My friend says he receives Mary in the Eucharist?

[oldgraymare2]

He always asks me if I understand and agree with what he’s saying. I can only say I understand and keep on being nice to him. But I couldn’t say that I agree without feeling I was betraying my Lord and my own beliefs. He already knows that I disagree. He shocks me when he says things like this. All I can do is pray about this and continue being gracious, as he is gracious to me.

I’m trying to think of how to explain this carefully and tactfully.

I’m looking at this situation and I am saying this as someone who has helped to take care of elderly family members and friends over the years, and I’m looking at it from that way, so please bear with me.

I would simply look at this as someone who may just have aging issues.

If you think about, he keeps asking you if you agree with him, and he keeps bringing the issue up to you.

In my own personal opinion, you could just say that you have a different point of view, but that you enjoy talking to him and hearing what he has to say–something like that.

It may be that he simply wants someone to listen to what he has to say.

 

[ConstantLearner]

He always asks me if I understand and agree with what he’s saying. I can only say I understand and keep on being nice to him. But I couldn’t say that I agree without feeling I was betraying my Lord and my own beliefs. He already knows that I disagree. He shocks me when he says things like this. He says he has thought a lot about this and he believes it to be true.

He’s probably just confused because Mary gave birth to Jesus and Jesus carries her DNA. I would keep on saying I couldn’t agree, though, but gently, as I’m sure you do.

 

[Autumn-Smoke]

He can’t hear very well, so when we talk, I have to yell. It makes me feel doubly bad.

 

[oldgraymare2]

He can’t hear very well, so when we talk, I have to yell. It makes me feel doubly bad.

I see…

I don’t want to take this off-topic or make it into a medical issue, either.

You never know what someone is dealing with, that could affect their ability to comprehend situations, either, especially if they have difficulty hearing.

 

[Autumn-Smoke]

Thanks for everyone’s replies. Just like my message from last night at this time, it’s getting late here and I’m going to bed.

 

[ConstantLearner]

Sleep well!

 

[MaryEstelle2]

I also look at it as an aging issue and possibly poor catechism in his younger years. It isn’t unusual for older people to ask the same question often. I think being kind and patient are your virtues and wish we all had such graces.

 

[MagdalenaRita]

Yes, and a lot of times the elderly who are hard of hearing will pretend they hear you and then answer with what they think you said.

 

[oldgraymare2]

Yes, and a lot of times the elderly who are hard of hearing will pretend they hear you and then answer with what they think you said.

Yes…

I think you’re right about this.

I would experience this with my own elderly family members who didn’t hear well and who didn’t want to wear hearing aids.

I would end up having to repeat what I said to them.

 

[ConstantLearner]

Yes, and a lot of times the elderly who are hard of hearing will pretend they hear you and then answer with what they think you said.

I’m only in my thirties, but I lost the hearing in my right ear in an accident, though it’s returning slowly. I do the above. I have no idea what bizarre things I may have agreed with or to! It’s tiresome constantly asking people to repeat.