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Kayla
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jul 30th, 2007 |
| Location: | Emmitsburg, Maryland USA |
| Posts: | 369 |
| First Name: | Kayla | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Atheist, kind-of Mormon, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 03:11 am |
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Gah. Why must it always come down to this type of choice? I don't understand why both can't go hand in hand.
It's as though my mom feels threatened by my being Catholic.
I guess I got a little comfortable being able to practice my faith as freely as I wanted back at school. And no, it's not as though she's come straight out and said "it's being Catholic or it's being a part of this family." But it's the small things. It began even the first Sunday I got home. She'd suggest that we go out and do something, then say "Oh wait, you have to go to church. Nevermind." Every Sunday.
Then, this was the one that cut the most. I was talking with her about how Christmas was going to be so small this year. With my brother being in Iraq and this being the first Christmas after my grandma passed away. My mom agreed and said, "Yes. And you'll be leaving us for Church too. So, yeah, it will be small."
If I had been smart, I would've invited her along. Instead I just said that no, I wouldn't miss Christmas with my family and that I was going to midnight Mass.
I don't know. It's just frustrating. I hate feeling like I have to make a choice between my faith and my family. Or that practicing my faith is somehow choosing against my family.
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I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1446 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 03:31 am |
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Kayla,
I know what you mean. Last week my mom visited me for the first time since my entering the Church. For the entire visit it was pretty much nonstop Catholic bashing. I kept praying under my breath, "Jesus, give me grace."
You've had about forty fewer years to develop a tough hide; so I know it's got to be hard for you. Hang in there.
You've given me such joy just to see your strength and zeal and intellectual depth. Let's try to focus on the joy of celebrating Christmas as Catholics.
Pray for me. I'll pray for you.
Merry Christmas,
BeckyLast edited on Mon Dec 24th, 2007 03:35 am by Intercessor
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Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. . .the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. . . NAB James 1:2-4,12
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1548 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 03:57 am |
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Intercessor wrote:
Pray for me. I'll pray for you.
While you all are praying, send one up for me too please. I'm going to be with my family who give almost no thought to God or religion, period. I get a lot of little remarks like Kayla mentioned. It's never enough of an issue to get a dialogue going, just a little sniper shot here and there.
Kayla, your mom is having a tough Christmas, with your brother in Iraq in harm's way, and the loss of your Grandmother. Not that it's easy for you or the rest of the family, but she may be having a hard time coping. Especially since you also have moved across the country! Christmas brings out emotions we didn't know we had sometimes. Let her know you want to spend as much time as possible with her, other than mass. It will be the best thing you can give her. Enjoy being home and have a blessed midnight mass! God bless
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1446 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 04:13 am |
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Marsha is right. Mom needs lots of hugs and kisses now, Kayla.
I will pray for you also, Marsha, as well as that little grandson.
May we radiate the grace of the Lord to our loved ones in this season.
____________________
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. . .the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. . . NAB James 1:2-4,12
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Free
Member
| Joined: | Wed Nov 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 372 |
| First Name: | Jane | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Gnostic, non-denominational, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 09:04 am |
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I find it somewhat comforting when remarks are made to remember this is part of the cross we carry when we follow Christ, and, really, it's an honor. I remember that Jesus warns us that he has come with a sword to divide a man against his father, a daughter against her mother and that sometimes a person's enemies will be the very people we live with. Tough words, and hard to live out. Jesus hones the point he's making even finer in the next verses when he tells us that "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me...and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." The comfort for me comes in knowing that he cared enough to caution me beforehand, and that he is beside me through all of these difficulties, and that he considers me worthy to bear this cross. These words are found in Matt. 10: 34-39.
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1446 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 11:58 am |
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Well said, Jane!
Further, we can shepherd loved ones toward the Church by handling their persecution in a Christlike manner and by offering up our suffering for their conversion.
Becky
____________________
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. . .the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. . . NAB James 1:2-4,12
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CajunRick
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 12:47 pm |
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"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 5:11-12
Thank them for the blessing, and hand them (or read them) this passage. And then smile.
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sewnsew
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 913 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 01:14 pm |
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| Kayla, I know how hard it is but the longer you are Catholic the easier it will be. This is our first Christmas since my conversion and I am juggling the unchurched, the Catholics and the Protestants for services! Things had settled down some but are due to get lively again as my kids get closer to making a decision for the Catholic church- My husband who can best be described as a pew warming agnostic, will be relieved since he has been taking the kids to their church and he dislikes it immensely. Once they start coming to church with me he will come too but there will be less pressure on him since he is pressured all the time to take communion in the Anglican church which of course he will not do since he thinks that it would be sacrilegious.
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Intercessor
Member
| Joined: | Tue Sep 25th, 2007 |
| Location: | Southcentral, Kentucky USA |
| Posts: | 1446 |
| First Name: | Becky | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Southern Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 02:11 pm |
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kimdyuma wrote:
Once they start coming to church with me he will come too but there will be less pressure on him since he is pressured all the time to take communion in the Anglican church which of course he will not do since he thinks that it would be sacrilegious.
Kim, he may be an agnostic; but it sounds as if he is intellectually honest and has a respect for sacred matters. The Holy Spirit seems to be at work in his heart.
Becky
____________________
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. . .the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life. . . NAB James 1:2-4,12
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sewnsew
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 913 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 03:01 pm |
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| He actually has such confused feelings- he has labeled himself agnostic- to be honest I don't even consider him so- He has a huge hostility towards the Southern Baptist church of his childhood for who knows what really. He doesn't believe much of what they teach such as once saved etc. but not until we met and talked about my faith did he find things that he agreed with specifically a Catholic view of salvation, the Sacred etc. ( My view has always been pretty Catholic within the Anglo- Catholic world)
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Kayla
Member
| Joined: | Mon Jul 30th, 2007 |
| Location: | Emmitsburg, Maryland USA |
| Posts: | 369 |
| First Name: | Kayla | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Atheist, kind-of Mormon, Catholic |
| Status: |
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Posted: Mon Dec 24th, 2007 04:58 pm |
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Yeah, she's hurting right now. And I think she doesn't realize what she's saying half the time. Kind of more subconscious than anything. Because there are times when she asks genuine questions about the Church and what I do. Sometimes I almost with it were more malicious, so I could get angry about it. But it's as though she struggles with accepting it. I can see that she wants to, yet I think years of anti-organized-practicing-religion makes her have a hard time.
Thanks for the prayers. I will certainly keep you all in mine as well (especially you three, Marsha, Becky, and Kim).
"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Matthew 5:11-12
Thank them for the blessing, and hand them (or read them) this passage. And then smile.
Haha, Rick. You have no idea how much I'd like to do that sometimes.
____________________
I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.
Jesus, I trust in You!
There's not a lot of job security for us after death. I suppose that's one advantage of being a philosopher. - Peter Kreeft
http://kayla23mount.blogspot.com/
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