Do you know where the Church has been hiding in plain sight?
On this episode of "The Catholic Talk Show," Ryan Scheel, Ryan DellaCrosse, and Father Matt King uncover the world of hidden Catholics who preserve and practice the faith in the face of extreme persecution!
1) Secret Symbols and Rituals
Throughout history, Catholics had to be resourceful to stay safe while practicing the faith. Early Christians in Rome, for example, used the symbol of the fish to discreetly identify one another.
By simply drawing an arc in the sand, believers could confirm their shared faith.
Scheel explains:
"A Christian would come along and just be like, 'Oh yeah, what's going on?' And just with their foot, scratch a little arc in the ground…if the other person completed it and made a fish, you knew that they were a Christian."
2) Creative Ways for Celebrating Mass
In times of severe persecution, priests often had to resort to clever tactics to bring the sacraments to the faithful. Blessed Father Miguel Pro during the Cristero War in Mexico donned various disguises, like a mechanic or even a clown, to secretly celebrate Mass.
"He was doing all this so that he could secretly minister to Catholics," Scheel says.
3) Modern-Day Underground Worship
Even today, there are places where Catholics must worship in secret. In countries like Saudi Arabia, where religious practice outside of Islam is forbidden, over a million hidden Catholics continue to celebrate Mass in private homes. “There are houses identified and we determine who goes to what house… each mass is usually attended by 80 people,”
Scheel shares an interview with a Filipino man living in Saudi Arabia.
The guys say that the faith of persecuted Catholics from ancient times to modern-day countries will inspire your own!