Unchristian grandfather dying

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My 84 year old grandfather broke his hip and is in the hospital. They seem to be finding a host of things wrong with him other than the hip. It does not look good.
My concern is that, to my knowledge, he is not a christian. Neither is my grandmother.
I want to ask them if he has been baptised or would he atleast consider being baptised now. But talk of religion and the truth about Christ is something that has always been “off limits” in my family. If I try to share anything about Christ, no matter how subtle, they just look at me blankly and change the subject.
I do not have a close relationship with them .
You can imagine how they react to the fact that my husband and I do not use birthcontrol, they think we are “trying to populate the world”. And to the fact that I homeschool.
My point is, that I do not have any esteem in their eyes. So, for me to bring up salvation at this point I’m afraid would be a thorn in their side…but I always wonder. And I do believe that we have a responsibility to share Christ others.
Any suggestions? Prayer is on the top of the list. I have thought of asking the hospital chaplain to go see them, unanomously. I have also had thoughts of bringing a basket of goodies with some simple literature about suffering and about salvation. Do you have any suggested titles that are good in this type a situation where one does not have a belief in Christ?
Peace,
Ladybug
 
by not a christian, do you mean jewish, muslim, or some other faith or do they just not express their faith and beliefs to you or in the manner that you think they should…

short answer… pray? of course… and i see no harm in the other ideas you mention…

I wouldn’t assume however that they are lost only because your not sure… good luck, and i will keep all of you in my prayers… 👍
 
No he is not of any of the faiths you listed.

The last thing I want to do is to step in and say something when that is the last thing I should do. I want to assume that they know Christ on the inside. That they have salvation and have just never spoken about it.
 
The Divine Mercy chaplet prayed for your grandfather would be a help and consolation. In her diary Divine Mercy In My Soul, St. Faustina records this:

1797 Today, the Lord came to me and said, My daughter, help Me to save souls. You will go to a dying sinner, and you will continue to recite the chaplet, and in this way you will obtain for him trust in My mercy, for he is already in despair.

1798 Suddenly, I found myself in a strange cottage where an elderly man was dying amidst great torments. All about the bed was a multitude of demons and the family, who were crying. When I began to pray, the spirits of darkness fled, with hissing and threats directed at me. The soul became calm and , filled with trust, rested in the Lord.

At the same moment, I found myself again in my own room. How this happens…I do not know.

You can be beside your grandfather in spirit through your prayers. St. Faustina also was told by our Lord, "The prayer of a humble and loving soul disarms the anger of My Father and draws down an ocean of blessings."

You can find the chaplet here savior.org/devotions.htm

Peace,
Joanna
 
The Divine Mercy chaplet prayed for your grandfather would be a help and consolation. In her diary Divine Mercy In My Soul, St. Faustina records this:

1797 Today, the Lord came to me and said, My daughter, help Me to save souls. You will go to a dying sinner, and you will continue to recite the chaplet, and in this way you will obtain for him trust in My mercy, for he is already in despair.

1798 Suddenly, I found myself in a strange cottage where an elderly man was dying amidst great torments. All about the bed was a multitude of demons and the family, who were crying. When I began to pray, the spirits of darkness fled, with hissing and threats directed at me. The soul became calm and , filled with trust, rested in the Lord.

At the same moment, I found myself again in my own room. How this happens…I do not know.

You can be beside your grandfather in spirit through your prayers. St. Faustina also was told by our Lord, "The prayer of a humble and loving soul disarms the anger of My Father and draws down an ocean of blessings."

You can find the chaplet here savior.org/devotions.htm

Peace,
Joanna
 
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Ladybug:
No he is not of any of the faiths you listed.
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You did not answer the question. Have your grandparents practiced any faith–regardless of whether they were listed by the poster asking the question? The reason I ask is that I sense that you are not Catholic, but some other kind of Christian, some of whom very incorrectly believe that Catholics are not Christian.

In any case, you might talk to the hospital chaplain and suggest that he visit your grandfather without indicating that you suggested it. Your grandfather would have the choice to not have him visit or to invite him in. But if your grandparents have practiced any faith (even not your Christian faith), you should respect that and request a priest/minister/rabbi (or whatever) of their faith visit, rather than one of your faith.
 
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Ladybug:
No he is not of any of the faiths you listed.

The last thing I want to do is to step in and say something when that is the last thing I should do. I want to assume that they know Christ on the inside. That they have salvation and have just never spoken about it.
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i say assume the best… 👍

glass is half full… 👍
 
I am curious that you say you do not have a close relationship with your grandparents, yet they know and dissapprove of your non use of birthcontrol and other aspects of YOUR faith. How do they know these personal things except that someone told them.

So therefore, since they know so much about you and have an opinion, maybe you could just sincerely ask him if he has thought about what will happen to him after he dies. Maybe a straightforward question will open the door for you to share what you believe. Go for it. And ask yourself… What’s the worst thing that could happen?
I can’t imagine that a person who has lived 84 years is not aware of the Christian or Catholic view of the afterlife. Or has no personal opinion of their own afterlife.
Prayfully enter into this discussion. But it sounds like for your own peace of mind, you do need to have it.
 
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Ladybug:
Any suggestions? Prayer is on the top of the list. … Do you have any suggested titles that are good in this type a situation where one does not have a belief in Christ?
Peace,
Ladybug
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I’ve been re-reading Divine Mercy in My Soul this morning (since reading your post). It’s so rich. Pope John Paul ll canonized Sr. Faustina Kowalska, the first saint of the new millenium.

“It is important,” the Holy Father said in his homily, “that we accept in its entirety the message that comes to us from God’s Word on this second Sunday of Easter. From now on, throughout the whole Church, this day will take the name of ‘Divine Mercy Sunday.’”

Diary, 811. "At the hour of their death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the indulgence is the same. When this chaplet is said by the bedside of a dying person, God’s anger is placated, unfathomable mercy envelopes the soul, and the very depths of My tender mercy are moved for the sake of the sorrowful Passion of My Son"

I have to thank you for your post as I am truly benefitting from it.
I prayed for you and your grandfather at morning mass.

Joanna
 
Yes I am catholic. I guess I did not make that clear. My grandfather is on no known religion. I do not know his views. I want to make it clear that I am not judging him. It sounds as though some of you think I am. That is not the situation. I know that in order to have salvation there is more to it than just being nice! I do trust in God’s mercy.

I am truly glad for the person who posted the information about the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I went to adoration this morning and prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet during his surgery. I tried to imagine Christ with my grandfather and asked him to stay with him until the end. I came away with great peace of mind.

As far as actually talking to him…I will leave that invitation to the Holy Spirit. I’m not afraid to say anything…well…maybe a little.
Thanks!!!
 
All I can say is, good luck, sweetie, and I’ll be praying for all of you.
 
i’ll be praying for him especially and you and your family…🙂
 
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