Prayer for Ramadan

[CMatt25]

During our Prayers of the Faithful, we had one specifically for Muslims to have a spiritual and holy Ramadan.

If this is a problem it’s probably a good thing I’m no longer Catholic because when I was, I’d actually go out and purchase a blank greeting card for my Muslim neighbors and friends. I couldn’t find actual Ramadan cards like I can Christmas and Hanukkah. And I would wish them God’s blessings and peace. They always seemed to very much appreciate the love I was showing toward my neighbor. At Christmas they reciprocate to me as their Christian neighbor. Don’t Catholics want Muslims to have a spiritual, holy July 19 - Aug 18? Maybe even there are Muslims in the local community who are burdened by some kind of difficulty who could use prayer.

 

[backprop]

As I said in the first post, I didn’t disagree or have a problem with it.

That being said, I think being kind and charitable to your neighbors - or offering prayers for brothers and sisters in need - is quite a bit different than the Church offering an official prayer in support of another religion’s holy days. Would you have had an issue with the church offering a prayer for Scientologists on September 4 (Clear Day) to be able to clear themselves of body thetans?

 

[CMatt25]

As I said in the first post, I didn’t disagree or have a problem with it.

That being said, I think being kind and charitable to your neighbors is quite a bit different than the Church offering an official prayer in support of another religion’s holy days. Would you have had an issue with the church offering a prayer for new Scientology recruits to be able to clear themselves of body thetans?

I didn’t say you did. I merely quoted your opening post since it said you had a prayer for Muslims to have a spiritual and holy Ramadan. Clearing thetans is not what you prayed for but generally I don’t have a problem with prayer. The last time I attended a Catholic Mass was a couple of mos ago and we prayed for government to help the poor. I was thrilled with that one. Actually brought tears of joy to my eyes.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

I didn’t say you did. I merely quoted your opening post since it said you had a prayer for Muslims to have a spiritual and holy Ramadan. Clearing thetans is not what you prayed for but generally I don’t have a problem with prayer. The last time I attended a Catholic Mass was a couple of mos ago and we prayed for government to help the poor. I was thrilled with that one. Actually brought tears of joy to my eyes.

Sorry to hear you haven’t been to Mass…there is nothing like the real presence. Nothing against our Protestant brethren…I was out there for 20+ years and it just isn’t the same.

That said…we were tent camping this week on the coast. Hit the 8:30 Mass at the local parish and there was a prayer like that. Any sincere search for God will hopefully lead to His Son…

 

[Hollyberry1962]

To clear this up a bit as to where the prayer came from… Oregon Catholic Press puts a booklet with suggested prayers of the faithful for each week of the liturgical year. For last weekend the prayer for Ramadan was in this booklet. It came under part c of the usual order.
Holly

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I guess what I’m trying to do is find the logical conclusion of intentions of this sort.

It is noble of you to try and make sense of what happened at that mass. My impression is that it was an attempt of ecumenism, but gone very very wrong. The holy mass is not about other religions and their intentions. I find it extremely offensive. If I were you I’d write to the priest and ask for an explanation. I think yor parish deserves it.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

If this is a problem it’s probably a good thing I’m no longer Catholic because when I was, I’d actually go out and purchase a blank greeting card for my Muslim neighbors and friends. I couldn’t find actual Ramadan cards like I can Christmas and Hanukkah. And I would wish them God’s blessings and peace. They always seemed to very much appreciate the love I was showing toward my neighbor. At Christmas they reciprocate to me as their Christian neighbor. Don’t Catholics want Muslims to have a spiritual, holy July 19 - Aug 18? Maybe even there are Muslims in the local community who are burdened by some kind of difficulty who could use prayer.

It is a nice thing to send people cards for their religious holidays. However, this kind of thing has no business being mentioned at mass.

 

[pnewton]

Praying for others in the intentions is part of the Church’s liturgy. Prayers for the Jewish people, for other theist religions and even atheist are all part of the prayer intentions for the Church throughout the world. Can we pray for Muslims? Well, does anyone have any Church documentation that says we can’t? I gave a big example of where this is accepted and on one of the holiest nights of the year.

That being said, the intention itself was somewhat self-serving. I remember both peace and something else that seemed directly aimed at extremeism. I will see if I can dig it up.

 

[backprop]

To clear this up a bit as to where the prayer came from… Oregon Catholic Press puts a booklet with suggested prayers of the faithful for each week of the liturgical year. For last weekend the prayer for Ramadan was in this booklet. It came under part c of the usual order.
Holly

Thank you for the clarification.

And, for everyone, here is the text of the prayer that I mentioned in the OP:

“That the month of Ramadan will bring our Muslim brothers and sisters growth
in patience, self-control, and love of community”

 

[OraLabora]

It is a nice thing to send people cards for their religious holidays. However, this kind of thing has no business being mentioned at mass.

Hmm. What to make then about the Good Friday liturgy? Is that the only place we’re allowed to mention other faiths?

People here need to see the film “Of Gods and Men”.

 

[pnewton]

…in patience, self-control, and love of community"

Thanks. This is what I was thinking of. Patience and self-control, love of community.

 

[CMatt25]

Thank you for the clarification.

And, for everyone, here is the text of the prayer that I mentioned in the OP:

“That the month of Ramadan will bring our Muslim brothers and sisters growth
in patience, self-control, and love of community”

Ok well I’ll just never understand the problem I suppose. I don’t mean you have a problem with it, backprop, but those appearing they might. Muslims are part of God’s created people, our brothers and sisters in the human race. And St Paul spoke about patience and Jesus about love. Peace to all of you. God bless!

 

[TrueLight]

Hmm. What to make then about the Good Friday liturgy? Is that the only place we’re allowed to mention other faiths?

People here need to see the film “Of Gods and Men”.

The Good Friday Liturgy I attended included prayers for the **conversion **of people of other faiths.

During our Prayers of the Faithful, we had one specifically for Muslims to have a spiritual and holy Ramadan. I don’t remember the exact verbiage, but it was not for e.g. unity or peace with Muslims in general, but actually toward their specific religious intentions for Ramadan.

IMHO, this is the type of relativism that is wrecking havoc in the Church. I know some will disagree with me.

I mean seriously, coming to the Church that Jesus Christ himself founded only because it has the “fullness” of truth is not compelling enough. Lots of people can live with less fullness, especially since there are so many rules in the Catholic Church.

We either believe that the CC is the Church that Christ founded or not.

 

[pnewton]

The Good Friday Liturgy I attended included prayers for the **conversion **of people of other faiths.

Good. The General Intercessions for the ordinary form of the Latin Mass includes broader intentions of other faiths on Good Friday. None of it contradicts the faith. To my knowledge we are never prohibited from praying for others in areas other than conversion. In fact, the Lord commanded us to even bless those who curse us and prayer for those who mistreat us.

 

[OraLabora]

We either believe that the CC is the Church that Christ founded or not.

How does praying that Muslims have a holy Ramadan contradict my belief that the Catholic Church was founded by Christ?

The Muslims I work with are far more holy than the secular ex- and nominal Catholics I also work with. Praying for them to grow in holiness isn’t a sin, nor wrong. As a Catholic I know that the fullness of holiness can only be found in the Church. It’s ultimately to where that prayer points. Some will get there, many won’t but for those who won’t, surely getting at least part way is better than not progressing at all.

Oddly enough, the Muslims I work with understand perfectly when they see my breviary on my desk. It’s from the ex- and lukewarm Catholics I have to hide it because they think I’m some sort of fundamentalist freak for stopping to pray Terce, Sext and None.

 

[backprop]

How does praying that Muslims have a holy Ramadan contradict my belief that the Catholic Church was founded by Christ?

I go back to my original(ish) question. Could we offer prayers to Scientologists seeking fulfillment to rid themselves of body thetans? Not personal prayers or well-wishes, or sending personal greetings or best wishes, or anything - but official prayers during Mass? What about offering prayers for members of schismatic catholic churches during one of their holidays (assuming it was not already a RCC holiday)?

 

[bilop]

It is right and proper to honor the holy intentions of all people of good will, regardless of their membership. If a billion people are going to be spending a month fasting and praying to God, however imperfectly they view Him, then it is a holy thing, and as such is a very Catholic thing they are doing, and honoring holiness is big in our faith.

Disagree. They are worshipping a false god. The are not worshipping the God of Abraham, because the God of Abraham is Triune.

Their worship is not Holy and not pleasing to God as they reject Him as He really is, a and reject His Son and His sacrifice.

God Bless

 

[bilop]

Hmm. What to make then about the Good Friday liturgy? Is that the only place we’re allowed to mention other faiths?

People here need to see the film “Of Gods and Men”.

We are supposed to pray for the conversion of those of other faiths, not for them to continue in their error.

God Bless

 

[bilop]

Good. The General Intercessions for the ordinary form of the Latin Mass includes broader intentions of other faiths on Good Friday. None of it contradicts the faith. To my knowledge we are never prohibited from praying for others in areas other than conversion. In fact, the Lord commanded us to even bless those who curse us and prayer for those who mistreat us.

We can pray for them as people (for their health, safety, etc.), we can pray for their conversion, we can not pray for them to be good Muslims, b/c to be a good Muslim is the reject the teachings of God.

God Bless

 

[OraLabora]

Disagree. They are worshipping a false god. The are not worshipping the God of Abraham, because the God of Abraham is Triune.

Their worship is not Holy and not pleasing to God as they reject Him as He really is, a and reject His Son and His sacrifice.

God Bless

Disagree. They are worshipping the God of Abraham with an incomplete understanding of Him. That’s not a false God.

Were the Jews worshipping a false God before Christ because they didn’t know the Trinity? No. They did not possess the fullness of Revelation. Muslims as well do not know the fullness of revelation. That does not mean that all of what they do possess is automatically false. The Church herself admits that other faiths in fact possess some elements of Truth.