Day 27: Everybody's Talking

Everyone has an opinion, but opinions don't matter when it comes to the election of a pope.  Yesterday in an aside from my homily, I told the congregation that this week was an extraordinary time to be a Catholic because everyone from the media to co-workers will be talking about Catholicism and the conclave.  Of course, most of the stuff people will be talking about will either be misinformed opinions about our faith or just plain anti-Catholic rhetoric.  This is where I exhorted the people that it falls to each of you to stand up for your faith, to courageously correct those who speak ill of Catholicism, and to hopefully shed light on and evangelize those who have fallen astray.  We are a people of faith guided by the Holy Spirit, for when the new Successor of St. Peter walks out to greet the world our prayers will immediately be offered for him because of the great task that he has received from God himself.  We believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church founded by Christ himself and handed down through the centuries by his apostles and their descendants.  Stand up for your faith this week.  Don't let random critical comments go unanswered or unchallenged.  This is the time for the Church to rise up and unite in prayer for God has given us this time of grace to manifest his glory.