St. Paul Street Evangelization

"Healing from Prostate Cancer"

This report comes from team leader Mark with our Eastern Market team in Detroit, MI:

Denise and I returned to Eastern Market on another hot and sunny Saturday. Like last time, we were stationed under a shade tree near one of the main intersections. Sadly, many people quickly rejected our offers of free Rosaries, prayer intentions, etc. We probably faced more rejection during this outing than any other time in recent memory. However, every time we evangelize, we always have at least one or two positive interactions that make it all worthwhile.

A fifty-something man riding a bike slowly approached us. I recognized Milton from previous conversations; he was very excited to receive Rosaries, Miraculous Medals, and intercessory prayer. I asked if he had any specific prayer requests, and he talked about his diagnosis with prostate cancer. He lives a fairly normal life now but, naturally, he's concerned about his long-term health.

In our conversation, Milton said "divine" several times and seemed very spiritual, so I asked if he goes to church anywhere. He said no; he holds a universalist belief that all religions lead to the same place. I asked if he considered himself to be Christian, and he said yes. I then asked if that was contradictory, that Jesus said you have to follow Him, yet Milton felt a desire to follow other beliefs. He didn't see any contradiction. I then told him about apostolic succession and the authority of the Church, how Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church and gave His authority to the Apostles to minister in His name. Milton didn't question that at all. I pointed out a few Catholic churches within easy biking distance and invited him to join.

Denise led a prayer out loud for his healing from cancer, for his family, etc. I handed him a couple of pamphlets: Am I Saved and Why Be Catholic. In the end, Milton was extremely appreciative, and it was clear that our presence made a huge difference to him.

Praised be Jesus Christ!

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Blessed Memorial of St. Louis IX!

"A just king raises up the earth", St Louis' spiritual testament to his son:

My dear son, in the first place I teach you that you must love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and all your strength; unless you do so you cannot be saved. You must guard yourself from everything that you know is displeasing to God, that is to say, from all mortal sin. You must be ready to undergo every kind of martyrdom rather than commit one mortal sin.

If God sends you tribulation, you ought to endure it, giving thanks, realising that it is for your good, and that, perhaps, you have deserved it. If however the Lord confers some benefit on you, you must humbly thank him, and be on your guard not to become the worse for it, either through vainglory or in any other way. You must not offend God with the very gifts he has given you.

Assist at the Divine Office of the Church with joyful devotion; while you are present in church do not let your gaze wander, do not chat about trifles, but pray to the Lord attentively, either with your lips, or meditating in your heart.

Be compassionate towards the poor, the destitute and the afflicted; and, as far as lies in your power, help and console them. Give thanks to God for all the gifts he has bestowed upon you, so that you will become worthy of still greater gifts. Towards your subjects, act with such justice that you may steer a middle course, swerving neither to the right nor to the left, but lean more to the side of the poor man than of the rich until such time as you are certain about the truth. Do your utmost to ensure peace and justice for all your subjects but especially for clergy and religious.

Devotedly obey our mother, the Roman Church, and revere the Supreme Pontiff as your spiritual father. Endeavour to banish all sin, especially blasphemy and heresy, from your kingdom.

Finally, my dear son, I impart to you every blessing that a loving father can bestow on his son; may the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and all the saints, guard you from all evil. May the Lord grant you the grace to do his will so that he may be served and honoured by you, and that, together, after this life we may come to see him, love him and praise him for ever. Amen.

St. Louis IX, pray for us!
_________________

Planting Seeds of Faith

The following story comes to us from team leader Nancy with our team in Gaithersburg, MD:

Bob and I meet many people passing through our area who are visiting our country on a student visa or for other reasons. This was the case of two young adults who were visiting from Colombia. Amparo, who is from Colombia was able to engage them in a wonderful conversation about the faith and places to visit. It made me so proud to live in the U.S where we can share our faith openly and spread the love of God.

So many people were asking for prayers and, I was again able to pray for two women, Christina and Tina, who has cancer of the stomach and lungs and an older man, Ed, whom I pray for every day, to ask for healing and to encourage them in their faith. Ed is in fact going back to church which is an answer to prayer. I claim the victory of Christ crucified over these healings and conversion of hearts. Alicia, who is from St. John Neumann who is also helping us to reach the Spanish community, directed me to a beautiful young adult, Merriam, who is really seeking to join the Catholic Church. We had a beautiful exchange.

Some young adults who say they are Christian, don’t even know if they have ever been baptized. I was able to explain how important baptism is to Angel, Chris and Rayland and to give them information. It was also great to have Paula come out again and pray with several people, Rhonda, whose father and sister died last year and the daughter who has medical problems, and Victoria who needs a job. She was able to offer comfort and encouragement. May the Holy Spirit bring all these people to an encounter with Our Blessed Lord.

I continue to pray that this little chapter would bear much fruit for God’s kingdom and Our Lady guide us.

Blessed Feast of St. Bartholomew!

A reading from the holy gospel according to John:

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

- John 1:45-51

St. Bartholomew, pray for us!

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew:

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

- Matthew 16:13-20