Official Catholic Approaches to Interreligious Services of Prayer
Prayer Services with Jews
"Prayer in common with Jews should, when mutually acceptable, be encouraged, especially in matters of common concern, such as peace and the welfare of the community. Such prayer should meet the spiritual sensibilities of both parties, finding its inspiration in our common faith in the One God." Guidelines for Catholic-Jewish Relations 7, National Conference of Catholic Bishops (1985)
Prayer and Interreligious Relations
"These religions, possessing as they do, a splendid patrimony of religious writings, have taught generations of men how to pray." Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi 53 (1975)
"Furthermore, it is consonant with the Christian message of unity and love to insist especially on 'what human beings have in common and on what promotes fellowship among them' (Nostra Aetate 1)." John Paul II, To the Indian Community of Rome (June 12, 1986)
"Among these [traces, seeds, and rays of truth] there is undoubtedly prayer, often accompanied by fasting, by other penances and by pilgrimage to sacred places held in great veneration. We respect this prayer even though we do not intend to make our own those formulas that express other views of faith. Nor would the others, on their part, wish to adopt our prayers." John Paul II, General Audience (October 22, 1986)
"We can indeed maintain that every authentic prayer is called forth by the Holy Spirit, who is mysteriously present in the heart of every person." John Paul II, To the Roman Curia (December 22, 1986)
Among the forms of interreligious dialogue is "the dialogue of religious experience, where persons, rooted in their own religious traditions, share their spiritual riches, for instance with regard to prayer and contemplation, faith and ways of searching for God or the Absolute." Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Dialogue and Proclamation 42 (1991)
Program for Assisi (October 27, 1986)
9:00 a.m. Pope John Paul II greeted each delegation assembled for the event and said a word of welcome and explanation of the reason for the gathering
11:00 a.m. Each of ten major religious groups retired to a separate building and prayed for peace according to their beliefs, rites and traditions
No lunch Participants fasted throughout the day.
2:30 p.m. Each group made a silent pilgrimage from its place of prayer to the front of the lower Basilica of St. Francis. At assigned times, each group came forward to a platform and offered a five-minute prayer for peace with chants, distribution of olive branches, a spoken commitment to peace, and a closing address by the pope.
Breaking fast A frugal meal (no wine, no meat) was offered to participants.
Concluding Ceremony (Interreligious Assembly, Vatican City, October 28, 1999)
Fasting No lunch was served on the final day of the assembly
3:00 p.m. Various religious groups met together in prayer at assigned stations to pray according to their beliefs, rites and traditions
5:00 p.m. Groups silently processed to the steps in front of the Basilica of St. Peter.
5:30 p.m. –Welcome address by Assembly Director
–Representative religious leaders lit 5 cauldrons at the base of the steps
–Various choral groups (from the Synagogue of Rome, a combined Christian and Muslim choir of the Focolare Movement, musicians, singers from an evening concert at the assembly, and delegates) provided music and chants.
–Individual testimonies to interreligious dialogue and cooperation (Jewish Muslim, Hindu, Catholic and Protestant) alternating with musical interludes
–Reading of the message prepared and adopted by the assembly
–Address by John Paul II
–Moments of silence (darkness had fallen and church bells marked the hour)
–Lighting of candles from the 5 cauldrons and distributed to all assembled
–A blessing from the pope
–Joint preparation: involve representatives of the various groups in the planning
–For services with Christians and Jews: consider the recitation of psalms and readings from the Old Testament; if a rabbi or other Jewish representative participates in evening prayer or a similar service: consider inviting him or her to recite a psalm or psalm verse
–For services with Jews, Christians or Muslims: consider using these psalms selected by a trilateral committee: 1, 19, 23, 31, 34, 37, 46, 57, 63, 91, 100, 103, 112, 113, 127, 141, 145
–For interreligious services, certain ritual actions add to the solemnity of the occasion and unify those assembled without compromising their beliefs and rites:
–Processing, walking on pilgrimage from one sanctuary to the next
–Fasting
–Lighting a lamp, lamps, a candle, passing a flame through candles to individuals
–Lighting incense, sweet grass, sage, smudging participants and the assembly
–Use of bells, horns, drums and other instruments singly or combined
–Reciting a general examination of conscience
–Keeping moments of silence together or having an interval of silent meditation
–Sharing a sign of peace
–Recitation of a common message agreed upon in advance by representatives
–For interreligious services, time can be allotted for each to pray in their own tradition
–Reading or reciting a passage from their scriptures, perhaps on a common theme
–Offer a prayer in one's own tradition while others listen in respectful silence
–Choral groups or individuals singing hymns or chants from their traditions
–Hospitality: assign ministers of hospitality and provide appropriate food and drink afterwards