My friend left the Church--please pray for both of us!

  • Thread starter Thread starter timeandeternity
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

timeandeternity

Guest
I have a friend who left the Church last semester. She is a wonderful person and very sincere, but she is very inclined to react to her emotion and does not possess strong logic–which are the two biggest reasons that she is no longer Catholic. The Church has always made it clear that if a person rejects the Church with full knowledge and consent, he puts his soul in danger: “They cannot be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or remain in it” (cf. LG 14). I don’t know how full her knowledge was, but I am certainly afraid for her soul. Obviously I can’t judge whether or not she will be damned, but I fear the worst and will be having conversations with her very soon.
Unfortunately, when I first heard that she had left, I leaned too far in the direction of making it clear that I didn’t hate her or judge her. She certainly knows that I believe the Catholic Church is the One True Church of Christ, but in my conveying to her that I do think that Protestants are also Christian, I think I may have gone too far and given the impression that I don’t think it’s really a big deal that she’s not Catholic. I really want to remedy that, which is a big reason why I’m going to strike up conversations with her soon.
I just wanted to ask everyone to please pray for me, that God will use me to enlighten her and bring her back, and that He will be able to fix the mistakes that I’ve made–innocently and knowingly–in not being a strong witness for the Faith. I need the grace to deal with this sensitively without compromising the truth, and to make it clear to her how urgent it is that she returns without scaring her off or seriously offending her. Please pray for her as well. She also has a close friend whom I know (and may decide to talk to as well), who left the Church last year. He got married in an Episcopalian Church this spring. Please pray for his return as well.
I just can’t help thanking God that I’m Catholic! It saddens me to see what my friends have lost.
 
Praying for you and your friends. God bless.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
 
Stay Strong and Trust in the Holy Spirit He will guide You.

Make sure to pray this Prayer

Come O **Holy Spirit **and fill our Hearts with Your Holy Gifts Let our weakness be penetrated with Your Holy Strength this very day that we may fufill all the duties of our state of life conscientiously that we may do what is just and right. Let our Charity be such as to offend no one and hurt no ones feelings so generous as to pardon sincerely any wrong done againist me. O assist me Holy Spirit in my trials of life, Enlighten me in my ignorance, advise me in my doubts, strenghten me in my weakness, help me in my needs, and protect me in my temptations, and console me in my afflictions. O graciously hear me O Holy Spirt and pour out thy Light into my Heart, my Soul, and My Mind. O assist me Holy Spirit to live a Holy Life and to grow in Goodness and in Grace.
 
timeandeternity said:
I have a friend who left the Church last semester. She is a wonderful person and very sincere, but she is very inclined to react to her emotion and does not possess strong logic–which are the two biggest reasons that she is no longer Catholic. The Church has always made it clear that if a person rejects the Church with full knowledge and consent, he puts his soul in danger: “They cannot be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or remain in it” (cf. LG 14). I don’t know how full her knowledge was, but I am certainly afraid for her soul. Obviously I can’t judge whether or not she will be damned, but I fear the worst and will be having conversations with her very soon.
Unfortunately, when I first heard that she had left, I leaned too far in the direction of making it clear that I didn’t hate her or judge her. She certainly knows that I believe the Catholic Church is the One True Church of Christ, but in my conveying to her that I do think that Protestants are also Christian, I think I may have gone too far and given the impression that I don’t think it’s really a big deal that she’s not Catholic. I really want to remedy that, which is a big reason why I’m going to strike up conversations with her soon.
I just wanted to ask everyone to please pray for me, that God will use me to enlighten her and bring her back, and that He will be able to fix the mistakes that I’ve made–innocently and knowingly–in not being a strong witness for the Faith. I need the grace to deal with this sensitively without compromising the truth, and to make it clear to her how urgent it is that she returns without scaring her off or seriously offending her. Please pray for her as well. She also has a close friend whom I know (and may decide to talk to as well), who left the Church last year. He got married in an Episcopalian Church this spring. Please pray for his return as well.
I just can’t help thanking God that I’m Catholic! It saddens me to see what my friends have lost.
Click to expand...
I can sympathize with you on that, it is one of my greatest pains to see someone leave
the Father’s house. That is a real spiritual bummer. But then there is always hope which
we must never let go of in Jesus and Mary. His mercy is magnanimous. And His mother is very consoling and understanding. Speaking of which you could try the following.
 
The Green Scapular is a “no brainer”.

Ten years after the manifestation of the Miraculous Medal to Sister Catherine Laboure in 1830,
the Blessed Mother entrusted the Green Scapular of the Immaculate Heart to
Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, likewise a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

Practices
  1. Wear or carry the scapular
  2. To help another, place it in their vicinity (i.e. their room)
  3. Pray, at least daily: “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”
  4. The prayer should be said for oneself and separately for each person to whom it has been given
    (unless they pray themselves)
  5. No enrollment of any kind is necessary, but each scapular should be blessed by a priest
    (general blessing of sacramentals)
  6. Have confidence in the effects of the scapular:
“The greatest graces come from using the scapular but these graces come
in direct proportion to the degree of confidence in me which the user has.” Mary’s own words.

Promises/Benefits
  1. Conversion of those who do not have the faith
  2. Reconciliation to the Church for those who have lost/strayed from the faith
  3. Assurance of a happy death
  4. Strengthening of the faith for those already in the Church
  5. Protection from Satan for those who wear or promote the scapular
Remind our Lady each day that she promised and you know she will make good.

Be faithful to the prayer. She didn’t say when, just that she promised it would happen.​

“Yes, blessed is she who BELIEVED that the PROMISE made her by the Lord would be FULFILLED.”
(Lk. 1;45) St. Elizabeth
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top