"The Archimedean point outside the world is the chamber in which the true worshiper prays with complete sincerity - it is here that he lifts the world from its corner. Yes, it's incredible what such a worshiper can do in there when he closes his door."

Kirkegard is a philosopher of religion

 

I was deeply touched by the visit of the Holy Father. I'm sure I'm not alone in this, but since then it hasn't left me alone, I've been looking for the answer ever since, it keeps me busy and makes me work hard.

Why? Because I am a Protestant Christian, more precisely an evangelical, who on several points, including the person of the Pope, have significantly different beliefs compared to the Roman Catholics: we do not have a pope, because for us Christ has no earthly vicar, the highest religious teaching, and also the most important source is the Holy Scriptures.

This has been the case since the Reformation (1517), Márton Luther's theses.

Another eternal topic of debate between denominations is the attitude towards the veneration of Mary, the difference in the teaching about Mary: the prayers of evangelicals do not include Mary, we do not pray to her, for her intercession, but only to God. We deeply respect Mary as the mother of the Savior Jesus Christ, but Luther's Magnificat is the reference point: "...She is rightly called the Queen of Heaven, but let us not exaggerate, let us not make her into an idol, a goddess who can give or help, and to whom we beg and flee, as to God. Not he, but only God gives everything..."

And still!

How many times have I lived and experienced how, as a Hungarian evangelical, when I participate in a Catholic Mass, I am still touched by the singing together of our Blessed Mother, its beautiful text, and petition! How many times have I sung with tears in Csíksomlyo in the church or up in the saddle during the Pentecost mass...

I don't know if Luther knew how deep the Hungarians' respect and love for the Blessed Virgin Mary originates, even from ancient times, from the times before Jesus, from where it was inherited, and that later, without an heir, our King St. Stephen was left to her, the mother of Jesus Christ , he offered it to Mária-Boldogasszony, he placed the Holy Crown and Hungary under her protection!

This is the Regnum Marianum… the Kingdom of Mary…

This has become an incomprehensible, unparalleled historical and heartfelt heritage of the entire Hungarian nation, regardless of denominations and liturgies! In the depths of our collective consciousness, the imprint is indelible, eternal. For my part, I have already reconciled with myself that Mária lives in this way in my evangelical consciousness, and I undertake this.

Then, when it became certain that Pope Francis would come to us again, I asked myself how I stood with him. I wonder if he will now be able to give me, as an evangelical, some essential guidance that I was also waiting for in Csíksomlyo? Because he couldn't do it there, somehow he wasn't the real one, he "didn't come through", if I may put it so profanely. A thick, heavy, cold fog descended on the saddle, we could hardly see to the altar, but that was not the reason... I felt that the Holy Spirit did not flow from him, he did not touch me, I did not bring home any of his words. I was deeply disappointed. The Eucharistic Congress in Budapest was a great success, but I was still waiting to see if something real would touch me, maybe there would be a cathartic moment...

We witnessed beautiful sacred events during these three days, such as what happened in the Basilica, when he was able to hold the reliquary of St. Right in his hands, but since he could not be alone with it, he could not "enter his chamber" ...

... until the Mass at Kossuth Square arrived. The TV broadcast brought her face quite close, as she turns her back on the square after the mass, and stands for a long time in front of the copy of the Máriapócs icon, deeply absorbed in herself. I shuddered. I don't know if it was really like that, but I felt that he "managed to close his door", he is in there, in his "closet", praying sincerely and silently. Quoting Sándor Sík, this was his "private prayer" that became one with what was roaring from the throats of tens of thousands behind him: "About Hungary, our sweet country, don't forget the poor Hungarians."

Later, I looked back several times and stopped the recording. I wasn't wrong, it was a moment of grace. He could pray with complete sincerity and "raise the world from its corner."

… how did I get travel tips from him?

I, your Hungarian Lutheran brother in the ecumenism, greet you in my soul, Our God, Holy Father, is a strong fortress!

Author: Ködszürkáló

Photo: own screenshot

Source used:

https://medit.lutheran.hu/files/2012_reuss_andras_maria.pdf

https://www.magyarkurir.hu/hirek/sik-sandor-az-imadsaggal-mint-kotellel-isten-fele-huzzuk-magunka