Mary's Margaret Posted November 20, 2011 Posted November 20, 2011 Prayers on the way. I like your new picture.
OnlySunshine Posted November 21, 2011 Author Posted November 21, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Mary's Margaret' timestamp='1321831131' post='2338642'] Prayers on the way. I like your new picture. [/quote] Thank you! The new picture is of the Blessed Virgin Mary for her Feast of the Presentation tomorrow. Please pray for my little sister if you go to Mass or Adoration tomorrow. It is her 26th birthday and she is no longer a practicing Catholic. My mom made the decision to buy her a rosary and try to encourage my sister to use it and I'm wondering if I should give her one of my books, "Surprised by Truth 2" by Patrick Madrid. I hate that she is not in the Church anymore. Edited November 21, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae
Sarah147 Posted November 21, 2011 Posted November 21, 2011 Does she have any feelings about Mother Angelica? Her shows are on tape and are excellent, especially her newer ones.
TheresaThoma Posted November 21, 2011 Posted November 21, 2011 MM I will pray for your sister, it is hard having family outside of the Church.
OnlySunshine Posted November 21, 2011 Author Posted November 21, 2011 [quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1321837142' post='2338697'] Does she have any feelings about Mother Angelica? Her shows are on tape and are excellent, especially her newer ones. [/quote] She never watches EWTN. I've tried to talk to her about the Sacraments but she believes that she can find salvation outside the Church. I was exasperated after our last talk. I decided to stop trying to talk to her about it and just pray for her reversion.
Mary's Margaret Posted November 21, 2011 Posted November 21, 2011 (edited) MM I will definitely pray for your sister, and for all VSers' relatives who are estranged from Mother Church. St. Monica pray with us. The best advice I received from a religious concerning a family member who is away from the Church was not to argue or debate, but to simply pray and love....and of course commend them to Our Lady's care. Edited November 21, 2011 by Mary's Margaret
OnlySunshine Posted November 21, 2011 Author Posted November 21, 2011 [quote name='Mary's Margaret' timestamp='1321851780' post='2338823'] MM I will definitely pray for your sister, and for all VSers' relatives who are estranged from Mother Church. St. Monica pray with us. The best advice I received from a religious concerning a family member who is away from the Church was not to argue or debate, but to simply pray and love....and of course commend them to Our Lady's care. [/quote] Fortunately, I learned that by trial and error. She is stubborn when it comes to talking about different faith practices. She calls the Holy Mother Church "boring" and says that the rituals in Mass are silly. She doesn't know why they are unchanging. It's sad, really. If she was a Catholic, I could see her potentially discerning religious life because she truly loves serving Jesus Christ. She's just in the wrong faith practice. Our Lady of the Presentation, pray for us!
MarieLynn Posted November 21, 2011 Posted November 21, 2011 MM, as one who left the Church for quite some time after returning from Religious Life, my advice is just hold your sister in love and in your prayers, and hopefully she will, in her own time, return to Mother Church. I did.! I had family, the Parish Priest, and some of my friends snapping at my heels, the Parish Priest threatened Divine Retribution, and all sorts of dire predictions, but I ignored them all. The more they pushed it, the more I rejected it. I even went so far as to be baptised into another faith, and for a few years I followed the 'chosen faith' and to all intents and purposes, on the outside appeared quite happy. Somehow over the years I discovered that I was missing something. The feeling grew each time I went to Church, and slowly I began to realise just what it was I was missing. When I returned to being a practising Catholic the feeling of 'missing something' finally was laid to rest. and the rest, as they say, is History. Just be patient, show your sister love and compassion, and above all keep praying for her. It works.
OnlySunshine Posted November 21, 2011 Author Posted November 21, 2011 (edited) [quote name='MarieLynn' timestamp='1321899974' post='2339047'] MM, as one who left the Church for quite some time after returning from Religious Life, my advice is just hold your sister in love and in your prayers, and hopefully she will, in her own time, return to Mother Church. I did.! I had family, the Parish Priest, and some of my friends snapping at my heels, the Parish Priest threatened Divine Retribution, and all sorts of dire predictions, but I ignored them all. The more they pushed it, the more I rejected it. I even went so far as to be baptised into another faith, and for a few years I followed the 'chosen faith' and to all intents and purposes, on the outside appeared quite happy. Somehow over the years I discovered that I was missing something. The feeling grew each time I went to Church, and slowly I began to realise just what it was I was missing. When I returned to being a practising Catholic the feeling of 'missing something' finally was laid to rest. and the rest, as they say, is History. Just be patient, show your sister love and compassion, and above all keep praying for her. It works. [/quote] I reverted to the Church myself in 2007, so I know what you mean. I hope that my mom's gift of a rosary doesn't push my sister even further away. I was thinking about giving her my old book, "Surprised by Truth," but I think I'll wait. I don't want to overwhelm her and cause her to be confused. Also, she got "baptized" in her school's fountain by her Christian group. I put it like that because she had her only valid baptism as a baby in the Catholic Church. I was horrified when I found out that her group's lay minister initiated several baptisms which were either in a fountain or a kiddie pool. My sister has even assisted at some of them. Anyway, I don't want to keep talking about her. I just would like prayers that she comes back. Edited November 21, 2011 by MaterMisericordiae
Sarah147 Posted November 25, 2011 Posted November 25, 2011 Well, I laid it all out to the vd of RSM. I told her all my fears and concerns, all my thoughts, education, history, etc. I put it all out there to see what advice and guidance Sister can give. So, we'll see what she has to say about my health, and waiting on discerning, what's going on in my life, etc. etc.
Sarah147 Posted November 25, 2011 Posted November 25, 2011 Thank you. I just have been concerned about the college thing and wanted to get advice for this waiting before discerning period. It's been kind of weird being out of discernment, like I forget to think about Orders, and I'm just focused on living for God.
OnlySunshine Posted November 26, 2011 Author Posted November 26, 2011 [quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1322247458' post='2340403'] Well, I laid it all out to the vd of RSM. I told her all my fears and concerns, all my thoughts, education, history, etc. I put it all out there to see what advice and guidance Sister can give. So, we'll see what she has to say about my health, and waiting on discerning, what's going on in my life, etc. etc. [/quote] The Vocation Director is very understanding, so I pray that it goes well for you. I know how difficult it can be to make first contact, but, believe me, you will be relieved when it is over.
OnlySunshine Posted November 26, 2011 Author Posted November 26, 2011 [quote name='brandelynmarie' timestamp='1322350311' post='2340888'] Lotsa love & prayers for y'all. [/quote] Thank you. Still having to be patient.
brandelynmarie Posted November 26, 2011 Posted November 26, 2011 (edited) I am realizing that this is the same advice I need to give to another friend of mine who is actively trying to convert a friend of hers. Love people where they are at. Pray for them. Let them see how you live your life & let that be your "sermon". Answer questions gently & lovingly. Edited November 26, 2011 by brandelynmarie
OnlySunshine Posted November 28, 2011 Author Posted November 28, 2011 Well, it's official -- I am going to call Mother tomorrow (Monday). I received word that she has not replied to my friend's email either, so it must not be going through. We both sent ours 2 weeks ago, so I think that is ample time to wait. Please pray for me. Calling religious Superiors on the phone to talk about vocation matters is kind of nerve-wracking, but it needs to be done!
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