What will it take to re-evangelize the West? Fr. Dwight Longenecker offers an idea:
Those who follow this watered down, vague and spindly belief system (I can’t even call it a religion) therefore seem immune to real Christianity because they feel they don’t need it. It is as if they have been inoculated against Catholicism by having a tiny dose of the real thing. They are consequently impervious to the Truth.
H0w can we evangelize such a people? I believe the only way is through radical discipleship. The world needs to see today, what the pagan world saw in the early Christians. They need to see radiant, courageous, joyful and uncompromising Catholics. They need to see and hear such Catholics who will stand up and fight for the truth with the zeal and good humor of the martyrs.
Of course, this is nothing new. The early martyrs lived this faith. St. Francis lived this faith. St. Dominic lived this faith. St. Maximilian Kolbe, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Pope St. John Paul II — all lived this faith.
“Do not be afraid to live the Gospel.” It’s a powerful message.