Mary a Meeting Point of Cultures, Says Muslim - Encourages Pilgrimages to Marian Shrines

Zenit News Agency ^ | June 29, 2006

[NYer]

ROME, JUNE 29, 2006 (Zenit.org).- An Egyptian Muslim and deputy director of a prominent Italian newspaper suggested that Mary could be the figure who brings Christians and Muslims together.

Magdi Allam of Il Corriere della Sera spoke to ZENIT about the appeal he launched in the pages of the national daily newspaper to Muslims living in Italy to visit the Marian shrines in their host country.

The journalist said that he is convinced that the Virgin Mary is a meeting point between Christians and Muslims.

"Mary is a figure present in the Koran, which dedicates an entire sura [chapter ed.n.] to her and mentions her some thirty times. In Muslim countries there are Marian shrines that are the object of veneration and pilgrimage by Christian and Muslim faithful," he said.

"Therefore, I believe that if this happens in Muslim countries, why can't it happen in a Christian country, especially in a historical phase in which we need to define symbols, values and figures that unite religions, spiritualities and cultures?" he asked.

In Allam's opinion, "the Marian pilgrimage of Loreto -- Italy's National Shrine -- could represent a moment of meeting and spiritual gathering between Muslims and Catholics, around Mary, a religious figure that is venerated by both religions."

Vittorio Messori, author of book-interviews with Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI), also wrote in Il Corriere della Sera on June 15 in support of Allam.

He said that the dialogue between Christians and Muslims "can begin afresh from Mary."

[NYer]

I do know that in the majority of the Eastern Rite parishes that there is a special wall seperating the alter from the worshipers in the Divine Liturgy.

The Eastern Catholic Churches you are referring to follow the Byzantine Rite (although there are 22 Churches, there are only eight "Rites" that are used among them. A Rite is a "liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony," (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 28). "Rite" best refers to the liturgical and disciplinary traditions used in celebrating the sacraments. Many Eastern Catholic Churches use the same Rite, although they are distinct autonomous Churches. For example, the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church are distinct Churches with their own hierarchies. Yet they both use the Byzantine Rite). The 'wall' you are referring to is called the 'Iconostasis'. The Maronites are unique and follow the Antiochene Syriac liturgy. There is no 'Iconostasis' in Maronite Churches.

But in the Maronite rite, the alter faces the people.

Of all the Eastern Catholic Churches, the Maronites have ALWAYS remained faithful to the Magisterium and the Holy Father. There is much controversy amongst the Eastern Orthodox Churches over the Maronite's willingness to bend to Vatican demands. It's much too long a story to post here. Suffice it to say, that post Vatatican Council II, there is a concerted effort by the Maronite Church to restore as much of the authentic liturgy as possible.

Two years ago, Mar Nasrallah Peter Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronite Church, convened a synod to explore the growth of the Maronite liturgy to the diaspora and establish several commissions to provide better translations of authentic texts and priestly orientations. In that regard, the following was discerned.

Orientation of the Celebrant at the Altar

According to the Maronite tradition and to the testimony of Patriarch Duwaihy, the altar must be separated from the wall of the apse, in order to allow the celebrants to process around it. Traditional church architecture required that the altar face eastward. It was customary for the celebrant to face east and to have the congregation behind him facing in the same direction.

However, for pastoral reasons and a better understanding of the Eucharist, as the banquet of the Last Supper, a new way of celebration emerged within the Church, that is, to have the celebrant face toward the congregation. Thanks to it, well-informed faithful have shown a greater participation in the Qurbono.

On June 6, 1992, the Maronite Patriarchal Synod of Bishops decreed the possibility of celebrating in either direction, that is , facing toward the congregation or, along with the congregation, facing toward the east. The final ruling on the matter is left to the local hierarch. A large number of churches have been built to accommodate this new orientation, which represents, in our opinion, a renewal that agrees with the spirit of the Qurbono (as well as a memorial of the banquet of the Last Supper), and also with the requirements of today's pastoral life.

So, as you can see, there is a movement afoot to restore as much authenticity to the liturgy as possible without further confusing the congregation.

Also I do know that the Maronite rite is the only Eastern rite that never left the Church and came back; it was always fathful to Rome. In other words, no Orthodox verson of this rite.

That is correct! While it is a very lengthy read, I would strongly recomment you explore the History of the Maronite Church here. It will put everything into perspective.

[Bainbridge]

Nah, I don't need to reread any of your posts.
Responding is a waste of time.

" Where did anyone say that? "
"They said it here.
"Oh, yeah, I already know -so and so told me."
"Well, technically that is not quite what it means" and so on.

[FJ290]

Nah, I don't need to reread any of your posts. Responding is a waste of time.

Why don't you stop doing it then? You said way back you were going to stop talking to Catholics here, but you haven't stopped yet.

[Biggirl]

Thank-You NYer for your response. Have a question. What is a Qurbono? Also you say that the Maronite right is even older then the Latin rite. Did St. Peter start this rite first before going to Rome?

Thank-You NYer also for the futher information on the Maronite rite. Also appriciate the picture of the priest celibrating Mass or in the East, Divine Liturgy.

[Biggirl]

PS to NYer :

On one of the questions, the age of the rite, the website you gaved me took care of the question itself, so you do not have to answer that question. Thanks ahead of time. Also seen some of the websites, the one of the parish in Miami, FL, there is what it looks like a Flash movie showing the inside and outside of the of the parish church itself. With OS X in my Mac, the Flash movies are now being shown. As I have said, the Maronite Catholic parishes have a number of very outstanding website design websites. Take care and have a good 4th.

[.30Carbine]

I don't know why you are so hostile to me

It's too bad that you see me as hostile toward you when in fact it is that truth and lies are in hostility to one another. I have addressed content sincerely and have not made any attack against you personally. I wish you would answer my questions re: blood sacrifice and the High Priesthood, how you, a sinner descended from Adam, expect acceptance into the presence of Holy God. Why keep the Law, or attempt to keep it, if not because of a guaranteed resurrection of the Just and the Unjust alike?

All chr*stianity did for fifteen hundred years was replace one legal system with another, and added hell into the mix to boot.

This is not true. Here is my rebuttal:

Why did Job make sacrifices for his children "in case they had committed sin" unless there is a place of torment? Why did he say, "I know that my Redeemer lives" if a Redeemer was not needed, even for a righteous man like himself? Why also was Job commended and his 3 friends were in need of prayer unless what they said - that good deeds of Law-keeping will reward the doer and bad deeds of Law-breaking will result in torment - unless Job had it right, by faith, and they had it wrong, seeing only Law? The grace and mercy of God were in place from the beginning: the shedding of blood, the making of a sacrifice, the intercession of God Himself on behalf of the Law-breakers Adam and Eve are seen in Genesis as well as in every Book that follows. This Grace-giver God was the One in Whom Noah believed as he lay drunk and naked in his tent. Amen.

[NYer]

What is a Qurbono?

This is the Syriac word for the Maronite Service of the Holy Mysteries (the Mass). This term captures the meaning of the nature of the Eucharistic prayer: an offering in thanks.

As you tour the various Maronite parish websites, you should enjoy this magnificent new church, inspired by the ruins of St. Simon the Stylite.

A Monolithic Dome, painted a rich maroon and with a cross at its center, tops the newly constructed sanctuary of Our Lady's Maronite Eastern Rite Catholic Church in Austin, TX.

With the lights on in the dome, it's spectacular - spacious - fifty feet from the floor to the top of the dome. A raised bema or half dome encircles the altar at the front of the sanctuary. Looking up, one sees a mural of Mary, Christ's mother, then four stained glass panels of the four evangelists and finally the inside of the Monolithic Dome.

Our Lady's Maronite Catholic Church

[wmfights]

"2) I personally love, admire, study, seek to emulate, and find appeal in Mary, the mother of Jesus - not as "Mother of God," nor as "Queen of Heaven;" not because she is "Co-redemptress" or in any way a mediator between myself and my God.

Mary appeals to me because she was chosen by Almighty God to be the one woman in all of of human history to carry the seed of the Holy Spirit within her and give birth to the Messiah Jesus. That's pretty special, if you ask me. She is commended in Scripture for her humility and obedience, she has a quiet and gentle spirit; she is highly admirable and I not only find her appealing, I seek to emulate her."
_________________________________

Amen!

That was well said, thank you.

[wmfights]

" am signing off here as there is nowhere to go when any challenge to dogma is described as an attack by a cad!( defined as a "person who is morally reprehensible", a bit strong don't you think...)"
_________________________

Thanks for your posts. They were very informative.

[Biggirl]

The two pictures of this new Maronite church shows a very simple design church which shows a rich blend of Middle Eastern design and a very spiritual icon of the BVM. Thank-you for those pictures.

[Bainbridge]

Thank you for your kind words.
If you are at all interested in a balanced analysis of the two views of Mary, I would highly recommend the book, Mary:A Catholic-Evangelical Debate by Dwight Longenecker and David Gustafson.

The dialog is courteous and thorough. Much to be learned for those who have not done the in depth study of the subject.

[Biggirl]

Also you got to give credit to actor/director Mel Gibson who with the help of the movie, "The Passion of the Christ", and the high interest by the evangelicals towards that movie, it showed a big connection between Jesus and his love for his mother.

[Bainbridge]

I am not sure how credit for Mel Gibson has anything to do with my last post. In point of fact, the "Marian" dimension was not one of the facets of the movie that led to the Evangelical community's strong support.In fact, it was something that actually caused some discussion and disagreement between the various parts of Christianity.

And in keeping with the original thesis of the thread, the intersection of interest in Mary by both Roman Catholics and Muslims, the movie is only useful in pointing out the dramatic differences between the the Faiths because it would be anathema to Islam for several reasons.

[mckenzie7]

It is written in Holy Scripture according to Luke:

28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.


41 And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

46 And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

When is the last time that you called the Mother of Our Savior Blessed?

Our Blessed Mother always points us, her children to Our Lord.