Posted on 03/09/2008 6:10:34 AM PDT by NYer
BERLIN (AFP)---Pope Benedict XVI will not change a Latin prayer which calls for the conversion of Jews because it is theologically proper, a top German cardinal said Saturday.
The pope "will leave the prayer as it is. From our point of view, it is entirely correct from a theological point of view," Cardinal Walter Kasper told German television channel ARD.
Pretty absurd concept, one religion changing its prayers to please and not offend another, competing religion.
The prayer in question is said in Catholic churches, in a language that most don’t understand, on one day a year.
Very, very few would even know about it, if the Roman Catholic Church would just say the prayer and not publicize it.
Mass is not said on Good Friday.
Actually, it would be significantly LESS scriptural to do so. If you take a look at St. Paul's letters, you will see continuing prayers for the Jews. For example:
Rom 9:30-10:4 -- What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith; but that Israel who pursued the righteousness which is based on law did not succeed in fulfilling that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it through faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall; and he who believes in him will not be put to shame."Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified.
As for prayers for the Mohammedans, they already exist: these are prayers for the pagans (of which, the Mohammedans are a subset).
The liturgy is not something to be changed helter-skelter.
‘Put pressure on the Pope’ to ‘modify’ this. I just don’t see this awesome Pope bending to pressure. Maybe they should try to modify of the theology-by-committee churches.They are much more concerned with not hurting feelings.
Perhaps if they first make changes to the Talmud...
http://watch.pair.com/HRChrist.html
From the Jewish Encyclopedia, we learned that the Talmud slanders our Savior, Jesus Christ.
“... the Jewish Encyclopœdia admits that Jewish legends concerning Jesus are found in the Talmud and Midrash and in “ the life of Jesus ( Toledot Yeshu) that originated in the Middle Ages. It is the tendency of all these sources to belittlethe person of Jesus by ascribing to Him illegitimate birth, magic, and a shameful death. “ 1.
Rev. I. B. Pranaitis revealed in The Talmud Unmasked that Jesus is also maligned as a false teacher:
“… He[Jesus] is referred to in the Talmud as Otho Isch- “That man,” i.e. the one who is known to all. In the tract Abhodah Zarah, 6a, we read: “He is called a Christian who follows the false teachings of that man, who taught them to celebrate the feast on the first day of the Sabbath, that is, to worship on the first day after Sabbath…Talui, -”The one who was hanged”…” 2.
Jewish sources avoid the Greek name “Jesus”, meaning ‘savior’, and abbreviate Jeschua to “Jeshu’ which means “may his name be blotted out!”
“…name in Hebrew would be Jeschua Hanotsri—Jesus the Nazarene. He is called Notsri from the city of Nazareth… In the Talmud Christians are also called Notsrim. (Amongst other things). ‘Since the word Jeschua means ‘Savior,’ the name Jesus rarely occurs in the Jewish books. It is almost always abbreviated to Jeschu… as if it were composed of the initial letters of the three words Immach SCHemo Vezikro— (meaning)- -’May his name be blotted out.’” 4.
Yes, if Catholics were to demand the Talmud be changed re: their interpretation of Jesus, I’m sure they’d become more obstinate just like Catholics and I’d expect most Christians would, upon a demand for a Christian prayer be changed.
I have never minded if others wanted to pray for me as long as they are praying for my well-being and redemption.
Even if the petitions were phrased in a way that was uncomfortably disparaging --- "May Mrs. Don-o and all the blind obstinate Catholics find their salvation through Jesus in the Cornerstone Church of San Antonio" --- I would still assume it was motivated by a friendly concern for my soul.
Just don't hit me with those Imprecatory Psalms. "May they perish in disgrace" is something I'd find hard to take amiably.
My gal Ann (Coulter) would have a few things to say about it. Of course she’s been labelled as an anti-semite so many times (always erroneously) that she’d be spat on by the media — not that they haven’t done so in the past.
YHvH's larger plan of salvation, where His People are blinded for a time,
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai
in order to bring His salvation to the gentile nations. NAsbU Romans 11:15 For if their ( His Chosen People )
And their ultimate salvation after a period of blindness is guaranteed by YHvH's covenant :
rejection is the reconciliation of the world,
what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
NAsbU Romans 11:25 For I do not want you, brethren,
to be uninformed of this mystery--
so that you will not be wise in your own estimation--
that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until
the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written (in Isaiah 59),
"THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB."
27 "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."
28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake,
but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;
29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Theologically, we need to pray for every soul that hasn’t come to Christ, regardless their background. However, single out the Jews and put Muslims in a big category of ‘pagan’, IMO, is a remnant of the past. If we want to come to the Lord with more specific petition, I don’t see why we have to restrict the prayer to the formulation of the past.
Who's restricting? Pray on! Pray for me, and pray for all!
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