Studying and discussing Catholicism with my wife

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Many aspects of marriage are scary (I’ve been married for 20 years). It’s important to keep growing together. If HopkinsReb is asking questions about faith, he should also be sharing and bouncing these ideas off of his wife. This could lead to discovering answers together. Secrets in marriage are never a great idea. Partners in a marriage have the duty to try to get each other to heaven. If my husband was going down a path that I disagreed with, I’d want the chance to help him avoid it. Likewise, if I was going down a path that was wrong, in my heart of heats, I’d want him to question me.

As a Catholic, of course I think that Catholicism is correct, but as a wife, I’d want my husband to talk to me if he felt otherwise. Communication is key.
 
In regards to Purgatory, I think this article by Bryan Cross from Called to Communion and the lecture by Prof. Lawrence Feingold may prove to be enlightening.
 
To be clear, I’m not being secretive by any means. There’s a 16-inch-tall stack of various catachisms, Bible versions, and apologetics sitting in our living room. We’re just not discussing it, because she doesn’t want to. Instead, I’m using a sharp-as-a-whip tractarian Anglican friend of mine as my sounding board.
 
Good, I think it’s wise to be open about it. Ask her why she doesn’t want to talk about it? Is she hoping it will go away? Avoidance is not advisable with anything in a marriage.
 
Because supposedly the Catholics worship Mary and the Pope and believe that we have to earn our salvation.

Believe me, I’m trying. But bringing it up inevitably results in anger and tears, so I’m being very selective as to when to bring it up and trying to make sure I understand the topic in question well enough to state both sides fairly and defend my position well.

And, of course, with her, focusing on romance before Rome.
 
And right now I’ve just got a toe in the Tiber. But as that is manifesting as a visibly more Catholic Anglicanism, the reminders are always in front of her, which I’m sure doesn’t help. Hopefully it helps me become a better husband and therefore makes her more comfortable with it.
 
ColorMomma said:
If my husband was going down a path that I disagreed with, I’d want the chance to help him avoid it.
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If my husband was going down the path of converting to some other religion, I’d be talking to lawyers.
 
I’d like to second Scott Hahn’s book Rome Sweet Home that others have mentioned and also if she is willing maybe she might considered watching The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi on Monday nights on EWTN. From what I remember both Scott Hahn and Marcus Grodi were presbyterian. She may relate to them and also she may relate to some of the people Marcu Grodi interviews who have journeyed home to the Catholic Church. Marcus Grodi came into the Church from the witness of Scott Hahn.

Another person I recommend is Taylor Marshall. He used to be an Episcopalian priest, who converted to Catholicism. He has several websites. One is The New Saint Thomas Institute, NewSaintThomas.com. It costs a little bit but it has online studies and he goes step by step through the history of the Church, it’s beliefs, Mary, the Pope, non-Catholics and a lot more. Just a lot of information. He has another website TaylorMarshall.com which has many podcasts that do not cost. Again alot of information.

Pray the rosary and some novenas. It’s the best way to bring people home.

God bless.
 
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@MagdalenaRita
I’ve already read Rome Sweet Home twice and watched a bunch of Journey Home episodes. Really good stuff there.

I’ve also made my daily Anglican rosary more like the Marian rosary by incorporating more of the same prayers, but I’m going to delay going full-bore Marian rosary for the time being.

@Dacinom
I think it has helped me be a better husband. The study isn’t taking me away from her at all; I primarily read while she’s listening to podcasts and getting ready in the morning and while I’m on the train for my commute.

I think there is some fear of losing her husband, but not in the sense I think you’re asking about. She thought (may still think? I don’t know if she believed my statement to the contrary) that if I became Catholic the Church wouldn’t let me stay married to a Protestant.
 
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My wife was Methodist…she wasn’t anti-Catholic…but she attended her church I attended mine…now and then I’d go with her to her Methodist church…she would attend my Catholic church…there was no pressure from either of us…over time she started to ask me questions about the Catholic faith…she wanted to understand more so I suggested she attend RCIA…I told her I’d go with her…I didn’t press her and she decided she’d like to learn more…the Deacon who taught RCIA was very good…she was really shocked to find out that many of the beliefs and practices of the Catholic church were from the very beginnings of Christianity…she was actually quite disappointed that as a Protestant she had never been taught hardly anything about the early church or even heard of the writings of the early church fathers…she has been a Catholic now for 19 months…in that time she now…of here own free will…recites the rosary daily…the Divine Mercy daily…reads the scripture readings daily…the Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus daily…I think she’s now more Catholic than me…lol…just be patient and pray
 
My wife made a comment during our trip home for Christmas about the 12 Days of Christmas song’s being a code from when Catholics were persecuting Protestants for celebrating Christmas.

She was surprisingly open to my explaining that she had the persecution backwards (and that that explanation of the song is fictional). I call that progress.
 
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