What do you do if your spouse isn’t praying, going to Mass, or living the faith at all? Many people find themselves in the position where their spouse is non-Catholic or not practicing the faith. This can be incredibly difficult both as a spouse and as a parent. Fr. Josh Johnson is joined by Deacon Michael Parker to discuss what to do in this kind of situation. They share how you can work to evangelize your spouse without nagging or creating animosity in the relationship.
Snippet from the Show
It is essential that we share the goodness of the Lord through our words and our actions.
Shownotes
Glory Story (4:21)
Listener Question (6:40)
What do I do if my spouse is not going to Mass and doesn’t want to practice the faith?
Saint Story: Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur (18:45)
Elisabeth Leseur was born into a wealthy family in Paris, France in 1866. At the age of 23, Elisabeth met her future husband Felix. The couple loved each other deeply and became engaged within a year. Prior to this, Felix shared with Elisabeth that he no longer had faith and was an atheist. Elisabeth had been raised Catholic, but her faith was mostly surface level. She accepted where Feliz was at and he agreed to respect her faith.
Within the first year of the marriage, Elisabeth began to experience health problems. Over the years, Elisabeth’s faith began to deepen, partially in response to Felix’s growing criticism of the faith. At the age of 41, Elisabeth was battling breast cancer. Throughout her health battle, she prayed for her husband and kept a diary. After her passing in1914, Felix began to read her diary. This led to his slow conversion back to the Catholic faith. In 1917, Felix returned to the Church. He became a Dominican friar in 1919 and was ordained a priest in 1923.
Resources
- Submit your questions and feedback to Fr. Josh by filling out a form at www.ascensionpress.com/askfatherjosh
- Broken and Blessed by Fr. Josh Johnson
- Pocket Guide to Adoration by Fr. Josh Johnson
- Pocket Guide to Reconciliation by Fr. Josh Johnson & Fr. Mike Schmitz
- Ascension is pleased to offer our new and improved online bible study programs and sacramental preparation programs digitally to help you minister with flexibility. Go to ascensionpress.com to view all our offerings.
Meet Fr. Josh Johnson
While Fr. Josh was raised Catholic, he didn’t like the Church growing up. Then, one day in adoration, he fell in love with Jesus and received the call to become a priest.
Now, Fr. Josh is the Vocations Director of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in Louisiana. He is a presenter in four of Ascension’s programs: Altaration, YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body, The 99, and Connected: Catholic Social Teaching for This Generation, as well as the author of Broken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation, Pocket Guide to Adoration, and co-author of Pocket Guide to Reconciliation.
