In this time of social distancing and self- quarantine, all Christians are suffering from the inablity to "go out to all nations" (cf. Matt 28:19) in order to evangelize... But maybe this suffering can help us all be a little more creative in evangelizing online! For our part, we here at the Poor Friars are trying to make the best of the situation by posting some meditations and experiences on this "Apostolic Thumb" blog, even recalling some of our members' past experiences.

Today, Friar Nathaniel shares with us an experience of evangelization that he had back in May of 2019 as he hitchhiked, on his own, from Southern Louisiana USA all the way to Mexico City.

May, 2019
Personal Reflection of Friar Nathaniel
The joy of seeing someone decide to come back
to Holy Confession
 
From April 23 to April 29, I traveled by foot and hitchhiking from Houma (LA) to Mexico City according to Jesus’ instructions and our community’s charism: “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic” (Luke 9:3 NABRE)[1].
I met many different people who helped me along this journey, but what they had all in common was the altruism that they concretely showed through helping me. In their genuine generosity I experienced the infinite providence of God who never forsakes those who seek Him (cf. Psalm 9:11).
 
One of the encounters that struck me most happened along the way to the Mexican city Santiago de Querétaro. There, a man gave me a ride, where we began to speak about languages, given that he works in an Italian company found also in Mexico. He therefore had learned some Italian words, so we shared different words in Italian, in English and in French, but the dialogue was mainly in Spanish. He was a man who liked to joke, so we took the time to laugh for a while.
Afterward, he explained to me that his wife, whom he had married in the Catholic Church, after many years, left him to live with another man. He also said that she does not help him take care of their son who was about 20 years old. Consequently, he was raising his son alone, but was not complaining and seemed to accept this suffering with a certain serenity. He told me that he was not in any other relationship.
Subsequently, I began to share Church teaching with him about the meaning of suffering. I explained that such sufferings could only be fully understood by looking toward the destination where Christ wants to lead us through his Passion, death and Resurrection, and that is, toward our own personal and definitive Resurrection[2]. I then explained that with this event of Resurrection every suffering will end and all our most authentic and profound desires will be fully satisfied[3]. I also added that Christ gave us some necessary means in order to reach this aim, and among these, in particular, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I demonstrated the necessity of this specific Sacrament through several arguments that I had learned during my formation and acquired through my own personal experience.  
At the center of this reflection were the following phrases of Jesus addressed to his apostles: “‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you’. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained’” (John 20:21-23).
I also spoke about the importance of a “certain frequency” of Confession by relying on Saint Augustine when he says, “Many venial sins make for a great sin: many drops fill the river; many pebbles make the mound. Therefore, what hope do we have? Before all, Holy Confession”[4].
I tried to help him trust in the practice of confessing his sins to a priest and explained that the seal of Confession is absolutely inviolable - that according to Church law, a priest is never permitted to reveal any one’s sin, at any time, nor under any circumstance whatsoever[5].
Finally, remembering a reflection that I heard from our founder, I said (more or less) these words, “I believe, that in seeing your good heart through this good deed, God wants to reward you by helping you find the way to the fullness of peace and the way to ‘benefit fully from the means of salvation’[6]”.
 
After this, he, with a certain light and joy in his eyes, told me that he would like to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He noted that, some time earlier, God had already given him some signs to return to confession, though (as he said), he had been “a little disobedient”. “Today,” he added, “God sent me another sign through you to return to this Sacrament!” 
Hearing this, I told him (as we say in our community in similar situations) that if he confesses his sins with a Catholic priest, there will be a great feast in Heaven, just as Jesus says: “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance” (Luke 15:7).
I was struck by the simplicity and humility with which this man recognized the truth. It seemed to me that he was sincere and I rejoiced, believing that he will most probably return to Confession.
I felt that the Lord was including me in a His “bigger picture”, as the Author of this encounter with which He wanted to lead this man back to the Sacrament. Though I participated only in one step of this long and profound process, like a “miner who finds a precious stone” or a “fisherman making a great catch”, I received a great joy from the Lord. Indeed, even if this kind of situation has happened to me several times, it is always a great joy to witness a soul deciding to step forward along his spiritual course. I believe that, in such a way, the Lord also enjoys sharing with us a little of His own joy in seeing souls return to Him.


Above: A family who hosted Friar Nathaniel during his pilgrimage.