A
audeamusfiat
Guest
I’m looking for resources (books, tracts, etc.) that will help my dad understand the discernment process and the vocation. I’ve gone through several resources but most are written from the point of view that the parents are active Catholics.
A bit of background… I converted my junior year of high school in 2003. I have considered a vocation since way back in RCIC, although I was never open about it until this year. My parents are divorced and my mom is a fallen away Catholic (now into the new-age movement) but has known (actually guessed it) and supported it for a couple years. My dad is a former baptist, has had some bad experiences, and so is generally antagonistic toward religion. When I told him that I was discerning just before Easter this year, it was… not well received… to put it charitably. When I went home to visit for a week this summer, he spent most of it trying to use anti-Catholic rhetoric to show how the Church is bad or the priesthood is unnatural.
I’m trying to find some resources that will help understand both the Church and the priesthood, but isn’t too preachy or use too much religion-ese. It’s got to be simple and short. I already sent him “Why do Catholics do that?” (hard for me to part with as it was the book I read during my conversion and had lots of my notes in it) and “The Meaning of Vocation in the words of John Paul II.” I doubt he will read fully and with an open mind the first and the second he will probably not take seriously, but it was the best I had on hand. It is very hard for me to focus on discerning when I have such a strong voice arguing and condemning it.
So… I’m appealing to you all, dear CAFers, what do you all recommend?
Pax,
A bit of background… I converted my junior year of high school in 2003. I have considered a vocation since way back in RCIC, although I was never open about it until this year. My parents are divorced and my mom is a fallen away Catholic (now into the new-age movement) but has known (actually guessed it) and supported it for a couple years. My dad is a former baptist, has had some bad experiences, and so is generally antagonistic toward religion. When I told him that I was discerning just before Easter this year, it was… not well received… to put it charitably. When I went home to visit for a week this summer, he spent most of it trying to use anti-Catholic rhetoric to show how the Church is bad or the priesthood is unnatural.
I’m trying to find some resources that will help understand both the Church and the priesthood, but isn’t too preachy or use too much religion-ese. It’s got to be simple and short. I already sent him “Why do Catholics do that?” (hard for me to part with as it was the book I read during my conversion and had lots of my notes in it) and “The Meaning of Vocation in the words of John Paul II.” I doubt he will read fully and with an open mind the first and the second he will probably not take seriously, but it was the best I had on hand. It is very hard for me to focus on discerning when I have such a strong voice arguing and condemning it.
So… I’m appealing to you all, dear CAFers, what do you all recommend?
Pax,
- Drew
Fortunatly, My father would most likely support me and maybe even encourage me. Then again, that’s only a guess… I do however, have a sister who is recently baptised Catholic. In fact, she was the one who got me into the church.