What's "the new evangelization" anyway?
Not what many Catholics think it is. In recent years, the Holy Father has been speaking repeatedly about the New Evangelization. He is referring to the new effort, new methods, new opportunities, and new challenges having to do with evangelization in the current historical moment. Of course, that doesn't clarify things too much if you don't know what "evangelization" is in the first place. As usual, Catholic Answers comes to the rescue:
'But first of all, what's "evangelization"? It's the spreading of the Good News of Jesus Christ, as it has been entrusted to the Church he established. When we evangelize, we explain the truths of the Catholic faith and invite people to consider them and to consider becoming Catholics. We offer them a welcome into the house that God built for them.
'Many lay Catholics still think evangelization is a task just for priests and religious. "Let Father or Sister do it," they say. But it's really a task for every baptized Christian. Nowadays, with a decreased number of priests and religious, it's especially important that lay Catholics get involved in spreading the faith.'
[For more great stuff like this check out the source for yourself — Catholic Answers' on-line apologetics clearing house, www.catholic.com/library ]
Photo credit: John Kirrane, 2002
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Past Faith Lifts
