A prayer for Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi

Vivificat! - A Catholic Blog of Commentary and Opinion ^ | 26 May 2005 | Teófilo

[Teófilo]

News reports indicate that master terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has been gravely wounded. Islamic fanatics posting in their websites are asking for prayers for his "prompt recovery."

Zarqawi's crimes are splayed on our TV screens every night. The profile of the man coming out from them is that of a coward who is prompt to flee the field of battle when confronted directly by professional soldiers, but who is eager to go after defenseless people, decapitating unarmed hostages or defending the circumstantial killing of his fellow Muslims as demanded by the cause of Islam. The irony is not lost by freedom and peace-loving Muslims.

Zarqawi is a coward and a sociopath. He's only a hero to the deluded mass-murderers who follow him, who thirst for permission to kill from self-styled holy warrior and thus have their own consciences be at ease. One wonders who is more foolish: the fool who leads them or the fools who follow him.

Nevertheless, a prayer is in order and I'll offer it with all my heart. Here it goes:

Father in heaven, You who allow evil in the world to test us; You who bring out from evil great goodness; You who have given us your Only Begotten Son So that anyone who believes in Him does not perish, but have eternal life; We entrust to you the body and soul of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. We ask from your eternal mercy you grant him one more chance to repent and to recognize you as a God who Loves. Father, there's no sinner, no matter how grievous his sins may be, who can place himself beyond the reach of your mercy. May Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in his last moment of freedom, repent and choose You. May Abu Musab al-Zarqawi renounce Satan, and all his lies and all his murders that up to now have been his choices in life; may Abu Musab al-Zarqawi recognize in Your Son He who is the only True God and Eternal Life for nothing is impossible for you. May your will always be done, and in Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's case, your eternal Justice. We ask this in the Holy Name of Jesus, your Son, who lives with You in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.

[Teófilo]

This is prayer is not offered tongue-in-cheek. If we pray for our enemy's demise and not for his conversion, we would not be much different from them.

[Rutles4Ever]

St. Paul was no choirboy, himself. It's noble to hope for conversion of sinners. But if he's unrepentant, leave him to his fate...

[eastsider]

May your will always be done, and in Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's case, your eternal Justice.

Amen.

[Michael Goldsberry]

"... in exchange for four days of fighting weather, I will deliver You enough Krauts to keep your bookkeepers months behind in their work. Amen" -- General George Patton

[mercy]

Oh, yeah, Lord, one more thing, while I'm thinking of it. Could you convert the Devil himself while your at it? Maybe he could repent too Lord. He deserves another chance.

[eastforker]

I disagree, our enemy is not just against Christians, it is against Americans. I am not a Christian and I view this man as an enemy and I want him dead, dead, dead. Along with the rest of the terrorist that continue to murder innocent men, women and children who just want to live their lives with out the threat of someone else imposing their beliefs on them.

[Teófilo]

The Devil, being of angelic nature, does what he thinks. His thoughts are action. Human nature is different: being time-conditioned creatures, for us there's a time lapse between thought and action. Hence, we always have a chance to repent, not so the devil, whose original throught (rebellion against God) he turned into action instantly and without hesitation.

Learn your Aquinas!

[lightman]

I include Abu Musa Al-Zarqawi in this augmentation of the petition of the Lord's Prayer "thy kingdom come" written by Martin Luther to Peter, the barber of Wittenberg:

Dear Lord God and Father, convert and control. Convert those who are still to become children and members of your kingdom, that together we may serve you in your kingdom in the right faith and true love and pass from this kingdom begun here to your everlasting kingdom. Control those who would not withdraw their might and means from disturbing your kingdom. May they be dethroned and in humiliation stop molesting your kingdom.

[AlbionGirl]

I don't know if this applies or not, but here's what my 1952 Balitmore Catechism says in the section about sins against Charity.

...It is not a sin to wish some temporal misfortune to overtake another in order that he may be converted or cease to do harm. Nor is it sinful to wish another's death, under the condition that it be in accord with God's will; for example, to wish a person's death so that he will be relieved of great suffering, or because he is a menace to society or is likely to inflict grave harm on an innocent person, or because he deserves death by reason of crime.

[Teófilo]

You know, I never thought I would say this, but I disagree with the Baltimore Catechism 1952 in the specifict instance you quote.

I mean, can you imagine the psychological and emotional preconditions needed to wish death upon someone? Wouldn't the risk of sinning by presumption be too great? Did Jesus on the Cross wish the death of all those who killed Him?

I don't think so. The Baltimore Catechism is out of line with Catholic Christian teaching on charity in this specific instance.

I'm not saying that Zarqawi in particular doesn't deserve punishment for his crimes, but my intense desire that he go and meet our Maker has no bearing on it; the best I can do as a Catholic is to pray that he doesn't die without conversion and redemption, for I will not wish the pains of Hell even upon my worst enemy.

-Theo