Here is an article by Dawn Eden which I wanted to address before too much time expires. She highlights the fact that the the woman who confronted the radical Jihadists who had just brutally killed the soldier in the street of London got her courage from her Catholic faith that enables here to see the importance of lives of those who would have been put in danger if she did not put herself in danger. In a time when we are having so many Jihad incidents like this it brings up how our Catholic faith could be the solution. It is interesting that an article that is listed as “related” on Dawn Eden’s article over at Patheos.com is by Msgr. Charles Pope titled “Mary and the Muslim World: Is She the Key to Evangelization?” from a few years back, suggesting a decidedly Marian key.
Here is the interview with Ingrid and an excerpt from Dawn Eden’s article followed by excerpts from Msgr. Pope’s:
Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, the mother of two and former Scout leader who calmly confronted the Woolwich killers in hope of preventing further bloodshed, credits her heroic actions to her Catholic faith. The Telegraph reports:
Around her neck, she wears a small gold cross, encrusted with rubies and diamonds. She is a practising Catholic and partly credits her faith for how she acted. “I live my life as a Christian,” she explains. “I believe in thinking about others and loving thy neighbour. We all have a duty to look after each other. A whole group of people walking towards those guys would have found it easy to take those weapons out of their hands. But me, on my own, I couldn’t.” [Read the full interview.]
Her Catholic values also come through in the video interview above, when she is asked why she wasn’t scared to confront the murderers. Her answer: “Better me than a child.”
I have often heard that Muslims hold our Blessed Mother Mary in high regard. This reverence may stop short of devotion but there is said to be a respect for her in the Muslim tradition.
Now, I first learned this from the great Archbishop, Fulton Sheen in his book, The World’s First Love. I read it 25 years ago and have pondered it ever since. I would like to present excerpts from the chapter entitled “Mary and the Moslems” [sic], reflect on its significance and ask a few questions. Please note that the book was written in 1952 and therefore some of the spellings are not the modern ones. Here are the excerpts:
The Koran, which is the Bible of the Moslems, has many passages concerning the Blessed Virgin. First of all, the Koran believes in her Immaculate Conception, and also, in her Virgin Birth…..The Koran also has verses on the Annunciation, Visitation, and Nativity. Angels are pictured as accompanying the Blessed Mother
More at: “Mary and the Muslim World: Is She the Key to Evangelization?”
Msgr. Pope not only connects the many reference to Mary in the Koran but also how she appeared at Fatima a town in Portugal named after the other woman who is highly revered in Islam, the daughter of Muhammad. He also relates this to how Mary was so instrumental in the greatest conversion process in history at Mexico with Our Lady of Guadalupe.
He adds a touching finale with this video on the Ave Maria in Arabic:
