Evangelization Quotes

“There is a wonderful simple human reality to Christ's hunger. The man is famished. He's missed meals for three days, He has a lot on his mind, He's on His way back to heaven, but before He goes He is itching for a nice piece of broiled fish and a little bread on the side with the men and women He loves. Do we not like Him the more for His prandial persistance? And think for a moment about the holiness of our own food, and the ways that cooking and sharing a meal can be forms of love and prayer. And realize again that the Eucharist at the heart of stubborn Catholicism is the breakfast that Christ prepares for Catholics, every morning, as we return from fishing in vast dreamy seas?”
― Brian Doyle, Credo: Essays on Grace, Altar Boys, Bees, Kneeling, Saints, the Mass, Priests, Strong Women, Epiphanies, a Wake, and the Haun

“As well as being essential to theological study, philosophy is an indispensable tool for communicating theology, for evangelization and catechesis. A faith based on how warm and comfortable you feel and how "affirmed" you are by your community is pleasant, but there is no guarantee that it is true. Fides et ratio make clear that philosophy's central tasks are to justify our grasp of reality, of truth, and to make cogent suggestions as to life's true meaning. Being able to say something compelling on these topics -- reality, truth, and life's meaning -- is critical in winning young and old alike to the faith. A theology that incorporates philosophy's work in these areas will be faithful to the teaching of the Church and able to stand up to the most rigorous secular arguments and the ideologies of the age.”
― George Cardinal Pell, God and Caesar: Selected Essays on Religion, Politics, and Society

“For many of us Catholics, the word evangelization evokes one of two responses. Maybe we associate it with overzealous, in-your-face, fire-and-brimstone fanatics, and so we write it off completely. Or we think of it as we think of exercise: we know we should be doing it, but we aren't so we carry a lot of guilt about not doing it enough or not doing it at all.”
― William E. Simon Jr., Great Catholic Parishes: A Living Mosiac: How Four Essential Practices Make Them Thrive

“In the end, the purpose of evangelization is not to ‘make converts’ or ‘fill the pews’ but simply to open doors –to let others know the Good News that Catholic faith has made a positive difference in our lives and that God’s love is available to others as well”
― William E. Simon Jr., Great Catholic Parishes: A Living Mosiac: How Four Essential Practices Make Them Thrive

“If this pious ardor which consumed the prince had its dangers, in that it quickly led to intolerance and persecution, yet it was not without grandeur; since the progress of civilization always follows evangelization.”
― John Bagnell Bury, A History of the Eastern Roman Empire - Book I of III

“Let me stress that we cannot bring anyone to faith though pressure, guilt, argument, or cleverness. Conversion and true faith are works of the Holy Spirit. But it is also true that we can, by our responses, help or hinder another's journey. Responding to seekers in a way that does not accept and honor their lived experience may cause them to "freeze" or even move away from
God. Understanding the thresholds can help us help them or, at least, help us to not get in the way of what God is doing.”
― Sherry A. Wedell

“When evangelizing through Social Networking Sites, one important thing to observe and to practice is… that whatever we are posting, whether a written message, a photo or a video… the message to share is always to be based on ‘Love’.”
― George Calleja, Evangelization Through Social Networking Sites

“Missiologists have in recent years begun to think seriously about inculturation, and historians have begun to learn from them. When the Christian message is inserted into a cultural framework, if the messengers are insensitive to the local culture the result can be cultural imperialism. On the other hand, if they grant too much hegemony to the local culture, the result at best is 'syncretism' and at worst 'Christo-paganism.' Things are most wholesome when sensitive interchange takes place leading to 'a truly critical symbiosis.' But for this to happen, there must be a second stage - a time of 'pastoral follow-up work,' of catechizing and life formation enabling the new faith to express its genius in the institutions and reflexes of its new host culture.”
― Alan Kreider, The Change of Conversion and the Origin of Christendom

“No matter what your age or circumstances dare to dream and follow it all the way.”
― Teresa O'Driscoll, 9 Days to Heaven: How To Make Everlasting Meaning Of Your Life

“Do you know, sometimes when I think of the unhappiness of the world, I wonder if priests and nuns are not greatly responsible for men and women not listening and not obeying more. You see, we have such a very wonderful thing to say and we say it so badly. Shall I tell you a truth? Sometimes when I read holy papers I feel like becoming a little worldly myself, because of the big phrases in which big truths are stated. For big truths are most powerful in little phrases -- but there I go preaching again, and committing the sin of spiritual pride as well, because I don't express our Lord's wisdom very wisely myself.”
― Bruce Marshall, Vespers in Vienna