How to bring back long-lapsed Catholics? And what brought you home?

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isidora99

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I have some older family members who have been away from the Church for a long time, up to 50 years. Typically they left in their late teens or early 20s, have lived a secular life, and are now approaching old age with no apparent interest in returning. As an adult convert, I have a strong desire to evangelize them and bring them back, but I don’t know how to go about it since they are not open to conversations about God, Church, or anything religious. I feel pressured on time as well, to convert them while they still have their health and mental faculties intact. Other than praying for them and trying to live a good example of a Christian life, what else can I do? If you were away from the Church for many years, what brought you back?
 
What brought me back:

I was just tired of being depressed all the time. So, figured if it’s true that “God is ‘Love’ and ‘Happiness,’” then I want that.
 
Do you have relevant radio in your area? That’s what brought me back. I was searching for something, something spiritual perhaps. I drive a lot and was shift stations and came across the AM catholic radio station. Some good programs there…you can also stream it on the web at relevantradio . com.

I recommend a good program called “go ask your father” where people call in and ask questions to a priest about the faith. The priests often give thoughtful responses, and clear up myths. So, check it out and see if you like it. If you do, you can recommend it to others and they may like it too. Might help bring them back to the church. 🙂
 
isidora99 said:
I have some older family members who have been away from the Church for a long time, up to 50 years. Typically they left in their late teens or early 20s, have lived a secular life, and are now approaching old age with no apparent interest in returning. As an adult convert, I have a strong desire to evangelize them and bring them back, but I don’t know how to go about it since they are not open to conversations about God, Church, or anything religious. I feel pressured on time as well, to convert them while they still have their health and mental faculties intact. Other than praying for them and trying to live a good example of a Christian life, what else can I do? If you were away from the Church for many years, what brought you back?
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Well, it won’t work for your older relatives. It was when I got pregnant with my first son. And especially, after his birth, when I looked with awe upon what God had created.

👍

There isn’t a whole lot you can do, except pray, and watch for any opportunities to talk to them. If you see any opportunity at all, then gently see if they are open to discuss it. You might get a long string of expletives, or you might get a little crack of opening in a mind long since closed.

If anyone had told me that I would ever return to the Catholic Church, I would have :rotfl: God did for me what I could not and would not do for myself.
 
My mother is one of those people. She left the Church when I was very young so I wasn’t really raised Catholic.

Once I had children, I felt I needed help! So I turned to Christ; I was a “mere Christian” because I knew nothing of theology.

After a couple of years of that, I felt the need for more prayer and recalled the Rosary of my youth, so went to buy one, saw Home Sweet Rome, and got that too, and the following Sunday I went to Mass!

I pray for my parents and am considering putting green scapulars in their room… Prayer and sacrifice may be the only way for many of these people.
 
St_Francis said:
My mother is one of those people. She left the Church when I was very young so I wasn’t really raised Catholic.

Once I had children, I felt I needed help! So I turned to Christ; I was a “mere Christian” because I knew nothing of theology.

After a couple of years of that, I felt the need for more prayer and recalled the Rosary of my youth, so went to buy one, saw Home Sweet Rome, and got that too, and the following Sunday I went to Mass!

I pray for my parents and am considering putting green scapulars in their room… Prayer and sacrifice may be the only way for many of these people.
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Can you expand a bit on this, please? :o
 
What brought me back was the loving witness of good Catholics who showed me that no matter what I had done, Jesus was waiting for me with His arms outstretched. Once I understood the unconditional love of Christ, there was no way for me to remain outside the Church any longer. Everything about the church is an expression of God’s love for us-so if you don’t truly understand that first, none of the rest of it makes sense.
 
Seeker1961 said:
What brought me back was the loving witness of good Catholics who showed me that no matter what I had done, Jesus was waiting for me with His arms outstretched. Once I understood the unconditional love of Christ, there was no way for me to remain outside the Church any longer. Everything about the church is an expression of God’s love for us-so if you don’t truly understand that first, none of the rest of it makes sense.
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Beautiful:thumbsup:
 
Stop fighting over needless secondary disagreements when on a primary level we agree so much with Protestants. We are challenged to put our pride and ego away and make that change.

That’s how we do it!
 
Garyjohn2 said:
Do you have relevant radio in your area? That’s what brought me back. I was searching for something, something spiritual perhaps. I drive a lot and was shift stations and came across the AM catholic radio station. Some good programs there…you can also stream it on the web at relevantradio . com.

I recommend a good program called “go ask your father” where people call in and ask questions to a priest about the faith. The priests often give thoughtful responses, and clear up myths. So, check it out and see if you like it. If you do, you can recommend it to others and they may like it too. Might help bring them back to the church. 🙂
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Great suggestion Gary. I would just expand it to Catholic Radio in general. There are some great programs out there and they all helped me grow in my faith. Along with Catholic Answers Live there is Relevant Radio as you mentioned…

relevantradio.com/

The Inner Life is another good program.

Radio Maria

radiomaria.us/programs/

Discerning Hearts

discerninghearts.com/

Immaculate Heart Radio

ihradio.com/audio-archives/

There are others.

If you can’t tune in live they all have podcasts of their shows to download. So to the OP…maybe arrange to listen to these shows around these family members and of course pray.
 
IronMIke said:
Stop fighting over needless secondary disagreements when on a primary level we agree so much with Protestants. We are challenged to put our pride and ego away and make that change.

That’s how we do it!
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Curious…what do you consider needless secondary disagreements?
 
isidora99 said:
I have some older family members who have been away from the Church for a long time, up to 50 years. Typically they left in their late teens or early 20s, have lived a secular life, and are now approaching old age with no apparent interest in returning. As an adult convert, I have a strong desire to evangelize them and bring them back, but I don’t know how to go about it since they are not open to conversations about God, Church, or anything religious. I feel pressured on time as well, to convert them while they still have their health and mental faculties intact. Other than praying for them and trying to live a good example of a Christian life, what else can I do? If you were away from the Church for many years, what brought you back?
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Invite them to Mass! Tell them about the awesome new translation of the Mass.

Tell them about how you can’t wait to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist every Sunday!

Leave literature on their doorsteps about the Catholic faith.

There is a website Lighthouse Catholic Media - here is the link:

lighthousecatholicmedia.org/store/titles

I have listened to some really great cd’s. You could buy them a portable cd player that is easy to use and give them some cd’s. They are really reasonably priced too.

Share your conversion story with them and that of others. Read them St. Paul’s conversion story in Acts.

Read the following book:

Search and Rescue, How To Bring Your Family and Friends Into, or Back Into, the Catholic Church by Patrick Madrid

Sit before the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration 1 hour a week for their conversion.

Sometimes, all we can do is pray and let God do the heavy lifting.

I spent some time not practicing my Catholic faith and just going to Chuch for weddings, baptisms, funerals, etc. While praying for physical healing for myself, God led me to this really small Catholic Church with a really big Crucifix draped behind the altar.

I realized I could continue to run and hide like the Jonah I had become in my life, or I could stay and really learn about who this man Jesus is and why He died not for the world, but for me. . .
 
Here’s what brought me back. A deep empty hole in my heart, a longing for something more, feeling lost, a baby, and my husband set ‘catholic radio’ station into my car. I listened once, then twice, before I knew it I was saying a rosary, going to confession and admitting my guilt. Still that wasn’t enough! Why?? Because those were just external things I listed, What brought me back was the Grace of God. It welled up inside of me and has burst through! I ordered my veil and it will be here with in a day or two! I am so happy to be a daughter of Christ.

As for bringing others home,

I am not sure how else to reveal God’s truth but by living and breathing the life of a Catholic. Behaving with the Spirit of God and speaking the truth in Love. I can’t bring my brother back any faster… And my mother while I know in her heart she knows what is right, has spent far too many years as a pick and choose Catholic. May the Lord bless them with Grace in their journey home…I am so happy to have found my way back. It has brought peace into my life, my married life is fuller, and motherhood is richer than I ever thought…

Praise be to God!
 
isidora99 said:
I have some older family members who have been away from the Church for a long time, up to 50 years. Typically they left in their late teens or early 20s, have lived a secular life, and are now approaching old age with no apparent interest in returning. As an adult convert, I have a strong desire to evangelize them and bring them back, but I don’t know how to go about it since they are not open to conversations about God, Church, or anything religious. I feel pressured on time as well, to convert them while they still have their health and mental faculties intact. Other than praying for them and trying to live a good example of a Christian life, what else can I do? If you were away from the Church for many years, what brought you back?/QUOTE

Do you think they would be open to attending a mass with you, lets say Christmas. Since the mass has changed in 50 years maybe you could suggest it and invited them to come.
you sound like a very caring person. Keep praying too!
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I have a lapsed-Catholic friend who I’m trying to get to Mass. I’m being sneaky though - I’m telling him that I’m really interested in the Traditional Latin Mass and would like his company so that I don’t do anything foolish.

It’s working and were scheduled for next month after I take communion in my own church.
 
Luigi_Daniele said:
Can you expand a bit on this, please? :o
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The Green Scapular is for everyone, faith or no faith, saint or sinner.
It is a gift from Mary to everyone but especially people in greatest need.

Ten years after the manifestation of the Miraculous Medal to Sister Catherine Laboure in 1830, the Blessed Mother entrusted the Green Scapular of her Immaculate Heart to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, likewise a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

How to use it.
Wear or carry the green scapular for yourself.
To help another, place it in their vicinity (i.e. their room, wallet, purse, or all over; lamp,
house,car, chair, bed).
Pray, at least daily: “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”
This prayer should be said for oneself and separately for each person to whom it has been given.
Scapular(s) should be blessed.

Have the strongest possible trust in Mary’s promise.
Mary’s own words were:
“The GREATEST graces come from using the scapular but these graces come
in direct proportion to the degree of CONFIDENCE IN ME which the user has.”
The user is you, not the one to whom you give it to.
Confidence means that you believe Mary will keep her promises. (How could she not do so?)
It just means you do your part and she will do hers.

Promises of Mary:
… Conversion of those who do not have the faith
… Reconciliation to the Church for those who have lost/strayed from the faith <<----------
… Assurance of a happy death
… Strengthening of the faith for those already in the Church
… Protection from Satan for those who wear or promote the scapular

Be faithful to the prayer every day.
She didn’t say when, just that she promised it would happen.

“Great graces are often attached to what seems trifling.” St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=544742&page=3

My father, a fallen-away Catholic, passed away several years ago. When he first became ill and was hospitalized, one of the Vincentian priest pinned a Green Scapular to his pillow. I know my mother was especially worried about his salvation, as he had not awakened following emergency surgery. He did awaken many days later, and that same Vincentian asked if he wished to receive the sacraments. He was on a ventilator, so he could not speak, but he could indicate “yes” or “no”, so the priest simply asked if he was sorry for any and all sins he committed, then he was given Extreme Unction. This was 2 years to the day of my auto accident, August 3rd. He died 2 days later, on the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows on August 5th. There is a promise attached to the Green Scapular that Our Lady will obtain the conversion of those who have fallen away from the True Faith. I’m convinced she did so with my father, the day of his death was clearly Providential.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=9630587&posted=1#post9630587

I prayed for my husband a lot as he had been away from the Church for many years. I put a blessed green scapular under the mattress and prayed for him daily, and other family and friends prayed for him also. After several years he finally came back to the Church, and died a very happy man two years after that.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=620449
(From an atheist)
How did you come to embrace Catholicism?
Strangely enough, it was the Blessed Virgin Mary. That friend of mine had sneakily snuck in a scapular under my mattress. I didn’t know until about 1 year into my conversion. I imagine that she had something to do with it. I think it was the green scapular.
 
What brought me back was our miscarriage. I started falling away in my late teens, was about as far from the Church as one can get and still consider themselves Catholic by the end of college, but strove to come back after getting married. I had a lot of fits and starts but nothing really took hold. Even after our daughters were born I couldn’t get myself to come back completely, or for any length of time. I was in the middle of another of those efforts to come back when, during a really rocky period in our marriage, I found out we were pregnant again. It helped to push some of the problems beneath the surface but didn’t draw me any deeper into my faith. Then we lost the baby, and while sitting in the hospital room with my wife, I felt God’s love through her. I suddenly saw how much she loved me, and then was shocked to find just how much deeper my love for her had grown during those few days. I also had a completely renewed perspective on my faith. It was as though God had physically grabbed me and dragged me back in. Since then, my faith and commitment have only grown.

As far as bringing lapsed family members back, I tried to guide them by example at first, but now I take a more active role. I’ll work Mass and the sacraments into conversations, and talk more openly with those who are a bit stronger in their faith. I try to be as open as possible about how my faith informs my decisions and show them what a positive effect leading a faith-filled life has had on me. I also work little things in here and there, mentioning (both in conversations and on Facebook) Mass, Confession, praying the Rosary and other aspects of what my family and I do as Catholics. Basically, I take an approach similar to what I do with my kids. Looking around our house or at how I live my life, our kids have constant reminders that we’re a Catholic family. While not always as overt with my parents and siblings, I try to do the same with them.
 
fred_conty said:
The Green Scapular is for everyone, faith or no faith, saint or sinner.
It is a gift from Mary to everyone but especially people in greatest need.
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Do you think it would help my RCIA sponsor who happens to be my ex-husband? He left the Church and has only hatred for all things Catholic now. He believes he never should have been born and that his parents should have used contraception. Very sad.

I’m afraid if I send it to him, he would throw it away, and you don’t want to do that with a sacramental.

On the other hand, I could ask him to keep it as a sign of my good will for him, even if he just tucks it in a drawer.

I do believe Mary could help him, if there is a way, it would be through her.
 
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