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mitchbrock
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| First Name: | Mitch | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Roman Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Oct 25th, 2007 01:27 am |
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My parish's RCIA class this year had 0 new people. I believe this maybe due to a failure to effectively evangelize.
I have several friends that are agnostic, protestant, or consider themselves non-denominational Christians who often ask me questions about matters of faith. I continuously share my faith with them. However, I am beginning to feel as if I am doing something wrong.
I have read the pamphlet "What the Church Teaches: Evangelization" by Lorene Hanley Duquin published by Our Sunday Visitor. It was helpful. However, I often feel that much of the information I have read about Catholic evangelization has a defensive structure. In other words, if I'm questioned about the Eucharist, or saints/Mary, or something uniquely Catholic, here is the answer and the reference.
But, to use football terminology, I want to run the ball down the field. I don’t want to go door to door or anything. However, I have a deep feeling of concern for those that do not understand Catholicism. I also have a growing feeling of irresponsibility on my part for not effectively evangelizing to the people in my life. This brings me to my questions:
How can I be more direct or assertive in evangelizing Catholicism to friends, relatives, and neighbors?
Are there any good books or online resources that may guide me to evangelize directly but respectfully in accordance with The Church?
Thank you,
Mitch
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Thu Oct 25th, 2007 01:53 am |
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| Hi Mitch, and welcome to the forum. I hope you will get some good answers from the people here, because I often feel the way you do. When someone asks me a question about catholicism, I tend to downplay my answer in an effort not to be preachy or to not offend them if they are currently attending a protestant denomination. I would like to be able to speak more effectively when I have the chance.
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David W. Emery
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Posted: Thu Oct 25th, 2007 09:04 am |
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Two things, Mitch, are often neglected by Catholics with regard to evangelization.
One is the importance of example. Personal holiness is a huge blessing on the society around us. And it is noticed by others, such as Protestants and non-religious people, who often — whether in spite of or because of their own aspirations makes no difference — admire and long for the same. People come to God, and to Catholicism, not because they are intellectually convinced of some abstract notion, but because they see real holiness and meaning in a person’s life and realize, “I want whatever it is that this person has.”
The second point that we often miss in our search for contact with outsiders is that the more we know about their beliefs and the better we understand their own lives and personalities and perceived spiritual needs, the better we are able to help them. Sometimes, in a moment of difficulty, a simple word of comfort can catapult them into an investigation of the Catholic way. This is not a question of theology, but of spiritual thirst that a person often doesn’t even know he has.
My overall suggestion, then, is to pay more attention to the non-intellectual part of religion. Most of humanity has no interest in intellectual pursuits, and a religion of the mind does not appeal to them. They want something that satisfies the heart. Catholicism does this better than any other religion because it does it authentically and not just on the level of gratification.
One last idea: Often in an urban society where people rub elbows but really do not know their next door neighbor, the only real way to make contact is through advertising and public service. If nobody knows who you are and what you offer, the response will always be zero. So you need to get the word out. There are a lot of Christian believers out there who are dissatisfied with what they have and would be willing to investigate another way if it is presented in a positive, compelling way. And there are a lot of hurting souls who know they need something but don’t know where to turn. You won’t have word of mouth contact with most of these people. Sometimes advertising, whether by use of commercial media or through a social service, is the only way to seek them out and bring their lives into contact with our own.
David
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Ali
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Posted: Thu Oct 25th, 2007 09:30 am |
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I can't speak to your specific questions, but I do agree with what Dave said IRT our example being a much better witness than using words in a door to door fashion. Coming from an denomination that did door-to-door witnessing, and taking every available opportunity to "preach" at people, trust me when I say that it does not do any better than just living your faith as Catholics do, kwim?
Plus, keep in mind that we are only there to plant the seed, God will do the rest. It can be frustrating because many times we don't see the fruits of our labor in a timely way. I've learned the hard way this past year that God works on his time, and not ours 
God Bless you for wanting to bring people back to the church, I'm sure he will direct to a ministry that will give you great joy.
Ali
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NanaR
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Posted: Thu Oct 25th, 2007 11:37 am |
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Also, we should never forget that prayer is perhaps the most powerful tool for evangelization. Many, many people are Catholic now because someone who loves them prayed persistently for the Lord to open the heart of their loved one to receive his grace.
Ruth
____________________
When you bend down to help someone up, that is the best exercise for your heart. -- Fr. Noe, 2007
http://nanaruthann.blogspot.com
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brian
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Posted: Sat Oct 27th, 2007 08:36 pm |
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I like your enthusiasm for wanting to share your faith.
I just want to say that I agree with everyone. Prayer, a holy life, and being kind is key in evangelization.
But I would say, figure out what the Holy Spirit wants of you. We all have different gifts and we are all called to use them uniquely. Therfore, maybe for some preaching will come into play. Teaching, being kind, prayer, giving gifts. The possibilities are endless. Each of us is accountable for planting seeds as we are best gifted to.
Now, I totally agree with the whole being a good example and holiness approach. But I think it is only part of the solution. For people who are gifted sharing the faith with words is a good thing, if done charitably. The world has misconceptions and many of us need to know how to explain our faith and be zealous to share and explain our faith whenever any good opportunity comes about. There are saints for instance who's preaching was so powerful that it converted many people back to Catholicism who left the church. Francis de Sales comes to mind.
I think we should encourage people to want to use words in the power of the Holy Spirit. This is part of what worked in Acts. I do not think we can always just say what St. Francis of Assissi said 'preach always, use words if necessary.' This is a noble saying and best way to live, and never would I disresepct St. Francis, whose life to this day effects multitudes for our faith, but to those gifted with words, words are necessary in the given situation.
So as long as you are not alienating people or seeking to share in your own strength without relying on the Lord, I hope you look for and find great opportunities to share your faith with those who God is calling (which in a sense if everybody).
For me it was laregely words and the apologetic efforts that brought me in. Examples helped a lot to be sure. It helped me know that this faith did produce results and was good to see that Catholics could appear as 'saved' and to have 'personal relationships with Jesus' as us evangelicals. But it was the answers to my questions and challenges to my thinking that played a huge role in my conversion as well as many other factors. The Journey Home program, this forum, etc. I think it is part of the what we call the New Evangelization.
I guess my point is that, while I agree with David and the rest, I think that sharing with words is being under-emphasized. As an evangelical I was strongly encouraged to share my faith, and it was a good thing and led to good things hapening in my life and around me. We should all want to share the good news as much as we can when appropriate opportunities arise, and in the meantime I think we should be asking God to open our eyes so that we see this happening, and to open our mouths to be courageous when the time to speak is at hand.
I am not a fan of leaflets myself, but the synopsis quoted below is part of the story of Francis de Sales from the book 'Catholic Controversy.' Notice that he made intense effort to get the message out to people by any means necessary. He lived a very 'devout' life to be sure, which perhaps feuled his evangelism, but he also went out and sought to share the truth.
This is a matter of truth, freedom, and salvation. How can we stay silent? If your gift is to explain the faith, use whatever means and resources you have to tell the world what God has done for you in good taste. Be a mouthpiece for God to call them back into His loving arms. For when we appeal to another to have faith, I believe it is the Holy Spirit appealing through us, which is exactly why we should not shy away from any valid opportunity. 'Be ready in season and out of season'
"Book Description
After being repeatedly rebuffed in his attempts to re-evangelize Calvinist Protestants who would not listen to Catholic preaching for fear of reprisals, St. Francis resorted to writing leaflets and inserting them into copies of his sermons, then posting them on walls, slipping them under doors and handing them to anyone he could. Four years later almost 72,000 had returned to the ancient Catholic Faith! These tracts have been gathered together and entitled The Catholic Controversy. The works are still as fresh and powerful today and give some of the most cogent arguments against Protestantism ever penned, presenting a defense of the Catholic Faith that in some respects has never been equalled."
And from Romans 10:13-17
For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring (the) good news!"
But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?"
Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
Last edited on Sat Oct 27th, 2007 09:22 pm by brian
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Sun Oct 28th, 2007 02:14 am |
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| Our pastor announced tonight that he will be giving a series of homilies over the next eight weeks on catholic evangelization. He has developed an eight- point evangelization plan based on Pope John Paul II's vision of a "springtime for the church." My own opinion is, evangelization for the catholic church cannot be approached in the same way it can for the protestant church. Catholic doctrine is more complicated. It takes more than a friendly invitation to church one night, an affirmative altar call, and you're in. There's a good bit of explaining, of setting right some possible misconceptions. We need to learn how to do a better job of it, it's what Jesus called us to do. But I don't think we as catholics can use the protestant way as our model to go by. The RCIA class at our parish has been great. We have a good turnout, and Father Longenecker is using powerpoint to give the lessons, which began with the question of who God is, and have been building each week to explain the life of Jesus, the beginnings of Christianity, and the church. He includes wonderful religious artwork in the presentations. But of course, you have to get the people there to the class in order to teach them! Have you tried putting out notices or public service announcements that an inquirer's class is beginning?
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NotCatholic
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Posted: Mon Oct 29th, 2007 02:50 pm |
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When someone asks me a question about catholicism, I tend to downplay my answer in an effort not to be preachy or to not offend them if they are currently attending a protestant denomination.
I think its better to offend.
One is the importance of example. Personal holiness is a huge blessing on the society around us. And it is noticed by others, such as Protestants and non-religious people, who often — whether in spite of or because of their own aspirations makes no difference — admire and long for the same. People come to God, and to Catholicism, not because they are intellectually convinced of some abstract notion, but because they see real holiness and meaning in a person’s life and realize, “I want whatever it is that this person has.
I agree with you on this when I was thinking of joining the catholic church one of things that was a big turn off was the lack of personal holiness I seen from catholics. I seen alot of talking but no walking.
I can't speak to your specific questions, but I do agree with what Dave said IRT our example being a much better witness than using words in a door to door fashion. Coming from an denomination that did door-to-door witnessing, and taking every available opportunity to "preach" at people, trust me when I say that it does not do any better than just living your faith as Catholics do, kwim?
I agree and disagree personal holiness and being a living example are great but words must also play a part.
My answers are just not for christians but all religions.
____________________
The attitude that nature is chaotic and that the artist puts order into it is a very absurd point of view, I think. All that we can hope for is to put some order into ourselves-Willem De Kooning
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Mon Oct 29th, 2007 03:37 pm |
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Not Catholic wrote: when I was thinking of joining the catholic church one of things that was a big turn off was the lack of personal holiness I seen from catholics. I seen alot of talking but no walking.
You are not likely to see many people walking around with halos over their heads in the catholic church or in any other church, or outside of any church. Because you are not God, and cannot judge anyone by their outward actions, much less their hearts. People everywhere are imperfect. The ones who are striving to be holy, will make mistakes and you may catch them at it if you are looking hard enough. If you are judging churches by who has the most holy-looking behavior on Sunday morning you are setting your standards too low. Try looking in the soup kitchens or the free medical clinics here or in Africa or India. Who do you see standing vigil outside the abortion clinics? Knock on just about any protestant church door on a weekday when you really need to go into the Lord's house to pray, you probably won't be able to go in. Try going into a catholic church, chances are it will be open, with candles lit and other people praying as you want to do. I'm sorry, very sorry, that some catholics have behaved badly toward you or in your presence. Try to realize that's why God sent His Son to die for us, because we are all human, you and me, and we will do wrong things and make mistakes again. Only Jesus was perfect of His own accord, the rest of us will never be until we reach heaven. It's in the trying to be holy, the desire to be holy, that matters.
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NotCatholic
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Posted: Mon Oct 29th, 2007 08:01 pm |
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You are not likely to see many people walking around with halos over their heads in the catholic church or in any other church, or outside of any church. Because you are not God, and cannot judge anyone by their outward actions, much less their hearts. People everywhere are imperfect. The ones who are striving to be holy, will make mistakes and you may catch them at it if you are looking hard enough. If you are judging churches by who has the most holy-looking behavior on Sunday morning you are setting your standards too low.
I'm sure there are some very holy good Catholics. I'm just telling you what I have seen from going to Catholic Church's and knowing Catholics and from growing up Protestant and I must say the protestants I have known has been more holy then the Catholics and I'm not talking about looking holy on sunday I'm talking about being holy everyday of there lives.
Try looking in the soup kitchens or the free medical clinics here or in Africa or India. Who do you see standing vigil outside the abortion clinics?
I see alot of people standing in protest at abortion clinices my Protestant mother is one of them. I'm not even a Christian anymore yet I go to protests at abortion clinics all the time.
Knock on just about any protestant church door on a weekday when you really need to go into the Lord's house to pray, you probably won't be able to go in. Try going into a catholic church, chances are it will be open, with candles lit and other people praying as you want to do.
If I wanted to pray to God I don't need a Church to be open God does not live in a Church my small room will do just fine.
I'm sorry, very sorry, that some catholics have behaved badly toward you or in your presence. Try to realize that's why God sent His Son to die for us, because we are all human, you and me, and we will do wrong things and make mistakes again. Only Jesus was perfect of His own accord, the rest of us will never be until we reach heaven. It's in the trying to be holy, the desire to be holy, that matters.
Well I'm not a Christian anymore and I don't believe in Jesus but I understand what you are saying. I was not trying to debate with my first post just telling everyone what I have seen.
____________________
The attitude that nature is chaotic and that the artist puts order into it is a very absurd point of view, I think. All that we can hope for is to put some order into ourselves-Willem De Kooning
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DrDave
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Posted: Mon Oct 29th, 2007 08:15 pm |
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NotCatholic wrote: I think its better to offend.
I think this is a trap that many can fall into out of their love for God and His Truth.
The problem I see with this attitude is that if your mode of delivery causes offense then any message you convey will be blunted by the offense perceived by your audience.
Imagine mailing someone (anyone) a bible, so far so good, nothing wrong with that, but you want it to be more than an ornamental piece on a bookshelf, you want them to read it. What could you do? Perhaps include a note with the bible? How about "If you don't read this you're probably going to hell for all eternity"
I can tell you that it's more likely that the receiver of your gift will file it in the trash than read it.
And here's the thing (as Fr. Mitch would say) can you honestly say to God at your final judgment that you tried to spread his word?
Our compassion for others compels us to take their feelings into account. If there is a way we can spread the word without compromising the truth, but also without causing offense, then charity demands that we follow that path. As such, to extend the above example it would be better to write a note more along the lines of "I believe this book contains truths about where we came from, and more importantly about where we are going, and so out of my love and respect for you as a person I feel compelled to share it with you in the hope that you might read it and come to find in it's pages the hope that I have for us all"
John Martinoni's apologetic strategy of "Being offensive(not defensive) without being offensive(causing insult)" is based upon this principle. I recommend his talk "Apologetics for the scripturally challenged" for more information (BTW it's FREE)
Regards Dave
Last edited on Mon Oct 29th, 2007 08:19 pm by DrDave
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Mon Oct 29th, 2007 08:24 pm |
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| What you have seen is not the whole picture. Please don't equate a few bad apples with the whole basket.
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brian
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Posted: Mon Oct 29th, 2007 11:18 pm |
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DrDave wrote:
Our compassion for others compels us to take their feelings into account. If there is a way we can spread the word without compromising the truth, but also without causing offense, then charity demands that we follow that path.
I totally agree with you. However, maybe what the person meant was that it is better to speak the truth and offend somebody, than avoid offending them by not saying anything. Meaning, if it is the mesasage itself and not the messenger that is offending them, than you have done well.
I agree that we should be salt and light. To speak with grace and gentleness, and taking others felings into account. But if someone point blank wanted to know if I thought homosexuality was a sin, or if I thought all religions were equally valid, I would do my best to be diplomatic, but I would have to say what I believed. Maybe if I am diplomatic enough many people would respect me and be able to agree to disagree, and this often is the case, but many would also see me as intolerant and be offended by what I said.
I think we need to definitely go with the approach you are saying, but we
should also be courageous to speak truth even if it is uncomfortable. I often fail at this because I do not embrace persecution as much as I should. Say for instance a couple you know well is saying out loud in a group of people all the reasons that they think birth control is good. And if nobody else is there to object, and maybe there are some Catholic friends in the group and you will not necessarily see them again, it may be appropriate to respectfully share what the church teaches as best you can. It may be uncomfortable and cause someone to feel offended (but really it is discomfort so perhaps "offend" is the wrong term for what we are saying), and you should try your best to be respectful, but it may also cause offense.
Jesus causes a lot of division and the apostles were not afraid to be bold. It is important to not be arrogant, or rude, but also confident, and for each person to speak (or stay silent) according to how God has gifted them. I think some people could be passionate and full of the Holy Spirit and speak with authority, whereas some can not show emotion without offending. I think this is a matter of knowing oneself and avoiding your passions gaining the upper hand when in tense situations but praying you will speak as God would want you to, and that when it is over people will remember what was from the Holy Spirit and forget anything that was from the flesh.
Brian
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brian
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Posted: Mon Oct 29th, 2007 11:29 pm |
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(but really it is discomfort so perhaps "offend" is the wrong term for what we are saying),
Brian
Interesting, Brian. Here is some of the ways dictionary.com defined 'offend'
of·fend [uh-fend] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used with object)
1. to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in: Even the hint of prejudice offends me.
2. to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) disagreeably.
3. to violate or transgress (a criminal, religious, or moral law).
4. to hurt or cause pain to.
5. (in Biblical use) to cause to fall into sinful ways.
–verb (used without object)
6. to cause resentful displeasure; irritate, annoy, or anger: a remark so thoughtless it can only offend.
7. to err in conduct; commit a sin, crime, or fault.
So I suppose that I might say it is ok and even necessary to offend someone in terms 1, 2, and maybe 5. But not 3, 4, 6, or 7, which we should try never to do.
Seems we need two different words, or that it would help to know where the word comes from. Or say, cause mental/emotional discomfort, or something, instead of offend.
But nowadays, it seems not to matter what words should mean, but rather what connotations they give. That can make conversation or reading older philosophy or theology frustrating, and often I am the guilty party for misrepresenting myself or not knowing.
But the more I look at the definition, and the synonyms it seems that there is some sort of negative connotation to the term, that more often it means that something wrong was done that caused the hurt feeling. So perhaps it is not good to 'offend' but, I think in this conversation the word was being used in the sense that would make it necessary to occasionally 'offend'
Brian
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mitchbrock
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Posted: Tue Oct 30th, 2007 12:26 am |
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Marsha, thank you for your suggestions. I will talk with my pastor and the RCIA coordinator about some advertising ideas.
David, I will try to listen more intently to my friends to hear not just their questions but try to see the root of their spiritual hunger.
Ali, please pray for me that I will have patience as I watch the seeds of faith grow in others.
Ruth, I will commit myself to pray for the conversion all people and please ask God to strength my faith in the power of prayer.
Brian, thank you for your words of encouragement. I am not familiar with the life of Saint Francis de Sales. Per your suggestions, I will read the book The Catholic Controversy.
Dave, I struggle to not let my fervor drowned out my compassion. I will always try to remember that without love (compassion) all efforts to evangelize will be futile.
Everyone, I'm new to the message board. I have been watching EWTN and the Journey Home for only a couple of years. But it has been instrumental in helping me understand and deepen my faith. I want to say thank you for such a warm welcome.
Mitch
Last edited on Tue Oct 30th, 2007 12:28 am by mitchbrock
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brian
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Posted: Tue Oct 30th, 2007 01:33 am |
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mitchbrock wrote:
Marsha, thank you for your suggestions. I will talk with my pastor and the RCIA coordinator about some advertising ideas.
David, I will try to listen more intently to my friends to hear not just their questions but try to see the root of their spiritual hunger.
Ali, please pray for me that I will have patience as I watch the seeds of faith grow in others.
Ruth, I will commit myself to pray for the conversion all people and please ask God to strength my faith in the power of prayer.
Brian, thank you for your words of encouragement. I am not familiar with the life of Saint Francis de Sales. Per your suggestions, I will read the book The Catholic Controversy.
Dave, I struggle to not let my fervor drowned out my compassion. I will always try to remember that without love (compassion) all efforts to evangelize will be futile.
Everyone, I'm new to the message board. I have been watching EWTN and the Journey Home for only a couple of years. But it has been instrumental in helping me understand and deepen my faith. I want to say thank you for such a warm welcome.
Mitch
I enjoyed your reply to us all. Glad you are learning more. Anyway, I am not necessariliy suggesting reading the book unless you want to. I just was looking for info to validate what I thought I knew about Francis de Sales and I found that book synopsis from Amazon. I hve not read the book. It is probably good and interesting, and maybe has a lot in there about arguments that he used to defend the faith, so maybe it is what you are looking for but I was not necessariliy telling you to read it. But I would not try to stop you. I am getting more and more interested in his "Introduction to the Devout Life" which is a classic, but maybe not so much about evangelism per se, but I suppose living a more devout life would take help with the setting a good example part of this conversation in regard to Christian witness. Maybe reading both would sum up the points nicely.
I pray that you will find ways to share the beauty of our faith with those God wants to reach out to through your love and witness.
Brian
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Tue Oct 30th, 2007 02:15 am |
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| I wonder what percentage of regularly, continuously practicing catholics are cradle catholics? I believe evangelization has to take place to some extent with all of us. However it begins, as little children in RE or adults who become interested in some area of the faith and then go on, there is a journey involved for all of us. Each of us here who have converted has told a story about how something (the Holy Spirit?) piqued their curiosity, or they hit a rough spot in life and found refuge in the church. There is evangelism involved in some way for each of us. Tomorrow I will visit the sick at the hospital and take Holy Communion to them. That is evangelization, especially to those who have not attended mass for awhile. During the upcoming holidays I will be spending time with relatives and in- laws who range from scary fundamentalism to atheist to agnostic, and I'm the only catholic in sight. That's a time for evangelization, and a thick skin!
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David W. Emery
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Posted: Tue Oct 30th, 2007 09:57 am |
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mitchbrock wrote:David, I will try to listen more intently to my friends to hear not just their questions but try to see the root of their spiritual hunger.
Several responses have concentrated on this single point of my previous post. In reality, it is only one of several points which I made.
Like Marsha, I did mention and advocate certain compatible types of advertisement; since my livelihood comes from the advertising publishing industry, this can be seen as a natural development. Like Ali, I mentioned and advocated prayerful and dialogical concern for the growth of Christ in the souls of the unchurched.
On the CHNI forum, I deal with many people whose lives are in crisis. Small personalized helps such as clarifying a point of doctrine and explaining its ramifications or helping a person to understand himself and his direction in life have proved especially important. And finally, everything I said is to be considered over and above the assumption of verbal evangelization and catechesis, not instead of it.
In other words, my approach is holistic, not partial to one method or another. An example of what I mean can be seen in this recent news article.
David
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NotCatholic
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Posted: Tue Oct 30th, 2007 03:10 pm |
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When I use the word offend what I was trying to say is don't water down your religion for Protestants. If you talk with a Protestant tell then what you believe don't be shy about what you believe about the Pope,mary,saints and so on even if what you believe offends Protestants.
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The attitude that nature is chaotic and that the artist puts order into it is a very absurd point of view, I think. All that we can hope for is to put some order into ourselves-Willem De Kooning
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NotCatholic
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Posted: Tue Oct 30th, 2007 03:13 pm |
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What you have seen is not the whole picture. Please don't equate a few bad apples with the whole basket.
I'm not Read my reply again see what I put in blue.
I'm sure there are some very holy good Catholics. I'm just telling you what I have seen from going to Catholic Church's and knowing Catholics and from growing up Protestant and I must say the protestants I have known has been more holy then the Catholics and I'm not talking about looking holy on sunday I'm talking about being holy everyday of there lives.
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The attitude that nature is chaotic and that the artist puts order into it is a very absurd point of view, I think. All that we can hope for is to put some order into ourselves-Willem De Kooning
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sewnsew
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| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Tue Oct 30th, 2007 05:05 pm |
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>>If I wanted to pray to God I don't need a Church to be open God does not live in a Church my small room will do just fine.
True- anyone can pray at anytime and SHOULD- however it is easier to put the world from one's mind in a church- the phone doesn't ring, my kids and husband can't come knocking on the door- I don't think that whoever made the comment about the church's doors always open was talking about casual or even serious daily prayers but the soul wrenching ones...
When I am in a church I feel the weight of history and countless other Christians back to the beginning. However that is probably more true of those who were brought up in RC or Anglican, Lutheran old churches and a daily prayer service etc For those people brought up in churches who meet in storefronts or "multi purpose rooms" etc. there isn't the same sense of the sacred since the building is not dedicated solely for "worship' services. When my husband and I were engaged, a close family member died. I was terribly shaken and wanted to find a church to pray in- he told that his parent's church might be open since it was choir practice- he honestly couldn't understand why their auditorium like church just didn't cut it for me ( there wasn't even a cross)- at that time he hadn't even been in a Catholic church ever.
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Credo Catholic
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Posted: Tue Oct 30th, 2007 06:40 pm |
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| Kim, you understand what I'm talking about. Of course we pray in our own rooms at home, and in the car and everyplace else. I prayed a rosary today while sitting in my car waiting for my son to register for classes. We can and do talk to God everywhere | | |
