Random Access - Our Readers

Friends can be the hardest people to engage in apologetics with. One of my friends, a Protestant coworker, used to attend with me our company's employee lunch time Bible study and prayer group. Our discussions about our shared Christian Faith, which occasionally focused on our doctrinal differences, were always amicable. But after awhile, she became less friendly toward the Catholic Church. I'm not sure why. Our discussions became more intense and at times uncomfortable, as we tried harder than before to present and defend our respective positions. I shared with her a copy of a Catholic apologetics book I like. It had strengthened my own understanding of the Faith, and I thought for sure it would soften her heart toward Catholicism. A short time later I got a letter from her explaining that she had read the book and the documents of Vatican II, but none of it convinced her of the truth of the Catholic Faith. She included with her letter a book of "testimonies" of about 50 ex-priests, who claimed to have "found Jesus." I had seen books like this before, so I knew what to expect. Sure enough, even I could drive a truck through all the holes in the arguments in those testimonies. We're still on friendly terms, but aren't any closer to agreeing on the important theological matters that keep us from the fullness of unity and common worship of the one true God we both are trying to know and love.
Jerry J. Usher, via e-mail

A real campus crusader for Christ

I'm a college student and live in a sorority house. It probably won't surprise you that the young women who live here need a lot of evangelization. What may surprise you, though, is how frequently I'm able to share the Faith with these young women, both non-Catholics and lapsed Catholics. Our discussions often center on moral issues such as premarital sex, birth control, abortion, and divorce.
Recently, I was having lunch with two sorority friends, both of whom were raised Catholic, though neither practices the Faith. The issue of my being a Catholic came up when I declined an offer for a soda, and they asked why. I explained that I was giving up soda for Lent, and that led to a discussion about attending Mass, purgatory, Mary, mortal sin, and having a relationship with God. I was able to explain the importance of attending Mass (to give God the worship and praise that is due Him and to receive the many graces through the Eucharist), that missing Sunday Mass without a valid reason is a mortal sin, as is receiving Communion when you're not in the state of grace. Its amazing how many people don't know these things! I spent about an hour patiently answering their questions. One of the women was very receptive, and while she hasn't had a huge "conversion," I have noticed many little improvements. Another lapsed Catholic college friend recently shared with me about how, on the night of an important event, he lost his car keys. Growing angrier, he looked for them for over an hour. Suddenly he felt he should pray. So he stopped searching and began to pray to St. Anthony, something he had been taught as a kid. A few minutes later, he found his keys sitting on his dresser. He was excited as he shared this story with me. I plan to invite him to come to Mass with me at our local parish.
Stephanie Rice, Newport Beach, CA

The sounds of silence

Since learning more about the Catholic Faith, I've been able to take more initiative in debates on religion. After some study, I can now give apologetics answers to tough questions from non-Catholics that have left them speechless, but I think I still need to learn humility, meekness, and charity, instead of getting caught up in the thrill of competition. In a recent argument with several Fundamentalists, I asked them how they know the Bible is the inspired Word of God. They didn't have a good answer and soon decided they didn't want to discuss religion anymore. I'm not sure what seeds have been planted, but I get the feeling that even though I often get only silence in return, some of those seeds are going to sprout later on.
Steve Rougas, via e-mail

Homeschooler heroics

About three years ago my sister and I attended a Protestant home schooling science class weekly. We were among the only four Catholics in the group and the rest, about seventy kids, were all Protestants. My sister and I kind of laid low, because at that time we didn't know our Catholic Faith very well. God planned otherwise, and on a group field trip, we weren't able to keep our Catholicism hidden in the closet. First, a good friend in my class, who knew I was Catholic, asked me why "Catholics don't believe Christ rose from the dead". Startled, I said, "What do you mean?" She said, "You have Jesus hanging on the cross in your church." My mind raced to a conversation my father once had with my Protestant grandmother. I said to her what I remembered my dad saying to my grandmother: "We do believe Christ rose from the dead. At Mass we proclaim, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! We have crucifixes to remind us of Christ's sacrifice, as well as the glory of His Resurrection." I am not sure she was convinced, but at least I planted a seed that I pray will continue to grow. Later that day, one of the other Catholic girls accidentally left her Miraculous Medal in the bathroom, and it was found by Amanda, one of the really anti-Catholic Protestant girls. Amanda went on a rampage, saying, "I hate Mary! You Catholics worship her and pray to her. You pay more attention to her than Jesus." The four of us Catholic girls tried to talk to her, but she wouldn't listen. So we decided to explain our devotion to Mary to the other girls who were standing nearby listening, since they were open to dialogue (I think they were open because they saw how unreasonable Amanda was being). We told them that Christ loves His mother very much and that we should love her, too. We told her what the Bible says: that at the foot of the cross Christ said, "Son behold your mother," and He gave Mary to us to be our Mother. We discussed her intercession for the married couple at the Wedding Feast at Cana and explained that we can ask Mary to help us, just as she helped that newly married couple. Amanda stopped talking to us, but we continue to pray for her. I found out how important it is to know Scripture and the Traditions of the Church to share the Faith. That field trip really brought my Catholicism out into the open. Envoy is my favorite magazine and it's been a great blessing. When I get challenged on my Faith I pull it out and say, "I know the answer to that!"
Katie Reyburn, Kissimmee, FL

It makes him quiver

Every Saturday morning, a few people from our prayer group go out to an abortion mill to pray the rosary for an end to abortion. There are a lot of people from various denominations praying outside this mill, and that has provided a great opportunity for ecumenical dialogue. One Saturday, a police officer who is employed as security at this mill had his Presbyterian minister come to see him. We started speaking with him. When it came up that I have five older brothers, he made a remark about "big Catholic families." This began a conversation on the Church's stand on contraception. I was able to explain to him that once you separate the procreative and the unitive aspects of the conjugal act, you are separating what God intends for the married couple. I told him that although our family didn't have a lot of luxuries when I was growing up, I wouldn't trade any of my brothers for a car or a stereo system. The conversation went well, but there are things I wish I had brought up, for example, that before the Anglican Lambeth conference of 1930, all Protestant denominations had the same stance as the Catholic Church on the matter of contraception. I also wished I had known specific Bible verses to defend my position. All I could think of was "Blessed is the man whose quiver is full" and, "Go forth and multiply." But I couldn't name chapter and verse. The minister seemed open to what I was saying, and I recommended he read the papal encyclical, Humanae Vitae. We parted by promising to pray for each other. I pray that he will continue to investigate this important teaching of the Church.
Peter Gagnon, Birmingham, AL

Send in your Random Access encounters with friends, co-workers or family members to: "Random Access", Envoy Magazine, P.O. Box 85152, San Diego, CA 92186. Or e-mail us at editor@envoymagazine.com.