The Mission Field of America: Catholics Must Live Out The Language of Truth in Word and Deed

7/23/2012

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of all humanity. . . . To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity. Charity, in fact, rejoices in the truth" (Caritas In Veritate 1).

Catholics need to be carefully taught that truth is an essential element in achieving authentic human fulfillment in true freedom and perfect happiness. Our Savior Jesus Christ said, "I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me" (Jn 14:6), and "I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10). The truth of the Christian religion presented in its fullness by the Church, which includes both faith and morals, is not merely an inconsequential data set; it is not a list of nice ideas and interesting options which have little bearing on human life and society. On the contrary, God's revelation to the living body of his Church is the word of life, and as such it is an indispensable component of every single aspect of human life. Charity "rejoices in the truth," because it is God's will that "all men" be "saved and come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:4). The truth is about salvation. If we love Christ, we repeat his truth transmitted by the Church.

Unfortunately, for a whole host of "reasons," Catholics have been lax in living their lives in word and deed according to the language of truth. That we have often failed to love God above all else is a tragedy which has borne serious repercussions for every aspect of our society. "As Catholics, like so many other American Christians," wrote Archbishop Chaput, "we have too often made our country what it is through our appetite for success, our self-delusion, our eagerness to fit in, our vanity, our compromises, our self-absorption and our tepid faith."

Two years before Blessed John Paul II was raised to the Chair of Peter, then Karol Cardinal Wotyla articulated the following disturbing observation to the Catholic Bishops of the U.S.: "We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of the American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel and the anti-Gospel. This confrontation lies within the plans of divine providence. It is a trial which the whole Church . . . must take up."

It is not enough to simply say that we are Christians; nor is it enough to speak only of how we love Christ. We must, as Catholics, fully live out the language of truth in word and deed, speaking openly in the public square, faithfully repeating the words of truth articulated in their fullness by holy mother Church. For the laity are "entrusted by God with the apostolate by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, they have the right and duty, individually or grouped in associations, to work so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all men throughout the earth" (CCC 900).

Perhaps the greatest tragedy of our age is that Catholics are becoming more and more unaware of the reality of who they are. That is, while in virtue of Baptism we are made members of the divine family who are destined to share in eternal glory, we have in many cases forgotten what such a participation in the life of the Holy Trinity actually means: as children of the household of God, we must always live out the language of truth in word and deed as the members of the divine family that we are, in order to build up the body of Christ and aid in populating the kingdom of heaven. God has given us the gift of participating in his life. It is clear that we should take an active part in that wondrous, sublime and unending reality.

While the truth is often unpopular, even abhorred, we should not be the least surprised by negative reactions: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Mt. 10:34). Speaking the truth can be difficult. However, in hope we are consoled in the certain knowledge that those who speak the truth with love are indeed serving our Lord Jesus Christ. After explaining the parable of the weeds in the field to his disciples, Jesus said: "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matt. 13:43). And in the book of Daniel we read: "Those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever" (12:3).

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F. K. Bartels is a Catholic writer who knows his Catholic Faith is one of the greatest gifts a man could ever receive. He is a contributing writer for Catholic Online. Visit him also at joyintruth.com
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: the fullness of truth subsists in the Catholic Church, mission, mission in America, new evangelization, mission territory, God's revealed truth, truth, living truth in word and deed, evangelization, F. K. Bartels

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

Theresa H
9 months ago
No doubt about it: we are living in a modern hedonistic and secularized world. It is unbelievable how so much has changed in the Church as well--in just two generations. Pope John XXIII saw how the culture was shifting, especially in Europe, and called the Second Vatican Council to fore-arm the Church. However, many of the "theologians" inserted their own “interpretation” into the “implementation” of the Council” and, subsequently, the Latin Mass was abrogated. (We thought we had to "understand" the words we were saying--as if we didn’t have English Missals to follow along…). Subsequently, in many Parishes we have ended up focusing more on ourselves and one-another than on the "Sacred Mysteries" being celebrated.... All the Masses in our Churches used to be packed; now, less than 30% of Catholics attend Sunday Mass on a weekly basis. Many Catholics don't know/believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ through "Transubstantiation." In fact, we have lost sight of the "Mystery of Faith,” par excellence, and God’s “House of Prayer” has become a “House of Chatter” in the Eucharistic Presence (if the tabernacle is still in the Church)! But, little by little, a "remnant" is growing once again, and some Anglicans are also turning to the Bark of Peter--while retaining their traditional liturgical "ambiance" in the communion of Faith with the Apostolic Church of Rome!
VGM
10 months ago
Inspiring call to action. Our love, our faith must be alive and active.
Joy
10 months ago
How can Catholics genuinely live according to God's precepts in America? We are oppressed by federal programs and injustice, yet we continue our attempts to make things right. The time has come for all Catholics to publicly denounce all that America has become. We are chosen by God; why are we not living up to our beliefs? I am willing to advocate for all our Catholic beliefs. Maybe a civil war will occur, but God will be victorious just as He always has been! I am on God's side, are you?
The Rose
10 months ago
7/20/12--Excellent article, spoken with life and truth, straight up. I agree with each thought. Stand up for Jesus and the faithful unite . A House divided will fall. Remember...The name of Jesus has substained the winds of Adversity for as long as time of salvation began with the death and rescurrection of Jesus Christ and the beginning the creation of the Church of Jesus Christ. History has proven truth prevails for man is aways looking for truth and freedom....Prophesy is in motion today. Putting aside any doctrinal differences, we who trully believe in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, must come together hand in hand across the land and around the world as One Church, one Spirit, one Mind, and one belief....Jesus Christ is the Way, The Truth and The Life, today and for eternity. Besides the name and belief In Jesus Christ substaining the winds of adversity over time is the Roman Catholic Church. Divisions, shakedowns, and restoration has occurred to the Roman Catholic Church over time yet, theology of the Holy Scriptures of Jesus Christ and the theology of the Roman Catholic Church continues on. That says alot. For the fires of unrighteousness dies out in time, yet, the fires of truth burn on and on and on because truth does prevail to the point people will lay down their lives rather than to accept a lie in Word and in Deed. This is trully the Crusades for Christ Jesus. Crusade means cross. Did not Jesus say for his followers "to pick up your own cross and follow me?" And that is the reality of this time in history, true believers, the faithful are called to pick up their own cross and follow The Way, The Truth and The Life Jesus Christ has called all to...Some hear yet cast aside the seed. Some hear and begin to walk The Way, yet the cares of life and the voice of deception draw the weak back into unholiness, impurity and unrighteousness. Then there are those who heard, and the heart changes and they stand firm against all adversities because they know deep within the heart Jesus trully is The Way, The Truth and The Life....The Holy Scriptures say, the strong is to help the weak. The Holy Scriptures say, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The Holy Scriptures say, "speak truth to your neighbor." This is love to reach out and touch someones life with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...God only asks each of us to do our part and, then, He will do the rest. The validity of a heart change is the rooting of self into Gods Word, walk on holding the hand of Jesus Christ as the winds of time blow and man may sway alittle to the left and alittle to the right, yet, the Rock keeps man standing firm on a solid foundation. Amen? Amen.
Be encouraged my brother in the Faith, There ARE many who believe the truth and support those who have the gift and the power to speak truth in whatever avenue that can be used. I will seek more of your articles at your website and look forward to reading more of your inspiring articles as we move forward together, we who are strong in The Church pull the weak along . God desires no one to perish. Yet, we must stand up for The Truth..The Rose
jh
10 months ago
Clearly written, challenging, and obviously necessary.

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