You are here:

Catholics/My wife does not want to be Catholic anymore

Advertisement

Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 8/31/2009


Question
Father- My wife of 11 yrs has been going to a non traditional church the last year its a Christian church just starting out. She said that she would continue to go to mass with me weekly.Sat or Sunday at 5pm. Sunday mornings at this other church. She has gone thru Christ renews his parish twice and has enjoyed the weekends and going thru formation. In the past week she does not know if she wants to go to mass with me anymore.(maybe once in while) She tells me she that the mass does not fill her cup! That she needs more. Of course I was crushed. This other church is what I call a
Vegas church, Singing with a large band lyric's on the wall. Alot of Glam. They do talk a good sermon and I quess I can see why it might appeal to her. Growing up she really did not attend any church and when we met she converted to the Catholic Faith. Made alot of friends and likes somethings but does not want to belong. Father what can I do? I will go to mass by myself, and I will have to answer all the questions? Where is your Wife. I really dont know what to do?

Answer
Hi, Rick:
Thanks for the question...
I am sorry to hear about your dilemma.  It does not appear from what you describe that she is persevering in her conversion to the Catholic Faith.  Faith certainly is a gift from God, and it takes the effort of our response to Christ and His Church to remain faithful.  Perhaps she needs to take a closer look at what the Catholic Church teaches compared to what she actually believes.  I can't imagine that she actually has any true or deep understanding of the value of the Sacrifice of the Mass, and communion with the loacl Bishop and the Pope going back in historical Apostolic Succession and given authority by Christ to govern the Church He founded.  I suppose you certainly ought to pray for her, and if people ask you about why she is not attending Mass with you that you ought to refer them to talk to your wife personally, as you do not feel you are in a position to answer for her on this particular matter.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

Catholics

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Fr. Timothy Johnson

Expertise

A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.