Reflection on the Church and Synagogue

   My visit to the Jewish Synagogue of Rome was very enlightening and impactful. The Synagogue was a magnificent structure that left me in awe! Honestly, it resembled a Catholic basilica! The visit deepened my understanding of Jewish religious heritage and strengthened my appreciation for the Jewish faith. It was also here that I learned about the shared history and efforts towards interfaith dialogue between the Catholic and Jewish communities in Rome, such as the visit of Pope John Paul II many years ago! It was also interesting to hear how Rome has the oldest Jewish community in Europe, and Jews and Catholics lived in relative peace, side by side. Furthermore, I was told by Tenny, a classmate and seminarian, that even the Jewish liturgy and vestments resemble that of Roman Catholic practices. Truly, Judaism is our elder brother in the faith!

   The experience left a lasting impression on my spiritual journey. During our discussions in class, we reflected on the complex history, conflicts, and reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the Jewish community. Efforts have been made to promote understanding, respect, and cooperation between the two communities, and significant milestones such as the Second Vatican Council have contributed to improving Catholic-Jewish relations, especially in enhancing the Catholic attitude towards Judaism. Despite theological and historical differences, ongoing initiatives aim to foster dialogue and combat anti-Semitism and religious discrimination. While challenges remain, the visit reinforced the importance of mutual understanding and respect for "other" people's religious beliefs. Notably, we don't have to have the same religion to get along peacefully!

   Until next time!
God bless!

Comments

Walking on Holy Land

Basilica di Santa Clemente (Matteo Carboni) The other day I visited Basilica Di Santa Clemente al Laterano. Santa Clemente is an 11th century church built on top of a 4th century church named after St. Clement of Rome who was the Pope between 88 and 99 CE. It is likely that the site had been used as a house church since the 2nd century CE, then transformed into a large church complex in the 4th century. Beside the 4th century church there was a temple of Mithras that had been used since the 2nd century CE. Underneath the church and the temple, excavators found Roman households destroyed by the fire of Nero in 64 CE. I think Santa Clemente is one of the coolest sites I have visited in Rome. It has been a neighborhood church for nearly 2000 years and has only needed one upgrade! The physical relationship between the two churches has given me much to ponder. The foundations of the 4th century church was used as a blueprint for the 11th century church. One the one hand, this is ...

Interpretations: The Jewish Ghetto or Quarter

Jewish Quarter: History The Roman Ghetto or Ghetto of Rome ( Italian : Ghetto di Roma ) was a Jewish ghetto established in 1555 in the Rione Sant'Angelo , in Rome , Italy , in the area surrounded by present-day Via del Portico d'Ottavia , Lungotevere dei Cenci , Via del Progresso and Via di Santa Maria del Pianto, close to the River Tiber and the Theatre of Marcellus . With the exception of brief periods under Napoleon from 1808 to 1815 and under the Roman Republics of 1798–99 and 1849 , the ghetto of Rome was controlled by the papacy until the capture of Rome in 1870. The ghetto was a walled quarter with its gates locked at night. The wall was built under the direction of the architect Giovanni Sallustio Peruzzi . The cost of the wall's construction, 300 Roman scudi , had to be paid by the Jewish community. The area of Rome chosen for the...

The Messengers: Prophets, Martyrs, Saints and Us - and Palm Trees

Reflecting on Messengers as the Sun Sets Yesterday's lecture about Islam provoked me to think deeply on the idea of messenger. We often hear the phrase, "don't shoot the messenger" and may even use it ourselves. Sometimes we don't want to hear the message. It may be inconvenient, controversial or contrary to our own understanding. It can challenge and provoke us and be unsettling. We do have a choice, and can act or not act according to the message. I found myself reacting to the teaching from Islam that describes the Prophet as the last messenger, but after considering the course in its entirety - many faiths believe different things about their messengers. In Christianity we do not agree on many of the qualities that define prophets, martyrs and saints. As those participating in faith, we are all messengers. How we are remembered as those messengers is more about those that follow after our time. Persons of Faith 'Remembered' in Bronze Our Tour of th...

Rome Ecumenism Course 2024

Search This Blog