So just had a long night of emotional hard discussion. My gf of 6 months is non-denominational Christian. I am an not a very good Catholic. I was raised Catholic and for much of my youth I was faithful, but somewhere along the line I fell out. I’ve studied other faiths and lived immoral lifestyles, but I’ve come to realize that there is only one True Church. Slowly but surely God is leading me back. We both came to conclusion we can accept each other’s faiths. She has pretty much same beliefs that I do, but the one thing she could not agree nor accept is that if we got married that I would raise our kids Catholic. She feels children should have the choice whether they want to be Catholic or not. Unfortunately she has many misconceptions about the Church and it doesn’t help that her parents are former Catholics. I told her we both needed time away to pray and think about it. I told her if she truly loved me that she would pray to God and read What Catholics Really Believe. Not to convert her but so she may understand why I cant choose any other faith and why I am bound to raise my children Catholic.
I will say this right now I feel like well bad, and kinda mad that my heart chooses to be Catholic. Please pray for me as my faith isn’t as strong as it once was. Feel so alone.
I am so glad God is leading you back to the Church! and I’m glad you’re hear asking for prayers and chatting.
I think that you might look at this at a different angle. When someone is coming back to the Church, going to the sacraments, and is looking to get married one day and raise kids to be Catholic, what do you think is going to be the one thing to sabotage the whole thing? The easiest thing to have this fall apart is to marry an attractive christian girl with parents that are likely anti-Catholic, who are going to have many conversations with her over the years to make sure she doesn’t ‘fall for the Catholic stuff’. Do not underestimate the power of parents over a daughter, especially once a baby comes into the picture. As you are trying to build up, they will be tearing down.
“She has pretty much same beliefs that I do”. I think I can help you with that, to point out in a nutshell what Catholic beliefs she will have trouble with…
Firstly, Jesus gave us his body and blood as food for the journey. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have life within him”. She doesn’t believe that, and wow, that is pretty important, don’t you think? Your kids will see that she doesn’t believe that, and grandma and grandpa don’t believe that. That will have a huge impact on them.
Jesus said “What you bind on earth is bound, and what you loose is loosed”. He gave us bishops and priests to hear confessions and reconcile us to God. What a tremendous gift this is to the faithful! After baptism, when we fall, we can still be in God’s friendship with this sacrament. Your gf doesn’t believe this. What a tremendous shame that is.
Jesus established his Church and put the pope as his prime minister. This is a tremendous gift to humanity and a source of great mercy from Jesus. Your gf would not believe this. This is a great weight off our shoulders because we don’t have to be mini Popes to decide what this scripture really means or if we can or can’t do something. We have the constant teaching of the Church through out the centuries to guide us. Christ established his Church because it’s important.
Our Blessed Mother is a tremendous intercessor. So are all the saints! We ask for their kind prayers, especially during difficult times, and there’s no shortage of difficulties over the years. The rosary is the weapon of our times, a great gift to us. Your gf would not agree. How very sad. And, we don’t ‘worship’ Mary either. Please! But having her as our confident and friend is a great benefit.
If I could wish something for you, I would wish that you would find a lovely Catholic girl that you both could explore your faith together and walk together in this way. To grow from a child like understanding of the faith to a grown up, powerful, *pulling down the graces of God upon the world *kind of faith. Someone who will build up with you, laying down a strong foundation.
May God strengthen your resolve to grow in the faith and may the Holy Spirit enlighten you!
