Boise

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State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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Seeing the Rosary - 2023-01-08

January 15, 2023

Epiphany! People from all backgrounds see the Rosary as desirable. So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort!

“Malcolm”, a tall, dapper, non-Catholic Christian, stopped at our invitation to receive a free Rosary. He seemed genuinely curious about the Rosary, and became intrigued as we explained and extolled the benefits of praying the devotion. He expressed appreciation for our public apostolate. He then asked us to pray for him as he tries to figure out how to be a good father to his son, “Julian”. Pray for them both, and ask St. Joseph to pray for Malcolm and all fathers.

Another very tall man stopped. He was older and on a bicycle. He had been a conscientious objector during a war, when it was not legal to refuse to serve in the military. He was taken to court and, though threatened with prison, got off with a few years of probation. He told us he was raised Catholic and even attended a Catholic university, but had quit the Church at graduation because he was unhappy with the clergy. He tried other places over the years but now rejected all churches as corrupt. E. Chuck shared his own difficult experiences with churches and his eventual conversion to Catholicism, that the Church isn’t simply a human organization, and that staying away from the Eucharist is like starving yourself to death because you’re angry at the cook. He then told us that his sister had left the Church about the same time he had, but had recently gone back, though under the influence of an online priest with controversial views, and so she is considering leaving the Church again. Our visitor selected a Rosary and its pamphlet and even accepted a “Come Home” pamphlet. Pray that his heart is softened, that he seeks the Eternal Food from Heaven, and that both he and his sister find peace within the Church.

Two young adult women stopped while e. Chuck was talking with the tall bicyclist. Only one was Catholic, but each took a Rosary and its booklet.

Another young woman stopped, while her companion continued on. She listened to e. Lucy’s brief explanation of the Rosary and then hurried to rejoin her companion as soon as it was polite to do so. Please pray for her?

Three smiling, clean-cut, college-aged men angled toward us because they wanted to hear our offer more clearly. Then, when we said they looked like “men of prayer”, they came all the way to the table. They said they had been to a non-Catholic Christian service that morning. We praised the beauty of the Rosary prayer and how it can help them grow closer to Christ They then each selected one and took the pamphlet on how to pray it. They also promised to pray for us. Lift their hearts, Blessed Mother, so they love Christ as you do.

A homeless-looking woman paused, knowing nothing about the Rosary and unsure whether she was even Christian. Two other people had seemed to be with her, but had moved on without her when she stopped. She selected a Rosary as we explained the prayer and Christian belief, and how going over the Mysteries emphasizes the Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection that Jesus did for our salvation. She then asked if she could have a second Rosary for her daughter, who was waiting for her at a truck stop a few miles south of town. We encouraged her to pray the Rosary together with her daughter. May she say YES to the Holy Spirit’s invitation to fall in love with Christ.

Two young-adult men, perhaps on bikes or skateboards, bore a close resemblance one to the other … so, brothers, perhaps? They came to the table, asking, “What’s this all about?” Both are Christian, so we explained the how’s and why’s of the Rosary and they both selected one. Pray that their curiosity remains focused on their Savior.

A passing man paused to say he was once Catholic but now attended a different church. He considered all churches the same, he said, if they focused on Christ. We gently countered that not all churches had the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. To that he replied, as he continued walking away, that his church had had “communion” that day, and that it was just a remembrance that anybody could do. We advised him to read 1st Corinthians as he moved on. Pray, St. Paul, that he hears your admonitions to “discern the body.”

E. Lucy talked to some teens on skateboards while e. Chuck was talking to someone else. (But she doesn’t recall any details of the encounter.)

Four or five members of a Catholic family stopped to receive Rosaries. The mother was grateful to receive a copy of the Rosary pamphlet in Spanish. We encouraged them to pray the Rosary together as a family.

An older man (homeless?) always waves as he passes by. This time, he stopped to thank us for being there every week. May God grant him salvation, safety, and healing.

As the Church celebrated the Epiphany, the two eP.Svangelists gave away about 15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a “Come Home” pamphlet.

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.

Non-Catholics want to try the Rosary, and inactive Catholics still find it attractive. 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!

“Go with the strength you have” (Judg 6:14).

P.S. We didn't remember this encounter before we originally posted this week's stories, but I'll tell it here. Do you remember, a few weeks back, that a man told us he talked with, shall we say, alien entities who seemed friendly to him and that he never heard Jesus reply (except during his encounter with us that day). E. Chuck recognized him as he went by and asked if he was still talking with the other beings. "No," was his reply. Praise God for His great mercy! Please keep this man in your prayers and ask that he learn to trust Jesus Christ.