Pope Benedict's Year of Faith couldn't come at a better time. Maybe it will give us the encouragement we need not to blink in the face of bigotry and further assaults on both free conscience and the free exercise of religion. Maybe the Holy Father's call to focus on the faith that makes us who we are, will make us not only more faith filled, but more faithful to that identity.

God loves every person. He has a plan for each one of us and for the world he created. That plan, however, is rarely furthered by a shrinking violet philosophy of living. We don't need to go looking for a fight where there is no conflict. But when conflict comes to us, we should count it a privilege to suffer for the One who saves us. We should not stand down.

When we are actively following Jesus, we won't be content to be pushed into the margins of society. What good can we do there? Instead, we'll be bold enough to go where the souls are: the center line of the road busy with oncoming traffic from every direction. We won't chicken out.

And when we see others committed to the Christian values and the Christ who taught them being persecuted because of it, we should stand in solidarity with them. There are two Chick-Fil-A's within driving distance of where we live. You bet our family will be at one of them this week.

Jaymie Stuart Wolfe is a wife and mother of eight children, and a disciple of the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales. She is an inspirational author, speaker, musician and serves as an Associate Children's Editor at Pauline Books and Media.