When someone challenges your Faith with statements such as “Catholics believe that only Catholics go to Heaven,” or “Jesus was really married,” your first answer should be: “Who says that?” or, “Where did you read that?” You’ll be amazed at the source of so much misinformation. It never ceases to amaze me that intelligent, well-educated people, who would not dream of calling their dentist if they have a broken bone, will take the word of a Hollywood screen-writer about the Catholic Faith as Gospel truth.

Again, when we, as adult Catholics are challenged about the tenets (beliefs) of our Faith, we should first ask the question: “What is the source of your statement?” But then we should also be able to give a reason for our beliefs. All too often, I am sad to say, Catholics do not really know their Faith, and it is a shame, because it is so beautiful, so reasonable, so encouraging and consoling! In the past 2,000 years, our Holy Mother the Church, has seen and heard it all. No matter what the subject or the times, if it has to do with morality, She has an answer that has been very carefully thought through after much prayer and study, under the sure guiding hand of the Holy Spirit who promises infallibility to the Church. Her answers are the only secure guide in a world that is increasingly complicated, and that is why as adult Catholics, we are called to the work of evangelization: because we are called to bring hope to a suffering world. But how can we evangelize if we do not know? Or, as St. Paul says: “But how can they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14)

How can we increase our knowledge of the Faith? There is only one way that I know: to study. Today, more than ever, we have a lot of opportunities and many different means to do so: there are books, of course, but also tapes and CD’s that we can hear while we are driving; there is EWTN TV and radio; there are DVD’s that help us understand everything, from the Holy Mass to the lives of the Saints and every topic in the Catechism. Then there are adult Bible and formation meetings. Next week, I’ll tell you of upcoming opportunities here, at Holy Trinity, to not only enrich your Faith, but to get to know your fellow parishioners better and to prepare for the day when you will be asked to defend the reason for your belief in the Catholic Church. Stay tuned.