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Pillar 2

Invitational

We cannot forget that evangelization is first and foremost about preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have always rejected him. Many of them are quietly seeking God, led by a yearning to see his face, even in countries of ancient Christian tradition. All of them have a right to receive the Gospel. Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone. Instead of seeming to impose new obligations, they should appear as people who wish to share their joy, who point to a horizon of beauty and who invite others to a delicious banquet. It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but “by attraction.”

— Pope Francis ¹¹

How many weddings do you show up to without being invited? Or how many business meetings do you attend without receiving an invitation? Whether we greatly desire to attend an event or would like to find any excuse to avoid an event, the fact of the matter is, our attendance will never happen without an invitation. The good news of salvation still remains the best news in human history, but if we do not invite others to receive the Gospel, then it becomes nothing more than a historical event. Throughout history saints function as the instruments of invitation; through their words and actions, through their life and death, they sought to invite others to a relationship with Jesus Christ in his holy Church.

Long before our beloved St. Teresa dressed the wounds of the dying in the ghettos of Calcutta, the seventeenth century gave birth to her predecessor, St. Vincent de Paul (1581–1660). He spent his life comforting the poor and calling the rich to do likewise; hence today there are St. Vincent de Paul Societies around the world continuing that unceasing work. However, most do not know of Vincent’s time as a slave. As he sailed on the Mediterranean Sea to Narbonne for a trip, three African vessels overtook Vincent’s ship. A series of men enslaved him, and Vincent eventually became the property of a Muslim chemist who took a liking to him. The chemist encouraged Vincent to give up Christianity for Islam, upon which he would be the heir to all his property and to freedom. Vincent refused. As time wore on, he became the property of the chemist’s nephew, who was raised a Christian but had converted to Islam.

One of the wives of the master took an interest in Vincent because of his joy and demeanor while at work. After many conversations, Vincent and his faith fascinated and piqued her interest. She shared a simple invitation with her husband:

I have been talking to your white slave that works in the garden about his religion—the religion which was once yours. It seems full of good things and so is he. You need never watch him as you do the other men, and the overseer has not had to beat him once. Why, then, did you give up that religion for another? In that, my lord, you did not do well.¹²

His eyes were opened to the Truth, but to leave Islam could result in his own peril. He and Vincent disguised themselves and fled to France. After two years of captivity, Vincent de Paul grew to become the saint we know of today. His former master converted back to Christianity and entered a monastery—all because of a simple invitation to return to the faith of his birth.

Do not be afraid to invite someone back to the faith! An invitation is not forcing your faith on someone; it remains simply an invitation. Like holiness, faith cannot be imposed on someone, but only proposed. This is how our gentle Lord works with us. “He always invites us to take a step forward,” says Pope Francis, “but does not demand a full response if we are not yet ready. He simply asks that we sincerely look at our life and present ourselves honestly before him, and that we be willing to continue to grow, asking from him what we ourselves cannot as yet achieve.”¹³ When you invite someone to an event, you do not “force” that event on them. Your invitation offers a modest request to partake of a journey, a journey on which we are willing to walk with them, beside them, as Pope Francis describes:

One who accompanies others has to realize that each person’s situation before God and their life in grace are mysteries which no one can fully know from without. The Gospel tells us to correct others and to help them to grow on the basis of a recognition of the objective evil of their actions (cf. Mt 18:15), but without making judgments about their responsibility and culpability (cf. Mt 7:1; Lk 6:37). Someone good at such accompaniment does not give in to frustrations or fears. He or she invites others to let themselves be healed, to take up their mat, embrace the cross, leave all behind and go forth ever anew to proclaim the Gospel. Our personal experience of being accompanied and assisted, and of openness to those who accompany us, will teach us to be patient and compassionate with others, and to find the right way to gain their trust, their openness and their readiness to grow.¹⁴

Yet, our humble invitations might change all of eternity for those we encounter.

There exists little debate that St. Catherine of Siena (1347–1380) is one of the strongest and most influential women the Church has ever known. While Catherine lived a short life, the lives she touched and perhaps the history of the Church were changed forever. Her influence on her family and friends was extraordinary. A friend of Catherine introduced her to a worldly gentleman, Francesco Malavolti. Francesco, hardened of heart and certain that this woman would not have the same effect on him as she did on his weak-minded friend, found himself in awe of the saint. After the encounter he repented, went to confession, changed his life, and became a devout friend of Catherine. When friends of Francesco harassed him about his newfound “boring” life, he encouraged them to meet Catherine, just once. Amazingly, they too experienced the loving God. What a great example of what I call “third-party evangelization!” Maybe your family and friends do not want to hear the Gospel from you, but there may be a faithful friend whom you can invite them to meet. Is there a book, movie, audio talk, or article you can invite them to experience? Or has someone written an article on social media networks that you can share with them? It is amazing how when someone else is saying it (even though it could be exactly what we have always said), our loved ones seem more open to the Truth conveyed.

Perhaps the most well-known story of Catherine of Siena is her influence over Pope Gregory XI. At that time, popes lived in Avignon, France, instead of Rome, a period known as the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377). Catherine, feeling a commission from God, traveled to Avignon to convince Pope Gregory to return to Rome. For three months Catherine persisted with an unwavering strength, inviting the Supreme Pontiff to go back to his chair in Rome. After resisting for three months, Gregory finally relinquished the fight and promised the young woman that he would head to Rome. Shortly after Catherine returned home to Siena, she heard reports that the pope was having cold feet, being influenced by the French cardinals. Catherine dictated letters to Gregory imploring him to keep his promise, to be bold and have no fear. Thanks to Catherine’s letters, persistence, and especially her prayers, Pope Gregory XI returned to Rome on January 17, 1377. Our invitations to the Gospel must be persistent. Has someone said no to your invitation to a church event? Ask again! If St. Catherine went home after the first time the pope said no, then Church history might look dramatically different. What will eternity look like if you do not gently invite again?

St. Norbert (1080–1134), archbishop of Magdeburg, Germany, and founder of the Premonstratensians (which became known as the Norbertines), greatly reformed the clergy and laity during his life. Theobald, Count of Champagne, already a deeply religious man, desired to join Norbert in his order’s way of life. The saint must have been overjoyed to have a prospective follower so young, passionate, and faithful (and yes, influential). Adding Theobald to Norbert’s religious order would surely get the attention of the nobility and benefit his work greatly. However, Norbert took Theobald’s request to prayer.

After several days of prayer and discernment, Norbert shared with the young noble his decision. Norbert told Theobald, “You will not be a religious, you will continue to bear the yoke of the Lord as you have done, and you will add to it that of wedlock.” Norbert then gave the young man a white scapular to wear under his clothes and a rule of life that would lead to holiness and could be accomplished outside of a monastery. This would be the first known case of a laity living in the world and yet affiliated with a religious order. Who knows what Norbert heard or felt in his prayer about Theobald, but whatever it was, it lead to a personal invitation fit for Theobald. We must constantly discern WHAT it is we are inviting people to. Not all are ready for a weekend retreat or a Bible study. Some are ready to ask questions about vocation or to think about going to Mass again for the first time in decades. It is our duty to discern what it is we will invite our family, friends, coworkers, and strangers to so that they can be open to what the Spirit has prepared for them.

If a top-ten list existed of the best evangelists of the two thousand years of Church history, St. Patrick (387–461) must certainly be considered. He is credited with the conversion of an entire country that in turn became missionaries to the entire world. The impact of this Irish priest on the Church in the United States cannot be underestimated. When Patrick set about his task of bringing the Gospel to the Emerald Isle, he had a laser-like focus on one group of people: the kings. He spent the majority of his missionary time attempting to convert the roughly one hundred kings of Ireland at the time. Patrick believed that if he could convince the kings of Christianity, then their subjects would follow. His theory proved to bear much fruit.

Obviously, Patrick believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ exists for everyone, even those not in power. However, his method to reach everyone involved targeting people with the most influence. Over twenty years of ministry, I have come to the same conclusion. If we try to bring people of influence to Christ, they are going to bring others with them. Whether in our parishes, youth groups, schools, workplaces, or families, ask: Who is the most influential person in this community? Whom do people follow, not necessarily because they are in a leadership role but because they possess that charism of leadership? Have we invited them to a full life in Christ? Can you imagine how many souls could come to know the loving mercy of our Lord if this person became a powerful light of the Hope of Salvation? All of this is possible with the mighty stroke of an invitation.

Today’s secular culture gives us great fear when extending invitations. We fear being called intolerant or a radical. Many times we presume the answer to our invitation will be no; therefore, we do not ask. But we do not know the answer! It is our responsibility to invite and allow the Holy Spirit to do what he does best: move hearts. If we have discerned what we are inviting people to, then we should have no fear. Whether it is a leader in the community or you need to bring in a faithful friend, have confidence that the Lord of all hearts desires what you desire: their salvation.