I want to be Catholic but my family don't

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Horizon87

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I have been on a spiritual journey for about 4yrs researching and learning about the different Christian denominations and trying to find a home where I think I belong. But I think I know now where I belong, and that is the Catholic Church. I keep coming back to the Catholic beliefs and practices all the time, over every other Christian denomination, and it’s where I feel most comfortable.

The problem is, my family are reluctant to join me in becoming Catholic, and I really, really want them to join me. After all, it was their trip to Italy and the Vatican and bringing back the gift of the Catholic bible and Rosary that inspired me from the beginning 4yrs ago.

My family think the Catholic Church is too strict, but I argued that it needed to be to help keep people on the straight and narrow. But they don’t like that, whereas I do. I need that strictness and discipline to help me, because I’m lost without direction otherwise. I need that help in being guided by the Church, and I don’t want too much freedom because otherwise I know I may veer off course.

What should I do? I almost feel like it’s not meant to be because we can’t do this together and I really want them there with me.
 
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You do what you feel is right, but you can’t force anyone else if they don’t want to. You can reason with your family why you want to become Catholic, and see if they might be swayed. But even if they are not willing to become Catholic, they should support any choice you make regarding your religion.
 
While your desires are admirable, what you want may not be in God’s plan right now. All you need to be concerned with is following God’s call yourself, hopefully into the Catholic Church, and working toward holiness. Pray for your family members, but let God do the work.
 
Hello.

It sounds like God is calling you. Keep answering the calls. The rest of your family is in His hands. You are in my prayers. Please pray for me.
 
My wife was against ever converting to Catholicism when we got married last year. I was raised Catholic. I went in knowing that she would “never convert” but she has been attending mass with me almost every week since we got married. Now she is considering it. She sees how devoted many Catholics are and she is trying to overlook her Southern Baptist views of Catholicism and is somewhat learning about the faith. I start every day with a few prayers, one of them being “Heavenly Father, please open up [my wife]’s heart and eyes to the fullness and beauty of Your one am true church. Our Father who art in heaven…”

I say all of this to tell you that by living out your faith, actively discussing and encouraging them, they will see how the Church is good. Be the best Catholic you can be, and that will help them see what it’s all about.

You and your family are in my prayers. God Bless
 
It’s not necessary for your family to become Catholic in order for you to do so. Perhaps they will see the fruits of your conversion in your life and combined with your prayers for them may decide to follow your example.

I agree with @horton in asking whether your family refers to your spouse and children or your parents and siblings. If you are talking about your spouse, you need to talk about what this will mean for your family. For example, what will you do about baptizing your children or arranging for their religious education? If you’re talking about your parents andv siblings these issues are less relevant.
 
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Recall Jesus’ words to the one who turned away to his family before joining Him or how one must hate his family.

Your family may be the most difficult to get to convert. Catholicism isn’t just “right for you”, it’s right.

It can be difficult and my words may sound cold. I do not mean such. Trust in God. Pray for their conversion. Blessings
 
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Why don’t you convert first and let them see the positive example being Catholic has on you? They will either want to know more and become Catholic themselves or be like my mother and wait.

I have told this before in other threads. But I’ll share it again here. My mother was a Protestant all her life and married a Catholic. Because she had promised to raise any children they had in the Catholic Church, I always thought she was Catholic. I found out later that she wasn’t.

I prayed many years for her to convert. I wanted us to a fully Catholic family not a Catholic-Protestant family. Even though she had no problem with Catholic teaching, she felt she’d be letting down her Protestant relatives and ancestors.

One day, after I’d received the Eucharist, she asked me how she could become Catholic. But she was very nervous about having to go up front and have so many people staring at her as she went through RCIA. I told her our Priest would be willing to give her private instruction. But I also made sure she wasn’t becoming Catholic because I wanted her to. I told her to listen to the Holy Spirit. If He wanted her to become Catholic, the way would be provided.

She became Catholic shortly after that. I was her Sponsor. Our Priest signed her certificate. The first time I witnessed her receiving Holy Communion from him, I had happy tears in my eyes and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was worth it.

If your family is meant to become Catholic, the Holy Spirit will speak to their hearts. You cannot make them do something they don’t want to do. But you can take the first step and do what the Holy Spirit wants you to do. Do not let your family’s reluctance to convert hold you back.
 
Horizon87 said:
My family think the Catholic Church is too strict, but I argued that it needed to be to help keep people on the straight and narrow. But they don’t like that, whereas I do. I need that strictness and discipline to help me, because I’m lost without direction otherwise. I need that help in being guided by the Church, and I don’t want too much freedom because otherwise I know I may veer off course.
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I think your post just shows the differences among people of faith along their spiritual journeys. We all have finite minds as we strive to understand an infinite God. For some along their path, they do have some need to have everything spelled out for them in black and white. It provides them with a degree of comfort to believe they know. Yet for others, understanding that humans have finite minds, in their lifelong journey they are uncomfortable with an infinite God in a box so to speak with the lid closed. I don’t necessarily see either being wrong but rather something that makes up their personalities and who they are made to be.
 
Horizon87 said:
I have been on a spiritual journey for about 4yrs researching and learning about the different Christian denominations and trying to find a home where I think I belong. But I think I know now where I belong, and that is the Catholic Church. I keep coming back to the Catholic beliefs and practices all the time, over every other Christian denomination, and it’s where I feel most comfortable.

The problem is, my family are reluctant to join me in becoming Catholic, and I really, really want them to join me. After all, it was their trip to Italy and the Vatican and bringing back the gift of the Catholic bible and Rosary that inspired me from the beginning 4yrs ago.

My family think the Catholic Church is too strict, but I argued that it needed to be to help keep people on the straight and narrow. But they don’t like that, whereas I do. I need that strictness and discipline to help me, because I’m lost without direction otherwise. I need that help in being guided by the Church, and I don’t want too much freedom because otherwise I know I may veer off course.

What should I do? I almost feel like it’s not meant to be because we can’t do this together and I really want them there with me.
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A good idea might be to give everyone in your family a copy of a book such as Rome sweet Home. It would give them an understanding of why you are becoming Catholic and what it’s all about. Other than doing something like that I recommend simply accepting that your family may not accept your faith. It’s not easy but your not alone.
 
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