Need help, please

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Theodosia33

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Hi, I’m new here and I am a covert.

Here’s my problem: I have been praying for years for my brother to draw near the Lord. Well, out of the blue and after 35 years my brother started going to church a couple of months ago. He just popped up one day and mentioned he had been going to our childhood UM church. I’m overjoyed and so thankful, BUT I want to teach him about Catholicism and don’t know how to go about it because he is so ignorant about the Bible and Christianity in general! Plus, he is automatically anti-catholic (not in the mean sense, but just because he’s been fed this over the years). I need some materials - books, websites etc. I need help figuring out where to even begin!

Thanks so much!

Theo
 
Well first of all, keep praying. Pray in thanksgiving that he has taken this step back toward the Lord, and pray that he will continue the journey all the way into the fullness of faith as you have. Rest in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit is the one who does the work, and remain open to the possibility that the Holy Spirit may use you in that effort - but also, that it is possible that your prayers are the only way that the Spirit intends to involve you in the process. (Well, except that your life is probably the loudest witness to the Faith that your brother sees.)

Next, get a copy of Alan Schreck’s Catholic and Christian. Read it yourself first, then offer it to him - explaining that you are giving it to him not to try and convince him of anything, but simply so he will have a better understanding of your faith. This may help to head off a lot of issues he may have or be inclined to develop.

“Man proposes, God disposes” the Scripture says.
 
Take you time, don’t rush. Live you faith well. Him seeing you living the joyous example of The Faith will be the better than any words can be. A living example always is. Then, as the subject may come up naturally, discuss The Faith with all love an charity.
You might also get the book from Catholic Answers “The Essential Catholic Survival Guide”, but for yourself to read so you can have answers when he asks the tough questions.
 
Theodosia33 said:
Hi, I’m new here and I am a covert.

Here’s my problem: I have been praying for years for my brother to draw near the Lord. Well, out of the blue and after 35 years my brother started going to church a couple of months ago. He just popped up one day and mentioned he had been going to our childhood UM church. I’m overjoyed and so thankful, BUT I want to teach him about Catholicism and don’t know how to go about it because he is so ignorant about the Bible and Christianity in general! Plus, he is automatically anti-catholic (not in the mean sense, but just because he’s been fed this over the years). I need some materials - books, websites etc. I need help figuring out where to even begin!

Thanks so much!

Theo
Click to expand...
here

catholicaudio.blogspot.com/

thecatholictreasurechest.com/index.htm

faithofthefathersearlychurchfathers.blogspot.com/2005/07/early-church-fathers.html

scripturecatholic.com/

scborromeo.org/ccc/ccc_toc2.htm

God bless you for what you are doing.
 
If you think he may be more inclined to listen to audio talks (.mp3’s) on Catholicism, you may go to my website and download all you want for free. The .mp3 files can be burned to CD’s, copied to .mp3 players (including iPod’s), or just listened to on one’s PC. He may be insterested in listening to folks who converted from various Protestant denominations to Catholicism (and why). There’s a page of those I put in there.

Anyway, here’s the site:

alabamacatholicresources.com/

In addition to that, I would highly recommend prayer (especially before the Blessed Sacrament, and Mass) and sacrifice (fasting, etc.) before approaching him. Kind of like stacking the deck against him. 😃
 
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