Why isn't the "average" Catholic interested in Evangelization?



by Jean M. Heimann

 Yesterday, I received some rather startling news. I was told by a major Catholic book publisher that the "average" Catholic isn't interested in evangelization. I certainly hope that the Holy Father and Fr. Robert Barron don't find out about this. Or perhaps they already know. Perhaps that is why they have so much zeal and enthusiasm for sharing the faith -- to make up for those who have none.

We are all called to evangelize in our daily lives! Evangelization is an integral part of our faith. If we truly love our faith, shouldn't we be on fire to share it? The people I come into contact with on a daily basis have that love for their faith and live it out in their lives. They inspire me to endeavor to live a holy life. It's difficult for me to imagine how someone who believes in the truths of the Catholic Church - the sacraments, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal life--is not willing to share with others the authentic beauty of the faith.

Addressing participants at the Plenary of the Pontifical Counsel for Promoting the New Evangelization on October 14, 2013, Pope Francis stated: “Every person who is baptized is a Christ bearer as the ancient fathers used to say. Anyone who has met Christ, like the Samaritan woman at the well, cannot keep this experience to themselves … All of us should ask ourselves if the people we meet can feel the warmth of our faith and see the joy of our encounter with Christ!”

Whether or not we realize it, as Catholics, each of us has within us the power to proclaim the Gospel message.  At Baptism and Confirmation, we were endowed with special gifts of the Holy Spirit, which enabled us to share our faith.  At Baptism, we were divinely infused with the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity. At the same time, we also received the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in Isaiah 11:2. These include:  wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. At Confirmation, these gifts were sealed and increased in us to enable us to boldly spread and defend the faith. These are known as the renewal gifts and are the basic gifts we all receive at Baptism and Confirmation. Additionally, each of us has been blessed with unique gifts to perform specific tasks in the vineyard of the Lord to build up the Body of Christ.

Every day at Mass, I am inspired by the large number of people I see who are deeply committed to particpating in this heavenly banquet. When I have the privillege to serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, I am humbled by those who come to the altar to receive Jesus in such a fervent manner and who afterwards go out into the community to serve others as Jesus did.

Who are these "average" Catholics? Where are they hiding? And, why are they so afraid of sharing their faith?

 ~© Jean M. Heimann, November 2013
-

Comments

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated and are published at the blogger's discretion.

Blog Archive

Show more

Popular posts from this blog

The Spirituality and Miracles of St. Clare of Assisi

Image
August 11 is the memorial of St. Clare, one of my favorite saints. She was the first woman to follow the life of radical poverty practiced by St. Francis of Assisi and is the co-founder of the Poor Clares. Although I am not a Franciscan, I have had Franciscan friends, clergy, and spiritual directors instruct me on the beauty of St. Clare's spirituality. I have also learned a great deal from reading about her over the years. Clare and Francis (2007) is a film which depicts the fascinating story of her dramatic conversion and surrender to the will of God. St. Clare is the patron saint of television. She is also the patron of eye disorders, embroiderers, good weather, and telephones. The Contemplative Life The Lady Clare was born into a noble family in Assisi in 1193 and was admired for her great beauty. When she heard Francis of Assisi preach his Lenten homilies at the Church of San Giorgio, she was captivated by his words. At age eighteen, she heard him say: "When the
Read more

Saint Michael de Sanctis: Patron of Cancer Patients

Image
Today is the feast of Saint Michael de Sanctis, also known as St. Michael of the Saints, a Spanish Discalced Trinitarian priest, the patron of cancer patients. Michael Argemir was born on September 29, 1591 at Vic, Catalonia, Spain. At age 6, he told his parents that he planned to become a monk and began modeling his life after Saint Francis of Assisi. Michael’s parents died when he was about ten years old. He then served as an apprentice with a local merchant. During this apprenticeship, he continued his fervent devotion to the Lord, especially to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the age of 12, he joined the Trinitarian Friars at Barcelona, taking his vows at St. Lambert’s monastery in Saragosa four years later.  Shortly afterwards, Michael expressed a desire to join the reformed group of Trinitarians and was given permission to do so. He went to the Novitiate at Madrid and, after studies at Seville and Salamanca, he was ordained a priest. Twice he served as Superior of the hou
Read more

Saint Gerard of Brogne: Patron of Abbots

Image
St. Gerard was born to a noble family in Staves, Belgium, in 895. He descended from a royal line of military men and at first felt a share in this call to arms. He trained for the army and, as a page of the count of Namur, he was sent on a special mission to the French court. There, Gerard realized that he was being called to the monastic life. He stayed in France and joined the Benedictines of St. Denis, abandoning his noble birthright and all his worldly possessions. He spent eleven years in France as a monk before becoming a priest. Following his ordination, he left for Belgium in order to found a new abbey on his own estate of Brogne. He was its abbot for twenty-two years and during that period was instrumental in introducing St. Benedict's Rule into numerous houses in Flanders, Lorraine and Champagne.He became known for his engaging sweetness of temper, his strict observance of the Rule of St. Benedict and for the replacement of lukewarm religious practice with true piety.
Read more