RITUAL ITEMS FROM JUDEO-CHRISTIAN-ISLAMIC TRADITIONS Sacred Art of Living & Dying Islam 1. MIHRAB PRAYER RUG The Islamic Prayer rug plays an important role in the life of devotion and prayer. The designs are reminiscent of the soul’s immortality thus the rug becomes a symbolic gateway and reminder of eternal life which a person turns their attention towards five times daily. The act of praying on these prayer rugs is considered to be an act of respect towards God who is called Allah in the tradition. As cleanliness is required during prayer, the rug contributes to the process of staying clean. In the Islamic religion, prayer rugs are often lavishly made from silk and decorated with intricate designs both floral and geometric. They are dyed with natural colors extracted from plants such as indigo and walnuts. There is a niche, or mihrab , in one wall of every mosque facing Mecca, which represents the portal to heaven. Design on a prayer rug also includes an arch called the rug's mihrab reminding that prayer is also a ‘gateway to paradise.’
2. QIBLA COMPASS The Qibla Compass determines the direction of the Qiblah (Ka'bah in Mecca). A Qibla Compass is widely used by Muslims in the Islamic religion to determine the precise direction of Mecca for prayer five times each day. When a person is dying, the Qibla is used to determine how to turn the person’s body in the direction of respect. “From wherever Thou go forth, turn Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque; that is indeed the place from where the Lord revealed truth and Allah will not be unmindful of whatever you shall do.” Qur’an 2: 149-150
3. KOR’AN WITH REHAL STAND literally "the recitation"; also sometimes transliterated as Qur’ān, Koran, is the central ان :The Qur’an [1] (Arabic religious text or scripture of Islam. Muslims believe the Qur’an to be the book of divine guidance and direction for mankind, and consider the original Arabic text to be the final revelation of God. The reciting of the Koran is an art known by most Muslims. The most frequently used technique normally involves sitting on the ground with the book inthe lap or placed on a specially made book stand. This sitting position resembles the lotus position in eastern religions. The reading technique uses a rhythm with around 60 beats a minute. The performance of this rhythm, is done with both torso, swaying a little in an oval shape, as well as with the voice and the speed of reading which makes the reading of the Koran a meditative moment for a Muslim and a ritual that can be performed anywhere anytime.
4. TASBIH PRAYER BEADS In Islam, prayer beads are referred to as Misbaha or Tasbih, and contain 99 beads, corresponding to the 99 Names of Allah. Sometimes only 33 beads are used, in which case one would cycle through them 3 times to equal 99. Use of the misbaha to count prayers and recitations is an evolution of Muhammad's practice of using the fingers of his right hand to keep track. As in many spiritual traditions, prayer beads are a form of meditation and have been used at the bedside of the sick and dying as a means of comfort and supporting a person’s breathing.
5. BAKHOOR ARABIAN INCENSE Arabian Bakhoor is incense derived from the Sandalwood tree, Agarwood tree, frankincense and natural oils (the exact combination of materials is the art of incense making]. The different ingredients are mixed together to make various Bakhoors which are then burned on an incense burner for ritual purification and the purifying of space for prayer. Bakhoor is used in some Islamic cultures as a means of cleansing space after a person’s death. Let my prayer rise like incense, my hands like an evening offering… Psalm 141
6. TALIBAH GRADUATION BOARD In some Arab cultures a young man or woman memorizes the entire Kor’an as an adolescent rite of passage. They are given a hand-made Talibah board as a graduation gift, signed by their teacher. On the back, they write their own special prayer that will be said daily as a reminder to remind them of the shortness of life and the inevitability of death. This board from Morocco was given to the Groves by a boy’s father who was killed just after his rite of passage. His prayer is, “May I forgive all.”
RITUAL ITEMS FROM JUDEO-CHRISTIAN-ISLAMIC TRADITIONS Sacred Art of Living & Dying Judaism 1. MENORAH is a seven branched candelabrum and has been a symbol of Judaism for almost ,( מנורה : The menorah (Hebrew 3000 years. It was used in the ancient Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Lit by olive oil in the Tabernacle, the menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish people. It is said to symbolize the burning bush as seen by Moses on Mount Horeb (cf. Exodus 3). The Menorah is also a symbol closely associated with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. After the desecration of the Temple in Jerusalem, there was only enough consecrated oil left to fuel the eternal flame for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days which was enough time to make new pure oil. The menorah is a symbol of light and life, death and life. The Hanukkah story becomes a metaphor for the perennial challenge of the human condition-- finding hope in the midst of personal loss and tragedy. Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield
2. YAHRZEIT CANDLE & KADDISH SERVICE Jews commemorate the anniversary of the death of loved ones by lighting a small candle, called a Yahrzeit candle, which burns throughout the 24-hour day of the anniversary of death. The flame of the candle is a potent symbol of the flame of life that once burned brightly and illumined the lives of loved ones who mourn the loss. The date of the Aramaic : "holy") is a קדיש ) anniversary of the death of a loved one is determined by the Hebrew calendar. Kaddish great liturgical prayer that is often used to refer specifically to "The Mourners' Kaddish," said as part of the mourning rituals in Judaism in all prayer services as well as at funerals and memorials. ‘The Lord will give life to the dead and raise them to eternal life and rebuild the city of Jerusalem.” from the Burial Kaddish
3. LACRYMARIUM : TEAR CUP FROM ISRAEL In the time of the Romans, Jews participated in the customary practice of storing their tears in a tear cup, also known as a tear vase or Lacrymarium in Latin. The tear-shaped cups had a flaring rim, which was placed under the eye to catch the tears as they were shed. The cup was then corked and stored. The shedding of tears was an important part of showing grief and professional mourners were hired at funerals (Jeremiah 9:17-22). Tear cups were especially the property of men [many have been found in soldier’s barracks] as an invitation to express grief and emotion. A vessel for catching tears is first mentioned in Psalm 56:8, where David cries in pain to God, “Put my tears in your bottle”.
4. BALM OF GILEAD Balm of Gilead is a healing compound (a balm) made from the resinous gum of the tree species Populus candicans . It takes its name from the allusive phrase "balm in Gilead", referring to the balm or balsam carried from Gilead by the caravan of merchants to whom Joseph was sold by his brothers (Genesis chapter 37). Balm is known to have special healing properties and is used in many anointing rituals. Botanists say that even if a person lost their sense of smell, the odor of this balm is always detectable. There is a balm way down in Gilead that heals the broken heart… African-American Spiritual
5. MORAVIAN HAGGADAH A magnificent Facsimile of the Haggadah, the exact replica of original was written on parchment in 1737. Haggadah is a Jewish religious text that sets out the order of the Passover Seder Haggadah, meaning "telling," is ( הגדה :Hebrew) a fulfillment of the scriptural commandment to each Jew to "tell your children" about the liberation from slavery in Egypt, as described in the book of Exodus in the Torah. The Haggadah is the perfect metaphor for the sick and dying; it is our story confirmed through Great Story. Rabbi Edwin Friedman
6. TALLIT & YARMULKE also called tallis is a prayer shawl worn during morning Jewish services (the Shacharit ,( טַלִּית :The tallit (Hebrew prayers) in Judaism, during the Torah service, on Yom Kippur, and other holidays. It has special twined and knotted fringes known as tzitzit attached to its four corners. It is often used as a burial garment as well. A kippah or yarmulke is a thin, slightly-rounded skullcap traditionally worn at all times by Orthodox Jewish men, and by both men and women in some Renewal communities during services. Its use is associated with demonstrating reverence for God. Speak to the children of Israel and bid them to affix fringes to the corners of their garments... that you may look upon them and remember all the commandments of the Lord. Numbers 15:37-41 RITUAL ITEMS FROM JUDEO-CHRISTIAN-ISLAMIC TRADITIONS Sacred Art of Living & Dying Christianity
1. ORTHODOX ANTIMENSION The Antimension (Greek "instead of the table"; (Антиминс in Russian ] Slavonic: Antimíns ) is one of the most important liturgical furnishings in many Eastern Christian liturgical traditions. It is a rectangular piece of cloth, either linen or silk, typically decorated with representations of the Descent of Christ from the Cross, the four Evangelists, and inscriptions related to the Passion. A small relic of a martyr is sewn into it. It is not permitted to celebrate the Eucharist without an antimension which is kept in the center of the Holy Table (altar) and is unfolded only during the Divine Liturgy. The Antimension displayed here is from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. An Antimension is laid on the sick person who becomes the ‘altar’ for final communion. Armenian Orthodox Ritual
2. COPTIC ANKH HAND CROSS Coptic Christianity traces its lineage to the second century through St. Mark, the Evangelist. Its unique art and ritual was influenced by two main sources: the Hellenic world and the ancient Egyptian world. The original Coptic cross has its origin in the ancient ANKH symbol of Egypt and was adopted by early Christian Gnostics. The circle represents the eternal and everlasting love of God. Intricate filigree work resembles ancient Celtic design. Coptic crosses have an outstanding place in Ethiopian traditional art. The method used to make them originates from Asia; it is called “the lost wax method” and doesn’t allow the mould to be used twice. The cross is traditionally given at the time of baptism and is placed on a person’s mouth at the end of life to catch the last breath.
3. PRIEST’S CONFESSIONAL STOLE In many Western Churches, the Sacrament of Penance (commonly called Confession ) is the method by which persons receive forgiveness of sins committed after Baptism. Within Eastern Orthodoxy, the Mystery of confession and repentance has more to do with the spiritual development of the individual and much less to do with purification. The stole is a liturgical vestment of various denominations consisting of a band of colored cloth, usually of silk, worn around the back of the neck. Purple is the traditional color of stole for sacraments of the sick and confession. May the Holy One who frees you from illness and sin, heal you and raise you up. From the Rite of Anointing
4. RUSSIAN KADILO INCENSE BURNER In both Eastern and Western Christianity, the use of the censer (Kadilo ), in which incense is placed, is symbolic of the gifts offered by the Magi to the infant Christ, — gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The use of incense in liturgy symbolizes purification and blessing. The hand kadilo may be used in homes for incensing the body at the time of illness, death and at the funeral. We who mystically represent the Cherubim, chant the thrice holy hymn of the Life-giving Trinity, now set aside the worries of life and offer our prayer to the Divine Hosts… as incense rises to the heavens.” Cherubic Hymn of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
5. PASTORAL CARE RITUAL BOOKS Most Christian Churches have special prayers and rituals for the Pastoral Care of the Sick. Handbooks usually include scriptures and prayers; they may also include ritual ceremonies for sacraments of the sick, confession and holy communion. This display includes books from the Catholic, Protestant and Armenian Apostolic traditions. In the Western Tradition, Viaticum , or the Final Communion literally translates from the Latin as, “one for the road,” reflecting a tradition from the time of the ancient Romans to place a coin in the mouth of the dying person as a toll for entrance into heaven. In the Christian tradition, the coin became the round communion host. May the angels lead you into paradise, may the holy ones welcome you this day. From the 11 th c. Ars Moriendi Liturgy
6. ‘SICK CALL’ SET FOR HOME VISITS This 19 th c. antique was typical of a Sick Call Set found in most Catholic homes in the past. It was used when a person was bed ridden, sick and homebound as a ritual item to prepare the room for receiving the sacraments for the sick. The ‘last rites’ or Extreme Unction was the name formerly given to what is now called the Anointing of the Sick which is no longer reserved for those close to death, but is a pastoral support throughout the process of serious illness. Let the bed of every sick person become a pilgrimage place for transformation. Celtic Book of Living & Dying