Being a religious child with irreligious parents

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Os2Hugh

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Hello All,
Code:
                     Firstly, I ask for you to pray for me and my family. Prayer as I have learned is 1st and foremost any good catholics life, or for any Christian for that matter. I feel I am more the exception to the general rule when it comes to the catholic family demographic. I am a young male (20's) who has been blessed by both the catechumenate and Cursillo (De Colores) as much as I struggle with sin, faith is an important part of my life, and to be without it is inconceivable. Even though both my parents were baptized and brought up (confirmed) as catholics me and my sister were never baptized. They claimed to us when we were young, that the church didn't baptize children of parents who were married via a justice of the peace (which of course is not true; I found this out years later).

                                                                               Anyway me and my younger sister both went through the RCIA program, and received our sacraments (although my sister has not embraced the faith nearly as much as me). My mother grew up in a Irish-Polish American catholic family and was at a young age considering a vocation to the religious life. My father's parents were a protestant convert and a devout Irish catholic mother. My parents were children of the 1960's (ie they graduated high school then) and I have often wondered if them coming of age then had an effect on their negativity/apathy toward catholicism.

                                  In my fathers case (though he'd probably never admit it) his faith I think died with the loss of his mother to breat cancer at age 11 in 1959. She and her family were very devout and I think my father blames God or rather thinks "well if being devout and religious gets you this...well then I'm done with this". My late paternal grandfather dealing with the stress of being a single parent and with his alcoholic tendancies never enforced religious orthodoxy among my father or his younger sister. Sure they were confirmed, but it was not a religious household. 

                                                                                   My mother on the other hand would be a more receptive type, she doesn't reject religion as a whole, but she seems to reject a lot of her catholicism. In recent months she has befriended a woman (whom I knew socially and is a nice lady) who is a Jehovah's witness. So you can see my quandry as a family. My dad could care less about religion and God, my mother although searching is falling under the sway of JW's please pray for me and my family especially my parents.

        Any advice or particular saints to ask prayers from would be appreciated.
H
 
Hello All,
Code:
                     Firstly, I ask for you to pray for me and my family. Prayer as I have learned is 1st and foremost any good catholics life, or for any Christian for that matter. I feel I am more the exception to the general rule when it comes to the catholic family demographic. I am a young male (20's) who has been blessed by both the catechumenate and Cursillo (De Colores) as much as I struggle with sin, faith is an important part of my life, and to be without it is inconceivable. Even though both my parents were baptized and brought up (confirmed) as catholics me and my sister were never baptized. They claimed to us when we were young, that the church didn't baptize children of parents who were married via a justice of the peace (which of course is not true; I found this out years later).

                                                                               Anyway me and my younger sister both went through the RCIA program, and received our sacraments (although my sister has not embraced the faith nearly as much as me). My mother grew up in a Irish-Polish American catholic family and was at a young age considering a vocation to the religious life. My father's parents were a protestant convert and a devout Irish catholic mother. My parents were children of the 1960's (ie they graduated high school then) and I have often wondered if them coming of age then had an effect on their negativity/apathy toward catholicism.

                                  In my fathers case (though he'd probably never admit it) his faith I think died with the loss of his mother to breat cancer at age 11 in 1959. She and her family were very devout and I think my father blames God or rather thinks "well if being devout and religious gets you this...well then I'm done with this". My late paternal grandfather dealing with the stress of being a single parent and with his alcoholic tendancies never enforced religious orthodoxy among my father or his younger sister. Sure they were confirmed, but it was not a religious household. 

                                                                                   My mother on the other hand would be a more receptive type, she doesn't reject religion as a whole, but she seems to reject a lot of her catholicism. In recent months she has befriended a woman (whom I knew socially and is a nice lady) who is a Jehovah's witness. So you can see my quandry as a family. My dad could care less about religion and God, my mother although searching is falling under the sway of JW's please pray for me and my family especially my parents.

        Any advice or particular saints to ask prayers from would be appreciated.
H
Your life, your choice. You cannot dictate or even suggest what your family members are and do. You are as we all are accountable to God for our own actions… lovely summing up of that in Nehemiah,

Time to keep your eyes on your own page where faith is concerned and love your family they are

Living that love is the best witness there is. Quandary?no…
 
Thanks.
Code:
     It just makes me sad thats all. Not to mention they seem almost to pity me for my way of trying to live.

            Will continue to ask for Gods blessings and hopefully conversion of family.
H
 
Praying for your family.
I pray for all my family every day by name, and ask that God give them a hunger and thirst for Him. I’m sure he hears.

.
 
Praying. When they see how happy you are, they may want to convert. You may also have a
Mass said for “A Special Intention”.
 
Thanks.
Code:
   **  It just makes me sad thats all. Not to mention they seem almost to pity me for my way of trying to live.**

            Will continue to ask for Gods blessings and hopefully conversion of family.
H
“They seem” does not mean they do. They just do not understand and that is their way of coping with that.

Time will avail, believe me and it is you who matter in this situation

Blessings and peace and JOY! Never let anyone steal your joy
 
Os2uHugh,

Keep praying for them, and ask the Holy Spirit and our Blessed Mother to make it possible to have a fruitful conversation with family members, one on one is best. 🙂

The Holy Spirit can surprise us with wonderful opportunities!
 
I think it is great you want to bring your parents into faith. Just remember conversion of souls is a difficult task but keep yourself firm and do not be discouraged.

Some suggestions below:
  1. Prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
  2. Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet on Friday 3pm (or any other time) and offering it up for your parents.
  3. Fasting and other sacrifices. Conversion normally takes a lot of prayer and sacrifice.
  4. Marian Pilgrimage. If you can get your parents or at least your mum to go that would be great. Even if you go alone it can be very beneficial. Lourdes is the most recommended place for conversion but if this is too far to travel I am sure there will be places closer to home.
  5. Inviting them to go to mass with you. (Its most likely you have tried this one already)
  6. Prayers to St. Augustine and St. Monica.
 
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