Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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God Draws People to Himself - 2023-12-10

December 17, 2023

God loves people! So thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The free skate rink was open, but we set up in our usual spot.

A large, half-lit Menorah had been set up on the side of the skating rink nearest us. Several people posed for pictures in front of it. Not surprisingly, perhaps, none of them accepted a Rosary.

“Barry” was a vendor at the conference next door and stopped to pick up a couple of Rosaries for his daughters. (He had a Rosary of his own that was blessed by the Pope.) He knew what the Rosary was because he had attended a Catholic school when he was a kid, but had spent many years away from any kind of church. His wife had also been raised Catholic, but had quit over feminist issues. They now attend a lookalike non-Catholic Christian church in their home state. He likes it because it is large, successful, and his girls also like it. When e. Chuck began to bring up the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, Barry interrupted by partially quoting the Nicene Creed about apostolic succession and the holy catholic church. It was apparent, though, that he believed those things applied to all churches. Please pray for Barry, his wife, and fallen-away Catholics everywhere.

A man on a bicycle wanted a Rosary. He said he had been baptized Catholic but “hadn’t been Catholic” for a long time. We assured him that as a baptized Catholic he was still a Catholic, and encouraged him to get to know Jesus again by praying the Rosary. We gave him a “Come Home” pamphlet. Then he told us he had recently become homeless but he was working to get his life back together. Pray that he works as hard to repair his spiritual life as his economic life.

A large extended family, with 6-8 children under the age of 10, walked by and declined our offer. But the last couple of kids in the line ran to the table and selected a Rosary before running to catch up with the rest of the family. Soon, the other children came running back to get a “necklace” but gave us blank looks when we talked about the prayer. Before the last group had finished choosing, the first 2 groups came back and returned the Rosary pamphlet (plus a Rosary or two), saying, evidently at the prompting of their father, that they “didn’t want to waste them.” We watched one of the boys looking quizzically at the figure of Christ on the Cross. Pray that those blessed Rosaries may be the seed of the Good News planted in their hearts.

We had the three other big families swarm in and select Rosaries but don’t remember getting any story out of them in all the hubbub.

“Justin” walked by at his usual time and made a couple of his standard snide remarks before putting his headphones back over his ears and heading on his way. One thing he doesn’t seem to discern is the distinction between imaginary and invisible. Please continue to keep praying for him.

While “Justin’ was bantering with e. Chuck, a teenage girl came for a Rosary, although she didn’t seem either familiar with it or with Christianity. E. Lucy showed her the Mysteries as a way to get to know Jesus and told her a story of the power of the Rosary prayer. A few minutes later, 2 or 3 other teenage girls came for a Rosary apiece.

A perhaps gender-confused teen stopped for a Rosary, listened politely to the explanation of the devotion, and thanked us warmly. Later, two teenage girls holding hands came to the table and chose a Rosary apiece, but we don’t remember them actually saying anything. Lord, You are the Truth. Please speak to their hearts and let them know You knew what You were doing when You made them. Grant them trust in You!

A woman with a well-covered baby in a stroller stopped for a Rosary. She’s Catholic from a country well south of here, and had been to Mass that very afternoon.

A Catholic man from the cathedral parish, who has stopped before, paused to again encourage us. May God bless him!

Altogether, the two evangelists gave away easily 30 Rosaries and its pamphlet.

Please pray for us again today? Please ask God to send people to us with their 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.

People were in a festive mood, and more of them than usual were open to receiving a Rosary. 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. A few more stories from our previous session, on 2023-12-03:

There were 49er football fans aplenty today, proudly wearing team logos. Our Boise “Team SPSE” proudly (but gently 😌) competed for their attention.

A thin man looked over the Rosaries and took one “for his son”.

E. Chuck engaged a familiar heckler, (wearing a “Crawford” sports shirt) who exhorted us to explain, “Why does God allow child-hood cancer?” It was a somewhat more encouraging encounter compared to his usual flyby shout of criticism.

A young teen boy and 2 girls said they were Christian and accepted Rosaries and pamphlets.

An orange-coated, older, toothless woman with a weathered face and wistful expression quietly accepted a Rosary and pamphlet.

When the mother accompanied by 6 active youths approached the table, e. James spoke with an older girl who said her grandparents were Catholic. The evangelist acknowledged the wonderful formative influence of the “Faith of Our Fathers”. He went through the Rosary pamphlet with her, highlighting the links to Christ and the Gospel. She seemed receptive. May God draw her and her family all the way into His Church!