Conquering secularism by showing off your faith

[Blood_Angel]

I struggled to come with a title but basically, we live in a secular society so what do you do to show other people that you believe in something greater. Since many of us or are not in a position of power, we have to do small things such as not hiding our beliefs.

All I can come up with is making the sign of the cross, but when is this appropriate?
When making a prayer before a meal? Crossing the street? When you see a church?

Of course wearing a cross is another great way.

 

[pensmama87]

I always “bookend” my prayers with the Sign of the Cross, as well as make it whenever I pass a church. I do this whether I’m alone or not.

I also wear a scapular. Typically it’s under my clothes but sometimes a child pulls it out. I used to wear a Miraculous Medal, but the chain broke and I can’t take the medal off until the chain is fixed.

I carry a small prayer book and rosary ring in my purse.

The thing is, though, that I don’t do these things for other people. I just don’t hide them. I don’t buy the secular lie that me going about my daily life, including silent prayer in public places, or wearing devotional items, hurts anybody. It has started some interesting conversations, but those conversations are not the only or even primary reason I continue to do these things.

 

[pensmama87]

The other thing is that I don’t hide the role faith plays in my life. If I’m talking with a relative or friend, and they ask me about my life or what I’m doing, I’ll mention the baptism class I help teach for parents, or a book by a Catholic author I’ve read, or tell a funny story about the kids at Mass.

 

[Reuben_J]

I struggled to come with a title but basically, we live in a secular society so what do you do to show other people that you believe in something greater. Since many of us or are not in a position of power, we have to do small things such as not hiding our beliefs.

All I can come up with is making the sign of the cross, but when is this appropriate?
When making a prayer before a meal? Crossing the street? When you see a church?

Of course wearing a cross is another great way.

Our Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, dwelt quite a lot on this subject.

Christians today are beset by relativism as a result of encroaching secularism. Things are relative; it is alright if there is a reason for it. So one can justify one’s action and does it even though it is wrong and sinful. You can put in the blank as to what they are.

But Christianity or Jesus rather, brings a sign of contradiction.

You are right. Outwardly you wear religious regalia or say your prayer openly because people has simply stopped doing them.

You can move a step further - go to church, live the life of the Gospel and be decisive about it; a sign of contradiction to the world.

 

[pianistclare]

Plus one, and to pensmama.
Also, we were always taught to cross ourselves when passing a Catholic church on foot, or I a car out of recognition of Christ in the Tabernacle there.

 

[Polycarp1]

Another thing we can do if someone tells us something about a problem or suffering they or another is experiencing we can say that we will pray for them about it. This is a witness to our Faith. (It cuts off gossiping too!)

 

[Bonnie]

Crossing the street?

That made me smile - until I realized you might live in a very dangerous city.

Basically what others have said, plus I pray when passing an ambulance or scene of an accident, or if I hear the fire siren.

 

[Rosebud77]

Wondering if “show off” has a different meaning there…

But if we are not living the faith in hearts and actions, the cross we sign means what?

 

[Rosebud77]

We still, here in Catholic Ireland, hear the Angelus on the radio and TV. As I have neither, I had never realised it before… Last evening I was at hospital waiting for a taxi home and heard the familiar chimes so of course stopped to pray,

But as I say this IS Ireland …And had I not acted as a true Christian should, that overt prayer would be a hollow sham

 

[Irishmom2]

But as I say this IS Ireland …And had I not acted as a true Christian should, that overt prayer would be a hollow sham

As you say… Are you implying that only **you **know how to pray the Angelus and the people of Ireland do not?

Wow.

 

[Irishmom2]

Wondering if “show off” has a different meaning there…

But if we are not living the faith in hearts and actions, the cross we sign means what?

You are implying that they are not living the faith in their hearts and actions, and it is arrogant and judgemental of you to do so.

 

[Black_Knight]

IM I don’t see any of that in Rosie’s posts. Why don’tcha just put her on ignore if she gets your wind up so badly. I happen to enjoy her posts…

The Irish have long had different ways of practicing their faith. Ever see An Paidrín Beag?

Regardless, secularism seems to have taken over the world and perhaps we Catholics are now more like those of the early church among pagans.

 

[Blood_Angel]

Wondering if “show off” has a different meaning there…

But if we are not living the faith in hearts and actions, the cross we sign means what?

I mean it not in the “show off” way you’re suggesting but rather more innocently, things you can do which have both meaning and allows others to see and perhaps ask questions, allowing you to talk about the faith and perhaps make them think about religion when they might not otherwise. Hence why I ask these things in the Evangelization forum.
The idea is to let people know about Catholicism and our beliefs in general public, things we can do to remind people of God in any small way. Even the smallest gesture or conversation might help someone who was thinking about religion but had not the opportunity or someone to talk to.

 

[Reuben_J]

I mean it not in the “show off” way you’re suggesting but rather more innocently, things you can do which have both meaning and allows others to see and perhaps ask questions, allowing you to talk about the faith and perhaps make them think about religion when they might not otherwise. Hence why I ask these things in the Evangelization forum.
The idea is to let people know about Catholicism and our beliefs in general public, things we can do to remind people of God in any small way. Even the smallest gesture or conversation might help someone who was thinking about religion but had not the opportunity or someone to talk to.

Well done … sometimes we are shy to be seen practicing our religion outwardly or even speaking about it. While not doing it in an imposing manner, in using little things in our lives to show our belief and faith, we have nothing to lose but much to gain in bringing Jesus to the light.

God bless.

 

[casslean]

I wear a cross every day. It’s quite a pretty piece of jewellery, but not styled in such a way that anyone would think I wear it for fashion rather than as a statement of my Christianity.

One of the other things I am trying to do more is to just not censor myself when talking to non-Catholics. When I talk to my Catholic friends about plans in my life or struggles, I’m not uncomfortable saying that I am trusting in God’s plan or that I’m following God’s plan for my life, but I had struggled in having those conversations with non-Catholics. I believed it, but I felt awkward saying that I was drawing consolation in my current situation from my faith. So I’m working more and more on sayign what I truly think, regardless of the audience.

 

[Rosebud77]

I mean it not in the “show off” way you’re suggesting but rather more innocently, things you can do which have both meaning and allows others to see and perhaps ask questions, allowing you to talk about the faith and perhaps make them think about religion when they might not otherwise. Hence why I ask these things in the Evangelization forum.
The idea is to let people know about Catholicism and our beliefs in general public, things we can do to remind people of God in any small way. Even the smallest gesture or conversation might help someone who was thinking about religion but had not the opportunity or someone to talk to.

Thanks for explaining; there are so many linguistic shades of meaning between here and there! Show off in England means exhibitionism and being superior in manner!

But I do nto think that what you are suggesting will avail frankly.

It is how we act and how we treat others around us surely? As is attributed to St Francis… by our lives…

I once met a dr who I knew was a Christian but who said he was there as a doctor. Believe me, that man’s faith shone through in his integrity and compassion

Someone once asked me WHY I was trading at street markets in all weathers… gave me the opening to quote Jesus…

another time when I was in a convalescent home after surgery I came to my room to find a young porter reading my Bible… he dropped it in terror thinking he would get into trouble but I gave it to him and we talked in depth…

These chances will come;pray for them…

 

[Rosebud77]

I wear a cross every day. It’s quite a pretty piece of jewellery, but not styled in such a way that anyone would think I wear it for fashion rather than as a statement of my Christianity.

One of the other things I am trying to do more is to just not censor myself when talking to non-Catholics. When I talk to my Catholic friends about plans in my life or struggles, I’m not uncomfortable saying that I am trusting in God’s plan or that I’m following God’s plan for my life, but I had struggled in having those conversations with non-Catholics. I believed it, but I felt awkward saying that I was drawing consolation in my current situation from my faith. So I’m working more and more on sayign what I truly think, regardless of the audience.

It is hard; well done!

 

[Rosebud77]

The Irish have long had different ways of practicing their faith. Ever see An Paidrín Beag?
**
Regardless, secularism seems to have taken over the world and perhaps we Catholics are now more like those of the early church among pagans**.

That is an interesting idea and maybe right but the pagans had never heard of Jesus and these days they have but discount the Church on so many levels.

We have a hard hard struggle ahead my friend, very hard.

 

[Rosebud77]

I mean it not in the “show off” way you’re suggesting but rather more innocently, things you can do which have both meaning and allows others to see and perhaps ask questions, allowing you to talk about the faith and perhaps make them think about religion when they might not otherwise. Hence why I ask these things in the Evangelization forum.
The idea is to let people know about Catholicism and our beliefs in general public, things we can do to remind people of God in any small way. Even the smallest gesture or conversation might help someone who was thinking about religion but had not the opportunity or someone to talk to.

Small point, ALWAYS look folk full in the face when talking to them about this. Open hearted, openfaced

 

[Black_Knight]

That is an interesting idea and maybe right but the pagans had never heard of Jesus and these days they have but discount the Church on so many levels.

We have a hard hard struggle ahead my friend, very hard.

Very true my friend.

I think it’s important to live out out most holy faith every day and unashamedly so. In view of what Christ did for us can we do any less?

I also think that our modern secularism is so atheistic as to be about the same as effect-wise as were the pagans vs the early church. You do indeed make a very valid point about so many having at least heard of Jesus and “something” about the Gospel, but so many just reject it.

Pope Benedict, back when he was still “just a Cardinal” penned an appropriate book called Handing on the Faith in an Age of Disbelief

It could not be more timely