“Prayer should never depend upon the place or the people. Prayer should only depend on your belief.”
~ My Name is Khan
We live in a society where most people feel that faith, specifically organized religion, should be kept private. But Christianity is not a private affair. Being a Christian means more than subscribing to a certain ideology, it is a way of life.
And the practice of the Christian life, specifically Catholicism, requires a public witness to the faith in the person of Jesus Christ—not only in charitable works, but also in prayer. For example, there are a select few people who will not make the sign of the cross in public out of fear that someone will say something to them. I would say that that’s an even better reason to do it.
Showing Reverence Where Reverence is Due
Showing that you are a person of faith and that your faith means more to you than what others think will not only be good for you, but it can serve as a witness to others. Whether it be the fallen away Catholic who is reminded of the old practice of prayer before meals or that person struggling in faith who is comforted by the gesture, either way through your subtle, public profession of the faith you can become a milestone in their journey.
The same is true when you are passing by a church. Some Catholics have the practice of making the sign of the cross in reverence to the true presence of Jesus Christ reserved in the tabernacle. Even if it’s not a Catholic church the practice still has value in the sense that you are thanking Jesus for His saving work on the cross as St. Francis of Assisi said each time he saw a church in the distance and fell to his knees in adoration:
“We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless you. For by Your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”
~ St. Francis of Assisi
What a powerful prayer in remembrance of His sacrificial act of love. It is what our faith rests upon and for that reason alone we should make the sign of the cross and even speak this brief prayer in His honor.
Walking in Faith, Not in Fear
I admit that there have been times when I was with someone who was not Catholic and have thought twice about it, but that is almost like me denying Jesus. And I remember what Jesus said about that.
“Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”
~ Matthew 10:32-33
Why should I be ashamed of my faith? As a Christian I am called to be a martyr, maybe not to be killed for my faith, but at least to give public witness—after all, the word martyr means witness. And a Christian is a witness to Christ. So through your words and actions, through your demeanor and attitude, the way you present yourself and treat others should all bear witness to Jesus Christ. We can’t hide Jesus inside, just like you wouldn’t hide a lamp under a table, for the light is meant to shine for all to see (Mt 5:15).
Of Saints and Martyrs
I remember in autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux the description of her saintly father in the words of the editor. The describe to me a man of faith, without fear, a bold witness. It reads as follows:
“Never did he allow the meannesses of human respect to degrade his Christian dignity. In whatever company he might be, he always saluted the Blessed Sacrament when passing a Church.”
The Story of a Soul, Prologue
Think about the thousands who willingly gave their lives, dying for their faith in Christ. Yet we are afraid to pray in public, to make the sign of the cross, or to even say we are Catholics. This is ridiculous. We have to reclaim our faith. We have to stand up for religious freedom. As Matthew Kelly says, “Be Bold. Be Catholic.”
