Reflection 207                       Previous reflections                   Resolution  

Based on the 1965 Vatican 2 document:
THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS
NOSTRA AETATE - 3

What an appropriate article for the first day of Ramadan!

"The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems.
They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself;
merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,
who has spoken to people;
they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees,
just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself,
submitted to God.
Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet.
They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion.
In addition, they await the day of judgment
when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead.
Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.

Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems,
this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding
and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all humankind
social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom"

Jesus, whom Muslims revere,
please bless all our dear Muslim friends at this time of Ramadan