Happy Easter my friends!
So, how crowded was your parish this Easter Sunday? Sure, it’s usually more full on holidays but I’ve never seen it like it was this year. Most encouragingly, there were so many families with young children, dressed beautifully and being attentive and joyful. My friends around the country are reporting the same.
As for converts, it seems to have been a record year for people being received into the Church…and many of them young people. I’ve heard over 100,000 people entered the church at the Easter vigil here in the US, with similar reports around the world.
And yet, for many of you who have been praying for your adult children and grandchildren, it may seem they still remain far off. My message to you is this:
Do. Not. Give. Up. Hope.
This is a God game, not a human one. You have the power of the God of the universe on your side, along with an army of saints and angels to assist you. Get to know them and enlist their help as you pray for your loved ones.
Yeah, I know, there’s that pesky free will thing your kids have but don’t focus there. They may be passionate in their pursuit of evil or worldly goods, but God can turn that passion to good. He does that all the time. Think of St. Paul, St. Augustine, St. Mary Magdalene, to name just a few.
Here is where to focus:
1. First and foremost, focus on Jesus, crucified on the cross, risen from the dead and sitting now at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. He is alive and active and loves your children even more than you do. Trust Him.
2. Focus on His mercies and miracles. Read the Bible. Remember that He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, a woman from whom He cast out seven demons. If He can do that, He can handle your stubborn kids.
3. Focus on prayer. As a member of the Body of Christ, you have power. Mary told Sr. Lucia, one of the Fatima visionaries, that there is NO problem that cannot be solved by praying the Rosary. Pray the Rosary every day. Make a commitment. Even if you can only do a decade at a time, do it.
4. Focus on fasting and penance. Sometimes penance and fasting can feel intimidating. Start out small. Offer up everything in your day- that annoying traffic jam, the problem at work, that paper cut etc. Offer it in union with the cross for the conversion of your family. It will give you greater peace too as all of these little annoyances and bigger sufferings are transformed into a currency to ransom their souls.
5. Focus on the good in your children and grandchildren, or any others you are praying for. When you’re worried about their salvation, it’s easy to only see the bad, the mistakes, the areas of concern. Focus on whatever good you see in them and fan it into a flame with your prayers. People rarely change when they feel criticized or condemned. But when they feel loved unconditionally, you can speak the truth to them in love when they’re ready, so they will have the strength to change.
6. Lastly, focus on joy. We are an Easter people. Be an example of a life lived with joy in the beauties of this world, and in the small day to day blessings others often miss as they live in worry and fear. He is risen. Be joyful. Be contagious.
Wishing you many blessings this Easter season.
Allison is also the Founder and President of www.CatholicTherapists.com, and CatholicLifeCoaches.com, which provide nationwide networks of screened and dedicated Catholic therapists and Catholic life coaches.
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