Syrian Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa
Posted on 02/25/2005 10:00:49 AM PST by NYer
ROME (CNS) -- An Iraqi archbishop kidnapped in January said his abductors were ready to slit his throat at one point, but stopped when the prelate asked to say a prayer.
The prayer turned into an extended conversation with one of his captors and may have helped save his life, said Syrian-rite Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa of Mosul.
Archbishop Casmoussa revealed details of his ordeal in a testimonial circulated by the International Catholic Union of the Press in mid-February.
The archbishop was seized by armed men in mid-January and released unharmed less than 24 hours later, following an appeal from Pope John Paul II.
He said his captors at first threatened to kill him, then bound him and kept him overnight. He began preparing himself for death, reciting psalms from memory, the archbishop said.
The next morning, after moving him in the trunk of a car to a house in the country, one of the captors took him out and sat him on the ground, then sat behind him.
"He put the knife to my neck, with a receptacle to collect the blood, and pronounced the name of God, acting as one does when one is slitting the throat of a chicken or lamb," Archbishop Casmoussa said.
"Finding him determined, I said that if there were really no alternative to my death, could I be allowed to pray? He drew the knife back and let me pray," he said.
"I prayed in a loud voice: 'Lord, I place my soul back in your hands. Receive me in your mercy. Forgive my sins. May your will be done,'" he said.
The captor then asked Archbishop Casmoussa if he wanted to add anything personal. The archbishop prayed for reconciliation in Iraq, for Christians and Muslims to have the chance to live together in harmony and rebuild the country, because "this country deserves to live."
The captor asked if he were afraid, and the archbishop said no.
"He continued to push the knife into my neck. When he noticed I didn't react and remained calm, he pulled away, saying: 'No, your words are correct. It will be better if we have you for our cause,'" the archbishop recounted.
There followed a long discussion between the two that touched on God's justice and human penitence, love between men and women, conjugal fidelity, priestly celibacy, family education and the divine nature of Christ.
His captor asked some questions and didn't seem terribly interested, but was listening, the archbishop said.
Later that morning, the archbishop learned, a man known as "the prince" was expected to arrive on the scene and determine his ultimate fate. Once again, he feared he would be executed.
But when "the prince" arrived, he addressed the archbishop directly, saying: "What is going on? The television networks are so worried about you. Even Pope John Paul II has demanded your liberation."
Hearing of the pope's appeal reassured him, the archbishop said.
Archbishop Casmoussa was given back his episcopal ring and pectoral cross and told to prepare for his liberation. He was dropped off behind a mosque in Mosul shortly afterward and caught a taxi to a local convent.
The archbishop said he still does not know why he was taken -- whether it was a political or religious act, or simply one of the common crimes that have plagued the country in recent months.
He said he saw no religious symbols in the places he was held and was accused of nothing more than generic "cooperation with the Americans."
He said he was convinced that if he had been killed or held indefinitely it would have demoralized and terrorized the Christian community in Iraq and set off an intense wave of emigration.
A Rite represents an ecclesiastical, or church, tradition about how the sacraments are to be celebrated. Each of the sacraments has at its core an essential nature which must be satisfied for the sacrament to be confected or realized. This essence - of matter, form and intention - derives from the divinely revealed nature of the particular sacrament. It cannot be changed by the Church. Scripture and Sacred Tradition, as interpreted by the Magisterium, tells us what is essential in each of the sacraments (2 Thes. 2:15).
When the apostles brought the Gospel to the major cultural centers of their day the essential elements of religious practice were inculturated into those cultures. This means that the essential elements were clothed in the symbols and trappings of the particular people, so that the rituals conveyed the desired spiritual meaning to that culture. In this way the Church becomes all things to all men that some might be saved (1 Cor. 9:22).
There are three major groupings of Rites based on this initial transmission of the faith, the Roman, the Antiochian (Syria) and the Alexandrian (Egypt). Later on the Byzantine derived as a major Rite from the Antiochian, under the influence of St. Basil and St. John Chrysostom. From these four derive the over 20 liturgical Rites present in the Church today.
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"Finding him determined, I said that if there were really no alternative to my death, could I be allowed to pray? He drew the knife back and let me pray," he said.
"I prayed in a loud voice: 'Lord, I place my soul back in your hands. Receive me in your mercy. Forgive my sins. May your will be done,'" he said.
The captor then asked Archbishop Casmoussa if he wanted to add anything personal. The archbishop prayed for reconciliation in Iraq, for Christians and Muslims to have the chance to live together in harmony and rebuild the country, because "this country deserves to live."
The captor asked if he were afraid, and the archbishop said no.
"He continued to push the knife into my neck. When he noticed I didn't react and remained calm, he pulled away, saying: 'No, your words are correct. It will be better if we have you for our cause,'" the archbishop recounted.
There followed a long discussion between the two that touched on God's justice and human penitence, love between men and women, conjugal fidelity, priestly celibacy, family education and the divine nature of Christ.
Holy cow - what a brave man. A light in the darkness...
prayer bump
Welcome to FR.
Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Rom. 8
A man of great and unwavering faith! And, his faith was rewarded in the eyes of the infidels.
Goosebumps. I bet this man's faith has been increased one thousand fold.
The Lord must have more plans for him.
I can only salute this man's bravery and faith in awe.
Good to see you back in the forum. Hope and pray all is well with you!
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