Came out of the closet last night

[Ziggamafu]

Last night I talked to my Mom for 2.5 hours about having gone thorugh RCIA and my upcoming Confirmation. It was...better then I thought it might be, but still not that great of an experience. When she asked questions or made accusations against the Church, I was able to defend my faith with gentleness and reverence, but it was very hard. The good news is that she will at least try to make an attempt to come to Holy Saturday. Praise God for that!

...now. My brother and uncle are completely different stories. I write this on lunch break at work and I'm already paranoid that my Mom already told them. My brother is an extremely ignorant (Catholic-wise), extremely stubborn, and extremely arrogant Bible-thumping-Fundamentalist-King-James-Only-Born-Again-Baptist-ANTI-CATHOLIC! I'm quite sure that when he finds out he will declare war on me - he most likely will not attend my Confirmation. I'll be lucky to see his kids, alone.

My Uncle has been a Bible-thumping-Fundamentalist-King-James-Only-Born-Again-Baptist-ANTI-CATHOLIC-MISSIONARY up in Alberta Canada for about forty-five years. His hero is David Cloud, though he also has much of Jack Chick's polemics memorized. He's around 70 years old and devotes time to memorizing the Bible every day since he "got saved". Thus, he has most of the Bible memorized - even the New Testament Greek.

So........prayers, thoughts, and encouragement, please?

[sweetpea316]

Oh wow.... Hang in there and keep praying! I will be sure to keep you in my prayers also. This has got to be incredibly tough, but God will see you through it.

[Sojourner]

Zig ...

Lots of us on this board have had difficulties with our families coming to terms with us being Catholic, so don't feel like you're all alone. It's very tough, but God gives you strength and grace through the sacraments to be able to make it.

I'll keep you in prayer.

[Fiat_Voluntas_Tua]

Blessed be God!

'You must deny your Mother and Father (or brother and uncle) and follow me.'

All you have to do is love without reserve...If they are uncharitable towards you and you are charitable towards them...this will be a witness to the truth. Make sure that people see a change in you after you become Catholic. The Mass HAS to change our lives, it must cause us to go forth and Love. People will be drawn towards Love..and Love comes from the Mass.

Totus Tuus,
Andrew Jospeh

[Brother Adam]

Zig,

Be gentle but firm. Get them on grounds of intellectual honesty when you can (especially if they use chick tracts!) Don't let them gain an inch, but know when to bow out. Teresa and I will be being confirmed with you this Easter Vigil. Congrads bro!

[Ziggamafu]

Thanks for the support...it really helps and is received as a blessing.

Here's the news: My mom did NOT tell my brother and in fact has reinforced my fears of telling him. She even pleaded with me NOT to tell him. I think she'd like to keep this a family secret (it's laughable how much this really does sound like I'm telling them I'm gay). I just don't know what to do. I don't know how to tell my brother, but I want to at least invite him to my Confirmation - even if he won't show.

...I wish more of my loved ones would be there to see one of the happiest and most important moments of my life...

[Brother Adam]

Read Matthew 5-7.

Be the light.

[Brother Adam]

Worst case scenario - brother doesn't see the light or runs back to the darkness.

Best case scenario: He's explaining to his friends why he's become a heretic :-P

[WBOZ]

Hang in there.

Like many, my reconciling to the Church was not well received by my fundamentalist family and friends. After six years my mother will finally admit that my four children have indeed been baptised not "dedicated." And since moving back across the country and closer to all of them I have been given ample opportunity to engage in debate although my brother-in-law has specifically warned me not to proselytize my sister.

As with most on this board I will be praying for you

WCB

[corban711]

i will definitely be keeping you in prayers. i will ask Our Lady to help you and comfort you with this struggle!

[Crusader_4]

keep praying and let God work through you. When i told my parents I was converting they were at first a tad closed to the idea (i was lucky they trusted my decisions and responisiblity) and they grew on the idea. On my confirmation they took me out for pizza afterwards and my sponsor too who is a priest (great guy) and now we are all very happy.

Edited March 7, 2005 by Crusader_4

[scardella]

I'll add you to my (miles long) list...

[Guest Pogo]

To the one who just "came out of the closet". I love the way you put that. I am so glad that you decided to tell your loved ones. Remember always that they have loved you from the day you were born and they will continue to love you...even if words or body language doesn't say so. I am coming up on my 2 year anniversary on entering the Church and boy oh boy was that process of getting here hard. You have many people with you. I remember having "Catholic Paraphenalia" hidden under my bed and all these weird things. I remember waiting a whole year before I could actually tell my father. I told my grandparents and one had a real breakdown and the other one was "to each his own" God works wonders. My Dad just received his annulment (he was not catholic) and he and my mom are waiting for that to be signed by some "higher up" in Chicago, then he'll be welcomed into Catholicism and my Mom will return after 25-30 years away. Praise be to God who can work such miracles. I am not saying that the road is easy...many tears and much suffering...but it is worth it if you keep your eyes on the One you love. Please pray for the conversion of my grandmother, sister and family and especially my brother. ALL things are POSSIBLE with God. Do NOT underestimate Him. Love and Peace in Christ!

[Dennis]

[quote]...I wish more of my loved ones would be there to see one of the happiest and most important moments of my life... [/quote]
Jesus and the Father will be there. All the angels and saints in Heaven will be there. The Holy Spirit will be there. I hope your whole family will join you, but even if they don't there will be many there whom love you, you are far from alone...

Edited March 12, 2005 by Dennis

[Cathurian]

God bless you all. Payers from me, Mother Mary, and all the saints and angels.

[MichaelFilo]

To all those who convert, it is hardly something that those who love you most want to hear and see, but God wants you to go through, and those who love God will inadverntly support you.

God bless,
Mikey

[CarpeDiem88]

I was Southern Baptist and some of my family doesn't like it, but ya know what... it really shouldn't matter. My family has learned to accept it over time because they still love me for me, not for what I believe in. That should be their main focus is you. What makes you feel closer to God and where you feel most at peace. They shouldn't force you into anything. That's my family's philosophy anyway.

[theculturewarrior]

You may win your family to Christ. Don't despair. I had no hope for my father, but he is coming around. God created you to love your family. God didn't create you to say goodbye.

I think of the convert as the sower and the seed, at the same time.

[Theoketos]

I want to know how this turned out.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Theoketos' date='May 4 2005, 05:54 PM'] I want to know how this turned out. [/quote]
So do I.