The whole topic of evangelization

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Sir2v4

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When I watch the Journey Home on EWTN television or listen to a program on EWTN radio, the converts usually say that they made their own way to the catholic church. They researched subjects for themselves, supposedly because 1) that’s the independent way Americans are, to begin with, 2) because they have special topics to research, and down the list, 3) maybe because nobody led them to the Catholic Church. 4) maybe they convert because of a close relative.

So, people are pretty independent about joining the Church. A long time ago, but just after the council, there was no such talk about lay evangelization. This seems to have come up years later, as something of a shock, because we went to Catholic school for 12 years and it was never brought up.

And, THEN, the NEW evangelization is really aimed at bringing Catholics BACK to the Church, isn’t it? The non-Catholics I have spoken to are very convicted in their faith, or so it seems.

It seems that Catholic TV and radio are having the most impact in the area of general evangelization. That’s the first reaction I have about any responsibility I have, is to support the Catholic media.
 
We are called to live out our faith as Christians and to be always ready to give an account for the hope within us. We are also to go forth and spread the Gospel. Our job as evangelists/apologists for the faith, in my opinion, is to plant seeds. We may even unwittingly furrow a row, or till a compacted bed; but our main goal is to plant seeds of faith and truth. The Holy Spirit does the rest, and the person has to make the ultimate choice.
Supporting Catholic media is awesome. But we also need to be able to give the faith to others in relevant ways. Together, we can bring people to truth, regardless of whether they accept it.
For what it’s worth, Tim Staples wasn’t brought to the Church on his own. A strong Catholic friend of his, who was able to defend the faith and reasonably question Tim’s, is what made him look deeper at the Catholic Church. Be that friend! 😉
 
Does evangelization mean you are supposed to address people directly and persuade them to convert? That’s what I would call hard evangelization, and I am not sure how well it works.

There is another approach that I would call soft evangelization. Live the Catholic faith in an active, visible way. Love God. Love those around you. Be honest, fair, patient, and respectful. Work to bring about justice and peace. Let others see your joy, hope, and peace.

If Catholics did that, non-Catholics would look on and say “I want to be a part of that. That is the way I want to live.” That would be the beginning of their conversion to the Catholic faith. I think that is the key to evangelization.

(paraphrased from Strangers in a Strange Land: Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World, a book by Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia)
 
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