You've probably heard by now that recently Archbishop Fulton Sheen was beatified. This is a big deal. He is the first American-born Bishop to carry such an honor.
I first heard about the miracle (he needed one for his beatification), online. It's an interesting story about a family that prayed to him for help with their infant son. The rigorous progress to verify the miracle was completed and the infant son has grown to be a teenager. See the **link below.
Sheen had a profound affect on people, inspiring and converting them with his teachings.
I like some of his quips, for which he was known, and which retain their wisdom still today:
Resigning a bishopric, he said, "I am not retiring, only retreading."
"You must remember to love people and use things, rather than to love things and use people."
"The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision. It is a silent acquiescence to evil. The Tragedy of our time is that those who still believe in honesty lack fire and conviction, while those who believe in dishonesty are full of passionate conviction."
And finally, this one reflects one of the reasons he was so well-liked (he could take difficult concepts and break them down so that everyone could understand them):
"A teacher who cannot explain any abstract subject to a child does not himself thoroughly understand his subject; if he does not attempt to break down his knowledge to fit the child's mind, he does not understand teaching."
And that, is where we run into problems today. Rather than using church language which can lead to confusion at times, we need to learn how to break things down for those who are not swimming in "churchspeak."
There are times it may be needed, but there are times when cracking open the code for most of us is necessary, if we are going to come to understand truth and the importance of faith.
A great place to get explanatory information is through the process in the Church called the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly known as RCIA.)
This is a perfect time to check it out (at any Catholic Church.) You will meet intelligent, faith-filled people whose main desire is to help you understand the faith and come to be in relationship with Jesus.
The OCIA is one way of countering Blessed Fulton Sheen's observation:
"There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be."
I encourage you to call your local, friendly, Catholic Church for more information. You will not be pressured to "join," just encouraged to grow.
Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.
Janet Cassidy
Email me at: jmctm2@gmail.com
janetcassidy.com
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