild them all so we aren’t facing east when we pray. Always have faced east. But perhaps unholy panic will force us to pray west instead. Tomorrow morning I will be praying toward Mecca at Mass. And toward London, and the Vatican, and Jerusalem and Africa and Boston, Ma. I’ll even be praying toward Nevada, home of the casinos and former glory of the Mafia.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I know he’s buried somewhere i forget what city though.

The jokie is that Muslims believe that Mohammed rode his winged stallion, Al Burak to Al Quds (“The Holy City,” Jerusalem,) tethered the stallion and climbed Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount.) He stood on the Rock (on which Abraham was to sacrifice his son) and was taken up into heaven (the Rock tried to follow him.)

Now, if Muslims believe that – and they do – they can hardly go and worship at “the tomb of Mohamet” now can they?

 

[Kendy]

I want to cast my vote of support for the Pope. I certainly don’t think that what the Pope did was anything but good and right. I thought it was laughable when someone stated that the “protestant” sects might be disturbed by his actions.

Why did you think it was laugable?

Kendy

 

[Kendy]

What concerns me is the knee jerking reactors will force us to tear down our churches and rebuild them all so we aren’t facing east when we pray. Always have faced east. But perhaps unholy panic will force us to pray west instead. Tomorrow morning I will be praying toward Mecca at Mass. And toward London, and the Vatican, and Jerusalem and Africa and Boston, Ma. I’ll even be praying toward Nevada, home of the casinos and former glory of the Mafia.

I doubt that will happen. It’s not where he was facing that’s important; it’s rather what he is perceived to be doing?

Kendy

 

[tequilamac]

I doubt that will happen. It’s not where he was facing that’s important; it’s rather what he is perceived to be doing?

Kendy

How is that his problem? He’s aware that most uncorrupted Catholics know he’s facing east just like they will be tomorrow. What he is perceived to be doing by people with little and filthy minds just can’t be helped.

 

[vern_humphrey]

Why did you think it was laugable?

Kendy

Tour these threads and you’ll see there are Protestants who are upset over the Church “inventing wax candles.” holding tradition as sacred along with scripture, requiring confessions to priests, and on and on.

If we are to be controlled by “what upsets some Protestant sects,” we will have to stop being Catholics.

 

[Jennifer_G]

I wonder if the OP notices that most churches have their doors facing east (towards the sunrise - so that the sun shines on the altar I guess), and that’s the direction the priest/pastor faces when conducting Mass. (Besides, even West would get you to the same spot on the globe – I don’t think there’s a rule saying “You can’t pray in a certain direction”).

People like me who can’t even tell north from south would be utterly confused!

 

[maggieodae]

Tour these threads and you’ll see there are Protestants who are upset over the Church “inventing wax candles.” holding tradition as sacred along with scripture, requiring confessions to priests, and on and on.

If we are to be controlled by “what upsets some Protestant sects,” we will have to stop being Catholics.

:yup:

 

[maggieodae]

How is that his problem? He’s aware that most uncorrupted Catholics know he’s facing east just like they will be tomorrow. What he is perceived to be doing by people with little and filthy minds just can’t be helped.

Correct! It gets pretty old listening to all the petty garbage some people dream up. It’s not a democracy folks…it is the church founded by Christ, lead by the sucessor to Peter

Joe 6 pack in the pew isn’t privey to all information nor does he/she have a vote.

 

[Thekla]

Nonetheless, what the Holy Father did in Muslim eyes, was display weakness and cowardice.

The Holy Father acts with humility, strength, and respect. We know little about Muslims in this country, but showing respect in the Muslim world is a huge thing. For the Holy Father to publicly pray toward Mecca is a sign of deep respect and he honors Roman Catholics with his conduct.

And if it irritates some of the non-Catholic Christians, that’s fine by me. They are responsible for some vicious and disrespectful language when it comes to Catholicism and the Holy Father.

 

[scapularkid8]

We don’t know that he was facing Mecca when he turned East. It just so happens that Jerusalem is to the East as well. I pray to the East because I’m facing Jerusalem, not Mecca. That’s just my take on it.