London archbishop asks Catholics to make faith more visible

(Sept.28,2010) After Pope Benedict XVI’s much appreciated September 16 - 19 State visit to Great Britain, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminister, London, has asked Catholics to make their faith more visible in daily life. Catholics should offer to pray for people, bless themselves openly with the sign of the cross, or make such remarks to people as "God bless you," said Archbishop Nichols.
In a pastoral letter read out in 214 parishes at Masses last Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 25 and Sept 26), Archbishop Nichols suggested that one first step would be to tell others that we will pray for them, especially to those in distress. "Prayer is the first fruit of faith in the Lord, and we grow so much by giving prayer its place in our homes, and in our hearts," Archbishop Nichols said. "Making faith visible is so much a part of the invitation the Holy Father has extended to us all," he added. The prelate said Catholics should see such public witness, as a response to Pope Benedict's wish, expressed during the September 16-19 visit, that they become "ever more conscious of their dignity as a priestly people, called to consecrate the world to God through lives of faith and holiness. The Holy Father has given us new heart for our mission," Archbishop Nichols added.