Lapsed Brother

[bobopus]

My Irish twin brother and I both graduated from a catholic high school although I must confess we were not properly catechized. We were both traumitized by Vatican II and both stopped attending Mass shortly after leaving home. We both have had good careers and did not really feel the need to have God in our lives but the hound of heaven was more concerned about my soul and decided that I should suffer a financial crisis causing me to lose everything. My brother has never married and I now live with him. He does not like to talk about things and feels that he is a “good” person and that most Catholic’s are hypocrits. He seems to support my return to the faith (he probaly feels that I need it) but shows no desire to return nor does he ask questions, etc although he has noticed a dramatic change in my life.
I pray for his return daily but does anyone have any suggestions of how to get him off the dime. I think he suffers form of pride that seems to feel that “religion” is good for some but not “needed” by all. Should I challenge him on this? He is a civil engineer and not much of a reader. Any suggestions??

 

[Momsix]

For now I would suggest Prayer, Prayer and more Prayer. Read and inform yourself as much as you can about the faith. Go ahead and leave the reading material lying around. There is a good article in This Rock somewhere about How Not to Convert Others or How to Evangelize but I couldn’t find it.
When I am particularly concerned about a conversion I will put a small round stone in my shoe to remind me to pray with out ceasing. It isn’t particularly painful but you never get “used” to it.
Momsix

 

[dsproule]

I have a similiar situation, but my brother (instead of being prideful…that is my father who doesn’t attend mass) feels that God doesn’t care about him and will never answer his prayers. When I went to confession last, I told my priest about this and he said to just keep inviting him. Don’t make him feel like what you are doing is wrong and hide it. It is totally right and you want him to know this. The faster he does, the faster he will come back to church.
St. Augustine is a good Saint to pray to. He was the son of St. Monica and had it all, along with the sins and lack of God. He came back to the church and became a saint. Maybe get a holy card or a pamplet on him and accidently leave it out.