A case of martyrdom?

[BJswife]

Earlier this year when my mother was in hospital the hospital’s Catholic chaplain visited us in the room. My brother who left the Church many years ago an dis a Lutheran is furious that I introduced him as a Lutheran (everyone else was Catholic). Because I know how he feels about the Church and his opther feelings in the area of religion, I didn’t want him to receive Communion (if he tried to, and he might well have) because I think it is a sacrilege for a non-Catholic to receive Catholic Communion? Noew amongst all the other things I am being reviled for by him he keeps bringing up that incident, making me more sure than ever that I was right in preventing him possibly receiving Communion. Is what I am going through concerning this a type of martyrdom. I am not seeking earthly praise for it, but I feel I was defending my faith in this way. Of course I’ve not been allowed to explain; I just get cursed at and raged at.

 

[Luke65]

You were definitely right to try to prevent him from receiving Holy Communion. He would at least need to go to Confession before receiving Communion, and a priest can tell him if anything else is required. You should point him to these passages and maybe he will thank you! (of course, then you’ll lose your martyr status )

1 Corinthians 11
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. (NIV)

“Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. (John 6:64)

As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. (John 13:27)

Maybe the second part is overkill…

 

[latinmasslover]

Would he have preferred you to introduce him as “the apostate?” Seriously, you were in the right. He left the Church and cannot receive Holy Communion until he reconciles with her, and that means returning to the Church and living as a Catholic. He doesn’t like it because (probably) deep down he knows that leaving the Church is wrong and for you to not give the OK only reminds him of this fact. Keep praying for his return.

 

[BJswife]

Bro won’t have anything to do with Catholicism, hates the Church. I have tried to point him to appropriate Scripture passages on various issues and his wife has backed me up on that, but I odn’t anymore because I don’t like to be sworn at. I have, among other things, OCD and one of my manifestations is repetitive thoughts and/or music, and so I’m fighting to keep that garbage out of my head. Almost impossible sometimes. Very upsetting when it happens. Bro thinks all religions are the same. You know the kind. And you can’t talk to him about anything; you end up getting ridiculed or belittled or given a lecture, because, don’t you know, he’s an authority on everything and no one else’s opinions or ideas matter.And all the lies are most tiresome. He most likely is schizoid with paranoia.

 

[Luke65]

Bro won’t have anything to do with Catholicism, hates the Church. I have tried to point him to appropriate Scripture passages on various issues and his wife has backed me up on that, but I odn’t anymore because I don’t like to be sworn at. I have, among other things, OCD and one of my manifestations is repetitive thoughts and/or music, and so I’m fighting to keep that garbage out of my head. Almost impossible sometimes. Very upsetting when it happens. Bro thinks all religions are the same. You know the kind. And you can’t talk to him about anything; you end up getting ridiculed or belittled or given a lecture, because, don’t you know, he’s an authority on everything and no one else’s opinions or ideas matter.And all the lies are most tiresome. He most likely is schizoid with paranoia.

Okay, then all you can do is pray for him, and try to avoid confrontation that might harden him. And of course, offer it up! We’ll be praying for you too.

 

[otjm]

You seem top be going at this all wrong. To begin with, you are leting him get your goat; when he says something you rise to the bait and get upset. That is letting him dictate your mental an emotional status.

If he brings it up, just smile sweetly, look at him and say “Why do you have a problem with this? Are you telling me you are now coming back to the Catholic Church? If not, then why is it an issue; you seem to hate the Church; then why would you want to receive Communion, particularly when that reception is a sign that you accept the Church and all it teaches? If you don’t accept it, then don’t receive. If you do accept it, then great, I hope to see you in Mass Sunday. And let’s be clear; you have brought this up repeatedly; until you want to answer these questions, this conversation is over.” Then walk away.

Quit letting him control how you feel. Martyr? No. But you could handle it much differently.