Posted on 04/10/2012 6:53:52 AM PDT by marshmallow
British soccer team owner and prominent philanthropist Ilyas Khan reflects on his conversion.
Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar was instrumental in helping Ilyas Khan, a British philanthropist and former Muslim, to become Catholic. But so too were many other distinctly Catholic influences, all amounting to a “pull” towards the faith rather than a “push” away from Islam.
Khan, a merchant banker by training and the owner of the Accrington Stanley soccer team, is also chairman of the prominent British charity Leonard Cheshire Disability — the largest organization in the world helping people with disabilities. In a revealing interview with Register Rome correspondent Edward Pentin, Khan explains in more detail what drew him to the Catholic Church.
What brought you to the faith? Was there anything in Islam, perhaps Muslims’ devotion to Our Lady, which helped you to convert?
Yes and no. Devotion to Our Lady on a personal basis is a big part of my faith, but at the same time, I know it wasn’t anything to do with my upbringing as a Muslim. My first tentative steps towards Catholicism were taken in my very early infancy. My mother was very ill at that time, and I was raised till about the age of 3 or 4 by a grandmother who was determinedly Catholic and Irish. I went to a Church school, and I think that when I started classes I didn’t think of myself as anything other than being Christian.
I also benefited from being brought up in Lancashire, up on the Pennines and close to the Ribble Valley. If there was ever a Catholic heartland in England, that was it — the great stronghold that never really acknowledged the Reformation.
Later on, when I was entering university, divine Providence intervened for a second time, and I stayed at Netherhall............
(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...
WELCOME new brother!
Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar was instrumental in helping Ilyas Khan, a British philanthropist and former Muslim, to become Catholic.”
That’s cool.
I’ll bet there are less than say a hundred soccer team owners who have read much von Balthasar.....
“Was there anything in Islam, perhaps Muslims’ devotion to Our Lady”
Whaaa...I had no idea there was anything about a female saint in Islam. More info, anybody?
Muslims’ devotion to Our Lady”
How is it possible to have a devotion to Our Lady and treat muslim women so poorly? The insanity of Islam.
There you go. It was in the article.
explains in more detail what drew him to the Catholic Church
Ah , Freedom ?
Read the article, that will explain it.
Apparently there are many secret Christians in Mohammedan countries — secret for obvious reasons.
This comment was most likely based on the fact that Mary is mentioned far more often in the Quran than in the New Testament. But “Devotion” in the context of Roman Catholic beliefs about praying for intercession by Saints is several leaps out there. Another Christian writer displaying a considerable lack of understanding and an overriding willingness to believe Islam is just a branch of the Judeo-Christian line.
“His mother is regarded as a chaste and virtuous woman and is said to have been a virgin.” -—Wikipedia
Additionally, Mary appeared at Fatima in 1917. The city in Spain is named after Mohammed’s daughter, so some Catholics speculate that the conversion of the Mohammedans will somehow come through Mary. Of course, all conversion is ultimately by grace.
The best source of information about the Muslims and their respect for the Mother of Jesus can be found by searching for an article by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen titled “Mary and the Muslims”.
He tells the history of the Muslims seemingly total resistance/obstinance to anything Christian in nature. Bishop Sheen speculates on an amazing event which took place in India when Many Muslims turned out for a parade in honor of Our Lady of Fatima. Sheen describes the emotional connection that Muslims have with Mary. They hold Mary in their hearts as the second most honorable woman ever born - the first is Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed. Read the story. It is worthwhile.
They consider Jesus a prophet, second only to Mohammed, so respect is due Him and His mother. But there is no such "devotion"
No such thing. There is no “moslem devotion to Our Lady”.
Thanks, I didn’t think so. It is amazing that muslims choose mohammed’s murderous teachings over the teachings of Jesus Christ.
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