Secretary of Council for Interfaith Dialogue : Mary a model for Christian-Muslim dialogue

(Vatican Radio/VIS) The Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has addressed an Islamic-Christian Prayer Meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, speaking about the importance of the Virgin Mary to Catholics and Muslims. Speaking Tuesday on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, a national holiday recognized by Lebanese of both faiths, Fr. Miguel Angel Ayuso highlighted the great respect with which Christians and Muslims alike hold the Virgin Mary and offered her as a model for Islamic-Christian dialogue.

Fr. Ayuso emphasized that the feast of March 25th is “a true example of the co-existence between Muslims and Christians that characterizes Lebanese history, in the midst of so many difficulties, and which also constitutes an important example for many other nations”.

“Since Vatican Council II, the Catholic Church recognizes that Muslims honor the Virgin mother of Jesus, Mary, and invoke her with piety,” he said, noting that Mary is mentioned various times in the Koran. “Respect for her is so evident that when she is mentioned in Islam, it is usual to add 'Alayha l-salam' ('Peace be upon her'). Christians also willingly join in this invocation.”

Fr. Ayuso also noted the shrines dedicated to Mary which welcome both Muslims and Christians, particularly the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.

“Devotion creates sentiments of friendship: it is a phenomenon open to everyone. The cultural experiences that our communities can share encourage collaboration, solidarity and mutual recognition as sons and daughters of a single God, members of the same human family. Therefore, the Church addresses the followers of Islam with esteem. During the last fifty years, a dialogue of friendship and mutual respect has been constructed”.

Speaking of dialogue between Muslims and Christians, Fr. Ayuso explained that the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue “seeks to establish regular relationships with Muslim institutions and organizations, with the aim of promoting mutual understanding and trust, friendship and, where possible, collaboration. In fact, there exist agreements with various Muslim institutions enabling the possibility of holding periodical meetings, in accordance with the programs and procedures approved by both parties.”

With regard to the methods of interreligious dialogue and, therefore, the dialogue between Christians and Muslims, he stressed “we must recall that dialogue is a two-way form of communication. … It is based on witness of one's own faith and, at the same time, openness to the religion of the other. It is not a betrayal of the mission of the Church, and much less a new method of conversion to Christianity. The document 'Dialogue and Proclamation', published jointly by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Council for Interreligious Dialogue in 1991, identifies four different forms of interreligious dialogue: the dialogue of life, the dialogue of works, the dialogue of theological exchange and the dialogue of religious experience. These four forms demonstrate that it is not an experience confined to specialists”.

Fr. Ayuso concluded by analysing the role of Mary, in the light of the motto of the national holiday in Lebanon, “Together around Mary, Our Lady”. “In the Apostolic Exhortation 'Marialis Cultus', promulgated in 1974 by Pope Paul VI, Mary is presented as 'the Virgin who listens', 'the Virgin who prays', 'the Virgin in dialogue with God'. … But there is also the image of a model of dialogue of seeking when, addressing the Archangel Gabriel, she asks, 'How is it possible?'. Mary, a model for Muslims and Christians, is also a model of dialogue, teaching us to believe, not to close ourselves up in certainties, but rather to remain open and available to others”.