Disowned for my faith

  • Thread starter Thread starter nicktca
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
N

nicktca

Guest
Hello all,
Awhile back, I was given exposure to the Catholic Church in a powerful way, and as a result I’ve decided to enter RCIA classes this fall. My father, a strong willed Protestant and Christian businessman took the news poorly, and proceeded to explain that I am “believing lies” and “dishonoring him” for converting, and that dishonor would lead to me “getting shot up in war” because I will be entering the military.

Anyway, not to get off track, yesterday I was explaining Christian doctrine to my younger brother who I learned is beginning to be insecure in his faith. I mentioned some personal beliefs that were Catholic. My father came in and told me I was to leave his house because I was “poisoning” my younger brother. It is a divorce situation and my mother thankfully is accepting of my faith. However, on my way out, my father explained that I was no longer his son and he was no longer my father, and he “released” me. I’m struggling with heartache I’ve never felt before. 😦 I don’t know what to do and all I ask for is a prayer for clarity and direction.
In him,
Nick
 
Nick that is tragic for you and for your mother and brother, and even for your dad.

Merciful Father, look upon your son Nick, rejected by his father for following Your divine Son according to His call, and in trying to support his brother’s’ faith in You.
Please put a true Christian spirit of unconditional love into Nick’s father’s mind and heart.

Be now the loving divine Father whom Nick so profoundly needs in his grief and exile from his family.
Carry him through this time with clarity and wisdom, and heal his shattered heart.
Jesus please hold Nick close in Your love.
 
Im praying for you and for your courage! But do not have fear. Im sure your father is a true Christian. Right now he is just confused and hurt. He naturally loves you but has much hatred toward the Catholic faith. That isnt necessarily his fault. He is not really angry with you and he really does love you and will realize that a Christian can disagree with something without disowning his son.

When you think he is in a mood to discuss it without anger, just let him know that your being called to look into the Catholic faith is not at all a rejection of him or ANYTHING he has taught you. It is in fact because of what he has taught you that you desire to know Christ even deeper and you think that this means understanding the teaching of the Catholic Church. Explain that you are seeking ONLY because you love Christ. While he may be fearful that Catholicism may be dangerous to your soul, assure him you appreciate his love and concern for you. However, you feel Catholicism may in fact enhance your relationship with Christ. Then you can begin to discuss why you think you want to become Catholic, and perhaps even discuss the issues he is concerned about. Im sure he thinks Catholics worship statues and Mary and the Pope and other misconceptions like that. So discuss it with him. His challenges will be a great way to explore what Catholicism really teaches.

But, you must only have these discussions when he is ready to discuss without anger and in sincere concern for you, and not when he is is still only responding to his biases and prejudices. And of course , dont try to bring it up if its something he expressly forbids. But, pray and be confident that God is with you in your quest for truth., that when He is in you and you are in Him, you have nothing to fear. The Holy Spirit will present the right opportunities to approach the subject and will open his heart when your father is in Christ. It will take lots of prayer, but with that prayer you should be in a place of calm , and peace without fear.

You are doing a courageous thing whether you become Catholic or not - you are seeking the truth of God in the face of real hostility from your own family. That is very painful. I admire you, and am praying for you.

Have no fear!

Yours in Christ!
 
I am in total agreement with the wisdom expressed by robertchacon in his post and hope so much that you will act upon his advice.
I respectfully join my prayers to his.
God bless you and your family at this stressful time.
 
Ave Maria
Gratia Plena
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesu

Sancta Maria
Mater Dei
Ora pro nobis pecatoribus nunc
En in hora mortis nostrae

Amen

Jesus, Mary and Joseph…pray for us

Saint Jason pray for us
 
robertkchacon said:
Im praying for you and for your courage! But do not have fear. Im sure your father is a true Christian. Right now he is just confused and hurt. He naturally loves you but has much hatred toward the Catholic faith. That isnt necessarily his fault. He is not really angry with you and he really does love you and will realize that a Christian can disagree with something without disowning his son.

When you think he is in a mood to discuss it without anger, just let him know that your being called to look into the Catholic faith is not at all a rejection of him or ANYTHING he has taught you. It is in fact because of what he has taught you that you desire to know Christ even deeper and you think that this means understanding the teaching of the Catholic Church. Explain that you are seeking ONLY because you love Christ. While he may be fearful that Catholicism may be dangerous to your soul, assure him you appreciate his love and concern for you. However, you feel Catholicism may in fact enhance your relationship with Christ. Then you can begin to discuss why you think you want to become Catholic, and perhaps even discuss the issues he is concerned about. Im sure he thinks Catholics worship statues and Mary and the Pope and other misconceptions like that. So discuss it with him. His challenges will be a great way to explore what Catholicism really teaches.

But, you must only have these discussions when he is ready to discuss without anger and in sincere concern for you, and not when he is is still only responding to his biases and prejudices. And of course , dont try to bring it up if its something he expressly forbids. But, pray and be confident that God is with you in your quest for truth., that when He is in you and you are in Him, you have nothing to fear. The Holy Spirit will present the right opportunities to approach the subject and will open his heart when your father is in Christ. It will take lots of prayer, but with that prayer you should be in a place of calm , and peace without fear.

You are doing a courageous thing whether you become Catholic or not - you are seeking the truth of God in the face of real hostility from your own family. That is very painful. I admire you, and am praying for you.

Have no fear!

Yours in Christ!
Click to expand...
A very wise post. It is a great sadness for both you and your father. Don’t become bitter against your father. Pray for him that in a more rational time he will come around. Remember that there is much ill-informed hatred for the Catholic faith in a lot of protestant groups. It is a virtuous bravery that you are showing, I hope this is reflected in your military service. I pray to Jesus that you will be safe in the services. Give him time. Give God time to reach him, another one of his sons.
 
Given the fact that the father reacted with such extreme ‘righteousness’ it is possible that he may not be open at any time. The hostility hasn’t just begun, it already existed.
Some Protestants can be completely closed and hostile to the Catholic Faith genuinely believing implacable ill of the Catholic faith. The father appears to be one such person… Who disowns their son for his sincere beliefs!

If the younger brother loses his Christian faith, due to the father’s attitude and rejection of his loved older brother, and given that the younger brother’s faith-doubts already exist, it is possible the father will hold Nick to blame if the boy now or later rejects the Christian faith, with forgiveness of Nick even less possible. As what his father is doing isn’t Christian and not even representative of natural human love, yet his father claims to represent a true Christian, then why would the younger brother be inspired to remain a Christian? A closed-minded father would blame the other son for already putting ‘evil’ Catholic ideas in his head.
**
We need to pray about this possibility also.**

I ask You Lord to help Nick through this sorrow and loss in his life whether it be temporary or permanent.
However, out of Your great mercy, please keep the younger brother firm in Christian faith, and teach the father true Christian charity and humility, Teach him to have respect for beliefs not his own, and unconditional love for both sons.

Father God, please protect and bless Nick and his brother, and ensure that the brothers are a blessing to each other throughout their lives.
Grant that through Your mercy, that united with Your divine’s Son’s Sacrifice and redemption, that Nick’s sacrifice and prayer will bring salvation to his family.

Father please guide and support Nick in finding comfortable and safe accommodation, and a hopeful future. Angels of God keep watch over him and his family.
 
Matthew Chapter 5

*11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. *

Blessed are you indeed, Nick, for standing up for your faith. Be strong and, in the end, things will come out.

God bless you!

:signofcross:
 
Very sorry to hear that. I hope and pray that after a little time, his temper will have cooled and he will realize his mistake.
 
This breaks my heart to hear this. My stepfather has twice kicked me out of his house - the last time was more than 10 years ago and we’ve since mended. I vividly remember the heartache, it was like no other pain I’ve felt other than the time a good friend killed herself.

Your father is dealing with a lot of things and I think much of it is coming down on you. To his credit, if you broke a rule (you will practice my faith if you live here, or perhaps don’t evangelize your brother), it is his right to punish you. I think disowning is excessive - it’s not like you embraced Islam and rejected Christ - and it puts him in a tight spiritual spot as well.

If you lived nearby I’d send you my St. Christopher for protection. It got two soldiers through two messy wars.
 
You are a brave man, Nick. How awful for you to hear those things from your dad - we all pray that he sees how mistaken he is to have said this to you.

I’m glad to read that your mum is supportive of you. May God protect you and give you strength to deal with the challenges you face right now.
 
nicktca said:
Hello all,
Awhile back, I was given exposure to the Catholic Church in a powerful way, and as a result I’ve decided to enter RCIA classes this fall. My father, a strong willed Protestant and Christian businessman took the news poorly, and proceeded to explain that I am “believing lies” and “dishonoring him” for converting, and that dishonor would lead to me “getting shot up in war” because I will be entering the military.

Anyway, not to get off track, yesterday I was explaining Christian doctrine to my younger brother who I learned is beginning to be insecure in his faith. I mentioned some personal beliefs that were Catholic. My father came in and told me I was to leave his house because I was “poisoning” my younger brother. It is a divorce situation and my mother thankfully is accepting of my faith. However, on my way out, my father explained that I was no longer his son and he was no longer my father, and he “released” me. I’m struggling with heartache I’ve never felt before. 😦 I don’t know what to do and all I ask for is a prayer for clarity and direction.
In him,
Nick
Click to expand...
Praying to the Holy Spirit to give you guidance, direction, strength & fortitude in your time of need.
 
Our Father, Who Art in Heaven,Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom, Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen :gopray:
 
Oh I am so sorry. Praying. My daughter and her dad are Catholic. Her brother and sister and me are protestant. We all get along good and respect each others walk in their faith. I am so sorry.:(…Catholic church is wonderful…stay with her and in faith.Your dad should be so proud you want a devout life in Christ…God bless you ! Listen to the voice of the Lord within your heart ! ❤️
 
I am so very sorry that you have experienced this horrible rejection by your father. It must be very hard…you will be in my prayers as will he and your brother. You are, however finding out that being a disciple of the Lord is not always a “bed of roses”. Persecution, even from those in our own families is hard but happens. Your dad just doesn’t understand the Catholic faith and has believed lies about the Church and in desperation of wanting to be in “control” over reacted. With a life of love toward him regardless of what he does or says to you continue to LOVE and stand strong in your faith. Then please PRAY and sacrafice things for the sake of your father. This is powerful! Last of all, be consistent in love and grow in your faith and this includes patience. God is giving you an opportunity to grow up fast in faith and must know you are ready. He never gives us more than we can handle although sometimes we think He does! I will pray for you.

My love in Christ,
mlz
 
Lord please give Nick strength in this heartbreaking time. Show him how to deal with the confusion and betrayal that he feels.
Please put Your Spirit into the hearts and minds of father, mother, and the two brothers.
 
Praying for you …

Lord,
watch over us by day and by night.
In the midst of life’s countless changes
strengthen us with your never-changing love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†
 
Prayers! 😦 keep your head up. God said the faith would cause divisions among family. Good will help you in your struggle!
Amen
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top