February 13, 2008 – There seems to be a disturbing trend developing in some parts of the world when we start comparing Catholic events in terms of their similarity or relationship to other non-Catholic religious observances. A great example is the recent statement on the part of the Dutch Catholic Church that they have renamed the season of Lent as the Christian Ramadan. The entire matter seems to take on a new understanding when one more deeply understands the motivation of the Dutch Bishops to make this change. Seemingly, the Dutch bishops felt that reconsidering our Catholic season of lent as compared with Islamic observance would make it more relative to the youth of the Dutch Church. From reports, younger Dutch Catholics have no appreciation for the penitential norms and activities that were commonly associated with Lent before the changes of the Second Vatican Council. They can identify with their Islamic neighbors and their manner of prayer and fasting during their holy month. It seems, for young Catholics in Dutch countries, acts of charity are more fashionable for Lenten tide and the Islamic tradition offers a larger appeal.

If indeed this is the case in Dutch Catholicism, perhaps this misguided appreciation of the entire Catholic Lenten season needs to be addressed on a larger basis. Lent is not our Catholic time of Ramadan. They are not related and Catholics throughout the world should not "relativize" the historical, theological and social foundations of the Church's liturgical calendar. Lent is the preparation period for Catholics that precedes the great celebration of Easter, our new life in Christ Jesus. Penitential observances, catechesis, ritual celebrations, fasting and scripture study are all part of our preparatory season of Lent, however these activities are not comparatible to Islamic prayer and dietary regulations.

In addition to penitential actions, and reflection on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, Lent offers for all Catholics the opportunity for personal and communal introspection that is based not on the observations of a strictly regulated fast, rather the spiritual participation in a liturgical, and prayerful banquet for our physical senses and a refreshing of our interior souls. As faithful Catholics, acts of charity are part of our everyday appreciation of the sacredness of all peoples, and Lent is not just the time that characterizes Catholic actions as charity…our entire faith is founded upon the proclamation of Jesus to, "Love one another!"

If in fact we as Catholics are using the ritual practices of other faiths as compatible expressions of our own Catholic identity, we are participating in a very dangerous precedent. Our entire sacramental and liturgical celebrations are intended to uniquely distinguish us from other faiths and religions. If in fact, our national communities are abandoning our Catholic uniqueness and justifying a comparison with Islamic practices there is something seriously wrong in our teaching practices and understanding of our Catholic identity.

Yes, there are admirable points to the observation of Ramadan. However, Catholics are not Islamic and they do not celebrate Lent as a similar example of Islamic Ramadan. It has been said on numerous occasions that the Catholic Church is engaged in a new struggle of faith against the religion of Mohamed. Such explicit correlations between Catholic and Islamic observances are inappropriate and plainly wrong. As Catholic faithful our observation and celebration of the great Lenten period needs no comparison for comprehension by our youth or any age group for that matter. This misinterpretation of purpose that is prevalent in the Dutch church indicates the ever-growing need for global Catholic observation of our practices and activities. Our sacred liturgies, our penitential seasons our public expressions of prayer are what makes us uniquely Catholic and present Jesus Christ to the world in a revolutionary manner…based upon the law of love. Any similarity between religious ritual observations with our Islamic cousins in monotheism is accidental and should not be emulated by our faithful Catholic people.

Maybe we need to restore a deeper sense of fasting and penance in our celebration of Lent, not under the scrutiny of ritualistic law, but in the intended spirit of the law of love, that calls all Catholic believers to a transformed life in Christ Jesus.



Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author that writes freelance works on topics that involve Catholicism. He writes a daily column, verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com . He can be reached at hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com

Other Recent Stories:	Post a comment Name * Email * Comment Enter letters from picture * * You must fill the fields marked with a red asterisk.