# The Three Toughest Words to Ask a New Acquaintance
*2017-04-19*

> Bill Young reflects on the challenge of asking someone, “Are you Catholic?” when meeting them for the first time, sharing personal stories and a prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.

## Why Those Three Words Matter

I was thinking about what the three toughest words to ask someone you just met might be. After a lot of prayer, I realized it’s simply: “Are you Catholic?”  It feels awkward because we fear the answer, but it can open the door to sharing our faith and inviting others to encounter Christ.

## A Real‑Life Encounter

Yesterday I went to my bank during lunch to open an IRA for the 2016 tax year. While there I ran into a former coworker, Matt, who now manages another branch. He mentioned that he had seen me at St. David’s Catholic Church. I used that as my opening and asked the lady I was speaking with, “Are you Catholic?” She answered yes and told me she was trying to return to the Church. I gave her a card with a Divine Mercy image and invited her to come to St. David’s.

## Sharing the Faith in Everyday Moments

Later I met a wheelchair‑bound woman from St. Louis who also carried a rosary. I asked her the same question, and she responded positively. These small encounters remind me that asking about faith can lead to meaningful connections, even in ordinary settings like a bank or a lunch break.

## Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

I close this episode with the “Praise of God Most High,” a prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi:

You are holy, Lord God, who does wonderful things. You are strong, great, the Almighty King, the Holy Father, King of heaven and earth. You are goodness, the greatest good, the living and true Lord. You are love, charity, wisdom, humility, patience, beauty, security, peace, joy, hope, justice, temperance, richness, meekness, protector, guardian, defender, strength, refuge, faith, clarity, sweetness, and our eternal life. Great and veritable Lord, Almighty God, merciful Savior, we pray in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

## A Call to Courage

The next time you meet a stranger, consider asking, “Are you Catholic?” It may be uncomfortable, but it can be the first step toward sharing the love of Christ and inviting someone to explore the faith.

*As Catholics, we are called to ask the simple, courageous question, “Are you Catholic?” and be ready to share the hope we have in Christ.*