#ecumenism

It's more important to have a relationship with God than to be doctrinally correct. It's more important that the church can be open to all people than it is to always agree. It's more important to tolerate difference than to promote dogma. And it's more important to share our differences than it is to remain pure in our denominationalism.

i am Protestant since i was a little girl, but i come from a non-practising Catholic family. i have a deep deep respect for Pope Leo XIV, as had i for Francis (may his memory be a blessing), both as men and as clergy, and there are certain Catholic things i am drawn to. i do the sign of the cross sometimes as a clutching-my-pearls gesture, and i adore rosaries as a concept. i bought myself one back in the day, and i used it to wrap around my hand to have something tangible to keep my ADHD in line while i pray and make me focus easier, but the chain snapped and i took it as a sign. i do feel like i want to get a new one though. but this is where it stops.

yesterday i was writing a certain text i needed God for, so i swung myself into a Catholic church in between classes to curl up in the back pew and scribble into my notepad. the next thing i notice, the young priest who just walked out of the confessionary box next to me is already vested, so i was like okay... now would be a really awkward time to run so i'm staying. i need to pass time anyway.

i am a respectful girl, okay? when in Rome, i act like the Romans. i genuflect, i do the sign of the cross, i shake hands, i echo what little i picked up from previous experiences with Catholic mass. i, very firmly, don't take the Eucharist – i don't belong here, communion in my faith is different, i don't play about that.

but the feeling that stays with me, no matter how many (4) times i have attended mass in recent memory (i have a long standing Conclave [2024] hyperfixation okay?) is that the liturgy is beautiful, the churches are beautiful, visually i really love watching it, but i feel the same way as if i was attending a university lecture. i'm just curling up in the back row and watching and learning. but each time i can pray, i'm asking God "forgive me, that i can't focus on you, but i feel like an alien here, i'm not comfortable. i do not belong, this is not mine".

Diagrams for an Ecumenical Divine Mercy Chaplet on Different Bead Layouts

I've developed these adaptations to help Christians from different traditions pray an ecumenical version of the Catholic Divine Mercy Chaplet, no matter which prayer bead layout they have.

If you'd prefer diagrams for praying the original words of the Chaplet on Anglican or Lutheran beads, you can find them here.

As always, when adapting Catholic rosaries and chaplets, I make no claims about the traditional promises associated with the original or whether they apply to adaptations. I have great respect for my Catholic siblings, and don't intend to present these adaptations as better than the original.

To God be all the glory.

When it comes to adapting the Divine Mercy Chaplet, I was faced with some interesting decisions. If you want to read more about my process, or you would like to see all of the prayers and scriptures written out, check below the cut!

Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury

The Lord calls each of us to be builders of unity; and although we are not yet one, our imperfect communion should not prevent us from walking together. […] Our differences do not diminish the importance of the things that unite us: they cannot prevent us from recognizing one another as brothers and sisters in Christ by reason of our common baptism.

Please know this is said with the utmost respect to the Jews of the world. So, I have been doing a good amount of thinking on my Christianity and something broke in my head. Or fixed. Perspective is a marvelous thing.

So, I am converting to Judaism. I have found a rabbi who is willing to bear with me (the third one I reached out to funny enough). I set aside my feelings of insecurity, of being rejected for my Catholic upbringing, for feeling like "the Jews have been through enough," and finally realized that the path I was on *was* Jewish, even if I wasn't there yet. I did a lot of research--a LOT a lot of research--which included talking to another Jewish conversion student friend of mine.

I showed up to a workshop at this congregation. It's a Reconstructionist congregation. The listing on the course page *did* say all were welcome, but I definitely decided to be bold and inform the rabbi I was coming instead of asking for permission. I was aware of my potential gaffe so I showed up with a plate of cookies. After a deep breath, I walked in, set down the plate, and got settled. A few bits of idle chatter later, the rabbi introduced me and mentioned the cookies I had brought. In my insecurity, I blurted out "it's a bribe" and half the people present called back in eerie unison "you're in!"

Now, that was the miracle. If you're familiar with Jewish conversion practices, the Jews do not (usually) seek conversions. They usually are more than happy to accept converts. Your mileage may vary and do be patient with Jews who are simply hurting from 2000 years of antisemitism. It isn't you, but a bit of kindness can do a world of difference. When you seek conversion, you reach out to a rabbi and work with them on your journey. The time varies but it's usually 6 months to 2 years. Traditionally, when you're ready you stand in front of three rabbis and answer questions to test if you're a good fit. Once that is done AMAB individuals get circumcised (sometimes this is ceremonial and not real) and all converts (traditionally) are immersed in a mikvah (think of it like a Jewish baptism, but it's much more nuanced).

Now, less traditional rabbis--especially Reconstructionist rabbis--are much less strict on the technicalities of conversion. Circumcision and immersion are not always required and the Jewish dissertation defense is frequently informal. But you do need other Jews to tell you that you are a Jew. So *technically* I had done a long period of study and self reflection under the tutelage of another more experienced (potentially) Jewish person and been told by a group of more than three Jews that "I'm in." Hat trick complete! I've checked the boxes!

Of course, I'm not Jewish. Not yet, at least. The door might be open but I still need to be the one to walk through it. I need to believe it. Ultimately, the other Jews might have seen something in me that I am still nervous about. I came with earnestness and humility. I had a sense of humor. I was bold enough to swim against the current but humble enough to seek a way to minimize the potential hurt on these vulnerable Jews. I even brought food! And in the end, that is so very Jewish. And the insecurity is probably the most Jewish thing about me.

In general, medieval philosophers across the old world were aware of the various religions and traditions that existed and referenced them freely. What made them distinct was often the theological or cosmological basis of their logic, but similarities were also common. Christianity’s Aquinas and Islam’s Avicenna were both interested in adjusting Aristotelian philosophy to fit a monotheistic framework, for example.

Ancient philosophers and theologians (inasmuch as there was a distinction between them) who subscribed to the Abrahamic tradition shared more in common with each other than any other tradition, and in fact many later developments such as secularism and religious tolerance were first introduced in the Muslim world. Even if two philosophers were of different faiths, they recognized the wisdom of other traditions and used them as the basis of their own work often enough.

The depiction of Christianity and Islam as two religions that have been at odds from the beginning is no mere oversimplification. It is a falsehood, especially in the realm of thought. Rulers and militant sects of all faiths have always existed and exploited religious differences for their own gain, but cooperation and coexistence are always an option.