A
Abby_Fletcher
Guest
I have a dilemma and was hoping for some advice. I’m 17 years old, and have been Catholic my whole life (Catholic school, Church every Sunday) but only the last two or three years have I really sort of come into my faith, and not seen it as “just another part” of my life. I can’t believe how wonderful it is!
The dilemma? My best friend, “Kathy”. We’ve been best friends since kindergarten, went to the same Catholic school up through 8th grade, after which she went to public school and I went to a Catholic high school that is probably as close to a convent as one can get without taking any vows. Well, i think the term “lapsed Catholic” is what I’m looking for here. She hasn’t been to Mass except for the 2 times I got her to go with me in the past probably 4 years. Her parents split up a few years back as well. She still believes in God and Jesus and even the Rosary (well, she believes it’s legit, not that she really prays it) and although she has some issues with the “hot topics” that go along with Catholicism (gay marriage and things like that) she has shown genuine interest in learning why we believe what we do. she still identifies her self as Catholic when asked.
This girl is like my sister. I would give her anything, cash, kidney, first born son (note, i do not actually have a first born son, no fear
) Naturally, I want to share my faith with her. I want so much to help bring her back fully to the church.
I’ve been thinking about asking her to come to Good Friday Mass with me. It’s my favorite mass, and in my opinion, the most moving one in the Church calendar. The last two times I brought her to mass, (a random Sunday where we were doing something all day and i insisted on hitting an early mass first, and Christmas) I didn’t realize until too late that she shouldn’t receive the Eucharist. the second time, i remembered in time to whisper to her as we were kneeling that she shouldn’t receive because she hadn’t been to mass/confession in a while, but she went anyway. I honestly believe though, that it was because she didn’t fully understand why she shouldn’t, not because of any intended disrespect or spite. She’s not the type of person to do something like that.
I’m kind of at a loss as to what to do. Do I bring her (and try to bring her to future masses as well), knowing that she will take communion
, or not try to get her to mass at all yet? Confession isn’t really an option yet, because i know she doesn’t see anything seriously wrong on her conscience, and i think she needs the graces from mass to start realizing it.
Does any one have suggestions? maybe even a good way to make her see that she shouldn’t receive communion without turning her off to coming to mass all together? and what should i do about Friday specifically? ask her or not?
There is a line from “St. John in exile” that i particularly like: “There’s more then one way to get a pagan to read the gospel”
Well, is there more then one way to get a lapsed friend back to mass?
The dilemma? My best friend, “Kathy”. We’ve been best friends since kindergarten, went to the same Catholic school up through 8th grade, after which she went to public school and I went to a Catholic high school that is probably as close to a convent as one can get without taking any vows. Well, i think the term “lapsed Catholic” is what I’m looking for here. She hasn’t been to Mass except for the 2 times I got her to go with me in the past probably 4 years. Her parents split up a few years back as well. She still believes in God and Jesus and even the Rosary (well, she believes it’s legit, not that she really prays it) and although she has some issues with the “hot topics” that go along with Catholicism (gay marriage and things like that) she has shown genuine interest in learning why we believe what we do. she still identifies her self as Catholic when asked.
This girl is like my sister. I would give her anything, cash, kidney, first born son (note, i do not actually have a first born son, no fear
) Naturally, I want to share my faith with her. I want so much to help bring her back fully to the church.I’ve been thinking about asking her to come to Good Friday Mass with me. It’s my favorite mass, and in my opinion, the most moving one in the Church calendar. The last two times I brought her to mass, (a random Sunday where we were doing something all day and i insisted on hitting an early mass first, and Christmas) I didn’t realize until too late that she shouldn’t receive the Eucharist. the second time, i remembered in time to whisper to her as we were kneeling that she shouldn’t receive because she hadn’t been to mass/confession in a while, but she went anyway. I honestly believe though, that it was because she didn’t fully understand why she shouldn’t, not because of any intended disrespect or spite. She’s not the type of person to do something like that.
I’m kind of at a loss as to what to do. Do I bring her (and try to bring her to future masses as well), knowing that she will take communion
, or not try to get her to mass at all yet? Confession isn’t really an option yet, because i know she doesn’t see anything seriously wrong on her conscience, and i think she needs the graces from mass to start realizing it.Does any one have suggestions? maybe even a good way to make her see that she shouldn’t receive communion without turning her off to coming to mass all together? and what should i do about Friday specifically? ask her or not?
There is a line from “St. John in exile” that i particularly like: “There’s more then one way to get a pagan to read the gospel”
Well, is there more then one way to get a lapsed friend back to mass?
, he decided to go to confession and confess his sins, including the receiving of the Eucharist in state of sin. He doesn’t do it anymore 
)
actually, during the political season, we came up with a system of discussing issues so we could civilly talk about things with no annoyed/hurt feelings. we’ve applied it to other issues in life as well, so that goes a long way in preventing nagging or destructive comments.