Strategies for Returning to the [Catholic] Church

CE.com ^ | 01-11-18 | James Day

[Salvation]

Strategies for Returning to the Church

James Day

Our world is a fallen world. The effects of sin seem to be suffocating us. The diabolical is running rampant, unleashed, playing with immortal souls as if puppets on a string. Pride continues to dominate; repentance for anything is deemed archaic, of little use to today’s enlightened thinking.

Certainly this is not the positive language one wants to hear at the outset of a new year, when expectations and resolutions are running high. But all is not really so dire: the diabolical and pervasive sin has not crushed the divine light. “My Immaculate Heart will triumph,” promises the Lady of Fatima. There is a reason the Church opens a new year honoring the Mother of God: obedience to accepting one’s mission in life is the most daunting — and exciting — prospect we face on this earth. We have a guidebook in how to do it through Mary’s fiat.

Perhaps over holiday festivities and the euphoria — and stress — of families coming together, some readers might have encountered resistance from relatives regarding the graces offered in entering the mystery of faith during this holy season. Whether it was avoidance from some in either attending Christmas Mass or praying before a Christmas dinner, such discomforts surely existed. While certainly everyone is different, with their own freedom and right to privacy, perhaps there are some of you readers whose own children—raised in the Catholic faith you so diligently sought to instill in them — want nothing to do with it anymore. It is to this element I wish to address.

In my own experience, generally speaking, I have found degrees of toleration from lapsed or non-Catholics regarding matters of the faith — they know the Catholic Church continues to play an enormous part in global affairs while recalling their own experiences either through schooling or parish life. I have found that while the pervading motif of the millennial generation is a general shunning towards organized religion and regular church attendance, there yet remains a desire for an experience of the transcendent. And that desire is the silver lining.

Unfortunately, committed Catholics are not always quite the fearless galvanized evangelizers that each one is called to be. Marveling that St. Francis de Sales converted 40,000 is usually met with a shrug: “Well, that’s why he’s a saint.” But that’s the precisely the mentality that needs to change.

A Jesuit once posed in a homily, “Listen to conversations. How long does it take before God is ever mentioned?” Out of not wanting to create controversy, God is never mentioned. When he is, or when the Church is mentioned, Catholics are immediately put on the defensive. We can stay silent, letting the Uber driver, for example, have his say about the occultish practice of Catholics (as I experienced recently), or we can defend Holy Mother Church, as we would defend our own mother, and begin a conversation. The faith is not part of the pie of life. It is the pie.

I have come to believe that, in this era, accommodation will not work. Appeasing the culture may seem like a conciliatory gesture, but those on the opposite side most probably will not respect such compromise—even if they do not agree with the position in question. In reading Paul Kengor’s new book, A Pope and a President, on President Reagan and Pope St. John Paul II’s battles against communism, the consistency in the Church’s long running condemnation of communism as far back as Pius IX is impressive. The Church may have apologized for grievous actions throughout its long history, but it has never apologized for being magnificent.

So, how to engage your lapsed love one on returning to the Church? After all, that is our sole duty—to grow into our authentic selves, made in the image of God, and safeguard our immortal souls and those of others towards eternal life. Remembering we can only extend an invitation, a proposal, respecting the freedom of others, here are some strategies:

I: Know Thyself

Be yourself a model of virtue.

Live the Gospel, avoiding hypocrisy, condemnation of others, descent into pettiness. If you consider yourself a Catholic first and desire others to feel that same zeal, your example is the best model. Just like Mary.

Avoid “preaching.”

Respectfully engage in conversation in whatever topic arises. Listen to the other person. Avoid shouting or screaming. Do not let a discussion become an argument or a fight. But know the teachings rather than relying on your own emotions in the heat of the moment.

Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

Read Scripture daily, particularly the Gospels, alone or with family. Have the Catechism handy. Always be reading a spiritual work. Your own edification will inevitably seep into your own worldview. Petition the Trinity for guidance. Ask saints for intercession. Call on the Blessed Mother multiple times a day.

Know your own spiritual story.

What were the integral moments for you in your faith formation? Where did God reveal Himself? Write your own spiritual autobiography in a way that you find creative and inspiring. “Know thyself” is not just an ancient Greek saying. It’s vital to one’s own development.

“Pray the Mass,” as St. Pius X instructs.

Throw your fears and pains onto the altar. Bow your head at the Consecration; respect the Real Presence of Jesus Christ.

II: Extend an Invitation

Know the story of your lapsed child or loved one.

“Communication is simply mutual understanding,” says Stephen R. Covey. You have to care about who they are, where they’ve been, and where they want to go — while you are called to evangelize, you cannot treat them as an agenda, a project. In this way, study Ignatian spirituality for insight on the discernment of spirits. You are always an unofficial spiritual director to someone!

Find common ground.

There are many launching points one can meet due to the richness of the Catholic faith. Unfortunately, many lapsed Catholics have a distorted or misinformed view of the faith, just as many in the Protestant and evangelical world have a Reformation-era concept of the papacy. Much time may be spent on clearing the cobwebs on the reality of the Catholic Church today. Yes, corruption and scandal and atrocities have weakened the moral authority of the Church. But there is a difference between human failings and the Church as founded by Christ handed to Saint Peter (Matthew 16:18). That needs to be made clear. (See Joseph Ratzinger, “Why I Am Still in the Church.”)

Nurture their interests.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). Getting to know your loved one authentically and establishing common ground will offer new avenues of appreciation. Are they artists, musicians, poets, writers? Michelangelo, Gaudi, chant, or the great classics of literature offer beautiful immersive experiences in the Catholic worldview.

Pope Francis has been an inspiration for those of any background, through his environment work, Laudato Si, or his call for activism towards migrants, refugees, the disenfranchised.

Connect them with possibly like minded individuals who might continue the conversation, depending on their interests: educators, bioethicists, Father Spitzer’s Magis Institute on science, faith, and reason. Historical subjects on the veracity of Jesus: the Shroud of Turin, for example (see Ian Wilson’s The Shroud, among others).

Give your lapsed child or loved one Matthew Kelly’s Rediscover Catholicism or a similar book that perhaps impacted you. Rediscover appeals to the mainstream, ringing distant bells they would have remembered growing up Catholic. In many ways, that book is an appetizer to what awaits.

Bottom line: communicate the resources provided by so many apostolates—there is something for everyone. Many of those actively engaged in the mission of salvation, the mission of the Church, were once lapsed themselves. Just ask St. Augustine, Dorothy Day, or many great evangelizers in our day and age.

Invite your lapsed child or loved one to Confession.

It’s a challenging invitation. But you’ve at least put it out there. At the same time, do not let the graces of Confession become distorted. While one receives absolution, authentic penance comes when one’s life is turned around. So often the thought is that a few “Hail Marys” and “Our Fathers” is all the Church demands for conciliation. Actually, one must authentically set out determined to begin anew, a new person, transformed. Vinny Flynn’s 7 Secrets of Confession is a powerful little book for guidance.

Extend an invitation to Mass.

Bring an extra copy of Magnificat or a book with daily readings and give your loved one a copy. Sit up close. And then pray the Mass. Together.

Give your loved one Benedict XVI’s Jesus of Nazareth.

Along with the timelessness of the Scriptures themselves, this trilogy is written for people of our time to rediscover Christ. It is some of the most staggering spiritual reading you will encounter.

III: Going Forward

Three very simple, practical steps:

• 1.) Offer help in introducing your loved one to parish resources in their diocese, again contingent on their own discernment of spirits, perhaps even establishing a regular meeting with a spiritual director.
• 2.) In a quiet moment, offer to pray with them, calling specifically on the Holy Family for guidance.
• 3.) Finally, ask them to pray for you.

Happy New Year!

[Elsie]

A rose; by any other name; would be called something else.

[ravenwolf]

It makes no difference what Petros is
Jesus spoke in Aramaic, that’s what cephas is.

It being wrote in Greek does not change the meaning
of an Aramaic word.

[imardmd1]

Oh! You found the one instance that I missed! Read verse Luke 22:34, where Jesus addressed Simon as "Peter."

Thank you for your effort, and for showing my lack of complete thoroughness.

I checked the Greek Textus Receptus over again, and finally found it there.

If ravenwolf had done as I asked, he would have found it, too. Now we are all edified by your scrutiny.

[imardmd1]

You miss the point. When Cephas is translated by the Holy Spirit to mean "stone", that's what it is -- stone (as the great scholars who knew both languages well, showed us).

BTW, wherever did you get the idea that "Cephas" means "rock"? Please, I would be grateful if you would tell me where you found this definition.

[imardmd1]

But it would still be . . .

(Even in Aramaic.)

[ravenwolf]

In the Bible dictionary.

Let’s use a different ability.
Lets say you have a. Beautiful mexican girl friend,
you heard that I was trying to romance her so you tell
her not so bright brother to tell me to stop seeing her.

Her brother knows he will not remember what you told him
so he writes it down in his half Spanish and Indian duplex.

When he sees me sure enough he has forgot so he gets the
note and trys to put it back into English for me.
alto seeing my girl, stop an see my girl if you go through
the village.

In his interpretation he has completely changed what you said.
so are you going to admit that his interpretation is correct?

Oh, by the way we did have a grand ole time and she was so
beautiful, thanks a lot.

[ravenwolf]

BTW, wherever did you get the idea that “Cephas” means “rock”? Please, I would be grateful if you would tell me where you found this definition.

---

Any place where the Aramaic word is not first translated into greek

Meaning of name Cephas

Etymology : Means “rock” in Aramaic

Saint :

Origin : Biblical

---

m

Cephas

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Centurion Cesarea

Cephas [N] [H] [S]

a Syriac surname given by Christ to Simon ( John 1:42 ), meaning “rock.” The Greeks translated it by Petros, and the Latins by Petrus.

---

When Cephas is translated by the Holy Spirit to mean “stone”,

I might have a hard time believing you are the holy spirit.

At any rate you are right, it does mean stone in greek but it means rock in aramaic which is the language Jesus spoke
which is shown by the fact that he used the word cephas which is aramaic.

[Elsie]

Read verse Luke 22:34, where Jesus addressed Simon as "Peter."

HMMMmmm...

Just WHY did Jesus use different names in such proximity?

Something subtle we are not catching here???

[Elsie]

... the great scholars who knew both languages well...

BTW, wherever did you get the idea that "Cephas" means "rock"?

Even the ECFs didn't get into THIS much detail on what 'rock' means!

---

As regards the oft-quoted Mt. 16:18, note the following Early Church Fathers promise in the profession of faith of Vatican 1:

 • Basil of Seleucia, Oratio 25:

'You are Christ, Son of the living God.'...Now Christ called this confession a rock, and he named the one who confessed it 'Peter,' perceiving the appellation which was suitable to the author of this confession. For this is the solemn rock of religion, this the basis of salvation, this the wall of faith and the foundation of truth: 'For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus.' To whom be glory and power forever. — Oratio XXV.4, M.P.G., Vol. 85, Col. 296-297.

• Bede, Matthaei Evangelium Expositio, 3:

You are Peter and on this rock from which you have taken your name, that is, on myself, I will build my Church, upon that perfection of faith which you confessed I will build my Church by whose society of confession should anyone deviate although in himself he seems to do great things he does not belong to the building of my Church...Metaphorically it is said to him on this rock, that is, the Saviour which you confessed, the Church is to be built, who granted participation to the faithful confessor of his name. — 80Homily 23, M.P.L., Vol. 94, Col. 260. Cited by Karlfried Froehlich, Formen, Footnote #204, p. 156 [unable to verify by me].

• Cassiodorus, Psalm 45.5:

'It will not be moved' is said about the Church to which alone that promise has been given: 'You are Peter and upon this rock I shall build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.' For the Church cannot be moved because it is known to have been founded on that most solid rock, namely, Christ the Lord. — Expositions in the Psalms, Volume 1; Volume 51, Psalm 45.5, p. 455

• Chrysostom (John) [who affirmed Peter was a rock, but here not the rock in Mt. 16:18]:

Therefore He added this, 'And I say unto thee, Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; that is, on the faith of his confession. — Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of Saint Matthew, Homily LIIl; Philip Schaff, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.LII.html)

• Cyril of Alexandria:

When [Peter] wisely and blamelessly confessed his faith to Jesus saying, 'You are Christ, Son of the living God,' Jesus said to divine Peter: 'You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church.' Now by the word 'rock', Jesus indicated, I think, the immoveable faith of the disciple.”. — Cyril Commentary on Isaiah 4.2.

• Origen, Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book XII):

“For a rock is every disciple of Christ of whom those drank who drank of the spiritual rock which followed them, 1 Corinthians 10:4 and upon every such rock is built every word of the church, and the polity in accordance with it; for in each of the perfect, who have the combination of words and deeds and thoughts which fill up the blessedness, is the church built by God.'

“For all bear the surname ‘rock’ who are the imitators of Christ, that is, of the spiritual rock which followed those who are being saved, that they may drink from it the spiritual draught. But these bear the surname of rock just as Christ does. But also as members of Christ deriving their surname from Him they are called Christians, and from the rock, Peters.” — Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (Book XII), sect. 10,11 ( http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/101612.htm)

• Hilary of Potier, On the Trinity (Book II):

Thus our one immovable foundation, our one blissful rock of faith, is the confession from Peter's mouth, Thou art the Son of the living God. On it we can base an answer to every objection with which perverted ingenuity or embittered treachery may assail the truth."-- (Hilary of Potier, On the Trinity (Book II), para 23; Philip Schaff, editor, The Nicene & Post Nicene Fathers Series 2, Vol 9.

[ravenwolf]

I do not believe Jesus needs any one interpreting what he said
unlike some people I think he was smart enough to know what he
said and why,

For instance he most likely told the writer of John to leave the Aramaic name of cephas the way it was because he realized
that the religious leaders would deliberately change it if they could.

Jesus called Simon Cephas in John 1:42 and cephas means rock in Aramaic which is what Jesus spoke.

John 1:42 is the only scripture I am concerned with I will let
you professors go to each other’s throats with the rest.

[Zionist Conspirator]

And God couldn’t create the man Adam without her either, right?

Catholics don't believe Adam ever existed. Didn't you know that?

Shame on you!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Jesus spoke in Aramaic, that’s what cephas is.”

No doubt He spoke Aramaic. Likely Greek, the trade language and likely Hebrew.

More I mportantly, the Holy Spirit inspired the NT in Greek, and chose those words we see recorded in the manuscripts.

[Zionist Conspirator]

So how do you know God’s actions before they happen? Then why did Adam and Eve sin? God did not replace Adam and Eve and allowed mankind to suffer from their sin and rejection of God.

Catholics don't believe in Adam and Eve. Or Noah and the ark. Or the Tower of Babel. Or Jonah's great fish. That's how they know they are Catholics and not "brain-dead bibliolators!"

[Zionist Conspirator]

Read the Book of Galatians. It is self evident that the Apostle Paul wrote it to the churches of Galatia because they were falling into the heresy of Gentiles being circumcised and keeping the Law of Moses to be saved.

Having begun in the Spirit, they were not to circumcise their flesh (foreskins), as required by God under the Abrahamic Covenant and confirmed by God in the Law of Moses, unless they were in fact Jews (like Timothy but not Titus). The fleshly observance of the Law of Moses would profit them nothing. Instead, they were to obey the Gospel and the commandments as taught by the Apostles.

Liturgical chrstianity in a nutshell: the actual commandments, rituals, and rites found in the Bible are henceforth forbidden, but post-biblical commandments, rituals, and rites (which weren't delivered from G-d's very own Mouth but which developed slowly over time) are different. They're good!

Does everyone get it now?

The Protestant argument against the historical post-biblical rites and ceremonies are merely the Pauline anti-Torah argument carried to a more logical conclusion! Unfortunately, neither liturgicals nor Protestants seem to notice this.

[Zionist Conspirator]

Old Testament law, as such, is not binding on Christians. It never has been.

In other words, the Catholic/Orthodox church invented Protestantism when it rejected the authoritative Mosaic Tradition.

Protestants merely take that reasoning to its logical conclusion.

[ravenwolf]

And chose the words we see? You mean like cephas which is Aramaic.?

[ravenwolf]

Also like you said after all of those years of the trade language and the scriptures before that being wrote in Greek
it is strange about one word being in Aramaic.

I have no doubt it was the act of the holy spirit saying to
the religious leaders, oh no you don’t, not so easy any way.

Even back then there were most likely ambitious people trying
to take the place of Peter and the other apostles.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

it is strange about one word being in Aramaic.

It was a name...

...but we ask follow up questions of the Holy Spirit about His choice of words. :-)

[imardmd1]

Yoy still don’t get the point that the Apostle John, writing the inspired words under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, translated/interpreted Cephas as stone, not rock. That is not me translating it. It is just me quoting directly from the Bible. And nowhere in the New Testament is there any other translation of Cephas, but this one. You cannot set aside the Bible’s interpretation without getting called on it.

[imardmd1]

Jesus' birth name is Aramaic or Hebrew, Yeshua. Transliterated into Greek, Jodh becomes Iota (ee sound); eh becomes epsilon (eh sound); shin becomes sigma (Greek has no sh sound, only the hiis of our s); vav (oo sound) becomes a dphthong omicron-upsilon (sounds like oo). However, the Greek words are inflected to show the case of the noun as used in the sentence, so a sigma at the end signifies the nominative case, and replaces the sound "ah" (letter aleph? vowel point?). thus we have "Iesous"; but Germans turn the Yah sound into a J, as in "Ja!" meaning yes but sounding like Yah. So willy-nilly we adopt the J also, but sound it like "dsh". God's son's name is Joshua, with the J sounding "ee, not "dzh".

(Too tired to follow this thread any more tonight.)