I am a Gonzaga Grad and currently am in the OPs. I attended your “How to be a campus radical” talk last year, and was at the diocesan seminary at GU. I just wanted to send you a link to give you a glimpse at how things are going at GU, and was wondering how you think students can appropriately react to what is going on.
The best way to respond is with the witness of your life. Live chastely. Talk truly, meaning talk as though chastity is the healthy normal thing it is and not as though the sad culture of hooking up and casual sex is natural. For though that culture may be (in our depraved age) normal, but it is not natural. Be joyful about life, not angry (the besetting sin of us conservative Catholics). That is a powerful counterwitness to our sad, anxious, fearful culture. And learn your faith thoroughly. Not just the sex parts but the whole smack. You will stick out, provoke question, attract attention, and irritate people. Be more attractive than the culture of empty glamor. It is not possible for the Faith to bore.
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Wow, Mark—I really like this response. This is one I will print out and refer to. Thank you!
Great advice for all of us, Mark! Refreshing to remember…
the line: “Be joyful about life, not angry (the besetting sin of us conservative Catholics)” really got me. Thank you, Mark!
Dear Gonzaga Grad,
I admire your comittment to our Catholic teachings and you are much stronger than I was when I was your age. I was easily swayed by the crowd. When I read now, the history of sexual education in our country, I am horrified to see how much of it was led by a small group of people who wished to force thier own agenda on the rest of the population. I did not realize, for instance, that Planned Parenthood and its sister organizations recruited paid and volunteer STUDENTS to promote their message of any kind of sex without love or consequence. Look where that has led us in this country. Continue to be strong and God Bless.
In addition to Mark’s excellent suggestion, I will offer tentatively an additional suggestion:
Be open to the possibility that you will make converts. This might be done by talking, or by your way of life. It might happen ten years from now to someone you had a brief conversation with. You might learn about it, or you might not. In other words, don’t try to measure your success in helping people come to Christ—but never, never assume that the “other folks” (no matter how messed up they may be today) have hearts that are beyond the reach of the Holy Spirit’s power.
For what it’s worth, I have never seen an agnostic / atheist / New Ager who was into casual sex decide to change their lifestyle as step one. But what I have seen is Step One, they become intrigued by Jesus and/or by Christians they know. Step Two, they come to the Church, because they realize that the Gospel is true—even though they don’t buy “all that sex morality stuff”. Step Three, they become enthusiastic about the Church, and meet other Catholics, and then start listening a little bit even to that “moral stuff”. Step Four, they decide that the Church’s view of chastity really is good and decide to follow it. Not everyone does all four steps. But I don’t know anyone who did step four before the others!
Your words are an inspiration for us all. Being joyful in our religion is intriguing to watch….just watch the reaction from others..they seem to feel religion is for the old, those with their feet on banana peels. I was impressed with you last night on the Journey Home panel show. You are pure common sense.
Thank you, Mary.
“It is not possible for the Faith to bore. “
Wanna bet?
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