PJPII and the "New Evangelization" How do we convert our own?

[graceandglory]

How do we convert the mindset of older Catholics in the Church to John Paul II’s message of the Theology of the Body in respect to sexual morality?

I find it much easier to share the gospel of life with younger Catholics than with older ones, for whom sex and dating go hand in hand.

What is it that prevents the older Catholics from hearing Pope John Paul II’s message of hope and redemption?

 

[1ke]

Define “older.”

 

[graceandglory]

Good question 1ke,

I’m thinking older as in grew up in Post Vatican II, morally relativistic Catholic climate. These guys “came of age” during the sexual revolution, and seem harder to reach with the message of sexual redemption offered in the Theology of the Body. The cafeteria bunch, for a lack of a better term. The left-leaning, liberal ones.

The younger ones 20s-30’s have really had their lives touched by JP2, and seminaries are changing to reflect that.

Specifically, I’m thinking of several divorced and widowed Catholics who are over 50.

 

[rpp]

To be honest, I think that many of these people are simply unreachable. They have been taught by some (in the Church) that morality is fluid, flexible and evolves and that it most certainly is not fixed, universally applicable and unchanging. They have been taught the gospel of pseudo-self-respect and that guilt is bad. They have been told that their conscience without regard to what the Church really teaches, is the final authority on what is right and wrong.

In short, these people have been taught to exclude God from their lives and render Him only lip service.

Until you can get past that, you will not be able to reach these people.

Focus on God and concentrate on **why **personal holiness and righteousness is the most important thing to strive for. And when doing this, do not fail to mention both the consequences of striving to living a holy life, keeping God ever in sight, as well as the consequence for rationalizing bad behavior or rejecting some Church teachings.

 

[Bennie_P]

Like St. Francis (as well as all saints) did, by be a living example of Christ.

 

[grandmama16]

An example is what I’ve tried to be to my kids and grandkids because I know that my words are not taken too seriously. For instance, one of our grand daughters who has gone to Catholic school ( as well as her 3 siblings)since 1st grade and is going into 8th now, doesn’t genulfect so I asked her if she ever does and she said no but we didn’t get in to why as usually we go to different masses. I think the older sister does. She’s married but none of the others do. I want to encourage them to show respect for Our Lords presence but don’t want to be the nagging grandma. They’ve been thru the divorce of their parents due to his adultery several times…his re-marriage to a mormon and him getting active in that. Their mom, our daughter, waited until her annulment came thru before getting married a few years later to a man who also had an annulment so for the first time they are in a whole catholic family, including 2 step sisters, but they seem to be so casual about their faith. I doubt confessions enters in to it and I’m just confused as to how much I should say. They seem to be Sunday only Catholics, yet. I’m grateful for that because our 2 sons are away from the church and our mormon daughter died of breast cancer almost 2 yrs. ago. We have one very active catholic daughter. She is teaching her little boys to do all the catholic things which delights my heart. I’m just a worry wort I guess considering all that’s happened. M.A.

 

[Dempsey1919]

For instance, one of our grand daughters who has gone to Catholic school ( as well as her 3 siblings)since 1st grade and is going into 8th now, doesn’t genulfect so I asked her if she ever does and she said no but we didn’t get in to why as usually we go to different masses. I think the older sister does. She’s married but none of the others do. I want to encourage them to show respect for Our Lords presence but don’t want to be the nagging grandma.

Maybe you should consider taking your granddaughter to Mass with you, or perhaps you should attend Mass with her for a few weeks. I think they would learn by the example you set. Why not make dinner for them after Mass? This would be a perfect time for you to talk to them about the faith.

I think you should ask your granddaughters why they don’t genuflect in Church. Maybe they don’t know the reasons for doing this, and perhaps they don’t fully understand the doctrine of Transubstantiation or the Real Presence. If you teach them this doctrine, I’m sure they will begin the genuflect.

but they seem to be so casual about their faith. I doubt confessions enters in to it and I’m just confused as to how much I should say. They seem to be Sunday only Catholics,

You should do all you can to teach them about the faith, but take it slowly at first; all you need to do is plant seeds, and watch them grow. Do your granddaughter’s own Bibles and Catechisms? If not, then I know the perfect birthday and Christmas gifts .

Don’t forget that it’s your duty to pass the faith on to the next generation. If your granddaughter’s show a lack of interest when you try to talk to them about this, ask them why? Ask them what they think about religion in general? Ask them if they like going to Church, or if they only go because they feel as if they have to? Asking these types of questions will open up the lines of communication and you can begin teaching them based on where they are in their spiritual lives.

You’re not being a nagging grandma, you just have their best interests at heart. Don’t be too heavy when talking to them about this, as I said, start slowly and they’ll move at their own pace. The best thing to do is plant seeds by giving them spiritual books, or even a Rosary.

 

[grandmama16]

Thanks for the answers I received. Did I mention that these 4 of my grandkids go or have graduated from Catholic School? We did all we could to make sure, thru the divorce of their parents, they could stay in Cath. school. Now that our daughter has remarried a Catholic man with 2 little girls who also go to that school, I had hoped that their Catholicness would come out more but it seems to be less. I shouldn’t judge…they’ve been thru a lot and now they are back and forth between home and their father’s home with his new wife that he married the day after the divorce. and he brought her to their daughter’s wedding and included her in his side of the family’s photos. That was not a comfortable reception for me. Yes, they had been living together. I don’t know how much his newly regained mormonism is affecting the kids. He never practiced that religion when married to my daughter. He had affairs we didn’t know about but we did know about this one and was shocked when he decided he was mormon again. It just wasn’t the person we knew for 20 years. Anyway…the kids have to deal with that and I just do not have the opportunity to be an influence unless they are visiting us. I took care of these kids since infancy and seemed to have a lot of influence then. They are good kids and I’m proud of them but their mom and step dad need to be more Catholic in their home, I think anyway. They range in age now from 22 in Aug.(married with her own home), 18 today, 15 and 13. Yes, they have bibles and catechism and books,medals and crucifixes I’ve given them. I didn’t mention before that they often go to the College parish for Mass at 7pm Sun. eve and since there is little room between rows of chairs they do not kneel like at our parish so maybe that’s influencing their practices when they are at home. I guess I shouldn’t put so much of my own emotions on whether they genuflect or not. Our new church has plenty of room to do so but in our old one, which was “in the round” had chairs and it was difficult to know at what point you do genuflect…there was no room at the beginning of a row. : They experienced that for years. Also we knelt during Mass on the carpeted floor. Having kneelers now is a luxury. One pastor, years ago, did not have us kneel at all due to no kneelers.
Must go…we have a birthday party to go to…and yes, I’m giving Catholic gifts, whether they like it or not. M.A.

 

[Donna_Vecchia]

Good question to which there is no single answer. I have noticed that churches that have good solid Religious Education programs use preparation for the Sacraments (especially Baptism, First Reconciliation and Communion) as opportunities to have the parents practice their Catholic faith. Also, vibrant women’s programs and men’s programs and especially adult religious education classes are great ways for adult Catholics to learn about their faith. I got involved with our parish women’s program (Bible study, Catholic speakers), then my husband got involved in the men’s program, and now we are both taking the adult religious education course (for cradle Catholics) as well. And you better believe the kids are in Religious Education and the Catholic youth group!