Becoming an Intentional Catholic, Part 2

Published: April 22, 2018

My dear Parishioners and Friends,

                In my column here in The Carpenter last week, I appealed to you to give real consideration to deepening your personal relationship with Christ Jesus. I tried to introduce an important thing: each of us needs to be an “Intentional Catholic.” Not because I say so, or some author or television evangelist says so – or even the Pope, although he urged this in his just-issued apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate (Latin for “Rejoice and Be Glad”) – but because God wants it.

To be “Catholic on purpose” doesn’t mean becoming a super-religious fanatic (and in fact, fanaticism in this respect is usually a troublesome sign!). It simply means “falling in love with the Lord,” entering a real relationship with God, and especially in His only-begotten Son, Jesus, through the Holy Spirit of love that they share. When a Catholic makes a personal faith-commitment in this way, Christ comes alive within that person. He or she truly finds fulfillment in this life and ultimately of course, life eternal. Such a Catholic influences others for the better, helping them also to deepen their faith, and so be transformed by this witness.

How might it be done? Well, becoming an intentional disciple first of all means spiritual and mental effort. We don’t want to go through the motions without knowing what we’re doing, especially if that leads us to think that what we do can save us. Pope Francis calls such misguided people “neo-Pelagians,” but they could also perhaps be called “zombie disciples,” folks who ultimately have no real, healthy spiritual life but in fact destroy blessings within themselves and others by their wrong ideas.

To give intentionality an honest try, I suggest each of us begin by asking ourselves these questions:

• How can I have a deeper, more real relationship with Jesus Christ? (Hint: the Holy Father suggests that prayerfully and attentively reading about Him in the Gospels is the best way!)
• How can I more effectively be holy and inspirational, and live out my faith in such a way that it actually makes a difference in the lives of others, especially my family and friends? (Another hint from the Pope: try to live out the Beatitudes, which you can find in Matthew 5:1-12.)
• How can I insert Gospel values into the public square, and begin to affect the direction of society in political and economic matters, such as immigration and education? (Here in Baton Rouge it might be especially effective if we all become more sensitive to the problems that racism and economic selfishness have caused.)
• How can I do something to bring back inactive Catholics who have fallen away from the practice of the faith? (Simple words of invitation to come to church with you – and always in an eager, kind way, not lecturing them as if you’re better than them – is a proven way “that works.”)

Now the answers to these questions won’t always be easy to find and implement. They may be a bit different from one person to the next. In fact I am sure that there is no general magic “solution,” and I sure don’t want to fall back on excuses or platitudes like “We just have to pray more!” because that by itself won’t work either. Remember God does not want us to sit back and wait: our future – in this world and the next! – is supposed to unfold by our personal involvement. Our Lenten self-discipline has prepared us for Easter eagerness: let’s seek out a more active way of faithful Catholicism!

                                                                Yours in the Risen Lord,

                                                                 Fr. Paul

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