Sermon by Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer - SSPX

[ready]

TALK ABOUT MISCOMMUNICATION

I agree with you 100%

I was trying to add a few more thoughts to your own, not trying to challenge them. I call it piggy backing. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

EVERYONE ELSE, please reread my responses to Ready as an addendum to what Ready said, not a rebuttal. None of my posts were meant as rebuttals to Ready. They’re all addendum.

I guess that I don’t do those too well.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

You are awesome, Br. JR! Thanks for the clarification! Please pray for me because sometimes my fraternal correction is made when I am upset and nobody truly gets helped that way. God bless you!

 

[Portrait]

That’s not proselytizing. That’s exactly what you called it, a friendly invitation. There is nothing wrong with inviting. The Holy Father is talking about organized attempts to convert Jews. In fact, he’s the first to invite the Jews.

He invites them to dialogue. He invites them to our special celebrations and events. He invites them to join in cooperative ventures. He invites them to joint research and study. In other words, he invites them to many settings where they will be exposed to Catholicism and have opportunities to ask questions and to learn more about us. He also takes advantage of their invitations to make Catholicism present in their synagogues and their communities.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

Dear Brother JR,

Cordial greetings and a very good day. Hope all is well.

It is, I think, rather sad that the word ‘proselytize’ has become unfashionable and dirty in the contemporary Church, since all it means is convert a man from one belief to another - in other words its fundamental meaning denotes missionary activity. Certainly prudence and charity are required in the exercise of this duty, but it is a Christian duty, nonetheless. Did not our dear Lord bid His Church to proclaim and disseminate the Gospel to the whole of Mankind (the ‘Great Commision’ of St. Matthew 28: 16-20). Now it is quite true that we should preach by our unworldly lives and by charitable works towards our fellowman, but surely, dear friend, an obligation is laid even upon the lay Catholic to speak of His Saviour’s Passion, especially to those who are following false paths. Moreover, should we not, albeit charitably and prudently, seek to encourage men to listen to the claims of Christ and His Church, and embrace them whilst it is still day?

Every Catholic shares to some extent, at least, the obligation which is laid upon the whole Church. Therefore he cannot be indifferent to the conversion of non-Catholics, be they Jews or the adherents of any other world religion. Has not the Church always and consistently taught that Catholics are obliged to hope for the conversion, and contribute towards the apostolate by earnest prayer and pious example, letting their light so shine before men? Surely they should also, where advisable and acceptable, speak of Christ’s Redemption to others, giving good advice, suggesting the serious study of our most holy religion and urging the reception of instruction from accredited priests. The fact that others are in good faith, and think themselves right in their beliefs, does not alter the fact that they are mistaken and that their souls would be better off, spiritually speaking, if they possessed the fulness of truth to found only in the Catholic Church. Many adherents of the other world religions may well be sincere but they are, alas, sincerely wrong and need to know the truth as it is in Jesus. Moreover, dear friend, would not charity actuate every Catholic to desire to do all within his power to bring such wonderful life-changing blessings into the lives of others?

“Christians are often asked by Jews not to prosyletize. They cannot comply, of course, because their Lord and God has solemnly commanded them otherwise (St. Matt. 28: 18-20). But the request is understandable, for Judaism does not prosyletize. Originally Jews believed that only when the Messiah came was the Jewish revelation to spread to the Gentiles. Orthodox Jews still bleive this, but modern Judaism is nonprosletizing for other reasons, often relativistic ones” (Fundamentals of the Faith, Peter Kreeft, Ignatius Press, 1988, p. 84).

God bless you, dear Brother.

Warmest good wishes,

Portrait

Pax

 

[JReducation]

Dear Brother JR,

Cordial greetings and a very good day. Hope all is well.

It is, I think, rather sad that the word ‘proselytize’ has become unfashionable and dirty in the contemporary Church, since all it means is convert a man from one belief to another - in other words its fundamental meaning denotes missionary activity. Certainly prudence and charity are required in the exercise of this duty, but it is a Christian duty, nonetheless. Did not our dear Lord bid His Church to proclaim and disseminate the Gospel to the whole of Mankind (the ‘Great Commision’ of St. Matthew 28: 16-20). Now it is quite true that we should preach by our unworldly lives and by charitable works towards our fellowman, but surely, dear friend, an obligation is laid even upon the lay Catholic to speak of His Saviour’s Passion, especially to those who are following false paths. Moreover, should we not, albeit charitably and prudently, seek to encourage men to listen to the claims of Christ and His Church, and embrace them whilst it is still day?

Every Catholic shares to some extent, at least, the obligation which is laid upon the whole Church. Therefore he cannot be indifferent to the conversion of non-Catholics, be they Jews or the adherents of any other world religion. Has not the Church always and consistently taught that Catholics are obliged to hope for the conversion, and contribute towards the apostolate by earnest prayer and pious example, letting their light so shine before men? Surely they should also, where advisable and acceptable, speak of Christ’s Redemption to others, giving good advice, suggesting the serious study of our most holy religion and urging the reception of instruction from accredited priests. The fact that others are in good faith, and think themselves right in their beliefs, does not alter the fact that they are mistaken and that their souls would be better off, spiritually speaking, if they possessed the fulness of truth to found only in the Catholic Church. Many adherents of the other world religions may well be sincere but they are, alas, sincerely wrong and need to know the truth as it is in Jesus. Moreover, dear friend, would not charity actuate every Catholic to desire to do all within his power to bring such wonderful life-changing blessings into the lives of others?

“Christians are often asked by Jews not to prosyletize. They cannot comply, of course, because their Lord and God has solemnly commanded them otherwise (St. Matt. 28: 18-20). But the request is understandable, for Judaism does not prosyletize. Originally Jews believed that only when the Messiah came was the Jewish revelation to spread to the Gentiles. Orthodox Jews still bleive this, but modern Judaism is nonprosletizing for other reasons, often relativistic ones” (Fundamentals of the Faith, Peter Kreeft, Ignatius Press, 1988, p. 84).

God bless you, dear Brother.

Warmest good wishes,

Portrait

Pax

All of this is very kind, but the Church has not encouraged proselytizing to Jews or Muslims for 800 years, maybe more. In 1219 Francis of Assisi traveled to the Holy Land via Egypt. He tried to convert the sultan in that region, but failed to do so. However, the sultan regarded him to be a sufi (Holy Man). Francis promised him that the Catholic Church would not try to convert Jews and Muslims, if he allowed the Franciscans to cross through his territory into Jerusalem. The sultan agreed.

When Francis returned to Italy, Pope Honorius agreed to honor Francis’ agreement with the sultan. The Franciscan Province of the Holy Land was created. Later, Pope Alexander IV would create the Custody of the Holy Land. A custody is a jurisdiction that depends directly on the pope instead of the religious superior. The Franciscans were commissioned to preach to Christians, protect the Christian sites, work collaboratively with Jews and Muslims, preach the Gospel through the holiness of their lives, but to refrain from trying to convert Jews or Muslims and to disallow other Christians from doing so.

Pope Benedict XVI is not saying anything new here. He’s repeating what was agreed to by Pope Honorius and Pope Alexander before him. There was never then and there is now a prohibition against answering questions, inviting Jews and Muslims to visit our events and to our religious services.

The key here is to do this the way that the Holy Father shows us. We’re trying to argue with the man. Just follow his example and do what he does regarding Jews.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[ready]

St. Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) converted by reading a book about the life of St. Teresa of Jesus. If I had a Jewish friend I’d tell her about St. Benedicta and I’d ask her if she’d like to read the book, which I own. I wouldn’t pressure my friend or anyting like that, I’d just mention the life of St. Benedicta and St. Teresa’s book and would ask her if she’d be interested in reading it. Maybe the book would do nothing to convert her, but what damage could be done by mentioning a saint and such an excellent book?

 

[JReducation]

St. Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) converted by reading a book about the life of St. Teresa of Jesus. If I had a Jewish friend I’d tell her about St. Benedicta and I’d ask her if she’d like to read the book, which I own. I wouldn’t pressure my friend or anyting like that, I’d just mention the life of St. Benedicta and St. Teresa’s book and would ask her if she’d be interested in reading it. Maybe the book would do nothing to convert her, but what damage could be done by mentioning a saint and such an excellent book?

I’m Jewish and I was converted by reading the life of St Francis of Assisi, The Perfect Joy of St. Francis by Timmermans. From there, the rest was reading Franciscan history, Franciscan spirituality, the Franciscan Rule and the writings of St. Francis. I came into Catholicism because I wanted to be like Francis of Assisi. He was like a superhero to me. Through his experience I came to understand Jesus.

I had attended Catholic schools since I was eight, but I was not impressed by Catholics. The only Catholics who impressed me were the Capuchin Franciscan Friars at our school. When I made the connection between them and St. Francis, it was intrigued. I did a lot of reading and a lot of observing.

Finally, one of the brothers gave me the Itinerarium by St. Bonaventure in which he lays out the spiritual journey of St. Francis as the model for all spiritual journeys. In fact, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross would borrow heavily from the Itinerarium. Which is interwoven in what St. Edith Stein read. She read The Way of Perfection.

Like Edith, the Itinerarium gave life to Christ, much more than all the dogma that we had been taught in school. The dogmas were interesting, but boring. The journey into the mind of God and Bonaventure’s anatomy of the soul were fascinating. When he finally pulls Jesus apart and shows you Christ present through Francis, that was it. I was sold on Jesus. My reaction was, If this is what Jesus Christ is all about, then he truly is the Messiah of Israel. He was very incarnate. The doctrine and dogmas made him too disconnected.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[ready]

I’m Jewish and I was converted by reading the life of St Francis of Assisi, The Perfect Joy of St. Francis by Timmermans. From there, the rest was reading Franciscan history, Franciscan spirituality, the Franciscan Rule and the writings of St. Francis. I came into Catholicism because I wanted to be like Francis of Assisi. He was like a superhero to me. Through his experience I came to understand Jesus.

I had attended Catholic schools since I was eight, but I was not impressed by Catholics. The only Catholics who impressed me were the Capuchin Franciscan Friars at our school. When I made the connection between them and St. Francis, it was intrigued. I did a lot of reading and a lot of observing.

Finally, one of the brothers gave me the Itinerarium by St. Bonaventure in which he lays out the spiritual journey of St. Francis as the model for all spiritual journeys. In fact, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross would borrow heavily from the Itinerarium. Which is interwoven in what St. Edith Stein read. She read The Way of Perfection.

Like Edith, the Itinerarium gave life to Christ, much more than all the dogma that we had been taught in school. The dogmas were interesting, but boring. The journey into the mind of God and Bonaventure’s anatomy of the soul were fascinating. When he finally pulls Jesus apart and shows you Christ present through Francis, that was it. I was sold on Jesus. My reaction was, If this is what Jesus Christ is all about, then he truly is the Messiah of Israel. He was very incarnate. The doctrine and dogmas made him too disconnected.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

Wow! What a wonderful story! I had no idea of your Hebrew background. (Thank you, Lord, St. Bonaventure, St. Francis, and Blessed Mary!)

According to a geneology book I read, my father’s ancestors were Hebrew (his surname indicates this). I have also heard and read before that many Hebrews who were living in my parents’ country were forced to convert (or die). Some Hebrews - I’m sure - fled the persecution and did not convert.

God bless you for responding to God’s invitation to become Catholic!