Living a Catholic life in this modern world is not easy, especially on a college campus. Walking onto campus last fall was incredibly intimidating merely because I did not know how I could live my faith on campus. What I was shocked to find out is that to those I told I was Catholic were mainly intrigued and wanted to ask me questions.
Just this past semester I took a big leap of faith and wrote a paper on the Pro-Life movement for my english class. As my peers read my essay and commented on different revisions to make, they also would ask questions about the movement. On Ash Wednesday, my ashes worked as conversation starters between myself and my peers. I had people who I did not know coming up to me asking questions in the student center.
"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps." - 1 Peter 2:21
Every corner I turned this past year I felt like God was reminding me that I must, to the best of my abilities, live by example. The best thing I can do at this point in my life is to live my faith. Wearing ashes on campus, and writing about my pro-life beliefs are two small ways I can live my faith on campus. I feel like this is part of my role as a modern Catholic, to live my faith in my day to day life. My hope is that somewhere along the way others will see the example set by modern Catholics, ask questions, and maybe follow. There is a stigma about the Church right now that our beliefs are outdated, and unrealistic in this modern world. We are called as modern Catholics to live out our faith and show that it is possible to live this way (Hint at a upcoming book review).
How can you live by example?
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