The Sleeping Giant
Let’s face it, the Catholic Church in America claims over 77 million faithful members, but the truth is that a large amount of these Catholics don’t even go to church on Sunday. Many of them are Catholic in name only. They don’t practice their Catholic faith. We are coming to realize that boasting of the largest congregation isn’t actually anything to be proud of if that congregation doesn’t have an impact on the world. You would think with such large numbers the Church would be a powerful force in changing and improving the morality and culture of our country and the world.
The problem is that we have been looking at it the wrong way, measuring our success by quantity and not by quality. 77 million Catholics who aren’t active members aren’t going to cause for much change. Our people need to be renewed in their faith. The Church—which Matthew Kelly has called a “sleeping giant”—needs to be awakened. Can you imagine the effect that 77 million active, practicing Catholics would have on this country? If these 77 million people went to church on Sunday not just going through the motions, but participating in the Mass, praying daily, living the Gospel? The world would change. The Kingdom would come!
The Solution to the World’s Problem
In Robert Hugh Benson’s classic “The Lord of the World,” he tells the story of the future which some might say we are living now. The majority of the world has given up on Christianity and God in general, regarding it as a myth or superstition and holding up man as God. When the protagonist—a Catholic priest who predicts that the persecution of Christians is near—is asked by the Pope how to resolve this problem He suggests “the Mass, prayer, and the rosary” stating that “the world denies their power: it is on their power that Christians must throw all their weight.” This is true. All baptized Christians are tasked with this priestly role of prayer.
However, the Pope challenges Him that prayer alone is not enough and that in addition to the priestly role, Christians have also to live the prophetic and kingly roles which also are given in baptism. The priest agrees and responds:
“For prophecy, then, let us preach charity; for royalty, let us reign on crosses. We must love and suffer…”
~ Fr. Percy Franklin (Lord of the World)
So there are three roles that all Christians must take up: priest, prophet, and king. Living these three roles is actually a challenge for most of us. But it is what is necessary to make change happen and it is what the Gospel is all about. It’s what Jesus and the Saints did. Look at the lives of Francis of Assisi, Mother Teresa, and Thérèse of Lisieux. They prayed, loved, sacrificed, and suffered. That’s what you and I must do.
What You’ve Got to Do
Although this sounds simple, it’s actually pretty rare. This won’t happen quickly. This is going to take a lot of work, a lot of prayer, a lot of action on the part of those already active, practicing Catholics. The challenge that you and I face is rekindling the faith of our lapsed Catholic brothers and sisters, reeducating them in the truth of the Gospel and the teachings of the Church. What is the right way to go about this?
Be a Priest
You have got to get serious about God. Your prayer life, or lack thereof, has a significant impact on your lived example of the faith. Essentially, you can’t do it without God. It is He that does the work, you just make yourself available to Him and His grace. In living your priestly role you pray for your friends, your family, your community, the Church, and the world. You must also offer sacrifice, not of “bulls and rams” but of yourself. The smallest of sacrifices can have the greatest impact on those around you.
“Verily in prayer and sacrifice lies all my strength, they are my invincible arms; experience has taught me that they touch hearts far more easily than words.”
~ St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Be a Prophet
I am a firm believer that the best way to evangelize—to share the faith with others—is to show by example. You have to be a living reflection of the love of God in this world. That’s what the saints did and that’s what we must do! We can sit and talk about it all day, but if we don’t put it into practice, if we don’t make it happen, then it never will.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
Be a King
This is the one that confuses most people and that’s because the examples of kings in the history of the world are not very good ones. The kings you read about in the history books were bad people who hoarded their riches and left their people in utter poverty. On the contrary, Jesus is the prime example of a king, one who serves His people, giving His life for them. As a king you “reign on crosses” because you are willing to suffer for the benefit of others, giving of your time, your talents, and your treasure. It’s a challenge, but you can do it with the grace of God and the help of the Holy Spirit.
More About the Book
Robert Hugh Benson’s classic work of historical fiction “The Lord of the World” is available for free on Kindle and through Project Gutenberg. However, if you prefer a good old fashioned book you can hold in your hands you can purchase it on Amazon. Not only is it an entertaining read, but it speaks the truth regarding the current state of the world and the duty of the Church. It is a story of what happens to the world when people lose faith in God. Hint: not good. It is powerful and prophetic, influential and inspiring.
Takeway: For those who think that our faith should be something we keep to ourselves, this book will prove why our faith, though personal, cannot be privatized and kept in the dark. It also brings to life the Beatitude: “Blessed are you when the persecute you…”
I loved it so much it made my list of 12 Books that Changed My Life.
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