Don't know how to pray about this

[Teelynn]

I have an indirect relative that passed away this past year. This person was brought up Catholic. (I mean fairly staunch Catholic, Catholic School, Mass every Sunday and Holy Day and during Lent with very faithful Catholic parents) This person for a reason I don’t know (nor does the family have a handle on it) fell away from the Church and even traditional Christianity. He was a very good guy, but none the less had no traditional religion. He almost had an aversion to anything Christian and maybe especially Catholic. This person’s very close relative that still survives is sick about this. They have prayed the rosary daily for years for the conversion of their relative but to no avail. They can’t understand why God would say no to a conversion of heart for their relative, especially after many years of constant prayer. And now they are worried about his soul. Anyone have any spiritual words of wisdom that I might comfort or help this relative with?

Blessings,
Tee

 

[DrewC]

Im not too sure on how to adress this but I’ll give it a try. First of all maybe he remained a Christian in his heart. And maybe he repented of his sins when he was on his deathbed. Just keep praying for his soul and saying rosarys for him. Peace be with you and your family durring your time of grief. God bless and love you.

 

[puzzleannie]

In the first place, no one knows what went on in this man’s heart, so no one knows what God did or tried to do for him, and no one knows how he responded to God’s constant promptings of love. In the second place, no one knows why he left the Church, which almost inevitable involves some kind of pain, usually as the result of human failings and injuries, deliberate or unintentional, by humans to other humans. The family is well advised to continue as they have, praying constantly for the welfare of his soul. God, remember, is in eternity, not in time, so prayers offered long after death avail the soul at the moment of death and judgement.

 

[Teelynn]

Thank you all for the replies. I have reminded this family that God is the ONLY one that knew his heart. And I will encourage them to keep praying daily. Some of his relatives are Catholic and some are Protestant but they are all in agreement that Christ is the only way to salvation. This is what worries them so much. But I think I will remind them that PRAYER IS VERY POWERFUL, INDEED. A good thing to remember and remind them is that God is infinite and His time is not our time, so KEEP ON PRAYING.:yup:

Thanks again,
Tee

 

[4loveofJesus]

May God’s peace, love, mercy be with you all!

God does not waste any prayer. We have to remember that God answers our prayers in His time not on our own time. Some of our prayers may be answered in our lifetimes and some of them not in our lifetimes according to His most Holy Will for His greater honor and glory.

Our prayer are like little drops of water dripping one drop at a time in the container and God decides according to His most Perfect Wisdom when to pour it on that person we are praying for.

I have learned to let Our Good Lord Jesus and Our Blessed Mother take over the situation so when I say the rosary, I start with saying: With this most holy rosary we bind the whole humanity, poor souls in purgatory, the dying and the unborn 'till the end of times especially our daily offerings, petitions supplications and special intentions. I know they will take care care of everything

So, just keep the faith, draw closer to Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother through the sacraments (holy communion and confession) and trust that God’s will be done even though at times things may appear to get worse. Persevere and never give up. Someday when we come home to God, it will all make sense. God bless!

Blessed be Jesus and Mary!