www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West A Catholic with a Muzuzah?

As a Roman Catholic I have felt the need to reach out and embrace traditions of the Eastern Churches as well as some Jewish traditions. Since I feel all three are the holy foundation of our faith. Jesus was a faithful Jew, followed the customs and taught in the synagogues. As a believer in Jesus is it wrong of me to embrace some of the religious traditions that he and the chosen people practice?

I have been mainly inclined to buy a mezuzah for my front door. A blessing to the house, a constant reminder of the word of God, and as instructed in the old testament in Deuteronomy. I think touching it as I enter and leave is a beautiful act.

Deuteronomy 11:20-21
And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.


Does anyone have any thoughts?

My second part is� perhaps I am asking the first question because of ingrained Roman legalism. I feel a bit guilty whenever I embrace anything outside the Roman Rite. However I do feel that the Jewish religion is the foundation of our relationship with God and that the Orthodox, Easter Rites and Roman rites all have holy traditions that in combination would lead to a fuller Christian experience. Second question, is my approach improper? Should I feel quilty about blending traditions?

Your views and comment appreciated.

A link about the mezuzah http://www.judaism.com/mezuzah/about.asp

Perhaps it would be Holy if all Christians had a muzuzah. We share the Old Testament with our Jewish brothers and sisters. There blessings and commandments are ours too.

I think we could all use God's blessings on our homes and children. And the prayer recited when touching it is one of faith and asking for protection.

I came across someone asking the same muzuzah question to a Catholic Priest in the Archdiocese of Winnipeg here is the the Q & A

Dear Father Peter,

Can a Catholic have a mezuzah with the Shema inside of it over the doorways in thier home? Would this be an insult to Jesus? I would love to have this prayer in Jewish tradition in my house, what do you think, is it ok?

Thank you and God Bless you,
Helena

Answer: Dear Helena,

That Hebrew invocation "Shema Yisrael, Adonai Elihenu, Adonai erhad..." (Remember Israel, the Lord God, the Lord is one) so sacred in the Jewish faith is quoted too by Jesus from Deuteronomy (6:4-9) when he was asked what is the greatest commandment. So to have this most beautiful of texts on your doorpost (mezuzah) as a reminder would surely not be an insult to Jesus but rather give emphasis to his word. I would doubt that any of our Jewish brothers or sisters would be offended either.

Shalom!
Fr. Peter

There is a custom among Byzantine Christians (particularly Slavs, I believe) of a "doorkeeper" icon of the Theotokos. I have kept her icon inside my doorway everywhere I've lived for about 15 years and it is a wonderful comfort to venerate the icon when coming & especially when going, whether it's to work, out to the store, or on a long trip. I wouldn't be surprised if the "doorkeeper" icon had its roots in this Jewish custom.

Mike,
Sure its okay!
Just dont have yourself circumcized and insist that you have to do to be saved and you will be fine.
Stephanos I
Use to have one myself but now have adopted the Icon idea at the entrance to my home.

I think a mezuzah is a wonderful way for faithful to remember God's blessings and presence. My wife and I had one on the door of our home for several years before we moved. We may need to get another one, come to think of it .

Slava Isusu Christu!
Glenn
;-)##

Thanks for all your imput. I really appreciate it. I was feeling guilt, now I feel better about ordering a muzuzah for my home.

Already circumcized.. but thanks for asking. lol

Dear MKE,

Actually, I want to thank you for starting this thread and bringing up these fascinating questions.

I grew up in a house formerly owned by a Jewish family that had mezzuzahs on all the doorways and my parents left them alone. This Jewish family, I should add, also displayed an icon of the Mother of God . . .

Lemko raised the intriguing point about the Portal Icon of the Mother of God and there certainly is a Jewish connection here.

Our Jewish brothers and sisters have what they call a "Mizrah" frame, a framed picture of Jerusalem or another them that is placed in the Eastern corner of the home so that they will always know to face East when praying as a family. This is like our icon corner . . .

When Jews entered or left their homes, they would touch the mezzuzah and pray the Shema. As Lemko notes, we of the East also pray before and after entering our homes and Churches - at the door, I mean.

St Alphonsus Liguori notes the practice once prevalent in the West of saying a Hail Mary before and after entering a home, and then kissing the shrine of the Virgin Mary that should be somewhere in the doorway.

The portal icon or any icon for that matter should be in our doorway so that we can say the "Entrance and Departure Bows" and the Old Believers have a very developed ritual here.

They make the Sign of the Cross with three metanias or bows to the waste before their portal icon saying the Prayer of the Publican. Then they say the prayer "It is truly Meet" to the MOther of God and make a bow to the floor - using a pillow so as not to soil the hands.

Then the Glory be with three more bows to the waste ending with the praying:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, by the prayers of Thy Most Pure Mothers, the protection of Thy Precious and Life-Giving Cross, the intercession of my Holy Guardian Angel (one's Patron Name-Saint, the Saints of the day) and all Thy Saints, have mercy and save me a sinner, for Thou art Good and a Lover of Mankind. Amen.

And this ends with another bow to the ground. These prayers are said in the doorway, coming and leaving house, Church and other people's homes and when entering and leaving a cemetery.

The Oriental Christians, especially the Ethiopians who have a very full measure of Judaism in their liturgical practice, do reverence and kiss the doorposts of their churches as they enter in, and actually say the Shema, as did, at one time, the Celtic Christian monks.

When a priest blesses a home in our tradition, he will walk around making Crosses on the doorposts and also throughout the house.

I have a small altar stand at home and I love walking around it, reverencing its four corners the "horns of the altar."

I think that's rather, well, neat!

I've also taken to wearing the Ethiopian prayer shawl, that looks like a Jewish prayer shawl, except with crosses . . .

Do you think I need help?

Alex

Nah, I don't think you need help.
However, I would always be late for work If I had to do the Old Orthodox ritual before leaving. I think having a Muzuah as instructed in Dueteronomy and reverently touching it as I leave and enter is what my spirit was seeking. I am very happy to hear that it meets approval here and with God as well.

Dear MKE,

There are Christian suppliers in the Holy Land who make "Christian Mezzuzahs" with Crosses on them etc.

I once had one . . .

One problem is that the scrolls to be placed in them can really be costly, as you know, as they are transcribed by hand by Rabbis.

The Christian ones come quite cheaply though.

And the Cross is a real bonus too!

If you like, you might want to contact the website of the Hebrew Catholic Association.

Alex

Thanks Alex,

I will look into that site. I am currently looking online and yes, the scrolls are quite expensive. Kosher, non-kosher, etc.. I didn't know there was so much to it.

Dear MIKE,

Yes, but the Christian Holy Land sites give very reasonable prices for mezzuzoi, prayer shawls etc.

Why not go all the way?

The original Rosary given to St Dominic was actually a cord rosary, with knots and a tassel, much like the Eastern prayer rope.

And this tradition came from the Jewish tradition of knots and tassels as worn on the prayer shawls.

Neat, eh?

Alex

A "doorkeeper" icon is a tradition my parents taught me, and I think it's great.

Currently, my "doorkeeper" is an icon of the Descent into Hades. Not VERY traditional, I admit, but I like it.

And - yes, I have jokingy referred to it as my "Muzuzah" from time to time.

Yours,

halychanyn

Thanks again alexs. Please include any links you feel would be useful. I'll take your advice and go all the way.

Dear Halychanyn,

Very good - brilliant in fact!

Alex

Dear Alex:

Resurrectional Tropar - Tone 2. I get it!

Yours,

halychanyn