Why are Catholics afraid to evangelize?

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Mt_28_19_20 said:
As I said, “Feel free, however I’ll pass on participating. Not really anything more to say in that regard right now.” Will you respect that? If I prefer to pray directly to God and not a prayer to St Michael, why do you want to put on the gloves? If I’d rather say ten Our Fathers than ten Hail Mary’s, what’s the problem? I say both when I pray the rosary. However, if I had to chose between one or the other, I’d chose the Our Father hands down.

Back to the OP “Why are Catholics afraid to evangelize?” Do you have any comment on the house analogy? Note, the analogy in no way disregards the balcony, the stained-glass door, or the oriental rug as unimportant. It merely acknowledges the importance of the blocks and beams for the foundation, and how has the house grows beautifully, we might not have a clear view and understanding of the blocks and beams. Thus, we might be “afraid” to evangelize, and more at ease talking about what we see everyday in the house. When someone asks about the foundation/basement, we might not be comfortable looking at that and talking about that compared to our comfort looking at and talking about the stained-glass door.

If I was a non-Catholic, how would you evangelize me? What would be the core basics, the blocks and beams? In 50 words or less?

Michael
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I perfer the oriental rug. Decorative and ornamental.

(House analogy, never heard that one before?)
 
Okay Michael I’ll bite.

"First off friend, thanks for asking about my religion. The Catholic Faith rests upon Three separate Pillars that intern support one another. The Magistratum of the Church, that is our Pope, Cardinals and councils. Sacred Scripture, that being the Holy Bible. Last but not least are the Sacred Traditions, this being our devotions like Rosary and those Saint Medals you see us wearing among other things.

Now friend the whole faith rest on a simple concept. We humans are flawed beings and are in need of divine help. This comes from Our God, who exists in three persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Three in One, the One in Three. One God. Whom we believe to be the only REAL God.

We further believe that the Son of the Sacred Trinity came down from Heaven, taught a message of faith, hope and love. For this he was brutally tortured and executed by the pagan Roman Government under Pontius Pilot while being urged on by the Religious Leaders of the Jews of the time, the Pharisees. However! This is the Good part. He came back from the dead an went into Heaven. Eventually he shall come back and end evil once and for all on this world and judge all mankind.

We further believe we are Catholics are the Church Christ founded. So does that clarify things for you any friend?"
 
If they are afraid to evangelize then they are not yet true Catholics.
The question assumes as true something which is false.
 
There’s some excellent evangelizing going on in this thread btw, if I may so.
 
Mt_28_19_20 said:
I ask people to pray for me, and I ask Saints and Mary to pray for me. As I said, if I had to chose between a prayer to St Michael, and the prayer to God, I would prefer the direct prayer to God. How about you, which would you prefer if you had to chose one or the other.

So, you judge me to be a clearly not Catholic, or at least a poorly educated one? Are you confident that does not risk being false witness?

God bless,

Michael
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If you think there’s some sort of choice involved - that prayer to the saints in any way excludes or is in reality particularly different from prayer direct to God - then you are mistaken.

The whole point of the Communion of Saints is that the heavenly saints are in fact part of Christ’s - GOD’S - OWN body. Just as the earthly saints are, according to St Paul. We have the ability to communicate with the heavenly saints in prayer because of this commonality as part of Christs body.

Prayer to them IS prayer to Him, in the same way that kissing my hand is the same thing as kissing me.
 
puzzleannie said:
Secretaries–put together welcome packets for new parishioners including a wealth of evangelization materials, keep pamphlet rack filled …
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Puzzleannie,
Do you any particular suggestions re: evangelization materials and pamphlets?
Thank you for your post.
 
quiet52 said:
**Puzzleannie,
Do you any particular suggestions re: evangelization materials and pamphlets?
Thank you for your post.
Click to expand...
we put together pamphlets in English and Spanish with basic prayers, practices, doctrinal statements, and so forth, with scriptural cites.
we also include:
Flyers from each parish organization listing their ministries and activities, contact person etc.
Rosary and how-to pamphlet
RE schedule for adults and children
RCIA pamphlet
other pamphlets from Our Sunday Visitor, CA and others places on relevant topics
Pillar of Fire
Mass times and parish directory.

Something asked about on another forum: a sheet that lists where to turn in the bible for help with specific prayer needs

many of the general things were available on the internet with permission to copy, such as the rosary sheet from New Advent
Others we prepared, and others are purchased in bulk.

these are in white 9X12 envelopes decorated by CCD children instructed to make a picture that says “Welcome to Our Church”

it also includes stewardship and service info.

this year we added info on convalidation, including upcoming conferences, and adult sacramental prep for Catholics. Our goal is to evangelize Catholics first, and hope new parishioners will use these to reach out to other family members.
 
cyberwolf001 said:
Okay Michael I’ll bite.

"First off friend, thanks for asking about my religion. The Catholic Faith rests upon Three separate Pillars that intern support one another. The Magistratum of the Church, that is our Pope, Cardinals and councils. Sacred Scripture, that being the Holy Bible. Last but not least are the Sacred Traditions, this being our devotions like Rosary and those Saint Medals you see us wearing among other things.

Now friend the whole faith rest on a simple concept. We humans are flawed beings and are in need of divine help. This comes from Our God, who exists in three persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Three in One, the One in Three. One God. Whom we believe to be the only REAL God.

We further believe that the Son of the Sacred Trinity came down from Heaven, taught a message of faith, hope and love. For this he was brutally tortured and executed by the pagan Roman Government under Pontius Pilot while being urged on by the Religious Leaders of the Jews of the time, the Pharisees. However! This is the Good part. He came back from the dead an went into Heaven. Eventually he shall come back and end evil once and for all on this world and judge all mankind.

We further believe we are Catholics are the Church Christ founded. So does that clarify things for you any friend?"
Click to expand...
cypberwolf001,
Code: 
  Thank you for your response. My opinion? The first paragraph talks about the structure, not the message. In my experience, many Protestants want to know if we understand the message, and they aren't big fans on focusing on the structure or other things they may disagree with or not appreciate. Many religions have a structure.
Second paragraph, appears to say we are not perfect, “flawed”, and need help from God. Some may see this as “watering down” the Gospel. Many people, Christian or nonChristian will admit they are not perfect and need God’s help.

Third paragraph, is good. Talks about Jesus teaching faith, hope, and love, being tortured, dying, and rising from the dead, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come to judge the living and the dead. Does this explain why Jesus came, taught, suffered, died, rose, will come again to judge? Didn’t God teach faith, hope, and love in the Old Testament? Why did Jesus have to be born of the virgin Mary, suffer and die, and rise from the dead?

Forth paragraph, says we think we are the true Church. That doesn’t clarify the Gospel, just that we think we are the one Church. Other religions think they have the truth and trace back their roots.

Sharing that with a Protestant who values Scripture, and who may disagree with the Catholic Church, doesn’t seem, in my opinion to speak tot them where they are going to listen. They may just say, another Catholic who doesn’t know Scripture?

God bless,

Michael
 
averheyen said:
There’s some excellent evangelizing going on in this thread btw, if I may so.
Click to expand...
This would be possible approach/attempt to start sharing the Gospel in 50 words or less:

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Rom 3:23)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, (Jn 1:12-18 )

God bless,

Michael
 
puzzleannie said:
we put together pamphlets in English and Spanish with basic prayers, practices, doctrinal statements, and so forth, with scriptural cites.
we also include:
Flyers from each parish organization listing their ministries and activities, contact person etc.
Rosary and how-to pamphlet
RE schedule for adults and children
RCIA pamphlet
other pamphlets from Our Sunday Visitor, CA and others places on relevant topics
Pillar of Fire
Mass times and parish directory.

Something asked about on another forum: a sheet that lists where to turn in the bible for help with specific prayer needs

many of the general things were available on the internet with permission to copy, such as the rosary sheet from New Advent
Others we prepared, and others are purchased in bulk.

these are in white 9X12 envelopes decorated by CCD children instructed to make a picture that says “Welcome to Our Church”

it also includes stewardship and service info.

this year we added info on convalidation, including upcoming conferences, and adult sacramental prep for Catholics. Our goal is to evangelize Catholics first, and hope new parishioners will use these to reach out to other family members.
Click to expand...
Thank you puzzleannie.
 
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