I do not know what to do anymore?

Question

I'm catholic. My parents use to hate catholics, they actually were catholic then left the church. With me going back they've stopped hating it again (thanks be to God). My oldest sister still hate catholics but she lives on her own. My parents seemed interested in attending christmas eve Mass with me this year. I got sick and took a nap, my oldest sister came over and no one woke me up intime. I awoke to her making fun of the Rosary, which got my mom started. Today my other sister was dipping bread in her wine at dinner and my oldest sister started laughing and kept mocking the Holy Eucherist! I asked her to stop because it was disrespectful but she kept doing it and said 'there is no host' and eventually I just left for my room.

My parents seem so interested in the church until my oldest sister is around, then they hate it again. Even worse is them mocking and making fun of my faith- I dont know what to do about it. I've tried talking, its not working. what else is there?

Answer 1

There is no peace without the Prince of Peace. Man has lost his likeness to God through original sin, and this likeness can only be restored through supernatural grace. Without this likeness, there will be strife among peoples and nations, and no amount of "Can't we all just get along?" thinking can overcome it. The purpose of the Church and all Her laws is the salvation of souls.

While understanding between the practitioners of various religions is quite good, and while it is a wonderful thing to have warm, mutually beneficial relations with non-Catholics, it is a dogma of the Faith that "outside the Church there is no salvation" ("extra ecclesiam nulla salus").

The Church has always had enemies and will always have enemies until the end of time. Toward the end of time, Antichrist will come and lead these enemies to persecute the Church as She follows Christ in His Passion and Resurrection.







Traditional Catholics' Motto

We are what you once were.
We believe what you once believed.
We worship as you once worshipped.
If you were right then, we are right now.
If we are wrong now, you were wrong then.

Answer 2

It sounds like your parents were hurt by the Catholic church in some way, which would explain their bitterness. I have been hurt and disillusioned by religion before, so I understand where these feelings come from. I think your older sister knows more about what happened to your parents in the church than you do, and this explains her behavior. Your parents probably feel like hypocrites by telling your sister the church is bad and wrong and then turning around and supporting you. This is a really difficult time for them. Keep praying for them for their hearts to be healed and for them to make peace with the Lord. Pray the same thing for your sister. In the meantime, don't take their criticisms and joking personally, and try not to get too upset. You did the right thing by just getting up and going to your room. I think your sister is being very disrespectful to you, but at least she doesn't live there anymore, right. You hang in there, and the Lord will answer your prayers and give you strength. Use this trial to get closer to Him. I'm going to pray for you and your family too.

Answer 3

Your sister is rude, obviously, besides unkind, since she is surely aware of your beliefs. I am agnostic, but I would never disdain nor denigrate anyone's religious beliefs. All that you can do, in my opinion, is to maintain your Catholicism. Do not worry about the rest of your family and their beliefs; they will return to the church when and if they desire to do so. If you are too fervent in your endeavors to convince them, they may become even more resistant. Your sister needs some instructions in etiquette, however, although you should not stoop to her level, countering rudeness with rudeness. Remember that Christmas is an emotional time when often families become dysfunctional.

Answer 4

Prayer! Ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray for your family. Beg the Lord for forgiveness for their sacrileges. Pray many Rosaries and never skip mass if you can! Live a Holy Life! That is your greatness witness to your family about Christ!

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me." Matthew 5:11

Answer 5

Dear Madam,

I am sorry to hear that your older sister mocks your faith in God and His Church, but I commend you for and encourage you to continue being persevering, for God never fails to reward those who suffer for His Name and His Church: if not in this life than surely in the next.

You may want to discover why your parents left the Church in the first place, and do research on authentic Catholic sources to correct them and bring them to the light. Their reasons may turn out to be much more simple than you think, but I welcome you to ask me any questions or doubts your parents may have in the future.

Continue to pray, to attend Mass, surround yourself with solid Catholics, and always remember:
The most effective way of communicating your choice to be Catholic, a universal Christian, is to live the life of example, the life of Christ. Christ suffered terribly for our sins so that we may all one day be with Him, and so we too must suffer for Him when time calls for it.

I pray for you,
such that God may continue to strengthen your faith and continue to persevere, that He may shed light on your sister's heart and return your parents to Christ and His Kingdom on Earth.

Amen.

Answer 6

Maybe they still dislike it and they are just humoring you to pretend it is cool with them. One thing you can't control in this life is family member behavior. If talking doesn't help, nothing probably will. You will have to blow it off. Just like I have to blow it off when I tell my parents I am dating someone new, some rich good-looking guy and they always say: "He must be gay."

Answer 7

All you can do is live your Catholic faith and pray for your family. This will plant the seed, and the Holy Spirit will do the rest, if it is God's will.

When you speak, speak with confidence.

I know all of this will be difficult, but any aggressive response on your part may backfire.

Accept the ridicule and offer it up to God.

You are in my prayers.

Answer 8

They're just trying to get a rise out of you. The less you visibly show that it bothers you, the less motivation they'll have to mock you.

Answer 9

Pray

Answer 10

Just pray about it. God always answers prayers when he thinks they're needed.