What is a Hebrew Catholic?

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I was asking around if anyone knew particular group of ‘Hebrew Catholics?’ . .thanks
 
Never heard of them. Can you tell us more about them? What does it mean to be “a Hebrew Catholic”?

I take it it means more than simply a person who is both Jewish and Catholic, though I do know one of those, a friend who’s Jewish by birth and became a Christian a few years ago, entering the Catholic Church and receiving the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil a few years ago. 🙂
 
Actually EWTN once had interview program with a Hebrew Catholic. It was long long long time ago, too bad I saw it when the show reaching the end of interview. There was an interesting icon shown in the show, basically the Pantocrator icon, but in the icon, Jesus wear Hebrew attire, head covered with shawl holding the Scripture in the form of Torah Scroll. This icon gave a very strong impression on me, I like it so much but never find them again.

While searching for that icon, I stumbled to Hebrew Catholics website. Reading some Gospel passages, giving context of the Jewish customs and some commentaries from Jewish tradition really refreshing, interesting and truly make sense.

I think, the Hebrew Catholics are wonderful.
 
I believe they are Jewish converts. It’s always funny to hear a Jew’s testimony of attending a Catholic mass. They often point out that it is very Jewish.
 
YoungTradCath said:
I believe they are Jewish converts. It’s always funny to hear a Jew’s testimony of attending a Catholic mass. They often point out that it is very Jewish.
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Yes, that was the experience of my friend. He and his wife (who had been Evangelical) were looking for a church to be part of after they got married. He is Jewish but was more than willing to support his wife’s Christian faith.

So they spent time going to different churches but he never felt comfortable in any of their worship services.

Then they found our parish. After a Mass he turned to her and said, “Im staying here. It reminds me of my youth and going to Synagog.–You can go to whatever church you want, but Im staying here”

A couple of years later, he decided to become Catholic. Why? Because he felt is was the next step of being Jewish.
 
The overt “Jewishness” of the Latin Mass is why I love it so much. Not that the OF is inferior, I can just “see” the whole picture much clearer with the EF.

Even as a little kid I wasn’t satisfied with the Protestant services and identity I had. I always wanted to be Jewish for some reason. Imagine my surprise when I finally realized I could be grafted in perfectly via the Catholic Church. 🙂

If you want to get a better handle on where some of the things we employ came from, check out this tutorial on the Temple as it would have occurred, and as the Jews want it to occur again:

templeinstitute.org/study_tools.htm

If the EF were more prominent in the world, I have a feeling more Jews would realize they can have their worship and sacrifice in the here and now, particularly given the desire for ecumenism.

I get shudders sometimes when the priest announces “Introibo ad altare Dei”, for it’s the first in many lines of reinforcing exactly why we are there and where we come from as Christians. The reason, I feel, that a lot of people are turning to the Messianic Jewish sub-culture for answers is because the Jewishness of Christianity has suffered a holocaust of its own. The Catholic Church safeguards tradition better than any other. If I remember correctly, there was a founder of a certain rebellious movement, who hated the Jewish people, and 1/3 of God’s followers fell with him when he fell from pride. Am I talking about Lucifer or Luther? I’ll let you decide.
 
Interesting group ~ just its association with Hebrew is all.

god bless
 
So they say that they are a lay apostolate and that they are faithful to the Magesterium, but it seems as if they either have or are advocating for their own calendar.

A full calendar would have to commemorate days already sanctified by the Latin Rite, the Hebrew Catholic paraliturgy now being developed and some days of particular significance for the modern Hebrew Catholic.Such days would include: “Holocaust Day”, the anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady of Zion to Alphonse Ratisbonne (20 January) and the anniversary of the death of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein - 9 August). In addition, it should include the saints of the Old Testament, whose sanctity is not recognized by the generality of Catholics, as well as many names in the New Testament - lessor actors in the drama of Calvary, who have found no place in the hearts of the faithful of the Latin Rite.

What is a “Hebrew Catholic paraliturgy”? Have they constructed their own liturgy outside of the Church?

And more importantly, what is the status of this organization as seen by the Church? Is this organization kosher with the Pope?

I’m just asking, not accusing.

-Tim-
 
Marie5890 said:
Yes, that was the experience of my friend. He and his wife (who had been Evangelical) were looking for a church to be part of after they got married. He is Jewish but was more than willing to support his wife’s Christian faith.

So they spent time going to different churches but he never felt comfortable in any of their worship services.

Then they found our parish. After a Mass he turned to her and said, “Im staying here. It reminds me of my youth and going to Synagog.–You can go to whatever church you want, but Im staying here”

A couple of years later, he decided to become Catholic. Why? Because he felt is was the next step of being Jewish.
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Well, the Catholic Church is Israel, with Christ and his Church being the fulfillment of the promises of the Old Covenant.
 
TimothyH said:
So they say that they are a lay apostolate and that they are faithful to the Magesterium, but it seems as if they either have or are advocating for their own calendar.

A full calendar would have to commemorate days already sanctified by the Latin Rite, the Hebrew Catholic paraliturgy now being developed and some days of particular significance for the modern Hebrew Catholic.Such days would include: “Holocaust Day”, the anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady of Zion to Alphonse Ratisbonne (20 January) and the anniversary of the death of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein - 9 August). In addition, it should include the saints of the Old Testament, whose sanctity is not recognized by the generality of Catholics, as well as many names in the New Testament - lessor actors in the drama of Calvary, who have found no place in the hearts of the faithful of the Latin Rite.

What is a “Hebrew Catholic paraliturgy”? Have they constructed their own liturgy outside of the Church?

And more importantly, what is the status of this organization as seen by the Church? Is this organization kosher with the Pope?

I’m just asking, not accusing.

-Tim-
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Exactly my question as well. I hope it’s not like the Neo-catechumenical Way or whatever they call themselves now.
 
I think it is reasonable for a group of people to have “paraliturgical” practices to maintain bond between themselves and preserving identities.
They can consists of special devotion or prayer meetings, ask for votive Mass (not creating a new one) for the occasion.

I believe every group have such a thing.

While I was in South Korea, there are several “cultural” practices which are celebrated by Koreans and sanctioned by the Church. Sollal and Chuseok are several of them. Sollal is Chinese New Year, although have no special liturgy in the Latin Rite, Catholics will go to Church because votive Mass of thanksgiving is celebrated.
Chuseok is special day to honor ancestor, everyone goes back to home country to gather with family pray for the deceased. This become the second “All Souls Day” for the Korean Catholics.
If they live outside Korea, Korean Catholic community will still celebrate them although people around them do not.

Even an ordinary group, gathering or association can have their own paraliturgical practices. For instance, celebrating founding day of the community, consists of thanksgiving for the anniversary, perhaps with votive Mass of thanksgiving and other devotion. Founder’s death anniversary for instance, although not a blessed or saint can be something that is annually commemorated by the group.
 
I just heard Mother Miriam of the Lamb of God, O.S.B. on Catholic Answers Live today. She herself is the Jewish convert Rosalind Moss, and prioress of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel’s Hope. Her brother is a leader in the Hebrew Catholic community.

I believe Mother Miriam will be on Catholic Answers again tomorrow, January 19, 2012. In any case she or her brother might be a good starting point for those interested in learning more about Hebrew Catholics.

Read more: ncregister.com/daily-news/rosalind-moss-unexpected-journey/#ixzz1jsCmZXhb

hebrewcatholic.org/ is the wedsite for the Association of Hebrew Catholics.

RoderickA
 
I’d be considered a Hebrew Catholic, and I don’t particularly care for the term. I grew up in Judaism and was somewhat observant through the years. I’m presently attending RCIA sessions at my church and hope to be received into the Church this year (2012).

I like what St Paul wrote in Galations 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

That pretty much says it for me. 🙂
 
Yes,

I believe Mother Miriam is also a Hebrew Catholic. She explains it often on Catholic Answers Live by saying that she found the fullness of Judaism in the Catholic Church.

She was raised Jewish, converted to Protestant Evangelical and then became a Catholic.
 
Celticnovice said:
Yes,

I believe Mother Miriam is also a Hebrew Catholic. She explains it often on Catholic Answers Live by saying that she found the fullness of Judaism in the Catholic Church.

She was raised Jewish, converted to Protestant Evangelical and then became a Catholic.
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This “…fullness of Judaism in the Catholic Church” is a theme that has been hinted at, and honored by, no less than the late Pope John XXIII.

In 1934 Angelo Roncalli (later John XXIII) was named Apostolic Delegate to Turkey and Greece, during which time he was able to help a great many Jews. In March of 1953 he was named Cardinal-Patriarch of Venice.
There is a story -I believe I have this right- of a reception. Cardinal Roncalli is standing with a group of leading religious leaders, and while waiting to process in to the reception, he is speaking with the Chief Rabbi of Venice. When the doors opened, and per protocol of the day, the Chief Rabbi stepped aside allowing Cardinal Roncalli to be the first to process in to the reception. The story goes that the Cardinal caught the Rabbi by the elbow and gently drew him near saying “…the Old Testament always proceeds the New Testament”.

This is one among my favorite stories of the life of Blessed John XXIII.

RoderickA
 
i would recommend a book called Salvation is from the Jews by Roy Schoeman (I think that is how his last name is spelled).
he is a Hebrew Catholic.
a Hebrew Catholic is someone of the Jewish faith who believes that Jesus is the Messiah
and believes that Catholicism is the fulfillment of Judaism.
 
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