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In the world we live in, it is difficult to live out our identity as Catholics. Living the Catholic life out as a teen, living it out in relationship, living it out in discerning a career or a vocation, and living it out in marriage is bound to cause questions.
Finding Answers to Difficult Topics
We have created FORMED and other resources to help strengthen the faith and life of Catholics worldwide. This collection of resources is structured to help you find the information and resources you seek, whether for a friend, a spouse, a child, a class you are teaching, a homily you are creating, or yourself!
See the resources and suggestions below for how to have these conversations and encounter these difficult topics.
Importance of Communication in a Spirit of Kindness
Finding the right information can be a challenge, but it's also wise to communicate any information in a spirit of kindness, understanding, and with a desire to help. St. Paul admonished the Christians in Ephesians 4:11-16 as a part of their own formation, and we encourage any and all discussions, teaching, or personal encouragement to reflect this approach.
He appointed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the full measure of Christ’s fullness. We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching, by the cunning and craftiness of men in deceitful schemes. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. From him the whole body, joined and knitted together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working effectively, grows and builds itself up in love.
- Ephesians 4:11-16
Balance Between Truth and Love
The Catholic Church is built upon Christ and his teachings, upon the Sacred Scriptures, upon the apostles and their successors, and so we have the ability to find out what the Catholic Church teaches about a particular issue or subject by way of these means. St. Paul urges our communication to be a balance of truth and love. We should never change the church's teachings to accommodate the desires of someone if they are mistaken or in sin; neither are we to create a discussion that is not reflecting a deep mutual respect for everyone, a desire to help, and an eagerness to listen carefully to every speaker.
Conclusion
We hope FORMED can be a resource of helpful ministry to you; the better prepared you are for these discussions, the better you can encounter and reflect the love of Christ to those who need your assistance. May God bless you in your ministries, families, and personal encounters.
If you'd like to dive deeper into how to use Formed more fruitfully within your ministry, schedule your 1:1 Coaching now!
Request for Additional Topics
If there is a topic you would like Augustine Institute to add to this section, please contact ParishCare and let us know, as we plan to continue to update and introduce new information to meet the needs of Catholics everywhere.
