It is all about perspective, isn’t it…
Respectful evangelization.
Fr. Blake has a lovely post of two wonderful women and the Holy Name of Jesus. I’ll let Father tell the story:
I was wandering along the street yesterday and saw two elderly sisters with a gang of young lads. Theresa was patting one of them on the shoulder and evidently praising him and telling the rest how splendid he was, he looked highly embarrassed, his friends a little bemused. Eventually they walked on looking back at the sisters with a bit of perplexity.
“What was going on there,” I asked when I caught up with them, Maureen, said, “Theresa was just praising that young lad for standing up for his faith, by wearing a “Jesus Rocks” belt”. It had the legend in studs around it. “Yes, she was saying how good it was that a young man was willing to proclaim the Holy Name amongst his friends and to the world.”
“That’s right, Father, I said that as he was proud of proclaiming the Holy Name he ought to think about a vocation to the priesthood”, said Theresa. - Fr. Ray Blake
Father also tells of a woman who handed out rosary leaflets to all the people she ran into wearing rosaries, as David Beckham is modeling in the photo. It is even more about love and respect, isn’t it. (That wasn’t a question.)
Priests who blog…
I don’t read that many, but I must say, the very best blogs on the Internet are written by priests. Here are my top ten favorites - the ones I check out regularly:
1) Fr. Zulsdorf
3) Don Marco
10) Fr. Fox
February 21st, 2008 at 11:41 am
Guilty as charged : it was really popular to wear one about two years ago in the uk ; at the time I thought I could be a sincere wearer of the rosary and be part of the in-crowd as well ; but soon I realised the absolute ignorant sacrilege going on….I still wear one, but underneath…
February 21st, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Hey thanks.
That was awefully swell of you!
God bless
Fr. V
February 21st, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Very interesting. I would point that it is very very common for Hispanic Catholics to wear Sacred things. Your post is definitely a clash of cultures for sure. My sister–a white Theo teacher–stopped a Hispanic student of hers because he was wearing his Rosary. He was completely offended at her offense. He said it is the Hispanic Catholic way of doing things. It is true.
I wear a crucifix.
Now for secular people wearing Sacred objects, well, what can you do? But I think it is wrong to assume to know the interior motives of another human being.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Rad-Cath-Mom - actually there is a national gang of Hispanic men who wear blue crystal beaded rosaries - it is part of their identity. I worked in a Catholic store and we sold many of them. I thought the guys were just devout - but it is part of their gangssta insignia. Therefore, if someone has the authority to do so, such as your sister who is a teacher, it may not hurt to inquire about the practice.
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Ter: Great list. I like how we’ve all made Father Welzbacher’s Pastor’s Page into a blog!