Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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Oh, I've heard of SPSE! - 2024-03-10

March 17, 2024

Jesus Christ makes Himself present. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

The sports arena entrance was geared up for a big basketball tournament. Security was present and checking everyone who entered. But they let us be. In fact, two men with official-looking nametags walked past our table, but studiously pretended not to see us. May God bless them and whoever told them to allow us to stay.

Most of those heading into the sports arena were not interested in a Rosary. However, a couple of groups of very tall, young-adult men passed by, wearing sweatshirts featuring a team mascot. One of the men peeled away from his group to get a Rosary, and another man followed. The first didn't take a pamphlet because he was “already very familiar" with the devotion. In fact, he asked for directions to the nearest Catholic church, and gratefully accepted a map with Mass times and contact information. May God bless him and keep him faithful!

“Marty”, the slow-moving, economically challenged man, stopped by to say hi.

"Annabelle", a (the?) toothless homeless woman, wearing a backpack with a purple-and-white children's type of design, stopped for another Rosary. She can't seem to hang onto them, she said. She belongs to a non-Catholic Christian megachurch several miles away, but isn't always able to get to services. She told me she is “a prophet” and that God told her “exactly what's going to happen in the world and how”, though she admitted that she “read it in the Bible”. When I mentioned the danger of interpreting Scriptures for oneself, she bristled and quickly changed the subject. Lord, you know how much suffering Annabelle is enduring. Please bless her and lead her ever closer to You.

A group of four young-adult women stopped. One was a non-Catholic Christian. When e. Lucy explained the Rosary devotion, she and two of the other women each chose one for herself. The fourth woman, wearing an eastern-Mediterranean style headscarf, accepted the pamphlet but not a Rosary. May God bless them, and draw them closer to Him and the fullness of Truth.

A middle-aged couple passed by, the woman dropping back to get a Rosary. I had to insist that no, we don't accept donations. But then, she didn't want to take a Rosary. I suggested, though, that she might give it to someone else. At that, she brightened up and eagerly took one, asking if they were blessed. (Yes, and that's why we don't exchange them for anything of value.) She also said she was going to Mass that evening and accepted a copy of the map, with parish addresses and Mass times. She asked what group I was with. When I said, “St Paul Street Evangelization”, she smiled and said, "Oh, I've heard of them!" Then she hurried off to catch up with her husband. May God bless her and all faithful Catholics!

A woman came by, pushing a cart promoting a website. Its name had been hand-printed in large block letters. She stopped but didn't want a Rosary. Instead, she offered me an uncreased, letter-sized piece of paper that was full of single-spaced computer printing. When no word or phrase immediately caught my attention, I asked, “What does it say?”, hoping for a one-phrase summary. But she insisted that I read the whole thing. I demurred, saying she should “save it for someone else”. It must not have been the first time she'd heard that excuse, because she quickly put the paper away and took her leave. Only when she had moved in close to the table did I notice that she was missing the front half of her nose, exposing the air spaces inside. May God heal her and open her heart to His love!

The sky remained gray and heavily overcast, but the weather stayed dry (thank God!). Foot traffic was correspondingly light, but we gave away 12-15 Rosaries and its pamphlet, as well as 2 maps to area parishes.

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.

Seeing a Rosary in an unexpected place can encourage an out-of-town Catholic to make the effort to look for a nearby Mass. 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).