Many of us have a member of our family or a friend who is away from the Church and not practicing the Faith. It gives us pain and much concern about their Salvation. What can be done? Let me share with you the most effective way in which they can be helped.
The best way to help them save their souls is the serious practice of our own Faith. If we live saintly lives and sacrifice ourselves for the lost sheep of our families God will be pleased and offer more and greater graces to them to come back to Him. I’m not saying that this will be an overnight thing. It will take time. But God will surely answer our prayers for them. So do not tire in doing what is right and praying for them. Rather, do more. Let’s do whatever we need to do to come closer to God, not only for our own Salvation, but for the sake of theirs. God draws close to those who humble themselves and strive to be holy. And He will make a special appeal to them when He is pleased by our own holy way of life. In the end, it is a matter of trust on our part, that God loves them infinitely more than we do.
Many of you regularly offer prayer petitions for loved ones away from the Church. Do not be discouraged about these loved ones. Have trust in God. He loves them beyond compare. He wants their Salvation. He wants them in heaven with Himself and works toward this in ways mysterious to us, and hidden to our way of understanding. As a proof of this let us each look into our own lives how God brought each one of us to Himself. He does similar work in them. Our job is to sacrifice ourselves for them, to help win graces for them. It’s hidden from the world; but it bears fruit in time. And sometimes this is all we can do when our loved ones are not open to our words.
Remember St. Monica. Who would deny that Augustine’s conversion was in a special way due to her persistent prayers and sacrifices? Do not give up in doing what is right. Do not give up the race; there is glory awaiting you at the finish line. You and I must make it there for the sake of others’ salvation, besides our own. I pray for you to continue and you pray for me to continue; and we shall in a special way enjoy a deep and lasting friendship in heaven, because we help save each other’s souls here and now.
Fr. Sullivan, M.J., is a priest with the Miles Jesu order. Miles Jesu is an Institute of Consecrated Life dedicated to promoting reverence to the Blessed Sacrament, devotion to Our Lady and faithfulness to the official teachings of the Church. For information on Miles Jesu and its Seminary Program, please call 1-800-654-7945 or visit their website.
