Pray for My Mother and For Me, Please!

[JKirkLVNV]

I spoke with my mother today. As some of you know, my mother has been going through a bit of a rough patch in recent months, something that I had hoped would make her more open and receptive to Christ (she is a Christian, a Southern Baptist, but she hadn’t been in years, except weddings, funerals, etc). She’s been searching and I had hoped through our conversations that she would be open to our Faith (I gave her a book by Marcus Grodi and a rosary, etc.), but after today’s conversation (which I admit not handling well), she’s not open to the Church at all.

She started going to an adult singles Sunday school class at the local Baptist mega-church. She’s really enjoyed being with people her own age, etc. She told me that they weren’t narrow minded at all, why, they were about to start studying THE DA’VINCI CODE!!!" I said, in a defeated voice,“Mama, have you any idea how false and anti-Catholic that book is?” She said that the purpose of the study was to DEBUNK the book (I hope so).

Anyway, I said something to the effect that I was disappointed that she wasn’t open to the Catholic faith, she said that she didn’t feel like she wanted that kind of change at this stage of her life (she’s 64), and I said I didn’t understand that, and back and forth, and she said the bible doesn’t say that you have to be a Catholic to be saved or a Christian or whatever and I said do you know where you got your bible and back and forth and she snapped at me and I asked do you never want me to mention this again?and more back and forth.

So I feel that I’ve probably insured that my mother will never be open to the Faith and it’s my fault and while she may not go to hell, I rather feel like I should and if she does, I rather feel like it won’t matter if I was in Heaven, etc., etc., I feel very, very sad. Please pray for me and my mom, for her that Christ will never let go of her and for me, rotten sinner that I am.

 

[Scholastic17]

May i suggest the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy?

 

[MonicaC]

JKirkLVNV:

I spoke with my mother today. As some of you know, my mother has been going through a bit of a rough patch in recent months, something that I had hoped would make her more open and receptive to Christ (she is a Christian, a Southern Baptist, but she hadn’t been in years, except weddings, funerals, etc). She’s been searching and I had hoped through our conversations that she would be open to our Faith (I gave her a book by Marcus Grodi and a rosary, etc.), but after today’s conversation (which I admit not handling well), she’s not open to the Church at all.

She started going to an adult singles Sunday school class at the local Baptist mega-church. She’s really enjoyed being with people her own age, etc. She told me that they weren’t narrow minded at all, why, they were about to start studying THE DA’VINCI CODE!!!" I said, in a defeated voice,“Mama, have you any idea how false and anti-Catholic that book is?” She said that the purpose of the study was to DEBUNK the book (I hope so).

Anyway, I said something to the effect that I was disappointed that she wasn’t open to the Catholic faith, she said that she didn’t feel like she wanted that kind of change at this stage of her life (she’s 64), and I said I didn’t understand that, and back and forth, and she said the bible doesn’t say that you have to be a Catholic to be saved or a Christian or whatever and I said do you know where you got your bible and back and forth and she snapped at me and I asked do you never want me to mention this again?and more back and forth.

So I feel that I’ve probably insured that my mother will never be open to the Faith and it’s my fault and while she may not go to hell, I rather feel like I should and if she does, I rather feel like it won’t matter if I was in Heaven, etc., etc., I feel very, very sad. Please pray for me and my mom, for her that Christ will never let go of her and for me, rotten sinner that I am.

Hello,

First of all I just wanted to reassure you that your mothers conversion will have nothing really to do with you, and is truely only up to the Holy Spirit. So don’t worry about ruining it.

What you can do is just keep being a positive influnece. Just keep doing what you are doing and pray. I will say that a rosary a day for her will help. I too, will say a pray for her and you.

Good Luck,

Monica

 

[Walking_Home]

Jkirk,

I will keep your mother and you in my prayers.

 

[x4us]

MonicaC:

Hello,

First of all I just wanted to reassure you that your mothers conversion will have nothing really to do with you, and is truely only up to the Holy Spirit. So don’t worry about ruining it.

What you can do is just keep being a positive influnece. Just keep doing what you are doing and pray. I will say that a rosary a day for her will help. I too, will say a pray for her and you.

Good Luck,

Monica

I echo Monica’s good advice - conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our work is to be gentle and respectful when we talk w/ others about our faith (I Peter 3:15) - but that can be so hard when we feel strongly about something and/or really love the person we’re talking to.

The most important thing you can do is pray - for your Mom and for yourself. St. Monica’s intercession is very powerful w/ conversion.

God Bless.

 

[Tonks40]

One of the things I remember hearing was that as sinners, what do we do?? We get up and try again. The saints were like that. They never gave up, even when they were at their lowest.

Don’t give up on your mother. You may have to keep quiet for a while about her looking into the Church, but keep up the prayers for her. And don’t get too down on yourself, either. You’re response is an honest, human reaction of her decision for now. It will not be your fault if she decides never to convert to the Catholic faith.

Keep the faith! God Bless!

 

[Tinkerbell]

I kind of have the same problem but just the opposite way. I’m the Mom and my son is the one that chuch shops. We have had many debates about religion but I never get anywhere so I decided to just pray. Boy, it sure is hard to keep my mouth shut sometimes, but I do. The couple of times I thought he was leaving the church, I started going to the Adoration Chapel and he has come back to Mass both times. So you should try going to the Adoration Chapel. It is so peaceful, quiet and you can really pour out your troubles to God and give him thanks for all the good things going on in your life. You will be doing something good for the both of you. Next time I go to the Chapel I will say a pray for you and your Mom.

 

[Scholastic17]

Tinkerbell:

I kind of have the same problem but just the opposite way. I’m the Mom and my son is the one that chuch shops.

Have you considered giving your son a good spanking?

“Spare the rod;spoil the child.”

 

[Tinkerbell]

Scholastic17:

Have you considered giving your son a good spanking?

“Spare the rod;spoil the child.”

Since he is an adult I don’t think he would appreciate that

 

[Scholastic17]

Tinkerbell:

Since he is an adult I don’t think he would appreciate that

Bah humbugh. Next time he even talks about church shopping, beat the little schismatic into submission. :dancing:

 

[JKirkLVNV]

Thank you all for the good advice and the prayers. In the future, I’m going to restrict myself to answering her questions when she asks them and praying. She IS a Christian and she is involved in a Christian community, albeit not the one I would wish. I should be grateful for that much, at least.