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Guidelines for Evangelization
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August 25, 2020What is Evangelization and How to Get Involved in It
1. What is evangelization and is it really necessary?
Evangelization is the proclamation of the Gospel, that is, of the Person of Jesus Christ, and the truth of the saving Mystery of His Passion, Death and Resurrection, to all peoples so that they may come to know Him, love Him and serve Him, and be saved by His redeeming love and mercy. And, yes, it is absolutely necessary!
The following are teachings of recent popes on evangelization.
Pope St Paul VI in his Apostolic Exhortation, “Evangelization in the Modern World” (Evangelii Nuntiandi,1975), teaches:
"We wish to confirm once more that the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church. It is a task and mission which the vast and profound changes of present day society make all the more urgent. Evangelization is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize.
"Evangelism (evangelization) will always contain – as the foundation, center, and at the same time the summit of its dynamism – a clear proclamation that, in Jesus Christ...salvation is offered to all men, as a gift of God’s grace and mercy.”
Pope St. John Paul II in his Encyclical Letter “The Mission of the Redeemer” (Redemptoris Missio, 1990) states:
"The moment has come to commit all of the Church’s energies to a new evangelism (a re-evangelization of Christian communities that have lost their original vigor and to the mission ad gentes - the Church’s mission to the nations, regions not yet touched by Christianity). The new evangelism is not a matter of merely passing on doctrine, but rather a personal and profound meeting with the Savior.” (But doctrine is important!)
The Kingdom of God is not a concept, a doctrine, or program subject to free interpretation, but is before all else a person with the face of Jesus of Nazareth, the image of the invisible God. If the Kingdom is separated from Jesus, it is no longer the Kingdom of God which he revealed.
No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples.
A essential characteristic of this missionary spirituality is intimate communion with Christ.
Pope Benedict XVI in his Apostolic Letter “Establishing the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization” (Ubicumque et Semper, 2010) writes:
"It is the duty of the Church to proclaim always and everywhere the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He, the first and supreme evangelizer, commanded the Apostles on the day of his Ascension to the Father, 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them all that I commanded you' (Mt 28:19-20). Faithful to this mandate, the Church – a people chosen by God to declare his wonderful deeds (cf. 1 Peter 2:9) ever since she received the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:14) has never tired of making known to the whole world the beauty of the Gospel as she preaches Jesus Christ, true God and true man – 'the same yesterday, today and forever' (Heb 13:8), who by his death and Resurrection, brought us salvation and fulfilled the promise made of old. Hence the mission of evangelization, a continuation of the work desired by the Lord Jesus is necessary for the Church; it cannot be overlooked; it is an expression of her very nature."
Pope Francis in his Encyclical Letter “The Joy of the Gospel” (Evangelii Gaudium, 2013) teaches:
"Evangelizers thus take on the “smell of the sheep” and the sheep are willing to hear their voice. An evangelizing community is also supportive, standing by people at every step of the way, no matter how difficult or lengthy this may prove to be. It is familiar with patient expectation and apostolic endurance.
Evangelization is first and foremost about preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or have always rejected him.
Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love.”
2. Who should be evangelized?
Pope St. John Paul II in his Encyclical Letter, “The Permanent Validity on the Church’s Missionary Mandate” (Redemptoris Missio) noted that there are three objectives of this mission or evangelization:- To proclaim the Gospel to all people
- To help bring about the reconversion of those who have received the Gospel but live it only nominally
- To deepen the Gospel in the lives of believers
Another way of thinking of it is to look at the circles of evangelization which get wider and wider. First, each of us must allow him/herself to be evangelized. Second, each of us should evangelize our family. Third, each of us should look to evangelize our parish. Fourth, each of us should seek to evangelize our community. Fifth, each of us should set about evangelizing the world.
It is always necessary to start with ourselves and then work outward. Evangelizers must be evangelized first before they can evangelize others. Some of us will be called to work on one level more than another but it is all evangelization no matter to whom we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The Gospel is the same saving Good News of salvation. Through it Christ proclaims the sharing of the Father’s love and mercy through the power of the Holy Spirit with- oneself
- the family
- the parish
- the community
- the world
There is no one fool-proof, guaranteed process, or system, or program for evangelization. That would be focusing on the method rather than on the person of Jesus Christ. That is not to say that there are not effective ways to proclaim the Gospel. But in the end, evangelization depends on personal relationship – first, a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and second, our personal relationship one to the other. That is what is most effective.
A simple way to think about evangelization is one that can be seen as “the Little Way of Evangelization.” We know the story of St. Thérèse of Lisieux who struggled with the daunting task of growing in love of God and giving herself to the vocation that God called her to as a Carmelite nun. She saw it all as too far beyond her and thought she could never do it. Then by God’s grace, she discovered what she called “the Little Way of Confidence and Love” and her vocation became clear to her. She realized that of herself she could never do it. However, she rejoiced when she saw that with God she could do anything that He asked of her.
Well, evangelization is the same for us. We, too, could be daunted and say that we could never become evangelizers. It is all too far beyond us in our present situation.- Who me, grow in holiness and knowledge to evangelize? No way! Just cannot do it!
- Who me, evangelize my family? No way, not that crowd!
- Who me, talk about Jesus and His love to fellow parishioners? No way, I could never do that!
- Who me, speak about my Catholic Faith and my relationship with God in my community, where I work, where I go to school? Not me, not in this climate in which we are living!
- Who me, do my part to proclaim Jesus and His Gospel to the world? Not me, I’m nobody and could never make a difference!
God who has called us to be evangelizers says, “Yes, you. I want you to share my love, my mercy, my truth, my Son with others!"
We may ask, “You have to be called by God to do this evangelization thing, right? How do I know that I am called to evangelize?” Here’s how.- For one thing, the Second Vatican Council told us we are called by our baptism to proclaim Jesus Christ and his Gospel.
- Every pope since has told us that we are to evangelize. Many of the greatest saints of the Catholic Church, priests, deacons, religious and laity, have proclaimed the Gospel and their love for Christ through the ages.
- And, most of all, Jesus Christ Himself has asked us to do this at the end of St. Mathew’s Gospel, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:19-20)
4. How does a Catholic engage in evangelization?
First, accept the call to evangelize. Every Catholic must accept that God is calling him/her to evangelize. We have to get over the “not me, I am not prepared” mentality. No one is perfectly prepared to do God’s Will but He will give you the grace to do it. Remember what Our Lord said, “When they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you“ (Mt 10: 19-20).
Second, become holy. A Catholic called to evangelize must grow in holiness. Our Lord has given us the means to grow in holiness though His Body the Church and especially thought the Sacraments. Remember, you cannot give what you don’t have. You cannot proclaim the Gospel if you are not trying to live it. Here are some great ways to grow in holiness:- Go to Mass certainly every Sunday and Holy day and as often as possible, even daily. If we really believe what we say we believe about the Sacrifice of the Mass, why wouldn't we be there daily? Let the Sacred Liturgy form your mind and your heart.
- Receive Our Lord in Holy Communion as often as possible in a worthy manner.
- Go to confession regularly. Perhaps monthly or every two weeks. Put the date on your calendar like a doctor’s appointment. After all, you are going to encounter the Divine Physician.
- Pray each day. Pray every morning and evening. Pray the Rosary daily, if possible as a family. Perhaps pray the Liturgy of the Hours (at least Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer). Pray throughout the day, the Angelus or Regina Coeli, the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Pray in your own words as well as in the prayers that are old friends, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be.
- Visit and pray before the Blessed Sacrament.
- Foster a tender devotion to and arelationship with the Mother of God. She is our Mother also given to us by Jesus as He hung on the cross.
- Read the Sacred Scriptures each day in a slow meditative way. Learn about Lectio Divina.
- Read good Catholic literature. Explore the lives of the saints, books on the spiritual life, the documents of Church councils, the writings of the popes, the writings of the saints.
- Learn about the Catholic Faith. Read the Catechsim of the Catholic Church or the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Read a good Catholic newspaper or articles on line.
- Use the sacramentals of the Church. Use Holy Water daily. Keep sacred images in your home: a crucifix, your favorite image of Our Blessed Mother, your patron saint. Keep blessed palm (usually behind a crucifix or holy picture) and blessed candles in your home. Wear a blessed medal or scapular. Carry a rosary with you always.
- Do not shy away from talking about faith or religion but always with charity.
- Learn what Christ teaches through the Church even controversial or unpopular.
- Proclaim the truth in love.
- Never condemn, never call out, never present yourself or your faith in a hostile way.
- Be kind, be inviting, be loving as Jesus was loving.
- Speak to family members and others who are not going to Mass and the Sacraments about returning but do not badger them.
- Have inexpensive rosaries or medals, holy cards and good Catholic materials to hand to people.
- Offer to pray for people when they tell you their troubles or sorrows and then pray with them right then and there.
- Get involved in your parish evangelization efforts.
- Become part of various parish or other Catholic movements or groups and keep an eye to evangelization. Ask, “How can my being part of this movement or group proclaim the Gospel so that others can come to know and love Jesus Christ?”
In efforts spearheaded by members of the Secretariat of Catholic Education and Evangelization in our diocese we have been encouraging this formation of holy relationships. First, we encounter Jesus, Second, we follow Jesus. Third, we go out and share him with others. I believe that He wants us to share His life, His love and His grace found in the Church today. All the while we strive to grow in holiness by coming to Mass, by going to confession, by being people of prayer and by sharing His love with others. In doing this, His Church is strengthened and the world is transformed!
Fifth, entreat our Lady. You must place all of your efforts in the hands of Our Immaculate Mother Mary. Pope Francis has asked us to invoke “Mary, Mother of Evangelization.” May she who said her “yes” to God at the Annunciation and became the Mother of the Savior help us to say our “yes” to the urgent call to make His Gospel of Mercy and Love known to the whole world!
We can talk about the “Alphabet of Evangelization” to think of how we are to get involved.
A – Accept the call to evangelize.
B – Become holy.
C – Converse from the heart.
D – Dedicate yourself to holy relationships.
E - Entreat Our Lady for her help.
We have everything we need to proclaim the truth of Christ.
So let’s get started!
Our Lady, Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us!
