This thread is a prayer answered for me. I came to CA today looking for insight into dealing with my marriage to a cradle Catholic whho does not really believe.
We have been married for 16 years. We are both cradle Catholics, and when we met, we both agreed we would like to marry Catholic and raise our children Catholic. Like many young people of our generation, we were somewhat lukewarm in practicing our faith before we married. After, we did our best, and seemed “matched” in our commitment. However, between sacramental preparation for our children, which I always handle, and participating in a faith-building course at our parish, my faith came alive in a very life-changing way over 4 years ago. since then, I have grappled with my husband’s lack of belief. I have often said I am on a great faith journey, with one foot nailed to the floor, because my husband does not budge one inch in his belief (or lack therof). He attends church sporadically, and when he is there, he is impatient, sighs, goofs around with the kids, and marches up to receive the Eucharist like he is just slamming back any old wafer of bread, and not the body and true presence of Christ. I just cringe! some people tell me I should just be glad that he sometimes attends church (versus spending Sundays in the office, oh that makes me so crazy) but I long to be a family that worships together, prays together, serves together.
Fortunately, my children seem to be moving along in their faith, especially my daughter, and God has equipped me for this role in their lives, but I still worry about my sons, as I feel they need the male role model in their father.
I don’t know why God would bless me with an ever increasing faith, and with holy people and priests who have such a huge impact on my life, yet I cannot have this one thing, a believing husband at my side. I want it so much for him, have prayed for it so much. He is so caught up in this world, and worldly pursuits, money, possessions, etc. and is missing out on the true joys of life.
Enough for now, I am taking this prayer to St. Monica and putting it into my daily prayer book, and I will begin to pray it daily. Thank you for this wonderful thread, and I pray for all of you, as I know how you feel, carrying this particular cross…