Need for proselytism: compelle intrare!

Proselytism is the best expression of charity toward souls. I have always told you, that each one of us, after entrusting things to Our Lord, ought to bring at least two vocations each year. In this we carry out that divine command, compelle intrare (Luke 14:23), compel them to come in, which is an invitation, a way of helping them make up their minds, but never coercion, not even in the slightest way.

Since respect for the personal freedom of everyone is a central characteristic of our spirit, the compelle intrare, which needs to form part of your proselytism, is not like a physical push, but rather an abundance of light and doctrine. It consists of the spiritual stimulus of your prayer and work, which bears witness to the truth of the doctrine you teach. It also includes the numerous sacrifices which you offer up and the smile that comes to your lips because you are God’s children – because of your divine filiation, which fills you with peace and happiness that others see and envy, even though at times there are difficulties in your life. Add to all this your human likeableness and your elegant charm, and there we have the content of the compelle intrare.

Don’t be surprised – even though we ourselves are not religious nor do we observe common life – that St Augustine would speak like this: “I came to this city to see a friend whom I was hoping to win for God, with the objective of getting him to become a monk in our monastery.”⁶