How to Convince my Brother to go to mass

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maplebug55

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My brother only goes to mass when he feels like it. which is about once a month.

He says he is just too tired due to the fact he works nites. I have tried to tell him the importance of attending mass, but we just don’t see eye to eye on things.

He also goes to communion WITHOUT going to the sacrament of reconciliation.

Any suggestions? He is 28.
 
First and foremost pray for him. We can’t force others to do what we want them to do, or even to do what is right.

If you live stateside, there are many programs being offered right now to encourage Catholics to come back to the faith. From Awakening Faith to Living the Eucharist. See if your Parish or a local Parish is offering one of these, and ask your brother to go with you. Ask him to do it for you because you want someone to be there with you. Then follow up and get him to go. Those programs are really effective in bringing people back into faith and getting them to realize the beauty and importance of what we are doing.
 
Maybe he would like another parish. Very often poor liturgies, boring homilies, not so friendly people and other things can turn people off.
Also, give him the benefit of the doubt. He could very well be very tired from working nights. God understands when we are not feeling well. Perhaps give him a missal, missalettes and encourage him to reflect on the readings.
Good that you care…just don’t push too hard and make him feel guilty. That’s another turn off for some. He has to come to a decision on his own. At least he goes occasionally!
 
You cannot force him to go. You can pray for him.

Also, if you sit down with him and ask him if there is something in particular that bothers him about going to church, and hope he says what it is. Some people respond better to a Mass with a lot of a certain type of music, others with a priest that more traditional in their saying of Mass, etc. Maybe offer to go to various local churches with him, and perhaps he will find one that fits his needs.
 
He’s your brother so I wouldn’t mince words:

Tell him to put on his “big boy” pants, man up, and get to Mass. Being tired from working nights is no excuse. There are too many Mass options for those working nights. He can go to a Vigil Mass on Saturday nights before work or an early Sunday Mass after work before he goes to bed.

Oh, and prayer wouldn’t be a bad idea either! 😉
 
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