Prayer for Ramadan

[dzheremi]

We have parts of our prayers during the Tasbeha (Coptic Midnight Praise) that mention non-believers, though not Islam in particular since Islam did not exist at the time when the prayers were written. There is, for instance, the line in the hymn “Tentheenou”, which is chanted at the beginning of the praises, where we say: “Let God arise and let all His enemies be scattered and let all that hate His holy name flee from before His face.” This is well after we acknowledge our own sinfulness and disobedience, but it is still important that it is there. We are to distinguish ourselves from others not necessarily by not praying for them (of course, we should always pray for others), but by recognizing that what we believe is true and what they believe is false. This is Christianity. This is monotheism. The uncreated and undivided Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is God, even though they hate it and call it polytheism. If you want to pray for Muslims (and I think it’s good to do), pray for their conversion. Conversion is better than anything, and it will teach them the virtues that the already reproduced prayer has asked for them.

 

[TrueLight]

We have parts of our prayers during the Tasbeha (Coptic Midnight Praise) that mention non-believers, though not Islam in particular since Islam did not exist at the time when the prayers were written. There is, for instance, the line in the hymn “Tentheenou”, which is chanted at the beginning of the praises, where we say: “Let God arise and let all His enemies be scattered and let all that hate His holy name flee from before His face.” This is well after we acknowledge our own sinfulness and disobedience, but it is still important that it is there. We are to distinguish ourselves from others not necessarily by not praying for them (of course, we should always pray for others), but by recognizing that what we believe is true and what they believe is false. This is Christianity. This is monotheism. The uncreated and undivided Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is God, even though they hate it and call it polytheism. If you want to pray for Muslims (and I think it’s good to do), pray for their conversion. Conversion is better than anything, and it will teach them the virtues that the already reproduced prayer has asked for them.

Amen my brother.

And that’s how it **used **to be for Catholics also.

I think people equate being firm in one’s faith with being rude or overly aggressive or pushy.

I can be gentle even if I tell a Muslim or a Buddhist that yes, we believe we have the true faith.

I can also dialogue by listening to the other viewpoint as hopefully the other person listens to mine.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

growth in patience, self-control, and love of community

Explain how that is a bad prayer? For anyone? Would you not want your enemies to grow in patience, self-control, and love of community? Should we not pray for our enemies?

Personally I would pray this for a scientology member, an athiest, a protestant, a jew, etc…

Heck…it seems like a few of us could use this prayer too…

 

[TrueLight]

growth in patience, self-control, and love of community

Explain how that is a bad prayer? For anyone? Would you not want your enemies to grow in patience, self-control, and love of community? Should we not pray for our enemies?

Personally I would pray this for a scientology member, an athiest, a protestant, a jew, etc…

Heck…it seems like a few of us could use this prayer too…

Let’s not get distracted from the original post:

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

Holy Ramadan?

 

[Stylites]

I don’t see how praying patience and humility for ANYONE is a bad thing.

Are we only supposed to pray for our friends? That is not really what Jesus taught…

As one who had this also in our prayers this Sunday…I don’t think it was a bad thing at all.

I agree. Official prayers approved of and promulgated by actual Bishops of Christ’s Church. What is there to discuss among the faithful except how best to exemplify the prayers being offered to God? Any discussions contrary to the catechism or which implies error or ineptitude by Christ’s ministers would not be in accord with the mind of Christ.

 

[jsaldar]

Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you”. We can always pray for their conversion, and so that God may accept their sacrifice of fasting to help them in this conversion. At least they fast for a whole month. Some of us Catholics can’t even fast on Fridays during Lent. They do this to show solidarity to those that don’t have food. We can learn from Muslims in this area of spirituality

 

[TrueLight]

I agree. Official prayers approved of and promulgated by actual Bishops of Christ’s Church. What is there to discuss among the faithful except how best to exemplify the prayers being offered to God? Any discussions contrary to the catechism or which implies error or ineptitude by Christ’s ministers would not be in accord with the mind of Christ.

Bishops have said it is okay to pray for a Holy Ramadan? Where?

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Bishops have said it is okay to pray for a Holy Ramadan? Where?

The prayer, as quoted from the source, did not say anything about a HOLY Ramadan. It simply said “during Ramadan…”. The OP said he did not remember the exact wording. I asked for someone to check the exact wording and it was supplied up thread.

The prayer itself is really quite tame. Whether it should have been included in the prayers of the faithful is debateble. I agree that Mass was not the best time for this prayer, but there is actually nothing weasely or overly-accomodating in the prayer.

We should always pray for others to grow in peace and self-control (and ourselves also!). Someone who is not agitated, worked up, or angry is much easier to pursuade to the Truth.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Let’s not get distracted from the original post:

Holy Ramadan?

I am NOT distracted from the OP…that was the part of the prayer…and if you read my previous post…I heard the prayer in the parish I was visiting…which said during the month of Ramadan may they grow in…

So…since I Also HEARD the prayer the OP was talking about…I think I can comment on it.

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

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

To answer someone else’s question,since this came from the Oregon Catholic Press…it would have been approved by our Bishop.

 

[OraLabora]

Dialogue doesn’t have to take place in the Mass.

Discerning what is holy about another religion should not take place in the Mass.

It certainly is most appropriate to pray, including to pray for others including those of other faiths, at Mass. And as mutual prayer is a form of dialogue, I see nothing wrong with it.

I think the Mass is bigger than picayune doctrinal arguments about the wording of a prayer for Muslims.

I can appreciate that you didn’t appreciate the wording. However the Mass is offered by fallible human beings, and it isn’t always going to be perfect or to one’s liking. In great scheme of things, praying for our Muslim brethren when done with good will and intentions isn’t not going to cause harm.

 

[dzheremi]

Some of us Catholics can’t even fast on Fridays during Lent. They do this to show solidarity to those that don’t have food. We can learn from Muslims in this area of spirituality

And herein lies the ultimate problem with this reasoning: There are Christians among you (Byzantines, Ethiopians, Syrians, Copts, etc.) who fast already much more than the Muslims do, with prayer to the one Holy Trinity, and yet you would rather learn your spirituality from the Muslims. This is spitting in the face of your brothers and sisters in Christ, and neglecting the true faith to chase after the seeming piety of Christ-deniers, which is a mirage.

Their sorrows shall be multiplied, that hasten after another god. (Psalm 16:4)

 

[iloveangels]

My only prayer for Ramadan is that they leave Islam and come to know Christ through his one, holy, catholic and apostolic church.

YUP.

 

[OraLabora]

And herein lies the ultimate problem with this reasoning: There are Christians among you (Byzantines, Ethiopians, Syrians, Copts, etc.) who fast already much more than the Muslims do, with prayer to the one Holy Trinity, and yet you would rather learn your spirituality from the Muslims. This is spitting in the face of your brothers and sisters in Christ, and neglecting the true faith to chase after the seeming piety of Christ-deniers, which is a mirage.

Their sorrows shall be multiplied, that hasten after another god. (Psalm 16:4)

We can all learn from each other. There is no need to circle the wagons and exclude 1 billion people from our consideration.

Did you know that Benedictine monks in Africa teach the Koran to children of illiterate Muslim families? They live and work together as a community. It makes for a much more fertile soil for evangelization. Think of it as the slow, gentle, respectful method. Better to gain one soul at a time than turn off an entire community.

Again I urge watch the film “Of Gods and Men” about the Trappist monks of Tibhirine who were assassinated, for an example of loving dialogue with Muslims.

 

[pnewton]

How can those who believe in Ramadan be holy if they are practising a false religion, particularly a religion that is so hostile towards Christians? I’d have to agree with those who say “why not wish Scientologists a ‘holy’ e-meter session”? Neither can ever be holy.

The prayer in question said," the month of Ramadan." It did not call it Holy Ramadan.

 

[pnewton]

Padding the issue, making them think every religion is equal is not only heretical, but just plain stupid, if your goal is to get them to convert.

No one has said every religion is equal.

And herein lies the ultimate problem with this reasoning: There are Christians among you (Byzantines, Ethiopians, Syrians, Copts, etc.) who fast already much more than the Muslims do, with prayer to the one Holy Trinity, and yet you would rather learn your spirituality from the Muslims.

No one has said this.

This place sure is getting full of straw! I think too many are not actually paying attention to what the prayer really was. Most of the responses that are slamming this are attacking positions that do not exist, that no one is defending. For all the opinions floating around here, the only Church opinions quoted have supported the idea that we can pray for those other than Catholics, for something other than conversion.

 

[TrueLight]

Did you know that Benedictine monks in Africa teach the Koran to children of illiterate Muslim families?

I really don’t know what to say.

Again I urge watch the film “Of Gods and Men” about the Trappist monks of Tibhirine who were assassinated, for an example of loving dialogue with Muslims.

Thanks for reminding me of this. This is something I wanted to see.

 

[backprop]

No one has said every religion is equal.
No one has said this.

This place sure is getting full of straw! I think too many are not actually paying attention to what the prayer really was. Most of the responses that are slamming this are attacking positions that do not exist, that no one is defending. For all the opinions floating around here, the only Church opinions quoted have supported the idea that we can pray for those other than Catholics, for something other than conversion.

I think you are making terrific points and I do not disagree. But I still have to go back to a previous question because I’m having a hard time understanding the logical limit of sanctioning prayer targeted specifically at other religions.

What if the prayer was:
“That Clear Day will bring our Scientology brothers and sisters growth
in temperance, self-control, and love of community”

Would that be OK?

 

[OraLabora]

I think you are making terrific points and I do not disagree. But I still have to go back to a previous question because I’m having a hard time understanding the logical limit of sanctioning prayer targeted specifically at other religions.

What if the prayer was:
“That Clear Day will bring our Scientology brothers and sisters growth
in temperance, self-control, and love of community”

Would that be OK?

There’s a huge gulf between praying for members of one of the three Abrahamic faiths, and those of (sorry for my blunt language here) a whacko cult don’t you think? I’m pretty sure the Church doesn’t even recognize Scientology as a religion. She does however recognize that Islam worships the God of Abraham, as we do.

 

[robwar]

According to the USCCB:

I am not sure how a prayer for Ramadan fits into that series.

This prayer for Ramadan really doesn’t. While it may seems nice to wish well others in their practice of faith, if you start with ramadan, you really are going to have to start to include other faiths and praying for them in their practice such as time of fasting that other faiths have as well. General prayers of the faithful should follow the guidelines of USCCB. For the Oregon guidelines must have has an imprimatur, I am wondering who which Bishop authorized this and thought it was a good idea. This has nothing to do as others have stated in this thread about kind in our personal dealings with other people of other faiths and creating a dialog but in the Holy mass, general prayers of the faithful should follow USCCB stated outline.