"What!!!! Are you serious!" That's the reaction of a certain person I spoke to recently in a certain city in Ireland, when I told her that, not only did I attend Mass every week, but that I also pray everyday and attend confession once a fortnight. I was far from shocked, not in the least bit surprised. I expected it. It reminds me of the reaction I got a few years ago when a man was stunned to find out I didn't live with my wife before marriage. However, thankfully, the conversation didn't continue much beyond that.She mentioned that she "used to be great at going" but gave it up because she "got noting out of it" and that when you're dead, you're dead.(the usual script we've all heard I suppose) I always worry though. I'm honestly scared, that the next questions will be: What do you make of contraception? What do you think of divorce? And then the big issue, the one that is in our face left right and centre: Marriage "equality". It terrifys me. Rainbows are everywhere. Even the other day on eastenders, believe it or not. What answer is there that will make them back off when they ask me what I make of that? None. "Don't you want people to be happy?" I had a conversation with a gay man recently who, unaware I was Catholic, launched a full assault on the Church, and how it's the reason that are not accepted. "Their ridiculous hang-ups on sex" I was a coward. I said nothing. I'm far from bigoted - my own brother is gay. And I love him the same as my other brother, who's not gay. So, I ask all of you, in the spirit of compassion and understanding: How do you answer that?
Living in Ireland myself I can identify. There isn't much reference to God or the Church really unless it is done in a satirical or mocking fashion. Hopefully though there is going to be big changes for the better in the future around all that in Ireland.
I think ,as always you have to be led by the Holy Spirit as to whether or not you open your mouth or shut it. It's a bit like dancing , it's not much fun dancing on your own, you have to wait till the Holy Spirit calls you. Then when He does, it will be Himself that carries the ball, not you. I find myself a lot of the times saying exactly nothing and all of the times praying a lot. There isn't a lot of point trying to kick in doors that are closed and bolted to the truth. Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Luke 12 Warnings and Encouragements 12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
Though I admit I may be wrong in this. I have grown maybe a little cynical about the power of human persuasion and reason. The internet has a lot to do with this.
Thanks Sanctus for your reply. Padraig, thanks for the lovely image and Gospel. This is a genuine query, and is one of the hardest to answer. A lot of the time, the conversation is, I'm convinced, one of mocking entrapment. Sometimes it's one of curiosity, sometimes one of genuine interest. It's a case of picking your battles I suppose. And, as St Francis said "Preach Christ constantly, using words if necessary", ie, knowing when it's appropriate to stay silent.
Never stay silent. Always defend Truth. I have lost many "friends" because of it, but now I have fewer but true friends. The key is to do it calmly without judging. We are all sinners, but Truth is Truth. Always defend Truth. Always.
Hi Lamp, you bring up some excellent questions. I think we have all been faced with the situation(s) you lay out in your post. In my experience, many folks who raise the questions you were confronted with are simply looking for a fight. If that is the case, I usually don't indulge those people and walk away. If they persist, I simply say that eternal truths do not change no matter how much anyone might want them to. I have to admit that I've gotten to the point where I am blunt when confronted by questions like these.
I struggle with how to answer similar questions and be a witness to the truth. I often fail. Sometimes it is my own lack of moral courage and not wanting to be singled out as the odd religious one when I am at work. Sometimes I struggle with my own family too.
The Holy Spirit is always where the Truth is, so speak it loud and clear I say. When the situation arises I don't care if I'm in the grocery store, at a football game or anywhere else - this is THE TRUTH who has a name, a holy name. When you speak the Truth, you speak Jesus! Now living the Truth is a must beforehand as not to be a hypocrite and letting your life be a witness to the Truth is essential.
What would Jesus do? That is always the question. We will all be in plently of situations in the near future, when the Church is being heavily persecuted, to either remain silent as St. Thomas Moore did until his trial, or speak and endure the wrath of the apostate's or pagans. It is one this to speak now when there is some freedom to do so, it will be quite another to do so after the Warning and Miracle when livng the faith will have to be 'under ground', because of the abomination of desolation period of the anti-christ and the false prophet who arrive on the scene.
'Preach the Gospel with your lives and if necessary, use words' . St Francis of Assisi. View attachment 2451
I've been praying about this. Unless directed otherwise by the Holy Spirit, my answer will be: "I am a joyful, faithful daughter of the Roman Catholic Church, and I believe everything the Church teaches about the Sacrament of marriage." or "I am a sinner, and I do not prioritize sins. But I know what sin is, and no one can persuade me that disordered actions are good."
I was just thinking today, that of every thousand words I have used in my life 999 had been addressed to God instead...and the remaining one word had been about Him.
I was asked this question lately on what have I had against gay people. I said that we must not confuse a person with same sex attraction with the gay lobby who wish to change the nature of marriage and that was really not on. We all have drives such as food, sex, self preservation. 99% are normative but there is a non normative % in all these drives. This is a cross and the person needs help and support to deal with it. I left it at that. Its very difficult in Ireland now to talk about anything like this. If there is an argument I walk away. Nothing to be gained but I can say I try to live by what the church teaches.
When people are angry they don't listen. When they have learnt to love us.. their heart is their ears.
A couple of months ago I was 'baited' in the coffee shop by someone saying how bad religion in general is etc etc. I had kinda decided in my own head to stay quiet but eventually knew I had to say something. What came out was that God is love, and a few more words along that line. I can't even remember much beyond those first words but looking back on that moment I think it was the salve needed. Often the bait is put out so that we'll prove we're nutters, but if I manage to calmy give the impression that I want to be united with the source of all love, then they're stumped. on the gay question in specific... I think that's the one that will get me nailed th the church door!!! The only wriggle room is approaching it from the angle of child protection. Bishop Kevin Doran recently gave a good statement on the matter http://www.catholicbishops.ie/2014/12/03/meaning-marriage/ but get ready for the tar and feathers
By the way, I've been invited in to a local secondary school to talk to the 6th years - about 80 or 90 teenagers all together. My chosen topic was prayer but I've been told to not comment in any regard re. homosexuality or the school will get 50 phone calls of complaint and I'll never be asked back !!!!! Please say a prayer for me in this - I need my Guardian Angel and the Holy Spirit working flat out to get me through it. Good job it's His battle and not mine. Next Tuesady is the day I'll be talking, with the help of God. Please pray for the teenagers too, that their hearts will be opened to the Holy Spirit. God bless 'em!
I can't help thinking Pope Francis's warning on these matters , that we may being led up some kind of cul de sac on this may be true. For in the bigger scheme of things , with the whole world poised on an abyss of Spiritual and material destruction how much time do we want to spend discussing such things. Of all modern Marian apparitions how many times has Our Lady mentioned this? I note in the preparations , in the second part of the synod... the Church Fathers , as in the first ..or rather those who are guiding them... seem absorbed in such issues, I find this, personally, a source of sadness and concern. Homosexuality as an issue is not at the top of my concerns
I would have wanted if I were a Church Father, for instance, to lead people to say the Rosary once again. To fasting To repentance. This would have been my own urgency as it is the Mother of God's.
