How to convince your parents to let you be Catholic?

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dallas_r

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Hi, guys, I’m 13 (this is my brother’s account) and my parents have been really stubborn about letting me be Catholic. I felt a calling a while ago to become a Catholic so I started my journey by educating myself and praying regularly. I got a few items in the mail (Rosary, Book of Prayers, and Sacred Heart of Jesus candle)which is when my parents first realized I was into the faith. So I told them after about a month that I was interested in going to mass and they just shrugged it off said it was only a phase and I did it because I was bored. So currently, I convinced my dad to take me to my first Sunday Mass. They realized I’m serious and noticed how I pray before and after meals, the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and just prayers in general so now they say I’m going “overboard with my religion” :confused:. I strongly dislike when they say this because all I want to do is please Jesus by attending mass once a week and for just 1 hour of their time. Can anyone give me tips on how to have them approve of my Religious self and glorify my Lord? 🤷
 
Keep doing what you’re doing. Let your actions demonstrate it’s not just a phase. Show respect to your parents (God commands it.) I would not harp on asking about formal conversion and RCIA. If they’ve agreed to take you to Mass, that’s wonderful!

At most, you’ll have to wait until you’re an independent adult, which may seem far away but it isn’t. And God will know what’s in your heart before then!

God bless you.
 
dallas_r said:
Hi, guys, I’m 13 (this is my brother’s account) and my parents have been really stubborn about letting me be Catholic. I felt a calling a while ago to become a Catholic so I started my journey by educating myself and praying regularly. I got a few items in the mail (Rosary, Book of Prayers, and Sacred Heart of Jesus candle)which is when my parents first realized I was into the faith. So I told them after about a month that I was interested in going to mass and they just shrugged it off said it was only a phase and I did it because I was bored. So currently, I convinced my dad to take me to my first Sunday Mass. They realized I’m serious and noticed how I pray before and after meals, the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and just prayers in general so now they say I’m going “overboard with my religion” :confused:. I strongly dislike when they say this because all I want to do is please Jesus by attending mass once a week and for just 1 hour of their time. Can anyone give me tips on how to have them approve of my Religious self and glorify my Lord? 🤷
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take it one day at a time. do what you are already doing. maybe things will change with their attitude, I’m guessing the might have some misconceptions about the faith or don’t care much about religion in general
 
Ask your parents politely to take you to Mass. If you need a ride to go to Mass and cannot get one, you can watch daily Mass on EWTN. Worst case scenario, you may need to wait a few years to join the Church. Don’t worry, God knows your heart.
 
Continue what you are doing and show them that your faith is not phase. Keep on to it until you can enter the church on your own.

Pray, read, go to mass, and eventually you will be ready.
:blessyou:
 
Try to meet with the local pastor, seek guidance from him. Pray for your parents. They might not understand, but there are far worse stories of parents being opposed to a child’s conversion. They may come around sooner. Perhaps if you get a driver’s license at 16, that would be a good time.
 
dallas_r said:
Hi, guys, I’m 13 (this is my brother’s account) and my parents have been really stubborn about letting me be Catholic. I felt a calling a while ago to become a Catholic so I started my journey by educating myself and praying regularly. I got a few items in the mail (Rosary, Book of Prayers, and Sacred Heart of Jesus candle)which is when my parents first realized I was into the faith. So I told them after about a month that I was interested in going to mass and they just shrugged it off said it was only a phase and I did it because I was bored. So currently, I convinced my dad to take me to my first Sunday Mass. They realized I’m serious and noticed how I pray before and after meals, the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and just prayers in general so now they say I’m going “overboard with my religion” :confused:. I strongly dislike when they say this because all I want to do is please Jesus by attending mass once a week and for just 1 hour of their time. Can anyone give me tips on how to have them approve of my Religious self and glorify my Lord? 🤷
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As a friend of mine says, “Been there, wrecked that.”

I grew up Southern Baptist in a town that was 56 percent Catholic. The public school was devoid of kids certain mornings of the year. They came to school with dirty foreheads once a year, and we had great fun teasing them. But they were the sweetest friends you could ever ask for. I was received into the church at age 16. I took St. Maria Goretti as confirmation patron.

Are you in the eighth grade? This is the time when the devil loves to tempt kids to promiscuity and suicide. Be a holy student. You are still bound by God’s and man’s laws to obey your parents. Do what they ask of you. Like St. Therese, do little things with great love.

In another year, you could qualify for teen volunteer at the local hospital. See if they have a Mass there you could attend before or after your shift.

There is a difference between false piety and true devotion. The latter makes one more charitable and humble. Read “The Spirit of St. Francis de Sales” and St. Teresa of Avila’s “Interior Castle.” Practice interior and exterior silence.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga is the patron saint of youth. Seek his intercession.
 
Thank you all for your good advice, I will implement it into my life as best as I can 👍
 
Remember the 4th commandment and honor your parents. If they feel you are going overboard, then adjust your prayer time-- you don’t have to do ALL those devotions every day! Maybe do one.

Ask them to take you to mass and if they say no, respect their decision.

You can continue to pray and learn through books and online. You may need to wait until you are 16 or 18 to start attending mass and/or RCIA.

God knows your desires, but remember to be obedient like Christ was to his parents. And, you are not a Catholic so you do not have a Sunday obligation to attend mass at this time. Keep sunday holy in whatever way you can. Spend time with family, clean your room, show your maturity by not arguing and by taking their concerns seriously.
 
1ke said:
Remember the 4th commandment and honor your parents. If they feel you are going overboard, then adjust your prayer time-- you don’t have to do ALL those devotions every day! Maybe do one.

Ask them to take you to mass and if they say no, respect their decision.

You can continue to pray and learn through books and online. You may need to wait until you are 16 or 18 to start attending mass and/or RCIA.

God knows your desires, but remember to be obedient like Christ was to his parents. And, you are not a Catholic so you do not have a Sunday obligation to attend mass at this time. Keep sunday holy in whatever way you can. Spend time with family, clean your room, show your maturity by not arguing and by taking their concerns seriously.
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This is such good advice!

OP, best of luck to you. I’ll say a prayer for you!
 
dallas_r said:
Hi, guys, I’m 13 (this is my brother’s account) and my parents have been really stubborn about letting me be Catholic. I felt a calling a while ago to become a Catholic so I started my journey by educating myself and praying regularly. I got a few items in the mail (Rosary, Book of Prayers, and Sacred Heart of Jesus candle)which is when my parents first realized I was into the faith. So I told them after about a month that I was interested in going to mass and they just shrugged it off said it was only a phase and I did it because I was bored. So currently, I convinced my dad to take me to my first Sunday Mass. They realized I’m serious and noticed how I pray before and after meals, the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and just prayers in general so now they say I’m going “overboard with my religion” :confused:. I strongly dislike when they say this because all I want to do is please Jesus by attending mass once a week and for just 1 hour of their time. Can anyone give me tips on how to have them approve of my Religious self and glorify my Lord? 🤷
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My protestant family told me that converting to Catholicism was just a “phase” as well, and I’m in my 40’s :rotfl: So don’t feel bad.

The more you educate yourself and prepare yourself to answer 10,000 protestant objections, the more likely they are to backoff once they realize their pre conceived notions are not correct.

Could get hostile as people don’t like being proven wrong. So be ready.😉
 
Great advice from everyone here. Just keep living a life of prayer and learning the faith. Develop virtues. Avoid sin. Treat people with love.

Don’t be too pushy about demanding to be taken to Mass. If you can get there, that’s great, but if your parents are not allowing it, God is not going to hold that against you. Use the time Sunday that you want to be at Mass to pray in your room, watch a Mass on TV as someone suggested, pray for your parents (and everyone else!) and do spiritual reading.

And what an amazing story that you are so called to faith and the Church like this.
 
If you want your parents to understand your wish to be a Catholic, talk to them in a way that would understand. Dale Carnegie talks about this in his book Winning Friends and Influencing People. Try to understand what they think about your decision and go from there.
 
dallas_r said:
Hi, guys, I’m 13 (this is my brother’s account) and my parents have been really stubborn about letting me be Catholic. I felt a calling a while ago to become a Catholic so I started my journey by educating myself and praying regularly. I got a few items in the mail (Rosary, Book of Prayers, and Sacred Heart of Jesus candle)which is when my parents first realized I was into the faith. So I told them after about a month that I was interested in going to mass and they just shrugged it off said it was only a phase and I did it because I was bored. So currently, I convinced my dad to take me to my first Sunday Mass. They realized I’m serious and noticed how I pray before and after meals, the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and just prayers in general so now they say I’m going “overboard with my religion” :confused:. I strongly dislike when they say this because all I want to do is please Jesus by attending mass once a week and for just 1 hour of their time. Can anyone give me tips on how to have them approve of my Religious self and glorify my Lord? 🤷
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I actually think it’s a good idea that you not go too crazy with putting your interest in Catholicism in front of their face at all times. If you do, they’re more likely to think this is just a phase.

Often, when a young person is going through a phase, they go through a period of intense interest, which ends when the novelty is over. I’m not saying that’s you. I’m just saying that may be what they’re anticipating.

By all means, keep reading, praying, and learning. But do it in a sustainable way, not in a way that is going to lead to burnout and fatigue in a few weeks.
 
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