New Evangelization: A How-To Guide

Essentially:

Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, “Abba, as far as I can I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?” Then the old man stood up and stretched his hands towards heaven. His fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said to him “If you will, you can become all flame.”

The Pope and the Bishops in ecumenical council have given us teaching for the present time.  We have a Catechism suited to the needs of today (both long and short).  The bishops have given us their recommendations.  There are a few very basic steps to be taken.

One loving spirit sets another on fire. ~ St. Augustine

"Here we need to pay attention to a reality: that this 'world,' in the evangelical sense, threatens even the church, infecting its members and the ordained ministers themselves... The 'world' is a mentality, a manner of thinking and living that can pollute even the church, and in fact does pollute it, and therefore requires constant vigilance and purification," the pope said. The Christian vocation... is to be free from evil and different from the world, though living in the world." ~ Pope Benedict XVI in May 3, 2009 homily at St. Peter's Basilica

Holiness does not consist in not making mistakes or never sinning. Holiness grows with capacity for conversion, repentance, willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness. ~ Cardinal Ratzinger now Pope Benedict XVI

"True revolution consists in simply turning to God who is the measure of what is right, and who at the same time is everlasting love." Pope Benedict XVI

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting." ~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"One drop of honey attracts more bees than a barrel of vinegar." ~ St. Francis de Sales

"Allow the light and the healing presence of Christ to shine brightly through your lives. In that way, all those who come in contact with you will discover the loving kindness of God." ~ Blessed Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005 AD)

God always gives a greater blessing to humble beginnings than to those that start with the chiming of bells. ~ St. Vincent de Paul

Great graces cannot be obtained without humility. When you yourself experience humiliation, you should take it as a sure sign that some great grace is in store. ~ St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility. It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. ~ St. Augustine

If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world on fire. ~ St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church

Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye on the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, which is the good way, and walk ye in it: and you shall find refreshment for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

Attaining happiness requires a rigorous personal ascetism whose function is to bring order into the human person. It is a tragic lie to teach people that happiness can or even should be reached by abandoning oneself to the inclinations of instinct, without any self-denial. ~ Blessed Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005 AD)

For a stalk to grow or a flower to open there must be time that cannot be forced; nine months must go by for the birth of a human child; to write a book or compose music often years must be dedicated to patient research. To find the mystery there must be patience, interior purification, silence, waiting. ~ Blessed Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005 AD)