The need of each one to be an evangelizer is a high priority today.  At the end of January 2015, The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization hosted a 3-day meeting in Rome with delegates from across Europe to identify new and effective ways of passing on the faith. The press release from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales about the meeting noted “There is not a single day when Pope Francis doesn’t call us to go out to share our faith". 

Also, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the President of the Pontifical Council , concluded that “A new phase in catechesis is emerging as a companion to the New Evangelisation. There is demand for catechesis with spirituality, for people to know our faith but also to let it transform them from within.”

  In reflecting on these directives about passing on our faith, I think that we should keep in mind that in any dialogue with someone who does not share our faith, the objective should not be to win an argument over religion. Hopefully, with the help of God’s grace, we strive to persuade the other person that there is a good offered that is worth considering. We should keep in mind what a wise man often stated,  “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”

    In this delicate area of personal belief, there is a sensitive barrier guarding human pride that can trigger a stubborn rejection if it is suspected that your aim is to attack one’s personal conviction. People today hold firmly to the right of personal belief.

           St. Peter Faber, S.J., one of the original followers of St. Ignatius of Loyola who founded the Society of Jesus, was noted for a deep and sincere respect and even love of everyone with whom he related. That was in the tempestuous time  of religious strife in Germany in the early years of the  Reformation. The hard core Protestant leaders when collaborating in choosing delegates to the various meetings supposedly to resolve religious difference were adamant in excluding Father Faber from participating if his name was proposed.  

They did not want a reconciliation that often followed any dialogue when he was present. He radiated such an obvious kindness and respect that softened and usually reversed the antagonism towards the Catholic Church that had been deliberately fostered.

    Perhaps we should ask the intercession of St. Peter Faber in our efforts in evangelization. God’s grace is needed primarily if we are to persuade others to a personal acceptance of Jesus Christ. No longer are St. Thomas Aquinas’ five proofs for the existence of God effective as they once were. The world of theology has disintegrated so much that some now adhere to what they call the Theology of Queer, whatever that is.

    Our leaders of the New Evangelization stress the ingredient of “spirituality” rather than logic or argumentation which no longer are considered to be the main tools in the strategy needed today. That is why we have dwelt on inner attitudes and personal holiness of those who strive to respond to the responsibility to evangelize.

  At the same time, there is a need to develop a basic understanding and presentation of one’s beliefs as an anchor of one’s faith and compass for the journey amidst the various notions and aberrations that will be met in the turbulent world of religious beliefs that one will encounter on the road of evangelization.

  It is necessary we believe to have a simple but comprehensive body of belief that can be recalled and relied upon as one is confronted with when engaged in dialogue in matters of belief. To take the initial step into that kind of dialogue, it would be prudent not to introduce the topic unless the other party has already made a remark that opens the door, as it were.

Otherwise, perhaps the topic could be introduced as having been read or heard about in a different circumstance so as to keep it from being understood as aimed personally at the partner of the dialogue.

   It is necessary now to be more specific in order to illustrate a possible development in the dialogue. Suppose the topic that surfaces is very generic like “What is life all about?” This could be presented as one’s reflection in reading a number of obituary notices in the daily paper in which there is no mention of a church service for the deceased as if religion and God had no place in the life of the deceased. Such an absence could raise the question, “What was that person’s life all about”

  In preparation for a possible dialogue on this topic “What is life all about?”, one should have in hand a statement that will serve as a resource to call on as the dialogue develops.  May I suggest something like

This life is not a be all and end all

But leads to a never-ending happy life

If God is loved now above all

Such a statement could be stated as one`s own belief but not used in instigating an argument or debate in response to whatever led to the opportunity to present it by you.

The ingredients of your statement can be amplified in order to present a substantial picture of what you believe and to open up the depths of theology contained in `not a be all or end all (or that this life does not lead to a dead end like some streets) .Also, there is a deep content to  `never-ending happy life` which can open up the scope of life in heaven with God and all His angels and saints including all our relatives and friends who have gone before us.

And a picture, too, of what God has in store for us at the end of time when our bodies are reunited to our souls in a glorified state as Jesus was after His resurrection from the dead. And the final statement establishes the condition upon which a future in heaven depends.

   The above explanation is meant as an example of imbedding adequate theological content in any simple formula that one composes so that the content will prove to be rich and fruitful as your development is expounded if the dialogue continues.

  What is being proposed here is a possible scenario that is similar to doing one`s homework in preparation for being able to succeed in passing an examination in school. It should be obvious that successful dialogue in the context of evangelization requires diligent personal preparation and not left to fortuitous inspiration as the dialogue unfolds.

  A final word of guidance—Rely on God`s grace achieved through prayer and not on the glitter of personality that one might think is present or needed.