Help with a former Catholic

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Nelka

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There is a woman that I know who grew up a Roman Catholic but when her mother died of cancer in pain she fell away from God completely even though her mum died happy with God and as a Catholic.

She told me that after a few years she returned to God but in the form of Protestantism. She has been a protestant ever since.

She has no hatred for the Catholic church and said she likes the reverence but how do I help her to come back home?

She said the protestant church she goes to is more scriptural than the Catholic church and she said that there was a lot of guilt put on her when she was younger (convent school).

We get on very well, should I invite her to Mass or something?

Is she committing heresy?

Thanks.
 
Nelka said:
There is a woman that I know who grew up a Roman Catholic but when her mother died of cancer in pain she fell away from God completely even though her mum died happy with God and as a Catholic.

She told me that after a few years she returned to God but in the form of Protestantism. She has been a protestant ever since.

She has no hatred for the Catholic church and said she likes the reverence but how do I help her to come back home?

She said the protestant church she goes to is more scriptural than the Catholic church and she said that there was a lot of guilt put on her when she was younger (convent school).

We get on very well, should I invite her to Mass or something?

Is she committing heresy?

Thanks.
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Wen she says this other church is more “scriptural,” ask her where the Scriptures came from. It is impossible for there to be a “more scriptural” Church than the Catholic Church, because without the Catholic Church, the protestants wouldn’t have the slightest idea what to call scripture because the Bible wouldn’t exist.

This book covers it pretty well:
shop.catholic.com/where-we-got-the-bible.html

If she’s willing, I’d think inviting her to mass may be a good idea. When she’s in front of the Eucharist… physically in the presence of her Lord and Savior, it may call her back.
 
We always need to assume she is poorly schooled based on her convent school comment. Some of those nuns were pretty rough. Not sure if she will bite on the mass invite, maybe if it is a special mass like All Souls Day, to pray for her mom, include a dinner or breakfast to allow for informal discussion.

I had the same suffering mother problem and just quit going to church, after 10 years I decided God was missing and went back to what was familiar. Lots of coaching from a good Catholic friend though (hint)
 
The best way to influence her is to live your faith as a happy, practicing Catholic. Radiate joy, peace, and good will. Do invite her to a Mass and then let it go. The Holy Spirit will touch her heart. She will likely experience the Scriptures in a different way at Mass. She will see that the Mass is all about Scripture. You might even find one of those web pages that cite where each prayer is found in the Bible.
Be her friend, be there for her with solid answers if she questions.
One day down the road, if she asks lots of questions, get her a copy of the catechism. She can read it on her own time, and hopefully, enter discussion with you.
God bless.
 
You, as a Catholic, ask the Saints to intercede for you and for others. You wrote about her mother, “her mum died happy with God and as a Catholic”. Well, take the leap and also presume that her mother is in heaven - talk to her mother, let her mother know about your friendship and what is happening with her daughter. And tell her mother you do not really know what to do, having this desire our yours for her daughter to return to the Church and the Graces to be found there.

You know, one of the things I have found at Mass that I did not have as a Lutheran, is that you have a meal - you come away feeling “satisfied”. In protestant churches you go and hear a sermon, sing, etc., but it is all the “people’s” activity. At Mass, you come to the banquet, let the Host know who you are (the Confiteor - confession of your reality) and the Creed (confession of who you acknowledge your Host to be), and then you listen to your Host (the lessons and homily). Next you sit, stand, kneel, as the banquet is brought out - you provide what you have for the banquet in your offerings, and the Host provides his Blessing of the offering by taking its place in the Bread and Wine. Thanksgiving is raised to the Father with the offering of the Sacrifice, and then, the offering is returned for us to consume - the Father accepted it and we accept it and eat and drink. And we sit back again after the banquet table is set in order, having been filled with the bread of heaven and the drink that springs up into eternal life. We are in a covenant with the Host.

She is missing that, though she may not, probably does not, realize it.
 
Nelka said:
She said the protestant church she goes to is more scriptural than the Catholic church
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If she is an intellectually honest person and open to dialogue, I would ask her for examples of what she means by “more scriptural.” If she is a person who has sharp emotional wounds, it is possible that reason will not “work” on her. You might have to lead by example, or simply express why you believe the Church is that which Christ founded. I’d be surprised if she wants to go to mass because if she grew up with mass, she might think she already “knows” what the mass is all about. But use your discretion - you know this person better than us. It is possible to reignite someone’s fervor for the liturgy by bringing to life the meaning of what transpires there.

And here is my research on what constitutes a “heretic.”
 
Btw, technically we are more scriptural. Our bible is thicker!
 
The best thing you can do is to continue to be her friend. Do invite her to Mass, but not yet. You will know when the time is right as you spend time with her.
In the meantime, continue to pray. Continue to become more versed in scripture, not necessarily quoting chapter and verse, but being able to connect Old Testament teachings to what has been revealed through Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
Next break away from the idea using the term “protestant” and recognize that she is your separated sister in Christ. This will give you a closeness that she may not yet recognize. Ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide, to give you the words to use, and when to not say anything at all. Sometimes the best thing we can do is simply listen. Your openness to her pain may be exactly what she seeks, and may provide the opening that will in time lead her back to the Church.
Please do not use terms like “heresy” or anything else leading to a defensive posture. Get a copy of Where is that in the Bible? and The Catholic Answer Bible. Both will be excellent resources if she starts to question Catholic practices.
 
Nelka said:
There is a woman that I know who grew up a Roman Catholic but when her mother died of cancer in pain she fell away from God completely even though her mum died happy with God and as a Catholic.

She told me that after a few years she returned to God but in the form of Protestantism. She has been a protestant ever since.

She has no hatred for the Catholic church and said she likes the reverence but how do I help her to come back home?

She said the protestant church she goes to is more scriptural than the Catholic church and she said that there was a lot of guilt put on her when she was younger (convent school).

We get on very well, should I invite her to Mass or something?

Is she committing heresy?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I cannot say if she is a heretic or not…
You can certainly invite her to mass. Just be prepared to be asked to her church as well.

As for her church being Scriptural…I’m not a big fan of the advice given earlier to ask where scriptures came from. Personally I haven’t had much luck with that approach.
In my view it is better to simply use Scripture to show how Scriptural the Catholic church truly is. Spend some time in conversation with her on this.

As for the “guilt” issues. Well that is something that only time can heal.

Just be her friend and be willing to talk about these things.
Then trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest.

Peace
James
 
I’d invite her to Mass for sure. Maybe she’d like to talk about the old Convent school days and vent to someone as well and you could be there to listen as well. Some experiences with Catholic Schools were not so not so positive of course, it’s not a perfect world.

Mary.
 
I think which might help you is *Home Sweet Rome, *by Scott and Kimberley Hahn. It shows how a ver Scripture-oriented Protestant came to see that ascripture leads to the Catholic Church. It explains the theology very clearly, which is why I thought it might help you. It is also as easy and nice to read as a regular book 😉 And who knows? Maybe one day you will be in a position to lend it to your friend!
 
=Nelka;12396585]There is a woman that I know who grew up a Roman Catholic but when her mother died of cancer in pain she fell away from God completely even though her mum died happy with God and as a Catholic.
Click to expand...
She told me that after a few years she returned to God but in the form of Protestantism. She has been a protestant ever since.
Click to expand...
She has no hatred for the Catholic church and said she likes the reverence but how do I help her to come back home?
Click to expand...
She said the protestant church she goes to is more scriptural than the Catholic church and she said that there was a lot of guilt put on her when she was younger (convent school).
Click to expand...
We get on very well, should I invite her to Mass or something?
Click to expand...
Is she committing heresy?
Click to expand...
Thanks.
Click to expand...
First: PRAY MUCH for her.

2nd. Most fallen away Catholics do so because they have NOT the faith-formation to truly understand what they ARE doing. READ. Heb. 6:4-8. UNDERSTAND that “impossible” here means on their own. GOD MUST grant the grace for them to return through a Sacramental Confession.

The ONLY truly unforgivable sin is denial of GOD!

3td. IF prudent [time and place] ASK her if She believe is God?

NOT a trick question. There is BUT One TRUE God
who can and does have ONLY One true Faith [anything more is impossible even for God]
& Founded only One true Church [following his own tradition of only One True Chiosen OT people]

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT GOD COULD, WOULD OR DID WAIT MORE THAN 1,000 Years for the protestant reformation [13th to 16th century] to make known what has to be SINGULAR truth’s Even God cannot hold contradictory truths on the same defined issues.

READ :drbo.org/ {for easy reference}

Mt. 10:1-8
Mt. 16:15-19
Mt. 18:18
John 17:11-26
Mk.16:14-15
Mt. 28:16-20

NOTE that each has Christ speaking directly too and exclusively too his chosen Apostles.🙂

In Mt. 10 he commands them to go ONLY to the Jews
In Mt. 28:16-20 he changes the mandate to “the entire world” THUS mandating papal succession

In John 17: look at 17:18 where Christ passes his Godly Powers and Authority to His Apostles’ & Catholic Church ONLY

Note in John that Christ gives himself literally as warranty of her teaching ONLY His Truths.

Point out that ONLY the Church is empowered to forgive sins:
1 Jn. 1:8-10
1 Jn.5:16-17
John 20:19-23

ONLY the Church has ALL seven Sacraments fully, validly and licitly including the GIFT of the REAL Presence of Christ:JESUS HIMSELF! 5 authors of the bible and Christ all claim and teach its truth

Mt. 26
Mk. 14
Lk.22
John Chpt. 6:47-63
Paul 1st. Cor. 11

BE SURE you know the facts before trying to share them:thumbsup:

God Bless you,
Patrick
 
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