In a recent article quoting Monsignor Georg Ratzinger's new
book, My Brother The Pope, he remarked that “an almost pagan way of life
has taken root” amongst many of today’s Catholics and others in society.
The observation was that remembering and thanking God for His daily gifts were absent in most people’s lives today. “It
starts with sitting down at table and beginning a meal without even thinking
about prayer, an it ends with no longer coming to church regularly”.
The article includes another
interesting personal fact that Monsignor Ratzinger and his brother grew up in a
devoutly Catholic household where the family would pray daily to St Dismas, a
“good thief” who allegedly died alongside Jesus on the cross, to protect their
father, a policeman. Praying
to some other entity than God for protection is a clear instance of major
Shirk.
Many of us are guilty of taking God’s
daily gifts for granted. What does God have to do with getting paid for
being smart and having a great life? We are blind to God’s mercy and grace in
our success, much less be thankful to him. Herein lies the path to minor shirk for the unaware.
The illustration of a family
praying to some other entity for protection, a former thief in this case, is an
illustration of major Shirk and a clear violation of the First Commandment. Many who pray to saints
and entities other than God will not dispute the supremacy of God but argue
that their lowly spiritual station in life as a result of sinfulness requires
a spiritual intermediary who is a more keen and sympathetic listener than God and would
make their case better heard with God.
These beliefs assume that the
once human saint’s spirit was conferred extraordinary powers by God to match
the desires of the humans who conferred sainthood on him. The very idea of this
is a clear example of major Shirk.
There is a place for great men
and saints in our prayers. We ask God to bless them and have mercy on them and
their families for the great and good things they did in their lives. If those great souls are informed of our
prayers, they may reciprocate a request to God in our favor.
There is no disputing the good
and great deeds of the saints or prophets and the desire to remember and honor them. The issue is not if but how it should be done in our prayers where
the major caveat is to avoid committing shirk.
To those whose religious
traditions include the mention of saints, prophets and holy men in your
prayers, please take care of your intentions and beliefs before God. Beware violating the
First Commandment.
