Tips/Advice for helping friend back into Catholic/Christian Faith

[2bcontent]

I have become friends with a co-worker at work, and we have exchanged religious discussions. I have freely given him my journey journey of ups and downs, and a couple examples of what helped spur my faith … but I was wondering what other ideas some of Catholic Answers members might have.

He is 24, admits to having completely discounted the idea of God over the last 4-5 years…but has found himself thinking maybe its time for God to be back in his life.

thanks!

 

[theMutant]

What an exciting time. I can still remember when I started my return journey to faith and the Church.

As far as tips and advice go, the first thing that comes to mind is patience. Remember that it is the Holy Spirit who will move your friend. Offer yourself daily to be used by Him in the way He chooses to guide your friend back home to the Church. There’s nothing wrong with showing happiness about his direction back to the faith, but just remember that you are a guide - he will set the pace.

Next: If your friend is going to discuss the faith with you - seeking answers and understanding - prepare yourself with study. If you don’t know an answer, tell him you will look it up and let him know. The bonus to this is two-fold because it will deepen your own knowledge of the faith.

If your friend is the kind who enjoys reading, I can recommend several books that show reasonableness of faith in general and Catholicism in particular. I can’t list the titles in this post, except for two, because the books are at home.

G. K. Chesterton’s “Orthodoxy” is a fantastic book. It deals with his own journey to faith and Catholicism.

Another fantastic book by Chesterton is “The Everlasting Man.” This is the book that is said to have converted C. S. Lewis to Christianity from athiesm.

If you’re interested in more titles, please ask or send me an e-mail through the forum.