Who Should Defend The Catholic Faith?
Is it OK for me to be passive Catholic going to Mass regularly and leaving defending the faith to the priests and clergy?
[simpleazon-image align=”left” asin=”0385509359″ locale=”us” height=”375″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ulMUI9x-L.jpg” width=”248″]Defending the faith and sharing the gospel is something that every baptised Catholic must do. The times in which we live have made this even more critical. There seems to be a massive cloud of death hanging over our world while we the Church, have the message of eternal life – Christ Jesus. We must share that message by the way we live; and not be afraid to speak about it when called upon to do so. It is not an option. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us to ‘Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls on you to account for the hope that is in you. This means that we must know way we believe what we do. It is also a challenge for Sunday only Catholics to wake up and to become more involved in their faith.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church not only teach about the role of the Catholic Church in spreading the faith, it also teaches that the laity too have an important role to play:
“Christ . . . fulfills this prophetic office, not only by the hierarchy . . . but also by the laity. He accordingly both establishes them as witnesses and provides them with the sense of the faith [sensus fidei] and the grace of the word”
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the task of every preacher and of each believer.
Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, “that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life.” For lay people, “this evangelization . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world.”
This witness of life, however, is not the sole element in the apostolate; the true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers . . . or to the faithful.
Lay people who are capable and trained may also collaborate in catechetical formation, in teaching the sacred sciences, and in use of the communications media.
“In accord with the knowledge, competence, and pre-eminence which they possess, [lay people] have the right and even at times a duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church, and they have a right to make their opinion known to the other Christian faithful, with due regard to the integrity of faith and morals and reverence toward their pastors, and with consideration for the common good and the dignity of persons.
(CCC 904 – 907)
There is an old saying that says that you cannot give that which you do not have. You therefore cannot defend the faith if you have no knowledge of it – not even a basic knowledge.
So where should you start?
-
Desire – Pray for the desire to want to know about your Catholic Faith. You will; be amazed by the beauty of it all
-
Reading – Get your copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and a Catholic bible. Commit yourself to reading every day. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. In relation to the bible, I recommend starting with the four gospels. Read them, not like you would a novel, but rather in a contemplative way, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you and to open your heart and your mind.
-
Online Resources: There are a number of online resources to help you discover your faith. These include:
This site – Fullycatholic
EWTN – both online as well as their television programs
Other Bible References:
Matthew 10:16-22
Luke 12: 8-12
Acts 18: 9-10 (Encouragement to speak out without fear)
2 Timothy 2: 23-26
