Public Witness...On A Late Night Show

Would anyone on the street know we are Catholic?  Amazingly, simple gestures and sacramentals (signs of devotion and commitment to faith)  powerfully evangelize, often in ways we may not expect, like with a simple scapular worn by a celebrity in subtle display on a recent late night comedy show.  

“Is that a scapular?”  My husband asked.  I had briefly wondered as well, but that my husband also noticed demonstrated the efficacy of sacramentals.  The bearer of the green scapular I later learned was a noted former wrestler, Aaron Haddad, and what was more astonishing was that he unabashedly bore it, without comment, on a very popular late night comedy show.   

I then searched the Internet because, candidly, I had not heard this name prior or seen him in another context.  

Aaron Steven Haddad, also known as Damien Sandow in the wrestling world, is a well known personality but,  at one time  only a “Sunday Catholic” according to one compelling background story.  However, in his travels he learned of Bishop Robert Barron and the work he and others associated with the Catholic media organization Word on Fire accomplish universally. That exposure turned on the fire of his soul.   When asked to give his testimony on the popular show, Aaron felt so deeply humbled, that, unlike other public appearances, he admitted to having butterflies in his stomach. 

By the way, Catholic Vote’s The Loop posted an article by Susan Berry Ph.D. in which Bishop Barron emphasized the need to share our faith in the public square.  See the site’s “Proclaim Christ in the Culture.” (wordonfire.org) 

Aaron has obviously heard the call and has become increasingly immersed in Catholicism, using his public status to confidently walk the walk in varied settings to further encourage the already catechized to more boldness but also reach the uniformed.  

I can imagine that some viewers, like ourselves, asked, “When was the last time I openly wore a scapular in public?” And why or why not?    Others—nominal or non Catholics may have turned to a spouse, friend or family member and asked, “What is that around Aaron Haddad’s neck?”  We know that conversion most often starts with a first question, and this  should not be lost on Catholics.

 
Most often though, we do not know the effect of our public display of faith, but that should not stop us from that practice or making inquiries to foremost demonstrate our allegiance to God; secondary effects are additional blessings.  It may begin gradually.

 
Many years ago, at the prompting of another Catholic, I began to say grace in public, as did my family.  A bit self conscience at first, practice turned to habit, We did not make a big deal of the outward sign of blessing and gratitude, nor did we seek any public notice.  Today, there is no setting at which I would not say public grace before a meal.  I notice with greater frequency others doing likewise.

The same is true about other visible signs of Faith, such as holding a Rosary while walking down a public sidewalk or hanging these precious beads from the car’s rearview mirror; wearing a crucifix—not just a cross—or medals around the neck.  In fact someone just recently asked me about my Miraculous Medal.  I have also started to leave our Church bulletins in the free bin at the local library.  

As a side observation, there are several sects that openly display literature by libraries, on public streets,  and nearby shopping malls, so we, too must courageously witness.  Speaking of which, by doing so, we are also acting with fortitude, a cardinal virtue, but also the other three:   prudence, temperance, and justice.

 
Overarching prudence is “right reason in action.  It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1806).  Prudence then would balance a confidence in our Faith without false ulterior motives.  Like  Aaron on the late night show, the scapular was displayed, but not “showy.”  Still wisdom should take us beyond ourselves.  We are to share the Good News and build up society.

 
The “common good” is the “sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.”   It calls for prudence from each which respects the person, the social well being and development of the group itself, and peace.  (CCC 1906).  Therefore public displays of our Faith should always be exercised with the “good” as the ultimate objective, not ourselves, in vanity or “superiority,” or coercively. 

We just need to stay focused on the spirit of justice, “a moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor.” (CCC 1807) We respect the rights of others which means we do not flaunt or impose our faith, but rather appropriately share it because we know this is the way to their eternal happiness.   To put it in a way anyone could understand, I  know that hurricane season is upon us.  Wearing a t-shirt with preparedness tips might help someone otherwise ignorant of the risks of this type of disaster.  Similarly, our signs of faith invite nonbelievers or skeptics to look closer for the right path to salvation.

 
However, as previously alluded to, courage prompts those steps which may be baby steps at first.  The cardinal virtue of fortitude “ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.” (CCC 1808).  By the way, we will likely meet with some scorn or anger, maybe even hatred, but praying for fortitude can help us face even social persecution.  I have been disappointed at times by my own hyper sensitivity to such criticism.  No one wants to be labeled a Catholic curmudgeon, but unfortunately today that can mean even the most basic displays of faith, even in Catholic settings!  Now, it would be easy to simply assert that we must be steadfast and indifferent to such resistance, but reality can derail us in a mega second.

 
Which brings up the subject of moderation.  We need not wear a 6-inch crucifix around our neck or dress in “Scriptural” clothing…all the time, everywhere.  In certain environments and situations, that may fit well, especially for clergy.  Still, temperance not only moderates the attraction of pleasures but also provides balance in the use of created goods.  Now, this virtue is most often applied to such extremes as physical appetites, but we should realize that wearing our faith on our sleeve, literally, may not attract the ignorant, but actually mystify or repel them.  This is not for the reason of rejecting truth, but bafflement about excessive presentation.  

 
Returning to Aaron, likely only Catholics would have recognized he was  wearing a sacramental.  Yet, in the absence of other jewelry or distracting clothing, the small cloth on a string gained more prominence than his other apparel.

 
A final note:  Visible signs of faith can steer even devout Catholics to more fully live the Faith.  For me, the scapular became the focal point during the show, even a prism through which the show’s presentations were perceived and evaluated.  Such should be the same for all societal interactions, particularly the media.  Like the placard below our 60” TV:  “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord,”  let those outward signs strengthen our inner convictions and, in turn set the world ablaze with what we know to be perfect Love and Truth.