Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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God is Trustworthy - 2024-01-14

January 21, 2024

God is real, and He takes care of us! So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The temperature last week was just below freezing (instead of clear down in the low single digits as predicted). Although an unusual amount of snow had fallen that morning, foot traffic was okay during our session, aided perhaps by the remodeling show going on in the convention center.

A vendor came out of the conference center, where a remodeling show was being held. (He might have been part of a group that had refused Rosaries from us a short time earlier.) The man said he didn’t want a Rosary, but he “had a question” (usually code for “I have an objection to Catholicism”). He asked, “Why do Catholics say you need a priest?” “You don’t,” e. Lucy began her answer, provocatively. Then she quoted Jesus’ command to “be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). But, we can’t do that without a whole lot of grace. Jesus instituted the Sacraments as means for us to receive that grace, and He appointed men to stand in His place to administer them to us. There was short discussion of “faith vs works” until e. Lucy pointed out that “making an act of faith is itself a ‘work’”. The man didn’t have any other questions, and politely withdrew. May God bless him for his polite manner and draw him home to the Church that He founded.

“Justin” went by, earlier than usual and in an irritable mood again this week. When e. Chuck greeted him warmly, he snarled , “It’s too cold for your [unpleasantness] today”. E. Chuck replied, “But, you’re the one giving us [unpleasantness].” He didn’t respond further. Lord, we again ask You to heal “Justin” and grant him the grace to quit trampling Your “pearl of great price” underfoot.

A 20-something male runner/jogger, wearing a stars-and-stripes mask, paused barely long enough to grab a Rosary from e. James’ hand.

A middle-aged woman from a nearby city told us that she had several Rosaries already.

A young adult man, wearing a parking attendant uniform, thoughtfully accepted a Rosary and the pamphlet on how to pray it.

A 20-something couple willingly accepted a Rosary apiece and its pamphlet.

Another man in his 20s, wearing a green ball cap and shorts, said he was “not familiar with the Rosary” when he stopped. After listening to a brief explanation of the devotion, he accepted Rosary and pamphlet.

A couple in their early 30s said, “Sure, we’d like one”, when offered a free Rosary. They each chose a Rosary and accepted the pamphlet.

A woman in her late 40s, and wearing a heavy brown coat, hobbled past with her foot in a heavy brace. She told us that she “knew how to pray it” as she accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. She then asked for a Divine Mercy prayer card as well.

A cigarette-smoking man in his late 40s was a vender at the trade show. He took a Rosary and its pamphlet.

Another vendor from the event, named “Spencer”, stepped outside for a break and came to the table for a Rosary. He attends a fairly ancient, non-Catholic, nationalist, liturgical church and says they don’t have Rosaries available there. He mentioned his eastern European ancestry, and said he “liked that Catholics partied” (that is, weren’t forbidden to drink alcohol). Then he mused that if his and the Catholic churches were reunited it would be wonderful, and the world would have to “watch out.” We agreed that Christian unity is our desire, too. Please pray for Christian unity!

A thin, dark haired woman, in her 50s, happily accepted a Rosary and its pamphlet. A visitor to the area, she mentioned that her parish was “St. Rose” (of Lima?).

Altogether, we gave away 15-20 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as a Divine Mercy prayer card.

Please pray for us again today? 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.

Our non-threatening presence encourages people to approach us with questions. 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 couple of additional prayer requests.

The three of us met afterwards to discuss a visiting priest’s suggestion that we set up a booth at a farmer’s market. We looked up the two locally available venues and saw that our “product” fits neither. Besides, we don’t have the numbers of evangelists needed to cover 4-6 hour sessions. Please join us in prayer for discernment.

Please also join us in praying that the missionary priests of our diocese (about 1/3 of all of our priests), aren’t deported when they try to renew their work visas.