The Catholic Church’s liturgical seasons fall more or less the same time every year.  Advent in December, and Christmas the last week of December through the middle of January.  Lent usually starts in late February and runs into April.  The 50 days of Easter takes us into late May or early June.  Then, we also have months with special devotions:  May to the Blessed Virgin Mary, October to the Rosary, and November to the Saints and the souls in purgatory.

In the U.S., every month is also set aside to promote awareness to various other worthy causes, e.g.,  Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January, and Suicide Prevention Month in September.  Some months celebrate less serious interests such as National Ice Cream Month in July, and Zombie Awareness month in May.

The month of May is also devoted to Mental Health Awareness.  Yesterday, as in each Sunday Mass this month, one of the petitions mentioned was for all those suffering from mental health issues.  Certainly, this is something we should all pray for.  Our collective prayers are a type of spiritual social outreach.  But it occurred to me there is a petition that I’ve never heard mentioned at my parish church or any other church I’ve ever been to in all my travels – a petition for the faithful to evangelize.

Evangelization is the central mission of the Church.  The proclamation of the Gospel – the saving message of who Jesus is and what He has done for us – is a responsibility we all have by virtue of our baptism and confirmation.  Unfortunately, there are so few who actually take that responsibility seriously.  If we believe our prayers will be heard for those with mental health issues, or for any special interest, then shouldn’t we believe that our prayers for the faithful to muster up the courage to evangelize will be efficacious, as well?  A simple petition such as, “For all the faithful, that they evangelize by proclaiming the Gospel, let us pray…” will at least remind everyone of their role.  Or, we can get bold, and amp it up a notch with, “For each and every baptized Catholic to honor their responsibility by evangelizing at least one person this month and bring them to Jesus, or deeper in their relationship with Him, let us pray…”

If we want to follow and obey our Lord, we have to spread the Good News.  Every month of the year should be Catholic Evangelization Month!  It is that important, not only for the salvation of the souls of those being evangelized, but our own, as well.

“Good and gracious Lord, thank You for loving me.  Please help me and each and every one of the baptized faithful bring others to know Your amazing love, also.  Help us to realize the grace of Fortitude that was bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit at our Confirmations so that we may be effective evangelizers.  Amen.”

(What Month Is It, Anyway?was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

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