Denver Catholic

9 DENVER CATHOLIC | SEPTEMBER 12-26, 2015 C atholics looking for new ways to evangelize might want to reconsider an old method used and sanctifi ed by God himself—story and lyric. This was the message of prolifi c Catholic writer Joseph Pearce, who visited Denver in September to deliver the fi rst talk of the 2015-16 Archbishop's Lecture Series. Over 300 people gathered in St. John Vianney Theological Seminary's refectory to hear the author's talk titled "Truth, Good- ness and Beauty: Avenues for the New Evangelization." Pearce, a native of England who directs Aquinas College's Center for Faith and Culture² in Nashville, Tenn., and is exec- utive director of Catholic Courses, told Denver Catholic that not everyone is ready for, or open to, a theological discussion. "If someone is not used to reading deep theology, a good way to start is with story," Pearce said. "Let's remember that story has been sanctioned and sanctifi ed by Jesus Christ. He basically tells two stories. He tells the most important story of his life— his life, death and resurrection. And within that story he tells other stories, in parables." He o¨ ered Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ as an example of evangelization through powerful storytelling. After seeing the fi lm, Pearce said he happened to tune into a Protestant talk radio station that was hosting a discussion of Gibson's movie. One commentator, he said, noted that he had never realized the importance of Mary in Christ's passion until he saw the fi lm. "And I was thinking," Pearce refl ected, "that Catholic apologists have been trying to point this out for 400 years without suc- cess, and Mel Gibson produces a work of art, which is e¨ ectively a moving icon of the Stations of the Cross … which shows the relationship between Jesus and his mother, and all of a sudden a light switches on. And I think that is a perfect example of how a work of beauty, a work of art, of creativity, is far more powerful in reaching people than plain theology." Stories that he recommends include The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Brideshead Revisted by Evelyn Waugh and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. He also suggested reading Walker Percy, who Pearce says addresses "the angst and anxiety of trying to live as a Christian in a post-modern world which has lost sight of goodness, truth and beauty." Pearce has written extensively on Chris- tian literary fi gures and lectured on the Catholic underpinnings of bestselling books such as²The Lord of the Rings²and²The Hobbit. Once an agnostic and political rebel, Pearce said the works of G.K. Chesterton led him down a path of conversion and eventual entry into the Church in 1989. And even though he lives in a "non-po- etic age," Pearce recommends reading poetry, which he says "serves the same purpose as prayer." "Poetry, like prayer, forces us to stop, and slow down," he said. "You can't read poetry at speed. In this day and age, when we are full of distractions, we need to fi nd space where we slow down and contemplate." He added that when reading the great poets—such as Gerard Manley Hopkins, George Herbert, John Donne, Richard Crashaw—"you are in union with the good- ness, truth and beauty of God, and you are doing it in slow motion. And the best way of being in union with the goodness, truth and beauty of God is in slow motion, because we are all moving too fast." Bringing Catholic Values to Financial Services *For more information, visit www.nufcu.com Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency NCUA Lower Your Auto Payment Purchase or Refinance $20,000 for as little as $264 * per month! Call: 303.424.5037 Click: www.nufcu.com or Come by one of our convenient locations today! Women) p.m.) p.m.) (Men) www.proximotravel.com Call us 24/7 508-340-9370 | 855-842-8001 Hablamos Español Carmela Manago anthony@proximotravel.com Executive Director We also offer other trips with prices starting at $2,499 ~ Prices are ALL-INCLUSIVE with Airfare from anywhere in the USA Several trips to different destinations: the Holy Land; Italy; France, Portugal, & Spain; Poland; Medjugorje, Lourdes, & Fatima; Ireland & Scotland; England; Austria, Germany, & Switzerland; Greece & Turkey; Viking Cruises; Caribbean Cruises; Budapest; Prague; Our Lady of Guadalupe; Colombia; Brazil; Argentina; Domestic Destinations; etc... Travel to France with Fr. Miguel & Fr. Gerardo; All are welcome! Saint Helena & Saint John the Baptist; August 1-12, 2016; $3,799 Christ used story to evangelize, so should you BY KARNA SWANSON 303-715-3230 karna.swanson@archden.org www.twitter.com/KarnaSwanson Joseph Pearce gives the fi rst talk of the 2015- 16 Archbishop's Lecture Series on Sept. 1. His talk was titled "Truth, Goodness and Beauty: Avenues for the New Evangelization." PHOTO BY ANDREW WRIGHT/DENVER CATHOLIC i LECTURE SERIES Nov. 3—Jonathan Reyes, executive director of the USCCB Depart- ment of Justice, Peace and Human Development Feb. 23 —Mother Agnes Donovan, S.V., the fi rst superior general of the Sisters of Life May 9—Scott Hahn, Catholic theo- logian, author and professor at the Franciscan University of Steubenville MORE ON BEAUTY Watch exclusive video at DenverCatholic.org

• Cover