Can I pray for someone to convert?

[Eil]

I’m young, but I love a boy who is Buddhist and I am Catholic. Would it be kind of selfish for me to pray for his conversion? I’m not saying I’m going to marry him, and I think he is happy being Buddhist but I still wish he would convert. He knows all about Catholicism, so there is a possibility, but he was raised in a Buddhist family. But I know if I ever wanted to be with him my family would want him to be Catholic- and me too as well. I respect his religion…so if I pray everyday for his conversion, would this be the right thing to do?

 

[followingtheway]

Yes you can. It’s actually encouraged. Many Catholics do it.

 

[IrishRush]

Of course it is because you’re praying for him, not for selfish reasons. I pray for the conversion of people I know who aren’t Catholic all the time. And for those who are Catholic but seem to have forgotten.
Praying for him is a good thing to do, when you’re praying for good things and blessings for him. And in my opinion, praying for his conversion is praying for a good thing for him.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Yes, and ask St Monica to join you.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Yes, we should always pray for everyone, even those who are already Catholics, to convert. Conversion doesn’t stop after one gets baptized. We need to convert to true believers, in thought and in deed. Being sinners, most of us are Catholics in name only.