Witnessing to Catholics at Padre

Almost 60% of the people you meet at Beach Reach are Catholics. Thus, it is important to know how to witness to them. When you ask them to take a Hotline card they might refuse with the statement, "No thanks, I’m Catholic", or a similar statement about their religion.

One way to answer the statement is to say, " Well that’s OK, Catholics get hungry and need free rides don’t they?" or "That’s OK cause I didn’t want to talk about religion, but a relationship with Jesus Christ." Regardless, you want them to know that you don’t want to talk about religion, but a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Some important things that you need to know about the Catholic faith.

4 features that distinguish Catholics from Protestants:

• They believe in the supreme authority and infallibility of the Pope (the bishop of Rome). They believe that he is the vicar of Christ on the earth and has supreme authority over the Catholic church.

• They believe in progressive salvation after death. People can get a second chance in Purgatory.

• They believe that grace is administered in part through the seven sacraments.

• They believe in praying to the virgin Mary and the saints of the Catholic church.

Major Beliefs:

Sin

• Inherited or original sin

• Two types of sin

There are two types of sin: mortal and venial

• Mortal sin:

This is the willful rejection of God and his grace that brings eternal alienation and damnation. It is an unforgivable sin. Mortal sins meet three criteria: 1) the matter must be serious, 2) the person must have full knowledge of the seriousness of his actions, and 3) the person must willfully consent to the action.

• Venial sin:

This sin is less serious and doesn’t merit eternal punishment. It weakens the Christian character and must be avoided. It can be forgiven. Both can be committed by omission or commission. They can be committed in word, deed or thought.

Salvation

• Infant baptism: Step 1

• Confirmation: Step 2

• Continuance: Step 3

The person must continue in the Catholic faith to the end to be saved. Salvation is not certain until death. Thus, the Catholic must remain faithful to God and the teachings of the Holy Catholic church, including the 7 sacraments. God will not forsake anyone, but they may forsake the salvation He has offered. You can fall from grace.

 

The 7 sacraments:

These 7 things are designed to sanctify men, to build up the body of Christ, and give worship to God. They impart grace.

They are:

• Baptism- both infant and adult converts.

• Eucharist or Communion- the focus of Catholic worship, it is the most important of the sacraments. It is a celebration of the Christ’s incarnation and real presence. It is a sign of unity. Only Catholics can participate, they do not sanction any other churches.

• Penance-also know as confession. It is where people confess their sins to a priest who assures them of God’s forgiveness and assigns them the appropriate action that gives evidence of their repentance and commitment (Hail Marys, etc.)

• Confirmation- the Catholic expression of faith

• Marriage- Catholics are strongly encouraged to marry other Catholics. In the US civil marriages and marriages after divorce are not recognized. Marriages can be annulled or rendered invalid under certain conditions. Permission must be granted to have a wedding in a Catholic church.

• Ordination- sets a person apart for leadership in the Catholic church such as a priest, sister, or deacon.

• Unction or Last Rites- also known as anointing the of the sick, is the last opportunity to receive God’s grace and forgiveness.

• Purgatory: Step 4

Catholics have a provision for those not good enough to go to heaven, but not bad enough to go to hell.

According to Catholics, Purgatory is the destination of people who die and are not sufficiently holy to go directly to heaven, but are not sufficiently evil to be permanently assigned to hell. Through a process of purging experiences while in Purgatory, they are prepared to move on to heaven. The length of stay in Purgatory is determined by one’s acts of sin and penance while living.

 

Living friends and relatives can influence the condition, status and length of stay of those in purgatory by prayers, intercessions, works of charity, and attending the mass.

 

They use Luke 16:19-31; 2 Cor. 5:1-10; 1 Pet. 3:18-22,4:6 to justify Purgatory.

Mary

• No original sin:

Catholics teach that Mary was born without original sin. It is believed that she had to be exempt from the guilt of original sin in order to safeguard the sinlessness of Jesus.

• Perpetual virgin:

Catholics believe that Mary was a virgin before, during and after the birth of Jesus. This doctrine teaches that at birth Jesus simply passed through the wall of Mary’s uterus rather than through the birth canal, so Mary’s hymen was unruptured and Mary remained a virgin her entire life.

• Mother of God:

• Prays to Mary:

Mary is considered closer to Jesus and thus closer to God than any of the saints. When a catholic prays to Mary they believe that she communicates with Jesus in behalf of the request. Many believe a prayer to Mary is more effective than a prayer to

one of the saints.

Saints

They teach that dead saints are not merely examples to follow, but living functioning parts of the mystical body of Christ and through prayers they are in vital contact with the church on earth.

The saints are a special group of individuals whom the Catholic church has deemed to be Holy and given the status of Saint.

They believe that the saints in the Roman Catholic church are close to God and that they can be used as mediators in behalf of someone. Thus, they believe that they can pray or intercede to the saints for themselves or someone else. This praying to the saints is called Invocation of Saints.

• Invocation of the Saints (Praying to the saints)

Teaches that God enables the saints of the Catholic church to hear and see the needs of those on earth; that they present the petitions of those of us on earth before the throne of God and consequently, believers on earth should pray to them.

• Becoming a Saint

In the Catholic church one doesn’t become a saint by becoming a Christian, because not all believers are saints. A person cannot become a saint while alive. Only deceased Catholics can become saints.

A person becomes a saint through a two step process:

• Beautification-, the name of the deceased person is submitted for sainthood, the church leaders examine the holiness of the person by looking at their life, their writings, and alleged miracles.

• Canonization- It must be proven that the candidate for sainthood performed at least two miracles. Once this has been done and the other material examined, the pope then officially includes their name in the canon of the saints.

Lent