HOW GOOD EXAMPLE HELPS.

New Zealand Tablet, 10 April 1919, Page 23

HOW GOOD EXAMPLE HELPS.

Something which all of us know perfectly well, but of which we need to be frequently reminded, is that a far greater obstacle, to the conversion of unbelievers than any number of anti-Catholic lectures and any amount of anti-Catholic literature is the bad example of members of ' the Church (says the Are Maria). A Catholic whose “daily walk and conversation” is at variance with the religion he professes is in reality an enemy to the Cross of Christ, as St. Paul calls all reprobates. Every intelligent Catholic must be aware that faith is a gift of God, not an acquisition; and therefore should be thoroughly persuaded that prayer, coupled with good example, is the most powerful means wo possess for the conversion of non-Catholics, —a means that we should never lack, and never fail to employ. There are innumerable books for the enlightenment and instruction of Protestants, but how few of them are ever read by those for whom they were chiefly intended ! How seldom non-Catholics ever enter one of our churches or hear a Catholic sermon ! They must be reached, if at all, through Catholic friends and associates. In spite of all the unbelief and irreligion and immorality that exist in the world, it is questionable if there was ever a time when a greater number of souls were hungering for religious truth, without a suspicion of where it is to be found. Prayer and good example would point the way, and win the grace to follow it, A recent convert to the Church, a modern type of woman, circumstanced like thousands of others, declares that in all probability she would never have become a Catholic, and never felt the inclination or the obligation to do so, had she not come under the influence of a practical Catholic girl, whom she observed without becoming acquainted with. Illustration is often as good as proof. Could anything more strikingly illustrate the very grave responsibility of giving good example or the effectiveness thereof ?