 | Father Richard James Cleary was born and reared in Wichita. After graduation from Cathedral High School in 1947, he attended the seminary operated by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey in Northwestern Missouri. There he came to appreciate the life of the monks and, having obtained the permission of Bishop Mark Carroll of Wichita, he became a monk of that monastery. After being ordained a priest in 1955, his superiors sent him to get his master’s degree at the University of Ottawa, Canada, then to study in Athens, Greece, and then in Rome, Italy, where he obtained his doctor’s degree in Theology. Finally, he spent a year of study at Harvard University. Later, Fr. Cleary was assigned to teach for many years in Rome. In 1998, he returned to Wichita, where he served in parish ministry at St. Mary’s Cathedral and at Blessed Sacrament parishes. In 2001, his abbot (superior) transferred him to Arkansas, where he served as chaplain of the Benedictine Sisters of Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro, and helped in the parishes of northeast Arkansas. In March 2010, he was re-assigned to his monastery, Conception Abbey, Conception, in Missouri 64433. He can be contacted there at, 660-944-2877, or by email: rjcleary@juno.com. |
Religion
2003-09-01 14:53:00
How can I be assured of my salvation?
Question: Religion teachers of all faiths believe and preach that their religion is the correct one. How does one really know whether or not his/her religion is the right one for salvation?
Answer: Frequently, I often visit many religious communities and attend their religious teachings. A common statement is "our way is the only way, and our way is the only way to paradise." This is not a bios statement, but an expression of self satisfaction of a way of life. The question is valuable and we all seek the truth or the right path that leads to heaven. The world is full of religions, if we would say thousands, we would not be exaggerating. So, which one is the true religion; and are they all true and/or the same? If you would ask any clergy about the authenticity of other religions, most, if they were candid enough, would say, "salvation can be achieved only through our faith." Other clergy may not be candid enough and give you an answer that contradicts his/her preaching. "We leave that matter to God, he is the judge."
Since I am representing the Islamic faith I will state the Islamic perspective here.
Islam views Judaism and Christianity as monotheistic religions, like Islam "believing in one God." Therefore, if anyone would like to search for the right path, he/she must begin on the right road. There are more similarities among these religions than many may think. Therefore, it is a great asset to remove bias from our hearts and start reading and investigating these religions. Read the Torah, the Bible and the Qur'an from cover to cover. Attend religious meetings and sermons. Visit their communities and associate with their people and become an imminent friend with them all. Above all that, pray to the one God, to guide you to the right path that leads to heaven.
Our father and Prophet Abraham, thought the sun was his God, The moon was his God, and the stars were his God. Then he directed his prayers to God to guide him to the right way. In Islam there is no compulsion. Daily, we receive individuals who seek knowledge about Islam. Many of these individuals read authentic Islamic literatures and/or seek information about Islam via the Internet. For information or literatures about Islam please call the Islamic Society of Wichita at 682-5479.
