Fraternal Correction

[Brigid]

I agree with what Shin's posting about making sure that the correction is put in a way as not to be irritating. Unless one wants to block any message getting through to that person because they feel you are 'preaching' to them one needs to seem like you're soft-pedaling the Truth while making sure the Truth is stated. In other words saying what you mean with tact and the respect that the person deserves. This is even more true on the internet as our expressions, etc can't be seen!

[Shin]

'If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first of all with your heart. Ask Him simply to fill you with charity, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire.'

St. Vincent Ferrar

[Paul]

Actually, Ezekiel 18:20 says this:

The soul that sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

However, as James 5:20 says:

let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

So I do fraternal correction, but the only exception is at work, where everyone is so anti-Christian (even the ones who call themselves Catholic) that I could get fired if someone knew about my faith. Some would say that I should risk losing my job, but I have full responsibility of taking care of my mother, and I live in an anti-Christian area and cannot afford to move. My priest said no one has to know I'm Catholic as long as I don't tell them I'm not Catholic, and that this question was first brought up when the early Christians were persecuted.

The hard part is fraternal correction without anger, especially when they get mean about it.

[MidnightSun12]

So I do fraternal correction, but the only exception is at work, where everyone is so anti-Christian (even the ones who call themselves Catholic) that I could get fired if someone knew about my faith. Some would say that I should risk losing my job, but I have full responsibility of taking care of my mother, and I live in an anti-Christian area and cannot afford to move. My priest said no one has to know I'm Catholic as long as I don't tell them I'm not Catholic, and that this question was first brought up when the early Christians were persecuted.

Paul, I think it may be best to try to not entertain too many thoughts about the consequences of evangelizing.  I mean, I just think about the apostles when Peter kicked in the door and started preaching the Word.  Worldly wisdom would have concluded that the apostles would have all been violently killed for spreading Christianity in such a dangerous city, but in reality nothing bad actually happened to the apostles on that day.  In fact, what did happen was that 3,000 people were converted!  

I think some things just need to be left up to God and we can take great comfort in the fact that He will never give us more then we can handle when we are doing His will!

My prayers are with you here.  I also struggle tremendously with having the moral courage to spread the faith in places like the workplace, so please pray for me as well!

[MidnightSun12]

Well, I was thinking about this issue just the other day.

Some church related topics came up and I was discussing it with a close relative of mine, and as I was speaking I was rather disassociated from myself in horror at how I couldn't keep the slightly irritated tone out of my voice when I was talking about it. I was definitely not speaking about it in the tone I wanted to speak about it, but I couldn't stop the irritation, and I felt to myself, the devils are at work they're keeping me stirred up about it due to bad habit, I can't emotionally respond properly to this person, my irritation is going to get in the way of my words.

Thank you for this advice, Shin.  While the devil traps some of us with cowardice and a lack of moral courage to spread the faith, he also has traps ready for those on the other extreme who speak hastily and without holiness or focus on helping souls get to heaven.  I find this vice to be a particular struggle on places like CAF where members a protected by the veil of anonymity.

There's certainly a great need to have temperance and to be holy in all areas of our life, so that we can best be ready to help share our faith with those around us.

[Therese]

Just recently I tried to warn somebody about some very real and important danger he was in (involving the Second Vatican Council), the person did not properly understand me and was pretty naïve and ignorant.  The subject I was talking about was very controversial and as the conversation developed I could hear myself getting upset as I was speaking -- the person just couldn't get what I was saying and even thought that it was I who was wrong and not the Second Vatican Council.  I wish that I had just prayed for the person and had omitted approaching him on the subject of V-2.     

[Shin]

Prayers for you and your conversations Therese.

Sometimes you have to say something and it's not going to be handled properly no matter what, but you hope perhaps later.. perhaps later it will get through.

The guardian angels remember, and can help people to remember what they should at the proper time.. with the Holy Spirit.. 

[Therese]

Prayers for you and your conversations Therese.

Sometimes you have to say something and it's not going to be handled properly no matter what, but you hope perhaps later.. perhaps later it will get through.

The guardian angels remember, and can help people to remember what they should at the proper time.. with the Holy Spirit.. 

Thanks, Shin, for your prayers and encouragement.  God bless you!