I started a blog when I first got married, where I would write about anything and everything.
I wasn't very faithful to it, and most of my posts were not that good, but there were a few that I really liked, so I decided to share them here!
I read a lot. I mean, a lot! Tons! In 2017, from January 1st to December 31st, I read 35 books. In 2018, from January 1st to June 13th, I had read 40 books! I read a lot!
Because I read a lot, most of my thoughts, dreams, ideas, expectations, etc. come from the books I read (which is both good and bad, but also a conversation for another blog). But it is also through my books that I often find myself falling more and more in love with my faith, and wanting to share that faith with others.
I have a hard time finding good, Catholic fiction books that I enjoy, but I have found a lot of Christian books that I love. These Christian books, even though there are things that I don't always fully agree with, they are an amazing way for me to fall in love with my faith. These books don't teach me more about what my faith believes, what the catechism teaches, or what the saints have done. These books increase my love of scripture, of traditional hymns, and of sharing the Gospel.
The thing I admire most about the Protestant faiths is their ability to live out their beliefs, and to share it with anyone and everyone. That is something that the Catholic church is lacking. Evangelization is not something most Catholics have on our radar. But it is something we are called to do. The saints evangelized! The disciples evangelized! Jesus evangelized! Our faith tells us to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19). Why can't we do this?
For most people, they aren't going to become missionaries and move across the world to share the Catholic faith with non-believers. For most of us, that isn't reasonable or practical. It's good, and needed, but not everyone is called to that life. So who can we evangelize to then?
Family! That is where we need to begin.
In my family, I am the oldest of six children, with ages ranging from myself at 24 (almost 25) to my youngest sister at 11 (almost 12). Growing up, we would say prayers before bed. During Lent, we would all wake up earlier than usual to say the rosary as a family. We attended Mass together as a family every Sunday, even when we were on vacation. We went to family conferences during the summer, and my youngest two sisters have been going to Catholic camps during the summer as well. We say the Angeles, we talk about the saints (St. John Paul II is in everyone's top 3 fav saints of all time), and we usually say prayers before going on road trips. But we are not an evangelizing family.
Each of us has our own relationship with God, with the church. We are all in different areas of our faith journey. And we don't really share our faith with each other. We don't listen to Christian music together unless we are on our way, at, or coming home from a Catholic retreat. Now that we are older, we don't pray together unless Mom or Dad says we need to.
Even in my own family, we are afraid to evangelize! We are afraid of what our siblings or cousins will think if we ask to pray as a group, or invite everyone to join in some praise and worship. We love Jesus, we love God, we love our Catholic faith... but we can't even share it with each other.
I love Karen Witemeyer as an author. She is a Christian writer from the States, and I love how she incorporates the Gospels and the faith into her novels. The characters don't force their beliefs on the people around them, but their faith is present in everything they do. They aren't afraid to share or express their faith, and I find that so refreshing, even if it's only in a book.
In Witemeyer’s novel, Stealing the Preacher (2013), Joanna Robbins feels called to continue her deceased mother's vocation of bringing her ex-con father to the faith. Crockett Archer became a preacher so that he could reach out and evangelize to more than his three brothers.
"She'd experienced the Lord's call on her life as surely as he had. And while he'd been called to minister to many, she'd been called for one. Who was he to say her calling was any less significant than his own? In fact, her dedication to the one in her care humbled him, gave him a perspective he'd been lacking."
(Witemeyer, 2013, pgs. 40-41)
For both characters, their faith and the need to evangelize began with their families. Throughout the course of the novel, they (spoilers) both accomplish the goals that they are called to. Crockett becomes a preacher at his own parish, and Joanna's father joins the church.
One of the ways that I pray is through music. I love how the words in the song can be offered up as a prayer while I sing, especially because I often stumble over my thoughts and get distracted when I pray. I love listening and singing along to new Christian songs like "Lord I Need You" or "What a Beautiful Name" or "10,000 Reasons" when I do praise and worship. But I also love the old, traditional hymns too.
"Amazing Grace", "For the Beauty of the Earth", "Be Thou My Vision", "Come Thou Fount".
When I tell people that these are some of my favorite songs, I get weird looks, even from my siblings. Aside from my dad, most of my family doesn't even know the words to these songs.
"She expected him to stop after the refrain, but he continued unabashedly on to the final verse and turned to her, silently urging her to join him. Unable to resist, and not really wanting to, Joanna shyly added her melody to his, while returning her attention to the sky."
(Witemeyer, 2013, pg. 69)
This is one of my favourite parts of the novel. Joanna is walking to the old church building, and on the way, decides to sing "For the Beauty of the Earth" aloud as she marvels at the beauty around her. As she nears the church, Crockett's voice joins hers. I love how he isn't ashamed to sing with her, and how happy she is that he keeps going. We need to be more like that. Whether it's singing Christian music, saying grace before meals when we're in public, or talking about our faith without getting nervous or apologetic, we need to continue unabashedly.
I know that this is so much easier said than done. I get nervous singing in church, wondering if I'm too loud, or off key. I try to hide the sign of the cross when I say grace in public. I don't like talking about my faith in certain groups, or even with my siblings, because I know I might be questioned, and that I won't have all the answers.
But that's ok!
We don't need all the answers. But we do need to be strong in our faith. We can't back down from it when it gets tough. Even if we don't know the answer to the questions that our non-Catholic/Christian friends may ask us, we shouldn't be nervous or afraid to express our faith. It's who we are! It's what we are called to do!
"She followed where he led, opening her Bible to 1 Peter and reading along as he quoted verses that brought evangelism into a new, more personal light. In chapter two he emphasized how all of God's people are a royal priesthood, not just the ministers in the pulpit or the missionaries in foreign fields. And as such, they are called to live holy lives so that others might see and be influenced."
(Witemeyer, 2013, pg. 74)
We are all called to live holy lives. We are called to bring others to the faith. We are called to evangelize. How can we do that if we hide? How can we do that when we don't share our faith with anyone outside of our families, or even within our own families?
At the end of the day, which will make us happier; living for the world, or living for God? Being unashamed and open about our faith, or hiding it like society tells us to?
Who Cares?
It shouldn't matter what others think. What matters is what God thinks.
Sing your favourite Christian songs at the top of your lungs! Talk about your favourite saints (St. John Paul II, Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassatti, Bl. Chiara Luce Badano - to name a few!) Say grace in public without trying to hide it!
We are called to live our faith, not hide it under a bushel! Try to find small ways to evangelize to those around you. Pray before long car rides. Listen to Christian music. Say the rosary with your friends. Mention the Bible or your faith when giving advice. Invite people to Mass. Research Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassatti. He converted so many of his friends, and he was still one of the most popular young men in his area. You can evangelize and still be liked.
Don't be afraid of what the world will think. All that matters is what God thinks. He wants you to love Him as He loves you. Don't be afraid to share that love with everyone you know! Start today!
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