Help! I'm not ready for this!

[LuckyLexi]

I am in RCIA. I have recently decided to join the Catholic Church.

My mother is the strongest Christian woman I know. She is Baptist, and raised me that way. She took us to countless Bible study’s, church all the time, and has been a shining example of what a Christian should be.

Now, I have not talked with her about joining the Catholic Church. She is sick, she has (bulber onset) ALS. She cannot speak and she is more emotional because of it. She communicates with a handheld dry erase board. I am not ready to talk with her about it. I don’t have answers yet, not that I can articulate well. I know God has placed it on my heart, but I cannot quite share that yet with her. I can with my husband, he is much more open (he is Baptist too, but not as “educated”),

Anyway, I am walking out the door to Mass and RCIA tonight. I saw her today and she asked what I had to do tonight. I told her I had a class. She asked what class, I said a church class. She said what church, I said one downtown by where I work. She asked if it was Baptist, and I said no. She asked what then, and I said Catholic. She then said “But they don’t believe Jesus’ death was enough to save us!” and I told her I didn’t have time to talk with her about it, but that I would talk with her about that later. I was already planning to go her house tomorrow.

Now, I know God will help me have the right things to say, but I am scared to death. I do not know what to say to her. Please pray for me and post anything that you think might help! Thank you so much!

 

[Booter]

First of All Welcome Home! I would correct your mother and simply say that Catholics do believe we are saved through Jesus’ Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. The only way we can “lose our salvation” is through unrepented Mortal Sin. So in essence we are “Once saved, always saved” unless we willingly choose to reject and turn our backs on God through mortal sin. I realize protestants in genral don’t really differentiate between venial and mortal sins but that’s the Truth. I’m a Cradle Catholic though so you may get better advice from converts on here. Your in my Prayers

 

[Orleans_Attny]

I am in RCIA. I have recently decided to join the Catholic Church.

My mother is the strongest Christian woman I know. She is Baptist, and raised me that way. She took us to countless Bible study’s, church all the time, and has been a shining example of what a Christian should be.

Now, I have not talked with her about joining the Catholic Church. She is sick, she has (bulber onset) ALS. She cannot speak and she is more emotional because of it. She communicates with a handheld dry erase board. I am not ready to talk with her about it. I don’t have answers yet, not that I can articulate well. I know God has placed it on my heart, but I cannot quite share that yet with her. I can with my husband, he is much more open (he is Baptist too, but not as “educated”),

Anyway, I am walking out the door to Mass and RCIA tonight. I saw her today and she asked what I had to do tonight. I told her I had a class. She asked what class, I said a church class. She said what church, I said one downtown by where I work. She asked if it was Baptist, and I said no. She asked what then, and I said Catholic. She then said “But they don’t believe Jesus’ death was enough to save us!” and I told her I didn’t have time to talk with her about it, but that I would talk with her about that later. I was already planning to go her house tomorrow.

Now, I know God will help me have the right things to say, but I am scared to death. I do not know what to say to her. Please pray for me and post anything that you think might help! Thank you so much!

You’ll be fine, and you’re making a wonderful decision. Though it’s natural, there’s no reason to be too worried.

More to the point, Catholics do believe that Jesus’ death was enough to save - his sacrafice as complete and perfect and timeless.

We just don’t think that our earthly obligation ends at merely believing in Jesus.

If your mother believes in Once Saved Always Saved, then you’re golden. Just tell her that you’re doing extra work and that you enjoy it.

Pax,
OA

 

[willofgods]

My suggestion would be to try to find a book that addresses the common misconceptions of the Catholic Church. Have your mother express her doubts, and you can use the book to ease her worries. (Others on the forum might be able to help you with exactly what book would hit the spot.)

You’ll see this quote plenty on CAF: Archbishop Fulton Sheen said

There are not more than 100 people in the world who truly hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they perceive to be the Catholic Church.

While I’m here I’ll say a prayer for your mother’s health; that God give her the strength when she needs it and that she know that her family will be there for her.

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.

 

[LuckyLexi]

Well, I talked to my mom a bit.

I started by asking her why she thought that, she said she didn’t really know just the only Catholic she knew said she had to work toward her salvation. Basically what I found out is that she doesn’t really know anything about Catholicism. I was honest with her, and told her that I felt that God was leading me this way. I also told her that when I go to Mass, I feel God’s presence in a way that I never felt in the years I was at a Baptist church. And the worship of Mass, the reverence, the beauty of it, is so much more than any Baptist church I’ve ever been to.

I also asked her why she was Baptist, if she knew why she was a Protestant, if she knew about the reasoning behind the reformation, what makes Protestants and Catholics different. She just shrugged and shook her head no. Of course, I never thought about it either until recently…

 

[Onedayatatime]

Well, I talked to my mom a bit.

I started by asking her why she thought that, she said she didn’t really know just the only Catholic she knew said she had to work toward her salvation. Basically what I found out is that she doesn’t really know anything about Catholicism. I was honest with her, and told her that I felt that God was leading me this way. I also told her that when I go to Mass, I feel God’s presence in a way that I never felt in the years I was at a Baptist church. And the worship of Mass, the reverence, the beauty of it, is so much more than any Baptist church I’ve ever been to.

I also asked her why she was Baptist, if she knew why she was a Protestant, if she knew about the reasoning behind the reformation, what makes Protestants and Catholics different. She just shrugged and shook her head no. Of course, I never thought about it either until recently…

EWTN, Scott Hahn and Catholics Come Home all have great resources on their web sites to help you explain why the Catholic Church is the bride of Christ.

 

[Catholic1954]

What a lucky Mom to have a daughter like you and what a lucky daughter to have a Mom like that! You are doing just fine. Just have quiet discussions with your Mom, answer her questions and listen to her answers and don’t be surprised if she asks to attend Mass with you sometime in the future. “Catholicism for Dummies” is an excellent book. It does a nice job explaining the faith, but you don’t have to already be Catholic to understand it. Welcome Home!