Possibly Damaged Others' Faith ---Correcting My Mistake?

[Canary47]

I hope this is the right place to post this.

Recently, I thought about a while back when I had questioned my faith and had wanted to convert to Protestantism as a result of bad information. During that time I, spoke to others about my sentiments and probably said things about the Church that weren’t true. Fast forward to the present and I now know where the truth is:thumbsup:

I also remembered those people who I spoke to, and wonder if perhaps the things I said affected them in a negative way (ex: their belief in the Catholic Church) I asked my confessor if I’m obliged to correct them (I beleive that was the term I used) and he said yes. At first, I had just a handful of people in mind, but now that I think of it, I can’t really remember all the people I spoke to or if someone near by heard me. I don’t know if I should just speak to those I know heard me, or everyone I might suspect (for example, a mormon teacher who I beleive was in the same room when I spoke about wanting to convert and can’t remember wether or not she heard me) I also don’t know if I should confront those people whom I told about my doubts or just those whom I told lies to about the Church.

The thing is, I hardly see or talk to most of these people anymore and find it a bit odd to walk up to a semi-stranger and say “oh remember that time when I doubted the Catholic Church? Well it’s all ok now and I’ve decided to stay Catholic.”

But if it’s God’s will then I guess I’ll go for it.
I also spoke about few people I hurt in my past and he told me that I should go find them and apologize which I am working on right now.

It might be of an interest that I mention this. The same day of this Confession, I started a novena to St. Francis Xavier asking for humility, prudence, charity amd fortitude and when I think about it, alot of this seems to require these things! It’s just that I feel I might need some clarification as to “who” I should speak to and not become scrupulous about it.

I also plan on asking my Confessor about this, but any advice would be appreciated.

God Bless:wave:

 

[ppeter]

I encourage you to keep talking to your confessor if you’re not sure of the best way to put things right. It’s a grace to be able to see you need to do something.
The final decision as to what exactly you should do remains yours, though. How about praying for the gifts of counsel and fortitude?
If you pray and think about your situation, I’m sure you can come up with a creative, appropriate, and effective way to do it.
Maybe you could write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Or just a personal letter. Maybe you could let them know in some indirect way that you love and trust the Church for Christ’s sake. For some people, prayer and sacrifice may be the only way to reach them.

 

[baltobetsy]

I think when you are deciding to whom you should speak about your prior statements about the Church, you should consider speaking only to those who were really likely to be influenced by your statements by virtue of their relationship with you.

You mentioned people who might have been standing nearby. There is no expectation that a perfect stranger whom you will never see again will make an important life decision based on something he hears in passing from you. I think you can let go of these.

On the other hand, if you were close friends with someone and had long conversations where you agonized over your decision, and they never found out that it ended happily, perhaps you might consider a chatty letter which includes the resolution of your doubts among other news. That might open up a line of communication with that person that leads to their embracing the Faith.

Keep working and praying with this - I’m sure your novena will be fruitful.

Betsy

 

[Huiou_Theou]

Canary47,

A simple outlook of being evangelical even to those whom you have not scandalized is also Good. By showing love for the church in public settings,
like those where you found the ability to speak about converting before, has the reperational effect where strangers are concerned. You won’t remember every circumstance, so the above poster who says single out those whom you could have most influenced is probably all the confessor could really be asking.

Also a simple statement, such as praying grace in public resteraunts – or perhaps, admitiing your catholicity to the Jehovah witnesses whom visit occasionally (although it would be easy to turn them away as pests) and especially spending some time in prayer for all those who need the Grace of conversion also speaks volumes in penitence.

God bless you.

 

[Newbie2]

I think when you are deciding to whom you should speak about your prior statements about the Church, you should consider speaking only to those who were really likely to be influenced by your statements by virtue of their relationship with you.

You mentioned people who might have been standing nearby. There is no expectation that a perfect stranger whom you will never see again will make an important life decision based on something he hears in passing from you. I think you can let go of these.

On the other hand, if you were close friends with someone and had long conversations where you agonized over your decision, and they never found out that it ended happily, perhaps you might consider a chatty letter which includes the resolution of your doubts among other news. That might open up a line of communication with that person that leads to their embracing the Faith.

Keep working and praying with this - I’m sure your novena will be fruitful.

Betsy

Agreed. Don’t worry about the people you cannot remember speaking with, or those that might have overheard. Just make it a point to speak with those you do remember, and take opportunities to speak of your “conversion” when the occasion presents itself. The Almighty will present you with such opportunities, somewhere, sometime.

 

[Canary47]

I think I pretty much know who to say something to, as well as how I should act charitably to and around these peolpe (and everyone else of course ) but I have another question about the apologies I owe. My confessor said that I should (or was obliged, can’t really remember) to go find these people (that I hurt in my past, not those whom I coversed with about Catholicism) and apologize, and since I haven’t done this, should I refrain from recieving the Eucharist? I do plan on apololgizing sometime this week, but probably not before Mass today.

I think it would be okay to recieve, but I wasn’t 100% sure.

 

[dessert]

I think I pretty much know who to say something to, as well as how I should act charitably to and around these peolpe (and everyone else of course ) but I have another question about the apologies I owe. My confessor said that I should (or was obliged, can’t really remember) to go find these people (that I hurt in my past, not those whom I coversed with about Catholicism) and apologize, and since I haven’t done this, should I refrain from recieving the Eucharist? I do plan on apololgizing sometime this week, but probably not before Mass today.

I think it would be okay to recieve, but I wasn’t 100% sure.

Your humility is inspiring, I would not worry about communion, recieve. Be ready to be bringing them back to the faith and they will be drawn to you, welcome home.

 

[Gertabelle]

I was away from the Church for years and years, living a life of sin, and during that time I encouraged others to “be free” and do “whatever makes you happy.” This went on for years.

Since I have returned to the faith – through God’s grace and mercy – I have talked with people from my past with whom I have contact, but haven’t gone out of my way to find people (my confessor never asked me to). But I also have not forgotten the damage I may have done all those years. So I pray and do penance for the salvation of those I may have influenced, and for the souls of those who are lost like I used to be.

Those of us who have strayed, in our thoughts and in our deeds, understand best how easy a path this is to follow. And our prayers for others can be powerful for this very reason.

God bless you.

Gertie

 

[Canary47]

Your humility is inspiring, I would not worry about communion, recieve. Be ready to be bringing them back to the faith and they will be drawn to you, welcome home.

actually, pride is one of the sins I seem to fall into the most (which is probably why I asked for humility in my novena to St. Francis Xavier ) I’m fascinated by the lives of the saints and hope to live my faith in such a way so as to apply that “preach the Gospel, use words if necessary” phrase.

 

[mark_a]

I hope this is the right place to post this.

Recently, I thought about a while back when I had questioned my faith and had wanted to convert to Protestantism as a result of bad information. During that time I, spoke to others about my sentiments and probably said things about the Church that weren’t true. Fast forward to the present and I now know where the truth is:thumbsup:

I also remembered those people who I spoke to, and wonder if perhaps the things I said affected them in a negative way (ex: their belief in the Catholic Church) I asked my confessor if I’m obliged to correct them (I beleive that was the term I used) and he said yes. At first, I had just a handful of people in mind, but now that I think of it, I can’t really remember all the people I spoke to or if someone near by heard me. I don’t know if I should just speak to those I know heard me, or everyone I might suspect (for example, a mormon teacher who I beleive was in the same room when I spoke about wanting to convert and can’t remember wether or not she heard me) I also don’t know if I should confront those people whom I told about my doubts or just those whom I told lies to about the Church.

The thing is, I hardly see or talk to most of these people anymore and find it a bit odd to walk up to a semi-stranger and say “oh remember that time when I doubted the Catholic Church? Well it’s all ok now and I’ve decided to stay Catholic.”

But if it’s God’s will then I guess I’ll go for it.
I also spoke about few people I hurt in my past and he told me that I should go find them and apologize which I am working on right now.

It might be of an interest that I mention this. The same day of this Confession, I started a novena to St. Francis Xavier asking for humility, prudence, charity amd fortitude and when I think about it, alot of this seems to require these things! It’s just that I feel I might need some clarification as to “who” I should speak to and not become scrupulous about it.

I also plan on asking my Confessor about this, but any advice would be appreciated.

God Bless:wave:

If these people were strong Catholics, they probably thought you were a nut anyway. They’ll know you’ve been humbled when they see you at mass.