My Dad is curious

[MSParrott]

I don’t know if this is in the right place, so Mods, please move it if not.

I was talking with my Dad today on the phone. Just our weekly chat, or so I thought. Now you may or may not know that he was born and raised Catholic, he and my Mom left the Church, they converted to mormonism and he joined the masons.

Anyway, today he got real quiet and then asked me if I felt a closeness to Pope John Paul II. I told him yes, he asked me why and I told him that I just felt a sense of Holyness about him and he seemed like a kind and gentle soul. My Dad agreed and started talking about all the things he loved about him and about when JPII passed away he (my Dad) was saddened, but knew that he was Home with the Lord. He then told me he has 2 DVD’s about JPII that he bought from PBS that he wants me to have, as he enjoyed watching them. He then started talking about TLM and how both he and my Mom really felt the presence of Jesus in that setting and most especially in the Eucharist.

If you’ve followed me this far, I thank you! It may not seem like that big a deal to some, but these words coming from my Dad’s mouth almost made me fall out of my chair! He then went on to say that he has done some reading on Pope Benedict XVI and he thinks he has some really good ideas with bringing back traditional music in Mass they way it used to be (before Vatican II). He also said that he watches EWTN and suggested I try watching it myself, as there are always good programs on.

I guess I’m just posting this because I am SOOO happy that my Dad took a step and initiated this conversation with me. I want to ask him to come to Mass with me - I know he can’t receive communion until he leaves the masons and goes to confession, but I feel like it would be WONDERFUL to bring him to Mass!

Does anyone have any ideas as to how I could broach the subject? I don’t want to scare him off or anything. But I may buy him a book or OOOH I just thought I could send him one of my Rosarys!!! Would that be too over the top?

Thanks for reading my ramblings and thanks also for any suggestions you may have.

 

[johnco]

hi,

this very web-site “catholic answers” has a pamphlet, “pillar of fire, pillar of truth”. send it to your dad.

God bless,

johnco

 

[lizaanne]

I know exactly how you feel!!! I’m so very happy for you!!! My Dad recently came back to the Faith after many years of being a so-so Catholic, never really going to Mass unless he had to, and not going to Confession. We sat for over an hour while he told me of his coming back, realizing he needed to have his butt back in Church, and that he went for a 20+ year confession. I cried and sobbed, I was so happy!!

I would suggest that you click on the link in my signature and look for a DVD called “The Mass” (let me know if you need help). It is a beautiful and rich look at the Mass the way Christ intended us to know it - I don’t think it would be pushy, and you can always view it yourself before you give it to them.

God Bless you in helping your parents get back home - it sounds like they are on their way!

~Liza

 

[wardrandolph]

God is good.You know your Dad,maybe he wants you to ask him to go to Mass.May I suggest a book byGeorge Weigel,Witness to Hope,The Biography of Pope John Paul ll.I recieved this book as a fathers day present a couple of yrs.ago.Great book.Will keep you in my prayers.Peace.

 

[water]

I read your whole thing. It is very happy moment for you, indeed …it is for me too.

I believe he misses the Mass and Jesus in the tabernacle, but try not to approach too quick on him. Discussion some topics about the Pope JPII and current events that Pope Benedict mentioned and programs on EWTN. These are the things that will help your dad open up even more.

I’d like this to be the the first step to discuss more with your dad. Pray hard, the Holy Spirit will guide you both on the next step.

 

[JRKH]

MSParrott,
Thank you for sharing this news with us.
It appears your folks were possibly put off by the “New Mass” and other changes in the Church. (Based on his comments about the TLM and Benedict)
You might try finding out if there is a TLM celebrated near them and letting them know where it is. (Are they near you? You could go together?) If they aren’t ready to entertain reverting they might still choose to go for nostalgic reasons - Then who knows.

In the meantime, my advise is to go slow and easy with him/them and let the HS work.

Peace
James

 

[MarieVeronica]

Try saying… “Dad, I’d really love to have you and Mom join me for Mass some Sunday”. Maybe include breakfast out, after. From what you told us, my guess is that they will accept your invitation.

Or, you could ask them to join you for Eucharistic Adoration (since your dad already expressed his feelings, on the subject)… and just let Our Lord do the rest! Many miracles are worked, in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

God bless all of you.

 

[MSParrott]

Thanks everyone for your awesome responses. …

I think I’m gonna ask my Dad if he would like to come with me to a TLM Mass (which is a few towns away) - and kind of “hint” that perhaps he can guide me through it, for the parts he remembers. My Mom passed away almost 4 years ago . I also may get him a book about Pope John Paul II from EWTN, as I think he would really like that.

I am still in shock (a good kind, though) that he brought all of this up. It’s like a treasure has been uncovered. When we were talking about this on Sunday, he mentioned that he and my Mom were kind of disheartened when the TLM’s started fading out. I’ve never been to one, but from what I’ve read on CAF and from what he told me about them, they sound BEAUTIFUL. I’ve always wanted to go, and now maybe my chance is to go with my Dad. What an awesome gift!

Hopefully he will be open to attending with me, but if not, I will continue to pray for him (and please pray for him, too) and I am still definitely going to get him a book about JPII.

 

[water]

It looks like he is also missing your mom and those days when they both went to TLM. If he wants to go with you, that is a big comfort for him.

 

[MSParrott]

Wow, I never thought of it that way. They got divorced when I was 9, but he still talks about her (in a nice way) and was beside himself with grief when she passed. Thanks for posting this, it is really nice to hear and makes so much sense.