Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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The True Treasure - 2022-06-12

July 10, 2022

God loves the poor, and we try to lead them to Him. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

It rained lightly off and on during our last session, the sky remaining heavily overcast. Still, a few passersby ventured outdoors and encountered us. Most people seemed to be in a good mood.
As we were setting up, a somewhat heavyset homeless man came over. He commented on every different color of Rosary as we laid them out, waiting to see what all the color choices would be. He did not respond to questions about his faith, nor did he want the offered how-to-pray-the-Rosary pamphlet. His only response to e. Lucy’s explanation of the Rosary and the encouragement to pray it was a smile. There was one Rosary that interested him, but it wouldn’t fit over his head. So, he put it back, declined all the others, and walked away “to find a restroom.” He left behind, next to the wall of the hockey arena, a 4-foot-tall pile on belongings all strapped together and balanced on top of a single skateboard. He hadn’t come back by the time we ended the session. Pray for him, body and soul, please?
A man from a large city in a neighboring state stopped. Mostly, he lamented that his home town had turned into “a retirement place for 20-year-olds”. Our visitor had been raised in a nationalistic, non-Catholic, liturgical tradition (though he was no longer practicing). He accepted a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it. He was interested in an obscure foreign dance tradition, however, and that seemed to overshadow our call to him to Faith and prayer. May Our Lady and her Rosary woo his heart for Christ Jesus.
John, the parking lot attendant, came by. Still ill, he told us he was just glad he made it through a day of work. Pray for his healing and conversion.
The homeless woman who identifies as belonging to a pseudo-Christian cult, and two companions, came by. None took a Rosary. The women who has spoken with us before, was wearing sandals and having fun stamping in puddles.
The father, from a large family who were strolling by, broke off to accept a Rosary. He said they had “just come from Mass” and were faithful Catholics who prayed together. At least four members of the group chose Rosaries for themselves. We encouraged them to pray it together, which they enthusiastically said they would. Guard them, Lord, and help them persevere in the Faith.
A few people stopped to cheerfully claim a Rosary, but said nothing else.
A down-and-out-looking woman, drenched from the rain, stopped for a Rosary, which she said she thought of as “good luck”. She was difficult to hear, but we encouraged her to actually pray the Rosary, using it to grow closer to Christ and to grow in holiness. E. Chuck handed her a Divine Mercy prayer card, which she gladly accepted. We again urged her to pray.
A woman on a bicycle stopped. She said she was familiar with the Rosary because her friend was Catholic, and had said he would show her how to pray it. Though she was “not religious” she chose a Rosary and accepted both the how-to-pray-it and the Good News/kerygma pamphlets. She looked forward to surprising her friend with her very own Rosary. May their prayers together draw her to our Lord.
A trio of homeless people stopped, who looked ill-prepared for the wet, cold weather. When they heard we were Catholic, they asked if we had blankets for them. We referred them to the St. Vincent de Paul emergency help line. They each selected a Rosary. Lord, please grant them each provision, protection, and salvation.
Altogether, the two evangelists gave away about a dozen Rosaries and its pamphlet, a map to area parishes, 1-2 copies of the kerygma, and a Divine Mercy prayer card.

Please pray for us again today? Ask God to send people to us with hearts prepared to perceive their need for Our Savior Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, and that much good fruit for His Kingdom comes of today’s efforts.

Our resources may be “only” spiritual, but that’s not insignificant. When people come to us looking merely for material benefits, we try to lead them to Him, Who is their real hope and the source of all good gifts. So, thank you again for your prayers and other support for this apostolate. In turn, may God protect and greatly bless you and all those you love!