Catholicism is a lifestyle...Get it?

[GRATEFULONEjim]

I have been conversing with many Catholics of late and am really suprised at how many don’t understand that living our faith openly is a*** lifestyle*** that outwardly contradicts today’s modern secular world. We are going to be starting our parish RCIA class soon and I am going to be part of the catechist team involved. All of the new candidates are going to be made aware of this right from the start. I call all Catholics to take up this cause as part of the New Evangelization. Change your lifestyle…Be Catholic!

 

[EasterJoy]

There is a right and a wrong way to mean that. Be careful that other Catholics do not think you are suggesting that it is a work of evangelization for a Catholic to go out looking to provoke the swine to trample on him (Matt. 7:6). That would be the wrong way to mean it. The right meaning, in contrast, is described earlier in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:10-16). That might be a very useful distinction to make, because not all Christians make it these days.

 

[angell1]

i agree with you. i used to be like that as well. still not the best i could be but i’m working on it. i think a lot of people think that faith is just a private and personal thing. perhaps some advice? if you meet lukewarm catholics, perhaps you could come up a way to discuss with them or find solutions to get them interested again?

 

[Usige]

Its the unfortunate case that many people compartmentalize their faith and other parts of their lives. The ideal of religious freedom was to allow us to live our faith in the public square, but the tide has turned to the point where most people are afraid or embarrassed that their religion might be showing. To often people set aside their beliefs in order to fit in or not offend, but how does that proclaim the Gospel.

I don’t go out of my way to scream I’m Catholic, but I’m also not going to hide it so as not to offend anyone. Recently I received a text while I was at work letting me know that a fellow parishioner’s baby had died when she was 39 weeks pregnant. I was talking with some coworkers and excused myself and after walking back to my cube I made the sign of the cross and prayed for the baby, his parents and their other children. One of my coworkers saw me and asked if I had just prayed. I told her yes and why. She said it was a little odd seeing someone pray at work. Some might not have done so, but my faith is part of who I am and I cannot partition it off just because I am at work.