Rosary May Contribute to Unity Says Protestant Theologian

Zenit ^ | December 12, 2002 | Anonymous

[ultima ratio]

Date: 2002-12-12

Rosary May Contribute to Unity, Says Protestant Theologian

If Contemplated as a Christological Prayer, as Suggested by Pope

ROME, DEC. 12, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The rosary has found an unlikely fan in a leading Protestant theologian.

John Paul II's recent apostolic letter "Rosarium Virginis Mariae" states, "To go through the scenes of the rosary with Mary is like going to the 'school" of Mary to read Christ, to penetrate his secrets, to understand his message." The rosary can even promote ecumenism, the Pope affirms.

That is a position shared by professor Stephan Tobler of the University of Tübingen, in Germany, a Reformed evangelical theologian, Vatican Radio reported.

"I must say that I read it in one go," Tobler said of the apostolic letter. "It is a letter of a spiritual and theological depth that I wasn't expecting -- a letter that breathes an evangelical dimension, which has very much surprised me."

"The letter says that it is necessary to relaunch the rosary as a Christological prayer," he added. "In fact, it does so, from the first to the last line."

When the document alludes to "the grace Mary gives us when we pray to her," it speaks of the grace that God gives us almost from Mary's hand, "but with an 'almost' as if to say she 'is and is not,'" the theologian said.

"Therefore, it is introduced in this way in the dynamic of the God-Trinity, which I see as close to the sensibility of the Reformers who appreciate the figure of Mary, but only if it does not detract from looking at Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Father," he said.

In this context, the Reformation communities can be encouraged by the Pope's words, the theologian said.

"I think that the evangelical churches can rediscover Mary as the image of the person completely open to God with her 'fiat' [let it be done], with her 'Do whatever he tells you," with her standing at the foot of the cross, with her silent presence among the disciples," professor Tobler said.

"In this letter, the Pope emphasizes that the rosary, more than a prayer of words, is a contemplation of the mystery," he continued. "Certainly today's sensibility and quest is primarily to rediscover a place where the heart rests, where the soul contemplates the mysteries of God and also the ways in which this is possible. We, in our traditions, must rediscover the ways that are equivalent, the analogy."

Tobler added a note of optimism about ecumenism: "I am convinced that if Catholics pray the rosary as proposed in this apostolic letter, and if evangelicals recognize and rediscover without prejudices this new way of conceiving the rosary, then it will be a favorable occasion. But we must work on it."

[RnMomof7]

Can there be any doubt that Roman Catholicism is works-based? Here it is posited that one can 'lead an honest and upright life' and without putting any faith in the risen Christ be granted eternal life! It's one thing to argue that salvation is not by faith in Christ alone. It's quite another to argue for salvation without faith in Christ at all!!

There is some humor in all this Fue. The RC's I know have filthy mouths, smoke and drink . Yet these are the same folks that say we are saved by our works..

Watch the life any Born again believer and you will see people being change by the grace of God..That says alot

[Land of the Irish]

RN, you have chosen, on your own volition, to leave the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, so you can't claim "invincible ignorance".

[Romulus]

Now the rationale is made plain: the Rosary, that most Marian of prayers, is to be made more Protestant-friendly by the addition of "Christological Prayers".

Christology is Mary's whole point, her only reason for existence. The Logos who alone gives meaning to the entire cosmos makes Mary uniquely relevant to all of us. If Mary were for an instant to start pointing to herself instead of to Christ -- if she were for an instant to suppose that the title "Mother of God" is about her -- she would immediately cease to be of any interest or use to the Church, and we'd be well rid of her.

In other words, that most CATHOLIC of all devotions is to be adjusted to suit those who find prayer to Mary herself distasteful.

It takes some doing to re-image Catholicism as something exclusive rather than universal, but you seem to be attempting just that.

"Hodigitria" means "She who shows the way"

[CARepubGal]

I vote for Heretic myself.

[fizzypilgrim]

As a Catholic I believe Mary has entered the Divine life of the Trinity, which is love. If Protestants believe that too, then I worship alongside them, in whatever way leads us to God, who is Father - and the mysteries of the rosary are the greatest truths in our faith.Surely Some attitudes are forbidden, though. We may not put any creature before God . and in this Catholic country there are still people who believe that Mary and God are equal, and some prefer her. Neither may we exalt baptism above the limits of God’s love and mercy - bitter angry Catholics need to submit ourselves humbly to a wise director of conscience. “in contemplation of the mystery.”

[narses]

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