I was raised by a Catholic mother and a father who was a non-practicing Jew. When my dad asked my grandparents for my mother’s hand in marriage, he promised them immediately that any children they had would be raised Catholic.
My father stuck by his word. Whenever we kids gave my mom a hard time about going to Mass or CCD, he backed her up. Like many adolescents, I wasn’t engaged with my faith or my religious education. However, today I realize that despite my reluctance, CCD and Mass made a big impression on my young mind! Here are some things I remember very strongly and fondly:
1. I was taught and firmly believed that Church was God’s house. Why? Because Jesus was truly present in the Tabernacle.
2. I believed in the Blessed Mother’s love and care for us. At that time, I would not have been able to tell you much about Mary, but I believed in her presence and powerful intercession even if I couldn’t articulate it as such.
3. I was taught to have reverence for anything holy … objects, Bibles, people.
4. I believed that when I went to Confession, I was truly forgiven, that the priest could not tell anyone my sins and that he was acting in the person of Jesus. I also knew that I could go back any time if I went astray, but that it was good to go often.
5. I remember some special stories from the Bible. I was given a Bible at the beginning of my Confirmation year by my pastor and would occasionally attempt to read it.
6. I was taught that Jesus loved me and everyone else. I was taught that if I believed that Jesus Christ suffered and died for me on the Cross, I could get to Heaven.
7. I remember being taught that following the commandments and loving others had something to do with it all, too.
It may not seem like much, but it is what God used to bring me back when I had gone astray.
I was one of those kids who stopped attending Mass after Confirmation. Throughout my teen years, if the phrase had been in vogue at the time, I would have described myself as spiritual, not religious. Some people ask with exasperation, “What does that even mean?” I know exactly what it means because I experienced it. I absolutely and totally believed in God, but I did not participate in organized religion.
I tell you this so that you know that any efforts you make in bringing your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews up in the faith – or as a catechist, your students – may in fact plant a seed that will grow later. You’re not limited to them either: coworkers, neighbors, friends and strangers can hear God’s message from you, too.
How do you start?
Start with saying, “God bless you!” – and not just when they sneeze, but when they are celebrating something like a birthday or when they are enduring a difficult challenge or upcoming surgery. Basically, any time! You can always say, “God bless you,” to someone – and usually, they appreciate it and say they need the blessing! If they’re awkwardly silent, don’t worry about it. Later, it might prompt them to think about God, pray or even join a church!
Start with saying, “I’ll pray for you!” I used to work in the corporate world, and there was a tremendous diversity in backgrounds and practices (or lack thereof). I remember working for a woman who was incredibly driven, super professional and a little intimidating. She was non-Christian. She had a relative who was dying, and I mustered up the courage to say I was praying for her loved one. She immediately told me how much she appreciated my prayers. From then on, she really softened toward me.
Start with saying, “God loves you!” You can even say this to non-believers. Maybe they’ve never heard it before. Maybe they’ll remember the God they believed in during their childhood and start praying again. Maybe it will start a conversation about God. Maybe it will lead them to loving God right back. Sometimes, people are afraid that they’ve done so many wrong things that there is no way that God could love them. But He does.
Everyone you meet has been created by God and is loved by God. He has a plan for each one of them. Maybe that plan includes hearing from you how very much He loves them. But remember, it only starts there; it doesn’t end there. Remember most especially – God loves you!
Sister M. Emily Vincent Rebalsky, IHM, is the program director at Villa Maria by the Sea Retreat Center, Stone Harbor.
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