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VATICAN - Pope remembers victims of the Holocaust and those who risked their lives to defend Jews [AN]
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JReducation
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I think the Holy Father, who is very Franciscan in his spirituality and theology, finds in Francis of Assisi the perfect model of ecumenism. Francis goes out to the Muslims with the intent of converting them to Christianity, but without bullying them and with great respect for the points that are common to both the Christian and the Muslim.
This is where Christians and Muslims need to stop and think. We cannot build a world of one people united in faith, before we open the door to a dialogue based on trust and respect. Francis went before the Sultan filled with trust in God’s Providence. He was not sure that he would convert the Sultan and in fact, he failed to do so, at least it appeas that way.
What I mean by that is this. It appears that he failed to do so, because the Sultan remains a Muslim. But he did lay the groundwork in the heart of the Sultan for further peaceful contact with Christians. Had not other Christians and Muslims sabbotaged this small beginning, God only knows what would have happened. The Sultan was deeply impressed by Francis’ courage, simplicity and great love. So great was the Sultan’s impression that he allowed the Franciscans safe passage through his territory to the Holy Land. As a result, there came to be a treaty between the Muslims of the western part of the region and the Franciscans that allowed the order to establish the Commisereate of the Holy Land and opened the holy places for Christians to worship in peace. This treaty is still in effect today.
As a result of this great respect that this particular group of Mulsims had for Francis, the friars in Palestine grew in numbers, as did the number of Christian pilgrims and even residents in the Holy Land. The friars are still there today.
When Israel was carved out of Palestine, the Israeli government ratified the treaty with the Franciscans allowing them to continue to minister to Christians, Jews and Muslims in the new Israeli State. Today, there are many joint ministries between Franciscans, Jews and Muslims in the area known as the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. What has been revealed in that in those communities where the three faiths work side by side alleviating suffering and promoting brotherhood, the violence and lack of trust between the Christians, Jews and Muslims if non-existent.
They still hold on to their faith traditions and may do so for many more years to come, but at least they live as brothers and sisters in the communities that are jointly led by the three groups. In various interviews with Jews and Muslims in the Custody all three speak highly of their relationship and very proudly of their accomplishment.
It is unfortunate that others do not attempt to begin with the same tiny steps that Francis and the Sultan did. But we have seen some progress, even today. In Jordan there is a new interfaith university headed by the Vatican, staffed by Muslims and Franciscans. If I’m not mistaken it opened late 2009. It was under construction when the Holy Father visited Jordan. There is also a great ministry to children with developmental disabilities run by Franciscans, Comboni Sisters, and Jordanian Muslims. The program serves Muslim and Christian children together.
Another important detail that the Holy Father points to is the fact that it was not the pope who salvaged the Church or even a priest, but as the Holy Father says, “a simple religious brother.” Too often we wait for the bishop, priests and the Vatican to initiate reform movements. He is the largest reform movement in the history of the Church and it began with a single religious brother who had a vision of hwo to live the Gospel and who at the same time, did not pass judgment on the weaknesses of the Church of his time. These were not as important to Francis as was the fact that the Church was built upon the faith of Peter. He presented himself to the pope to ask for his blessing and to promise him obedience without consideration for the sins of the clergy and the hierarchy of his time. Francis understood that the grace that comes through the hierarchy is independent of their sins. He was interested in maintaining communion with that hierarchy and submitting to its authority, not in passing judgment on it or making demands on them.
Francis was convinced that this would not heal the Church. The only thing that would heal the Church was to build by converting himself and preaching conversion to other Catholics. It’s important to know that despite his mission to the Saracens, Francis and his brothers have always spend more time and effort converting Catholics to Catholicism than converting non Catholics. Conversion to Catholicism meant conversion to the Gospel, especially through poverty and penance.
We often think that he lived in an easier time than we do today. That’s not true either. Heresy, child sexual abuse and physical abuse by the clergy, concupicense of the flesh, material corruption, disobedience, theft, war and internal political corruption was rampant in the Church of his time. They just did not have internet and TV. We only know these things today by way of letters and journals of many of the men and women who engaged in reform.
Francis is definitely a great sign for our day and a great model, because his Church and our Church look very similar.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
This is where Christians and Muslims need to stop and think. We cannot build a world of one people united in faith, before we open the door to a dialogue based on trust and respect. Francis went before the Sultan filled with trust in God’s Providence. He was not sure that he would convert the Sultan and in fact, he failed to do so, at least it appeas that way.
What I mean by that is this. It appears that he failed to do so, because the Sultan remains a Muslim. But he did lay the groundwork in the heart of the Sultan for further peaceful contact with Christians. Had not other Christians and Muslims sabbotaged this small beginning, God only knows what would have happened. The Sultan was deeply impressed by Francis’ courage, simplicity and great love. So great was the Sultan’s impression that he allowed the Franciscans safe passage through his territory to the Holy Land. As a result, there came to be a treaty between the Muslims of the western part of the region and the Franciscans that allowed the order to establish the Commisereate of the Holy Land and opened the holy places for Christians to worship in peace. This treaty is still in effect today.
As a result of this great respect that this particular group of Mulsims had for Francis, the friars in Palestine grew in numbers, as did the number of Christian pilgrims and even residents in the Holy Land. The friars are still there today.
When Israel was carved out of Palestine, the Israeli government ratified the treaty with the Franciscans allowing them to continue to minister to Christians, Jews and Muslims in the new Israeli State. Today, there are many joint ministries between Franciscans, Jews and Muslims in the area known as the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. What has been revealed in that in those communities where the three faiths work side by side alleviating suffering and promoting brotherhood, the violence and lack of trust between the Christians, Jews and Muslims if non-existent.
They still hold on to their faith traditions and may do so for many more years to come, but at least they live as brothers and sisters in the communities that are jointly led by the three groups. In various interviews with Jews and Muslims in the Custody all three speak highly of their relationship and very proudly of their accomplishment.
It is unfortunate that others do not attempt to begin with the same tiny steps that Francis and the Sultan did. But we have seen some progress, even today. In Jordan there is a new interfaith university headed by the Vatican, staffed by Muslims and Franciscans. If I’m not mistaken it opened late 2009. It was under construction when the Holy Father visited Jordan. There is also a great ministry to children with developmental disabilities run by Franciscans, Comboni Sisters, and Jordanian Muslims. The program serves Muslim and Christian children together.
Another important detail that the Holy Father points to is the fact that it was not the pope who salvaged the Church or even a priest, but as the Holy Father says, “a simple religious brother.” Too often we wait for the bishop, priests and the Vatican to initiate reform movements. He is the largest reform movement in the history of the Church and it began with a single religious brother who had a vision of hwo to live the Gospel and who at the same time, did not pass judgment on the weaknesses of the Church of his time. These were not as important to Francis as was the fact that the Church was built upon the faith of Peter. He presented himself to the pope to ask for his blessing and to promise him obedience without consideration for the sins of the clergy and the hierarchy of his time. Francis understood that the grace that comes through the hierarchy is independent of their sins. He was interested in maintaining communion with that hierarchy and submitting to its authority, not in passing judgment on it or making demands on them.
Francis was convinced that this would not heal the Church. The only thing that would heal the Church was to build by converting himself and preaching conversion to other Catholics. It’s important to know that despite his mission to the Saracens, Francis and his brothers have always spend more time and effort converting Catholics to Catholicism than converting non Catholics. Conversion to Catholicism meant conversion to the Gospel, especially through poverty and penance.
We often think that he lived in an easier time than we do today. That’s not true either. Heresy, child sexual abuse and physical abuse by the clergy, concupicense of the flesh, material corruption, disobedience, theft, war and internal political corruption was rampant in the Church of his time. They just did not have internet and TV. We only know these things today by way of letters and journals of many of the men and women who engaged in reform.
Francis is definitely a great sign for our day and a great model, because his Church and our Church look very similar.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
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