Is it essential to correct my elderly Christian mother?

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I’m not sure how,or even if I should, try to change my mother’s mind. She has been a Christian her whole life. She depends on Jesus to get her through rough times. This includes the depression, WWII, the death of her husband, etc. She’s now in her 80s and in a nursing home. When mom tells me about her faith and encourages me in mine I get uncomfortable: “Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (Outside the Church there is no salvation).” It would seem that the only charitable thing to do would be to tell her that she needs to convert to the Roman Catholic Church. Would it be better to encourage her in the (strong) Christian faith she already has considering her age? (Note: she lives hundreds of miles away and so I rarely see her face to face.)
I would appreciate any thoughts on this.
Dominus vobiscum
 
Reg_Smith said:
I’m not sure how,or even if I should, try to change my mother’s mind. She has been a Christian her whole life. She depends on Jesus to get her through rough times. This includes the depression, WWII, the death of her husband, etc. She’s now in her 80s and in a nursing home. When mom tells me about her faith and encourages me in mine I get uncomfortable: “Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (Outside the Church there is no salvation).” It would seem that the only charitable thing to do would be to tell her that she needs to convert to the Roman Catholic Church. Would it be better to encourage her in the (strong) Christian faith she already has considering her age? (Note: she lives hundreds of miles away and so I rarely see her face to face.)
I would appreciate any thoughts on this.
Dominus vobiscum
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All you can do is encourage her to continue to pray and seek God’s will. All you can do for her is pray that God will show her His will.
 
Does she have any inclination to move or is she comfortable right where she is?

The distance is a big issue. If you only see your mother on rare occasion then showing her love and respect is a priority. All the other issues will disappear in time.

May God Bless your family
 
Br. Rich SFO
and
Highwayhound

Thank you for your comments and advice. Mom is happy where she is at the present. I offer up each Mass for her health, etc. I suppose I should especially ask God to give her spiritual guidance.

Thanks again, Reg.
 
Reg_Smith said:
I “Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (Outside the Church there is no salvation).”
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Optimally, she would be Catholic. But remember, EENS is more or less Christian, not just Catholic Christian.

Being a member of Holy Mother Church is much more helpful to get you into Heaven, but one can still get there even if not fully in Communion with her.

Offer your prayers and your sufferings up for your mother - we all need all the help we can get in staying right with God.
 
kage_ar said:
How did your mother react to your conversion?
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She didn’t really make any comment – I don’t think she wanted to interfere with my decision and was at least happy that I was serious about my faith. She was, however, concerned about her children leaving the very protestant Anglican community.
Thanks everyone for your help and concern.
Reg.
 
Reg_Smith said:
I’m not sure how,or even if I should, try to change my mother’s mind. She has been a Christian her whole life. She depends on Jesus to get her through rough times. This includes the depression, WWII, the death of her husband, etc. She’s now in her 80s and in a nursing home. When mom tells me about her faith and encourages me in mine I get uncomfortable: “Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (Outside the Church there is no salvation).” It would seem that the only charitable thing to do would be to tell her that she needs to convert to the Roman Catholic Church. Would it be better to encourage her in the (strong) Christian faith she already has considering her age? (Note: she lives hundreds of miles away and so I rarely see her face to face.)
I would appreciate any thoughts on this.
Dominus vobiscum
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My thoughts are that it sounds like your aged Mother is a good Christian. Perhaps it will make you feel better to read the Cathechism pertaining to this. There most certainly can be salvation for those outside the Church. Your dear mother is not aware that she is missing the fullness of the faith. You stating that fact won’t make her fully aware. Trust in God on this one.
 
Now, my post may be offensive so I warn you ahead.

YES!! You must attempt to convert her soul to the True and Holy Religion which God has founded on this earth.

“No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.”- Pope Eugene IV
 
requiemaeturnum said:
Now, my post may be offensive so I warn you ahead.

YES!! You must attempt to convert her soul to the True and Holy Religion which God has founded on this earth.

“No one, let his almsgiving be as great as it may, no one, even if he pour out his blood for the Name of Christ, can be saved, unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.”- Pope Eugene IV
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I will say again to the original poster…read your Catechism concerning the Church’s belief in possible salvation outside the Church.
 
Of course it would be ideal that your mother become a Catholic and receive the Sacraments, but if that does not happen, there is still hope for her salvation.

If she was pretty easy-going about your conversion, see if you can get her to pray the Rosary with you, even just once. Our Lady will take care of the rest.
 
Seriously why does it matter? God is God, you believe the same thing, don’t get into splitting minute, irrelevant hairs.
 
The Catholic faith is neither irrelevant nor minute, and I think it is awful to degrade someone’s concern for their elderly mother. The OP is concerned out of love for her mother, and it is unnecessary to insult the OP’s question and to swear in your post.
 
Vulneris said:
Seriously why does it matter? God is God, you believe the same thing, don’t get into splitting minute, irrelevant hairs.
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That’s my problem. Protestants and Catholics DO NOT believe the same things. I sometimes find myself shutting up rather than correcting her on some heretical ideas she’s believed all her life. (Such as not having a problem attending a Catholic Mass and receiving Communion; Catholics ‘worshiping’ Mary and the saints; not acknowledging Tradition, to name a few topics.)
And 95% of our conversations are long-distance phone calls.

I’m praying. Thanks to all of you for your varied opinions.
 
Has God not been with her the past 80 years?

If He has, why despair of her faith practices now?

I rather think God will find her belief acceptable. You should as well.
 
Reg_Smith said:
That’s my problem. Protestants and Catholics DO NOT believe the same things. I sometimes find myself shutting up rather than correcting her on some heretical ideas she’s believed all her life. (Such as not having a problem attending a Catholic Mass and receiving Communion; Catholics ‘worshiping’ Mary and the saints; not acknowledging Tradition, to name a few topics.)
And 95% of our conversations are long-distance phone calls.

I’m praying. Thanks to all of you for your varied opinions.
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Don’t know if you are still checking this thread but I’ll respond as if you are.

As is typical of many non-Catholics your Mother does not believe in “what she thinks” are Catholic beliefs. In other words, we don’t believe in “worshipping Mary and the Saints” either. She does not understand. God will.
 
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