How to handle this?

[Slitherine]

My mother was married into the Catholic Church about 22 years ago, and she had been ‘practicing’ the catholic faith since then, up until about 6 years ago when she became a Non-denominational Protestant and stopped attending mass (except maybe once every 6 months). She would claim and argue that she was still a Catholic.
Sadly, i and my siblings have been following her to her protestant services for about 3 years until i rediscovered the beauty and the truth of our faith and came back fully into the RC church about 7 months ago. In that time i have learned a whole lot, thanks to Catholic answers, the campus ministry at my school, and my spiritual directors and i am currently in RCIA to receive the sacrament of Confirmation.
So, i have been going to daily mass and i have often offered masses and sometimes fasted so that my mother would come back into full communion with the church trusting God that he would do it in his time.
Now here’s what happened, i went to Sunday mass and prayed to our lady while offering all the graces i received in mass for my intentions and the salvation of others. I then returned home to know that my mother would be attending mass that same day with my siblings, and she also inquired about how to go about completing their sacraments. I was very thankful and joyful to our lady for her intercession. I then inquired (knowing that she hadn’t been to mass in years) if she would receive communion. She answered “yes!!!” with a puzzled look on her face. I told her that it would be better if she went to confession first, but the she said that she will never attend confession that she couldn’t conceive of a reason to confess her sins to a man. I tried explaining to her that if she calls herself a catholic, she has to go by what the church teaches, and not pick and choose what to believe. I was especially shocked when she said that the only time she confessed was before her wedding 22 years ago and she also spoke to a priest (my uncle) that the she would become catholic only condition that she would never attend confession. We argued for about 5 minutes and then i backed up (sensing the argument could be counter-productive and make her not go to mass). I am glad that she is seriously considering coming back, but i am also concerned (knowing how stubborn she is) that she may never listen to anyone and attend mass all her life without going to confession. WHAT DO I DO?

 

[Xantippe]

Slitherine said:

“WHAT DO I DO?”

It isn’t your responsibility to bring up your mother. The most I would suggest to you is, when you are going to confession, invite her to come with you and have lunch or dinner afterward with you (or whatever makes sense with your schedule). Do that 2 or 3 times in a row, and if it doesn’t work, drop it.

 

[AmyMCGS]

I think you should continue to pray and allow God to lead her to the truth. Thankfully He has lead her this far- how wonderful!

It is better to have her return to the church and attend mass without going to confession than to have her abandon her Catholic faith completely. You have explained the reason she should not receive communion, so if she chooses to do so anyway, that is between her and God.

Hopefully with time, your example (not pushing but simply following your own faith), and your siblings learning the truth, your mother will also see the error of her ways and return to confession.

 

[englishredrose]

Slitherine said:

“WHAT DO I DO?”

It isn’t your responsibility to bring up your mother. The most I would suggest to you is, when you are going to confession, invite her to come with you and have lunch or dinner afterward with you (or whatever makes sense with your schedule). Do that 2 or 3 times in a row, and if it doesn’t work, drop it.

excellent way forward.

 

[Avila123]

Pray for her as others have said.

I know a number of people who consider themselves good Catholics, devout and faithful who never go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession). Obviously I don’t know the state of their souls but I know that they (like myself) are sinners. All I can do is pray because they do not accept the guidance on this Sacrament given in workshops and the newsletter. Sadly, some are so missing out by only receiving the host and wine instead of the body and blood of Jesus, but that is their choice made in full knowledge.