![]() ![]() Ishanaa Rambachan prayed: “Lead me from unreal to real lead me from darkness to light lead me from death to immortality.” Greek Orthodox Archbishop Demetrios proclaimed Matthew’s Beatitudes in the Greek of one of the most ancient manuscripts of the New Testament, he explained (which one was not named). Gunisha Kaur, offered these words: “Know that we attain God when we love, and only that victory endures, in consequence of which no one is defeated.” The Hindus, Dr. Uma Mysorekar and Ms. To quote just a few samples… The Sikhs, Dr. This was a puzzling choice in the otherwise delicately arranged ceremony–puzzling not because of the bell, which was fine, but because of who rang it. After each pair, a young man in a Roman collar struck a large Buddhist bell to punctuate the series. The first representative of each religious tradition declaimed a prayer or meditative text in that religion’s sacred language, and the other spoke it in English. (Cardinal Dolan, in his opening remarks, said that the Jain community was represented, but if so, none were on the dais and none spoke.) There were two leaders from each religious community represented: Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish. The texts were brief but iconic, and very beautiful. Imam Latif praised the movement from ignorance to understanding, and enjoined everyone to be “bold to build friendship.”Ī series of prayers and meditations from a variety of religious traditions then followed. He expressed the hope that “the timbre and tonality of each religious tradition” might resound together in the city. Francis of Assisi, as well as an acknowledgement of the anniversary of Nostra Aetate. ![]() Rabbi Cosgrove included quotes from Pope Francis and St. Both condemned the attacks and religious intolerance. ![]() Their sober statements, delivered antiphonally, voiced the gathering’s commitment to building a world of peace. The non-verbal gesture of affection and amity set the tone better than words could have done. ![]() They embraced one another before walking each to a lectern. Cosgrove, Senior Rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue, and Imam Khalid Latif, Executive Director of the Islamic Center and Chaplain to Muslim students at NYU, rose to speak. In that welcome, he informed the Pope that we in New York are sinners, but one of the things we do well (aside from sinning, presumably) is interfaith friendship.Īt that point, Elliot J. When all had assembled on the platform, Cardinal Timothy Dolan then offered a welcome. The overall atmosphere was somber and dignified, and moved into a spirit of joy only at the end when a youth choir sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”Īs the Pope entered, a brassy orchestral arrangement (Aaron Copeland?) of the Shaker hymn, ‘Tis a Gift to Be Simple, was played. It may help to describe what actually happened at the service. Others may wish to comment on this question, but from my vantage point, it sure looked like they were praying together–each in his or her own way, to be sure, but with the intention that their religious meditations, reflections, and, yes, prayer, might be woven together for the good of all. On the other hand, I think this description might surprise many of the people who attended. It will perhaps be a relief to those who worry about syncretism to think that at the World Trade Center memorial site, all those people got together for an inter-religious service but they didn’t actually pray together. That’s the distinction we make – being in the presence of, with great respect and great appreciation for, the other.” “So it’s not praying together, but being in the presence of the other praying. “There’s really no common prayer that we all agree upon,” said Bishop Massa. They came to pray, reflect, share, listen.īut they didn’t come to pray together, as Bishop James Massa, an auxiliary bishop of the Brooklyn diocese, and the organizer of the “content” of the service, explained to the New York Times. All would have passed by the dramatic fountain of water that defines the outdoor space of the memorial, as they came indoors. They gathered in the presence of the large makeshift cross, which was made out of steel beams found at the site, and is now preserved in the memorial hall. In “a multi-religious gathering” at the site of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, religious leaders including Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, and Christians gathered with Pope Francis amid a congregation that included families of the dead, first responders, and city dignitaries. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |