We have been the recipient of a number of common questions (i.e., misconceptions) in regards to Catholicism. After telling these stories to classmates in our Lay Ministry/Deaconate Formation class this weekend, I realized that some (both Catholic and non-Catholic) might benefit from these telling, and slightly amusing, real-life stories.
We were visiting a family member last year. Some friends came over for a small party. One of their friends asked me if I was Catholic (I wear several medals, I pray at meals regardless, and I have a trinity cross tat on my forearm so it's pretty obvious). I said "I am". This wonderful young lady told me that she had been raised Catholic but her & her family (husband & children) go to a non-denominational church because they read the Bible. That stopped me in my tracks.....uh....well, I explained that the present day Catholic Church encourages us to read the Bible all the time. I read it more now than I've ever read it and, the best part, is I actually understand more of it! She observed that it must have changed a great deal (she's about 30, max) since she last attended.
One weekend we had two local girls stop by our home to ask if we would be interested in supporting their ministry and purchase a discount card. I said sure and asked them to step inside. While I went to grab my checkbook, they looked around and said as I came back into the room, "It looks like you love Jesus too!", with great enthusiasm! I looked around at our small altar with rosaries, candles, prayer books, a statue of Mary, etc., the picture of Jesus (that my wonderful father-in-law gave us one Christmas) on the wall, and all the statues of Jesus that my mother-in-law gave us last Christmas. "We do" I said equally enthusiastically. "We would love for you to come to our church on Sunday." I smiled, thanked them and said "We attend the Catholic Church..." and I thought they were both going to pass out....I could almost read their thoughts "Catholic? Love Jesus? Never!" They left very quickly and have never returned...mmmm.
My husband was talking to a person on the information line he mans several hours a week. The subject of religion came up and the caller asked my husband if he was a Christian. He said he was. The conversation continued and it was revealed that the caller had been Catholic as a child. But she was "baptized in another church" and was now a Christian. My husband said, "I am a Catholic". The caller said "I thought you said you were Christian." Uh? Catholics not Christian? On what planet? My husband was so sweet - he simply said "I am" and politely changed the subject.
While some of these incidents could have been a wonderful opportunity for some good, old fashioned evangelization; we chose to not push the issues at the time. We try to live our faith and hope that that would be enough. Hopefully these individuals were given just enough food for thought to bring some faith questions into their hearts and begin them on a faith-journey leading towards truth. God bless them all -you are all in my prayers!
Living your Faith can be very powerful! Until next time - pray, love, and live a life with God.
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