Teenagers and Catholic Faith

[Catholicforlife]

My parents made me and my sister attend mass when we were teens. my parents always went to the Saturday vigil but once we had jobs, we couldn’t. My sister was 5 years older than me so she did the driving. Often times she wouldn’t drive us to mass. We would even go at the last minute, grab a bulletin for proof and then leave. Many times I wanted to go but she didn’t so we didn’t. I was a lazy Catholic once I got out on my own but all those years of taking me to mass and sending me to Catholic school paid off. When life got tough, and it always does, I knew where to turn. My sister left the church for many years but by the grace of God has been led home. We are both remorseful of our wasted years that we didn’t understand. I would greatly encourage you to have your teens read apologetics info. I was very poorly catechized (yes even in 12 years of Catholic school) and I think that led to a lot of my problems. It is hard to walk away from the Eucharist when you truly understand what it is.
Just remember even if they fight you tooth and nail, even if they loose their way for a while, they will always find their way back home.
Peace
D

 

[pnewton]

I hope Paul doesn’t find it necessary to close this thread.

I see a lot of hope in fine Catholic teenagers like *aSaintoneday *(my daughter is 17 and a new Catholic)and *luckyirishguy14 *(my son is now 14 and is going throung RCIA). I am a convert five years ago and have witnessed my children go though a lot of the pains of conversion with me. I have never tried to “force” them to be Catholic. I have only tried to expose them to what I myself was going through.

Any way, at this time, they both have a real awareness of the reality of God, the reasons fof the Catholic faith and the tools to explore in the future what God has in store for them (my daughter is looking into spending time the summer with the Carmelite nuns).

My wife is now expecting our first child together (we were married nine years ago) and at age 45 I am looking at raising a son as a cradle Catholic. I am need of the hope that fine teens like yourselves bring that one may be raised in a Catholic family from birth and still remain faithful

I have been posting on these forums since May and for the first time I can hardly see the the screen for the tears. Perhaps for the Hope (a basic theological virtue) that is brought here, I can truly see the ministry that Catholic Answers has provided.

May God bless you two guys (girls) and the rest of you here in the life ahead of you.

 

[_pro-life_teen]

I used to be so bored at Mass until I came to the realization of the Real Presence.
I think you need to continue to force your children to go, for one reason, since it is your duty as a parent. I forgot who said it, but this statement would apply, “I love you, but I’m not going to hell for you.”
After you’ve done that, its up to your teens then, to make a conscious decsion to actually love Mass.