+JMJ+ Did I ever tell you about the time I recited the Creed in a coffee shop? I was talking with a young man about religion and belief and I do not remember how we got on the subject. Probably he saw that I was wearing a Catholic T-shirt and reading a Catholic book. A lot of my conversations get started that way. Eventually he said to me, “I don’t know what I believe, do you?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Really? What do you believe?”

So I launched into the Apostles’ Creed.

I will not forget the look of surprise that covered his face as I began and his expression of surprise only increased as I went on. At the end he sat for a moment before saying, 

“Wow. You believe all of that?”

“I do. Or I wouldn’t have said it just now nor would I say it before every Rosary.”

And sat there a few moments more. I couldn’t help but laugh.

I’d been saying the Creed for so long and so many times that I guess I hadn’t thought about how it must seem to someone unfamiliar with it. I don’t think he thought I sounded like a robot, as some people think of it because we have memorized prayers or use someone else’s words. Maybe he was surprised that someone had memorized a prayer. Hey, buddy, I’m Catholic, I’ve memorized more prayers than just the Apostles’ Creed, ya know. But I guess he didn’t know. I guess Catholicism itself was a mystery to him (Ha! A mystery!), something alien to his experience. 

I wonder whatever happened to him. I haven’t had occasion to be out and about in any coffee shops for a while now, what with having my own home and then Covid and all. I’m not even sure I’d know him if I saw him, it was so many years ago. But I do wonder. I wonder if he ever looked into religion, into Christianity, into Catholicism. If he ever went further and found his way into the Church. Maybe. Maybe a seed was planted that day. I’ll pray for him right now. And that gives me an idea for another prayer intention for the Friday night Rosary thread on Twitter.

It pays to memorize your prayers.  You never know when you might need one. And don’t hide your religion. Maybe you can plant a seed in someone’s soul in a brief casual conversation in a coffee shop.

Thanks for visiting the blog and reading. May we grow in holiness and virtue this year, and, by His grace, plant some seeds and become the saints the Lord intends us to be. God bless you, and may His peace be always with you. +JMJ+  

Join me on Fridays for the Rosary Project Live on Twitter at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, to cultivate a culture of Light, Life, Love, Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, for the conversion of sinners, and for the salvation of souls. There’s also a Rosary on the blog you can use anytime.

“The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times.” — Padre Pio

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