I Desperatly Need Help

[rwoehmke]

Well, you are of course correct. I didn’t want to turn the letter into a massive theology debate. I was trying to keep it short and simple. You could get into the whole argument about how the word “pray” has changed over time. In Shakespearian times, you could say “pray tell” in the sense that you were asking rather than talking to God, and so on. Nevertheless, you’re right, I acknowledge that.

The only reason I brought it up is that when a protestant finds out that there is more to the prayer than just asking intercession the answer and maybe others of your answers loses credibility. I did not mean to get into a debate or to question most evrything you wrote. You had good answers.

On another note, I have been a team member in RCIA for over 15 years and this problem comes up for some candidates early on, but by the time Easter Vigil arrives I have seen some of these concerned/worried parents show up for the Vigil Mass. One of my five sons walked away and joined the Baptist Church and I can tell you it is both scary and worrisome for a parent when a child leaves the family religion/church/denomination.

 

[m134e5]

To be effective, you will have to come up with an answer yourself- people don’t like it when you simply recite facts to them from memory.

You will need to pray a lot, of course.

You will need to show, by your example, that the Catholic faith makes you a better person. I suggest you find a particular devotion to Jesus (the Sacred Heart, for example) that you keep. This is something protestants can (perhaps) relate to, once they get over the statues (and you help them get over that, by reminding them that most children’s sunday school books and bibles have pictures of Jesus and other biblical characters to help them focus their attention- our use of statues is pretty much like that).

 

[keri6789]

WOW!!! Thanks so much to everyone who posted something for me. I really needed that encouragement! I prayed all during mass that I could get all this fuzzy stuff clear and figure out what to do and say to my parents. I haven’t even read all the replys but I wanted to say thank you. I really appericate everyone of you taking time to answer every concern. It really means alot to me.