CALLING ALL CATHOLICS

I've just finished reading Scott Hahn's Rome Sweet Home for the second time. For those of you who didn't know, this book paved the way for my quest to learn more about my Catholic Faith. Dr. Scott Hahn, author of many books on Catholicism and founder of St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, was a Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism. Rome Sweet Home is the book that details his and his wife's journey to Rome. And at the end of this book, he calls out to all Catholics. I'd like to directly quote some of the things he said. Here are some excerpts:

Calling Catholics to Be Bible Christians (and Vice Versa)

For our Catholic brothers and sisters, we want to encourage and challenge you to learn the Catholic Faith, which has been entrusted to you as a sacred heritage. For your own sake - and for others - study it so that you come to know what you believe and why you believe it ... That is the way to make your faith infectious. We need more contagious Catholics! ...

The most important message of Vatican II - by far - is the "universal call to holiness." Basically it means that all Catholics - not just priests and religious - are called to be saints. That requires each of us to place the highest priority on prayer, daily prayer ...

The foundation for the Catholic's life must be the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. We can't make it on our own, Christ knew that; that's why He instituted the sacraments - to give us his own divine life and power ...

Catholics who cultivate prayer, study, and a sacramental lifestyle must also become active apostles wherever they find themselves; at home, on the job, in the marketplace, but especially with family and friends ... to show non-Catholics the Catholic Faith for what it truly is: Bible-based and Christ-centered.

... many of these non-Catholics put us to shame. With Bible in hand, plus lots of zeal, they do far more with less than many Catholics who have the fullness of Faith in the Church but who are famished and fast asleep ...

To acknowledge the greatness of the Church - her divine authority and infallible witness - is nothing less than magnifying the redemptive work of Christ. Conversely, to reject the authority and to spurn the witness of the Church - even when done with a misguided zeal for Christ's exclusive honor - is to defy Him and the fullness of His grace and truth ...

It is true, Jesus Christ wants to have a personal relationship with each of us as our Savior and Lord. But Jesus wants much more than that; he wants us in covenant with Himself ... Jesus Christ wants us in the New Covenant that He established through His own flesh and blood, the same covenant He renews through the Holy Eucharist. When His sacrifice for us is renewed at the altar, we gather at the family table for the sacred meal that makes us one. He also wants us to live according to the family structure He established for His Church on earth: the Pope and all the bishops and priests united to Him.