Is this evangelism? I think so

[in_servitude]

Maybe most of you will say this belongs in the spirituality area - but I have started doing something that I think will bring more people to the Church.

I will walk around a neighborhood (there are some near where I work - and I live in one too) and say a prayer for each home that I pass. I ask that the inhabitants of the home experience Christ, or the Holy Spirit, or in some way be called to the Church. Sometimes, I’ll ask for Mary’s intercession. Sometimes, St. Micheal’s, other times I’ll just ask for the graces directly by Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or the Father.

Sometimes, I’ll carry holy water with me (in a water bottle) and casually fling some in the general direction of the house as I walk along.

Is this evangelizing the Church? Maybe it should be called “spiritual warfare” because evangelism might just reside in the physical world.

Funny thing, however. After doing this for a bit, I’ve had so many different opportunities to evangelize in the worldly form.

 

[Luvtosew]

Hey, I think its great when taking a walk to ask the Lord to bless that home and keep the people living there safe and healthy and that they know the Lord, sending out blessings is always a good thing , I personally don’t think the holy water does anything, but if it makes you feel better do it.

 

[in_servitude]

Hey, I think its great when taking a walk to ask the Lord to bless that home and keep the people living there safe and healthy and that they know the Lord, sending out blessings is always a good thing , I personally don’t think the holy water does anything, but if it makes you feel better do it.

I appreciate the nice thoughts on the prayers.

However, I take the comment, “… but if it makes you feel better…” as patronizing (defined: treating with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority). And, I don’t appreciate that.

 

[Jeanne_S]

Hey, I think its great when taking a walk to ask the Lord to bless that home and keep the people living there safe and healthy and that they know the Lord, sending out blessings is always a good thing , I personally don’t think the holy water does anything, but if it makes you feel better do it.

Holy water not effective?Hmmm,wonder why it is used in baptism,blessings to the congregation during Christmas,Easter,at all church entrances…

 

[AnotherSonofGod]

I think if it is HOLY water then I am sure it does A LOT! To say that you think it doesn’t do anything suggest that you either do not believe it is holy or that you have an unclear understanding of the fact that something that is HOLY is VERY powerful! Angels KNOW THIS!

 

[Luvtosew]

I appreciate the nice thoughts on the prayers.

However, I take the comment, “… but if it makes you feel better…” as patronizing (defined: treating with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority). And, I don’t appreciate that.

I sure didn’t think I was being rude, telling how I feel. But of couse people are touchy here , so let me ask you ,

why did you post this, to get hey look at me what I’m doing, praying for people and thowing holy water at them, welll let me give you a big pat on the back or a medal.

But you take it however you want, the holy water is not a majic water. You can make it at thome.

 

[in_servitude]

I sure didn’t think I was being rude, telling how I feel. But of couse people are touchy here , so let me ask you ,

why did you post this, to get hey look at me what I’m doing, praying for people and thowing holy water at them, welll let me give you a big pat on the back or a medal.

But you take it however you want, the holy water is not a majic water. You can make it at thome.

Why did I post this? Thanks for asking. The people here, including myself, are looking for ways to help others that are not able to participate fully in the life of Christ. This post is an idea that might help others to do something that might not otherwise have occurred to them. Additionally, I am asking a question. Is this evangelism? Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. Usually, when I post something, I learn something. I posted this with the expectation that I would learn something.

Holy water is not magic. You are correct in that sense. It does, however, allow us in the physical world to interact with the persons of the spiritual world. And, when it comes to leading people to Christ, we have to fight forces - persons - demons that wish to inhibit such activity. We fight through prayer and also devotions like holy water.

You will be unable to convince me that holy water lacks effect. I have experience that demonstrates to me that it does interact with those persons in the spiritual world.

 

[Jeanne_S]

I sure didn’t think I was being rude, telling how I feel. But of couse people are touchy here , so let me ask you ,

why did you post this, to get hey look at me what I’m doing, praying for people and thowing holy water at them, welll let me give you a big pat on the back or a medal.

But you take it however you want, the holy water is not a majic water. You can make it at thome.

Since you are not Catholic,I have to assume your remarks are being made from a lack of understanding about Catholisim and the importance of sacramentals in our faith.

 

[Jeanne_S]

From the CCC1667: Sacramentals:Holy Mother Church has,moreover,instituted sacramentals.These are sacred signs,which bear a resemblance to the sacraments.They signify effects,particularly of a spiritual nature,which are obtained through the intercession of the Church.By them men are disposed to receive the chief effects of the sacraments,and various occasions in life are rendered holy.1668:Sacramentals are instituted for the sanctification of certain ministries of the Church,certain states of life,a great variety of circumstances in Christian life,and the use of many things helpful to man.In accordance with bishops pastoral decisions,they can also respond to the needs,culture and special history of the Christian people of a particular time or region.They always include a prayer,often accompanied by a specific sign,such as laying on of hands,the sign of the cross,or the SPRINKLING OF HOLY WATER(which recall baptism).

 

[Luvtosew]

Why did I post this? Thanks for asking. The people here, including myself, are looking for ways to help others that are not able to participate fully in the life of Christ. This post is an idea that might help others to do something that might not otherwise have occurred to them. Additionally, I am asking a question. Is this evangelism? Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. Usually, when I post something, I learn something. I posted this with the expectation that I would learn something.

Holy water is not magic. You are correct in that sense. It does, however, allow us in the physical world to interact with the persons of the spiritual world. And, when it comes to leading people to Christ, we have to fight forces - persons - demons that wish to inhibit such activity. We fight through prayer and also devotions like holy water.

You will be unable to convince me that holy water lacks effect. I have experience that demonstrates to me that it does interact with those persons in the spiritual world.

Anytime you pray for another I feel its a blessing to them , but is it evangelism, in my opinion no, walking by someones home and saying a prayer from the street for them to know Christ and not talking to them ,it is praying for them, which I think is just as good if not better. I have JW come to my door and its a turn off, most people get turned off when someone comes up and talks to them about Jesus.

God has his ways of finding his sheep and will draw his sheep to him. That is not to say not to talk about Jesus, thats pretty hard not to do when one is in a conversation with someone, so like I said what your doing is good, and I even like to do it when I’m driving, just even saying God Bless them and keep them safe.
So I would like to say God Bless you and please keep you safe and healthy, but personally I don’t see the need to sprinkle holy water on you. But don’t let my opinion matter to you, as its just my opinion, I use to bring holy water home myself, but now I just say God Bless my home, or God bless my car.

 

[PRmerger]

Since you are not Catholic,I have to assume your remarks are being made from a lack of understanding about Catholisim and the importance of sacramentals in our faith.

And there are many, many folks here who even if they are Catholic have a profoundly inadequate understanding of the faith.

If you ask this type of Catholic, for example, to explain the Church’s teaching on divorce and re-marriage they might say, “It’s because the Church is run by celibate old men who have no idea what marriage is about!”

If you ask them why the Church is against contraception they might say, “Because the Church wants lots and lots of little Catholics running around of course!”

So I wouldn’t assume that even if a person claims to be Catholic that he would be able to articulate any kind of defense of Catholic teaching.

Most likely not his fault though. The Church in the past has done a dismal job of providing nourishing catechesis for her flock.

But, of course, at some point a Catholic adults needs to take responsibility for his own catechesis and be able to articulate the Church’s beautiful teaching on marriage and why we follow Jesus’ command that divorce and re-marriage is adultery. We are only the messengers–we do not claim to be able to change what God has decreed.

 

[holyghost]

My understanding of evangelism is communication of the Gospel or our beliefs directed towards conversion…So I would say you are communicating this by prayer, and every bit helps. I’ve taken to doing similar things…