Husband Wants to Move Blessed Mary For Father-in-Law's Visit

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My husband grew up Muslim. His father is a very devout Muslim and is going to visit our home. He knows I’m Catholic but doesn’t realize my husband has converted to Christianity (my husband doesn’t attend mass, but believes in a lot of Catholic dogma and is considering the faith). My husband has requested to move the statue of our Blessed Mother from the console table to my bedside table so his father knows that it’s mine and mine only. Am I wrong to be hurt and confused by this? I understand where he is coming from, but I feel guilty for having to hide her. I asked questions about why he feels the need to hide her. He said that they were leading questions but I really felt I was just trying to ascertain why he felt this way.

He has accused me of wanting to convert him and that he feels pressured by me. I feel I have done a decent job of staying neutral and not pushing him one way or another. He has anxious tendencies, and a lot of the times will feel pressured when other people are trying to give him space to make his own decisions. I’m trying not to dismiss his feelings but I thought I was doing a good job of letting him take his time and do what he wants to do and not what would make me happy. In the past he has requested that we pray the rosary nightly together and bought his own crucifix pendant. After this fight I am afraid he will shy away from the Catholic faith.
 
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This seems petty to me. Do your best to not to get in the middle of the intimate relationship between your husband and his dad. I would move the statue for the duration of the visit.

I tuck away certain things I don’t want or need houseguests to scrutinize when they visit. Your situation is no different.
 
Your husband doesn’t want to get into a fight with his dad over the Mary statue.

If I were you I would agree to move Mary for the duration of Father-in-law’s visit, as long as your husband agrees you can move her back when Father-in-law leaves.

Say some special prayers to Mary for your father-in-law. Ask Mary to touch his heart and bring him to Jesus also.

Your husband sounds like he is moving along the Christian path if he is saying the Rosary with you and buying a crucifix. You don’t want to upset that momentum. Mary will understand, just tell her.
 
I don’t think it would be wrong to move the statue of our Blessed Mother during your father-in-law’s visit. Parental pressure, at any age, is difficult and it could place your husband in a precarious situation with his dad. Perhaps showing your husband your willingness to accommodate his fears will prove in the long run to be what brings him to the Catholic Church. It sounds as if he is more open than closed. I don’t think Mary will mind - ask her to intercede for your husband.
 
Hiding her would be putting her in a closet or in a box in the basement. Your husband asked that you move the statue to your bedside table. That is still out in the open. Don’t make an issue out of it when there really is none.
 
I’d die before I was shamed from my faith in my own home. But that’s me. I dont think there is anything wrong with it beside the idea that it shows a disrespect to you and a weakness of a son.
Do what you will but this sounds so unhealthy.
 
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I appreciate your response. I just wanted a perspective outside my own. My initial reaction was one of defensiveness, but I sought out other perspectives.
 
Thank you for your response. We prayed the Rosary together tonight (his request) after our fight and reconciled. I agreed to move her to the bedroom.

I will ask Mary to intercede on my behalf and soften my Father-in-Law’s heart. He is a gentle and kind man, I hope he will see my love of Jesus and Mary on my bedside table and it will plant a seed.
 
I think that is a very good compromise. Again. I wouldnt ever make it but you seem to have a very patient peaceful heart. Are you new to Catholicism a revert, or have you always been devout?
 
Thank you for your response. We are a young couple so I think it is even more challenging for him to feel comfortable standing up to his father. As the only male child, there is a kind of weight on him to carry on the Muslim tradition. I believe his father will be more open-minded than he thinks, but I don’t want to pressure him at all.
 
I am a revert. I was raised in the Catholic faith until I was 12, but have come back to the Church over the past year. I am ecstatic to be back and I think sometimes my excitement can be overwhelming for my husband.

I wouldn’t call myself patient but I do see where he is coming from. This is very new to him. However, I think his father will be more accepting than he thinks. He tends to be anxious of others’ reactions. His mother was very happy he was attending church, despite being Muslim.
 
Thanks for your response. I see where you are coming from. My intention wasn’t to make an issue but to ascertain the reason for his request. I could certainly see where my questioning could come off as combative. Your responses have been very helpful.
 
Cant wait for your future posts about sending an invite to grandpa for the baptism… wink…
 
LOL! We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I’m sure he will be fine. My husband can be a bit of a worry wart…God love him!
 
I join the others…it’s not important where the statue is! The mother of our Lord will understand, as will God Himself! And your fil will feel more comfortable in your catholic Christian home!
 
I appreciate your response! I told my husband that I realized I overreacted and he was understanding. I know he doesn’t mind the statue himself but is only avoiding an awkward conversation that he or his dad (or both) may not be ready to have. I will definitely order this book. I think it will be a great read for the both of us! I think it is important to show him that I understand he did not grow up in this faith and therefore it is not nearly as simple for him as it is for me, to just come back to Christianity. Although he does believe and enjoys the faith, it is still a completely new set of beliefs and traditions and that can be scary. Without me acknowledging that and giving him space to be apprehensive he may never feel totally comfortable. Thanks!
 
Wouldnt the real Catholic thing here to be to follow our lady’s example and be present to muslims. A nice statue of our lady of Fatima would be appropriate given Her choice of Fatimah/Fatima as significant in Muslim theology.
 
I will give a very botched line from Fr Andrew Apostoli, It is was not a random pick, Our Lady appeared in an obscure place called Fatima for a reason.
 
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