How to Answer my Father?

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lethalbean95

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Hi guys. How do I respond to my Father who says that he believes theres a God, but doesn’t believe in going to Church/Mass. He says he doesn’t believe in religion and says its just like politics. Also stating that you don’t need the church to direct, and that the Modern Churches are boring and empty spirited. That theres no more eternal feeling and now its all just happy clappy. Can someone help me out with this? Can someone help me to respond without using Bible verses if you can. My dad was baptised Catholic but was never taught the Faith at all. He barely knows how to pray. I would like him to attend mass more and seriously go to confession because he isn’t living the best example of life right now and hes getting a lot older. Please help thanks.
 
Use the Socratic method. Ask him questions that guide him to truths.

“Do you think there is a God?”

“If there is a God, do you think he has made himself known to us?”

“If he has made himself known to us, what is one way you believe He revealed something to us?”

If he’s cantankerous then you probably won’t want to push hard. Just pray for him. He wiped your butt when you were a kid so he might not need to hear it from you.
 
Get a Subscription to FORMED.org and start with some of the Movies on the Saints, Mary of Nazareth, etc.

Then, slowly work your way to some of the program series like Symbolon, Lectio Eucharist, etc

God Bless
 
I’m praying for God to send someone into his life to show him the truth. Sometimes family members aren’t the best to bring up the subject. My daughter won’t listen to me and turns me right off so all I can do is pray someone or something steps into her life to show her some truth… I’ll be praying for you and your dad and for the Holy Spirit to guide YOUR words when you do speak to him… 🙂
 
If he is Catholic, then remind him that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. Literally. If he believes in God than the least he could do is go see him once a week. The liturgy may be lacking, but it’s still Jesus you receive every Sunday.
 
Pray for him. Prayer is key: Saint Monica, for instance, prayed for Saint Augustine’s conversion for 20 years! (And look how that turned out, we still talk about Augustine’s theology today, his books are still in stores.)

Certainly, follow what the other people on here said, and remind your father of the beauty of faith!
 
You can tell him that God established a religion, the Catholic Church, as the way to come to Him and salvation. It is only through the Church that we are able to come close to God through the Sacraments that He established, especially Holy Communion. As for “happy clappy” Masses, look into a Traditional Latin Mass in your area since there is no happy clappy there. If not, then there might be a traditional Novus Ordo you could take him to as well. As others have said, don’t forget to pray for him.
 
Entwhistler said:
If he is Catholic, then remind him that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist. Literally. If he believes in God than the least he could do is go see him once a week. The liturgy may be lacking, but it’s still Jesus you receive every Sunday.
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He doesn’t really believe in the real prescence
 
Confiteor_Deo said:
You can tell him that God established a religion, the Catholic Church, as the way to come to Him and salvation. It is only through the Church that we are able to come close to God through the Sacraments that He established, especially Holy Communion. As for “happy clappy” Masses, look into a Traditional Latin Mass in your area since there is no happy clappy there. If not, then there might be a traditional Novus Ordo you could take him to as well. As others have said, don’t forget to pray for him.
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Ive been thinking about taking him to the TLM. I attend an FSSP Parish. But my Dad is really stubborn and has only been exposed to the Novus Ordo (Not trying to criticise it by the way but they are very different). He thinks all masses are the same and won’t listen to me. I guess I just gotta keep praying and trying.
 
lethalbean95 said:
Ive been thinking about taking him to the TLM. I attend an FSSP Parish. But my Dad is really stubborn and has only been exposed to the Novus Ordo (Not trying to criticise it by the way but they are very different). He thinks all masses are the same and won’t listen to me. I guess I just gotta keep praying and trying.
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It seems prayer is all you can do if he won’t even listen to you. I’ll pray for him as well.
 
lethalbean95 said:
He doesn’t really believe in the real prescence
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More reason to get FORMED.org.

If your parish doesn’t have a subscription, you can get one for a free personal 7 day trial, and then for $9.99 per month.

There is a series on there called Lectio Eucharist which goes over the Biblical proofs of the Real Presence.

Also, you can get him a few Lighthouse Catholic Media CDs.

Dr. Scott Hahn and Dr. Brant Pitre have some real good ones on the Eucharist and Precious Blood

lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/jesus-and-the-jewish-roots-of-the-eucharist?promoCode=104867

lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/the-body-and-blood-of-christ?promoCode=104867

lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/understanding-the-eucharist?promoCode=104867

lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/the-fourth-cup?promoCode=104867

lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/title/the-lamb-s-supper?promoCode=104867

I heard a story about a priest’s sister who was not coming to mass because she didn’t believe in the Real Presence. Her brother (the Priest) gave her a copy of Understanding the Eucharist by Dr. Scott Hahn (3rd link in the list above) and then she went to confession and daily mass the very next day!

God Bless!
 
There is a “don’t toss pearls before swine” and “shake the dust from your feet” aspect to this. Don’t try to force preaching on someone, not even a fellow Catholic, not even your dad. Put the opportunity out there, then let go and let God.

I think I’d say, “Well, I don’t experience it that way, I find it very meaningful, and I’d take it as a big favor if you’d go with me from time to time. You may not believe it, but the faith is the greatest gift you have ever passed on to me. It fills the natural life you passed on to me with true life. At any rate, no matter what kind of God you believe in, surely you believe in a God who will reward good sports who are willing to be nice at Mass for their daughter’s sake. You may not believe it, but you are the one who went and got me baptized. You will not shrivel up and turn blue. Come with me, once in awhile. It will be good for you. I’d call it grace, but you can call it good mojo or good karma or what have you. It will be good for us. Then I promise I’ll leave you alone the rest of the time.” Then pray for him without fail. Have St. Monica help you.

If he goes to Mass from time to time, the Holy Spirit can have a go at him. There are some things that are beyond our power to do, but helping to provide a “near occasion of conversion” doesn’t hurt. The conversion isn’t up to you to make happen. It is up to God and your dad.
 
EasterJoy said:
There is a “don’t toss pearls before swine” and “shake the dust from your feet” aspect to this. Don’t try to force preaching on someone, not even a fellow Catholic, not even your dad. Put the opportunity out there, then let go and let God.

I think I’d say, “Well, I don’t experience it that way, I find it very meaningful, and I’d take it as a big favor if you’d go with me from time to time. You may not believe it, but the faith is the greatest gift you have ever passed on to me. It fills the natural life you passed on to me with true life. At any rate, no matter what kind of God you believe in, surely you believe in a God who will reward good sports who are willing to be nice at Mass for their daughter’s sake. You may not believe it, but you are the one who went and got me baptized. You will not shrivel up and turn blue. Come with me, once in awhile. It will be good for you. I’d call it grace, but you can call it good mojo or good karma or what have you. It will be good for us. Then I promise I’ll leave you alone the rest of the time.” Then pray for him without fail. Have St. Monica help you.

If he goes to Mass from time to time, the Holy Spirit can have a go at him. There are some things that are beyond our power to do, but helping to provide a “near occasion of conversion” doesn’t hurt. The conversion isn’t up to you to make happen. It is up to God and your dad.
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Great answer! 👍
 
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