I need advice about "casting pearls before swine"

[distracted]

I sometimes share the doctrine of the Real Presence with non-Catholics and some even “pagan” kinds of people. I tell them about the consecration of the host and keeping the Hosts in the tabernacle in the Church perpetually. I am wondering if this is “casting pearls before swine” or something… ?

I kinda feel uncomfortable doing this (sometimes… not always, depends on the person) & yet i know how much being in the Real Presence has helped me, spritiually… but i just don’t - always - feel 100% about it sharing this (well, i feel 100% about helping others, but…don’t know if i should do it this wya)…

Christ gave his Church for everyone… so i also don’t feel it is right for the Church to keep such precious "things’ to itself… as it were… I am Catholic but was never taught about the Real Presence… until a priest told me about 10 yrs ago.

anyway… Maybe it is not so much casting pearls… but ***putting the cart before the horse??? ***

What is your opinion??

 

[Pax_et_Caritas]

It would have to be on a case by case basis. If you think it will do some good, you may want to give it a try.

But there is one piece of advice I have. Sometimes the devil will tempt people to do things that are imprudent, and only do more harm than good. Beware of feeling like you have an obligation to do or say things that seem imprudent. Sometimes we have an obligation to speak up about something bad, but that is not what I am talking about.

Sometimes the devil will tempt us by making us feel like we have an obligation to talk about the faith, even when it does not seem prudent to do so.

We need to keep in mind the principle of positive and negative precepts. A negative precept is something we are forbidden from doing, such as breaking one of the commandments. A negative precept can never be violated.

A positive precept is something we are encouraged to do, such as trying to convert someone. Positive precepts must be dealt with prudently. Sometimes the devil will tempt people by making them feel guilty for not performing a positive precept when, in reality, it would be imprudent to do so and end up doing more harm than good.

I have a friend who hands out holy cards. That is a good thing to do, but he goes so far overboard that he runs people off. There have been a lot of problems caused by him pushing things on people who do not want them.

So keep in mind that positive precepts, such as sharing your faith, are good things to do, but they must be done prudently. A good rule of thumb is to wait for the door of opportunity to open and then walk through it; rather than kicking the door in.

 

[Cat]

Keep sharing it. Don’t worry about a few swine savaging you.

My younger daughter is not a Catholic. She’s not anything. (After we were thrown out of our evangelical Church several years ago, she lost all trust in churches. I constantly ask the Blessed Mother to intercede with her Son for my daughter, and I believe that Mother Mary has compassion on this young woman who has been so hurt by “church.”)

Anyway, she believes in the doctrine of True Presence because the Bible says so ("This IS My Body, this IS My Blood.)

But…she wouldn’t know the doctrine existed if Catholics (like me and my husband) hadn’t explained it to her after we converted. And she could see that the doctrine matches Scripture, so she believes in it.

What I’m trying to say is that if you share the doctrine, a lot of evangelical Protestants might protest at first, because they’ve been taught all their lives that the Communion is just a symbol. But in the privacy of their own hearts and souls, your testimony will come to them as they are reading and studying the Scriptures (their only authority), and the Holy Spirit will help them to understand that Jesus is Truly Present in the Host.

Plant the seed!

 

[distracted]

It would have to be on a case by case basis. But there is one piece of advice I have. …Sometimes the devil will tempt us by making us feel like we have an obligation to talk about the faith, even when it does not seem prudent to do so.

.

thank you. I feel better now… but i still wonder… Well, i guess what bothers me is that sometimes i have shared the Real Presence with someone who seemed to be Christian… and the person didn’tt respond in a way i thought he would… I mean, it seems to me that if a person loves Jesus, he would be overjoyed to hear about being able to actually be in His presence. I suppose the fact that some people don’t SEEM to be overjoyed shouldn’t surpirse me because they may not even believe what i am saying…
but if people did believe it, it seems they would… act differently than they do…

is it putting the cart before the horse - in that maybe a person should know the Catholic faith first?

 

[distracted]

Keep sharing it. Don’t worry about a few swine savaging you.

Actually, i have never been attacked for sharing the Real Presencen but i have been attacked for other things… like sharing Jesus @ a 12-step meeting… Some people in some “liberal” parts of the nation… don’t want to hear Jesus’ name there… (or anywhere…)… I guess i someteimes think of people as “swine” because they don’t seem to love Jesus much… I mean, if yo love someone you want to spend time with him any time you can…

My younger daughter is not a Catholic. She’s not anything. (After we were thrown out of our evangelical Church several years ago, she lost all trust in churches.

i will pray for her…

But…she wouldn’t know the doctrine existed if Catholics (like me and my husband) hadn’t explained it to her after we converted. And she could see that the doctrine matches Scripture, so she believes in it.

Yes, i think showing people where such things are in Scritpure really helps… As you know, many people think the Catholic Church “invented” things…

they’ve been taught all their lives that the Communion is just a symbol. But in the privacy of their own hearts and souls, your testimony will come to them as they are reading and studying the Scriptures (their only authority), and the Holy Spirit will help them to understand that Jesus is Truly Present in the Host.

Plant the seed!

thank you so much for the encouragement… I did feel i was on the right track because, as stated, i have benefitted from spending time at the blessed S. (which goes without saying…). Frankly, i feel that if more people knew aobut the RP… there would be fewer people going to Hell… (which again, goes without sayign…)…

thanks… God bless…

 

[JesuXPIPassio]

I sometimes share the doctrine of the Real Presence with non-Catholics and some even “pagan” kinds of people. I tell them about the consecration of the host and keeping the Hosts in the tabernacle in the Church perpetually. I am wondering if this is “casting pearls before swine” or something… ?

I kinda feel uncomfortable doing this (sometimes… not always, depends on the person) & yet i know how much being in the Real Presence has helped me, spritiually… but i just don’t - always - feel 100% about it sharing this (well, i feel 100% about helping others, but…don’t know if i should do it this wya)…

Christ gave his Church for everyone… so i also don’t feel it is right for the Church to keep such precious "things’ to itself… as it were… I am Catholic but was never taught about the Real Presence… until a priest told me about 10 yrs ago.

anyway… Maybe it is not so much casting pearls… but ***putting the cart before the horse??? ***

What is your opinion??

No, you are Evangelising; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with telling people about Catholicism, including the most important part of it: the Eucharist.

I think you would be throwing pearls before swine if you *gave *pagans or atheists the Eucharist to eat. That isn’t the case.

Anyway while discussing the Eucharist with them, you might want to mention things about Eucharistic miracles, just to back you up. The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, for example, happened when visible flesh formed around a Host during Consecration. It was many centuries ago; the Host has since decayed away, still having the effects of regular bread, but the flesh is still there. Doctors have examined it and it just can’t be explained by science.

 

[KingAlfred]

I don’t discuss the details of my faith with anyone. It’s the lack of Christian faith and commitment in American society that bothers me. No…I’m no saint, but I get tired of not being able to relate to the majority of the adults I interact with, most of whom have absolutely no sense of divine inspiration or guidance. As I mentioned before, I actually had a Catholic co-worker ask me, “Why are you so religious? Catholics usually aren’t very religious.” I literally have no one in the flesh with whom I can discuss the most important thing to me – MY RELIGION AND APOSTOLATE. No one.

 

[anamchara]

No, you are Evangelising; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with telling people about Catholicism, including the most important part of it: the Eucharist.

I think you would be throwing pearls before swine if you *gave *pagans or atheists the Eucharist to eat. That isn’t the case.

Anyway while discussing the Eucharist with them, you might want to mention things about Eucharistic miracles, just to back you up. The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, for example, happened when visible flesh formed around a Host during Consecration. It was many centuries ago; the Host has since decayed away, still having the effects of regular bread, but the flesh is still there. Doctors have examined it and it just can’t be explained by science.

I recently learned of this in my womens bible study. A few of the ladies saw this in person on a trip they took together. They passed out copies of this little photograph and the story. I still have it. Amazing.

 

[Bruno_Schulz]

**Its only then “casting pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces)
if people won’t hear, when they laugh at it or even swear at your mentioning of God.

I really very often have the case, that I speak to friends or to totally strange people I’ve never seen before in my clubs or elswhere, about God and Christianity.

I avoid to speak about Catholicism and many people and even friends, don’t know whether I’m Catholic or Protestant – but all know of my life in Christ and my fight for Christianity. Catholicism is the last step – but this would be all in vain – senseless to try, with my believing friends who are Lutheran or Jews. (Take the Rabbi next door who’s a friend of ours).
(There are not many others over here; others are mostly looked at as sects. Generally speaking, in Germany its 50% of each communion - since the Reunification 1989/90 lots of atheists added, as in communist Eastern-Germany Religion was forbidden). Nowadays, many Moslems are changing the picture too – not to the better. But there is no more tolerant country in the world. Then of course, Jesus taught us tolerance as well as conversion and teaching His word.

However. I noted success at several people, and hardly ever find total rejecting and refusal.

Only in cases where I by first attempts to speak in religious terms I notice strong displeasure and resistance, I change the theme, but not without strong confirmation, that religion, Christianity, is content of my life!
For the following very simple reason I change the subject: I don’t want to become guilty of the swearing of this person offending God, for this will not be forgiven [Marc 3,29, Mat 12,32, Luc 12,10] and this would be THROWN PEARLS TO PIGS - as these people outed themseves a such. With others, we are bound to tell them about God and firmly tell them I BELIEVE IN GOD!
**

 

[dang71]

think about all the missionaries going to Africa, South America, even North America, China, etc. many years ago. they were sharing the Real Presence with anyone who would listen, regardless of whether or not they would be scoffed at, beaten, ran out of town, etc.

to think of sharing Jesus with anyone as “casting pearls before swine” is a little prideful, IMO. Jesus is our judge, and for you to decide that someone else is “swine” is a little presumptuous of you.

 

[Bruno_Schulz]

**There is an immense difference between crusading many years ago in heathen countries who didn’t know bout God; - or on the other hand to speak about God among today’s educated nonbelievers laughing over Christianity and who at the outmost, would even swear at God.
Sorry, but you got something wrong there, when you say;

to think of sharing Jesus with anyone as “casting pearls before swine” is prideful. Jesus is our judge, and for you to decide that someone else is “swine” is a little presumptuous of you.

for nobody would ever think of the person he is teaching about God, as being a pig. No! Never! This wouldn’t just be prideful, but a heavy sin and not at all christian.
The bible speaks here of people who refuse to hear about God, and who even despise God. We all know such gentry.
A Christian would on the contrary of course highly regard anybody who doesn’t know about God but listen to what it’s all about and what are he contents of Christianity.
**

 

[Ohwesty]

On one hand, I agree with most of the posters here. On the other hand, the early Church practiced the “Discipline of the Secret.” The early Christians did not speak of the Eucharistic mysteries to pagans, not only because it brought persecution, but also because it brought them ridicule and disdain. Even catechumens were dismissed after the Gospel (as they are today), and were not permitted to be in the Church for the Eucharistic (not even to witness it) until they were baptized members.

Of course, we live in a different world. There isn’t a non-Catholic living these days who hasn’t heard the “secret” that Catholics believe in the Real Presence. But I still think your feelings of discomfort are not completely unfounded.

I would go about this on a case-by-case basis. Many non-Catholics who ask questions about the Eucharist are being sincere and want real anwers. Others are just trying to start an argument that they have every intention of winning. I trust you will know how and when to determine the difference.

• Westy

 

[estesbob]

Actually, i have never been attacked for sharing the Real Presencen but i have been attacked for other things… like sharing Jesus @ a 12-step meeting… Some people in some “liberal” parts of the nation… don’t want to hear Jesus’ name there… (or anywhere…)… I

Based on my 23 years of experience AA I find that people don’t mind Jesus being mentioned so much as they in mind People prostelyzing. It’s one thing to mention that Jesus is ones higher power-Quite another when AA members start expressing we need to accpet Jesus as our personal savior be saved.

 

[dang71]

**
The bible speaks here of people who refuse to hear about God, and who even despise God. We all know such gentry.
**

so you are saying we should not talk about our faith with anyone who disagrees with it? i will respectfully disagree. it is precisely because someone spoke to me of the faith, even though i was hostile to it at the time, that i eventually came back to the church. this person was not trying to “convert” me, per se, but just living their faith and talking about it in a conversational way.

i will agree we should tailor our conversations depending on who we are talking to, but to eliminate ANY discussion of our faith with people is equivalent to denying our faith.

 

[Bruno_Schulz]

so you are saying we should not talk about our faith with anyone who disagrees with it?

**NO, definitely we should talk about our faith with anyone who disagrees with it as well as to those, who simply are interested in that “strange thing >believe<”.
But, you are not only throwing pearls to pigs when you speak about God to them who react in a blasphemic way, but you risk to be guilty fo this persons swearing at God, the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven (see posting #9)

I very often speak to people who don’t believe. With those of them, who react in blasphemy, I change subject and never mention God again,
(as the are the pigs the bible mentiones) though I make clear, that my life is fundamental Christian. They might swear then at me, but never against God. Remember
There are a lot of others – people who don’t believe, but are open for the new and will listen.
Remember Mt 10,14 - Mk 6,11 - Lk 9,5: „if they will not listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."
**

 

[distracted]

No, you are Evangelising; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with telling people about Catholicism, including the most important part of it: the Eucharist.

thank you so much… Maybe it was the devil telling me i was casting pearls… because, as you know, he doesn’t want people to know Christ…

I think you would be throwing pearls before swine if you *gave *pagans or atheists the Eucharist to eat.

good point…

discussing the Eucharist with them, you might want to mention things about Eucharistic miracles, just to back you up. The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, for example, happened when visible flesh formed around a Host during Consecration. It was many centuries ago; the Host has since decayed away, still having the effects of regular bread, but the flesh is still there. Doctors have examined it and it just can’t be explained by science.

thanks… i had momentarily forgotten about that miracle… I also didn’t know that part about the “bread” aspect decaying… that’s interesting…

 

[distracted]

I don’t discuss the details of my faith with anyone. It’s the lack of Christian faith and commitment in American society that bothers me. No…I’m no saint, but I get tired of not being able to relate to the majority of the adults I interact with, most of whom have absolutely no sense of divine inspiration or guidance. As I mentioned before, I actually had a Catholic co-worker ask me, “Why are you so religious? Catholics usually aren’t very religious.” I literally have no one in the flesh with whom I can discuss the most important thing to me – MY RELIGION AND APOSTOLATE. No one.

i am not sure i understand what you mean by nt discussing details of your faith… and then you say you have an apostolate… (??)…

The Church teaches that we must share the faith with others… evangelize… or we could jeopardize our salvation…

 

[distracted]

**.

I avoid to speak about Catholicism and many people and even friends, don’t know whether I’m Catholic or Protestant – but all know of my life in Christ and my fight for Christianity. Catholicism is the last step –]**
i have tried this… For some reason or other it never works… because the subject of what Church i go to or what have yoiu always comes up. i have told poeple things like “i don’t want to say…” but then they just get curious and want all the more to find out… and plus… i cna’t NOT talk about certain aspects of the Faith… for very long…

 

[distracted]

t
to think of sharing Jesus with anyone as “casting pearls before swine” is a little prideful, IMO. Jesus is our judge, and for you to decide that someone else is “swine” is a little presumptuous of you.

i think it is presumptous of you to say that i am presumptous when you don’t know me from adam…

 

[distracted]

There is presumption and there is having a proper reverence for Jesus Christ…

It is wrong to judge someone’s heart when you don’t know him/her…