AboutGeorge A. Card,sfo, M.I Expertise I am willing to attempt answer any question, if I dont know, I will look or pass the question on to friends for feed back. Beside Catholicism(especially the social/moral and the Eastern rites),I am well read on Mormonism and so-called Christian Fundamentalism.Also I study Franciscan History as means of growing in my lay Fraciscan calling to holiness in Christ.
Experience 15 years as the Justice and Peace Laison for my (local)Secular Franciscan Fraternity,15 years public speaking on the Faith,and/or teaching CCD and Youth Retreats,a former Officer for K of C and my SFO Fraternity,still hold appointed offices in SFO fraternity
Organizations Catholic Church, Rome Rite
Secular Fraciscan Order
Knights of Columbus
The Men's Study (A local Catholic study group I co founded)
Others
Militia Immaculata(Knights of the Immaculate
Publications Local News Letters:Mostly my Poetry
Education/Credentials 2 years of Minor Seminary
Bible and Adult Faith Studies and Seminars
Question QUESTION: Hi George,
I'm a Catholic trying to become a better christian and a better person. I know there is a God and I love him. And I want to tell people about my faith. Telling classmates and friends is easy. But, it is difficult to talk to my family members about these things, specifically my dad and my older brother. Well, they really don't have strong faith. In fact, my brother has once said that he doesn't believe in god at all :/. I'm afraid of what they'll do if they find out about my quest to become a better person and about how important my faith is to me. I shouldn't be afraid. But, I am. How do other people deal with situations like these? How should I deal with it?
Thanks. Anything will help :).
ANSWER: Peace
dear Matt,
The first, I say I am glad that your are striving to grow as a person.
Suggestions: Pray and Study the Faith, perhaps dealing with issues that those around you seem to have trouble with. So you can be a strong witness to them and perhaps they will the see the beauty it brings to your soul. Another suggestions, read about the saints, especially of martyrs that you can relate to in some way.
in my Prayers and His Sacred Heart,
George
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi again,
Thanks. I'll try that. Well, as you know I'm trying to better myself. And I'm doing this by putting Jesus' teachings into practice. And it does make a difference! It's amazing :). But, I keep getting off track. I mean there are days when I just don't seem to be the best person I could have been. I'll give into temptation and do bad things (nothing extremely bad, but still wrong). Today is actually one of those days. How can I overcome temptation?
Thanks again.
Answer Peace
dear Matt,
One of the things, that I learned to help me to over-come "daily" temptations I learn from my saintly father. He suggested when I was tempted, to say a short one line prayer or simply the name of Jesus.
One of my favorite, I got from the Divine Mercy visions: Jesus, I trust in Thee. Others I like:
Praise Be God and Bless His Bride, the Church.
My Lord and My Savior
Your Will not mine
Another, if its the same type of temptations/sin, try to avoid be in places and persons that lead you into them. For example: getting drunk is your problem, don't go to bars or maybe not go to them with others who go to them just to get drunk.
And perhaps find a priest that can be your confessor. A confessor is a priest that you go to confession regularly verse whatever priest is available. Confessors can help you see patterns to your temptations/sins that you might just not see or think are just bad habits. They can also give you other specialized advice for you needs. For most people, their pastor or other priest at their parish would be fine. Or perhaps the chaplain for a group you belong to.
