The Association Of Hebrew Catholics

[Javl]

It is not known by many Catholics that there are Jews who have entered into communion
with the Catholic Church and have still kept their cultural identity as Jews. They are truly
Catholic, under the jurisdiction of Rome,approved by the Pope, and are faithful to the Magisterium. The website hebrewcatholic.org is available to all for further information.
Let us all welcome home our elder brothers and pray that St. Paul’s statement in Romans
11 is fulfilled very soon.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[FickleFreckled]

Thank you for posting that. For some reason I’ve always felt a strong attraction toward and kinship with Jewish people, literature and music. I’ve known quite a few Messianic Jews whose conversion stories and faith are amazing. I work with one of them now and know an elderly Jewess in a nursing home who is a beautiful woman of faith. I’ve never known any who have converted to Catholicism, though. I’ll check out the website.

 

[JReducation]

I’m a Hebrew Catholic. I converted at age 18. My entire education was in Catholic schools run by the Capuching Franciscan Friars. Their kindness and their love for their founded was something that alwasy impressed me. By the time I reached high school I wanted to know more about this man that the friars kept talking about in class, in prayer, through art and music. I had never met any group so much in love with their spiritual father as were the Capuchins.

One day I remember going to the library in our high school and picking up a small book called THE PERFECT JOY OF ST. FRANCIS. I believe that I read it in one night. He amazed me. Everything that I had seen the friars do and say was in that biography. I then understood their great love for him and why they promoted him so much among the students. He was a splendid teacher of truth and self-giving.

The more I thought about Francis of Assisi, the more I wondered about Jesus Christ. I thought about “my friars” as I called them. All the pieces began to fit together. Jesus had brought them to him through St. Francis. They wanted to be like Francis in all things, because Francis had found the perfect path to Christ. In other words, he was not only their father, but he was an example that the Christian life was possible and necessary for happiness in this world and the next.

His simplicity moved me, not because he was such a simple man as most people claimed, but just the opposite. He was one of the most comples personalities in human history. His teachings had layer and layers of truth and depth. His understanding of Jewish life was incredible. He was the perfect Jew. He believed in the porphecies. He saw them come to life and saw their fulfillment in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lived the life of the Torah without apologies, without glossing over it. The commandments were not only a law to him, as they were to our Jewish anscestors, but they had become incarnate in the peson of Jeus Chirst. I could see Moses in him. Like Moses, he led the people of the Middle Ages out of slavery and into thre freedom of the Children of God. In a rather mysterious way, he was the modern Israel who saw the promise of a savior come to lfie and be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Like all good Jews, his followed after the fulfilled promise of God, which is Jesus Christ incarnate. Finallly, like Israel, he suffered for his faith. His gift back to God was a broken body, but a liberated spirit. He had become liberated by his faith in Jesus. In other words, Francis of Assisi discovered in Christ and his Gospel the secret that was mean for Israel and he embraced it not only with his mind, his soul, his body, but also with his life.

After thinking, praying and asking more questions about Francis of Assisi, everything that I had ever heard about Jesus Christ suddenlty made sense to me.

This is why I get very upset when people say that Jews and other non Catholics are damned, becasue they have heard about Christ and have not accepted him. It’s not enough to hear about Jesus Christ. You have to be able to understand Jesus. You have to be able to feel Jesus. You have to be able to reconcile Jesus and your faith. You have to be able to feel that what your doing, converting, is not a betrayal of God, but the fulfillment of what God wants for you. This is not as simple as hearing and saying, “Yes, I’m going to convert to the Catholic faith.” We can hear many things, but we can only convert when we believe. We only come to believe when we are in touch with people who personify what they teach, becasue then it comes alive.

This is what the Capuchin Franciscans and St. Francis did for me. They personified Christ. I could see and touch him through them. Maybe that’s why I’m a Franciscan today, withough have lost any of my Jewish flavor. I never had to leave that behind, becasue it all fits together like a perfely made puzzle.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Javl]

I’m a Hebrew Catholic. I converted at age 18. My entire education was in Catholic schools run by the Capuching Franciscan Friars. Their kindness and their love for their founded was something that alwasy impressed me. By the time I reached high school I wanted to know more about this man that the friars kept talking about in class, in prayer, through art and music. I had never met any group so much in love with their spiritual father as were the Capuchins.

One day I remember going to the library in our high school and picking up a small book called THE PERFECT JOY OF ST. FRANCIS. I believe that I read it in one night. He amazed me. Everything that I had seen the friars do and say was in that biography. I then understood their great love for him and why they promoted him so much among the students. He was a splendid teacher of truth and self-giving.

The more I thought about Francis of Assisi, the more I wondered about Jesus Christ. I thought about “my friars” as I called them. All the pieces began to fit together. Jesus had brought them to him through St. Francis. They wanted to be like Francis in all things, because Francis had found the perfect path to Christ. In other words, he was not only their father, but he was an example that the Christian life was possible and necessary for happiness in this world and the next.

His simplicity moved me, not because he was such a simple man as most people claimed, but just the opposite. He was one of the most comples personalities in human history. His teachings had layer and layers of truth and depth. His understanding of Jewish life was incredible. He was the perfect Jew. He believed in the porphecies. He saw them come to life and saw their fulfillment in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lived the life of the Torah without apologies, without glossing over it. The commandments were not only a law to him, as they were to our Jewish anscestors, but they had become incarnate in the peson of Jeus Chirst. I could see Moses in him. Like Moses, he led the people of the Middle Ages out of slavery and into thre freedom of the Children of God. In a rather mysterious way, he was the modern Israel who saw the promise of a savior come to lfie and be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Like all good Jews, his followed after the fulfilled promise of God, which is Jesus Christ incarnate. Finallly, like Israel, he suffered for his faith. His gift back to God was a broken body, but a liberated spirit. He had become liberated by his faith in Jesus. In other words, Francis of Assisi discovered in Christ and his Gospel the secret that was mean for Israel and he embraced it not only with his mind, his soul, his body, but also with his life.

After thinking, praying and asking more questions about Francis of Assisi, everything that I had ever heard about Jesus Christ suddenlty made sense to me.

This is why I get very upset when people say that Jews and other non Catholics are damned, becasue they have heard about Christ and have not accepted him. It’s not enough to hear about Jesus Christ. You have to be able to understand Jesus. You have to be able to feel Jesus. You have to be able to reconcile Jesus and your faith. You have to be able to feel that what your doing, converting, is not a betrayal of God, but the fulfillment of what God wants for you. This is not as simple as hearing and saying, “Yes, I’m going to convert to the Catholic faith.” We can hear many things, but we can only convert when we believe. We only come to believe when we are in touch with people who personify what they teach, becasue then it comes alive.

This is what the Capuchin Franciscans and St. Francis did for me. They personified Christ. I could see and touch him through them. Maybe that’s why I’m a Franciscan today, withough have lost any of my Jewish flavor. I never had to leave that behind, becasue it all fits together like a perfely made puzzle.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Praise God for your understanding and conversion. Too few Christians know and accept
the fact that Jesus was Jewish and that Christianity is a fulfillment of Judaism as is
prophesied in the OT. Also, too few Catholics know that our mass and liturgy is based
on Judaism. We Christians should thank and bless the Jews for bringing us Jesus, for
without them we probably would have never know Him. I pray constantly for the conversion
of Jews so that prophesy may be fulfilled. Again, I praise God for you and may He bless
you abundantly.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[Javl]

Thank you for posting that. For some reason I’ve always felt a strong attraction toward and kinship with Jewish people, literature and music. I’ve known quite a few Messianic Jews whose conversion stories and faith are amazing. I work with one of them now and know an elderly Jewess in a nursing home who is a beautiful woman of faith. I’ve never known any who have converted to Catholicism, though. I’ll check out the website.

I wish there were more Christians like you. Too few know anything about the Jews and Judaism. Too few Catholics know that Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were Jews and NOT Catholics and also that many of the Church fathers were Jewish. We owe a lot to them, especially the mass and a majority of our prayers. Let us all pray for their conversion.
God Bless

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[FickleFreckled]

Bro. JR,
What a beautiful testimony. How many people receive the invitation but either never recognize it or won’t take the trouble to respond by seeking and learning.

Javl,
I was raised by nuns who taught that all non-Catholics were going to hell and in an environment of bigotry at home. I wasn’t around any Jews in Fort Worth in those days. So I don’t know how or why it happened but from childhood I sensed a beauty, dignity and stoicism in Judaism that didn’t exist in my own experience of Catholicism. Maybe it has something to do with the longing / yearning that comes from waiting so long for the Messiah that even carries over into secular Jewish attitudes. In my experience of Messianic Jews, they don’t lose this longing when they accept Christ as Messiah; they transfer it to a longing for more of Him and for His promises. Most Christians don’t even experience this deep longing; if they do, they can’t live with it for long because it’s painful as well as joyful. It seems to make for a richer life. It’s hard to put into words; I don’t know if any of this makes sense to anyone but me!

 

[JReducation]

One of the most profound Hebrew Catholics of our time is Edith Stein. Long after she converted and became a Carmelite nun, she never stopped loving her Jewish brothers and sisters. One of her frequent sayings was that she wanted to bring everyone to Him. Edith had a very interesting entrance into Catholicism. She was converted by St. Teresa of Avila, not by the Catholics around her. In some of her writings she complains how the Catholics around her do not have the profound understanding of the Messianic Mystery that Teresa of Avila had.

This takes us back to the same place. You can tell a non-Catholic all about Jesus Christ and you won’t get a convert out of him. Just hearing words is not enough. True conversion is only possible when the person delivering the message is deeply engaged with the person of Jesus Christ. Then what happens is that you, as a non-Catholic, are not just hearing about Jesus, but you can see Jesus. I believe this is what James means in his letter when he says, “I’ll show you my works.” He is speaking about the need to be Jesus, not just explain him.

You can’t effectively explain Jesus. He’s too complex. One has to be able to show Jesus in order to gain converts. In speaking about practicing Jews, one has to show how Jesus is not a contradiction to Judaism, but is the fulfillment of what Judaism stands for. When I look at Jesus, I see him as the next logical step in my growth as a Jewish man. To put it another way, I’m a Catholic, because I’m a faithful Jew. A faithful Jew seeks to fulfill the law of God with his whole heart, his whole mind and his whole spirit. If Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word of God, then I as a Jew want nothing more than to be part of my God’s expressed and incarnate love. As a member of the Chosen People, I have a right to be a Catholic. I have a right to be among those who receive the incarnate Word, because God promised us that he would do this for us.

The best way that Catholics can convert Jews is to be like Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, Edith Stein, Mother Teresa, John Paul II and other great Catholics of profound faith and dedication to living the Gospel. When the Gospel is lived in the proximity of a faithful Jew, gradually you attract his attention. But you must also understand that you cannot rush this along. Only a life that is lived as Christ lived will move the observer. This may take years of observation for each person.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Javl]

One of the most profound Hebrew Catholics of our time is Edith Stein. Long after she converted and became a Carmelite nun, she never stopped loving her Jewish brothers and sisters. One of her frequent sayings was that she wanted to bring everyone to Him. Edith had a very interesting entrance into Catholicism. She was converted by St. Teresa of Avila, not by the Catholics around her. In some of her writings she complains how the Catholics around her do not have the profound understanding of the Messianic Mystery that Teresa of Avila had.

This takes us back to the same place. You can tell a non-Catholic all about Jesus Christ and you won’t get a convert out of him. Just hearing words is not enough. True conversion is only possible when the person delivering the message is deeply engaged with the person of Jesus Christ. Then what happens is that you, as a non-Catholic, are not just hearing about Jesus, but you can see Jesus. I believe this is what James means in his letter when he says, “I’ll show you my works.” He is speaking about the need to be Jesus, not just explain him.

You can’t effectively explain Jesus. He’s too complex. One has to be able to show Jesus in order to gain converts. In speaking about practicing Jews, one has to show how Jesus is not a contradiction to Judaism, but is the fulfillment of what Judaism stands for. When I look at Jesus, I see him as the next logical step in my growth as a Jewish man. To put it another way, I’m a Catholic, because I’m a faithful Jew. A faithful Jew seeks to fulfill the law of God with his whole heart, his whole mind and his whole spirit. If Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word of God, then I as a Jew want nothing more than to be part of my God’s expressed and incarnate love. As a member of the Chosen People, I have a right to be a Catholic. I have a right to be among those who receive the incarnate Word, because God promised us that he would do this for us.

The best way that Catholics can convert Jews is to be like Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, Edith Stein, Mother Teresa, John Paul II and other great Catholics of profound faith and dedication to living the Gospel. When the Gospel is lived in the proximity of a faithful Jew, gradually you attract his attention. But you must also understand that you cannot rush this along. Only a life that is lived as Christ lived will move the observer. This may take years of observation for each person.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Well said, Brother JR. Although a Sicilian by heritage and raised Catholic, I have lived among the Jews and have grown to respect and love them. I have attended Schul and
Synagogue and have said Kadish with them many times. Yes, I’ve had my run-ins
with them ( mostly the Hassidim ) and have found many obstinate ones, but most are
willing to listen and discuss Jesus with you, even the Orthodox. I don’t know if any
converted but at least they heard the message. Most of all I miss my Jewish “Mamala”
and my Jewish brother Benny ( we lost contact after we both married. ). I pray that
what St. Paul said in Romans 11:12 happens. Meanwhile I will always defend Judaism.

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[marymol]

Thank you for the webiste and posts .

zenit.org/article-27255?l=english This by our Holy Father may be prophectic for our times , in the sense that the way music speaks to the heart possibly tell us about our deeper heritage even when it seems to have become obscured by layers of later intrusions .

Hebrew music , lile at this site - totheends.com/music.html convey a sense of joy and vibrancy that seems obscured in music of other cultures suchas Syriac ; this from my own very limted exposure to both ; true , traditional chants such as Gregorian does does convey sense of reverence and peace .

The hebrew music even seems very much like the popular Hindi tunes in countries like India except purer and more joyful .

Having acidently happened to have attended the semitic rooted Gaez Liturgy and prayers couple of times, noted the same - how it appeals to the heart , even when words are not understood .

hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Jesus_Hebrew/jesus_hebrew.html

The controversy these days as to our Lord spoke Hebrew predominantly also seems more relevant , esp. if the Arab influence in Syriac has brought with it a certain mournfulness and heaviness that makes it seem alien to many cultures and thus not embraced with warmth .

Embracing our semitic roots by being immersed in The Word might also do away with much pettiness and hatred that seems to creep in when persons and cultures give the ancesral lines an idolatrous nature or are unknowingly also following the footsteps of those that embrace the darkness of hatred / scorn and want to instill same in others as one’s own heritage ; reason may be why Bl.Mother’s ancetsral lines are not mentioned in The Word , esp.in light of the exhortation to The Church to make disciples of all nations ; if those who are to be welcomed with gratitude and respect are looked down upon based on such idolatrous values , how could she be trusted with care of the mutitudes that are still waiting to hear of the truth of a Father’s love !

Thank God that in much of the Church , converts are looked upon with admiration , as was in the very early Church ; now, there is some roots that we really need to go back to !

Hope that the hebrew brethren embracing the fulness of the revelation of God’s love will bring forth much good fruit !

Shalom and a Blessed Feast of All Saints !

 

[mandateman]

My Great-grandfather was Jewish. His son was baptised Catholic by his mother who was his Irish housekeeper in London, England. They could not marry because of the social climate at the time. They had three children including my grand-father.

The Catholic church is not a completion of the Jewish religion as one person sited. Jesus fulfilled all the promises made by God to Abraham by the time of his death and ressurection. The promises fulfilled, the waiting ended. The promise was complete. The covenant was complete.

Christianity or more properly the Catholic religion is an entirely new covenant not a continuation of the old. This new covenant is eternal. St. Peter the first pope called the Jewish people who refused to follow the Messiah, the faithless people. This was not meant as a comment about their faith but that their faith no longer could be based on traditional law. The Messiah whom all Jews were bound to follow had come and they missed the boat. There is no other Messiah coming. They no longer performed blood sacrifice for sin and at that time ended many traditions that a person practicing the Jewish religion was bound to follow. The Jewish religion as it is practiced today is not authentic Judaism.

The Hebrew people as was my Great-grandfather are still the chosen people and have a special place in God’s plan, but this is not as followers of Judaism.

 

[JReducation]

My Great-grandfather was Jewish. His son was baptised Catholic by his mother who was his Irish housekeeper in London, England. They could not marry because of the social climate at the time. They had three children including my grand-father.

The Catholic church is not a completion of the Jewish religion as one person sited. Jesus fulfilled all the promises made by God to Abraham by the time of his death and ressurection. The promises fulfilled, the waiting ended. The promise was complete. The covenant was complete.

Christianity or more properly the Catholic religion is an entirely new covenant not a continuation of the old. This new covenant is eternal. St. Peter the first pope called the Jewish people who refused to follow the Messiah, the faithless people. This was not meant as a comment about their faith but that their faith no longer could be based on traditional law. The Messiah whom all Jews were bound to follow had come and they missed the boat. There is no other Messiah coming. They no longer performed blood sacrifice for sin and at that time ended many traditions that a person practicing the Jewish religion was bound to follow. The Jewish religion as it is practiced today is not authentic Judaism.

The Hebrew people as was my Great-grandfather are still the chosen people and have a special place in God’s plan, but this is not as followers of Judaism.

You have to be careful here. I believe that what you’re saying in your first paragaph is exactly what I meant when I said that Christianity is the comletion of the Jewish faith. You use the word fulfillment, which is perfectly correct. Thiis is what is meant when we use the word completion. Christ fulfills what is promised by the prophets and to the prophets. He is the completion of the hope of Israel.

Even the term “new covenant” has several layers. Christ establishes the new and everlasting covenant, but this covenant is the fulfillment of the old.covenant. This is what Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI are trying to explain to the Catholic people. The old covenant with Israel is not abrogated, it is fulfilled in Christ. Therefore, the rabbinical laws are no longer needed, because we no longer live in a state of expectation. This is what Paul and Peter are referring to as they speak about the old law. They are not speaking about the law handed down through the Commandments. They are speaking about he man-made laws. The law handed down by God are stil in effect. God does not annul those laws. We are still bound to observe the Commandments as they were handed to Moses. We are still bound by the law that was given to Adam. We are still bound by the law of love that is handed down to us through Deuteronomy. We are still bound by the law of prayer and worship as handed down to us by the prophets and the patriarchs. Those were never abolished.

As to the end of Judaism, the Church remains silent on this. She takes the position that the Jews will convert to Christ, because they have been chosen for this purpose. But this will happen on Christ’s terms and on his schedule, not our own. The best that we can do is bear witness to Christ by our lives. If truth be told, Christian living is what draws converts. Preaching with words is much less effective than preaching with one’s life. As human beings we are not always moved by what we hear, but we are often moved by the lives of saints. We Catholics have a duty to live as saints for our own good and the good of those who are not yet Catholic.

Once our holiness attracts the attention of the observer, they will begin to ask questions and then the spoken word can have a deeper effect.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[simple_soul]

You have to be careful here. I believe that what you’re saying in your first paragaph is exactly what I meant when I said that Christianity is the comletion of the Jewish faith. You use the word fulfillment, which is perfectly correct. Thiis is what is meant when we use the word completion. Christ fulfills what is promised by the prophets and to the prophets. He is the completion of the hope of Israel.

Even the term “new covenant” has several layers. Christ establishes the new and everlasting covenant, but this covenant is the fulfillment of the old.covenant. This is what Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI are trying to explain to the Catholic people. The old covenant with Israel is not abrogated, it is fulfilled in Christ. Therefore, the rabbinical laws are no longer needed, because we no longer live in a state of expectation. This is what Paul and Peter are referring to as they speak about the old law. They are not speaking about the law handed down through the Commandments. They are speaking about he man-made laws. The law handed down by God are stil in effect. God does not annul those laws. We are still bound to observe the Commandments as they were handed to Moses. We are still bound by the law that was given to Adam. We are still bound by the law of love that is handed down to us through Deuteronomy. We are still bound by the law of prayer and worship as handed down to us by the prophets and the patriarchs. Those were never abolished.

As to the end of Judaism, the Church remains silent on this. She takes the position that the Jews will convert to Christ, because they have been chosen for this purpose. But this will happen on Christ’s terms and on his schedule, not our own. The best that we can do is bear witness to Christ by our lives. If truth be told, Christian living is what draws converts. Preaching with words is much less effective than preaching with one’s life. As human beings we are not always moved by what we hear, but we are often moved by the lives of saints. We Catholics have a duty to live as saints for our own good and the good of those who are not yet Catholic.

Once our holiness attracts the attention of the observer, they will begin to ask questions and then the spoken word can have a deeper effect.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Dear Br Jr,

Thank you for this information. I have been pondering and trying to understand this more clearly lately.

Could you suggest any reading material that would help me to understand what Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI are trying to teach us? Maybe in their own words.
I would very much like to understand this better and would like to be more versed in this understanding of the different layers of the the “new covenant” and how it pertains to us.

Thank you in advance,

Simple soul

 

[Filioque]

I have heard of Association, and support their goals. I’ve not participated in any of the events or membership. As another here who converted from Judaism, I can attest to the deep spiritual river that runs from Judaism to it’s fulfillment in Christ Jesus, and the Church He founded to bring Salvation to the world.

Pope Pius XI called all Catholics, “Spiritual Jews” and promoted the understanding of the Religious roots of the Catholic Faith in Judaism. Anyone interested in the subject should try and find copies of a four volume set which covers some aspects of the patrimony entitled, The Bridge Oesterreicher, John M. Editor (A fifth volume was published by another publisher in 1970 which I have not read yet.)

 

[JReducation]

I have heard of Association, and support their goals. I’ve not participated in any of the events or membership. As another here who converted from Judaism, I can attest to the deep spiritual river that runs from Judaism to it’s fulfillment in Christ Jesus, and the Church He founded to bring Salvation to the world.

Pope Pius XI called all Catholics, “Spiritual Jews” and promoted the understanding of the Religious roots of the Catholic Faith in Judaism. Anyone interested in the subject should try and find copies of a four volume set which covers some aspects of the patrimony entitled, The Bridge Oesterreicher, John M. Editor (A fifth volume was published by another publisher in 1970 which I have not read yet.)

The Bridge is a wonderful thesis. I’ve read the entire thing. I don’t know it it’s still in print. If somone finds it, please PM me. I know someone who wants a copy and I don’t want to let go of mine.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Filioque]

I’ll let you know in PM

 

[Robbinson]

. As another here who converted from Judaism, I can attest to the deep spiritual river that runs from Judaism to it’s fulfillment in Christ Jesus, and the Church He founded to bring Salvation to the world.

Pope Pius XI called all Catholics, “Spiritual Jews” and promoted the understanding of the Religious roots of the Catholic Faith in Judaism. Anyone interested in the subject should try and find copies of a four volume set which covers some aspects of the patrimony entitled, The Bridge Oesterreicher, John M. Editor (A fifth volume was published by another publisher in 1970 which I have not read yet.)

I’m a Jewish convert as well - blessings, though I have not read, or heard of, the Bridge. Blessings,

Brian

 

[simple_soul]

I have heard of Association, and support their goals. I’ve not participated in any of the events or membership. As another here who converted from Judaism, I can attest to the deep spiritual river that runs from Judaism to it’s fulfillment in Christ Jesus, and the Church He founded to bring Salvation to the world.

Pope Pius XI called all Catholics, “Spiritual Jews” and promoted the understanding of the Religious roots of the Catholic Faith in Judaism. Anyone interested in the subject should try and find copies of a four volume set which covers some aspects of the patrimony entitled, The Bridge Oesterreicher, John M. Editor (A fifth volume was published by another publisher in 1970 which I have not read yet.)

Dear Filioque,

Thank you for this information. After reading Br. Jr’s request could you please let me know if you come across another copy by PM.

Thank for your time,

 

[Filioque]

Dear Filioque,

Thank you for this information. After reading Br. Jr’s request could you please let me know if you come across another copy by PM.

Thank for your time,

I’ve seen the books listed on ABEBOOKS dot COM more than once. I have only seen three of the volumes (in person) aside from my set. However ABEBOOKS usually has a selection, sometimes you have to look, as the books will be listed by individual volume, or by set. I’ll let you know if I find some, or if Bro J. decides not to purchase the partial set, we can arrange to get you the information on the set I do know about.

 

[simple_soul]

I’ve seen the books listed on ABEBOOKS dot COM more than once. I have only seen three of the volumes (in person) aside from my set. However ABEBOOKS usually has a selection, sometimes you have to look, as the books will be listed by individual volume, or by set. I’ll let you know if I find some, or if Bro J. decides not to purchase the partial set, we can arrange to get you the information on the set I do know about.

Thank you, In the mean time I will keep looking.

 

[Anna_Scott]

I’m a Hebrew Catholic. I converted at age 18. My entire education was in Catholic schools run by the Capuching Franciscan Friars. Their kindness and their love for their founded was something that alwasy impressed me. By the time I reached high school I wanted to know more about this man that the friars kept talking about in class, in prayer, through art and music. I had never met any group so much in love with their spiritual father as were the Capuchins.

One day I remember going to the library in our high school and picking up a small book called THE PERFECT JOY OF ST. FRANCIS. I believe that I read it in one night. He amazed me. Everything that I had seen the friars do and say was in that biography. I then understood their great love for him and why they promoted him so much among the students. He was a splendid teacher of truth and self-giving.

The more I thought about Francis of Assisi, the more I wondered about Jesus Christ. I thought about “my friars” as I called them. All the pieces began to fit together. Jesus had brought them to him through St. Francis. They wanted to be like Francis in all things, because Francis had found the perfect path to Christ. In other words, he was not only their father, but he was an example that the Christian life was possible and necessary for happiness in this world and the next.

His simplicity moved me, not because he was such a simple man as most people claimed, but just the opposite. He was one of the most comples personalities in human history. His teachings had layer and layers of truth and depth. His understanding of Jewish life was incredible. He was the perfect Jew. He believed in the porphecies. He saw them come to life and saw their fulfillment in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lived the life of the Torah without apologies, without glossing over it. The commandments were not only a law to him, as they were to our Jewish anscestors, but they had become incarnate in the peson of Jeus Chirst. I could see Moses in him. Like Moses, he led the people of the Middle Ages out of slavery and into thre freedom of the Children of God. In a rather mysterious way, he was the modern Israel who saw the promise of a savior come to lfie and be fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Like all good Jews, his followed after the fulfilled promise of God, which is Jesus Christ incarnate. Finallly, like Israel, he suffered for his faith. His gift back to God was a broken body, but a liberated spirit. He had become liberated by his faith in Jesus. In other words, Francis of Assisi discovered in Christ and his Gospel the secret that was mean for Israel and he embraced it not only with his mind, his soul, his body, but also with his life.

After thinking, praying and asking more questions about Francis of Assisi, everything that I had ever heard about Jesus Christ suddenlty made sense to me.

This is why I get very upset when people say that Jews and other non Catholics are damned, becasue they have heard about Christ and have not accepted him. It’s not enough to hear about Jesus Christ. You have to be able to understand Jesus. You have to be able to feel Jesus. You have to be able to reconcile Jesus and your faith. You have to be able to feel that what your doing, converting, is not a betrayal of God, but the fulfillment of what God wants for you. This is not as simple as hearing and saying, “Yes, I’m going to convert to the Catholic faith.” We can hear many things, but we can only convert when we believe. We only come to believe when we are in touch with people who personify what they teach, becasue then it comes alive.

This is what the Capuchin Franciscans and St. Francis did for me. They personified Christ. I could see and touch him through them. Maybe that’s why I’m a Franciscan today, withough have lost any of my Jewish flavor. I never had to leave that behind, becasue it all fits together like a perfely made puzzle.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

What a beautiful testimony!

This is a humble reminder that our greatest testimony is one that is “lived.”

I am glad that you found the love of Christ demonstrated by these humble Christians.

Jesus imparts His great love upon the hearts of His children, and calls us to Him. Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. He is our Blessed Hope, our Savior and Redeemer.

Shalom,
Anna