Boise

Country: United States
State or province: Idaho

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Lucy Stamm
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Non-Stop Reactions - 2024-03-24

March 31, 2024

We encounter a gamut of reactions to our public display of Faith. So, thank you again for your prayers for the Boise Catholic street evangelization effort.

A man walked by, saying, “No, thanks. I’m [an adherent to an early heresy].” God, help him!

A couple in their late 30s stopped because she wanted a Rosary. She’s Catholic. When we asked the man if he’d like a Rosary, he said with a note of finality that he wasn’t Catholic. “Oh, that can change!” quipped the evangelist with a smile. He laughed and took a Rosary and its pamphlet. May Our Lady draw him home to her Son’s Church!

An unkempt-looking man carrying an open bottle was wandering around the business park, calling out to people. But his words were so indistinct that many couldn’t understand him. And he responded to that with anger. May God bless and heal the man!

A woman from the parish of one of the evangelists stopped to complain about recent changes. The evangelist finally remembered to gently point out things to be grateful for. May God grant hope and peace, even in the midst of change.

One man dropped back from his group to choose a brightly colored Rosary. He said he belonged to “St Joseph Parish” in a state far from here. But he was gone before the evangelist could offer him directions to a local parish for Mass that evening. May God confirm him in Faith and lead him all the way to Catholic Sainthood!

A man with two large dogs wanted a Rosary but knew nothing about it, admitting that he was not Christian. He listened politely, but without reaction, as e. Chuck shared the Good News with him and showed him how he could meet Christ in the Rosary. He went on his way with a joke about how his dogs needed a Rosary. This was not an isolated incident in the session. We had several people who, when asked if they were Christian, hemmed and hawed before finally admitting that they were not, and who then heard our profession of faith with confused or amused or impatient silence. Please pray that their desire for a Rosary, despite their seeming indifference to God otherwise displayed in their life, is the tiny seed that will grow into the tree of Faith leading them to salvation in Christ.

An older, nicely dressed woman stopped, accompanied by a teen. She wanted a Rosary, since she hadn’t brought one with her and was missing it. She encouraged the boy to choose a Rosary. We encouraged them to pray it together.

A young-adult couple almost passed us by, but the woman suddenly changed her mind and came to the table. The man stayed back. When asked if she was Christian, she seemed to feel torn about what to say. Finally, she said she wasn’t but she was “trying to figure it out”, to which the man chuckled. Her reaction to our sharing of the Gospel seemed to be embarrassment and of feeling unsure. Her only response was a quiet word of thanks. Please pray for her and for all seekers that they may hear Christ knocking at the door of their heart and let Him in.

In hindsight, we think a better response when someone says they’re “trying to figure it out” might have been to ASK what is holding them back.

Some college-aged men stopped for Rosaries. Most of them seemed to be Catholic and eager to select a Rosary. The young-adult man that e. Chuck spoke with said he had gotten out of the habit of praying the Rosary, and that his family didn’t attend Mass anymore, instead preferring to watch it on TV. E. Chuck emphasized that this wasn’t the same thing as attending Mass, and that they were missing out on receiving Christ in the Eucharist. But our visitor just shrugged and said they liked watching it on TV from home. Please pray for all Catholics who have cut themselves off from the Bread of Life, may they hear the Holy Spirit’s call to repentance.

Our offer of a Rosary was rejected in a variety of ways, from a cheerful “no, thank you” to a growling “never!”, from professions of faith in secular causes to claims of being a follower of [the enemy of any possibility of their good]. To the latter category belongs “Stephen”, who is back on his skateboard and lobbing toward us his drive-by crudity and snark. Please pray for everyone trapped in falsehood and courting everlasting disaster, that their eyes may be opened to the glory of our incarnate God.

A young couple picked out a pair of Rosaries and said they knew a little about them and were Christian. So, e. Chuck extolled the benefits of praying the Mysteries. The evangelist also pointed out that it was important to learn to love Jesus with the same love His mother has for her Child, and that the Rosary helps us see Christ through our loving mother’s eyes. When asked where they went to church, they said they were members of an ancient sect of Christians not in full union with Rome. The couple told the evangelist that there is a small community of them who worship together locally. Please pray for all our separated brethren, that Christianity may be united in spirit, truth, and obedience.

There was a music festival going on near the downtown core, as well as a flower and garden show/sale being held in the convention center beside us. Plus, the weather was mostly sunny. Put all of those factors together, and it’s not surprising that we saw nearly non-stop foot traffic. However, only a few people paused for more than a second or ten. Still, we were able to give away 40, 50, or more Rosaries and the pamphlet on how to pray it.

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.

God knows the human heart (cf. Jer 17:9-10), and seems to bless our efforts to bring people to Him. 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).