Redding, CA

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The following report comes to us from evangelist Jeff with the Our Lady of Mercy team in Redding, CA:

Sunday’s evangelization outing was my first ever. My expectations were that we could experience conflict and negativity directed toward the team and the Catholic Church, so I was a bit nervous at first. My nerves calmed immediately once I began interacting with people. One of the first people I spoke with, Troy, has been a paraplegic for most of his life. We shared our similar stories with each other, of falling from a tall tree at the age of five. His tree was much taller than mine, so his injuries and pain have lasted a lifetime, whereas mine healed.

For over an hour, Troy and I discussed a wide range of topics, including among others, the Deuterocanon (seven “extra” books in the Catholic Bible), “Praying to the Saints”, the role of faith and works in one’s salvation, St. Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal, and the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, especially as written in John 6:51-66 and 1 Corinthians 11: 27-30. Although we did not agree with each other on every point, Troy did place the Miraculous Medal around his neck. At the end of our discussion he stated with some emotion that if he’s being honest with himself, he really likes the Catholic view of faith and works, and especially on the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which he had previously believed was only symbolic.

As Troy was departing, I told him I would pray for him and hoped that the Miraculous Medal blessings that Mary promised to those who wore it, would at the minimum, diminish his pain.

Praised be Jesus Christ!