Lesson 3 - EVANGELII NUNTIANDI
- Share with the e-class ideas or examples of how to effectively evangelize a non-believer.
- Share with the e-class ideas or examples of how to effectively evangelize non-practicing Catholics.
3 Responses to “Lesson 3 - EVANGELII NUNTIANDI”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
June 1st, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Evangelizing those who do not believe….
I am sure that I don’t know. I was thinking of how to evangelize the Muslim or the Jew. The Atheist is a different and just as difficult a question. Again I come back to witness of life is first. Prayer and the intercession of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, it is God who does the evangelizing. I only pray that I may be an instrument. But how?
1. be available to clarify misunderstandings.
2. Listen to understand what it is that they believe.
3. Talk openly about the great things that God has done for me. What joy I receive through receiving the sacraments, etc.
Does any one else have other ideas?
August 19th, 2008 at 1:41 am
1. To evangelize someone, the first thing you need to do is prayer for them everday for a specific person at least 5 minutes. I like to pray the Ephesians prayers found in chapter 1 and 3 and the Lord’s prayer found in Matthew 6. It takes about 6 months for the prayers to make the person’s heart tender for the Lord. During this 6 month process, I show God’s love (agape) by being kind and patient and giving them presents besided birthdays and Christmas. If you do not have much money, then you can volunteer to clean their house or do yard work; shovel their sidewalks and drive ways in the winter.
2. The best way is to pray and show love to them. Focus on the Catholic church’s strengths; their rich history; their beautiful catechism, and their traditions.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
1. I begin all evangelization with the understanding that only God can bring about conversion. My cooperation in God’s plan is simply to plant seeds. It is up to God what happens with those seeds. I also know that I may never know how things turn out in these situations. Seeds may lay dorment for years!
My Catholic faith is so much a part of me that most everyone knows that I am a Catholic in very short order after meeting me. I feel it is important to “claim” as well as “proclaim”. I am proud of my church. Just knowing that will often times bring up comments or attitudes. I can then gently and prayerfully take on those comments or attitudes. This is a very comfortable area for me. If I am met with negative response I leave the situation alone and say a prayer for that person. I think that how I live is also very important in evangelizing the non-believer. Just getting out of bed on a Sunday morning and going to Mass is a witness to my neighbors.
2. I seem to be called on more often to evangelize lapsed Catholics. I find that, as I said above, being proud of my Catholicism by wearing medals or displaying religious art in my home brings out the Catholic in those who have fallen away. They will almost always comment that they were once Catholic. That opens a door where I can discover why they no longer practice. Many times they have been hurt badly by a priest, nun or judgemental family member. I will always validate their hurt and apologize for the wrong behavior. In any case I always gently invite them to return when they are ready and I tell them we miss them. If it is a situation where I may see that person again I offer my services if they would like to talk or ask questions or even attend Mass with me. Of course I keep them in my prayers.